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

Goal Setting
Thank you to the many families who have shared your perspective on your child's learning.  I have read them all and we're really grateful for your thoughts on how it can help us to do more of what works.  Its really lovely to see your children reflected through your eyes, thank you for the opportunity.

You should have all received a digital form from your teacher.  A hard copy was also sent home with all children on Tuesday if you would prefer to do it that way.

If you haven't yet booked your meeting for next week please make make a booking - we need to see you all please - go to: www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the code es4nv

Sports Code of Conduct
You will have received this by now - also in dual mode - digital and hard copy.  Please take careful note of it and what is expected of you.  Our sports teams are a privilege running on the goodwill of our parents.  Please support them.\

Around St Joseph's This Afternoon

Whitestone Wipeout

The Home and School are doing a really professional job of organising the Whitestone Wipeout.  Check out the Facebook page and remember to register: https://www.facebook.com/whitestonewipeout/.  It will be a BIG fundraiser for St Joseph's.  The Home and School AGM is Thursday 1st March at 7pm in the school staffroom.

Enrichment
Our enrichment philosophy and processes were last updated in 2013.  Then they were in line with what our experience, the most up to date research and children and parents told us was good for children needing enrichment.  It is now time to review our philosophies and procedures and check we are in line with best practice.   This year Jennifer Herbst (previously teacher in charge of enrichment at Rosmini College, Auckland) and Sara Jones-Hogan our Special Education Needs Coordinator are being supported with a leadership provision to review our enrichment procedures and practices.

Our enrichment register is updated annually and we ensure we maintain a range of activities and opportunities to provide for a variety of gifts and talents.  If your child is on the enrichment register you will be told at the goal setting meetings.

Our criteria are:

• Possibly gifted and talented = in OUR top 20% academically AND have an outstanding talent in another area.
• Possibly gifted and talented = have a "different" or "unique" approach AND have an outstanding talent in another area.
• Probably gifted and talented = have at least three distinct gifts in areas such as art, music, language, drama, reading, sport etc.

A simple way of looking at things is group of people falls into a "bell curve" with the majority of people fitting in the middle range and some above and some below and we adjust our teaching to fit the range of needs to include both above and below.  A more complex way and one that we prefer - is that all children have a mix of gifts and needs and we need to give them all opportunities for their whole character to shine and give support for the parts that are weaker.  Children who have learning needs sometimes have developed exceptional talents to compensate.   Children who jump quickly to global thinking may find it difficult to collaborate, or follow through to completion, or many other things.  So we continue to treat each child as an individual.

I will be taking a year 7 & 8 maths enrichment group again this year starting next term and I'm looking forward to it.  

Jennifer and Sara will communicate with you about enrichment more as the year goes on.  In the meantime please be aware our class teachers are well aware of the needs of all of our children and plan diverse programs to suit all needs.

Veritas Challenge
Our year 8s have started working on their Veritas Challenge.  This is our version of the Duke of Edinburgh award.  It involves them taking challenges and gaining points for leadership, cultural, education outside the classroom, service and keeping inspired. (https://sites.google.com/stjoseph.school.nz/veritas-challenge/home)

God Bless and Aroha
Lorraine Frances-Rees

2. Special Character - Week 4, Term 1 2018

Sacramental Programme:-

A reminder that there is a parent meeting next Monday, February 26@7pm for those who have enrolled their child into the Sacramental Programme.

Mrs Winders will also begin sessions during school time next week in helping to prepare your child for Reconciliation.

Faith Facts this Week:-

1st Week of Lent

22nd Chair of St Peter

This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church. There is an object (A chair!) known as "the Chair of St. Peter." It is in the Vatican, at the back of St. Peter's basilica.

Lent

Lent is a way for Catholics and many Christians to remind themselves of the value of repentance. The austerity of the Lenten season is seen as similar to how people in the Old Testament fasted and repented in sackcloth and ashes. It reminds us to turn away from wrong doing and return to God. The pillars of Lent are, prayer, service and fasting.

