For all those witnessing on our screens the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, I am sure your hearts are going out to all the people affected. Our readings on Sunday remind us to love our neighbour as ourselves. Haven't we witnessed that in so many acts of heroism and human kindness over these days? People going beyond the call of duty to ensure people are safe, sheltered and fed to the extent of putting their own lives at risk and in some cases sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. As we look ahead this week to the beginning of Lent let us think, ‘How can I serve my neighbour? How can I be a light in the darkness?’
Blessings on your week 😊
Message from the Principal
Dear Parents
Welcome to Week 4 2023 and at last, God willing, we will complete a full week at school, our first for the year. After a beautiful summer weekend we hope that this is an indication of the weather we may expect for the next few weeks as we approach Autumn.
We are delighted with the attendance of the majority of our students who are pushing for the goal of 95 -100 % attendance for this term and hopefully the whole of the school year. We are all very aware that high attendance and high achievement go hand in hand and we are asking parents, caregivers and whanau to make this a goal and to encourage their children to value attendance. This year we will be working very closely with our Engagement Worker in Schools who will support families with low attendance and regular lateness.
Nga manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa
Julie Paul
Principal
Meet the Teachers - Monday 27 February at 6pm in the McKean Centre
Please mark this date on your calendars. We look forward to meeting you all and sharing our expectations with you. Parents will have an opportunity to meet the whole staff and then visit their child’s classroom and meet the teacher and other parents who belong to the class.
Covid
Unfortunately, there seems to be some cases of COVID in our community and there is no way this can be avoided. If your children have any covid symptoms please test them and if they are positive, they must isolate for 7 days.
If any of your other children have symptoms, they must stay at home and test. If your child has no symptoms and is negative, they may come to school.
Please keep us informed as we need to keep a register of cases.
Daily Reminders
Last week Room 22 presented a very informative assembly reminding students of behaviour expectations and daily requirements for students at our school.
Below are some reminders for all whanau to be aware of:
School starts at 8.45 am so children need to be at school by 8.40am to enable them to prepare themselves for the start of the day.
All children must wear the correct uniform with pride and this includes a hat.
Years 3 and above should have the correct PE uniform (plain black shorts and a school P.E shirt ) at school every day.
A book bag needs to come to school everyday.
All children need a healthy lunch, no sweets or junk food.
We are a water only school and do not allow juice or milk drinks.
We all try to live by our School Values of Human Dignity, Compassion, Reconciliation and Service.
Stationery Accounts
Stationery invoices have now been issued to families. The cost of stationery is as follows:
Years 1 - 5 stationery is $25.00
Year 6 stationery is $25.00 Year 6 Camp is: $100.00
Years 7 & 8 stationery and technology will be: $120.00
Year 7 Camp will be $200.00
Year 8 Camp will be $200.00
We ask that all stationery bills are paid promptly by 31st March. Please note that we pass on all savings to our families for stationery and we do not charge for any of the software licences that our children have access to or for the use of school devices.
Camp fees may be paid in installments but must be paid by:
Year 8 by the end of Term 2
Year 6 and 7 by the end of Term 3.
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.
Attendance Dues
Please ensure you have set up automatic payments or made arrangements to ensure your first term fees are paid by the beginning of April for each child attending our school. This is an obligation you agreed to when you enrolled your child at our school and it is your responsibility to ensure you pay this account by the end of each term. Attendance Dues is $122.00 per child per term for 2023. If you have any issues with this please email myself or Helen Peri at accounts@hcsp.nz
Please ensure that you pay Attendances into the BNZ account and stationery, trips and camp in the ASB account.
We are unable to access money that is put into the BNZ account as this money goes directly to the diocese for Attendance Dues and the Catholic Special Character.
Mobile Phones
We would like parents, caregivers and whanau to evaluate their child’s current need to bring a mobile phone to school. We fully understand that in some situations it is a necessity but for others it appears to be a distraction. All mobile phones need to be handed in to their teacher when children enter the classroom and must be collected after school.
