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- Donna McDonald - Principal's Note
- Gospel for Sunday, 10th December, 2022
- We welcome to our last enrolment for 2022!
- Sparks of God - Term 4, 2022 - Week 7
- Class of the Week - Room 4
- Whanau Day - Friday, 9th December - You are all invited!
- Everything you need to know about our two events next week!
- Some helpers needed please!
- Bonus Christmas Raffle - closes at 9a.m. tomorrow!
- A special request from our School Gardener to any pool users during the holidays
- School Pool keys for sale
- Parumoana Interschools Speech Competition Result
- Uniform fittings and purchases during the holidays
- Secondhand uniform donations
- 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
- Link to download Schoolzine App
- Named fence pickets
- Quick Links to our website
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.
It's quite hard to believe this is the second to last Thursday of our 2022 school year. This year has whizzed by. There is still quite a lot happening over the next 6 school days though, so please keep an eye on the school calendar, Seesaw posts and emails that will keep you up to date with all that's happening.
On Tuesday, Pauline and I visited the Porirua Public Library to look at the Northern Porirua Kahui Ako ECE Exhibition. Several of the children in Room 1 have their work on display either through their ECE or when they first started here at St Theresa's. It was lovely to see the artwork and read the student voice on how they feel about starting school. If you're in Porirua, pop in and have a look.
Yesterday we held the annual "St. Theresa's Got Talent" in the Hall. This event is 100% student led and anyone who wants to, can share their talent. It was a highlight of the year once again with a huge range of talents on display. The Year 6 leaders kept the show moving and supported all of their acts and the audience were encouraging, supportive and at times, interactive. The whole vibe was positive and inclusive and reminded us yet again of what an amazing bunch of little humans we have at this school - you should all be very proud of yours.
Our big Christmas Raffle will be drawn tomorrow at our final Assembly, however there is still a chance to get a ticket in the Bonus Raffle draw which closes at 9a.m. tomorrow morning. For $2 a ticket, you have the chance to win 1 of 10 extra prizes. Children just need to bring their $2 and their name will go into the draw. Special thanks to Libby Baker for all the work she (and her family) do to co-ordinate this annual raffle.
Huge thanks to everyone for coming out last Thursday night for our first Christmas Family Fun Night. The feedback on the night and afterwards has been very positive. We were fortunate with the rain holding out and managed to have Santa visit just in time. This was an amazing achievement for our Parents & Friends group who skillfully co-ordinated everything in just over a month, so special thanks to Yvette Tohill, Maria Gair, Bronagh Barber and Lucy Kerr. The evening was initially intended to bring us all together which it succeeded in doing and also doubled as a bit of a fundraiser, bringing in over $4,000. Once again, well done and thank you to everyone involved.
Have a great weekend, and we look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday night.
Nga mihi,
Donna McDonald - Principal
Kia pai too raa whakataa
Gospel for Sunday, 10th December, 2022
Today is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel of Luke, we hear of how the angel Gabriel appears to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus. Mary responds, “Let it be done to me as you say.”
Mary is a model of discipleship for us because she said yes to God and co-operated with God's plan by becoming the mother of Jesus. We honour Mary because she is the Mother of Jesus and our Mother as well. We can grow closer to God through Mary because of her special relationship with Jesus.
We reflect on this Gospel and pray to be like Mary and respond to God with a resounding yes by using our gifts and talents to serve others in both large and small ways.
We welcome to our last enrolment for 2022!
The last pupil enrolled for 2022 is Grace Gair! She is the sister of Max and Iris and the daughter of Heath and Maria. We are thrilled to have another member of this family here and hope that many more happy memories will be made at St. T's!
Sparks of God - Term 4, 2022 - Week 7
Perhaps not many this week (Pihinga Pod away for the day) but still enough bright lights to show us the way!
Some of the Room 4 children are saying farewell to their Year 6 buddies. They have written some lovely letters to them with some heartfelt messages. Here is a selection of parts of these letters.
- I really like you because when you give me a hug at the pohutukawa tree I feel happy. I remember when I met you at preschool. I hugged you so tight.
- I would like you to know that you helped me at the Biggie when I was stuck. I want to say thank you for helping me. You said ’Hold on to the rope and don’t look down!’ Now I can go up the rope on the Biggie.
- The nicest thing you ever did for me was saying Happy Birthday to me. That was the best birthday ever!
- I remember when you put the korowai on me and I felt happy because I knew you were there with me!
- The nicest thing you ever did for me and my friends was when you joined us to play Stuck In the Mud. We all had great fun. We were all so playful!
- You are really good at doing handstands. Your feet are as high as they should be. I am just learning to do this.
- The nicest thing you ever did for me was holding my hand last summer when we were going to the beach.
- I remember when you put the korowai on me. I felt so special that my heart burst with so much love!!!!!
- You are really good at sprinting. I know this because everyone says you are the fastest runner in the school!
- Don’t ever forget me and St Theresa’s School.
- I remember when you put the korowai on me. I felt special and scared but you were there so I knew you would keep me safe.
- I would like you to know that with you at school, I feel like you keep me ‘steady in place’ and that you keep me saying nice and good words.
Thank you to all the Year 6 Big Buddies. You have been amazing role models. We will miss you xxx
Everything you need to know about our two events next week!
Tuesday, 13th December (Prizegiving) and Friday, 16th December (End of Year Mass of Thanksgiving)
Here is EVERYTHING you need to know for these two events.
Shona Hockings is organising the supper, to which everyone is invited, after Prizegiving on Tuesday, 13th December. She needs some parents to serve and help with the clean up afterwards so if you can, please contact her on 021-1451725 or email shonahockings@gmail.com.
A special request from our School Gardener to any pool users during the holidays
If you have bought a pool key and are on site, would you PLEASE pop along to the veggie gardens at the back of the Learning Hub and Rooms 6 & 7 and giving them a bit of a watering? The hose will be left outside the door of the wee garden shed. We would hate all the hard work of planting to go to waste. Many thanks in anticipation.
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.
Uniform fittings and purchases during the holidays
During Term 1, 2023, we will have some on site uniform fitting (as we usually do). However, if you want to have your child fitted for any uniform items before the start of school next year, our supplier will be available during the school holidays. Please contact Bernadette Chapman directly, to make an appointment or to order anything. (Based in Paraparaumu.)
Phone: 04-2125611 or email b.chapman093@gmail.com
If your child is leaving St. T's as a Year 6 student or has outgrown their uniform and there is no one else in the family to pass items on to, please consider donating it to our Secondhand Uniform Shop. The Shop is currently closed and will reopen on 25th January, 2023 but items can be left here at school.
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.