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- Principal's message
- Catholic Character
- Our Journey! Tō Tātou Haerenga
- Scholastic Book Fair
- March is here – Let’s Get Movin’!
- Garden to Table
- Easter Raffle
- Working Bee this Sunday 19th March
- Sport news
- School Photos
- Teacher STRIKE day
- The Ubuntu Learning Hub
- Happy Birthday
- Neuro Diversity Week 13 - 19th March
- Non uniform day gold coin donation
- Community News
It’s a real thrill to receive a card, letter or poem from someone just developing their skills at writing. Once tamariki discover that they can put their thoughts and ideas down on paper , a whole new world of communication opens up. Writing is a difficult skill requiring aspects of planning and ideas, fine motor coordination, spelling, grammar and punctuation skills- it takes time to be a proficient writer who is able to put all pieces of the puzzle together.
Development from squiggles on a page to writing in a sentence happens over the first year at school. By Year 3 tamariki are beginning to fill up the page with great ideas on a whole host of topics. Our goal is to send students off at Year 8 ready for writing at a higher level- using complex sentences, structuring with paragraphs, being able to plan out ideas logically and in an ordered fashion on a range of topics- writing becomes that tool for communication.
So how do our tamariki go at writing? Writing was a focus last year. We had supported professional development in this area where teachers learnt to target their teaching to meet the needs of a wide range of abilities in our classes. Writing continues to be a minor focus this year as we drill down on how writing is a systematic process.
Writing progress at Holy Cross School- the percentage of students achieving at and above expectation from 2020-2022.
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
All students |
72% |
68% |
76% |
|
Maori |
74% |
78% |
86% |
|
Pacific |
73% |
71% |
78% |
It has been exciting to see a lift in achievement which we hope to build upon this year.
Ways you can help at home is to make the most of those natural opportunities for your tamariki/ children to write- that letter or email to Nana, shopping lists, keeping a diary if going on holiday, writing a letter to persuade you to increase their pocket money.
Keep an eye out for all the great writing showcased in our newsletter. In Room 11,12 and 7 tamariki bring home their Intensive Oral Language books which have great stories they have written with others around our topics. Let's celebrate and enjoy the messages created.
STRIKE THURSDAY
This newsletter is going out a little earlier this week as we prepare for Strike action on Thursday as teachers and Principals seek changes in conditions.
Primary Teachers are seeking:
- time to complete their work during work hours.
- better support for teachers working with high needs students.
- recognition for cultural skills.
- better support for health and safety in schools.
- job security for relievers.
Principals are seeking:
- better staffing to support school leaders.
- more resourcing for support in schools.
All education sectors are seeking pay equity for educators:
- Equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.
- Recognition of past undervaluing of work deemed 'women's work' by society at large.
- Pathways to professional development and career progression for wāhine kaimahi.
There is never an easy time to schedule action like this. We are able to provide supervision to a small number of children- please ensure you have let your teacher know your plans for the day by returning the slip on Friday’s take home newsletter. Thank you for your support.
This Tuesday, teachers will participate in a commissioning Mass at St Mary of the Angels at 5.30pm. We will gather together with other Catholic teachers around the greater Wellington region to celebrate Catholic Education. What makes our schools distinctive is the challenge to bring an educational experience to our tamariki which reflects the values and beliefs of the Catholic Faith. We are grateful that in New Zealand, we are able to do this as an integrated school, receiving Government funding for aspects of our operation, but maintaining our distinctive character.
This year we also have a great opportunity to support a teacher in training through a new training program run by the Open Polytech. Kirsten Puddick, who was our librarian, has begun a year long journey in sharpening her skills as a teacher. Kirsten spends two days a week at our school learning on the job. This is a great model of learning which reflects the on-the-job training the disciples had with Jesus.
I encourage you to pray for all teachers this week- that we can bring the best of ourselves to the job of educating your tamariki. It is a privilege to be able to serve in this way.
