Newsletter Week 5 Term 1

St Joseph's School Waipukurau 1st March 2023

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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

“Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa”

Let us keep close together, not far apart

The scriptures encourage us to become like Jesus Christ and

“to walk, even as he walked”

(1 John 2:6).

Kia Ora whanau,

This week we welcomed Judith Ried to school. Judith is our Education Review Office (ERO) liaison. Together with Whaea Ngatel we reflected on policies, procedures and practices in our school that ensure we comply with MoE requirements. To do this we used a Self Audit Assurance Checklist. Throughout this evaluation working process we are able to identify strengths and areas for improvement that we can use to develop a new strategic plan beginning 2024. The development of a School Profile Report will be the result of this mahi/work. A report that will be shared with our wider community as we refine and ensure that it best reflects our school.

Tō Tātou whakapono - Our Faith

Have you heard this idiom before? ‘Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes’.

Each fortnight some of our students receive certificates for ‘Walking in the footsteps of Jesus’. These certificates are shared for a number of reasons as Jesus demonstrated his love for others in many different ways. One way is his demonstration of empathy for others and his ability to see a persons point of view from a different perspective. When our children do this it allows them to feel what it would be like to be in the other person’s shoes during a situation. It requires them to put themselves in the other person’s position and imagine what they would feel, think, or do if you were in that situation. When they are able to imagine a situation from someone else’s perspective, they gain a better understanding of someone else’s motives or change your own behavior so you don’t offend someone.

Our learners/ākonga are at different phases of being able to develop this understanding that everyone sees situations from a different perspective and that people may therefore misinterpret what’s going on. For example, a child will understand if you explain to him that when he walked up to his friend and hit him on the back, he meant it as a greeting but his friend interpreted it as anger. They begin to understand that a person may be hiding his/her true feelings. For example, they would begin to understand that if a child said “I’m okay” but still had tears in her eyes, she may not really be ok but she just wants others to think she is.

Have a chat with your children at home about ‘walking in someone else shoes’ and continue to develop that real sense of empathy for others.

Swimming Sports

Monday 6th March will be our annual swimming sports at the Centralines Sports Complex.

Whānau are welcome to attend.

Students are to come in their sports uniform dressed in house colours
Thank you for helping your child to pack;

A named towel with togs in a plastic bag
Swimming cap if you have one (named)
A drink bottle (Water only)
Snack food

We will begin with our Year 4 - 8 tamariki between 9:15 - 11:00.

Our Year 1 - 3 tamariki will swim from 11:00 - 1:00.

A message from our Public Health Nurse:

Are you and your whānau protected from measles?

With people travelling overseas again, there’s a risk that someone with measles could unknowingly bring the disease back to Aotearoa.

Measles spreads easily and quickly, usually between people who are unimmunised or only partially immunised. It can be serious and life threatening. In the 2019 measles outbreak in Aotearoa more than 30% of the people infected had to be admitted to hospital.

The best protection against measles is the free MMR vaccine. It will protect you and your whānau, and prevent the virus from spreading.

You will be protected against measles if you:

• had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine

• had measles before

• were born before 1 Jan 1969.

If you’re unsure if you or your tamariki have had any or both doses of the MMR vaccine, check by calling your GP or hauora provider. Alternatively, check your Plunket Well Child Tamariki Ora book. If you’re still not sure, be safe and get immunised – there are no safety concerns with having an extra dose. MMR vaccines are free at your local health provider and many pharmacies.

As measles still occurs in many countries, if you’re travelling overseas these holidays it’s especially important to be immunised to prevent the risk of being unknowingly infected and causing an outbreak in Aotearoa on your return.

More information about the measles vaccination can be found here:

Measles vaccination – Ministry of Health

Emergency Evacuation - Fire Drill

Yesterday we held our first Fire Drill for the year. Please ask your child about why we have fire drills and what we do at school during a Fire Drill to keep everyone safe.

It is important that our tamariki are familiar with, and confident in, responding to emergency procedures.

For Your Information from our school Policy

raise the alarm immediately
contact 111
remove anyone from immediate danger, if necessary.

