Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Mālō e lelei,
Namaste, Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta
Dear Parents and Families
A special blessing for all of our families this Christmas Season …
“Whenever we gaze into a crib this Christmas season
May new hope and joy flood our spirit
whenever we watch babies and young children playing
May a new energy delight our hearts
Whenever we are tantalised by the aroma of a bbq
May we unwind, relax and enjoy time off
Whenever the crush of family and friends overwhelms us
May the hospitality of our hearts expand
Whenever we provide a meal or bed over the holidays
May we experience love and appreciation
Whenever we spy our reflection in the mirror or pool
May we find ourselves to be images of God
Whenever we put our feet up for leisure
May the humble presence of the Incarnate One companion us
Whenever we feel our distance from each other around the world
May the Christ child draw us into unity.”
Amen
(source: act Love Walk – Praying in the Josephite Spirit)
THANK YOU!
Thank you to our fantastic community who have walked beside us so closely this year. Along with the children and staff, you too are the heartbeat of Holy Trinity and we salute you for the many ways you have supported us throughout the year to make it the success it has been, for all. We are very proud of you and are looking forward to all we can achieve together in 2018 for our beautiful children!
End of Year Mass and Praisegiving
Please join us this Tuesday 19th December at 1:00pm in Taamaua where we will gather as a school family to “Give Thanks and Praise” for the year that has been. Mass will be followed by Praisegiving, as we spend time acknowledging all those students who have excelled in “Learning, Loving and Serving” throughout our school year.
School Dates
Final Assembly will be 12:30pm on Wednesday 20th December with school concluding at 1:00pm.
This will be our final gathering as a 2017 school family before we head off to a well deserved Christmas Season and the summer holidays.
This is a half day for students so please make arrangements for them to be collected from school at this time. There will be no staff on site from shortly after 1:00pm.
School commences for 2018 on Tuesday 30th January
at 8:50am.
2018 Staffing
Our staffing is confirmed for 2018 and the Learning Communities and kaitiaki/teachers have been organised as …
Learning Community Whenua Years 0/1
Mrs Normita Tolentino and Mrs Maria Speechlay
Learning Community Awa Years 2/3
Ms Cheryl Schuster and Mrs Jo Petrie (Monday/Tuesday) and Mrs Kirstie Thorpe (Wednesday/Thursday/Friday)
Learning Community Moana Years 4/5
Mrs Ana Silva and Mrs Lainee Davies
Learning Community Maunga (Years 6/7/8)
Mr Jerremy Williams
We welcome Normita Tolentino as the Kaitiaki/Teacher working in Whenua. Normita is a Primary Teacher who has more recently been working in the Early Childhood Education Sector, particular in the area of transition programmes in preparing children for their start in schools. Normita has a wealth of knowledge and experience of early childhood development and we are very much looking forward to all she will contribute to our teaching and learning team.
Kirstie Thorpe is currently working with us in Whenua so we are very pleased to have Kirstie returning to the teaching team for 2018 as Kaitiaki in Awa. And we also welcome Jo Petrie to the Awa teaching team. Jo is a member of our Board of Trustees and has been a relieving teacher for us throughout the year so we are pleased to have Jo join us in this regular teaching capacity.
We say farewell to Mrs Julie Kippen and Mrs Tanya Rowe who have sought teaching opportunities in other schools. Both Julie and Tanya have been with us this year as Foundation Staff and we extend our grateful thanks to them for all they have contributed as Holy Trinity staff and school members. We wish them every blessing as they take up their new positions.
And we are currently underway with employment of a part-time Caretaker as our current temporary Caretaker, Mr David Miller, leaves us at the end of this year. David has been tireless in the work he has done to set up our school care-taking needs. We are extremely grateful for the diligent work he has carried out with our grounds, buildings and maintenance. David is spending time travelling in the first half of next year so we wish him great adventures and safe travels.
May the promise of hope, peace, love and joy be with you this Christmas Season.
Wishing you all a Holy and Blessed Christmas and restful, relaxing and safe holidays!
Peta Lindstrom
Principal
DRS News
Baptism Celebration
Last week on Thursday 7 December our school travelled to St Mary’s Parish to witness many of our children and their families receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Father Peter Murphy of St Mary’s Papakura and Father Mike Wooller of St Anne’s Manurewa led this very special occasion. Congratulations to you all. May our loving God continue to guide you on this faith journey.
Sharing the Christmas Joy
After the Baptism Liturgy on Thursday, Learning Community Moana made a short stop at Lady Elizabeth Rest Home in Takanini to deliver their Christmas cards for the residents there. Each student was given a few names of the residents at Lady Elizabeth and they worked hard in making creative Christmas cards with wonderful messages of joy for this special season for their chosen people. Needless to say, the cards were deeply appreciated and were a highlight of the morning for many of the residents there. There were tears of joy and sounds of laughter and surprise everywhere!!!
My Lady Elizabeth Experience
When I was at Lady Elizabeth, I felt excited to give my cards to the elderly people I wrote to, as I wanted to see them for the first time. The first person I gave it to was a kind woman; at that time I felt like I was on the verge of crying because I might not be able to see her again. And then I went to go to find my other person and gave my card to him; I was crying inside already. I enjoyed my time there and I would like to visit again. Moana learned a lot about helping people in different ways because at the end of the day, we are all created in God’s image. We are all equal.
By Pierre (Learning Community Moana)
End of Year Mass/Praisegiving
Next week on Tuesday 19 December, we’ll be gathered together in Taamaua for our End of Year Mass celebrated by both Father Peter Murphy and Father Mike Wooller at 1:00pm. Our Mass focuses on “Serving with a Grateful Heart” as we give thanks to God for the wonderful foundation year that we’ve had. We have indeed come a long way! It would also be our last school Mass with Father Mike Wooller as he has been transferred to the Marist Community in Napier from the end of January 2018. We wish him God’s blessing as he embarks on this journey.
Praisegiving will be straight after Mass. A way to praise and celebrate our children and their successes throughout the year. We have much to be thankful for and so we invite you to join us on these special occasions!
Blessings
Ana Silva
Director of Religious Studies
Learning Community News
We are hugely appreciative of the support we received from our school whanau on Thursday evening. It was a special time for all that started with a picnic dinner and then the sharing of Journeys by the children in Learning Communities Moana and Awa with Whenua supporting through songs and actions. The School’s Journey written and performed by our Moana students provided an entertaining account of the establishment of our school. Awa with Whenua’s help, gave us a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, the celebration of the Nativity of Christ.
We would like to thank our children and teachers who have worked hard to make sure that the night was an enjoyable one for everyone.
Back to School Stationery Requirements for 2018
We’ve teamed up with OfficeMax to make purchasing of Back to School Stationery requirements easy! All your child’s school stationery list requirements are uploaded online at myschool.co.nz to make it easy for you. Simply search for our school and select your child’s learning community and follow the instructions on the website.
Shop Your Way – online at myschool.co.nz, freephone 0800 724 440 or in your local OfficeMax store. There is free delivery for orders over $46.00. You can choose delivery to home or to work at a time that suits you.
Community Notices
Sacramental Program Enrolment for 2018
St Mary’s Parish in Papakura is now taking enrolments for children who want to undertake Confirmation and First Holy Communion programme for 2018. If you are interested, please contact Marie at the Parish Office. (09) 299 0696 or st.marys.papakura@xtra.co.nz
