4. Diary Dates - Week 8, Term 3 2018

SEPTEMBER

Friday 14                          -  Otago Primary Schools Cross Country  

Monday 17                       -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC

                                         -  Special Character Review

Tuesday 18                       -  Special Character Review

                                         -  Board of Trustees meeting at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 19                  -  Top School Gymnastics competition

                                         -  Special Character Review

Thursday 20                     -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Yr 7 ECB and Young Vinnies

                                         -  Terrific  Thursdays at 2.15 pm

                                         -  Multicultural Hui at 6.30 pm in the staff room – note new date again

Friday 21                          -  Celebration assembly at 2.30 pm

Monday 24                       -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC

Thursday 27                     -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

                                         -  Home and School meeting at 8.00 pm

Friday 28                          -  Singing Cup Finals at St Joseph’s

                                         -  Celebration assembly at the earlier time of 2.00 pm

                                         -  Term 3 finishes today

OCTOBER

Monday 15                        -  Term 4 starts today

                                          -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8

Tuesday 16                       -  School photos

                                          -  Touch Rugby coaching session at 4.00 pm at Whitestone Contracting grounds*

Thursday 18                      -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                          -  Yr 7 ECB and Young Vinnies

                                          -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Monday 22                        -  Labour Day (holiday)

Tuesday 23                       - Touch Rugby starts today *

Wednesday 24                  -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Thursday 25                     -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Friday 26                          -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Sunday 28                         -  Food Fair

Tuesday 30                       -  Board of Trustees meeting at 6.30 pm *

NOVEMBER

Monday 5                         -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 *

Monday 12                       -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 *

Wednesday 14                  -  School athletics for Yrs 1-8 – note new date

Friday 16                          -  School athletics for Yrs 1-8  - postponement date

Monday 19                       -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

                                         -  Technology for Yr 7 *

Tuesday 20                      -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Wednesday 21                 -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Thursday 22                    -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Friday 23                         -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Monday 26                       -  North Otago Athletics

                                         -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 *

Tuesday 27                      -  Multicultural Day

Wednesday 28                 -  North Otago Athletics Postponement Date

                                                 

DECEMBER

Monday 3                         -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 *

Tuesday 4                         -  EOTC Yr 6

Wednesday 5                    -  EOTC Yr 6

Thursday 6                       -  EOTC Yr 6

Friday 7                            -  EOTC Yr 6

Monday 10                       -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 *

Tuesday 11                       -  Board of Trustee meeting at 6.30 pm *

Friday 14                          -  Term 4 finishes today

1. Principal's News - Week 7 Term 4 2018

Decile Review - VERY IMPORTANT
All families will have received a form in the post to fill in and return to school as soon as possible.  This is to review our decile status - which ultimately determines our level of funding.  Tongan and Chinese families have forms in Tongan or Chinese.  You don't have to put your family name and everything you write is confidential and will be destroyed after collating.  Please return the forms now.  We need the input of all families.  Thank you.

Junior Swimming
The junior school has completed 10 lessons of a Swim safety program. This excellent program helped all our swimmers quickly gain confidence in the water environment. The focus was on water safety and awareness and children learned safety and survival skills. They used equipment such as life jackets and practiced stamina and floating long distance.  An excellent experience!!

Cross Country

Well done to all of our children who represented St Joseph's at the North Otago Cross Country this week.  I'd like to draw attention to young David Kilgour who had a smile on his face right through the race and prepared himself for the race by practising at home and running up Ashburn Street. 
He says, "We ran through a big creek with tonnes of water in it and I nearly fell over. If you were in Year 4 &5 you got to climb over jumps that slowed you down but were fun. I was puffed at the end and i felt proud that I finished the race."








Writing about God
Our year 7 & 8s have two RE assessments a term and since essay-writing is such a big part of high stakes assessment (NCEA and tertiary education) we are teaching them to write essays for their RE assessment.  As well as teaching them the writing skills to demonstrate their learning, it also shows them that Religious Education can be a serious and academic subject.

This is an excerpt from a year 7 writing about God.

"God has revealed himself in many ways and still does in the world today.  While He revealed himself in many ways to the people of the Old Testament, the biggest way he showed himself was through Jesus.  We can see God in other people every day, especially when they show virtues.  Virtues are qualities that God has given us.  Examples of virtues are courage, loyalty, justice and compassion.  To truly show these virtues we must be faithful to God.  Jesus was the model of all virtue since He showed love and compassion to people and God every day.  We as God's people strive to be like Jesus.  Through God's grace, we can turn away from sin and be that one step closer to being just like Jesus.  God has created us to grow and change.  This doesn't just mean physically.  We can grow in our faith and change our ways to be closer and more faithful to God.  To find out more about God we can read the Bible, pray or go to church."

