No 5 29 March 2019

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Families

Welcome to our fifth newsletter of the term.

On Sunday we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Lent. You will read in our DRS area of this newsletter about this Sunday’s theme of Joy. We hear the reading this Sunday commonly known as the Prodigal Son. In this reading, a son takes his share of his family estate and squanders it. His father is overcome with joy at his return. This reading reminds us during the season of Lent that we are called to a return, to come home to our Lord. Through this reading, we are reminded that God will always welcome us with open arms and heal any hurts we feel inside.

PTA Disco

Last Friday our PTA put on an amazing night filled with great music, dance and laughter, bubbles, disco lights and glow sticks! I am sure those in attendance will agree that a great night was had by all! Thanks to Carmen Hui, Lisa-Marie Samuel, Nicole Kelly and the PTA team for manning the stalls, setting up and tidying up, and to Mel Easton for her fabulous DJ skills. Special thanks also to Ashton, Connor and Fletcher, our DJs in the making, putting together an awesome play list after talking to classes to ensure the disco was packed with crowd favourites.

Save The Date – Community Dreaming Day – Saturday 18th May 2019

Here is your chance to have your say! Come along on Saturday, May 18th from 2.30pm to 4.30pm to work with us on our school vision. Have your say about what you think is important in an OLSOS learner, tell us what you value in our reporting formats and what else we could do. Find out about meeting the well-being needs of our children when working online and our developing philosophy of supporting our students when transitioning to school… and much more. Please, save the date for this important opportunity to be part of shaping the direction of the school for the next few years. More details to come closer to the time.

New Look News Sharing on our Website

We are working on making the most of the functionality in our website by sharing news from within and outside of the classroom in the ‘Online News’ tab which sits second from the right in the menu bar of our website landing page. You will find all of the items that used to appear in these sections of our fortnightly newsletter appear here in a more timely manner. Instead of waiting up to a fortnight to have special events feature in the newsletter, these are now available to view as they happen. Soon, on a Friday at around 5 pm you will receive an email summarising these news items just in case you missed something you were interested in. These items will also be published to our school facebook page. Additionally, you will be able to view the upcoming events for the week ahead in this area of our website https://www.starofthesea.school.nz/newspaper-home/

Each fortnight we will still publish our newsletter. This will be available in the ‘Newsletter’ tab which sits on the far right in the menu bar on our website landing page. In this publication, you will read news from myself as Principal, our Director of Religous Studies, Detta Fairweather, items from our Board of Trustees, our Information Centre, any successes our students have achieved beyond our school, messages from our PTA and community notices.

Also, coming soon, you will also notice when you arrive on our website landing page that ‘Upcoming Events’ are listed down the side of the landing page. Beneath this will be helpful information that parents may need to refer to regularly, ranging from reporting an absence through to parking considerations.

We aim that, in making these changes, information will be more easily accessible at your fingertips and news of the fantastic work and events that are happening in our school community can be shared in a more timely way.

Any feedback on these changes is welcome.

Passion Project Opportunity Year 3 to 6 From Term 2. Help Required.

We are very excited to be investigating the implementation of a Passion Project Initiative. In Term 2, on Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm we will be offering the opportunity to our Year 3 to 6 children to pick from a variety of activities with the idea of developing passions in our learners. We all know that well being can be enhanced by engaging in activities that we are passionate about. This is an opportunity for our children to have a go at an activity that may lead to a passion for them in the future. Calling for all passion project possibilities. If you have a particular skill or passion which you are able to share with a small group of learners on a Wednesday afternoon from 1.30pm to 2.30pm please email me on [email protected]. Anything, ranging from craft type activities to art, dance, drama, cooking, gardening, building, coding… the list is endless! A personal invitation went to parents who recorded their offer of help on the student information sheet that was shared at our meet the teacher evening earlier this term, however, if you can, we would love to have you and your passion as part of this initiative.

We acknowledge there may be a kit/cost associated with your passion. Once we have an idea of what people can offer, and an idea of the costs associated we will be able to put our offerings out to children and families and choices can be made from then – watch this space!

Jia Parents Group Meeting

Many thanks to our parents representing our Chinese community who could make our Jia Parents Group meeting on Monday in the staffroom. There were lots of great ideas and initiatives discussed.

Tomorrows Schools Review

On Monday your Board of Trustees Chair Stephen McKenzie communicated with the community, encouraging families to have their say on the independent taskforce’s report and recommendations for changes in our current education system in New Zealand.

Click here to view the report

Your Board of Trustees will submit a response to the initial report and recommendations before April 7th which is the closing date for submissions. I encourage you all to have a look and have your say as individuals so that we can make sure that the education of future generations is as strong as it can be.

Adult English Lessons for Chinese Families

We are fortunate to be able to offer free English lessons to adult learners in association with Point View School which is situated very close to us over the other side of Chapel Rd. These lessons are run by English Language Partners New Zealand and are facilitated by bilingual tutors in a friendly relaxed atmosphere. As the year progresses, should there be a demand for more of these lessons, we will look to run sessions here onsite at OLSOS too. If you are interested please email or phone to inquire.

Board of Trustees Elections

As you will be aware, this June sees our triannual Board of Trustees elections. If you would like to know more about what is involved, please be in touch with our Board Chair Stephen McKenzie by emailing [email protected]

Gala Committee

We are seeking a core group of people to step forward to steer the Gala organising committee. If you are able to help with this please email [email protected]

Thank you in advance for your support.

Travelwise Walking School Bus

Avoid ‘congestion at the school gate’ by your child joining our successful Walking School Bus. Children meet at 8.15 a.m. at Summermist Drive Reserve and are walked to school via Orangewood Drive playground accompanied by an adult. You are also welcome to walk with your child. Click here for further website information.

Barbier House Mass

This Sunday 31st March at 5.30pm Barbier House will be hosting the Mass up at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. All welcome to attend.

Wishing you all of God’s blessings over the coming fortnight.

Ngā mihi nui
Louise Campbell
Principal

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

The theme for the fourth Sunday of Lent is Joy. Joy of the Gospel, Joy of the upcoming Easter celebration, Joy in God’s love. During Lent the Church encourages us to focus on three key aspects of our faith, to pray, to share and to fast – that is to give up or go without something – and to do this in Joy. With only two weeks to go, let us continue our lenten promises with a sense of ‘Joy’ in knowing God’s love for us is unconditional. Our children are a visible reminder to us of this.

The parish youth group are hosting an event after the 5:30pm mass 31st March at 6:30pm in the parish centre. The event will be a social event involving games and pizza. All are welcome to attend.

Our parish foodbank extends a huge thanks to the school community for the response to our lenten appeal. They have put in a special request for cereals, sweet biscuits, crackers, spreads and packets of noodles. Donations can be dropped into the basket in the church foyer at mass or to the school office.

Father John has extended an invite to families who would like to become greeters or to take up the gifts during the weekend masses. Please send through your name and contact details to Detta Fairweather [email protected]

Manaakitia te katoa

Share your gifts with others

Prayer Intention: E te ariki, we pray for the people of Christchurch, may they find comfort and peace through our prayers and support as they seek to rebuild their lives after the recent attack on their community.

Detta Fairweather
DRS

INFORMATION CENTRE

We are pleased to announce the following children have been chosen to be part of our Writers quiz team this year.

Over the next few months they will be busy reading 15 books written by NZ authors, in preparation for the quiz on Friday 28th June. What a fantastic challenge!

Alicia Cao, John Pieters, Daniel Bain, Wesley Lau, Emily Chan, Maia Tay-Morrison, Aaron Santoso, Jade Howse, Caleb Ensil, Leana Ferguson.