Our Term’s Living and Learning Focus is

CHANGE WHAKAUMU

Our School Values

Tina Justice, Pono Truth, Aroha Compassion, Manaakitanga Hospitality and Tapu Respect for the Environment

lived out in our Motto

Courtesy Care Co-operation Courage

Learning to Learn at St Joseph’s  #L2L

Key Competencies*

Capabilities for living and lifelong learning

The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies: • thinking • using language, symbols, and texts • managing self • relating to others • participating and contributing.

 

St Joseph’s Catholic School Takapuna Learning Model

TO KNOW       What Do I Know?                    What Do I Need to Know?

 

TO DO                         What Do I Need To Do?          How Do I Do This?

 

TO USE            How will I Use What I Am Learning?  What Other Ways Can I Use It?

 

Many different types of learning occur in the school environment.

Many different ways of learning also occur.

In primary school education, we are working with the learners to help them develop the skills they need for learning how to learn. Children are much more involved in the learning process now, than ever before. They are learning to think for themselves, grow in responsibility and independence. The information in previous newsletters on how schools and parents are helping children develop the Key Competencies really shows the importance of this approach, enabling learning for life.

In sport and PE, children learn to strive, to practise, to be competitive, to be good team members, to become more skilful players, to think strategically.

In maths they learn to problem solve, to work with others, to memorise, to connect new learning to what they have learnt before.

In guitar classes they learn to listen, to observe, to use their fingers in the correct way in order to form chords, feel the rhythm, hear the beat, how to perform, to know that without practice and determination they don’t progress.

The ideas above are just examples. The exciting thing about learning is that it occurs 24/7, continues all throughout life, does not always need to be formal and that the best learning occurs when the learners can see the purpose and relate it to real life.

 

One area of learning we are trying to develop more is the learning of languages. At the moment, Years 2-4 are learning Te Reo Māori and Years 5 & 6 and Years 0-1are learning Mandarin.

 

                                                      Mandarin at St Joseph’s

In Year 5 and 6 we are learning Mandarin with Shing Laoshi who works for the Confucius Centre. She is in New Zealand for 1 year and although we are learning lots of Mandarin we are helping her to learn English. We have learnt many new phrases and it is exciting when we have to answer a whole sentence in Mandarin without stopping. She links her lessons in with events in the calendar like the Dragon boat festival and she uses art to get the message across e.g. origami boats and ink paintings for the cherry blossom trees. Counting to 100 isn’t easy but we are getting better as we practise. We love the lessons and can’t wait to carry them on in Term 3.

Reported by Oli Williams from Home Group 4 Kakariki Team.

 

Netball North Harbour Primary Schools Field Day Wednesday 24 June

Two teams represented St Joseph’s. Thank you to Kim for co-ordinating and to the coaches, managers and parents who supported the players. Congratulations to both teams for giving of their best. Congratulations to the victorious team who were the winners of the D Grade, winning 6 games!

Cassie l, Altanya S, Yeshle K, Kayla G, Venise St M, Felize N, Sionnan M, Maya P-T, Celia G

 

Again, every experience we have is a learning one…learning to win, learning to lose, and learning to retain motivation and enthusiasm when the going gets tough, learning to congratulate others even when we are disappointed. So much learning…and even more than I have mentioned….in participating in a sporting event.

 

THE TALENT SHARING

This event was superbly organised by the Year 6 House Captains assisted by Erika Bon. The talent was varied, captured the attention of the audience and was entertaining. Congratulations to all who performed. The photos below were taken by Thomas P from Home Group 3 in Kakariki.

 

In the Talent Sharing we discovered lots of talents in people that we never knew they had. They weren’t shy and they were brave and they really put out their talents to us in the audience. We enjoyed watching them because they entertained us with singing, dancing, piano, violin, recorder, rapping, cheerleading and poetry. In the end, the House Leaders did a great job organising and running this event. To our surprise they finished everything off with a great finale which was an awesome dance.

Reported by Altanya Suparman (HG2) Kakariki Team

THE BUILDING PROGRAMME

The excitement grows! Most of the children have had a look through already. On Monday morning after prayers, Years 5 & 6 children are going to have their tour. Kakapo Team (Year 2) will have their tour on Wednesday.

There will be another tour for parents at 2.00 on Friday 3 July. Meet on the court by the Junior Adventure Playground or, if wet, under the veranda outside Rooms 7 & 8.

Home Group 11 & 12 from Kea Team have moved their furniture in downstairs and are now “champing at the bit” to move in.

Kereru Team (Home Groups 5, 6, 7 & 8), with the help of some parents, moved most of their furniture in today. Children are eyeing up the space eagerly and longingly. They can’t wait to move in, as well.

 

Sharing the Learning in Home Group 13 Kea Team and farewell to

Diana Luxon

Thank you to all parents and grandparents who came along and supported this event.

All the very best to Diana, Jimmy and Lockie as they await the birth of their daughter and sister. The children in HG 13 had very good advice on parenting for Diana and plenty of suggestions for names!

 

Congratulations to Charlie D (HG2 Kakariki Team), who was selected to represent Auckland Basketball and to tour Melbourne to play in an U14 basketball competition. They played 3 games a day. The Auckland team was unbeaten to the finals which they won by 18 points.

 

Congratulations to Mikal M (HG1 Kakariki Team)!

 

“I have been selected to play basketball in the USA, specifically Orlando, Florida. We are versing some teams from around the world, mainly the US. I am the youngest in the team. I belong to Capital City Basketball which I think originated in Washington. My coach is from the States.” Mikal M

 

 

Remember, the term ends at 2.50 Friday, 3 July. Term 3 starts at 8.50 on Monday 20 July.

There will a short assembly at 2.30 on Friday 3 July.

Have a lovely weekend.

Ka kite ano!  God bless!    Phil