The classrooms are emptying out, the craft projects have been taken home, the fun events are over and all that is left is to move the furniture into the middle of the classes, say goodbye and close the door on 2022. What is left are memories of a roller coaster year. We have made our last newsletter a tribute to the tamariki with a showcase of photos of all the things that have happened in the last term and some words of thanks from the three syndicate areas of our school. 

Well done Year 8’s on making it through to the end of your final year at Holy Cross. We have enjoyed watching you blossom and grow into amazing young people. All the best as you move on to College. 

Thanks parents for letting us be Kaitiaki- caretakers of your children’s learning this year. Thank you too for all the support you have shown- words of encouragement, practical help, smiles and moments of shared success as we have enjoyed your children’s successes together. 

Looking forward to 2023, there are not many changes in staff which makes for a smooth transition into a new year. WE do acknowledge 5 people who are finishing up this year.  Charlie Lake has been in charge of our startup class of New Entrants: Charlie has brought a wonderful level of enthusiasm to her role- we wish you all the best Charlie as you continue to further your teaching career. We farewell Kelly Bush as she moves to Christchurch. Kelly has been one of our Teaching and Learning Assistants who has been very dedicated in showing support to many of our students. We also say a big thank you to Kath Taylor who has helped to support Room 1 in their learning this year especially on Thursdays as Matua Tala has Senior Leadership Release time. Kath’s experience and expertise has been greatly appreciated. We are looking for a partime teacher who can work two days next year to work with our Room 1 class. David Brown has done a great job of being our temporary caretaker for the past term. We are advertising a larger role along with Miramar Central as we both look to hire someone who may be interested in 20 hours a week working across the two schools- check out our ad in this newsletter. Our final staff farewell is to Fiona Maddever who has worked with 4 students at a time on Reading Recovery- Fiona has a wonderful sense of calm as she has encouraged our younger students to work hard to improve their reading skills. We wish Fiona all the best as she moves to Nelson. 

Final acknowledgements go to the staff and children of Holy Cross School- you have worked so well together to share learning experiences and make the most of every opportunity to grow and develop. Our values help us to create a strong sense of community and both staff and students represent these values well. Have a wonderful Christmas break and come back refreshed and ready for 2023- our year of Journeys. 

CARETAKER ADD

Holy Cross  and Miramar Central School are neighbours. We are both looking for a part time, permanent caretaker to be employed by each school for 2023. 

If you have  a wide range of handyman skills- carpentry, ground maintenance, gardening  and window cleaning and enjoy being in a busy, supportive environment where your work can make a difference, we would love to hear from you. 

We are looking for someone who can show initiative whilst working within a job description. Attention to detail is also important as aspects of the job also involve health and safety and compliance  checks. 

The job is for 10 hours a week in each school- 20 hours a week total  with some flexibility around what days are to be worked and what times. You would be employed separately by both schools. There is an option to set up a contract for service covering the two schools. 

Interested in one position or the other or both? Please contact Lyn Hough (Holy Cross School)  at lyn.hough@hcm.school.nz and/ or Jackie Sutherland at principal@miramarcentral.school.nz for more details. 

Our Christmas Liturgy last week was a wonderful experience for our tamariki as we reflected on Christmas and what it means to keep Jesus in the center of our celebrations. The food is great, the presents are fun to give and receive but Jesus, who began his journey of placing his feet on the surface of the earth and transforming each place he trod, is the most inspiring aspect of all. 

Here are three simple prayers from our liturgy that were shared as part of our liturgy to help you reflect on God’s love and His ability to change our lives. 

Lord,

You asked Joseph and Mary to trust in you.

May we come to share in their trust

and always rely on you. 

Lord,

You came to us as a humble and vulnerable child.

May we always show loving care 

to those around us,

especially those in most need.

Lord,

Joseph and Mary trusted you in their journeys.

Guide and bless our school leavers in their new journeys wherever they go.

May God bless and keep you safe over this wonderful Christmas time. 

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:

Here is a link to the Whānau Conversation Prompts for Learning Conferences (30 - 31 January 2023).

Term 1           30th January - 6th April 2023  ( 96  half days)

Monday 30th January               Learning conferences

Tuesday 31st January               Learning conferences

Wednesday  1st February          Term 1 classes start

Thursday 6th April                    Term 1 ends

Public Holidays

Monday 6th February              Waitangi Day 

Friday 7th April                       Good Friday 

Term 1  School Holidays  Friday 7th April - Sunday 23rd April 2023

Includes Good Friday, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday.

Term 2     24th April - 30th June 2023  (94 half days)

Monday 24th April    Teacher Only Day MOE Accord day - NO classes

Tuesday 25th April               ANZAC day Public holiday 

Wednesday 26th April           Term 2 classes start

Friday 30 June – Kahui Ako Teacher Only Day NO Classes

Public Holidays

Tuesday 25th April   ANZAC day

Monday 5th June   Kings Birthday

Friday 14th July    Matariki (during school holidays)

Term 2 School Holidays Saturday 1st July - Sunday 16th July 2022

Term 3            17th July - 22nd September 2023    (98  half days)

Monday 17th July                 Term 3 classes start

Friday 22nd September         Term 3 ends

Teacher Only Day Monday 14th August -  NO CLASSES

No Public holidays

Term 3 School holidays Saturday 23rd September  - Sunday 8th October 2022

Term 4           9th October - 15th December 2023   ( 98 half days)

Monday 9th October              Term 4 classes start

Friday 15th December           Term 4 ends 

Public holidays: 

Monday 23rd October            Labour Day  

Term 4 Christmas school holidays start Saturday 16th December 2023

386 half days in 2023.

What a fabulous year the Garden to table class had! Many of our students have learned a lot about how to be more sustainable by looking after our school vegetable garden, and how they can keep themselves safe in the kitchen while creating some wonderful dishes. We had made plenty of connections with what makes Te Whanganui-a-Tara special and how we can strengthen our role as a Holy Cross citizen.  And to finish off the year we connected with various celebrations, understanding the meaning of Christmas and how we can make this Christmas special with family. TU MEKE Rooms 3, 5 and 6! We wish you all a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

We are privileged and blessed to receive a beautiful bespoke rimu bookcase made especially for our library and donated by the Clarke family on behalf of their mother Patricia.

Patricia was a much loved member of our staff and worked at Holy Cross School for over 20 years. She was a real treasure and a wonderful librarian inspiring dozens of students to pick up a book and read.

Please pop into the library when you can to see this beautiful piece of furniture and our sincere thanks to the Clarke whanau for donating this and also some money for us to fill the bookcase with new books for our tamariki ! What a legacy.

Do you sing or play a musical instrument? Piano, guitar, flute – anything at all.

If so we would love you to join us at our Christmas morning 9am Mass at Holy Cross.

We are having a practice for the Mass at 3.30pm on Wednesday 14^th December in the church (side entrance)

Look forward to seeing you there!

The BOT would like to advise parents the uniform review is still on the agenda and no decisions have been made yet.

The stock levels at the NZUniform shop are being checked and the aim is to provide a more gender neutral uniform in 2023 and to provide choices for students. 

Please know we are working behind the scenes to make these changes happen.