Principal's Message

Celebrating Our Grandparents: A Day of Faith, Love, and Generous Hearts

Last Friday, our school community gathered for a deeply moving and unforgettable Grandparent Liturgy. It was an absolute joy to welcome such a fantastic turnout, with our church filled with beaming grandparents, grand friends, and family members. The energy, warmth, and sense of community in the room made it a truly special occasion that will stay in our hearts for a long time to come.

Our youngest students in our Kura took center stage to lead the service, displaying remarkable confidence and reverence. The children spent the week preparing for this moment, creating vibrant artwork that adorned the walls and writing heartfelt prayers from their own unique perspectives. A standout moment of the Liturgy was when our young students joined their voices to sing a special waiata and dance dedicated entirely to their grandparents. Hearing their sweet voices fill the room brought bright smiles—and more than a few happy tears—to the audience.

During the service, we reflected on the profound connection between faith, family, and daily acts of grace through our gospel reading:

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

— Ephesians 4:32

This scripture beautifully mirrors the quiet, transformative spirit of our grandparents. Day in and day out, they demonstrate the true meaning of Christian kindness through simple, steadfast actions that shape our families:

• Unconditional Comfort & Wisdom: Offering a warm embrace, a patient listening ear, or gentle advice whenever life gets challenging.

• Keeping Traditions Alive: Passing down cherished family stories, teaching lifelong skills, and sharing secret recipes around the kitchen table.

• Generous Presence: Cheering loudly from the sidelines at early morning sports matches, waiting at the school gate after class, and always making time for play.

Equally inspiring was the opportunity to recognise the remarkable kindness our children display in return. Every day, our students show us that the love showered upon them by their grandparents is actively paid forward. Whether it is holding open doors for others, sharing their school artwork, listening attentively to family history, or offering spontaneous hugs, our young people continuously reflect the warmth, respect, and generosity modelled by their elders.

We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended, to our dedicated staff and students for preparing such a beautiful celebration, and above all, to our grandparents for their enduring love, guidance, and faith. May God's everlasting love continue to be with all our Grandparents.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nikolai Solia

Principal

Congratulations 

Welcome back! And a huge congratulations to Jemma and Jay on your engagement! Such exciting news—we're so thrilled for you both and wish you all the best for this exciting new chapter ahead. 

School Notices and Events

Welcome to our newest staff member! 

A huge welcome to our newest staff member Klaus! You can see Klaus floating around the school office keeping an eye on Suzanne! He is already a huge hit with all the students! 

Garden to table 

Garden to Table: Fresh Harvest, Delicious Empanadas!

Our Garden to Table students have been busy in the kitchen, turning our winter harvest into something truly spectacular!

This week’s star dish was homemade Vegetable Empanadas, packed with fresh produce including pumpkin and onions from our Matariki celebration! 

From Garden Bed to Baking Tray The students put their culinary skills to work combining a vibrant mix of veggies:

Veggies: Pumpkin, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, silverbeet, and tomatoes

The Secret Touch: A gentle dash of curry powder for warmth and flavor

While we used store-bought pastry to save a bit of time, the real magic happened at the prep tables. The kids had absolute blast rolling out the dough, filling them up, and mastering the crimping and pinching techniques to seal the edges like real pastry chefs!

The Verdict? 10/10 delicious! Nothing beats the taste of food you’ve grown, harvested, and cooked yourself. Seeing the students so proud to eat their own creations was the best part of all. 

Dates to Add to Your Diary

Our  SFDS Events Calendar is the best way to stay up to date with everything happening at school — including PE days, special events, and other important dates. You can find the calendar by clicking on the link above or either on our school website or through Hero.