God Bless

Nicola Winders

Co DRS

3. School Notices - Week 4, Term 1 2018

QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Altar Servers
Saturday 24th February - Elenoa Asi and 3 from St Kevin's
Sunday 25th February - Daniel & Jonathan Jorgensen, Morgan Baillie and Henry Robinson

Birthday Greetings 
Jack O'Neill, Jack Phillips, Indiana Illingworth and Reynaldo Marasigan

Warning - Magnetic Putty
Please open the link to read an article about arsenic being a component of magnetic putty.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155698481477025&id=665732024

Cricket
Friday Night - we are looking for 2 girls to play in the Yr 5-8 grade.  The game starts at 4.00 pm and goes for approximately 35 minutes.  Everyone gets to bowl 1 over and bat for 2 overs.  These games are designed for fun and participation and costs nothing to join.  Contact Paula Brien if your daughter is interested in playing.

Saturday Morning
The primary grade team is looking for 2 more players to join their team on a Saturday morning.  If your child is interested in playing cricket from Yr 4 upward, contact Paula Brien.

Draw - Saturday 24th February 
8.45 am - Intermediate A - St Joseph's/Union v Valley Blue at SKC 1
9.00 am - Intermediate B - St Joseph's v Valley White at SKC Artificial 1
9.00 am - Primary - St Joseph's v Albion at SKC Artificial 2

ICAS Examinations
Are available for Yrs 4-8 in Digital, Technologies, Maths, English, Science and Spelling while Yr 3 are able to sit English, Maths and Science.  The cost to sit the examinations are:  Spelling $11.50 with the other subjects costing $9.50 each.  Please contact the office if you wish your child/children to participate by Thursday 15th March.

Lost
Elise Hedlund (Yr 1) has lost her named St Joseph's jacket.  Please have a look at your child's clothing to see if they have the correct jacket.

Publication Photographs
Your son/daughter may have their photo taken at school from time to time and / or produce work that can be celebrated to the entire school community and beyond, through the school internet site. 
If anyone does not consent to St Joseph's School publishing photographs of your son/daughter in the St Joseph's website, local newspapers and other publications which may arise from time to time or that the publications will be made available to the public or maybe used in photographic display at educational and marketing events, prospectus and brochures, please contact the school office. 
This consent is part of our generic permission form which everyone has seen and returned last year or if you are new, you will have received it in your starting pack.

Senior School Swimming Sports
These sports have come upon us really quickly!!  They are held next Friday and at this stage I have an offer of 2 parent helpers only - HELP - We desperately need some parents to help with time keeping duties as we usually get help with students from St Kevin's but Oamaru Intermediate have their swimming sports at the same time and our numbers will be limited.  Contact Paula Brien if you can help.
Please read the notice below as there have been some changes.

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL SENIOR SWIMMING SPORTS 2018 Year 4 - 8

Friday ^2nd March at the Waitaki Aquatic Centre

Dear Parents

Our first race will be at 9:30 am and will be finished by 12.30 pm. Children need to be at school in their full PE uniform before 8.50 am as we will be walking the children down in classes as close to 9.00 am as possible.  Please ensure that your child has plenty of food and a water bottle as they get quite hungry at the pool.

We require a parent with a trailer who can help transport chairs down to the pool on the day .  If you can help, please contact me.

This year we want to have at least three timekeepers per swimming lane for our six lanes.  We desperately need timekeepers as we only have 2 volunteers at this stage.  If you are interested in timekeeping, please see me at school or email sport@stjoseph.school.nz  (You will be shown how to time keep beforehand at the pool)

The children are encouraged to wear their house colours once they arrive at the pool.  Face paint and vivid markers are not allowed.

We will have demonstration races for those children who can swim half a length in the stroke of their choice. 

The order of events is: 4 lengths Medley and then the non-competitive and competitive events in each event and finish with the relays. There will be no finals run, only heats as they will be timed.  Programmes will be available to buy for a gold coin donation.  These will be available from the recorder.

We have entered the children in races they are confident in and the swimming instructors and sports coordinator have both been looking at them. If you want to ensure that your children are in the races you feel they should be, please contact Paula Brien.

