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- Donna McDonald - Principal's Note
- Gospel for Sunday, 4th December, 2022
- Welcome to the Dimock family!
- Sparks of God - Term 4, Week 6
- Class of the Week - Room 2
- Family Christmas Fun Night - TONIGHT!
- Parumoana Interschools Speech Competition
- Kids Artworks Merchandise - THANK YOU!
- School Pool keys for sale
- All library books need to be returned please
- EPro8 Semi-finals! We're in!
- Some important dates for your diary
- What it means starting school...........
- Christmas Raffle Books - Due date for returning: Monday, 5th December
- Whanau Day - Friday, 9th December - You are all invited!
- Futsal results
- Invitation to the Advent Communal Reconciliation Service - Sunday, 4th December 4p.m.
- School Terms - end 2022 and start/end 2023
- St Theresa’s Summer Reading Program
- Tips to keep those reading miles ticking over!
- St. T's After School Care - come check it out!
- St. Theresa's Secondhand School Uniform Shop - read all about it!
- Yummy Apple stickers
- Quick Links to our website
- Link to download Schoolzine App
- Named fence pickets
Donna McDonald - Principal's Note
Hello, Kia ora, Talofa lava, Hola, Namaste, Mabuhay, Ciao, Kia Orana, Ahalan, Konnichiwa, Ni hao, Selam, Xin chao, Bonjour, Bula, Dzien/Dobry, Shalom, Dia duit, Mauri, Halo, Bom dia, Gidday, Guten Tag, Hej
Mai i te Kopae ki te Urupa, tatou ako tonu ai - From the cradle to the grave, we are forever learning.
The Parents & Friends Ctte have been working hard to co-ordinate our first ever Family Christmas Fun Night which is tonight, 5 - 7.30pm. There are a range of food options available for your dinner including coffee and cake. We also have games, entertainment and a visit from Santa. The weather is looking very promising, so leave the cooking for tonight and bring your whanau down at 5pm.
With the buzz and excitement of co-ordinating the Christmas evening, the decision has been made to hold a March Madness Fair on Saturday, 25th March, 2023. This will be our first major fundraiser since our Carnival in 2020. There will be lots of positions that need to be filled so watch out for more information about what is needed. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, etc., please contact Shona Hockings on shonah@stp.school.nz.
As expected, we have a few cases of COVID-19 in and around the school. The Ministry of Health directives state that if you are a household contact of a positive COVID case, you should test daily for 5 days with a RAT. As long as you continue to test negative, you are able to continue with your daily life as normal. If you are unwell, stay home. We have a small supply of RAT tests here at school so if you require any, please let us know and we will arrange them for you.
Last night, the Board of Trustees met with a facilitator to work on the refresh of our Strategic Plan. There was a presentation from Viv Aitken on our Local Curriculum planning and Pauline MacLean presented information on both the NZ Curriculum refresh and the Religious Education Curriculum refresh. The information we gathered from our community via the survey was also analysed and helped inform the strategic goals going forward. We, as a Board, had a very productive, fast-paced evening and the work we undertook will help shape the direction the school continues in over the next 2 - 3 years. Once the draft document is complete, it will be made avaliable on our website. My personal thanks go to our wonderful Board of Trustees representatives who give so generously of their time, energy and talents to support our school community.
The next 2 weeks are very busy at school and the children are tired from a mixture of the excitement of Christmas, the nerves of the unknown next year and the action-packed year we have had. Tears, meltdowns and highs and lows are all very normal for us all at this time of year, so please be kind to yourselves and each other. Remember there are only 24 sleeps till Santa.
Nga mihi,
Donna McDonald - Principal
Kia pai too raa whakataa
Gospel for Sunday, 4th December, 2022
Second Sunday of Advent
Matthew 3:1-12
In this Sunday’s Gospel, John the Baptist reminds the people that they prepare for the reign of God by reforming their lives and repenting of their sins. We do many things to get ourselves ready for our celebration of Christmas: purchase gifts, send Christmas cards and decorate our homes. John's call of repentance in preparation for Jesus reminds us that our reconciliation is another way in which we can prepare for the Lord's coming and our celebration of Christmas.
