St James' School Term 2 Week 10
Newsletter 8 July 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.
Kia ora Koutou
A huge thank you to all for making Term 2 so rewarding. Looking back over the term, it has been full of learning, visits, events and experiences.
This week alone, we have taken part in Pae Tamariki, had the PNBHS band visit and entertain us, and SPC Year 10 students visiting to run some sports with the Te Mahuri - LS7,8,9 and 10.
All staff and children are looking forward to a few days to recharge and recreate, and I hope all families manage to get some quality time together during the next two weeks.
Gala Day 2021 - will now be called - Twilight Family Fun Night - and be held on Dec 3, 2021
The goal is to hold a community event bringing our families together.
By making this a smaller event, we will
hopefully, avoid any disruptions with COVID Alert Level changes
use fewer resources - time and people making it a more manageable workload
try something new with a different format
still run a raffle in Term 3/Term 4
funds raised will be for ICT funds, a new swing for the juniors and a skateboard ramp
We ask you to support this venture - there will be a meeting Term 3 Week 2 Wednesday 4th August at 6.30 pm in the staffroom. Please make an effort to come along and support this meeting so we can have a greater Twilight Family Fun Night in December. Please save the date - Friday Dec 3!
Pae Tamariki - When we experience an event such as Pae Tamariki, our school 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 - is evident for all to see. I would like to pass on my personal congratulations to all involved - Whaea Leandra, Matua Brent, School staff and supporters - to all learners who took part - Tino pai rawa atu! All the hours of effort and industry in preparing for Pai Tamariki shone through - thank you all for your enthusiasm and energy.
And a quick reminder from me that we commence Term 3 with a Teacher Only Day - school re-opens on Tuesday July 27.
Ngā Manaakitanga
Tom Sheehan
Catholic Special Character
Saint James Day and Grandparents Day - On Tuesday 27th July we will be celebrating the feast day of St James the Greater and Grandparents Day!
We do this because on the 25th of July is the official feast day of St James the Greater, and on the 26th of July, is the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne, who are Jesus’ Grandparents!!
This celebration will begin at 1:00pm with a shared lunch with your learner/s and their classes. After this we will move into the hall for a whole school Liturgy. We will then finish the day by moving back into our learning spaces to participate in some St James the Greater based learning.
We look forward to seeing you all then, and please remember to invite any Grandparents, or other whanau to join with us in this celebration!
Young Vinnies - Warm clothes and blankets collection for St Vincent de Paul
Our Young Vinnies need your help!!
They are collecting any warm clothes and blankets that you are willing to donate - and these will be given to our friends at the St Vincent de Paul shop, who will then distribute them to families in need!!
Please bring these into school by Friday the 30th July - they can be dropped at the office or taken to Mrs Cawood in LS5.
Religious Education Learning - Term 3 - During Term 3 our learners will be focusing on “The Communion of Saints”.
This is a term used to describe the community that Catholics believe exists between those who have died and those who are still alive here on earth.
Below are the year level focus areas:
Year 1 - Mary
Year 2 - Saints and Inspiring People
Year 3 - Life, Death and Christian Hope
Year 4 - Choice
Year 5 - Saints and Inspiring People
Year 6 - Mary
We hope that you are looking forward to receiving some snippets of this fabulous learning via Seesaw next term!
Andrea Cawood
Director of Religious Studies
Celebrations
Farewell - At the end of this term, we say goodbye to the following learners Ben, Alex, Finlay and Oliver. We wish them the very best as they begin their next learning journeys.
Year 6 SAINTS Badges and Certificates - Last week our Year 6 learners received SAINTS badges and certificates for terms 1 and 2. These are in recognition of their jobs, responsibilities and participation in school life. We thank them for their service.
Hato Heemi SAINTS Postcards
Congratulations to the following learners who recently received a Hato Heemi SAINTS Postcard;
Strive - Tulia C, Kate P, Daphne Z, Jhulz O, Ailee W, Kim P, Ruby H, Xavier B, Isabella N, Lukas R, Danny CS, Sapphire L, Liam S, Sophia M, Eva V, Esther S, Reyon Y, Marlee V, Elijah W, Isla P, Levi G, Amos A, Fletcher E, Kaye Jean M, Riley N, Jordan Rose P, Elisa G, Adona S, Elijah R and Lachie C.
Acceptance - Waipunarangi K-P, Sophia van D, Sapphire L and Adona S.
Integrity - Lukas R, CJ O, Sophia M, Eva V, Reyon Y, Marlee V, Onyx J and Adona S.
Nurture - Mela O, Waipunarangi K-P, Marlee V and Adona S.
Talents - Ciahro TM, CJ O, Briar E and Adona S.
Service - Sophia van D and Adona S.
Pae Tamariki
Both our Kapa Haka groups performed in the Pae Tamariki Kapa Haka Festival at the Regent on Monday. They were wonderful! Miharo rawa atu!
