1. Principal's News Term 1 Week 4 2022

Our New Building

I met with our architect from McCoy Wixon yesterday and we looked at concept drawings for our new building.  Our Board and staff have already given feedback on draft drawings and it was great to see that our feedback had been incorporated into the new design.

We are presently starting to organise our resources and spaces so that we can move out of our senior block later in the year.  Before that, our junior office area is going to be revamped and modernised.

Here are some of the concept pictures of our new senior block:

Parent Survey

Next week I will be sending out a simple survey.  With our new build and many other changes, it is time that St Joseph's looked at our school vision, what we want to achieve for our students and families and how we are going to do that in the future.  So it's a good time to start a conversation with our families.  To begin this I am sending out the beginning survey next week.  It is open-ended questions, which means you can write what you want in response and I will consider all responses carefully.  Please know that every family in our school has a part to play in our future and we want to know what you ALL think.  Once I have the survey responses I will plan to find a way of getting us together in a group to discuss, brainstorm and dream up the future for our tamariki.

Living the Word of God

Our prayer focus last week was our school's value Resilience and the Bible readings: Joshua 1:9 & Luke 11:9. During the week we were specifically looking out for children who keep trying and/or bounce back when things get tough. By doing this they live out the Word of God in action.

Our principal's award recipients for Resilience last week were Molly, Isla and Emily. Well done.

Parent-teacher-student interviews

Thank you to the parents who signed up for our online parent-teacher-student interviews.  This was new for everyone and well done all for giving it a go.  Most of our families participated.  The teachers felt it was a very intimate way of doing it and they felt they got a greater understanding for the families which will help with the learning.

Request for play resources 

The tamariki would really like more play resources for building and creative play.  If you have any planks, tyres, hay bales (not too many), plastic bread trays or anything similar that they can use for building, this would be gratefully received.  We can let you in the Torridge Street gate if you have things to drop off, please let us know in advance.

Covid Notifications

Please let me know if your child is waiting for a test or is staying at home needing to isolate.  I have been sending out home learning packs to families and will add you in if you let the office know.  Your child only needs to stay at home if they are a close contact.  If you have a positive test, can you please let me know immediately you get the result on principal@stjoseph.school.nz or ring the office during school hours.

God Bless and Aroha

Lorraine