1 March

Dear Parents

A big thank you to parents for supporting us with the children bringing their sun hats. Of course as soon as we do this the weather changes, but it is important to have them at school. We will be praying for a fine Tuesday next week for the Zone Athletics and also the junior athletics that afternoon at school.

A very disturbing story is currently in the public domain regarding the convicted paedophile who has been teaching in some Auckland schools. A question I have been asked is how this could happen and in short, it shouldn’t have.

In normal circumstances a conviction of this sort means automatic de-registration as a teacher.

Thus a new employment check would mean no likelihood of any work in a school.

It appears in this case multiple levels of deception by the offender have bypassed the normal security procedures. I await with interest the outcome of the Ministerial review.

Standard procedures for all school employees include:

· Teaching staff need to be registered teachers which includes police checks by the Teachers Council and verification of any supplied qualification.

· Non-teaching staff are police vetted on a regular basis.

Welcome to Jack Moir and his family. We hope they enjoy their time at Sacred Heart.

Jack joined the children in Room 3.

PALM Sunday MASS

Our school will be attending the Palm Sunday Mass this term on the 1st of April at 10.30am. Please add this date to your calendars as we expect all children to attend. Thank you

Almsgiving for LENT

Thank you for the contributions to the Mission Box that some children have made over the past week. We will continue to bring the box around each day for the period of Lent. Here are some other ideas about "giving" for Lent.

Giving alms, Jesus teaches, means making the needs of others our own, especially the needy of our world. They are all around us: children and the old, the sick and the suffering, families and individuals, next-door neighbours and people in lands faraway.

We easily forget them. Rather than just looking out for ourselves — what people say today — see those in need, Jesus says. Giving will make you live.

And what shall we give? Some time, some of our talent, material resources, perhaps. Almsgiving is not just for the rich. Poor or rich, we all have something to give.

Whatever we give, though, should be something of ourselves, something that costs us. Paradoxically, Jesus also teaches, when we give, we receive some blessing from God in return.

What shall we give to the needy this lent? In deciding, decide generously. After all, before us is the great alms Jesus gave: “He loved us, and gave himself up for us.”

Junior Sports

On Tuesday, 6 March, at 1.15pm, the children in Room 1 – 6 will have a Sports afternoon. The children will take part in a number of "Run, Jump, Throw" activities so they will need to be in their sports uniform, including their sunhat. If possible, please ensure your child has plenty of healthy options in their lunch box and a water bottle. Parents are welcome to join us.

This sports event will take place while the older children are at the All Saints Athletics day at Surrey Park. The cancellation day for this is Thursday, 8 March. We intend to have the same arrangement for the junior sports.

We require 5 parents to assist with the running of the sports. Please let your child's class teacher know if you are available to help. Many thanks for your support ~ The Junior Syndicate team.

School Interviews

These will be held on Monday 26 & Tuesday 27^th March. Parents will be able to book online again this year. I will let you know the url and password when it is set up. If you do not have internet access, we will book them for you.

Bike/Scooter Fridays

A reminder the bike/scooter Fridays has been cancelled till further notice. Thank you.

Enrolments

It is the time of the year when we send roll returns into the Ministry of Education to predict future year staffing. If you have a pre-schooler or know of someone who is intending to enrol at Sacred Heart, could you please let me know.

Year 4, 5 & 6 Cricket – this team plays against Rimu at Marist, 4pm tomorrow.

PTA – Meeting 7.30pm tonight in the School Staff Room

PTA – 2^nd Hand Uniform Sale – Friday 2^nd March 2.30 pm

A massive secondhand uniform sale will be held on the above date.

Items will be sold for as low as .50c so this is a great opportunity for parents to come along and get a bargain.

2012 Southland Junior Schools Swimming Champs

This is being held on Sunday 1^st April at Splash Palace. Entries close 21^st March.

If your child is interested in competing in this, please see me.

Achievements

On Waitangi weekend Ben Bryan walked the hump track with his family. He was the youngest person to walk the 55km, 3 day tramp, also one of the first to the hut at the top of the hill.

Well done to Erik Cahill who competed in the Southland Island Town & Country Swimming Competition last weekend and gained 2 x 1^st and a 3^rd.

Altar Servers

Saturday 3^rd March 7.00 pm Piper & Bronte Adams

Sunday 4^th March 10.30 am Eli Winders & Elsie Wallace

Children’s Liturgy Cecelia Russell

Sports Results

The Seals Flipperball team won last week against Newfield Park 10 – 0.

The Sharks Flipperball team won 7 – 1 the 1^st week and 6 – 3 last week.

Sacred Heart Under 6 Soccer team - played Otatara and lost 0 - 4. Player of the Day was Jesse Richardson.

Touch Southland Trials Sunday 11 March 2012 Turnbull Thomson Ingill 9.30am

Start U9/10/11 boys & girls 10am

U12/13 Boys & Girls 11am

U14/15Boys& Girls 12am

U16/17 Boys& Girls 1pm

Everybody who plays in a Touch Southland module is welcome - Winton, Otautau, Invercargill.

For all information please go to the Touch Southland website www.touchsouthland.co.nz

AMP Tryathlon this Sunday – starting at Splash Palace and finishing at Rugby Park.

Entry forms are available from the office.

Central Pirates Rugby Club Registration Morning – ‘Milo Cereal Breakfast’

Come for Breakfast - Saturday 3^rd March 8.30 – 10.30 am.

Enquiries to Nanette 235-8908.

Waikiwi Rugby Football Club - Schoolboy Registrations

Tuesday, 13 March and Thursday, 15 March, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm and

Sunday, 18 March, 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm (final registration day)

Subs - $30.00 1 child / $45.00 2 children / $55.00 3 children

Any enquiries to Paul Tomlins, phone 217 8115

Invercargill Children’s Day Celebration Sunday 4^th March 11.00am – 2.30pm

Southland Boys High School Gymnasium & Field

Bring along a picnic and enjoy a day of fun activities for the whole family. Crafts, games, face-painting, music, bikes, bungy and lots more. ALL FREE !

White Hill Windfarm Classic Bike Ride & Run – this Saturday.

Visit & enter online at: www.whitehillclassic.co.nz

Marist Rugby Club – Weighin/Registration Days Miller Street

Sunday 18^th March 10 am – 2 pm and Tuesday 20^th March 4.30 – 6 pm.

Children’s Cooking Classes – Adventist School, 3.30 – 5.30 Monday & Wednesday 7 – 12 yrs

All food provided - $25 each for 8 lessons. Enquiries to Bernice Debono 2304119. There are only 9 places available so be in quick. There is a meeting at the Adventist school hall tomorrow @ 6pm to outline the course.

Room 5 Class Happenings

Last week Megan, Scarlett, Anika & Summer read a story about Magic Glasses.

After we read half of the story, the next day we read the other half with our groovy sunglasses on.

We then made magic glasses. In the afternoon we helped the rest of the class make their own magic glasses too.

It was fun when I was making magic glasses because I put some rubies and glitter on it. It was fun making magic glasses. – Anika Winders

It was fun when we made magic glasses. I put glitter and feathers on mine and buttons too. I put pipe cleaners on mine too but they didn’t stick. – Summer Smith

I liked decorating my magic glasses. I put jewels and pipe cleaners on mine. – Scarlett Meikle

I liked decorating my glasses. I liked the magic glasses, they were cool. – Megan Sullivan