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Eat My Lunch will begin again on Monday 15th August. Please let the office know if you would like your child to receive lunches on Monday through to Thursday each week (term time only).
Skids will potentially look at running a program on the Teacher Only Day - 26th August, if there is enough interest. Could you please let Skids know or the office if your child is keen to participate.
We welcomed three new students to Room 1; Rohan, Ishaani and Charbel and Kathryn Taylor, a new part time teacher for Room 1 at our term 3 Powhiri last Friday. These people have all embarked on a journey of starting something new which is reflected in our journey of having a new pump track. Just like we have had to learn different rules that help us to use the pump track safely as a group, these people are learning the new rules and expectations about being at Holy Cross School. We can all help to be role models and encourage these tamariki along the way.
We began to have groups of people on the track during morning break and lunch time this week and it was great to see our students growing their skills, utilising the track and having fun. Transitioning into a new school involves taking on board a huge range of skills. Every time we welcome new students, we are acknowledging the steep learning curve they make as they learn what is involved in being a student at our school. These new young people will have so many skills mastered in a few months time- what was scary and unknown, quickly becomes everyday decisions and activities.
I am also mindful that we have a group of bright, vivacious Year 8 students who are on the cusp of transition as they complete the last term and a half of their time at Primary School. It is a time of mixed emotions for these rangatahi and their whanau with lots of unknowns to face. As people who surround these tamariki, we can truely support that transition by being positive, affirming of who they are- their strengths, personalities and abilities and forecast a future for them that is exciting and meaningful. Just like we cheer on our new tamariki who join us as five year olds, we can cheer on our senior students- our rangatahi as they take steps to prepare for the next part of their learning journey.
Better Start Literacy for Year 0/1
One of the new initiatives that we have started this term that will support our New Entrant tamariki as they begin their school journey is a new approach to Reading and Writing called Better Start Literacy. The Better Start Literacy Approach is an integrated classroom literacy programme for Year 0/1 classrooms. The approach is based on several years of research trials investigating the most efficient and effective methods to support children's early reading, writing and oral language success. It incorporates
+vocabulary development using quality children’s story books,
+structured teaching of critical phonological awareness skills and letter-sound knowledge through fun, game-based activities,
+ activities making explicit links to the reading and spelling context
+structured small group reading sessions using the new Ready to Read – Phonics Plus early readers series.
The Better Start Literacy Approach follows a phonics scope and sequence that is used in the class and small group reading teaching.
Lucy Wooles and Virginia Blewman are involved in intensive training on this approach and we will be conducting a 10 week trial over terms 3 and 4 in preparation for beginning 2023 with this approach in place.
Special Character comment
On Monday we celebrated the Assumption of Mary in a special liturgy led by Nik Solia and Room 5. We celebrated Mary as an important role model of someone who kept her promise to be the mother of Jesus. Room 5 children talked about the importance of keeping promises that we make.
This ties in with our Holy Cross value- ‘Yes’. Mary said ‘yes’ to the challenge of being the mother of Jesus. Saying ‘Yes’ can mean a step of faith- trusting God to come through for us even when we don’t have all the answers or even all the information. This can be tricky for our 21st century minds to deal with as we seek ways of solving our own problems or working our way through situations. Mary had that wonderful measure of faith to say ‘I am the Lord’s servant… May your word to me be fulfilled’. She is a great role model of trusting in God to lead and bring about all that God promised while remaining faithful to her promise to be the Mother of Jesus.
What we face in life can not always be planned for or solved easily- our faith is important to our resilience and ability to deal with the unexpected. Modelling this in our own lives helps our children develop resilience and be equipped to deal with the unexpected. We can be grateful for role models like Mary who help show us the way.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO: Emmanuel, Nigussie, Nyakua, Moana, Mason C, Marc, Lehi, Joseph, Avalani and Jessica . Have a great day everyone.
