TERM 4 WEEK 5 – 14 NOVEMBER 2012 Dear Parents and Caregivers, JUNIOR PRIZE GIVING Monday 10 December 6.30 pm SENIOR PRIZE GIVING Wednesday 12 December 6.30pm Kia ora tatou, There is a quiet and busy hum around the College as our senior girls are well underway with their examinations, and juniors prepare for their own assessment period next week. Staff are very busy preparing for the final events on the College calendar and planning for 2013. We congratulate Ms Leeann Stewart on her appointment to the position of Deputy Principal of Cathedral College for 2013. It is a great opportunity for her, though we will miss her contribution here very much. In addition we are delighted that Ms Helen Matthews has been appointed as Team Leader at Mairehau High School from 2013. We are pleased to celebrate these successes as a community. I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Mike Baugh to the role of Deputy Principal and Ms Fran Heenan as Assistant Principal here at Villa Maria College from 2013. The Board were impressed that from a strong field of applicants from across the country, our internal candidates stood out. I very much look forward to working with this new Senior Leadership Team. We will be looking at other vacancies over the next few weeks to ensure we have the highest quality people teaching our girls. We have welcomed guests from Sonoda Gakuen in Japan visiting us this week. Mr Murahashi shared with us his feelings on seeing the impact of the earthquake in the central city and Cathedral, which connects us on a deep level with the people of Japan whose own earthquake and tsunami still leaves many people unaccounted for. At such a busy time of year, we should also remember that this week marks two years since the Pike River Mine tragedy. (Interestingly, next week commemorates the time of the Erebus disaster which I recall vividly from my own school days.) We offer our prayers for all the families still living with the after effects of these losses in their lives. “What is this world but a school, in which souls are trained and prepared for the other.” Catherine McAuley Both ceremonies will be held in the College Gymnasium this year. I am delighted to announce that our guest speaker for the Senior Prize Giving is Sister Mary Hanrahan RSM, currently the Catholic Chaplain at Christchurch Hospital. Sister Mary was Principal at Villa Maria for 20 years, from 1973 to 1992; Deputy Principal in 1972 and taught here during the 1960s also. In the 1990s she was seconded to the College of Education and worked with a number of secondary schools in Canterbury and around the country as they began implementing management changes. From 1997 to 2001 Sister Mary was Director of Mercy International Centre in Dublin, the place where Catherine McAuley began the Sisters of Mercy, which was, coincidentally, 12 December! We look forward to sharing these very special evenings with you. Naku noa na, Megan Cassidy, Assistant Principal Pastoral Congratulations to Esha Dickson, Year 10, budding author, who has just been chosen as a winner in this year's Re-Draft Creative Writing Competition. Esha‟s story, “Natures Secret” will be published in the anthology "Walking a Tightrope in Bare Feet" which will be launched on 15 December. This is an outstanding achievement for Esha, as most of the authors chosen are in their late teens. We look forward to reading her work and also the many successes that are sure to follow for Esha. Paid Union Meeting - Monday 19 November Teachers who are members of the PPTA are required to attend a paid stop-work meeting for two hours on the morning of Monday 19 November. These are the arrangements that have made for students whilst this is happening: Students in Years 9 and 10 will have their end of year examinations as planned and will be supervised by non-union teachers. They should arrive at school at the usual time. Students in Years 7 and 8 will have a late start, arriving at school by 11.00 am which will be their morning break. For Years 7 and 8 students who need to come to school at the normal time, please report to the Library and there will be supervision provided. Senior NCEA Examinations are not affected by these arrangements SPORTS NEWS Congratulations to the girls who have been selected by Canterbury Touch for the under 15‟s Girls and Mixed Team - 2012/2013 season: U15 Girls – Kahlia