Our Journey! Tō Tātou Haerenga
Late last year, Holy Cross applied for funding from the Creatives in Schools programme. The Creatives in Schools programme is an opportunity for schools to work with creative professionals to deliver inspiring learning experiences for ākonga. Early this year we found out that our request was accepted and we now have funding to put on a school production! The name of our school production will be "Our Journey! Tō Tātou Haerenga".
The proposal that we put through was for a full school theatre experience in 2023. We want to share the journeys of members of our community, expressing their stories of migration from around the world through cultural song, dance, craft and NZSL. One of the key aims of this kaupapa is to come together to celebrate these journeys and to value the contributions that everyone makes to our kura and community.
The creative professional that will lead our show is Frances Leota. Her connection with our school spans more than 20 years with her daughters Moana, Mollie and Billie being past students and son Solomon a current student. Frances has vast experiences in theatre, acting, singing, graphic arts, working with youth and coaching (singing and drama). Her most recent accomplishments include playing Kate Sheppard in the stage production "That Bloody Woman" and singing as a guest vocalist in the show "Natural Women" by Ali Harper. We look forward to working with Frances this year!
How Can You Help?
We are looking for your stories and talents to share and use in our show. Each family will be sent home a form on Friday to fill out to ask about your migration stories and skills that you and your children could share with our community for the show. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the form and send back. Ngā mihi.
Next week, our very own Book Fair will be here at Holy Cross School!
What is it? The book fair is an opportunity to encourage the enjoyment of reading whilst fundraising for our school. Every book we sell means brand new books and literacy resources for our school. The book fair is organised through scholastic and run by our school and the amazing Parent Support Group (PSG).
Am I buying books for the school? No. You will be able to buy books from the fair for yourself, your children or your family. Each purchase made by our community will have some proceeds going back to our school for new literacy resources. Another way families and friends can support our fair is to buy a book to donate to our school library.
How can you support?
- Come on board and grab some great books, posters and stationery at amazing prices.
- Bring your friends and whānau down on Wednesday afternoon to get in on the awesome deals!
- Help your tamariki prepare for the book character day and parade on Friday.
Throughout the week we will be running special events to celebrate the magic of reading. Here is a rundown of what will be happening at school.
|
Date |
Book Fair Opening Hours |
Event |
|
Monday 20th March |
8.30am - 9.00am 2.30pm - 3.00pm |
Get set - start reading ! |
|
Tuesday 21st March |
8.30am - 9.00am 2.30pm - 3.00pm |
You’ve Been Caught Reading. Throughout the day our senior pirates will be on the lookout to catch bookaneers reading! If you get caught, go into a draw to win some treasure! |
|
Wednesday 22nd March |
8.30am - 9.00am 2.30pm - 6.30pm |
Listen to a story and Extended Hours From 3.30pm - 4.00pm our staff will be around to read their favourite stories! Bring your family and friends to browse the fair during our extended hours. |
|
Thursday 23rd March |
8.30am - 9.00am 2.30pm - 3.00pm |
Share your reading skills with Whānau |
|
Friday 24th March |
8.30am - 9.00am 2.30pm - 3.30pm |
Book Character Day and Parade Dress up as your favorite book character! Upcycle, reuse, recycle and be creative! If you need help, come and talk to a staff member. Come along to our Whanau event at 2.00pm where our characters will put on a parade. The PSG will be donating prizes for the most creative characters. |
We’re a Movin’March school and we can’t wait to make the most of this beautiful weather and encourage your child/ren to Walk or Wheel to and from school. Explore the website for tips and check out the parents page on how to build active travel into your daily routine.
Why Movin’March?
Not only does walking or wheeling to school reduce congestion and chaos at the school gate, we also get to slow down and get some quality time with our tamariki. Walking or wheeling to school solo or with friends can be a real confidence boost and families get to do their bit for the environment!
How to make it work for your whānau
-
Instead of driving right up to the school gate, why not Park and Stride ? Walk the last 500m or so to school.
-
Think about how you might get to and from school over March (and the rest of Term 1!) Check out Micro scooter’s safety tips for safety suggestions.
