27 March 2009

Dear Parents

PALM SUNDAY MASS 5TH APRIL – A reminder this is a compulsory Mass. All children are expected to attend. Due to the PTA picnic (see PTA segment) afterwards, the children are to wear mufti.

It has been good to get back to normal with swimming finished. We were pleased with the progress made by all our swimming groups.

I have been following with interest Room 9’s class blog: http://room9shsinv.blogspot.com The class are researching the type and effectiveness of shade sails as part of a project to apply for HEHA funding to provide more shade areas.

Stuart Young from the Diocese office spoke to the Board on Monday. He discussed his role as General Manager of the Diocese, in particular property issues relating to our schools. Due to a moratorium on capital works nationally at Catholic Schools, he could not promise us our much needed library immediately but did offer assurances once the Government agrees to guarantee loans again.
An interesting fact was that while our schools are staffed at the same rate as state schools, we are not funded for the most recent 1-18 and 1-15 ratio for property. This is another issue the Education Office are lobbying the Government, to ensure their equity across the educational sector.
All in all, it was a worthwhile visit in providing a positive link to the Dunedin Diosesan Office.

Many thanks to the PTA for the tubs of sports equipment for the children to use.
We much appreciate your generosity.

GOOD LUCK to the children going to the Southland Athletics on Saturday. On your arrival, you are to go to the grandstand and look for the 'All Saints' banner and collect a t-shirt. It is your responsibility to return this t-shirt once you have finished competing.

YEAR 4 DICTIONAIRIES
Last Friday the school was visited by Merle O’Donnell from the North Invercargill Rotary. She presented all Year 4 children with an Usborne Ullistrated Dictionary. This was to celebrate World Literary Day with sponsorship obtained from The Community Trust (which is to continue for the next 10 years). Many thanks.

SPORTS CANCELLATION
Where ever possible, we will put sports cancellations on the junior corridor noticeboard. Encourage your child to check, as Mrs Forbes’ finishes at 2 pm and the answer phone is on.

CONGRATULATIONS to Sam Downing who made the Southland Under 10 Touch Team. Well Done!

FRUIT ORDERS ~ The next delivery will be Thursday 2nd April. Please have your orders and money into the office by this Tuesday 31st March. Available this time are Cox Orange Apples 4kg $10, Pacific Beauty Apples 4kg $10, and 3 pumpkins $10.

PTA
The next meeting will be held Monday 6th April 7.30 pm in the school staffroom. All welcome.

PALM SUNDAY FAMILY PICNIC 5th APRIL ~ The PTA is hosting a family picnic after School Mass on Palm Sunday.
Bring your own family picnic & something to sit on. The PTA will provide tea & coffee, and a BBQ for families to cook on. There will be fun games and a lolly scramble. Come along and enjoy our school community.

SECOND HAND SALE ~ Wed 8th April at 2.30 – 3.15pm, in the hall.
This will be for those wishing to purchase winter uniform items. If anyone is wishing to donate or sell uniforms could they please leave them in the office indicating their choice.
Enquiries to Nicki Brookland 214-0112 or Amanda Hunt 215-7663.

EASTER RAFFLE ~ thank you to all families for the efforts made in raising $1900 for school Library books.
The results are as follows:

Nicky Lindsay Des Casey John Jones Ann-Marie Stuart Keenan family
Kay Phillips Gail Honeywill Winders family Sharon Francis Linda Duncan
Harrington family Reilly McLean Harvey family



PRIMARY HOCKEY 2009 – YEAR 3-6
All competitions are at Invercargill Hockey Complex, Camden Street.

COMPETITION DATES:
Primary 11 aside competition: Wednesday 6 May 2009
Primary 6 aside competition: Wednesday 6 May 2009

COSTS:
Primary 11 aside: $475 per team for the whole season
Primary 6 aside: $225 per team for whole season or $150 for term 2 only.

Composite teams will be formed for all interested children from any school where a full team cannot be fielded.

Parent help is essential for hockey to be run successfully.
Please fill in the form below to express interest in playing hockey in term 2.
FORM TO BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL BY 31st MARCH




CLASS HAPPENINGS ~ ROOM 1

When ROOM ONE went swimming we learned many different things.
DEVAN learnt to get in safely and to go on his back. XANTHE liked floating and kicking on her back. BROOKLYN liked being on her back on the water and getting the stick under the water. MATTHEW H loved blowing bubbles. PARIS liked to go in the pool and blow bubbles. TESSA loved going under the water. TYLEE learned to go under the water to get the stick. WILL threw the rope to pull people out. GRETA knows how to get in the pool safely. CORBYN learnt to put his ears under the water. LUCY loved throwing the rope and diving to get the wood. KATELYN liked getting in the pool and being pulled out. AVA-MOLLEE liked going under the water. MATTHEW F liked having fun in the water. ALEX liked going under the water to get the stick. OLIVER loved swimming in the pool. BILLY had fun going under the water. Miss O’Neill loved seeing children learn to do new things and when we were quiet on the bus.

HOLLY sends her thanks for the MILK BOTTLES she has received.


MARIST SCHOOLBOY RUGBY WEIGH-INS ~ THURS 2nd APRIL 3.30 – 5.30 PM, MILLER STREET. ENQURIES 2157973
NumberWorks’nWords (after-school tuition in Maths and English) is taking bookings for Term 2 now.
For a free professional evaluation and introductory lesson, phone 2186804.



