Lent is a wonderful season in the Church calendar – time set aside to renew and prepare ourselves to receive the fullness of life in the resurrection. It’s a time for a bit of a spiritual ‘spring-clean’. Just as a ‘spring-clean’ in our homes gives us a renewed sense of order and purpose, a spiritual spring-clean lifts our spirits, sweeps out the bad habits and creates space in our lives for God.
Giving up chocolate or other sweet indulgences is a traditional favourite for Lenten promises. However, for our Lenten commitments to really serve the purposes of Lent, it is better to approach what we ‘give up’ from the point of view of how giving it up frees us to more fully embrace life in Christ. It’s not deprivation for the sake of deprivation… it’s for the sake of greater love, more abundant life, deeper peace, more life-affirming joy. Think in terms of what you are embracing rather than what you are forgoing. For example, instead of ‘giving up’ sugar, I’m embracing a daily ritual of honouring God – every time I drink my sugarless tea, I am reminded to thank God for his love.
Lent is a great time to sweep our lives clean of any habit, attitude or practice that serves ourselves rather than God and those God sends us to love. Used well, Lent becomes something so rich in blessings that you will look forward to it year after year.
Blessings on your week 😊
The Catholic Character Award for this week: Kadian Polamalu Toalima (Rangimarie)
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
Welcome to Week 5, the beginning of Autumn and the second week of Lent. Last Wednesday we celebrated Ash Wednesday with a beautiful school Mass in the morning for the senior students and a thoughtfully prepared liturgy for the Junior classes in the afternoon. All the students had prepared Lenten Promises which they presented during both of these celebrations.
During Lent we are encouraged to give of ourselves and do something extra. It is not only a time to give something up and fast but to reach out and do more for others, remembering it is a time of prayer, almsgiving and fasting.
Maybe we could reflect on the quote below and make this week a time of more kindness, compassion, charity, truth and love.
Nga manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa
Julie Paul
Principal
Sacramental Programme
Meet the Teachers - Monday 27 February at 6pm in the McKean Centre (Hall)
Tonight, we look forward to meeting most of our school Whanau. We will begin our evening in the McKean Centre (hall) and then there will be an opportunity for you to go to your child/ren’s classrooms and meet their teacher and some other parents who will be in your child’s class this year.
This is an opportunity for you to have an informal chat with the teacher and learn about their expectations and the routines of their class. It is not an opportunity for an interview or academic progress report but a chance for introductions. We believe that the education of your child is a partnership between home and school and it is important for your children to see we are working together to provide them with the best possible outcomes that will lead to their future success.
Everyday Matters - Attendance
Our school roll has settled now that we have finally had a full week at school. We are aiming for 95% attendance across the school and will be making regular contact with those students whose attendance is causing concern.
Our Engagement in Schools Worker will be contacting and, if necessary, visiting families with poor attendance.
Attendance to date should be 11 /11 days or as it is recorded in half days it should be 22/22 half days. Please monitor your child’s attendance.
NZEI PAID UNION MEETINGS - Monday 27 February
On Monday our teachers will be attending these meetings., School will remain open as usual. We have arranged a roster for the teachers to attend the meeting to ensure we have enough staff at school throughout the day. Thank you to all our community who are supporting the teachers’ claims.
Years 5 & 6 Swimming Competition - 28 February 2023
On Tuesday 28 February, the Papatoetoe Schools’ Swimming Competition will be held at Papatoetoe Centennial Pool starting at 10.00am and finishing at 12.00pm.
