5. Diary Dates - Week 11, Term 1 2016

APRIL

Friday 15                 -  ANZAC Display in the hall from 9.30 am to 12.00 pm – all welcome *

                                    -  Footsteps Dance Sessions – parents can watch from 1.00 – 2.30 pm

                                    -  ANZAC  Service at 2.30 pm – all welcome *

                                    -   School finishes for term 1

MAY

Monday 2                 -  School resumes for term 2 in winter uniform

Thursday 5              -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

                                    -  School Mass with Yr 8 at 9.15 am *

Friday 6                    -  Chopper Mufti Day

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Saturday                   -  Winter sports starts for football, netball and rugby

Monday 9                 -  Junior School swimming starts

Tuesday 10              -  Film makers group session 1

                                    -  Baptism meeting at 6.30 pm

                                    -  Home & School meeting at 7.30 pm *

Wednesday 11        -  Junior School swimming

Thursday 12            -  School Mass with Yr 7 at 9.15 am *

                                    -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies

Friday 13                 -  Junior School swimming

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Monday 16               -  National Catholic Day

Tuesday 17              -  Junior school swimming

                                    -  ICAS Exam – Digital Technology

                                    -  Film makers group session 2

Wednesday 18        -  Junior school swimming

Thursday 19            -  No school mass today *

                                    -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

Friday 20                   -  Junior school swimming

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui

Monday 23               -  Junior school swimming

Tuesday 24              -  Film makers group session 3

                                    -  Board of Trustee meeting

Wednesday 25        -  Junior school swimming

                                    -  Pagasama in hall from 6.30 to 7.30 pm *

Thursday 26            -  School Mass with Yr 6 *

                                    -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies *

Friday 27                  -  Junior school swimming

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm *

Tuesday 31              -  ICAS Exam – Science

                                    -  Film makes group session 4

JUNE

Wednesday 1           -  Junior School swimming *

Thursday 2               -  School Mass with Yr 5 *

                                     -  Yr 7 ECB and Young Vinnies *

Friday 3                     -  Board of Trustee Election Date *

                                     -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm *

Monday 6                  -  Queen’s Birthday holiday *

Tuesday 7                  -  Film makers group session 5 *

Thursday 9                -  Family Learning Hui from 6.30 to 7.30 pm *

Sunday 12                  -  Sacrament of Confirmation *

Wednesday 15          -  ICAS Spelling *

                                      -  Junior Catholic Quadrangular Tournament in Dunedin for Yr 7 & 8 *

1. Special Character Week 10 Term 1 2014

Catholic Special Character Focus

This is a prayer taken from the book, ‘Painting rainbows with broken crayons’ by Bernadette McCarver Snyder. I would like to share this with you because each day we are entrusted with your most precious gifts and I would like you to know how precious they are to us too.  ‘Reaching for the Stars’ is not only in their learning but in how they can be the best person they can be, which we all constantly strive to be. To be this person we need to feel good about ourselves.  To help our children do this we need to stop and listen to what they are trying to tell us and what their needs actually are so that they will feel valued and loved.

People around us have a great part to play in this, especially those we love. It is much easier when we all work together, Home and School, to achieve this. I hope you enjoy this.

I’m O.K., you’re O.K. – but is that O.K.?

Today, Lord, we are constantly told to build up a child’s self-image and that is certainly important. But what if we keep saying, “You’re O.K.,” and the child knows that’s not true. OR what if you say You’re O.K.,” and don’t mean it? Children have an uncanny knack of seeing through our words. They can almost always tell when we’re saying something we don’t really believe.

Help us, Lord, to look before we speak. Help us to find out what’s happening with a child who might NOT be O.K. and try to fix what is wrong instead of glossing over it. You can cover up a little sore with a bandage but underneath, it’s still a sore – and might even get worse if you don’t apply the right medicine. You can never ONLY cover up a problem.

So help us, Lord, to take the time to KNOW what’s happening with each child before we say, “You’re O.K.” It won’t help them OR us to pretend things are all right when they’re really all wrong.

PARENTS INVOLVEMENT IS ESSENTIAL IF FAITH IS TO BE PASSED ON FRUITFULLY 

TO OUR CHILDREN.

Ann Dooley/CO/Director of Religious Studies

2. School Notices - Week 10, Term 1 2016

Altar Servers
Saturday 9th April - Elizabeth & Samuel Plieger, Matthew Gough, Isabella McNaught and Vince Vidallon
Sunday 10th April - Stefanie & Sylvia Lavrijsen and Jonathan Jorgensen

Birthday Greetings to:
Lisiate Hausia and Indya Cunningham

Busy Bumbles - After School Care
Is super excited to confirm our opening date at St Joseph's school for Monday 2nd May.  They will be based in the school hall.  You can enrol online or feel free to pop in and see us anytime in Term 2. They will be open for After School Care from 3.00 to 6.00 pm every day and will be running a Holiday Programme from the hall and the hours will be from 7.30 am to 6.00 pm.  There is lots more information on their website www.busybumbles.co.nz  They look forward to meeting all the lovely families at St Joseph's school.  Thank you Busy Bumbles.

