St Joseph's Newsletter T3 Wk 6
31 August 2022
Principal’s Piece
Kia Ora Koutou
Me Mahi Tahi Tātou Mo Te Oranga O Te Katoa
We should work together for the wellbeing of everyone
This week is a challenging one with staff wellbeing. We have Ms Svendsen, Ms Hollis and Mrs Finn all away sick this week. Their illnesses are not Covid 19 but they are linked to many bugs that are around at the moment. We have had to make some changes as we struggle to get relief teachers due to the shortage of teachers in the country at the moment. My thanks to the staff for working together to ensure we have teachers in front of the students each day. We are working hard behind the scenes to provide some structure and routine for the students. It’s important that if your child is unwell that you keep them home to avoid spreading those winter bugs.
Our school is made up of many diverse nationalities, and this week classes will be focusing on understanding more about some of the customs, traditions and celebrations that are important in our students' homes too. Tomorrow, Thursday 1 September will be a mufti day with a theme of International Dress. We encourage children to wear something to represent their heritage. For example this could be a traditional dress from their country, eg a sari from India, or a green top to represent Irish heritage. Children who are New Zealanders could wear something black, or the colours of our flag, or something representing Maori heritage. We will have a parade on the turf to show our pride in the origins of our diverse families. There is no charge for this mufti day. If anyone wants to join us for the parade, it will be at 10.30am, depending on the weather.
This week the different Inter School Cross Countries have been taking place for the Year 4-6 and Year 7-8’s. These students qualified for these events via our school cross country earlier this month. I know that our students will do well as they have done the preparation required and they are a lot faster than I am on the morning road runs.
Next week is AIMS Games week and we have a group of 36 students competing in individual and team sports. We also have Mr Beaurepaire, Ms Dons, Mrs van Eyk and myself over at Tauranga supporting the different teams. This year is the first time post Covid 19 that the Games will take place. Our school is sending one of the biggest groups in our AIMS Games history. We wish all those competing all the best for their respected events. Throughout the week we will provide regular updates via Facebook.
This Friday we have a school assembly in the Church. The Assembly starts at 2 pm and you are more than welcome to join us.
Kia manaaki te Atua koutou katoa
Grant Stuart
Tumuaki / Principal
Gospel Reflection
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C Sunday, Aug 28, 2022
Gospel Reading
Luke 14:1,7-14
When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Meals played an important role in the society in which Jesus lived. More than a time for sharing nourishment, they were a time to share ideas and to model different aspects of social relationships. In Luke's Gospel, the places that a person ate (at the home of a tax collector, 5:29), the people with whom a person ate (sinners, 5:30), whether a person washed before eating (11:38), and, as is the case here, the place that a person sits while eating are all important. The narrator says Jesus tells a parable, but it is really wise advice to both guests and hosts about finding true happiness at the heavenly banquet.
Jesus warns guests to wait before taking their places at the table lest they be asked to move if someone more important arrives. This is more than just a lesson about dinner etiquette. It is advice on how to find your true place in the Kingdom of God. Jesus advises hosts not to invite people who would be expected to repay them to dinner but to invite those who could not repay: the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. This is where real blessings can be found.
In these sayings, Luke gives us not only advice on how to approach the end times but also on how to live according to Jesus' vision of a good society. Luke's Gospel also advises us how the Church must be part of bringing about this society. It is yet another example in Luke's Gospel of the reversal the kingdom brings about.
News
READ-ATHON Sponsorship Money
We asked our amazing students to put their reading skills to good use to raise money for this PTFA fundraiser during Weeks 4&5. We have a range of prizes to award including individual prizes for top sponsorship amounts, class prizes and lots of spot prizes too.
All Sponsorship money and donations need to be in by this Friday 2nd September.
Sponsorship money can be paid on Kindo, in cash, or into the PTFA bank account. The office will be keeping track of all the money that each child brings in so that we can award class prizes and individual prizes.
