Thursday 30 July 2015

1. Principal's News - Week 2, Term 3 2015

Student blogger of the week
I would like to draw your attention to Nisha Wilson's informative blog this week. Nisha is in Year 6 in Senior Hub 2. You can read about Nisha's term 2 learning highlights and her career aspirations by going to this link. Keep up the great blogging Nisha.


Teacher Only Day
Yesterday our teachers spent the day attending an extremely informative spelling conference. We learnt about the importance of teaching our children to see spelling as a problem solving process. You can read more about what we learnt by going to this link.


School Council for Term 2 and 3
We had our first meeting for the term this week. Our new councillors were presented with their badges last Friday. You can read about their first meeting by going to the link.
Here is the link to the latest school council news.


Sports Committee News
The Sports Committee met on Monday. We agreed to ask families to revisit our Sports Code of Conduct. You can read more in the minutes from our meeting.Here is the link to the latest sports committee minutes.

Recognition in the July Ministry Leadership Bulletin
Julie Anderson is the Director for Education at the Otago, Southland ministry office. Julie joined principals and board chairs at a meeting held in Oamau last term. Tua Misiloi our board chairperson and I gave a presentation about the work of the Pasifika cluster. This work has been acknowledged in the national ministry bulletin. You can read more by going to this link.


Good luck to all of our children playing sport this weekend and to our children that have made the rep squads. 
We also hope that the many children who are unwell, feel better very soon.
Here is something that may brighten your day.

These three boys from Junior Hub 2 came to share their haka singing with me. They proudly told me that they were so good because they are three of the leaders. This is a sneak preview of what the junior hubs have been learning as they prepare for the Kapahaka Festival and show us how to Reach for the Stars as Lifelong Learners in the Catholic faith.















2. Special Character - Week 2, Term 3 2015



Catholic Special Character Focus
For the next two weeks our Year 4 children will be preparing to receive the Eucharist for the first time. On Thursday 13th August the children will be receiving Reconciliation with Father Wayne after Mass in preparation before receiving the Eucharist on Sunday 16th August at the 9.30am Mass. We will also be having a practice on Friday 14th August at 1.30pm in the Church. Parents are also welcome to join us at the Reconciliation and the practice. I have sent home a pink notice with details about First Communion. Please come and see me if you have any questions or send me an email.
To make this day a day to remember we need help with setting up the hall on Friday 14th after school. This does not take very long. We also need help with serving the morning tea on Sunday. I will send a note home  to the parents of last years First Communion children to see if you are able to help.
Next week (Wednesday 5th August) we will be having morning tea with our prayer partners to say thank you. This is such a lovely way of coming together with members of our Parish. Could the children preparing for First Communion please bring a small plate to share at morning tea. Thank you. 
Take Care and God Bless.
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3. School Notices - Week 2, Term 3 2015

Altar Servers
Saturday 1st August - Elizabeth, Nicolas & Samuel Plieger, Matthew Gough and Isabella McNaught
Sunday 2nd August - Ellie &  Samantha Jorgensen, Sylvia & Stefanie Lavrijsen

Birthday Greetings to:
Vince Vidallon, Olivia Owen and Ally-May Rawson

News Blog
Next week the school news blog will come out on Wednesday and not Thursday as Mrs Brien is away.

St Joseph's School Enrolment Days
Enrolment meetings for 2016 will be held on Tuesday 18th August from 10.45 am to 4.00 pm and Wednesday 19th August from 10.45 am to 3.00 pm.  These meetings are for children who will be starting school next year.  Please contact the office to make a time.

Lost Property
There is a huge number of lost clothing in the sick bag especially unnamed jackets, jerseys, track pants and a pair of swimming togs in a red bag.  Please have a look to see if your missing clothing are in there.

Scholastic Book Club
Orders are due back to the office by tomorrow Friday 31st July.

Home & School
Reminder that the First Aid kit orders and money are due back at the office by Thursday 6th August.

School Canteen
The canteen is operating again for term 3.  The orders have to be in by 3.00 pm on Wednesday for Friday lunches.  Order bags are available from the office.

Cross Country Help
Mrs Souness is wanting at least 12-15 parents to help as marshals for our school cross country on Tuesday 11th August.  Please email Mrs Souness on tsouness@stjoseph.school.nz if you can help.  She will contact you directly in regard to your instructions.  Remember we cannot run the cross country without your help.

Colgate Boxes and Tubes
Remember to keep bringing the empty Colgate boxes and tubes to the school office so we can send them away for rewards.

Welcome
We warmly welcome Eva Fatafehi who started school this week to our new entrants class.
Congratulations
School Councillors
Congratulations to the following children who were named school councilors for terms 3 and 4 and were presented with their badges last Friday.
Yr 3 - Eden Davison and Sam McNaught
Yr 4 -  Mia Cant and Morgan Baillie
Yr 5 - Isabella McNaught and Limuel Gutierez
Yr 6 - Cushla Bridges (absent) and William Moore
Yr 7 - Ruby Macaulay and Nicolas Raimundo (absent)
Yr 8 - Abigail Jenkinson, Ella Brown, Zach Dickie and Christian Baillie

Rugby
To Jack Cameron and Jacob Fowler who made the North Otago under 48 kg rep rugby team and to Kaleb Cant, Lachlan Brookes and Saluni Palaa who made the over 48 kg rugby team.  Well done boys.

