Term 2 Week 6 09 June 2022 Newsletter# 10
|
|
|
Tena Koutou Katoa Talofa Lava Kamusta Malo el lelei Mauri Hello Everyone
I hope you enjoyed your Queen’s Birthday weekend. It is nice to know that another long weekend to celebrate Matariki is only a couple of weeks away – this time a Friday.
On Thursday 23rd June we hope to hold another Grandparents’ Day to conclude our Matariki Week. At this stage we will be asking that all adults coming into our school wear masks inside. As there seems to be a resurgence of illness at this time, we hope this can still go ahead. It is disappointing that Ako 1’s planned trip to Mangere Mountain next week cannot go ahead due to their staff illness; another indication that we still need to be cautious.
As we head into winter, we are having significant numbers of children away with winter flus and colds, and some of our staff are isolating because of Covid. There are days that I am having difficulty finding relief teachers/staff to cover our rooms so it is still important to be diligent about mask wearing inside in order to keep each other safe. Good ventilation is a second defence and so we are enjoying being outside when the weather allows.
Currently our school is busy and continuing to be involved in several learning initiatives that are enhancing the teaching and learning programme at our school and providing opportunities for our children’s understanding to grow. We are following Inquiry Maths and writing and oral language programmes that support student progress; with hauora/wellbeing being our main focus through Healthy Active Living (HAL) promoted by Counties Manukau Sport and the Life Education Trust. We are encouraging the use of te reo through the school and teachers are being motivated through friendly competition.
Today I want to acknowledge our support staff without whom our school would not run so effectively and your children (and our teachers) would not have the advantage of extra support in their roopu. Our ladies do a wonderful job going beyond their job descriptions to bring in those pastoral care factors that are so important in our school, building relationships and caring for our children with a variety of needs. What would we do without you?
Good news. We hear that St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College being built on Burtt Road, Drury, will definitely be open for our boys and girls in 2024. That means children currently in Years 5, 6 & 7 would be the first year groups to start. What an exciting prospect to be the inaugural student of our new Catholic College here in Franklin. For those of us who sent our children into the city by bus every day to receive a Catholic secondary education, this indeed is wonderful news. Any enquiries about the school can be sent to admin@stignatiuscollege.nz
Stay safe and God bless.
Ngā mihi nui
Ursula Hall
Principal – Tumuaki
|
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity – 12 June
Prayer for Trinity Sunday
Father, Son and Holy Spirit animate our living.
Help us to forget ourselves, to get caught up In the mystery of your love and life
Let us never forget the need to care for the good of others.
Never let us get for granted the mystery of life.
|
|
|
|
|
KEY DATES TERM 2
 Please note these dates are subject to change For further dates see calendars on the Skool Loop app or at: www.stjosephs.co.nz
|
Special Catholic Character
|
Bishop Michael’s Farewell Mass: The Holy Father’s announcement that Bishop Michael Gielen has been appointed Bishop of Christchurch is sad news for us in Auckland. Bishop Michael came to school and opened our Euphrasie Block last year. For those of you who knew Bishop Michael well, there will be an opportunity to thank and farewell Bishop Michael at the 7.00pm Mass at the Cathedral on Sunday the 26th of June 2022. You are welcome to attend this special Mass.
Staff RE Paper: Interpreting the New Testament: During Term 2 and 3 our teaching staff are participating in study with Te Kupenga – The Catholic Theological College. The paper we are undertaking is called Interpreting the New Testament. So far we have completed one course day and one course evening, as well as some independent reading and discussion. The first assignment is due later this month. Our facilitator Brendan Bergin is leading us with great enthusiasm and encouragement. Full credit to our staff so far for their positive engagement with this course. The experience so far has been very enriching and enlightening, inspiring us in our mission as Catholic educators.
Arahi Student RE Work This Term: All students have been focussing on the Holy Spirit learning strand this term, culminating with Pentecost last Sunday. Here is some of the “Holy Spirit in Scripture” work done by our Year 7 / 8 Students. The first is Jesus’ Healing stories by Jaehee Lee, the second two are Deborah from the Book of Judges, the middle one by Jessica Lapwood and the one on the right by Jessica Lagah.
