Newsletter Week 7 Term 2
Sacred Heart School Christchurch - 17 June 2022
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Today brings the end of week 7 of the term and we have been reminded that winter is really here. The icy mornings however, make for some lovely sunny days. Next week we are really looking forward to welcoming you all to celebrate Matariki and our Sacred Heart Feast Day with us. On Thursday the breakfast will start at 7.30 am in our new block followed by a short prayer service at 9.00 am outside. You will then have the opportunity to look around the classrooms and the children will share with you some of their learning. We do ask that masks are worn while indoors.
While many of the schools around us are well into a second wave of Covid with swelling numbers of cases and struggling to staff their schools, we are only seeing smaller numbers of cases. Currently we have one positive case amongst students and one child isolating as a household contact. We do know this can change very quickly and ask you to be mindful of any illnesses in the household. There are a number of coughs, colds and flus going around communities in Christchurch and we do ask that any children with any signs of these aren’t sent to school and are tested for Covid. The school can help out with any test kits that are needed.
In two weeks time mid year reports will be sent home via Seesaw showing where children are at in their learning in Reading, Writing, Maths and Religious Education. You will receive these prior to the Parent-Teacher interviews, an excellent opportunity to discuss their learning with their teacher. Please make sure you book an interview using the link and information in this newsletter.
Planning and design is well underway to make use of the area out the back of the new building. Children in the Middle and Senior Syndicates are working in groups on projects to improve this area to make it useful and fun. They may be looking for some expertise in a number of areas to bring the projects to fruition. I’m sure you will see some of these ideas in the rooms on Matariki Whānau Fun Day next week.
Have a great weekend
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent Teacher Interviews are being held on Monday 4 July and Tuesday 5 July. School will finish at 2.00pm these days but any child unable to be collected will be supervised until 3.00pm.
Times can be booked online and you are encouraged to book early. The bookings will stay open until Thursday 30 June.
To book an interview time with your child(s) teacher:
Click on “Make a Booking”
Enter the event code - 7895u (lower case u)
If you require any assistance with making an online booking please contact the school office.
Sport
Our basketballers continue to play well and are learning lots of new skills each week at Pioneer.
Our year 4-6 girls are enjoying being part of the ‘Girls got Game’ basketball programme which is being run by Canterbury basketball over the next 3 weeks and culminates in a tournament in week 10.
We also look forward to having Korfball Canterbury share their skills with us before the end of the term.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Lila Rose Desmond who competed this week in the Canterbury Artistic Gymnastic Competition. She was placed 2nd in Silver level Floor, 1st in Silver level beam and 2nd Silver level overall points.
Congratulations
Congratulations Bella. Two gold medals recently at the Taekwondo Union New Zealand (TUNZ) South Island Tournament. Gold in sparring and Gold in Poomsae. We are so proud of your efforts and achievements.
Bella goes to Christchurch Olympic Taekwondo at Spreydon School, Mathers Rd. They have a free month of training as an introduction if anyone is interested.
Sacred Heart Feast Day
Next week we celebrate two special events in our kura. Sacred Heart Feast Day is on Friday 24th of June. Te Manawa Tapu o Ihu/The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a sign of God’s unending love. With confidence in our God, we bring our needs before Him. Normally the children would attend Mass in the morning followed by a day of fun activities and outdoor games. However next Friday, being a public holiday you may wish to attend Mass at 9am at the church with your tamariki. These are some karakia you could pray together as a whanau:
We pray for Pope Francis, our community of priests and Mission sisters, and our teachers and parents - that they will help us to follow the teachings of Jesus.
Āmene
We pray that the students at te Kura o te Ngākau Tapu/ Sacred Heart School will love and care for each other, guided by our Sacred Heart Way.
Āmene
We pray for the members of te Whare Karakia o te Ngākau Tapu/ Sacred Heart Church, and for all those who have a personal or historical link with Sacred Heart.
Āmene
We pray for all who have died. We remember the Mission Sisters who taught in our school, past priests and brothers, and former students and staff of our school. May they rest in Peace.
Āmene
Matariki
We also celebrate Matariki within the Catholic church of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
As Catholics, why should we celebrate Matariki?
In 2016, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the world. He called the letter - Laudato Si’. Pope Francis said in the letter that “The earth is God’s gift to us, full of beauty and wonder. And it belongs to everyone.” However, we have cut down forests, polluted the earth’s waters, land and air.
The pope calls for everyone to put back into the planet what we have taken. He asks us to not only take great care of our world and environment but to take care of each other. Treat each other with aroha, care and respect.
