McAULEY HIGH SCHOOL P O Box 22480, Otahuhu, Auckland, New Zealand Telephone 09-276 8715 [email protected] www.mcauleyhigh.school.nz 10 August 2020 Tena koutou katoa, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Kia orana, Ni sa bula, Marhaba, Namaste, Mabuhay. Welcome back to the fourth week of Term 3. I would like to start by congratulating our students involved in organising the student march in week one. With a theme of standing up against inter-school violence, the girls did themselves and their families proud. Working alongside the police, Maori wardens and the local Ōtāhuhu board, they organised a peaceful march which was supported by a number of Auckland schools. There was a lot of work, stress and learning for the girls as they grew to know how public organisations work, and the end product, which was a very successful gathering, is a credit to them. Term 3 is very much about being focused on school work. It is the term when internals are finished and learning for the external standards begins. Our school exams for seniors are in week one of Term 4, allowing the Term 3 holidays to act as a study break. It is really important that the students use these holidays to prepare for exams, as it is essential they are successful in the national NCEA exams in November. Covid-19 has taken away teaching and learning time and we are therefore offering reduced credits in every subject. However, this means that girls must ensure they are prepared and successful in the standards they are entered for. Term 3 holidays = study time! We are about to begin 2021 option choices for senior years (affecting Years 10-12). During this time, all teachers will be talking to their classes about careers that subjects lead to. The Careers Department have displays on show and are available for the girls to discuss choices. We will be holding a Careers afternoon that parents are most welcome to come to with their daughters to help them make wise choices. Senior staff will also be available to talk with families. Students (and families) need to be talking about possible careers and ensuring that the subjects required for those careers are selected. I look forward to meeting many families there. We are also running a netsafe evening for parents. This is aiming at helping to support parents to keep their children safe online. I encourage you to come and please feel free to bring other parents with you. This Saturday we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven, a holy day of obligation in New Zealand. Mary’s assumption into Heaven is also the patronal feast of the Catholic people in New Zealand. Further on in the newsletter is an article about this feast day. Please take time to read this newsletter, it is full of activities our students have been involved in recently, and you will see the richness that it brings to our community. Domine in te speravi. Jan Waelen Principal Special Character Whakarangatira: Feast of the Assumption Te Whakaatu Karaitiana: Christian Witness: Catholic Caring Foundation Mass On the 22nd of May a group of students, Mrs Waelen, and some teachers went to the Caring Foundation Mass at Christ the King Church in Owairaka. Students received recognition in the form of a certificate for care and commitment to their community. The students were Rose-Noelle Patolo, Lusia Pahulu, Folauhola Fohe, Jennifer Huynh, Margaret Bartley and Cilia-Marie Po’e. Sitting behind our group in the church were people who were running a Food Bank in Kawakawa. It was a great opportunity to celebrate our Mercy/Gospel value of Āwhina. Te Tūtaki ki a te Karaiti: Encounter with August 15th is our national feast day, the feast of the Assumption Christ: Assumption Day Mass of Mary into heaven. When he set out for the Western Pacific in 1837, Bishop Pompallier dedicated his mission to Our Lady Help of Christians. The feast of the Assumption became our national feast day. As a school we will celebrate this feast day by attending St Joseph and St Joachim Parish Mass at 7:45 am on Friday 14th August. Below are words of Ka Waiata, one of our ‘go to’ songs (songs that we can sing without looking up the words). It is a song that beautifully honours the place of Mary, and the call of all our wahine. Ka waiata Let us sing to Mary, The girl who ki a Maria said “Yes let it be as you say, Hine i whakaae Window of the Assumption (that I become) the house of all Whakameatia mai St Patrick’s Cathedral humanity” Te whare tangata. Auckland City Hine pūrotu A simple girl Hine ngākau A big-hearted girl Hine rangimārie A peaceful girl Ko Te Whaea The Mother (of Jesus) Ko te whaea The Mother O te ao Of the World Shine