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Welcome
Welcome
Welcome to our new families at St Francis de Sales School. We hope you feel welcomed by our current parents and their children. We are now in the second week of Lent. Try some of these ideas to support your child to learn about being 'Transformed - Kua Whakahoutia' during this time of Lent.
School Donations And Charges
Thank you to all the families that have paid or are making payments towards their school donations. These have been added to your Kindo account and can be paid in full or by part payment.
Donations to the school are voluntary and tax deductible. If payment is received prior to 1 April 2025, you can claim your 2025 donations rebate from IRD this year. Receipts are generated and emailed through your Kindo account when payment is made. Copies can be requested through your Kindo account if required.
While we acknowledge payment of the donations are voluntary; we rely on these donations to provide opportunities for your children.
If you have any questions please contact, please speak to Suzanne at office@sfds.school.nz or 939 7370.
If you have any concerns about our donation requests or compulsory payments, please feel free to contact Mary-Angela Tombs at principal@sfds.school.nz.
Save the Date: Term One Learning Conferences
At the end of this term, we will hold 'Learning Conferences' for you and your whānau. These conferences are family meetings with each child's teacher(s). Each meeting is 15 minutes long. We ask that you bring your child along to their conference so that they can be part of the conversation. You can also bring other family members if you would like to. Talking about your child's learning - actually helps their learning! We will send more information out about how these meetings work in a week or two.
School finishes early on Tuesday 8 April and Wednesday 9 April, school will close early at 2.00pm. Please arrange for an early pick up for your child(ren) on these days. SKIDs will also have childcare available at school if you would like to make a casual booking with them.
Next week we will open the bookings on Hero - please look out for this so that you do not miss out.
Catholic Character
Catholic Character
Thank You
A huge thank you to Zhryx A, Sofia P, Brady P, Shreya B, Dallas T, Úna G, Amelia McG, Tenysin T, Carter T, Dominic S, Henry McG, Magnus W and Frank W for their active participation in our Masses held at St Francis de Sales Church on 2nd March and 5th March. Your love of God shone through in your faithful acts of service. May your light continue to shine and inspire others.
2025 Sacramental programme
2025 Sacramental programme. Deadline for enrolments is this Friday, 14 March. This programme is available to all children who have been baptised into the Catholic faith and reached Year 4 or above in the primary school system. Enrolment forms are available on the Church website: wellingtonsouthcatholic.org/
Thank you to the families that have enrolled. Our Parents Only Session is taking place on Tuesday 18 March, 6.30pm, at St Anne’s Church. Look forward to seeing you there.
Learning
Learning
Learning Through Play
Our learners are supported in their emotional, cognitive and physical environment in the context of learning through play. Our learning environments integrate the elements of a play-based pedagogy to encourage our learners to think outside the square, be creative, collaborate with others and develop positive attitudes to learning at school.
The teachers and teacher aides for Year 1-3 classes share the responsibility of supporting Learning Through Play. This also allows some quiet time in class to provide individual and small-group teaching. The teachers draw the children out to work with them in this way.
Art Lessons
Our art programme is giving all of our ākonga opportunities to express themselves creatively, strengthen their fine motor skills, learn different forms of communication, and take 'time out' from the cognitive practice of structured Maths, Reading and Writing programmes. The children are loving it!
Maths Learning
In the mathematics and statistics learning area, students learn about and appreciate the power of symbolic representation, reasoning, and abstraction. They learn to investigate, interpret, and explain patterns and relationships in quantity, space, time, data, and uncertainty. As they achieve deep conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in the learning area, students can accurately and efficiently use mathematics and statistics as a foundation for new learning and to solve problems.
Our school is currently using the 'Maths No Problem' programme for Maths. This is new for everyone. We have been encouraged by the Minister of Education to have, " 'whole class teaching model’ where all students benefit from teaching at their year level against the refreshed curriculum." (Hon. Erica Stanford). Each child has their own Maths workbook, and we have been given text books for the students to share.
Physical Education (PE) Learning
This year we have a dedicated PE teacher - Anita Patel. This concept is working wonderfully, and the children having really rich opportunities to hone specific skills while at school. At the moment, Anita is teaching the PE skills related to Athletics. At our upcoming Athletics Day on on Friday 28 March (see last week's SFDS News for details), the children will be able to celebrate these new skills they have learned.
Sports
Sports
Year 5 - 8 Netball
All information and registrations for year 5 - 8 netball are now on Kindo. Netball is played in terms 2 and 3 so your child/ren needs to be able to commit to both terms.
Weet-Bix Kids Tryathlon
We hope all those participating in this event on Sunday have a great time swimming, cycling and running!
