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NEWSLETTER ~ TERM 1 - No. 3– 18 February 2021
Kapa Haka - We had our first Kapa Haka session for the year on Friday 12th February. Over 70 students attended the first Kapa Haka session. We are encouraged by the strong numbers, however we understand that many of these children may have wanted to see what it was about. We understand that some children may decide not to return. This is completely acceptable, however in March, children who are attending Kapa Haka practices will be considered part of the team. New children will not be permitted to join the Kapa Haka team after this date. If you are keen for your child to be part of this important cultural group, please encourage them to come along to the practices that take place every Friday at 11am.
We are extremely happy to have Matua Willy and Whaea Tania back with us this year. Matua Willy and Whaea Tania started the year's programme with a Mihi Whakatau. They brought with them items we will be using during the year and discussed the tikanga surrounding them. Three of our students volunteered to model some of the items for the group.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) - Thanks to the parents who attended the PTA meeting on Monday evening. It was great to see so many parents coming out to support the school and their children.
Unfortunately we said goodbye to Catherine de Bruin (President) and Kim Ric-Hansen (Vice President) who led the PTA through the Covid year. On behalf of the school community I would like to thank them both for all the work they did in coordinating the PTA’s activities. Their energy and enthusiasm will be missed.
A huge welcome to our new President: Cindy Chapman, Vice President: Lauren Edgington, Secretary: Melinda Sweeney and welcome back Sarah Thom who continues as Treasurer.
Also welcome to the new members: Rose McLaughlin, Jude Pryce, Lucy Deacon, Kala Zivkovic, Michelle Falconer, Teresa Clynes, Angela Fenemor, Nessa Ribeiro, Emily de Roo, Charmaine Welsh, Marissa Barry, Rachel Claessens, and Sarah Dixon.
This wonderful support will ensure that we will have a cracker year.
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK - Aaron Richards Covid Update - We returned to Covid Level 1 and I would like to thank all the parents who followed the guidelines that the Government put in place. Parent cooperation ensured that 2 days at level 2 ran very smoothly. It also meant that we could be confident in the safety of our children at school. So it's back to normal now. We will keep the sanitiser stations out so that visitors can continue to sanitise their hands. Please remember to continue to scan the school QR code when you enter the school to drop off or pick up children. Ash Wednesday - An unusual spin was put on Ash Wednesday this year. As we were in Covid Level 2 the Bishop promoted physical distancing by directing schools not to distribute the ashes. We started this holy day a staff liturgy before school, followed by team liturgies later in the day. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the penitential Lenten season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.
You may notice that the prayer cloths in the classrooms have changed to a purple colour. Purple is used for two reasons: firstly because it is associated with mourning and so anticipates the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, and secondly because purple is the colour associated with royalty, and celebrates Christ's resurrection and sovereignty.
Liturgy - Hanrahan 1 is responsible for the liturgy tomorrow. Parents of Hanrahan 1 are welcome to join us in the school hall at 9:30am or 10:00am. Please note the new times for these Liturgies.
HERO - HERO will be our main communication tool from this point forward. Help has been available in the school library from 8.30am to 9.15am for the last two Wednesdays. We have not had anyone come to the library seeking support during these hours. In an attempt to provide support where needed, the Hero help sessions will change to the new time of 2.45pm to 3.15pm. The help sessions will run for the next two Mondays. If you are wanting assistance accessing or using HERO, please pop into the school library at this time.
Prayer for Lent Dear Lord Please show me the way during Lent. Remind me To pray to You To thank You To hear from You Each and every day in Lent. Amen.
Guitar and Ukulele Lessons Contact Pat Kearns
027 277 4023 or [email protected].
Swimming Lessons - Our annual swimming lessons will start on Monday. An information letter was sent home via HERO. Please note that the walking route described in the letter has changed due to construction activities on Nyoli Street making the sidewalk unsafe. We will now walk down Main North Road, turn right onto Sawyers Arms Road and cross at the traffic light at the corner of Sawyers Arms Road and Sisson Drive. As these are busy roads especially over lunchtime, we need more volunteers to walk with us. Please email Mrs Verweij or sign up on the roster in the Administration area. Please be prepared for Monday by bringing togs and a towel in a swim bag. Make sure everything is labelled.
School Swimming Sports - Following our school swimming lessons is our school annual swimming sports for Year 5 to 8 held at Jellie Park on Tuesday, 9 March 2021. The starting time is 11:30am and we will be at Jellie Park until 2:30pm. Next week learners will have the opportunity to enter for this event. The programme will also be shared next week.
Sunscreen guidelines to parents - We strongly urge families to apply sunscreen at home before school. Sunscreen is available in all classrooms so that children can reapply sunscreen during the day. Parents can provide their own sunscreen if their child has an allergy. Please note that teachers are unable to apply sunscreen on children and can not force a child to wear sunscreen. All teachers will remind children before lunch to apply sunscreen but the children will need to apply it themselves.
Weetbix Tryathlon - We have over thirteen children from St Joseph's School participating in the Weetbix Tryathlon that will take place on Sunday 28 February. This year the school will have its new gazebo up at the Tryathlon venue as a homebase and shelter for St Joseph’s competitors and their supporters. The new gazebo was kindly donated to the school by our wonderful PTA.
