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,

We had a positive start to our week with the stunning day on Monday for our school Cross Country. Students were just incredible pushing themselves through our inner-city urban course. I was so proud of all those who participated or assisted with marshaling.  Congratulations to our students who will represent our school at the zone event.

We still have a number of active COVID19 cases in our school community. In order to keep everyone safe, we will continue to remind our students about good cough and sneeze etiquette, regular cleaning of shared spaces, and staying away if unwell. Our classrooms are well ventilated and we have been fortunate to have received a portable air cleaner unit from the Ministry of Education. Staff are all wearing masks and we continue to strongly encourage our students in Rooms 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,and 10 to wear a mask as an extra layer of protection.

To our families who are self-isolating or are recovering from COVID, we wish you all a speedy recovery.

This Sunday is the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The day commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven.

Have a wonderful week.

Kia ora koutou

Welcome to term 2!  Although it is already week 4, after a few weeks of isolation for our family, I feel like it is just starting.  Below are a few updates for our school community.

New Proprietor’s Appointee on Board:

A very warm welcome to Odette Hoera who joined our school board as a proprietor’s appointee at our last meeting on 11 May.  You may know Odette as Mum of Jackson in Room 5.  We are very grateful that Odette put her name forward to be on the board and her generosity in sharing her skills with the board and school.

A Proprietor appointee represents the Archbishop of Wellington to ensure the school’s commitment to Catholic education and to maintain and enhance the Catholic Character of the school. 

Current List of Board Members:

Suzanne Adair (Presiding Member and proprietor’s appointee)

Bernadette Murfitt (Principal)

John Grevatt (Staff representative)

Proprietor’s appointees –Amanda Gray, Odette Hoera, Jay Manu’a

Parent representatives – Kitchie de Guzman, Nigel Ingram, Keiran Kennedy, Nicola Nation, Lionel Taito-Matamua   

Board Meeting – 11 May

• We reviewed the analysis of our finances from 2018 to 2021 with the 2022 budget. We also finalised the 2021 financial statements which have undergone the usual audit process.  We will share a summary with you later in the term, but we are pleased to report that the school is in a healthy financial position.  The annual report can be found at https://sacred-heart.school.nz/our-school/our-reports/
• We reviewed reading data and our children continue to do very well in their assessment and hold high levels of achievement. The board discussions focus on progress being made and we also reviewed the school’s inclusion report which summarises SHCS learning support programme and next steps for progress. 
• Our strategic discussion was on community relationships and we discussed the challenges of this during the pandemic but look forward to welcoming our community back together in person starting with the Pasifika liturgy on 31 May.

The Board is very grateful to the staff of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in making school as safe as possible while also keeping learning going whether that is in school or at home.

2022 Donations

Thank you very much to everyone who has paid their donations to the school.  Although donations are not compulsory, they enable our school to provide high quality programmes of learning and we rely on these funds to enhance the life of the school through supporting cultural activities, sports, employing additional staff to supplement learning support, and provide extra teachers. The general school donation will be used for ICT classroom equipment (Chrome books and iPads) and trips and activities that support learning

Your support is greatly appreciated by us.  The donations (both general and specific) qualify for a rebate of 33%.  If you would like further information on this and how to claim, please click on the link below:

https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/individual-tax-credits/tax-credits-for-donations

Please contact Cathy at office@sacred-heart.school.nz if you have any questions. 

School Trustee Triennial Election

This is a school trustee election year and the election will take place on 7 September 2022.  We will be calling for nominations for the five parent representative positions later in the year. 

With the election coming up, I encourage you to think about standing to be a Board of Trustee member.   Being a trustee is an important and rewarding role and we need a board that is made up of people who have a wide range of skills, experience and knowledge in a variety of areas.  Further information will follow but please contact me if you would like to know more about being a parent trustee.    

I hope you and your families are staying safe and well. 

If you have any questions about the above, please email or call me - suzanneadair@hotmail.com 021 039 7558.

Ngā mihi nui

Suzanne Adair

Presiding Member, Sacred Heart Cathedral School Board of Trustees

Why is Matariki celebrated in the ‘middle months’ of the year?

