27 November

Dear Parents
Well done to the children who took part in the Marafun last weekend.
Congratulations to Miss Gaines on the arrival of Xavier on Wednesday. A little brother for Keegan, Devan and Tylee.
We farewell Mr Herewini who has been in Room 8 for the past 3 weeks. The children have enjoyed your stay and we wish you all the best in your teaching career.
Congratulations to all the children who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist last Sunday. It was a special day and thanks must go to Fr. Vince, Miss O’Neill and the children’s families. Also a special thank you to the PTA for presenting a beautiful celebration afternoon tea.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Reitsma-Smith family this week.

Dates to remember: Yr 6 Camp Presentation Mon 30th Nov 7 p.m.
Reconciliation 1 Dec Yr 6 Day 2nd Dec Mission Day Fair 10 Dec
Reports sent home 11 Dec End of Year Mass 14 Dec Last day of school 15 Dec (half day)

ADVENT – This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent.
The word advent, from Latin, means "the coming."
In the shops there are plenty of signs that Christmas is coming, but 2000 years ago when Jesus was born, there were no big signs to announce that it was going to happen. There were no ads on the radio or TV saying "Coming soon! A Savior will be born in a stable near you!" When Jesus was born, many people were surprised! But as word of his birth spread, some people remembered that prophets had told them that God was going to send a Savior. They knew that this baby, born in a manger, was God keeping His promise.
Christmas is a not only a wonderful time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is also a time to remember that Jesus promised that he would come again. We don't read much about that in the newspapers and we don't hear much talk about it on the radio or television, but Jesus told us to be prepared and to watch for his return.
In the church, in schools and in many homes people make an Advent Wreath to show the time as we grow closer to Christmas. An Advent wreath is made from greens to symbolize continuous life and contains four candles— three purple and one rose. Often a fifth candle (white) is added to the center of the wreath for lighting on Christmas Eve, in celebration of the birth of Jesus.
First Sunday of advent : Hope light one purple candle to symbolize Hope.
Second Sunday : Peace . Light two purple candles - Hope and Peace
Third Sunday : Joy. Light two purple candles (Hope and Peace) and one rose to symbolize Joy.
Fourth Sunday : Love light all four candles - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love
For the First Candle we pray:
O God, as light comes from this candle, may the blessing of Jesus Christ come to us, warming our hearts and brightening our way. May Christ our Savior bring life into the darkness of this world, and to us, as we wait for his coming. Amen

RECONCILIATION ~ In preparation for Christmas the children in Rooms 7,8 and 9 will have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation or a blessing on Tuesday at 11.30am.

SCHOOL CALENDARS ~ The children have been busy working on their artwork for the 2010 calendars. These will be on display in their classrooms next week. Order forms will be sent home on Monday and must be back at school by Friday 4th December.
Calendars are $10 each.

ALTAR SERVERS ~ Sat 28th 7pm = Mathew & Ben Nind Sun 29th 10.30 am = Caitlin Russell & Sam Sherriff

BASKETBALL RESULTS
Fireballs vs Makarewa Nuggets lost 3 – 12 Celtics vs Fernworth Red won 10 – 3 Spurs vs Kura Kaha lost 7 – 12
Small Blacks vs Fernworth Yellow lost 5 – 20 Slamdunkers vs St Theresa’s Rockets lost 6 - 8

LOST ~ 1 Polo Top at Stadium Southland last week. Please contact the office if you have a spare one.

FOR SALE ~ VERDON UNIFORM: 2x summer dresses, 1x summer skirt, summer/winter shirts, Kilt, 2x Vests, Jersey, Tie, 2x PE tops. $250.00 Phone Marcia 230-4247.

PTA
Sunhats ~ The PTA have subsidized sun hats for sale. These are available at the office @ $10 each.
It is compulsory for all children to wear sunhats during Terms four and one.

Luncheon ~ All school parents and staff (no children please) are invited to lunch at the Lignite Pit Café (passed Tisbury) Saturday Dec 5th 12.45pm. Finger food lunch $14 each. BYO alcohol. Garden to view and giftware to buy.
Get a carload together and come for lunch, leaving from the school car park at 12.00, RSVP Nicki, 214-0112. 0210583084, e-mail brooklad@clear.net.nz






Abby Humm entered a The Rural Heritage writing competition
and was placed 3rd equal in the Yr 3 - 6 competition. Abby’s
story was set in the 1950’s about the life of a family.
It was judged by Gavin Bishop and she won a lovely book
called “Piano Rock”
Congratulations Abby!