Tino pai!
|
|
|
School Board Elections 2022:
This year our next triannual School Board Elections will be held in September. Every board member brings their own unique set of skills and experiences to the board. As a member, you will need to work well in a team and have good communication skills. You may have financial skills and experience in managing people, knowledge and understanding of particular communities within your school, or experience working within the school and wider community. Please consider standing for our School Board elections later in the year.
If you would like to contact the Board directly at any time, please do so through bot@stjosephs.co.nz
|
|
|
Health Update: As we head into winter we have a number of children at home sick at the moment with various illnesses. Please remember to let the school know if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, as we are still required to inform the Ministry of Education. It is also really important to let the office know if your child is away for other illnesses or reasons. If the school has not been given a reason for a student absence they are marked as truant.
COVID-19 still continues to circulate in our community and it can get a bit confusing as to what to do. Here is a handy link to work out your isolation timeline if you or a household member tests positive for COVID-19 or are a household contact.
https://covid19.health.nz/advice/household/create-isolation-timeline?_ga=2.266483276.37512079.1654661911-874515399.1637704762
Some handy tips:
- Masks and ventilation continue to be our best defence against illness.
- Once you have recovered from COVID-19, you do not need to isolate again for 3 months — even if someone you live with tests positive.
- If you develop new cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms within 90 days of your original infection, and are at low risk of severe illness, stay home and recover until 24 hours after you no longer have symptoms. You do not need to take a rapid antigen test (RAT).
Term 2 Policy Review
SchoolDocs: Policies and Procedures:
https://stjosephspukekohe.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
In Term Two, the focus continues to be on Health and Safety Management. Not all policies are reviewed by parents. This term parents are invited to comment on the following topics: Healthcare: Medicine, Managing Minor/Moderate Injury, Managing Serious Injury and illness, and Infectious Diseases.
Search for the policy (under the school emblem), click on the topic name link, read through the policy then click the red UNDER REVIEW flag (top right hand corner of the page) and submit your feedback. We consider all feedback given.
This term’s policies will be approved at our School Board Meeting on 22nd June.
St Joseph’s School Pukekohe – 100 Years 2023! We welcome you to join us at our next Centennial meeting on Wednesday the 29th of June at 7pm in the school staffroom. We would love to have representation from our foundation families.
Alternatively, if you want to offer your support in any way we would love to hear from you. We are hoping to get people involved that may have skills in graphic design, advertising/promotion, website creator, signage, photography, or sponsorship. So spread the news and get involved. It is going to be fun.
Please send us an email to 100years@stjosephs.co.nz.
St Joseph’s Development Trust: The AGM of the St Joseph’s Development Trust will be held at 7 pm tonight, Thursday 9 June, in our staffroom. If you would like to attend please let Mrs Hall know principal@stjosephs.co.nz . Thank you.
Friday Sushi/Hotdog Lunches: If children have ordered food on our Sushi or Hotdog lunch days and they are sick, please let the school office know before lunchtime (12.55pm ) if you would like their food donated to someone else or you would like to collect it. If you wish to collect it please go to your child’s class at lunch time (12.55pm) as we are unable to store it safely for you.
|
|
|
Jumping June: Tomorrow we will celebrate our fundraising efforts for the New Zealand Heart Foundation by participating in the nation-wide event of ‘Jumping June”. Our Arahi students will be hosting the event and will be taking all of our akonga through a series of activities and skipping games. Every child in the school has been issued with their very own skipping rope which we will keep here at in class for class-fitness and playtime fun. The staff are feeling very nostalgic walking around the school seeing children from every class out learning to skip and mastering skills that we used to be able to do a few years ago!
  Pasifika News: This term our school focus is People – Kaitiakitanga, and it is fitting that we have been fortunate to draw on the skills of the people in our community. This term we have been blessed to have Mr & Mrs Tovi come in to support our Pasifika group to learn 2 new Tongan dances. Our teine and tama from Year 3-8 have been enjoying learning from each other’s cultures and celebrating the diversity within our community. We can not wait to share our dances with you next term during our Pasifika week. Thank you Mr & Mrs Tovi for sharing your time and skill with our children!