Ages are taken as of the 14th March for the age groups for the swimming sports.

Places will be determined on times recorded. This year every competitive swimmer will receive 2 house points and non-championship will receive 1 house point.  Each competitive swimmer who gets a placing will earn 1 point for 3^rd place, 2 points for 2^nd place and 3 points for 1^st place. There will be no width events.

The starting procedure is, a whistle for quiet, ‘on your marks’, followed by a bang. Please be quiet when the swimmers are under starter’s orders.

The various swimming events will be put on a whiteboard, which will go past.  Each teacher will have a copy of the order of events as well. Please listen carefully for the marshalling calls.

Please do not approach the recorders for results.

Parents please sit on the opposite side of the pool to the children and the children will be required to stay in the stands as we won’t have time to find them if they miss their races.

North Otago and Otago Swimming Sports

The swimmers qualifying for the North Otago championship will be required to perform the stroke correctly. We will have someone checking on technique at the sports and the children will be disqualified if they are using an incorrect technique.

Entry for North Otago swimming sports is taken on times not places, hence our recording of times on the day.  The North Otago swimming sports are on Wednesday 14^th of March. The children who qualify for the North Otago swimming sports will be notified.

Otago Primary School’s swimming takes place on Saturday 7^th April at Moana Pool in Dunedin.  The first race is at 9.00 am and the entry fee is $6.00 per race entered ($6 entry fee for a relay).  If you wish for your child to take part in this, please let me know ASAP so we can use the swimming times.  Entries to Paula by Friday 16^th March with no late entries being accepted.

Tongan Fund

On Friday 2nd March at 3.10 pm, the Yr 8 students are planning to fundraise for the Tongan Fund.  They will be selling spiders, popcorn, fruit kebabs, sherbet, muffins, slime, candy applies, cookies and cupcakes.  If you would like to donate something as well (cakes, muffins or biscuits), please send it along next Thursday 1st March.  All the profit will be going to Tonga to help fix things around the country.  Items will be priced between $1.00 to $2.00.  Thank you from the Yr 8's.

Our school is having a mufti day on Thursday 1st March.  Please send along a gold coin donation if your child wishes to wear mufti.  Fr Wayne has generously offered to match whatever we make.  Thank you so much Fr Wayne.

Touch Rugby Draw
At this stage we have not heard about any changes to the draw so it will be the same as last week.
Yr 1/2/3
St Joseph's Tigers v Weston Wasps at 4.00 pm on field 1b
St Joseph's Broncos v Ardgowan Red at 4.00 pm on field 2a
Yr 4/5/6
St Joseph's Rockets v Papakaio Jaguars at 4.00 pm on field 6
St Joseph's Ferns v Weston Warriors at 4.00 pm on field 7
Yr 7/8
St Joseph's Turbos v Glenavy Giants at 5.00 pm on field 3
St Joseph's Dynamos v U12 mixed rep team at 5.00 pm on field 9

Website
Our website is up and running and the news blog will be accessed via the blog.  All sports draws and other information will be available on the blog.  The link to the website is
ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL WEBSITE

Winter Sports 
Enrolments
This week after a few settling in problems, the winter sports enrolment form was sent out via a google form where you enter the information for each individual child and submit it back.  We require this information by Monday 26th February (originally it was tomorrow) so we can start to sort numbers out for teams.  If your child is not playing a winter sport for St Joseph's, please let Paula Brien know email sport@stjoseph.school.nz so she doesn't chase you up.

Basketball
North Otago Basketball are holding their AGM on Thursday 1st March at 7.30 pm at the de Geest Construction Office, Main North Road, Oamaru at 7.30 pm.  They definitely need/want some new people to join their committee

Hockey
Oamaru Sports & Outdoors are having a Kookaburra Hockey sale on Monday 26th February and the Kookaburra rep will be strom from 2.30 to 5.00 pm.

Rugby - Small Blacks Rugby Smart Course
This course will be held on Saturday 7th April at Whitestone Stadium at 10.00 am.  Can all rugby coaches and managers attend this practical course.   More details to follow at a later date.  Mark your diary.

