03 448 8339 w w w. s t g e r a r d s . s c h o o l . n z [email protected]

W e e k 11 Te r m 1 : W e d n e s d a y 1 2 t h A p r i l 2 0 1 7 P R I N C I PA L’ S M E S S A G E CONDOLENCES Our sincere condolences go out to Markelle and Steve Ward and their family at the death of their nephew and cousin Mitchell. Mitch has been a brave and inspiring young man. May he rest in peace. WELCOME On the 24th March Tom Lanham joined his sister Aurelia at school. Tom is enjoying making new friends and learning in Room 1. On 27th March we also welcomed India–Rose Marsden. IndiaRose joins her cousins Kayla, Mark- Allan and Louisa. India Rose is in Room 2 and is enjoying making new friends and continuing her learning. MRS EASTWOOD’S SABBATICAL TERM 2 Mrs Eastwood is certainly looking forward to this new opportunity next term and during her absence the board have appointed: • • • •

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Julie Flannery as the Acting Principal, Ollie Yeoman as the Deputy Principal Markelle Ward and Chris Beilby to continue to support the leadership in the school. Bridget Chamberlain and Kate Donaldson will take over the room 2 teaching component. Kate will work Monday and Tuesday and Bridget will work Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Mr Hogue will return to teach science in every class in the school during the term as part of teachers classroom release.

FROM MRS EASTWOOD I would like to take this chance to wish all families a happy and holy Easter celebration as well as a great holiday. Thank you to staff and Board for the support over my sabbatical. Have a great term and enjoy all the learning opportunities that start 1st May. May God bless you all.

RESTORATIVE PRACTICE RESTORATIVE PRACTICE Friday and Saturday were great days for staff to work with Margaret Thorsborne on our restorative practice process. Thank you to the BOT for their commitment to this training and to the PTA for the beautiful food.Thank you also to Paper Plus for their sponsorship for the day. Margaret emphasised with us the fact that we teach maths, reading writing etc but we expect children to pick up behaviours and ways of responding. To overcome this problem, we have committed to teaching these skills in a timetabled manner beginning term 2. Margaret helped us look at our RP plan and make some modifications. She has indicated a need for us to add in some new aspects to our levels – Individual management plans, undercover teams( students supporting students ), circles in classes for teaching skills- identifying feelings and classroom surveys. We have asked the board to look into possibly modifying our Behaviour Education procedure to become a Wellbeing policy with Student & Staff Wellbeing procedures We have also decided to keep you all better informed of the RP in the school with a regular area in the newsletter. This may include some websites to go to or just info that may help you understand the RP process better. SCHOOL COUNCIL Yesterday the council met and they discussed: • Tackle rugby- there were some very good letters to the council about this. The council have agreed that they favour tackle rugby happening. They just need to get- some covers for the posts, an agreement for parents to sign to give permission for their child to play, agreement on a starting age group and days for playing, They will be asking for- a parent to referee on the days when it will be happening. This will go back to the next meeting for further discussion. • The new photo for the website- This will be shared with the council at their next meeting and then uplifted to the website. • Painting on the courts- students want the games lines re painted on the court- Hopscotch and four square. They need paint and someone willing to do this. If you are able to help here please contact the chairperson – [email protected] • Bathroom use- The council are going back to the teachers to ask for them to work with their classes on appropriate behaviour in the bathroom. • Mufti days- An approach was made from the Special Character & Cultural leaders about holding a monthly mufti day on the first day of each month for an identified charity or cause. The council have asked the leaders to have a written plan with dates and causes for the next meeting.

EISTEDDFOD AND FAMILY PICNIC Tomorrow 12.45 parents are invited to join students for lunch. There are sausages for sale - please have your orders into the office by 9am. You can order sausages for the whole family if you wish. If it is wet this lunch will take place in your child’s classroom. Eisteddfod scripture reading assembly begins at 1.30 in the church. Order of readers: year 7 & 8, Year 3& 4, Year 1 & 2, Year 5 & 6 Year 1 & 2 – Gemma Anderson, Alysha O’Connor, Olivia Delport, Charlie Tait, Milla O’Kane, Varna Sim Year 3 & 4- Findlay Love,Tara Mulholland,Jelena Morrell, Sophie Tait, Adam Ward, Jack O’Connor Year 5 & 6- Kimberley Da Costa, Tadhg Reilly, Caitlin Shea, Millie Williams, Imojen Constable, Hannah O’Connor Year 7 & 8-Eben Vermaak, Nia DuPlessis, Hannah Tait, Thomas O'Connor, Tessa Handford, Rafferty Love We will take the chance to farewell Liam Bradley Cox and his mum. The PTA house cup will be presented for Term 1.

