Dear God,

You come to us in Jesus who teaches us that the way to happiness is through our love for one another.

Watch over the teachers, students and families of Sacred Heart Cathedral School as we try to be faithful to this teaching.

Help us to be a welcoming and joyful community, so that others may come to know your love and peace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Kia orāna

This year’s theme for ‘Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani – Cook Islands Language Week is ‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te Oneone o tōku ‘Ui Tupuna which means, connect me to the soil of my ancestors.

The theme reflects on the journey of Cook Islands people in New Zealand, as well as the longing of young Cook Islanders to connect with their language, culture, and identity. Acknowledging that while community elders are fundamental to the teaching and sharing of Cook Islands language, the leadership of young people as the next wave of cultural and language experts is also critical in keeping the connection to their homelands alive.

This year’s theme also reflects the overarching 2021 Pacific Language Week theme of Wellbeing by linking the importance of language to overall wellbeing.

I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the Olympic Games over the weekend. It has been amazing to see the dedication and commitment our New Zealand athletes made during a pandaemic and to see the results that were attained. So inspirational for our tamariki to see where hard work and setbacks can get you.

Thank you for the support with our own Olympic Quiz, testing day is this Friday. My apologies to the Year 5, 6, 7 and 8 students for my typo. 

A personal highlight for me last week was the stunning repertoire at full school Kapa Haka. 

Aere rā

Arohanui,

Bernadette Murfitt

Principal

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Sunday, 15th August – The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

This is Aotearoa New Zealand’s National Patronal Feast. It is also being marked in a special way this year as a re-dedication of our country to Mary Mother of God Assumed into Heaven.

Bishop Pompallier was our country’s first bishop. He journeyed from France to support the growth of our Church in Oceania. At the request of an Irish-born migrant farmer he decided to move from Australia and settle in the Hokianga.

Pompallier made his dedication to Mary while celebrating the first Mass at Totara Point in 1838. Parishes throughout the country will be invited to join in prayer for the renewal of the dedication. All parishes will be provided with suggested formats and hymns so that we are united in how we celebrate this occasion. The Bishops of Aotearoa are particularly keen for everyone to learn two verses of the himene Mō Maria.

A message from Father John O' Connor and Catherine Gibbs - National Liturgy Office:

Rededication

When the bishops gather for Mass on Sunday, 15th August at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington. The same rededication rite (as attached) be used at every Mass in New Zealand on that day. It is relatively simple and includes a simple form of the renewal of Baptismal promises, Asperges, prayer of rededication perhaps concluding with the new words of the Ave Maria hymn.

Mō Maria Videos

The NLO has prepared two YouTube videos (links below) to help Catholics across the country to learn to sing the himene Mō Maria. Over the years the versions, pronunciations and melodies of the hymn have varied from Pompallier’s original. This has made it more difficult for us to sing the hymn harmoniously. We are also aware that many people throughout the country are not familiar with the hymn, and the rededication gives us an opportunity to promote Mō Maria as a national Catholic anthem.

These videos return to the source, the Hokianga, to learn the original text and melody from the locals. The first is a documentary style introduction to the hymn, the second a more focussed teaching with the words onscreen to sing along with.

Mō Maria – An Introduction https://youtu.be/sDFehbr8g6w

Mō Maria – A Hymn https://youtu.be/c2Yq4rI6Ml8

Just a reminder that if your child is not attending school, please notify the school with a reason for your child's absence. This can be done via SchoolAppsNZ, emailing the school - office@sacred-heart.school.nz or leaving a message on the school answerphone - 04 4724047 and press 2. Thank you to all parents who already do this.

Congratulations to Jaiden, Rm 5 who earned a Gold Certificate in Mathletics. Well done Jaiden!

Congratulations to Enrico, Rm 5 who earned a Gold Certificate in Reading Eggspress. Well done Enrico!

Last Monday, the Middle Syndicate went to ASB Sports Centre and had a wonderful time doing different types of sports activities.

If you have any paint test pots at home, we would like to take them off your hands. Please drop into the office.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aSNIdiEouH_IRUrIdjBq2hp0-ctY6qVk3frq1Ci-vbs/edit

We are raising funds for our school environment and would like your support with helping your child to build their knowledge on the Olympics.

Please find attached questions - testing day is 6th August. Our student council will be helping with this.

Please deposit sponsorship money into our Parents and Friends account - 12-3140-0397242-000 using your child's name and Olympics as the reference for the school.

Thank you.

Volunteers needed for:

Mini Spring Gala 

4 – 7pm, Friday, 24th September.

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

12 Guildford Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington.

If you are interested please contact:

Pamela Pareja (022 012 2379, pamela.p.pareja@gmail.com)

or Amanda Gregan (027 9399 575, amandagregan@hotmail.com)

Yoshi Rm 5 and Leon Rm 6, took part in the RoboCup Regionals this weekend programming the Lego robot as shown. They will go (along with everyone else) to the RoboCup Nationals in September this year. If anyone else from the Sacred Heart is interested, please contact Alex Potanin, (alex.potanin@vuw.ac.nz) and he will put you in touch with the relevant people. VUW supplies the EV3 robot for those who don't have one. The web site of the contest is here:
https://sites.google.com/view/robocupjuniornewzealand/wellington

Thank you to all our regular payers and to those who have made full payment on your Attendance Dues account. We would like to remind you that the Attendance Dues are a compulsory charge for enrolment at a Catholic school.

Please note the Term 3 invoice will be posted to all families shortly. Please check that your invoice looks how you expect it to - are all your children listed, are your payments showing correctly? We value your feedback.

To avoid receiving overdue reminders, please ensure your regular payments are continuing. If it is affordable, please also consider increasing the amount of each payment if the balance is not yet tracking to full repayment by the end of the year.

Payment options are:

1.       Full amount or automatic payment via Internet banking to Archdiocese of Wellington Attendance Dues, Westpac bank account 03 0518 0000400 00, payment references should be your dues account number and your name.

2.       Pay online using your Visa Debit or Credit card at www.wn.catholic.org.nz/attendance-dues with your dues account number and your name as references.

Financial assistance is available to families experiencing financial hardship (loss of income/redundancy, family reasons, etc.). It is a condition of the assistance application that the family has an affordable regular payment in place.

If you have any questions, please contact us:

Phone: 0800 462 725

Email: dues@wn.catholic.org.nz

Text: 021 08907902

Website for Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way project

A website has been created to help promote the bishops’ renewal of the dedication of the country to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven. The renewal project has the title Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way and runs for 12 months from 15th August.

Go here for the website: www.tearaamaria.nz

The website contains details of the project. It will be updated regularly to include the schedule of the nationwide hikoi of the artwork created for the project. The hikoi starts on 18th August in Invercargill.

Attached to this email is a poster we ask you to print and display in churches, other parish places and schools from this Sunday, 1st August, inviting everyone who can to attend the Mass that launches this special year.

Rail Safety Week raises awareness about rail safety and encourages safe behaviour around trains, tracks and level crossings.

Those most at risk are drivers who get trapped on the crossing or drive around barriers due to distraction, inattention or impatience. Pedestrians should never cross when bells or lights are activated and always look carefully in both directions before crossing.  Be especially careful to look for a second train. If one train has stopped at a station another one could be coming.

Families can watch the Track Talk video together as a positive way to talk about rail safety.  Or have a look at the Safety Virtual Field trip that was shared with participating schools in 2020.  Visit the Tracksafe website or Facebook page for more information.