Newsletter No. 4 St Benedict’s School Khandallah Absence Phone No: 939-3878 Answer Phone: 479-6878 Fax: 479-3879 Email: office@st-benedicts.school.nz Website: www.st-benedicts.school.nz School Blog: http://stbensepicblog.blogspot.co.nz

21 February 2017

We have set up a school blog and will be using this to post photos of the students involved in their learning as well as events they are in around the school. Keep up to date with what is happening around the school by clicking on the blog link above. We are pleased to announce that Jared Bath has been appointed to teach in Room 11 from March 6

th and Janine

O’Styke has been appointed as our new librarian. We are looking forward to both Jared and Janine joining our staff. The Children's Book Shop in Kilbirnie will be holding a book launch on Wednesday 12th April at 6 pm for the story; 'Mrs. T and the Magic Pencil'. This story has been written about Wendy Treder by author Elizabeth Cummings while she was teaching at St Benedict’s School. There is an open invitation to anyone who would like to attend the book launch and help to celebrate this project. As well to show gratitude to Mrs Treder and the wonderful teachers like her who inspire their students and help them to grow.

Thank you to everyone who came along to our Beginning of Year Mass last Wednesday. This Mass is a wonderful way for us to come together in prayer as we prepare for the year ahead. This week our EPIC Award “EPIC Eddie” went to Room 5. They have shown empathy to the new students in their class and to each other by being aware of what is required to make everyone feel welcome and supported. Room 5 have been creative when writing their class treaty. They have used perseverance while getting used to using tote trays and finding the right book. Their integrity has been demonstrated when they respectfully work at getting to know each other better and establishing a happy class atmosphere. Well done to everyone in Room 5.

Last week (Monday-Sunday) our solar panels generated 113 kWh of solar energy. Our school page can be viewed by clicking on the St Benedict’s School Schoolgen link: http://schoolgen.co.nz/schoolgen-schools/st-benedicts-school.

Key Dates February

24 Girls Futsal Tournament

28 Year 5 & 6 Cricket Tournament

March

01 Ash Wednesday

13-17 Year 7 EOTC Week

13-17 Year 8 Camp

13-17 Junior Capital Arts Festival

14 Year 5 & 6 Football Tournament

17 Last day for ICAS exam entries

20-24 Senior Capital Arts Festival

27-31 Year 6 Camp

29 Board of Trustees Meeting

April

5 & 6 Parent Goal Setting Interviews

10 Holy Week

12 Mission Fair

13 Holy Thursday Term 1 ends

We will be celebrating Ash Wednesday Mass next Wednesday March 1st at 9.15am at St Benedict’s Church. This marks the start of Lent as we prepare ourselves for Easter. Everyone is welcome to join us for this celebration. Please remember to check your children have their sunhats each day for school, especially now the sun has come out. That they should have sun block to keep them safe in the sun.

Kind Regards Dave Lamont Principal

ELECTIVES Next term we begin our Friday electives programme. This involves the students selecting an area of interest to them to learn about for 1 hour each Friday. Choices vary and students are grouped according to age and the activity selected. We are interested in hearing from any parents who may have a skill to offer to the children. If you have an hour to spare every Friday from the second week of Term 2 between 11:30 and 12:30 we would love to hear from you. Please email me cheryl.taylor@st-benedicts.school.nz or pop in to see me in Room 8 (upstairs, end of corridor). The more help we have the greater the choice that can be offered to the children. Regards Cheryl Taylor Deputy Principal

FOODIE FRIENDS St Benedict’s has a group of parents called Foodie Friends who provide a meal for families going through such things as celebrating a new baby, experiencing an illness or coping with something unexpected. Volunteers average one or two meals a year, and the more members we have, the fewer meals everyone has to do each year. Let me know if you're keen to join - sharonlundy@hotmail.com Please contact me directly or let your class rep know if there's a family who might benefit from some meals. Thanks, Sharon Gilhooly GUITAR LESSONS Guitar lessons at school for all abilities are available during school time every Friday. For more information or to book a place please contact Ross McWhirter 06 378 8802, 022 691 5419 or guitartuition@aol.co.nz'

WEEKLY REFLECTION

"Don't call me a saint. I don't want to be dismissed so easily."

Dorothy Day - American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert. More info

at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Day

29

thOctober 2016 11am-2pm

Calling all crafters and DIY makers! Do you have a passion to make crafts? Are you handy with a glue gun? A sewing machine? Knitting needles? Or just generally artistic! Would you be willing to make some items for our craft stall? We are currently looking for volunteers to start making items. It is never too early to start stockpiling your crafts or donating supplies? If you are keen and able to assist please email Camilla.peet@gmail.com or phone 021 905 600. The craft group will be meeting on Wednesday 22 February at 7.15pm at 18 Punjab Street. Preserves We are also looking for some preserves to sell at the café if you are jam/preserve maker please contactkimhowardnz@gmail.com and advise what you are able to create. . Mufti day - The last day of term 1 is a mufti day. Please bring either a gold coin donation or something to go in the lucky dip for the school fair. Helpers - Are you interested in being involved with the fair on the committee or co-ordinating a stall. Co-ordinators needed - toys, white elephant, quick fire/loud auction, MC. Committee - minute taker, communications persons and marketing. If you are keen please contact kimhowardnz@gmail.com or phone 021 216 8564

HOK Notices SUNDAY - Help Our Kids (HOK) Meeting

Our first HOK team meeting will be held at this Sunday (26 Feb) at 7pm in the school staffroom.

