We do call it an ‘everchanging landscape’ when dealing with Covid. I printed off my 5th version of the ‘Dealing with Covid’ handbook in schools from the Ministry on Tuesday….it was in the bin yesterday. As we reach the end of week 4 at school we hear more in the media about the onset of Omicron in the community but with the reassurance that your children are safe to be coming to school. I have added some updated information from the Ministry of Health guidelines to this newsletter. The posters simplify some of the information I sent out yesterday.

Tuesday marked the 11th Anniversary of the Christchurch Earthquakes. For all Cantabrians, this day is etched firmly in our memories, we remember clearly where we were and all have our own story. Most of our oldest senior children would have been about a year old when this happened. I was delighted and moved to see the reverence shown by all classes while pausing their day to pray and reflect on this event. We still remember fondly Ivy Cabunilas, a wonderful Filipino mum of twin girls in Yr 7 at the time. Ivy was very involved in the school and attended school camps. May she continue to rest in peace.

Outside learning is happening as much as possible across the school. Please remember to send children to school with warm clothes as we have all doors and windows open. The children are showing excellent resilience during these trying times of mask wearing and outside learning, as are the teachers.

As parents please continue to ...

Be vigilant for symptoms in your children and keep children at home if symptomatic. Covid symptoms include:

• A new or worsening cough

• Sneezing and runny nose

• A fever

• Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste

• Sore throat

• Shortness of breath

• Less common symptoms include diarrhea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability. For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/prepare-and-stay-safe/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/

If any symptoms develop, please seek medical advice - which is likely to recommend that your child be tested immediately. Please be vigilant of you and your children’s health, and only send children to school who are well.

Together we can minimise the spread of COVID in our school community and the wider Christchurch community. We can keep the school operating as usual when we start to get COVID-19 positive cases in our school community if we are vigilant and only send children to school when they are well.

Snippets from Pope’s homilies and speeches from the past year for advice for building stronger relationships—with God, with our neighbors and with the earth.

Take one concrete step to become more environmentally conscious. (And start now!)

This year, world leaders gathered in Glasgow to discuss climate change at COP26. While Pope Francis was unable to be there in person, he did share a message. And let’s just say this: He did not hold back.

If you want to do your part to protect the planet, here is the big takeaway from the pope’s words: You should start now. Francis wrote to the conference with a tone of great urgency, recommending courses of action for both leaders and civilians. If there are lifestyle changes you have wanted to make in an effort to be more environmentally conscious, now is the time to get around to them. If there are things you think political leaders could be doing to protect all of us from the climate crisis, make them known—through your voice and your vote. As the pope said, “there is no time to waste.”

Francis’ message also offered spiritual advice for a world struggling with the effects of climate change. “We need both hope and courage,” he wrote. “Humanity possesses the wherewithal to effect this change, which calls for a genuine conversion, individual as well as communitarian, and a decisive will to set out on this path.”

From:

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/12/29/new-years-resolution-pope-francis-242050

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2022

Proclaim the Good News through your actions.

Missionaries, said Pope Francis, proclaim the Good News of God’s salvation in Christ, not their own abilities or persuasive qualities.

“In evangelization,” he added, “the example of a Christian life and the proclamation of Christ are inseparable. One is at the service of the other.”

We welcome all new children and their families to Sacred Heart School

Aiden - New Entrants

Noah - New Entrants

Adriel - Yr 2

Liam - Yr 2

Walk and Wheel week will happen at school from the 7th-11th of March (week 6).

There are lots of fun activities being planned including a meet the teachers at church square and walk to school morning and a fun bring your wheels to school day, where students will be able to play on them at school during the day.

More details about this will follow so keep watching seesaw for more information

• Wednesday 2 March - Ash Wednesday

• Monday 7 - 11 March - Walk n Wheels Week

• Thursday 14 April - End of Term 1

• Monday 2 May - Start of Term 2
  

We have all our policies and procedures on School Docs. At present we have policies that we would appreciate your feedback on. Please follow the link below and review these policies.

1. Visit the website

http://sacredheartchch.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm (note that there is no “www”!)

2. Enter the user name (sacred) and password (heart).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the right-hand top corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.