Newsletter Term 1 Week 7

“Prayer for Ukraine” is a hymn composed in 1885, during a time when Ukrainian language was suppressed by the government of Imperial Russia. The text is by poet Oleksandr Konynsky and the music by composer Mykola Lysenko. It is used as a hymn by the various churches in Ukraine, including the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and became a spiritual anthem for Ukraine. It makes a haunting aid to prayer in the current situation. Below is a translation of the lyrics. The hymn can be heard at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxcNuaH4qrY&t=1s

Lord, oh the Great and Almighty,

Protect our beloved Ukraine,

Bless her with freedom and light

of your holy rays.

With learning and knowledge enlighten

us, your children small,

In love pure and everlasting.

Let us, oh Lord, grow.

We pray, oh Lord Almighty,

protect our beloved Ukraine.

Grant our people and country

All your kindness and grace.

Bless us with freedom, bless us with wisdom,

Guide us into a kind world,

Bless us, oh Lord, with good fortune

Forever and evermore.

This Friday, 25th March, a number of schools across Masterton are showing support for Ukraine by holding a blue & yellow day. On this day, children can come dressed in blue and yellow in return for a gold coin donation with all money being sent to support the people of Ukraine.

Chris and Brendan, as part of our celebrations, took a group of senior student leaders to the cemetery in Masterton. Here they spent the time tidying up the Brigidine Sisters’ graves as well as taking the opportunity to sing the Irish Blessing at the graveside of the recently departed Sr Monica Landy. This was something that Monica had requested and the group was thankful to be given the opportunity to do.

Usually, by this mid-way point in the term, we would have held our annual 'Whanau Day' and you would have had the chance to come into the school, meet your child's teachers and learn about what your child has been doing. Sadly, due to the current situation with COVID, we have not been able to do this so instead each hub will be sending home a video of life in their hubs. This will introduce the staff and give you an insight into current school life. Our plan was to send these home this week but with a number of staff at home due to our COVID situation, we now plan to send these home next week.

Listed below are key events that are currently planned for term 1 of this year:

Mar 25th - Schools united for Ukraine blue & yellow day (Gold coin donation)
Apr 6th - Board of Trustees meeting 7.00pm
Apr 8th - School Biathlon (11.45 onwards)
Apr 13th - Last day of Term 1 for students
Apr 14th - Teacher Only Day (SCHOOL CLOSED)
May 2nd - First day of Term 2

Virtue of the Month: Faithfulness - Whakapono

Loyal to God and Jesus
Constant in your beliefs and actions
A loyal friend

Faith can move mountains - Matthew 17:20

Term 1 School Theme

Principle: ‘Human Dignity’
Enduring Understanding: I am beautifully made in the image and likeness of God
Whakatauki: He Kura te tangata - The human being is precious
Further detail for parents/ caregivers - Every single person is created in the image of God. Therefore they are invaluable and worthy of respect as a member of the human family. The dignity of the person grants them inalienable rights – political, legal, social, and economic rights. This is the most important principle because it is from our dignity as human persons that all other rights and responsibilities flow.

Gospel Reading

Luke 13:1-9

Turn from Your Sins or Die

13 At that time some people were there who told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were offering sacrifices to God. 2 Jesus answered them, “Because those Galileans were killed in that way, do you think it proves that they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did. 4 What about those eighteen people in Siloam who were killed when the tower fell on them? Do you suppose this proves that they were worse than all the other people living in Jerusalem? 5 No indeed! And I tell you that if you do not turn from your sins, you will all die as they did.”

The Parable of the Unfruitful Fig Tree

6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. 7 So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around it and put in some fertilizer. 9 Then if the tree bears figs next year, so much the better; if not, then you can have it cut down.’”

Sausage Sizzle

Every Friday from this Friday on we will be having a sausage sizzle. The cost is $2 per sausage. Children are to order these from their classes by 9am on Friday. For your information the staff cooking the sausages will be wearing masks and gloves and cooking outside.

PTA Easter Raffle

Thanks to all of you who have already sold tickets and returned your sheets. If you need more sheets please see the ladies in the office. All sheets and money to the classroom teachers by 8th April.

Learning Support Coordinator (LSC)

For the past two years we have enjoyed having Jo Miller undertaking the role of Learning Support Coordinator (LSC). This was a new initiative for a number of schools across New Zealand and is aimed at giving students, parents & whānau and teachers support with the varying needs of children at school. Please see a summary of Jo’s role below and if you think she can be of support to you please make contact with her - (remember the only silly question is the one we don’t ask).

Moving March

Movin’March – Week 4! (Thank goodness there’s 5 in total😊)

Let’s Keep Stamping!

Don’t forget to bring your passports for stamping every day you walk or wheel to school over the next 2 weeks to go in the WOW passport competition. At the end of March we’ll be sending all passports off to the Movin’March team (remember they don’t have to be complete – even passports with one trip count!). All passports go in the draw to win one of 12 x $400 MYRIDE vouchers. iI you need a new passport ask your class teacher.

Whānau Photo Competition

Simply post a pic and comment under the weekly theme on the Movin’March Facebook page and you’ll be in to WIN 1 of 5 x adult or child Micro Scooters! There’s also TEN Family Passes to Staglands Wildlife Reserve or Zealandia being given away. Check out the posts from last week on “What whānau love about their neighbourhood as they walk or wheel to school”. A new theme is posted every Monday morning. Enter as many times as you like! More details on Movin’March Facebook or Competitions page on our website. Winners announced by 11th April.

Park & Stride:

If your family lives too far away to walk or wheel all the way, why not park away from the school gate and walk or wheel the rest? For more information see our Park & Stride tips or try parking at Cornwall Street or the dental surgery on Renall Street.

Staying at Home?

We know many families may be home-based if isolating or feeling unwell. Check out these gentle fun ideas on the Movin’March Family Activities page. There’s Jack’s activity passport, a scavenger hunt and lots to design and colour in using their library of art templates and te reo colouring posters.

Fun with Movin'March at home

Many whānau are at home isolating or recovering and our website has some gentle fun ideas to keep whānau moving. Check our Family Activities page for Jack's Activity Passport, Scavenger Hunt or colour and design from our art templates. You could send in your artwork and we'll post up on our Facebook page! Our Movin'March Drive can help kura share all these resources with whānau via newsletters.

Last year the school moved to using ‘SchoolDocs’ to create a website for our school policies and procedures. As part of this process, throughout each year, as we review our policies we will ask for feedback from staff, board and parent communities.

During term 1 of this year we are reviewing and asking for feedback on the following policies:

Health & Safety Management
Emergency, Disaster & Crisis Management

Please read these policies and give your feedback by following the instructions below:

Visit the website https://stpatsmstn.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
Enter the username (stpatsmstn) and password (kindness).
Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
Read the policy.
Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
Select the reviewer type "Parent".
Enter your name (optional).
Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Sushi, Noodles & Chicken Wings - Tuesdays

This is available on Tuesdays. Both the Sushi and the Noodles are $4 each and the Chicken Wings are $2.00 each. Orders must be in by 9am on Tuesday morning. Please order from your child's class.

Subway - Wednesdays

This is available every Wednesday. Order through the school office or order online at www.subwayexpress.co.nz. Register - then search for St Patrick's School and place your order. Orders can also be placed in your child's class.