BABY NEWS
We were delighted to welcome Jack to our school community. He came for a visit at lunch time today and we took him on a tour. The students were delighted to finally meet Jack and were thrilled to catch up with his Mum, Mrs Lambert. Jack was a great Christmas day present for his parents, arriving on Christmas Day! We look forward to seeing a lot more of Jack over the coming year.
CATHOLIC CHARACTER NEWS
Lent
This coming Wednesday, 1 March, is Ash Wednesday. This is the first day of Lent. As a school we will be having the ashes placed on our forehead, in the sign of the cross, at the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, in the church, beginning at 1.45pm. We look forward to having you join us at this liturgy.
First Holy Communion / Confirmation
At this weekend’s Masses, children of St Joseph’s will be presented as candidates for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, to the parish. Please keep these children in your prayers as they prepare for these Sacraments, which they will receive later in the year. We wish them all God’s blessings.
BOARD NEWS
Thank You
Last night the Board met for their first meeting of the 2017 school year. For Mr Shane Coleman, it was his final meeting both as a member of the St Joseph’s Board and as Chairperson. Mr Coleman first came onto our School Board of Trustees in 2001 and took on the role as Chairperson in 2002. He has been on the appointments committee for three principals along with many of the teachers in our school today. He has worked alongside students, teachers staff, parents and parishioners to ensure that our school has the best possible resources, in order to achieve the best possible teaching and learning for all our students. Central to his tireless support has been his, and the school’s faith. The Board moved a motion of grateful thanks for all Shane has done for St Joseph’s.
The school will be expressing our gratitude at a Special Assembly on Monday 6 March, beginning 12 noon. All parents and parishioners are welcome to join the students and staff for this celebration. It will be held in the hall.
Welcome
The Board welcomed two new members at last night’s meet; Mrs Anna Romano and Mr Andrew Chung. They are Proprietor Representatives and take over from Mr Moss and Mr Coleman. The Board, and school, appreciate them agreeing to be members of the Board and for sharing their time, treasures and talents to support teaching and learning at St Joseph’s.
Chairperson
Congratulations to Mrs Anna Casey who was elected by the Board as their Chairperson. Mrs Casey will be supported by Mrs Vanessa Bates who was elected Deputy Chairperson. The Board are delighted to be led by them both. Please keep our Board in your prayers as they work hard to support St Joseph’s staff, in all that they do to achieve the school’s vision;
Inspiring children through Catholic Education
to love God, to love learning and to fully give of themselves
STAFF NEWS
Dedication Mass
Members of the staff and Board attended the Auckland Diocese Schools Dedication Mass at Christ the King in Owairaka last Tuesday evening. The mass is for all staff and Boards of the Catholic schools through the Auckland Diocese. These include 43 primary schools, 16 secondary schools and 8 early childhood education centres. It was a wonderful celebration with Mass led by Bishop Patrick Dunn. At the end of Mass certificates were handed out to those who have completed courses and/or achieved Accreditation Levels. The following teachers in our school received these certificates
Endorsement of Leadership Level Certification as a Religious Education Teacher
Erika Bon, Gabrielle Bateman, Annette Woodhead
Certificate of Completion: Religious Education for Teachers in Catholic Schools
Robyn McDougall, Alice Simmers, Breanna Viskovich
Congratulations to them all for their well-deserved certificates.
LEARNING NEWS
Outside Learning Environment
As a school we are blessed with a stunning learning environment. The Pompallier Learning Centre was opened in September 2015 by Bishop Patrick Dunn, and the students and staff continue on their learning journey, as to how to make the most of all it offers for learning and teaching.
As this happens, the PTA and Board together, have begun a process of looking at ways in which to take advantage of the school grounds, and all the opportunities they provide for outside learning areas. The intention is to develop an overview as to how the property can be further developed with a variety of shaded learning spaces, along with developing a multi-purpose sports turf. This process will involve input from the students, staff, parents, parishioners and the Auckland Diocesan Property Office. When the opportunity presents itself, please give us your ideas. This is an exciting next step for our school community.
PTA NEWS
PTA Meeting
The first PTA meeting for the year was held last Friday afternoon. Thank you to all those who were able to attend this meeting. It was brilliant to see so many there supporting an organisation that is focused on school pastoral care and raising funds to support the students, teachers, with the school’s programmes of learning. Keep an eye out for the date of the next meeting, in the newsletter, and come along for a great time and bring your ideas.
Chocolate Fundraiser
Today children, who are oldest in the family or the only member of the family at school, will be coming home with a box of chocolate bars, which we ask that they kindly sell. If they are not in the position to sell them, please return the box to school immediately so that they can be given to another student to sell. There will be a parent in the quad area every morning 8.30 – 9.15 to collect either money or chocolates, so that students do not have them in their bag for the day. There are instructions in the box to guide you about the sale and return process.
The money raised will go towards the funds that will be needed to achieve our intended outside learning areas. Thank you for your support.
GENERAL NEWS
Pick-Up
Thank you everyone for the wonderful way you are supporting us with the new ‘exit’ arrangements after picking up your child from the pick-up zone. Everyone is taking care to watch out for students and their parents crossing the parking area, and allowing cars to enter the exit line using the zip method. This has seen the time required for collecting and exiting to only be slightly longer than normal.
Thank you
BBQs
Thank you to all the families who were able to attend the team BBQs. It was wonderful for the teachers to be able to meet the parents of the students within their class. It was also great to see so many parents catching up after the Christmas break, and welcoming new families.
God bless