Giving Back to NICU and Children's Unit
Andrew Sinclair - a Yr 8 student at school is doing a fundraising initiative for the NICU and Children's Unit.  Andrew wants to raise $1,000 for both units to share and has set up a 'Give-a-Little' page.  If you would like to help, go to the link on https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/giving-back-to-neonatal-intensive-care-unit-nicu#

Community Notices

• St Kevin's Rowing is holding a quiz night on Monday 26th February at the North Star starting at 6.30 pm.  Costs $30 per team.
• North Otago U15 Girls Basketball trials - due to lack of numbers at the first trial they are calling a second trial for the U15 girls at the Waitaki Recreation Centre on Monday 26th February from 3.30 to 4.15 pm.  If you have any questions, contact Susan on 027 222 2187.
• Oamaru Multisport Club - there will be a fun duathlon/triathlon fun fun held on Wednesday 28th February at 6.00 pm at the harbour.
• Kiwikids Tryathlon - held on Thursday 8th March at 4.00 pm at Oamaru Intermediate School
• Scouts Adventure Plus - the Columba Scout Group is an amazing way to meet new people while learning fun new skills.  It will take you out of your comfort zone and take you on wild trips and camps.  For more information, contact Group Leader Neville Corry on 437 2531.  Further information is attached to the email.
• Parenting Helpline - get support, advice and practical strategies - call 0800 568 856

4. Diary Dates - Week 4, Term 1 2018

FEBRUARY

Friday 23                          -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

                                         -  Cricket – Boys Bash & Girls Smash at 4.00 pm

Monday 26                       -  Winter Sports Enrolments due in *

                                         -  Sacramental Programme meeting for parents at 7.00 pm

Tuesday 27                       - Swimming lessons for Yr 4-8 at 1.00 – 2.00 pm

Wednesday 28                  -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

                                         -  Goal Setting Meetings & Winter Sports Enrolments from 3.15 to 7.30 pm

MARCH

Thursday 1                       -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Mufti Day for Tongan fundraiser – gold coin donation *

                                         -  Terrific Thursdays for 4 year olds – junior verandah at 2.15 pm

                                         -  Goal Setting Meetings & Winter Sports Enrolments from 3.15 to 7.30 pm

                                         -  Home & School AGM at 7.00 pm in the school staffroom

Friday 2                           -  Senior school swimming sports from 9.00 to 12.00

                                         -  Cricket Shield quarter final if qualified

                                         -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

                                         -  Fundraiser – items of food for sale after school *

                                         -  Cricket Boys Bash/Girls Smash at 4.00 pm

Wednesday 7                    -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

Thursday 8                       -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

                                         -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 9                            -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

                                         -  Cricket – Boys Bash/Girls Smash at 4.00 pm

Saturday 10                       -  Reconciliation Mass at 5.00 pm

                                         -  Parish School BBQ from 6.00 pm

Sunday 11                        -  Reconciliation Mass at 9.30 am Mass

Tuesday 13                       -  Board of Trustee meeting at 6.30 pm

Wednesday 14                  -  North Otago Swimming Sports

                                         -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 – 3.20 pm

Thursday 15                     -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 16                          -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

                                         -  Cricket – Boys Bash/Girls Smash finishes today

Monday 19                       -  St Joseph’s Day

                                         -  Education Review Office (ERO) visit this week

                                         -  Swimming lessons for NE to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm

Tuesday 20                       -  ERO Board Meeting

Wednesday 21                  -  Swimming lessons for NE  to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm           

                                         -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

Thursday 22                     -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                         -  Yr 7 Early Childhood Buddies and Young Vinnies

                                          -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 23                          -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm       

Monday 26                       -  Otago Anniversary Day (holiday)

Tuesday 27                       -  Life Education Visit

                                          -  Swimming lessons for NE  to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm

Wednesday 28                   -  Swimming lessons for NE  to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm

                                          -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

                                          -  Life Education Visit

Thursday 29                      -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                          -  Life Education Visit

                                          -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 30                           -  Good Friday – school closed

