ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA
2020/02 – February 3
Principal’s Message
Ki ora Parents and whanau
It was wonderful to welcome all the students to school this morning for the start of the 2020 school year. They all seem very excited to be catching up with their new teachers and with their friends. We will formally welcome our new students and new families to our school community at School Prayers, next Monday 10 February. All whanau are welcome to attend our Monday School Prayers.
The school year begins with the students getting to know their new classmates and the home group teacher. It is important for each child to develop these relationships as this supports their learning throughout the year. It was great seeing the students participating in a variety of socialisation activities both in their learning spaces and in our outdoor learning spaces. The Kiwi team did their annual tour of the school, where they learn about who helps run their school and where they all work. They also get to see where the medical room is, along with the library, staffroom and photocopy room. All very important spaces in the life of a student at school. They also tour all the great outdoor learning and play areas that we have.
Thank you for ensuring your children arrived in their full correct uniform and in particular their school hat. These are an essential uniform item in Terms 1 & 4. Please ensure their hat is clearly labelled with their name on the inside of the hat.
Last year we reintroduced Christian meditation. Teachers received professional development on this form of prayer and it has been well received by the students. Meditation involves coming to a stillness of spirit and a stillness of body. This year we are having schoolwide meditation at 11.05 am each Tuesday. This will see the whole school in prayer in the home group spaces. The length of meditation is determined by the age of the students.
We were sorry to hear just after school finished last year that Father Martin Wu is moving to St Joseph’s Otara. We were aware that Father Christopher retired in January. We wish Father Martin all the best for his time in Otara and look forward to him returning to our parish one day. We wish Father Christopher all the best for his retirement. Father Carlo Cruz is returning to our parish to support Monsignor David Tonks, our Parish Priest. We welcome Father Carlo and look forward to him being a member of our school community.
In accordance with the Ministry of Education advice we have reviewed our Pandemic Planning procedure. You are welcome to review it. On the school website under the ‘About Us’ drop down menu is a link and instructions to our policies and procedures. Here you will find the Pandemic Planning procedure. Today all students have been reminded about how to wash their hands. This is done at various times throughout the year when we aware that there is an increase in illnesses in our school community. Currently everyone is healthy and we are wanting to keep it that way. Below is the instructions given to our students today on how to wash their hands. We would appreciate if you encouraged this method being used at home.
We begin the year with a four day week. On Thursday 6 February New Zealand schools will be closed as it is Waitangi Day. Waitangi Day is the day we remember the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. If you are intending for your child to be away Friday please ensure that you have completed the absence form on the school website. School will be open Friday 7 February.
Ka manaakitia e te Atua
Alister Bridgman
Tumuaki
Term 1 Week 1
Monday 3 February
Day One 2020
Tuesday 4 February
11.05 am – Schoolwide Meditation
Wednesday 4 December
Thursday 5 December
Waitangi Day – SCHOOL CLOSED
Friday 6 December
SCHOOL OPEN
Novel Coronavirus Update #2
This is the information the school recieved today from the Ministry of Education.
At this time there is no confirmed case of the virus in New Zealand. However the Ministry of Health continues to regularly review the risk levels and will modify its advice as necessary. At this stage there are no substantive changes to the advice Health is providing and to that which we have given you. Health’s response is based on quality information and data they are receiving from multiple international sources. New Zealand’s current and planned preparedness and response activities for novel coronavirus are all consistent with advice from WHO.
We are working closely with the Ministry of Health and as you would expect we are also part of a multiagency response at several different levels. We have a team set up that is working on ensuring we have all angles covered and that we are able to move fast as the situation evolves. Health will continue to lead and provide daily updates and we will make sure you receive this information through our website and this Bulletin. We will continue to send you Special Bulletins as the situation changes, to ensure you receive new information as quickly as possible.
Preventing the risk
Everybody should follow the following basic principles to reduce the risk of getting an acute respiratory infection or passing it on to others:
- regularly washing hands (for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap and dry thoroughly)
- covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze
- staying home if you are sick
- avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms
- if you feel unwell you should avoid public gatherings and events
- cleaning surfaces regularly (when infection is suspected).
Ministry of Health advice for people who are at high risk of exposure because they have recently been to Wuhan or Hubei province is that they should stay home for 14 days after leaving Hubei province.
For most people, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks are not recommended, as there is limited evidence that the use of face masks prevents the spread of transmission of disease.
The WHO recommends that there may be benefit in wearing a face mask to reduce the spread of infection from people with symptoms of an acute respiratory infection, but not for the general population unless there is a severe epidemic.
Relevant Links
Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is the best way to prevent the spread of infections – this means washing and drying your hands really well. Reminding students and staff how to wash and dry their hands effectively will help to keep everyone well.
It is important to wash and dry your hands after you have been to the toilet, whenever your hands feel dirty, and before eating or preparing food.
Follow these steps:
- Wash your hands under clean running water – warm water is best if you have it.
- Put soap on your hands and wash for at least 20 seconds.
TIP: Singing happy birthday to yourself twice takes about 20 seconds.
- Rub hands together until the soap makes bubbles, rub on both sides of both hands, and in between fingers and thumbs, and round and round both hands.
- Rinse all the soap off under clean running water.
- Dry your hands all over for 20 seconds. Drying your hands is as important as washing them.
Internet/Devices/Cell-Phones/Photos
This week you will be receiving the internet consent form. This needs to be signed in order that your child can access the internet with school and/or personal devices. This form also allows you to consent for your child’s photo to be published in school newsletters, notices, and on the school website. Please could you ensure that the forms are signed and returned to the home group teacher.
All parents and whanau carry personal recording devices. They use them to record key events in their child’s life. Many of these events are recorded at school. They share these recordings with the extended whanau. We ask that parents avoid recording other children. We can no longer guarantee that students will not have their image on social media. We do ask parents not to record children at school events like performances and Masses. Thank you for your support.
Sports
We invite parents to register to their children to play the following sports for St Joseph’s Primary School in Term 1.
Registrations close on Friday 7 February 2020 (early date as there are limited numbers in this sport).
Breakers Year 1/2 Basketball
Location: 7 Atlas Place, Mairangi Bay
Location: AUT Millennium, Antares Place, Mairangi Bay
Day: Sunday
Game Times: Varies, 1:00pm-8:00pm
Season Dates: 28 July – 15 Sept
Game Duration: 20 min (2 x 8 min halves)
FEES: $67.00 per player (based on 8 in a team) for Years 4-6 or $60 per player (based on 8 in a team) for Newbies (Years 2-3)
Year 2-4 Miniball
Yr 5/6 Basketball
Location: North Shore Events Centre, Silverfield and Argus Pl, Glenfield and AUT Akoranga Drive.
Day: Tuesday
Game Times: Varies, 4.10pm -7.55pm
Season Dates: 13th August for 13 weeks
Game Duration: 20 min
FEES: $92.00 per player (based on 7 in a team)
If interested:
- Please go to www.sj.school.nz
- scroll down to the link to SCHOOL/SPORTS PAYMENTS
- this will take you to Enrolmy
- Login/create a login (if you haven’t already got one)
- Click See School Activities
- When you click “Book Activity” if you have already registered your child for an activity through your enrolmy login, please just select the box of the child you are wanting to enrol.
Please consider your child’s schedule carefully before booking. Any refunds will be charged a $5 administration fee unless they can be transferred to another activity.
Any questions please email sports@sj.school.nz