A big thank you to the Home and School for organising the AMAZING Whitestone Wipeout. Not only have you come up with a fantastic fund-raiser but it was a true community event, a Kiwi experience, and many people said it was the best event they had been to in a long time. St Joseph's Home and School I think you have started an historic Oamaru event. In particular, thank you to Rebecca Heffernan and Rebecca Meek for incredible vision and organisation and the big team of Home and School parents who did so much to make it happen. We're proud of you and what you've achieved.
See the Whitestone Wipeout Facebook page for all photos and our St Joseph's Facebook page or School Photos of Whitestone Wipeout
Enrolments
Our open place enrolments
are full until 2022 and I sadly have to turn people away. But we can take Catholic-affiliated families.
That means children who are Baptised, or preparing for Baptism or have siblings or
parents who are Baptised or preparing.
Jesus
told his disciples to go out into the world and preach the Good News to the
whole of creation. Our Church spreads the Good News in many ways and one
major way is through our Catholic schools and one way you can do this is to
have a think about what you can do to bring Christ into the life of a child. If
you are a practising Catholic it is possible that you can support a child who
is close to you to enter St Joseph's school. Please have a chat with me if you
think this may be the case.
NZEI Campaign
NZEI, the teacher's union is soon to begin a national campaign. I would like to ask you to consider supporting this campaign. The main things we are concerned about are: the shortage of quality teachers; how many teachers and principals are not staying in the profession due to stress and overload - that's not a whinge, it means we're losing our combined expertise; large class sizes; and the lack of services and support for children with learning and/or behavioural needs. There is a pay rise request. But a few years ago teachers were vehemently against suggested pay rises when what is really needed is more help for children and that's where we want the money to go. But now we are addressing teacher shortage and we need to also attract quality people into our profession.
All of us in the profession do it for the children and we want what the parents want - a good education for the children, reasonable class sizes, and extra support for the children who need it. I believe widespread positive support for this campaign can only result in better learning conditions for your children, and children's children.
Ordination of Bishop
On Thursday, April the 26th at 6.00pm Fr Michael Dooley will be ordained the 7th Bishop of our Otago-Southland Diocese in the Dunedin Town Hall. Everyone is very welcome to attend and we encourage families from our school to be there. Could children please wear their school uniform. While the Mass will be a little longer than usual the Town Hall has plenty of space if younger children are getting restless. It will be wonderful to gather with families and parishioners from all over our Diocese.
Our parish is putting on a bus to go to this event at $10 per person. I will be attending with our four head students. If anyone else would like to come on the bus please let the office know.
God Bless and Aroha
Lorraine Frances-Rees
