Term 1 Week 3 Newsletter #1

Term 1 Week 3                           20 February 2025                                        Newsletter #1  

Principal’s Message

Special Catholic Character

Dedication Mass 2025 

We began our year by celebrating our Dedication Mass on Friday 14th February. We commissioned our School Leaders, House Captains, Service Role Leaders, and Class Councillors for 2025. We also acknowledged Mrs Tiana Farrell and Miss Nicole Sarginson who gained their Classroom Certificate and Mrs Robin Burns who gained her Leadership Certificate in Religious Education. We introduced and welcomed all our new staff to our school community. 

St Patrick’s Pukekohe Food Bank

St Patrick’s Pukekohe has a food bank which they use to support members of our community who need it. Throughout the coming term each class will have the opportunity to join with our Parish and attend Mass on a Friday morning. We ask that if you and your whanau are able to, to please bring in a non perishable food item to help support this wonderful cause. 

Key Dates

Term 1 Key Dates

Please note these dates are subject to change For further dates see calendars on the website  at: www.stjosephs.co.nz or the eTAP app       

School Board

SCHOOL POLICIES

A link to our school policies can be found on our school website or through www.schooldocs.co.nz

1. Go to www.schooldocs.co.nz/
2. Click Search for your school
3. Start typing the school’s name (St Joseph’s School Pukekohe) and then select it from the dropdown list.
4. Enter the community username: stjosephspukekohe and password: mission.

SchoolDocs Term 1 Policy Review: 

In Term 1, the Board, staff and community are asked to review the following policies: Health, Safety, and Welfare Policy, Safety Management System, Risk Management, Worker Engagement, Participation, and Representation, Recording and Reporting Accidents, Injuries, and Illness, and Healthcare. This Review closes on 11 April 2025.

If you would like to contact the Board directly at any time, please do so through our email address schoolboard@stjosephs.co.nz 

ATTENDANCE

At St Joseph’s, we know that regular school attendance is essential for every child’s learning and success. This year, as part of our annual plan, we are placing a strong emphasis on attendance, aligning with the government’s priority to ensure students are at school and engaged in learning. Our goal is for 80% of our students to attend school at least 90% of the time. Research shows that children who attend school consistently make better progress academically and socially. Every day counts—missing just one day a fortnight can add up to a month of lost learning each year. We encourage whānau to prioritise attendance, ensuring that children develop strong routines, build friendships, and make the most of their learning opportunities. Let’s work together to give our tamariki the best possible start to their education!

School Notices / Upcoming Events

School Attendance Dues

Should be paid into our account: ASB  12-3023-0338374-01 ref: student’s name

The Catholic Character Contribution is a voluntary contribution forwarded to the Catholic Education Services Board. The St Joseph’s Development Trust Contribution is a voluntary contribution which the Trust is extremely grateful to receive. This is used in our school for improvements to our site and facilities. Both of these voluntary contributions are tax deductible.

School Start Time

Students are expected to be at school by 8:30 am. Teachers are not in class until 8:15 am.  

Any children who come to school earlier than 8:15 are not supervised. 

Parents, you need to ensure your child is at school by 8:30 every day. Thank you.

Second-Hand Uniform Shop

The second-hand uniform shop is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:30-3:00 pm.

Please be mindful that the secondhand shop is for families who are struggling to buy new uniforms. The items are donated and we charge a small amount that goes back to the students through the PTA.  We are not a retail store, we do not have all items, we only have what is donated. If you require items we do not have, you will need to buy them new from The Uniform Shoppe on Glasgow Road, Pukekohe.

Junior Playground

You may have noticed some work happening on one of our playgrounds at school. The old junior playground was in need of an update and at our School Fair in 2023 we raised some funds towards replacing it. Along with a grant from Grassroots Foundation and support from the School Board, the PTA have been able to replace the old playground with a slightly bigger one. We are looking forward to this new playground being opened and enjoyed by our Year 0-3 tamariki soon. 

