St Joseph's Newsletter T2 Wk10
7th July 2021
Week 10 Term 2
Principal’s Piece
Kia Ora Koutou
Hoe i te kotahitanga kia tae atu to tatou waka ki uta
Paddle in unison so our canoe will reach the shore
A big thank you to those who attended our Learning Conversations over the last two weeks. It was a great opportunity to reconnect and look at what learning steps are needed to help our students move forward. Hopefully you found these conversations of real value. If we all paddle in unison then our students will make the progress needed by the end of the year. If you were unable to make it into school over the last 2 weeks, please make a time with the teacher to catch up and discuss your child’s learning early next term.
This week at school is Cultural week, it's a chance for our school to celebrate all the different cultures that make our school unique. The students have enjoyed learning about the different cultures and watching performances from different cultural groups. My thanks to St John’s and Sacred Heart for allowing their different cultural groups to perform for our school. Also a special thanks to the Wai Taiko drummers for their performance on Tuesday. The students like listening to the beat of the drums. On Thursday the students are able to come to school dressed in clothes that represent their culture.
Last week as a school we celebrated Matariki. Matariki marks the start of the Maori New Year and was a season to celebrate and to prepare the ground for the coming year. Offerings of the produce of the land were made to the gods, including Rongo, god of cultivated food. This time of the year was also a good time to instruct young people in the lore of the land and the forest. Our students enjoyed learning all about Matariki and completing some cool activities.
This week as a school we farewell Fr Richard. Father takes up his new position as Parish Priest at St Thomas More, Mt Maunganui during the holidays. He leaves St Joseph’s after being here for the last 10 years. Fr Richard has done a lot for the School Parish community over that time. We wish him all the best for his new assignment. I’m sure he will enjoy being able to get his boat out more often to go fishing.
As we come to the end of the term, a big thank you to all the parents that have helped out coaching sports teams, helping out at our winter sports days, transporting students to different events and supporting the students at the Lit Quizzes. I very much appreciate your efforts.
The July school holidays start this Friday at 3pm. I hope that you have a restful break and the students are ready to start the new term on Monday 26 July refreshed and well rested.
Kia manaaki te Atua koutou katoa
Grant Stuart
PRINCIPAL
Congratulations
Gospel Reflection
Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Sunday, July 4, 2021
Gospel Reading
Mark 6:1-6
Jesus is rejected in his hometown.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Gospel immediately follows upon last week’s stories of the raising of Jairus’s daughter and the healing of the woman with a hemorrhage. It sets the context of our Gospel readings for the next two weeks in which Jesus will extend the work of his ministry to his disciples.
Today’s Gospel describes what many believe to have been the typical pattern of Jesus’ ministry: teaching in the synagogue followed by acts of healing. In his hometown of Nazareth, the people are amazed by what they hear, but they also cannot comprehend how someone they know so well might move them so powerfully.
In this Gospel, we learn some interesting details about Jesus and his early life. Jesus’ kinfolk know him to be a carpenter, an artisan who works in wood, stone, and metal. He probably learned this trade from his father. Family members of Jesus are also named. Mark describes Jesus as the son of Mary, which is an unusual designation. Adult males were more typically identified with the name of their fathers. It is unclear why Mark deviates from this custom.
Brothers and sisters of Jesus are also named. Scholars are divided on how to interpret this. As Catholics, we believe that Mary was and remained always a virgin, thus we do not believe that this Gospel refers to other children of Mary. Some have suggested that these family members might be Joseph’s children from a previous marriage, but there is little evidence to support this. Others explain this reference by noting that the words brother and sister were often used to refer to other types of relatives, including cousins, nieces, and nephews.
This Gospel tells us that Jesus is hampered from performing miracles in Nazareth because of the people’s lack of faith. Jesus is said to be surprised by this. He did not predict or foresee this rejection. In this detail we find a description of the very human side of Jesus.
