Our Vision: To grow Catholic, Christian young people,

who are confident, connected lifelong learners, inspired by the teachings of Jesus,

and who make a positive difference in their community.

Dear Family/Whānau

To grow Catholic, Christian young people who are CONFIDENT, CONNECTED LIFELONG LEARNERS, inspired by the teachings of Jesus, and who make a positive difference in their community.

This is my first newsletter as the real principal of Hato Heemi. I feel so proud and grateful for finally being led to apply, be interviewed and appointed as the permanent Tumuaki. I have loved being part of this community for many years and I bring renewed passion and commitment in my role as leader. It is such a pleasure to work with such amazing colleagues, learners and families. Thank you for all your warm affirmations to me. I feel very valued. I do believe there is no i in team so I invite all of you to join me in this team.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our family and friends who have been affected so badly by Cyclone Gabrielle. We have been so blessed here in Palmy with our weather, it's a small problem to postpone our Welcome Back picnic due to a shower or two.

New Families Welcome - You are invited to have a cuppa with Donna Brown, Pastoral Coordinator for the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Christine Cosgrove, and Andrea Cawood, DRS, on Wednesday 15 March at 9am in the school staffroom. Donna will explain our Catholic Schools’ special character and Andrea and Christine will chat about St James’ special character and curriculum. This opportunity will be repeated each term for new families.

Lent

Lent is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, 46 days, minus the 6 Sundays of Lent that are not included in the fasting season, equalling 40 days. 40 days of spiritual renewal in Christ. Lent is a time for prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

If you and your child wish to participate in the programme this year please fill in the online form which can be found on both the Parish websites (the link is below). Or alternatively please attend the welcome meeting where we can assist you in filling this in.

https://kotahiano.infoodle.com/f/FirstReconciliationAndFirstHolyCommunion

We would love to see you there!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any queries.

Donna Brown, Pastoral Coordinator 0212295753

Altar Servers
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit invites any children who have made their first communion to come along to a training session with Father Vijay on Thursday 23rd Feb at the Cathedral lounge. Arrive at 5:15pm for 5:30pm start.

Cyclone Relief Appeal

The Diocese of Palmerston North has launched a Cyclone Relief Appeal to help those in desperate need following Cyclone Gabrielle. Donations can be made directly online to the Catholic Charities Foundation by direct bank transfer to

02-0630-0237950-010 with references: “Cyclone” and “your surname and initials”

(Please email reception@pndiocese.org.nz with your email details for a receipt.)

Welcome - We extend a warm welcome to Amelia and Angelina who have started their faith and learning journey at Te Kura Katorika o Hato Heemi. We also extend a warm welcome to their family and whānau.

Paid Union Meeting - On March 2 our teachers will be attending a paid union meeting from 12.30pm. Please collect your child from school at 12:30pm, the Year 5 and 6 Learners at Tabloid Sports are expected to return to school at 12:30pm.

If you are not able to collect your child from school please email the school office so we can arrange supervision.

Malayalam Catch Up - Friday 3 March at 1.30pm. We have scheduled this in the staffroom before the Assembly at 2pm. All Welcome

Black and White non uniform day for Gold Coin Donation, March 7 - Following is a plan from our Catholic Diocese to support our schools affected by floods in Hawkes Bay.

Focus - to provide our Hawkes Bay Catholic schools with a fund to allocate to families at their discretion. This would be specifically but not exclusively related to school items that have been lost or damaged and to support emergency living costs.

Our St James’ non uniform day will be on March 7 with a black and white theme which are the Hawkes Bay colours. If you wish to support this appeal, please send your child to school in non uniform and with a gold coin.

We respond in this way because the Gospel message calls us to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are in solidarity with our Catholic school communities who are suffering.

Please diary

2023 Term Dates & Holidays

Term 1 Tuesday 31st January – Thursday 6th April
Term 2 Monday 24th April – Friday 30th June
Term 3 Monday 17th July – Friday 22nd September
Term 4 Monday 9th October – Friday 15th December

Staff Only Days

Monday 24th April (Term 2, Week 1)
Tuesday 24th October (Week 2 Term 4) – Labour Weekend

Parent Handbook - An A-Z Guide for St James’s Catholic School Family/Whānau. Please take the time to read through this, it is a useful guide for our school community.

LUCKY Book Club | Scholastic New Zealand - This was sent home with the eldest child of your family and can be ordered online. Closing date for this issue is Friday 24 March.

Carpark - Just a reminder that the school carpark is closed from 8.25 - 8.50 am and 2.30 - 3.10 pm no Entry or Exit during these times. We will be closing access to the carpark during these times as we have had a few near misses with people exiting and reversing out of the carpark. We thank you for your support in keeping our tamariki safe.

YMCA Camp Kaitoke - Year 5 and 6 Camp Monday 20th March to Wednesday 22nd March 2023

This is just a reminder that Camp payment is due to the School Office by 3 March, 2023. These were invoiced in 2022. You can make arrangements for Automatic or part payments through Tracey our Office Manager or if you need assistance to meet this cost, please also contact Tracey. Please ensure you have reviewed the Camp List to ensure your child is prepared with all items.

