24 October

Dear Parents

At this week’s Board meeting Mrs Lieshout presented a comprehensive review of our Science delivery plan. One of the areas of the curriculum that was left behind with National Standards was Science, in particular emphasis on the process skills children need to carry out any investigation or project. I know that the Ministry realise this and would hope that they add science to the ‘important’ subject and re-commit funding to enable schools to keep up with best practices. We are fortunate at Sacred Heart to have always focussed on Science and make sure we have specific Science lessons foci. From the review we will be looking at how we can effectively assess progress over time and probably giving the senior children more access to the Science Fair.

A reminder all children are to wear a sunhat while outside.

FIRST COMMUNION ~ SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER  2PM

The children who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation will now begin preparation for First Holy Communion. The first session will be on Monday November 4 at 2 pm in Room 5. Please bring your workbooks. (A notice and email has been sent home with further details earlier this week.)

There will also be a parent/child meeting on Tuesday October 29 at 3pm in Room 3.

Helpers ~  Parents of children who were in the last group (2011) to receive their First Holy Communion are asked to help to prepare and present the Communion breakfast in the hall on Sunday 24 November.  Please fill in the reply form at the end of the newsletter.  Thank you.

All Saints Mass - Next Friday the school will attend Mass in the church at 9.30 am to celebrate All Saints Day. Parents and caregivers are most welcome to join us.

Year 6 Camp – Stewart Island

From next Wednesday the Year 6 class will be at Stewart Island for their school camp. We are looking forward to a very busy enjoyable couple of days.

Enrolments - We are starting to look at classes for 2014 and we are organising pre-school visits.     If you know of any prospective enrolments can your please contact myself or Mrs Forbes.

Gardening Club - We are offering the children the opportunity to be part of a fun education project, the “Green Fingers Gardening Club” with the South Coast Environment Society.

We aim to encourage children to grow their own vegetables at home with their own square metre size garden and encourage healthy lifestyle options.

If you would like your child to be involved in this project, please return the slip at the end of this newsletter along with $2 for their kit which will include:                          

• 4 packets of vegetable seeds
• A5 journal for students to write about their garden
• Simple instruction shee for beginner gardeners

After 6 weeks of growing, students return their journal to the ECC and each child will receive a certificate and comments.

If there is a willing parent or grandparent who is a keen gardener and would like to pass on their skills to this group, please contact the office. Your assistance would be much appreciated.

Flipperball ~ there will be no Flipperball tomorrow due to the long weekend.

Scholastic Bookclub – Issue 7 closes Friday 1^st November.

Badminton  - Children playing Badminton, the fee of $25 is now due. Thank you

Annual Inter School Relay Carnival – Sunday 3^rd November @ 3.30 pm

We only have 2 names for this carnival. If your child is interested in taking part, please see me first thing in the morning as entries close tomorrow.

PTA “Spud in a Bucket”

Be in to win the competition for the most spuds, biggest spud and the ugliest spud! Fill out the slip

at the end of this newsletter to indicate your intention.

• Buy your spud and bucket from the school on Pet Day for $6 each
• Follow the instructions and grow a spud in a bucket
• Return the bucket (intact) to school Jan 2014 for judging

FAITH FACT FOR WEEK 2

The central idea of the Encyclical Lumen Fidei lies in a word that is used 36 times in the English translation: ‘journey’. Connected with this are other words like, ‘path’, ‘way’, ‘road’, ‘pilgrimage’, ‘destination’ and ‘goal’.  “Faith…takes the form of a journey, a path to be followed, which begins with an encounter with the living God” (LF§46). This one sentence encapsulates the central idea of the document as a whole. We learn that the journey of the Christian life (the life of faith) begins with a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, in whom ‘the living God’ is most fully revealed. Pope Francis reminds us that “those who believe are never alone”.

Try to spend time each day this week in prayer with your family.

Altar Servers

Saturday 26 October               7.00 pm                     Sam & Nathan Russell            

Sunday 27 October                                    10.30 am                                     Georgia Newell & Caleb Wolf

Children’s Liturgy                                                         Maria O’Donnell

Basketball Results

Sharks lost to St. Theresa’s Jets 4 – 21

Breakers lost to Ascot Breakers 2 – 22

Flyers won against Donovan Dazzlers 6 – 2

Slamdunkers lost to Waihopai Breakers 10 – 30

Canteen Fridays - Kelly who provides our pupils with canteen on Fridays is looking for two Yr 5/6 children to help her in the kitchen from 8.20 – 8.50 am for 2014. The children need parental permission and will get a free lunch to the value of $6 each week. Enquiries to Kelly 2159713.

Southland Cricket  Festival Days

If your child is in Year 5/6 and wants to take part in a schools 8 – aside cricket tournament next month, please let me know. Boys = 20^th Nov / Girls 21^st Nov.

Hockey Coaching Clinics With Junior Blacksticks (5 – 18 Yrs)

Nick Elder and Jeremy Morris are hosting a training session 8, 9, 10 of November for approx. 2 hours @ $30 each. You can register your child by sending their name and age to: hockeyfundraiser2013@hotmail.co.nz by tomorrow.

