St Joseph's School Newsletter
24th August - Week 5
Principal's Message
Kia ora, Hi, Kia orana, Kumusta, Ciao, Hallo, Dia duit, Halo, Namaste, Bonjour,
Welcome to week 5,
The Garage Sale on Saturday was a fabulous success. It was great to be out and about in the community to meet some new faces and talk about what a great school St Joseph's is.
This week students have enjoyed visits to the education room at the Mine, learning more about local history and mining. Check out the photos at the end of the newsletter.
I am very proud and impressed by our students effort and commitment to their speeches, I have heard many practising and I am looking forward to hearing everyones speech. I am sure the Junior Poetry will be exciting too.
Students are very privileged to be able to use a school owned Chromebook at school and have the option to take them home for learning purposes. We are grateful to the Valder Trust for supplying these important tools for our students to use in their education. Along with a privilege comes responsibility. At school we talk to students about caring for the computers such as not leaving them on the ground or carrying them around open. We also discuss cyber safety and have a rule that they are not to use them for social media or to have online chats with.
We ask that you continue the discussion in regards to responsibility at home and set time-limits for your child, ensure that they are not used late into the night. I have also been made aware that some students have utilised online chat platforms, I have spoken to all the students about this and would appreciate you monitoring this at home. If you feel your child cannot abide by the signed contract then please let the classroom teacher know and they will ensure the Chromebook stays at school.
Attendance Dues: If you have had a change in circumstance or need some assistance to pay the Attendance fees please come and see me. I am happy to support families fill out a form to have their fees reduced for this year.
Last Friday the staff had an accord day. The focus was on our Spiritual Wellbeing, and listening to God. We were led by Fr Carl who is a spiritual director. The day really allowed us to give thought to how we interact with our students, each other and the community.
Lastly, thank you for attending the Student/parent/teacher goal setting conferences, it is great to see the students take more of a lead in owning and driving their learning. If anyone has had any trouble with seeing their child's midyear report and learning posts on HERO please let us know.
Teresa Rush
Principal
Daffodil Day
This Friday is Daffodil Day - Students are encouraged to wear yellow mufti and bring a donation.
Garage Sale
We had an extremely successful Garage Sale on the weekend. Thank you to those who generously donated goods to the sale. To those who got all the items ready to sell. For those who helped to set up, run and pack up on the day.
This is a venture that we are able to do once a month if we like.
Our school would like to thank the Lion's Club. The members of the Lions Club went over and above to give us help and to welcome us. We look forward to seeing them again next time.
We were able to raise $800 which will go towards the student's Orchard/Playhouse.
A fantastic team effort.
Catholic Corner
Our Gospel value this week is Caring for the sick. May we especially keep in our prayers those who are suffering from Cancer and their families. May we be generous this Daffodil Day so that they can receive the help they need.
In RE, classes are learning about what it means to Be Church. While the younger children are finding out about how they can participate in their Church of St Joseph, older students are exploring a wider understanding of what being Catholic means through Catholic Social Teaching. There are 9 Principles -check out the website Catholic Social Teaching if you’d like to know more -or ask your children!
We welcome back Fr Aidan from America.
Last Friday the staff also spent time with Fr Carl from the Ngakura Retreat near Rotorua who led us in prayer and reflection.
Linda Hughes
UPCOMING EVENTS
25th August - BOT meeting, 5.15pm
26th August - Daffodil Day - Mufti Day- Bring a donation
5th September - Hockey skills visit
9th September - Senior students, ASB Get Wi$e financial literacy program.
9th September - Mufti Day - Caritas
14th September - Grandparents/Grandfriends Day
22nd September - School Speech representatives to Morrinsville (St Joseph's)
22nd September - BOT meeting, 5.15pm
23rd September - Hockey Big Day Out, Ngatea
26th September - Mercy Cup of Tea Day
30th September - Term 3 ends
HOCKEY BIG DAY OUT
The annual Hockey Big Day Out is on Friday 23rd September. The whole school is involved in the day. For this to go ahead we will need help with transport, to and from Ngatea. We would need to leave school at 8.15am and will return back to school by 3.00pm. Please let Jan-Marie know if you are able to help with transport and how many children you can take. You must have a current police check. More details will come closer to the time.
Agricultural Day - Calf Club
Our school will have our annual calf club day on Friday 4th November. Children bring animals (calf, lambs, kid goat) they have raised and trained. It is now time for children to think about acquiring an animal. Please let Mrs Choat or Jan-Marie know if your child intends to have an animal for Calf Club.
FREE PIANO
Good condition, recently tuned, approximately 1936 upright piano, very heavy.
Free to a good home. Phone: Kelly Boggis 0274 596 476
Our Wonderful Sponsors
Strategic Plan Update
The school each year has a plan which focus on particular aspects of development. In the fortnightly newsletter we will highlight a goal that we as a school are focusing on and what we are doing to achieve that goal.
The first goal relates to our Catholic Character.
Catholic Character – faithful learners
We nurture the values of Honesty/Pono, Compassion/Aroha, Gratitude/Whakawhetai to become morally strong.
Each week we focus, our school values in the class. This term our major focus is on Compassion/Aroha. We are using the Mercy Sisters example to show us how we can be merciful to those in need.
During class prayers weekly on a Wednesday, Kauri and Totara focus on a weekly value. The value is aloud, students listen to the previous Sunday's Gospel and then watch a short video which shows the weekly value in action, such as this weeks video which we have included below.
Upcoming weeks value focus:
Week 5: We show compassion to the sick
Week 6: We show compassion when we care for all people
Week 7: We show compassion when we stand up for others
Week 8: We show compassion when we care for the vulnerable
Week 9: We show compassion when we feed the hungry
Week 10: We show compassion in our actions
Mine Trips
This weeks Students have visited the Mine Education, they have come back buzzing. Lots of learning which we are sure has been shared with you.
Prayer for the Week
Today is the feast of St Batholomew. Patron Saint of bookbinders; butchers; cobblers; leather workers; shoemakers and tanners.
Email: office@wsj.school.nz
Phone: 07 863 8653