FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome to Week 7 of the term. The term is passing us by very quickly. The last few weeks have seen our students participate in key liturgical events and a large number also beginning their Sacrament of Reconciliation lessons last Sunday. It was so lovely to see many of our whānau at mass and we look forward to you joining us this coming Sunday (19th June) for our whānau mass. This will be our first whānau mass since the arrival of Covid, so we are extremely grateful for this opportunity to be able to join in community to celebrate Eucharist and have our tamariki take an active role in ministries. Whānau masses are a school event that as parents you agreed to support when you enrolled your child at Reignier Catholic School. I know that family life is busy, but these opportunities to join in faith, prayer and in communion is about who we are as a kura and why our school was established.
Finally, I would like to mention the bugs, colds and flu that are doing the rounds. We have been very lucky as a student body, with minimal absences (at this stage). We have received communication that there is an expectance that there will be an increase of illness due to several factors. We ask that you continue to be vigilant with hygiene and continue to follow our current Orange settings that we have in place. Read the advice below that we have received from the MoH.
May God bless you all, and sending you all prayers of good heath.
God Bless.
Mrs Shanks
MONDAY MORNING GATHERING LITURGY
We warmly invite you all to attend our Monday morning Gathering Liturgies at 9.05am in the School Hall. This is a great way to come together, in prayer with your child(ren), to build our faith community.
VISITORS - SIGNING IN & OUT
If you enter the school grounds during the day, please enter via the school office, sign in and speak to Mrs Gouder who will direct you. Please ensure on exiting the grounds, you sign out. This is a Health and Safety requirement. Thank you for your support.
GOVERNANCE UPDATE: THE WORK OF THE BOARD
The work of the board is to ensure that every student achieves their highest possible educational outcomes supported by the Catholic faith and Catholic culture of the school. All Board members have responsibility for the protection of the Catholic special character of the school as set out in the school’s integration agreement and charter. The board has key responsibilities in relation to integration and in particular must safeguard:
- Religious Education
- Employment
- Enrolment
- Property
The board ensures the charter, policies and plans reflect the philosophy of Catholic schooling. For an overview of the key partnerships, processes, policies and systems required to support students to achieve their potential supported by the Catholic culture of the school, visit the BOT handbook site and review the interactive Work of the Board diagram.
If you are interested in the work of the Board, there will be an information evening on Wednesday 6th July at 6.30pm in our school staffroom. This will be hosted by NZSTA.
SYNOD 2021-2023 UPDATE - JUNE 2022
Once again, the diocese wishes to thank all participants in the recent synodal process for opening their hearts and minds to the Holy Spirt and engaging in this process.
Following the reading and discerning of each submission, the Diocesan Synthesis Document has been completed. This document is the Diocese of Palmerston North’s contribution to the local phase of Synod 2021-2023 and has been provided to the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference for the next stage in the synodal process. The Diocesan Synthesis Document is available online to read and download at https://pndiocese.org.nz/synod
ADVICE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO SCHOOLS
Make sure your whānau is up to date with Immunisations.
With the borders opening, we are expecting a big increase in influenza numbers. There is also a risk that measles, whooping cough or other vaccine preventable illness outbreaks will occur over the next few months. Babies are at greatest risk from these diseases but making sure the whole whānau is up to date will help protect them.
Advice if unwell:
Test for COVID-19 using a RAT.
If you test positive, upload your result to your My Covid Record and follow the Ministry of Health advice.
If you have had a COVID-19 infection within the previous 90 days and are unwell again it is very unlikely this is a reinfection of COVID. Repeat COVID testing (RAT and PCR) within these 90 days is necessary only on medical advice.
Stay home if unwell as winter viruses are very infectious.
Return to school/ kura/ early learning centre, te kōhanga reo when symptoms have resolved. There may be some discretion used for children to return when they have improving and very mild symptoms such as a slight cough or runny nose but are otherwise well.
Wearing masks, cough etiquette and hand hygiene are strongly encouraged.
This helps to reduce the spread to other people.
Drink plenty of fluid.
Take some paracetamol or ibuprofen as directed.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen can help reduce pain, headache and fever.
Cold and flu medicines.
Warm lemon and honey drinks have been found to be as effective as cough syrups. On average, a cough after a viral infection lasts for 17 days.
When to see a GP?
