Welcome

Kia ora koutou,

Firstly, we gratefully remember ‘Vinnie’ Cornell (Vincent Maehe Te kakakura Cornell-Cooke - Ngāti Toa, Te Āti Awa ki Kāpiti, Ngāti Raukawa), who passed away last week. Ashleigh, their children, and their wider whānau shared a moving farewell and tribute at Whakarongotai Marae on Saturday. 

We are excited to reconnect with returning families next Monday, and to extend a warm welcome to those joining us for the first time. Our guiding motto is based on the teachings of St Francis de Sales: "Love of God, Love of Learning, Love of Life" and this inspires all we do. Together, we aim to foster a nurturing environment where each child can grow academically, socially, and spiritually.

We look forward to working in partnership with you to make this year a positive and rewarding experience for all our tamariki. 

School Dates for the Coming Two Weeks

We have three days of school next week, as below:

• Monday 3 February - Wednesday 5 February (school open) - we will hold a welcome for all new and returning families and staff soon after taking the roll on Monday 3rd, at about 9:15am in the Courtyard (weather-permitting)

• Thursday 6 February is a public holiday to celebrate Waitangi Day (school closed)

• Friday 7 February is also a holiday for our school community - a long Waitangi Weekend (school closed)

• Monday 10 February - we are back at school. 

SKIDS Before and After School Care

Great news! SKIDS has been hard at work throughout the holidays preparing for our very own onsite Before and After School Care at SFDS. They will operate from our school library as a base. You can book in from our very first day of school. Help is available if you would like to apply for an OSCAR subsidy. 

If you’re looking for a safe, structured and fun environment for your children, you’ve found it! Our affordable out-of-school care encourages kids to be curious and courageous.

Opening 3 Feb 2025!

• Onsite Number: 0273 597 520

• Customer Service: 0800 274 172

• Email: stfrancisdesales@skids.co.nz

Programme Hours

• Before School Care: 7:30-8:30am

• After School Care: 3:00-6:00pm

Here is a link to the SKIDS St Francis de Sales site: https://www.skids.co.nz/locations/st-francis-de-sales/ 

SFDS Uniform Hats Compulsory This Term

Please ensure that your child(ren) has the correct school sunhat as these are compulsory each time the children are outside. We have a 'no hat = no play' policy to protect them from the UV rays while playing. Hats can be ordered on Kindo. 

Staff & Communication

We hope to ensure that you are kept in the loop about events and activities as best we can. This relies on healthy two-way communication, as in the graphic below. 

The profiles below are aimed at the children, to help them get to know the SFDS staff they will be working with. The email for each classroom teacher is included in their profile. The name they would prefer the children to call them is at the bottom right of each profile. 

Communication about your child should be directed to their classroom teacher in the first instance. If needed, your next step is our three team leaders. Their emails are included in their profiles below. 

1. Tangaroa (Year 1-3) Team Leader: Sandra Buless 

2. Papatūānuku (Year 4-6) Team Leader: Ronan Kelly

3. Ranginui (Year 7&8) Team Leader: Jemma Brown

Sports

Term 1 Sports Open on Kindo

Future Ferns, Touch Rugby and Futsal are now open for registration on Kindo! Registration's Close Friday 7 February 2025.

School Notices and Events

Buddy Bench

Thank you very much to the Chenery Trust for donating $1200 towards a buddy bench at the end of 2024. We also received $400 in donations from our community towards this bench at the end of 2023. The bench will soon arrive and be installed in our school. This bench will be a place where lonely students, who need a buddy, can go and sit if they are too shy to ask someone to be their friend. Fr Doug will bless the bench, and Robbie and Bobbie Smith will be invited back to SFDS to be the first to sit on it! 

Music Lessons with Vorn

This year music lessons have moved to Tī Kōuka R11, up in the senior block. 

Dates to Add to Your Diary

Please also check our SFDS Events Calendar 

Thursday 30 January 

• Uniform orders made on Kindo will be processed for pick-up

Friday 31 January 

• Uniform shop open for those needing Fitting. Please make sure you have Kindo downloaded and Money available on Kindo. 

Monday 3 February 

• First day of Term 1

Thursday 6 February

• Waitangi Day - School Closed

Friday 7 February

• School Closed 

Monday 10 February

• School Reopens 

Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 13 February

• St John's First Aid sessions for Kids 

Thursday 13 February

• Year 7 Immunisation Talk 

Friday 14 February 

• Clued Up Camper First Aid session for Year 7/8 

Tuesday 18 - Friday 21 February

• Camp Makahika Year 7 & 8

Friday 28 February 

• Curriculum Teacher only day - School closed

Monday 3 March 

• Life Education Arrives!!! 🦒 Welcome Harold!!!!

Tuesday 18 March 

• School Photo Day