SJS Newsletter Term 4 Week 6
Newsletter 23 November 2022
Our Vision: To grow Catholic, Christian young people,
who are confident, connected lifelong learners, inspired by the teachings of Jesus,
and who make a positive difference in their community.
Tēnā tātou
Dear Family/Whānau
Kia ora koutou
To grow Catholic, Christian young people who are CONFIDENT, CONNECTED LIFELONG LEARNERS, inspired by the teachings of Jesus, and who make a positive difference in their community.
At St James’ Catholic School, Jesus and His teachings are at the heart of everything we do. We are encouraged and inspired to grow in faith and to learn more about being Catholic.
On Sunday, our learners made their First Communion at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. This was a beautiful ceremony and I was so proud of the way these learners were so respectful and prayerful. As Father Jo said, there is no I in team, so thank you to the Parish team who nurtured these learners. A big thank you to their parents also. For many it has been a long wait during the covid period.
Our learners are enjoying playing in the sunshine and looking forward to our annual athletics day tomorrow. Thank you Tracey Gunn for all your organisation towards this day. If it rains, the sports will be held at school next week in a modified format.
Many of our staff will be beginning to learn Te Reo next year through Te Ahu o te Reo Maori. This is a free, fun and practical way to learn level 1 Te Reo using rakau. The providers have encouraged us to include our school community. If you would like any details, please see Whaea Hilary or me.
We’re excited about 2023. I have included the classes and staffing for 2023. Your child’s class placement will be included with their end of year report.
I encourage you all to please keep checking the Events Calendar on the school website or school App to stay up to date with events.
E te Atua e manaaki ki a koutou katoa
May God Bless you all
Christine Cosgrove
Catholic Special Character
From our Parish Office
Link to Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Website
Link to the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit mass times
Latest Kotahi Ano Parish Newsletter
Advent
The season of Advent is nearly upon us! This year it begins on Sunday the 3rd of December. Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. It occurs in the four weeks before Christmas.
The word Advent comes from the Latin ‘adventus’ which means ‘arrival’ or ‘coming’.
Advent is all about preparation and waiting - we are preparing for the coming of the Messiah - Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, in all the hustle and bustle of ‘getting reading for Christmas’ we forget to remember Advent and its purpose. We can forget to stop, to pause, and to find time to come closer to God, to find time to prepare for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
This year, challenge yourselves to take the time, or make the time, for prayer and reflection and preparation, all for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Advent Religious Education Learning
This term, part of our Religious Education learning is around Advent, here is what we are focusing on:
Learning Space 10, 7 and 8 - ‘Advent is a time to get ready for the birth of Jesus’ and ‘Aspects of waiting - and relating these to the season of Advent’.
Learning Space 6, 1 and 2 - ‘Advent is a time to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus, Son of Mary, and Son of God’.
Learning Space 5 - ‘The meaning of Advent and how it is recognised, including its symbols, in Church’ and ‘Recognising that the Jesse Tree tells the story of the people who prepared for the coming of the Messiah’.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers - Each year during Advent we donate food to St Vincent de Paul to share with less fortunate families prior to Christmas. Our school Young Vinnies group prepare hampers for the St Vincent de Paul organisers to deliver.
Next week, from Monday November 13, boxes will be in each classroom to receive donations and then be collected daily by the Young Vinnies.
The last day for contributions will be Thursday 24th November at which time the Hampers will be prepared.
We would appreciate donations of any of the following items:
Canned fruit and/or vegetables
Cans of spaghetti and/or baked beans
Canned fish
Bottle/can of pasta sauce
Dry pasta and/or rice
Packet of crackers
Packet of biscuits
Packet of lollies
Block of chocolate
Packet jelly/dessert
Packet of popcorn/chippies
Box/bag of tea/coffee/hot chocolate
Raro/drink sachets
Packet dry soups
Thank you in advance for your support.
God bless.
End of Year Mass - This year we return to our tradition of finishing our school year at our church, The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, as a school community on Tuesday 13 December. This Mass begins at 10:15am, and our learners will be bused there with their school bags.
Please join us to celebrate Mass, and to bless and thank our Year 6 learners and our leaving families.
Learners are taken home by their whānau from The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at the end of Mass, approximately 11:15/11:30am.
School-wide SAINTS awards and End of Year service, special character and leadership awards - These will be given out at our End of Year Assembly in our school hall on Monday 12th December at 1:45pm. Whānau of those receiving these awards will be contacted by their classroom teacher shortly, so whānau can be present for this occasion.
All welcome.
