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School Newsletter Term 4 Issue 13

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STAFF VACANCY: Catholic Parish of New Plymouth – Parish Administrator

Part-time 28 hours p/week, working to support the Church Ministry Team.

Attributes we are looking for are as follows:

o 5+ years’ experience in a reception/administration role, or similar

o Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills – friendly telephone manner.

o Strong organisational skills, particularly relating to time management, stress management, administration and the meeting of deadlines

o Proficient in Microsoft Office with proven experience using Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Outlook and Word

o Strong team focus and commitment to provide exceptional customer service to both internal and external stakeholders

o The ability to adapt to and work effectively to various working situations and individuals

o Exceptional organisational skills with a high consideration to detail and accuracy

o Trustworthy, honest, respectful, and flexible.

o To uphold a code of confidentiality in all aspects of Parish life.

o Have a commitment to the principles and teachings of the Catholic Church

o Demonstrate reliability and strong work ethic.

o Excellent handwritten communication skills.

o The ability to follow instruction, adapt to changing schedules, priorities and environments.

o The ability to converse effectively with a wide range of people from different cultures and organisations.

o Has a level of fitness and stamina to complete daily assigned tasks and a valid NZ Drivers’ Licence

Contact Denise for a Job Description manager@catholicparishnp.nz

Year 1 & 2 Netball – Final Game today

Just a reminder that today is the last game for Year 1 & 2 Future Ferns Netball.  Netball Taranaki are celebrating with a Festival Day where the kids can dress up in costume. See flyer below or in the notices section of the app.

Please also remember that all parents/guardians and siblings over 12 years and 3 months must have a vaccine pass to enter the courts.

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Maize Maze Reminder

A reminder for those wanting to purchase Maize Maze tickets the closing date for tickets before Christmas is Thursday 16th December. See link below. There will also be opportunity to purchase early in Term 1. Home & School Committee.

Maze Maise

Athletics day has been cancelled due to the weather. Children are to come to school in their usual school uniform.

Athletics Day – Tuesday 14th December (Weather Dependent)

Tomorrow – Tuesday 14th December is our school athletics day. Due to current Covid-19 restrictions in schools, we unfortunately cannot have parents attend this event.

Students are to come to school in their St Pius X P.E top, black shorts and sneakers. They need to come prepared for the day with a drink bottle and plenty of lunch.

Unfortunately the weather is not looking promising at this stage. There is no postponement date for our athletics. A message will be sent out via the school app in the morning if it is cancelled. If this is the case, then students are just to come to school in their usual school uniform.

Many thanks, Jacinta Radford

Christmas Trees for Sale

A reminder that our Young Vinnies will be selling living Christmas trees at the school gate today between 2.45 – 3pm. All sizes $5.00.

Yarrows Cookies

There are a very limited number of cookies still for sale.  If you missed out or would like some additional boxes please email stpiusxhomeschool@gmail.com with your request.

Given the limited amount available someone will be in contact with you to confirm your order and payment details (please do not pay until your order has been confirmed). Collection will be next Thursday 16 December between 2.50pm and 3.15pm.

The Maize Maze – Fundraiser

The Inglewood Lions Club have given the Home and School Committee the opportunity to fundraise through selling family tickets to the Inglewood Maize Maze 2022.   The Maze will start in mid-January.   Each family pass (2 adults and 3 children (under 15) or 3 adults and 1 child) costs $25.00 and $10.00 of that will come back to the Committee.  Two orders will be put through, the first on 16 December 2021 (in time for Christmas) and the other early in Term 1 (date to be advised).  Please enter details through the attached link.    Feel free to share the link with friends and families if you wish to do so.    If you have any questions or are unable to open the link please email the Home and School Committee on stpiusxhomeschool@gmail.com and we will do what we can to assist.  

Maize Maze Link

Updated information for Year 6 Leavers Liturgy – please read carefully

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Christmas Trees for Sale

At 2.45pm – 3pm today and tomorrow our Young Vinnies will be selling living Christmas trees at the gate.  Come and buy a tree that will grow each year with your family.  All sizes $5. 

Due to the weather forecast, this afternoon’s final games of touch rugby have been cancelled.

A huge thank you to everyone for the generous bottle donations last week in preparation for the school gala. Much appreciated.

Yarrows Cookie and Croissant Collection – we ask you to please leave the school grounds promptly after collecting your order today. Thanks

Gala – White Elephant Stall

Gala planning is well underway and as usual we will be running the ever popular White Elephant Stall.