Uniform
Our uniform policy is up for board review in term 1 next year.  We welcome ideas and feedback from parents.  We would be particularly interested in seeing modifications other Catholic schools have made.  Please provide ideas/feedback/modifications by the end of week 1 of next term. These should come to me and you can leave them with the office staff or make a time to see me.   The board will consider the feedback/forward and appropriate ideas will be presented back to the community for further consideration.  

Mainland Uniforms have a range of Catholic uniforms including tartan culottes for girls. They also have tartan scrunchies and headbands which meet our uniform code.


God Bless and Aroha
Lorraine Frances-Rees

2. Special Character - Term 3 Week 7

Social Justice Week

Each year the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand set aside a week in September for Social Justice Week, inviting us to reflect and take action on a current social justice issue. 

This year, the 9th to the 15th of September, we focus on disability and participation. How can we encourage more enabling communities, affirming that everyone has a part to play in our society?

"Every child, every person needs to know that they are a source of joy; every child, every person, needs to be celebrated.  Only when all of our weaknesses are accepted as part of our humanity can our negative, broken self-images be transformed." 

Jean Vanier, Becoming Human, 1998 

Faith Fact

St Gregory the Great’s feast day is September 3rd.  He was a Pope from AD 590 to 604.  He was the first pope who had been a monk previously as well as a diplomat.  He was also known as a highly competent administrator and is known for his work on the liturgy and reorganisation of the entire church.  Gregory was the first to send Christian missionaries to Britain and under his papacy the Church grew in influence and power throughout Europe.  Gregory also instituted a system of distributing food and alms to the poor of Rome.      

God Bless 
Nicola Winders 
Co DRS

3. School Notices - Week 7, Term 3 2018

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Altar Servers
Saturday 8th September - Joshua & Lachie Criddle, Indya Cunningham, Mariah Cunningham and Serah Staju
Sunday 9th September - Annalise Kilgour and Seth Bartley

Birthday Greetings to
None for this week

Daffodil Day Fundraiser

Sesilia Hausia & Hila'atu Leo

Last Friday we held a mufti day fundraiser for Daffodil Day and raised $258.00.  The staff also versed the Yr 8 students in their annual netball game which was a tightly contested and enjoyable game with the staff becoming eventual winners by 2 goals.



End of Winter Season Break Up
We are holding a prize giving afternoon where basketball, football, hockey, miniball, netball and rugby will be acknowledged. Coaches will talk about their season and present awards.  It will be held on Wednesday 12th September (due to some coaches being unavailable till then) in our school hall from 3.30 to 5.00 pm ish and we ask for each family to bring a plate to share for afternoon tea.  Children who were in the midget football and Yr 1/2 netball skills sessions are welcome. More information will be sent to coaches tomorrow.

Food Fair
The Home and School would like to remind everyone that they need to have their $10 family donation in by Tuesday 11th September.  So far we have 24 families of the 123 at our school that have given their $10.00.  This donation will cover our costs to buy the food to run this wonderful community event and all proceeds benefit every single child at our school.

The Home and School Committee has not asked for any other donations this year and would really appreciate your support so our small but ever growing committee of wonderful parents can make this event successful so all our children can enjoy the extra resources we are able to provide that are not covered in our school budget.  Think of this donation as an investment.  That $10 towards the costs of the Food Fair could easily turn into $100 for our children at school.

Please put your name down for the cake wheel as we need 50 cakes and only 18 have names.  It can be slices, biscuits or cakes.

North Otago Cross Country
On Monday we sent 22 runners to the North Otago Cross Country held at the Oamaru Race course.  A huge congratulations to Yr 5 Ben Gillies and Yr 8 Seb Spillane who won their races and to the others who finished in the top 10.  Well done.  All the children ran with purpose and resilience and Mrs Brien was very proud of them in the way that they never gave up and represented our school with pride.  A credit to their parents.  Thank you very much to Mrs Spillane and Mrs Whiston who offered to be marshals on the course for our school.




Reminders:
Monday 10 - winter sports uniforms due back
Tuesday 11 - food fair $10 donation due in
Wednesday 12 - scholastic book club orders due back and End of Winter Season prize giving at 3.30 pm

Summer Sports
Touch Rugby
We need confirmation if you are continuing or going to play touch rugby next term or if you are coaching whether you will carry on. At this stage, I have had 1 withdrawal and 3 new players so please let me know asap your intentions.

