9

ISSUE

7th June 2013

Birthday Wishes
Mrs Suddaby 8th June Jess Bailey 8 June Gabriel Van Royen 18th June Keevah Donaldson 19th June
th

Prayer of the Week

Lord God open our eyes to recognise, and our ears to affirm the prayers of our others. Embolden us, that we might Challenge others rather than collude, Respect others of diverse views, Affirm others from divergent traditions, Celebrate others whose skin tone is unlike our own Embrace others we wouldnt choose, Be sensitised to the many tongues of others Attend to others, who are culturally dissimilar, Appreciate others who are generationally different Be inspired through the little others we so often overlook We ask Lord, hear their prayers

Gospel Values for Term One:

Reverence and Self Control

Quote of the Week

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. "Bhudda"

Quote of the Month

All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen. "Ralph Waldo Emerson"

The recent Waimate Districts Cross Country was a resounding success with lots of 1 st, 2nd and 3rd placings for our students including; Maevi Fleming, Ben Williams, Bethany Oudemans, Mitchell Suddaby, Morgan Oudemans, Patrick Kemp and David Xie. Several other students also performed exceptionally well and were placed within the top 10 in their age category. Most students participated and completed their events. There was also a pleasing turnout from parents and whanau despite the difficulties that attending a school event on a workday presents.

School News
Subway Tuesday 11th June. Miniball saw draw Senior row. the Last week Team their the suffered they

Junior and

against Team This

opponents

their second loss in a week fought back hard with a win to both teams. Whole School Parish Mass This is to be held on Sunday 16
th

Principals Commentary:
Milk in Schools St Patricks has joined up to the Fonterra Milk in Schools programme and we have a meeting scheduled with a representative next week and deliveries should commence soon after that. The programme is only available to students in years 1-6 (sorry seniors) and Fonterra will be providing Anchor Lite UHT milk in cartons. They will also supply recycling gear to the school. If you want more information about this programme or have any concerns, check out the details on the official Fonterra Milk in Schools website: https://www.fonterramilkforsch ools.com/ If your child has any allergies to dairy products please let us know as soon as possible. Also if you do not want your child to receive free milk in school, please let us know. Breakfast in Schools The Ministry of Education have not yet provided us with any information about this proposed new initiative despite the very public announcement of its introduction so I cannot comment on how this may be delivered. If you do not think that this is a problem in this community or school community, I have to add that children turning up to school, not having had breakfast is not unheard of, even in our wee schoo

June. All students and their immediate families are expected to attend, students are to be in their correct school uniform. Thank You ODonnoll for to Bill his

continued support of our school with his donations from His selling firewood. is generosity

gratefully appreciated. Morgan Oudemans placed 3rd on beam and 4th overall at the CSG Chch International Gym Competition. Absences If your child is going to be absent due to illness, or late because of a medical or equally as appointment something

school. There are some children that are atypical of the children that this initiative is trying to help. In my humble opinion though, providing breakfasts in schools is only a solution for assuaging the childs hunger and will not in any way ensure that they dont come back to school hungry again tomorrow. The real solutions to the issues of child hunger in this country and even in our local setting, involve addressing some pretty deep social issues and making some hard calls and obviously politically unpalatable decisions. In this community, in this town, even in this school, there are those that struggle to make ends meet and sometimes, by the end of the pay week, there is very little left in the cupboard. This is a situation where I think that this programme will be well spent public money. There are other situations, where pouring money in will only exacerbate the problem and reinforce the dependencies behind it. I agree that the kids come first. I agree that whatever the politics, the kids need to be fed, but that isnt the answer to the problem. That is only applying a bandaid to the symptom. Regardless of what happens, once the Ministry sends some information out to us, the board will discuss it, consult with our community and then make an informed decision.

celebrate the commonalities of purpose. Students are expected to attend in full school uniform and to sit together at the front on the left hand side so that their singing is clearly heard.

important, simply let us know why and for how long. Thats all you need to do.

Maths Competitions Since the last newsletter, Sumdog hosted another Nationwide online Mathematics competition. As the senior room had won the first competition, we felt obliged to compete in the second one. Like the earlier one, the competition required students to answer 1000 questions each over 7 days of competition. Points were awarded for speed and accuracy. There were 67 schools participating and 2791 students involves. We won again. David Xie finished 6th out of all students. He had an average response time of just 2.7 seconds and an accuracy rate of 98%. That is blisteringly fast. All of our students finished all of their questions and all contributed towards the team effort in some manner. Specific students that also had great results with accuracy and sub 4second response times were Noah Oudemans, Morgan Oudemans, Sally Xie and Patrick Kemp. While there are only so many National competitions that we can enter in, I do note that Sumdog have set up a Mass Canterbury regional competition Another reminder that we have a for early July and it would be whole-school parish Mass good to compete in that scheduled for Sunday the 16 th of particular event. June. Congratulations. All school students and their immediate families are expected Uniforms to attend. This is an obligation I do need to point out that St agreed to as a part of enrolling Patricks School does have a at St Patricks School. All uniform policy. It is a wee bit families are encouraged to invite disheartening to see kids turning their extended whanau along as up to school, repeatedly well, as Mass is an opportunity wearing non-uniform items. for the School to participate in This is not fair to those students the Catholic Parish community that do wear the the correct and for the wider Church uniform or to those parents that community to interact with the make the effort and that take school and to gather and pray pride in their childs appearance. together and to I have no problem with some slight,