We are now able to accept donations of sellable items such as clothes, toys and general household items.

Please drop any items to be donated into the school office in the mornings between 8.15am – 9am.

We will not be accepting any electrical or broken items or pieces of furniture.

Summer Holidays Cricket Clinic – 26th & 27th January 2022

Taranaki Cricket is running a Summer Holidays Cricket Clinic on Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th January 2022 for children aged 7 to 13 years old.

If this is something your child might be interested in, see the flyer below or in the notices section of the app.

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Covid 19 Update

With the change to the Covid Protection Framework (CPF – Traffic Lights) from tomorrow, we have been informed that schools will not change to the CPF system until January 2022. “The Ministers have agreed that all schools will retain their existing COVID-19 settings until the end of the 2021 calendar year, but guidance will recommend that schools outside of Auckland align their practices with the COVID-19 Protection Framework settings, which will come into effect for all
schools from 1 January 2022.”

We will end the 2021 school year with our current Level Two requirements.

Touch Rugby – Week 6 Draw: Monday 6th December

The touch rugby draw for next week – Monday 6th December is available to view below or in the notices section of the app. Please note: this is the final week of touch rugby.

A message from City Touch:

“As you all know that from this Friday, Taranaki will move into the Covid 19 Protection Framework (traffic light system) under Orange. With so much uncertainty on how this would look for us to operate sport plus we have not been given time or direction to plan for sport in Orange.

We have decided we will transition the last week of touch out under our same level 2 systems we have been running.
So week 6 will be run as usual in bubbles with no spectators to complete our season.”

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Yarrows Cookie & Croissant Collection – Reminder

Cookie and Croissant orders will be available for collection from the school Hall tomorrow, Friday December 3rd, between 2.30-3.30pm.  Please ensure you follow COVID regulations when collecting your order.

If you are unable to collect your order during this time please make arrangements for someone to collect it on your behalf as we do not have freezer capacity to hold orders.

As items are frozen they need to be collected and returned to the freezer as soon as possible. 

Mufti Day for Gala Lucky Bottle Stall – Wednesday 1st December

A reminder that the Home & School would like to invite students to wear mufti to school tomorrow and in return bring a bottle (or more) for our Lucky Bottle Stall for next year’s Gala. 

Touch Rugby – Week 5 Draw: Monday 29th November

The touch rugby draw for next Monday 29th November is available to view below or in the notices section of the app.

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Term 4 Issue 12

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Reminder: Year 6 Leaver’s Slideshow

Thank you to all the parents of Year 6’s who have sent through photos for the Leaver’s Slideshow.

A reminder that these photos need to be sent to Jacinta Radford by this Friday 26th November.

One photo needs to be on your child’s first day of school (whether this was at St Pius X or a different school). The other two photos are other times in their school life – perhaps a photo with siblings, a sports day, production etc.

Please can these photos be sent through to jacinta@stpiusx.school.nz

Anything not sent in by Friday, will be unable to be put into the slideshow.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford and Emma McIntosh

Yarrows Cookie and Croissant Collection

Cookie and Croissant orders will be available for collection from the school hall on Friday 3rd December between 2.30-3.30pm.  Please ensure you follow COVID regulations when collecting your order.

If you are unable to collect your order during this time please make arrangements for someone else to collect it on your behalf as we do not have freezer capacity to hold orders.

As items are frozen they need to be collected and returned to the freezer as soon as possible.

Home & School Committee

Mufti Day for the Gala Lucky Bottle

The Home & School Committee would like to invite students to wear mufti to school next Wednesday 1st December and in return bring a bottle (or more) for our Gala Lucky Bottle Stall.  There will be a section for under 18’s and a section for over 18’s so we welcome anything from a bottle of juice to a bottle of wine.  There will be boxes outside the staffroom for students to put the bottles in when they arrive at school. We would love to receive a variety of bottles, but remember to send along something you would be happy to win back! 

Touch Rugby – Week 4 Draw: Monday 22nd November

The touch rugby draw for next Monday 22nd November is available to view below or in the notices section of the app.

A few reminders from City Touch:

– No crossing of the zone ropes, these are there for reason.

– No spectators please as there has been a increase especially by zone 4&5 by the playground and skate park.

– Please parents if you don’t need to be there, drop your child off and collect them once their games finish.

– If crowd numbers increase we will have to shutdown games so we don’t breach our Covid level 2 protocols.

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Year 5 & 6 End of Year Arrangements – please read the important information below.

