Saturday 26 February 2022

 Week 5


Kia Ora Kākano whānau


We are coming up to the mid term mark this week and the term feels like it’s flying by. Your tamariki are excited, enthusiastic and eager to extend their knowledge and learning each day. Thank you for your continued support with the covid protocols that we have in place. You have been great at dropping your children off outside the classroom, or at the gate, and we ask that you continue to do this each day. The children are coming into class happy and settled, and so proud to be independent “big” kids.


Shrove Tuesday - Bring a gold coin for pancakes

Shrove Tuesday is also known as pancake day. Traditionally foods like egg, milk and sugar were given up for Lent. The day before Lent began, people would use up all these foods by making pancakes. As part of our Religious Education this week, we will be making pancakes and learning the meaning behind why we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Please bring a gold coin donation to school on Monday so we can purchase the ingredients for pancakes. Please also bring a named plate, knife and fork to school on Monday or Tuesday, so that you can eat your pancakes.


Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of almsgiving, fasting and prayer. It is a time when we think about our own behaviour and how we can improve it. The ashes we receive on our foreheads remind us to turn away from sin and back to God. We will be making our Lenten Promises (things we are either going to give up for Lent or do more of to help others) on Monday and these will be burned on Tuesday, to become our ashes for Wednesday. Liturgies will be held in our classes this year due to covid restrictions. Unfortunately this also means we will be unable to have parents join us.


Swimming

Kākano 4, 5, 6 & 7 are swimming all this week. Please can your child bring their togs and towels every day.


Gym  

Mondays at lunchtime if your child wishes to attend. Girls bring shorts and t-shirt. Boys can come in their uniform - you can bring shorts and t-shirts if you wish.


Roller Skating

Fridays at lunchtime if your child wishes to attend. Bring your own skates and helmets. Your class teacher will help you put your gear on.


Recycling

Thank you for all the recycling that came in last week, this is an ongoing need as the children are enjoying making some amazing creations.

Things we like

* Boxes

* Bottle tops

* Bread tags

* Clean coffee pods

* Material and wool scraps

* Cardboard Scraps

If you have anything you may think help please email teachers.


Plastic Bags

Another ongoing need is bread bags or supermarket fruit and vegetable bags.  If you have any spare please get your child to bring them into class.


Week ahead:

Monday - Bring your gold coin for pancakes

Tuesday - Shrove Tuesday - bring your plate, knife and/or fork

Wednesday - Ash Wednesday 

Thursday - normal school day

Friday - sausage sizzle and juicy day $1.50 each



Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Kākano teachers


Saturday 19 February 2022

 Week  4


Kia Ora Kākano whānau


Thank you for all of your support with the covid protocols during these first two weeks. With more cases showing up we want to keep the children safe.  We are asking that no parents are inside the classroom and have made the drop-off zone outside the gates of the Kākano gates if the children are needing parents to walk them into school.  The teachers have strategies for saying goodbye in the morning, if you think there will be an issue dropping at the gate please email your child’s teacher.  On a wet day, we ask all parents to stay outside of the Kākano gates as we have lots of children to get to set areas to meet parents.


Swimming

Kākano 1, 2 & 3 are swimming Tuesday to Friday this week. (Pool maintenance being done on Monday) Please can your child bring their togs and towels.


Gym  

Mondays at lunchtime if your child wishes to attend. Girls bring shorts and t-shirt. Boys can come in their uniform - you can bring shorts and t-shirts if you wish.


Recycling

Thank you for all the recycling that came in last week, this is an ongoing need as the children are enjoying making some amazing creations.

Things we like

* Boxes

* Bottle tops

* Bread tags

* Clean coffee pods

* Material and wool scraps

* Cardboard Scraps

If you have anything you may think help please email teachers.


Plastic Bags

Another ongoing need is bread bags or supermarket fruit and vegetable bags,  If you have any spare please get your child to bring them into class.


