Newsletter Week 8 Term 3
Sacred Heart School Petone Wednesday 14 September 2022
Principal's Pen
Tena koutou nga Whanau
This week is Te wiki o te reo Maori - Maori Language Week. Our Maori students, assisted by Whaea Katy and Fiona Daniel from the Whanau Support Group, have been leading the activities at school.
Good luck to our students who are competing in the Interzone Swimming this coming Friday. Thanks to Miss Martell for organising our team.
Thanks to everyone for your support of the Disco last Friday which was a Camp Fundraiser.
New long-term strategy for COVID-19
You’ll be aware that New Zealand has moved to a new, long-term approach to COVID-19. These changes have been made based on public health advice and reflect high levels of immunity and declining case numbers across New Zealand.
This new approach will only result in minor changes to the way we operate.
The very positive news is that household contacts of a person with COVID-19 do not need to isolate, but instead are asked to complete a RAT test each day, for five days. Therefore, ākonga who are household contacts but test negative and do not have COVID-19 symptoms, should continue to attend. It is the best place for them to be so they can be engaged in their learning, and connected with their teachers, classmates and friends.
Information on how to get RAT kits can be found here: Request a RAT– Ministry of Health
Mask wearing is no longer required.
All the other recommended public health measures will stay in place as we know they reduce the spread of infectious illnesses including COVID-19. These include ensuring our indoor spaces are well-ventilated, maintaining good hand hygiene, encouraging everyone to cough or sneeze into elbows and, most importantly, staying home and getting tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Thank you for your ongoing support in protecting our community.
Hutt Fest:
We are participating in the Hutt Fest this year. All students in Years 4- 8 are involved and are expected to atttend. We are performing on Thursday 29th September. The evening starts at 6pm. Tickets are $5.00 per person and are on sale through the office. Everyone is expected to stay until the end of the concert as a sign of respect to all the performers.
Last week you received a permisssion form. This is to allow the organisers to video the evening. Please sign the form and return it to school. Please ensure that you have put your child's name on it. I then have to fill in one form for the school. The form you sign stays at school. You have also received a notice from the Senior Team with more details on it.
Term 4 Sports:
The Term 4 sports options at Sacred Heart are Touch and Netball Year 1-4. Registration notices came out last week and are due back by this Friday 16th September. Please make sure your forms are returned by this date as we need to organise our teams.
Art Calendar Fundraiser:
The artwork is on display in the foyer. Please fill in one form per child if you are going to order. Payments may be made via Internet banking or cash. Orders close this Friday 16th September and NO late orders will be accepted.
Summer Uniform: Term 4 is summer uniform term. If you need new summer uniform please make sure that you organise it this term. All students will require a named school bucket sunhat for Term 4.
Reminders:
- Hutt Fest permissions are due back now.
- Term 4 sports options are due by this Friday 16th September
- Calendar orders must be in by this Friday 16th September
Thought for the Week
Taking a Closer Look Te Āta Tirotiro
Aotearoa New Zealand is a beautiful country with caring people as we’ve been reminded during the pandemic. However, like any place, it is not perfect. Injustice and inequality still exist throughout society. From discrimination to housing issues, there are many challenges that exist for so many New Zealanders. Our challenge is to keep our eyes open to injustice, wherever it may be – at home, school or in our local community – and act!
Ma Atua e manaaki
God bless
Liz
Term Dates 2023
TERM DATES
2023
Term 1
Wednesday 1st February – Thursday 6th April
Public Holidays:
Waitangi Day 6 February
Good Friday, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday are in the holidays.
Term 2
Monday 24th April – Friday 30th June
Public Holiday:
Anzac Day Tuesday 25th April
Queen’s Birthday Monday 3rd June
Matariki is in the holidays
Term 3
Monday 17th July – Friday 22nd September
Term 4
Monday 9th October – Friday 15th December
Public Holiday:
Labour Day Monday 23rd OctoberOur Special Character
Grandparents Mass:
This will be held on Tuesday 20th September at 9.30am in the church. After Mass there will be a cup of tea at school and Grandparents are welcome to visit the classrooms.
