1 September

Dear Parents

I was honoured yesterday to be invited to Kyle & Parish Johnson’s baptism at Sacred Heart Church.

It was a special event and I am looking forward to the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday 18 September at 2.30 pm. A reminder for children to return their forms to Miss O’Neill by Friday please.

Sacramental Programme for Parents

The evening course is full, but there are still places for parents (or anyone else who wants to learn more about the sacraments) in the afternoon session. The afternoon course is a video presentation covering Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist and Reconciliation, and is mainly directed at parents preparing their children for these sacraments. The course takes eight weeks. The time that best suits those already enrolled is Friday from 1.30 – 2.45 pm, starting is Friday 9 September.

Meetings will be in the lounge of the Sacred Heart Presbytery. Anyone else keen to attend these sessions, please contact Vaughan Smith (03) 9730379, before 9 Sept.

School Access

As a safer alternative to North Road, the school has access to the new subdivision off the Northfield estate. While there may be building going on, it may prove to be a safer route for families, especially as there is access from Bainfield Road to Craig Street.

New Download Legislation

Please be aware of your child/ren downloading content that it is from a legal site such as ITunes.

The consequence of illegal downloading could involve suspension of your internet access plus substantial fines.

A new law comes into effect today prohibiting the illegal downloading of copyrighted material, such as music and movies. This does not affect pay for view sites, such as fatso.com or free computer games such as Animal Jam, Club Penguin & Moshi Monster etc., but programmes such as bit torrent or Limewire, which have allowed people to share music on-live.

Ski Trip

The ski trip bus is full. I apologise for the short notice but next Friday was the only available day that the ski field could fit us in.

Road Safety

In the week of 26 – 30 September, Constable Paul Frith will be here to take all students through aspects of road safety.

Numeracy Parent Information Evening ~ Waihopai School

Year 4 – 6 Monday 12^th September 7 – 8.30 pm

If you are wishing to attend this meeting, please let Christine know asap, as numbers are required for parent kits.

Chess Tournament

Good luck to all the children who will be representing the school at the tournament at Donovan Primary School on Monday. We hope all your practise has paid off.

Badminton

Next Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday afternoons, Brent Busby will be here to take the classes for Badminton.

Book Amnesty ~ Please return any books from school that you may have at home. Ask your child to return them to their class teacher as soon as possible as we are in the process of stocktaking our books. No questions asked!!!

MISSING – If anyone knows the whereabouts of the Cook Island drum Mrs Tagomoa-Kaa was using for the Polyfest, would they please return it to the office. The name Winders is written on the bottom of it and it holds extreme sentimental value.

Also missing is Jake Maxwell’s polo top. Could all Polyfest parents please check their child’s sports top to ensure they have their own.

Shoe Boxes to Room 6 / Ice Cream Containers to Room 8

If anyone has any spare shoe boxes and/or ice cream containers, these would be appreciated in Rooms 6 and 8. Thank you.

Also Room 8 require ice cream containers, with lids.

Head Lice

Yes it’s that time again! Please check your child’s hair for this unwanted pest.

Netball Results

Shooters won 14-1 against Waihopai. POD was Abby.

Stars won 6 – 2 against Otatara Angels. For a great game the Players of the Day went to Piper, Natalya & Tanesha.

Ferns lost 4 – 5. Caelan & Rylee were Players of the Day.

Touch – last day for registering is tomorrow.

Achievements – Congratulations to:

Kyle & Paris Johnson who were baptised on Tuesday.

Harry McLean who has been selected in the 2011 Southland Table Tennis team and will be competing against Otago this Saturday in Dunedin.

Abby Humm who was named in the All Saints Netball Tournament team.

Aimee Brookland was placed 1^st in Impromptu, Speed, Slow, Solo, Song & Dance, & Troupe. 2^nd in the Duo, 3^rd in the Championship, at the Tap Dancing competitions run by the Southland Competitions Society at the weekend.

Patrice Brookland & Tylee Fiebig who have been selected to represent the Invercargill Gymnastics Club this weekend at the Gymnastics South Island Championships held in Timaru.

Kayla Boniface received 2 x 1st's, a 3rd and a 2nd for her championship and also received a special award at the Southland Society competitions last week.

Eli Winders won in the Southland Society competitions held last weekend:-

1st tap solo, 1st song and dance, 1st restricted championship.

Trophies- most theatrical & most promising boy.

Tyler Pool – Most Improved Under 7 player at the Waikiwi Rugby Club Prize giving recently.

DODGERS SOFTBALL CLUB -Welcomes you to 'HAVE A GO OPEN DAY' Saturday 4th September 1-3pm @ Aurora College, Tramway Road. There will be Have a Go Tee-Ball/Children’s Softball, Home Run competition, Race around the Base, Batting machine practice, and Demo match (senior players) @ 1.30pm.