Mana Ake - Jan Nicholson from Mana Ake will be available to speak to whanau/parents/caregivers on a Thursday morning from 8.30am. She will be situated in Cremin 1. Mana Ake provides support to children in Canterbury, in years 1-8 at school, promoting wellbeing and positive mental health. We can support children at school and at home and provide advice, guidance and workshops for parents, whānau and teachers. If you wish to use this service please contact one of our DP’s LIz Beattie [email protected] or you can just drop in to see Jan in Cremin 1 to discuss your concerns. These sessions are confidential and will only be shared with your consent.
William Pike Information Evening - Year 7 & 8 Families -This year, our Year 8 learners are participating in the William Pike Challenge Award, to support all learners in achieving their best, developing confidence and challenging themselves in order to prepare them for secondary school and the future.
William Pike is visiting St Joseph’s School on Thursday 25 February to share his journey and key information about the challenge. We invite learners and their families to attend this session, especially those currently in Year 8. The session will begin at 7pm in the school hall. More information about the challenge can be found at www.williampikechallenge.co.nz If you have any questions about the Challenge Award, please email
me at [email protected].
Year 7 Camp - It was wonderful to see the Year 7 children returning from camp excited about the adventures they had at Hanmer Springs. A huge thanks to Miss Johns for all her organisation and Mr McGuire and Mrs Tucker who ran the camp. Camp would not have been possible if not for the wonderful camp parents. Your time and enthusiasm to get stuck in was greatly appreciated.
Year 8 Top Team - The Year 8 Learners participated in the Top Team Challenge yesterday afternoon and had an amazing time! Learners had to work as a team and problem solve to complete the activities, with lots of laughter and water-fights in the process! A huge thank you to our parent volunteers for your time and support.
FAITH FACT—Week 3—15 to 19 February
Wednesday February 17th, Rāapa Hui-tanguru is Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. During Lent, you will notice that the Alleluia is omitted at Mass. Download the NZpray2day app for android and apple by following these instructions As Mary's husband and guardian of the son of God, St. Joseph turned "his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation [a solemn offering or presentation to God] of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a love placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home."
PTA The PTA would like to thank everyone who took time out
of their busy lives to attend the AGM on Monday night,
especially all the new members.
After a disjointed 2020 we are looking forward to
pulling together as a school community to ensure that
2021 is a success.
As President of the PTA I am passionate about
providing a positive community environment for our
school and look forward to working with all of you to
achieve this. Cindy Chapman, PTA President.
FRIDAY LUNCHES - tomorrow Sausages—$2 Orders taken before school from the Hall kitchen
window. Thank you, Vicki and Jenni for helping with
tomorrow’s lunches.
Home Learning has begun in the Mercy Team (Karen Burt - Team Leader) Reading: Our learners are encouraged to read regularly, ideally, this would be for at least 15 minutes at night. Reading often and from different kinds of books has many benefits. Research has shown that it is the best way to improve vocabulary, comprehension, and reading fluency. It can also help children to become better writers and better learners all-round. The best way to become a better reader is to practice reading. Our learners will be supported in reading silently, reading aloud to other learners, guided reading with the teacher, shared reading, and independent reading. You can have a huge impact on your child’s learning by reading to your child, encouraging your child to read, talk to your child about the story or article that they are currently reading, and discussing tricky vocabulary. These steps are a crucial part of the reading process. Consider using some of the following questions when your child has finished reading a book. These will support them with their understanding.
How did you expect the book to end and did it end the way you expected?
Who were the important characters in the book?
Think about a different ending for the book?
Did you come across unusual words or words you did not know the meaning of?
What did you do about these words?
Give a brief description of what happened in the story?
Our learners will continue to bring home reading material from Monday to Thursday to practice their skills. Be aware that this material is purposely designed to enable reading mileage. Reading mileage is the key to practice new skills and strategies to assist their success while reading. Learners may also choose to read something of their own choice. All of our learners have been given a ‘Home Reading Journal’. The main purposes of the journal are to:
Encourage regular reading habits
Monitor reading frequency
Stimulate the learner to achieve reading awards for every 25 days of reading
Provide a variety of reading ideas for parents
The journal can be used as a record of what is read throughout the week, Saturday and Sunday have also been included. Provision is also made for reading to occur over school holidays. Awards are achieved when a learner has read for each 25 nights. When your child has reached this they bring their journal to school and share it with their homeroom teacher. Award stickers are placed on the awards as the learner achieves them. Remember to keep a cumulative count of the number of days that reading takes place. Your child does not always have to be the reader. You could read with your child, or read to your child, your child might read independently (aloud or silently). These can all be noted in the comment section of your reading journal.
Essential Spelling Lists - The Essential Spelling Lists have been shared with all of the Mercy Team via Hero last week. The homeroom teachers have emailed you directly to indicate which list to start your child on, this is based on last year’s final assessment. Once the learner has learned their spelling list, they advise their homeroom teacher, so that they can be tested, at an appropriate time. If your child scores 90% in the test they will move on to the next Essential Word List. Once children can spell all the Essential Lists they will no longer have home spelling homework. It is important to remember that knowing how to spell the word is only one aspect of this process. We are also looking for learners to be able to transfer this knowledge into their writing. If you have any questions about the spelling then please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.
Sports Uniforms - Every Wednesday afternoon beginning after swimming, the Year 3 and 4 learners have sport. They are encouraged to wear their house colour polo shirts which can be purchased from Mainland Uniform. Children need to wear their school uniforms to school and then they will be given time to get changed before sport. They may also choose to bring their sports shoes to enable them to participate in the activities fully. If your child is not sure which house colour they are in, the homeroom teachers will be able to inform them. If they have other siblings at our school they will be in the same house colour as them.
