4. Diary Dates - Week 7, Term 4 2023

 

NOVEMBER
Friday 24	Yr 7 & 8 camp
Wednesday 29	Yr 8 Transition Day to St Kevin’s
DECEMBER
Friday 1	Multicultural Day  Athletic trophies presented at assembly *
Tuesday 5	Board of Trustee meeting
Friday 8	Yr 7 & 8 Social
Wednesday 13	End of Year Mass at 6.00 pm
Thursday 14	End of Year Assembly at 2.00 pm
Friday 15	Last day of school - school closes at 12.30 pm
JANUARY 2024
Wednesday	School starts for term 1
FEBRUARY
Friday 2	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Monday 5	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Tuesday 6	Waitangi Day - school closed
Wednesday 7	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Friday 9	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Wednesday 14	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Friday 16	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8
Wednesday 28	Senior school swimming sports

1. Principal's News - Week 5, Term 4 2023

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Kia Ora, Wow we are halfway through the term and only 45 more sleeps until Santa comes.  We have a massive amount to cover between now and the end of school.

Teacher Only Day

School will be closed for instruction next Friday 17th November.  We are having training on the New Curriculum and other mandatory training from the Ministry of Education.

Athletic Sports

We had a great day of competition and fun when competing with Te Pakihi o Maru last Tuesday.  The weather allowed us to get all the events and activities covered.  Our juniors were hosted by Te Pakihi o Maru and we had the senior events here at St Joseph's.

We had a host of parents, ex-pupils and whanau supporting us in running the events.  A very big thank you to them for helping the day run so smoothly.  A very large thank you to Paula Brien for organising the day and preparing the event for the students.  It is very much appreciated from the staff, children and community.  

The North Otago Athletics will be held on Monday 20th November at Centennial Park starting at 4.00 pm.  As St Joseph's and Te Pakihi o Maru schools are combined into a school zone, we will send the top 2 qualifiers for the field events and the top 3 qualifiers for the track events to these sports.  Children who have qualified will be given a notice today and permission slips need to be handed back to the office by this Monday 13th November.

The senior athletic trophy presentations will be awarded at assembly on Friday 1st December starting at 2.30 pm.

Year 7 /8 Camp

The year 7 and 8 pupils, Nicola Winders and myself will be away on school camp from Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th November.  We will be having the group up in Peel Forest with outdoor challenges and experiences.

God Bless

Allan Mitchell

Acting Principal

2. Faith Facts - Week 5, Term 4 2023

 Welcome to the end of Week 5 Term 4

Week 5 6th - 10th November

At our Parish Mass last Sunday 5th November, our 3 Sacramental students received their 1st Holy Communion with 6 other primary-aged students from across the Parish.  A lovely celebration to complete their Confirmation, Reconciliation & Eucharist 2023 Faith Journey.

                                                

These 3 also received the Sacrament of Reconciliation after our School Mass on Thursday Week 4. The Senior school students were also privileged to receive Reconciliation after Mass with Father Fredy.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
5 31st SUNDAY in Ordinary Time	6	7	8	9 The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica	10 St Leo the Great, pope, doctor	11 St Martin of Tours, bishop

Prayer intention for November

For the Pope, We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfills his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Last days of Spring

Spring is a time of change. Some changes we joyfully await, and some we dread. Some changes we plan and others arrive unexpectedly. To all changes, we ask for the gifts of, hope, and rebirth.

May the sunlight and the rain be reminders that You are at work renewing the earth before the coming of summer. God of renewal, continue to renew and invigorate our lives to help us be ready for the joy and life of summer.

Open our eyes to the needed changes from Spring to Summer. Awaken us to new life and perspective as we journey through the term. Amen

Nga mihi nui

Leanne Brookes

DRS

3. School Notices - Week 5, Term 4 2023

 QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Birthday Greetings

Hiera B

Futsal Draw - Monday 13th November

Yr 3/4 - St Joseph's Tigers v Fenwick Fantails at 4.00 pm on court 1B

Yr 5/6 - St Joseph's Rockets v Papakaio Pythons at 4.30 pm on court 1

Yr 7/8 - St Joseph's Ferns v OIS Hurricanes at 6.00 pm on court 2

Loud Shirt Day

Recently the students were asked to wear a loud shirt on the day in support and bring a gold coin donation in support of the charity of The Hearing House and the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP). We are excited to mention that Fr Wayne has generously offered to match what we raised and will be donating another $80 to this worthwhile cause.