Celebrations - Celebrating Success
First Holy Communion - Congraulations to the following learners who took First Holy Communion last Sunday. Sophie A, Amelia B, Toby B, Seth C, Tammy C, Briar E, Fletcher E, Rohan G, Douglas F, Mia F, Michael G, David H, Giullliano O, Onyx J, Aubrey K, Lachlan McP, Emanuel M, Isla P, Miller R-C, T Siu, Riley S, Cheliane T, Bennett T and Reyon Y.
Thank you to the The Flooring Room Palmerston North who have generously donated two new carpet squares for our learning spaces. Thank you for supporting your local community.
Have you seen the new shadesail that has been installed at the back of the hall by Canvasland? This was purchased with a grant we received from Pub Charity Limited.
News
We welcome Cecelia Autagavaia to our staff who will be cleaning at Hato Hemi for the remainder of 2022.
2023 Staff Organisation – We are very much looking forward to coming back to our kura in 2023. Here is our plan for teachers and classes to begin term 1 2023:
Christine Cosgrove will remain Acting Principal.
LS9: Year 1 = Tracey Gunn, Monday-Wednesday, Claire Dillon, Thursday, Friday
LS8: Year 1 and 2 = Naomi Scott; weeks 1-5 Term 1, weeks 6-10 Term 1 maternity leave, Claire Dillon.
LS7: Year 2 and 3 = Amy Cousins
LS2: Year 3 and 4 = Hilary Autagavaia
LS6: Year 4 and 5 = Bronwyn Bateman (This will be Christine Cosgrove’s class once we appoint a new Principal).
LS5: Year 5 and 6 = Andrea Cawood
Our learners and teachers are supported by our wonderful Learning Assistants: Mrs Jo Wedlock, Mrs Anne Harris, Mrs Dale Weston, Mrs Kate Puts, Mrs Marietza Walmsley, Miss Jess Illingworth and Mr Shawn Kumar. I would like to express my gratitude for the patience and love they extend to our learners - You are truly valued.
Farewell - At the end of this year we will be farewelling Miss Jess Illingworth, Mrs Dale Weston and Mrs Marietza Walmsley who's learners have moved onto further education along with Nicci Smith our Library Resource Manager.
St James' School Community Pool, Pool Keys - Did you know that parents can purchase a pool key from the school office and use the pool after hours?
The school pool is available for community use on school days between 3:15 pm and 7.55 pm, and during the holidays and weekends between 10 am and 7.55 pm. Families can purchase pool keys from the School Office and sign the agreements from now until Friday 9 December for $50 per key. A fee of $20 will be incurred for any lost keys. Payments can be made online: 12-3442-0052178-00. Children will not be issued keys, as an adult is required to sign the agreements. The School pool is currently undergoing some maintenance including being painted and we anticipate it will be open from 1 December 2022. We will pop a post on our School Facebook page to inform you all when the pool opens.
Situations Vacant - We currently have the following positions available commencing 2023. If you are interested please contact the school office.
- Learning Resource Manager (9 hours 30 minutes per week)
- Learning Assistant - Junior Learning Support (10 hours per week)
- Cleaner - (11 hours per week)
Term 1 Tuesday 31st January – Thursday 6th April
Term 2 Monday 24th April – Friday 30th June
Term 3 Monday 17th July – Friday 22nd September
Term 4 Monday 9th October – Friday 15th December
Reminders
Library Returns/Stocktake/ Accounts - It is that time of the year to get all our books back into the library and do our stocktake. Please assist your child/ren in returning any books that they may have collected over the year and return these to the school library. You will know that these are school library books when you see a ‘St James’ School Library’ Barcode on the back cover of the book. Accounts will be coming home shortly for any unreturned items.
Thanks for your assistance with this.
SJS Communications Guidelines for Families. A number of learners came to school today ready for Athletics. An alert advising the cancellation was sent via the School App at 6.09 am this morning and our School Calendar was updated to reflect this. This is a reminder to please ensure that you are signed up to receive notifications.
2023 Road Patrol Training - Just a reminder for Parent Volunteers and learners Road Patrol training is at 9am next Wednesday 30 November.
Seesaw - As we come towards the end of the year it is time to start thinking about downloading your child's work from Seesaw if you wish to keep it before it disappears.
2023 Stationery - A separate alert will come out later in this term with the 2023 Stationery Requirements. You will be able to order this once you know your child's 2023 classroom teacher which will be indicated in their school report.
Lost Property - please take the time to look through the lost property. Any unnamed items remaining at the end of term will be donated to SVDP.
Sports
Athletics - Unfortunately we had to cancel out Athletics programme at Massey Track today. We will run alternative athletic events across next week as weather permits.
