Newsletter Week 7 Term 3
St Joseph's School Waipukurau 8th of September 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora Whānau
School opens Thursday!
We are all set and excited to welcome the children back on Thursday morning. However, it is not "business as usual for schools under level two Delta".
Today all teachers were at school preparing for the return of the children to school.
The most important thing for parents to note in readiness for Thursday is the arrival and departure process. Upon arrival, parents need to stay in vehicles - kiss and go.
Children will go straight to their own classroom at the beginning of the day where their teachers will be waiting for them. At the end of the day, they will go straight to their pick up area please make sure you have informed your child/children where you will be collecting them from. Parents again should stay in their vehicles. Please take care on the roads and watch out for children. We will have children ready to be picked up from 2:55 pm to ease congestion.
If children are coming to school via Russell Street either walking or biking please make sure you use the pedestrian crossing. Road patrol will be out there from Thursday morning.
At level 2 children will be able to bring bikes and scooters to school as usual.
Students need to all have a named water bottle. They can refill from the drinking fountain fill up tap.
Reminder all visitors and parents – If you need to come into school grounds to collect your child/ren early please report to the office window and scan in and someone will collect your child/ren from their classrooms.
School Bus – will run at the usual times. Masks are optional on the school bus.
This week we sadly farewell, Vanessa O'Keeffe who has been with us since May 2020 as a Teacher Aide. This year she has been training to become a teacher and due to the demands of assignments she has resigned from her position. She will qualify as a teacher at the end of the year. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours and hope to see her back here in a teaching capacity.
Please check out the sports notices at the bottom of the newsletter.
Kia pai tō rā (Have a good day)
Sarah Laugesen
Principal
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What the students have been up to in Lock-down!
Lance doing baking.
The recipe Lance used!
Making clay
Lucas digger holes to plant the Daphne for the sacred space
Lance and Lucas
Lance loosening some stones
Lance's story about exploring down at the river bed.
On Friday 3rd September at bubble school during covid Jade, Lacie, Lucas, Joe, Quinn, Eva, Esta, Whaea Bethany and Mrs Chesswas and myself (Lance) went down to the river after morning tea. When we got there we were skipping rocks on the river. I couldn’t find good rocks but Jade was hitting the Jackpot with the rocks. I got five skips one throw and so did Quinn. Then the master geologist Whaea Bethany found some sedimentary rock, which is a type of rock that has come down from the mountains and come to the dry part of the river bed and dried up. Whaea Bethany told us that if we bring it back to school smashed the rock into tiny pieces and then soaked them in water it would turn into the clay so we did. When we got back to school with the sedimentary rock (which I stuffed in my pockets) everyone smashed the rocks and then put them in water and let them soak. After lunch, we went back to check on our organic clay. We were all surprised it worked wonderfully. It was really satisfying to know that our hard work had paid off. Then we were working on making it smoother. I got a ball smooth to the touch. It was so good and we all liked getting our hands covered in clay. Then it was the end of the day so we put it into a pot with water and let it soak.
When we got back to school after the weekend I checked on the clay and it had all fallen apart.
A passage written by: Lance
Quinn's Riverbed Story
Level 3 Students Exploring Their Local Area.
Room 4's Pop Art
Kuba's pop art
George's pop art
Create a Google Drawing and create your own self portrait using the drawing tools. Practice your skills first
Create a Google Drawing and create your own self-portrait using the drawing tools.
Room 1's challenge this week was to use our imagination to create and build. We had to look around our homes to find some materials to build with after listening to the story 'The Most Magnificent Thing' by Ashley Spires.
Cooper
Cooper's creation is of a Dad dinosaur, a baby dinosaur and an egg in a cave. He also created some big rocks and a fence to keep the baby dinosaur in.
Madison L
Charlie
Charlie built a building called a terminator which is poisonous if you touch it!
Cooper
Cooper is water the seeds, this is how he helps at home.
Cooper
Sherry
Tate
Sofia
Millie
Photos in Action
School Cross-Country - New Date
It will be held on Wednesday the 15th of September at 382 Ongaonga Rd.
Unfortunately due to stricter Level, 2 rules parents will not be able to attend.
We will ensure to take lots of photos of the students running.
The students will be bussed to and from the event. We will leave school at 10 am and return by 1.30 pm at the latest. Students are to come to school wearing their sports uniform with their house T-shirt, sneakers and a packed lunch.
Ngati Whai
Unfortunately due to the uncertainty of COVID Ngati Wahi has been postponed and a new date will be set once we move back into level 1
Speech Competition
We will be holding our Annual School Speech Competition on the 24th of September at 1 pm in the school hall. In-class speeches will take place before the school speech competition and the top 4 from each class (room 4 to room 6) will go through to the finals on the 24th. The year 1 to 3 students will do poetry recitals. Unfortunately, although we are back under level 2 there are new restrictions therefore parents are unable at this stage. We will record them for parents to view.
The Rotary Speech Competition is on the 27th in the evening at Waipukurau School but please note this date may also change or have restrictions in place.
"Never see a need without doing something about it" - St Mary MacKillop
MESSAGE FROM OUR SCHOOL LEADERS
Kia ora everyone,
As you know we are still in lockdown, but fortunately, we are returning to level 2 on Wednesday and back to school on Thursday. Make sure to follow the rules we have been given by the Prime minister so everyone can stay safe. You might have known that we would’ve been doing Ngati Whai this term, But that has been postponed due to Covid-19. Make sure to stay safe and have fun and hopefully we will see you soon.
By Jonty and Riley
Special Character - Social Justice Week 12th to 18th of September
Each year the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand set aside a week in September for Social Justice Week, inviting us to reflect and take action on a current social justice issue. Social Justice Week 2021 takes place from 12 - 18 September. The theme of our Social Justice Week resources is "A Culture of Encounter: Be the Church" / "He Ahurea Tūtaki ki Ētahi atu: Me Noho Ko Koutou te Hāhi." This theme on encounter and community was inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical, Fratelli Tutti (2020).
In the midst of this time of change and uncertainty, it is tempting to retreat into what we know best. There are many reasons why people can easily get caught within their own bubble and be removed from those around them. The impact of the pandemic, our reliance on technology, a growing culture of individualism and instant gratification are just a few reasons.
But Pope Francis reminds us that "isolation and withdrawal into one's own interests are never the way to restore hope and bring about renewal. Rather it is closeness; it is the culture of encounter". (Fratelli Tutti, #30)
PFG Update
Hey everyone!
Due to the event restrictions of level 2, we have made the decision to postpone our quiz evening until level 1.
There are still tables available if you would like to book for whenever we can host - no payment required until the event, you would just be securing your spot.
When level 1 and the criteria for events is announced we will set a date! We cannot wait
We thank you for your support and hope we can still make this a sell-out event once again!!
●●●●Thursday lunches will resume under level 1 ●●●●
St Joseph's Parents and Friends Group - Waipukurau
(To find us on Facebook) or email stjosephspfg@gmail.com
Have a great week
The PFG committee
Upcoming Events
September:
15th – School Cross Country
Ngati Whai - postponed new date TBC once back in level 1
24th School Speech Competition
October:
1st – Teacher Only Day (School closed for instruction)
Contact Us
Email: office@stjosephschb.school.nz
Website: http://www.stjosephschb.school.nz/
Location: 6 Russell Street, Waipukurau, New Zealand
Phone: 06 858 9221
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjosephschb/