Happy New Year

I trust you have had, or are continuing to have, a lovely family Christmas break. It is great to be able to have time to catch up with our families, and take a break from the normal routines. No doubt the children enjoyed their visit from Santa and have been having great fun with their Christmas presents.

At the end of this month we begin our 2025 school year. We look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday 3 February. 

Teachers will be starting their new school year on Tuesday 28 January. This is the same day the school office opens. In the mean time if you have an specific questions, please feel free to email me – principal@sj.school.nz.

Below are a few reminders in order that the children can be prepared for the start of their new school year.

Enjoy the rest of January. Hopefully the weather will settle.

Ka manaakitia e te Atua

Alister Bridgman

Tumuaki

Term 1

Monday 3 February – Friday 11 April

• Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February (School Closed)
• Curriculum Day – Friday 7 February (School Closed)

Term 2

Monday 28 April – Friday 27 June

• Curriculum Day – Monday 28 April
• King’s Birthday –  Monday 2 June (School Closed)
• Matariki – Friday 20 June (School Closed)

Term 3

Monday 14 July – Friday 19 September

Term 4

Monday 6 October – Tuesday 16 December

• Labour Day –  Monday 27 October (School Closed)

On Friday 31 January we provide parents the opportunity to meet their child’s 2025 teacher. This is an opportunity for parents to share about their child. Who their child is, what their talents are and what they see as important for their child’s learning journey. Parents are welcome to bring their child.

Parents can book a 10 minute interview meeting. If you have more than one child please leave at least a 10 minute gap between interviews. This will give you time to move between interviews.

Booking Link

Please use this link to make your booking

https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/3v6xw

This is the first day of the school year.

The school opens at 8:15 am.

Parents are asked not to drop their children off before this time. Please can children stay in the cars till 8:15 am. If you need to drop your child off before this time please register them into our school sKids programme. 

Additional parking will be available on the courts and top field (if weather permits) for this day. Please do not park in the Parish parks by the church after 8:50 am, as we need to leave these free for parishioners attending Mass at 9:15 am.

The school day begins at 8:50 am.

Please ensure your child is at school by 8:45 pm in order that they can prepare for their day.

The school day ends at 2:50 pm.

Please ensure your child knows how they are getting home …

• you are meeting them in the quad
• you are collecting them by car via the pick-up area
• catching a Rosmini bus
• catching a Taharoto bus
• being picked up from the Lake House Cafe

All children are accompanied off the school grounds by an adult, parent or teacher, for safety reasons.

If you are walking in to collect your child please park either in the parish parks or on the courts. Please …

• wait for your children in the quad area and your children will come to you
• do not go onto the decks or into the learning spaces
• do not walk up the stairs to HG 1 – 6
• leave the grounds as quickly as possible in order that we can open the gate for the drive by pick-up system
• do not allow your children to play on the junior playground – it is closed until 3:30 pm

Thank you for following these procedures. They ensure the safety of all our students.

The stationery lists are on the school website. You can either purchase through OfficeMax or through your preferred stationery supplier. Please read the website carefully in regards to the naming of certain items at Years 1 – 4.

Our school Uniform requirements are on the school website. Please ensure your child has the full correct uniform, including the school hat, for their first day at school on Monday 3 February. 

You can purchase the uniform items through Janbell’s. There are some secondhand uniform items available through the school office. The office opens Tuesday 28 January, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm