29 November

Dear Parents

I was fortunate to be able to officiate at one of the most important events of the year on Tuesday afternoon when I had to judge the Room 1 & 2 ‘Best Love Bear Competition’. The pressure was on and I can only hope I made the right choice.

Today we hosted representatives from the Out of School Music Classes who performed for our children. It was a pleasure to have these children at school. If your child is interested in enrolling for  2013, enquiries are welcome at 2165137 or online at:  www.osmc.co.nz

Thank you for the big increase in children with sun hats on. We also have more in stock at the office.

A reminder about the end of year timetable:

Reports Home                           -                 Monday 10^th Dec

Year 6 Day                                 -                 Tuesday 11^th Dec

End of Year Mass 1.30 pm      -                 Wednesday 12^th Dec

School Closes 12.30 pm         -                 Thursday 13^th Dec

Teachers Only Day (off site)  -                 Friday 14^th Dec

I will be at school on Monday 17^th / Tuesday 18^th December in case anything is left behind, as staff will be off-site Thursday afternoon and all Friday.

Apology and Retraction
A notice was published in the Sacred Heart School newsletter dated 22 November 2012, which included statements questioning the legitimacy of the website www.nzmathsandenglish.co.nz. It has since been brought to my attention that the website is in fact legitimate and is operated by a well established company called NZ Maths and English Limited, for the purposes of providing online home tuition services by fully qualified teachers in both maths and English.


The statements I made were based on information that I believed reliable, but I have now ascertained and now recognise that there was no foundation for these statements and I regret that they were ever made. I wish to take the earliest opportunity of correcting my error and of expressing to NZ Maths and English Limited my regret for any distress or interruption to its business caused by the notice.
Peter Forde

2013 Classes

We are still working through final class placements for next year but the line up so far looks like this:

Room 1    -                 Mrs Williams             Yr 1

Room 2    -                 Mrs Stupples            NE / Yr 1

Room 5    -                 Mrs Winders             Y2

Room 6    -                 Mrs Buxton               Y3

Room 7/8                  -                 Miss Swney               Either Y 4/5 or Yr 4

Room 7/8                  -                 Mrs Tagomoa-Kaa  Either Y 4/5 or Yr 5

Room 9    -                 Mrs Lieshout            Y6

We welcome Ruby Duffy and her family to Sacred Heart School and hope they enjoy their time here.

Outstanding Accounts

We still have $2350 of outstanding accounts which we would like settled by next week please.

We are not in a position to carry this debt.

Amnesty

We would love to have all books, class resources or anything belonging to the school returned. No questions asked. Thank you.

PTA 2^nd Hand Uniform Sale – Friday 14^th December

If you are wishing to sell a Sacred Heart uniform we will be open to purchase this from you prior to our sale on Friday 14^th December. Please come to the school foyer at 10.30am with your items.

At 11am we will then have our sale open to all parents/caregivers.

So come along and grab yourself a bargain and be ready for the 2013 school year.

OSCAR Childcare will be available from 8am until 6pm on 14-18 Dec at Sacred Heart Parish hall, then continues from 19-21 Dec at both Middle School and Windsor North School halls. We will re-open on 7 January 2013. Please phone 218-9520 for further details.

Achievements

Congratulations to Liam, Matthew & Braedyn Francis who made their 1^st Holy Communion last weekend.

Altar Servers

Saturday 1^st December                                7.00 am                   Bronte & Piper Adams

Sunday 2^nd December                               10.30 am                                     Eli Winders & Bridie Kinney

Children’s Liturgy                                                                           Jackie Taylor

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

KNOWING HOW TO WAIT: Waiting can be difficult, even for the most patient among us. It’s even harder when the circumstances in which we wait are unsettling, but Jesus has some encouragement for us about how to wait.

At first glance, beginning the Advent season with this text might seem a little counter-intuitive. After all, this is the Sunday when we begin to celebrate the arrival of one meek and mild, humbled as a baby in a manger, and this portion from one of the final chapters of Luke portrays an adult Jesus with some rather hard and disturbing things to say. And the apocalyptic text seems to refer to still future events. But we have things to learn about the waiting.

Speaking to people who were very close to their natural surroundings, who knew how to recognize the signs of the changing seasons around them, Jesus suggests that they also need to learn to interpret the signs of things to come. The difficulties and harsher weather of the winter are never reasons for despair, but indications of the coming spring. The first budding leaves of the apparently barren fig tree bring the promise of spring and summer.

