ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Kia ora whanau

I trust you have had a great week. It has certainly been a busy one here at St Joseph’s.

It was wonderful to see many of our tamariki receiving Holy Communion for the first time at the Masses last Sunday. This is always a very special occasion for the child and the whanau. The children were beautifully presented. Congratulations to them all.

Yesterday we had our school Mass for the Feast of the Assumption, which is a Holy Day of Obligation.

The Church describes Sunday as the ‘foremost holy day of obligation’. Other ‘holy days of obligation’ have always been added to the Sundays. In New Zealand, we now have only two of these additional holy days of obligation – Christmas Day and the feast of the Assumption, August 15. The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as Assumption Day, marks the day God assumed Mary into heaven following her death. Mary’s assumption into heaven is also the feast of the Catholic church of New Zealand.

One of the hymns we sang was Mō Marie. This is a taonga (gift) for both the NZ Catholic church and for our school. It was written by Bishop Pompallier, the first Catholic Bishop of NZ. Bishop Pompallier has an important role in our school story along with Erurea Mihi Patuone. Patuone gifted the land that our church and school stand on to the Catholic church through Pompallier.

Thank you to the whanau who were able to join the tamariki for the Book Parade on Monday and the School Cross Country on Tuesday. They were two AWESOME school events which the children really enjoyed.

It has been an amazing Book Week. Thank you whanau for your very generous support of the Book Week. Our thanks to Megan and the team for running such a wonderful event.

Congratulations to the tamariki for the great running they displayed at the Cross Country. A special thanks to the Year 6 leaders who supported the younger ones on their run. A wonderful reflection of our school values and motto.

Thank you to the parents who stayed for the ‘parent race’. Congratulations to you all for participating. It was a wonderful way to end the event for the tamariki. I am not sure who won as I was still running and winning the final place.

This week also saw our Kiwi and Kakapo teachers participating in Structured Literacy professional development. This is the first of three PD (personal development) days that are being run this term, along with six after school workshops and two more at the beginning of 2025. This is an opportunity for the Year 1 – 3 teachers to learn about this pedagogy and reflect on how it can support our current programme of learning. The year 4 – 6 teachers will be receiving this professional development in 2025. Over the last two years we have been running the spelling programme ‘The Code’ throughout the school. This is a structured literacy programme.

Well, that ends a very busy week. We were very thankful that the rain has stayed away, particularly for Monday and Tuesday. Have a great weekend.

Take care

Ka manaakatia koutou e te Atua

Alister Bridgman
Tumuaki

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

Book Week & Parade 2024
PTFA Presents Musical Bingo & Auction – 13th September
Cross Country
A “Thank You” For St Vincent De Paul Donations
Sabbatical/Church Fundraiser
Parish News
Community Notices

PTFA PRESENTS MUSICAL BINGO & AUCTION – 13th SEPTEMBER

Grab your tickets for the St Josephs Musical Bingo Night and Fundraising Auction!

The Details:

Date: Friday 13th September 2024

Time: Doors open 6.30pm for a 7:30pm start

Where: Bar Africa – 1b William Pickering Drive, Albany (Drinks and Food available on the night)

Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased at stjosephspta.org.nz

Tables can accommodate between 6-10 people, so get a group together, select a table that suits the number of people in your group and make sure you all buy tickets for that table number to ensure you all sit together. If you don’t have a team, don’t worry! You can join one of the social mixed tables and have the chance to make new friends. These mixed tables are a really fun way to meet other parents in the school community. More tickets will be released if needed. For any assistance, feel free to reach out to us at pta@sj.school.nz

Please note as it is being held at a bar this an 18+ event and is not suitable for children.

Musical Bingo Night Auction

On the night there will be a selection of amazing items to bid on as well as a bottle board and raffle. If you have an item you would like to donate for the auction please email us at pta@sj.school.nz. All funds raised on the night will go towards some fantastic new initiatives to support our Children’s learning.

As part of the auction this year we will be offering hampers of items collected by each of the learning teams. We really appreciate any donations towards these and items can be given to your child’s HG teacher. Collection for these hampers will commence from Monday 19th August onwards.

Kiwi Team – Health and Wellness Hamper
Kakapo Team – Family Fun Hamper
Kakariki Team – Chefs Foodie Hamper

CROSS COUNTRY

Cross Country 2024

When the wood blocks clapped together, all of the Year 0’s and Year 1’s started running as fast as they could, while the school field was filled with excitement and cheers! Everyone was trying very hard and it was so cute watching the little ones run.

Not everyone chose to be competitive. About half chose to take part in the fun runs instead. They all persevered and pushed through to the end! It was a wholesome and positive experience! Students, teachers and parents were cheering for all of the students.

Many of the Year 6 girls and boys raced competitively. Most of them were focused and determined. Everyone started running fast, keeping a good pace. The training had paid off for many and the rest of the school and our parents started cheering very loudly!

Well done to the parents and staff and Mr Bridgman for taking part in the fun run too! Go Mr O’Connor!

Congratulations to all who took part. Good luck to those who will be competing in the Inter Schools and the Catholic Schools Cross Country competitions!

By: Athena M, HG1

A “THANK YOU” FOR ST VINCENT DE PAUL DONATIONS

At Mass yesterday, Rob Donze thanked the children for the financial donation that the school made to the Takapuna St Vincent de Paul Food Bank. Every day children kindly bring in cans of food or coins for the Home Group mission box. As part of morning prayers, children are invited to share what they did earn the can or money to bring to morning prayers.

Last month we made two donations of $1200 to local organisations that support people in our community; De Paul House and Takapuna St Vincent de Paul. These were funds raised through the Home Group mission boxes.

We believe it is important for children to develop an awareness that there are people in our community who need support, and that they, the children, are in a position that they can provide that support through giving a can of food or a couple of dollars. We do expect the children to have done something around home for the can or $2 in order to develop an understanding of ‘working’ and sacrifice to support others.

Thank you to the whanau of the children for encouraging your children to share and donate to these worthy organisations.

SABBATICAL/CHURCH FUNDRAISER

Monsignor David is scheduled to fly to France on 26 August, and will be away till 10 January 2025. He’s taking a sabbatical, during which he’ll mark his 75th birthday. With two friends, he plans to do the 1600km pilgrimage walk (Camino) from Le Puy-enVelay (France) to Santiago de Compostela (Spain), the burial place of James, one of the apostles.

Planning is well underway for an upgrade to St Joseph’s Church, which will provide lift access, an improved hospitality area, and a safe gathering space in front of the church. Msgr David hopes his pilgrimage can be a fundraiser for the Church upgrade. Are you able to sponsor him on his 1600 km pilgrimage?