1. Principal News Week 3 Term 1 2016

"This is an historic occasion", said Bishop Colin after the Commissioning Mass yesterday. Normally, the bishop commissions our teachers in a private ceremony at the Dean O'Reilly Lounge. We were blessed to share this reminder about our Christ centred vocation as teachers in Catholic schools with all of our students in the St Kevin's College Chapel. There were almost 700 students witnessing the commissioning of our teachers. Although it was a very warm afternoon, our students participated reverently. You can see more photos further on the blog.

Meet the Teacher / Family Learning Hui
Thanks to our staff and families who attended the hui last night. Here were some of the items on the agenda and some links : Reach model, strategic plan  Goals 2016 maths, writing , RE, and plans for board consultation at goal setting meetings, Home & School news, Maths focus - maths blog, Book Fair, Yr 8 video from Week 1 mass, Communication - emails, newsblogs,Teaching and Learning Site, Linewize video and update, Parent Portal, Sport registrations, Reminder about drop and drive (especially for new parents). If you wish to find out more about any on this, please come and talk to me or email me jjackson@stjoseph.school.nz.

Goal Setting Week 5
Online bookings will open on Monday for these important meetings. This is when children, parents and teachers come together to plan goals for the year. The meetings are 10 minutes long and take place in the school hall. We expect 100% turnout and as many of you know, I will be contacting you to ensure support for these meetings. This is the same week as our Book Fair and Book Character Dress up day. Mrs Souness will be available to discuss and register your children for winter sports during these meetings.

Phonebook Fundraiser
Our St Joseph's triennial major fundraiser is in full swing now. For those of you new to the school, this is a large print phonebook. The last one was printed in 2013. The board organise the advertising and printing and the Home and School organise the selling and distribution. This is a North Otago Community Directory. If you would like to advertise in it, please contact Paula in our office pbrien@stjoseph.school.nz. Are you available to help proofread the draft? Please let our office know. It is due to be printed in March. If you know of any corrections from last time, also let us know. Oamaru Print and Copy are our printers for 2016.

Board News
Mrs Bev Conlan is our new Board Chairperson. Bev is a Bishop's rep on our board. This means that she has the responsibility to ensure we focus on our Catholicity alongside Adrienne Wylie, Des Burke and Fr Wayne. Bev was the Principal of Duntroon School for many years and brings her educational expertise to the table. You can keep up with the latest board reports on our board blog at this link. We are looking forward to Reaching for the Stars as Lifelong Learners in the Catholic Faith with Bev and our board.

2. Special Character - Week 3 Term 1 2016

The logo and the motto together provide a fitting summary of what the Jubilee Year is all about. The motto Merciful Like the Father (taken from the Gospel of Luke 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure. The logo has been designed to express the profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the flesh of humanity and does so with a love that has a power to change one's life. One particular feature worthy of note is that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of a man.

 On Wednesday 17th February we joined with St. Kevin's Staff and children for the teachers Commissioning Mass. At this special Mass  teachers from our two Catholic School received a very special blessing from Bishop Colin to support us in our teaching of the faith to our children. 

Father Wayne and Bishop Colin welcome us all to the Commissioning Mass.

Thomas Pickles, a former pupil of St. Joseph's, and Rhea Ratgali, Special Character Leader,
share the first two readings with us.

Our other two Special Character Leaders, Michael Misiloi and Jack Cameron, read the Prayers of the Faithful with Niamh Farrell (a former Special Character Leader at St. Joseph's).

Bishop Colin blessing the teachers of St. Joseph's and St. Kevin's.

Mrs Jenny Jackson as Special Minister.

All children received Communion or a blessing.

Mrs Jackson thanked Bishop Colin, Father Wayne, Mr Paul Olsen,
Mr Tony Hanning and Katrina van de Water for their support in putting this day together.
We are truly blessed.

3. School Notices - Week 3, Term 1 2016

Altar Servers
Saturday 20th February - Elenoa & Halalova Asi, Seth Sinclair and Lachlan Brookes
Sunday 21st February - Michael Misiloi, Sebastian Whiston and Vince Vidallon

Birthday Greetings to:
Cheyanne Hirst, Niamh Jackson, William Moore and Jack O'Neill

Book Character Dress Up Day and Book Fair
Please note the Book Character Dress Up day has changed from Friday 26th February to Monday 29th February. The Book Fair will be open on Monday 29th February to Friday 4th March from 8.30 to 9.10 am in the mornings and from 2.40 to 3.15 pm in the afternoons in the school hall.  There are still spaces available for parents to help with the fair and with reading to the children.