Veritas Award
Congratulations to Maria Wallace who was presented with the Veritas Award, a prestigious award presented to one Year 8 student per term.  She was given this award in recognition of her standards of achievement in all areas of learning and her determination to take part in all facets of school life.


Making Cookies - Junior Learning Hub 2

This week Ngaires wonderful mum helped us bake 120 'Gingerbread horses' for us to ice and
sell. We are selling them for $2 each and  all the proceeds go to New Zealand Riding for the 
Disabled (RDA). Since 1962, NZ Riding for the Disabled has provided opportunities for 
anyone with a disability to enjoy safe, healthy, stimulating, therapeutic horse riding and horse 
related activities in New Zealand. Each year 55 RDA groups assist over 3,200 Riders 
throughout the country, helping to change lives for the better. To find out more about the 
vital work we do in the community, and to make a donation, please visit www.rda.org.nz or
visit www.gingerbreadhorse.co.nz.

Yesterday they had great fun icing them and Xanthea went to Riding for the 
Disabled and the
leaders there were very excited to hear we are all supporting them. If you would like a biscuit,
please come into hub 2 with a $2 donation.





4. Winter Sports Draw - Week 2, Term 3

Netball - Saturday 1st August
Goal-a-thon
Coaches please remind your teams of how many goals they scored last week so they can bring their goal-a-thon cards back to netball this Saturday.  The cards can be dropped off at the netball office.

Prize giving
The final day of netball will be on Saturday 15th August and our St Joseph’s netball prize giving will be held in the school hall on Thursday 20 August at 3.15 pm.  Can all players please bring a plate to share. 

Intermediate 1.1
9.00 am - St Joseph's Gold v OIS Firebirds – Adore Spa court
 Intermediate 1.2
11.00 am - St Joseph's Rebels v Duntroon Diamonds – Sport & Outdoors court 
 Intermediate 1.3; Section 2
9.00 am - St Joseph's Steel v OIS Swifts – BNZ court
 Year 5/6; Section 1
9.00 am - St Joseph's Blue v Pembroke Magic – Fitness 24 court
 Year 4
11.00 am - St Joseph's Maroon v Valley Steel – Amcal North court
 Year 3
10.00 am – St Joseph’s
 Yr 1 & 2
10.00 am – St Joseph’s – Pearsons court

Umpires
9.00 am – Antonia Black and Yneke Edzes
11.00 am – Mekeisha Hurley and Tannah Rintoul
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Rugby - Saturday 1st August 
The final day of rugby will be on Saturday 15th August.

5 yrs 
10.00 am – Valley Blue v St Joseph’s - Weston
 7/8 yrs
St Josephs has the bye
 9/10 yrs
11.00 am – Excelsior/Maheno v St Joseph’s – WCS 1
 11/12 yrs
1.00 pm – St Joseph’s/Excelsior v Athletic Gold – WCS 1
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Football - Saturday 1st August
The final day of football will be on Saturday 22nd August.

Midget Grade
11.00 am – St Joseph’s Aces v Awamoa Tigers – Showgrounds M1
 Junior Top 5 Grade
9.30 am - St Joseph’s Knights v Awamoa Knights – St Joseph’s
 Intermediate Grade
St Joseph’s United has the bye
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Hockey (Kiwi Sticks) – Tuesday 4th August
The final game of hockey will be on Tuesday 18th August.

5.00 pm – St Joseph’s v Combined Country
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Miniball - Tuesday 4th August
The Miniball finals night will be held on Tuesday 25th August and the semi-final night will be held on Tuesday 18th August if required by your section.  On finals night, the play offs will be for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place for each section with prize giving to follow. 

4.45 pm – St Joseph’s Bullets v St Joseph’s Apollo – back court

Referee and Score Bench
5.15 pm – St Joseph’s Bullets – referee and score bench– back court
5.15 pm – St Joseph’s Apollo – referee – back court
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Basketball - Wednesday 5th August

The basketball finals night will be held on Wednesday 26th August and the semi-final night will be held on Wednesday 19th August if required by your section.  On finals night, the play offs will be for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place for each section with prize giving to follow. 

4.00 pm – St Joseph’s Warriors v Fenwick Breakers – front court
4.50 pm – St Joseph’s Saints v Totara/Hampden – front court
St Joseph’s Thunder has the bye

Referee and Score bench
4.00 pm – St Joseph’s Saints – referee – front court
4.50 pm – St Joseph’s Warriors – referee – front court

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5. Diary Dates - Week 2, Term 3

JULY
Thursday 30              -  Early Childhood Buddies (Yr 7) and Young Vinnies
Friday 31                   -  Footsteps Dance trial for whole school
                                      -  Scholastic Book Club orders due back today *

AUGUST
Monday 3                   -  Second Communion Meeting at 7.00 pm
Wednesday 5            -  First Communion Prayer Partner morning tea *
Thursday 6                -  Orders are due back for the First Aid Kits

