2. Special Character - Term 4 Week 6 2016

Yesterday, Wednesday 16th November, 15 of our children began their Reconciliation lessons in preparation for them to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Sunday 27th November at the end of the 9.30 am Mass. The first two lessons focused on 'Belonging' (To know they are loved by God, family and friends) and 'Making Choices' (To help the children realise that they have the ability to make choices. Their choices affect others). Next weeks lessons will focus on 'Reconciliation' (To lead to an understanding of our need to admit wrong doing/seek forgiveness/work at making up) and 'The Sacrament of Reconciliation' (To lead the children to understand and appreciate the gifts of God's forgiving love as celebrated in the Sacrament of Reconciliation). The children brought home some stories and preparation activities to share with their families. It is so important that these lessons are done as a family. For each theme a number of ideas are given: topics to talk about together,things to do together and suggestions for praying together. 

We will also be having a practice on Friday 25th at 9.50 am with Father Wayne

These children will prepare for and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Term 2 (Sunday 25th June) and the Sacrament of The Holy Eucharist in Term 3 (20th August).

3. School Notices - Week 6, Term 4 2016

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

"None of us can change our yesterdays but all of us can change our tomorrows"

Respect our environment by putting rubbish in the bin

Altar Servers
Saturday 19th November - Joseph & Sebastian Spillane, Bronson Bartlett and Lachlan Brookes
Sunday 20th November - Jonathan Jorgensen, Molly-May Mestrom and Arthur Cartlidge

Birthday Greetings to:
Jacob Fowler, Mackenzie Cunningham, Cody Marshall and Luse Asi

Cricket Draw - Saturday 19th November
4th Grade A - St Joseph's v Valley at SKC 1
4th Grade B - St Joseph's v WGHS at SKC Artificial 1

Cultural Day
Our annual Cultural Day which the children enjoy so much will be held on Tuesday 6th December. The programme is:
Morning - various small group activities for the whole school
12.00 noon - shared lunch in the hall
Afternoon - cultural items performed by St Joseph's pupils (parents are also welcome to present an item).
We are asking for parents to come in and take an activity with a small group of children.  You will have a teacher in the room with you.  Having parents in to lead an activity has proved very popular with our children.  We would like to provide activities from as many of the countries represented in our school as possible and having parents lead the activities provides a rich and varied range of skills and crafts for the children to learn.  We will provide any materials you need.  The activities need to be hands on and could include art, crafts, music, dance and games.  If you are able to help, please contact Jan Plieger at jplieger@stjoseph.school.nz

Drop N Drive - Safety Outside the School
We are noticing a lot of children running backwards and forwards across the road at the 'drop and drive' after school.  Please reinforce with your children the importance of safe crossing.  It is a good idea for siblings to cross together.  A big thank you to the parents who do 'drop n drive' and do not park in that zone - that is a big help.  When parking in the car park, please be considerate to other car park users by parking correctly as this will enable more people to use the car park.

Library Books
Can you please return all school library books for our annual stock taking to the box outside the office by Friday 25th November.

Lost Clothing
Jonathan Miller has lost his named polar fleece.  Please check your child's clothing to see if they have the correct top. Please ensure that all your child's clothing is named including sun hats and second hand clothing as we have a lot of gear with no name on it.

Rubbish Bags
If you have any spare supermarket bags at home, please bring them to the school office.

St Kevin's College Orientation Day
Orientation Day will be held on Friday 25th November from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.  Students are to wear mufti and meet in the college chapel (above the auditorium but just call into the office and ask if you are not sure).  They should bring a pen, paper or exercise book and their lunch.  For parents and caregivers - the Uniform Shop will be open from 12.30 to 3.00 pm and is situated underneath the Dining Room.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, otherwise we look forward to seeing you on the 25th.  Thanks Cathy Keep, St Kevin's College.

Snowsport photos
Yesterday the students who went skiing this year as part of the Snowsport programme held at Ohau Ski field received their certificates.  The Yr 7 students will receive theirs when they come back to school.

Welcome
We warmly welcome Larnik Vincent and Luke Bremner who started school this week to our New Entrants class.

