Our Living and Learning Focus for Term 4
is
H2O Friend or Foe
SPECIAL CATHOLIC CHARACTER
Our School Values, which we are all aiming to live by, are
Tika Justice, Pono Truth, Aroha Compassion, Manaakitanga Hospitality and Tapu Respect for the Environment
Lived out in our Motto
Courtesy Care Co-operation Courage
The Learning Model for our school is: Learning to Learn #L2L
“To Know To Do To Use”
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
The learning focus in Religious Education is Advent & Christmas
A Prayer for Lighting the Advent Wreath
The liturgical year begins with Advent, a word derived from Latin that means “coming.” During Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, and we look forward to Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
Enjoy this prayer with children or your family as you light the Advent wreath candles.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe.
You sent your Son to be the Light of the world and to spread his light of love to all.
As we light the candles of this wreath
May its growing brightness remind us of the approaching nearness of your Son
So that the day of His coming may find us prepared and filled with joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
KIWI TEAM HOME GROUPS 13 and 14
GO NOAH COSTUMES
PLUS A MANNEQUIN CHALLENGE
FLIPPABALL
St Joes Orca Flipperball team made it into the finals in their first term of Flipperball in the newbies league.
They beat Kristin in the semi finals 5-2 to make it through to the finals but lost 6-2 yesterday to St Johns.
The team had a great season and should be very proud of themselves.
A big thanks also to Gareth McFarlane for coaching the team.
Touch Rugby Season
We are almost at the end of our 2016 Touch Rugby season and what an eventful time our 7 teams have had! Despite the disruptive first half of the touch season where there were more venue changes than I can keep track of, our teams have had an amazing season!! Our two mixed year 1/2 teams played each other last night in a semi final, what great talent we have in the future of St Josephs.
The year 1/2 mixed, year 3/4 girls, year 5/6 girls and the year 5/6 boys all won their semi final so they are playing next Thursday for 1st or 2nd place as well! Good luck to all our teams in their final game.
ACADEMIC RESULTS 2016
READING: 89% of all children (from after 1 year at school through to the end of Year 6) are reading at or above the national standard
98.4% of Year Six children are reading at or above the national standard
WRITTEN LANGUAGE: 79.4% of all children (from after 1 year at school through to the end of Year 6) are achieving at or above the national standard in writing
95.1% of Year Six children are writing at or above the national standard
MATHEMATICS & STATISTICS: 89.3% of all children (from after 1 year at school through to the end of Year 6) are achieving at or above the national standard in maths
93.5% of Year Six children are achieving at or above the national standard in maths
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL LEARNERS,
THEIR TEACHERS AND THE TEACHER AIDES
FOR THESE OUTSTANDING RESULTS!
The final BOT meeting, for the year, was held last night
and I paid tribute to some key people in our school
who have worked with me for the past eight years:
Acknowledgements
Erika Bon and Gabrielle Bateman are true treasures of our school and have always worked collaboratively with me. Together, we have been able to share our various skills, manage tricky situations, be innovative and forward thinking and ensure that the children came first in all decisions. I know I was only as strong as my right hand people.
Valentina Abba I would like to acknowledge the work that Valentina does to support the financial responsibility aspect of my role. She is extremely diligent, meticulous regarding accuracy and the following of correct procedures and problem solves to an extremely high degree. I have been extremely well served by her in all aspects of her job, however, and to work, as a Principal, with someone of such high calibre, has been exceptional.
Annette Woodhead and I have shared similar visions regarding the development and support of Catholic Character in our school. She quietly and unassumingly supports teachers, children and their parents along their faith journey. It has been a privilege to work with her.
Debbie Pratt joined the leadership team as a team leader about 4 years ago. Having taken on the demanding role of SENCO this year, I have been delighted and amazed to see such progress and development in a short time. Debbie is pragmatic, has a strong sense of justice and very staunchly works for the good of the children and the teachers and teacher aides working with them.
Julie Kelly The first face (or voice!) of our school for most of our parents and children. I have been so well served by Julie, who ensures people want to come back; children know they are safe and well cared for; has a prodigious memory; can multi task like no other.
All our teachers and teacher aides like to learn and to grow; they are a kind and compassionate group of people who are here for the good of the children. The school is in good hands.
David Kelly A person you can rely on. Apart from the various tasks in his job, David has a much broader vision, and devotes his time and energy to developing the grounds and gardens. He loves our school. He does everything for the children. He is flexible and adaptable and the best ever “caretaker” I have worked with. Knowing the day to day Property matters were in good hands takes an enormous amount of time consuming work away from the Principal. The earlier decision by the BOT to go down this track was a gift.
We will have a final newsletter next week but ……….
“The end of every school year is usually a time for reflection on what went well and what didn’t, thinking forward to the new school year! It is a time to be grateful and for looking forward to a refreshing break so that you are ready for the process to start all over again.
The end of a career is similar in the looking back phase but very different in the looking forward! I am very grateful that I chose to work in education. Every day, children remind me of that by their joy, the funny things they do and say, the exciting learning that happens and most of all the absolute trust they put in you as their teacher or Principal. Working with a multitude of different staff members has also been, for the most part, a joy. I see that the challenges that also came when working with people enabled me to grow and learn. I have learnt so much from my colleagues. Parents and family members who are all part of the package wrapped around each child, have been incredible. Again, it is a huge thing for parents to put their trust in you as their child’s teacher or Principal – what a privileged life!
Thank you to all of the BOT, but in particular to Shane Coleman, who was on the BOT that appointed me here. I have always enjoyed and valued the various gifts and talents that BOT members bring to the table. I have found Shane to always put the needs of the school first and to be very aware that we are here to provide a Catholic education for the children of St Joseph’s. His pragmatism, common sense, loyalty, wise counsel and sense of humour have enriched my time here at St Joseph’s. He is truly a Taonga of our school.”
I would like to acknowledge Shane’s enormous contribution to Catholic Education at St Mary’s, Carmel and here at St Joseph’s. He will be finishing with the BOT early next term and proper tribute will be made at that time. His quiet and unassuming generosity, his passion for educating the “whole” child and his undeniable support and loyalty will be missed.
Thank you to Ivan Moss, who although just a short time on the BOT, has been an active and positive contributor. We wish him well as the family move to Wellington.
We welcome Anna Romano and Andrew Chung on to the BOT as Proprietor’s Appointees.
Thank you to everyone. Wishing you a happy and blessed Christmas and a safe and enjoyable summer holiday.
God bless!
Phil
Remember:
The Picnic at 2 p.m. on Sunday 11th December, starting with entertainment in the Hall
Parent Home Group Reps Meeting at Lukes 9.10 a.m. (after School Prayer) Monday 12
The year 6 Graduation at 7 p.m. in the Hall (Year 6 students and parents only) Monday 12 Dec
The End of Year Mass at 9.15 in the Church on Wednesday 14 December
The Awards Assembly at 11.30 on Wednesday 14 December at 11.30
Last date for 2016 Thursday 15 December. School finishes at 1 p.m. Children must be collected by 1.30 at the latest.
SKIDS is operating from 1 p.m.