This passage unfolds a continuing theme of Mark’s Gospel: Who is Jesus? His kinfolk in Nazareth might know the carpenter, the son of Mary, but they do not know Jesus, the Son of God. Mark is foreshadowing Jesus’ rejection by his own people, the people of Israel. He is also reflecting on and trying to explain the situation of the community for which he wrote. While many of the first Christians were Jewish, Christianity took hold and flourished in the Gentile community. Mark’s community was mostly a Gentile community, who may have been experiencing persecution. By showing that Jesus himself was rejected, Mark consoles and reassures his first readers. He also prepares us to accept this possible consequence of Christian discipleship.
Value Focus
July is the Month of The Precious Blood of Jesus
The month of July is dedicated to The Precious Blood of Jesus. The entire month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
A Time of Regeneration
The Blood that coursed through the veins of Christ was a part of that Sacred Humanity made possible by the maternity of Mary, whose parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne are honored this month. (July 26). Our Lord's blood poured out on the Cross purchased our salvation, washed clean the robes of the martyrs, and gave birth to the Church as it flowed from his wounded side. The Precious Blood of Christ — now pulsing through his Mystical Body — continues its salvific work, preserving and purifying, repairing and providing nourishment for regeneration and renewal of its members.
The Readings of Ordinary Time remind us that our earthly pilgrimage is a journey, a great adventure towards union with Christ, the Beginning and the End of our journey. Each Sunday with its Easter renewal becomes a mile marker along the way, linking where we have been with where we are going. A good reflection for the end of term! May the Precious Blood of Jesus sustain us as we journey to our true home, with Mary and the angels as our companions on the way.
News
AIMS Games Fundraising
THANK YOU!!
For the massive support we were given at the AIMS games fundraiser. The car wash and sausage sizzle raised just over $850.00 which is a fantastic result. A big thank you to those families that donated supplies and also - New World Te Rapa for their generous donation of sausages.
Learning Conversations Term 2 2021
Celebrating Cultures in Weeks 9&10 Update
What an exciting end of term!
Week 9: Monday 28 June - Friday 2 July - Matariki Learning:
What a week we had! Thank you to everyone who participated and made the week so memorable!
Week 10: Monday 5 July - Friday 9 July - Celebrating Cultures:
Our school is made up of many diverse nationalities, and this week is about understanding more about some of the customs, traditions and celebrations that are important in our students' homes too.
As well as having visitors to our classrooms, we will be:
Having a “shared kai” lunch on Thursday 8 July. This is to celebrate Matariki, and Celebrating Cultures week, and the end of Term 2! This will be an opportunity for children to bring along some food from their culture to share, or just a yummy treat! Children will share with their syndicate. More information to come - and remember no nuts!
Welcoming performance groups from St John’s College and Sacred Heart College (Pasifika and Kapa Haka)
Wearing mufti on Thursday 8 July with a theme of International Dress. Do you have a traditional dress from your country? Eg a sari from India, or a green top to represent your Irish heritage? We will have a parade on the turf to show our pride in the heritage of our diverse families. Wear anything to show where your family is from!
Pictures from Week 9/10
New Staff Member
New Entrant Liturgy
Notices
Information and Reminders for Term 3
- Term 3 starts Monday, 26th of July.
- The SJF School Website has been updated to include some resources both parents and students can use during term break which can be found here: https://stjosephs.school.nz/home-learning/
- School starts at 8:45 a.m and finishes at 2:45 p.m
- Drop Off - Students are not allowed on site before 8am as there is no supervision available.
- Pick Up - Students are to be picked up by 3.15pm as the teachers have meetings after school and can not provide supervision.
- Winter uniforms should be worn for term 3. Remember this means that plain black leather school shoes are required (no canvas sneakers).
- Boys are to wear grey socks.
- Girls can wear either navy socks to the knees or full-length navy stockings.