Touch Rugby Rep Trials - there are trials for North Otago representative Touch teams being held this Sunday at 3.00 pm at Whitestone Centennial Park (fields to the east of the hockey pavilion).  Age groups are: under 12, under 14 and under 16 (as of 1 January 2019) for boys and girls teams.  Selected teams will play in the Otago Touch Trials tournament held on Sunday 4th November with the venue to be confirmed.  This is a great opportunity and many players from North Otago have gained valuable experience and enjoyed a high level of success through the Touch representative pathway.

Cricket
There is a junior cricket meeting being held on Monday 10th September at the meeting room at St Kevin's College to prepare for the cricket season. This is open to any parent who would like to be involved.


Thank You
LJ Hooker have been busy again and generously given us another donation for our school.  Thank you to Christine Heywood who presented the cheque to our head students Elenoa Asi and Sebastian Spillane yesterday.

Welcome
We warmly welcome Emily McGeown to our new entrants class.

Winter Sports 
Uniforms - There is still a large number of sports uniforms that have not been returned.  Please ensure they are returned clean by Monday 10th September.

Community Notices

• Youthtown Holiday Programme - Join Youthtown this October holidays at our Pembroke Primary School site from the 1st to 12th October.  Available for primary and intermediate children from 8.15 am to 6.00 pm.  To find out more and sign up call, 03 381 3245 or go online at www.youthtown.org.nz/locations/south-island/christchurch to book.  A flyer is attached to the email.
• Ardgowan School Race Derby Extravaganza - held on Saturday 27th October at the Ardgowan Hall from 7.30 pm to late.  A flyer is attached to the email.
• Christmas Gift Shoe boxes- these boxes are to be filled and dropped back to the parish office by Labour Weekend. For further information regarding these shoe boxes, contact Samaritan's Purse on 0800 726 274 or go to www.operationchristmaschild.org.nz

4. Diary Dates - Week 7, Term 3 2018

SEPTEMBER

Friday 7                      -  Celebration assembly at 2.30 pm

Monday 10                 -  Social Justice Week

                                   -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC 

Tuesday 11                 -  Home & School Food  Fair $10 donation due in – note new date *

                                   -  Vision and hearing test *

Wednesday 12           -  Scholastic Book Club due back

                                  -  End of Winter Season Prize giving at 3.30 pm in school hall

Thursday 13              -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                  -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 14                   -  Otago Primary School Cross Country

                                   -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

Monday 17                 -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC

                                   -  Special Character Review

Tuesday 18                 -  Special Character Review

                                   -  Board of Trustees meeting at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 19            -  Top School Gymnastics competition

                                   -  Special Character Review

Thursday 20               -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                   -  Yr 7 ECB and Young Vinnies

                                   -  Terrific  Thursdays at 2.15 pm

                                   -  Multicultural Hui at 6.30 pm in the staff room – note new date again *

Friday 21                    -  Celebration assembly at 2.30 pm

Monday 24                 -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at SKC

Thursday 27               -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                   -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

                                   -  Home and School meeting at 8.00 pm *

Friday 28                   -  Singing Cup Finals at St Joseph’s

                                   -  Celebration assembly at the earlier time of 2.00 pm

                                   -  Term 3 finishes today

OCTOBER

Monday 15                 -  Term 4 starts today

                                   -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8

Tuesday 16                 -  School photos

Thursday 18               -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                   -  Yr 7 ECB and Young Vinnies

                                   -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Monday 22                 -  Labour Day (holiday)

Wednesday 24            -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Thursday 25               -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Friday 26                    -  Yr 7 Camp to Wainui

Sunday 28                  -  Food Fair

NOVEMBER

Wednesday 14            -  School athletics for Yrs 1-8 – note new date *

Friday 16                    -  School athletics for Yrs 1-8  - postponement date *

Monday 19                 -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Tuesday 20                 -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Wednesday 21            -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Thursday 22               -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Friday 23                   -  Yr 8 Camp to Staveley

Monday 26                -  North Otago Athletics

Tuesday 27                -  Multicultural Day

Wednesday 28           -  North Otago Postponement Date

                                                 

DECEMBER

Tuesday 4                  -  EOTC Yr 6 *

Wednesday 5             -  EOTC Yr 6 *

Thursday 6                -  EOTC Yr 6 *

Friday 7                     -  EOTC Yr 6 *

Friday 14                   -  Term 4 finishes today