Daniel - Room 5 - Chef of the Day
In today’s session in the kitchen, we made herbed cheese scones, along with silverbeet and kale pesto. For the group, it was split into 2 smaller groups, one did the scones, while my group and I made the pesto. Marlon had to get greens for both the pesto and scones (Austin also did get some greens, a couple of minutes after Marlon did). The 2 main ingredients for the pesto were silverbeet and kale (you can tell because of the name). The group who made the scones had to be quick! Because the scones contained milk, which can spoil after 2 hours without refrigeration, this is also how cheese was made, over 1000 years ago. For the taste, I don’t know, I might have to taste it… But it would probably taste good (with and without pesto).
Cian - Room 5 - Gardener of the Day
Today in the garden we learned about germination. Germination is a process when the plants start to grow. We had some tasks to complete like: sowing seeds, composting cover crops and chitting. Finally we had bark/mulch. Me and Lofi did the cover crops. We sprinkled the green crops over the garden. Then we did the seed mix and put it in some pots and then sewed pea seeds for spring.
Herbed Cheese Scones
Ingredients -
450g (3C) plain flour
6 tsp baking powder
Pinch salt
75g butter
150g grated tasty cheese
2-3 Tbsp chopped herbs
345ml milk
How to make it:
1. Sprinkle an oven tray lightly with flour (or line with baking paper) and turn the oven to 220C (fanbake).
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. Chop the butter into cubes and “rub” it through the dry ingredients with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs.
4. Wash, dry and finely chop the herbs.
5. Add the herbs and three-quarters of the cheese to the dry ingredients. Mix them in with a knife.
6. Make a “well” in the centre of the ingredients and pour in the milk. Use a knife to bring together the ingredients to form a soft dough – be careful not to overmix.
7. Pour the mixture onto a lightly floured bench and carefully bring together into a rectangular shape. Do not knead.
8. Chop into 12-16 even sized pieces and pop onto the baking tray, leaving a space between each scone. Sprinkle the remainder of the cheese on top of each scone.
9. Put tray into the hot oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until risen and golden.
10. Serve with (home-made, see recipe on the GTT website) butter and enjoy!
Interested in the Catholic Faith?
A team drawn from Holy trinity parish of the Eastern Suburbs is again preparing to run the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA/OCIA).
The RCIA/OCIA is the process for welcoming new adult members into the Catholic Church. It begins in August with a number of Inquiry sessions for those interested in Catholicism. If you know someone who may be interested in these 'no pressure' Inquiry sessions, please ask them to contact the parish office: 04 388 6953
Pre Loved clothing sale
Does your wardrobe need a clean out?
We need your help
For Conservation Week this year, Nga Manu is holding a ''pre-loved clothing and more sale'' as a Wildlife Fundraiser. Renew your wardrobe for Spring and support our wildlife at the same time.
We are looking for good quality items that we can proudly sell at our fundraiser. This is an opportunity to sort out the clothing you're tired of and give them a new life with someone else, rather than discard them.
Retro, vintage and designer clothing and accessories are especially welcome.
Please donate these items:
- Adult and children's sized clothing welcome
- Accessories including belts, hats, scarves, sunglasses, jewellery and shoes.
- Clothing and accessories must be in good condition and not need repairs.
- No undergarments or bathers please.
- Business attire.
- Outdoor clothing and footwear.
Books of the natural world, flora and fauna are encouraged.
Donate your quality items, to the Visitor Centre no later than Sunday 28th August.
We are also looking for volunteers to help sort the clothing during the week as well as help sell on Saturday and Sunday. Shifts during the week are flexible between 9-5pm. On the weekend, volunteers would work four-hour shifts.
Please contact Sonja at volunteercoordinator@ngamanu.
Clothing and More Sale
When:
Saturday September 11th, 10am to 4pm
Sunday September 12th, 10am to 3pm
Where:
Robins Nest building, Nga Manu Nature Reserve
74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae
NOTICEBOARD