Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we come to the end of another very successful year, we have many things to celebrate and be thankful for.  Prizegiving and the end-of-year Thanksgiving Mass are opportunities to reflect on the school year, to celebrate as a school community and to pay a special tribute to those students who are leaving to begin the next stage of their journey.
Thank you to all students, staff, parents, P.T.A., Board of Trustees, Hostel Management and Trust Board for your part in such a positive year. 
We have successfully implemented all three levels of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement in the senior school; relationships with St John's College have reached a new level with the appointment of a joint school Chaplain; enrolments are positive; Chapel plans are evolving and other building projects are nearing completion.  These include the building of a Senior Resource Room in the Gymnasium for Senior PE students, the relocation of the caretaker's workshop and the establishment of a Learning Support Centre.
We welcome back Mrs Judy Waapu from her study leave and thank especially Mr Karl Iaveta, Mrs Mona Stewart and Mrs Nancy Halford for the extra duties they undertook during her absence.  Sadly we farewell Ms Heather Rankine who has served us well as a Guidance Counsellor.  She leaves at the end of the year to take up a promotion at Taita College.  We wish her well in her new position.  A huge thank you to Miss Charlotte Cousins for her contribution throughout the year as relieving teaching in the Art Department.  Mrs Kerin Greville (Roderick) returns next year after her maternity leave.    We also wish Mrs Doreen Keogh and Ms Lyn Lewis exciting adventures in their overseas travel next year.
I look forward to seeing you all at our end-of-year Thanksgiving Mass and Prizegiving --December 2.
Every blessing for a joyful and peaceful Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday break.
Monica Johnson, Principal   

Advent begins this Sunday and is a time to think about the meaning of Christmas and the gift of Jesus.   Some people choose a "Christ Child" over these four weeks and treat that person in a special way.  They may give them little gifts or perform special kindnesses as a reminder of this gift of Jesus to us. 
As Christmas approaches, let us take time-out to reflect on the 'gifts' we already have in life-- friends and family.   

On 11 November we welcomed our 2005 Year 9 students to our College.  This day is an important one for our new students.  They get to know the school and our staff a little better and  meet each other as they come from 24 feeder schools.
The students were welcomed to the school with a Mihi, they took part in a Liturgy, enjoyed group activites on 'the green' and familiarised themselves with important places around the school. We look forward to their return on 1 February next year.
Congratulations to Year 8 Scholarship Winners for 2005:  Emma Hinton, Morgan Dysart, Courtney Pedersen, Marjorie Kirby, Sue Seumanutafa, Lacey Joe, Rebecca McGrail, Kimberley Volau, Patricia Maaka and Eniketi 'Onesi.

Students started arriving at Matahiwi Marae around 8.45am on Thursday, 18 November and  gathered for the Powhiri.  Our Powhiri started with the Karanga from the Tangata Whenua and we walked on to the Marae.  The speeches were held and we had to shake hands and "hongi"  - pressing of noses.
We were then allowed to look around the Marae with Kaumatua Darky Unahi.  He talked about the beautiful carvings and the magnificent jaws of the whale that are in their Wharenui.  We moved into the kitchen and dining area and he talked about the beautiful stories that were made into murals in these areas. 
We set up our groups and started our jobs.  Leaders got our groups together to do our allotted tasks … setting up the Wharenui--getting our beds ready and getting the Marae chores sorted which included the kitchen and preparing the food.  We had some great activities to do in our sessions and the things we made were beautiful.  Some Sacred Heart teachers organised beads and rocks.  Guiding us in our flax weaving was Whaea Kui.   Whaea Miri taught us a Waiata.  We would like to thank them very much for taking the time to help and teach us.
The evening's activities started with a concert organised by the group leaders.  This was hilarious and a lot of fun. This was followed with a singing session and all budding singers had a go at the Singstar.
With an early start (6am) we had breakfast and showers.  After packing up and tidying everything we started the last of the rotations.  We took a quick walk to the river for lunch and to stretch our legs then back up to the Marae for a quick get-together.  We said our goodbyes and thankyous while the parents started to arrive.  All in all, it was a great experience and we would like to thank Whaea Stewart who made it all happen with the help of teachers and helpers.  And last but not least the leaders who helped run the Marae--and the students. - Jessica Oosthuizen--9LL

The winning team with 72 points--"The
Crew" - Thomas Primrose (St John's),  Lendl Oosthuizen (Sacred Heart), Sr Colleen (Sacred Heart), J.P. Bevan (Taradale High) 

Third place with 69 points--"The MGT"s" - Gary Pedersen, Terry Marshall and Trish Williams (Sacred Heart) and Martin Williams

The hard working P.T.A.--Marie Livingstone, Margie Oosthuizen, Raewyn Williams and Debbie Laird

From 1--5 November it was National Push Play Week which promotes physical activity of 30 minutes each day.  Each lunchtime during the week various activities were offered to students … tennis, climbing wall, badminton, volleyball, weights and basketball.
On Friday, 5 November the entire College was involved in an aerobics session.  This was held on the green under the guidance of a trained aerobics instructor.
It was a hot, but enjoyable activity.  Thanks to Mr Lundall for his time in setting up the sound system.

