No 1 1 February 2019

 

 

 FROM THE PRINCIPAL

 

Dear Families

A very warm welcome to the beginning of our school year. I have seen so many big smiles and heard some great holiday stories since we began school on Tuesday, (with lots of very happy Mums and Dads dropping their children off to school after a decent holiday break!)

As you will have seen on the sign as you enter our school, this year our overarching concept is Joyfulness. This concept will underpin the development of each terms theme through our curriculum design. We begin the year with Term 1’s theme of ‘Adventure’ where our students will develop an understanding that our life adventures challenge us to lead like Jesus, showing courage and resilience, which brings joy to ourselves and others. It is easy to see how this concept will be developed around our senior school’s experience of camp out on Kawau Island over the next couple of weeks, with both the middle and junior teams also setting up experiences for our learners to engage with this concept in meaningful ways.

Staffing Update

It is with great pleasure that we begin our year welcoming two new teachers to the team.

Mrs Tracey Elder is working in in our middle school, teaching Year 4 in Room 14 and Miss Kendall Evans is teaching in our senior school, teaching a Year 5/6 class in Room 19.

I am sure you will all make them feel welcome as you come to know them in school. We wish them all God’s blessings as they join our learning community.

We congratulate Mrs Robyn Fromont on winning a study grant for the first half of this year. On completion of her 6 months study leave Robyn will be returning to her classroom teaching role. I am sure you will join us in wishing her all God’s blessings as she embarks on this learning journey. A full list of teachers and classes is on our website and included later in this newsletter for your information. 

Holiday Work

As you may have already seen, over the holidays, we had wonderful new drinking fountains installed at our school. Our student council of 2018 identified the fact that our old drinking fountains were in very poor repair and difficult to use so they set about the process of approaching the Catholic Diocese of Auckland property team with their issue in order to see if we could get a solution. Under the guidance of Sue Kubala, the team were successful in their case and the Catholic Diocese of Auckland installed our new fountains in time for the start of the 2019 year. You will see that there is facility on them to fill drink bottles as well as effective drinking fittings on the top. We are really pleased with the outcome and grateful, both to the Student Council, Sue Kubala and the Diocese for making this possible.

Waitangi Day

Next week we have a short week with the celebration of Waitangi day on Wednesday 6th February. This celebration of national significance is a statutory holiday and a non-school day. Waitangi Day and it’s importance in New Zealand forms part of our classroom programmes in class to begin the year.  

Chinese New Year

Next week we also celebrate the Chinese New Year. Our wonderful Chinese Community Jia Group, met at the end of last year in preparation and are going to decorate our school with red lanterns and in celebration give each child a traditional red envelope. Our children will discover the story of the Chinese New Year and have some of our Chinese students lead us in the sign of the cross when praying. You will also see a display in our Information Centre. We are grateful to our Chinese Community Jia Group, for their support in sharing the Chinese culture and bringing this celebration to life in our school.

After School Activities

We are looking forward to providing classroom spaces for after school classes to take place with tutors as has occurred over many years here at OLSOS. These lessons can help children discover passions and talents and experience joy in new learning. The coordinator this year is Melissa Wilson, one of the tutors who has been running art classes as part of this programme for the past two  years.

Within the next week or so, once these classes are ready to launch, Melissa will send out information about each class on offer with information about cost and how to register your interest.

Property Update – COLA (Covered Outdoor Learning Area)

At the last board meeting of 2019, the board of trustees agreed on a contractor to install our much anticipated COLA which will be installed over the top court for all classes to use and enjoy once we have the go-ahead from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. As you are well aware, the temperatures have been high over the course of this week and we have been using gazebos in the court area to provide additional shade for our children. We are all very much looking forward to the new shade space in our school which will provide  much needed shade  in the summer and a dry space for play in the winter months. I will keep you posted on progress and timeframes.

Ngā mihi nui

Louise Campbell
Principal

 

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES (DRS) REPORT

 

Mea ana te atawhai haere mai i runga i te aroha me te awhi

‘Mercy invites us to love and to care’

 

Joyfulness is the focus for 2019 bringing JOY – Joy of Jesus, Joy of Others, Joy of Self to us all..

Pope Francis reminds us that :

‘ Our deepest joy comes from Christ: remaining with him, walking with him, being his disciples. ‘

Our school gospel values of Manaaki ~ Respect, Awhina ~ Service, Tika ~ Justice, Maia ~ Courage, and Ngawari ~ Resilience, provide us with a model of how to spread the Joy of Jesus with those we interact with each day. Going through classes this week and being around in the playground it is a JOY to hear and see our students living out these values.

