Tena koutou,

This morning at our school prayers we welcomed the twenty eight new students and the new families to our school community. This is always a special celebration for our school community.

We are looking forward to the whole school coming together next Friday, 24th February, 5.30 – 7.30pm. The Back-to-School Picnic will be held on the lower field. Families can set up the picnic space with other families in their child’s team. Bring along your picnics, blankets, chairs and enjoy catching up with and meeting other parents and families in our school community. There will be food trucks on the courts should you wish to have takeaways. If we find the weather isn’t being cooperative the postponement date is Friday 3 March.

Cyclone Gabrielle has created significant damage in many parts of the country. Our prayers are with the many people who are dealing with the results and particularly the families of those who died in both the floods and the cyclone. It is going to be a long road to recovery for many.

Next Friday, February 24th, we will be having a “weekend wear” day. Students are invited to wear their weekend clothes and bring gold coins for the two causes we are fundraising for:

• Families impacted by the floods and Cyclone Gabrielle – Catholic Caring Foundation
• People of Turkey and Syria impacted by their earthquake – Caritas Aotearoa

Your generous donations will be gratefully received by both these organisations

Wednesday, 22nd February will see the students gathering in our church for our Ash Wednesday Liturgy. All whanau are welcome to join us in the church for this liturgy which will begin at 1.45 pm.

Take care everyone. May you have a lovely relaxing weekend.

Ka manaakitia koutou e te Atua

Alister Bridgman
Tumuaki
principal@sj.school.nz

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

• Lent
• Weekend Wear Day Fundraising for Those Impacted by the Syria/Turkey Earthquake, Recent Floods & Cyclone Gabrielle – February 24th
• Back-to-School Picnic Next Friday
• Shore-to-Shore Fun Run March 26th
• Pasifika Cultural Group – All Welcome!
• M Sports Footy Kids
• Violin Lessons
• Community Notices

Ash Wednesday (February 22nd) marks the beginning of the church season of Lent. Lent is a time of fasting, praying and almsgiving. The theme for Lent 2023 is “I am the Light of the World” (John 8:12). This reminds us that Jesus brings light to our world. Ironically a particularly appropriate theme considering what the country has experienced in the last few weeks.

Students will be learning about Lent through their Religious Education programme. We will encourage them to consider something they could do, for the six weeks of Lent, to contribute to family life or support others in their life. This could be as simple as making their bed each day, or visiting an elderly neighbour each week and helping them in their garden. We would encourage you to have a chat with your child and support them with the activity they decide on.

During Lent, New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops invite us to provide for the needs of the poor through the work of Caritas. Students generously bring money each day for the home group mission box. The mission box money over the next six weeks will be donated to the Bishops’ Lent Appeal. This year the Bishop’s Lent Appeal will help to fund both development and emergency relief work around the world.

It is great to see that the Shore to Shore fun walk/run is back! This is an AWESOME event for the family. Register your family though the Shore to Shore website under St Joseph’s Catholic School Takapuna. The family registration allows you to participate in the 5km walk/run and as a school we will be given the opportunity to purchase new sports equipment. Get your whole whanau involved in this fun event. Check out the details on the website and save the date.

Pacifica Cultural Group will be starting Wednesday 22nd February after lunch.

All students are welcome to join and if there are any parents who would like to share their talents and interests with us, please come along at any stage.

Please check out the latest community notices that are on our school website.