Before and after school the mobile should remain in the owner's school bag and not be used to take photographs or for playing games.
Book Bags
Year 5 & 6 Museum Trip
On Tuesday all of our Year 5 & 6 classes are going to the Auckland War Memorial Museum to further enhance and challenge their learning on their current social science topic, Korero Tukuiho - How Maori remember the past.
Please ensure you have returned their permission slips and read the notices about the trip. Sincere thanks to all our parent helpers who are essential and gratefully appreciated. Sincere thanks for volunteering and for your time.
Year 5 & 6 Swimming Team
Training is every day this week! Children in the squad need to bring their swimming gear to school. Girls and boys train during the school break times.
The Papatoetoe Schools’ Swimming Competition will be held next week on Tuesday 28th February at the Papatoetoe Centennial Pools. Races start at 10am and finish at 12pm. Parents and families are all welcome to attend.
Holy Cross Water Polo
Tuesday training for our Year 7&8 team begins this Tuesday at 1.15pm - 2.15pm at the Manurewa Pools. Mrs Ryan will transport the team in the school van. Girls will need to bring their togs and towel to school every Tuesday this term.
Water Polo games for our Year 7&8 team and Year 5&6 teams start this weekend at Manurewa Pools, Sykes Road on Saturday 25th February, March 11, 18, 25. We wish all our teams well. Any questions contact Mrs Anitelea esthera@hcsp.nz
Principal Awards
Harinui
Room 1 Mareko de Jong, Taimanea-Atarangi Potangaroa, Rico Meredith, Acacia Schmidt
Room 4 To'oa Krone, Marvel Tojin
Room 5
Arohanui
Room 1A Kahu-Pounamu Esekielu, Luke Auva'a, Dion Odisho, Katina Ioane
Room 2 Eva Leaupepetele, Josiah Uia, Mafua Lolohea, Roman Collins
Room 3 Avery Pakipaki, Zion Sofele, Joshua Kumitau, Adelina Tauga
Aroha
Room 4A Apolonia Tikoipau, Evanthia Tufi, Logyn-Reign Masoe, Mason Heketoa-King
Room 9 Alba Jefferson, Telina Misa
Room 10 Eva Naufahu, Anely'Fina Lui, Elisapeta Sole, Anthony Tuimauga
Te Matauranga
Room 11 Nava Misa, Saili Matu,
Room 12 Harrison Te'o, Mary Baba
Room 13 Honor Stowers, Danielson Avei, Pariz Kelly, Ayven Meredith
Tumanako
Room 14 Lazarus Mataia, Savineah Matai, Anitelu Tuli, Madhelyn Solomon-Vaotuua
Room 15 Jerrel Tamali'i, Joseph Brown, Grace Misilei, Roman Matai
Room 16 Daniel Moredo, Elisabeth Latu, TJ Henry, Alani Tuala
Manaakitanga
Room 18 Dylan Rai, Ariana Tupe, Iyhla Tuala, Nevaeh Uini-Faeva
Room 19 Annbel Boby, Yachvili Falemoe, Marius Georges, Joelle Alex
Room 20 Lionel Yusif, Isabell Maharaj-Bennett
Atawhai
Room 17 Hebron-Johnson Kaleti, Jory Javier, Sophia Fonoimoana, Latai Tikoipau
Room 21 Eclaire Foronda, Eliyana Hunt, Tateama Vainikolo, Lindon Coe
Room 22 Ceejay Lolo, Faamanu Tapelu, Conchita Jennings-Sio, Code-Robinson Avei
Rangimarie
Room 6 Neriah Sa'u Tipelu, Ava Vaka, Starla Krone, Ailey Ale
Room 7 Joselle Filipo, McKenzie Phillips-Fawdray, Veronica Maynard, Mili Mary Tojin
Room 8 Amelia Brzozowski, Jernee Mika, Satilofia Maree Segi, Merdith Macdonald
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.
