SJS Newsletter Term 3 Week 10
Newsletter 29 September 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.
Yesterday we had a wonderful gathering of families and staff in our school hall to celebrate and practise Wellbeing. I reiterated to our community our Vision, and how this statement underpins everything we do here at Hato Hemi.
Our thanks go to Kath Delahunty, from Core Education, and Amy Cousins for all their preparation, planning and coordination of this event. Also to all the staff members and PTFA who worked behind the scenes. It was great to be back together again having fun and fellowship.
We are a family/whānau school. Best learning happens when strong, respectful partnerships are formed and nurtured within our community.
Earlier in the day we held our annual year 3-6 swimming sports and fun swimming sports for year 3. Thank you to Glenn Maskill and Tracey Gunn for their seamless organisation of the events. Congratulations to our learners for demonstrating our SAINTS values; Strive, Acceptance, Integrity, Nurture, Sharing Talents and Service.
Property update - The roofing is near completion, all that remains is the clearlite over the junior decking.
Our Caretaker Glenn has nearly completed the Mary Garden and Mary will be returned, this will be a wonderful space for our learners.
During the term break we hope that the weather plays the part and our neighbour on the back field is able to complete their boundary fence, this will take care of our security concerns for our learners.
Please ensure you have reviewed the building plans for the Caretaker, shelter, storage and sports sheds and provide me with any feedback before the end of this term.
E te Atua e manaaki ki a koutou katoa
May God Bless you all
Christine Cosgrove
Catholic Special Character
Holy Sacraments
Last Sunday our First Eucharist children gathered at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit to break open the Mass. Father Jo slowed the Mass down and explained it to everyone.
Celebrations - Celebrating Success
Year 3-6 Swimming Sports - Congratulations to our learners for demonstrating our SAINTS values; Strive, Acceptance, Integrity, Nurture, Sharing Talents and Service. It was also great to have so many of our community come along and support this event. Keep an eye out on facebook as we will get photos uploaded soon.
Whānau Wellbeing Hui - We had a fabulous evening at the Whānau Wellbeing Hui last night. What a great turn out! A huge thank you to everyone who attended and supported this event and to those who shared their ideas with us. I hope everyone who came enjoyed the time with their whānau and took something away from the event that they can use to boost their personal and whānau wellbeing.
A special thank you to our Wellbeing Facilitator Kath Delahunty from CORE Education for helping to organise the event and for sharing your expertise with us. Also a huge thank you to Kelly Hoskins and the PTFA for supporting this event (prizes, food, refreshments and general assistance).
For those who were unable to make it, you can see what we did in this Whānau Wellbeing Hui slide-deck.
We really want everyone to share their ideas with us, so if you weren't at the hui (or have had some more ideas since!) please fill in this Contributing to St James' School wellbeing journey survey (by Weds 19 Oct) - Thanks
Ngā mihi,
Amy Cousins
Assembly - Please join us tomorrow in the school hall at 2pm for our last assembly for the term.
News
Farewell, this week we farewell Nicci Smith as our Library Resource Manager. Nicci has taken up a role with START Whana Tū, returning to counselling. Nicci will however, remain with us until the end of Term 4 working one day a week. We will have the opportunity to farewell Nicci at the end of this year. I am sure you will join with me in congratulating Nicci and wishing her all the very best for her new position.
Term 1 Monday 30th 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
Big Idea: The combination of balanced and unbalanced forces acting on an object can be used to predict and describe its movement.
We have learnt that forces are in play all around us. Things hanging, sitting, balancing, moving and spinning are all using some kind of force. A force is a pulling or pushing action that can make things move, change direction or change shape.
We have had so much fun exploring push and pull forces - especially through the game of Tug of War!
We have also explored balancing shapes and friction. Check out the photos of us using the kit.
Reminders
Building Plans - The Palmerston North Catholic Diocese is supporting us to upgrade our outdoor buildings. These include the caretaker, shelter, storage and sports sheds. Linked are the upgrade plans. Please contact the school office if you wish to comment on these plans before the end of this term.
New Entrant Enrolments 2023 - if you have a siblings joining us at St James in 2023, please ensure that you have requested an Enrolment Pack and have this returned to the office. This will assist us as we are now planning for our 2023 class sizes.
