1 November

Dear Parents

Only one day to go until the Jubilee/Fair weekend.

A big thanks to the PTA, staff and all the parents and children who have worked to make this happen.

Also a big thank you to our senior students who will be assisting at the jubilee on Saturday morning and at Mass before the fair on Sunday.

Our prayers are with the Crawford family.

*REFLECTION ON TODAY’S GOSPEL READING (From Lectio Divina)

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT

A teacher of the law, who is impressed by the answers Jesus has been giving, asks him what the greatest commandment is. Jesus replies from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 also known as Shema Israel. Jesus follows the accepted method of Jewish teachers by choosing the most important commandment to sum up all the teaching from the Books of Law: Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In other words this one verse is the foundation and purpose of everything said in the books and everything in them should be interpreted with this in mind. The words used to express the first commandment vary slightly from those recorded in Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and you can look up the difference.

Jesus links the first commandment to a second: loving your neighbour as yourself. This is a reference to a commandment in Leviticus 19:18. Jesus makes it clear that love must be at the centre of the greatest commandment. Firstly love for God and secondly love for your neighbour. By linking the two together Jesus implies the two must go hand in hand. True religion cannot neglect the social aspect on man’s life. Jesus sets no limits on our love for God and our love for our neighbours must be at least equal to our love for ourselves. Jesus sets a very high standard: we should love our neighbour without expecting to receive or gain anything (Luke 10:25-37). The questioner agrees with Jesus’ answer and makes the perceptive comment that obeying these commandments is our highest priority more important than the animal sacrifices which were such a central feature of worship at that time.

MEDITATION: Consider what it means practically to obey these two commandments. What are the implications? How can you love God completely? How can you love your neighbour as yourself? Which is more important to you: observing religious practices or obeying these commandments? What does this passage have to say about what our priorities should be?

PRAYER: Ask God to help you love him and others more fully. Psalm 18 in its entirety lists man of the attributes of God and many promises. As you pray through this psalm look out for what these verses reveal about God’s character. What can you discover and build into your faith life?

JR McKenzie Youth Education Trust

The above trust gives financial support to families with children moving from Yr 6 to Yr 7 with uniform costs. If you wish to apply, please ring or email me. This is confidential.

ALL’s (Accelerated Literacy Learning) + ALiM (Accelerated Leaning in Maths)

The school was fortunate to have been able to participate in these contracts over the past term.

They both involved a teacher working with a small group of children to accelerate progress.

The aim long term is to find a way to make the programme sustainable across all classes in the school.

Tomorrow Mrs Lieshout and I will be at the finale of the Maths project where Mrs Lieshout will present our school’s findings. Next week it will be Mrs Buxton’s turn in regards the writing project. Both programmes have been very beneficial for the children and teachers and we will implement a lot of the new strategies that worked across all classes next year.

Achievements

Congratulations to Aimee Brookland who competed in the Alexandra Dance competitions last weekend for Tap and received 2 x 1^st, a 2^nd & was the winner of the Tap Scholarship in the 10 & under 12 age group for having the highest marks over 3 set dances.

Autism NZ Inc

I am the new Service Support Coordinator for Autism NZ Inc in Southland. I offer a free service to support anyone with Autism or Aspergers. I have many resources, books and have access to information on ASD.  Next year there will be a 2 day programme ‘FANZ’ in Southland. It is

specifically designed for anyone who is involved with a child or adult on the Autism Spectrum.  If you are interested please contact me on 21 82420 or  southland@autismnz.org.nz 

I look forward to hearing from you, Wendy Jenkins

Altar Servers

Saturday 3^rd November                               7.00 am                   Sam & Nathan Russell

Sunday 4^th November                                10.30 am                                     Charlotte Sherriff & Mathew Brooks

Touch Results                                                             Basketballs Results

Stars won 2 – 0                                                             Slamdunkers won 22 - 19

Ballers won 4 - 1                                                           Shooters lost 11 - 12

Sharks won 2 - 0                                                           Flyers lost 6 - 13

                                                                                          Sharks beat the Breakers 14 - 8

Nathan Cohen & Storm Uru ~ James Hargest College Hall ~ Friday 2^nd Nov 7.30 pm.