Fred, Felix and Jellybeans!

Blind artists at work, meditating to Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross", and Jellybeans, all feature in our current retreat programmes for Years 9 and 10.
Friends:  Me, Others, God is the focus for the Year 9 days.  This is a chance for our students to think a little more deeply about friendships, value and affirm their friends and pray--sometimes in creative ways like the Jellybean Prayer chant where special friends are named.

Year 10s begin their day as blind artists, a fun ice-breaker, before exploring the idea that Persons are Gifts.  Many find the meditation where they meet Jesus a meaningful prayer experience.  Affirming their friends with gift cards in the concluding prayer service reinforces the preciousness of each person.
- Wendy Clark--College Chaplain

On 17--19 November, fifty-one of our Year 10 girls headed off to Lake Opouahi.  When we got there, we quickly unpacked and headed off to Boundary Stream for a 4km bush walk which was very tiring. 
When we got back to camp, we set up our tents  in the rain and began cooking.  That night, not many of us got much sleep because of the wind, rain and excitement of the day ahead.
On Thursday, there was a rotation of three activities … rock climbing, abseiling and Canadian canoeing.  Most of us found these activities challenging and lots of fun.  The day ended with a terrific mud fight and games with the leaders.  On the last day, we went caving and had a ball even though it wasn't what we expected.  After caving, the packing up started and we headed home for a shower.
Thanks to everyone who made this experience possible and to the camp instructors who had to put up with us. - Alice Russ, Chelsea Story, Rachel Slater

The Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday (during school terms) from 10am - 1.30pm.
It will also be open on the following days:
(Please note evening opening hours)

Thurs 16 Dec 6pm - 8pm
Friday 17 Dec 10am - 1pm
Tues 25 Jan 6pm - 8pm
Wed 26 Jan 10am - 1pm
Mon 31 Jan 10am - 1pm
Cash or cheques accepted. Layby available. Quotes given.
Garments will be sold on your behalf and must be in good, clean condition.
Any enquiries phone Colleen McLaughlin on 844 4126.

Mrs Carol Murphy organised a very pleasant evening at the 'Master of India' Restaurant in Ahuriri for our International students, their host families and staff who are involved with the girls.
We have three Exchange students … Maureen Quicke from Belgium, Monika Grabmaier from Germany and Yui Kobayashi from Japan.  Juri Kawade, who is from Japan and Misung Kim who is Korean, are also students who are part of our International Student Class.
The 'Master of India' provided us with a delicious banquet meal which we all enjoyed.  For some of our students it was the first time they had tried Indian food and it would seem that it was very popular.  There was much animated conversation--in English of course and many photos were taken for those memory books.
- Maryanne Macintosh-Wright

We found EIT fun, in particular being a grown-up in the tertiary classroom. 
We continued our Year 9 Technology theme called "Use Your Loaf".  We started with a focus on futuristic technology. Then we examined volts and electronic circuits.  We further investigated these activities in two groups; while one group was in the computer room following instructions about how to make circuits on the computer, the other group was down in the electronic room trying very carefully to make their bread timer correctly so it actually worked.
We would like to thank Miss Young for taking us to the
E.I.T.
- Holley Merry and Michelle Berquist

A Christmas Question as we begin to prepare for Christmas, this Advent Season … Since we do not know the exact historical date of Jesus' birth, why do Christians celebrate Christmas on 25 December?  In the ancient world, a pagan festival held on 25 December worshipped the sun as the divine controller of all life.  The Roman Emperor Aurelian established this festival in 274, naming it Natalis Solis Invicti (the Birth of the Unconquered Sun).
By choosing this day as the birth of Christ, Christians intended to counteract the pagan belief as they celebrated Christ as the true light of the world, the Saviour who dispels the darkness of sin with the light of God's love,.

  Term 1 Monday, 31 January to Friday, 15 April
  Term 2 Monday, 2 May to Friday, 8 July
  Term 3 Monday, 25 July to Friday, 23 September
  Term 4 Monday, 10 October to Friday, 9 December