APRIL

Monday 2                           -  Easter Monday – school closed

Tuesday 3                           -  Easter Tuesday – school closed

Wednesday 4                     -  Swimming lessons for NE  to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm

                                          -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

Thursday 5                        -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                          -  Swimming lessons for NE  to Yr 3 from 1.00 0 2.00 pm

                                          -  Netball – Future Ferns Fun Day from 4.00 to 6.00 pm

Friday 6                             -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

Saturday 7                         -  Otago Primary School Swimming sports

Saturday 7                         -  Home & School Wipeout Fundraiser

Wednesday 11                   -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College from 1.00 to 3.20 pm

Thursday 12                      -  School Mass at 9.15 am

                                          -  Terrific Thursdays at 2.15 pm

Friday 13                           -  Term 1 finishes today

                                           -  Celebration Assembly at 2.30 pm

Wednesday 25                   -  ANZAC Day

Monday 30                         -  Term 2 starts today

JUNE

Monday 4                           -  Queens Birthday (holiday)

JULY

Friday 6                              -  Term 2 finishes today

Monday 23                         -  Term 3 starts today

SEPTEMBER

Friday 28                            - Term 3 finishes today

OCTOBER

Monday 15                         -  Term 4 starts today

Monday 22                         -  Labour Day (holiday)

DECEMBER

Tuesday 19                        -  Term 4 finishes today

1. Principal's News - Week 3 Term 1 2018

Our Updated Website
Our updated website is finally live.  Check it out.  Feedback is most welcome.  The great thing is we have created it and own it ourselves and we can quickly make adjustments so that it meets your needs and our needs.  The newsblog will always be linked to the front page.  Its at: stjoseph.school.nz:

Goal Setting 
The teachers and students are hard at work reviewing their achievement and making their next steps.  For our goal-setting meetings your child and their teacher will share their learning goals in maths, reading and writing.  Your child and their teacher will have done some reflection on how they are using the New Zealand curriculum key competencies of managing self, relating to others, participating and contributing, thinking and language, symbols and texts.  People who use these competencies well become successful independent lifelong learners. 

Early next week we will be asking you for some information on your child's interests outside of school, what you think helps them learn well, what gets in the way of their learning and what you think would be something would help them reach their next goal.  This will form the basis of a conversation between yourself, your child and their teacher at goal setting about the things that need to be in place in your child's own attitude and application and what we can put in place around them to support their best outcomes. 

Please making a booking on 28 February or 1 March for a goal setting meeting and please fill in and return the form to us when you get it.  You will be getting it by email and you can reply immediately.  There will also be a hard copy in your child's bag if you would prefer to do it that way.  They will be going home next Monday.

Budget 2018
Our budget outline for 2018 is shared below.  It is a "no frills" budget.  It illustrates how even though education is supposed to be fully funded by the government and free at the point of delivery, we actually cannot run the school without the parent donations.

Yr 7 children at their swim lessons

God Bless and Aroha
Lorraine Frances-Rees

INCOME
010 Government Grants	305249
015 Notional Lease	162400
016 MOE Teacher Funded Salaries	758940
020 Investment Income	1000
030 Trading	3000
040 Fundraising	9800
050 Activities = Parent donations	17376
	1257765
EXPENDITURE
055 Discretionary Welfare	0
060 Library	1050
070 Teaching Resources	29525
072 Professional Development	16600
075 ICT Plan	18813.71
080 Equipment Repairs	1800
090 Staff Expenses - teacher aides and learning support	75265.2
095 MOE Teacher Funded Salaries - teachers	758940
100 General	1200
110 Communications	4000
120 BOT Expenses	9520
130 Audit Fee	6250
140 Admin Consumables	6500
150 Staff Expenses	51200
160 Administration	11805
170 Caretaking & Cleaning	5400
180 Light, Heat & Water	16650
190 Grounds	3600
200 Repairs & Maintenance	11500
205 Notional Lease	162400
210 Capital Purchase	0
220 Staff Wages - support staff	40844.4
230 Fundraising on behalf of	0
240 Activities	9720.5
300 Depreciation	13750
	1256333.81
Operating Surplus/(-Deficit)	1431.19