Globally, most indigenous (native, naturally occurring in that country) cultures follow Maramataka- a lunar/moon cycle based calendar. Maramataka calendars differ throughout the world depending on the iwi/hapu following it. Maramataka uses many different parts of te taiao (the environment) to determine seasons, months, and activities. These environmental observations include sun/solar cycles - determines seasons, star/stellar cycles - determines months, and moon/lunar cycles - together with other environmental signs - determines activities.

When Europeans colonised Aotearoa, a completely different calendar was introduced, the Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar is the 7 days a week, 365 days a year calendar. It is a solar calendar (based off the sun).

The lunar calendar is a different length (354 days per year) to the solar calendar (365 days per year). This is why Matariki is celebrated during what is often considered ‘the middle months’ of the year under the Gregorian calendar, and also the reason Matariki rises at different times each year. Find out more about Maramataka and Gregorian calendar differences HERE and the use of a 13th month.

Matariki rises during the lunar phase Tangaroa, three to four days before a new moon cycle. Different iwi may celebrate Matariki at different times, and in different ways, depending on the local traditions. Some iwi celebrate upon the stars rising, other iwi may celebrate at the first full moon, or new moon after Matariki rising. Some iwi look for Puanga/Puaka instead of Matariki to signal their new year. This occurs earlier than Matariki.

We will be celebrating as a school whānau on 21st June at 5.30 pm. We are asking all children to decorate a paper bag which will become part of the evening. The bags are coming home today and need to be returned by 13th June. Thank you for your support with this.

Items for this Matariki Mini Market day can be dropped off to the school office.  Thank you.

Kia orana, Noa’ia, Talofa lava, Mauri, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni Sa Bula Vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atua and Mālō ni.

Please note school is not open on the following dates:

• Friday, 3rd June - this is an accord day and is attached to Queens Birthday weekend.
• Term 2 ends on Thursday, 7 July.

If your Preschooler is turning 5 in 2023 or you have a child who wishes to come to Sacred Heart Cathedral School, please complete an enrolment form. This is available on our school website: www.sacred-heart.school.nz.

Reinfection or continued infection with Covid-19

Public health advice is that:

• Current evidence shows the chance of having COVID-19 again within 90 days of a first infection is low, especially if it is the same variant – but it can happen.
• Reinfection within 28 days is considered exceptionally unlikely.
• COVID-19 like symptoms may be caused by other infections like the common cold, flu or a chest infection.
• Reinfection does not generally cause serious illness for most people but a diagnosis of reinfection with COVID-19 can be important for older people, people who have high risk conditions, or people who have frequent close contact with vulnerable people.
• People who are low health risk and have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 within 90 days of a COVID-19 diagnosis should stay home and recover until 24 hours after symptoms resolve. They are not required to take a RAT. However, if they become increasingly ill, they should call their GP or Healthline.
• People with underlying health conditions or anyone who has worsening symptoms should seek advice from a health practitioner or Healthline on 0800 358 5453. A RAT or PCR test may be recommended.
• We know that people can continue to test positive after their recovery but are very unlikely to be infectious after day 10. Retesting during the initial 28-day period is not necessary unless recommended by a health professional.
• If you become unwell more than 90 days after a COVID-19 infection you should follow the same advice as for a first infection. That is, seek advice about getting tested.

Further information on catching COVID-19 again is available on the Ministry of Health website.
 
Catching COVID-19 again – Ministry of Health

Long COVID in Children:

Long COVID describes the symptoms that continue or develop after the initial COVID-19 symptoms.
 
This is usually longer than 12 weeks after a person is first infected.
 
Most people with COVID-19 recover completely and return to normal health. People usually recover from COVID-19 after two to six weeks and many make a full recovery within 12 weeks.
 
KidsHealth has provided some useful information about COVID-19 symptoms in children which you may wish to share with your community:

• For most children with mild COVID-19, they will be back to normal within a week. A small number of children might take up to two weeks to feel back to normal.
• Most children with COVID-19 will have a mild illness and get better quickly.
• For a child or young person to have a diagnosis of post-COVID-19 condition (long COVID) their symptoms need to be having an impact on their everyday functioning and cannot be explained by another condition.
• Nearly all children will fully recover and return to normal health.
• Scientists and health professionals are still learning about long COVID, but studies so far have found:
  • children are much less likely to have long COVID than adults.
  • children recover faster than adults.
  • it mostly affects children over the age of 10 – it's very rare in younger children.