Swimming Bag and Towel Promotion ~ These are lovely and would be a great Xmas Gift

(samples are on display in the office).  The children were given a pamphlet last week in regards to these lovely towel and bag sets. Orders will be collected tomorrow and delivery date is 15^th Nov.

KidsCan Fundraising - My Happy Place $29.99

“My Happy Place” is a book featuring happy thoughts and memories contributed by 54 prominent New Zealanders, from actor Sam Neill to musician Ladi6, NZ’s oldest person, Maudie Wilson to shepherdess, Mandy Thow. Please place any orders with Christine in the office by Friday 22^nd November, with delivery date being Friday 6 December.

Class Happenings Room 6 ~ Science Rotation

Last week on Tuesday it was Science Day!!!!  Mercy went to Room 6 first.  We learnt about forces.  We had a sheet and magnets to solve the sheet.  After we finished all the sheets we could have free choice.  I wanted to go on the computers.  After lunch we went to Room 1.  We watched Mrs T-K make a tea bag fly.  Then we made sherbet.  My flavor was strawberry.   It was yummy ad spicy.

HOLLY

Yesterday was science day at school!  I went to Rooms 1,5 & 6. For Rooms 5, 7 and 6 we joined together.  Anyway in Rooms 5 & 6 we talked about force, friction, gravity and stuff.  In Room 5 we got sorted into our groups.  I was with boys, Jacob, Zane and Braedyn.  So back to what I was saying.   In Room 5 we had LEGO, marbles, ping pong shooters, a sheet and friction.  There was a block that we pulled.  There were magnets in Room 6.  For LEGO we had to make a racetrack for marbles.  We built things out of blocks.  In one room I make exploding bags - sherbet and stuff.   The sherbet exploded in our mouth.  It was so tasty.  I loved it, absolutely loved it!  Anyway today there’s another science rotation.  In the morning I’m going to Room Two and in the afternoon I go to Room Nine.  I just know I’m going to love it.  We did a sheet about the stuff.  MEGAN

It was science day!!!  I went to Room 1.  We did exploding bags, five rockets and sherbet.  We went to Room 6.  In my class we did friction.  I loved it.  In Room 5 we did ping pong shooters.   

BELLA-ROSE

On Tuesday we did science.  First we went to Room 5 & 6.  It was force and friction.  There was ping-pong shooter in Room 5.  The Ping-Pong, balls shot up in to the air.  After that we went to Room 1.  We saw tea bags on fire.  Bags exploding.  It was awesome.  We made sherbet.  It was very sweet.  GRETA

On the 17^th of September 2013 it was science day!  After reading and lunch then Mrs Buxton put us in our house groups.  Donovan was M1. M means morning and 1 means Room 1.  Then we lined up in the foyer with our house groups.  Then we finally went to Room 1 with Mrs T-K and Mrs Williams.  That was the best classroom ever because Mrs T-K’s experiment was a fire rocket.  She got the idea from Youtube.  She did it right!  She put the tea out and then Mrs T-K lit the teabag.  When it went to halfway, it flew to the roof, then it went back to the ground because at the roof it’s cold and on the ground it’s warm.  Then we did exploding bags.  First you put in ½ a cup of vinegar then put it in the sandwich bag.  Then get two spoons of baking soda and put it in a tissue.  Fold it up quickly, put it in the bag and then seal it quickly, then the bag will go BANG!  The tissue nearly landed on my head.  This was my favourite part. 

In Room 1 we made sherbet.  Then it was morning tea.  After morning tea, Donovan went to Room 5 and 6.  We were learning about force and friction.  Force means pull and friction means push.  We were also talking about gravity. It means that it keeps us on the ground.  Then I went to Room 5.  In Room 5 there were Ping-Pong shooters.  That was my favourite part in Room 5.  ANIKA

On the 17^th of September the whole school went to the foyer.  We went into our house teams.  I’m in Harrington House.  I went to Room 2 and in Room 2 we made instant pudding.  I also learnt about gas, liquids solids and plasma.  MAIYA

On Tuesday 17^th of September, 2013 we did Science in Room 9!  We did cool stuff like exploding coke.  The big kids had a bigger sheet because we are big enough.  We had to think about how does the coke explode – like a truck exploding.  A truck of donuts, yum donuts – my favourite!  Any way we might have to go back to science.  It did not go high because we did not have the one where there was way more sugar.  Yum!  JOSHUA

On Tuesday, 17^th of September, 2013 we had science day. First Harrington went to Room Two and learnt about liquids, solids and gas.  It was very exciting.  We did pudding as well.  I got to stir the mixture because Mrs Stupples said I could.  Then we put it in the corridors so it could freeze. 

Then it was morning tea.  We went out to play. When the bell rang we went to Room Nine.  We exploded coke.  It was exciting because it goes very high.  We did dancing raisons.  KEARA

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FIRST COMMUNION HELPERS

I will be available to help prepare and present the Communion breakfast in the hall on Sunday 24 November. 

Signed _____________________

 “SPUD IN A BUCKET”

We would like to purchase _____ buckets @ $6 each

I have enclosed $_____

Family Name:  __________________________

Garden Club

Yes please send me ____ kits @ $2 each

I have enclosed $ _____

Name/s of children: __________________________________________