Newsletter Term One, Week 4
Bishop Edward Gaines Catholic School
Principal's Message
Talofa, Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Hello,
It is a challenging time for schools dealing with the omicron variant. Our school moved swiftly to ensure the safety of our students, staff and community this week, and we thank you for your understanding. Please be reassured that we are doing all we can to monitor, inform and act in a way to keep everybody as safe as is possible. It is important that if your child is unwell that they stay home and are monitored for covid symptoms.
Our staff continue to take precautions to keep our environment safe, such as; having well ventilated rooms, taking lessons outside when possible, ensuring students sanitise their hands after each break and older students wearing masks indoors as directed by the Ministry of Health. It is important that students are safe and also important that their school attendance is disrupted as less as is possible.
We hope to see our students back on Monday. From Monday we do ask that you continue to drop your child at the gate before school and pick them up from the gate after school.
Thank you to those families who have indicated their interest in doing the Sacramental Programme. We are looking at doing this later this year now, due to the disruption of Covid.
Our teachers will be meeting for your Student Led Conferences via zoom or phone call today. If you are unable to make the meeting please make another time to zoom. It is important our students can articulate their learning and learning goals to their whanau, as this gives them more ownership and motivation in their learning.
OurTeddy Bears Picnic for preschoolers and their families to come see what our school environment and special character is all about, is March 10th. Please let families you know who have preschoolers, know about this. Our Swimming Sports with St Mary's Putaruru is next week, 3rd March. This is for 7 year olds and older. We encourage our students to 'have a go'.
Next week is also the start of Lent. Lent is a special time, a six week period leading up to Easter. In the liturgical calendar where we reflect, repent and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection in the conclusion of Holy Week. Our classes will begin their Caritas focus also. Ash Wednesday will be celebrated with Father sprinkling the ashes on students and staff at 1:30pm on Ash Wednesday.
Please mark in your calendars our date for our Whanau Hui. This is an opportunity to form a PTA and brainstorm our community's wish list! We will also have our Strategic Plan available for our community to review and comment on.
Swimming lessons are next week please make sure your child brings their togs.
Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki—God’s blessings,
Bernadette Hall
Religious Education Learning
Outdoor Play
Thanks.
Tennis
Catholic Character
What is Lent?
Lent is the 40 days leading up to and including the death and resurrection of Jesus. As Catholics, we believe that Christ's death is the main purpose of his life. This is because his death was a sacrifice, so we could enjoy eternal life. So Lent is the time to reflect on this and observe some traditional practices like giving up things we like for 40 days, doing good deeds for others, and remembering what sacrifice Christ has made for us. It helps us grow our faith by pausing and recognising what really matters and is important. Christ calls us each Lenten season to welcome him into our hearts.
Your child learn more here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDvf527E8Dg-Teaching about Lent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKjEDrvkHUg-Lent for kids
Girl Guides
Are you up for fun, friends and adventure, then Girl Guiding could be for you? We have units for girls aged between 5-17. We also are on the lookout for leaders to support these girls. We have spaces available in our units both in Putaruru and Tokoroa, if you are interested then email Michelle on michellegirlguide@gmail.com to find out more.
Whanau Hui & PTA
We are currently looking for helpers to build some bench seats, help with garden building and contribute to our 'wish list' . The schools annual strategic plan will also be available for our community to read over and view.
Our Super Stars
Mrs Hall has noticed and appreciates your acts of kindness towards other students and your good manners. Also for showing initiative and having a fantastic BISHOP attitude!
Sologa lelei
Roncalli's Zoom today
Doing statistics together.
Head Lice Treatment
This is a normal childhood occurance, and most children will get head lice at one point or another. We do have a case of head lice in school. Below is a link on how to treat head lice.
Important Dates
Important Dates:
Term Dates
Term One: 1 February-14 April
Term Two: 2 May-8 July
Term Three: 25 July-30 September
Term Four: 17 October-14 December (TBC)
Welcome Liturgy
1 February 9:30am on turf courts
School Mass
11 February 9:30am on school grounds
Swimming Days @ Aquatic Centre:
W 1: 2 February & 3 February 12-1pm
W 2: 8 February & 10 February 12-1pm
W 3: 14 February 12-1pm
W 4: No swimming
W 5: 28 February & 1 March 1:30-2:30pm
W 6: 7 March 1:30pm
W7: No swimming
W 8: No swimming
W 9: 29 March & 1 April 10:00am
W 10: 5 April & 8 April 10:00am
Swimming Sports
3rd March @ Putaruu 7 years and older
Senior Technology Classes
Tuesday at 9:00-10:30am.
Student Led Conferences
24 February 1:30-5:30pm
Preschool Visits
Note changes: Will run each Thursday and Friday from 9:00am -12:30 for the few weeks leading up to the child's 5th birthday. Please let the office know if you are wanting your child to have preschool visits. Also please let others know who may be interested.
Lunchtime Fun Sports for our Tamariki
Every Tuesday and Thursday
Tennis
Monday afternoons (courts opposite our school and bring a racquet if you have one)
Health Nurse Educational Talks to Senior Students
16 February-Talk
16 March-Immunisations HPV/Boostrix for our yr 7s and Yr 8s
Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday
1 March and 2 March
Preschool & Kindy Picnic @ Bishop-Teddy Bears Picnic
10th March 11:30-1:00pm (note change as swimming sports is now 3rd March)
For preschoolers and their families to come find out more about our special character and early literacy programmes.
St Joseph Feast Day Liturgy
18 March 9:30am
3rd March 11:30-1:00pm
Whanau Hui
24 March 6:00pm staffroom-all welcome. Come share ideas for upcoming school projects and meet others in our school community.
Holy Week
10-15 April
Contact us:
Email: office@beg.school.nz
Website: http://www.beg.school.nz
Location: 1 Mossop Rd P.O Box 167 Tokoroa
Phone: 07 886 8021
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bishop-Edward-Gaines-Catholic-School-Tokoroa-310873056309874/