St Joseph's Newsletter T3 Wk10
15th September 2021
Week 10 Term 3
Principal’s Piece
Kia Ora Koutou
Tūrangawaewae
Catholic Schools a Place to Stand
Today is Catholic Schools day. Our schools are part of something much bigger than themselves, namely the Catholic Church. This community of faith finds its local expression in the parish and the school. It is in this context that we reflect on our schools as Tūrangawaewae, a place to stand.
This place to stand comes from belonging to the school community but also beyond that to the Church community of faith. We know that we extend this welcome also to those who may not be from our faith community. This gift of hospitality and desire to share what we have with others, is at the heart of the gospel call. This is the place where we have a right and desire to belong to, it is Tūrangawaewae for all.
Our Catholic schools as places of belonging allow us to celebrate and grow in what we have in common, what binds us together. As Christian people it is our baptism in Christ. It is also the call of the Gospel and the Church to live in the way that Jesus taught us.
2021 coincides with 180 years since the first Catholic school in Aotearoa was opened by lay people in Auckland in 1841. This is a wonderful achievement and the beauty of our network of Catholic schools is they came about as the result of the hard work, and generous contributions of many religious and lay people in Catholic parishes and communities across the country. Our Catholic schools are the outward sign of a long commitment from both the Church and parents of Catholic children in “helping form Christ in the lives of others”. Catholic Schools Day 2021 provides another wonderful opportunity to celebrate and showcase our unique identity to both our communities and our wider nation.
This term has been an interesting one to say the least with a Covid Lockdown in the middle of it. The holidays will be a deserved break for many. I hope that you are able to make the most of this time now that we are able to travel around the country again.
Please note that there is a Teacher Only Day on Tuesday 26 October and the final day for the school year is Wednesday 15 December.
Kia manaaki te Atua koutou katoa
Grant Stuart
PRINCIPAL
Gospel Reflection
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Gospel Reading
Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48
Jesus teaches that whoever is not against him is for him.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we continue to read from the Gospel of Mark. Recall that last week we heard Jesus chastise his disciples for their argument about who among them was the greatest. Jesus taught them that the greatest among them will be those who serve the least ones. In today’s Gospel, the disciple John questions Jesus about an unknown exorcist who was driving out demons in Jesus’ name. John’s question might have been motivated by jealousy. Previously in Mark's Gospel, Jesus healed a boy whom the disciples had been unable to heal. John’s question is further evidence that the disciples have not yet grasped Jesus’ words to them. They continue to compare themselves to others who seem to have greater healing powers, and they do not want to share the power of Jesus’ name with others.
Today the demon possession described in the Gospels might be seen as a form of mental illness, but the need for healing these syndromes was as real then as it is now. Exorcism was a common practice in first-century Palestine. Some people had the power to heal the symptoms of possession. One of the strategies used was to invoke the name of a person or figure who was believed to have the power to heal.
The disciples observed that the unknown exorcist invoked Jesus’ name and was successful in his healing efforts. This unknown healer recognized the power of Jesus’ name, yet he was not a follower of Jesus. In his reply to his disciples, Jesus acknowledges that deeds of faith can precede the words of faith. He also teaches that the disciples should not be reluctant to share Jesus’ healing powers with others.
Later in this Gospel, Jesus teaches us not to create obstacles for those who are just beginning to have faith but to encourage even the smallest signs of faith. The Greek word used here for sin also connotes “stumbling” or “causing scandal.” In vivid terms Jesus teaches his disciples the consequences to those who would put obstacles before people who are on the road to faith.
Value Focus
News
Alert Level 2
Coming on school grounds
Parents/caregivers are able to come onsite to drop off and pick up children. Please use the QR code at the entrance way to scan in. We ask that wherever possible, please do not enter the classroom areas (unless this is prearranged or you need to go into the class for a particular reason.) If you do enter the classroom, you MUST sign in at the office. If you are picking up your child throughout the school day, please come to the school office and we will organise to collect your child for you.
