Dear God,

You come to us in Jesus who teaches us that the way to happiness is through our love for one another.

Watch over the teachers, students and families of Sacred Heart Cathedral School as we try to be faithful to this teaching.

Help us to be a welcoming and joyful community, so that others may come to know your love and peace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Amen.

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

I hope you all had a refreshing Queen's Birthday weekend and had a chance to catch up with, and enjoy the company of family and friends.

Please note the school is closed this Friday, 11th June for a Teacher Only Day.

Welcome to Frankie, who started in Room 1 today.  We hope you make friends and enjoy your learning!

Last week, as part of Samoan Language Week, a group of year 7/8 students went to the Home of Compassion with Miss Regan and myself to share their talents with the people there. As always they did themselves and the school proud.  This is an opportunity to give back and serve, which is at the heart of our school and The Church.  The audience were most appreciative.  Thank you to Miss Regan and Mr Solia for preparing the children for this.

We are looking to offer "Seasons for Growth" next term.  This is a programme organised through Catholic Social Sevices which addresses change and loss that children need help dealing with.  It is run by a trained outside person, for small groups of children.  Please look for more information about this later on in the newsletter.

Children who wait to be collected at school, after school, and do not go to afterschool care - we have asked these children to wait outside R2, under the steps and on the green steps, so they are easy for everyone to find.  They are not supposed to play on the bottom playground, as this is used by after school care.  We really appreciate your support reinforcing this.

This week the school is participating in two days (Tuesday and Thursday) of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) activities with children grouped in Junior, Middle and Senior groupings.  This should be a lot of fun and it is a more 'hands on" type of learning.  Many thanks to Jane Regan for arranging this.

The Central Zone Cross Country was held today.  Well done to all who represented the school, having performed so well in the school event.  Many thanks to Ann Stephen and John Grevatt for organising this.  Results will be in next week's newsletter.

On Friday, teachers are participating in a wellness programme called "Pause, Breathe Smile", run by Southern Cross and The Mental Health Foundation.  This aims to teach mind health skills to help kiwi kids navigate life's challenges.  We hope to be able to incorporate these ideas in our classrooms and promote coping strategies, as we all navigate a complicated and unpredictable world.

I hope you can enjoy and benefit from another long weekend!

Arohanui,

Christine Geraghty

Acting Principal

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives.  At Sacred Heart Cathedral School, we recognise that when changes occur in families through death, separation, divorce and related circumstances, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively.  We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth which will commence in Term 3.  This programme is facilitated in small groups and is based on research which highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss.  The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, effective communication and support networks.

If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth, we would encourage you to talk to him/her about participating in the program.  We are confident that it will be a valuable learning experience for those who request to be involved.

If you require further information and/or would like your child to be involved, please contact Jane Regan, jane@sacred-heart.school.nz or for Term 2, Christine Geraghty christine@sacred-heart.school.nz.

We need families to indicate interest by Thursday, 24th June, please.

We have been advised that there will be a Paid Union Meeting for primary teachers on the afternoon of Thursday, 24th June 2021.  At this meeting members will vote on the direction and priorities for their 2022 collective agreement renewal campaign.  This Paid Union Meeting is not strike action and the law allows for two Paid Union Meetings each year. 

On 24th June, we ask our parents, where possible, to support teachers by picking children up at the earlier time of 1pm.  School will remain open in the afternoon with supervision for those children who cannot be picked up early.  Please advise Cathy in the office (office@sacred-heart.school.nz) if you are unable to pick up your child early so that supervision can be arranged.  After School Care will operate as normal from 2.40pm.

Suzanne Adair

Chair of Board

suzanneadair@hotmail.com

021 039 7558

A reminder that our 2022 enrolments close on 31 July 2021.  If your child has a sibling that you would like to attend Sacred Heart Cathedral School in 2022, please ensure that a completed Enrolment form, Preference Certificate and Attendance Dues form are submitted to the school before 31 July 2021.  The preference certificate needs to be completed and signed by a Bishop's Agent - this would usually be your parish priest.  A copy of your child's baptismal certificate and NZ birth certificate or NZ passport is also needed.  The enrolment pack can be downloaded from the school website: http://www.sacred-heart.school.nz or call the school office for a copy (04) 4724047.

Today, Room 5 had a wonderful time at the Wellington Girls' College. They learnt about how to balance and tried out some gym equipment.

Sacred Heart Cathedral School Annual Pub Quiz

WHERE:  Shepherd's Arms, Tinakori Road, Thorndon.

WHEN:  Tomorrow evening Thursday, 10th June, 7.30pm start.

COST:  $10.00 per person (this can be paid in cash at the door on the night or by internet banking, account details below).

Account Name:  Sacred Heart Parents and Friends

Account Number:  12-3140-0397242-00

Please use your name and 'Quiz' as the reference for your payment.

Come and join in, an evening of fun and unleash your competitive side!  Bring friends, family or foes.

Check out photos of our students participating in STEM activities on Tuesday, 8th June.

Write Like an Author and Draw Like an Artist are back!  Our popular school holiday writing and art camps are returning to Raroa Intermediate.

"Write like an Author" is an internationally acclaimed writing course that teaches young writers the skills and techniques that professional authors use to create their stories.  During the camp, each participant will develop and write an original creative story under the guidance of well-known author and writing coach Maria Gill.

"Draw Like an Artist" is our concurrent illustration course that teaches young artists the skills and techniques that professional illustrators use.  The presenter is Fifi Colston.

Our websites are www.writelikeanauthor.com and www.drawlikeanartist.com.

The camps will be held at Raroa Intermediate during the school holidays, starting on Monday, 12th July 2021 and running until Wednesday, 14th July 2021.

The writing camp is ideal for young people who have a dream of becoming a published author or anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.  The illustration camp offers the same opportunity to young artists.

The camps are non-residential, and run from 9am to 4pm each day.  The number of places on the camp is strictly limited.

A musical evening with Fr Chris Skinner, supported by St Catherine’s College students at 7pm on Sunday, 27th June at St Joseph’s Church, Ellice St, Mt Victoria.  $20 cash at door or go on line to TryBooking www.trybooking.co.nz/HKO.  Booking fee is 30 cents.  Fr Chris’s cds will be available to purchase www.chrisskinner.org.nz.

Goodtime Music Academy is taking enrolments for 2021 in-school music lessons now.  If you want your child to be a part of these award winning music lessons, and may not want to commit to taking your child anywhere after school, then in-school lessons may be the solution for you.  Learn in a group setting, and choose between drums, guitar, keyboard, ukulele or try their 'Intro to Music' course.  Please visit www.goodtimemusicacademy.co.nz/learn-at-school to enrol and enquire.  You can also call them on (04) 5682237.  Spaces are limited so get in quick! 

For the first time ever, anybody who purchases a $69.99 Single City Membership will be upgraded to a Multi City Membership valued at $119.99 for FREE!  That’s a $50 saving and access to over 10,000 offers!!!  

This is a limited time offer and has been EXTENDED until Monday, June 14th at 11.59pm NZDT, so be quick!