Te whakanui i to tatou kura (Celebrating our school)
This week we welcomed Blake and her family to our Sacred Heart whanau. Nau mai haere mai Blake! It is lovely to have you here with us.
Last week was Tongan Language week and we shared a flag-raising ceremony with song. We were lucky enough to have our talented Tongan students spend time with each class for a language lesson. Malo 'aupito!
Thank you to everyone who paticipated and donated on Wig Wednesday. Our school pledged $250.00 and we raised $304.50! We were very excited and humbled to be able to donate to such a worthy cause. If you would still like to donate, please follow the link to our school dashboard: https://wigwednesday.org.nz/sacred-heart-school-petone
Māori Language week is in full swing with Poi making, kawakawa balm making, weaving, singing and Pepeha lessons to name just a few activities. Tēnā koutou to Whaea Katy, Fiona Daniel and all our Māori students for your mahi, not just this week but through out the year.
This week is extra special as 14 September marks the 50th anniversary of the Māori Language Petition, an event that led to many of the kaupapa we have today, including Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. The Māori Language Petition (Te Petihana) presentation to Parliament on 14 September 1972, with over 30,000 signatures, kick-started major shifts in the revival of te reo Māori as a living language in Aotearoa New Zealand. Since this moment 50 years ago, Te Petihana has, and continues, to inspire the Maōri language movement.
Congratulations once again to our Year 7 and 8 Netball team who had a thrilling final game and attended Prizegiving over the weekend, finishing at the top of their table. Thank you again to Ana So'otaga and Cathy Criscillo who have coached and managed this team for many seasons. We will be saying goodbye to both families at the end of this year after a very long association with the school and we have been very grateful for your service. (Pictures below)
Spotlight on....Ricardo Pereira-Logovae for amazing writing!
School News
Picking up Students early or arriving early for school pick-ups
We understand that it sometimes difficult to make appointments outside of school hours for your child. If you are unable to make an appointment outside of school hours, please contact the office to ensure we know your student will be going offsite and report to reception on arrival.
Unfortunately we have had instances lately where parents or caregivers have simply arrived with no prior warning. This is not only disruptive to the entire class programme but it can cause unnecessary alarm when a student is unaccounted for.
If you are arriving early to school to pick your child up at the usual time of 3pm, we ask that you please stay outside of the school buildings and away from the classrooms as this is also causing disruption to our afternoon programme, particulary with the junior classes.
Late Arrivals
We would like to remind all parents and caregivers that the bell goes at 9am. If you are dropping a student off after this time, please ensure they report to reception for a late pass upon arrival. This ensures that their attendance is correctly marked.
Lunch Online
Chubby Baker - Thursdays
Pita Pit - Fridays
Pizza special - End of Term lunch special only (Wednesday 28th September)
To order or create an account, follow the link: https://www.lunchonline.co.nz
Yummy Stickers - Promotion ends 30 September
Please keep collecting Yummy Stickers and get them in by the end of term! If you need a new collection sheet, please ask at the office. Yummy Stickers help us to buy sports gear, so please keep collecting!
Coming up - School Council
Sausage Sizzle and Non-uniform day (Camp 2023 Fundraiser)
Friday 30th September
More information to come.
FROCK SWAP - Saturday 17 September at 7pm
Friends Of Sacred Heart (FOSH) Frock Swap
Tickets are $15 each available from the school office. A glass of wine and nibbles are included in the ticket price. Online payments are welcome into the school bank account. (12-3142-0121485-00)
Clothing donations can be made to school this Friday 3pm - 4pm and on Saturday 10.30am - 12.00pm.
Please note you do not have to have items to donate to participate, as you are able to buy an item at a small cost.
If you would like to donate a bottle of wine, please drop this into the office by Friday afternoon.
