Newsletter Week 4 Term 1 2023

Principal's Message

Kia Ora whanau and friends

We hope this newsletter finds you and all your family safe and well in light of the week just passed.

One can only imagine what it is like right now, for those seriously affected by the events that unfolded with cyclone Gabrielle. Our hearts are heavy as we think of those most deeply affected. It brings a timely reminder to all of us to stop and appreciate what we have, instead of what we haven’t. For those of you who have loved ones deeply affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Our overarching theme this year ‘God’s Work, Our Hands somehow reached another level!

It is amazing to hear of the inundation of goods being donated to the Parish Centre since word was received of the Goods Drive initiative on Friday. We are excited as a school for what we will be able to contribute to that drive over the coming week. For me personally, this is a great chance to have that long overdue clean out of items my own whanau no longer have a need for, and yet will be well received by someone in need!

An important note from St Joseph’s Church Goods Drive organisers…

We now have plenty of clothing and instead are in need of…

Non-perishable food items
Baby formula and nappies
Toiletries, sanitary items
Cleaning supplies
Linen, towels, bedding
Games, toys, sports equipment, books

Thanks so much!

Fundraising for the relief fund

We as a school are also holding a themed ‘non uniform’ fundraiser for flood victims this Friday; “BRIGHT FRIDAY”. A gold coin or more would be amazing! Profits from this week’s sausage sizzle will also go towards the relief fund.

NB - during Lent, it is common practice for Catholics 14 years and over to abstain from eating meat. As our students are younger than this age, sausage sizzles will continue as usual. For our Catholic staff however, sausages will be of the ‘vegan’ variety throughout this time.

This week, as Catholics, we embark on our most sacred season; Lent. It is often a time when we give up something to better understand the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can also be encouraged during this time to do something extra. And what a wonderful opportunity we all have in front of us to do just that. Prayer, of course, is always a great starting point.

A Prayer of Relief

Loving and gracious God,

All love and mercy compels us to the side of our global brothers and sisters.

In our charity, and in our compassion, help us stand with them.

In our solidarity and in our sharing, help us stand with them.

In our advocacy, and in our prayer, help us stand with them.

And as we turn to them in their peril, we ask your grace go with us:

To feed the hungry:

-give us your grace.

To give drink to the thirsty:

-give us your grace.

To clothe the naked:

-give us your grace.

To shelter the homeless:

-give us your grace.

To care for the sick:

-give us your grace.

To reach the trapped and the stranded:

-give us your grace.

To mourn the dead:

-give us your grace.

And in reaching out, may we find you in them.

And may they find you in us.

- Adopted from a prayer of Catholic Relief Services following Typhoon Haiyan, November 2013

We have all been impressed with the children at St Joseph’s school, in the way that they have shown such concern for what is going on in their world, even if they have not been affected first hand. Their many ideas as to how they can help have been heartwarming. Parents/caregivers, you can be very proud!

Whether you help one person or a thousand people, YOU are making a difference. May God bless you all!

Former students shining:

Charlie Vowles was asked to represent all Year 9’s at the recent Opening School Mass for St John’s College (see photo above). There is a part in the mass where the Head Student (Xavier Mihaere) presents to a representative of the Y9 cohort, the 2023 SJC candle. Charlie was asked to be the person to receive that candle from Xavier on behalf of all the Y9's. How special! Well done Charlie, you must have made a very good first impression! We are all very proud of you.

We also acknowledge former student, Kieran Lee who has been elected as a House Leader at St John’s College for 2023. This leadership role is huge, and St John’s College mentioned how impressed they are with the calibre of the 2023 leaders. Congratulations Kieran! We look forward to you returning to St Joseph’s at some stage to share some of your insights into this leadership role. We all wish you well.

New Students in 2023:

A very warm welcome to our newest students to St Joseph's. Welcome to....

Skye Indurjeeth, Aria Ramjee and Isabella Ramjee who have joined us from South Africa and Ezra Powell and Ezekiel Powell who have attended our school previously, have recently moved back to Morrinsville. Great to have you all with us.

Have a peaceful week everyone.

Nga mihi nui

Andrea Devane

AIMS Games Information Meeting

A sporting event for Year 7 and 8 at the elite level, held over a week in Tauranga in September. If you are interested in hearing more about how we might be involved as a school, come along to Akonga (Year 7-8 Learning Space) on Monday 13th March at 5.30pm. See www.nzaimsgames.co.nz for more information.

Communication in School

We have lots of ways to communicate with staff and families at our school. Our newsletter is released every Tuesday and will showcase our school as well as keep you abreast with information that you need to know. Seesaw is a communication and learning tool that we use to connect with families as well as uploading students learning and information. We have our school app for alerts and absentees and our school facebook page St Josephs Morrinsville.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the classroom teacher either by email or through Seesaw. Drop in's are unavailable at the moment under our red level. Please organise a time to catch up with the teacher so they can give you the time that you need.

Update Us Please

Have You Had A Change of Details? It is your responsibility to please advise us.

Can you please advise the office (not teachers) by sending a note, phoning or emailing admin@stjoes.school.nz if you have any changes of address, contact telephone details - home - work or mobile plus email addresses. Do you still have your land line???

It is imperative that we are able to contact you should an emergency arise.

Also, if you there have been any changes in your child's health status or emergency contact we will need to update our records. Thank you for your co-operation.

Absentees, Messages for Your Child & Collecting Students Through School Time

Everyone has busy days, with schools being no exception especially when we have 120 families to keep informed.

We have taken the time to outline how best to enable our system to work well and wish to clarify the correct procedures as parents/caregivers to following:

Absentees... There are three ways to advise the school of your child's absence. Please use one of the following with a brief reason as to why they are absent by 9.00am.

- Through our School App

- Email admin@stjoes.school.nz

- Phone (answer machine available)

If we have not received a reason via any of the above, an automated text is sent. If no response is received to the text this is then followed by a phone call/s. If we are still unable to contact a parent/caregiver the child is marked as truant.

To keep the process streamlined please do not advise absentees through Seesaw or teacher email. Teachers are not always on site to pass on messages and this can cause a lot of confusion for all concerned. We request that absentees are only advised via the above.

Messages for Students

If for some reason plans made before school have changed and you need to get a message to your child please phone the School Office by 2.40pm - answer machine available.

Please do not Seesaw message or email the classroom teachers. Teachers do not have the luxury of time to continually check their messages when busy in the classroom, and this can mean messages are missed.

Collecting Your Child During School Hours

On the rare occasion you may need to collect your child during school hours for an appointment, unexpected circumstances or sound valid reasons, please phone the school office at least 30 minutes, or earlier if possible, before collection time.

On arriving at school please report to the office to sign your child out. With prior notice given we then endeavor to have the child at the office ready to go on your arrival if this is possible.

PLEASE do not go straight to the classroom without first coming via the school office OR Seesaw message/email the classroom teachers. As above Teachers do not have the luxury of time to check their messages.

We thank you in advance for your co-operation in regards to these matters.

Bus Student Vests Have Been Issued

Vest were issued last week to bus students.

We always have the safety of our children in the forefront of our minds and ask that parents continue to support us in keeping our children safe by ensuring that they leave home each morning with their vests on.

Staff will try to ensure that children have their vests on when boarding buses on leaving school, so it is important that children have their vests on hand. We hope that our children realise and appreciate the benefits of keeping themselves safe.

We understand that a number of students may have been away, so if your child is a bus students and has not received a vest, please contact the office immediately.

Thank You.