ST COLUMBA S CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Te Kura O Hato Karama PRINCIPAL S MESSAGE : Welcome back to Week 3 of Term 4! It was a fantastic end to Week 2 of the term with such a wonderful turnout for Grandparents day last Friday. We had a record number of grandparents, so much so that church was overflowing at Mass!! I would like to thank all the families who supplied a plate for morning tea, and a BIG shout out to our PTFA who organised morning tea and served tea and coffee for everyone. This week we have farewelled the Japanese students who have been with us for the last 3 weeks. Team 4 successfully put their Showcase on Monday and we saw some emerging stars amongst our older children - well done to you all. GDO Day this Saturday - A big thanks to all those who are helping with our annual GDO programme this Saturday. Girls Day Out is held each year for our Yr 8 girls and their Mum s or special someone. Girls, if you haven t yet returned your RSVP slip to school, please do so tomorrow - it s never too late! PTFA Twilight Gala coming up - Friday 16th November starting at 5pm - 8pm. Follow our Facebook page for updates. Staffing 2019: We farewell Megan Careswell-King and Phillipa Cosgriff who have both been on extended leave from SCCS this year. I would like to thank both these ladies for their many years of service and for their contributions to the formation of Catholic children. At the end of this year we also say farewell to Rochelle Lingard. Rochelle has won a teaching position at Te Totara Primary School. After 19 years of service to SCCS we wish Rochelle all the very best as she ventures into new territory and expands her teaching career. The board of trustees will be interviewing for these vacancies over the next few weeks. God Bless you all! Gareth Duncan Principal
SCHOOL CLOSED for the NZEI Teacher Strike Action. The board of trustees has been informed that primary school teaching staff will be striking on - Tuesday 13th November. Due to the number of teaching staff this effects, we will not be able to provide normal teaching services on this day, therefore the school will be closed for instruction on this day. (Please note that Kids Club will also be closed).. Background information: The decision to take further strike action was not taken lightly as we are aware of the impact strike action can have. We need to ensure the Government understands how serious we are about the need for urgent changes now. Schools are facing a teacher shortage, with over half of schools reporting they didn t have enough teachers in Term three. There has been a 40% drop in people training to be teachers, while school rolls continue to climb. The Ministry is currently engaged in an international recruitment drive, in a desperate bid to meet the need. Schools struggle daily to find enough teachers to meet their relief teacher needs. Strike Information The following days have been set: Wider Auckland region - Monday 12, November North Island (except Auckland and Wellington) - Tuesday, 13 November Wider Christchurch region (including Ellesmere, Ashley, Mid-Canterbury, Malvern, Hurunui and Aronui Tomua Waitaha) - Wednesday, 14 November South Island (except wider Christchurch) - Thursday, 15 November Wider Wellington region - Friday, 16 November We have our special women and boys breakfast next week. Everyone is welcome to attend the breakfast proudly sponsored by our PTFA, and to listen to our guest speaker - 2018 NZ Women s Rugby League captain, Honey Hireme. Come along and join the breakfast and chat from 7:15am on Thursday 8th November. PARKING will be available on the back field. You can access the field via the driveway down the side of the school. HEAD LICE - NITS This is a perennial problem in schools. It is recommended that you check all members of your household carefully. Treating the hair is no guarantee that the problem has been eradicated. Success is more likely if treatment is thorough, checking daily for at least three weeks and children are reminded to avoid head to head contact with others.if your child has head lice, please let school know. Head lice crawl from head to head and may be passed on through shared objects such as hairbrushes and hats. These insects are a nuisance and can be controlled or eradicated by families. If we notice a problem in a class we will send home a notification form to the class. Brochures with further information are available in the school office on the prevention and treatment advice on the subject. Many thanks for your patience. Absences We now have a new phone that you are able to text your child s absence to. The phone number is 0220500737. Otherwise please continue to leave a message on our school absentee phone line. Gareth Duncan Principal Natalie Petero BOT Chairperson
