Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Well as I write this most people will be soaking in the realization that New Zealand are rugby world champions for the first time since 1987.

I listened with interest to the post match interviews and the one that I felt was the most illuminating was the one given by Brad Thorn, the man born in Mosgiel, who spent his primary years in Cromwell/Bannock Burn and then moved to Queensland where he became a Rugby League star.

A world champion with the Kangaroos and the winner of several premierships with the mighty Brisbane Broncos before changing codes and becoming an All Black, and a world Champion again. It’s a pity that he never became a Highlander.

Brad gave thanks on several occasions to God and expressed how fortunate he had been but also stated several times how, early on in his Career, he had not been able to make representative teams and he stressed that for all aspiring young athletes the crucial aspect is to keep trying, and work harder.

If you miss a team don’t quit, work harder, a selector or coach finds fault keep trying, you have a run of bad form don’t stop trying but rather work harder and believe in yourself.

Stephen Donald, a much maligned player, is a world champion because he hung in there and worked hard and believed in himself.

I am away at camp for most of this week with Room Seven.

Have a great week in what will be a very busy term.

Mike Brosnahan

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Mary’s School,

Welcome to Week Ten of Term Three or Week Thirty Two for the year.

Firstly I would like to thank the parents who have sent in updated enrollment information for next year. This information is very helpful as it enables us to plan out how classes will be comprised for next year. We have a high number of enrollments for next year, obviously mostly in Room One, but right through the school up to Year Seven, so it is important we know the exact numbers of pupils that we will have in each year group.

Owing to the unusual configuration of the school terms this year because of the Rugby World Cup the beginning of next term will be very busy with a number of activities that usually occur later in the term occurring early next term:

The senior school camp is in week one, and the Fair and athletics also occur very early. Summer sport will be very short and sharp with most codes only offering 5-6 rounds in term four.

I was driving my daughter and five team mates back from a hockey tournament in Timaru on Saturday night when I was able to think through their chatter, I reflected on how busy life is getting.

I won’t bore you with my details but suffice it to say I didn’t have much down time over the week end. I think that it becomes imperative that we prioritize and that we remember we are moving into the season of Christmas and the time of ‘Good will to all”. To help us to live out this ethos we must allow some time for relaxation—whatever we deem this to be, so in your busy lives remember to keep a little time set aside to wind down.

To support the Cancer Society we would like children who have canteen bandanas to wear them on Thursday (Mufti day).

Have a great week,

Mike Brosnahan

Colouring in Competition

The colouring competition that James Mullenger from ASB spoke about at assembly on Friday will be given to the children later in the week.