Yr 7 Camp
We look forward to our Year 7 campers returning back to school tomorrow and we will show you their photos in next week's blog.

Yr 8 Camp photos
The Yr 8 students enjoyed stable weather at their camp last week and everyone arrived home with a sense of achievement.  Thank you to everyone who helped make the camp a success.  Please click the link to view more photos.

Yr 8 Camp at Stavely

Young Vinnies
Every fortnight our Yr 8 Young Vinnies go and visit rest homes, service agencies, bowling clubs and interact with the residents by either playing board games, playing bingo or entertaining them. Recently they were at IONA Rest Home where they played board games with the residents in the lounge.

Community Notices

• Rugby Sevens - held this Saturday 19th November.  The Redpaths Referees Sevens are being held at Whitestone Contracting Stadium. Mens and ladies sevens games will be played and teams include Otago, Canterbury, Southland, North Otago, Mid and South Canterbury.  Games kick off at 11.00 am with the last game scheduled for 5.15 pm.  Gold coin entry.  Food and beverage stalls on site.
• North Otago A & P Day - held on Sunday 27th November at 11.00 am at the Showgrounds in Ettrick Street.  All pets welcome.  There will be lamb drinking and world wide sires, pet calf competition, fancy dress at 12.30 pm, dog agility demonstration, (have a go with your own dog), coffee van and bbq lunch available.  Check out the North Otago A & P Facebook page for more information.
• Cabinet Art Competition - Thanks to Chorus, here is an exciting opportunity for youth to showcase their artwork on the streets of Oamaru.  Open to all youth from the ages of 5 to 25 of any ability.  Art should reflect the kids feelings or connections, cultural backgrounds or heritage, things that make them happy to live where they do.  The Past, the Present, the Future.  Whatever inspires them.  Simply photograph or scan any piece of art of any appropriate subject or style and send it Robin Stock at robin_stock@hotmail.com.

4. Diary Dates - Week 6, Term 4 2016

NOVEMBER

Wednesday 16        -  Yr 7 Camp

Thursday 17            -  Yr 7 Camp 

                                     -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                     -  Filipino Pagsasama from 6.30 to 7.30 pm – note new date

Friday 18                  - Yr 7 Camp 

                                     -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Monday 21               -  Activator Sport – Yr 6 *

                                     -  North Otago Athletics

Tuesday 22              -  Pasifika success talanoa at 2.30 pm

                                    -  BOT Training from 6.30 to 8.30 pm

Wednesday 23        -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC – note new date *

Thursday 24            -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                    -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC – note new date *

                                    -  Activator Sport – Yr 6 *

                                    -  Intermediate Information Evening from 6.30 to 8.00 pm – note new date *

Friday 25                  -  Yr 8 Orientation Day at SKC all day

                                    -  All school library books due back today *

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm *

                                    -  Picnic followed by games from 5.30 to 6.00 pm

                                    -  Family Learning Hui at 6.00 pm

Sunday 27                -  First Reconciliation after Mass at 9.30 to 11.00 am

Monday 28               -  Yr 6 Activities Week

Tuesday 29              -  Yr 6 Activities Week

                                    -  BOT and Home & School social dinner

Wednesday 30        -  Yr 6 Activities Week

DECEMBER

Thursday 1              -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s

                                    -  Yr 6 Activities Week

                                    -  School Mass at 9.15 am

Friday 2                    -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s

                                    -  Yr 6 Activities Week

                                    -  Yr 1-6 social  - Xmas theme from 6.00 to 7.30 pm

Saturday 3               -  Santa Parade, parish float

Tuesday 6                -  BOT Meeting

                                    -  Cultural Day at school all day

Thursday 8              -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                    -  Junior School Nativity at School Mass at 9.15 am *

                                    -  Transition to 2017 afternoon from 2.00 to 3.00 pm

Friday 9                    -  Yr 7 & 8 Social

Tuesday 13              -  End of Year Liturgy for Yr 8

Thursday 15            -  End of Year Mass at 6.00 pm

Friday 16                  -  Last assembly/carols from 12.00 to 12.30 pm

                                     -  School finishes at 12.30 pm 

1. Principal's News Week 5 Term 4, 2016

Parent Survey Part 2

Last week I shared the results of the first part of your survey.  There were two more questions:

What are your educational goals for your child? and

What do you want from our Intermediate Department?

