1. Principal's News - Term 2 Week 8 2020

If You Need Help
Please ask.  This winter could be tight for many people.  If you need uniform, books, food, children's clothes, firewood - just have a quiet word with me.  Or a quiet word with someone else who can come to me.  Please do not suffer in silence.  We are all in this together.

Getting Back into the Swing of Things
Learning is now back to normal. One of our young children told us the worst thing about lockdown was no church.  We are now able to go back to church.

Our Mandarin teacher Joy Guo is now back teaching on site.

We reviewed our early reading and writing programs after our distance learning experience and have made some tweaks which are benefiting our young readers and writers.

Enrolments for 2021
We are now taking enrolments for 2021.  We have places for children from Catholic families and a small number of open places which will not last long.  Please contact me principal@stjoseph.school.nz to make an enrolment appointment.

School Donations Scheme
Our Board has to check with our community each year before we make a decision on school donations for the following year.  We will be assuming it will fit everyone best for us not to request school donations in 2021 and for us to once more accept the government contribution per child.   We can still ask parents for camp contributions in order to pay for camps.

This is different from our diocesan fees which are a compulsory fee.  But PLEASE, PLEASE let me know if you are having any difficulties with paying these because we can sort something out if you talk with me.

Mid Year Reports

Reach for the Stars as Lifelong
Learners in the Catholic Faith

We have not had enough in-school schooling this year to write reports this term.  A mid year summary will go home at the end of week 1 in term 3 followed by parent/student conferences in either week 2 or week 3.

The reports will report against learner capabilities (based on the New Zealand curriculum) and the teachers are helping the students at the moment to reflect on how they are using the capabilities to advance their learning.  There will also be a curriculum level given for the core subjects and a teacher comment.

The juniors will report using a combination of the Seesaw online system and a summary paper report.

Click on this for a reminder of what is expected for learner capabilities at each level.
Hand Sanitiser
Some of our children are finding the hand sanitiser rough on their hands.  You are welcome to supply another product that would do a similar job.  We also have liquid soap and hand towels which can be used instead of hand sanitiser.   I have ordered some Sorbolene hand cream for each class to help with the dryness.

Sports Codes
The Sports Codes are preparing for a shortened Winter season.  Each Code will have their own health and safety conditions which will be shared with you in due course.  Fees for sports will need to be paid before children can join a team.

Juniors who are wearing PE gear to school for PE day may wear navy track pants.

Aroha and God Bless
Lorraine Frances-Rees