E kā whānau whānui o Hato Ani, nāia te mihi o te wā Aweneti ki a koutou katoa,
One massive week left people, look at how much is happening at the bottom of the post! We are exhausted from this week! So many exciting opportunities to finish the year. Big thanks to all the teachers organising so much to finish the year!
CHANGES FOR 2025
Classroom shuffling
Samoan Unit: Our Mission Centre will be the base of our newly formed Sāmoan Unit. This will have a small class of years 3-5 students for 2025 and looking to use both rooms and two classrooms in 2026. Senior students will join the class on Fridays for an Aiga Day for immersion Sāmoan all day with lots of cultural learnings on those days (not forgetting our government’s one hour reading, writing and mathematics but in Sāmoan those days though!).
Bilingual Rooms (50/50 rooms): These will be in Rooms 7 and 8 next year. This decision was made due to the problems we have had when a teacher is unwell or away, we are unable to source relievers who are fluent speakers in Māori so the classes miss a full day of learning in that area and lots of momentum. If they are together and one teacher is away, the doors between can be opened and the teacher left can still run immersion Māori time for both classes.
Rooms 1 and 2 will start both as collaborative new entrant rooms as we have a lot of new entrants starting next year to replace the large year 8 group leaving.
Room 4 is titled as a Bilingual Preparation class as has a more structured approach and more done than Room 3 or 5 as the hope is that all or most of this class will move into 50/50 the next year, however, will not be forced and is always open for others to join. We have had too many requests this year and have been unable to accommodate all into bilingual classes. We may run three 50/50 classes in 2026 however. These decisions have been made with ‘all teachers’ and often in communication with parents putting students in the best place for their learning.
Note: Rooms 3-6 will be tidied up in the near future like Room 1 and 2 have just been.
This is our 2025 look, exact classes will come out in the Christmas newsletter next week.
Room 1 – Jo Smart (New Entrant)
Room 2 – December McVicar (New Entrant)
Room 3 – Savanah Morton-Smith (Years 2-3)
Room 4 – Jean Chiron (Bilingual Preparation class Years 3-4)
Room 5 – Daniel Richards (Years 4-6)
Room 6 – Dean Isherwood (Years 6-8)
Room 7 – Josh Halkett (Bilingual Years 5-6)
Room 8 – Palo Shanahan (Bilingual Years 7-8)
Room 9 (Mission Centre) – Ateliana Tiatia (Bilingual Samoan Years 3-5)
Part time teachers:
Clara Fleming (two days)
Matt Brorens (three days)
Maryse Vernon (four days)
Staffing Changes
Clara Fleming
Mrs Fleming is taking a part-time role next year for personal reasons. She will still be around the school a few days a week teaching and mentoring. She will be having a break from being our Assistant Principal and Director of Religious Studies also, so those roles will be taken up by others for 2025. We will miss her in her full-time capacity and as a leader, but are fortunate she will be still part of the team in a different way.
Penny Cherry
Penny leaves us as sport coordinator, amazing photographer, office reliever and your daily Facebook reminder. Next year as her youngest child moves to high school. Penny has a long history with the school and her efforts could be seen throughout the years. More to be said next week here.
Te Māio Tamati-Stirling
He was just starting to become part of the furniture and now he is out of here!!! You cannot keep this man down. I did try! It was only a six month deal coming to St Anne’s but I convinced him to do another year (this year), coming all the way in from Kaiapoi each day. Te Māio and his young family are relocating to Ōtepoti (Dunedin) to be near his wife’s family. Te Māio has accepted a job at Taieri College leading Māori and Pasifika there. This is an exciting opportunity and responsibility for him in which we know he will do well. He will have the chance to teach Māori to a very high level, engage and enrich Māori and Pasifika culture in a large school. It feels like one of those ‘meant to be’ times. I am looking forward to using the connection to help the NZPPA make links to Ōtākou and Muruhiku to further support our pasifika learners throughout NZ.
We, of course, are sad to see him go as he is a great teacher to have on your team. Students love him, he’s a great team player and has a calm yet fun nature.
