A huge thank you for the support you have given our school over this covid period. The donations of food have been just incredible. Our families who have had to isolate have really appreciated this kindness that you have shown. A special thank you too, to the PFC who have donated time and funding to support this as well.

We currently have 11 active cases in school (where the person has been infectious while on site). We have fifteen families needing to isolate. To date we have had 21 school cases (11 currently active, ten recovered) and 17 household cases (students/staff have tested positive while already isolating as a household contact). Your support has been invaluable!

We are celebrating St Joseph's Day this Thursday 24 March. We had invited all of the smaller St Joseph's schools in our region but alas, red level changed that plan. The children are able to wear red to celebrate St Joseph. The feast day of St Joseph is officially on 19 March.

Next week we are preparing for our year 5 and 6 students to attend camp. We have very strict guidelines to adhere to and pray that everyone will be well and safe to attend.

Have a read over the uniform guidelines and information. We have noticed a wee lapse in the standard, and want to rectify this.

Have a lovely week and take care.

Andrea Colebourn

Principal

On 19 March we celebrate the feast of Joseph, the husband of Mary and father to Jesus.

God called Joseph, a simple carpenter, to care for and protect Mary and Jesus.

Joseph showed great faith and trust to do the job God had given him.

We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants ready to place our trust in God.

What gives you hope in your life when things go wrong?

If you are finding your school work/work challenging what gives you hope?

When things were tough for Joseph, he knew that he could always turn to God. Things were never hopeless for him.

Joseph had the courage to keep going because he was never alone. God was always with him and Joseph had complete trust in God.

When things get tough for us, we are never alone.

God is with us always and we only have to reach out and God is there.

God is our hope.

Our class went to visit the church and Fr Mark last Wednesday. He talked to us about saints. He talked about our school saints and other saints like Padre Pio. He also told us about Suzanne Aubert who will hopefully be New Zealand's first saint. He told us lots of creepy stories about saints throughout history. Like Saint Lucy who had her eyes taken out and another saint who had their head chopped off. He told us that one day we could all be saints. - Zac Hinton

Fr Mark taught us about saints and he spoke about all different types of saints both men and women. He told us that Saint Mary is the top saint because she is the mother of Jesus. St Joseph is the 2nd most important because he was the father figure of Jesus. Fr Mark also told us lots of creepy saint stories like saint Lucy who had her eyes burnt out, so now if you see a picture of her she will be holding a tray with her eyes on it. I really enjoyed going to the church and listening to Fr Mark and the stories. - Teigan Riches

Let us pray …

Loving God, you called Joseph to love and protect Mary and Jesus.

Inspired by Joseph’s devotion to his family, his deep faith and courage and his willingness to always hope in God, may we live as faithful disciples knowing that you will love us and protect us always.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

All : Amen.