CATHOLIC CHARACTER NEWS
PRINCIPALS FOR THE DAY
Josh F and Jake H have each been Principal for the Day. These are their reflections on their day.
Mr Josh F
Principal for the Day
I went to prayers with Home Groups 1 – 4. I had to stand up and speak to the students.
I went and got Kiera because she was my vice principal. We went around the classes to get the donations for the SPCA. The students gave dog toys, dog chews, blankets, money and lots and lots of stuff for caring for animals.
We sorted the buttons in my office. We put them into groups.
For morning tea, we went to the staffroom. We sat on the couch and ate our morning tea. We then went and played in my office with my friends.
After play we went to see what people were up to in their class and we gave out a whole lot of stickers. There were students on their chrome books doing STEPS and there were students doing their writing.
Mr Bridgman, Mr Jake H and I went to Eves for lunch. I had a sausage roll, chocolate cake, and a bottle of coke. It was a delicious lunch.
I spent lunch time in my office playing buttons with my friends. After lunch I spent my time with the Home Groups watching their learning.
Mr Jake H
Principal for the Day
My day started off as an ordinary day, but when I got to school it all suddenly changed. I met Mr Bridgman and we discussed what we would do today.
A stroke of light went straight into my head. I started going round the school asking if they were handing out certificates. Most of them were.
I then found Joseph L, who was my Assistant Principal for the day. I went to prayers with the Kereru Team. After prayers we collected all the money from the donations by the children for mufti day. Thank you for over $500 of donations for the Auckland Allergy Society.
Before morning tea Joseph and I planned what we would say for the ‘Celebration Assembly’ as we had to lead it.
After morning tea we handed out stickers to students that were working well. We went to all the Home Groups. It was really nice to see all the children at their best behaviour.
For lunch Mr Bridgman took me, Josh and Joseph to Eves Pantry. It was a fun lunch chatting with Josh and Joseph.
After lunch we had the celebration assembly. Joseph and I ran the assembly and introduced the presenters and presentations.
As Principal for the Day I really liked going around the school and handing out rewards.
RECONCILIATION
Congratulations to our students who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time this evening. This is a very special Sacrament for them to receive. As with all Sacraments we receive, they are a gift from God. Please keep these children in your prayers.
WELCOME
Next year we will be welcoming new teachers to our school community.
Miss Nicholson has been appointed to the position of Associate Principal, that Mrs Bon retired from at the end of term three. Miss Nicholson has been the Dean of Year Seven students at Auckland Normal Intermediate along with being a team leader. She has had time with us, meeting students and teachers, and she is very excited about joining our community.
With Miss Nicholson, we will be welcoming Mr Kim, Miss Strother, Mr Reid and Miss Fitch. They too are really looking forward to being a member of the St Joseph’s teaching team and school community.
THE START OF A NEW CHAPTER …
By Daniel C HG2
After 21 years of teaching at our school, our dedicated Librarian and teacher, Mrs Christine Thomson, is finally turning the last page of her school career.
Mrs Thomson loved learning as a child and became a teacher so she could try and inspire other children to enjoy learning as much as she does. She also admits that because she is a bit of a bossy boots, teaching has been a great job for her as you have to be good at telling others what to do.
Before our school, Mrs Thomson also taught at Stanley Bay Primary School and Murrays Bay Intermediate. She continued teaching while she was raising her own young children and they often remind her of all the times she had to bring them to work over the school holidays. In recent years her two grandchildren, Tarryn and Jaxsyn, who are students at our school have also kindly helped out in the library after school too.
Since starting at St Joseph’s Mrs Thomson has had many roles. She has been the class teacher for many students over the years as well as working in Reading Recovery and as a Special Education Needs Coordinator. She also held the responsibilities of being a Team Leader and most recently as our School Librarian.
Mrs Thomson has always been a bookworm and while growing up her favourite books were the Nancy Drew Detective series. As a Librarian she has continued to enjoy being around so many wonderful books and she is especially proud of our picture book collection. The highlight of the job has been trying to get as many children as she could, as interested in books as she is.
Many of us in the senior school have also got to know Mrs Thomson through her Science classes which she is really passionate about. Her most funny and memorable experiments have included children trying to syphon water and making volcanoes explode!
When asked about her proudest achievements while at school, she said they are inspiring children to read books as well as encouraging children’s interest in science and saving the environment. Mrs Thomson’s best advice to help students succeed is to give everything a go, challenge yourself and do your best.
In her retirement Mrs Thomson is looking forward to some exciting travel plans including a 5-day trek of the Milford Track and an overseas trip to Croatia. She is also looking forward to spending more time on her favourite hobbies which are gardening, patchwork quilting, sewing and walking.
On Wednesday we held a special farewell assembly for Mrs Thomson with a funny twist we were all dressed as cats as this is her favourite animal. The student librarians and teachers spoke about her time at school and we all did a fantastic job of singing The Library Song.
Thank you Mrs Thomson for all you have done for the school and we wish you a wonderful retirement.
