1 August 2008

Dear Parents

What an exciting morning we have had. A faulty connecter in the switchboard caused a fire brigade call out. Everything has been tested and repaired. The children and staff acted brilliantly, though there were a few concerns about lunches and cell phones still being inside while the firemen were here. The only person not prepared was me. I was at a breakfast meeting and my cell phone was sitting in my coat in my car. I followed the fire engine to school wondering where it was going – much to my surprise it was here!
I am sure your thoughts are with those families affected by the storm north of here. We hope Mrs Lieshout and Mrs Stupples have a safe trip back to Invercargill today. They have been in Christchurch this week looking at best practice in ICT and Inquiry, as part of PD offered by the Thinknet Cluster. After arriving at North Loburn a flood warning came out and they had to evacuate fast. Check out the photo on the opposite page. We look forward to the report on their findings.
Thanks to all the parents and teachers who are assisting with our winter sports coaching and supervision.
Your support is much appreciated.

FIRST RECONCILIATION
The children are now able to begin working through the FIRST RECONCILIATION PROGRAMME. I expect the children to have either started or at least looked through the book before the first after school session next week. Thank you
The programme book costs $5 and is to be paid to school please. This book is being subsidized by the Parish.
1st children¹s session Wednesday 6 August 3.15 pm -­ 4.00pm in Room 1
2nd children¹s session Wednesday 20 August 3.15 pm ­- 4.00pm in Room 1
3rd children¹s session Wednesday 3 September 3.15 pm ­- 4.00pm in the church for a practice.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
We would like to say a huge thanks to the businesses that have advertised on our newsletter cover. We have just received our new covers. The businesses pay for their advertising and the covers are supplied at no cost to the school.
We ask that where possible you support those that support us.

NUMERACY INITIATIVES
We welcome Anne Lamond, one of the facilitators for the Numeracy Initiative to school this term. She will be working with small groups of students and providing Professional Development for all staff to ensure we have consistent numeracy practices across all our schools.

OLYMPIC DAY
We are looking forward to our Olympic Day on Tuesday at Stadium Southland. Children are to wear their sports uniform and will take their drink bottles and morning tea.
We will be leaving school at 9.15 am and will be back by 12.30 for lunch. Parents are welcome to join us and we are after some volunteers to help run some of the events. Please fill out the slip and return to the office on Monday.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Patrick & Rory Horn who took part in the Gymnastics Southland Championship last weekend.
Patrick came 1st in MAG Level 2, & Rory came 2nd in MAG Level 0.
Also to Tammy Honotapu, Caitlin Russell & Sarayha MacDonald who were selected for the Zone Netball Teams.

Room 5 put their measurement skills to the test yesterday and prepared some food which they enjoyed at lunch time. We are grateful to Mrs Horn, Mrs O'Connor, Mrs Russell and Mrs Wilkes who helped us with these activities.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS TABLE TENNIS TERM 3 COMPETITION TUESDAY NIGHTS 4.00 - 5.15 pm
5 August to 16 September Table Tennis Stadium, Lindisfarne St. If your child is interested in playing, please have entries to the school office by Monday 4th August.
Our Sacred Heart team of William Mason, Clarke LeBreton and Lee Boniface won this competition last term. Well done.

PTA ~ SCHOOL FAIR
The PTA discussed having a ‘School Fair’ in early November. For this to be successful, volunteers are needed to join a sub committee. If you are able to help, please return the form at the end of the newsletter and return to the school office by next Friday 8th August. Thank you.

NETBALL
Stars won 11 – 5. Players of the Day were Kelsey Waddell & Chelsie Grindlay.
Steel drew 6 - 6 Player of the Day was Olivia Thornbury.
Sting lost 1 – 13. Player of the Day was Molly Stevens.
Draw for next week
Stars play Salford Blue court 2 @ 4 p.m.
Steel play Otatara Jade court 6 @ 4 p.m.
Sting play Ngawhetu court 4 @ 3.30 p.m.

NumberWorks’nWords
Specialist tuition in Maths (Y1-Y11) and English, 80 Kelvin Street. www.numberworksnworks.com Ph: Raewyn 218-6804

Kindermusik Movement and Movement Classes for children birth till seven
Enrollment available now for semester two July – November Contact Anna 213-1191

Marching Southland ~ Contacts to Pauline Ward 217-5652
Irish Dancing Lessons ~ Contacts to Nicky Wallace 230-4570

OLYMPIC DAY

Yes I will be accompanying Sacred Heart to the Olympic Day on 5th August.