Thanks for your support,
St Joseph's Fairfield PTFA
Student Well Being
FRIENDS FOR LIFE PROGRAMME
We are very excited to bring the Friends for Life programme into classrooms starting next week. The programme will be running throughout the school, starting at the end of Term 3 and continuing in Term 4.
The children will be learning new skills to help them cope with everyday life. We welcome your input into the programme. Join us in class and come and go over the learning with some of that fun activities that the children will bring home each week.
Find out what it's all about on Tuesday, 6 September, at 2 pm in the Library. This is a real chance to get involved and support and enhance your child's well being. You won't be disappointed.
Martha
Pastoral Care Worker
COUNSELLING APPOINTMENTS
Our Counsellor will work more closely with individuals and small groups. If you wish to make a referral to the counsellor for a student please fill in the following form:
Enrolments for 2023
School Uniform
We have some good news regarding our school uniform! All items of the uniform can now be purchased via the school. We are no longer selling any uniform items at NZ Uniforms in Hamilton.
Please use the Kindo app to purchase items and these will then be sent to your child's classroom. If you need to try on items, please come to the school office after 9am and we can help you with this or you can call on 855 5434 to arrange a time.
Please be aware that there may be limited sizes of certain items.
School Uniform Items and Prices
Sports
Year 4-6 Interschool Cross Country
On Tuesday the 30th of August, some Year 4-6 students competed in the Interschool Cross Country competition at Porritt Stadium. Our students performed extremely well against some talented runners. Well done to our Year 4 students Lucia McLauchlan-Hillary and Hunter Johnson who both got 3rd placings.
Junior Cross Country
Round the Bridges
Entries are now open for Round the Bridges.
We have registered the school for those who would like to enter with us. All race options are available.
Please click the link and use STJOES2022 as the group code. Race bibs will be issued to the school and given to your child once received.
https://eventplus.net/RTB22?code=STJOES2022
Group code : STJOES2022
AIMS Games
Major Sponsors
We are a residential development company based in Cambridge NZ. As a locally owned business, our primary aim is to develop Cambridge real estate homes for sale with a strong focus on community culture and design. We also provide houses to buy in Hamilton NZ.
CONTACT OUR OFFICE
+64 7 827 0740
Associate Sponsors
Notices
Period Products
St Joseph’s Fairfield has opted into the government initiative to provide period products for students. This initiative aims to provide free period products to children and young people in all schools across New Zealand. Periods are a fact of life for half the population. Despite this, young people don’t always have access to the products they need to feel comfortable at school, engage in their learning, and manage what should be a normal and healthy part of life. If you want to know more, click here for a link to the Ministry of Education information.
At St Joseph’s, we have put in place a discreet delivery system so that girls can take home a monthly allocation of period products (two boxes per month). We know that some girls at this age might feel too shy to openly discuss period products with their peers or a staff member, so we want to make access easy and remove any embarrassment for them.
Click here for more information.
Each girl can fill in this Google Form which lets them select from various products.
COVID 19 - Update
We still have some students showing symptoms of Covid 19 and a number of these children are testing positive. If this is the case with your child, please let us know.
Please email the Principal directly: g.stuart@stjosephs.school.nz or ring (07) 855 5434.
All students who return a positive test result, and their household contacts, need to self-isolate for 7 days, then they are able to return to school provided they are symptom free.
As per Government advice, all students in Year 4 and above are asked to wear masks when they are in class. We do have masks available for students - they can collect them from their class teacher or the office.
Past Student Sporting Achievements
Before and After School Care 2022
Here is the link to find out more details and to enrol for Term Three:
Community Notices
Holiday Programmes
Parish Mass Times
St Peter Chanel
Tuesday 9am
Thursday 9am - Liturgy with Communion
Saturday Vigil 5pm
St Joseph's
Wednesday 9am - Liturgy with Communion
Friday 9am
Sunday 9am
2022 Term Dates
Term Dates
Term 3: Mon 25th July – Fri 30th September
Term 4: Mon 17th October – Fri 16th December
Teacher Only Day
Term 4 – Friday, 11 November