Teacher Only Day - Tuesday 27 October

We have set our final Teacher only day of the year, this will be Tuesday 27 October (the day after Labour day) School will be closed. 

Principal's Message

Celebrating Culture and the Gift of Generosity

Last Wednesday, our Year 7 and 8 students represented our school community with incredible passion and pride at the annual Catholic Cultural Celebration hosted by St Patrick’s College. Joining students from nine other schools across the region, our young performers took to the stage to share vibrant cultural traditions, waiata, and dance. It was an inspiring day of fellowship, and our students performed brilliantly, captivating the audience with their energy, grace, and dedication.

Beyond the spectacular showcase of talent, the gathering served as a powerful reminder of the spirit of generosity.

When we hear the word generosity, we often think of giving money or physical gifts. However, generosity in its truest sense is a heart attitude—a willingness to freely share our time, energy, talents, and kindness without expecting anything in return. Our Year 7 and 8 performers demonstrated this beautifully on Wednesday by giving their time over weeks of rehearsal and sharing their cultural heritage with total openness.

This selfless spirit closely aligns with our Catholic values and Scripture. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Saint Paul reminds us: 

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

God calls us to offer our unique gifts to the world joyfully, knowing that when we share what we have been blessed with, we enrich the entire community.

Generosity isn't just meant for stage performances or grand events—it is a daily practice that transforms our everyday lives:

At St Francis de Sales School: We can show generosity by including someone new at lunchtime, encouraging a classmate who is struggling, or offering to help clean up after a lesson.

At Home: We can practice generosity by offering extra help with household chores, listening patiently to our family members, or sharing our possessions with siblings.

In the Community: We can extend generosity by volunteering for local service projects, donating items to those in need, or simply offering a warm smile and kind words to a neighbour.

As we move through the rest of this term, let us carry the spirit of last week’s celebration with us. May we all find small, meaningful ways to give a little more of ourselves each day, knowing that every act of kindness makes our world a warmer, brighter place. Thank you to Matua Henare, our Year 7 and 8 students and Ranginui teachers for leading by example!

Learning Conferences

On Tuesday 15 September and Wednesday 16 September we will hold our Learning Conferences for you and your whānau. During this time your child's kaiako will discuss their learning goals, how we can support them on their learning journey and their general wellbeing. We encourage you to bring your child to the conference to celebrate their learning and to be a part of their next learning steps.

Learning conference will be approximately 15 minutes long, with the first time at 2:30pm. We will be closing school at 2pm on both days. Please arrange for an early pick up for your tamariki on these days.

See our booking form on HERO. There are limited time slots so please book your time in as soon as possible. If you are having issues booking, please see Fran or Suzanne in the office.

Ngā mihi nui,

Nikolai Solia

Principal

Values at St Francis de Sales

It is expected that the behaviour of the students will reflect the Gospel message of ‘love one another,’ living out the school motto of ‘the measure of love is to love without measure.’

All those at St Francis de Sales live by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, our school values.

Ngā Hua o te Wairua Tapu – The Fruits of the Holy Spirit 

Aroha - Love 

Harikoa - Joy 

Rangimārie - Peace

Manawanuitanga - Patience

Atawhai - Kindness

Piripono - Faithfulness 

Hūmārire - Gentleness

Tikanga whakahaere - Self-Control

Ngākaunui - Generosity

Every  fortnight we hold our school hui at the SFDS Church, and one child from each class is selected and receives a values award for showing one of the schools current values!!   

Sports

Southern Zone Miniball Festival

A huge thanks to the parents who supported our three teams at this miniball festival last week. We appreciate your time and enthusiasm. The players all had a great time! 

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