HOCKEY

__________________ would like to play hockey in term two.

Primary 11 aside Primary 6 aside
(please circle)

I am/am not able to help coach a hockey team

Signed_______________________________

20 March 2009

Dear Parents

Swimming is finished!! Thank you to all the school staff and parents for ensuring our swimming programme ran so smoothly. We choose to run it over 10 consecutive days to give it a greater impact than 1 or 2 days over 5 weeks. I know this can be a struggle for towels (and pyjama’s for my group) and is a major interruption to our normal routine at school, but we do see a huge improvement in children’s confidence and progress.
Also this week we were fortunate to be able to hold our Zone Athletics sports. Our children were brilliant in both effort and results. Listed below are the place getters (those in bold will represent the Zone at the Southland Athletic Sports on Saturday 28th March).
Apart for a number of excellent individual performances noted, the relays were very exciting with our children first in 4 of the 6 races and a close 2nd in the other 2.
Well Done and thanks to the teachers and parents who were able to help prepare the children.

PRAYERS ~ Our thoughts and prayers are with the Keenan family.

BOT MEETING
On Monday 23rd March Board members will be meeting with Stuart Young, General Manager of The Catholic Office in Dunedin. This is the first time we have had the opportunity to speak to an office representative and we look forward to their thoughts as to future development at our school.

OTATARA BUS EARLY WEDNESDAY 25TH MARCH ~ With JHHS finishing early on this day, the Otatara bus will leave Sacred Heart School at 1 p.m. Please inform the school if your child will be catching the bus early or making other arrangements. Thank you.

ZONE ATHLETICS ~ What a fantastic day we all had. Check out these results:
N.B. All highlighted children will represent school at the Southland Athletics next Saturday.

Long Jump 8yr old 1st Sam Hogan 2nd Eli Winders 1st Abby Humm
9yr old 1st Shaquila Blee 3rd Sophie Reitsma-smith

Discus 8yr old 3rd Eli Winders
9yr old 1st Shaquila Blee
10 yr old 1st Michael Walker 2nd Caitlin Russell

Shot Put 8yr old 1st Sam Hogan 2nd Eli Winders
9yr old 3rd William Clapperton
10yr old 1st Michael Walker

High Jump 8yr old 1st Sam Hogan
9yr old 2nd Keegan Fiebig 1 = Shaquila Blee 3rd Sophie Reitsma-Smith
10 yr old 2nd Caitlin Russell

1500 m 10 yr old 3rd Michael Walker

800 m 9 yr old 1st Keegan Fiebig

200 m 9 yr old 2nd Keegan Fiebig 1st Shaquila Blee 3rd Sophie Reitsma-Smith
10 yr old 2nd Olivia Thornbury

100 m 8 yr old 1st Sam Hogan 1st Abby Humm
9 yr old 3rd Keegan Fiebig 1st Shaquila Blee 3rd Sophie Reitsma-Smith
10 yr old 2nd Olivia Thornbury

60 m 8 yr old 2nd Sam Hogan 1st Abby Humm

Relays 8 yr Boys & Girls, 9 yr Boys and 10 yr Girls are all going to Southland Sports




NUMERACY
We welcome back Anne Lamond to school from next week to begin Numeracy assistance for some of our Year 3 & 5 children.

MILK BOTTLES
Thank you for the milk bottles brought to school during swimming. Miss O’Neill’s dog Holly would appreciate it if you continued to bring them as she uses them as toys. They are suppose to prevent her from digging in the garden. It doesn’t really work but for 5 minutes the bottle distracts her.

CONGRATULATIONS
To Michael Walker who was selected to play in the Year 5/6 Metro Cricket Team representing Invercargill.
They are playing Central Western/Fiordland this Sunday. Good Luck Michael.

FRUIT ORDERS ~ The next delivery will be Thursday 2nd April. Please have your orders and money into the office by Tuesday 31st March. Available this time are Cox Orange Apples 4kg $10, Pacific Beauty Apples 4kg $10, and 3 pumpkins $10.

OLD SCHOOL FURNITURE ~ The desks and chairs next to the sand pit are surplus. You are welcome to help yourselves to these, on a first in first served basis.

FOR SALE ~ TV on trolley – 25”. Inquiries to office please.

‘Waikiwi Rugby Football Club Schoolboy Registrations’
Tues 24 &Thurs 26 March 4 – 6pm & Sunday 29 March 2 – 4 pm
Subs - $20.00/player or $35 family. Enquiries to Jayne McWilliam 215-7079

PTA EASTER RAFFLE
All tickets should have been returned by now. If not - please have them to the office 1st thing Monday morning. Thank you.




CLASS HAPPENINGS ~ ROOM 5

As we have just finished our two weeks of swimming we are a bit tired and coming down with a few bugs, so please make sure that we rug up to keep warm and keep those bugs away.
Next week Mrs Fortune is back teaching, so some children will be going to Room 6 for Literacy and Numeracy on Monday.

We have just started to concentrate on our goal setting for the term – so keep asking your child what they are working towards.

I have just introduced a buddy system that makes the children help one another during playtimes and class times. The children are relishing the opportunity to interact with other children they might not necessary choose to play with.

Can I please ask that reading and spelling is done every night and is returned back to school the next day. On occasions, some RE homework will be sent home. The page that is book marked is the one that is to be completed. Please assist your child in completing this and returning it to school the following day – THANK YOU.