St Joseph’s Catholic School

Newsletter : Issue 60
Week 4, Term 2
26 May 2022

Dear families and friends of the school,

Last Sunday marked a special day in our history as a Catholic community as Pope Francis
announced that Bishop Michael Gielen will be our next Bishop. We give thanks for the decision
and our prayers go out to Bishop Michael who is the eleventh Bishop of Christchurch, as he
prepares to take up his new role as our new shepherd. Please click on this link to hear Bishop
Michael’s short address to us all:
https://youtu.be/gaS1k3yRf_g
During the past few years, our faith has been sorely tested as Covid has not only changed the
way we live but the way that we have been able to freely practice our faith. This Sunday is the
first whole school mass we have had in a very long time. It is an opportunity for us to come
together as a faith community and celebrate the Eucharist together. It is very easy to be busy
with other things and we have very much got “out of the habit” of our Sunday Mass ritual.
However, we have to work hard at restoring our relationship with God in these difficult times and
we do hope that all our families make time this Sunday to come and share this special hour with
the school community.

As Pope Francis is quoted as saying: “It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live
the faith not only with our words but with our actions”.

We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

Hakatere Kāhui Ako - Ashburton Community of Learning

Most of you will be aware that, at the present time, I have a dual role as Principal of St Joseph’s
School and Lead Principal of the Hakatere Kāhui Ako. This role I took up in the middle of last
year, with Claire stepping into the Acting Principal’s role two days a week (Tuesday and
Wednesday) when I am away working on Kāhui Ako planning and implementation. The vision of
the Kāhui Ako:
“Collective Pathways to Success”
Manaakitia ā tātou tamariki mokopuna ko te mātauranga te ara tika
- Nurturing the mana and education of all
Our role is to ensure that we give support to the 12 schools and 15 ECE’s that form the Hakatere
Kāhui Ako by providing professional development, opportunities for collaboration and
professional support in order to achieve our goals in a strategic plan that is very similar to that of
an individual school’s.

This year our PD focus is developing Cultural Capability across the Kāhui Ako. This will involve a
four day wānanga, professional learning groups and workshops for classroom teachers.
We are running Professional Learning Groups for teachers and a “Connect Week” in August,
providing learning opportunities for teachers who have an interest in supporting their diverse
learners.

The work is exciting and challenging. It supports the work that we do at St Joseph’s School and
offers opportunities to our own staff. I look forward to bringing you more updates as the year
progresses. Like everything, our work has been hamstrung by Covid but we are starting to see
some progress now that we are hopefully through the worst of it.

As always, lots has happened over the fortnight. I hope you enjoy some photos from the fortnight
that’s been.

Cross Country

It was a beautiful day for the recent cross country down at Wakanui School. The course was in
great condition and minus the cowpats from the last cross country held on farmland! It was
wonderful to see such a large number of whānau there to support the children on the day.

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Some great support from an older brother!

Rōpu Whānau Leaders’ Breakfast

This was a great success, with teachers turning up at 7.30am to prepare a delicious St Joseph’s
McMuffin for breakfast for their Rōpu Whānau leaders. We can see this becoming an annual
event!

Paula and Jess whipping up a storm for their leaders!

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There were lots of happy faces and full tummies by 8.30am!

Netball Success
It was very exciting at the recent Tactix netball game in Christchurch when our girls were given
the opportunity to win $1,000 at half time thanks to Nicky McDonnell from the St Joseph’s
Netball Club who took up the challenge and organised it. The girls from year 1-8 were part of a
passing and catching netball drill. The first team to finish won the money - simple! Not quite - we
got second but were lucky enough to be given $500 for our efforts which was a great surprise!

Thanks to all the parents who supported the venture. I think they are hoping to do something
exciting with the money for all St Joseph’s players .. watch this space!

