Dear Parents/Caregivers,

Last Sunday was the First Sunday of Advent - where has the year gone?

Congratulations to Tyler Duncan who is the recipient of a St Patrick's College Silverstream academic scholarhip.  We are super proud of you Tyler.

I have been granted a Principal's Sabbatical from the Ministry of Education for Term 2 2021.  My inquiry and topic of study will be:

"Inquire into ways that empower learners to succeed through the embedding of student-led learning (agency) practices that strengthen engagement, and improve learning outcomes for all students with a focus on Maori and Pasifika students."  I am very appreciative to the Sacred Heart Cathedral School Board of Trustees and the Ministry of Education who have all recognised my committment to teaching and learning.  Later on in term one, I will confirm our staffing arrangements. 

Advent Prayer

In this season of Advent,

inspire us to be people of hope.

Encourage us not to be greedy for

material possessions,

but for justice and truth.

Enflame us with a love for others,

which crosses boundaries of race,

religion and nationality.

Stir within us a desire to fight for the

integrity of creation

and appreciate the immense beauty

of the Earth.

Be with us, Lord, at this time,

that we may be a people of hope.

Amen.

Nativity scene in school office.

There will be a partial closure of Hill Street starting tomorrow (3rd December) for the use of the crane in the Cathedral project.  Vehicle access to Guildford Terrace will only be possible from the Tinakori Road end.  Thank you for your understanding.

Please support our Fix and Fogg Peanut Butter Christmas promotion.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tb5e9u7JDzGrvcFjNa7amXL--lI00KkpMjZXdfsnTk4/edit

I also have 6 jars left over from our November order - 3 Crunchy and 3 Everything Butter.  These are $11.00 each. Please email Frances directly if you wish to purchase these frances@sacred-heart.school.nz.

Have a great week.

Arohanui,

Bernadette Murfitt

Principal

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Arohanui,

Bernadette Murfitt

Principal

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

We would like to thank Sister Philippa this morning for drawing out 14 names from our Christmas raffle fundraiser.

Cathy has contacted all 14 winners this morning.

Hamper 1:  Gloria

Hamper 2:  Sinead

Hamper 3:  Richard

Hamper 4:  Rowena

Hamper 5:  Madeleine & Azaria

Hamper 6:  James

Hamper 7:  Carolyn

Hamper 8:  Lilian

Hamper 9:  Keiffer

Hamper 10:  Lalita

Hamper 11:  Rosalie

Hamper 12:  Ceferino

Hamper 13:  Lila A

Hamper 14:  Zach M

Ruby Bridges  

by Iliana Rm 10

Lucille Bridges passed away last week. Lucille raised a very special little girl named Ruby Bridges, who grew to change the world. Ruby grew up in New Orleans when segregation was still in place. There was a difference though, people were fighting segregation, they called it de-segregation! The judge passed a law that Frantz Elementary would become de-segregated.

The school and community disagreed and made the entrance exam extremely hard, but Ruby passed. Ruby had police and state-marshals guard her on her walk to school. When she was close to Frantz Elementary, she heard shouts and many feet pounding the pavement. Crowds of white people were standing outside the school. They were holding up signs saying things like ‘WHITES ONLY’ or “NO BLACKS’. They were protesting. They did not want Ruby going to their school. They shouted horrible things and threw things at her. One person was holding a baby’s coffin with a black baby doll in it. Ruby finally entered the school.

On the first day of school, she had to sit in the principal’s office because she couldn’t get to her classroom because the mobs were blocking it. On the second day, she entered her classroom but no one was there. It turns out that the white parents kept their children at home. The only teacher that agreed to teach her was Barbara Henry. Each day Ruby faced the mobs, went to school, then faced the mobs again on the way home. One day Mrs Henry was waiting by the window when she saw her saying something to the crowd. Mrs Henry asked her what she was saying. It turns out that each day she prayed for the crowd to be forgiven by God for they had no idea what they were doing.

Many people told Lucille Bridges to make Ruby quit school but Lucille knew that sending Ruby to school would make a change to racism forever. There were many consequences of sending Ruby to school. Many stores refused to sell to Ruby’s family. Her father lost his job, and her grandparents were evicted from the farm they lived at their whole lives.

After a few months, two boys arrived in her class. Their mothers had stated that they wouldn’t let politics get in the way of their boy’s education.