The answers were so similar that I've combined them into one Wordle.   Obviously the desire to be ready for high school is one that refers more to the intermediate department.  Words or phrases that were repeated appear bigger.  Its a good way of getting a picture of the themes:

First of all it is very good to see that Catholic featured highly in what many people desired for their children's education.  This is reassuring as the only reason our school exists is to provide a faith-based education and to bring Christ more deeply into our lives and the lives of others.  Our school literally wouldn't exist without this prime purpose.

Many parents while making these comments also said they think we are doing these things which is encouraging.  One respondent wrote:

"A deep love for on-going learning. Achieving a solid growth mind-set in all areas of education (academic, sport, cultural, service). Continuing to develop her individual faith journey. Having core academic foundations automated and feeling confident in ability to learn in a variety of environments and with different methodologies. Enjoying taking hold of opportunities as is currently and continuing contribution. Continuing to connect and maintain great relationships with a diverse group of children and adults. We feel that this has been happening and are committed to that just as much at home as what our goals are for her in the school environment."

We also recognise we are at a time where we have an opportunity for our own growth as a school and an affirmation of our future journey.  It is very clear what the community want and value and along with our prime purpose of bringing Christ into our lives, the Board of Trustees and our staff also recognise that we are the servants of the community and your values and aspirations are also part of what we must make real.

We look forward to going into this a little more at our Family Learning Hui on Friday 25th November and our Intermediate Information Evening on Wednesday 23rd November.

Year 8 camp
I had a great afternoon with the year 8s on Monday.  We did a couple of bushwalks in Peel Forest. The weather was beautiful and everyone was in very good spirits.  I haven't had any further news from camp - no news is good news which it means everything is flowing along nicely.

Sunhats
It is so great to see most children wearing sunhats most of the time.  We have had a bit of a push on this - please keep up your support from home.

Respect
Our school corridors are happy places with children showing good manners, courtesy and consideration to adults and each other.  An adult visitor to the school yesterday, whom the children did not know, was very impressed with a group of our boys who greeted her politely and stood back to let her go first.  She made a point of mentioning our well-mannered, respectful students.  We can all be proud of them.

God Bless,
Mrs Frances-Rees

2. Special Character - Term 4 Week 5 2016

At the moment, SCHOOL WIDE, we are focusing on RESPECT. This involves respecting ourselves (including our uniform), friends, adults, our school environment and our Special Character.

Year 4 are on Gospel this week and the theme of the Gospel is being faithful to God and seeing Jesus as a true friend who will always be there for us when we ask for help. In return we need to be a true and faithful friend as well. During the year we have been working on good relationships within our classroom. First the boys, then the girls then boys and girls. It is an ongoing process and it is working because I have full support from our parents. We are all on this journey of life together and when children see us working together, results come quickly. I am telling you this because I have been amazed at how our children are able to see some of the problems around them and know how to fix them. I asked the children for some scenarios to act out at the Thursday Mass. They suggested actual problems that have happened in our class and looked at how they have been able to solve them by themselves. We have looked at the word 'Empathy' and they know what it means. They know that what they do has an impact on others. We want our class to be a safe and happy place to learn. It takes time and LOTS of energy. But it works. I'm not saying we don't still have problems but it is a work in progress, and we are making good progress. This has been so rewarding for me as a teacher.

This is what we want to see happening in every class in our school, in our playground and in our community. We ALL need to show respect if we want people to respect us. If we show RESPECT, we will have good relationships. 

And to me good relationships is what we want for our children and ourselves.