disheartening to see kids turning up your to school, repeatedly wearing items. This is temporary interpretations of the inability to get your child or Education Act 1989 to ensure non-uniform Elections not fair to those students that do the uniform rules, but not children to school on time (which that all of our students are at Congratulations and repeated flouting of them. I have could be characterised as a school on time and any student welcome to our two new no problem with kids wearing complete disregard for your that is repeatedly and Board Members, Kathy jackets, hoodies and coats to and childs educational welfare) is habitually late is considered by Larsen and Claire Tait from school, as long as they are beginning to test my patience and the Ministry to be truant and in and we thank all of also wearing correct uniform. my sense of Christian charity and need of some agency those that stood. The As there is a policy in place, this goodwill. assistance. I therefore am board are responsible means that the school can legally One of the reasons that lateness obliged to involve agencies if I for the governance of enforce it. If we as parents have annoys me so much is that it is so consider that a problem exists. our school and are to spend money on uniforms, it is disruptive to the rest of the class. I have resisted doing that so called on to make only reasonable to expect that all It doesnt matter how unobtrusive far, but as you may have significant decisions that of our students wear them. a student tries to be when they picked up, my patience on this directly influence what I also expect all students to be in sneak into class late, they still matter is running thin. happens for our full correct uniform when cause a disruption. If you are offended by these students, in terms of attending mid-week Mass or Another reason, is that I believe comments and you feel that staffing, resources, Friday assemblies. Not doing so that you are setting a terrible they are directed at you, then programmes and from now on may result in example for your child/ren and it they probably are. strategic direction. students receiving consequences makes it even harder for us to get Deal with it. Follow the law I do have to thank our from our behavioural your child to work to schedules, and get your child or children two outgoing board management procedures. deadlines or timeframes because to school on time. members; Stuart Price they see no reason to. and Stephen Patterson. Promptness If those reasons are not enough, Just how I see it folks. Stuart has been on the Classes start at 9:00am. All then read this next bit very Dont be offended. Board for a year or so students are expected to be seated carefully: I also find that the and has contributed his in class ready to go at majority of those students that are Naku noa na time to the school in 9:00am when the bell goes. habitually late (for whatever Me rongo (In peace) many other ways as Lately, we have had several reason) are precisely those that well. He and Stephen students turning up at 9:15, 9:30 can least afford to miss out on Darcy Kemp have a range of practical and sometimes even later than school. Maybe being habitually Acting Principal skills and experiences that. Sadly, it is always the same late (or absent) is one of the St Patricks School that have been well students. reasons that they are not where received on the board. There is no polite way to say this, they should be academically? Stephen has been on so forgive my bluntness, but I have a responsibility under the the board for what probably seems like a Message from the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees very long time for him and his knowledge and experience will be sorely Hello and God Bless to you all. missed, although he will probably be called upon As current Chairperson of the St Patrick's Board of Trustees I would like to thank those to help us progress one parents who were nominated and stood for our Board elections. It was very heartening or two of our projects to see that we had plenty of interest which necessitated an election. This is very pleasing that he has been as many bigger schools with a much larger parent community found themselves not involved in over the requiring an election. years. I believe that it goes to show that parents who choose to send their kids to our school all Thank you both so very much for all that you have an active and healthy interest in their child's education and only want the best for have done and that you them. I can assure you that the newly elected Board members want the best education continue to do. for all our kids and that we will do our best to ensure that the education they receive at St Pat's meets your expectations. A reminder that board of Our special character, as a State Integrated Catholic School, set us apart as we live and trustees meetings are model those Catholic values which are at the heart of all we do. public meetings and everyone is welcome to A traditional Gaelic blessing to you all as the year marches steadily on. attend. If you wish to "May the road rise up to meet you. address a board meeting May the wind be always at your back. or have something May the sun shine warm upon your face; tabled, then you will the rains fall soft upon your fields need to get permission, and until we meet again, preferably in writing, in may God hold you in the palm of His hand." advance from the board Chairperson. Gareth Oudemans

Logo for the Year of Faith. The boat in the logo represents the Church. The main mast of the boat is a cross and its sails are the shape of the sun which represents the Eucharist. On the sails are the letters IHS, the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus.
Faith is the thing that we believe in and it is also the way by which we believe.

May the Year of Faith be a time for all Catholics to renew their desire and zeal for the Eucharist and to avail themselves regularly of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. During this Year of Faith, may all Catholics publically proclaim their love for Christ and his Church. May this Year of Faith remind us of ways to serve those in our midst who are overlooked, ignored or rejected, so that all may experience the peace and healing of Christs love. May the Holy Spirit guide the Church during the Year of Faith so that all Catholics may experience a deepened renewal of faith, hope and love. May young people be inspired by this Year of Faith to listen attentively and respond to Gods call to priesthood and religious life.

St Patrick School would like to thank the following sponsors

Caf on Queen
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