Time and time again, the people of God have waited through difficult times where despair seemed to be the only solution, but redemption was at hand and the kingdom of God was near. As the church collectively holds its breath through Advent, it remembers the dark days of Exile and Captivity, the harsh words of the prophets and then even the long dark silence before the light shone at Bethlehem.

Remembering how brightly the wait of Advent ended gives us courage to have patience through the difficulties and challenges that still await us before the Messiah’s kingdom is fully realised. The glorious note on which that first Advent ended should help us bear patiently the wait that is ours.

MEDITATION: How patiently do you wait? What tough circumstances are made more bearable by you knowing that they are not the end, but that there is something better yet to come? When Paul prays for his readers in 1 Thessalonians 3: 9-13, he asks that in preparation for the Lord’s coming, they might grow in their love for one another. How would being this deeply loved by other believers help make the waiting a little easier>

PRAYER: Verses 4 and 5 from Psalm 25 are an appropriate prayer for someone seeking to wait faithfully for the coming kingdom of God: “Teach me your ways, O Lord; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth, for you are my God, who saves me, I always trust in you.”

Touch Results                         Basketballs Results                        Cricket

Stars                                             Slamdunkers Default                         Under 8’s lost to Windsor North

Ballers won 5 - 1                       Shooters won 22 - 14                        POD was Aidan Dudfield

Sharks won 5 - 2                       Flyers lost 2 - 15    

                                                      Sharks lost 4 - 24   

                                                      Breakers lost 11 - 38

It's My Turn To Cook Bosch School Holiday Program - has a fun, FREE one-day online cooking program on 20th December. No matter where you live, as long as you have the internet, we'll inspire YOUR kids in YOUR home using YOUR food! All details at www.ItsMyTurnToCook.com

We'll have your kids whipping up a salad, firing up the barbecue and wowing you with a Christmas treat! We have great competitions, great prizes as we share foodie skills and tips to get your child food savvy.

SBA Basketball Camp   ~   25 – 27 Jan 2013

Anyone interested in attending this camp, can obtain a registration form at the office.

The Southland Mountain Bike Club is holding the Southland Times Kids Skids on Sunday the 2^nd of December at the Sandy Point Mountain Bike tracks from 10am. The event is for riders aged 5 to 12 and will feature different courses for each age group. Keep an eye out for the entry forms in the Southland Times or you can download one with full details of the event from the club’s website www.southlandmtbclub.co.nz. There will be heaps of spot prizes and giveaways plus a skills area to test you out. Get together with some friends and get on your bike!

St. Patrick’s School Fair – Sunday 2^nd December 10am – 2pm

Please support the St. Patrick’s school fair on this Sunday if you can. We had a good number of their parents at our fair a couple of weeks ago.

Kip McGrath Tutoring Scholarship

Parents are invited to apply for a Kip McGrath scholarship for next year. Interested caregivers can fill out the application forms and return to school by Monday 3^rd December.

Forms can be obtained from the stand on the wall in the junior corridor.

Room 3 Class Happenings

 In Room 3, we have been learning how to write letters.  A letter needs the following things:

·       A salutation

·       An opening sentence

·       A closing sentence

·       An ending eg From …..

·       An addressed envelope

Below are a selection of letters that some of us wrote to Santa.  The names of the’ authors’ will not be printed so you may have to ask us if we wrote any of these published letters.

To Santa

How are you feeling?  I will leave some cookies out for you.  Can I please have an iPod because I helped my Dad plant potatoes?   From ???????

To Santa

I hope you are well this year because it has been very cold this year.  Please may I have a new Leap pad 2?  I would like to know how many elves are there?  And how many reindeer do you have?  How do your reindeer fly?  Do they have wings or do they use their legs?  How do your elves make all the toys in time?  Here is a joke for you - what do elves first learn at school?  The elphabet.  I will leave you 2 cookies and one glass of milk.  We will leave the reindeer some carrots.   Love from …………

Dear Santa,

How does a reindeer fly without wings?  How does Rudolph’s nose glow?  Please can I have a butterfly pillow pet because I have been nice to my friend’s at school?   I will leave you a piece of celery, and for the reindeer a muffin and a glass of milk.  Haha – just kidding.   From …….

