ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

Principal’s Letter – March 27

Dear Parents and Whanau

Today you and your family are in Day 2 of our National Lockdown and it is also the new final day of Term 1 2020.

It is an interesting experience for us all being home 24/7 with our families. I hope you as parents are able to organise some ‘me’ time, as it is important for the children that your wellbeing is being looked after. A commentator on the radio yesterday talked about wellbeing in this National Lockdown. They said it was important that families didn’t start counting down to the current final date of the lockdown. The concern is that there is the possiblity that the Prime Minister may extend the lockdown. Should families be counting down then there would be great disppointment if this occured. This is certainly worth considering.

Online Programme of Learning

The students are certainly enjoying their Online Programme of Learning. The google sites will continue to be accessible for the holidays. Students are welcome to use them.

Holiday Communication

The staff and I are mindful that you have had a siginificant number of communications from the school over this term. While these needed to occur to keep everyone up to date, the holiday is a wonderful opportunity to have a break from school communications. In saying that, if I receive any Ministry of Education Update that has information important to our school families, naturally I will post the communication on our website, and you will receive an email notifying you of the posting.

Staff are going into a well deserved break. This time will see them refreshing their wellbeing and preparing the Term 2 Online Programme of Learning. They will not be monitoring the activities of their students or responding to emails. 

If there is anything urgent we need to know please email me, principal@sj.school.nz, and I will respond accordingly.

Residential Address

The Ministry of Education has every student’s address in New Zealand. They have requested that if we have any students who are not living at the residential address recorded on the National Student Register, that we inform them of the address the students are at for the National Lockdown. This includes families who are staying at their baches. If your child is not living at the residential address we have on our school register, please could you email me, principal@sj.school.nz, with the following information:

• Your child’s full name
• Their current Home group and teacher’s name
• The address they will be residing at for the National Lockdown

Miss Woodhead

We welcomed back Miss Woodhead on Monday afternoon just prior to the school closure. Miss Woodhead had been supporting her sister over the previous three weeks. Sadly her sister died of cancer the week prior and her funeral was last Saturday. Please keep Miss Woodhead and her family in your prayers.

Easter

Good Friday is Friday 10 April. Easter Sunday is Sunday 12 April. With all churches closed throughout the country, this Easter will be a unique experience for us all. Below are some links you are welcome to access to support you and your family with this very special celebration for our Catholic faith.

• CARITAS lenten reflection programme – are for all the Sundays in Lent including Palm Sunday – https://caritas.org.nz/system/files/2020%20LRP%20English.pdf
• Busted Halo is a good site for our older kids – has a three minute youtube explaining Holy Week – https://bustedhalo.com/video/watch-holy-week-in-three-minutes
• Virtual Stations of the Cross – https://bustedhalo.com/video/virtual-stations-of-the-cross
• Holy Week activities for kids – https://www.faithgateway.com/holy-week-activities-kids/#.Xn0VBNMzZmA
• For crafty kids / families with lots of ideas to keep our faith alive while we are hunkering down – https://www.catholicicing.com/ 

COVID-19 Child Talk

I am sure you will have had a conversation with your child about Covid-19. The most important thing when explaining any new concept to a child is to keep it simple and be guided by their questions. As adults we often over explain and in so doing can unintentionally cause worry for the child. Children just need to be presented the basic facts in a non emotive way and then left to get on with their play. Generally they will then ask questions if they need further clarification.

In a previous communication I mentioned the importance of not overloading the child’s environment with Covid-19. This is still important. Perhaps don’t have the radio playing all day, on which there are Covid-19 updates. Only turn on the TV news when the children are not present. They are only young and do not need to know all the worries of the world. Let children be children.

Here are some sites which may assist you in providing your children information about Covid-19. Please view them before you show them to your children, if that’s what you wish to do. You know your child best so you know what to tell them.

• Ministry of Education 
• Unicef
• Nanogirl and PM Jacinda Adern

Thank You

Thank you to our staff who have worked hard to support our students with a consistent programme of learning in a calm, caring and fun environment this term.

Thank you to our Board who have been there to support the staff in all that they do in walking alongside our students on their learning journey.

Thank you to you, our parents, for your understanding and appreciation in what has been a challenging term for all of us.

May your family time during this lockdown be one of laughter and fun games with your children.

Happy Easter

Ka manaakitia kouto e te Atua

Alister Bridgman

Tumuaki