Any questions please contact Kate Wasson – wassonkate0@gmail.com
Rā whānau ki a koe!
Toby Mannix
Olivia O'Brien
Atamaniana Pereira
Leyton Aaifou-Aloisio
Ina Manu
Layla Haua-Tauri
School Board August Meeting
Kia ora koutou
The School Board met for the final time on Wednesday 31 August. Over the past three and a half years we've had a wonderful group of people serving on the Board who have committed many hours to our school community, providing the curiosity and vision required to effectively govern our very special school. Huge thanks to Tāne Wilson (who has served three 3-year terms, including two as Chair), Mark Fairfield and Onieka Tristram who have now stepped down from the Board.
I would also like to thank the other members of our board this term; Helen Kneebone, Vaka Lemisio, Genevieve Hanify, Helen Mollo, Liz Heatley, Henio Koloi, Anna Redfearn and Anita McKegg for their service on the Board; as well as Janet Whalen, Emma Gendall and Anna Wilson for their support at meetings.
At our last Board meeting we discussed the school’s new Equity Index number (which will replace the decile system from 2023), considered an environmental scan of our roll numbers, and saw the new Enrolment Scheme come into place. We also approved changes to three policies; Safe School, Internet Use and the Uniform policy.
You can view these policies on the School Website.
Ngā manaakitanga
(With best wishes)
Kate Wright
Presiding Member
Parent and Staff Board Election Results Declaration
We needed to fill one space for a Staff Representative and five spaces for Parent Representatives. The voting results are as follows:
Parent Representative:
Maria Dalope - 56 votes
Genevieve Hanify - 73 votes
Tiran O'Hagan - 39 votes
David Prior - 55 votes
Nicole Sharpe - 21 votes
Kate Wright - 77 votes
Stephanie Wyse - 38 votes
Staff Representative:
Katy Grant (no voting election required)
I hereby delcare the following duly elected:
Parent Representatives:
Maria Dalope
Genevieve Hanify
Tiran O'Hagan
David Prior
Kate Wright
Staff Representative:
Katy Grant
Proprietor's Representatives:
Vaka Lemiso
Fiona Daniel
Helen Kneebone
Helen Mollo
Principal:
Liz Heatley
Secretary:
Anna Wilson
Welcome! The new Board will meet this month on Wednesday 28th September at 7pm in the school library. Information packs will be sent home with your eldest student next week. We look forward to meeting you all.
Thank you
Anna Wilson (Returning Officer)
Coming up...
Thursday 15 September
Gardisal Dose 2
Friday 16 September
Calendar Art orders close - no late orders will be accepted
Netball and Touch Rugby notices due back to school
Interzone swimming
Saturday 17 September
FOSH Frock Swap 7pm- have you got your ticket?
Monday 19 September
School Prayer - all welcome
Tuesday 20 September
Grandparent's Mass and morning tea - all welcome starting at 9.30am
Friday 23 September
ASB GetWise financial literacy sessions (Year 4 up)
Junior Dog Safety programme
Saturday 24/Sunday 25 September
Daylight Savings time begins!
Monday 26 September
PUBLIC HOLIDAY - Memorial for the Queen - School will be closed.
Wednesday 28 September
LunchOnline Pizza Special
Reporting an Absence
- HERO app
- School App
- email admin@sacredheartpetone.school.nz
- Telephone - 04 568 6711.
- Text message our school cell phone - 022 511 5419.
Uniform Shop
Tuesday 2.45pm - 3.15pm
Wednesday 8.45am - 9.15am
Please note that all uniform costs need to be paid within 7 days of purchase. Regular part-payments can be arranged. Please contact Anna if you would like to arrange this.
School bank account details
Please put your child's name and what the payment is for, as the reference
Contact Us
Email: admin@sacredheartpetone.school.nz
Website: https://sacredheartpetone.school.nz/
Location: 33 Britannia Street, Petone, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Phone: 04 5686711