1. Principal's News Week 9, Term 2 2018

Congratulations to our Confirmation Candidates
Congratulations to the children who were confirmed last Sunday:
Xanthe Clarke
Elias Fraser
Christopher Jorgensen
David Kilgour
Tama Roberts
Sandrene Mordeno
Ally-May Rawson
Jayla Strong
Luse Asi
Hamish Fowler
Eli Herbst
Indeg Jones-Hogan
Ralph Patalbo
It was a privilege to celebrate this occasion with our children, supported by parishioners, staff, school families and the Dominican Choir and to welcome our new Bishop, Bishop Michael Dooley.

Well Done Year 5/6
Well done to our year 5-6 class who stepped up in Mass this morning, taking on the senior leadership roles in the absence of our year 7 & 8s (at tournament in Timaru).  You did a fantastic job.

Welcome Mass
This Sunday 1st July at 9.30 am is our Welcome Mass to welcome the new students of St Joseph's school into our parish community.  They will all be presented with a picture Bible from our Home and School Association.  If you have had an invitation and not yet replied, or if your child is new to school and not yet received their Bible, please contact me before the weekend.

Cultural Concert
There is a cultural concert with the parish after Mass this Sunday in our school hall.  Our children will be participating in the kapa haka and the Pasifika groups.  Children may wear their cultural clothes to Mass before the concert if they wish.

Report Meeting
Your children's mid year reports will go home next week.  They will look different from the reports you have been used to.  We would like to have the opportunity to explain how you can get the most benefit from the reports and so we are having a parent meeting at 6.30 pm next Monday 2nd July in the school hall.  The meeting should only be 20-30 minutes long.

NZEI Action
No doubt you will be aware that the teacher's union, NZEI are presently engaging in negotiations with the government.  The main points of these negotiations are:

• To be sufficiently resourced so that we can focus on teaching and learning and provide for the needs of all of our children in reasonably sized classes.
• To address the crisis in teacher supply by continuing to attract and retain quality teachers.

This isn't about us or what we want for ourselves, it's about the conditions that make learning possible for the children.

Our Wonderful Children

Last week three separate visitors to our school remarked on how calm, happy and respectful our children are - we are proud of them.

Aroha and God Bless
Lorraine Frances-Rees
Principal