14 November

Dear Parents

Only one sleep to go till Pet Day. I know the children are looking forward to it. A big thanks to the PTA organising committee for all your hard work in preparation for tomorrow.

Yesterday I was fortunate to be able to watch one of our touch teams play. It was great to see the commitment and enjoyment the children show and the support given by their parents. A very close game!

FAITH FACT FOR WEEK 5

More from Lumen Fidei…

“Faith is truly good for everyone; it is a common good.  Its light does not simply brighten the interior of the Church, nor does it serve solely to build an eternal city in the hereafter; it helps us build our societies in such a way that they can journey towards a future of hope” (LF§45).  As we continue our faith journey back to God how are we working for the common good of all?  Spend time praying for the needs of others who are less fortunate than us.

Our prayers are with the Winders family with the recent death of Fr. Brian Winders.

Fr. Brian was a parish priest at Sacred Heart and will be remembered with much fondness by older parishioners.

First Communion Helpers

We require more helpers for the First Communion breakfast on Sunday 24^th November.

This is the responsibilty of parents whose children had it done for them in 2011.

This is a traditional expectation. Please contact Christine with any forthcoming volunteers.

Altar Servers

Saturday 16^th November         7.00 pm                     Caleb Wolf

Sunday 17^th November           10.30 am                                     Emma Harrington & Piper Adams

Children’s Liturgy                                                         Pauline Harrington

Newsletter Cover

Please note our new newsletter cover with our new sponsors. We thank them for their sponsorship and ask you to please support their businesses.

School Photos   

Order must be in by Wednesday 20^th November please.

Garden Club 

These must be in to the office tomorrow please.

Outstanding Accounts

Please have all accounts paid up by the end of November.

Book Amnesty

We have a lot of books not being returned to school. Can I ask all parents to check at home for books belonging to us and return them asap, no questions asked.  Many thanks.

Sunhats

We apologise to the pupils waiting on sunhats. These did arrive last week but unfortunately they  had an Auckland Sacred Heart School crest printed on them, so they have been sent back.

We suggest you wear a hat from home until the new supplies arrive. Thank you.

Sacred Heart School PTA Pet Day  ~   Friday 15^th November 2013

Program for the Day

Before School:      Order Sausages in hall - $2 each

                                Deliver baking for judging to Room 3

11.00 – 12.00:         Activities and games start

Soldiers from the Invercargill Army Centre will be helping with activities/games

12.00 - 12.30:          Lunch

Westpac BBQ and staff will be on site for a sausage sizzle - $2 per sausage.

12.30 – 1.00:           Pets to be brought to school

Parents, grandparents or caregivers to deliver pets to school and we encourage you to stay and enjoy the afternoon with the students and their pets.

1.00 – 2.00:              Judging and prizes

2.00:(approx.)        Pet Day Grand Parade

Dress code:           House colours (and funky hair if you want).

                                   

Reminders:             Adults to accompany un-caged pets.                     

Bring water dish for your pets, it’s meant to be a warm day.

                                Please bring your pet in a cage/enclosure, or on a lead.

There will be a bin supplied for pet poo -

·         please bring your own poo clean up bags which can then be placed in the supplied bin,  we need you to clean up after your own pet.

General:              Please feel free to come and share in a cup of tea/coffee, which will be

            available for visitors in the staff room area.

            Parking behind the school, in the Northwood Estate area, may be a better

            option for some as the church car park is likely to fill quickly.

The forecast is for fine weather so we can look forward to a fun day for the children and their pets.

St Theresa’s PTA Fundraiser – 300 Page Recipe Book $20

Contact Christine if you would like to purchase one of these lovely books.

St Anthony's School, Seatoun, Wellington celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

e If you would like more information or wish to attend the event, please email Sarah MacIntosh - sarah@stants.school.nz If you would like to be put on our Alumni database, please email Julie O'Brien -  julie.claudia@xtra.co.nz, for an information form.

Family Works  ~  Cool Families - Incredible Years (3 – 8 yrs)

Do you want practical step-bystep strategies to help with everyday family siturations and manage challenging behavior. If so Family Works is running another programm which starts 18 February – 3 June 2014. Interested parents can contact Margaret 2118240.

SBS Mara-Fun-Run – This Sunday 17 Nov – 5 – 12 yrs

$5 per entry and every participant gets a certificate, medal and the chance to win a credit at the SBS worth $50. Also win a $500 Hart Sport Voucher for your school.

Sign up today @ www.southlandfestivalofrunning.co.nz

Noel Leeming Friends & Family Offer – 18 – 24^th November – Cost + 7.5%

Parents wanting to take advantage of this great offer can obtain a flyer from the office.