Signed: __________________________________


PTA FAIR

Yes I …………………………………….. can help with the Fair Sub Committee

Phone No: ……………………………... Email Address: ………………………………

25 July 2008

Dear Parents

Ko te reo te taikura o te whakaao marama (Language is the key to understanding).

Welcome back to Term 3 at Sacred Heart. We welcome Jakobe Paraki, Katelyn Maloney and Cameron Roulston to school. We hope they enjoy their time with us. Room 5 is also pleased to have Trent Ronald back in their class.
In the last week of Term 2 I was fortunate to attend the New Zealand Principals Conference in Christchurch. The speakers ranged from an American motivationalist to an Australian academic, with a range of New Zealand educationalists thrown in for good measure.
Our President’s address outlined the list of current Ministry Initiatives being pushed onto our schools. There were about 20 of them including the New Curriculum, Pandemic Planning, Mission On, Numeracy Project and Ka Hikitia. While each programme is worthwhile and in some schools make a huge difference to children’s learning potential, the point was made that unless the Government was prepared to fund the implementation properly, more and more schools would refuse to take part. In Auckland a group of high schools have refused to subscribe to the School Plus Initiative, due to a lack of appropriate funding. In an election year it is always good to be able to put pressure on politicians. Interestingly this year Helen Clarke also addressed the conference. Regardless of your politics she is a very accomplished speaker with the ability to gel with an audience and very up to date with issues relevant to them.
We are sad to farewell the Millynn family back to Australia. We thank them for their support. Also Tania Lock as a teacher aide. Tania has worked here for two and a half years and we wish her all the best in the future.

FIRST RECONCILIATION - the children being prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation should have brought the following notice home on Tuesday this week. A meeting for parents of children being prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be held next week on Wednesday 30 July at 7pm in Room 5. The programme covers 4 themes which the children will work through at home. Over the following weeks they will meet at school for 3 sessions, to assist them as they work through the themes presented. The programme book costs $5 and is to be paid to school please. This book is being subsidized by the Parish
1st children¹s session Wednesday 6 August 3.15 pm -¬ 4.00pm in Room 1
2nd children¹s session Wednesday 20 August 3.15 pm ¬- 4.00pm in Room 1
3rd children¹s session Wednesday 3 September 3.15 pm ¬- 4.00pm in the church for a practice.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATON - Thursday 4 September at 6.30pm in the church.
Please see Miss O'Neill if you have any questions.

KAPA HAKA
We are still looking for someone to help with our Kapa Haka group. If you know of anyone who could be interested, please see Miss T.

OLYMPIC DAY
On Tuesday 5th August 10 am – 12 noon, the school will be holding an Olympic Day at the Stadium. It will be similar to our Community Day we held in Term 1. Parents are welcome to join us. Please fill in the slip if we can expect your company on this day.

LUNCH WARM UPS
PLEASE ensure that lunch warm ups are well named as almost every day we have problems identifying lunches.
As a result of mix ups some children have had their lunch eaten by other children.

PTA
The next PTA meeting will be held on Monday 28th July 7.30 p.m. at the home of Pauline Harrington, 15 West Plains School Road.

NETBALL
Stars lost 9 – 15. Players of the Day was Imelda Wilkes & Brooke O’Connor
Steel lost 5 – 11. Player of the Day was Briar Kilsby.
Sting lost 2 - 7. Player of the Day was MacKenzie Wild.

Draw for the 29th July
Sting vs Waihopai Rebels, court 3 at 4 pm
Steel vs Newfield Cougars, court 2 at 3.30 pm
Stars vs Woodlands Steelers, court 7 at 4 pm

LADIES SHOPPING NIGHT ~ THURSDAY 31ST JULY FROM 7.30 PM AT THE MAKAREWA COUNTRY CLUB
This will be a great night out with free wine tasting and a great array of stalls. Lucky spot prizes and a ‘Pamper Hamper’ up for grabs.
Tickets available for $6 or 2 for $10 from the Makarewa school office or contact Liz 235-8323.