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Principal’s comment.
With the sad passing of Jimmy Stokes this year, Maureen, his wife, wanted to contribute an award to honour his memory and acknowledge the special relationship that Jimmy had with the students. At our Christmas Liturgy this year, we are giving out two awards
- The Parent Support Group Year 7 Scholarship award which is given each year to two identified Year 7 students who personify the school values and are positive, respectful, kind, compassionate, supportive and caring of others. They will receive a scholarship towards school expenses, attendance due and extra curricular costs such as after school sports participation.
- The inaugural Kaitiakitanga award- in memory of Jimmy Stokes.
In establishing this new award we set the following criteria
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This Student: |
Examples |
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Cares for resources |
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Shows initiative to solve problems related to our environment |
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Is a sustainability advocate |
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Teachers shared these criteria with their classes and then nominated a person who matched. There was one nomination from each class which was then put to a whole staff vote. The student with the most votes will receive the award- a special trophy which will have their name engraved on it. The award encourages our tamariki to be actively involved in looking after our planet.
We are grateful that we can acknowledge some very special students in our midst through the generosity of Maureen and the Parent Support Group. Come along to our Christmas Liturgy on Tuesday evening and see who will be honoured.
Building Projects 2023.
We have a building project scheduled for the start of 2023. Room 4 and 5 will be renovated to include new windows and a partial new roof to fix up a long term leaking problem. Work is scheduled to begin in term 1 and will hopefully be completed by term 3. We are currently moving Room 5 into Room 8 and redistributing resources to temporary homes around the school. Room 8 has been a valuable regulation and withdrawal space for our students- we do have a range of smaller spaces that can be used attached to classrooms for this purpose.
An important part of moving is clearing out old resources too. We are wanting to reduce the volume of material that will go into landfill and plan to put some items at the front gate which families may be able to use. Please feel free to take these and repurpose.
Reports and 2023 classes
Today your child will be bringing home their end of year report along with a letter informing them of their class for 2023. If your child started this term, they receive a letter but not a report. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher for a verbal update on how they are progressing.
We are completing an appointments process that will see teachers confirmed in Room 7 and 6. If your child is in these classes, we will let you know who their teacher will be early next week via an email.
Gratitude has been described as the ‘social glue’ that holds relationships together. As we come to the end of another unique school year, it is important to pause and express gratitude for the valuable contribution of time and effort people within and beyond our community have made to support Holy Cross School.
Firstly parents- you have played an incredibly important role as we have opened up our doors and gone out into the world. Events where parents have stepped in to help out have included- Senior camp, powhiri, sausage sizzles, sports teams, inter school events, trips and of course our recent Festive Food Fair which has been so successful. The lovely aspect of many of these events is that people have had fun being involved- we value your contribution.
We have had a number of people from our wider community who have volunteered their time on a regular basis - Kate Dovey, Sally Culy and Robyn Turner. We also have a team from Arohanui Strings who volunteer their time to teach a range of musical instruments. This team is led by Margaret Guldborg. We appreciate your time and know that our students benefit.
Smaller groups in our school who also volunteer their time to help support the different functions include the Parent Support Group- Aimee Geoghegan has faithfully led this group of dedicated people who have worked hard on a range of projects this year- resurfacing the pump track, planning and running our successful Festive Food Fair and scoping out ideas for redesigned playground spaces. We began the year reinitiating the Whanau Hui- parents whose children identify as Māori meet once a term to discuss ways our Māori students can be supported especially in their understanding of Matauranga Māori- knowledge of Māori culture.We also have a new Board of Trustees, led by Paresh Patel as BOT chairperson, that came on board at the end of term 3. This group meets once a term to help support the governance and direction of the school. This makes a large group of people invested in practical outcomes that support our tamariki- we acknowledge the extra time and effort involved in this.
There is also a wider group of people in the educational community who provide guidance as we seek the best outcomes for all our students- these include Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) , Resource Teachers of Literacy (RTLiT), Ministry of Education personnel who support students with learning needs who receive Ongoing Resourcing Scheme funding, Ministry of Education personnel who have also supported behavioural and learning needs and have provided support to leadership. Without the expertise that these people have provided, many of the positive outcomes would not have been possible for our students.
We are also part of a wider community located in the extensive community of Catholic Schools and Parishes. We are part of the Wellington Catholic Schools Kahui Ako and have benefited from professional development opportunities, networking and sharing of ideas. This has had a positive impact for our tamariki as well. We are grateful for the leadership that Bernadette Murfit (Sacred Heart Primary School) and Mary-Angela Tombs (Saint Francis de Sales) have provided. .