School Issued Sports Uniform - If you have any school issued winter sports uniform, please return these to the school office after your photos.
Any questions, please contact the Sports Coordinator Tracey Gunn t.gunn@stjamescatholic.school.nz.
Manawatu Table Tennis Tournament- On Tuesday 15 November, some of our Year 6 learners participated in a Table Tennis Tournament.
Our Year 6 girls team was: Fia, Sarah, Naomi and Ava
Our Year 6 boys team was: Henry, Maxwell, Cruze and Patrick.
These learners displayed all of our SAINTS values when representing our school.
The girls placed 7th and the boys 4th. Overall St James' placed 4th.
A huge thank you to Kelly Hoskins who supported these children with transport and at the event. You're amazing Kelly!
St James' School PTFA - Parent and Teachers and Friends Association
Jucie Fridays - Juicies will be available for purchase $2.00 after school on Fridays until the end of the term.
PTFA Lunch Friday 9 December - $2 per slice for Hawaiian, Meat Lovers or Simply Cheese. Orders taken outside the front office before school on Friday morning.
Kelly Hoskins
PTFA Chairperson
ptfachairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz
Serving Our Saints with Faith and Enthusiasm
St James' Catholic School Board Update
The next BOT meeting will be held in the staffroom on Monday 5 December 2022 at 6.00 pm. All welcome.
Analena Siu
Presiding Member (boardpm@stjamescatholic.school.nz)
Dates for Your Diary
Please keep checking the Events Calendar on the school website or school App as we are updating this should events be cancelled/postponed. All coming events will continue to be updated here. Add to my Calendar.
2023 Term Dates & Holidays. Please add these to your diary, in particular the Staff Only Days.
TERM 4
Week 6
Wednesday 23 November - CANCELLED Whole School Athletics Day at Massey University
Thursday 24 November - Last day for St Vincent de Paul Christmas Hampers donations
Friday 25 November - LS2 and LS7 to join 12.05pm Mass at the Cathedral
Sunday 27 November - Advent begins
Week 7
CANCELLED Monday 28 November - 2pm Outside Liturgy to celebrate the beginning of Advent
Wednesday 30 November - 9am 2023 Road Patrol Training
Thursday 1 December - Interschool Athletics
Friday 2 December - 2022 Road Patrol Celebration movie day
Friday 2 December - LS1 and LS2 Trip to Foxton Wildlife Centre
Friday 2 December - LS5 and LS8 to join 12.05pm Mass at the Cathedral
Week 8
Monday 5 December - Year 6 Celebration Day at the Lido
Tuesday 6 December - Athletics Assembly, 2:15pm
CANCELLED Friday 9 December - LS1, LS6 and LS10 to join 12.05pm Mass at the Cathedral
Friday 9 December - PTFA Lunch
Friday 9 December - Year 6 End of Year Celebration, 6pm
Week 9
Monday 12 December - 1.45pm Whole School Assembly for End of Year Awards, School Hall
Tuesday 13 December - End of Year Mass at the Cathedral of Holy Spirit 10.15am
Tuesday 13 December - Last day of Term 4 2022
Getting Involved
Kidney Kids - One small way we can make life easier for others which costs us nothing, is to collect stamps, can tabs, and wine bottle tops!
You will find collection boxes for these in the School Office foyer. If, as a family you don't already set these items aside for Kidney Kids at Starship and the Missions, you may like to start, as a very visible witness to demonstrating Jesus' example of LOVE. Encourage neighbours and family to do the same. There is no deadline.
School App Advertising - If you are interested in advertising on our School App please make an enquiry to office@stjamescatholic.school.nz.
The Red Cross Christmas Fair in the Square is back this year, on Saturday December 3 - the same day as the Christmas Concert. The fair runs all day and into the evening, so come for the day, the evening, or both. For more information phone Vivien on 022 3299 033 or email pnrcxmasfair@gmail.com
Newsletter Proudly Sponsored By
Please support our sponsors
Brendan Lodge Photography
Brendan Lodge Photography is a husband and wife team.
Based in Palmerston North, the studio has been operating from commercial premises for over 30 years.
We are all about shooting the best for our client from family sittings, graduations, weddings, schools, sports teams, corporate events, and commercial advertising.
For photography:
E: studio@shootme.co.nz
M: 027 445 4667
Ace Electrics
Ace Electrics is large enough to provide any electrical requirements, but pride ourselves on the friendly, personable approach. Where possible we repair or advise if replacement is better value or required and provide and end-to-end service. Ace Electrics is Palmerston North based, but covers the entire Manawatu/Wairarapa/Horowhenua region.