We warmly welcome Beau Dimock and his parents, Jason and Alisha. Mrs. Beasley and all the students in Room 1 are very happy to have to have him join their group. Beau, we wish you many happy years as part of this St. T's school community.
Family Christmas Fun Night - TONIGHT!
Parumoana Interschools Speech Competition
Our entry in this year's competition is Isabella Beach who came first in our own School Speech Competition (Year 6). We wish her every success and hope she enjoys the experience!
Kids Artworks Merchandise - THANK YOU!
A huge thanks to Sarah Davies for organising this awesome initiative once again this year and providing us with the opportunity to purchase items made with our own children's artwork. Thank you to all of you who ordered merchandise as well.
We are selling pool keys for the summer season. The pool will be available from the end of this term to the last week of March, 2023. All the details are in the attachments. If you want to buy a key, please read the Terms & Conditions and then complete the Key Allocation form, make your payment and Gina will send your key home with one of your children. No more keys will be sold after Thursday, 15th December.
All library books need to be returned please
Congratulations to Isaac Ringrose, Joshua Kerr, Max Gair and Willow Dunne for getting into the semi-finals of the EPro8 Challenge.
Some important dates for your diary
Please keep checking this list as more dates will be added over the term.
Friday, 2nd December - Uniform fittings
Tuesday, 6th December - Board of Trustees meeting 6p.m.
Friday, 9th December - Final Assembly and Whanau Day
Tuesday, 13th December - Celebration of the Year and Prizegiving 6p.m.
Friday, 16th December - Final Mass of Thanksgiving 11a.m. and close of school at 12.30p.m.
What it means starting school...........
These artworks are part of a unique exhibition, showcasing the work of some four and five year old tamariki from different schools and Early Learning Education Centres from the Northern Kahui Ako region of Porirua. It is the children's creative response to what it means for them to be starting school. This exhibition seeks to honour and celebrate this special time and features some of our very own own students!
Christmas Raffle Books - Due date for returning: Monday, 5th December
It would be absolutely fantastic if we could have ALL raffle books (sold and unsold), returned by Monday, 5th December. We are so grateful to the families who have already returned their books and money.
Everyone is so excited for the draw! FIVE lucky winners will have the best surprise ever. This could be you!
The Year 5/6 St T’s Saints played their last game on Tuesday and had another impressive win 12 - 1. The whole team played so well with Alex Buchanan filling in. The whole team were the Players of the Day!!! Well done. boys!
The Year 3/4 St T’s Lakers played their last game on Wednesday and lost 5 - 3. The whole team played so well and had so much fun I also gave them all Players of the Day!
The St. T's Thunderbirds lost their game 3 - 2 today but they all played so well and did great team work. Player of the Day was Maxwell for doing great listening, focusing on the ball and getting in some good kicks.
St T's Hawks had low numbers due to sickness. Team players were Willow l, Sophia and big thanks to Elijah, Max and Jeyton we made up a team and won 5 - 0 against Papakowhai School.
St. T's Tigers lost 0 - 2. Myla, Levi, Tyler, Lincoln, Lily, Zoe and Isla were all Players of the Day for always turning up and giving it a real good go. They always had beautiful smiles and attitudes. Tino pai!
A huge thank you to the parents (Shona Cooling, Camille Anderson, Peter and Deb Tooley, Sarah Buchanan and Kate and Paul Deere) who have managed the Futsal teams, under chaotic circumstances! We really appreciate everything that you do.
Invitation to the Advent Communal Reconciliation Service - Sunday, 4th December 4p.m.
Advent is a time of great hope, it is a time of prayer, reconciliation and spiritual preparation to welcome the birth of Jesus and the hope of the Second Coming.
In the midst of a busy end of school year and preparing for Christmas, this is an opportunity to reflect on the year and on our actions. Advent is a wonderful time to celebrate the reconciling love and healing graces that God offers us.
We invite our children and families to participate in the Advent Communal Reconciliation Service at St Theresa’s Church on Sunday, 4th December at 4 pm.
