Dear Parents

Last night, our 2022 – 2025 Board of Trustees had their final meeting. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for the wonderful dedication and support of our students, staff and school community during their term. They have quietly governed the school, in the background, ensuring that we have the correct policies in place, which are regularly reviewed and are being followed.

As a Board, they have followed the academic progress of the children with interest, and supported the teachers in ensuring that the appropriate resources are in place for the various programmes of learning. The staff have appreciated the Board’s acknowledgement throughout the years of the work they do supporting the children’s learning. We thank them for stepping into this very important role for our school.

The 2025 – 2028 Board elections voting closed on Wednesday this week. Counting of the votes will happen Wednesday next week. Our returning Officer will then inform us of the results.

Next week is Mercy Week and on Friday, 19 September, we celebrate Mercy Day with a school Mass. We will be joining the Parish at their 9:15 am weekday Mass. Whanau are welcome to join us for this Mass at which we will be acknowledging our founding order, The Sisters of Mercy, and their 175 years of prayer, service and dedication to the people of Aotearoa.

Sisters of Mercy were the first religious sisters to come to Aotearoa New Zealand arriving in Auckland from Ireland on the 9th of April, 1850. They came in response to a call from wāhine Māori.

From 1850 to 1897 four Mercy Congregations were founded in Aotearoa. On December 12th, 2005 the four Congregations of Aotearoa united to become a single Congregation – Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.

Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland in 1831. From these small beginnings, sisters and their companions in mission now work in more than 40 countries worldwide.

We look forward to you joining us for this special Mass.

Next week is the final week of Term 3. The school closes for the term at 2:50 pm Friday, 19 September. It will open for Term 4 Monday, 6 October at 9:00 am.

Ka manaakitia e te Atua

Alister Bridgman
Tumuaki

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

• Mercy Day Invitation
• Help Lily Raise Money for Heart Kids
• Primary Schools Football Tournament
• Year 4 Netball Team
• Takapuna Cricket Club: Kookaburra Cup
• sKids Holiday Programme
• Parish News
• De Paul House Evening of Celebration
• Community Notices

Well done to all of our Year 5/6 children that participated in the Primary Schools Football Tournament on Tuesday this week. It sounds like it was a fun day all round! Thank you to the parents & caregivers that volunteered to help with this event.

A massive KAPAI to our Year 4 netball team who came first overall in their grade for the winter netball season. It was awesome to see how proud you all looked when you were standing on the podium receiving your medals.

Thank you to their coach, manager and all the parents.

Family fun on a Friday evening from 5.30 to 7pm – starts November 7th!

www.kookaburracup.co.nz

sKids Upcoming Holiday Programme

Latest News from St Joseph’s Church Takapuna

Please join us on Friday, the 17th of October at 6:30pm for an evening of wine, nibbles and meaningful discussions featuring Hon Barbara Edmonds, who will share her journey and vision for all New Zealanders. Admission is $100 per person. Please RSVP to admin@depaulhouse.org.nz by October 3^rd. All proceeds will go towards supporting our mahi for families and seniors in housing crisis.