Newsletter 13th September 2021
Holy Cross Catholic School Papatoetoe
Our Vision: Learning and Growing in Christ
Dear Parents & Caregivers
As we enter the 4th week of lockdown, if you are like me you are feeling fedupa nd wanting things to get back to normal as soon as possible. For this to happen we all need to play our part. This means that when the opportunity arises we should all get vaccinated. Note that children from 12years and above are now eligible for a vaccination.
We also need to keep to our bubbles and remember to ensure we are contacting family and friends through social media, email and phone to check that they are safe and to show that we care about them at this time.
Congratulations on the wonderful support that you have been giving to your children with their education online.
Some points to remember:
1. Teaching - Please remember that you are not expected to be a teacher. Your role is to support and encourage your children. If the work is too easy or too hard for our child, please contact the classroom teacher so that adjustments can be made to the work.
2. If children are using IXL they need to be completing the exercises that the teacher has set.
3. Literacy Planet – Please ensure your child is only doing the missions that have been set by the teacher.
4. Daily Routine - It would be beneficial to all children if they got into a daily routine of reading and writing each day.
5. Physical Activity - We would encourage all children to get outside for some physical activity each day.
It’s Holy Cross Week and Time to Celebrate!
Holy Cross was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1953. During this week we remember the many Sisters we knew, some who are long dead and are only names to us, and others who worked with us for a while and then went another way. They gave their lives to developing the Special Character of the Mercy Charism at Holy Cross over the years. We also remember that as members of Holy Cross Catholic School we are called to carry on the Mercy Spirit to ensure that it is strong and vibrant and central to everything we do to help our children grow and love the Cross. We are the bearers of the new candles and it is our challenge to keep our candles burning.
Triumph of the Cross
The Cross could have become a symbol of shame for Christians as it brought about the death of Jesus. However, faith in the resurrection made the Cross a symbol of pride. Through the Cross, Jesus triumphed over death. Pride in the Cross soon turned to veneration of the Cross. Since no record from the time of the Apostles indicated that the Cross was preserved, it has generally been honoured in the location of Calvary. A new Basilica was built on the site, under the reign of Constantine in the early 4th Century. The Feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated on 14th September, commemorating both the victory of Christ and the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in 335AD. As a Feast of Christ, when it falls on Sunday, it replaces a regular Liturgy for an ordinary time.
On Tuesday, 14th September, it is our school’s special day ‘The Triumph of the Cross’ and we have decided it will be a ‘no device / no work’ day. Since we can’t celebrate together as a school we are encouraging the children to create their own fun celebration and get outside and play.
Play gives children the freedom to be who they are. In play children face uncertainty, which teaches children to be resourceful, think creatively, improvise and make decisions for themselves.
Play is also very physical which is fundamental for the development of children’s gross motor and fine motor skills. When children move around they refine their motor skills, gain better spatial awareness, balance, co-ordination and general awareness of their bodies.
Moreover, moving around during play not only reduces obesity, it exercises the brain. There is a direct relationship between movement, cognitive and linguistic development.
Holy Cross Week
Holy Cross Week
This week, we will celebrate the Triumph of the Cross. Holy Cross was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1953. During this week we remember the many Sisters we knew, some who are long dead and are only names to us, and others who worked with us for a while and then went another way. They gave their lives to developing the Special Character of the Mercy Charism at Holy Cross over the years. We also remember that as members of Holy Cross Catholic School we are called to carry on the Mercy Spirit to ensure that it is strong and vibrant and central to everything we do to help our children grow and love the Cross. We are the bearers of the new candles and it is our challenge to keep our candles burning.
Here’s some information worth thinking about:
As parents we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by micro-managing our children’s before and after school activities and we overlook the powerfulness of something that is given to our children naturally and freely from birth: play. It is through play that children acquire fundamental skills that they need for academic pursuits whilst becoming happy and well-adjusted creative thinkers. These are survival skills that are needed to deal with global challenges in a fast changing world where nobody can predict the jobs of the future. In the wake of rapidly increasing depression rates and declining social literacy, it is time to make play a priority.