Godinet and Ella Hutchinson, U15 Mixed – Holly Hutchinson, Grace Richards. Congratulations to Katie Morris, Olivia McGoverne, Sophie Holt and Gabby Sullivan who have been selected for the Canterbury U15 Cricket team to play in a Tournament before Christmas. FROM THE PTA We remind parents to return their Raffle Books urgently as the Raffle has closed now. This is a major fundraiser for the PTA and we thank you all for your support. Dear Parents, Caregivers, Whanau BRAVE – Internet Based Anxiety Programme Doctor Stephanie Moor, Child Psychiatrist, Christchurch, is running a trial of BRAVE, an internet programme for anxiety in children, 7-15 years, delivered free at home. After completing the on-line questionnaire (available on our Villa Maria College website, cover page) Doctor Moor will meet with the young person and a parent for an assessment and follow-up at six months. In the first place Doctor Moor needs to know the following information:  There is anxiety present in a child aged 7-15 years  The parent is motivated enough to support the child and do some sessions on line as well  Internet access is essential  The child can read to a seven year old level. If your child is experiencing anxiety – it does not need to be earthquake related – I encourage you to open the BRAVE – Internet Based Anxiety Programme Referral Form on the front page of the Villa Maria College Website and email it back to Doctor Moor: [email protected] Kind regards, Virginia M Hillgrove, Guidance Counsellor Dear Parents, Caregivers, Whanau There is Counselling Support Information available on the Villa Maria College website, www.villa.school.nz for you and your daughter(s). There is a link on the front page under the heading „Coming Up‟. The information has been compiled particularly for school leavers including 15 Helplines/Websites and six free Counselling Services (Doctors and Nurses) for young people 13 – 25 years of age. I recommend all families view this information. Kind regards, Virginia M Hillgrove, Guidance Counsellor CANTEEN: The last day the Canteen will be open for 2012 is Friday 7 December. Parents are reminded to pay their daughter’s school fees account before the end of term. Thank you. UNIFORM SHOP Please refer to the uniforms page of the College website for details of shop opening hours in the coming months, www.villa.school.nz. We have plenty of senior ties in stock for those Year 11 students who want to beat the queues at the beginning of Term 1 next year! Lisa Bennett ([email protected]) Term Term Term Term 1: 2: 3: 4: TERM DATES 2013 Wednesday 30 January to Friday 19 April Monday 6 May to Friday 12 July Monday 29 July to Friday 27 September Monday 14 October to Friday 13 December CONFIRMED DATES FOR THE BEGINNING OF 2013 Thursday 24 and Friday 25 January Year 13 Mercy Leaders Formation Friday 25 January Course Confirmation for senior girls (Years 11, 12, 13), Year 12 Peer Support Training Monday 28 January Teacher Only day Tuesday 29 January Teacher Only day Wednesday 30 January Term 1 begins COMING EVENTS Thursday 15 November: Teacher Only Day – College closed, West Zones Athletics Friday 16 November: Show Day – College closed Monday 19 - Wednesday 21 November: Junior Exams Monday 19 November: Junior Volleyball ends Wednesday 21 November: Primary Schools‟ Summer Tournament, Junior Wednesday sport ends Wednesday 28 November: Junior Itinerant Concert Period 3 at 11.00 am Thursday 29 November: BOT meeting Monday 3 – Friday 7 December: Year 10 Camp Monday 3 – Wednesday 5 December: Classes 10A, 10C, 10E on Camp Wednesday 5 December: Primary Schools‟ Athletics Wednesday 5 – Friday 7 December: Classes 10M, 10B, 10G on Camp Friday 7 December: Last day the Canteen is open for 2012 Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 December: NZSS Athletics Dunedin Monday 10 December: Junior Prize Giving starts 6.30 pm Wednesday 12 December: Senior Prize Giving starts 6.30 pm Thursday 13 December: Merit Assembly starts 11.00 am Friday 14 December: Graduation starts 6.30 pm, Term 4 ends Yours sincerely FROM THE CAREERS DEPARTMENT: Attention Senior Students: Part Time Job in Avonhead A student is required to supervise an 11 and 12 year old after school for 3 afternoons every 2 weeks with the position commencing as soon as possible. To apply, contact Jackie Forbes on 342 4161 or 021 555 265. Ms Deborah Brosnahan Principal