Term 1 Week 3
Principal's Message
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, marking the start of the season of Lent. We will start the day with Mass and welcome families to join us.
Lent serves as a time of preparation and reflection leading up to Easter. It spans 40 days, mirroring the time Jesus spent fasting in the desert. During Lent we are encouraged to reflect, repent and renew our faith. As we journey through Lent, we are reminded of the importance of using this precious time to prepare ourselves spiritually.
Classes will work through Caritas NZ resources which have a different theme each week. These themes are linked to the RE curriculum and the work that Caritas does around the world. The image below shows what the themes are.
Meet theTeacher
Next Thursday from 5pm- 7pm we will be holding our annual Meet the Teacher/ Fish and Chip Evening. Families are encouraged to come and eat together on the bottom court, socialise and meet some new friends (it doesn't have to be fish and chips, just bring whatever you family wants to eat). During the evening teachers will welcome parents into the classrooms to spend a little time explaining how the class programmes work and how their classrooms run. 6pm will be Ms Parsons, 6.15pm Miss Wilson and 6.30pm Mr Small. We hope to see as many families as possible.
Staff Prayers
On a Monday morning at 8.30am we gather as a staff for prayers. This means that there will not be a staff member in their classroom for about 5 minutes. Children know to come to the office if they need help.
Lisa Small,
Principal
Faith News
2024 Sacramental programme
We are now accepting enrolments for 2024. This programme is available to all children who have been baptised into the Catholic faith and reached Year 4 or above in the primary school system.
Contact the parish Office on office@wellingtonsouthcatholic.org for an enrolment form
Ash Wednesday Mass
This week is Ash Wednesday. We will be celebrating Mass at 9am in the school hall, during which ashes will be distributed. Parents and whanau are welcome to attend.
Parish Newsletter
This week’s Parish newsletter is available here
Sun Hats
A reminder we are a sun smart school, so all children must have a school sunhat at school each day in Term 1 regardless of the weather.
Brooklyn Library Visits
This term we will resume our termly visits to Brooklyn Library. If your child wishes to borrow a book during the visit they need to bring their personal library card with them. We will return books on the next visit if they are brought back in time. Books not brought on the day of the visit will need to be returned by yourselves. If you would like to leave your child's card in the classroom between visits then teachers will find a safe place to keep them.
Room 1: 21 February 20 March
Room 2: 06 March 27 March
Room 4: 13 March 03 April
Board News
Our school has a Board of Trustees that govern our school. Our school Board is made up of the principal, three proprietor's representatives, 4 elected parent representatives and a teacher representative. We have recently had representatives step down from their positions.
We are looking for two parent representatives and two proprietor's representatives to join the Board. Here is some information about what a representative does:
*We hold two evening meetings per term that run from 7pm until 8.30/9pm.
*Prior to the meeting their will be a principal's report and other documents to read (none of which are very long).
*There is the opportunity to attend Zoom Board professional development.
*You will be involved in the governance of the school, ensuring we are meeting Ministry requirements, hearing about teaching and learning, monitoring the budget, supporting and monitoring our strategic plan.
*Board members are entitled to $55 per meeting. This can be claimed or donated to the school.
Proprietor's representatives must be Catholic and will need to put an application into the archdiocese.
If we have more than one person interested in being a parent representative we will need to hold an election. If there is ony one person there is no need.
If you have any quesions please speak to Mrs Small.
Absences
If your child is sick or unable to attend school for all or part of the day, please either send a notification via the school app (skool loop), email the school office on office@stbernards.school.nz or phone 3899377 by 9.00 a.m. so that your child's absence can be accounted for.
Children who are late need to report to the office in case they have been marked absent by the teacher who takes the roll first thing in the morning.
If an absence is planned for a special reason, a note or telephone call to the school in advance is appreciated. In cases of prolonged absence, e.g. a family trip, a written note is required.
Room 1 Learning
We've had a lovely week in Room 1, re-connecting with each other, sharing holiday stories, welcoming and getting to know our new classmates, Ishaan, Natalia, and Leo. We are looking forward to Isabella joining us this week.
We have been working together doing group activities and exploring the games and toys in the classroom.
Room 2 Learning
Room 2 has been settling well into the new school year. We've completed some excellent name art and done some awesome learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We've set up our own class treaty and revisited the importance of our school values.
Room 4 Learning
Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Declaration of Independence Mind Maps
Last Monday, Room 4 learnt about the Declaration of Independence which was signed by British government representative James Busby and 34 Māori chiefs at Waitangi on the 28th of October 1835. This document known as He Whakaputanga in Māori, stated that New Zealand was an independent country ruled by Māori. The main focus of the document was asking King of England to protect New Zealand from being taken over by other countries - especially France. In return, the Māori chiefs would offer friendship and protection to British settlers and traders. By 1840 this document had been signed by 52 chiefs. The Declaration of Independence-He Whakaputanga paved the way for Te Tiriti o Waitangi to be written, signed and become the founding document of New Zealand.
Room 4 created mind maps to show what they learnt about Te Titiri o Waitangi and The Declaration of Independence. Mind maps are a great way to present and show ideas about topics. They start with a main idea that breaks into to 4 or more other ideas (sub topics). Sub topics are then broken down into ideas. The ideas can be written or drawn, single words, symbols or diagrams. Mind maps are a great way to organise thoughts, explore new ideas and reflect on new learning. Look at some of the mind maps Room 4 created.
