CHRISTIAN CULTURAL COMMITMENT
Friday May 27, 2005 Term 2 Issue 2
QUEEN MARGARET VISIT
Last Thursday the school was visited by 90 year 9 girls from Queen
Margaret College. Queen Margaret are our sponsors for the Duffy
Books. There year 9 girls raise over a thousand dollars each year
to provide our children with Duffy Books, four times a year. So
that they could get to know the children they were raising money
for, they visited us for a "book afternoon". They ate
lunch with the senior classes and then spent time in the afternoon
reading to a junior child. All the children enjoyed the experience
and I heard a number of Queen Margaret girls talking about becoming
teachers as they were leaving!
POLICIES
The Health and Safety programmes are up and running in the classrooms.
DARE is being taught by the Police Education Officer, Malcolm Howard
in rooms 1 and 2 and the rest of the school are busy doing road
safety. The Keeping Ourselves Safe Programme will be taught during
the second half of the term. Policies relating to this area, that
is Student Disclosures, Complaints Against Employees, Child Protection
and Child Safety are on display in the foyer. Please feel free to
call in and read them.
Also on display is a Code of Conduct for Parents. This sets out
how parents and other adults coming into our school should conduct
themselves. It is important to remember that children follow the
example that adults set, so adults in the school must be good role
models at all times.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
After Queen's Birthday Weekend there will be some minor changes
in the junior school. As we have a large number of new entrants
coming in over the next few months, it has become necessary to employ
Dale Gyton fulltime. At present Dale is teaching a year 1 and 2
class until lunchtime each day. This means that children in the
junior school will no longer move from one class to another in the
afternoon. Parents of children affected by the change have been
notified. It will be great having Dale fulltime on the staff and
the room 12 children will really be able to make room 12 'home'.
Whilst we know of a number of children starting before the end
of the year, there may be a few we are unaware of. If you have a
child starting before the end of the year PLEASE let us know. It
is helpful for planning and organising class sizes in rooms 8 and
12.
VALUES
Whilst St Michael's School is built on the virtues and values that
Christ gave us, sometimes it is difficult for children to fully
understand what these virtues and values look like when being lived.
We are therefore going to start a values programme in the school,
introducing values to the children (one at a time) that we believe
to be important. The first of these is RESPECT, in particular in
the way we speak to others (both peers and adults). Over the next
few weeks both classrooms and house groups will focus on respectful
ways to talk to and treat each other, through stories, role play,
discussion, scripture, art and example. Specific awards will be
presented at assemblies for those children who display this virtue
in their daily lives.
At the end of this newsletter, on the tear off section, there is
a space for you to write a value that you believe is important to
be taught to our children. We plan to end up with a list of eight
or ten to focus on.
SCHOOL DONATIONS
During the first term families were required to pay for their children's
swimming programme. This term we are asking for families to make
a school donation. This donation will go towards visiting performers,
photocopying and resources not covered by the bulk grant. As this
is a donation you will be able to claim this back in your tax return.
We are asking families to donate:
$10 for one child
$20 for two
$25 for three or more.
Thank you
St Michael's School Board of Trustees
SPORTS GEAR
A lot of the sports gear put out for the children to use at play
and lunchtimes is disappearing. Two little boys were caught trying
to sneak hulahoops out of the school because they wanted to take
them home to play with. As you can imagine these were a bit hard
to smuggle out under a jersey or in a schoolbag!! If your child
brings home sports equipment from school (or anything you know does
not belong to them) please return it to the school. We only have
a certain amount of money to spend on PE gear and loosing it makes
it difficult for us.
SOCKS AND SHOES
There are far too many children wearing incorrect footwear. A parent
commented to me the other day on how nice the children looked in
their uniform, but the shoes really spoilt it. The shoes that MUST
be worn for winter are:
Traditional black leather school shoes (lace up of buckle)
OR
Black sneakers (the ones that have a tiny bit of white on them are
alright)
Far too many children are wearing totally inappropriate footwear
- we have checked, white with bright gold stripes, sky blue, pink
etc.
Pink, red, striped and yellow socks are also being worn. Boys need
to wear long grey socks and the girls long black socks, black tights
or white ankle socks. These can be bought through the school or
from department stores.
Letters will be sent home with children who continually wear incorrect
socks or footwear.
Welcome to Russel Falani who is our youngest child at school at
the moment. It is lively to have you as part of our school family
Russel
ROAD SAFETY
Some reminders about cars at school
" The school's vehicle entrances are to be kept clear at all
times. This is to ensure access for emergency vehicles is not hindered
" The school's carpark is for staff or visitors cars only.
Parents are able to park in the school carpark if they are there
on school business eg, talking to a teacher, helping with reading,
library etc.
" Parents are not permitted to use the carpark/driveway when
picking up or dropping off children
______________________________________________________________
I have read this weeks newsletter, May 27, 2005
Signed _____________________________________ (parent/caregiver)
Children in the family ____________________________________________
Optional - A value that I believe is important for people to live
by is:
________________________________________
St Michael's Catholic Primary School
3 Cooper St, Taita, Lower Hutt City, New Zealand.
Ph (04) 567 1514
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