My favourite thing about camp was the 1880’s school. It was so funny watching people getting told off about slouching, laughing, smirking and even for writing with your left hand. I learned that school was really hard then and at the age of 11 people had to go off and work, boys at the gold mine and girls at home to help their mums (and some people just would not survive) ~ Nicole
I think the best part of camp for me was boating because everyone had fun. The funniest part of camp was Mr Mason and Mr Keenan doing their breakfast, because there were eggs flying everywhere ~ Josh
My highlight of the Year 6 camp was when we went kayaking and the thrill of getting wet, when someone accidentally tipped your kayak over into the freezing cold lake. It was lots of fun when you got to go by yourself in a kayak and try to kayak down the lake ~ Briar
My favourite part on camp would have to be Kayaking because I had actually not been kayaking before, so it was good to be able to try something different. The best part was standing up and trying to kayak. That was so cool but it was really easy to fall off. I did the water was freezing and the kayak flipped over. So the guys came in the boat and flipped the kayak back over so it was on the right side for me to get back into and try again. Olivia
What I liked at camp is the Arrowtown Gaol (jail) because it was built back in 1885. The building had a lot of history and it was very cool because it was very dark. It was scary for the prisoners ~ Shaun
My highlight for camp would have had to be going kayaking because I had only been in a sea kayak, so it was really cool trying out some different kinds of kayaks. It was made even better by the wind blowing you halfway across the lake. The best part was standing up paddling and then jumping out and waiting for the boat to come and pick you up (unless you got back into the kayak but hardly anyone did because they all wanted a ride in the boat!) ~ Caitlin
My highlight of camp this year was the biscuiting and the camp concert. Mr Keenan and Mr Mason were the breakfast day hosts and it was very funny because he showed us scrambled eggs, which to them is when you get an egg and smash it against your head!! Michael
My favourite event when we were at camp was when we went biscuiting because it was a really hot day and when we fell off it, it was nice and cool. Shaquila and I went on the viper, it was really cool because it went really fast. Shaquila fell off first, she said it wasn’t that bad. Then Sarayha and I went on and I fell off twice! The water was nice and cool but at the same time it was warm. Then Mrs Lieshout and I went on the viper. Mr Forde and Mr Keenan tried to tip us off but they couldn’t ~ By Sophie
My highlight of the Year 6 camp was when we went biscuiting. Sophie and I went on the biscuit together and Sophie fell off twice. When our turn was up we got to swim back. The first time you get in the water it’s freezing cold but you get used to it after a while ~ Sarayha!
My favourite thing about camp was probably the kayaking because we got our own kayak or if we wanted to go with a friend we could. But we had to go on a different type of kayak if there were two of us, we went in a two-person kayak. It was really fun as well because we kept falling out. The only reason we were falling out was because there was an instructor in a boat with Shaun going past us and making a wave. I would really want to go again. By Shaquila
My highlight for camp would have to be the kayaking because when you get the hang of it, it was okay. I also liked the camp concert when Mr Mason and Mr Keenan had to make scrambled eggs for breakfast but they just threw the eggs on the ground and made a huge mess on the floor ~ Jennifer
My favourite part about camp was kayaking. My favourite part when we were kayaking, was when we got to slide off the wharf in our kayaks and slide into the water. It was scary at first but I loved it in the end ~ By Erica
My favourite part in camp was when we went boating with the biscuits and the viper. The viper is when you sit in a blow up mini-boat and two people lie down in it. Another favourite part was when we watched the fireworks ~ By Lee
My favourite part of camp was the kayaking, and the best part of kayaking was falling off or trying to get five people on one kayak!!! It was too windy to do sailing which wasn’t that great (I wish we could though). It was an awesome camp ~ Willy
My highlight of year 6 camp is when the class went kayaking and when the boat tipped over into the freezing cold lake ~ Parris
My favourite part of Year 6 camp was when we went boating with the biscuits and the viper, it was totally wicked. It was the first time I have done it and it was awesome. I would love to do it again sometime ~ By Clarke
My favourite part about camp was the biscuiting and the museum. The museum was fun because we got to see what school was like in the 1880’s. The biscuiting was great too because we got two or three goes and we got to go fast ~ Bronte
My favourite thing about camp would probably have to be the kayaking. It was really fun being out in the cold lake not knowing if you would fall out or not. At the start before we got into the water I was a bit worried, but it ended up being my favourite activity. It was really funny when we tried to fit lots of people in one kayak and successfully kayak around the bouy and back without falling out into the cold water. By: Shelley
My highlight for camp was gold panning. It was so cool because I found some gold in the river. Miss Grey (Angela) taught us how to use the gold pan. It was so quick when she did but it took me a while. But it was still fun and everyone found a piece of gold. I found two little flakes of gold which Miss Grey said was worth at least four dollars. It was so exciting ~ Emily





Our school is going to hold a School Fair to raise money for Siufaga-Falelatai Primary School in Samoa. This is to be held on the 10th of December at 1:15pm. All parents are welcome to come and enjoy the fair, as well as their children. It will be great for a family day out with lots of fun things to do and lots to buy.
We are planning to have a cake walk, so if you would like to donate a cake for this, please let the office know.