Mass Students in Mr Roberson’s Year 12 Religious Studies class featured on Shine TV’s recording of Sunday Mass for 5th July 2020. The Mass was said by Fr Martin Wu in the local parish of St Joseph and St Joachim. McAuley High School teamed up with students from St Joseph’s Primary School and De La Salle College to organise and take part in a beautiful Mass, which was to feature on Shine TV and on the Catholic Diocese of Auckland website. The girls presented themselves professionally and with poise and reverence throughout the Mass, and demonstrated their McAuley pride by lifting up their voices in song. Tahnee Te Puia-Afoa led the opening hymn and communion hymn and Mr Roberson was the cantor for the psalm. The Catholic Diocese was very pleased with the Mass and it was a testament to the wonderful preparation for ministry which is found here at McAuley High School. Celebrations Our school staff celebrated Linda McQuade’s recent award, Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great, with a special lunch. Miss McQuade is pictured here with Mrs Waelen, and with staff who worked with her, or who were students at McAuley, when she was Principal. Mrs Lather retired after over 30 years of service to McAuley High School and we were finally able to celebrate with her. Staff, some of her past students, and grandson Jake, shared a lovely afternoon tea where there was much reminiscing and laughter. Mrs Lather’s contribution to the school over the years is much appreciated. We know that she will enjoy her retirement and that she will always be part of the McAuley family. Important dates School Holidays Term 3 holidays Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October Term 4 holidays Begin for junior students on Monday 7 December Term 3 ● Junior mid-year reports released Friday 14 August. ● Careers Week 24 to 28 August, 3.30pm to 5pm in the gym. Options afternoon Tuesday 25 August. HODs will be available to answer subject questions. Parents welcome. ● NETSAFE for Parents - Wednesday 26 August, 5.30pm to 6.30pm in the gym. ● Tongan Language Week - 6 to 12 September. ● Maori Language Week - 14 to 20 September. ● Level 1 Maths “MCAT” national exam Tuesday 15th September. ● Mercy Day Friday - 25 September. ● Term 3 ends Friday 25 September. Term 4 ● Term 4 begins on Monday 12 October. ● Senior Prelim exams are in the first two weeks of Term 4, Wednesday 14 Oct to Tuesday 20 October. Staff will be running tutorials and assisting seniors with exam preparation during the preceding holidays. ● Level 2 Tongan CAT national exam Tuesday 20 October. ● Level 1 Tongan CAT national exam Wednesday 21 October. ● Level 3 Tongan CAT national exam Thursday 22 October. ● Sports Prizegiving Friday 30 October. ● Thanksgiving Mass (last day for seniors) Friday 6 November. ● Senior Prizegiving - Tuesday 10 November. ● Year 8 Orientation - Friday 13 November. ● NCEA Exams - Monday 16 November to Wednesday 9th December. ● Year 9 and 10 exams - Monday 16 November to Wednesday 18 November. ● Teacher Only Day - Thursday 19 November (this is across the city to allow for teachers to plan for NCEA changes). ● Junior Prizegiving - Friday 4th December. ● Teacher Only Day - Monday 7 December. Reminder - Parking at the school gate The area in High Street around the school gates is very busy before and after school. The yellow lines on the road mean no stopping or parking, and this is for the safety of our students and those across the road at St Joseph's School. If you are dropping off or collecting students, please make sure you park away from this area. Parking wardens often patrol this area and will issue tickets. The school has no control over the wardens, or the parking areas in the street. This is the responsibility of Auckland Transport and any questions or complaints should be made directly to them. We appreciate your understanding with this matter. Careers Term 3 This term we have visits from our awesome Student Liaison Officers from Auckland, Otago, AUT, Massey and Waikato universities. These visits are important for our students and they are urged to attend the meetings, particularly if they are intending studying at one of the universities. Who When Time Where Sam Pilisi - AUT August 10th Lunchtime Room 22 Leni Lolohea - University of Waikato August 11th Lunchtime Room 22 Reti Simanu - Massey University August 31st Lunchtime Room 22 Junior Toailoa - University of Auckland September 1st Lunchtime Room 22 Jack Scanlan - University of Otago September 3rd Lunchtime Room 22 Year 13 students should now be working their way through enrolments to prospective universities and other tertiary institutions.