Principal's Message
Kia Ora Koutou
As we head into the closing days of the school year, we are mindful of all the differing events that occur in the season of Advent in our calendar. I begin with reminders.
PUM
I decided I would repeat this as this event is next week. For those new to educational abbreviations this particular one stands for Paid Union Meeting. As part of union membership PPTA have meetings to which teachers are invited. The next PUM is December 2nd 1:00-3:00pm. The school will remain open, but there will be no formal teaching. As such you are welcome to collect your daughters after they have eaten lunch. It is important that students sign out at the office if leaving at lunchtime. Any students who cannot be collected will be supervised.
Accord Day
Monday November 28 is the final Accord Teacher Only Day for the year. This will see secondary schools in the Wairarapa engaged in professional development related to NCEA changes. To that end our final week of school begins on Tuesday November 29.
End of year events
Student attendance is compulsory for all end of year events. The events have been calendared and are in the details below.
Leaders 2022 and 2023
I want to acknowledge our outgoing leaders. They have brought a ‘cup half full’ approach to this year and their positivity has been noticeable and appreciated.
I also want to take time to acknowledge all those from year 12 who put themselves forward for leadership for next year. Not all will be successful in securing a position, but taking the time to give of yourself to undertake such a responsibility speaks volumes of the individual. As one candidate stated, “As year 13 you are a leader”.
As always have a safe weekend and be your best selves.
Ngā Mihi
Kiri
Around School
Boarding Note from Jo Booth
Teacher Only Day on Monday was a good excuse for the boarders to head to Castlepoint for an outing. Although it was a bit breezy at the coast, the day was enjoyed by all. Many thanks to Mrs Keats and Mrs Fair for supervising this trip.
It has been a quiet week in both Main and Hampton House with exams continuing; the Year 9 girls away at camp; and the Year 10’s at work experience. This has enabled me to spend time getting our Main House Christmas tree organised. After checking out decorations up town, I decided the best option was to write a note to each boarder and then hang these on the tree. It has been lovely to see the girls searching for their card. Hopefully I haven’t missed anyone! Hampton girls, your cards and tree are coming.
With the end of term nearly upon us, there are a few options for boarding families to consider. Your daughter/s could either-
- Sign out after the Boarder’s Christmas Dinner on Thursday. She would then come to school on Friday and Saturday from home.
- Sign out before or after the Carol Service on Friday night. Then the only event to attend is the St Matthew’s Prize giving on Saturday at the Wairarapa College Hall at midday.
- Sign out on Saturday morning before 11.00am so that staff can get to Prizegiving also.
- Sign out after Prizegiving as Main and Hampton will be open until 3.00pm.
Note that Friday and Saturday are compulsory school days. If your daughter is not attending either of these days, she will need to complete a Special Leave form.
We looking forward to a productive and enjoyable last week of the 2022 school year.
Jo
Year 9 Camp
Year 9 spent three days this week at Waimanaaki Camp in Riversdale Beach. They had a great time and returned to school thoroughly exhausted. We were lucky with the weather and the food was amazing. Year 9 enjoyed many activities including paintball target shooting, kayaking, cooking damper over a fire, team games, cycling, games on the beach, a sandcastle competition and exploring the rock pools.
Many thanks to Mrs Harper, Mrs Chapman and tutors Alex and Bronte for helping to make this camp such a great experience.
Lucy Clearwater - Year 9 Dean
Year 10 Work Experience
Over the past two days the Year 10 students have been out of school, experiencing working life. From Lifeguarding, ECE teaching and vet nursing to personal training, chocolatier and selling houses. The students will no doubt have many stories to share and perhaps some idea about which direction their education and training may take them. Thank you to the many businesses who have supported this initiative and to Michelle Green for her organisation.
Year 9 Art
Students in Year 9 Art have recently been making wood cut prints. Jasmine Tang, who has arrived this year from Hong Kong, settled on a Christmas theme for her personal choice. As a result, she was able to make some beautiful cards to give to friends and family this Christmas. No doubt they will be delighted to receive them. We wish Jasmine a safe and happy return to Hong Kong for the summer break.
Year 8 Fashion Technology Option
Our Year 8's completed Back Sacks that they will use to carry swim or PE gear back and forth between facilities.
The bags needed to be fully lined with waterproof fabric and have a minimum of one zipped pocket on them. The girls also explored weaving techniques and how textiles are used in everyday life and how textile items can be closed to contain.