For those unaware, Te Māio has been leading our first year with 50/50 bilingual classes alongside Josh. Both of them have led the change, trialled things, assessed developments and adapted. He has been our Cultural Leader for the year as has the most knowledge and mana in this area. At the same time as working here, his second child was born and has been busy with two young children at home. With challenges popping up from time to time for him over the year, he has remained focused and calm and has got on with it, ‘me aropapaki te whiu’ we would say!
We are thankful for his work for our school, on the curriculum, and with the students, and we hope he has got something out of his time here. We wish him all the best and look forward to connecting with his high school in the future!
Neke ki mua, mate ki mua e tōku taeake! Te Atua te aro’a iā koe, ‘ē, kia manuia!
PRIZE GIVING / WHAKAPŌTAETAKA
Wednesday 11 December
This will be held at Catholic Cathedral College School Hall. Doors open at 5pm for a 5.30pm sharp start. We will be having less performances this year to reduce the length for our children. Expected finish time 6.45pm. This prize giving is for all families as there are two awards for each class (GRIT and Faith) and our premium awards. Please come along and support our school and those leaving. Tidy dress, no uniform expected. Here is a photo of one of the two top trophies (Faith and Dux) and one of the other premium (7 others) this year with the names erased. Who will get them this year?
KORE SAILING (YEARS 7-8) / WHAKARĒRERE KORE (TAU KURA 7-8)
On Monday the 9th our seniors will head out to Lake Rua and learn to sail. It will be far more than a fun day out of school, KORE Sailing is grounded in the curriculum, and in particular all five Key Competencies from the New Zealand Curriculum; Thinking, Using language, Managing self, Relating to others and Participating and contributing. Also, the activities are planned to increase awareness of the importance of safe practice around water; the KORE team have worked closely with Water Safety New Zealand in developing the best possible sailing programme. The combination of fresh air, learning through play, physical activity, responsibility and being a member of a small team, brings a sense of pride in achievement.
PRODUCTION / WHAKAATURAKA
Wow, what a success. It was slightly different than the Bible version but still holding fast to the meaning of it all. I totally understand that Jonah wanted to go to Samoa rather than take on the hard tasks given to him by God, but in the end, with his faith strong, he completed his mission. If you were unable to make the production, we recorded it and here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfXbt8YhkJo Thanks so much firstly to Mapusaga Aonga Amata and the EFKS Congregational Christian Church of Samoa for allowing us use of the space for the few days!
To Shane and Anita of SR Sound, thank you for your time and all the fancy gadgets you broke out for the performance, we really do love working with you. If anyone needs sound, and you forget their name, just ask at school. Thanks team! Well done to the children for their amazing efforts in learning lines and songs. To the parents for helping source uniforms, and provide some props. To all of you who supported, thank you. To the staff for all their work getting this together at such a busy time, thank you.
Miss McVicar and Mr Halkett get an extra little mention for their time helping making our props come to life. And lastly, to our two directors, Jo Smart and Clara Fleming, still teaching full time but putting all this together. What a wonderful opportunity you have provided our children in this production. This will be one of those moments that our students remember and bring up for the rest of their lives. You have given our students the opportunity to grow in their confidence, speaking and acting ability during the many practices, rehearsals and then the big day. I thank you for the countless hours you have spent organising the children, the staff, the families, the props, the costumes, the venue and all of the bits in between, and doing all of this at a busy time of year! A big thank you and well done for making this happen for us all!
KIWI CAN
Congratulations to Kalista of Room 7 and Jarren of Room 4. They are the St Anne’s Kiwi Can Champions for 2024. Every year, the Kiwi Can leaders select a Junior and Senior champion who exhibits our school’s values. Kalista and Jarren have been positive role models and were acknowledged last night at the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s Celebration at North City Church.
E mihi atu ana ki a Kalista (Rūma 7) rāua ko Jarren (Rūma 4). Ko rāua kā toa Kiwican mō 2024. I ia tau, ka whiriwhiria e kā kaiārahi kā toa e whakaatu/whakatinana ana i kā uara o te kura. He tauira pai a Jarren rāua ko Kalista, ā, inapō ka mihia rāua ki te Whakanui Graeme Dingle Foundation Canterbury i te Hāhi North City.
