1. Principal's News - Week 2, Term 2 2023

About Myself

Kia Ora, allow me to introduce myself.  As your relieving principal, I will be with you for the rest of 2023 or until a permanent principal is appointed.  Your Board of Trustees has started this process already with the assistance of a Principal Appointment Consultant and the support of the Catholic Education Office.

A little about me; I am married to Judith and have three wonderful adult children and two grandchildren.  We live in Queenstown and I travel to Oamaru on a Monday morning and travel back 'home' on a Friday afternoon.  I have been a School Principal for 32 years, with three appointments in Catholic Schools over this time.

Over the last two years, I have undertaken relieving principalship in various schools in Otago and Southland that are manageable commutes from our base in Queenstown.  My educational passions have been community involvement, special education, gifted education and International students.  My personal pursuits are family, golf, boating, skiing, cycling, gardening and beekeeping.

I am 100% committed to your school and to providing the best environment for your child's learning.  My door is always open and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible.  Please make yourself known to me and never hesitate to contact me if there is anything you wish to ask or discuss.

Keeping Ourselves Safe

Our school is running this programme in order to give your children skills and tools to keep themselves as safe as possible.  We are running this over the next two weeks in conjunction with Jay Morriss our Police Education Officer.  We encourage your attendance to be as well prepared for keeping your child safe in this ever-changing digital world.

Monday, May 8 @ 7.00 pm in the staffroom - Cyber safety.

Constable Jay Morriss will be focussing on cyber safety and keeping ourselves safe, particularly for parents who have children in Years 4-8. The invitation is however also open to any parent/caregiver interested. 

Wednesday, May 10 @ 3.15 pm in the Staffroom - Keeping Ourselves Safe Programme

Constable Jay Morriss along with Nicola Winders and Leanne Brookes will be introducing the Keeping Ourselves Safe Programme which will be taught this term in classrooms. This is an opportunity to find out about what is involved in the programme and have anything that you may need to have clarified. 

Please contact Nicola Winders nwinders@stjoseph.school.nz if you have any questions regarding the Keeping Ourselves Safe Parent Meetings.

Board of Trustee Meeting

Our first Board meeting for the term is next Tuesday 9th May at 5.30 pm.  All of our meetings are in the school staffroom and as members of the community, you are most welcome to attend.

Pie n Milo Wednesdays

With winter approaching, we will be restarting our Pie n Milo from next Wednesday 10th May.  Students will need to supply their pie wrapped in foil with their names on it.  If they would like a warm milo, students need to bring a named cup with 50 cents which goes towards the contribution of the milo. The pies and milo are to be dropped off in the hall kitchen before 9.00 am and the students will receive their pies and milo at 12.30 pm in the hall.  We thank Judy Anderson for volunteering her time with helping out.

Allan Mitchell

Acting Principal