School App - please remember to update your Alert Subscriptions for your child's 2023 learning space and any other Sport and Extra Curricular information you wish to receive alerts for on the School App. You can access Alert Subscriptions from the menu at the top Left hand corner of your screen. Click on the groups/learning spaces you wish to subscribe to. Quick Link to download School App.

Nippers Before and After School Care will be open on the Staff Only Day - Monday 24 April. For more details or an enrolment pack please contact 06 356 7926 (Nippers Office) or 021 645 806 (on-site) or nippers@inspire.net.nz.

Payment of 2023 School Donation - You will have received these by email today. If you did not please contact the school office office@stjamescatholic.school.nz. We welcome automatic payments throughout the year. Your donations assist us in offering extracurricular opportunities for your children. The donation includes Science, Technology, Education Outside the classroom experiences (except for the Year 5 and 6 Senior Camp), visiting performers transport to sporting fixtures and Masses. Payments can be paid to ASB Bank account 12-3442-0052178-00. Please Reference your ‘child’s Surname’ and ‘Invoice Number’. Online payment is preferred as there are no EFTPOS facilities available at the Office. You are welcome to set up automatic or part payments throughout the School Year. School Donations are Tax deductible. You can claim back 33% of your school donations through IRD.

Tabloid Sports

Thursday 23 February - Year 1 and 2 tabloids hosted by St Josephs' School, Feilding

Thursday 2 March - Year 5 and 6 tabloids hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes School

Wednesday 8 March - Year 3 and 4 tabloids Hosted by St James’

Swimming Pool - Thank you to our Caretaker Glenn and his team of helpers who keep our pool operational. It has been challenging with the recent weather elements however this is a wonderful resource for our community and the children are enjoying swimming on the warmer days.

Are you interested in supporting your School Community fundraising initiatives throughout 2023? If this is something you would like to get involved with please contact Kelly Hoskins or coming along to one of our meetings in 2023.

Kelly Hoskins

PTFA Chairperson

ptfachairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz

Serving Our Saints with Faith and Enthusiasm

The next BOT meeting will be held in the staffroom on Monday 27 February 2023 at 6.00 pm. All welcome.

Analena Siu

Presiding Member (boardpm@stjamescatholic.school.nz)

Please keep checking the Events Calendar on the school website or school App as we are updating this should events be cancelled/postponed. All coming events will continue to be updated here. Add to my Calendar.

2023 Term Dates & Holidays. Please add these to your diary, in particular the Staff Only Days.

TERM 1

Week 4

Wednesday 22 February - Ash Wednesday Liturgy - 9:30am

Thursday 23 February - Year 1 and 2 tabloids hosted by St Joseph's School Feilding

Thursday 23 February - 5:30 pm Sacramental Programme - welcome and information meeting, Cathedral Gathering Area Lounge.

Thursday 23 February - Altar Servers, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit Lounge, arrive 5:15 pm for a 5:30 pm start.

Week 5

Monday 27 February - Board Meeting, 6pm Staffroom

Thursday 2 March - Year 5 and 6 Tabloids hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes School

Thursday 2 March - Paid Union Meeting - Children to be collected from school at 12:30pm

Friday 3 March - Malayalam Catch Up 1:30pm

Friday 3 March - Assembly, School Hall, 2pm

Sunday 5 March - Reconciliation Session 1, 10.30am, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

Week 6

Monday 6 March - PB4L Parent Meeting, 6pm in Staffroom

Tuesday 7 March - Black and White non uniform day for a Gold Coin Donation

Wednesday 8 March - Year 3 and 4 tabloids, Hosted by St James’

Friday 10 March - Welcome Back Picnic, 5pm on back field.

Week 7

Sunday 19 March - Reconciliation Session 2, 10:30am, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

Week 8

Monday 20-27 March - Year 5 & 6 school Camp YMCA Kaitoke
Tuesday 21 March - World Down Syndrome Day - Rock your Socks

Friday 24 March - Scholastic Book Orders due

Week 9

Tuesday 28 March - School Photos

Sunday 2 April - Reconciliation Session 3 and Practice, 10:30am, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit

Sunday 2 April - Palm Sunday

Week 10

Monday 3 April - School Board Meeting, 6pm, Staffroom

Tuesday 4 April - Stations of the Cross Part 1, 9:30am

Wednesday 5 April - Stations of the Cross Part 2, 9:30am

Wednesday 5 April - 5:30pm Reconciliation Liturgy, Cathedral

Thursday 6 April - Holy THursday - Washing of the Feet and Last Supper Liturgy and shared food, 9:30am

Thursday 6 April - Last Day of Term 1

Friday 7 April - Good Friday

Sunday 9 April - Easter Sunday

Girls Brigade (www.girlsbrigade.nz)

New friends, new skills, fun activities and opportunities.

For girls aged from 5 years and above. Come along and give it a go.

We have companies in:

Highbury/Takaro - Tuesday: Juniors: 4.45-6.15pm, Seniors & Pioneers: 6.00-8.00pm - Suzanne Ph: 356 1974

Milson - Thursday, 4.30-6pm - Joanne Ph: 355-3124