-
Walking School buses build community and teach children important road safety skills ready for walking independently as they get older.
WOW Passport Challenge
Each day we will stamp the walk or wheel trips your tamariki make to OR from school. We have heaps of cool prizes to give away - so keep Movin' !
Gardener of the Day - Avery
My name is Avery and I am in Room 3’s Cool Cucumbers GTT group. Today the Cool Cucumbers were in the garden. One of the activities we did today was planting new apples and feijoa trees around our school. New trees are called seedlings. We also gathered the freshly cut grass into buckets and put it in the compost.
I need to learn more about what compost is and what it is used for. This is my next learning step for Garden to Table.
Chef of the Day - Brooklyn
My name is Brooklyn and I am in Room 3’s Green Beans GTT group. Today the Green Beans were in the kitchen making Roasted Vegetables. Some of the vegetables we used in this dish were tomatoes, potatoes, beetroot, garlic, parsnip and kumara. First we prepared the vegetables by washing, peeling and chopping them. Next, we put all the vegetables together on an oven tray and put cooking oil on them. After that we put them in the oven to cook. Today I cut myself when I cutting beetroot. I learned that you need to be careful when you are using a knife to chop veggies.
Room 5's writing this week for GTT was in the form of a rap or rhyme to music - see if you can pick that up?
Gardener of the Day- Moana
The flowers are pink, the flowers are blue, the flowers are white as well too!
Fallen fruit from the tree, come and get it while its free!
Apple tree, apple tree by the fence, why do your apples taste so intense?
The leaves are tall and have grown, I love my culture its Samoan!
We find a place for the soil but not where it boils.
My mind is blown I am Samoan!
Keep selling your tickets for the Easter raffle. If you would like more sheets to sell, call into the office for some extra sheets.
Drop off your donations to the office by 28th March, Raffle drawn 5th April 2023
Thank you so much for your support !
Last Wednesday we had whole school photos taken by Inspire Photography.
In a couple of weeks we will let you know when the photo gallery will go online. This is where whānau can view and order their favourite photos. The first two weeks of the ordering period will be for fundraising for our school and 10% of all sales will go back to our school.
A couple of weeks after this ordering period closes, the orders will be delivered to school.
The gallery will remain up for one year, so don't stress about missing the deadline, however the fundraising period for our school is only available for the first 2 weeks so we would really appreciate you ordering photos in this period.
Reminder : No school tomorrow unless you have requested supervision for your child - Thank you for your support
Who's celebrating their Birthday in March?
Margaux, Daniel B, Alexandra, Isabel Y, Hope, Hiwi & Jack.
Have a wonderful day.
Thank you whānau for your generous donations last Friday on our non-uniform day.
We raised a a grand total of $ 273.00 which will be donated to the Catholic schools affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The staff also donated money and raised $255.00 which will be sent to Holy Cross School in Henderson. This school was affected by the Auckland floods.
Trinity Parish Newsletter 12th March 2023
Pride Lands
PRIDE LANDS FUN HOLIDAY ADVENTURES
AUTUMN SCHOOL HOLIDAYS AT WESTERN SUBURBS RUGBY CLUB (WILTON) AND
SOUTHERN SUBURBS SWIS (BERHAMPORE-NEWTOWN)
Dates: 10th – 21st APR 2023, from 7.00am-6pm daily
Interactive Activities and NO TV or Video Games, Cooking, Fitness, and Life Skills Programme creating healthy Breakfast, Morning Tea, Lunch and Afternoon Teas. One-on-one care and shuttle services available. Daily Daily $82.04/cub per session
or $139.47 for two siblings per session; Weekly: $328.16 per cub/week
or $557.87 for two siblings/week. MSD Approved & WINZ subsidies are available for eligible families. One-on-One Care: Available for cub(s) if extra support is needed
at $12/hr
Please contact us: 0800 PRIDE 4 U Or Register online
What's on at MMCC?
NOTICEBOARD