Tuesday 11                -  ICAS Exam – Maths
                                      -  Board of Trustees meeting
                                      -  Cross Country change of date
Thursday 13              -  St Mary’s Interschool
                                      -  Family Learning Hui  at 6.00 pm
Friday 14                   -  Wacky Hair Day – gold coin donation

Sunday 16                  -  First Holy Communion celebrated
Monday 17                 -  Dress rehearsal for Kapahaka
Tuesday 18                -  Enrolment Day
                                      -  Kapahaka Festival
Wednesday 19          -  Enrolment Day
Thursday 20               -  Early Childhood Buddies (Yr 7) and Young Vinnies *
Friday 21                    -  Singing Cup Auditions  for Yr 5-8

Monday 24                 -  North Otago Cross Country
Tuesday 25                - Yr 5/6 Netball Tournament in Dunedin
Wednesday 26          -  Pasifika Fono at 6.00 pm
Thursday 27              -  Yr 7/8 Netball Tournament in Dunedin
Friday 28                    - Daffodil Day

SEPTEMBER
Tuesday 1                  -  Yr 7 Camp meeting from 6.30 to 7.30 pm
Wednesday 2            -  Chinese Cultural meeting at 7.00 pm
Thursday 3                -  North Otago Kaupapa Maori Festival at Opera House
                                      -  Early Childhood Buddies (Yr 7) and Young Vinnies *
Friday 4                      -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College

Sunday 6                    -  Father’s Day
Tuesday 8                  -  Open Morning from 11.00 am to 12.00 pm
Wednesday 9            -  Family Learning Hui from 6.00 – 7.00 pm
                                      -  Pagsasama from 7.30 to 8.30 pm
Thursday 10              -  Young Vinnies (Yr 8) *
Friday 11                    -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College
Wednesday 23          -  Singing Cup Finals from 9.15 am
                                       -  Singing Cup Winning Finalists from 6.30 pm at St Kevin’s 

Thursday 23 July 2015

1. Principal's News - Week 1 Term 3


Welcome back to an exciting new term of learning and fun. The highlight of a very special first week back was the beautiful baptism of Molly Whittaker. Molly joined Year 6 at the start of the year and made the decision to be baptised herself with the support of her parents, Michelle and Paul. Molly asked Miss Huls to be her god parent. Molly was baptised by Fr Wayne during our school parish mass this morning. Congratulations to Molly on this very special day.


Ski fun
The first ever St Joseph's ski programme got off to a wonderful start on Monday. The programme goes over 8 weeks and enables the children to learn to ski or snowboard and develop their abilities at Ohau ski field. A huge thanks to Mr Paul Cartlidge who coordinated a similar programme at Holy Family School in Wanaka. Thanks to Keri Robinson for helping to get this programme off the ground and promote skiing as another St Joseph's sport to add to our existing sporting codes. We aim to ensure that our children are exposed to a variety of ways to become as active as possible. You can view more photos on our blog.

Teachers as Lifelong Learners and Teacher Only Day next Wednesday
Our school vision talks about lifelong learners. During the holidays, many of our teachers were busy attending courses and studying. You can read more about this by clicking on this link.
Our teachers will be joining many teachers from across North Otago schools at a special spelling workshop day on Wednesday 29th July. The school will be closed on Wednesday for this teacher only day.

Chris Cant presentation
Chris Cant was presented with his prize at school on Monday. Chris has been coaching rugby here for the last seven years and was nominated by Seth Sinclair for a Sport Otago volunteer award. Chris was presented with $500 worth of sporting gear for himself and a $500 voucher for sporting gear for the school. Mrs Souness has already ordered extra balls and equipment for the children to use at lunchtime.
Starship Mobile Phone Appeal
Thanks to all of you who have donated your old mobile phones to the Starship appeal. We have a box in the office for the phones. Mrs Rzepecky has been sending the phones away and we have been accumulating points. We were able to order a $200 bag of sports gear including balls, cones and pumps. Please keep the phone donations coming in for this very worthwhile appeal.

Mufti Mania 2015
Before the holidays we held two Highlanders Mufti Mania days and raised $481.70 for this annual Caritas appeal. This year the funds go towards resources including book, bibles, stationery and sports equipment for two Catholic primary schools in the Solomon Islands. Not only we were successful in raising money for the schools but the Highlander were very successful too!!

Junior School Kapahaka Workshop
This morning our Junior school participated in a special Kapahaka workshop from the Manuaute Production Company. The children thoroughly enjoyed this excellent workshop and will be able to incorporate some of their new skills into their upcoming kapahaka performance. Check out the junior hub blogs for some videos of the children in action.


SNUP work
Some of you may have noticed that there have been workmen around the school. Our school is presently being snupped !! School Network Upgrade Programme (SNUP) means that in a few weeks time we will have access to ultra fast broadband throughout the school. This is part of a national government initiative for all schools in New Zealand. The workers are coming in after school and working through the night. We look forward to access to ultra fast broadband to support our existing teaching and learning programmes throughout the school as we continue to Reach for the Stars as Lifelong Learners in the Catholic faith.