There was some good news from Jacinda during the week with a couple of changes to the ‘Traffic Light System’ but as we are all aware it is not time to let our guards drop in terms of testing and isolating. We remain in ‘Red’ but with a few less restrictions.

We will continue with being very vigilant with mask wearing and keeping the classrooms well ventilated. We will continue with parents remaining outside of the school gates.

I would also like to say a big ‘well done’ to you all as our numbers are a lot better than most schools. As of Thursday we have 4 children currently at home after testing positive. Sixteen children have recovered and returned to learning. We have 8 children currently isolating at home with someone in the household being a positive case. We appreciate the efforts at keeping children home if they have symptoms and collecting them from school if symptoms develop at school.

We do recommend having a supply of Rapid Antigen Tests at home. These are freely available for purchase or free from testing sites if you have symptoms. Please keep us updated of any changes in circumstances at home.

Call your loved ones regularly (and truly listen to them.)

“When was the last time we visited or telephoned an elderly person in order to show our closeness and to benefit from what they have to tell us?” That was Pope Francis’ question in his homily for the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 26.

Few groups have been more profoundly affected by the ongoing pandemic than our elders. Now that vaccines and boosters have made it possible to safely visit them, what if you took the next year to listen to or even record their stories and wisdom?

“Let us not lose the memory preserved by the elderly, for we are children of that history, and without roots, we will wither,” the pope said. “They protected us as we grew, and now it is up to us to protect their lives, to alleviate their difficulties, to attend to their needs and to ensure that they are helped in daily life and not feel alone.”

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2022

More on the ‘Power from the Holy Spirit’ - The third foundation of mission.

Pope Francis reminds us that, “All Christ’s missionary disciples are called to recognize the essential importance of the Spirit’s work, to dwell in his presence daily and to receive His unfailing strength and guidance. Indeed, it is precisely when we feel tired, unmotivated or confused that we should remember to have recourse to the Holy Spirit in prayer.”

They are $60.

If you need one please contact the office via email office@sacredheartchch.school.nz and one can be sent home for parents to check the size. Once you are happy with the size an invoice will be emailed with bank details for payment.

For the past couple of weeks in maths, Te Ropu Waenga have been looking at position and orientation. This has meant children have had to give instructions in a variety of ways. This has also been linked to the idea of computational thinking which is where computers are given a set of instructions and have to be correct in order for the computer to know what to do. If it is incorrect, they have to debug the code in order for the instructions to be given correctly.

To show understanding they created mazes and coded a sphero robots to go through their mazes.

The parish has emailed Term 1 invoices to families.

Please make payment as soon as possible, so that the parish can pay the Diocese.

Regular part payments are encouraged.

Any concerns/enquiries to Judy ph 338 8395 or email administration@christchurchsouth.org.nz.

• Thursday 14 April - End of Term 1

• Monday 2 May - Start of Term 2

• Friday 3 June - Kahukura Teacher Only Day - School closed

• Monday 6 June - Queen’s Birthday - School Closed

We have all our policies and procedures on School Docs. At present we have policies that we would appreciate your feedback on. Please follow the link below and review these policies.

1. Visit the website

http://sacredheartchch.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm (note that there is no “www”!)

2. Enter the user name (sacred) and password (heart).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the right-hand top corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.