BYOD – Yr 4 – 6

Students in Year 4, 5 & 6 will require a chromebook please keep an eye out for sales or you can purchase through our partnered IT provider Cyclone. By purchasing through Cyclone you can purchase a chrome, warranty and bag option and have the security in knowing you are purchasing a robust commercially used chromebook suitable for a classroom environment. https://byod.cyclone.co.nz/

School Communication

Please make sure you are using the eTAP @students app. This is the main way we communicate information about the school. The best way to make sure you are receiving all information is to ensure that you have notifications turned on and that you receive emails from the app. 

If you are experiencing any difficulty please let the office or Mrs Burns know.

Celebrations 

Aroha

Aroha students have settled into school and routines well and are enjoying being in their new classes with new classmates and teachers. We spent the first two weeks learning about what a treaty is and creating our own class treaty which was blessed by Father Robert at Mass last week. Our two youngest classes have started their swimming lessons and are enjoying being in the pool. We have enjoyed making things and being creative. Last week Aroha LW and Aroha JK/AC went and visited St Patrick’s church – it was very special to have the Church to ourselves and spend some time remembering what we do when we go to Mass.

Ako

Ako has had a great start to 2025! We have spent time getting to know our new teachers, friends and learning spaces. We have all settled in nicely and have started our learning programmes. We have been fortunate to have a turn in the swimming pool and are looking forward to beginning our swimming programme in a few weeks. We are also looking forward to our team trip to Mangere Mountain 

Arahi 

This term, our concept focus is Whakapapa me te Whanaungatanga – Connections to the Past. The students have begun exploring the significant role kauri gum played in New Zealand’s economy. They have been learning about how kauri gum was collected and its various uses, while also reflecting on what life might have been like in New Zealand during that era. We have been incredibly impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and the insightful questions they have raised. If your family has any history with kauri gum or gold mining in New Zealand and you’d like to share stories with us, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher. We love fostering whānau connections to enhance our learning!

Community Notices

St. Patrick’s 2025 Sacramental Programme

We are now taking registrations for children 8 years and above wishing to complete their Sacraments of Initiation. These include Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion and Confirmation.

This year the format has been modified to bring us inline with other Auckland Parishes and the guidelines of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, meaning that there is no longer a separate Over 8s Baptism Course. The Parish will only run one 12 week programme encompassing all 4 Sacraments, beginning on the 1st of March. Please contact the Parish Office for a registration form, either by email office@pukekohhecatholic.org.nz or during open office hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9.30 – 12.30.

The last day for registration is this Friday 21st February

KIDS CHOIR

Kids Choir practices this term will be on Fridays after school at the church, it started on Friday 14th February. Students will be supervised in the parish hall until practice begins at 3:20pm, finishing at 4pm or shortly before. Email guia.viviana@gmail.com to sign-up or just come along to our first practice.

Receptionist/Administrator – Catholic Social Services, Auckland.

Catholic Social Services is looking for a part-time (20 hours – 3 days – hours can be negotiable) Receptionist/Administrator based in Ponsonby.  As a faith-based professional service Catholic Social Services provides social work, counselling, out-reach and support to individual people and families.

The successful applicant would be required to provide efficient, effective, and professional reception and administrative services to the team at Catholic Social Services.

For further details please go to our website www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz, Diocesan Services and staff vacancies. 

BARADENE COLLEGE – OPEN DAY TOURS – Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 February 2025

BOOKINGS online REQUIRED (bookings open 9.00am Tuesday 18 Feb)

Tour times: 9am and 10 am each day

Book at www.baradene.school.nz – 2025 Open Day Tours

Book your time by 3.00pm Monday 24 Feb

Enrolments for Year 7, 2026 and for limited places in other Year levels are being accepted now and will close at 3pm on Friday 14 March, 2025. 

As you may be aware, passenger trains returned to the Southern line between Papakura and Pukekohe on Monday 3 February 2025. These electric trains are faster and quieter than our diesel trains. 

There will be an increase of trains on the Southern Line between Papakura and Pukekohe from Monday 3 February 2025.  

Be aware that they can come at any time, from either direction. Always use official level crossings and look both ways for trains.