Adults $25 Children $15. Nathan and Storm will speak and there will be an opportunity for questions, photographs and autographs. Tickets can be purchased at Eagles Eagles & Redpath or Rowing Club Members. Limited door sales if tickets still available.

All proceeds to the Waihopai and Invercargill Rowing Clubs.

Wanted House to Rent or Buy in Waikiwi/Grasmere

Required early December, 3+ bedrooms. Contact Tina 2158234 or 0277594590.

The children are enjoying playing chess with the new game bought by the PTA.  We are very grateful for the contributions they make for us.

Caitlin and Portia discuss their next move.

Room 8 Class Happenings

This term we are doing Run, Jump, Throw with Lorn from Athletics Southland.  Our session so far we have been focusing on stretching our muscles, arms and hips.  We learnt that stretching our bodies before participating in sports helps our muscles warm up so we don’t get any injuries when playing sport.  We also have been practising javelin.  We are focusing on accuracy when throwing.  We had to aim our javelins at Lorn, lucky they were foam so they didn’t hurt him.

Here is what some of Room 8 students had to say about it so far:

It is fun and good because we get to throw our rockets at Lorn  ~   Monique Nolan

We get to run in the hall and we are never allowed to run the hall. I think Lorn is good at teaching because he is allowing us to try new sports, I think it’s good to try new sports  ~  Justin McLean

It is cool because we are outside playing sports and not in our classroom doing work  ~  Aimee Brookland

I think Lorn is awesome at teaching us Athletics because he is helping us with our techniques  ~  Cory Foleni

SACRED HEART SCHOOL FAIR

Sunday 4^th November 2012        11.30am – 2.30pm

It’s all go for this weekend hope to see you all there.

Thank you so much to all the hard working people in the background

– without you this would never happen.

Kids – we have a territorial course and a big dig, so don’t wear your Sunday best.

Parents – parking will be at a premium so if you can it may pay to park in behind school in Northwood (you can even park on the grass on the empty sections) and then walk

 through the back entrance.

                                                                                                                                                                                   

JC Bouncy Castle, Ice Creams, Ponies, Hairdressing, Big Dig, Home Baking, Territorial Course, Tractor, Spiders, Devonshire Tea, Silent Auction, Hand Made Crafts J C

WHAT’S LEFT

1.    Scones – If you’d still like to make scones, we’d love them for the day – can be dropped off at the times below

Scone Recipe (can be doubled) - apologies for missing this from the last newsletter.

2 cups self-raising flour, ½ cup lemonade, ½ cup cream– bake at 200 degrees for approx. 10 mins

2.    2^ND Hand Children’s toys, games, books etc – 2^nd hand children’s toys, books, games, DVD’s etc stall. Tracey Frewen will be in the car park again this Friday 2 Nov (from 2.30pm) to collect any goods to be donated – watch out for her car Dark Blue Mazda 6 Station Wagon with its boot open (weather permitting). Otherwise feel free to bring to the school on Saturday or Sunday (times below).

3.    Home Baking/Produce – Please drop off your home baking (biscuits, cakes, muffins, loaves, slices), sweets and produce (veggies from the garden and vege plants) either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.

4.    Cake Walk Cakes – Please drop these off either Saturday or Sunday – the earlier the better as we need to wrap these up nicely.

5.    Bottles, Christmas hamper goods or hairdressing stuff can still be delivered on Saturday afternoon.

6.    Stall help – We have a few slots left, anyone who has not been contacted and is able to help please call Susanne Brown 2158883

7.    Coins – Kids remember to keep saving your coins to bring on the day to help with the flow of change.

C J  Police Car, Candy Floss, Raffles, 2^nd Hand Toys, Cake Walk, Horizontal Bungy, Face Painting, Drinks, Chocolate Wheel, BBQ Sausages and Steak Sandwiches, Truck Rides J C

The committee will have a crew of volunteers working to set up during the weekend.

Drop off - You can drop off baking, scones, produce, kids 2^nd hand stuff, cake walk cakes etc on:

Saturday 3^rd             between                  1.30pm & 3.00pm or

Sunday 4^th between                                 9.30am & 11.00am*

*Please don’t leave it till later than this as we will be very busy preparing for the 11.30am start