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Kind regards

Cath Blacklow
Principal

School Vision
To learn, to grow, and to live our faith by being the hands
and voice of Jesus

Term 2 Calendar

WEEK 4

Sunday 29th May Whole School Mass 10am

WEEK 5

Monday 30th May-Sunday 5th June Samoan Language Week

Tuesday 31st May Counties Cross Country (postponement 1st & 2nd June)
New Entrant Parent Meeting 5pm

Thursday 2nd June NZ Playhouse 2pm

Friday 3rd June Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 6

Monday 6th June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday (school closed)

Wednesday 8th June Home and School Meeting

Sunday 12th June Filipino Independence Day

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WEEK 7

Monday 13th-Friday 17th June Kea 1, 2 & 3 Swim Week

Friday 17th June Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 8

Wednesday 22nd June Zones Cross Country

Board of Trustees Meeting

Thursday 23rd June GRIPS Leadership Day – Year 8’s

Friday 24th June Matariki Public Holiday (school closed)

WEEK 9

Tuesday 28th June Year 5/6 Speech Competition

Friday 1st July Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 10

Friday 8th July Last day for Term 2

NB: These are the dates we currently have on the calendar. This will be updated each
fortnight to include new dates as they are decided upon throughout the term.

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From the Director of Religious Studies
REMINDER:
We have our Term 2 Whole School Mass on Sunday 29th May 2022 at 10am. This will be a
very special occasion where our school community comes together to celebrate Mass as a
school and parish community, and is the first time we have been able to do so for a year.

Children are to wear their full winter school uniform and meet in the carpark next to the Church
at 9.40am where they will line up in their classes. Children who are doing a reading, the offertory
or prayers of the faithful need to come straight into the Church to meet Miss Brown.

If your child/children are unable to make Mass for any reason, can you please let their classroom
teacher know. Celebrating Mass once a term as a school is a very important part of our school
and its special character, and it is our expectation that all students attend these Masses.

We are very much looking forward to seeing you all at Mass on Sunday.

Paalala:

Magkakaroon ang ating ikalawang taon ng buong paaralang banal na misa sa araw ng Linggo,
ikadalawamput-syam ng Mayo, 2022 sa ganap na ika- sampu ng umaga. Magiging napaka
halaga po ng pagdiriwang na ito kung saan ang ating pampaaralang komunidad at pang
simbahang komunidad ay kapwa magsisidalo upang ipagdiwang ang banal na misa at ito po ay
ngayon lang mangyayari para sa buong taon.

Ang mga bata po ay magsisipagsuot ng unipormeng pang tag-lamig at doon magkikita kita sa
paradahan ng mga sasakyan malapit sa simbahan sa ganap na ika-syam at apatnapu ng umaga
kung saan gagawa sila ng kanya kanyang linya batay sa kanilang grado. Ang mga batang
naatasan na maging taga basa ng bibliya, maghahandog o magsasagawa ng panalangin ng
bayan ay maari nang mauna ng pumasok sa loob ng simbahan upang makipagkita kay Bb.
Brown.

Kung ang ating mga anak ay hindi makakadalo sa banal sa misa sa anumang kadahilanan,
ipaalam na lang po sa kani-kanilang guro. Ang pagdiriwang ng banal na misa na minsanan sa
isang taon bilang isang paaralan ay napakahalagang bahagi ng ating paaralan bilang isang
mahalagang katangian at ina asam asam at inaasahan na ang lahat ng mag aaral ay makadalo
sa banal na misa.

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong pagdalong lahat sa banal na misa sa Linggo.

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Principal’s & Virtues Awards
Here are our week 3 award recipients – congratulations and well done everyone!

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Music Lessons
The students in Kea classes have been thoroughly enjoying their lessons with Jack and Maria
from Mrs A's Music School. Jack and Maria have been teaching the children all about beats,
xylophones and ukuleles.

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Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus, you taught us that through prayer, all things are possible.
When we have a tough decision to make, help us stop and pray.
When we falter, give us the wisdom to think of what you would want us to do.
Thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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