CHRISTIAN CULTURAL COMMITMENT

Friday February 24, 2006
Term 1 Issue 2

TERM 1 LEARNING
The unit for the first term will have the theme of Conservation. It will have both a practical and a knowledge centre focus and will include elements of conservation in the children's everyday life and in the wider context of the community in which they live.

You are welcome to call into school and see what your child is doing this term.

WELCOME - In the last newsletter children new to the senior part of the school were welcomed. This week the welcome goes out to all our younger people who have started. It is lovely to have so many keen and enthusiastic new little people at St Michael's.

Room 12
Fine Taufatoutai, Lafaele Tufele,
Shalom Brown

Room 8
Marica Niutabua, Hililo Tufele, Jahnaia Toataua-Vili, Danielle Fretton

Room 7
Antonio Poleis

ASH WEDNESDAY- We will be holding a liturgy for Ash Wednesday at 11.45, in the school hall. Every year we have a number of parents join us, please come along and make this a family event.

CLASS MASSES - It is important to ensure that strong ties exist between the school and Parish. One of the ways we do this is to have a Parish Mass held in the school hall once a week. It is a way for children to get to know Father Petalo and some of St Michael's Parishioners and vice versa. It also means that children who do not attend Mass on regular basis get a more personal experience, as only one class attend at a time.
Over the last couple of years many parents have joined their children for this Mass on a Thursday morning. If you are able to, come along and join us - Mass usually starts at 9am

Thursday March 2 - Room 3
Thursday March 9 - Room 12
Thursday March 16 - Room 8 (at Aroha Rest Home, 9.30am)
Thursday March 23 - Room 7
Thursday March 30 - Room 1
Thursday April 6 - Room 2

SWIMMING

Swimming starts this Monday at the Naenae Pool. We can only have five sessions this year so it is important your child is able to swim in them all. The cost has been kept to $5 a child (this includes bus and pool entry), with the school subsidising some of the transport costs. Please make sure your children's togs, towels and uniforms are all clearly named.
Swimming Days are:

Monday Feb 27, Thursday March 2, Monday March 6, Thursday March 9 and Tuesday March 14.

Each class will have an hour each session in the pool
9 - 10am Rooms 1 and 8
10 - 11am Rooms 2 and 7
10.30 - 11.30am Rooms 3 and 12

HOMEWORK CENTRE
We have been very fortunate to get a supervisor already known, respected and valued by our children to run our Study Support Centre. Noela Paselio has worked for a number of years in the school supporting children academically and will start next Tuesday, February 28 as supervisor.
The number of children in the centre has been limited to 30 year 4 to 8's (this is much higher than other schools in the area) and we have a waiting list of five children. If you no longer want your child in the homework centre please let me know so that someone else can take their place.

ROAD SAFETY
I have noticed that some of our parents are crossing the children over right in front of the school, this is not safe. A patrolled crossing operates at the front and back of the school each day. Please make sure you teach your children to cross in the safest place. Cooper Street can get very busy in the afternoons

IN BRIEF

" Congratulations Anthony Tavui who was the first person to be drawn out this year from the Newsletter Draw for a free lunch
" Thank you Marie Maka for the wonderful job you did in the holidays with the gardens - they have been commented on by many people
" Reminder that the first BOT Meeting for the year is Tuesday February 28 at the earlier time of 6.30
" Please send PE Clothes with your children for PE and lunchtime play. The children get very hot at this time of the year and uniforms can become quite smelly

I have read this weeks newsletter, February 24, 2006

Signed _____________________________________ (parent/caregiver)

Names of children in the family

______________________________________________________________

St Michael's Catholic Primary School
3 Cooper St, Taita, Lower Hutt City, New Zealand.
Ph (04) 567 1514