Lolly Scramble..check out our website for Info and Registrations www.sportsground.co.nz/dodgerssouthland

Fundraiser for Dodger Softball Club.... 2nd hand Wheelie Bins (120 L) for SALE $12 each at the old Purdue’s Yard in Tyne St, West of Nith SATURDAY 10 Sept. 9am-2pm. Contact Leon 0272-846540(orders welcome)

Altar Servers

Saturday 3 September 7.00pm Sam & Caitlin Russell

Sunday 4 September 10.30am Sam Sherriff & Georgea Newell

Children’s Liturgy Aletta Reid

PTA News

· PTA Meeting 7.30pm Monday 12th September, staff room, everyone welcome.

• Thu 22^nd September School Disco
• Sun 2^nd October School Family Car Trial

Room 2 Class Happenings

We have been learning about writing instructions. We looked at the instructions for starting up some Sea Monkeys.

We have also been learning about using a written plan to help us add more detail to our stories. The type of plan that we are using is called a web. We write the story topic in the middle, then add our ideas about the story around the outside.

When we used a written plan, it was a lot easier to continue a story over two or three days because the plan reminded us about what we were writing about. I am very impressed with the detail in the children's Sea Monkey stories.

25 August

Dear Parents

We were lucky today to have such fine weather for our school photos, considering Geoff Horrell. The photographer, was snowed in last week when they were supposed to happen.

A huge thanks to Mrs T.K & Miss Gaines for preparing the children for the Ployfest last Friday. It is the third year the children have taken part and it gets better and better every year. Full credit goes to Mrs T.K. for her dedication.

The children will be taking part in a Road Safety Programme in the week of 26 September with Constable Paul Frith. More information later.

There have been a number of notes regarding upcoming events.

Please check your child’s bag for these:

Sports Notice for Term 4 Sport

Verdon College Enrolment Info & Scholarship

Sacramental Programme being run by the Parish

Welcome to Brodie Proctor and Matthew Winter.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION

PARENT MEETING: TONIGHT AT 7.30PM IN ROOM 5

The children have their first session tomorrow in Room One – 9.15am to 10.00am. The children need to bring their books to the school sessions.

Thank you

Book Amnesty ~ Please return any books from school that you may have at home. Ask your child to return them to their class teacher as soon as possible as we are in the process of stocktaking our books. No questions asked!!!

MISSING – If anyone knows the whereabouts of the Cook Island drum Mrs Tagomoa-Kaa was using for the Polyfest, would they please return it to the office. The name Winders is written on the bottom of it and it holds extreme sentimental value.

Head Lice

Yes it’s that time again! Please check your child’s hair for this unwanted pest.

Quiz Invite – What do you know about broadcasting standards in NZ?

If you would like to take part in a short quiz about broadcasting standards in NZ, please visit www.bsaquiz.net.nz

The quiz is fun and informative. It will test your knowledge of, and also let you know more about broadcasting standards in NZ. The quiz is being run on behalf of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

Netball Results

Shooters won 10 – 0 POD was Brenna Smith

Stars lost 3 – 5 POD was Portia Brown

Ferns won 2 – 0 POD was Thamsyn Hibbs-Fearn

PTA News

Reminder of a few dates to put in your diary, something for the parents, the children and our families. Please put these dates on your calendars and more information on each event will be advised closer to the dates.

• Thu 22^nd September – School Disco
• Sun 2^nd October – School Family Car Trial

Altar Servers

Saturday 27^th August 7.00pm Patrice Brookland

Sunday 28^th August 10.30am Bree Chilton & Cameron Roulston

Children’s Liturgy Megan Roulston

Demons Softball Club Open Day – Sunday 11 September 11am – 1p

Achievements

Congratulations to Harry McLean & Damian Mitchell, winners of the Under 11 Doubles, and Harry, winner of the Under 11 & Under 13 singles held last weekend.

Registrations are now open for the Southland School Champs on the 1^st September.

2 players per team @ $5 each. For more details, see Mrs T-K.

Congratulations to boys below who received ‘Most Improved Player’ at the Waikiwi Rugby Club prize-giving at the weekend:

Under 7 Kyron Devery

Under 8 Cory Foleni

Under 9 Shaun Wilkes

Shaun Clapperton won most valuable player for the Star Under 8 rugby team and he also won the Star tackler of the year.

Samuel Downing who received the Under 11 Most Improved Player award at the Marist Rugby Clubs End-of-Season awards.

During the season, Samuel also played for the SouthTown Under 38kg Rep Team

Aubrey Page received the Thistle ‘Player of the Day’ trophy at Soccer on Monday.

Patrice Brookland was placed 2^nd overall in her level at the Southland Gymnastics competition held last weekend. Patrice got 2^nd on bar, beam & floor. Patrice’s team was placed first & won the Southland Team trophy for the year for their level.

Room 1 Class Happenings

In our class at present, we are learning about what things we need to do or have so that we have healthy minds and bodies.

So far we have learnt that we need: good hygiene(wash our bodies and clean our teeth, sleep, healthy food (fruit and vegetables), exercise, oxygen(fresh air), water and very important - love(from God, family and friends).

As part of our Inquiry unit Room 9 read about Vanilla. Wow is it expensive! Do you know it takes 12 months from vine to shop to prepare a vanilla bean to use for cooking? When we had read about vanilla beans we found an article about making vanilla ice cream. Here we are enjoying the ice cream we made in class.