1. Principal News Week 9 Term 4

Junior Nativity Presentation and End of Year Mass

We warmly invite you to attend two of our very special end of year celebrations.

This Friday 12th December, our juniors will be presenting the story of Christmas over in the church at 9:30 am.
Please note that assembly will be at the earlier time of 2:15pm tomorrow, Friday, due to the large number of awards to distribute.
Then on Thursday 18th December, the whole school, families and friends will attend our special 'End of Year Mass' and prizegiving at 6.00 pm in the church. This year we have planned it to ensure that speeches and presentations will be short. We hope that families will be able to leave by 7:15 pm. There will be an opportunity for parents to join staff for a final thank you cup of tea on Friday morning at 10:45 am instead of after mass this year. Then at 11:30 am we will gather in the hall for the announcement of the school leaders for 2015. This will be followed by a final coming together with Christmas Carols and farewells in the hall before we finish at 12:30 pm.
Please ensure you read this link to Mrs Frances-Rees' blogpost below to learn more about joy and the 3rd Sunday of Advent.

Response to Principal's Blog about Learning for 2015
Thanks to the many parents who have given me positive feedback about the article I published on my blog this week. If you haven't had a chance to read it, then I encourage you to go to this link.

I also encourage you to go to Manuka's Year 7 class blog at this link  to see video designs for their 2015 environment or this link to see paper designs. If you hover over the paper designs on the live blog page, you will access special annotated links as well. 

Reports and stationery lists
These will be sent home next week. Junior school parents who are due for their anniversary reports will be contacting families for catch up meetings. Any questions please contact your child's class teacher.

The Year That Was 2014
Every child has received a free copy of the Oamaru Mail today with our St Joseph's middle page spread about this year. Please look out for this. We thank the Oamaru Mail, Unique Skin and Beauty and the Vet Centre for supporting this free feature.

Home and School thank you
As the end of the school year draws closer, it's a good chance to reflect and say thank you to the members of our community who give up their time to work tirelessly for our school. A big thank you to Rachel Fowler and the Home & School team of parents who do just that. They have already made plans for a Multicultural Food Fair early next year and need your support. Please get behind them and support their good work that benefits all of our children. They truly show us how to Reach for the Stars as Lifelong Learners in the Catholic Faith.