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School Gala – SO SAVE THE DATE – Sunday 6 March 2022

Having had a year of many cancellations of sports events, school productions, Christmas at the Bowl, parades, and lights, we are planning to run our school gala to have a fun day for families early in 2022.

We are raising money towards a SECOND PLAYGROUND by the bottom courts.

Gala planning is underway, we ask that you support this day in any way you can – donations, volunteering time, running a stall you can email any ideas to stpiusxhomeschool@gmail.com complete this form https://forms.gle/grjV9MQfAuuBA4hQ7 or talk to any home and school member.

We are planning on running the ever popular white elephant stall so perfect time to have a pre Christmas clear out, We would welcome donations of sellable clothes, toys etc – we are just working out logistics of where to put donations in level 2 so will advise ASAP once we can accept donations.

Thanks
Your Home & School Committee

Year 1 & 2 Future Ferns Netball

Netball Taranaki have decided as a precaution to cancel all netball games this week which includes the Year 1 & 2 netball, usually played on Wednesdays after school.

They anticipate it will be for this week only, unless there are further developments. Any additional updates will be sent out on the app.

Touch Rugby – Week 3 Draw: Monday 15th November

The touch rugby draw for Monday 15th November is available to view below or in the notices section of the app.

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COVID 19 Reminder – please ensure that you are adhering to the guidelines below.

At Pick-Up & Drop-Off

Under Alert Level 2 parents and caregivers will not be allowed inside the school buildings/grounds. 

We wish to encourage a drop-off and pick-up only approach to restrict the number of ‘adults on-site’.  Ideally you should have arrangements in place for your children so you do not need to enter the school grounds at all.  Please be aware that our very newest students or some of our students with additional needs may need some extra parental support.

Parents must maintain 1-2m distancing from other parents and children.  Be aware of this when waiting at the crossing/going through the gates, etc.

Students will not be allowed to enter the grounds or buildings before 8:15am. 

Do not stay in the grounds at the beginning or end of the day.  Do not stay with children after school to ‘play’.  Please do not congregate at the end of the day.  

Students and staff who become unwell during the school day are required to be sent home.

Reminder – Yarrows Cookies and Croissants Fundraiser

Just a reminder that all Cookie and Croissant orders need to be returned to school by Monday 15th November.  Please ensure payment has been transfered to the Home and School bank account noted on the order form. Many thanks. Home and School Committee

Reporting Survey

Please click on the link below to complete a brief survey on our 2021 Reporting to Whānau. We really welcome your contributions with this to inform planning for our ongoing home and school partnership.

Ngā mihi, Anna

https://forms.gle/LsjsByx3QkLaSvvw7

Help needed for a Young Vinnies project!

Our Young Vinnies are looking for a few adults to help them dig up and repot pine seedling from down where the pine trees were removed below our bottom courts.

These will be potted up and sold as living Christmas trees. Money raised will go to a charity/group to help lighten the load this Christmas.

Can you help?
We need: * adults to help dig up and re pot alongside some Young Vinnies
* plastic pots of various sizes – seedlings range in size from 20cm
tall up to 1m tall.
This work needs to be done in the next week or so before the site is sprayed.

To be employed, or to volunteer in schools, a person must have had their first vaccination before 15th November and their second by 1st January 2022. The current information regarding collecting the vaccination status of parents is; ‘if parents are just doing normal parent tasks’ like picking up their own children, or collecting their own children during the day, we do not need to seek the vaccination status. If parents are volunteering on trips, camps, coaching or managing sports teams, volunteering in classrooms and have direct contact with children, then we do need to seek the vaccination status of the individual’.
The school will be required to keep a confidential register of the vaccination status of our volunteer parents. Please forward a copy of your vaccine certificate/status to Anna Wormald – principal@stpiusx.school.nz

Thank you in advance for your understanding of this requirement.
Please get in touch if you can help.Thanks Karen Maclean

Updated link for the Home and School message sent previously. Apologies for the confusion.

https://forms.gle/kyDqprmZna44jqgG7

Basketball Singlets, Netball Skirts & Team Equipment

Basketball Singlets and Netball Skirts that were borrowed by Year 5 & 6 students to play in, need to be returned to school as soon as possible.

Any coaches or managers that still have bags of netballs, basketballs, bibs or other equipment borrowed for teams also need to be returned.

