Term 4 Week 8 Newsletter #19

Term 4 Week  8                            30 November 2023                                  Newsletter #19

Principal’s Message

Special Catholic Character

Values Awards

Anika Dickson – ARAHI: for standing up and advocating for another student who was being treated unfairly. Anika, we are so proud of you for doing what was right. 

Aria Bal – ARAHI: For her service as prayer monitor. She shows wonderful initiative.

Jasmine Matangi, Arahia Edmonds, Shircel Nunez – AROHA & ARAHI: for offering to help out however they can.

Rico Mark & Kitione Koaneti – ARAHI: For volunteering their lunchtime to help tidy the art room.

Mikayla Lindsay & Charlie Foley – ARAHI: For their service in caring for our school environment.

Arjun Bal, Peni Helu, Apinesa Lesavua, Isileli Mamatuki – ARAHI: for demonstrating leadership in their team by voluntarily organising and delivering morning prayer when the scheduled people weren’t able to do it. 

Pamela-Velvet Bhana, Harlow Stewart, Lucy Watling, Braedan Bianan, Clodagh Farrell, Ariel Ajiee – ARAHI: for showing leadership in our recording of ‘Called to be Saints’ video for Andrew Chinn

Advent Liturgy

Ako Rua led an Advent Liturgy yesterday afternoon. Advent will begin this coming Sunday, 3 December. They began by explaining the meaning of the season of Advent as well as significance and purpose of the Advent wreath. Advent is a time of waiting and preparation to welcome Jesus into our hearts at Christmas. Some special parts of the Liturgy were a liturgical dance called Maranatha and the rap and Litany of Saints using their saint mosaic artwork.  Advent is a penitential season, so we should make small sacrifices as part of this preparation, such as chores at home and helping others. 

Carol Evening

There was  a wonderful turnout of whanau yesterday evening for our picnic and carol singing. We were blessed with the weather and so could sing outside. The atmosphere was truly joyful and festive. Thank you everyone.

Key Dates

Term 4 Key Dates 

Please note these dates are subject to change For further dates see calendars on the Skool Loop app or at: www.stjosephs.co.nz                  

School Board

School Notices / Upcoming Events

**A Reminder**

Our Year 4 – 6 Students in 2024 will require chromebooks for their school learning.

Keep a lookout for sales, there will also be a promotional flyer coming out soon through our IT company.

NEW ENROLMENTS 2024

If your child, or someone you know, wants to attend St Joseph’s School next year, 

we need them to enrol now!

Knowing how many children are coming helps us to plan ahead for our staffing.

Please contact the office stjoesoffice@stjosephs.co.nz 

Attendance Dues

Term 4 attendance dues should now be paid in full.

If you are having trouble paying and you have not already set up an automatic payment you need to do so now.  Any outstanding dues will be followed up by the 

Auckland Catholic Diocese.

Thank you to all those families who have made an effort to have these paid on time in these tough times.

2023 School Magazine Orders:  Thank you for your school magazine orders. The magazine will be printed in December and distributed at the end of the school year.

Second Hand Uniforms

The second hand uniform shop is open on Mondays and Thursdays 2.30 – 3pm

2024 Road Patrol Parent Helpers

We are looking for parents to help on Morning Road Patrol for 2024. You will need to supervise our trained Year 6’s from 8.15am till 8.45am. If you can help in some capacity please email Kelly McArthur on kellym@stjosephs.co.nz

Celebrations 

Aroha

Last week Aroha enjoyed a wonderful trip to the Auckland Zoo. We loved trying to search for all of the animals. Some came to play and were cheeky, some were sneaky and some hid away! Thank you to all of our wonderful parent helpers who came to support us. It was a fantastic trip! 

Ako 1 

Ako 1 are excitedly preparing for our school Christmas Carol Evening. We have also been preparing for our mini Athletics day on Friday the 1st December. 

Ako 2

Ako 2 have been busy beavers working on their Communion of Saints projects, concept, performing their Advent liturgy yesterday, and singing carols. It has been an amazing year, and when we look back on all that we have achieved, I am truly blown away. We are so proud of all the wonderful opportunities our children have been given and taken on this year. 

Arahi

In Arahi we have been noticing symbols around us in Aotearoa that help remind us of the meaning of Advent. We have also been reflecting on the types of attitudes we need as we prepare for Christmas. We’ve created Advent calendars to open our hearts to draw us closer to God during this season of Advent. 

Thank you to all the ākonga and whānau who have returned their Year 7 and Year 8 Tyburn Monastery retreat permission slips and letters. Whānau letters are due tomorrow (Friday 1 December).

We are looking forward to celebrating our Year 7 leavers and Year 8 graduates over the next couple of weeks. Invites have been sent out with students! As these are catered events, please RSVP by Monday 4 December. 

We’d like to acknowledge the incredible Arahi whānau for your ongoing encouragement and support. It’s been a brilliant year of learning and adventure! It’s been a team effort – THANK YOU!

We wish the following Arahi students good luck as they go on to represent St Joseph’s School at Auckland Champs for athletics – Arjun Bal (400m) and Isileli Mamatuki (shot put).

Congratulations to Sofia Elive and her Cheerleading team “Cheer Dynamix”  who have walked away with first place and the highest scoring team in their division – They were the only team in the competition representing New Zealand at the National Championships in Melbourne, and they had the highest score out of all 599 cheer teams.

Community Notices

Music Lessons  

My name is Cornea De Jager and I have been teaching piano at St Joseph’s for the past six years. I am affiliated with the New Zealand Modern School of Music and next year we’ll have our 45th  annual competition. Students of NZMSM have the opportunity to take practical examinations, write theory examinations and take part in our competitions. Due to the opening of St Ignatius next year, thirteen spaces will be opening up for new Piano/Keyboard students at school for 2024.   Please send email to cornea.dejager@gmail.com for an enrollment form or more information.

Guitar and ukulele lessons.  Enrol for 2024.   I am offering a free trial lesson before the end of the year.   All abilities and ages are welcome.  Solo or Buddy lessons.   Please ring Donna Allely 021 185 8553 or email allelydj@gmail.com.  NZ Modern School of Music

The BNZ Breakers have 8 Auckland games remaining this season and every single game promises plenty of fun, giveaways, and entertainment for the whole family. Choose the dates that suit youand get behind the BNZ Breakers. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketmaster.co.nz