Newsletter Term 1 Week 5
St Patrick's School Masterton 07th March 2023
TUMUAKI/PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa, nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa!
Yesterday, the mid-point of term 1, we welcomed a large group of new students to St Patrick’s School. The group included five children who were on their first day of school and seven children who started at the beginning of the year, all in Hub 1. There were also another eight children who started in various year groups across the school. We are of course super excited that they have chosen to be at St Patrick’s School and we look forward to getting to know them and their families. A special thank you to our student leaders who stepped up for the first time in leading a powhiri as well as Tessa and Madelyn from Chanel College who gave everyone great support.
Last week, a group of Kildare students took part in a ‘Bike maintenance’ workshop organised by the Wairarapa Road Safety Council. The children learnt many new skills and ideas and we are eagerly awaiting their feedback and new ideas for making our bike track, on the rear school field, more exciting and user friendly. Watch this space!
At the end of this week, we are sending home the first of our narrative blog reports for 2023, which is part of the new reporting process started last year. To remind you of the reasoning and thinking behind this process, please follow this link to a summary page on our school website.
A summary of the 2023 process is shown below:
Finally, a reminder to all of our school community that, now we are no longer under covid restrictions, everyone is welcome to come into the grounds past the school gates. At the start and end of the day we would like to invite you all to come in and be part of our community. Please come in and see the new classrooms as well as having the opportunity to make contact with our staff.
Listed below are key events that are planned for term 1 of this year:
Mar 8th - Board of Trustees meeting 7.00pm in the school staffroom
Mar 15th - School Biathlon @ 9.30am
Mar 15th - School ‘Whanau Day’ @ 12.00 onwards
Mar 17th - St Patrick’s Day Celebrations & Food Fair (5pm)
Apr 5th - Board of Trustees meeting 7.00pm in the school staffroom
Apr 5th - Last day of Term 1 for students
Apr 6th - Teacher Only Day (SCHOOL CLOSED)
Apr 24th - Teacher Only Day (SCHOOL CLOSED)
Apr 25th - ANZAC Day (SCHOOL CLOSED)
Apr 26th - First day of Term 2
Ngā mihi o Te Atua,
Steve Wheeler
Principal
Catholic Parish of the Wairarapa Weekend Mass Times
Saturday Vigil - 5.00pm Masterton
Sunday Eucharist - 8.30am Masterton
-10.30am Featherston
BAPTISMS:
If you would like your child to be baptised, please contact Mrs Connor DRS, or look on the Parish website www.wairarapacatholics.org look under the Sacraments tab, then Baptism link.
Virtue of the Month: Faithfulness - Whakapono
Loyal to God & Jesus
Constant in your beliefs and actions
A loyal friend
Faith can move mountains Matthew 17:20
Term 1 School Theme
Katie Gracie Art Lessons
Over the past two years Katie has been working here at school as a Learning Assistant connecting and supporting many of our children. Sadly, as of the 17th March she has made the hard decision to finish in this role to allow for more time to focus on her passion of art. This will not be the last we see of Katie as she is wanting to offer children the opportunity to work with her in an artistic capacity. Just like when we have offered families the opportunity to sign up for music tuition with an external teacher, there is now going to be the opportunity for children to work with Katie. Please see the advert below for further details:
St Patrick’s School Biathlon
St Patrick’s School Whanau Day
Movin’March is here!
We’re proud to be a Movin’ March school and this month we’re looking forward to seeing whānau and students walking or wheeling to or from school. Walking, biking and scooting is a great way to improve well-being, kick start learning for the day and it’s also great for the planet! Don’t forget your WOW Passport so we can stamp your trip and keep an eye out for our low plastic spot prizes!
Whānau can enter a photo of their journey to or from school and be in to WIN 1 of 5 x adult or child Micro Scooters and helmets! We’re also giving away family passes to Staglands Wildlife Reserve or Zealandia. WOW… that’s 15 prizes to be won! Post a photo and comment on our Facebook page responding to the weekly theme OR Post a photo and comment on your own Facebook or Instagram page and tag us @movinmarch (excludes posting “Stories”). Winners announced by 12th April.
Let’s get stamping! We’ll stamp your walk or wheel trips at the gate and all entries will go in the draw to win one of 12 x $400 MYRIDE vouchers (you don’t have to complete your whole card to go in the draw!)
We will be taking part in a Pilot - Waka Kotahi NZTA has created a fun online tool that tracks student travel and is running a pilot for Movin’ March schools. Our school is taking part in this programme which students will use to record how they travelled to school that morning. Data collection is anonymous and finding out how students travel will give teachers the opportunity to create graphs that show trends over time. It will also help class discussion and awareness around school travel and bigger issues such as the environment.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 2023 we are reviewing and asking for feedback on the following policies:
Student attendance
Enrolment
Uniform & dress code
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.
For 2023, Chris Day is in charge of organising all of our school sports teams. Currently registration information has been sent out via the School App and syndicate Facebook pages for:
Year 4-6 School swimming trials in preparation for Masterton Schools Swi sports
Year 3-6 girls Cricket competition
Year 1- 4 Netball
Year 1-4 Tee-ball
Year 4-6 Tough Guy & Gal event in Palmerston North
Year 5-6 Mod-softball
Sausage Sizzle - Friday
Sausage sizzle this Friday. $2 per sausage. Please order in your class/ hub before school.
St Patrick’s Day Food Fair - 5pm 17th March 2023
2023 Cohort Entry & Enrolment Information:
2023 Term 1 start dates: Tuesday 7th February & Monday 6th March
2023 Term 2 start dates: Wednesday 26th April & Monday 29th May
2023 Term 3 start dates: Monday 17th July & Monday 21st August
2023 Term 4 start dates: Monday 9th October & Monday 13th November
2023 Term Dates:
Term 1: Tuesday 7th February - Wednesday 5th April Teacher Only Day: Thursday 6th April (School closed) Term 2: Monday 24th April - Friday 30th June Teacher Only Day: Monday 24th April (School closed) Term 3: Monday 17th July - Friday 22nd September Teacher Only Day: TBC (School closed) Term 4: Monday 9th October - Wednesday 20th December
Sushi, Noodles & Chicken Wings - This is available on Tuesdays. Both the Sushi and the Noodles are $4.50 each and the Chicken Wings are 2 for $4.50. Orders must be in by 9am on Tuesday morning. Please order at the school office.
Subway - 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. There are also envelopes available at the school office.
Pita Pit - This is available on Thursdays. Order online at www.lunchonline.co.nz
Contact Us
Email: office@stpatsmstn.school.nz
Website: https://stpatsmstn.school.nz
Location: 132 Chapel Street, Masterton 5810, New Zealand
Phone: +64 63 775 043
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stpatsmstn