The figure of St John the Baptist looms large in Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew 3:1-12. John knew that acknowledging one’s sinfulness and reforming one’s life was the way to prepare for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. He was not afraid to challenge those who were more interested in appearances than true conversion.
The Season of Advent is an opportunity for us to prepare and to welcome a deeper encounter with Christ.
In light of the reading from Isaiah 11:1-10, Christ is the one who fulfills the prophecy enabling the wolf to live with the lamb - a tension we can often experience within ourselves. Christ enables us to befriend those sides of ourselves we would rather choose to deny. We are invited to trust that He wants us to be whole and integrated and that He wants that same integration within our families, relationships and environment. He challenges us to strive for a peace that is not a pipe dream, one that He alone can give. Blessings on your week.
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
The school year is rapidly coming to an end but like everyone everywhere the pace picks up before it winds down. We have many events to celebrate, people to acknowledge, students to welcome and students to farewell over the next ten days.
The tradition of the Christmas Wreath is now a common sight in many homes.
Nga manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa
Julie Paul
Principal
Happenings this Week
Today, Tuesday, 6 December, our senior students who have carried out a range of different duties within the school will be acknowledged with a day at Rainbow’s End, subsidised by the BOT.
On Tuesday, 6 December, at 3.30pm the Year 2 - Year 8 families who will be joining our School Community in 2023 will visit our school with their children so their transition will be a smooth and happy occasion.
On Wednesday, 7 December, our IXL Champions will be treated to a KFC lunch with Mrs Paul and the Maths Team, congratulating them for their perseverance and hard work.
On Thursday, 8 December, the Year 5 - 8 prizegiving will be held at 1pm in the McKean Centre.
Tuesday, 13 December Graduation for Year 6 Boys and Year 8 Girls 6pm in the Hall
Thursday, 15 December Leavers’ Assembly - time to be confirmed
Friday 16, December Final School Mass 11.15am
Please read all the correspondence that is being sent out to remind you of these many events and be sure to note the date and times, so you don't miss out.
End of Year Reports
End of Year Reports will be emailed to parents/caregivers on Friday, 9 December afternoon. If you do not receive your child/children’s reports by Monday 12th December, please contact the school office.
School Closes Friday 16th December
Students will be dismissed from their classrooms immediately after Mass at 12.30pm. Please ensure they do not leave any of their belongings behind.
Please note:
All children must be collected promptly as there will be NO STAFF on site after 1pm.
Papatoetoe Zone Athletics
Congratulations to all our students who competed at the Papatoetoe Zone Athletics. Across all events our athletes did very well. They received 18 first places, 9 second places and 7 third places giving our school team a total of 124 points which placed them first.
Puhinui was second with 65 points and North was third with 42 points.
Congratulations to all our competitors and a special thanks to Mr ‘Ofamo’oni, Mr Bennett, Ms Brown and Mrs Kelly who coached and supported our athletes.
Year 6 Outdoor Education
What a successful and enjoyable week despite our few last-minute adaptations because of the weather and the resurgence of COVID 19. The students had a most worthwhile day at Bethell’s Beach with the Lifesavers Education Day followed by an action-packed day at school on Thursday with Basketball, Joust, Dinosaur Challenge, Cooking and Archery. Later that afternoon they went Ten Pin Bowling and enjoyed having dinner at the venue before walking back to school and going home to sleep. On Friday they participated in Orienteering at school and then went to Wero Water Park for the Kayak Challenge.
It was a challenging and most worthwhile experience for all our students who undertook new activities which pushed some of them out of their comfort zone. Once again it was great to see their perseverance and their ‘Can Do’ attitude pushing them to achieve the best they could. There are some great photos on our facebook page so you can all see the action packed days they had. Special thanks to all the parents who were able to join us over this time, we greatly appreciate your support as we know without your help events like this would not be able to happen.
Thank you to all the teachers who spend a great amount of time preparing for Education Outside the Classroom and giving up the extra time required to make events like this so successful.
Scholastic Book Order
Today, Tuesday 6th December is the final day to order from the last catalogue. There will be no late orders online or through the office this time as they will not be delivered by the end of term.
The $5.00 Summer Reading Books should be delivered by the end of this week.
School Library Books & Resources
We are doing our annual stocktake of Library Books, Readers and School Resources and we would appreciate you checking at home to see if you have any items that need returning to school.
All our library books are issued to individual students, so it is important that these are returned. If you have received a letter regarding an overdue library book or lost library book, please pay the fine to avoid additional costs.
School Attendance Dues, Special Character Donation and Stationery.
Please ensure all of your accounts are paid as we need to pay our school accounts before the end of this term. If you have any queries, please contact Ms Helen Peri by email accounts@hcsp.nz
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Scholastic Book Orders
The last book club offer, Offer No. 8 is out and orders can be placed online up until the 30 November and then it will be closed. No late orders can be accepted as the books may not be delivered before the end of the term.
Holy Cross Parish Spirit of Christmas Concert
- When: 17th December at 7pm in Hall
- Children: Find in the YouTube any of Christmas Song, you would love to sing.
- Practise at home until you know it very well
- You may Sing alone {Solo} or in duet {2} or trio {3} or quartet {4}
- You could play your song with your own instrument, Super Great!
- Download the music of your song into a Flash Drive and you practise with it at home.
Parents: When the children finished choosing their songs then, contact us as soon as possible.
If you want any clarification or more information, you could contact to the Team OR
Sr. Nau Apikotoa smsm.
Mob: 021 026 16 323 Home Phone: (09) 278 0198
Thank you so much for your support.
Principal Awards
Room 1 Madelyn Tulua Taito, Rurick Gonsalves
Room 4 T.J Mocelutu, Ogin Younis
Room 5 Edward Sakopo, Poufa Anitele’a
Arohanui
Room 1A Ondreius Scanlan-Vatuvei, Omani Tonga
Room 2 Roman Matai, Zephaniah Palelei
Room 3 Marlon-Jet Emani-Johnson, Alexis Akaroa
Aroha
Room 4A Leighton Miriau, Eli So’e
Room 9
Room 10 Alexis Laulu, Tupou Tala’ofa
Te Matauranga
Room 11 Irene Wendt-Latu, Reuben Rai
Room 12 Immanuel Faitua, Khloe Donaldson Karati
Room 13 Ahnastlyst Perry-Leavaise’eta, Kyra-Lee Collins
Tumanako
Room 14 Josephine Toilala, Madison ‘Ofanoa
Room 15 Angelin Karimpil Renso, Olivia Younis
Room 16 Patience Eseloma, Breeyah Tupe-Faleali’i
Manaakitanga
Room 18 Rhylee-Jay Masoe, Riley Maxwell
Room 19 Tumanako Fa’aui, Koko Fiaola
Room 20
Atawhai
Room 17 Jona Tai’i Sa’u, Sina Raass
Room 21 Katya Jajika, Lucius Mataia
Room 22 Jessiah Vaaga, Elizabeth Tupou
Rangimarie
Room 6 Jiselle Tuiafitu, Adrienne Walter-Laulu
Room 7 Lyric Matapo, Briana Hau Kautai
Room 8 Kava Feao, Dylia Walter-Laulu
School App
Download our school app (which is free) so that you receive announcements and newsletters from school to keep you up to date.
This is what the app looks like on either the PlayStore (for Android phones) or the App Store (for iPhones). Please download it if you haven’t done so already.