Senior School Production - New Dates !
-Thursday 9 December
-Friday 10 December.
A big thank you to Waikato Diocesan for allowing the show to take place. All money paid for tickets and they will roll over when new dates are arranged.
2022 New Entry Enrolment
This is a call out for all
current St. Joseph's families with children already enrolled who have siblings that will be starting in the New Entrant class (year 0) next year-
it is time to send in those new student applications, if you haven't already!
All enrolment information can be found online: https://stjosephs.school.nz/enrolments/
- Enrolments can be done online and documents can be emailed to admin@stjosephs.school.nz
or paper copies can be picked up and dropped off in the office during school hours.
- We will not be processing applications until all documents are received.
- Photocopies and pictures of original documents will be accepted, except for the Catholic Preference Card which needs to be the original copy.
- All successful applicants will be contacted in September to confirm their spot.
- While we greatly appreciate referrals to friends, neighbours and colleagues- priority of school placement will go to siblings first. Our waiting list is growing quite rapidly and we cannot guarantee spots to others at this moment in time.
*If your child will be starting Day 1 of Term 1 there will be an orientation day to visit the school and New Entrant class before term begins- stay tuned for more information! *
No Subway for the next two weeks
Don't panic Subway will return in term 4.
Sushi is still available through Kindo.
When in doubt, keep them out!
*Please note that New Zealand is under advisory for RSV (Respiratory Syncitial Virus). If your child is demonstrating symptoms we advise following Ministry of Health guidelines for diagnosis and treatment and please keep them at home in the meantime.*
Here is a handy chart from the Health Ed with helpful information on infectious disease:
StepsWeb - Free Licenses extended until 20 December
We are enormously grateful to the Canterbury-based company, StepsWeb, for the free licences they provided NZ school to support learning at home during Alert Level 4. They have generously extended these licences for the remainder of the school year, so you can continue to use this valuable resource at home. Your child’s log in details remain the same as during lockdown.
Access to Free Period Products
St Joseph’s Fairfield has opted into the 2021 government initiative to provide period products for students. Parents of Year 5-8 girls have been emailed this information and it is available on our website.
PTFA News
Despite lockdown stopping us in our tracks straight after our school Cross Country event, children still collected sponsorship money and donations were made.
We are thrilled to announce that we have raised just over $5700. The last few dollars are still trickling in which is fantastic!
Thank you! This money will be going towards Term 4 activities across the school. At our Zoom Assembly on Friday the winners of the spot prizes will be announced, and children will then collect their prize before home time. Thanks to Denisa Cuttance who works for Aritzo for donating some of the spot prizes.
The St Joseph’s Fairfield PTFA are so grateful for the support from our community for this
Notices
Sports News
Summer Sports
If your child is interested in taking part in a summer sport. Please click on the link below for more information.
Some sports will only go ahead if we are in Alert Level 1 so please read the information carefully.
For the school sports teams to go ahead we need parent help to be coaches and managers. Please consider this when entering your child.
Gymnastics (after school) - Club
St. Joseph's Round the Bridges
Group code is: stjoes21
Click here to register https://roundthebridges.co.nz/
Community Notices
CENTENARY
St Patrick's Catholic School, Te Awamutu
22nd and 23rd October
Powhiri, school tours, archives, mix and mingle, dinner and dance.
Come and share in the memories!
Register online at www.stpatta.co.nz or phone the school office (07) 8714669
2021 Term Dates
Term dates for 2021 are:
Term 1: Tuesday 2nd February - Friday 16th April
Term 2: Monday 3rd May - Friday 9th July
Term 3: Monday 26th July - Friday 1st October
Term 4: Monday 18th October - Wednesday 15th December
The Teacher Only Days are:
Term 2: Tuesday 8 June (Week 5)
Term 4: Tuesday 26 October (Week 2)