If you have worsening symptoms, difficulty breathing, have pain in your chest, are feeling dehydrated despite drinking plenty of fluid, are coughing up blood, or have had fevers for more than five days or call Healthline on 0800 611 116.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2023, 2024 & BEYOND
If you have a child who will be turning 5 in 2023 or in 2024 and beyond, it is not too early to get them enrolled or indicate that you are intending to enrol your child at Reignier Catholic School.
Please call into the school office to get a preference form, make an appointment with Fr Barry to have this signed and drop back to school. Without this form, we cannot accept your child's enrolment.
This also enables the school management team to forecast staffing for next year and the year after.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Teresa Shanks on 844 2144.
SAVE THE DATE - OPEN DAY - 6TH JULY
We will be hosting an Open Day on July 6th. Please mark this day in your diary. More information to come.
TERM 2 SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
We hope that you will be able to join us to celebrate what our students have been learning.
Our final assembly for this term will be held on Friday 1st July starting at 2.30pm in the Hall. Please be seated by 2.25pm. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. Masks are required to be worn.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
You will be aware that this has been in the news a lot recently. As a kura, our number one priority is for your child to be at school. It is known that when a child is present at school and participating in their learning that this leads to progress. If your child is absent, you need to inform the school as to why by either phoning the office or using the app.
UNIFORM CHANGES
We have noticed a lot of non-uniform items creeping in, please ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform.
There has been a change to the policy on the wearing of shoes at school. Children can now wear either sandals or shoes anytime of the year. Please check out the below link to see what shoes are suitable for wearing. Note: NO other footwear is acceptable.
Due to the increase of cost in the school holding uniform items, we are in the process of transferring the final four items we hold to The Warehouse. This is scheduled to take place around the start of Term 3. In the meantime, you are still able to purchase the Hat, Sweatshirt, PE Shirt and PE Shorts from school.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
START OF DAY
Our school day begins at 8.55am. We encourage all our students to please be at school before then, so they are able to prepare for the day ahead. If you know that for some reason you are going to be late, please give the office a call.
SCHOOL FINISH TIME
Our school day concludes at 2.55pm.
ROAD PATROL TIMES
Morning Road Patrol is from 8.30am to 8.50am.
Afternoon Road Patrol is from 2.50pm to 3.10pm.
UNIFORM SHOP ORDERING
We continue to ask families requiring uniform to send an email (admin@reignier.school.nz) stating what items you wish to purchase and to deposit the money into the school account, referencing your surname and uniform. Once the money has been deposited into the account we can release the uniform items you have ordered. This is done by way of the student in the classroom. Thank you for your continued support of this request.
School Account Details:
Account Name: Reignier School Board of Trustees
Account Number: 02-0766-0106693-00
Uniform Items Available for Purchase:
Sweatshirts - $50
PE Shirt - $33
PE Shorts - $27
Sunhats - $13
STARRY NIGHT SCHOOL DISCO - THURSDAY 23RD JUNE
The Friends of Reignier (F.O.R.) are holding a school disco for the kids on Thursday evening 23rd June (the day before Matariki holiday on Friday). Please lock this date into your calendars. See the flyer below.
GALA - SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER
Reignier Catholic School Gala will be held at school on Saturday 29th October. The Gala committee are needing as many helpers, sponsors and donations as possible to make our 2022 Gala a success. Please contact Kristi 027 427 5007 if you can help with any of the planning. Our Gala has been successful for many years and a fun family event with huge funds raised for our school and children. We look forward to hearing from you with how you can be involved!
MATARIKI EVENTS
Mānawatia a Matariki is approaching in June and Ngāti Kahungunu and the Ātea a Rangi have a varied of events on offer. Please click the link below for further information.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xRqTXIWvsJPtVI30iAVZndrcyOoKVfLUveOE62W9FZQ/edit?usp=sharing
TERM 2 - UPCOMING EVENTS
Whānau Mass - Sunday 19th June
Matariki Holiday - School Closed - Friday 24th June
TERM 3 - UPCOMING EVENTS - SAVE THESE DATES NOW!
School Photos - Wednesday 3rd August
School Assemblies - Friday 12th August, Friday 2nd September & Friday 23rd September
Teacher Only Day - School Closed - Friday 26th August
Reports Go Home - Friday 9th September
Music Festival - Thursday 29 September
2022 DATES
Term 2 - 2nd May – 8th July
Term 3 - 25th July – 30th September
Term 4 - 17th October – 16th December
Teacher Only Days: 14th April and 26th August (Term 3) for staff to attend special character retreat.
