Nau mai, haere mai St Joseph’s Whanau

After having an interrupted week on jury service and an enjoyable long weekend with family visiting, it is good to be back at school. I hope you all were also able to enjoy the fine weather over the long weekend.

Covid-19 contact: As per the Seesaw message sent to parents last week, we announced a caution on Covid-19. I now need to re-emphasise that caution as a student in Room 3 and Room 5, along with a teacher have reported Covid infection over the weekend. The teacher wore a mask and carried out tests each day all last week as a precaution, because she knew that she had come in contact with Covid, so the risk to students was kept to a minimum. Classes will continue as usual.

The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health advice is:

You are not household contacts therefore the routine for you in this situation is:

• You do not need to isolate

• Children should continue to attend school

• Monitor for symptoms for 10 days. (today, Tuesday is Day 1)

If you develop COVID-19 like symptoms at any time, or are unwell:

test and stay at home until 24 hours after your symptoms resolve

• if you test positive,

• ring your doctor

• you will need to isolate for seven days.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are like those found with illnesses such as a cold or influenza. You may have one or more of the following:

• new or worsening cough

• sneezing and runny nose

• fever

• sore throat

• shortness of breath

• fatigue/feeling of tiredness

• Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste

Less common symptoms of COVID-19 may include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain or confusion/irritability. These almost always occur with one or more of the common symptoms.

Timing of symptoms

• After infection with Omicron, about half the people who get symptoms develop them within three days, and almost all of them will within eight days.

• Some people who have COVID-19 may not have any symptoms and could still be infectious.

• Some people who develop symptoms can be infectious for approximately one or two days before the symptoms develop.

RAT Kits: can be obtained from

• your local chemist for free or

• from the Ministry of Health website. You can order the test kits from the website requestrats.covid19.health.nz or by ringing 0800 222 478 (option 3) from 8am to 8pm

If you need a single testing kit prior to receiving your supply from the above, the school can help, but our supply is very limited so only one per child is possible. Please phone the school beforehand to arrange this.

Ministry of Health advice is that to protect yourself and others it’s important to:

• stay home if you’re sick, and get a test

• keep up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations

• wear a face mask

• improve air ventilation in indoor areas

• use basic hygiene

• practice physical distancing in public when possible.

If your child develops symptoms or tests positive please advise the school.

We ask If you have a case in your household and choose to send other students in the family to school who have not turned a positive or are not showing symptoms, that they should have a clear test each morning before attending. Thank you.

This Week

Youth Town - Cycle safety and care: will be in the school Tuesday to Friday working with students of Years 5-8

National Shake Out Day: Thursday 27th at 9:30 Am the whole country will participate in National Shake Out Day to help our students feel prepared and know what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Group Day: Good luck to the 28 students participating in Group Day on Thursday 27th. We wish you well.

A prayer for the coming week:

Dear Lord

We praise and thank you for your gift of life

We praise and thank you for the gift of your redeeming son Jesus

By your Spirit enable us to receive your gifts in their fullness

Help us to be aware of the needs of others

Help us to pray for healing and wholeness for our neighbours

Help us to live our lives with joy and be a blessing to others

Amen

Every blessing and have a great week.

Paul Cooper

Relieving Principal

Next Wednesday, November 2nd 2022 is our annual Mission Day in support of overseas Missions. Instructions on how students are to purchase their money cards is coming home today so please check the school bag.

The day brings lots of excitement, fun, interesting activities and things to buy.

We will once again be using the money card system.

What sits behind this is the purpose of the Day. St Joseph’s Catholic School has three missions that we raise money for each year.

They are:

Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions… Our school was founded by this chapter. Their divine mission is through contemplation, communion and mission. The priority is to be present and work with those who are vulnerable and neglected, those marginalised in our world today, with particular regard to women, children and youth. Past donations from our school have helped with Education programmes for girls, especially those who were denied opportunities

Holy Childhood Fund… This society is run through Catholic Primary Schools with ‘children helping children.’ The key focus of this principle is almsgiving where schools help by raising money for the missions.

St Columban Society Aotearoa… This mission focuses on Mission Education with concern for Social Justice and the environment in response to global mission. Father Don Hornsey, who is connected to our Parish is hugely involved in this society. Our donations have helped children in need, especially those in poorer countries.

We would like our children and families to know about the essence of our Mission Day as to why we raise money and where we send that money to.

Faith - Whakapono

Faith is a fundamental part of life. Leaning on faith in difficult situations can help us overcome even the most trying and challenging times that we will face during our life. However, often things don't go according to plan, and we can be left feeling hopeless, broken, and desperate.

Having faith in yourself and God is one way that we can motivate ourselves to live a full and faithful life.

Faith is very important during prayer because it opens up the door for the Lord to come into our lives.

We must allow the Lord to enter into our lives through prayer so that he can intercede into our everyday lives, especially when we run into the temptation of sin which is when we need him the most.

"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." - Matthew 21:22

A prayer to say in times of struggling to find faith:

Lord, I come to you with troubles that are weighing on my heart and the hearts of many believers. God, I know that you carry all burdens, and I ask that you share your yoke with us know during this difficult time. God, you are a God of healing.

Have a safe and blessed week

Mrs V