12 February

Dear Parents
It has been a very busy week with our House Colours day on Monday, the Sharks on Tuesday and classes beginning an athletics module.
Our prayers are with Mrs Stupples and her family at this time.
A reminder about sunhats, we do expect them to be worn and children without them next week may not be allowed outside on sunny days.

Parent Info / Meet the Teacher Night
Thank you to the parents who were able to attend on Tuesday night.
If you were unable to attend please make sure you get a class newsletter settong out the routines.
Also some classes will have blog sites where you can view childrens work. I will publish these next week and update them on our web site.

Ash Wednesday Mass
We will attend mass on Wednesday 17th at 9.30 am

Reports Consultation Group
As a follow on from the parent meeting I wish to convene a group of parents to consult on our present reporting system. If you wish to assist please contact me at principal@shsinv.school.nz

Numeracy Parent Help
Due to the success of parents working with small groups of children to improve basic facts and number knowledge last year, we are looking to continue this in 2010. If you would be interested in helping us, please let Miss Swney know.

Beach Education Days
Rooms 1, 2, 3, 5 & 6 will be heading to the beach next Thursday leaving school at 9.30 am and returning at 2.00 p.m.
Rooms 7, 8 & 9 will be going Friday leaving school at 8.50 am and returning at 2.00 p.m.
15 parent helpers are required for both days; unfortunately pre-schoolers are unable to attend this trip.

Swimming
If your child has completed swimming classes over the holidays, please bring the certificate in to Miss T, so she can organise our groups for school swimming.

House Colour Day Results
Tug of War Junior - Marist, Donovan, Mercy
Tug of War Senior - Mercy, Harrington, Pompallier
Most Colourful - Marist, Donovan, Pompallier
Best Chant - Harrington, Kavanagh, Mercy

Room 2 Class Happenings
We all enjoyed the house colour day on Monday. The children loved dressing up and belonging to different House Teams. I did have a chuckle though, as after the teachers had won the tug of war against Mercy, one of the children said to me
“We nearly won, but Mr Forde was too heavy!” (It must have been Mr Forde’s brain that held all the weight!)

Here are Room 2’s stories about house colour day. We have been learning to write “I am” all by ourselves.

I am pulling the rope. I am orange. I am Aiden.
By Aiden

I am red and I am pulling the rope. I am in Mercy. I like tug of war. I am Sam. I like house colour day.
By Sam

I am in the tug of war. I am orange.
By Tyler

I am in the sack race.
By Hunter

I am in the tug of war. I am red.
By Luke

I am 5. I am blue. I am in the sack race.
By Mackenzie

I am pulling the rope on house colour day. I am in yellow Kavanagh.
By Jasmine

I am pulling the rope. I am Harrington.
By Azriel

I am in the sack race. I am pink. I am Ella. I am 5.
By Ella

BNZ Children’s Banking
The BNZ staff are organising another day to come to our school and open accounts for the children. Please let Christine know if you are interested in school banking for your child.

Board of Trustees Meeting
The Board will meet on Monday 15th Feb @ 7pm. All welcome



St Patrick’s College Wellington - 125th Jubilee 2010
The College will be celebrating this significant Jubilee Queen’s Birthday weekend 4-6th June 2010 and all Old Boys and families are warmly invited. Please visit the Jubilee website for Registrations and information www.stpats125.org.nz or contact the Development Manager at P O Box 14022, Wellington 6022, development@stpats.school.nz, ph 04 939 5416.


IMPORTANT NOTICE
We have been informed a registered sex offender has been released to live in the Waikiwi / Grasmere area. While Police and corrections have a plan in place to monitor the situation, this would be a good time to reinforce Stranger Danger with your children.
While I have no specific details other than that above please see me if you have any concerns.



Family Works Southland are taking referrals now for the following programmes in Term 2:
TEMPER TAMERS PROGRAMME (For children aged 7-10 years): An eight week programme, for children and their parents, to support children who are having difficulties expressing their feelings, particularly anger (29 April-17 June 2010).
PARENTING PROGRAMME (For parents/caregivers of children of all ages): A ten week programme to assist parents/caregivers to develop their understanding of their child’s development and care and to help form positive relationships and communication with their child (21 April- 23 June 2010).

We are also taking referrals for our Grief Group Bereavement Programme “In the Same Boat” ,for children 7 -12 years, who have experienced loss and change in their lives following the death of a person important in their lives.

All these programmes are free of charge!



Sacred Heart PTA Annual General Meeting
Monday 22nd Feb 7.30 pm
Come along to the Community Trust of Southland rooms for our PTA AGM, a lovely supper will be provided after a quick meeting and Estelle Cooper will bring the “Caffeine Machine”
so we can buy nice coffee + hot chocolate.
New PTA members most welcome.