Congratulations
Last Sunday, some of our Yr 7 and 8 boys went to play in an U13 years division, 10 aside rugby tournament in Pleasant Point where they played against teams from South Canterbury.  St Joseph's was the only North Otago team entered in this competition. They played 3 games of 7 minutes each way against Geraldine, Mackenzie and Old Boys in which they won all their games.  They went on to play against Old Boys in the final and beat them 5-2.  For winning the competition they were awarded a first place medal for their efforts and the boys would like to thank everyone who helped make this day a success.

Footsteps Dance Sessions
On Friday 15th April, parents are invited to watch the Footsteps Dance sessions from 1.00 to 2.30 pm.  All classes have been learning the dance moves throughout the week.

Giant Leaps Speech and Drama
Are currently accepting enrolments for Term 2 for speech and drama which is during school hours. Please phone 0800 4SPEECH or www.giantleaps.co.nz  Flyers are available from the school office.

Lost
Seth Bartley has lost his named school jacket.  Please check your child's jacket to ensure they have the correct jacket.

Lost Property
There is a number of lost clothing in the Lost Property area and a lot of it are the school jackets. Please check to see if your child has their school jacket as all the lost property will either be going to the St Vincent de Paul or the Uniform Shop next week.

Matthew Cullimore
Is a Yr 13 student of St Kevin's College and an old boy of our school and he came to talk to us at assembly last Friday about his fundraising efforts for the Leukemia society. Matthew is raising funds as he competes in the Sky City Challenge in his full fire fighting uniform next month as he is a volunteer fireman with the Weston Fire Station. He has done this by volunteering him time to move rocks in a paddock, chopped and stacked firewood, mowing lawns, gardening and walking dogs.  He has raised over $1300 so far and his goal is $2000.  Matthew is encouraging students to help in the community and using your time to support worthy causes. The children thought he was very interesting to listen too, gives up a lot of his time and is an amazing volunteer. Last Friday, the children were to bring or wear something red to show support for Matthew and raised $87.50.  Fr Wayne matched this total dollar for dollar and presented Matthew a cheque.

Nacho Lunch
An order form for the nacho lunch for next Wednesday has gone home with the youngest child in the family.  Please check your child's bag for this order form as orders have to be in by next Monday. A copy of the nacho order is also attached to the email.

Polar Fleece
The new order for the school polar fleeces will arrive late next week.

Poppies
Last day for buying a poppy is next Friday 15th April from the school office.

Principal's Blog
There will be no principal's blog this week and there will be one next week.

Rippa Rugby Tournament
A reminder for all parents who have offered transport tomorrow for the Rippa Rugby tournament to be here at school at 9.30 am to transport the children out to Whitestone Contracting Stadium apart from the Yr 5/6 team who leave school at 9.10 am.

School Garden
Today the garden outside the school office got weeded by some really enthusiastic Yr 1 students who emptied the garden vigorously. They were overseen by the Yr 8 school garden councillors.

St Joseph's Big Print Phone Book or North Otago Community Directory or 2016 Phone Directory
Which ever way you know this phone book by, you will be delighted to know that it is due to come out for sale next Tuesday 12th April.  As the phone books will not be coming home with families as in previous years, the Home and School will give each family 10 flyers tomorrow and ask if you can put a flyer in 10 letter boxes around your area to get the word out about the phone book.  Look for this in your child's bag.  If you are at a business/workplace or area that would be happy to sell some phone books, or have any other queries, please contact Rachel or email rachfow@hotmail.com    The copy of the flyer will be attached to the email.

The Home and School needs your help to sell the North Otago Community Directory Phone Book which is a fundraiser for our school.  (This happens every 3 years) in the supermarkets.  We will be looking at selling them on Tuesday 12th April at Countdown and Thursday 14th April at both New Worlds.  If you are available to help for 1 1/2 hours on either day, can you please fill in the roster at the office.  If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Fowler on 027 237 8234.

The first person for the day needs to collect the books, float, table and chairs and 2 students from the school office and take to the supermarket and then return the students back to school.  The other people just need to pick up the next 2 students from school and return them.

Ski Fundraiser
Huge thanks to all of the wonderful helpers last Saturday morning as we managed to cover around 11 hectares of turnip field which has broken the back of the kob.  We still need to cover around 6 or 7 hectares to finish the job and we'd appreciate as much help as possible.  That way we will have it done in no time.  It is on Saturday morning from 8.00 am out at Clarke's Mill and children are welcome.  No tools required but gardening gloves and gum boots are advisable.  Please email Mr Cartlidge on pcartlidge@stjoseph.school.nz if you are able to help.

Welcome
We warmly welcome Seini Hausia who started school this week to our new entrants class.