Ako 2 News: It has been a busy few weeks in Ako 2 with learning across many curriculum areas. We have enjoyed Life Education, Travelwise, Franklin Football, writing speeches, problem solving with fractions, learning about cultural folktales and in RE learning about how the Holy Spirit guides us. It has also been awesome to have been able to run a few fundraisers for our camp this term including hotdogs, sushi and chocolate selling. Thank you to everyone in our community who continues to support our Year 5 & 6 students to get to camp.
Franklin Football: Ka mau te wehi – awesome work to our Year 5 & 6 footballers who represented our school last week at the Franklin Football tournament. A fantastic display of mana, sportsmanship, resilience shown by all and of course a lot of fun! Our Year 5 boys placed 3rd in their grade. Congratulations! A huge thank you to all of our team managers, coaches and parent supporters who helped out on the day. We could not have these days without you – ka pai! Congratulations everyone!
Ako 1: The Year 3 and 4 Football Tournament was on the 1st June. Both boys teams placed second and the Girls B team placed second and the Girls A team placed 7th. A big thank you to all our parent helpers. The students had a fabulous day and we are very proud of the way they represented the school.
Ako 1 Mangere Mountain Trip: We are very sorry to say that due to staff illness at Mangere Mountain, our trip on Tuesday 14 June, is unable to go ahead as planned. We hope to have another trip in the near future. We thank all parents who offered to help on the day. We really do apologise for this as we realise it is no small thing organising time off work.
Arahi News: The COVID Vaccine Should be Compulsory, All Medicines Should be Free, Stop Body Shaming, Failure Does Not Define You, New Zealand’s COVID Response Has Been World Leading, Women’s Rights…these are just a few of the speech topics that have been carefully researched and thoughtfully prepared by our Year 7 & 8 students. As you can see, they are topical and mature subjects, all of which our students are passionate about. This week we have the pleasure to hear the students present their speeches and the difficult task of beginning the selection process for the school speech competition, Thursday 30 June. Keep an eye out for more information to come.
On another note, it has been incredible to have our older children working and playing with our younger children again. The relationships they develop are very special and our Year 7 & 8’s are excellent role models to our youngest students, setting an example of service, work habits and school values. We have been practising our skipping skills to prepare for Jumping June and during morning tea and lunch; the younger students often joining in.
|
|
|
|
|
ST IGNATIUS of LOYOLA CATHOLIC COLLEGE
Burtt Road, Drury
“To educate the young is to transform the world”
Jesuit education pioneer
The establishment of a Catholic college in Franklin Counties south of Auckland city has been an enduring hope for many. Parishioners first proposed the provision of Catholic education for the young people south of Auckland to Archbishop Liston in 1957. Over 40 years later a group of parents whose children attended local Catholic primary schools came together to lobby and work with the Catholic Diocese of Auckland to achieve their dream.
St Ignatius of Loyola Catholic College will provide a Catholic education in the spirit of St Ignatius and the tradition of Jesuit education. Bishop Steve Low, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland is the Proprietor of the college.
The new Diocesan college will open Term 1, 2024 with 340 Year 7 to 9 students. The roll will grow to 900 Year 7 to 13 students by 2030. Through its enrolment scheme priority will be given to preference students from St Joseph’s Catholic School Pukekohe, St Mary’s Catholic School, Papakura and Holy Trinity Catholic School, Takanini.
The Establishment Board of Trustees began work at the end of 2021. The EBoT’s role is to oversee and assist in the process of setting up the new school. Board members represent the local community, the Proprietor and the Ministry of Education.
Earthworks have been completed and the design is now also closed out. You can take a look at the first stage of the College using this flythrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbvT1h3VdlU
Artists impression of what the school may look like
Besthope Early Learning Centre is now open!
We are currently taking enrollments, so if you are looking for excellent early childhood care and education for 2-5 year olds, with 100% qualified teachers, please pop in for a visit.
We offer a Christian curriculum and a great transition to school programme for our four year olds.
50% off fees for the first 3 months *for a short time only*
We are open 7.30am – 5.30pm monday to friday.
Located at 117 Seddon Street, Pukekohe Ph: 09 9478399
Email: besthope.elc@hotmail.com
https://m.facebook.com/Besthope117/
 
Please support our newsletter sponsors below
 
|
|
|
|
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Maori
Samoan
Spanish