School Terms - end 2022 and start/end 2023
School closes for 2022 on Friday, 16th December at 12.30p.m.
School terms for 2023:
T1: Officially on Wednesday, 1st February but this is a Teacher Only Day so from Thursday, 2nd February for all students. Term 1 ends on Thursday, 6th April.
T2: Monday, 24th April - Friday, 30th June
T3: Monday, 17th July - Friday, 22nd September
T4: Monday, 9th October - Friday, 15th December
St Theresa’s Summer Reading Program
"Summer Reading Program" permission slips were sent home yesterday (Wednesday 30 Nov). Please return signed copies tomorrow (Friday 2 Dec).
Tips to keep those reading miles ticking over!
It’s hard to keep up a reading routine in a season packed with distractions and diversions.
Many children, especially struggling readers, forget some of what they've learned or slip out of practice during the summer months. Try these 3 steps to help your child improve their reading during the summer and beyond:
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Six books to summer success: Research shows that reading just six books during the summer may keep a struggling reader from regressing. When choosing the six, be sure that they are just right — not too hard and not too easy. Take advantage of your school and local library. Ask for help selecting books that match your child's age, interests, and abilities. (We allow up to 10 books per child).
2. Read something every day: Encourage your child to take advantage of every opportunity to read. Find them throughout the day:
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Morning: The newspaper (physical or digital) — even if it is just the comics or today's weather.
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Daytime: Schedules, TV guides, magazines, online resources, etc.
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Evening: End the day by having your child read to you from the book they are currently reading (maybe one of their library books). Have them rehearse a paragraph, page, or chapter before reading to you. Rereading will help them be more fluent — able to read at an appropriate speed, correctly, and with nice expression.
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Travelling: Read road signs, town names, street names, personalised number plates, billboards, shop displays, airport, bus and train schedule boards - the options are endless.
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Equally important “Keep reading aloud”: Reading aloud benefits all children and teens, especially those who struggle. One benefit is that you can read books your child can't, so they will build listening comprehension skills. This will increase their knowledge and expand their experience with text, so that they will do better when reading on their own.
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Consider borrowing an audiobook from the Public Library and allow your child to put on some headphones and listen online. (free with a public library membership)
St. T's After School Care - come check it out!
After School Care - Permanent or Casual
We offer a fun, innovative program that caters for each individual child, in a safe and relaxing environment. Your child will be supervised by skilled leaders who enjoy creating opportunities for play, in and outdoors. We use the school playground as well as the swimming pool in summer. We are well-resourced and have planned and spontaneous activities that include baking, arts and crafts, quiet areas, science and outdoor physical/sporty activities.
Where? Parish Hall
When? 2.45pm – 6.00pm. Monday - Friday
Cost? $20 per day with a sibling discount of 10%
Early pick up (4p.m.) - $10 per child
There will be no fee for sickness. Children can be booked in full time, on selected days or on a casual basis as well.
Enrolment forms are available from both the School Office or Hone, the programme manager, in the Hall.
The booking facility is on our website.
https://www.st-theresas.school.nz/1488/forms/45-after-school-care-booking-form-term-4/submissions/new
If you have any questions, please contact Hone on 021-02426850 or email him asc2021@stp.school.nz.
St. Theresa's Secondhand School Uniform Shop - read all about it!
PLEASE NOTE: The shop will be closed from Sunday, 13th November and will re-open on 25th January, 2023.
We're still collecting Yummy stickers which earn us points for sports equipment. A chart is attached for you to use and copies are also available from the Office.
Link to download Schoolzine App
NEWSLETTER APP
Here is the link to download the Schoolzine App. At the end of set up, you are asked for a passcode and this is 3025.
An important update for SZapp has been released to accomodate for iPhones which have been intermittently receiving push notifications.
SZapp version 3.6.0 is available from the App Store now and we advise all iPhone users to install this version to ensure notifications are received correctly.
Users with automatic updates enabled on their device will recieve this update automatically.
If you would like to order a picket, please complete the attached form and return to the Office. The cost is $35 per picket.