Dear Santa,

How are you?  Are you busy making toys?  This year I have been very good at listening to my Mum.  Can I please have a M.G.P?  How many elves do you have?  I will leave you a drink of milk and a carrot for the reindeer.   From ………..

Dear Santa,

How many elves do you have?  Does Rudolph’s nose glow?  I have been a good girl this year.  Can I please have an M.G.P?  It is a type of scooter.  I will leave you a glass of milk and some carrots for the reindeer.  I don’t believe you deliver presents in one night, I think two nights.  Be careful of my cat, he might meow at you.   Love from ……. 

PS What does an elf learn first?  The Elphabet.  Haha – just a joke!

Dear Santa

How do your reindeer fly without wings and how many elves are there?  How many reindeer are there?  How do you get through my chimney because you look kind of fat, because you eat a lot of cookies and you drink all of my milk?  Be careful because my chickens might peck you.  Don’t eat any eggs!  It you see any eggs put them in the fridge please.  Please can I have an M.G.P scooter because I have to take my brother out of bed.    From ………

Last Day Fun Day

To celebrate a wonderful year at school, we are having a ‘slip and slide water fun day’ for the last day at school.  The children can wear sports uniforms, and bring their swimming togs and towels to join in our fun for the morning.  Please remember that school will finish at 12.30 on that day.

Please fill in the permission slip and return to the class teacher, as your child cannot participate unless they have written permission. Please also let us know if your child is unable to slide on the soap suds, we will provide alternate water play for them.

_________________________ has permission to participate in the water fun day on Thurs 13 Dec

I understand that I must provide swimming togs and a towel to participate.

Signed ___________________________

22 November

Dear Parents

My apologies for any confusion over the high school buses yesterday. We thought all the buses ran early with the high schools closed for the secondary schools union meetings.

Stranger Danger

We have had reports about an older man in a white van talking to children outside James Hargest College. Please reinforce the stranger danger message with your children, as we have been in class.

Good luck to our 2 senior girls’ cricket teams who will be taking part in a fun tournament tomorrow.

Our prayers have been with the Rance & Reitma-Smith families this week.

Apology and Retraction
A notice was published in the Sacred Heart School newsletter dated 22 November 2012, which included statements questioning the legitimacy of the website www.nzmathsandenglish.co.nz. It has since been brought to my attention that the website is in fact legitimate and is operated by a well established company called NZ Maths and English Limited, for the purposes of providing online home tuition services by fully qualified teachers in both maths and English.


The statements I made were based on information that I believed reliable, but I have now ascertained and now recognise that there was no foundation for these statements and I regret that they were ever made. I wish to take the earliest opportunity of correcting my error and of expressing to NZ Maths and English Limited my regret for any distress or interruption to its business caused by the notice.
Peter Forde

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

        KING OF ALL CREATION: These few verses from the passion narrative in John’s gospel describe the encounter between Jesus and Pilate, the Roman governor of Palestine. The Jewish authorities have finally found something to accuse Jesus of that required the death sentence. But the Jewish leaders had a problem. Yes, they had decided to kill Jesus. But the Romans had taken away their authority to do this legally. They needed Jesus’ death to be very public so there could be no dispute about it. They wanted to put an end to Jesus and his teaching once and for all.

So somehow they had to get the Romans to execute Jesus. Roman crucifixion was a slow and excruciatingly painful death. It was also humiliating with the victim hanging naked on a cross for all to see.

But Pilate needed a political, not a religious reason to execute Jesus. So he asks Jesus if he is a political agitator. Did he claim to be a king? Jesus merely responds with a question of his own: did Pilate decide this question from his own observation or from hearsay?

Pilate is irritated by Jesus’ comment as it was the Jewish leaders who had handed him over. Jesus ignores Pilate’s second question. He goes back to the question about his kingship to clarify it.

Jesus explains his kingship involves truth, truth that he must preach and teach. Our text finishes at this point. But the conversation continues with Pilate asking what Jesus means by ‘truth’? He never finds out because he doesn’t want to listen and falls into the trap set for him by the Jewish authorities.

MEDITATION: What sort of kingship is Jesus hinting at here? In which kingdom is Jesus king? What does this mean for you personally? What is the truth Jesus came into the world to speak about? How do you listen to Jesus? How much priority do you give to this in your daily life?

