St James' School Term 3 Week 4
Newsletter 18 August 2021
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.
Tēnā tātou
Lockdown - And so we find ourselves once again in Lockdown Level 4 which means that our school will not be open on site until further notice, for any learners.
We have decided that there will be no online school for these three days. Once the situation is a little clearer we will communicate our online lesson plans with you via the school app and SeeSaw.
Our focus as always will be to support the learning and wellbeing of our rangatahi and tamariki and we continue to be here to support you as well.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s kaiako/teacher or me, if there is something you need assistance with.
We were scheduled for a newsletter today - please read on for updates.
Priest/Chaplain - We are delighted to announce that Mons Brian Walsh is now the Priest-Chaplain to St James' Catholic School. In this role, Mons Brian will maintain and nurture long-standing relationships between the parish and the school. We are grateful to Mons Brian for his ongoing support of the St James' Catholic School community.
Ngā Manaakitanga
Tom Sheehan
Catholic Special Character
The Feast of the Assumption - Last Sunday, the 15th of August, was the feast of the Assumption.
On Tuesday 17th August, LS 2, 7 and 9 represented St James' at a special children's liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. We joined learners from the other Catholic Schools in Palmy and Foxton to celebrate Mary's special place in Jesus' life.
A huge thank you to Fr Joe and Julie Randall for your invitation to this special event.
St James' has contributed to a display of art depicting Mary, showing in the church gathering area. When the lockdown permits we invite you to view this artwork. Many thanks to the staff for your energy in creating and displaying this display.
As we celebrate the feast day of Mary, we can ask our Blessed Mother Mary to guide, protect and care for us.
School Mass - Sunday 5 September - Our next St James’ led school Mass is on Sunday the 5th of September, at 9:30 am Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
We look forward to seeing you all there to celebrate a St James’ Catholic School community with us.
Andrea Cawood
Director of Religious Studies
Celebrations - Celebrating Success
Farewell - This Friday we farewell Ricarda one of our cleaners, we thank her for her service at Hato Heemi and wish her all the very best with her future endeavours.
Family Twilight Fun Night - 3 December 2021 - There will be activities for children, rides etc., sweets and cake stall, food, silent auction, children made crafts for sale with further ideas to be confirmed. To assist the committee with planning please ensure you complete the survey by this Friday.
This meeting has been postponed due to the lockdown.
Learning Space 5 Madagascar Dance competition win and Wellington trip - On Wednesday the 11th of August, Learning Space 5 traveled to Wellington to see Madagascar the Musical, as a reward for winning a class dance competition - well done team!!
They were able to spend some time at Te Papa while in Wellington also.
News
New Entrant Enrolments 2021/2022 - If you have siblings joining us at St James’ in 2021/2022, please ensure that you have requested an Enrolment Pack and have the Enrolment and Preference Form returned to the Office. This will assist us with our 2022 planning and class sizes.
Annual Scholastic Book Fair - yes you heard it! Our long awaited Book Fair is coming to school on Thursday 9th September (Week 7) of this term.
Reminders
Te Mahuri Assembly, Friday 20 August - This assembly is now cancelled.
DanceNZ Made - Just a reminder that payment for the DanceNZ Made Workshops are now due.
Parent Handbook - Just a reminder that the following notices on Cell phones, Jewellery and Toys are all outlined in our Parent Handbook.
Cell phones - Cell phones are not to be brought to school unless there is an arrangement between the parent and the school principal in which case the cell phone will be kept in the school office and collected after school. We would really appreciate your support with this one.
Jewellery - Necklaces with cultural or religious significance are permitted to be worn tucked underneath the shirt. Earrings: Only small, round, plain gold/silver or coloured studs may be worn. Up to one in each earlobe. No sleepers to be worn.
Any other requests will be at the Principal’s discretion.
Toys and Sports Equipment - time to remind everyone that we do not wish to see personal toys and sports equipment being brought to school by learners. Often these items cause problems, can be damaged or stolen. We have a huge amount of equipment here at St James' so ask all families to keep personal toys and sports equipment at home in the future.
