1. Principal's News - Week 1 Term 4 2016

Thank you to the many people who have given me such a warm welcome to St Joseph’s School. 

I hope I won’t be bombarding you too much this term but I really do want to know what you think about things.  So there will be a couple of surveys coming your way and I hope to engage with many families at our Family Learning Hui later this term.

Back to Basics

The start of a new principal is a good way to get back to basics.

One of the ways we have done this this week is by looking at one of our key values – RESPECT.

From Flickr licensed for reuse

We have started with a whole staff meeting on Monday afternoon.  

A place built on respect is a place where everyone feels valued and safe and we all want to feel that way, no matter what our role is in our school.  We also know that if we look after the little things well we have a better chance with the big things.  That means that each and every one of us has to act in the way we want others to treat us and that means acting respectfully.  The whole staff has had input into the various aspects of what respect looks like in our school and now we are asking the students and parents to give their input – you will be getting an email link with an opportunity to give your perspective.  Just talking about it helps us remember what is important to us and reminds us to be our best selves…. even when no-one is watching.

Please help us to help your child to be their best self by supporting our value of respect.

addictedtosuccess.com licensed for reuse

More information on our staff meeting about respect is at: Respect

Thank you to the Board of Trustees

The board's job is to see that everything that needs to be done gets done - legally, ethically, and as well as possible in the best interests of its students.

It is also the employer of all staff, including the principal, and sets the overall strategic direction for the school or kura. The principal is the board's 'chief executive' and manages the school or kura in line with the board's direction and policies.

From: http://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/getting-involved-in-your-childs-school/your-school-board-of-trustees/

One of the biggest responsibilities a board takes on is the recruitment and employment of a principal who becomes the leader and manager of the school.  I have been involved with St Joseph’s school for some time and I care very much about the success and wellbeing of our school – so I would like to thank the Board of Trustees for the hours and months of committed dedication they have put into the process of appointing a new principal. 

I always want to listen to you so I’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of the school process for addressing concerns - policies. If we deal with a concern early on it gets fixed and never becomes a big issue.   We really want to do that for you so don’t be afraid to let us know.     Also dealing with it in the early stages helps maintain good relationships and respects everyone’s mana so we encourage you to bring any concerns to us and we will listen and work with you.  

Why do we do what we do at St Joseph’s?

We have also had a staff meeting on our vision and charter goal for teaching and learning .  We aim to ensure that everything we do in our school reflects our reason for being here and we will be working hard over the next term on deeply understanding what that means for us - Vision

Congratulations to our awesome year 8 leaders

I am so impressed with our year 8 leaders.  In particular this lovely comment from our singing cup judge referring to our three choir conductors – Michael Misiloi, Kaleb Cant and Seth Sinclair:

“The leadership shown by those three boys was outstanding.”

Well done boys – you're reaching for the stars!

God bless and aroha,

Lorraine Frances-Rees