Message from the Board of Trustees regarding the Nationwide Educators' Strike
On Thursday 23 October primary school teachers, principals and support staff who are part of the NZEI Union will be on strike. 15 members of our staff will either be on strike or away on this date.
This means we will have a reduced number (10) of staff working - these staff members include admin staff, support staff and teachers. We will remain open if there is a safe ratio of adults to children. If the ratio is unsafe, we will have to close the school.
This afternoon there will be a survey on Hero for you to complete to let us know your intentions for your child/ren for this date. Please look out for this survey which will need to be completed by midday on Monday 13 October to enable us to make a decision as to whether we will stay open or close.
Welcome back to school for the final term of the school year - it is wonderful to have your tamariki back with us again. Thank you for sending your child with their school hat also. This is a compulsory part of our SFDS school uniform for Term 1 and 4. If your child does not have the school hat on during play breaks, they will be required to play in the designated share areas from next Monday - please make sure to order a hat on Kindo if needed.
Save the Date
December will come around fast - and we have some significant events that we would like to see a big community attendance at. Below are a couple of these events. We will let you know about any others as soon as we are able to.
Tuesday 16th December: Year 8 Leavers' Dinner - this evening event is the for parents of our Year 8 students only. It is a lovely evening to celebrate their time at SFDS, and to get together and say goodbyes to other parents. The event will take place at 'The Pines'. Details about the event and the ticket sales will be shared with Year 8 parents soon.
Wednesday 17th December: End of Year Liturgy - this is the final celebration event for the year. The whole school community comes together in the early evening for this event. All of the children will be involved in their own syndicate's performance, and this will be our school farewell and blessing our Year 8 students.
A New Saint: Saint Carlo Acutis
Saint Carlo Acutis was canonised as a saint by our new pope, Pope Leo, on September 7th. He has special appeal for your people. He was a gifted with technology - and used this skill to pray and share his love of Christianity. Learn more here: https://youtu.be/a4sUw1-p8O0?feature=shared
Parents as First Teachers: Consider how you reward success - by always giving tangible rewards for doing well, there is a risk that your child will grow to be praise-dependent, reward-dependent. This will not help them to be the contributing members of society our world needs them to be. We want our kids to recognise their own abilities, and find ways to put these abilities to good use for the benefit of others in our community.
Mindful prayer: Loving God, help me to believe in my good news. Help me to understand how my love makes a beautiful difference today and every day.
Keep learning - me ako tonu
Learning is our core business! To promote our values, we want our tamariki to have a love of learning, and to be patient with themselves and others as they learn. Do you still find opportunities to learn? You need this for your wellbeing, and your children need to see that you are learning everyday also.
Message from the Archidiocese of Wellington re 2026 Attendance Dues
Southern Zone Athletics
Those who have qualified to participate in this event received a hard copy of the timetable of events and the information for the day today at school. Please ask your child/ren for this and read through it with them.
Congratulations...
...to Harper M and her Wellington team who played in the Regional Under 14 Basketball tournament and won! An amazing achievement for Harper!
Ranginui Wellington Free Ambulance Visit
Today we were lucky to have Nick from Wellington Free Ambulance visit our senior students. Nick shared what Wellington Free Ambulance does to help people in emergencies and how they provide free emergency care to the Greater Wellington and Wairarapa regions. He also spoke about the different career pathways within the ambulance service and what it’s like to work in this vital community role.
We really appreciate Nick taking the time to come and speak with us — it was such an informative and inspiring session!
Measles cases in Aotearoa
Recent measles cases linked to overseas travel have been reported in Te Tai Tokerau and Queenstown. Cases were active in the community while infectious and there is a risk of measles circulating there, and more widely in Aotearoa.
Measles is very contagious and can make people of any age very sick.
Watch for measles symptoms – fever, cough, runny nose, sore eyes and a blotchy rash.
Measles: Locations of interest in Aotearoa New Zealand – Health New Zealand
If anyone in your whānau has measles symptoms keep them home and contact a doctor or Healthline urgently on 0800 611 116.
Vaccination is the best protection from measles. Check all whānau are immunised.
Measles immunity – Health New Zealand
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine – Health New Zealand
Anyone closely exposed to measles who has not received two MMR vaccinations cannot attend their school | kura for at least eight days.
Please contact the school office if you have any questions.
Mission Fair
Please take a look at the attached poster regarding our upcoming Mission Fair day!
Come and see us on Monday 13 Oct at 3pm in the lower courtyard, where we will be giving away strawberry plants, potatoes ready for planting, parsley, leeks, silverbeet and kale !
Help us make space to plant tomatoes in the garden areas around the school!
Hope you had a wonderful break with your family and friends and that you are ready for this last Term.
Welcome to Out of School Care reimagined, where play meets potential.
This term, we are running two fantastic programmes that are exploding with flavour and fun!
Our attendance initiatives include:
Taste Factory
TGIF Weekender Club
Taste Factory runs every Monday in Term 4 from weeks 2-7 (except for Mon 27 October - Labour Day). Tamariki will create delicious recipes from all around the world and learn how to make them (no more packing lunches mums & dads – kids will be able to do it themselves after Taste Factory!
TGIF Weekender Club runs every single Friday in Term 4. Kids can build on skills each week, add to the leaderboard and be rewarded with certificates of participation.
Children can end the week on a high by getting involved in active obstacle courses, creative crafts and chill-out time! Weekender Club also focuses on building friendships & teamwork through group challenges, games and shared projects help kids strengthen social skills and make new friends.
Please see the term 4 flyer for our out of school Skids programme.
Please also check our SFDS Events Calendar
Wednesday 8 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 10 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Thursday 9 October
10:15am - 11:45am Middle Syndicate Swimming Lessons
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Papatūānuku PE Day – Wear PE Gear
Friday 10 October
Inter Zone Swimming Sports
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 7 & 8 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Monday13 October
Tangaroa (Year 0-3) PE Day Wear PE Gear
11:15am - 1:15pm Rm 2 and 6 Swimming lessons
12pm - 1:30pm Rm 5 Swimming lessons
Wednesday 15 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 10 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Thursday 16 October
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Room 10 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Room 7 & 8 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Friday 17 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 7 & 8 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Monday 20 October
11:15am - 1:15pm Rm 2 and 6 Swimming lessons
12pm - 1:30pm Rm 5 Swimming lessons
Tangaroa (Year 0-3) PE Day Wear PE Gear
Wednesday 22 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 10 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Southern Zone Athletics
Thursday 23 October
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Papatūānuku PE Day – Wear PE Gear
Friday 24 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 7 & 8 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Monday 27 October
11:15am - 1:15pm Rm 2 and 6 Swimming lessons
12pm - 1:30pm Rm 6 Swimming lessons
Tangaroa (Year 0-3) PE Day Wear PE Gear
Wednesday 29 October
Ranginui (Year 7 & 8) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Room 10 PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tuesday 16 December
Year 8 Leavers' Dinner
Wednesday 17 December
End of Year Liturgy
Thursday 18 December
Last day of Term 4 - School closes at 12.30pm