Staff Only Day Tuesday 25 October - Staff Only Day - No School. This will follow on from Labour Day. Nippers will be open on Tuesday 25 October. Please contact them should you require a booking.
Lost Property - Please check our Lost Property, located outside the staffroom for any items your child may have misplaced during the term. Any unclaimed items will be donated to our local SVDP opportunity shop.
Nippers Out of School Care and Holiday Programme - Need care during the school holidays?
Nippers operates out of our St James’ Catholic School Hall, contact 356 7926, 021 645 806 or nippers@inspire.net.nz for more information.
Sports
2022 Summer Hockey - Registrations close 30 September 2022.
2022 Summer Soccer - Registrations close 7 October 2022
Any questions, please contact the Sports Coordinator Tracey Gunn t.gunn@stjamescatholic.school.nz.
St James' School PTFA - Parent and Teachers and Friends Association
The next PTFA (Parent, Teacher and Friends Association) meeting will be held tonight Thursday 29 September 2022 in Learning Space 9, 6.30-8.00 pm.
Do you wish to get involved and assist with fundraising initiates? Together we make a difference and we invite you to come along to this meeting with ideas, new families welcome. It would be great to see some families from each learning space.
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 14 November 2022 at 6.00 pm. All welcome.
Principal Appointment Update - I am happy to let you know that work is well underway to find our new Principal. The Board is fortunate to engage Matt Balm who is an education expert who guided the initial appointment process in relation to releasing the advertisement.
We will be advertising the role until the 1st of November 2022 and looking forward to hear from prospective candidates. We’ll then shortlist the candidates, undertake reference checking and complete the interview process.
While we are fortunate to have support from key institution including the Diocese Education office and the community, I’m also delighted to have such a broad range of experience and skill sitting on the School Board. I’m confident that through our faith and this process we will find an outstanding candidate for our kura.
Malo mo e hufaki
Policies for Community Consultation - The following policies were approved at the September Board Meeting for community consultation.
DRAFT Policy - Digital Citizenship and Internet Use Agreement Policy
DRAFT Policy - Principal’s Performance Management and Appraisal Policy
Please take this opportunity to review and forward any comments to the School Office before 4 November 2022 to office@stjamescatholic.school.nz.
2023 School Donation - At the last school board meeting the 2023 School Donation Structure was approved. Please click HERE to read our 2023 School Donation. Note, there will be no increases for 2023.
Analena Siu
Presiding Member (boardpm@stjamescatholic.school.nz)
Board Introduction
Kiaora Koutou
I grew up in Ireland (which may explain both the accent and the angst felt when Ireland and the All Blacks meet on the rugby field) but have lived and worked in New Zealand for just over half my life. I completed my Registered Nursing qualification in St James Hospital Dublin. I have a Master of Arts (Nursing) and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Massey University and am committed to the idea of lifelong learning.
My life is fairly full as a parent and with a part time Clergy Coordination role for the Diocese of
Palmerston North. I have enjoyed being a member of various parishes around the world but have been happily ensconced in the St Patrick’s community for almost two decades now!
We were introduced to the St James community when my daughter Ella started school (followed later by Noah). We selected St James School because it clearly resonates with our worldview. The ability to genuinely engage with every single person as unique with a God given purpose is a rare and beautiful thing. It is also an exceptional thing for our children to be safely embraced in Whakaruruhau (A Sheltering Place) while they learn and grow. Sheltering places are created, nurtured and preserved by each and every member of the community. Thanks for the ongoing opportunity to contribute to this vibrant community as a Proprietors Representative with the School Board offers.
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.
2022 Term Dates & Holidays. 2023 Term Dates & Holidays. Please add these to your diary, in particular the Staff Only Days.
TERM 3
Week 10
Mental Health Awareness Week
Friday 30 September - Assembly
Friday 30 September - Last Day of Term 3
TERM 4
Week 1
Monday 17 October - Term 4 Commences
Week 2
Monday 24 October - Labour Day
Tuesday 25 October - Staff Only Day - No School
Week 4
Malayalam Language Week
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.
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