Class Happenings Room 9

Snippets From Room 9’s Stewart Island Experience

The Ferry  ~  It was a nice calm day. The waves were small and calm. It was not cloudy. It was a sunny day. There was a buzz of excitement all around the boat and in the boat. But some people were nervous like me.  Caitlin

“Vrnn” went the boat as we left Bluff on our way to Stewart Island. Yeah! The kids were screaming and shouting as they were having a good time. You could smell the salty odour that came from the sea and you could feel the cold cool air, as the boat drove past the islands. All you could hope for now was to spot a Hectors dolphin.  Jake

“I got a bite!” I shouted “I think it’s a Blue Cod. I reel the fish in. Finally the big strong fish is on the boat. The fish was a Trumpeter.  The fish was yellow and grey colours. It had huge eyes. Morgan, the one who fillets the fish, cut my fish and blood came pouring out of its body.  Cory

Have you ever been fishing? Well I have its really fun. When we were going fishing we had to keep moving because we weren’t catching anything. Then finally we were catching some fish. I was waiting and waiting and waiting I finally caught a fish. Once I reeled it in we took photos. Click, click, click, click, click, click, smile, smile, smile. Bridie

Have you ever been fishing on a boat well that’s what we did on camp at Stewart Island.?  If you want to hear the story don’t jump over board. This is what we used to catch the fish: rod, reel, bait, line, sinker, hook and a boat. We were waiting on the wharf and then a fishing boat came round the corner and backed into the wharf. We got on and zoomed to the fishing spot.  We got our rods ready and dropped the line until it hit the bottom. Then BITE I’ve got a fish I pulled it up and it was a small one. I kissed it then let it go back into the ocean.  Tom

To be honest I didn’t have high hopes of catching a fish I don’t think anyone else did either but just about everyone caught a fish.

But I’m going to tell you about my fish and how I reeled it in. So like I said I didn’t have high hopes of catching a fish But I tried to keep positive.

After a while I started to get very impatient. Then the unthinkable happened I got bites on the bait. So I reeled in so fast it felt like my arm would fall off but it didn’t.

That’s when my adventure started I was still reeling it in. It felt like ages but it was kind of fast at the same time somehow.

 But after that adrenaline pumping journey it was all worth it because I caught what I was looking for the beautiful, ugly looking Blue Cod!  William

How far down you have to go to hook up with a Blue Cod?

You have to go to the bottom because Blue Cod eat stuff off the bottom of the sea.

How do you hook up with a Blue Cod? When you start to get bites flick your rod up in the air. If you get the feeling on your rod that something is  trying to escape from the rod then start to reel it in.  Justin

  

7 November

Dear Parents

I have been asked by the Ministry of Education to spend today and tomorrow at Salford School to assist the acting principal in preparation for the commissioner’s appointment.

I can be contacted via email or cell phone if there are any urgent matters and will be checking in with Christine and Rose.

A big thank you to the children and parents who made the Year 6 Stewart Island Camp such a success. The weather was fine (most of the time) and the programme full and exciting - thank you Mrs Lieshout. The science focus and unique opportunities that Stewart Island offer along with feedback from parents and children, mean that we will look to return to Stewart Island on a yearly basis if possible.

Good luck to our Year 6 pupils as they head to their high school open day tomorrow.

PTA ~ Pet Day – Friday 15^th November 2013

The final Pet Day Meeting ~ Monday 11^th Nov, 7.30 pm in the staffoom

A friendly reminder for all interested parents.

Tomorrow is the last day to get your Pet detail forms in and also the last day to order your

Spud in the Bucket.

Cake Competition

The children are invited to bake and decorate their best cup cake, muffin or cake, and bring to school for judging on Pet Day. This can be on an individual basis which is more likely to be a cup cake or muffin, or by a whole family in which case you may like to enter a cake baked and decorated by all the children. Please bring to Room 3 before school on the morning of Pet Day (next Friday 15^th November), on either a piece of cardboard or plastic/paper plate with the child or children’s name(s) and classroom number(s). The cup cakes, muffins and cakes will be judged in the morning, and then shared by the children at morning tea time. Awards will be given out at the end of the day with the prize giving.

First Communion Helpers

Thank you to the two parents who have offered to help with the First Communion breakfast on Sunday 24^th November. However this is not enough and we are asking for more parents to put their name forward. As explained in newsletter number 33, parents of children who were in the last group (2011) to receive their First Holy Communion are expected to help with this day.

This is a traditional expectation. Please contact Christine with any forthcoming names.

Mercy Charism Meeting

A big thank you to Miss Swney, Mrs Winders and Mrs Stupples for your presentation about how we honour our Mercy traditions at a meeting in Gore last night. It was very interesting to hear from the Mercy sisters regards their lives of service and we will look to making better use of that knowledge at school in the future.

Sand Pit

Thank you Mr Parker for our new bigger and better sand pit. The children are already playing in it even though the sand hasn’t arrived yet.

Tour of Southland

The school will be out supporting the tour riders tomorrow morning. Please ensure your child has a jersey and/or jacket and their sunhat at school tomorrow.

FAITH FACT FOR WEEK 4

Let’s go back to the encyclical, Lumen Fidei – the Light of Faith that was introduced in the newsletter at the beginning of this term.  A whole section is dedicated to the creed. The encyclical says ‘…the believer who professes his or her faith is taken up as it were, into the truth being professed.  He or she cannot truthfully recite the words of the creed without being changed, without becoming… part of a great fellowship…the Church” (LF§45).  As a family talk about and pray the creed, either the Nicene or Apostle’s Creed each night. A copy of the Apostle’s Creed is in this newsletter.