Generic Permission Form
A generic permission form has gone home today with every child.  This form has information on Cyber-safety, Bring Your Own Device/Cell Phone, School Website photo permission and Education Outside the Classroom which needs to be signed and returned to the school office immediately. Please note this form will be a one off form and will remain with your child as long as he/she is enrolled at the school.  For further information and clarification about cyber-safety, please visit our teaching and learning website under the bar 'Digital and Agreements'.

Hawke Cup - Cricket
Yesterday some of our senior children were lucky to have a look at the Cricket Hawke Cup which was being shown to North Otago schools by the North Otago Cricket champions.  It was won by North Otago at the weekend for the 2nd time in its history after North Otago defeated Buller in Westport.  They will defend the cup against Hawkes Bay in a couple of weeks.

Home and School
A reminder about the family $10 contribution for the food fair and there is a meeting tonight at 7.30 pm in the staff room.

Lost
Neighton Fraser has lost his new swimming goggles which are white speedos with mirror lens at the pool on Monday.  Please check your child's swimming bag to see if they have been picked up by mistake and return them to the school office.

New School Polar Fleeces
Should be arriving at the end of next week for those who have pre-ordered them.  Orders are still being taken for the next batch of polar fleeces.

Otago Athletics
This weekend there will be 13 children from our school competing at the Otago Athletics championships in Dunedin.  Good luck to you all and we look forward to hearing your results.

Parent Portal
Our school has changed over to a new system called MUSAC where parents can view their contact details, view reports and their school account information in which you will be able to make payments against your school account.  Each parent should have received a generated email enabling them to log onto the MUSAC system.  If you have trouble logging onto this system, please contact the school for help. If you notice that your contact details are wrong, please let the office know.

Scholastic Lucky Book Club
The order sheets have been handed out to the children and are due back in two weeks. When there is an order for a book, a percentage goes back to the school to enable us to buy books for the school.

Summer Sports Draw
Cricket - Saturday 20th February
4th Grade - Albion v St Joseph's at WCPOO
5th Grade - St Joseph's has the bye

Touch Rugby - Tuesday 23rd February
The draw was unavailable at the time the newsletter went to print.  Please check the North Otago Touch Rugby Facebook page or see the notice board for your time.

Thank you
A huge thank you to both Melissa Davison and Leanne Tuffley who have offered to coordinate the Scholastic Book Club orders and the Subway orders on a Friday.

Winter Sports Sign Up
Mrs Souness will be at both of the Goal Setting Meetings (Parent/Teacher meeting) on Monday 29th February and Thursday 3rd March to sign up children who want to play winter sports for the school.

Community Notices

• Primary & Secondary Schools Triathlon and Duathlon series is being held on Wednesday evenings in February at the Oamaru Harbour.  Registration starts at 5.30 pm.  For further information visit the Oamaru Multisport website or facebook page.
• The Race Relations Day Celebration Multicultural Concert will be held on Saturday 19th March at the Oamaru Opera House at 7.00 pm.  Doors open at 6.30 pm.  Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children.  Tickets available from Ticket Direct at the Opera House.

4. Commissioning Mass 2016

Yesterday St Joseph's school and St Kevin's College came together at a Mass at St Kevin's to bless all teachers in our catholic schools which was conducted by Bishop Colin and Fr Wayne. Here is a selection of photos from Mass taken by Mrs Plunkett.

Made with Slideshow Embed Tool

5. Diary Dates - Week 3, Term 1 2016

FEBRUARY

Thursday 18            -  Home & School Food Fair Meeting at 7.30 pm

Friday 19                  - Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui (assembly) at 2.30 pm in the school hall

Monday 22               -  Hockey skills at school for Yr 1-3

Tuesday 23              -  Yr 7 & 8 cricket tournament

                                    -  Hockey skills at school  for Yr 1-3

                                    -  Yr 8 girls self-defence class

Wednesday 24        -  Yr 8 girls self-defence class

Thursday 25            -  School Mass at 9.15 am with Yr 6

Friday 26                  -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College

                                     -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Monday 29               -  Book Fair

                                    -  Book Character Dress Up day – note change of day *

                                    -  Hockey skills at school for Yr 1-3

                                    -  Goal Setting meetings and winter sports registrations from 3.30 to 7.30
                                        pm * 

MARCH

Tuesday 1                -  Book Fair

                                    -  Hockey skills at school for Yr 1-3

Wednesday 2          -  Book Fair

Thursday 3              -  Book Fair

                                    -  Young Vinnies/Early Childhood Buddies begin for the year

                                    -  School Mass at 9.15 am with Yr 5

                                    -  Senior school swimming for Yr 4-8

                                    -  Goal Setting meetings and winter sports registrations from 3.30 to 
                                        7.30 pm *