School Mass

Our opening school mass is scheduled for this Friday. Weather permitting we will be holding this outside. Unfortunately due to covid restrictions, we aren’t able to have families attend this


Week ahead:

Monday - normal school day

Tuesday - normal school day

Wednesday - normal school day

Thursday - normal school day

Friday - sausage sizzle and juicy day $1.50 each



Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Kākano teachers


Saturday 12 February 2022

This Week in Kakano 3

 Week 3


Kia Ora Kākano whānau

We hope you have had a safe weekend in this stormy weather! It was so great to have all of the children start back at school this week. We had an awesome week getting to know the new classes. 


Thank you for all of your support with the covid protocols during this first week. Most of the children have settled in well and come in happily in the morning to complete their morning routines. It is awesome to see them being independent already and being able to say bye to parents at the gate! 


Swimming

Kākano 4, 5, 6, 7 are swimming this week. 

Kākano 1, 2, 3 are not swimming this week.


Recycling

There is a creating station in Kākano where the children are able to use the hot glue guns to make new things. If you have any spare recyclable items that we could use please bring these to school for us to use! Anything like empty cereal boxes, egg cartons, empty plastic bottles and lids.


School Mass

Our opening school mass is scheduled for this Friday. Weather permitting we will be holding this outside. Unfortunately due to covid restrictions we aren’t able to have families attend this.


Week ahead:

Monday - normal school day

Tuesday - normal school day

Wednesday - normal school day

Thursday - normal school day

Friday - sausage sizzle and juicy day $1.50 each


Note: library is still closed this week.


Enjoy the rest of your weekend

Kākano teachers


Term 1, Wiki 2


Getting Used to Being Back School


 

Sunday 6 February 2022

Term 1 Wiki 2

 Term 1, Wiki 2



YAY!  We are super excited to get started at school for 2022.  This start of the week blog will be where you find all the information you need for the upcoming week.


Library

The library is not yet open.  Once it is, each class will visit the library once a week.  They will be able to issue two books each visit.  Please note books will need to be returned for children to issue new books.


Swimming

All Kākano classes will be swimming this week.  We will swim regardless of the rain as we are lucky enough to have a heated pool.  Remember to name all your child’s belongings (including underwear) to reduce the risk of lost items.


Start of the Day

We understand that many of our parents will wish to support their child as they start their first day of the 2022 schooling year.  We ask that you limit your time in the class to 5 minutes, this will help us to maintain our Covid response protocols.  If your child is happy to be dropped at the door please wave, give them a hug and move on to ensure social distancing is being observed.   The teachers will be present to support all children on their first day. 


Enjoy the rest of your Waitangi weekend Monday and we will see you tomorrow.


Mrs Lorna Dobson, Mrs Sany-Joy Mareroa, Mr Matt Liley, Mrs Sara Mines, Miss Michelle Ryan, Mrs Lorraine Thomson, Mrs Susie Bye

The Kākano Teachers


Tuesday 1 February 2022

Who is Mr Liley?

  Kia ora koutou,

                                My name is Matthew Liley and I have the great privilege and pleasure of teaching your children this year. I thought I would take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself before our three-way interviews over the next few days.. 

I have been a teacher for 20 years with the last five being spent at the junior level and I am very excited to be coming to St Marys as it has been special to my family for a long time. My wife Emma (Reilly) taught at the school for 10 years, ending in 2008 to take up the role of Head of Education at Rotorua Museum. Our two children Finn and Kate, went through St Marys with wonderful teachers, many of whom are still there now. Finn is about to start his first year at Victoria University and Kate will be in Year 12 at John Paul College.  



I enjoy travelling, reading, sports (both playing and watching) and of course, spending time with my family and friends. My initial role this year is to create a safe, comfortable and happy environment in Kakano 3 for your children, who may be a bit nervous having a completely unknown teacher. The upcoming interviews are a great way of starting this. I have always admired the connections between  St Marys and its Catholic community and look forward to being part of it.

This blog will be one the main way of communicating with you this year. I will post weekly notices and important information as well as providing some insight into the fun learning we will be doing this year. If you have any questions throughout the year please don't hesitate to contact me either in-person before or after school, or through my email at mattl@stmarysrotorua.school.nz. 

Looking forward to meeting you,

Matt L