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Star Board - Term One Week Six St Matthew's Collegiate School Weekly News

Principal's Message

Kia Ora Koutou

So, we are now over halfway through this term and we have done so much. As I look back at what the girls have achieved, I cannot help but smile. No one has set the world on fire with their achievements (given how dry it has been that is probably for the best), but by crikey they have all built some nice piles for some great ‘log fires’ ahead.

Attendance

COVID-19 has compelled us to stay home if we are sick. What it has not said is ‘stay home if you feel like it’, ‘stay home if it is your birthday’, or ‘stay away to go to a concert’, and other such unjustifiable reasons.

Legislation governing attendance is that schools (Boards, Principals, and individual teachers), along with parents and guardians, are responsible for making sure students attend school regularly.

The attendance monitoring process occurs at 4 levels: Attendance Officer, Subject Teacher, Whanau Teacher, and Dean. We will seek a Medical Certificate if necessary if a student is absent 3 days or more.

Parents and their teenagers

Someone said these things to me once and now I offer them to you.

Listen earnestly to anything your children wants to tell you, no matter what. If you do not listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they will not tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.

As hard as it might seem there are two things we should give our children: one is roots and the other is wings.

Have a safe weekend

Ngā Mihi

Kiri

Around School this Week

Intercollegiate Athletics

On Tuesday we sent a team to the Wairarapa Intercollegiate Athletics at the Sports Bowl. Congratulations to the girls who made it to the next level, qualifying for the Wellington Regional Athletics and North Island Athletics later in the term. From left, Sally Booth and Lucy Wyeth competed in the Junior Girls Javelin. On the right, Ruby Matthew's wins her 300m race. Click below for full results of this event.

Our Year 10 girls have spent this week at Kaitoke Camp just over the hill. They have been involved in a range of activities including canyoning (pictured Milly Young, Lila Handiside, Georgia Southon, Eve Tomlin and Kristina Cook), mountain biking, making damper, abseiling, crate stacking, high wire, walked in the bush, lit fires, talents show, dodgeball……. The list goes on. This Friday they embark on a tramp with many completing Duke of Edinburgh requirements. A huge thank you to the staff that went on the camp.

Emma Thorneycroft on the high ropes

First XI Cricket

On Wednesday afternoon for First XI Cricket team played Wairarapa College in their qualifying match for the Central Districts finals. They one by 150 runs, with Jessie Hollard making 80 runs, Emma McLeod 47 and Ocean Bartlett 35. Emma McLeod also took five wickets. The girls play teams from other areas of the Central Districts on Wednesday next week in Palmerston North, to qualify for the National tournament in December.

Thursday Activities

Thursday activities continued this week. From top left, Boxing, Climbing Wall, Musical Theatre, Yoga and Karate. Thanks to all our instructors for working with our girls.

Meet Our Teachers

On the 7th and 9th of April we will be holding our Curriculum Interviews from 3.30-5.30pm. Booking details will be published to parents nearer the time. In the meantime we would like to introduce our teachers so when the time comes you will know a little bit about them.

Languages Department

Pictured above is our Languages Department. On the left is Mrs Lucy Clearwater who joins us from Queen Margaret College. She teaches Spanish Year 7-10 and Taha Maori in Year 9. On the right is Mrs Jenny Hanon (HOD) who teaches French from Year 7-10. She also teaches three other Year 9 subjects, Science, Art and Social Studies.

Years 7/8 Department

Introducing our Years 7/8 team! Mr Douglas Davidson has been a mainstay of this department for many years. He does many things around the school, including productions, football and musical theatre. Joining us this week is Mrs Georgie Gollins who takes over in Room 11. Georgie has just come off maternity leave and was previously at Queen Margaret College and Wellesley School.

Art Department

At SMS we are fortunate to have the husband and wife team of Mr Evan Jones and Ms Monika Theng. Mr Jones teaches at Year 10 Art Class and is required at Rathkeale to teach boys from Years 9-13. Ms Theng teaches Art across our site and also Years 12/13 classes at Senior College. Ms Theng is the facilitator of the Culture Group across both sites.

More teacher profiles in next week's newsletter .........

Effort Grade Report One for Years 7-11 are now available on the parent portal - please follow the link below...

Senior College News

Year 13 Activity Day

On Friday we welcomed the Year 13 boys on our site to participate in some activities. These included cake making, impressionist art, upcycling clothing and making pizzas.