Kāhui Ako Fab Collab
On Tuesday, twenty Y5 and Y6 students from St Patrick’s, Hadlow, Fernridge, Douglas Park, and Opaki schools visited the art room and participated in a one hour fab collab art workshop, led by six of our awesome Y10 students – Sally Booth, Peta McKay, Imogen Wilton, Lucy Wyeth, Maia Svenson, and Ellie MacDonald. The visitors learned the process of painting a coastal landscape with reference to Kāpiti artist Malcolm Warr, using masking tape, watercolour washes, and cool and warm acrylic layering, with some stunning results!
This was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our school and for our rangatahi to practice tuakana teina and demonstrate leadership. Tino kino te pai – well done!
Year 7 and 8 String Workshop
On Wednesday our year 7 and 8 students were lucky to get to learn about the instruments from the String family from Cellist and String Teacher Caitlin Morris. Caitlin spent time with our junior girls showing them how the cello and violin work and performed a range of music, including works from Tchaikovsky and The Pirates of the Caribbean. We were also lucky to have our own violin student Grace Johnson performing, along with cellist student, Meg Speedy. Students also had an opportunity to have a go at playing the instruments too which was a lot of fun. We would like to thank Caitlin Morris for coming to spend time with us and share her passion for music.
WYO - Roadshow Tour
The WYO (Wairarapa Youth Orchestra) roadshow tour was a great success! They reached students from 8 schools in the Wairarapa with 3 concerts throughout the day. The students were so proud to represent their school for the day and perform for their peers. Milly Young was part of the WYO and represented St Matthew's wonderfully.
What an incredible roadshow tour we had of the South Wairarapa! Ka pai students! You all did an amazing job. We traveled around three different schools and gave three concerts to students from eight of the South Wairarapa schools. We are so grateful to have shared our music with you. Remember you can always get in touch with us if your child is interested in learning an instrument of the orchestra! We welcome all who already play an instrument of the orchestra to join us! You can email: wairarapayouthorchestra@gmail.com. Or you can visit our 'Local Teachers List' on our website: wyo.org.nz. We have contacts of local teachers, instruments and lesson scholarships available.
Year 7 and 8 Pool Outing
On Thursday afternoon the Year 7 / 8 girls were treated to an afternoon at the town pools. This was part of the after show celebrations of our successful run of The Lion King. We had two hours of floating on the lazy river, riding the Hydro slide, swimming and just generally having fun. It was great to have one of our Year 10 girls, Kaitlyn Williams, who was at the pools on work experience, as our Life Guard.
Uniform Shop information
UNIFORM SHOP HOURS:
- Tuesday 29th November 3pm - 4pm
- Thursday 1st December - shop closed
- Friday 2nd December: shop open by appointment, please email: smcsuniforms@trinityschools.nz
- In January the St Matthew’s uniform shop will open from Tuesday 24th January through until Friday 27th January 10am – 2pm. The shop will also open Sunday 29th January 2pm – 5pm.
An appointment can alternatively be organised outside these hours by emailing: smcsuniforms@trinityschools.nz
The shop has plenty of new stock: summer white blouses @$78.00, summer grey blouses @$98.00, summer shorts @$85.00, blazers @$296.00, cardigans @$126.00.
The shop has Zoggs Togs: women's $45.00 and girls' $38.00.
St Matthew's Old Girl news
Jess Long (old girl 2019) has appeared in the Otago Daily Times along with some of her stunning designs. Amazing work Jess!
St. Matthew's Collegiate School Old Girls' Association
Wine Fundraiser reminder (Offer ends at end of November)
Once again the St Matthews Old Girls' Association (SMOGA) are offering a wine fundraiser in association with Paddy Borthwick Wines. We really appreciated the support from the many Old Girls who have bought wine previously.
We raise around $2500 per year, which contributes to annual running costs such as our website, database and magazine, badges for new members and more.
If you would like to help with our fundraiser by purchasing a case or two of Paddy Borthwick’s award winning wine, please click on the link below. Offer ends at the end of November!
To order you MUST be 18 years of age or over
Many thanks from the SMOGA Team! xx
School App
If you are new to St Matthew's Collegiate, or have yet to download, please follow the link to install our school app https://schoolappsnz.co.nz/install
For current families, please update your subscription groups by clicking on the cog in the top right hand of the screen. It will take you to the groups for you to change.
Key Dates
- Monday 28th November - Teacher Only Day
- Friday 2nd December - Carol Service
- Saturday 3rd December - Leavers Chapel and Breakfast
- Saturday 3rd December - End of Year Prizegiving/last day
- Monday 5th December - Leavers Ball
- Sunday 29th January - All boarders return
- Monday 30th January - First day term one 2023