Do you have new fundraising ideas? Are you a great organiser? Interesting in meeting with parents from other classes?

We would love to hear ideas or feedback, with no pressure to join the team. Everyone is welcome!

NEEDED - Parent Representatives

We are looking for volunteers to be the parent rep for their child’s class. Thanks to those who offered for rooms 2, 3, 5, 7. We still need parents for ALL the other classrooms. The main aspects of this role include:

Creating a contact list for all the parents in the class (we will assist

you to set this up)

Being the contact person for HOK committee communications to

parents

Suggesting parents social gatherings

If you would like to be a parent rep please email Kez at kezzy@clear.net.nz

Sandcastle Competition The strong chilly breeze stroked me on the chest while the others started to smooth out the hard sand. At

least I wasn't doing it alone. My friend Hugo was going to be next to me lying there with me which made

me feel a lot better.

Today was the school picnic or our school day out. We go to Eastbourne every year to have a sandcastle

competition and go swimming it is always fun. This year our group was going to build two graves with us

in it! My big sister came up with the idea and I thought it was brilliant but at the start I regretted it. It was

now time, time for us freeze to our death. We got in and hard but soft at the same time sand started to

build up on top of us. Unsurprisingly it was like soft-ish ice.

5 minutes through and my head was starting to ache from trying to look around so thankfully Joel built

the perfect head rest for me. Everything was sort of coming together by the sounds of it but I was getting

quite bored already. I wasn’t allowed to talk or breath much since it broke the sand too much so I tried to

fall slowly off to sleep but of course I couldn’t with all the noisy voices around me. So I ended up just

making out the big fluffy sheep in the sky.

By now the sun started to lick my face and I was covered completely in sand and beginning to warm up.

My face was a little bit too hot so Jacob decided to cover my face with my hat also to stop the annoying

sand splash onto my face from Eve and Betty which was apparently “funny”. Even though I had the hat

on they still tried to bug me by taking it off and basically torturing me. We only had round about ten

minutes to go and surprisingly we were nearly finished all we really needed to do was decorate it and put

all the finishing touches on. I really wanted us to win or I would have wasted an hour of my time mostly

freezing and it would be the first time I’ve ever won.

Judges finally came round and we just finished. Miss Bolger looked all over our masterpiece and we

gathered a pretty big crowd. Hugo and I both had to hold our breath, close our eyes and just play dead

this was the final moment and I think we made it a good one. Judging finished and everyone told us to

get out, so we climbed out and the hard sand stuck to me, I tried to rub it off but it hurt like a million

prickles. I ended up splashing sea water over me to wash it off but it only helped a bit so I just got a

towel and started to rub it off and push through the pain. After I had done we rushed to the bank where

they would announce who won. Our group was all anxious to know the winners for our section and then

our name came up so I was first to jump up and receive a delicious reward of my favourite food,

chocolate. I was so proud of everyone because the whole time everyone was being E.P.I.C. and it was

pretty fun.

By Jamie Wildash-Chan, Year 7

Sports Notices & Student Achievements

CONGRATULATIONS to Sophia Brewerton who successfully auditioned and has been accepted into the New Zealand School of Dance Scholars Programme. Well done Sophia. NETBALL REGISTRATION Netball Registrations are now due, please complete the attached form and return to the school office by Friday 17 March with your payment. Many thanks. WEETBIX TRIATHLON - SOLD OUT

MUSIC LESSONS Your child can learn how to play the keyboard at this school.

The lessons are run during school hours and all ages are welcome!

The Wellington Music Academy has been providing music lessons in the Wellington region for over 23 years.

Our experienced and enthusiastic teachers will ensure all lessons are fun and appropriate for your child's

level of musical development. Please contact the Music Academy at any time for more information and to

book a place.