Altar Servers

Saturday 9^th November           7.00 pm                     Cameron Roulston

Sunday 10^th November           10.30 am                                     Mathew & Emma Brooks

Children’s Liturgy                                                         Nicki Brookland

Outstanding Accounts

We would like all monies settled at your earliest convenience please.

We have several activity fees, sports and camp outstanding and are not in a position to cover these extras.

Achievements

Congratulations to all those Sacred Heart ex-pupils who featured in the Verdon College prizegiving last night. We are thrilled to hear that James Humm will be head boy and Sophie McLean deputy head girl, in 2014.

Congratulations to Hannah Grindlay, Tayla Kilsby, Taylor Le-Breton (past pupils) and Mrs Lieshout’s daughter Christine, who have all been awarded ILT Scholarships.

Congratulations to both Jacob Downing and Josh Cooper who have made the Southland Yr 5/6 Cricket Team this season, with Jacob also making the Invercargill Metro Yr 7/8 team.  This Invercargill Metro team will play in the annual South Island Primary School Cricket Tournament in the first week of January 2014 - which will be held in Gore.

Congratulations to Brooklyn McLeod and Breyah Takitimu who both got 100% in their NZAMD Contempory Dance Exams last week.

Touch Southland Under 10 & 12 Trials – Wed 4^th December @ Turnball Thompson Park

If your child is interested in attending their trials, please see Christine for more info.

Wanted to Buy: Cheap Beer Fridge - enquiries to the office please.

“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: _________________________________________________

Class Happenings Room 8

This term we have been concentrating on opening sentences and ensuring that we maintain keep the readers attention all the way through our pieces of writing.   Below is a selection of writing from this term that we have recently completed.

On the night before school started, I lay awake, trying to get to sleep.  I woke up frightened because my alarm clock suddenly went off.  Annoyed that it was school, I just wanted six weeks off school because the holidays went really quickly.  Strolling along the corridor to the kitchen.  An interesting combination of breakfast cereal, yoghurt and cereal was waiting, though not my favourite combination of cereal.  Back along the corridor, I jump into my clothes and straight out the door.  Wait a minute I thought.  Forgetting something? On no, I forgot to brush my teeth.  Rushing to the bathroom, I quickly brushed my teeth before racing out the door to the bus.  Finally I’m at school.  

Amy

 On a Monday morning in October, when the wind was soft and the sun glared in my window, a certain animal with hair of black and brown came near a bed, ready to wake his owner from his slumber. As Marley meowed his head off at me, I thought that maybe he would go away.  A minute later he was still there meowing.  Making me mad, I moved away from the warmth of my blankets.  I trudged to the kitchen to have breakfast.  After a bowl of weetbix, it was time to get dressed, pack lunch and get to school for Term 4.  As the car moved closer to school, my stomach turned like there was a group of flapping butterflies in a tropical forest on an island in the middle of the ocean.  When the car arrived in the car park, my mum said to have a good first day back at school.   

Matthew

Oh no, we have to go to school.  We all know what that feels like!  On Sunday night when I had to go to bed, I felt awful.  I lay awake thinking, I have to go to sleep, I have to go to sleep.  It took so long.  In the morning, my mum came in and said,

“School time!”

After she shouted that, I was definitely awake.  I moaned lazily,

“Do I have to?”

Mum sighed, “Yes.”

“I want just one more day off.  Pleeeese.”

“No, you have just had a holiday.”

“But they go so quickly!  It’s unfair!”

As Mum slipped out of my room and into the kitchen……..thump……. I fell out of bed.  Creak went the door as it opened.  Grabbing my dress and putting it on, the sound of my feet went thump, thump, thump down the hallway. In the kitchen, Mum served me porridge and water.  As I finished, in came Charlie and William,

“What’s for breakfast?”  

Lucy

“Emma, wake up!” Mum said, “School’s today.”

“Orggg!” I groaned loudly.

Hopping out of bed, I headed towards the kitchen, trying to think of a cunning plan to trick Mum.  Nope, I couldn’t think of anything.  Could I pretend to be sick?  Who would fall for that trick?  Well, I’m guessing that I’ll just have to go to school.  Grabbing my toast and starting to eat, my brother came into the room.  I wondered why he didn’t have to wake up early too?  After finishing my piece of toast and drinking my milo, I hurried to my room to get dressed for school.  Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I walked into the lounge to pack my bag.  Grabbing my lunchbox, home folder and reading books, I put them all into my black bag.  Yawning loudly, I zipped up my bag.

“Mum, I’m going to brush my hair. “

No reply, she was probably busy getting ready for work.  Walking down the hallway to my bedroom to grab my hairbrush, I finally found it lying on my bedside cabinet.  I started brushing my knotty hair until smooth.            

Emma L