Thank you to all who were able to join us this morning for our Shrove Tuesday breakfast celebration. I particularly want to thank the Touzard, Mauck, Yabarra, Akula and Taylor family who cooked amazing pancakes for us from 8:15am onwards. Thank you also to our amazing clean up crew, I won’t name you in case I miss someone out! The hall and kitchen look spotless, I suspect it is a lot cleaner than it was when we began the day.
Here are some pictures of the fun for those who were unable to come.
Sebastian On is a Cardinal McKeefry old boy who was recently awarded Dux of Wellington College. We would like to offer further congratulations to Sebastian as he won an ‘outstanding’ scholarship in chemistry, physics, statistics and calculus, as well as a scholarship in biology and physical education. Sebastian explained in a recent article in Stuff that the secret to his success was his “balanced” lifestyle, which included plenty of socialising and sports. His advice to other students is “Work hard, and keep a balanced lifestyle. Just remember you are still a student and you’re allowed to have fun. Try to keep that balance … and make sure you stay happy as you work hard.”
At Cardinal McKeefry School and indeed at all Catholic Schools we also believe in both working hard and having a balanced lifestyle. We wish Sebastian the very best for his future.
Parent Information Meeting and School Picnic
Our first community event is our Parent and Students Information Meeting and School Picnic beginning at 6pm in our school hall. The School picnic is a tradition of our school and last year we added a Parent and Students Information Meeting to the beginning of this event.
Within this meeting we will share:
The Board of Trustees Draft Strategic Plan for 2017-2021.
Overview of our school staff and home learning expectations.
Our overarching concept for 2017 Care for our Common Home – What are the connections which affect life on our common home?
Our term 1 focus on Our Family Treasures, Heritage and Ancestry, including the explanation of the opportunities you will have to share your family traditions or cultural practices with our students during week 8-9. We will have a timetable available for you to sign up.
This meeting will be followed by open classrooms allowing your children to share their classroom with you.
To conclude the Parent and Students Information Meeting we will have a school picnic, bring your own picnic, in our school grounds. If the weather is terrible we will have this in the school hall.
Catholic Character
Our second community event is our shared Pancake Breakfast between 8:15am-9:15am on Tuesday the 28th of February. Come along to make and eat a pancake with your family.
Shrove Tuesday is always the day before the first day of Lent, known as Ash Wednesday.
This year that date falls on Tuesday February 28, with Ash Wednesday being on Wednesday, March 1. The date is always 47 days before Easter Sunday, meaning Shrove Tuesday is generally always between February 3 and March 9. The name ‘Shrove’ derives from the word ‘shrive’ meaning to free yourself from sin. The idea is to get rid of any indulgences and fatty foods in the house before the beginning of Lent. In other parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is known as ‘Mardi Gras’ meaning fatty Tuesday in French.
In our next newsletter we will include a google form for volunteers to help set up the hall and who are willing to lend us some electric fry pans.
Reconciliation, Confirmation and First Holy Communion
Registration forms can be picked from the school office as well as the Otari Parish Office, St Teresa’s Church, 301 Karori Road, Karori Tel: 4766131. To be eligible your child should be 8+ years of age before 1 November 2017 and already be baptized into the Catholic faith. The deadline for enrolment is Friday 3 March 2017.
Welcome back everyone! As I write this we are preparing for our first liturgy of the year where we will receive a blessing for the year ahead. Today our liturgy will be led by Fr Sanele Finau who is new to the Otari Parish and comes to us from the eastern suburbs Holy Trinity parish. Over the next few weeks we have several opportunities for us to gather as a community and reconnect with each other. We will also be contacting our families we wish to take on roles of class coordinators for 2017. We know you value the community feel of our school and will embrace these events that will help us to strengthen our community.