Welcome

Thank you for joining us for our Mihi Whakatau on Monday, and to those who attended our Whānau Hui last evening. Taking part in events like this helps to build a caring school community. 

"If we work together we can succeed. Mehemea ka mahi tahi taua tera ano e taea" 

(Venerable Suzanne Aubert)

School Attendance

One of the things we are continuing to focus on in 2025 is student attendance.  You may hear us talking about this with you, with our students and it remains a strong subject of conversation in the staff room.   

If a student misses one day of school every two weeks, they miss more than a whole year of school by 16 years of age. As a parent or caregiver, you, alongside our school, play a key role in building strong habits of regular school attendance.

All students are legally required to attend school every day and it is a shared responsibility to make sure students attend and engage in learning from when they first start school. 

You must let us know if your child is going to be absent or intends to be absent for a portion of the school term for whatever reason, like a tangi or medical procedure.  Family holidays or taking time off for extracurricular activities (not organised by school) are not acceptable reasons for being absent.

Knowing if your child is well enough to go to school can be tricky. Health guidance to support you to decide is available here. If you are still unsure, get in touch with us and let’s work together to support your learner.

If you're struggling at home with getting your child to school, talk to us. 

If you are finding it hard to get your child to school, please talk with us so we can work together. Our school is committed to supporting your child to attend school. 

SFDS continues to build a culture that fosters attendance every day by having:

• School staff who have strong relationships with students and family.

• A school culture that recognises your child and your family for who you are, where you come from and what you value.

• Whānau that take all practical steps to make sure your child is at school and progressing in their learning.

• A school that is safe and welcoming for everyone in our school community.

Absences from School
If your child is unwell or unable to attend school for any part of the day, please let the school office know by 9.00am. You can do this by sending a message through the HERO app or by phoning the office and leaving a message. This helps us ensure all children are safe and accounted for.

While it’s okay to message your child’s teacher, please also contact the office. Teachers may be away or may not check their emails before the school day starts, which can lead to delays in marking attendance. If you receive a text or call from the school asking about your child’s whereabouts, it could be because the office wasn’t notified directly.

Children who arrive after the 9.00am bell, must sign in using the Vistab system in the school foyer, as they may have already been marked absent during the morning roll.

If your child will be away for more than two days for a special reason, please inform us in advance by emailing the office or sending a message through HERO. We’ll make sure the class teacher is notified.

If you have any attendance queries and issues, please contact us so we can work together. If you need our support, we are happy to help you.

Catholic Character

Tangaroa Visits to Home of Compassion

Each of our junior classes is visiting the Home of Compassion this week as part of their Religious Education focus: 'Kia Noho Hāhi - Being Church'. Suzanne is a venerated part of our whakapapa - story of our school and community. She also features on our school Waharoa. Being declared “Venerable” marks an important milestone on the path to canonisation - being named as a 'saint'. This process is called 'beatification' and takes several years.

Danni, from Tarawera R2, decided to make a little model of Suzanne Aubert - sharing her understanding that Suzanne used plants, like kawakawa, to heal people. Danni also made a little prayer book. 

If you would like to learn more about Venerable Suzanne Aubert, you may like to visit this site: https://www.suzanneaubert.co.nz/home/journey-to-sainthood/ 

Prayer for the Beatification of Venerable Suzanne Aubert

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us that as often as we show compassion to the least of your brothers and sisters, we show it to you. Hear our prayers that the intercession of Venerable Suzanne Aubert, who supported the Māori people and devoted her life to the poor, the sick and the underprivileged, and whom the Church has declared to be one of your true and humble followers, will be recognized in a miraculous healing by the Church and will lead to her beatification. Amen.

Dates to Add to Your Diary

Please also check our SFDS Events Calendar 

Thursday 7 August 2025

• Tangaroa PE Days (Rm 2,5 & 6) Wear PE Gear

• 12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)

Friday 8 August 2025

• 7:50am - 8:30am Flames Netball Practice

• Ranginui PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Wheke (Rm 7) & Parareka (Rm 8) PE Days - Wear PE Gear

• 3pm - 4:30pm Year 5/6 Netball Practice

• 4:30pm - 5:30pm Year 7/8 Comets Netball Practice

Monday 11 August 2025

• Tangaroa PE Days (Rm 2,5 & 6) Wear PE Gear

• 1:30pm - 3pm Rm 2 Paekawakawa Reserve trip

• 1:45pm - 2:45pm Rm 6 Island Bay library visit

Tuesday 12 August 2025

• Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Wheke (Rm 7) & Parareka (Rm 8) PE Days - Wear PE Gear

Wednesday 13 August  2025

• Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Ranginui PE Day - Wear PE Gear

Thursday 14 August 2025

• Tangaroa PE Days (Rm 2,5 & 6) Wear PE Gear

• 12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)

Friday 15 August 2025

• 7:50am - 8:30am Flames Netball Practice

• 9am - 10am St Patricks College Entrance Exam - Please email the office if your son is attending this

• Ranginui PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Wheke (Rm 7) & Parareka (Rm 8) PE Days - Wear PE Gear

• 3pm - 4:30pm Year 5/6 Netball Practice

• 4:30pm - 5:30pm Year 7/8 Comets Netball Practice

Monday 18 August 2025

• Tangaroa PE Days (Rm 2,5 & 6) Wear PE Gear

• 1:30pm - 3pm Rm 6 Paekawakawa Reserve trip

• 1:45pm - 2:45pm Rm 5 Island Bay library visit

Tuesday 19 August 2025

• Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Wheke (Rm 7) & Parareka (Rm 8) PE Days - Wear PE Gear

• Ranginui PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• All day Southern Zone Miniball Festival

Thursday 21 August 2025

• Tangaroa PE Days (Rm 2,5 & 6) Wear PE Gear

• Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear

• 12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)

Friday 22 August 2025

• 7:50am - 8:30am Flames Netball Practice

• Ranginui PE Day - Wear PE Gear

• Wheke (Rm 7) & Parareka (Rm 8) PE Days - Wear PE Gear

• 3pm - 4:30pm Year 5/6 Netball Practice

• 4:30pm - 5:30pm Year 7/8 Comets Netball Practice