Our Term’s Living and Learning Focus is
TEAM KOTAHITANGA
Our School Values are
Tina Justice, Pono Truth, Aroha Compassion, Manaakitanga Hospitality and Tapu Respect for the Environment
Lived out in our Motto
Courtesy Care Co-operation Courage
The Learning Model for our school is: “To Know To Do To Use”
Learning to Learn at St Joseph’s #L2L
Key Competencies
Capabilities for living and lifelong learning
The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies: • thinking • using language, symbols, and texts • managing self • relating to others • participating and contributing.
Relating to others
“Relating to others is about interacting effectively with a diverse range of people in a variety of contexts. This competency includes the ability to listen actively, recognise different points of view, negotiate, and share ideas.
Students who relate well to others are open to new learning and able to take different roles in different situations. They are aware of how their words and actions affect others. They know when it is appropriate to compete and when it is appropriate to co-operate. By working effectively together, they can come up with new approaches, ideas, and ways of thinking.” NZ Curriculum
Chinese New Year
There was excitement in the air as we sprinted to the hall to hear the uncle of Joel from Room 2, share his ideas about the importance of Chinese New Year and the special events that happen.
It is an important event for all Chinese people. Joel’s uncle kept us spellbound as we watched the video explaining the Zodiac calendar and the challenge that the animals faced.
He explained how the zodiac calendar was created by an Emperor who set a challenge to see which animal would achieve the goal and be part of the Chinese calendar. He explained the special rules that surround Chinese New Year and tested our memories after each section.
At the end every child in Years 5and 6 received a Chinese decorated red packet with a coin in it as the children always get one of these gifts for New Year to build good fortune.
Reported by Altanya, Tia and Daniel (School Reporters)
Three Ways to Say “Happy Chinese New Year” in Chinese
新年快乐 / 新年快樂 (Xīnnián kuàilè)
‘New Year happiness!’
- In Mandarin: /sshin-nyen kwhy-ler/
- In Cantonese: /sen-nin feye-lor/
This year, in co-operation with Carmel College, our Years 5 & 6 children and their teachers are learning Mandarin with the help of a Mandarin Language Assistant, Qing Yanan. She likes to be known as Tori.
The Building Programme
LEADERSHIP Day
As I rush to class when the bell rings my nerves tingle as I think about the leadership roles for 2015. Will I get the leadership job I want?
The door opened and in walked Sue dressed in her Crackerjack Kids uniform ready to share her wisdom and ideas on being the best leaders we can be.
It was an exciting day where we designed inspirational slogans on leadership and played team games to develop co-operation and team spirit.
Later the Leaders were announced and “Yes” I was chosen as a reporter.
Reported by Kevin Paul, Home Group 1
EOTC Week
The Year 5 and 6 students spent a whole week developing skills in our Education outside the Classroom week. This is a fun filled week of learning different skills but it isn’t just all play. We learn to work as a team and how to co-operate and support each other in a variety of challenging tasks. Before we entered Snowplanet I felt really nervous but when I discovered what this place was and gazed at the huge ramp covered snow my heart missed a beat and I couldn’t wait to get in there pull on my skis and get out there. What an exciting day!
Waterwise was held at Murrays Bay beach. As we stepped onto the hot sand we quietly but impatiently listened to the instructions ready to set sail. Once we were on the water we swung side to side as the wind pushed our opti boat along. We also got to kayak around the buoy and plunge off the kayaks into the deep water.
Cooking was another highlight of EOTC week because we got to not only make food but eat it as well- a real treat for us all as you would expect. Nachos, pizza, fruit kebabs and rocky road were quickly demolished.
For Wearable Art we had one hour in our team groups to design a newspaper costume for one of us to model on the catwalk. The results were very funny but also quite creative.
A great week of learning, sharing and challenging ourselves. The only sadness is the week is over!
Louis, Genevieve and Oliver from Home Group 4
FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Every year the BOT provides a report to the Ministry of Education about the achievement of our students. As a BOT targets are set each year after analysis of needs from the previous year’s data. The reading results submitted from 2014 data are shared with you below: (The categories used are determined by the Ministry of Education, so not all ethnicities are included in the table)
St Joseph’s Catholic School Reading all levels
| Well below | Below | At | Above | Total | |||||
| Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | |
| All students | 3 | 0.9% | 32 | 9.1% | 209 | 59.4% | 108 | 30.7% | 352 |
Refer to the newsletter attached to The Week Ahead on School Links for more details and categories.
We will continue to support learners who are achieving below and children who are achieving at will be supported and encouraged to see if they can lift their achievement a notch or two! To be the best we can be!
Remember that the school Athletics are on this coming Tuesday 10 March and that you have read all the relevant information that has been sent out.
Remember to register for SHORE TO SHORE! We have only 29 registered, the lowest ever! Unfortunately, it does clash with Palm Sunday so maybe your family could go to Mass on either Saturday night, Sunday afternoon or evening so that you can accommodate both?
Ka kite ano!
God bless!
Have a wonderful weekend. Phil