Embedded Files
Welcome
Welcome
This Friday is the last day of Term 3. It is definitely time for the children to have a break from the school routine - and 'recharge their batteries'. Thank you for your support throughout this term - especially to the many parents, nonnas, nanas, grandads, friends and caregivers who have helped out on trips, and special activities at school - we couldn't do it without you.
Learning Updates
Learning Updates
Papatūānuku Celebration of Learning
Our Year 4-6 ākonga shared their celebration of learning with their peers and whānau last week. They had created a visual display to share their new knowledge about an animal of their choice. All of the children were able to share facts that they had learned throughout the term, and answer questions about their presentation. Thank you to the many families who were able to attend the event.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori
To celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori last week, our ākonga were involved in a range of different activities - including Toi Māori (Māori Arts). Our Year 6-8 performance group from kapahaka did us proud in their performance at the Wellington Catholic Schools' Kāhui Ako Cultural festival. This was also a great chance to reconnect, in between performance slots, with some past pupils from SFDS who now attend St Pat's College.
Toi Māori Display - Ngā Taonga
Year 7&8 students have created beautiful taonga below from clay, and these are on display in the foyer - please come in and check them out.
Ranginui Speeches
Our rangatahi/young people from Ranginui (Year 7&8 syndicate) have been working for several weeks preparing their own speeches. This is a tradition at our school. Those selected go on to take part in speech finals. The finals take place tomorrow. This year we are thrilled to welcome author and publisher Pania Tahau-Hodges, Director of Huia Publishing as our guest judge for this event.
Congratulations to Johnny, Zoe, Cora, Tom, Cian, Thalia, Anika, Charlie W, Louis, Lani, Frankie, and Sofia M who have all qualified for this event. Whanau of competing ākonga have been invited to attend. We will give opportunities for the top entries to share their speeches more widely later in the year. The first place getter will also be presented with a trophy at our End of Year Liturgy on 19 December.
Library Visits
Our junior tamariki-children have been making regular visits to the Island Bay Library this term. On Monday it was the turn of our ākonga in Wheke (R7). Thank you to Lizzie for supporting our students.
Catholic Character
Catholic Character
Values Focus
Our school values focus just now is Hūmārire - Gentleness. At SFdS, we encourage this in actions towards others, kind, gentle hands and feet, calm conversations, appreciation, acknowledging wonders of life and earth, others before self, humility.
Years 1 – 5: Being gentle towards people, nature, resources, sports equipment, property.
Years 6 – 8: Seeing the fragility in things including people’s feelings. Understanding your own strength. Appreciating times of quiet, reflection, silence and mindfulness.
Religious Education in Term 4
Next term our Religious Education focus across the school is Te Rongopai - Good News. Fr Doug joined the teachers after school yesterday to support us to appreciate more deeply the Catholic understandings of this theme.
Old Testament - The Hebrew Bible informed Jesus’ worldview and is the whakapapa from which the New Testament grew. This includes the deuterocanonical books. Young people need to have a knowledge of these formative histories, stories and revelation.
New Testament - The New Testament records the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels and the development of the early Church and Christian theology in Acts, the Letters and Revelation. Young people need to understand these texts as the foundation of Christianity speaking to them today.
Church Tradition - The Sacred Scripture came into being in Jewish and Christian communities through the inspiration of God. Two thousand years of study and reflection on this revelation have informed Catholic Tradition. It is important for young people to understand sacred texts in terms of what the Church says and does, especially in terms of addressing timeless religious and social issues such as poverty and peace. As the Church continues to reflect on Scripture she seeks and finds fresh ways to respond and teach on new issues that arise through human experience.
Sports
Sports
Term 4 Sports closing soon!
Make sure to register on kindo asap!
Southern Zone Swimming Sports
We had 27 swimmers representing us yesterday at this event and they all did themselves very proud! A huge thank you to Lydia W and Craig M who came along and helped with time keeping. Thank you also to the parents and caregivers who came to cheer our swimmers on.
Great going boys! Nunzio U, Jack C, Fletcher K and Noah W
Congratulations to all the swimmers who participated yesterday!
Great season for the Holy Hot Shotz! Really showed great team spirit!
The Faithful Five team did awesome this term and we recruited Sofia for our last games.
We have a great line up of trophies for our end of season netball prize giving this Thursday!
School Notices and Events
School Notices and Events
Issues with Attendance Dues System - Message from the Archdiocese of Wellington
A number of our families have had incorrect billing and communication from the the Proprietor of our school this year after a new system was introduced. We have received a letter from the proprietor that includes the message below:
"I understand that since the beginning of this year, our schools and whānau have experienced several challenges impacted by changes to our attendance dues system, processes, and changes with staff. The new system “Cathconnect”, as implemented did not go as planned, we assure you that we are doing our best to try and resolve these challenges to ensure the system is working effectively.
As a way forward, the Archdiocese of Wellington has enlisted the services of [another] Account Manager of Attendance Dues, [from another diocese] for 12 months...We thank you and your whānau for your patience during the last six months and apologise for any inconvenience caused"
Kids Calendar Art Works Reminder!
We’re half-way through the ordering period and want to make sure everyone has the code to order products made from their child’s own art.
These make unique Christmas gifts for family and friends and are perfect for posting overseas.
Follow these instructions to place your order online:
1/. Go to www.kidsartworks.com
2/. Use the Entrance Code: KZ*….. (add in your entrance code from your welcome letter e.g. “KZ3452”)*
3/. Enter your child’s room & name
The order is open until Friday 18th October
Payment can be made over the website via credit card or account2account.
If you have any questions please contact the school on office@sfds.school.nz
A heartfelt thank you to Georgina Cordalis and the team at Louka CrossFit for generously dedicating an afternoon of fundraising in support of the St Francis de Sales School library! Your contribution makes a significant difference, and we truly appreciate your efforts. Every bit counts!
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Dates to Add to Your Diary
Please also check our SFDS Events Calendar
Thursday 26 September
Ranginui Speech Final
Koura (Rm 6) Library Visit
Netball End of Season Prize Giving
Meeting for whānau of Year 6 students re the Noho Marae
Friday 27 September
Last day of Term 3
Trading Card Swap Meet
Sunday 6 October
Suzanne Aubert Combined Mass (SFDS Church)
Monday 14 October
First day of Term 4
Wednesday 16 October
Athletics Day (year 4-8)
Thursday 17 October
Papatūānuku weekly swimming lessons start
Tangaroa weekly swimming lessons start
Friday 18 October
Non-uniform day (please bring non-perishable food items)
Kids Calendar Art orders close today
Thursday 24 October
Save the Date - PSL DISCO
Late October / early November
Year 6 Noho Marae (exact date to be confirmed)
Friday 15 November
Teacher Only Day (school closed)
Wednesday 18 December
Year 8 Leavers' Dinner
Thursday 19 December
End of Year Liturgy (early evening - exact time to be confirmed)
Friday 20 December
Last day of the school year
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