Pictured: Mrs Clarke, Mrs Wright, Mrs Bon – former colleagues. Pyper. Natalie, Tarryn and Mrs Thomson – Family. Chase and Mr Bridgman
FAREWELL
At our final Mass on Thursday 14 December, next week, we will be saying farewell to Miss Washer, Mrs Winfield-Jesus and Miss Viskovich. We are very grateful for all they have given to our students and we wish them every success for whatever their futures hold for them.
HELPERS MORNING TEA
If you have been one of the many parents who have generously given your time to support the students and teachers, at some stage through the year, we would love you to join us for morning tea. This is being held, in the staffroom, after the final school Mass. This is on Thursday 14 December. The Mass is at 9.15am and the morning tea will begin about 10.30am. We look forward to your attendance at this occasion.
PARENT REPRESENTIVES
We give our sincere thanks to our Parent Reps for their support with communication throughout the year. Teachers are very appreciative of the time the Parent Reps have put into ensuring good communication between teachers and their families of their students. Thank you
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
St Joseph’s Parish would like to invite any children who would like to be involved in Christmas Mass this year, to help deliver the Christmas Gospel, at the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass on Sunday 24th December. Mass begins at 7pm, preceded by carols at 6:30pm. Children would need to be there at 5:30pm to rehearse (more details, including what to wear, will be provided to those who are interested).
If your child would like to be involved but can’t come early for rehearsal, they are welcome to come dressed as a shepherd or an angel and they can still participate.
If your child is interested, please email Edwin at sjpastoralworker@gmail.com
LEARNING LANDSCAPE
It is wonderful to see the students eating and then playing handball under the new shade sails. They are achieving their goal of shading our students, at the same time as looking stunning. Thank you to our PTFA for funding this and to our parent community for your wonderful support of the PTFA fundraising events.
Sport
ATHLETICS
At our last celebration assembly, the students who came in the top three places in the various events, for their year group and gender, were presented their certificates.
This week we congratulate the girls:
| Year 3 Boys | |
|
Cain R: 1st 50m Sprint 1st 100m Sprint 1st High Jump 1st Long Jump
Jaden L: 3rd Discus 3rd Javelin
Josh H: 3rd High Jump 3rd Long Jump 2nd Discus
Jamie CS: 3rd 50m Sprint 1st Javelin
Josh F: 3rd 100m Sprint 1st Shot Put
|
Ben R: 2nd 50m Sprint 2nd 100m Sprint 2nd High Jump 2nd Long Jump
Danny S: 2nd Shot Put
Benjamin J: 3rd Shot Put
Oscar G: 1st Discus 3rd Javelin
Liam T: 2nd Javelin
Eli H: 1st Discus
|
| Year 4 Boys | |
|
Hunter J: 1st 50m Sprint 1st 100m Sprint 1st High Jump 1st Long Jump 1st Shot Put 1st Discus 1st Javelin
Charlie R: 2nd High Jump (Equal) 2nd Javelin
Ashton K: 2nd High Jump (Equal)
|
Liam K: 2nd 50m Sprint 2nd 100mSprint
Gethin J: 3rd 50 Metre Sprint 2nd 100mSprint
Felix O: 3rd High Jump 3rd Long Jump
Brodie T: 2nd Shot Put 3rd Javelin
|
| Year 5 Boys | |
|
Nathan T: 1st 50m Sprint 1st 100m Sprint 1st High Jump (Equal) 1st Shot Put 2nd Discus
Mattie D: 2nd 50m Sprint 2nd 100m Sprint
Mattie C: 2nd 50 Metre Sprint 3rd equal Long Jump
Figo C: 3rd Discus
Jack S: 1st Javelin
AJ D: 2nd Discus
|
George L: 3rd 50m Sprint 3rd 100m Sprint 2nd High Jump (Equal) 1st Long Jump 3rd Shot Put
Ashton E: 2nd High Jump (Equal)
Daniel M: 2nd Long Jump
Zach F: 3rd Long Jump
Danny M: 1st Discus
Levi S: 3rd Javelin
Braden M: 1st High Jump |
| Year 6 Boys | |
| Cash B: 2nd 50m Sprint
2nd 100m Sprint 3rd Long Jump
Dylan W: 1st 50m Sprint 1st 100m Sprint
Lin L: 2nd Long Jump 1st Javelin
Jayden C: 3rd Shot Put 3rd Discus
Jacob R: 3rd 100m Sprint
Oscar M: 1st High Jump
|
TJ T: 2nd High Jump
1st Shot Put 2nd Discus
Reuben D: 3rd 50m Sprint 1st Long Jump
Alec Y: 2nd Shot Put 1st Discus
Joseph M: 3rd High Jump
Kevin F: 2nd Javelin
Will J: 3rd Javelin
|
In the next newsletter we will acknowledge the students who represented us at the interschool district athletics and our Junior Athletic Champs
God bless
Alister Bridgman
Principal