Winter Sports
Basketball - the teams will be notified next week.
Netball - thank you to the parents who have offered to coach the netball teams.  We now have enough coaches.
Football - We still require coaches for the Junior 2 and Primary teams.
Rugby - We still require coaches for the 7 and 8 year old team and 2 coaches for the combined 5 and 6 year old team.

Please note that we have to register the football and rugby teams next week and if we do not get any coaches, we will not be able to register the team.  If you can help, please let Mrs Souness know on tsouness@stjoseph.school or ring the school office on 434 8856.

Community Notices

• Waitaki Community Recreation Centre Notices - please see attachment to the email
• Movie Social Event - (Francisco: The Man Behind the Pope) - the parish would like to know if there is anyone interested in attending this movie in a group social situation on either Tuesday 19th April, Thursday 21st April or Friday 22nd April.  Please contact Elaine in the parish office if you wish to go on 434 8543 or 022 632 6600 or email oamaru.basilica@xtra.co.nz
• Bike Recycling - the bike project at the recycling centre is starting to turn out some bikes which are very good quality and are to be given to kids in need of a bike but because of family circumstances probaly would not get a bike.  The bikes available at the moment are larger sizes and are suitable for older kids and teenagers.  There will be different size bikes available as the project progresses.  If you know of anyone who fits this criteria, please ring Dave at the Recycling Centre on 434 0999 or Senior Constable Carrie Hamilton on 021 192 385.

3. Diary Dates - Week 10, Term 1 2016

APRIL

Thursday 7                -  Home and School Meeting at 7.30 pm

Friday 8                      -  North Otago Rippa Rugby Festival

                                      -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Monday 11                 -  Footsteps Dance Sessions

                                      -  Last day for orders for nachos lunch for Home and School

Tuesday 12                -  Footsteps Dance Sessions
                                      -  The North Otago Community Director/Phone Book goes on sale today *
                                      -  Phone books to be sold at supermarkets *

Wednesday 13          -  Footsteps Dance Sessions

                                      -  Home & School selling nachos for lunch

Thursday 14              -  Footsteps Dance Sessions

                                       -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies
                                       -  Phone books to be sold at supermarkets *

                                       -  School Mass at 9.15 am

Friday 15                    -  Footsteps Dance Sessions – parents can watch from 1.00 – 2.30 pm *

                                      -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

                                      -   School finishes for term 1

MAY

Monday 2                   -  School resumes for term 2 in winter uniform

Thursday 5                -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

                                      -  School Mass at 9.15 am

Friday 6                      -  Chopper Mufti Day

                                      -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Saturday                     -  Winter sports starts for football, netball and rugby *

Monday 9                   -  Junior School swimming starts

Tuesday 10                -  Film makers group session 1

                                      -  Baptism meeting at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 11          -  Junior School swimming

Thursday 12              -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                      -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies

Friday 13                    -  Junior School swimming

                                      -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Monday 16                 -  National Catholic Day

Tuesday 17                -  Junior school swimming

                                      -  ICAS Exam – Digital Technology

                                      -  Film makers group session 2

Wednesday 18          -  Junior school swimming

Thursday 19              -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                      -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

Friday 20                   -  Junior school swimming

                                      -  Celebration Kotuitui *

Monday 23                 -  Junior school swimming

Tuesday 24                -  Film makers group session 3

                                      -  Board of Trustee meeting

Wednesday 25          -  Junior school swimming

Friday 27                   -  Junior school swimming

Tuesday 31                -  ICAS Exam – Science

                                      -  Film makes group session 4 

Principal News Week 9 Term 1 2016

Baptism meeting
We are looking forward to seeing you this Tuesday night at 6:30pm in ruma koru for our very first baptism meeting.

Confucius classroom opening at St Kevin's last week
Our head students, Yneke and Seth accompanied me to this special event. Great to see three former St Joseph's students leading the ceremony. Year 13 students Head girl Gypsy Mae Harihona-Harrison, Head boy Max Stewart who read a message from Hekia Parata and and Dianne Vidallon, Year 12 student who spoke and sang in Chinese. The Consulate General Hon Mr JIN Zhijian, Professor Hu and the Mayor Gary Kircher were special guests. A plaque was revealed in honour of the occasion.

Phone book fundraiser
The new look 2016 phone books are nearly ready with stunning artwork on the front cover, new maps and extra colour pages inside. More details further on the newsblog.

2. Special Character - Week 9 Term 1 2016

It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. That's the point of the cross, after all. Jesus is dying so that we might be forgiven for our sins, so that we might be reconciled to God for eternity. In the mercy of God, we receive His forgiveness even when we do what we know to be wrong. God chooses to wipe away our sins, not because we have some convenient excuse, and not because we have tried to make up for them, but because He is a God of amazing grace, with mercies that are new every morning.
As we read the words, "Father, forgive them," may we understand that we too are forgiven through Christ. Because Christ died on the cross for us, we are cleansed and united with God the Father as His beloved children.