I am sure you are noticing that the children are starting to tire a little after what has been and still is, a fairly hectic schedule of learning and education outside the classroom activities! Thank you to all for the huge support that teachers and the children have had, enabling activities such as BeachEd, Waterwise, Athletics, Snow Planet, and Castor Bay Rocky Pools trips to be so successful. Still to come is one more BeachEd trip and then, on Holy Thursday, the Pupuke Cluster Swimming Sports are being held at Takapuna Primary School, where we will have about 36 children representing our school. About 60 children, along with children from the wider parish, are also involved in Preparation for the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Eucharist, meaning coming in for classes every Wednesday evening.
It is lucky that we have the five days of Easter Holiday starting next Friday 29 March. It will be a refresher for children and teachers alike.
The Parent Class Representative system is up and running again so don’t be surprised when you are contacted by one of the parents from your child’s class who may be letting you know what is happening or asking for assistance for some activity or event in the school. The main aims for having parents as class representatives is to build and foster community within each class and/or Year level and across the school and enhance communication from and to the school. I am very grateful to the parents who have volunteered to take on this role.
Room 1 Briony Blewden
Room 2 Mary Feng
Room 3 Elena Sluyter
Room 4 Ingrid Gordon and Clara Pietersen
Room 5 Belinda Johns and Roshini Wijesinha
Room 6 Clare Gardner
Room 7 Anna Macnaught
Room 8 Miriam Taylor
Room 9 Edna Mackle
R00m 10 Kelly Cullum and Ainsley Barry
Room 12 Adele Barber
Rooms 14 & 15 Gina Snow and Raewyn Solomon
Mrs Debbie Pratt, Room 15, is our school co-ordinator. Please contact her debbiep@sj.school.nz with queries or if you wish to volunteer.
Friends of St Joseph’s (formerly PTFA) held their AGM on Monday night and are off to a fine start. You will be hearing more from them. Thank you very much to Kathryn Speed who took on the role of President/Chairperson last year, Angela Berry and then Rachel Thomlinson as secretary and Lisa McCarthy has been Treasurer. Congratulations to Mary-Jane Lendich the new President/Chairperson; Lisa Voyle Secretary and Gill Bosley Treasurer.
The Board of Trustees held their meeting last night. BOT elections are on the horizon and thank you to those who attended the information meeting. More information will be making its way to you fairly soon. If you are approached either to consider standing for election or to be nominated for consideration as a Bishop’s Appointee, don’t be afraid, just give it a go! Any of the existing BOT members will be happy to answer your questions: Shane Coleman, Gary Gordon, Paul Schnuriger, Binu Paul, Margo Angland, Simon Lucas, Phil Pietersen, Jenny Aldous, Ingrid Young.
I will be away on leave between Easter and the Term Holidays. The BOT has granted me some additional leave for refreshment and educational purposes. I will be in Hong Kong, Guilin China, Salzburg Austria, Marseille France, Barcelona Spain and the Edinburgh and Bath in the UK. While in the UK, I will be looking at several schools where Guy Claxton’s ” Building Learning Power” is in practice as well as investigating the International Primary Curriculum, also in practice in these schools.
Mrs Gabrielle Bateman will be in charge of the school in my absence, ably assisted by Mrs Erika Bon. This will cover the period 3-19 April. This coming week I will be away on Study Leave on the 25 & 26 March, being back in the school on Wednesday and Thursday 27 & 28 March.
God bless!
Ka kite ano
Phil O’Connell-Cooper
Principal