In response to the fire alarm, or if signalled by the principal or designated person, we start our evacuation procedure. The signal for an evacuation, and an evacuation drill, is a continuous ringing or siren.

We do not attempt to put out the fire unless we can ensure it is safe to do so. We follow the advice of emergency services and prioritise getting everyone to safety. If staff attempt to put out the fire, we take into account the size and location of the fire. In all instances, we ensure that an escape route is maintained.

We do not re-enter the building until given the all clear by authorities. The board decides whether the school can resume operation, in consultation with the principal.

Fire drills and preparation

To ensure that we are prepared in the event of a fire, we:

ensure all staff know to raise the alarm
practise fire drills at least every 6 months
signpost escape routes and keep these clear at all times, and keep emergency exit doors unlocked when a building is occupied
train staff to use fire extinguishers (and hoses if applicable), and to only use them if it is safe to do so.

We will be holding a ‘Gold Coin’, ‘Mufti Day’ on Friday 3rd March. The proceeds will be forwarded to the PNCEO support appeal ‘Unite with our school friends in Hawke’s Bay’.

Thank you for supporting this caring community initiative.

Kia pai tō mutunga wiki

Ma te Atua e manaaki

Betty Brown

Tumuaki

Art for Schools

On Thursday 23 February, the response group visited the Settlers Museum in Waipawa to see the art exhibition. We wanted to look at different methods of paintings. We have an idea to do some paintings to gift to schools who were affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Our group is Ashtyne, Ella, Elaijah, George, Nick, Taiana, Brooke and Mrs Alexander.

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MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL LEADERS

Tena koutou katoa

Welcome back to week 5 of school!

Tomorrow the year 6,7 and 8 students will be attending the Grip Leadership Conference and will need to be at school by 7:45am and will arrive back at school at approximately 3:20pm.

Next Monday the whole school will be doing swimming sports at Waipukurau pools. We wish all the Year's good luck and hope everybody has a fun time swimming.

We will be holding a ‘Gold Coin’, ‘Mufti Day’ on Friday 3rd March. The proceeds will be forwarded to the PNCEO support appeal ‘Unite with our school friends in Hawke’s Bay’.

Nga mihi

Ella, Ruby, Lilla and Jayde

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CATHOLIC CHARACTER

Theme for Lent 2023 Te Tāhuhu mō te Rēneti 2023

Jesus declares “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Fittingly, the theme of the Caritas resources for Lent 2023 is ‘I am the Light of the World’. Our journey through Lent centres on the life of Jesus and his call for us to draw closer to God and look to be love and light to others. Every Gospel story has Jesus as the main driving force overcoming challenges, providing life, and restoring hope. During Lent this year it is our hope that we all are challenged to reconnect with THE Light of the World as we are inspired to bring light in the world at the same time.

Love is the only light which can constantly illuminate a world

grown dim.

– Pope Francis

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PFG Update (St Joseph's Parents and Friends Fundrasing Group)

What a few weeks we have had!! We hope everyone is doing ok.

We had our first meeting on 13 February and it was a very productive planning meeting for the year.

One project that the PFG are looking at doing is building a small raised garden outside Room 1 for the students to look after. We were donated some seeds for our quiz night last year which didn’t arrive in time so they need somewhere to grow. To help us out, we are after any offcuts of timber you may have lying around, it doesn’t have to be anything fancy, any spare nails or screws, soil, someone to build it etc, etc. If you can help us in any way, please get in touch with the PFG.

PLAYGROUND WORKING BEE

Please keep Saturday 29 April free, we need all hands on deck to get the new cushionfall down on the playground. More details to follow.

We are always on the lookout for new members to join the PFG. Please don’t hesitate to have a chat to any of the current PFG members or to Gayleen Alexander in Room 1.

Email: stjosephspfg@gmail.com or message the Facebook page.

Facebook page: St Joseph’s Parents and Friends Group – Waipukurau

The PFG Committee.

📚THANK YOU FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY BOOK DONATION📚

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:

Congratulations to the following students: Quinn, Sehaj, Lucy, Jackson, Adilynn, Joe, George, Luka, Herray and Charlie who last week demonstrated the skills of being caring, organised, and focused learners.