TERM 4 Monday 15th October to Thursday 20th December Key dates for term 4 are: - All Saints Day - Thursday 1st November - All Souls Day - Friday 2nd November - Pizza Days - 2nd, 23rd Nov and 14th Dec - GDO Saturday 3rd November - PTFA Meeting - Monday 5th November at 7pm - Junior Athletics - Wednesday 7th November - Special Women and Boys PTFA sponsored Breakfast - Thursday 8th November at 7:15am in the Hall - Keeping Ourselves Safe - Parent Meeting 7pm Staffroom (not suitable for children) - SCCS Athletics - Friday 9th November - BOT Meeting - Monday 12th November at 6pm - SwimSafe Programme begins - Wednesday 14th November - PTFA Gala 16th November, 5pm - 8pm - School and Parish Mass - Sunday 25th November at 10am - Keeping Ourselves Safe programme (whole school) - Weeks 5 & 6 - WFPS Athletics Team 4 - Wednesday 28th November - Advent starts - Monday 3rd December - PTFA Meeting - Monday 3rd December at 7pm in the Staffroom - BOT Meeting - Tuesday 4th December at 6pm - Yr 8 s Rainbows End Trip - Friday 7th December - Carols and Picnic Evening - Wednesday 12th December 5:30pm - Yr 8 Retreat - Friday 14th December - Mission Day Team 4 - Wednesday 19th December - End of Term Mass - Thursday 20th December at 11am PTFA would like to thank everyone who supported the Scholastic Book Fair. We were able to choose $613 worth of free books for our school library from the commission we raised from book fair sales. There were also many generous grandparents and families who purchased and donated books directly to the school - thank you so much to these kind and generous families. From the PTFA NEWS : PLEASE NOTE.. Tuesday 13th November 2018 - Kids Club will be CLOSED for the day in conjunction with the school due to teachers strike day! SUMMER BUSINESS HOURS OVER THE CHRISTMAS BREAK 2018-2019 DECEMBER 2018 Thursday 20th December 2018 OPEN 12.30-5.30pm (12.30-2.45pm $10 flat rate then ASC rates apply) BOOK IN NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPACE! Friday 21st December 2018 OPEN 8am-5.30pm ($35 per child per day, flat rate) BOOK IN NOW TO SECURE YOUR SPACE! Monday 24th Dec to Friday 28th Dec 2018 CLOSED Monday 31st Dec to Friday 4th Jan 2019 CLOSED Monday 7th Jan to Friday 11th Jan 2019 CLOSED Monday 14th Jan to Friday 18th Jan 2019 CLOSED JANUARY 2019 - HOLIDAY PROGRAMME DATES WEEK 1 - Monday 21st January 2019 to 25th January 2019 OPEN 8am-5.30pm WEEK 2 - Tuesday 29th January 2019 to 1st February 2019 OPEN 8am-5.30pm Note.. Monday 28th January 2019 is a Public Holiday and Kids Club is CLOSED TERM 1, 2019-1st week back at school - Monday 4th February 2019 Note Wednesday 6th February is a Public Holiday and Kids Club is CLOSED.
OCTOBER IS THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY The Mysteries of the Rosary Next week we will complete our fourth week praying the Rosary as a whole school. It was wonderful to see the children becoming more familiar, each week, with the prayers of the Rosary. This week, we focussed on the Sorrowful Mysteries and next week will be the Glorious Mysteries. These last two of the four mysteries are covered below: taken from Loyola Press. The Sorrowful Mysteries 1. The Agony in the Garden Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies. 2. The Scourging at the Pillar Jesus is lashed with whips. 3. The Crowning With Thorns Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns. 4. The Carrying of the Cross Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him. 5. The Crucifixion Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies. The Glorious Mysteries 1. The Resurrection God the Father raises Jesus from the dead. 2. The Ascension Jesus returns to his Father in heaven. 3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples. 4. The Assumption of Mary At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven. 5. The Coronation of Mary Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth. ALL SAINTS DAY 1ST November All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1st. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, which is observed on November 2nd, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven. Although millions, or even billions of people may already be saints, All Saints' Day observances tend to focus on known saints --that is those recognised in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church.
