St Joseph's School Newsletter
30th November - Week 7 - Term 4 2022
Principal's Message
Kia ora, Hi, Kia orana, Kumusta, Ciao, Hallo, Dia duit, Halo, Namaste, Bonjour,
Wow, the weeks are flying by.
We are now in Advent a lovely time of the year when we reflect on the people in our lives that are important to us and to ensure we pray for them. Take time in your families to talk about gratitude and preparing for Christ's birth as a family looking beyond the influence of media and financial influence and pressures. Chirst was born in a humble stable with his family present. That is the kind of presents we need this year, our families and those who are important to us at our sides.
Advent food/toy/toiletries collection for the St Vincent De Paul. Please bring items to the office. Students during their service time will be wrapping boxes for the St Vincent De Paul.
Students have throughly enjoyed the Swim Safe sessions. We are thankful to Swimming Waikato for providing students the opportunity to learn these valuable lessons.
Yesterday I received confirmation that the school was successful in gaining Sports New Zealand Tu Manawa funding supported by Sport Waikato. Early next year we will be able to have two big Discovery learning boxes for lunchtime play, a new Gym mat, lots of new get moving equipment and sports equipment to the value of $5,927.50. We are very excited and look forward to having fun and co-operating with others. Lots of fun things that were chosen by the students.
Students are excited about camp in week 9. Please fill out the online permission and medical form as soon as possible. We do still require a bit more help if you are available please let the office know.
Thank you.
As with the Pope Prayer intention below, we are thankful and pray for those who work for non-profit volunteer organisations. We are fortunate to have many volunteers who work on behalf of our student's in the Waihi Beach Op shop, may God bless them.
End of year Important dates:
Friday 9th December: Teacher Only Day- Accord Day
14th December: 11am Classroom certificates /Music concert
15th December: 5pm Nativity Play / Prizegiving / Community Supper
16th December: 9am End of year school thanksgiving graduation mass
20th December: School closes at 12:30 - last school day of 2022.
Teresa Rush
Principal
CATHOLIC CORNER
The season of Advent began on Sunday - a time when we prepare for the coming of Christ. As we light each of the 4 candles that represent the 4 weeks of Advent, we are reminded that Jesus is the light of the world. The wreath symbolises God’s never ending love and the greenery is the colour of hope. The Jesse tree is also a Catholic tradition which traces Jesus’ ancestry from Adam and Eve to Jesus’ birth. Symbols on the tree tell the story of biblical figures, mostly from the Old Testament, who are all part of Jesus’ family tree.
We also ask if families can help contribute to the Christmas food parcels which our St Vincent de Paul Group gives out to needy people in Waihi each Xmas. Donations of canned food, toiletries and other food items for the Vinnies as well as small gifts would be greatly appreciated.
DRS Linda Hughes
FINAL LIBRARY UPDATE FOR 2022
With all the Dinosaur prizes now given out our attention turns to our final Author Hunt, all information needed is now on the library wall. Well done to Mackenzie for spotting this and being the first to get an answer down!
I would like to thank all the students for all their ideas and creativity shown this year in the library. Also to those who have participated in all the quizzes and Author Hunts. There is always something new to learn in the library!!
Thanks to Marlo and Siyona for all their assistance during Book Week in Term 3. I couldn’t have done it without you!!
And finally a special Thank You to Aarish Rm 1 Rimu, Mackenzie Rm 4 Totara and Quinn Rm 6 Kauri for all your varied support and help during 2022. It has been very gratefully appreciated.
OOhh – and mustn’t forget – can we please have all your library books back by this Friday so that we can leave the library looking perfect for the beginning of 2023.
God bless
Mrs Mac
ST JOSEPH'S COMMUNITY GROUP
Thanks to those who could make the meeting last week. The key discussion was around building our parent community support and network. (facebook part)
Magic
On Friday students spent sometime at Waihi College with members of the Magic team.
GARDEN TO TABLE
In 2023, on Friday mornings from 9:30-11am, the students will be involved in Garden to Table. This is a gardening and kitchen project, involving growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing food they have grown.
For this to be successful we will require some helpers each week - We are after keen gardeners to share their knowledge and skills and chefs/cooks to guide students in the kitchen.
To start with we need to build some gardens to start growing vegetables, herbs etc. If you are an expert and would like to share your knowledge and skills in setting up the gardens we would appreciate your guidance. The gardens we aim to prepare in late January/ early February so that students can start planting straight away on their return to school.
We are also after gardening tools so if you have any spare tools please drop them into the school office.
We will be having a short meeting on Friday 9th December after the 9am mass about Garden to Table if you would like to find out more. (On the Teacher Only Day).
If you would like to be involved then please contact Teresa: principal@wsj.school.nz
SUSHI on Friday
There will be Sushi this Friday.
UPCOMING EVENTS
28th Nov-2nd Dec - Swimming week, water safety
5th December - Year 5/6 Tapuwae Tournament
8th December - Board meeting, 5.15pm
9th December - Accord Day (Teacher Only day)
12th-13th December - Year 4-8 camp
14th December - Year 0-8 classroom certificates 11am-12.30pm
15th December - Prizegiving and Nativity Play, 5pm-6.30pm
16th December - End of year Thanksgiving Mass
20th December - End of Term 4
Our Wonderful Sponsors
Prayer for the Week
December- Pope Francis' prayer intention.
We pray that volunteer non-profit organizations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.
Amen
Please watch the Pope's video below. May God Bless all children of the world.
Email: office@wsj.school.nz
Phone: 07 863 8653