23 Aug 2026

Dunstan Zone Cross Country 2026

Monday 31st August

(postponement day Tuesday 1st September)

The Dunstan Zone cross country is coming up soon and after a successful run at our school cross country the following children have qualified:

Year 5 = Miller Alley, Eli, Potter, Arthur Driesen, Charlotte Copeland, Piper Fox, Lucy Lake

Year 6 = Tarn Yeoman, Deason Cowley, Hudson Lloyd, Delta Sim, Eva Bedford, Orla Galbraith

Year 7 = Martha Anderson, Lucy Smith, Caitlyn Brown

Year 8 = Curtiss Sim, Walter Driesen, Annabelle Breen, Sofie Baxter, Kato Breuk

 

Please read all the important information below, complete the form at the link here asap. This event is on Mon 31st which is immediately following Friday's teacher only day - so we need to be very well organised please.

When - Monday 31st August. Students come to school at normal time.

9:45am  Leave from the church car park  

10:30am  Registration

10:45am  Briefing for Marshals 

10:55am  Briefing for all competitors

11:05am  Walk the track (All participants and marshals) 

 

11:40am  Year 5 Girls    11:50am  Year 5 Boys 

12:00noon  Year 6 Girls    12:10pm  Year 6 Boys 

12:20pm  Year 7 Girls    12:40pm   Year 7 Boys 

12:50pm  Year 8 Girls    1:00pm   Year 8 Boys 

1:15pm   Announcement of results  2:00 aprox Return to school

Location - McArthur Ridge, off Springvale Road (look out for the Dunstan Zone Tear-drop Flag)

Approx. 3km up McArthur Road, to the end of the tar seal and continue on the gravel road until you see the Dunstan Zone flag on your left.

Course - All year group races are separate. The course includes hills, and running amongst grapevines and open terrain. Year 5 and 6 approx. 1.8km. Year 7 and 8 approx. 2.5km

Extra info

- Students will run in their PE uniform. If they have a tracksuit or school sports hoodie they should wear that as well as extra warm clothes and solid running shoes with good grip.

-Bring snacks, lunch and water bottle.

We need to provide two course marshalls to help on the day and we will need parents to help with transport. Please fill out the google form asap.

If you have any questions please contact Mr Yeoman - ollieyeoman@stgerards.school.nz 

 

23 Aug 2026

Kia ora, 

Thank you so much to everyone who has returned their netball uniforms! We are still waiting on a few, so if you still have a uniform at home, could you please drop it off to Kawarau sometime this week?

I hope you all had a fantastic season! A huge thank you to all of our amazing coaches and managers for all of your hard work, time and support throughout the season. It has been greatly appreciated!

Kind regards, 

Phillippa 

23 Aug 2026

Good evening everyone,

I've just been in to check on Stormy and he is doing very well. He is eating, drinking and doing everything as he should be!

We have a busy and shorter week ahead.

Here is what is happening in our classroom and school:

Monday: 9am Morning Prayer – all are welcome to join us. In the afternoon, the whole school will walk down to Alexandra Primary School to watch our Kapa Haka group and two rock bands perform.
Tuesday: Normal school day.
Wednesday: School Mass at 9.00am – all are welcome. From 10.30–11.30am, Kopuwai and Mata-Au will visit the Rest Homes. Mrs Stratford will be teaching Kopuwai from 11.45am–3.00pm.
Thursday: PMP, so sports uniform please.
Friday: School closed as teachers will be attending the Catholic Teachers' Gathering.

Homework
As this is Week 6, it is a good time to start talking with your child about a topic for their Speech Eisteddfod. The speeches will be presented in class during Week 9, so there is plenty of time to choose a topic, gather ideas and begin preparing.

Please continue to encourage your child to:

-Practise their spelling words each night. It is fantastic to see the children who are putting in the effort and achieving such great results in our Friday tests.
-Work on their basic facts throughout the week.

Keep warm and have a great week. 

Neroli 

 

23 Aug 2026

Kia ora koutou. Great to see so many parents out supporting children at the cross country. I loved the determination shown by everyone to do their best and finish with tired legs! Here comes a big and exciting week for many of us with polyfest and bandquest rehearsals on Monday, followed by performances later in the week. Here’s the plans…

Rāhina/Monday 24th August

9:00am Monday morning prayer.

10:30am Castlewood reading. Feel free to bring a favourite book from home or the library.

11:40am Bandquest and Kapa haka students leave for APS rehearsal and picnic lunch. Please take note of other notices on skool loop with all the details.

1:30pm Remainder of the school leave to APS to watch performances at 2pm.

Rātū/Tues 25th August

Miss Passmore in Haehaeata from morning tea onwards (Mr Yeoman release time & guitar/band groups).

Rāapa/Wed 26th August

9:00am Mass. All welcome.

12noon Kapa haka leave for polyfest.

Rāpare/Thurs 27th August

12:20pm Kapa haka group perform at polyfest. Returning to St Gs aprox 4:30pm.

Rāmere/Fri 28th August

Teacher Only Day - Catholic schools ‘Jumbo Day’ in Dunedin.

Homework

Eisteddfod speeches - With all that’s going on we will go lightly on homework this week, just introducing Eisteddfod speech writing. Students have been shared all the details, expectations and marking sheets at school and can begin writing their speeches. These will be held in class in the week beginning 14th September. Please make contact if you have any questions regarding these speeches.

 

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou

Mr Yeoman

 

22 Aug 2026

This Monday our kapa haka group and our two rock bands will be performing at Alexandra primary, and you're invited!

This is their final rehearsal before heading off to Polyfest in Invercargill, and Bandquest in Dunedin.

2pm - 2:30pm at the Alexandra Primary hall (Hinerakimārie).

Come along, support our hard-working tamariki, and enjoy some great live music and movement!

 

EXTRA NOTES FOR KAPA HAKA AND BAND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

-Bandquest and kapa haka students can wear PE gear on Monday.

-Students will leave St Gs to walk to APS at 11:40am, eating lunch at Pioneer park en route. No pie warmers.

-Kapa haka please bring your additional costume and underwear  items needed as outlined in the previous polyfest notice. School will have your main costume ready for you.

-Their will be a performance for APS students at 1:30pm, before the performance for St Gs at 2pm.

-PLEASE NOTE: Kapa haka and band students should be picked up from APS at the end of the day.