Now Ruby Bridges has grown up and become a Civil Rights Activist fighting for Black Lives. In 1999, she created the ‘Ruby Bridges Foundation’ to help end racism. She still lives in New Orleans, is married to Malcolm Hall and has four children, all boys.

She overcame many obstacles to get to where she is today. Lucille and Ruby paved the way for so many young girls all over the world. 

The Ruby Bridges Story 

by Bella T Rm 10

Lucille Bridges passed away last week. She was a strong independent woman whose decisions affected society and changed the course of history.

Her family lived in New Orleans at the time of black and white partings. De-segregation was happening which meant the government and court allowed coloured children in ‘white schools’. Sadly not everyone made it in because of the difficult entry test.

Every day her daughter Ruby Bridges attended that ‘white school’ (William Franzt Elementary). Ruby walked into school every day to see an aggressive mob trying to get her to leave but she was strong. They held up a black doll in a coffin every day but that did not stop Ruby from learning. Guards led her into the school to protect her from the mob.

Ruby was the only one in her class, just her and the teacher (Mrs Henry). She always came into the class with a big smile on her face. Mrs Henry was always concerned that Ruby was lonely but she said she was fine. After a year of being by herself ‘white’ kids finally joined her in class.

Ruby was a very religious girl and prayed every morning. One day Ruby forgot to pray and only had time once she was in the mob. Ruby prayed for the people who bullied her because they didn’t realise what they were doing.

Ruby is now a Civil Rights activist trying to make a difference in the cruel and unfair world of ours.

Congratulations to the following for their achievements this year:

NZ PROBLEM CHALLENGE:

MERIT:  Harmony Rm 9, Kerys Rm 8, Alice Rm 9, Blair Rm 10, Irene Rm 8, Katie Rm 9, Owen Rm 9, Bianca Rm 8, Declan Rm 10, Kezia Rm 10, Maia Rm 8, Tyler Rm 10.

EXCELLENCE:  Daniel M Rm 8, Rupert Rm 8, Charlize Rm 8, Nathan Rm 10.

APSMO - AUSTRALIA:

Due to Covid19, this year's competition was done "in school."

Congratulations to the top scorers for Year 8:  Nathan Rm 10, Charlize Rm 8.

Year 7:  Irene Rm 8.

Top 'New Participant':  Blair Rm 10, Daniel M Rm 8.

Last Thursday, we held a special morning tea to thank the many individuals, groups and agencies that support our school.  Our Senior students spoke and sung on behalf of our school and recognised all the efforts of the teams who support Sacred Heart Cathedral School.  I would like to acknowledge these fine young leaders who delivered messages on behalf of us all in a confident and sincere way.

https://youtu.be/qv0SD9azuw4

Thank you so much for all your generous donations. We are so grateful to everyone who has been able to pay their donations during this very tough year. 

We have been able to provide numerous rich learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

We have purchased STEM resources (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

More chromebooks for the middle and senior school.

More iPads for the Junior School.

Playground equipment.

Latest book titles for our library.

Additional  teacher aide hours to support learners.

Extra Reading Recovery places.

Extra Teacher hours to support groups of learners.

Thank you for your generosity.

The following is a fantastic clip from the Caritas website that we use in our teaching programmes. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73_qGt3rPyc&feature=emb_title

Otis (Rm 1) has lost his named school jersey.  Please check your child's jersey and if found, please return it to Room 1.  Thank you.

Last Friday, our senior school participated in a sports exchange with St Francis de Sales School. This was the second running of this competition and is a highlight of the senior school calendar.

Our students were yet again a real credit to themselves.  We were so proud of them all being so smart in the sun.

We won the netball, lost the football and was a mixed bag with touch. 

We also played the biggest game ever of "Capture the Flag" across an expansive area.  We divided up into year groups and the roars in Island Bay could be heard from Thorndon. 

We didn't manage to secure the cup this year, however we are in training for 2021.  At the end of the day the smiles were enormous, happy students, and happy teachers.

27th November 2020 Game:

Sacred Heart Shooting Stars vs Karori Komodos won 5-1. Player of the day is Xavier (Rm3).

Sacred Heart Tigers vs Chill Cheetahs loss 2-4. Player of the day is Vanessa (Rm6).

Sacred Heart Strikers - BYE