PRAYER: Psalm 93 pictures God the king in all his majesty and glory. The liturgy applies this psalm to Jesus. Make a list of all God’s kingly attributes. Invite the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh sense of awe and wonder as you read these verses. Use them to worship your amazing king.

2013 Classes

Every year the Ministry allocates school staffing for the next year based on child numbers in March and July and predicted enrolments.

This year we were staffed for 8 classroom teachers, next year this will reduce to 7, with Miss Harding’s position finishing at the end of this year.

This year we have had an increased number of families moving out of this province or country and fewer than expected (so far) enrolments for 2013.

It is disappointing to lose Miss Harding as she has added a lot to our school this year and I do hope to see her here again in the future.

Southland Boys’ High School is looking for both short and long term homestay accommodation for several international students we are expecting next year. Weekly board will be paid. If you are interested in hosting an international student, please telephone Jill Hoffman: 2113-003 ext 809 or email jill.hoffman@sbhs.school.nz for further information.

Photos on Facebook

We intend to put school photos onto our facebook page. If you object to your child’s photo being displayed, please email Mrs Stupples: vstupples@shsinv.school.nz

OSCAR Childcare will be available from 8am until 6pm on 14-18 Dec at Sacred Heart Parish hall, then continues from 19-21 Dec at both Middle School and Windsor North School halls. We will re-open on 7 January 2013. Please phone 218-9520 for further details.

Child Minding for the Christmas Holidays

I am a parent and Teacher Aide at Sacred Heart School providing a family setting for holiday care.

Call Jacqui O’Connor 21 56055

Kip McGrath Tutoring Scholarship

Parents are invited to apply for a Kip McGrath scholarship for next year. Interested caregivers can fill out the application forms and return to school by Friday 30^th. Forms can be obtained from the stand on the wall in the junior corridor.

Flatmate Wanted – Contact Sandy 0210339909.

Achievements

Congratulations to Kyron Devery who received ‘Player of the Day’ last week for his Dodgers Lions T-Ball team.

Altar Servers

Saturday 24^th November                             7.00 am                   Cameron Roulston & Caleb Brown

Sunday 25^th November                             10.30 am                                     Ben Henderson & Mathew Brooks

Children’s Liturgy                                                                           Nicki Brookland

Touch Results                         Basketballs Results                       

Stars won 5 - 1                          Slamdunkers lost 17 - 18                                     

Ballers won 5 - 0                       Shooters lost 4 - 16                                                              

Sharks lost 3 - 4                        Flyers los 6 - 16t    

                                                      Sharks lost lost 4 - 16             

                                                      Breakers lost 2 - 30

PTA Meeting Wednesday 28^th November, school staff room @ 7.30pm.

Calendars  ~  Orders for calendars need to be in by this coming Monday 26^th Nov – if you’d like to buy a copy (or copies) of your child’s calendar, please have your order and money to the office before the end of Monday. The children’s art work for their calendar can be seen at the office.

Michelle Van Eeden would like to also thank the parents who bought tulips directly from her after school in the weeks leading up to the fair.

Kade shares his published writing with Mr Forde at the All’s writing celebration last Friday.

Room 2 Class Happenings

We have been learning about descriptive writing.  Each time we write about one thing we remember to put a full stop.  We know that we can describe something by:

Saying a number idea – There are two side mirrors

Saying a colour idea – the car is yellow

Saying a shape idea – the wheels are a circle

Saying a position idea – the car is in the garage.

Here are some of our awesome descriptions of our free construction sculptures.

I made a rocket.  The rocket had one whole bunch of red stuff on it.  It was fun.  The rocket had a square thing on it at the bottom.  The rocket had red on it at the bottom of it.  At home time the bottom fell off.   By Markus

I made a monster truck.  I like my monster truck.  I made one box.  I had a square box.   By Jimmy

I made a scorpion.  The colour was green.  It had one stinger.  The shape was a rectangle.  The stinger was at the back.

 By Sam

I made a jewellery box and there were 5 wee balls on the top.  I made it in Room 2.  My favourite bit was the cellotaping and the colour of the flowers are green.   By Anya

I made a John Deer tractor.  My John Deer is shaped like a square.  My John Deer is green.  It has one bucket.  I made it in Room 2.   By Tim