ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Malo e leilei

Yesterday Kakariki Pod 2 led the 9.15 am Parish Mass. Over Terms 2 & 3 each team/pod has led a Mass or Liturgy. These are very special occasions and are central to our faith and to all that we do at St Joseph’s. The children at yesterday’s Mass spoke and sang beautifully. It is wonderful to see their years of learning coming together and being reflected at a Parish Mass.

It is great to be able to celebrate the many languages of the people of NZ. This week was Tongan Language week. The theme this year is E tu’uloa ‘a e Lea faka-Tongá ‘o ka lea’aki ‘i ‘api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-‘a-kāingá, which means the Tongan Language will be sustainable if used at home, church and in the wider community.

Next week is Maori Language Week. This year the school entered the MOE Maori Achievement Contract. This sees a facilitator support the staff in looking at ways in which they can better reflect Titiri o Waitangi through their programmes of learning and the Board’s strategic initiative, ‘Weave Te Ao Māori into all that we do’. The children will be celebrating Maori language week through their programme of learning.

This year we have been celebrating 130 years of education at St Joseph’s School, which was founded by the Mercy Order. In 1849 Bishop Viard opened the first school on the North Shore, St Mary’s Industrial School for boys. Following land wars and the depression, this school was closed in 1850. In 1893 the building was handed over to the Mercy Sisters and was reopened as St Joseph’s School for boys, locally referred to as St Joseph’s, the Orphanage, the Convent or even St Mary’s.

This year the terms have been focussed on four people who had an important role to play in our school’s foundation;

Term 1: Patuone / Term 2: Bishop Pompallier
Term 3: Sr Catherine McAuley / Term 4: Sr M. Alphonsus Bolger

Learning has looked at the people, the times they lived in, and their influence on our school.

In the final week of this term we celebrate Mercy Week. Sr Catherine McAuley founded the Mercy Order, and we are a Mercy school, along with many others, including Carmel College. On Friday, the 22nd of September, there will be a school Mass at 9.15 am. All whanau are invited. This will be followed by morning tea; and then the school cultural festival. We would love families to join us for this very special day. Below is the invitation.

Ofa ke tāpuakiʻi koe ʻe he ʻOtuá.

Alister Bridgman
Principal

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

Mercy Day Invitation
Reminder: Report Absences on the @School App
Father’s Day Brekky & Sharing the Learning
Term 4 Dates
Cultural Group Photos
Community Notices

MERCY DAY MASS

REPORTING ABSENCES – PLEASE ADVISE VIA THE @SCHOOL APP

Just a reminder regarding the recent change in reporting absences…

You can no longer report absences on the school website.

We ask that you report absences (or if your child will be late) via the @School App before 9am.

When sending through the report, please include the specific reason for your child not being at school (for example “stomach bug”, “cough/cold”, “flu”, etc). A general reason, such as “sick” is not specific enough.

Reporting the absence on the @School App enables both the teacher and Mrs Kelly (who looks after absences in the office) to be advised.

Please do not ring the school to advise.

If you don’t currently have access to the app (eg your log-in details have expired), please email Lizzy at secretary@sj.school.nz and she can resend the automated email updating log-in details.

Thank you!