Newsletter Week 8 Term 3 2022

Principal's Message

Nau mai, haere mai St Joseph’s Whanau

Maori Language Week: This week we celebrate Maori Language Week, one of the three official languages of New Zealand. A whakatauki focusing on the importance of learning:

Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro

nona te ngahere

Ko te manu e kai ana i te matauranga

nona te ao

The bird that consumes the miro berry

owns the forest

The bird that consumes knowledge

owns the world

National Day of Remembrance for Queen Elizabeth II - School closed on Monday 26th September: we are deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth ll on 8th September. In honour of the late Queen, the Prime Minister has announced New Zealand will have a one-off public holiday on Monday September 26th to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth ll; school will be officially closed on that day.

Super Smash Awareness: Children of all levels have enjoyed sessions with Matthew Meuli from the Northern Districts Team focusing of cricket skills development and finishing with a fun game using the skills. Thank you Matt and Northern Districts.

Wig Wednesday: was held on Wednesday last week and was a colourful addition to our week. Thank you for all who participated and raised money for the treatment of children with cancer.

Redwoods Cross Country: Congratulations to the students who travelled to Rotorua and competed against other Catholic Schools in the greater Waikato/Waipa region. Our students gave a fantastic effort and were highly successful.

Next Week: Week 9

... Tues 20th Sep - Kaimai Catholic Schools Speech Competition - Yrs 6 to 8

… Wed 21st Sep - Poetry Recital Years - 1 and 2 - Parents please support your child practicing at home

Week 10

... Thur 29th Sep - Wearable Arts Festival - all students. Shows will be at 1pm and 6pm. Please RSVP via the link so we can have seats for you all.

A prayer for the coming week:

Dear Lord

we thank you for your unconditional love

We thank you for your forgiveness and acceptance

When we face difficulties and challenges in our relationships

We pray that we might follow your example

Amen

Welcome to Our School:

We would like to welcome Stella Camp to our school, who started with us on Monday in Akonga Hub. Stella is following in the footsteps of her mother, grandmother, aunties, great aunties and uncles plus cousins by attending our school - a special time .

Welcome Stella and family.

Well Done Redwood Team

On Sunday, September 11th, St Josephs School were proudly represented at the Forest Relay, Redwoods, Rotorua. Students from Year 6,7 and 8 placed in relay teams of four for this event, with the majority entered in 2021, but was cancelled due to covid.

All students showed outstanding running abilities and sportsmanship, with the Year 7/8 teams having the added pressure of competing against Year 12/13 students.

Year 6 teams:

Finn Wilson, Ryan Mourits, Emily Vowles and Tegan Smith - 1st place for the primary grade

Tyler Nickalls, Brae Horan, Casey and Jade Paki - 4th place for the primary grade

Year 7/8 teams:

Emma, Butler, Carla Roskam, Charlie Vowles and Tobias Hotene-Wilson - 4th overall and 2nd in the mixed teams

Bailee Horan, Alex Maddever, Kate Mourits and Ben Livingstone - 8th overall and 4th in the mixed teams

Not only did the teams race outstandingly, but were also presented with a major prize for having the most students entered from one school. They were presented with a $1000 voucher from Jasco Distributing

Congratulations to all the runners and thank you to all the parents and staff who made the day happen.

Are You Joining Us? Countdown is on until our Wearable Arts Showcase

This special event is fast approaching. The students have had their creative minds in overdrive and we can't wait to see the finished creations on Thursday, September 29th.

In order to assist us with organisng seating for the two sessions, could you please indicate by following the link if you will be joining us.

All Welcome.

https://forms.gle/jjFasd58b39cm5kh8

Reflection shared from Jemma Van Eijk, DRS

This week we focus on the parable of The Lost Sheep, this parable is one of 3 in a row that Jesus tells in the Scripture of Luke, chapter 15.

Jesus used parables to teach his audience and us about God’s forgiveness and unconditional love.

Even though Jesus told these parables over 2000 years ago, they still have great meaning and significance for us today.

I encourage you to reflect not only on The Lost Sheep this week but also The Lost Coin and The Prodigal Son.

The 3 parables all have a common theme of something or someone being lost and then found.

This is a symbolism of our own lives when we ourselves turn away from God and make bad choices. However God is like the person who goes out to look for the missing thing and brings them joyfully home all we have to do is ask for forgiveness.

We are given many opportunities to say sorry and ask for forgiveness in our lives, through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at the beginning of each Mass and even everyday we can ask for forgiveness from God. He will always send us his unconditional love every day. So next time you make a bad choice you just need to remember this story and think - God will always love me and forgive me, I just need to say I'm sorry. Just as we can always ask for forgiveness from God, he also wants us to have an open heart and forgive others who have wronged us.

Your challenge this week:
- Not be afraid to ask for God to forgive you

- To be willing to forgive others who have hurt you

- To show love to everyone

Have a blessed week

Aroha Mai

Mrs V

WE NEED YOUR HELP PLEASE

The PFC are once again holding the Annual Scrap Metal Drive on Saturday, October 15th from 8.00am to aid our school.

We can't do it without your help please....

If you are able to help, no matter how small or how large, with any of the following for our Scrap Metal Drive please fill out the form via the link : https://forms.gle/92KYGxhsPGtv6KXeA

We need people to help deliver flyers around town (from 19th Sept)
We need donations of food / drink so we can feed all of our wonderful helpers
We need people to help with collection
We need people to help in the yard with offloading and sorting
We need support with serving food
We need help the week after with clean up

Look forward to hearing from you