St Joseph's Newsletter T4 Wk 8
7 December 2022
Principal’s Piece
Kia Ora Koutou
Meri Kirihimete
Merry Christmas
As the year draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday. It is important to take time out this Advent and remember the reason for the season. Pope Francis reminds us to “prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus like we joyfully prepare our homes for a visit from a family member or friend during Advent”.
I also invite you to participate in the Christmas Celebrations at the Church.
The times are as follows:
- Christmas Eve Vigil Mass 4.00pm (Carols from 3.30pm) Saturday 24th December
- Christmas Day Mass 7.30 and 10.30 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary
For other Mass times around the Diocese please go to: www.proudtobecatholic.org.nz
The school year is fast approaching its end.
The first half of the year has been filled with disruption and cancellations due to Covid 19. The second half of the year has been busy trying to fit in all the events that were cancelled and trying to help students with their learning. I think the year is best summed up with the whakatauki:
He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka
A choppy sea can be navigated
It certainly has been a choppy sea to navigate this year and we are close to reaching the end. My thanks to the staff and students for the way they have gone about their mahi this year. The can do attitude has been present throughout and we have been able to achieve so much. We were able to have a swimming sports in June, cross country in August, Aims Games in September, a production in October, AMP show trip in November and a Raglan Camp in December. My thanks also to the parents and members of our community who have also helped out greatly to ensure these events have gone smoothly. I know the students have enjoyed taking part in these activities.
The summer holidays will provide an opportunity for everyone to rest and relax. Preparations for 2023 are well under way and it is hoped that we are returning to a more normal year next year.
Over the next few days we have a number of end of year activities and events. Please see below for more information and important dates.
I wish you a merry Christmas and a safe holiday break.
Kia manaaki te Atua koutou katoa
Grant Stuart
Tumuaki / Principal
Gospel Reflection
Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle A Sunday, December 4, 2022
Gospel Reading
Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist appears in Judea preaching a message of repentance.
Background on the Gospel Reading
In this week's Gospel Reading and next week's, our Advent preparation for Christmas invites us to consider John the Baptist and his relationship to Jesus. In this week's Gospel, Matthew describes the work and preaching of John the Baptist.
John the Baptist appears in the tradition of the great prophets of Israel, preaching repentance and reform to the people of Israel. In fact, the description of John found in this reading is reminiscent of the description of the prophet Elijah (2 Kings 1:8). In this reading, John directs a particularly pointed call to repentance to the Pharisees and Sadducees, parties within the Jewish community of the first century.
John marks the conversion of those who seek him out with a baptism of repentance. Other groups in this period are thought to have practiced ritual washings for similar purposes, and John's baptism may have been related to the practices of the Essenes, a Jewish sect of the first century. John's baptism can be understood as an anticipation of Christian baptism. In this passage, John himself alludes to the difference between his baptism and the one yet to come: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance . . . He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matthew 3:11).
In this reading, John makes very clear that his relationship to the Messiah yet to come (Jesus) is one of service and subservience: “. . . the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals” (Matthew 3:11). In the context of Matthew's Gospel, today's passage is followed by Jesus' baptism by John, an event that is attested to in all four of the Gospels and appears to have been the start of Jesus' public ministry.
John's preaching of the coming of the Lord is a key theme of the Advent season. As John's message prepared the way for Jesus in the first century, we, too, are called to prepare ourselves for Jesus' coming. We respond to John's message by our repentance and reform of our lives. We are also called to be prophets of Christ, who announce by our lives, as John did, the coming of the Lord.
Christmas Mass Times: Parish of the Holy Cross
Saturday 24 December
St Joseph’s 4.00pm
St Paul’s 6.00pm
St Peter Chanel 8.00pm
Sunday 25 December
St Anthony’s 9.00am
News
End of Year Events
Wednesday 14 December
1.30 pm: Prizegiving
5.00 pm: PTFA Family Picnic
Thursday 15 December
1.30 pm: Final Mass
Last day for Year 0-7 students
Friday 16 December
9.30 am: Year 8 Leavers Function
Trees at the Meteor
Room 8 has made a tree for 'Trees at the Meteor' called Mrs Redback's Kiwiana Christmas.
It is spectacular! Visit and see it!
Trees at the Meteor starts this Wednesday.
Week nights December 7 -11 and 14-17 6-9pm.
Weekends 3-9 pm.
For more information treesatmeteor.co.nz
ICAS Achievements
Congratulations to the following students for their achievements in the ICAS Mathematics Exams:
Merit
Emilia Shyra
Ciaran Whaley
Credit
Theo Johnston
Enzo Lunas
Lucia McLauchlan-Hillary
Aodhan O'Toole
Distinction
Bella McLauchlan-Hillary
Mrs Fitzwater’s Term 4 class 2022 - No Stationery required for the children in 2023
Dear Parents
This is just a reminder that when you see notices about buying stationery requirements for your child’s class in 2023, please ignore, as you have bought enough stationery for the end of 2022 and 2023
Many thanks
Donna Fitzwater
Students Arriving Early
Parking on Strowan Avenune and Clarkin Ave
When collecting or dropping students off at school, please do not park in the no parking zones or on or across our neighbours driveways.
“Now the weather is improving can we please make more of an effort to park appropriately around our school, please do not park on yellow lines and in the bus stop on Clarkin Road. Make a plan with your students to walk a bit further and meet you at safe and appropriate area”.