Sports equipment borrowed for Term 4 sports, will need to be returned once the season has finished.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford

Home and School Fundraising

Home & School Fundraising – like the upcoming Gala – makes a real different with things like: 

Upcoming plans for a senior playground
Redevelopment of the bottom field and courts
iPads in classrooms
Art supplies and sports equipment
Library books and readers
Chairs in the hall
Classroom rainy day play equipment 
 
Can you please take a few moments to read the attached link and send responses asap, you can complete again if you later think of other ideas.
https://forms.gle/ kyDqprmZna44jqgG7

Thanks for taking the time to help out – we REALLY appreciate it!

Your Home & School Committee

Home and School Fundraising

Home & School Fundraising – like the upcoming Gala – makes a real different with things like: 

Upcoming plans for a senior playground
Redevelopment of the bottom field and courts
iPads in classrooms
Art supplies and sports equipment
Library books and readers
Chairs in the hall
Classroom rainy day play equipment 
 
Can you please take a few moments to read the attached link and send responses asap, you can complete again if you later think of other ideas.
https://forms.gle/ kyDqprmZna44jqgG7

Thanks for taking the time to help out – we REALLY appreciate it!

Your Home & School Committee

Tea Towel Orders

The tea towel orders have arrived and will be sent home today with the eldest child in each family. We have a small number of spare tea towels for sale, year groups 1-3 and 4-6. If you would like to purchase one please email the school office with your request. Frances.

Yarrows Cookies and Croissants Fundraiser

The oldest child in your family will be coming home today with the attached notice and an order form.   Please note all orders need to be returned by next Monday 15th November.

Many thanks Home and School Committee

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Term 4 Issue 11

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Touch Rugby – Week 2 Draw: Monday 8th November

The draw for Week 2 of Touch Rugby – Monday 8th November is available to view below or in the notices section of the app.

Just a few reminders:

– Please check the Level 2 guidelines and field map carefully for the entry and exits points in each zone (this can be found in the notices section)

– There are to be no spectators as this will breach the number allowed and could potentially cause touch to be cancelled.

Coaches

– Unfortunately there are no warm up areas on the park.

– Have a meeting point for your team outside of the zone and lead all players onto the park together. (Follow the green cones)

– Let parents know the collection point once players are lead from the park through the correct exit point. (exit on the red cones)

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Touch Rugby – Week 2 Draw: Monday 8th November

The draw for Week 2 of Touch Rugby – Monday 8th November is available to view below or in the notices section of the app.

Just a few reminders:

– Please check the Level 2 guidelines and field map carefully for the entry and exits points in each zone (this can be found in the notices section)

– There are to be no spectators as this will breach the number allowed and could potentially cause touch to be cancelled.

Coaches

– Unfortunately there are no warm up areas on the park.

– Have a meeting point for your team outside of the zone and lead all players onto the park together. (Follow the green cones)

– Let parents know the collection point once players are lead from the park through the correct exit point. (exit on the red cones)

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Mere class maybe a little late back from River Safety today – all is well, they’ve had a fabulous day.

Term 4 Summer Soccer Update

Unfortunately Term 4 Summer Soccer has been cancelled.

The New Plymouth Rangers have made this decision as they could not find a reasonable solution to run the summer soccer competition under the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford

Clean Up NZ

Kia ora

Tomorrow as part of Clean Up NZ, we will be cleaning up some of our local area. 

We are asking the children to bring a bucket and a garden glove if you have them please.  We will have some gloves here at school if they are unable to bring a glove to protect their hands. This is to avoid having too many plastic bags to contain our rubbish.

Ngā mihi

Taranaki Cancer Society – Marathon-in-a-Month throughout the month of November.

St. Pius X students and families are invited to join our school’s team to support the Taranaki Cancer Society during their Marathon-in-a-Month throughout the month of November. You can walk, run, swim, bike…any activity you like! Just choose a distance goal and hit the road! This is a great opportunity to be active with your family and to also be a part of supporting Taranaki cancer patients and their whanau during their cancer journey.

Getting started is easy! Just go to https://marathoninamonth.org.nz/t/stpiusxschool and click on the yellow “Join Team” button. From there, you’ll choose your distance goal and fundraising goal – no distance or amount is too big or small! You can connect the Strava app to automatically record your activities or log them whenever you have a chance. Be sure to share what you’re doing with your friends and family and feel free to invite them to join our team as well!

School Photo Orders

The Photolife school photo ‘Access Keycode’ information sheets, for ordering your photos, are going home with students today. Please note the deadline for free delivery is 14.11.2021. If you have any queries the contact details for Photolife are: 0800 501 040 or enquiries@photolife.co.nz

Mission Shop Day – all sold

Mission Shop Day Sales After School

A number of our Mission Shop Day stalls e.g. stunning sweets, hair scrunchies (in school colours) will have items for sale at the school gate after school. Prices range from $1 – $2. 