School Notices

Wellness Day 18 March

On Thursday 18 March the school is holding a Wellness Day. Our Seniors will be at St Matthew's for this day. We have a range of things happening for all year groups, apart from Year 11 who will be on camp. It is a mufti day and we are asking the girls to bring along item/s for the Foodbank. They can be brought to school from now on and placed in the green trolley in the foyer of the Hall.

Below is an outline of what we will be doing:

8.45am-11am

Year 7/8 - Workshop on Friendships

Year 9 - Careers and then speakers from the NZ Police

Year 10 - Study Skills

Year 12/13 - will be divided into three groups and rotate around three workshops, 'Who Are You Going to Be' (Georgie Falloon), Car Maintanence (Southey Honda), and Financial Life Beyond School (Carissa Fairbrother).

After interval we have a House competition (Family Feud), and then our annual School Disco. We encourage the girls to have an outfit ready to represent their favourite musical idol! Prizes awarded!

After lunch the girls will go to their normal Thursday activities.

Relay for Charity - Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of April

Relay for Charity is an event created to give back to the community while having fun. This year the charity we're supporting is Wairarapa Women's refuge, and the idea is to fundraise as much money as possible, in any way possible, to make a difference to those in need. Students who partake will complete laps around the St Matt's sports field by either running or walking in order to raise both awareness and money. This event is to take place on the 9th-10th of April, from 4.30 pm-10 pm for yrs 7 to 10, and from 6pm-7am for years 11 to 13.

Entry forms for this event are in the school office. For more information contact Johanna Cloutman - Service Prefect - 152014@trinityschools.nz

Tutoring

We are here to help! Tutoring is an initiative set up by the students for the students to support the girls and allow them to flourish in their academics. This year, despite making a few changes to how it is run to create an ever more inclusive atmosphere -- such as making the process completely anonymous (i.e. only myself, the respective tutor and the student will know that they are being tutored unless they decide otherwise) -- the core values have remained the same: to use student expertise and experience to enrich the learning of those that follow them. If any students are interested, myself and my team of tutors are more than happy to help, just send an email to me 172008@trinityschools.nz and I will match you to the best fit for you and what you are looking for. Happy learning!

Lily Bergin-Penlington - Academic Prefect

Open Afternoon

As you will be aware we had to cancel or Open Afternoon due to Level 2 restrictions. We are pleased to announce that this has been rescheduled for Tuesday 18 May from 2pm-5pm (Term Two Week Three). Spread the word!

Lost Property

There is a huge amount of lost property in the Common Room. If your daughter has lost an item/s of uniform, it is likely to be there!

Coming Up on the Calendar......

Term One Week 7

Monday 15 March - Whanau Time, Summer Quad (Iona), Year 11 Camp, Junior Choir, Viva Rehearsal, Primary Cricket CD Finals, Year 13 Geography Trip

Tuesday 16 March - Senior Chapel, Year 11 Camp, Year 13 Geography Trip

Wednesday 17 March - School Singing, Year 11 Camp, Masterton Primary Swimming Championships, Orchestra, Cultural Group Rehearsal, Viva Rehearsal, First XI CD Cricket Finals (Palmerston North), Year 13 Geography Trip

Thursday 18 March - Year 11 Camp, Wellness Day (Y7-13 at SMS), Mufti Day (Foodbank Appeal), Jazz Band, School Activities, Central Districts Field Days

Friday 19 March - Whanau Time, Year 11 Camp, Central Districts Field Days, Year 9 Connecting Years

Term One Week 8

Monday 22 March - Whanau Time, Viva Singing At Rathkeale, Cricket in PE (Wairarapa Cricket), Junior Choir, Year 11 Shakespeare, Viva Rehearsal

Tuesday 23 March - Senior Chapel

Wednesday 24 March - Assembly, Collegiate Summer Fixture (away), Orchestra, Culture Group Rehearsal (lunchtime at RC and afterschool SMS), Viva Rehearsal, Wairarapa Primary Swimming (evening)

Thursday 25 March - Junior Chapel, Jazz Band, Wairarapa Intercollegiate Swimming (evening)

Friday 26 March - Whanau Time

Eco Tip #1

The Fast Fashion Industry is one of the worst in terms of pollution, emitting around 10% of the worlds carbon emissions and accounting for 20% of the world’s water waste. One thing we can do to combat this is try to take a break from regular clothing chains and opt for shopping at second-hand stores instead.

Lily Bergin-Penlington

Community Events