Welcome to our new students, families and teachers. We hope that your time here at Our Lady Star of the Sea school will bring you some Joy as you build new relationships within this wonderful community.

School begins each day in prayer. You are welcome to join your child’s class for morning prayer. Feel free to pray in your home language as this helps to reinforce the fact that our faith is a universal one. Hearing parents pray in their first language is a gift to all of our students.

Looking ahead… our school commissioning mass will be celebrated in the parish church 11am. Friday 22 February.

 

Prayer intention:

That we extend the Mercy value of Hospitality to those who are new to our school, parish and wider community, in all we do, think and say spreading joyfulness in our common home.

 

Detta Fairweather

DRS

 

INFORMATION CENTRE 

Summer Reading Bags

It was fantastic to see so many of our library books head home with students over the summer holidays. It was a big job to organise and distribute (many thanks to Ella Smal for all her help) but the excitement and smiles were worth it!

A feature our bags was that children were able to enter a prize draw if they sent in a photo of themselves reading one of our library books over the holidays. It was fantastic to receive so many gorgeous photos! Check out the Information Centre to see more photos.  This morning at assembly Ethan Crouch’s name was drawn from a bag of entries.  Congratulations Ethan on winning the bag of goodies from Mrs Bell.

 

World Read Aloud Day

Today is World Read Aloud Day – every year people all around the globe read aloud together and share stories to advocate for literacy as a human right that belongs to all people. This is a day to celebrate the importance of sharing of stories, making connections and reading aloud.

Classes have enjoyed sharing and listening to stories today and a highlight was listening to Mrs Campbell read some of her favourite books in the Information Centre at lunchtime.

As a family enjoy sharing some stories to celebrate this special day!

Basketball Team 2018

Our 2018 Basketball Team have been invited to play the pre-match tonight at Spark Arena.  Their game is scheduled prior to the Skycity Breakers v Melbourne utd game.  We congratulate the team on their selection and wish them all the best.

 

Seeking a Board Of Trustees Secretary

The Board of Trustees is seeking a new Board Secretary for the start of next year. This is a paid position requiring the compilation of board papers before each board meeting, minute taking at meetings and the circulation of these. If you are interested please contact our Board Chairperson Stephen MacKenzie through the school office.

Head Held High – Speech and Drama Lessons

We are excited to be continuing our Head Held High Speech and Drama programme at Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Term 1. The lessons are held during school hours on Wednesdays.

Head Held High speech and drama lessons are a wonderful way to build character, confidence and communication skills, and lessons include public speaking skills, acting skills, reading aloud, body language, vocal skills, manners, building self-esteem and confidence. Importantly, all lessons are designed to be as fun, interactive, and imaginative as possible.

Lessons come highly recommended, students enjoy and get a lot out of them! In the words of a current student, “Head Held High lessons are awesome. I’m much more confident about speaking in front of people than I was. The teachers are really fun.”

If you have any questions, or for information about how to book a free trial lesson, please contact Janita  –   [email protected]

 

 

 Bell Times and Routines

8.30am	Hand Bell – children can enter class only if teacher in room
8.45am	School Commences
8.45am – 9.00am	Prayer
10.40am – 11.00am	Morning Tea
12.30pm – 1.20pm	Lunch
2.45pm	School Concludes

LATE FOR SCHOOL

If you are held up and late for school please bring your child to the office first to sign in and then go to the classroom. After signing in, a slip is printed and the slip is required to be taken to the class teacher.

A reminder that children who catch the bus down to Sancta Maria College Campus in the afternoon need to be collected as soon as possible.  Some of our children are being left unsupervised for a length of time.

FRIENDLY REMINDERS

Drop off and pick up

Please be courteous to all when you are dropping your child off or picking them up after school.  We have been disappointed to hear that not everyone is showing respect to other parents. We all need to be good role models and at our school we do this through our shared values of Service, Respect, Courage, Resilience and Justice.  THERE IS NO DROP OFF OR PICK UP IN THE SCHOOL GROUNDS.

If your child is absent from school for any reason you must either complete an online report an absence form or phone the office and leave a message or use the school website ‘Absence’ line. Please leave a specific reason for the absence i.e. if the child is sick please specify the sickness e.g. cold, vomiting etc. If the child is absent from school due to sickness for more than three days, a medical certificate is required. For any holiday or overseas travel please email our  Principal Mrs Louise Campbell at [email protected]

Car parking
Please be considerate when street parking near the school. We have received complaints from neighbours regarding parking across driveways.  As advised in the events last week, we are expecting the new yellow lines on Stella Maris Way to be removed in the near future.

Lunches
A reminder that the tuckshop will not be open until Monday 18 February.