Mufti Day tomorrow for Mission Shop Day – no payment required for this.

Mission Shop Day – Stall Prices

A reminder that Mission Shop Day is on this Friday 29th October. Unfortunately we cannot have parents and whānau join us this year due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Our senior students have been working hard to create an awesome afternoon with all money raised being donated to charity. This charity will be announced over the next few days.

The price list for all the stalls is available to view below or in the notices section of the app. Please talk through this carefully with your child/ren at home so they have an idea of what they may like to spend their money on.

Please can students bring their money to school in a named snaplock bag so it is easy to manage and identify. It would be preferable if they were sent with a range of coins as many prices use 50c, $1 and $2 coins.

It would also be quite helpful if they brought along a small tote bag or carry bag to put any purchases in.

Thank you for your support.

Emma McIntosh & Jacinta Radford

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Production 2021

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Touch Rugby – a few further changes

Thank you for your continued understanding and support as changes continue to be made to many team sports this term.

Confirmation of Touch Rugby teams were sent home last week. A reminder that this now starts on Monday 1st November at Hickford Park, Smeaton Road, Bell Block. 

City Touch have had to make a few new changes. Please read them carefully below:

“The limits for community sport are 100 excluding officials. We can meet these limits by operating in bubbles and phased timings. This means:

– We can no longer have spectators on the grounds and each team will be limited to players and 2 adults eg. coach, referee or manager.  

– Parents will be asked to drop players off and not enter the fields.

– Fields will be split into bubbles with strict entry and exit points for each. 

– There will be phased timings where teams must enter and exit bubbles immediately before and after their games to avoid cross over with teams playing at different times. This also allows time for officials to clean equipment.”

The draw and field layout will be put out on the app this week when it has been received.

Thanks, Jacinta

2022 School Year

As our school roll is at capacity with a waiting list for 2022, could you please advise the school office, asap, of any likely changes for your child’s schooling.  

Home and School meeting tonight in the Staffroom, 7pm.

Mission Shop Day sausage sizzle orders due tomorrow.

Tea Towel Orders

The Home and School Committee has advised that delivery of our tea towel orders has been delayed due to Auckland’s lockdown. They estimate delivery will be around the middle of November.

Touch Rugby – Important Information

We understand that the changes to Touch Rugby for Term 4 has made it tricky for some families. As teams have already been confirmed and registered, where possible, it would be great if you could talk to others and make it work.

If your child is unable to play anymore due to the new changes, you must email jacinta@stpiusx.school.nz by tomorrow – Thursday 21st October.

If I have not heard from you personally by email, I will presume they are still playing and you will be invoiced for the season. It is also unfair to teams if players do not turn up on the night.

Any changes to teams will be communicated with parents and coaches/managers over the next week.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford

Summer Soccer – new start date: Tuesday 9th November

A message from New Plymouth Rangers regarding Summer Soccer:

We have had to make the unfortunate decision to postpone the start of Junior Summer Soccer this term due to our current Covid Levels.

The updated announcement from Sport NZ on Friday clarified the social gathering status of a programme like ours, so we are limited to 100 people on the ground making it impossible to run at the moment.

The decision we have made is to postpone the start of the league to Tuesday 9th November which will still allow for 6 weeks, finishing up for this term on Tuesday 14th December. What has become clear is that everyone wants this to go ahead, so we are doing our utmost to make that happen within the guidelines set out by the government.

We will reassess on 2nd November if nothing has changed and will keep you all updated.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford

Summer Hockey – begins Saturday 30th October

Hockey is now starting on Saturday 30th October, not the original date of Saturday 23rd October as it is labour weekend.

Practices for the two Year 5 & 6 teams were be confirmed shortly. Please look out for information from your coaches/managers.

Please carefully read the information from Taranaki Hockey below:

Due to being in Alert Level 2, unfortunately spectators will not be allowed to be on the turf grounds. Spectators are welcome to watch the games from outside the fenced off area.

The amended draw for Saturday 30th October is now available on our website. Draws will be uploaded week by week due to the uncertainty of alert levels. The games will now start 9.45 am (instead of 8.45 am). 

Parking: The Bridge Club, AA and Indoor Cricket Pavilion have contacted Taranaki Hockey and asked to please not park on their grounds. Cars may be towed away if they are found on their private car parking.

Thanks, Jacinta Radford