ALL SOULS DAY 2ND November All Souls Day is a holy day set aside for honouring the dead. The day is primarily celebrated in the Catholic Church, but it is also celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and a few other denominations of Christianity. According to Catholic belief, the soul of a person who dies can go to one of three places. The first is heaven, where a person who dies in a state of perfect grace and communion with God goes. The second is hell, where those who die in a state of mortal sin are naturally condemned by their choice. The intermediate option is purgatory, which is thought to be where most people, free of mortal sin, but still in a state of lesser (venial) sin, must go. Consistent with these teachings and traditions, Catholics believe that through the prayers of the faithful on Earth, the dead are cleansed of their sins so they may enter into heaven. Excerpts taken from Catholic Online HOLY SOULS WALL OF REMEMBRANCE Beginning this week, there will be a foyer display commemorating our loved ones who have died. Every student has been given a Holy Souls prayer slip to take home if you would like prayers for loved ones who have passed away, please fill out the prayer slip and put it in the Holy Souls box in the school office. The name of your loved one will be copied on to a heart card and placed on the foyer display and your prayer slip will go to the church s Holy Souls prayer box. All these souls will be have prayers offered for them at every Mass (daily) during the month of November. If you would like another prayer slip, please see your child s teacher or the office staff. You can also send in photos of loved ones or funeral booklets for the display, if you wish. School Parish Mass Sunday 25th November, 10.00am Feast of Christ the King Remember to mark this date in your diary all students are expected to attend.
AMAZING RACE TOUCH Congratulations to our Amazing Race teams who competed at the Hamilton Gardens last Wednesday. SCCS Searchers (Year 7/8) placed second and SCCS Investigators (Year 5/6) placed 3rd. The students across all four teams thoroughly enjoyed the competition. A huge thank you to Karyn Connor, Karyn Rastrick and Amy Henwood for taking a team each in the competition. Here are a few images of the day Well done to our Year 5/6 Touch team that competed in the Peachgrove Touch Tournament last Friday. Fun was had by all and the students gave positive feedback and recommended that we enter again in 2019. Thank you to Matt Chandler for taking charge of the team and to the parents that assisted with transport and supervision on the day. Here are a few images of the day
PTFA NEWS Pizza Days Friday 23rd November, Friday 14th December Pizza orders must be in by Wednesday 3pm, before the date. No late orders can be taken. Nothing Naughty Protein Bars Order forms are on Facebook and in the School newsletter. Order dates are 9th November & 14th December. Twilight Gala Friday 16th November. Each class will have their own stall/activity. We will be having a people s choice award where you can vote for your favourite stall/activity. Market stalls, Food, Bouncy Castle, 3 Man Bungee, Petting zoo, Pony rides and much more. Do you have a business? Would you like some great advertising? PTFA are looking for donations of goods and services for our quick fire raffle spinning wheel at the gala and would be very grateful for your support remember everything we fundraise goes back into our School for our children!! Some ideas are as follows: grocery items, vouchers (grocery, movie, Bunnings, petrol, café etc.), sporting goods, bottles of wine, meat pack or frozen chooks, plumbing, electrical, building, gardening, cleaning hours/services. All items will be gratefully received and advertised. Goods can be dropped off at the School office. Please contact Janenne Smith 021 1200 497 for any services that can be donated. Any bric-a-brac items will be gratefully received (time to have a clean out). These can all be dropped off to the office. Our next meeting is on Monday 5th November in the staffroom at 7pm, come along and join us & share your ideas. All purchases and contributions are voluntary not compulsory. Thank you for supporting us. Want to learn guitar or ukulele? Here at St Columba's you can, with the help of MusiqHub. Just contact Carl for more info: carl.watkins@musiqhub.co.nz 027 388 9558