10

21stJune 2013

ISSUE

Birthday Wishes
Brianna Wood 24th June

Faith Is .....
When we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take the step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: There will be something solid for us to stand on or we will be taught to fly. Patrick Overton

Gospel Values for Term One:

Reverence and Self Control

Quote of the Week

I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much. Mother Teresa

Quote of the Month

God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars. Elbert Hubbard

Welcome Axyl Bailey started with us last week in the Junior Room. We hope he enjoys his time with us here at St Pats and everyone makes him feel very welcome.

Congratulations to the 3 students that competed at the South Canterbury Primary Schools Cross Country last week at Cannington School. David Xie, Morgan Oudemans and Patrick Kemp represented St Patricks, competing against hundreds of athletes from all over South Canterbury. Thanks also to Toni Oudemans for providing transport and photos.

School News
Subway Tuesday 25 June. Miniball against opposition bounced with a a and back good Last week better came strong win this
th

the senior team came up

away with a loss. They

week. The junior team continue to show good form row. Absences If your child is going to be absent due to illness, or late because of a medical or equally as appointment something as they have racked up two wins in a

Principals Commentary:
I sincerely hope that everyone is keeping nice and warm and dry with this latest round of polar-like weather drizzling its way past us. What a soggy, cold, miserable few days weve had. Best spent sitting around and open fire drinking hot chocolate, or something with similar internal heating properties. We can and should be thankful though that we are not as bad off as some other parts of Canterbury and Otago where the snow has fallen a lot deeper than it did here, on top of flood-ravaged pastures and houses. Imagine the mess when that lot thaws. I feel some sympathy for my Labrador, as I see that he managed to excavate the fresh hay that I had put in his kennel on Wednesday evening. Obviously he favours the sparse look and reduced thermal qualities, over the enhanced central heating and plush surroundings of a tin kennel with a hay-over-wood floor. There is no accounting for taste sometimes. I did miss seeing his head peering out at me this morning, and can only presume that he was luxuriating in dreamland while the snow thickly blanketed the area around our house, and his. There are some bright notes on the horizon however, with

a forecast of it can only get better, featuring somewhere ahead. In the interim, I suspect that we have a little more rain ahead of us. As we sit in front of the tele, watching the latest re-run of the Simpsons, heat pump determinedly draining the last of the excess from Lake Benmore, fire crackling away, spare a thought and a prayer for the farmers and trades people out there in the midst of it, moving stock, clearing roads and cleaning up after others. Spare a kind wish and a prayer for our emergency services, when they get called out to the sick, the injured, the overly-enthusiastic and the illinformed and to those suffering misfortune in this weather. Ka Toi / Matariki We have only three weeks of term left and already Ka Toi is looking to be a wonderful showpiece for our school. The students have been hard out working to learn a variety of songs, most of which they will perform at next weeks Matariki Festival, to be held at Waimate High School. They are all enthusiastic and engaged in learning and it is truly wonderful to see how theyre all working together for the common goal. If you get the chance, go and watch the Matariki show at the High school. I understand at this stage that our students will be performing after lunch, although timetables are subject to change. It really is great that all of the schools in the district can get together for one celebration and to showcase their learning on a similar theme. Ka Toi is scheduled for week three of term three (Friday the 16th of August) and will be held at the Theatre Royal on Stafford Street. This too will be a fantastic display of childrens work from around all of south Canterbury. The performances

include kapahaka as well as performing arts. This may well be the last year that the festival has a performing arts section, so as the current winners of the junior section (Years 1-8) we are going to perform with style and hopefully retain the trophy in what may be its final year. Complaints: Because we havent had any complaints for a year or two, I can only presume that there are no complaints to be had, or that no one knows the process to follow with complaints. Its probably timely to remind everyone of the procedure for sharing concerns. If you have any complaints or concerns about anything to do with your childs education, make contact with the classroom teacher and arrange a mutually agreeable time to discuss your concerns or questions, giving the teacher ample time to provide information etc if required. Dont corner the teacher and expect them to know the answers to everything right then and there, or presume that they are free at that moment to talk exclusively to you. Mutually agreeable time! If you are not satisfied with the outcome of that meeting, or if your concerns are about a wider issue than just your child, then you need to arrange a meeting with the Principal. If the Principal is at the heart of your concern (as if!) then you should share your concerns with him by arranging a meeting at a mutually agreeable time to discuss the issues. If you are still not satisfied with the outcomes, then you should refer your concerns, in writing, to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. They will respond in writing. If you arrange a meeting with a teacher to discuss your child and any others, the teacher or

important, simply let us know why and for how long. Thats all you need to do. Book Club Scholastic book July. Matariki Festival This will be held at the High School June. on Friday will 28th be St Pats orders are due back at school by 5th

performing around 1pm, all support from parents and families are welcome.

disheartening see kids turning u principal willtoonly discuss that part that is relevant to your child and will not discuss anyone elses child with you.

National Standards Our students are doing very well in comparison to the national averages in Reading, Writing and Mathematics for National Standards. Not that we are supposed to be comparing them against anyone else and not to say that the National Standards actually mean that much, but; Our students across the school are tracking above the national average in Reading by 4%, above the national average in Writing by 11% and above the national average in Mathematics by 7% Those figures seem fairly good to me, although obviously there is no room for complacency and always plenty of room for improvement. Dont be offended, its just my thoughts folks Naku Noa Na Me rongo (in peace) Darcy Kemp Principal St Patricks Waimate

Students singing at mass on thursday

TYB (to your budget) Property Services

Handyman Services Chimney Sweeping Commercial Domestic Cleaning Rubbish Removals Water Blasting Decorating Services Renovations No Job too small, we do them all. Phone (03) 689 8225. and

Senior class hard at work on their 1:1 laptops

TYB Property Service is a new business in town and they are willing to donate 10% of labour costs back into our school if you use them.

Mrs Suddaby entertaining the students, (actually they are learning a new song)

Friends at St Pats
Congratulations to Pat Fleming on winning the trailer load of firewood raffle. Friends at St Pats are holding a dance party in conjunction with Waimate Bluelight ventures on Friday 5th July. It will be free entry for both age groups and spot prizes will be up for grabs. Drinks and glow sticks will be available for purchase. To make this a successful event we will require some parents to help supervise at both sessions of the dance party. The first is from 6-7.30 and is for the under 10s, the second is 8-9.30 and for the over 10s. If you are able to help can you please let the office or Toni know as soon as possible. Thank you, we would not be able to continue to run these events without support from the school community.

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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