Sports
Intermediate Waterpolo Competiton
Last Sunday saw the finals for St Joseph’s Sea Dragons Water Polo team against Berkley Bluefins in division 1. A nail biter of a final which resulted in St Joseph’s taking home the trophy for a 4-2 win in division 1!
This team had huge commitment and passion throughout the term which resulted in this awesome win today which they thoroughly deserved. Some of these players have started right from Flippa ball and to see them excel in water polo (a game which can be pretty tough both mental and physical) was very special. They out did themselves today and gave the crowd a fantastic final!
Special mention to Angus McDiarmid and Tessa Scott who got MVP’s in the intermediate competition and played exceptionally not only today but throughout the term resulting in them giving always.
St Joseph’s should be very proud of their water polo teams with all 3 teams placing in all 3 divisions, something which our little school should be very proud of. Was a fantastic afternoon and congratulations to the Sea Dragons, Sea Horses and Stingrays, you guys rock! We are all proud of you!
Notices
BYOD & Devices
Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD)
At St Joseph's we are a BYOD school. This means we allow students to bring their own device (Chromebook, Netbook or laptop) to school. It is a tool to assist them with their learning. It allows them to access the internet.
There are a number of different devices that students use but if they decide to bring a device to school then there are certain requirements to be aware of. St Joseph's School’s minimum requirements for a device to assist with learning at school are:
- At least enough battery power for 5 hours learning;
- Internet capable;
- Ability to create and edit documents using Google tools;
- Suitable, durable bag/protective cover.
Please remember that ALL classrooms will have a minimum of one device/every two students so there is no real reason to feel that students will need to provide their own device. It is our strong belief that we have sufficient devices to allow students in every class to have access to devices when and if they are required for their learning.
The School Board continues to support us by providing sufficient devices for our classrooms.
School work carried out on a school device can still be accessed at home through the student's account and worked on. With the up coming sales over the next period you will be able to pick up devices at very good pricing if you would like your child to have their own device. The Online Safety Use Agreement will govern the use and access of all devices at/from the school.
Credit Union School Banking
School banking will resume the week beginning 6th February 2023.
School Uniform
All items of the uniform can now be purchased via the school. We are no longer selling any uniform items at NZ Uniforms in Hamilton.
Please use the Kindo app to purchase items and these will then be sent to your child's classroom. If you need to try on items, please come to the school office after 9am and we can help you with this or you can call on 855 5434 to arrange a time.
Please be aware that there may be limited sizes of certain items.
School Uniform Items and Prices
Period Products
St Joseph’s Fairfield has opted into the government initiative to provide period products for students. This initiative aims to provide free period products to children and young people in all schools across New Zealand. Periods are a fact of life for half the population. Despite this, young people don’t always have access to the products they need to feel comfortable at school, engage in their learning, and manage what should be a normal and healthy part of life. If you want to know more, click here for a link to the Ministry of Education information.
At St Joseph’s, we have put in place a discreet delivery system so that girls can take home a monthly allocation of period products (two boxes per month). We know that some girls at this age might feel too shy to openly discuss period products with their peers or a staff member, so we want to make access easy and remove any embarrassment for them.
Click here for more information.
Each girl can fill in this Google Form which lets them select from various products.
COVID 19 - Update
New long-term strategy for COVID-19
You’ll be aware that New Zealand will move to a new, long-term approach to COVID-19. These changes have been made based on public health advice and reflect high levels of immunity and declining case numbers across New Zealand.
This new approach will only result in minor changes to the way we operate.
The very positive news is that household contacts of a person with COVID-19 do not need to isolate, but instead are asked to complete a RAT test each day, for five days. Therefore, ākonga who are household contacts but test negative and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, should continue to attend. It is the best place for them to be so they can be engaged in their learning, and connected with their teachers, classmates and friends.
Information on how to get RAT kits can be found here: Request a RAT– Ministry of Health
Mask wearing is no longer required.
All the other recommended public health measures will stay in place as we know they reduce the spread of infectious illnesses including COVID-19. These include ensuring our indoor spaces are well-ventilated, maintaining good hand hygiene, encouraging everyone to cough or sneeze into elbows and, most importantly, staying home and getting tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Thank you for your ongoing support in protecting our community.
Past Student Sporting Achievements
PTFA
Entertainment App
Community Notices
The Parish of the Holy Cross Sacramental Programme 2023
This programme is for children who are baptised and are aged 8 years and above. Classes will run for 5 weeks at St Joseph's Church, Fairfield commencing mid February 2023. Registration is online at: holycross.cdh.org.nz under Sacramental Preparation.
The link will be live from 1 November to 9 December. Please note you will be required to supply a
copy of the child’s baptism certificate before your registration is complete.
Science and Technology Online classes
Register now for free Access until 20 January.
Holiday Programmes
Parish Mass Times
St Peter Chanel
Tuesday 9am
Thursday 9am - Liturgy with Communion
Saturday Vigil 5pm
St Joseph's
Wednesday 9am - Liturgy with Communion
Friday 9am
Sunday 9am
Term Dates
2022 Term Dates
Term 4: Mon 17th October – Fri 16th December
2023 Term Dates
Term 1: Tues 31 January - Thurs 6 April
Term 2: Mon 24 April - Fri 30 June
Term 3: Mon 17 July - Friday 22 September
Term 4: Mon 9 October - Fri 15 December