We are part of the local parish of Holy Trinity and have enjoyed support and encouragement from Father Bill Warwick and members of the Parish. Having positive spiritual leadership and support strengthens our Special Character and enables us to thrive as a Catholic School.
Finally, I also want to acknowledge the hard work of our fabulous staff. This year has required people to step outside their comfort zones and assume extra responsibility- thank you to Lucy Wooles for competently taking on the Acting role of Deputy Principal and Pam Cambridge for being a very capable acting SENCO. Other staff have also stepped up to support in many different ways making a united strong team that works to see our tamariki thrive. The Bible verse below is a great place to end.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful… And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
16. Colossians 3:15-17
REMINDER - CHRISTMAS LITURGY on Tuesday 6th December at 6.00pm in the hall.
Weather permitting we will have a whānau picnic on the grass starting at 5.00pm - BYO dinner
Student/parent/teacher conferences are scheduled at the start of the year.
It is compulsory to attend a 30 minute appointment on one of these days to meet your childs new teacher.
WHAT: Learning Conferences - 30 minute individual meeting time
WHEN: Monday 30th January 2023 9:00am - 4.30pm
Tuesday 31st January 2023 9:00am - 4.30pm
WHO: You and your child
WHY: We believe these Learning Conferences will be extremely valuable for both families and teachers.
The purpose of the conferences is to offer you, your child and your child’s teacher an opportunity to start the year having met and discussed:
- Your ideas about areas of strength and interest
- Possible areas of challenge or concern for your child in their learning; behaviour or social/emotional needs
- Class routines and expectations
- Initial goal ideas for the first term
- Shared expectations
- Any other topics that will assist a positive start to the year.
We will also use this time to update any forms, permission slips and emergency contacts.
These dates are counted as term dates therefore we are expecting every child to attend a Learning Conference on one of these days. Children who do not attend a Learning Conference will be marked absent for both days.
Full classes will resume on Wednesday 1st February 2023 at the normal time of 8:45am.
WHAT TO DO :
Go to
login with your email address, click add new student, enter your childs name and follow the prompts.
We are using a new booking system, it is a bit different, if you have any problems please don’t hesitate to contact the office so we can assist you.
Video tutorial below, how to make a booking.
How to make a booking with Session Keeper
The following information will guide you through the process to book an appointment through Schoolzine's booking interview system. You will also be able to cancel your booking and rebook if required. We have also provided a Video Tutorial below:
Summer Reading Adventure at Wellington City Libraries
Read books, explore the city, win prizes! The Summer Reading Adventure runs from 1 December 2022 — 31 January 2023, and this year we are inviting intrepid explorers of word and page of all ages to join us — children, teens, and adults!
Gentle reminder – whānau of New Entrant and Year 1 students in Room 11 and 12 have been invited to take part in a survey run by Greater Wellington and Victoria University of Wellington. The survey is asking about your travel habits and barriers/benefits to active travel. This will help GW to design a tool/campaign to make active travel easier for whānau.
Here’s the link to take part: https://vuw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6mcsbx55Yo7otn0. Or you can request a paper copy from the office – just email administration@hcm.school.nz and we will send it home with your child.
We are seeing new cases of COVID pop up again in the school in most classrooms.
If your child is showing any signs of cold or flu, please keep them at home and ensure that you test for COVID. If positive children must stay at home for 7 days.
If you need any RAT tests please get in touch with the office and we can give you some tests for home.
Thank you for your support.
OUR FINAL HARVEST SALE FOR THE YEAR - WEDNESDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2.45pm -3.15pm outside room 11 and 12
Baking, garden produce and swan plants for sale.
Recipe this week : Bok Choy with Garlic & GinGER
Season: All seasons
From the garden: Bok choy, garlic, ginger
Type: Side dish
Difficulty: easy
Region of origin: Asia
Serves: 4 adult serves
Source: Adapted from The New Zealand Vegetable Cookbook by Lauraine Jacobs, Ginny Grant & Kathy Paterson
Equipment Ingredients
Chopping boards Bok choy (4 x baby bok choy or 1 x large)
Wok or large fry pan 2 Tbsp Vegetable oil
Knives 1 Tbsp peeled/shredded ginger
Table spoon 1 Clove garlic, crushed
Teaspoon 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
Small bowls 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Method
- Combine soy sauce/tamari, water & sesame oil in a small bowl
- Chop the boy choy, into 3-4 cm pieces, putting the white stalk and green leaves into separate bowls
- Finely slice the garlic and ginger
- Heat oil in a wok and stir-fry the ginger and garlic for one minute.