Everyone worked hard in the build up to learn new material and consolidate on familiar waiata and haka. Our gratitude goes out to our talented and dedicated tutors - Matua Brent Haami and Whaea Leandra Wetere for our senior roopu and Matua Glenn Maskill and Mrs Bradshaw for our junior roopu.
We now look forward to the Catholic schools festival in September. More photos have been posted on St James' Catholic School Facebook Page.
Nga mihi nui ki a koutou for your support.
Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki. God bless you all.
Congratulations to Learning Space 5 who, with some generous and talented parent help, entered a classroom video competition to win a class set of tickets to Madagascar - the musical, and won!
They were selected as the winning class for the Wellington region and will be travelling to Wellington next term, to the Opera House, to see this amazing show!
Ka pai Learning Space 5!
Our Pasifika tutors from St Peters' College came along and performed some of their items to us last week. We loved watching their coordination and talents. They also taught us a Samoan song.
News
Nippers School Holiday Programme
Mid Year Progress Reports - these will be sent home with your child on Friday 09 July, last day of Term 2.
The report form is our usual mid-year report with the addition of Progress and Achievement Tool (PaCT) Mathematics information. As mentioned in previous newsletters we are introducing PACT reporting for the first time this term. It has been a steep learning curve for staff and we are in the early stages of developing the PaCT tool. PaCT is a Ministry Of Education tool and is designed to help teachers make dependable judgments about students' achievement that can be used to track progress in reading, writing, and mathematics. We have begun with Mathematics and will introduce the additional areas over the next years.
Please note that some learners Maths reports show a 2020 end of year level and a 2021 mid-year level while others have a 2021 mid-year level only. This discrepancy is due to not all staff judgements being confirmed at the end of last year as we trialled PaCT. We thank you for your understanding.
Overall we are very pleased with using PaCT and will continue to develop our knowledge and skills at the Term 3 Teacher Only Day coming up on July 26.
Mid Year Report Interviews - If you would like to make an appointment to discuss your child's progress please book a time on Thursday 29 July (first week back of Term 3), between 1.30 pm - 7.10 pm. Bookings are now OPEN. Log onto: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code
Please note the school will close at 12.30pm on this day. Nippers will be open, should you wish to make a booking with Nippers please contact them on 021 645 946 or nippers@inspire.net.nz.
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 2021 planning and class sizes.
Reminders
Teacher Only Day - Monday 26 July 2021. There will be no school on the first day of Term 3 as staff are engaging in professional development in the area of Mathematics. Nippers will be open and are taking bookings nippers@inspire.net.nz or 021 645 806.
Mid Year Report Interviews Early Closure - Thursday 29 July - (first week back of Term 3) school will close at 12.30pm on this day for Mid Year Reports Interviews. Nippers will be open, should you wish to make a booking please contact them on 021 645 946 or nippers@inspire.net.nz.
End of Term Library Returns - As we get to the end of the term, please assist your children in returning all their library books from home.
Nicci Smith
Learning Resource Manager
Young Vinnies - Warm clothes and blankets collection for St Vincent de Paul - Our Young Vinnies need your help!!
They are collecting any warm clothes and blankets that you are willing to donate - and these will be given to our friends at the St Vincent de Paul shop, who will then distribute them to families in need!!
Please bring these in to school by Friday the 30th July - they can be dropped at the office or taken to Mrs Cawood in LS5.
Jewellery - Necklaces with cultural or religious significance are permitted to be worn tucked underneath 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.
St James' School PTFA - Parent and Teachers and Friends Association
Family Twilight Fun evening - the organising group is meeting Wednesday 4 August in the staffroom. Please come along and get involved.
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
Policies for Community Consultation
The following policies were approved for community consultation at the last School Board Meeting. Comments regarding any of these policies can be directed to boardchairperson@stjamescatholic.school.nz or office@stjamescatholic.school.nz before 6 August 2021.
- Board Policy Sub Committee Terms of Reference
- Emergency Crisis Management
- Pastoral Care
- Privacy Policy
The next BOT meeting will be held in the staffroom on Monday 23 August 2021 at 6.00 pm. All welcome.
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 2
Week 10
Friday 9 July - Last day of Term 2
2021 Term 3
Week 1
Monday 26 July - Teacher Only Day
Tuesday 27 July - Welcome back to the start of Term 3
Tuesday 27 July - Saint James Day and Grandparents Day
Thursday 29 July - Early School finish at 12.30pm. Parent Report Interviews 1.30-7.10pm
Friday 30 July - Y6 Orientation day to St Peters
Week 2
Monday 2 August - Cook Island Language Week
Monday 2 August - Mihi Whakatau, 9am
Week 3
Thursday 12 August - Central Football Tournament
Sunday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption
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.
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