CANTERBURY ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS / WHAKATAETAE KAIPARA WAITAHA
A few photos from Canterbury Athletics Championships at Ngā Puna Wai. Eric placed 3rd in the AWD Shotput. He also placed 4th in the mixed AWD 5-8 running. Ezekiel did really well also in Shotput with a distance of 7.59m for his best shot. Well done boys and thank you Penny for the transport, encouragement and photos!
Nāia ētahi whakaahua mai i Whakataetae Kaipara Waitahi ki Ngā Puna Wai. Kua whiwhi a Eric i te tūka tuatoru ki te Paka Matā AWD, waihoki, tūka tuawhā ki te omaoma AWD 5-8. Tino pai te mahi Paka Matā a Ezekiel, me tētahi roaka o 7.59m. Ā mātau mihi ki kā tama, ki a Penny hoki!
CHEERLEADING BREAK UP / WHAKANUI CHEERLEADING
Our Cheerleading group got a chance to work on their flips and tumbles.
Ko tā tātau rōpū Cheerleading me te āheika ki te piki ake ō rātou pukeka.
TUNING INTO KIDS – is a free parenting course focused on emotional coaching of our Tamariki. The Diocese will be running this six session course from 366 Cashel St, from 4pm till 6pm, starting Monday 27th January 2025. We have limited spaces but if you are interested please contact CSS 03 379 0012 to secure your space.
This course is so good, it will be offered again at school in Term 2 or 3, 2025 for those who are unable to make this event.
POLICIES / KĀ HERE
A reminder, if you are interested and would like to take part in our termly reviews of policies, or are interested in any, they can be found here. Please follow the link and then have a look around!
He mea maumahara tēnei, mēnā tō hiahia, tirohia kā here, mahia kā arotake hoki. Kai konei kā here. Whāia te honoka, kātahi, tirohia!
UPCOMING EVENTS / KĀ TAIOPEKA E HAERE MAI ANA
If you have any questions, please email or talk to the person whose email address follows the reminder. If there is no email address, it is just something to be aware of.
Mēnā he pātai āu, īmēra atu te īmēra, kōrerotia ki te takata kua whakaikoa. Mehemea kāhore he īmēra, he mea hai whakamōhio noa iho.
TERM 4 / WĀHAKA WHĀ
Friday 6 December – Youth Group Years 7 and 8, 4.30pm-6pm Mission Centre – Last day janette@stellamarisparish.org.nz
Saturday 7 December – Hip Hop Showcase – Vivacity Hip Hop group principal@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
Monday 9 December – Kore Sailing – Years 7/8 dean@stannes.co.nz
Monday 9 December – Room 6 Willowbank Trip clara@stannes.co.nz
Monday 9 December – Leavers’ Dinner 5pm-7pm – Year 8 dean@stannes.co.nz
Tuesday 9 December – Mihi Whakatau for Mr Shanahan 9.15am temaio@stannes.co.nz
Tuesday 10 December – Mahi Kāika Trip 11.15am-2.50pm principal@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 11 December – Room 5 Trip josh@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 11 December – Prize giving at CCC 5pm doors open, 5.30pm sharp start dean@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 12 December – Room 1 and 2 Trip to Arion Park jo@stannes.co.nz december@stannes.co.nz
Friday 13 December – Leavers’ Mass 9.15am clara@stannes.co.nz
Friday 13 December – Reports home, Books and gear to come home.
Friday 13 December – Christmas Newsletter out with classes and stationery
Friday 13 December – Haere Rā for Matua Te Māio 2pm
WEEK 10 / WIKI TEKAU
Monday 16 December – Last full day for 2024-Classes will be rearranged to the 2025 formation during this day.
Tuesday 17 December – Pop in and meet your 2025 teacher and Room. Teachers will be setting up new rooms (Palo Shanahan and Savanah Morton-Smith won’t be available as finishing the year at Waitakiri School and Tai Tapu School)
Te Atua te aro’a ‘ē kia manuia,
Dallas Wichman
Tumuaki / Principal / Pū ‘Āpi’i Ma’ata