Principal's Message
Kia Ora Koutou
House Music sometimes feels a little bit like Christmas. You start thinking about it the day after you have had the event, you spend the rest of the year cogitating , and then the shopping, and the organising, and the tree, and the decorating, and the outfits, and then WHAM the day arrives… and it is as you would have hoped it would be- Great. House Music was just like that this year.
Hats are off to the young women and staff of St Matthew’s because in a year of cancellations they cannot be blamed for feeling deflated by the changes that had to happen to House Music. However, they showed their agility, and rose to the occasion under the watchful eyes of their intrepid leaders to make Alert level 2 House Music 2020 terrific.
The understanding and acceptance of our parents to be an audience via livestream made the planning and the day easier to navigate, so I thank you as whanau for that support. Later in this newsletter are the results and photos, and you can also watch the event on YouTube.
I wanted to close this message by also letting you know that the singing continued for some later in the day. Anna Bebbington (Y13) and Francesca Domanski(Y12) gained 1st and 3rd respectively in the Intercollegiate solo music competition.
Let us all remember to: follow the protocols, make safe choices, and be our best selves.
Ngā Mihi
Kiri
Around School This Week
Year 12 Breakfast
House Music
It's all about House Music this week! What a fantastic event! As you all know it looked very different, and some doubted we could gather the same atmosphere as in previous years at bigger venues. However, our girls rose to the occasion. The atmosphere around school as we prepared for the event was one of sisterhood and excitement. It hasn't been easy and many adjustments had to be made. Our judge Mrs Lucy Hepburn commented that the girls performed as if they were on a bigger stage and the quality of their music was a real credit to them.
Finally to our staff who worked behind the scenes to support the girls. We have a wealth of expertise on our staff and this was a real bonus for our House Music. Many thanks to Mr Davidson who is always on hand to solve a problem and do it with ease and humour. To Mr Sherman-Ball who ensured the live-stream was a success, and our 2020 House Music Event was online for all to see.
Fear not! Hoping that we are not in the grip of a global pandemic in 2021, we will be back at Wairarapa College for this event. The booking has already been made!
The judging was close and here are the results:
Best Hymn - Grey
Best Song - Cobham
Student Arrangement- Wakefield
Best Band - Fergusson
Best Conductor - Hannah Penn - Grey
Creative Endeavour - Fergusson
Winning House - Grey
Senior College News
St. Matthew’s House Music Competition took place yesterday and the Rathkeale Competition follows in two weeks’ time. Congratulations to the student leaders and senior musicians in each of the houses on their efforts motivating, conducting, and arranging music on behalf of the students in each house. It is a huge job!
Like the boys in Year 11 Ag/Hort, girls in Year 12 taking Level 2 Classical Studies will also be sitting a digital Practice Exam in the final week of term. We look forward to their feedback on how this compares to the traditional written papers that they are more familiar with.
Following her outstanding performance at last week's Level 3 Solo Music Recital, it is great to be able to congratulate Anna Bebbington for winning the Vocal class in last night’s Intercollegiate Music Competition. Well done!
Mr Adam Gordon
Deputy Principal Rathkeale College
Head of Senior College
Coming Up on the Calendar
Week 9 Term Three - Maori Language Week
Monday 14 September - Year 13 Chapel and Breakfast, Whanua Time, Whole School Waiata, Viva Rehearsal
Tuesday 15 September - Cultural Group Rehearsal, Wakefield House Chapel, MCAT (Year 11 Maths assessment),
Wednesday 16 September - Y9-13 Assembly (Student Rep for BOT speeches), Solway Equestrian, Orchestra, Cultural Group Rehearsal, Viva Rehearsal
Thursday 17 September - Junior Chapel, Digital Technology Derived Grade Exam, Jazz Band, Wellness, Year 9/10 Careers, BOT Meeting
Friday 18 September - House Meetings (BOT Student Rep voting), Whanau Time
Week 10 Term Three (last week of Term)
Monday 21 September - Whanau Time, Junior Choir, Year 13 Interviews for subjects for 2021, Junior Youth Group, Viva Rehearsal
Tuesday 22 September - Senior Chapel, Cultural Group Rehearsal, Year Level Meetings
Wednesday 23 September - SMS Patronal Service (TBC), Orchestra, Cultural Group, Viva Rehearsal, Senior Youth Group
Thursday 24 September - Junior Chapel, Jazz Band, Year 9/10 Careers (Primary Industry focus), Wellness
Friday 25 September - 2020 Student Leadership Speeches, Whanau Time (school clean-up), Final Assembly (re-opening of Lazarus)
School Notices
Friends of SMS Fees Raffle
Congratulations to Milly Hewitt and Emma Thorneycroft (both in Year 9) who won the Term Three Friends Fees Raffle - $600 will be credited to their account.
Uniform Shop
Summer uniform orders due at the end of this term:
The last date to order summer uniform this year is the 5th October. Please review your uniform and let the Uniform Shop know if there is any chance that you will need either new or 2nd hand uniform for term 1. There is no obligation to buy, but it will mean that enough stock is ordered, in the correct sizes.
White blouses for year 13s: there is usually a shortage of good 2nd hand white blouses, so it is very important that year 12s order their white blouses now! The order for winter blouses (plus senior skirts and other winter uniform) will be placed at the beginning of February 2021.
Please email Juliet with any questions: smcsuniforms@trinityschools.nz
BALL GOWNS - WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The Class of 2020 is drawing to a close and with much excitement, preparation is underway for December's Leavers Ball. We'd like to help the girls with the most important task of selecting a ball dress. We are pretty sure there's some beautiful gowns tucked away in wardrobes out there, that may have only been worn once or twice, just itching to be out and on the dance floor again!
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - brush off those gowns and enjoy seeing them worn again with pride by another St Matthews Leaver in 2020.
We can collect the dress(es) from you, or you can drop off to the school office, anytime before September 18.
For collection in the Wairarapa, contact Ces Newton on 027 429 4749. For collection in the greater Wellington area, contact Sophie McKenna on 021 255 4597. If you live somewhere else and have a dress to loan, contact either of us and we can discuss logistics.
We are looking forward to an amazing event in December and in wishing our 2020 leavers all the best for life out the school gates!
Dates for the End of the Year
Below are end of year dates:
Thurs November 11 - Senior College Prizegiving 7pm
Monday November 16 - NCEA National Exams begin
Friday December 4 - Non-NCEA students released from instruction Carol Service and Leavers' Service - 6pm St Matthew's Parish Church
Saturday December 5 - St Matthew’s Prizegiving -ALL students required - 12pm Wairarapa College (Please note change of time from 9am)
Wednesday December 9 - NCEA National Exams end; School and Boarding House(s) Officially closed
Monday December 14 - Year 13 Leavers' Ball
Community News
Eco Tip #5 - Lily Burgin Penlington Year 12
Switch to using LED light bulbs instead of regular ones. Not only do LED light bulbs last longer than conventional bulbs, they’re far more efficient! This means that you’ll be using less power and having to replace your light bulbs less frequently. What's more, they're available in a range of brightness and designs so you can really tailor the lighting to your needs or to suit the room. If you want to take the extra step, try petitioning the government or local MP to move to green energy, using something such as solar or wind power - the more voices speak up and speak out, the bigger impact we as a community can make.