ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

Principal’s Letter – 22 May

Dear Parents

Thank you for the many compliments and comments of appreciation for the way the staff have welcomed your children back to school this week. We were very mindful that your child’s return to school was going to be one of both excitement and nerves. The students and staff have had a wonderful week getting to know each other again and hearing about the various ways in which ‘lockdown’ was spent.

Thank you also for the many wonderful comments about our Online Programme of Learning and how quickly it was available for the students. We are certainly blessed with a team of very dedicated teachers who developed the team google sites with a vast array of activities. They spent the break upskilling themselves on using the google sites platform in order that they could post the various activities that reflected our school curriculum. Teachers really enjoyed monitoring and supporting your child with the learning through Alert Levels 4 & 3 online learning. 

Thank you for all you did in supporting your child with their learning through Alert Levels 4 & 3. It was a very different time for us all. Your children have all continued their learning thanks to the support of you, their parents.

We appreciate your wonderful positivity and support through what is now Alert Level 2. Having completed our first week we are now settled into our ‘new look’ schooling. We will be following the same processes we did this week, next week. 

Next week the Prime Minister will announce what Alert Level 2 will continue to look like, or if we are heading to Alert Level 1. Following her announcement the Ministry of Education will then update its guidelines for schools, based on the Ministry of Health’s advice. This takes a few days so we will be working according to this week’s procedures for the full week.

Teacher Only Day – Friday 29 May – CANCELLED

Due to students being at home through Alert Level 4 & 3, we will not be having the planned Teacher Only Day at the end of next week. If you have plans in place for an extra-long weekend due to the planned Teacher Only Day you are welcome to continue with them. Please let us know that your child will be away on Friday by completing the absence form on the school website.  

Queen’s Birthday – Monday 1 June – SCHOOL CLOSED

Please be aware that all New Zealand schools will be closed Monday 1 June. It is a public holiday.

Term 2 Sports Notice

At this stage most of the after school hours sports programmes will be starting in Term 3. Here is the information the school has received so far from the outside agencies that run these sports programmes:

North Harbour Basketball: Starting Semester 2 (Terms 3&4). Fees from Semester 1 (Terms 1&2) will be taken off the cost of playing in Semester 2 (Terms 3&4).

Breakers Basketball: Planning to start in Term 3. Term 1 fees have been refunded (if this was requested) or transfered as credit to your Enrolmy account.

Flippaball: Starting Term 3. Fees for Term 3 will be lower due to Term 1 being cut short.

Netball: All teams will be finalised next week, and coaches and managers contacted. Please could Years 5 & 6 students bring their sports shoes on Wednesday and Thursday next week. North Harbour Netball (Year 6) is beginning 22 July. Kidzplay Netball (Years 1 – 5) is starting 1 August.

Rippa Rugby: We have received no information as to when this is starting. Teams will be confirmed shortly.

We thank you for your patience and will notify you when we receive any further information. There will be no training sessions with parents until we receive further information on Alert Level 2 and/or 1 in schools from the Ministry of Education. Coaches will be emailed directly when training can begin again.

Parish Sacramental Programme

The Parish Sacramental Programme has been postponed this term. Next Term the Parish will inform you what the programme will look like for the remainder of the year.

Take Care, Stay Safe

Please continue to look after yourselves and your family in the coming weeks. Have a lovely weekend with the family.

Ka manaakitia koutou e te Atua

Alister Bridgman

Tumuaki