Ann Dooley
DRS

3. School Notices - Week 5, Term 4 2016

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

'The tongue has no bones but is strong enough to break a heart so be careful with your words'

Altar Servers
Saturday 12th November - Elenoa & Halalova Asi, Seth Sinclair, Max Fatafehi and Molly Whittaker
Sunday 13th November - Michael Misiloi and Hana & Zara Davies

Birthday Greetings to:
Kaleb Cant, Tyla Bolitho, Jonathan Miller and Zyanya Pe

Athletic Trophy Winners
Congratulations to the following students who received their Athletic trophies last Friday at Kotuitui. Absent from the photos is Grace Keno.
8 yrs - Eva Keno and Michael Woodhouse
9 yrs - Jada-Rose Keno and Cody Marshall
10 yrs - Grace Keno and Max Fatafehi
11 yrs - Eleni Hausia and Matthew Gough
12 yrs - Harriet Heaphy and Taine Stewart-Cooper
13 yrs - Chanel Williams and Roger Neri

Busy Bumbles
Their Holiday Programme has a $20 special for each student per day and runs from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December and Monday 9th January until school starts.  For any enquiries, please contact Jocelyn Marsh on 027 552 2756.

Change of Contact Details
Please let the office know if you change any of your phone numbers or move to another address.

Congratulations 
Well done to Grace Keno, Max Fatafehi and Jacob Fowler who got selected into their respective Otago Touch Teams from the Otago Touch U12 -18 trials held in Balclutha last Sunday.  These players will represent Otago right through to the South Island Champs on 17th & 18th December. Grace made the U12 girls team, Max made the U12 boys team and Jacob made the U14 mixed team. Good luck with your tournaments.

Cricket Draw - Saturday 12th November
4th Grade A - St Joseph's v Albion - Centennial Park Outer Oval
4th Grade B - St Joseph's v Waitaki Girls High School - St Kevin's Artificial

Cricket Festival
Today we sent 3 teams made up of a Yr 5 boys, Yr 6 boys and mixed Yr 5/6 girls team to the Cricket Festival held at Whitestone Contracting Stadium. They played against other schools within North Otago and they all ended up with wins and losses.  Thanks to Mrs Souness and Miss Mann-O'Malley and all the parents who helped out with transport and managing the teams

Cultural Day

Our annual Cultural Day which the children enjoy so much will be held on Tuesday 6th December. The programme is:

Morning - various small group activities for the whole school

12.00 pm - shared lunch in the hall

Afternoon - cultural items performed by St Joseph's pupils (parents are also welcome to present an item)

We are asking for parents to come in and take an activity with a small group of children.  You will have a teacher in the room with you.  Having parents in to lead an activity has proved very popular with our children.  We would like to provide activities from as many of the countries represented in our school as possible and having parents lead the activities provides a rich and varied range of skills and crafts for the children to learn.  We will provide any materials you need.  The activities need to be hands on and could include art, crafts, music, dance and games.  Thank you Jan Plieger.

Filipino Pagsasama

The pagsasama for this term will now be held on Thursday 17th November at 6.30 pm.  Mrs Frances-Rees will introduce herself and speak to the meeting and we will discuss ideas for our meetings in 2017.  We give you a warm welcome and look forward to seeing all our Filipino families.

Newsletter
A reminder that there is a hard copy of the newsletter on the notice board outside the office.

Respect for our School Environment
Today children in Mrs Dooley's class volunteered to go and pick up rubbish in our school grounds and came up with 5 rubbish bags full.  Well done to Libby Seddon, Eden Davison, Ziah Rollan, Bella Moriarty and Lochlan McLaren for showing respect to our environment. (We are still reminding children about putting their rubbish in the bins provided).

School Dates
We finish school on Friday 16th December at 12.30 pm and reopen again on Tuesday 31st January 2017 at 9.00 am. (Previously we have said that school opens on Wednesday 1st February but this has been amended).

School Photos
Orders are due back by tomorrow to the school office.

Yr 7 Camp
We wish the Yr 7 Campers and parents a fine week as they set off on their annual camp to Iona Camp on Tuesday.

Community Notices

• Let's Take Your Little Garden to the Big Garden - held from 4.00 to 6.00 pm on Friday 11th November at the Waitaki Community Gardens on Chelmer Street.  Bring your New World Little Garden.  Kids dress up like a pirate and look for pirate treasure and games at the gardens.