Kia ora Parents

Thank you for joining us this evening for the whanau picnic. It is great to be able to come together, meet new families and catch up with friends.

Thank you very much for your support of our Weekend Wear Friday last week. We raised over $700. This money will be distributed to the Caring Foundation and Caritas NZ. They are the two Catholic organisations that support people of NZ impacted by the recent weather events; and the people of Syria and Turkey who continue to be experiencing major Earthquakes.

We currently have a fundraising raffle for a box of excellent books. The funds raised through this raffle will go to the Caring Foundation. Tickets will be available before school next week for students to purchase ($1 per ticket). Students are welcome to buy as many as they would like.

Next week, Thursday, March 9th, we have our first school Mass for the year. Whanau are welcome to join us at this Parish Mass, led by the school. It will begin at 9.15am.

March Madness has certainly hit our school. Our school day begins at 8:50am. While we appreciate it is currently difficult to judge travel time, it is great that the students (on the whole) arrive at school on time. If you are unable to get your child to school until after 9am, please park your car and sign your child in at the office. Please keep your children in your car if you arrive before 8am. Students are able to wait by the back of the church from 8am – 8.15am. Thank you for your support with these procedures.

Have a great weekend.

Take care,

Alister Bridgman
Tumuaki
principal@sj.school.nz

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

• A Prayer for Lent
• Stations of the Cross/School Mass
• Lent – Growing Seeds
• Raffle to Benefit Those Affected by the Floods & Cyclone
• Shore-to-Shore Fun Run March 26th
• Community Notices

I am the light of the world

“Worship in spirit and truth”

E te Ariki, Lord, today we listen to the story of the woman at the well. Jesus, may we all receive your life-giving water and wisdom as we share with each other today. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Āmene.

The parish of St Joseph’s is once again asking the children to be involved in the Stations of the Cross liturgy on Good Friday morning, 7th April at 10am. This is a very significant and special liturgy to be involved in. Comments from children in the past have been:

• “I felt like I was there.”
• “I now understand the story more.”
• “What powerful prayer.”

If your child is in Year 3-6 and would like to be involved in the liturgy (e.g, acting), please email annettew@sj.school.nz with your child’s name and home group.

We will also need some students from Year 1 and 2 as part of the crowd. As many choir children as possible will be needed, as they hold everything together with their singing (more details for these groups will come out soon).

Also, the first School Mass of 2023 is AT 9:15am on March 9th at St Joseph’s Church. You are more than welcome to join us for this Mass.

(See photos from previous Stations of the Cross liturgies below)

Please check out the latest community notices that are on our school website.