Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou
As always, the Ministry updates schools regarding matters of national importance and my endeavour is to always keep you posted about those things; this newsletter does that.
Twilight Athletics
I invite you parents and whānau to join us at Twilight Athletics on February 26, which is compulsory for your daughters. If you also have sons at Rathkeale it could be a long day -but an enjoyable one. We shifted to the Twilight event to give you the chance to join us but also, so we did not have events clashes making it impossible for you to get between the two schools.
St Matthew’s Equestrian Results
I am going to quote verbatim Charlotte McIntosh because they are an accurate representation of Monday 15th’s St Matthew’s Day: “What a day! How lucky we were to have been able to hold the event, especially since the organising has been happening since last year.”
Individual results as follows:
Table C Class
• 80cm - 1st Emily McMaster. 4th Emma Kitchingman. 7th Poppy Tatham
• 90cm- 9th Zahara Winyard
• 1M - 6th Sophia Williams
Am5 Class
• 80cm- 1st Emma Kitchingman
• 90cm - 1st Beth Pallister. 7th Harriette Klingender. 10th Emma Kitchingman.
• 1M- 7th Sophia Williams . 9th Laura White
Power and Speed Class
• 80cm 2nd Emily McMaster. 4th Poppy Tatham.
• 90cm. 1st Blandine McIntosh. 6th Emma Kitchingman. 9th Madeleine Kennedy
• 1M 3rd Sophia Williams, 6th Sophia Williams. 9th Laura White.
Team Results
• 6th place SMS white team. Emma Kitchingman, Blandine McIntosh, Harriette Klingender, Sophia Williams
• 4th SMS Gold Beth Pallister, Emma Kitchingman, Pia White, Sophia Williams.
COVID Update
Following the recent cases in Papatoetoe, the decision was made by Cabinet to require face coverings to be worn on public transport across New Zealand at Alert Level 1. This means that face coverings will be required on public transport at all alert levels. There is no change to the application of face coverings for schools.
Cabinet will review the decision on face coverings for public transport and our alert levels on Monday 22 February.
At Alert Level 1, as with Alert Level 2, face coverings must therefore be worn:
• on all public transport, including on long-distance bus and train journeys and most ferries
• on domestic flights throughout New Zealand
• by taxi and ride-share drivers — while it is not compulsory for passengers to wear them, they are strongly encouraged to.
Face coverings are not required at school or on any school transport. But they must be worn on all public transport, including by any school children aged 12 and over.
At any alert level, children, young people or teachers and other staff who want to wear face coverings at schools or early learning services may do so. They are entitled to make this decision and should not be criticised for doing so.
Public Health advice is that children under six should not wear face coverings in any setting.
There are also general exemptions for users of public transport, including for people where, for medical and health reasons, a face covering would not be appropriate, and small passenger vehicles such as taxis and Ubers (the drivers will be required to wear a mask).
Have a safe weekend.
Ngā Mihi
Kiri
Around School this Week
International Students
Our Chinese students celebrated Chinese New Year by cooking a special feast themselves and shared with other students from Japan and Thailand.
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New year is China’s most important festival. It is time for families to be together and a week of official public holidays.
The students styed in various parts of NZ during the last summer holidays because of NZ boarders are closed for the students. If they went back, they would not be able to return to resume their studies. In an occasion like this, I have no doubt that they are thinking of their families and feeling homesick.
Despite this, they are working hard to complete this year’s study and are looking forward to be able to go home at the end of the year.
School Notices
Twilight Athletics - Friday 26 February
We will be holding our Twilight Athletics event this year from 12.00pm - 7.00pm (approximately), on Friday 26 February.
Day girls will not be required at school until 12.00pm, when they will join the Boarders for House meetings. In the morning the Boarders will be in the care of the Boarding house staff.
Any girls from the South Wairarapa who need transport to school need to see Miss Glass. Depending on numbers we will run a mini-bus or bus to South Wairarapa to collect students in the morning.
All girls will be given a light meal at 4pm (this replaces lunch on this day). The Friends of SMS will also be running a refreshment stall, so we invite you to bring some cash to partake of their wares.
Families are invited to join us to enjoy this community event. Parents be reminded that we have a 'Tug of War' and 'Gumboot Throwing' event. If you are keen to participate please come forward at the time.
We will be in need of parent assistance to run the events on both Athletic Championships day, and Athletics Heat day which will be held on Thursday 18 February. If you would like to assist please contact the Sport Department at sport@stmatts.school.nz.
As most of our grounds are used for the event, there will be no parking inside the gates. The gates to the school will be closed from 12.00pm. Parking is also available by our other pedestrian entrance on Cole Street.
We look forward to seeing you at this school event.
Thursday Activities
From Week 5 the girls will be involved in Thursday activities (2pm-3.10pm).The girls are able to choose an activity they would like to be involved in for a six weeks. Please follow the link below to the booklet which gives a description of each activity. Some carry a cost, but most are free. We have done our best to provide a variety of activities to cater for most interests.
The girls in the Equestrian Team will be using this time for training. There is an option under the first choice to indicate this which they must select.
Below is the link to the form where the girls need to select their activity. They have a first and second choice. This form has been emailed to the girls and sent out via the app. They need to have their selection in by Monday 22 February by 5pm.
Open Afternoon
On Tuesday 2 March we are hosting our Open Afternoon from 2-5pm. While some of this is in school time, we require students to stay after school until 5pm to guide new families around the school. We are asking girls to volunteer for this (Y9-Y13).
If you daughter is interested please contact Miss Glass.
School Gate and Driveway
Can we please ask parents of day girls not to drive into the school grounds to drop off and collect your daughters. Please park at the gate and ask your daughter to meet you there. There is also the Hampton House gate which is less congested at 3.10pm.
If would also be very helpful if parents did not park on the yellow lines or bus stop right by the gate. This restricts the vision of the vehicles turning out of our gate into Pownall Street.
Coming Up on the Calendar......
Term One Week Four
Monday 22 February - Junior Choir, Boarders' Chapel, Viva Rehearsal
Tuesday 23 February - Senior Chapel, Year 7/8 Camp
Wednesday 24 February - School Singing, Year 7/8 Camp, Intercollegiate Debating Competition (SMS), Orchestra, Viva Rehearsal
Thursday 25 February - Junior Chapel, Year 7/8 Camp, Jazz Band, Year 12/13 Careers, Board of Trustees Meeting
Friday 26 February - Twilight Athletics (see details sent on email and above)
Term One Week Five
Monday 1 March - Junior Choir, Viva Rehearsal
Tuesday 2 March - Senior Chapel, Open Afternoon
Wednesday 3 March - Assembly, Orchestra, Years 7/8 Evening
Thursday 4 March - Junior Chapel, Jazz Band, Thursday Activities
Friday 5 March - Year 10/11 Food Trip (TBC)
Exeat Weekend
Year 10 Camp leave Sunday March 7
Term Dates 2021
Term One 2021
Monday 1st February – Friday 16th April
Term Two 2021
Monday 3rd May – Friday 9th July
Term Three 2021
Monday 26th July – Friday 1st October
Term Four 2021
Monday 18th October – End of Year Date TBC