St Joseph’s Catholic School

Newsletter : Issue 62
Week 8, Term 2
23 June 2022

Dear families and friends of the school,

This week I would like to acknowledge and celebrate our hardworking support staff. Our support
staff at St Joseph’s School consists of nine LSAs (Learning Support Assistants), two caretakers
and two office administrators. Over the past five years, our number of support staff has swelled
as our roll has increased.

At St Joseph’s School, the School Board places huge importance on ensuring that our students
are well supported in the classroom and, to that end, funds much of the cost of LSA support from
our operational fund. While we do receive a level of funding from the Ministry of Education to
support our students with high and very high needs, this is only ever a contribution to the cost.
Where class sizes are larger than we would prefer, we always ensure that support is put in place
so that numbers are not compromising the learning of the students in any way. Sometimes
higher numbers of students in some classes are unavoidable but with LSA support, we are able
to cater very well for the individual needs in the class.

Our support staff are a dedicated, hardworking group of individuals who are greatly appreciated
by the teaching staff. Their roles vary but always the main aspect of their job is to support the
learning of students under the direction of the classroom teacher.

This year we have been lucky to have both Trevor Fletcher and Joe Whiting attend to the
caretaking needs of our school. Both Trevor and Joe take great pride in ensuring our school
looks great at all times. As a partnership, it has worked very well up until this term when a wee
health blip for both men has slowed them up a bit. We wish Joe well for a speedy recovery.
Maybe at 81, retirement may be looming!

This term we have welcomed a new member to our support team, Kyla Clement. Kyla works
predominantly in the New Entrant room from Monday through to Thursday. We love having Kyla
as part of our staff.
Unfortunately at the end of this term, we will be farewelling Susan Kinley. Susan has worked at
St Joseph’s School for the past 2½ years, both as a Learning Support Assistant and as an Office
Administrator. Susan has been a wonderful asset to our school. She has been the friendly face
of the school office, greeting both parents and students who walk through the door on a daily
basis. We will miss her efficient and calm presence. While we will be very sad to say goodbye to
Susan, we wish her all the very best in her new office/PA role in Christchurch.

Lastly I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Office Manager, Tina
Cox. Tina’s days are never dull and she has learnt to be extremely flexible in her role as Office
Manager. It would not be unusual for Tina to be found cleaning up an accident or attending to an
IT issue, on top of ensuring that the day to day financial operation of the office is going
smoothly.

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 Our Support Staff Team (absent: Joe Whiting, Susan Kinley and Kyla Clement)

I wish everyone a wonderful Matariki weekend with your families. I would also like to thank you
all so much for all the support you give the school. I was blown away by the numbers who turned
out for our Matariki liturgy and morning tea. It is wonderful to be able to have whānau back on
the school grounds and share in the learning that is happening across the year levels.

Kind regards
Cath Blacklow
Principal

School Vision
To learn, to grow, and to live our faith by being the hands
and voice of Jesus

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Term 2 & 3 Calendar

WEEK 9

Tuesday 28th June Year 5/6 Speech Competition

Friday 1st July Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 10

Monday 4th July Student Led Conferences 3.15-6pm

Friday 8th July Last day for Term 2

WEEK 1 : TERM 3

Monday 25th July First day for Term 3

Monday 25th-Friday 29th July Tui Team Swimming Week

Friday 29th July Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 2

Monday 1st-Sunday 7th August Cook Islands Language Week

Monday 1st-Friday 5th August Year 5/6 Swimming Week

Wednesday 3rd August Parent Meeting “Cybersafety”

WEEK 3

Tuesday 9th August Aoraki Maths Year 7/8

Wednesday 10th August Board of Trustees Meeting 7.30pm

Thursday 11th August Reading Together 2pm

Friday 12th August Whole School Assembly 2pm

WEEK 4

Monday 15th August The Assumption of Mary

Wednesday 17th August Home and School Meeting 7.30pm

Thursday 18th August Winter Sports

WEEK 5

Thursday 25th August Reading Together 2pm

Friday 26th August Whole School Assembly 2pm

NB: These are the dates we currently have on the calendar. This will be updated each
fortnight to include new dates as they are decided upon throughout the term.

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Principal’s & Virtues Awards
Congratulations and well done to our week 7 assembly award recipients:

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Matariki Celebration
Yesterday our first Matariki celebration was a great day for our students and was extremely well
supported by families. Prior to the day, artwork was created, complete with our own Pohutukawa
tree where students could place a flower in remembrance of a loved one who had passed. After
the church liturgy, students enjoyed a cheese toastie and iced biscuit for morning tea before
showing their family members around their classrooms. Thank you to everyone who supported
the event and made it such a great success!

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Other Notices for your Information and Interest

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In conjunction with their “Farmers – We’ve Got Your Back” campaign, they would like
children in the farming community to contribute by entering their colouring competition.
There will also be a large whiteboard at their Instore Days event (7-8 July) where children
can come along and colour their own section of the picture. Kids can drop the completed
colouring off to one of our three Ruralco Stores, bring it along to the event or post it to PO
Box 433, Ashburton 7740.

Closing Prayer
On this winter’s day, we are thankful for the small things that lift our spirits –
the warmth of another’s smile or embrace, the glimpse of the sun through the clouds,
freshly brewed coffee, newly baked bread, hot soup.

On this winter’s day, we are thankful for glimmers of hope,

On this winter’s day, we are thankful for all that stirs us into life; for funny stories and laughter,
for music that sets us dancing, for words and wisdom that inspire us.

On this winter’s day, we are warmed by the beauty of this place in which we live,
by the company of family and friends, by our passion for justice and peace.

May the thoughts of our hearts, the words of our mouth, the work of our hands,
and all that we do with our lives speak of grace and truth as we seek to live in the way of Christ. Amen.