Further information is also available on the KidsHealth website, including caring for a child with COVID-19.
 
Recovering from long COVID – KidsHealth
Caring for a child with COVID-19 – KidsHealth
Long COVID – Ministry of Health NZ

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When can a sick child return to school?

Any child who has COVID-19 or is a household contact must remain at home for the legally required isolation period, regardless of whether they have returned a negative RAT.
 
Isolation is currently seven days with Day 0 being when a positive test was returned or from symptom onset. At the end of the seven-day isolation period if the child is still sick, they should stay home until they are well and for 24 hours after they no longer have symptoms.
 
There is no need to wait for an official message to leave isolation although they may receive a text message confirming their isolation period has ended.
 
If you have COVID-19 – Unite Against COVID-19

Ongoing Symptoms:

For COVID-19, colds and flus and potentially other illnesses, a child may continue to have minor but lingering symptoms such as a runny nose or minor cough.

• Anyone who is sick should stay home until they are well.
• When a child has respiratory symptoms, they should stay at home and seek advice from their GP or Healthline. Staying home is key to controlling the spread of any virus in a school setting.  
• Many children will have a long-lasting runny nose or cough after viral infections. If it has been more than 10 days since the onset of symptoms and they are no longer feeling unwell, they are very unlikely to be infectious and can therefore return to school.

However, if they are continuing to feel unwell or their symptoms are worsening after 10 days, they should not return to school. A GP review or a call to Healthline is recommended.

Message from The Attendance Dues Team

Just a friendly reminder that full payment of the Attendance Dues for 2022 is due by 31 May 2022. If you are paying by regular instalments, payments should be set up to close the balance by 30^th November 2022 or by arrangement with the Dues team.

The Term 2 invoice will be emailed to all families shortly. Please check that the invoice has not gone to your Spam/Junk Inbox and that all your children are listed on the statement.

Financial assistance is available to families experiencing financial hardship (loss of income/redundancy, family reasons, etc.). It is a condition of the assistance application that the family has an affordable regular payment in place.

If you have any questions, please contact us:

Phone: 0800 462 725       Email: dues@wn.catholic.org.nz         Text: 021 08907902 

First prize will be a chromebook.

Second prize is a Mi Smart Band 6 watch and groceries.

We also have a further 8 grocery 'hampers' to be won!

Tickets have been sent home with the eldest child in each family, tickets are $2.00 each.

The raffle closes on Friday, 10th June with winners being drawn on Wednesday, 15th June.  Winners will be contacted by phone and announced in the school newsletter.

Tomorrow, 26th May will be our last day for the Ice Blocks Camp Fundraiser. Thank you very much supporting our seniors students.

Last Friday, 20th May, we had our pink shirts on - Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

NETBALL RESULTS:

Sacred Heart Emeralds lost 6-25 to Brooklyn School Cobras. Player of the day was awarded to Emily Rm 8.

Sacred Heart Hearts lost 1-40 to Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Nga Mokopuna: Tuakana.

Sacred Heart Super Stars lost 3-18 to Seatoun School: Mystix.

BASKETBALL RESULTS:

Sacred Heart Lightning won 43-2 to Kahurangi Ra. Player of the day was awarded to Taitum Rm 9.

Sacred Heart Thunder lost 12-45 to Clyde Quay Stars. Players of the day was awarded to Zymone and Felix Rm 9.

https://www.netsafe.org.nz/mobilephoneharassmentandabuse/

The Open Day tours for those interested in enrolling their son at St Patrick’s College for 2022 will be held on Tuesday, 15th June between 9.30 to 11.00am and from 12.00pm to 1.30pm and again on Thursday, 17th June between 9.30 to 11.00am and from 12.00pm to 1.30pm. To make a booking please visit the St Patrick's College website:

https://www.stpats.school.nz

On the front page of our website you will see 'Open Day'.

Open this section and select "Open Day Booking Form" (an online booking form).

Enter your details and make your selection regarding day/time.

A reminder email will be sent closer to your booked day.