Principal's Message
Kia Ora Koutou
I will be brief with my focus on one soul.
Today we farewelled Karen Lapslie who has been the Head of Boarding for 12 years. As she graduates Boarding she recalls fondly her time here, and although stating she will miss her colleagues it is the girls she will miss most.
The world we live in has changed markedly and we evolve with change- you have to do that. The dilemmas of teenagerhood also change and as one who has been in this industry for 36 years thus far our ‘big deals’ then are so different from the ‘big deals’ now and that will always be the case. Karen spoke to this and passed on her words of wisdom to those present, that staying in touch and constantly learning is vital in the duty of care of the Boarding role. She is ready to pass the baton to the next energetic soul and is excited for the changes that this new person will bring.
Boarding is important to us and the recent Boarding Review we have undertaken has allowed us to celebrate what is amazing in the world of Boarding, but more it has given us pause to reflect on what we can make better- for our girls and our staff.
Have a safe weekend. Let us keep in mind those who are still in Lockdown. Let us also remember that a smile and kindness are amazing tonics.
Ngā Mihi
Kiri
Around School this Week
Ikaroa Ki Te Tonga Maori Girls' Netball
Lily Gilles (Year 10) and Mackenzie Roil (Year 9) have been involved in Ikaroa Ki Te Tonga Maori Girls netball. The purpose of this was to develop young Maori talent in netball over the off-season. They had trainings every Sunday throughout the summer and on Thursday afternoons. Lily was in the U15 team and Mackenzie was in the U13 team. The girls attended a tournament in Upper Hutt and played Twilight Netball. Both girls are in our Junior A Netball team this season. The future looks good!
First XI Football
The First XI Football team had a game against Palmerston North Girls' High School on Wednesday and won 8-0! Darby Lambert and Ellie Domanski both scored hat-tricks!
Regional Cross-Country Event
On Wednesday a strong team of runners represented St Matthew's at the Wellington Regional Cross-Country Competition in Upper Hutt. Below are the results:
Junior Girls – Year 9 and under
12th Meg Speedy
23rd Ava Register
25th Poppy Tatham
49 in this event
SMS placed 5th in team event
Intermediate Girls (Under 16)
10th Ruby Matthews
17th Ella Kirkup
19th Olive Percy
33 in this event
SMS placed 3rd in team event
Senior Girls (Under 19)
20th Darby Lambert
22nd Sam Plimmer
23 in this event.
Thursday Activities
We have one week left of our current Thursday Activities. It has been a fast few weeks with lots of activity, and a chance to take a break and do something different. The girls mixing in year groups has been a real positive.
Thursday afternoons for the remainder of the term will look like this:
Week 6: House Spelling Bee
Week 7: Big Sing - girls back at school will do study or games in the gym
Week 8, 9, 10 - Our girls will be involved in activities with their cohort from Rathkeale College. These include ABL games, learning Waiata together, and scavenger hunts.
Year 9 Social
This was held last night and hosted by the Year 11 leaders on both sites. A big thank you to these students for provided the Year 9 girls and boys with a chance to meet. The theme was 'tropical' with prizes for best dressed.
School Notices
Reporting
Next Friday Effort Grade Report Three will be published on the portal. This will be for core subjects only for Years 7-9, with a full report on all subjects (options) at the end of the term. Year 10-11 will have core subjects plus their option subjects.
Term Two is an important time for our reporting cycle. Teachers from now until Week 7 are gathering information to put into the system. In Week 9, all girls will be interviewed by their Whanau Teacher/s. This is an academic and pastoral interview for Whanau Teachers to check in with their girls, and help them set goals for the rest of the year. The girls will spend all day with their Whanau class, and have work from classes they would've had that day. The date for Whanau interviews is Friday 2 July.
At the beginning of Term Three, parents will have the chance to meet with subject teachers again to discuss their daughter's progress. Details for these interviews will be published closer to the time.
Coming Up on the Calendar......
Term Two - Week Five
Monday 31 May - Whanau Time, Junior Choir, Junior Production Rehearsal, Viva Rehearsal
Tuesday 1 June - Sheppard House Chapel, Year 10 Lunchtime Music Concert
Wednesday 2 June - Assembly, Orchestra, Culture Group Rehearsals, Viva Rehearsal, Level Two and Three Music Assessments, Youth Group
Thursday 3 June - Junior Chapel, Thursday Activities, Sheila Winn Shakespeare National Finals
Friday 4 June - Year 9 Led Assembly, Jazz Band, Whanau Time, Sheila Winn Skakespeare National Finals, SMOGA Reunion
Queen's Birthday Weekend - Monday Holiday
Term Two - Week Six
Monday 7 June - School Closed
Tuesday 8 June - Whanganui Collegiate Fixture (Home), Senior Chapel, Junior Choir
Wednesday 9 June - Prefects Assembly, Big Sing Wellington (Viva), Orchestra, Culture Group Rehearsals, Youth Group
Thursday 10 June - Junior Chapel, House Spelling Bee (Thursday afternoon), Friends of SMS Meeting
Friday 11 June - Jazz Band, Whanau Time