Multicultural Day

St Joseph’s School is celebrating Multicultural Day on Friday 1st of December. We invite you to take this opportunity to connect with your whānau if you are interested in performing on the day.

Please email the office or Miss Sollano at ssollano@stjoseph.school.nz if you would like to participate.

Photos

If you have taken any photos of either the junior or senior athletics, can you please share them with us, thank you.

Road Patrol Celebration

In appreciation for your child's service in road patrol for our school, the police are holding a pool party on Thursday, November 16, at the swimming pool from 11 am until 12.30 pm.  Students will also receive a subway lunch compliments of the police on the day. Students are asked to bring a filled water bottle, swimming togs and a towel. 

Welcome

We warmly welcome Zayn S and Maximus L who started at our school recently.

Christian Art Exhibition

Daniel Ho belongs to the Christchurch Parish North.  As a witness to the Gospel, he has been doing Christian art exhibitions throughout the South Island and he will be having an art exhibition at St Patrick's Basilica from Monday 13th to Sunday 19th November. 

4. Diary Dates - Week 5, Term 4 2023

 

NOVEMBER
Thursday 16	School Mass including a baptism * School Road Patrol pool party
Friday 17	School Closed - Teacher Only Day *
Monday 20	North Otago Athletics starting at 4.00 pm *
Wednesday 22	Yr 7 & 8 camp
Thursday 23	Yr 7 & 8 camp  School Mass at 9.15 am
Friday 24	Yr 7 & 8 camp
Wednesday 29	Yr 8 Transition Day to St Kevin’s
DECEMBER
Friday 1	Multicultural Day
Tuesday 5	Board of Trustee meeting
Friday 8	Yr 7 & 8 Social
Wednesday 13	End of Year Mass at 6.00 pm *
Thursday 14	End of Year Assembly at 2.00 pm *
Friday 15	Last day of school - school closes at 12.30 pm *
JANUARY 2024
Wednesday 31	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
FEBRUARY
Friday 2	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
Tuesday 6	Waitangi Day - school closed *
Wednesday 7	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
Friday 9	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
Wednesday 14	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
Friday 16	Swimming lessons for yrs 1-8 *
Wednesday 28	Senior school swimming sports *

1. Principal's News - Week 3, Term 4 2023

 Dear Parents and Whanau

Camp

Over the last two days, I have had the pleasure of being with the year 6 students at Camp IONA.  We were challenged with river crossings, ropes work, canoeing, archery and yachting.  Camp is always a great time and I am looking forward to the year 7/8 camp in late November.

School Athletics

We are busy practicing for school athletics, a day we share with Te Pakihi o Maru.  This is on Tuesday 7th November with a postponement day of Thursday 9th November.  We still need parents / older siblings to help out on the day and if you can help, please contact the office.

School Photos

You should have received an email from the school photographer 'Photolife' with a code and price list to order school photos.  If you have not got this code, check your junk box and spam, and then if all else fails, call the office as we have all the codes.  To get the free delivery, photos need to be ordered by Friday 17th November.

School Closed

New Zealand schools are introducing a new curriculum and schools have been granted a day to introduce this to staff.  Our school will be CLOSED for instruction on FRIDAY 17TH NOVEMBER.  We know this is a disruption to you but staff need a clear day in which to immerse themselves into new learnings for the benefit of the children.

Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees has been working with the St Kevin's Board to create a shared vision and strategic plan for the future of Catholic education in North Otago.  Last week, 8 members of the parish, St Joseph's BOT and St Kevin's BOT visited schools in the Brisbane area to help our big-vision thinking.  All members came back excited and united.  We look forward to all working together.

God Bless

Allan Mitchell

Acting Principal