Fakamālo atu kia te koutou uma,

I greet you using the Tokelau language as it is Tokelau Language Week next week. Another beautiful pasifika language that is at threat. Language weeks are always languages at threat so we can help cultures see the importance of protecting them. Tagalog is not, we just have so many Filipino students, so it makes sense to celebrate.
We are lucky enough to have children of Tokelau descent at our school and I know they would love to hear some of the language next week. The theme is ‘Tokelau, tāofi mau tau aganuku, ko tō pale tēnā – Tokelau, holdfast to your culture, that is your crown.’ This is something we hope to see at our upcoming Cultural Festival next week. We are exciting for our students to showcase their ‘crowns’.
Some simple Tokelauan you can use:
Mālo ni (Maa-lore knee) –  hello note: the macron ā is said longer and with more emphasis and the lo is shorter. 
Tofa (tor-far) – bye

REMINDER: TEACHER ONLY DAY ON TUESDAY 29 OCTOBER! (DUE TO LABOUR DAY, THE WEEK WILL BE WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY FOR THE CHILDREN)

Cultural Festival Must Knows / Kā Mea Matua mō te Taiopeka Ahurea
12.30-2.30pm at Catholic Cathedral College (no parking in the school)
Groups in this order:
Cheerleading (American Culture) – 12.35pm estimated start time
Kapahaka Senior (Māori Culture)
Samoan Group (Samoan Culture)
Cheerleading 
Uniform needed:
-Black pants or shorts (Tights preferred)
-Plain White T-Shirt (we have some at school if you can’t source)
-White Shoes (or black if you can’t get white)
If your child is sick, please email principal@stannes.co.nz as early as possible so we can attempt to rearrange positions.
(sorry, no photos to help, first year performing this)
Kapahaka Performance Group
Boys: Long hair in a top knot if possible.
Girls: Hair tied up (in a bun if possible).
Samoan Group
-White t-shirts please (we have some spare at school if these cannot be sourced)
Office / Tari
Thank you Jude Nuttridge for covering the office. You have been amazing! We hope to see you again sometime.

2025 Samoan Unit / 2025 Whare Hamoa
Classes are slowly taking shape for 2025. It is looking unlikely we will start with two Samoan classes in 2025 as first hoped. We currently aim to start with one class of years 3-5 students so they can continue over the years with sufficient time to reach fluency. The senior students will also have some great opportunities in our plans, but at this time, there will not be a daily year 6-8 class as we were hoping. Please understand, this has been my dream also, but due to the size of the school, number of Samoan students, the ratio staffed by the government and available personnel, it is taking longer to solve and not possible yet. I apologise for any disappointment you may feel due to this, it is shared. The good news is, we are starting, and secondly, we are creative so you never know what we will come up with.

Filipino Language and Culture Week / Te Wiki o te Reo me te Ahurea Piripino
Wow, what a week! We celebrated Filipino Language Week last week with daily lessons in each class on language and culture, a colouring comp in the decorated library, and on Friday a feast organised and served by our amazing families and Chef Astig Euro Asian Cuisine followed by performances organized by our Filipino community. Thanks so much to our Filipino community, students and also Mr Isherwood for coordinating the week.
Pāia, tētahi wiki mīharo! I whakanuia e mātou ‘Te Wiki o te Reo Piripino’ i tērā wiki ki tētahi akoraka i ia rā, i ia rā i roto i kā akomaka mō te reo, te ahurea hoki, ki tētahi whakataetae kara i rō whare pukapuka, ki tētahi hākari i te Paraire i whakarite nā ō tātou whānau mīharo, nā Chef Astig hoki, kātahi ētahi whakaaturaka i whakaritea e te hapori Piripino. Nui ā mātou mihi ki te hapori Piripino, ki kā tamariki, ki Matua Dean hoki i te whakarite o te wiki.

Holiday Work / Mahi Hararei
The school was a hive of activity over the break. A new fale/sandpit, the Gaga Pit got a makeover, the oral traditions of the Tākitimu Waka came to life on the Mission Centre, new cubbies for bags for every room and a good tidy up! Thanks to all involved, especially Glen from Urban Builders Limited for our Fale, and Clara Fleming, one of our teachers for illustrating the Tākitimu Waka story.
He wāhi pukumahi te kura i roto i te hararei. He Fale hou/rua one, he whakahou o te Rua Pāpā, he whakaaturaka o te kōrereo o te Waka Tākitimu, he wāhi hou mō kā pēke a te tamariki, he whakapai o kā wāhi katoa! E mihi ana ki te katoa kua mahi, he mihi whakahirihiri ki Glen nō Urban Builders Limited i tō tātau Fale, ki Clara Fleming, tētahi o ō mātou kaiako, i te tuhi i kā pikitia katoa o te kōrero Tākitimu.
MissioNZ Fundraisier / Hai Piki Ake o te Pūtea mō MissioNZ
Thanks for your support fundraising for this cause of those working with those in third world countries. Thanks Mr Isherwood and the Faith Team for getting the old BBQ humming. Also to our DRS, Mrs Fleming for the organisation.
E rere atu ā mātou mihi ki a koutou i te tautoko i tēnei take whakahirahira, hai āwhina atu ki ērā e āwhina ana i roto i kā whenua ao-toru. He mihi ka tiki ki Matua Dean, ki te Tīma Whakapono i te whakamahi i te rorerore. Waihoki ki te Kaiwhakahaere Whakapono i te whakarite. 
Well Done Certificate Winners at Assembly / He Mihi Tēnei Ki Ērā Kua Whiwhia Tiwhikete ki Hui ā-Kura
Each week we have certificates for one of our components of GRIT and also use of Māori Language or culture. Here are our winners from the last two weeks.

All Saints Day Dress up / Weruweru mō te Rā o te Katoa o Kā Hato
Dress up + Mass – Friday 1st November
We are excited to celebrate All Saints Day on Friday, 1st November. This special day honours all the saints who lived lives of extraordinary faith and service. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the example they set for us in following God.
As part of our celebration, students are invited to dress up as Saints for the day! If a full costume isn’t practical, students may also choose to wear a symbol associated with a saint. For example:
A crown for St. Elizabeth of Hungary
A lily for St. Joseph
A rosary for St. Dominic
A shamrock for St. Patrick
We will also be attending a special All Saints Day Mass at 12pm, and parents are warmly invited to join us for this sacred celebration.
We look forward to seeing the creative ways students will bring the saints to life! Thank you for your support in making this day meaningful.

RE in Room 6 / Mahi Whakapono i rō Rūma 6
Room 6 has been learning about the special graces we receive through the Sacraments. To reflect our understanding, we worked together to create stained glass-style paintings of each Sacrament using watercolours.

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!