School Notices and Events
School Notices and Events
Reminder Sausage Sizzle: PSL Fundraiser
There will be a Sausage Sizzle held this Friday 14th March! These will be available for purchase via Kindo and will be delivered to your child's class in time for lunch.
If you are able to help out on the day please let the PSL know by emailing them on psl.sfds@gmail.com or turn up at 11am on the day!!
Easter Raffle
This afternoon, your child will bring home a book of 10 raffle tickets for our annual Easter Egg Raffle fundraiser. Tickets are $2 each, and all proceeds will go towards purchasing TVs and Apple TVs for our classrooms.
Please help by selling as many tickets as possible to friends, family, and colleagues. Return the sold ticket stubs and money in the provided envelope to the school office no later than Wednesday, 9 April. There’s even a spot prize for the student who sells the most tickets!
The raffle will close and be drawn on Wednesday, 9 April, just in time for Easter. Winners will be notified by phone. If you need more tickets or additional information, visit the school office. If you choose not to participate, please return the tickets so they can be redistributed.
Thank you for supporting our school and good luck!
Sports Hoodies
We are excited to offer our optional sports hoodie, designed exclusively for sports and PE days. This navy-blue hoodie with white writing can be personalized with your child’s name on the back.
How to Order: Hoodies are available to purchase on Kindo under the "Sports Hoodie" tab.
Important: Orders must be paid for by Friday 4 April. Unfortunately, we cannot place your order if payment is not received by this deadline.
Pricing: Kids' Sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL): $60 each Adult Sizes (S, M, L, XL): $65 each
Sizing Information: If you are unsure about sizing, fittings are available at the uniform shop every Friday morning from 8:45 to 9:15 am. We will email you the sizing information, allowing you to place your order on Kindo confidently. 1
Please Note: Sizing is unique, so if you're uncertain, we highly recommend a fitting. Once ordered, refunds will not be available. If you already own a hoodie, you may be able to gauge the next size needed and place your order directly on Kindo. Hoodies will be ready for collection in Term 2. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at the office.
Old Book Bags
Got an old book bag lying around? Don’t know what to do with it? SFDS is collecting gently used or spare book bags to give back to the school community. If you have one to donate, please drop it off at the school office. Thank you!
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Please also check our SFDS Events Calendar
Thursday 13 March 2025
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Tāmūrē (Rm 5) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear
Friday 14 March 2025
9am - 10am Rm 7&12 Buddy Mass
11:45am - 12pm PSL Sausage Sizzle
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
Monday 17 March 2025
1:30pm - 3pm Room 5 Island Bay library trip
Tuesday 18 March 2025
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
School Photo Day 2025
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
Wednesday 19 March 2025
9am - 3pm Ranginui - Mountains to Seas - Back up Session
Koura (Rm 6) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Thursday 20 March 2025
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Tamure (Rm 5) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear
Friday 21 March 2025
Rm 2&8 Buddy Mass
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
Monday 24 March 2025
1:30pm - 3pm Room 6 Island Bay library visit
Tuesday 25 March 2025
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
7pm - 8pm PSL AGM -SFDS Staff room 7pm
Wednesday 26 March 2025
Koura (Rm 6) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
3:30pm - 4:45pm ADHD Parent Information Workshop - R13/14 (Amie Roberts)
Thursday 27 March 2025
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Tamure (Rm 5) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear
Friday 28 March 2025
Athletics Day Newtown Park
Tuesday 1 April 2025
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
Wednesday 2 April 2025
Koura (Rm 6) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Thursday 3 April 2025
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Tamure (Rm 5) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear
Friday 4 April 2025
9am - 10am Rm 6&10 Buddy Mass
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
Monday 7 April 2025
1:30pm - 3pm Room 6 Island Bay library visit
Tuesday 8 April 2025
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
2pm - 3pm 2pm school finish for Learning Conferences
2:15pm - 7:30pm Learning Conferences
Wednesday 9 April 2025
Koura (Rm 6) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Pohutukawa (Rm 10) PE Day- Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
2pm - 3pm 2pm school finish for Learning Conferences
2:15pm - 7:30pm Learning Conferences
Thursday 10 April 2025
Tamure (Rm 5) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Tarawera (Rm 2) Pe Day - Wear PE Gear
12:30pm - 2:45pm Technology Ranginui (Yr 7 & 8)
Friday 11 April 2025
Last Day of Term 1
9am - 10am Rm 7&12 Buddy Mass
Parareka (Rm 8) PE Day - Wear PE Gear
Ranginui PE Day - (Rm 12 and 13) Wear PE Gear
Wheke (Rm 7) PE day - Wear PE Gear
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