- Add the bok choy (white) to the wok and cook for 3 minutes
- Add the remaining (green leaves) bok choy and soy sauce mixture and toss to coat.
- Serve hot over some rice.
Notes: Bok choy is Chinese White cabbage, it is also know as bak choi, baak choi and pak choi. Choy is the Chinese word for any leafy vegetables. You could sprinkle with chilli or spring onion.
Skills: Chopping, Slicing finely, stir-fry
A number of scooters have been misplaced recently or taken home for the night and returned the next day. Can you please check your child is coming home with their own scooter and if a mistake has been made please notify the office and return the scooter the next day. Thank you for your support with this matter.
We have several jerseys and other uniform items in the lost property located in the office, please feel free to check these before the end of the year. Please remember to label all uniform items clearly so that if they are misplaced we can return them to your child as soon as possible.
The last meeting for the year is on 5th Decemeber at 7.30pm in the staffroom. All parents welcome to attend. If you need any information please contact us on psg@hcm.school.nz
We are looking for a parent that could help out on a Friday morning for 15 minutes collecting SUBWAY orders from students in the library. Time 8.30am-8.45am
If you think you can spare that time and willing to help please either contact the office or psg@hcm.school.nz
Many thanks
A big happy birthday to Eva, Charlotte, Leya, Kaku, Lydia, Michael and Thinbeth. Wishing you all a very special birthday to celebrate with family and friends.
“SKids is open for the Summer School Holidays! Here is our flyer which is now interactive online, Visit: www.sKids.co.nz/Holy_Cross_
Holiday Programmes
The Rock Academy will again be running our usual school holiday programmes these coming April 2022 holidays, therefore we would muchly appreciate if you could put a notice in your newsletter and on your Facebook page.
Free Music Lesson Voucher
As a way of showing our appreciation for including the Rock Academy in your newsletters and your Facebook page, we would like to offer your school three (3) free music lesson vouchers for up-and-coming fundraising events or silent auctions. Please let me know if you would like to receive the vouchers offered so I can arrange vouchers with your school name on each voucher.
Upcoming Wellington Events
New Year’s Eve
8pm-12pm, 31 Dec
Whairepo Lagoon
Join us for a fun evening of toe-tapping music. Cover band Zephyr will entertain from 8pm, followed by a special Kids Countdown at 9.30pm. Orchestra Wellington will fill the air with tunes of a ‘Royal’ theme with its free concert from 10pm, followed by the New Year’s countdown, and a blast of fireworks to bring in 2023. wellington.govt.nz/events
Gardens Magic Concert Series, Light Display, Kids Garden trail
10-29 Jan
Botanic Gardens Ki Paekākā
The iconic Concert Series is back (Tues-Sun evenings), along with a Light Display, and a Kids Garden Trail. Listen to some of Wellington’s finest live music under a blanket of stars. As the sun sets see the gardens transform with a magical light display by MJF Lighting, and during the day join our Space Explorer in her journey of discovery of the Botanic Garden’s remarkable plants and animals. wellington.govt.nz/events
Whānau Film Night
6pm, Sun 5 Feb
Waitangi Park
Bring a picnic and join us for a programme of short films followed by the feature film ‘Whina’.
Te Rā o Waitangi
12 noon – 6pm, Mon 6 Feb
Waitangi Park
Enjoy a line-up of award-winning Māori performers, food, and culture. Food trucks will be on-site, and be in quick for the hangi! wellington.govt.nz/events
Wellington Pasifika Festival
12 noon – 6pm, Sat 11 Feb
Waitangi Park
Experience the sights, sounds, and flavours of the Pacific at the Wellington Pasifika Festival on Saturday 11 February, Waitangi Park, 12 noon – 6pm. wellington.govt.nz/events
Music Holiday Programmes
Are you looking for a holiday programme that is suited to creative and musical children? Busking trips to build their confidence, songwriting sessions to unlock their creativity and lots of fun activities. Perfect for singers, guitarists and keyboard players. Beginners to advanced. Contact us today. geoff@therockacademy.co.nz or 021 565 750.
December 2022: From Tues 20th to Fri 23rd. 8:45 am until 3:30 pm.
January 2022: From Tues 24th to Fri 27th. 8:45 am until 3:30 pm.
NOTICEBOARD