You may like to complete some challenges set by the teacher or some of the challenges listed below:
Challenges to do at Home
Physical Exercise (Years3 – 8)
These exercises must be done in this order:
1. Run 1 x kilometre
2. 10 x Push ups
3. 10 x Squats
4. 10 x Star jumps
5. 10 x Sit ups
6. 10 x Tuck jumps
7. Run x 500 metres
The timing for this challenge would be:
Years 7 & 8 - 10 to 12 minutes
Years 5 & 6 - 11 to 13 minutes
Years 3 & 4 – 15 minutes
Lockdown Family Lip Sync Challenge
It’s easy! Put on your favourite song and mime along. Record your efforts and send to your child’s classroom teacher. Your video must be no longer than 2 minutes and at least 1-minute long. Get together with your whanau and be creative and have fun!!
Using Chalk from the Education Packs
Use the chalk from the hard packs that were supplied by the Ministry of Education to create new games or draw pictures on your driveway or footpath.
Armchair Challenge
Click the link below for this challenge. Please read the instructions first.
Foodbanks
If you are in need, below is a list of contacts for you:
- Affirming Works Otahuhu - Food Parcels, allocated times for pick-up only. Ring to do a quick assessments Call 0800 023 3476, Monday – Saturday, 10.00am – 3.00pm Address: 9 Moa Street, Otahuhu
- Otara Kai Village - Food packages and face masks for people living in Otara and Papatoetoe regions. No registration needed, pick up from 120 East Tamaki Road, Otara, or delivery (pending needs). See Facebook for updates. Lcoated 120 East Tamaki Road, Ōtara, AUCKLAND Ōtara Town Centre (in front of Jetts Gym) https://www.facebook.com/TheOtaraVillage
- Find a Food Bank www.foodbank.co.nz
Year 8 Camp - Postponed
Year 8 Camp has been postponed due to Covid-19 until we reach Alert Level 1. At this level we would like to take the children away. Full details of this will be given later.
Answers to Math Challenge - 6 September 2021
Question 1 Teacher
Question 2 2099
Question 3 11
Question 4 22
Question 5 13
Children's Writing During Lockdown
The 2 amazing sisters
by Lindon Y3 R15
Wow Covid19 is back now with a Delta Variant and so we are in lockdown again. Australia has been into a long lockdown and we want to make ours short.
My mum always works even at alert level 4, so I am with my booming dad on the first day of lockdown. We found it difficult to get to the microphone on seesaw, but in the end, we sorted it out and we got everything done.
There were 10 cases of Covid 19 on the first day of the lockdown. 7 in the morning and 3 at night, all in Auckland. I was wondering how many positive cases are going to add up tomorrow.
My Dad needed to go to work on the second day of the lockdown. So Mum started so early so she can be with me before my Dad goes to work. We had a great time going for a walk heading to the train station. When we got there, we had to rest for a while because we were out of breath. Then, we went back home.
At home we played table tennis and badminton, after doing my schoolwork. We definitely had a great time! Before going to bed, I knew by watching the news that there were 11 cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland again.
The following day, Covid19 cases spread to Wellington. There were 3 cases in Wellington and 8 in Auckland. It’s getting scary because the numbers keep on rising! I'm still happy though because it TGIF “Thank God! It's Friday”.
We had a day of walking and sports the following day. We played table tennis, golf and basketball (on the fence). In table tennis, I was getting ball fright more often because my Dad was getting hard on me. In golf, my Mum was pretty bad because she never won. I will take this as the winning moment because I got 50x2 holes. I wish that my winning moment will continue as we fight the deadly Delta variant virus. Kia kaha everyone and we will keep fighting to the end.
Stories from Room 10
First of all, Spring is a time when it is not too cold or hot. Then it is a time to plant seeds. We also started doing it. We love planting. Next we saw the flowers blooming in my garden. The flowers and fruit make the place colourful. I saw many butterflies and bees on the flowers, sucking the nectar. Finally, I enjoyed seeing my colourful Spring garden. I felt happy playing in the garden.
By Joseph Joice R10
Have you ever had a Covid Test? On the weekend I had a cough. My mum said I needed a Covid Test. First I wore a mask. Then I went to the testing station. Next they asked me for my name, number, date of birth and address. After my Mum and sister got tested it was my turn. Finally, they told me to tilt my head back so they could swab my mouth and nose. I thought it was ticklish and sore.
The End.
By Devyn-Paige Masoe R10
Contact Us
Email: office@hcsp.school.nz
Website: https://hcsp.school.nz/
Location: Holy Cross Catholic School Papatoetoe 21 Carruth Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 278 8224
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hcsp.school.nz