Friday 4                    -  Book Fair

                                    -  Technology for Yr 7 & 8 at St Kevin’s College

                                    -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm

Sunday 6                  -  Food Fair held in the school grounds

Wednesday 9          -  Senior School swimming sports for Yr 4-8

Thursday 10            -  School Mass with Yr 4

                                    -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies

                                    -  Terrific Thursday starts

Tuesday 15              -  Rippa Rugby starts for whole school

                                     -  Home & School AGM at 7.30 in Ruma Koru

Wednesday 16        -  North Otago Swimming Sports    

                                     -  Rippa Rugby skills for whole school      

Thursday 17            -  School Mass at 9.15 am with Yr 3

Friday 18                  -  Celebration Kotuitui at 2.30 pm *

Monday 21               -  Otago Anniversary Day holiday *

Thursday 24            -  Yr 8 Young Vinnies *

Friday 25                  -  Good Friday holiday *

Monday 28               -  Easter Monday holiday *

Tuesday 29              -  Easter Tuesday holiday *

1. Principal News Week 2 Term 1 2016

The whole school received the ashes yesterday for Ash Wednesday. This is the day that marks the start of Lent. Fr Wayne spoke about reflecting on our thoughts and actions during Lent. Rather than give up chocolates for example, think about fasting from negativity and feasting on positivity. This is a great message for all of us to take forward into the new year. Let's focus on the positives with our children and each other and encourage those you come into contact with to do the same.

Speaking of positives, Mr Cartlidge and our Year 8's helped some parishioners with a delivery of firewood on their way back to school from swimming yesterday. Mrs Moffat was very grateful and delivered a special morning tea to say thank you for them all today. Let's follow the example set by our senior student leaders and go the extra mile to help those in need.

Our staff received Catholic Ketes to remind them about the meaning of Lent. You can learn more about Ash Wednesday and Lent by going to this link. You can read more about our Catholic happenings by scrolling to the next page prepared by Mrs Dooley.

Commissioning Mass Wednesday 17th February St Kevin's Chapel
All of our St Joseph's children will be travelling by bus to St Kevin's on Wednesday to celebrate a special mass with Bishop Colin. The bishop will bless all of the teachers as they start a new year teaching in our Catholic schools.

Meet the Teachers at the Family Learning Hui this Wednesday 17th February
You are all invited to join us from 6.00 pm -7.00 pm to meet our staff and learn how to support your children at school for 2016. The new internet filtering system called Linewize has been installed to ensure devices usage is safely monitored. We will explain how this works and offer suggestions for internet safety at home. We will also be launching the Parent Portal and hear from the Home and School.You can eat beforehand or bring your tea.

5 Simple ways parents can support teachers
Keeping in mind our 2016 positive attitude, you might be interested in reading this extract from the latest principal post. You can read the whole post here. It is called: To Hub or not to Hub; Engaging parents and empowering learners.
As parents and first educators for children, teachers need parent's support.
1.Take time to explore the Teaching and Learning site with your children. Our teachers have willingly shared their planning.
2. Be purposeful and positive about actioning the ways you can support your children and ask your child or their teacher if you can't understand anything.
3. Help your children to get to school well before 9 o'clock so they can settle and prepare for the day ahead.
4. Smile and show you appreciate the efforts your child's teachers make. Children can sense negativity and thrive in a positive, loving environment. Our teachers are all passionate about teaching and we want them to share their love for learning with your children.
5. Make time to have a chat with your child's teacher if you have any worries. It's better to arrange a dedicated time when the teacher is free. We like our teachers to be in hubs, mingling with the children, relationship building between 8:30-9:00 am.

Board of Trustees
The first meeting for the year takes place on Tuesday 16th February at 7.00 pm. You can keep up to date with board news on our dedicated blog at this link. There will be board elections in May this year. We will mention this at the Family Learning Hui and the goal setting evenings in week 5.

St Joseph's Large Print Telephone Book
We have been inundated with requests for the 2016 community directory. It is due to come out in March. We are calling for school families who have businesses to support this fundraiser with your advertising. We have a deadline of Wednesday 24th February for all advertisers. If you want to find out more then please contact Paula in our school office by emailing pbrien@stjoseph.school.nz

Home and School Food Fair
Please help to support this school fundraiser. Last year, the Food Fair was a fantastic family day with games and activities for the children and a variety of foods from around the world.

Thanks for your continued support as we all work together positively to Reach for the Stars as Lifelong Learners in the Catholic Faith in 2016.