Our swimming team will all leave from school at 9.15am and travel to the pools as a team. Special thanks to Mrs Anitelea, Mrs Tuala and Ms Hera Potangaroa who have given up their morning tea and lunch times to train our swimming team. We wish them well and know they will be great representatives of our school. Details of swimmers below:
HCSP Y5/6 Swimming Teams - Tuesday 28th February 2023
Boys Teams 8 Yrs , 9 Yrs & 10 Yrs
Charles Miriau Rm 19
Ezra Ahovelo Rm 17
Harrison Te’o Rm 12
Atonio Lelaulu Rm 21
Elijah Auva’a Rm 22
Kayne Leota-Tuia Rm 11
Bowen Manarangi-Trott Rm 21
Buchanan Tuiogo Rm 18
Abel Patea Rm 12
Dominic Tuala Rm 21
Edward Pritchard Rm 18
Gabriel Maxwell-Wijohn Rm 14
Milan Leaupepetele Rm 19
Marius Georges Rm 19
Nikolai Evdokimov-Reti Rm 11
Ceejay Lolo Rm 22
Lindon Coe Rm 21
Joseph Brown Rm 15
Girls Teams 8 Yrs , 9 Yrs & 10 Yrs
Nevaeh Uini-Faiva Rm 18
Sophia Fonoimoana Rm 17
Kyra-Lee Collins Rm 13
Madison Collins Rm 18
Breeyah Tupe-Faleali’i Rm 17
Khloe Iefata-Ngapoko Rm 13
Kahurangi Kingi Rm 19
Lui Henry Rm 20
Peyton Nomotu-Bruce Rm 12
Koloti Tangi Rm 17
Kristal Pelenato Rm 17
April Sio Rm 13
Jahzaria Ah Chee Rm 18
Irene Latu Rm 21
Madhelyn Solomon-Vaotu’ua Rm 14
Lamona Soakai Rm 17
Poerangi Karena Rm 20
Kamryn Polamu-Toalima Rm 11
Hooked on Cricket - Years 5 & 6 Tournament Thursday 2 March
Intermediate Tag - Friday 3 March
Years 5 - 8 Water Polo
Attendance Dues
Thank you to all the families who have paid or have arranged automatic payments to cover each term's accounts. These are set by the Diocese and we are just the collection agency for these Attendance Dues. If you need assistance or advice of any kind please contact Helen Peri accounts@hcsp.nz or myself principal@hcsp.nz to make an appointment
Stationery Accounts
Thank you to all the whanau who have paid their stationery accounts. Please ensure these are paid as soon as possible as we have already given your child these books to use to enable them to record their learning.
All stationery, uniforms and camp fees are to be paid into the following account:
ASB Account 12 3028 0484186 00.
Please use your child’s initial and surname for reference and for code put stationery, camp, uniform etc.
If it is more convenient for families, camp fees can be paid in installments but must be paid before camp starts.
Mobile Phones & Social Media Platforms
Parents, we are asking you to please monitor your child’s use of their mobile phones. Specifically, the social media platforms they have access to and are using eg TikTok, Facebook etc.
The school can only monitor the use of devices between school hours and we are receiving emails from the public who are seeing our students in their school uniforms on various social media sites in videos or making unpleasant comments.
We are asking that children do not upload photos or videos to these platforms when wearing our school uniform. We do not consider some of these platforms safe or appropriate and we do not want the school’s reputation compromised by these uploads which the public think are happening during school time.
Thank you for your ongoing support in this area as we all know social media sites can have a detrimental effect on our children’s Hauora - health and wellbeing.
Non-Uniform Day
On Monday 6 March we will be having a non uniform - Crazy Hair Day to raise funds to support the Flood and Gabrielle Cyclone Support Fund. Children can wear non uniform and do their hair in any wind blown style they can create.
A gold coin or any donation will be greatly appreciated as we support those affected by these natural disasters.
Principal Awards
Harinui
Room 1 Josiah ‘Ofanoa, Sian Jones-Fonokalafi
Room 4 Keeva Akaroa, Rico-Alexander Uini-Mealamu
Room 5
Arohanui
Room 1A Adon Shijo, Alexandra Tupouniua
Room 2
Room 3
Aroha
Room 4A Nyah Tuimauga, Michael Williams
Room 9 Amelia Lata-Lavulo, Christiana Uiese
Room 10 Evelyn Lee, Sione Pepa
Te Matauranga
Room 11 Braxton Afeaki, Kamryn Toalima
Room 12 Jorahdise Lai Alama, Chelsea Brbich
Room 13 Daniel Odeesho, April Sio
Tumanako
Room 14 Shiloh Cowan, Fuatau Akaroa
Room 15 Mercy Uia, Lorenzo Sautia
Room 16 Riley Hunt, Evania Shijo
Manaakitanga
Room 18 Francesco Foronda , Kezia Jinu
Room 19 Finau Kautai, Bass Tuala
Room 20
Atawhai
Room 17
Room 21 Brice Eseloma, Joseph Mata’afa
Room 22
Rangimarie
Room 6 Keilani Ngan Woo Matoha, Hadassah Fruean
Room 7 Aaliyah Lemalu, Angelina Mulipola
Room 8 Delylah Alisi Aiono, Anatasia Sole
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.