Updated contact details - please remember to update your details if you have a new address, email address or phone number. Please contact the school office via email office@stjamescatholic.school.nz and these will be updated.
Whānau/Fanau
St James' School PTFA - Parent and Teachers and Friends Association
- PTFA Lunch - Friday 20 August. Our pizza offerings will be Simply Cheese, Meatlovers and Hawaiian. $2 a slice, order before school on Friday outside the front of the School office. This lunch will be re-scheduled.
Family Twilight Fun evening - the organising group meeting on Wednesday 18 August in the staffroom has been postponed.
Pastoral Care - Thank you to our current pastoral care providers who have baked and prepared meals for those families in our school community who occasionally need a little bit of extra support.
If this sounds like something you would like to assist with could you please email me so I can put your name on our list of helpers. Thanks, Tracey Gunn t.gunn@stjamescatholic.school.nz.Please Join us - The PTFA is keen to have new members join them this year. Many of the current organisers are nearing the end of their primary school involvement, and it is time to add more members. If you are interested, please contact Kelly Hoskins (ptfachairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz
Kelly Hoskins
PTFA Chairperson
ptfachairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz
Serving Our Saints with Faith and Enthusiasm
School Board
The Uniform Policy is on the School Board Policy Triennial Review Schedule for Term 4. Before the School Board reviews this policy we wish to consult with our family/whānau.
Our uniform identifies the wearer with St James' Catholic School and we encourage our students to always look well presented. We are very conscious of the cost of education and endeavour to keep uniform expenditure to a minimum.
The School Board values your feedback and I encourage you to take the time to review the uniform policy and direct any feedback regarding this policy or our current school uniform to Michael Fennessy (Board Chair) boardchairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz or Tracey Royds (Board Secretary) office@stjamescatholic.school.nz before Friday 20 August 2021.
The next School Board meeting to be held in the staffroom on Monday 23 August 2021 at 6.00 pm has been postponed.
Michael Fennessy
Chairperson
Dates for Your Diary
Please keep checking the Events Calendar on the school website. All coming events will continue to be updated here. Add to my Calendar.
2021 Term 3
Week 4
Level 4 Lockdown
Week 5
Monday 23 August - School Board Meeting, 6pm, Staffroom - postponed
Week 6
Wednesday 1 September - Family Twilight Fun Evening Meeting, Staffroom, 6.30pm
Friday 3 September - Non-uniform day PTFA 2 - Gold coin please - funds raised to buy ingredients for cooking for Family Twilight Fun Evening Dec 3
Week 7
Tongan Language Week
Tuesday 7 September - Dance NZ Made, Regent Theatre
Thursday 9 September - 2,20pm Blessing of the Library Te Whakaruruhau
Thursday 9 September - Book Fair starts
Sunday 12 September - School Mass, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit
Week 8
Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week
Book Fair (Ends Wednesday 15 September)
Friday 17 September - Yummy Sticker Promotion ends - Labels due to Office
Friday 17 September - PTFA Lunch
Friday 17 September - Te Totara Assembly
Getting Involved
The Yummy Sticker promotion has kicked off again for this year, so its a good time to remind everyone to collect Yummy stickers and bag cut-outs. Shop at your local New World, Pak’n Save and participating Four Square stores. $200,000 of sports gear is available for schools.
Stickers are due in by Friday 17 September.
Click on the links below for your Collection Sheets, or grab one from the School Office foyer.
Cut out Label Collection Sheet
New Variety Sticker Collection
Sticker Collection Sheet
Shining Stars – Preschool Music Group Thursday 9:30am Cathedral lounge. Contact Basia bmcintosh@pndiocese.org.nz.
Unfortunately Just Zilch will no longer be able to take pens etc very shortly as the process is being stopped. We have now handed in our bucket. Thank you to all our community who supported this initiative.