ST JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC
SCHOOL
TAKAPUNA

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parents,

2026 has seen the launch of the draft new NZ Curriculum along with the drafts of the Social Sciences, Science, Technology, Arts, and the Physical Education & Health curriculum.

2026 has also seen the introduction of the final version of the English and Mathematics & Statistics curriculum.

In 2024 we introduced the new NZ Religious Education curriculum to the Year 1 – 4 Home Groups and Year 5 – 6 in 2025. This year will see it being fully implemented across the school.

As a school we designed a programme of learning based on both the draft and mandated curriculum.

Throughout the year the children will be covering the new English and Mathematics curriculum at their Year Level. We are required to teach the children in these two curriculums at their Year Level.

During this term the school will be covering topics from the draft Social Sciences curriculum. In Term Two we will be looking at topics in the Science curriculum and in Term Three, the Technology curriculum. Term Four teams will be able to select a topic from one of these three curriculums for the children to learn about.

While the HG teacher is teaching Religious Education, Reading, Writing and Maths along with Social Sciences, Science and Technology, our specialist teachers will be covering the Arts and Physical Education & Health Curriculum.

Specialist Teachers work with the HGs one day a fortnight and they plan their programme.

This allows the HG teacher to focus on the core curriculum areas along with the curriculum of the term and allows the specialist teachers to focus on the Arts, PE & Health.

The children have an exciting year of learning ahead of them.

Next week I will share our 2026 Reporting Programme.

Ka Manaakitia e te Atua

Alister Bridgman

Tumuaki

The Principal’s Message will cover the following topics:

Lent
Important: Recording Absences on the Hero App
PTFA AGM This Monday Evening
Colour Dash 2026
Hats
School Sport
Shore-to-Shore Fun Run/Walk
Parish News
Commemoration for Pope Francis
sKids Holiday Programme
Community Notices

LENT

Ngākau Manaaki embodies being open, welcoming, and informed—courageous advocates for Social Justice. The CARITAS Lenten program strongly emphasizes preserving the dignity of all and upholding everyone in a safe environment. This aligns with our whakatauākī for this term: Kia akiaki te mana o te tangata – Uplift and uphold the dignity and prestige of people.

In a world that is feeling fragile at the moment we ask all families to time to pray for peace and dignity for all. If your whanau is also able to support the Parish Foodbank with any of the following items it would be much appreciated as the shelves are looking a little light: pasta and pasta sauce, tinned tomatoes, green beans/peas, spreads – marmite, jam etc rice, toiletries and cleaners. This is a practical way we can support and uphold those in our local community.

IMPORTANT: RECORDING ABSENCES ON THE HERO APP

This year we are transitioning from the eTap (@School Spp) student management system to HERO. The first phase is the recording of your child’s attendance.

We would ask that you upload the HERO app on your phone in order that you can record your child’s absence on it. This is the app that will show your child’s 2026 rate of attendance. We are no longer using the @school app to track this.

In Term 2, the HERO app will be the only place you can record your child’s absences.

We would encourage you to upload the HERO app and begin using it for your child’s absences.

PTFA AGM THIS MONDAY EVENING

COLOUR DASH 2026

St Joseph’s Kids — Free Colour Dash T-Shirt!

We’re excited to invite St Joseph’s Takapuna students to be part of Colour Dash 2026 — a vibrant, joy-filled community event raising funds for the Liz Soper Foundation of Care.

Even better…

Every St Joseph’s child who purchases a Colour Dash ticket will receive a FREE Colour Dash T-shirt.

Step 1 – Buy your ticket

Purchase your ticket online via Eventfinda.

100% of ticket sales go directly to the Liz Soper Foundation of Care.

(Please note: if your child attends St Joseph’s, you do not need to purchase a T-shirt for them — they will receive one free. T-shirts can still be purchased for other family members joining in the fun.)

Step 2 – Email us your details

After purchasing your ticket, please email:

colourdash@creativeabilities.co.nz

Include:
• Your Eventfinda order number
• Child’s name
• HG (Home Group)
• T-shirt size

Step 3 – T-shirts delivered to school

All ordered T-shirts will be delivered to St Joseph’s on Friday, 20th March for students to take home before the event.

Available Kids Sizes

110 (approx size 4)
120 (approx size 5)
130 (approx 6–7 years)
140 (approx 8–10 years)
150 (approx 11–12 years)

HATS

SCHOOL SPORT

Reminder – registrations for Winter Netball (Years 1-6) close on 20 March or once the teams are full. All the important information, including the registration link, is available by visiting the link below:

Netball registrations

Any questions please email sports@sj.school.nz