TERM 2 DATES AND LEARNING FOCUS • • • • • • • • •

The Connected Curriculum area of Inquiry is ‘Living in Harmony’ Maths will focus on numeracy as well as geometry- position and orientation. swimming – rms 2,3,7 & 4 and skating rms 1,2,3,4,6,7 and golf skills for rm 5 will take place during the term. Rms 3 & 7 will begin discovery time on Wednesday Rms 1 & 2 will begin play based learning. The Eisteddfod will be poetry. There will be a Maori consultation evening at some date in the term. Mr Yeoman and Mrs Beilby will be in touch. The sacramental programme will begin with reconciliation. Mrs Ward will inform of a date when this is to begin. School Mass Sunday 28th May.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PAST AND PRESENT STUDENTS Celia Ward - 1st place - Sth Island champs 200m sprints. Jake Denniston - 1st place - Sth Island under 14 javelin. Charis and Ursin Morrell - who were part of the NZ squad to compete for the Kawata Cup in the worldwide biannual karate championship. They presented their katas (fighting sequences) to a panel of judges and both came home with medals. NZ retained the cup. If you hear of any past or present pupils doing wonderful things outside of school let us know so we can share it with our school community.

KAPAHAKA FESTIVAL Congratulations to our wonderful Kapahaka group who did the school proud on Sunday. You looked amazing and performed with great passion and pride. Thank you to those who came along to support them and to Ms Tamati, Mrs Beilby and Mr Yeoman for preparing the children so well.

SPECIAL CHARACTER

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST EASTER TIMETABLE • 11th April Holy Tuesday 7pm: Mass of the Oils th • 13 April Holy Thursday 7pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper th • 14 April Good Friday 3pm: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion 9.30 am: Combined Service at St. Aidans • 15th April Easter Saturday Omakau: Mass at 6pm Alexandra: Vigil Mass at 8pm • 16th April Easter Sunday Sunrise Service at 7am above the clock Alexandra 9am Mass Roxburgh 11am Mass

ALTAR SERVERS Altar servers for the coming weeks: Sunday 16th April: Gabrielle Stratford, Ethan Constable, Liam Ballantyne Sunday 23rd April: Shannon Kelliher, Libby Handford If you cannot do a day, please arrange your own swap and let Mrs Ward know.

P TA



St Gerard’s Uniform Shop

Opening Hours: Monday - 2.45pm to 3.15pm Friday – 8.45am to 9.15am (Located Beside Room 3 – open other times by request) Contact Details: [email protected] or Kate Donaldson 027 6229226 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT - LAST YEAR THE UNIFORM SHOP MADE A PROFIT OF

$2303.00 When you get your uniforms through us we can get you the best prices and the suppliers give us a rebate. This money helps our kids to get extra resources and opportunities. WINTER UNIFORM Our big winter order is on its way. We can meet all your winter needs: • Knee High Socks • Tights • Socks As well as all the usual things.

Recipes! On Monday your child would have brought home a piece of paper requesting a recipe. Please support your child to complete this and get it in to their house leaders for a house point. We have extended the time to 9am Thursday. If you have any other recipes please send them to [email protected]. Thank you for your support.

SPORT

Miniball 2017 Miniball skills each Wednesday at 1pm on the miniball court with Mr Dyson. Miniball starts on Friday 19th May at the Molyneux Park Stadium. Thank you to those people who have returned their registration forms. Mr Dyson sorted the team entries last week. Thank you to those people who have already paid their subs for the year. $20 per child or $35 per family. Netball 2017 Starting next term the Year 5 & 6 teams will practise on Wednesdays after school at the Molyneux Courts. All players received a note at the end of last week. Year 3 & 4 teams will also practise on Wednesdays at 1pm on the school netball court. Mrs Donaldson and Mrs Breen will let players know which team they will be in at this practice. Remember to bring sports uniforms and runners to wear for these practices. Swimming – Rooms 2, 3, 4 and 7 The Swim For Life Programme taught by the pool staff will begin for these classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from week 1 until week 5. Travel will be by bus to and from the pool. There will be a small cost yet to be determined to subsidise the increasing cost of the bus.

Hockey Next term Years 3-6 will practice on Friday after school. Years 1&2 will practice at lunchtime on the week that they play

GENERAL NEWSBOARD LOST JERSEYS Jacqui Everett has lost her named jersey - size 10 Annajhay Waldron has lost her named jersey - size 8. It has a green ribbon attached to the tag. PLEASE CHECK OVER THE HOLIDAYS THAT YOUR CHILD HASN’T TAKEN THE WRONG ONE HOME.