The stars of Matariki remind us all of the mahi we must do to preserve God’s earth.
A Matariki blessing:
The new light of Matariki has risen!
May it be to you a sign of resurrection and new life.
May it be to you a sign of hope in times of darkness.
May it be to you a sign of the wondrous mystery of Atua who loves you.
May it be to you a sign that the eyes of Te Atua are ever upon you and that the
presence of the Holy Spirit is ever with you. And may this be the cause of your rejoicing.
Go in peace.
Through Christ and in the perfect unity of the Holy Spirit, we pray.
Āmene
A beautiful waiata tamariki can learn
Faith Facts
Quotes from various sources on current topics
“One of the key components of the renewal of our diocese through Our Faith Our Future, is the life of the parish outside of Sunday Mass. Over the last two years it has been very difficult to bring people together. As we begin to gather again, I want us all to consider what is happening in our parishes and school communities to support our faith lives from Monday to Saturday?
(Archbishop Paul Martin, Extract from Inform, Issue 131- Lent 2022)
Liturgical Year
Tuesday 15 June is the Feast Day of St Vitus.
Little is definitively known about St Vitus, apart from the fact of his martyrdom in Lucania. Devotion to the Saint is known from the beginning of the Middle Ages. St Vitus was known for healing miracles; he is invoked especially against epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
We welcome all new children and their families to Sacred Heart School
Carson in Year 1 - Muriwai (Room 6)
Abel in Year 6 - Seniors
Alan in Year 6 - Seniors
Internet Safety
Online safety for parents is more important than ever. As young people begin to spend more time online, it’s important that parents start to teach them how to stay safe. So, how do you get started? Check out our 7 things to think about below.
https://www.netsafe.org.nz/online-safety-for-parents
Tips to ensure your children are picked up by 3.00 pm
Plan ahead - think about traffic and don’t agree to appointments scheduled close to pick up time.
Swap childcare arrangements with another member of our community. Remember to assist them if they need help, maybe take their children at a weekend or holiday break
Ask a friend/family member to collect them
Enrol in Oscar - The Addington After School Care Programme - Call Camilla 02040864947
Identify families/kids who are walking past who you could start a walking bus with etc (if there’s an adult at home)
Call the office if there's an emergency etc and there is a legitimate reason for being late - Ph 3383247.
Discuss with your employer that there is a strict policy around pick up time.
Advise your employer that your child gets upset if they are picked up late.
Sacred Heart School Board of Trustees Elections
Sacred Heart School Board of Trustee elections come up every 3 years. This year we will have some members leaving the Board after a number of years service. If you are thinking about what the Board does and would like to put yourself forward for election please contact Frank or speak to one of the current board members.
More information regarding the timeline for this process will come out soon.
Breakfast at School
We are ready to Launch our Daily Breakfasts again. The milkman has delivered a heap of milk and the weetbix are stocked.
All children are welcome to come and have breakfast together each morning. From Monday if your child is eating breakfast at school they can enter the school grounds at 8.20 am.
Upcoming Events
Thursday 23 June - Matariki Whanau Fun day at school
Friday 24 June - Matariki - School Closed
Monday 4 July and Tuesday 5 July - Parent - Teacher Interviews (2pm finish)
Friday 8 July - Last day of Term 2
Monday 25 July - Start of Term 2
Tuesday 26 July - School Photos Day
Monday 8 August - Swimming for 2 weeks at Pioneer Pool
Monday 22 August - 2 September - Keeping Ourselves Safe Lessons
Our Facebook Page
Our Facebook page is Sacred Heart School Te Kura o Te Ngākau Tapu, Addington
Click here to check it out.
Make sure you keep up with all communications from school and have the latest update of our School App. Download SchoolAppsNZ from the App Store or Google Play and search Sacred
Please visit https://www.lunchonline.co.nz/ to join up and order for your children.
School Times
Policy Review
We have all our policies and procedures on School Docs. At present we have policies that we would appreciate your feedback on. Please follow the link below and review these policies.
1. Visit the website
http://sacredheartchch.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm (note that there is no “www”!)
2. Enter the user name (sacred) and password (heart).
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Policy Review button at the right-hand top corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Submit your ratings and comments.
Parish News
For Church Notices Please view the Catholic Parish of Christchurch South website. https://christchurchsouth.org.nz or the New App
Here are the details of how to download our excellent new Parish App. Keep updated on mass times, news and what is happening in the Parish.
Go to the App Store on your Apple or Android device and Search 'Church AppsNZ' to download the app onto your device.
Then search "The Catholic Parish of Christchurch South' to find your church app.