Payments for school lunches, PE Uniforms, PTFA Fundraising, Extra-curricular activities can be done online through myKindo: https://shop.tgcl.co.nz/shop/index.html
Newsletters are posted on Wednesdays fortnightly. Otherwise, news will be posted via our Facebook page, School App or Hero website which can be found here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Josephs-Fairfield-Hamilton-155139431353445/
School App: Download via the App Store, Google Play or https://stjosephsfairfield.apps.school.nz/install/
Term 2 Policy Review
Reporting to Parents on Student Progress and Achievement
This term parents are invited to contribute to our scheduled policy review via the School Docs platform where our policies are hosted. You can do this directly from our St Joseph’s website, by going to the Parents tab and clicking on the link to School Docs under Policies:
Enter the username (stjosephs) and password (joseph).
Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed (Reporting to Parents on Student Progress and Achievement)
Read the policy.
Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Select the reviewer type "Parent".
Enter your name (optional).
Submit your ratings and comments.
Alternatively, you can collect a hard copy of the policy and a review form from the school office. Thank you, we appreciate your input to our policy reviews.
Young Vinnies
Winter Warmers Wrap Up
Student News
Regional Schools Gymsports Festival
On Thursday, 24th of June- 16x Yr 3-8 children competed in the Regional Schools Gymsports festival. A great day was had by all who competed. All students were a credit to our school in terms of their behaviour and sportsmanship. There were lots of smiles, laughter and successes throughout the day, with St Josephs appearing many times on the podium.
A huge thank you to the parents who helped with transport and came along to support, as always we couldn't have done it without you!
Congratulations to the following students who placed in their division.
Aerobics
Samanatha Alderton 2nd Overall
Yr 4-6 Open Junior
WAG
Caitlin Richardson 1st Overall, 1st Bar, 1st Beam, 1st Floor, 1st Vault
MAG
Blake Robinson 2nd Overall 1st Vault, 3rd P Bars
Ryder Pritchard 3rd Overall 2nd Floor, 2nd Pommel, 2nd P Bar
Sam McCarthy 4th Overall 3rd Floor
TRAMP
Adonis Polaczuk 6th Overall, 3rd= DMT
Yr 7-8 Open Junior
Claudia Noble 2nd= Overall. 3rd Bar, 1st= Beam
Taylor McCarthy 4th Overall, 3rd Beam
Yr 7-8 Open Junior Advance
MAG
Finn McCabe 1st Overall, 1st Floor, 2nd Vault, 1st Pommel, 1st P Bar
WAG
Ashleigh van Eyk 2nd Overall 1st Floor, 1st Beam
Eva Conlon 5th Overall 3rd Bar
Nadia Turner 6th Overall
Good Luck St. Joseph's Gymnasts!
Just a reminder the following students from St. Joseph's will be competing in the New Zealand Gymnastics Championships:
Ashleigh Van Eyk - Women's Artistic Gymnastics
Finn McCabe - Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Paxton Polaczuk - Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Noah Pritchard - Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Samantha Alderton- Women's Aerobics Individual and Trio
Adonis Polaczuk - Individual Trampoline, Double Mini tramp & Synchro Trampoline
Samuel McCarthy- Individual Trampoline, Double Mini tramp & Synchro Trampoline
The New Zealand Gymnastics Championships will be held July 21st - 24th in Auckland at Trust Arena.
PTFA News
PTFA Friday Pizza Lunch
The price is $2 per slice!
Cheese, Hawaiian & Pepperoni - Gluten free also available.
Order in the school library or via mykindo:
Community Notices
Nathan Wallis
Nathan Wallis, New Zealand's favourite Neuroscience Educator is going to be in Hamilton next week for another one of his popular talks about brain development – Engage Your Brain. Nathan will be presenting at:
Te Ao Mārama School on Thursday 8th July 2021, 7.30pm to 9.00pm
Nathan's talks are very popular with parents, teachers, coaches, leaders and anyone else who is interested in learning about the workings of the brain. Nathan has a profound reputation as a lively and engaging speaker. He uses humour and plain language to condense 25 years of neuroscience research into his unique ‘tell you how it is’ style. You’ll be absolutely captivated and walk away jam-packed with more than a few “ah-ha” moments.
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 - Thursday 16th December
The Teacher Only Days are:
Term 2: Tuesday 8 June (Week 5)
Term 3: Monday 30 August (Week 6)
Term 4: Tuesday 26 October (Week 2)