Lost Property
The lost property cupboard is by Room 1 entrance. You are welcome to check this at any time as it is open all day.

Uniform shop
Open every Thursday 8.30 – 9.00 a.m. and 2.30-3 p.m. (during school term)

Bizzybodz
Before and Afterschool care – 021837977 for bookings

 

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL     STAFFING SCHEDULE 2019

PRINCIPAL                                                                          LOUISE CAMPBELL

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL/DRS                                                DETTA FAIRWEATHER

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL                                                          SUE KUBALA

DEAN SENIOR TEAM                           Y5/6                     KAREN NOBLE-CAMPBELL

DEAN MIDDLE TEAM                           Y4        R 14        DENISE BAILEY

DEAN JUNIOR TEAM                            Y1        R8           LEE MARTEN

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICER                                                  SUE YANDELL

 

ROOM

2                                  Y1                    KAREN WATERS

3                                  Y1                    LORRAINE DUNCAN/ANGELA LIM

4                                  Y2                    SHIRLEY JOHNSTON

7                                  Y2                    MICHELLE BARNETT

8                                  Y2                    LEE MARTEN/LINDA PRIESTLY

10                                 Y1                    LESLEY BENJAMIN

12                                 Y3                    AUDREY MARATAS

13                                 Y4                    DENISE BAILEY

14                                 Y4                    TRACEY ELDER

15                                 Y4                    ZAHIRA SALEJEE

16                                 Y3                    BROOKE CURTAIN

17                                 Y3                    ANDREA BEGUNK/REBECCA SENTCH

18                                 Y5/6                 KAREN NOBLE-CAMPBELL/HELEN PENNEY

19                                 Y5/6                 KENDALL EVANS

20                                 Y5/6                 JILL MCCLENAGHAN

21                                 Y5/6                 LEANNE NEWLYN

22                                 Y5/6                 RUTH HOLT

23                                 Y5/6                 CATHERINE SHEFFIELD

 

PART TIME TEACHERS

JANE MCKAY (ESOL)

CINDY STEWART

LINDA PRIESTLEY

BARRY VERNON

JOAN STEVENS

 

ADMINISTRATION STAFF

ANNE-MARIE DOYLE

MARIA BRYANT

SANNY WIRANATA

BRONWYN BELL

ALISON ORCHARD

 

LEARNING ASSISTANTS

MARIE BROOKE                                   ANDREA MACGREGOR

JANE COLE                                             MAREE PRESNALL

PETRA FSADNI                                      ANNE MARIE HARVEY

MARIA ALLAN                                       JAN BOTHERWAY

 

CARETAKER                                        KEN BAIRD

GROUND PERSON                             LORRAINE BROOKE

 

HELPING HANDS

Helping Hands has been part of Our Lady Star of the Sea’s culture for quite some time.  It is where our school community comes together to help those in stressful situations i.e. a parent or grand parent being very ill, a family bereavement or a new born baby to the family.

We would like those in need to know we care!  If you would like to be a part of this wonderful group of caring people who are called upon once or twice a year to either make a meal, bake a cake, transport children to/from school or utilise your gardening skills please fill out the form (click the word ‘form’) and return to the office.   Please add your contact number.

As we all know – “we are in this together”.

If we can assist your family or if you hear of any family in our school community please let the office know.

Thank you

Helping Hands Team

 

Camp Bentzon Year 5/6  – Camp 1	Kawau Island	Monday 4 – Friday 8 February
WAITANGI DAY  HOLIDAY	school closed	Wednesday 6 February
Camp Bentzon  Year 5/6  –  Camp 2	Kawau Island	Monday 11 – Friday 15 February
Junior Assembly	Hall  –  1.50 p.m.	Monday 11 February
Middle Team Assembly	Hall – 1.30 p.m.	Wednesday 13 February
Head Held High commences		Wednesday 13 February

COMMUNITY NOTICES

 

 

SEASONS FOR GROWTH

 

The Queen’s Cup – Chess just for girls!

We are very excited to announce we are now running a regular Chess tournament just for Girls – the Queen’s Cup! No boys are allowed to play in the Queen’s Cup. Of course, Dad’s, Grandads and brothers can come and watch but aren’t allowed to play.

The Queen’s Cup is held on a Sunday every two months in Central Auckland from 1:00pm – 5:30pm. This is the first regular Chess tournament for girls in New Zealand that we know of. Every girl gets a certificate. And we have a great selection of new divisions: Dames, Countess, Princess and Queens divisions. The winners of each division win a trophy they can take home to keep. The Queen’s Cup is open to all girls aged 4 to 18.

The first Queen’s Cup will be on Sunday 17 February 2019.