ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Tena koutou whanau,

Welcome to the end of week nine. It is hard to believe we have one final week of term two, which sees the completion of the first six months of this year.

Despite the rain, we were able to hold our first annual Colour Fun Run this afternoon. Special thanks to the PTFA for organising such an AWESOME event, which raised money for our new junior playground. And a big thank you to all the parents & students for their tremendous support of this fundraiser. More details about the success of the run in next week’s newsletter. In the meantime, enjoy the photos below, courtesy of Mrs Bridgman.

Next Thursday you will receive your child’s mid-year progress report through the @School App. If you are unable to locate it please email your child’s teacher.

On Monday, we have contractors beginning the refurbishment project for the library, which has been organised by the Catholic Diocese of Auckland Property Office, in conjunction with the Board. This is anticipated to be a nine week project, ending in term 3 week 6. There will be minimum disruption to the day-to-day running of the school. The building site will be fully fenced and all the necessary safety measures will be in place.

Please do not use the Fred Thomas Drive (alongside the Summit School) for dropping off or collecting children. This drive is for Summit School students and parents. Please only use our 10 Dominion St drive.

Thank you for continuing to ensure your child is safe by not letting them out of the car until you see Mrs Bridgman, at 8.15am, when the school opens. Please do not leave your child alone by the church or in front of the office. If you need your child looked after because you have to get to work, you can enrol them in the sKids morning programme (022 067 4840).

We look forward to seeing all the students at the school disco next week. Check out the information below.

Alister Bridgman
Principal

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

Te Reo Maori
End-of-Term Matariki Disco
YCC Day/Weekend Wear Day
Term 3 Dates
Colour Fun Run Pics
@School App
Whanau Meetings
Attendance Dues & Contributions
Pompallier Bell
Flippa Ball/Splash Polo Registrations
Fill the Tub
sKids Holiday Programme
Community Notices

TE REO MAORI

END-OF-TERM MATARIKI DISCO

YCC DAY/WEEKEND WEAR DAY

Next Friday June 30 is Caritas YCC Day for all Catholic schools across Aotearoa NZ. We will be helping Oecusse School in Timor-Leste while having a fun non-uniform (weekend wear) day for a gold coin. Our bishops are excited about the event and about us all joining in solidarity with the school, which Caritas supports. Your gold coin will help provide working toilets for Oecusse School, which has more than 800 students and no working toilets. It’s in great need of support to repair and replace broken, unsanitary toilet bowls; repair handwashing stations in the toilet facilities; and fix water pipes for supplying water to different areas in the school.

Here is a YouTube message from the bishops asking you to join Caritas YCC Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exgqaSCG4Kk

Here is the Caritas YCC page: https://www.caritas.org.nz/ycc-day

TERM3 DATES

First Day of Term 3 – Monday, July 17th

Last Day of Term 3 – Friday, September 22nd

No Public Holidays During Term 3

COLOUR FUN RUN PICS

@SCHOOL APP

We are looking to make more use of the @School App as a means of communication. This App, in combination with the school website will be central platforms for communication and information for the school. Can you please ensure the @school app is loaded on your phone; and that you are still able to sign in to it. If you didn’t log-in when the automated email was initially sent, chances are the password will have expired as it’s only valid for a short time. If you are having any difficulties with it, please contact Lizzy by emailing her – secretary@sj.school.nz.

WHANAU MEETINGS

Over the next week, you will be receiving an email inviting you to book an appointment with your child’s teacher, to discuss how they have progressed during the first half of the year. This is an option for all parents.

The email will advise you that bookings will open Friday, 30th June. Meetings will be happening on Monday, 17th July (Term 3 Day 1) from 1pm – 5.30pm.

There will be 10 minute slots you can book. The booking will be done on the @School App.

Please check your @School App is working. If you are having any difficulties with it, please contact Lizzy by emailing her – secretary@sj.school.nz.

ATTENDANCE DUES & CONTRIBUTIONS

Next week, you will receive your updated Attendance Dues/School Contributions Invoice/Statement.

The Catholic Diocese of Auckland expects the Attendance Dues to be paid throughout the year, rather than at the end of the year.

We ask that all parents pay their child’s Catholic Character/Teaching and Learning/Capital Works contributions as these ensure that we are able to provide an exciting, extensive programme of learning for your child in an environment that supports their learning. Please check out the website to see details, of what your Contributions fund.

Thank you for paying your child’s Attendance Dues and Contributions.

POMPALLIER BELL

The Case of the Missing Pompallier Bell
Reported By: Jacob, HG2

May 6th. Saturday. A bell went missing.

Who stole it? Why did they steal it?

Let me tell you about the Pompallier Bell. This bell is not like other bells. There are only seven of these bells in the entire world and St Joseph’s, Takapuna owns one.

It was stolen on May 6th by an unscrupulous person. Their name and whereabouts are still unknown to this day.

It was on Monday, 8th of May when a group of children saw the bell was missing and went inside the office to tell Mrs Kelly.

When Mrs Kelly was informed about the Pompallier bell, her first instinct was to call 105. She told them about the bell and where it was placed before this incident occurred. At the same time she was calling the police, the thief was making their first move.

They took the bell to a scrap merchant to get the bell smelted for money. It was placed in the waiting line and that’s when Mrs Kelly had a brilliant idea.

She emailed all of the scrap merchants in Auckland and waited for a few hours until one scrap merchant replied. It was in Onehunga.

Mrs Kelly responded back with photos of a similar bell to double check that it was the Pompallier Bell. They replied with a “thumbs-up” and they said they would drop it off to St Joe’s. Soon it arrived at school and was dropped off.

We thank everyone who helped recover the bell; and especially Mrs Kelly for recovering this priceless bell.