Phone: 0272115077

email: admin@musicacademy.co.nz

online: www.musicacademy.co.nz

ASB SCHOOL BANKING Has your child been registered for School Banking? If not please ask at the office for a form to sign up for their Head Start Saving Account. Once your child has been registered they will receive a Kid’s School Banking pack which will include a calculator, savings diary and deposit envelopes to help them get started. For easy and convenient banking for your child, the ASB has provided a Deposit Drop Box in the office area where your child can make their regular savings deposit. Emma McCallum

PARENT ROAD PATROL

Parents: Please be present from 8:30-9:00am and again from 2:50-3:15pm

COMMUNITY NOTICES

NORTHERN UNITED JUNIOR HOCKEY CLUB 2017 CLUB REGISTRATIONS CLOSING 12 MARCH! Based at 26 Blackrock Road,

Newlands, we welcome yrs 3-8 hockey players of all skill levels from the Northern suburbs. Key dates: Pre-season training: Newlands, 5-7 pm Mondays (yrs 3 to 6: 5-6 pm; yrs 7 & 8: 6-7 pm), from 20 Feb Years 7 & 8 (11-a-side) trials: 5th and 12th March, 2-5 pm. Season starts early May Details: www.nujhc.org.nz nujhc@gmail.com MOGMUSIC Private tuition available in PIANO, RECORDER, GUITAR & UKULELE Places available now. All lessons held at

MOGMUSIC studio in Brooklyn. Please ph MOGGIE GRAYSON 3848-213 to book in. $20 will be donated to your school for each new enrolment. Places available for this term. KIDS GO FREE AT STAGLANDS ON CHILDREN’S DAY Staglands Wildlife Reserve will be celebrating Children’s Day on Sunday 5th March by offering FREE ENTRY into The Reserve for ALL CHILDREN. In addition to their usual attractions visitors can enjoy free off-

road tractor-trailer rides plus a special performance from The Major Minors Children’s Choir. So if you are looking for a fun Children’s day outing for the whole family; meet at Staglands & Connect with Nature on Sunday 5th March. For more info visit www.staglands.co.nz COME TO THE ORIGINAL “BIG DIG” TREASURE HUNT Sunday 26 Feb, 11am - 1.00pm, Freyberg Beach

Courtenay Place Rotary regularly organises this event to give families a fun day out & at the same time raise funds for local community charities. For a $5 entry fee children get to dig in the sand for buried tokens. Each token earns a prize! Entrants will be given a wrist tag, which will be surrendered when a prize is claimed (but there’s no reason why you can’t get a second entry!) All prizes have been donated & are of a greater value than the entry fee. There are bicycles & books, toys & vouchers for all sorts of things!” ALL STAR VICTORY CHEERLEADERS Enrolments still open. We offer free trial classes. A fun all round activity including tumble,

jumps, stunts, pyramids & a little bit of dance. Classes and teams to suit all ages & abilities both girls & boys. Classes held at The Circus Hub 11 Hutchison St & also at Capitla Gymsports next door. Cheerleaders develop good listening & co operative skills while having fun & learning new physical skills. Contact: Julie 027 6526021 - 04 4773107 - allstarvictory@gmail.com or via enrolmy.com/all-star-victory www.allstarcheerleaders.co.nz Find us on facebook Facebook Victory All Star Cheerleaders WESTS JUNIOR RUGBY CLUB would like to invite you to play rugby this season. Our rugby season starts on May 5/6 & you can

register online & check or FAQ at http://www.wests-junior-rugby.org.nz The Nursery Grade is for girls & boys aged 3 – 5, before they move on to Rippa Rugby at U6. Tackle Rugby starts at U8 and it is age & weight graded. The club welcome & weigh-in (and a chance to ask any questions in person) will be at our club rooms at Ian Galloway Park on the 2nd (5:30 – 7:30pm) & 4th of March (1:00 – 3:00pm). At the Saturday session we will have the Rugby World Cup so kids & parents can get a photo with the greatest trophy in world rugby ! SPRINGBOARD & PLATFORM DIVING AT KILBIRNIE POOL Wgtn Diving Club has a range of diving classes for kids aged 5 years &

up. Why not try something new this year? Visit our website and come along for a free trial! We have several after-school sessions & cater for kids of any level from beginners to competitive. We also run fun casual sessions on Sundays. For more information, please visit our website www.wellingtondiving.org.nz or call/text Barbara on 027-485-8888. WEST PARK SCHOOL’S “WEST FEST” GALA is on again! 11am – 2pm, Sat 25th Feb (Broderick Road, Johnsonville). West Park

School’s annual gala - West Fest – is back & it’s better than ever! Not only will there be amazing food, fabulous entertainment & games & activities for all ages, but we will also have the Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup! This is an amazing opportunity to see the cup up close & get your photo taken with this hard won trophy. Come along to enjoy the traditional gala offerings of a second hand stall, sweet stall & café, bouncy castle & face painting, then have a go at the MilSim airsoft shooting range, the toilet paper catapult & the dirt track remote control monster truck. See you there! WELLINGTON BALLET offers ballet for children from the age of 3 - adult. We teach the Royal Academy of Dance Ballet syllabus in four

locations: Khandallah Bowling Club, Khandallah Town Hall & the Johnsonville & Newlands Community Centres. We now offer Jazz & Contemporary with Caroline Chu. We are now taking enrolments: www.wellingtonballet.co.nz or email wellingtonballet@gmail.com GET OUT IN OTARI-WILTON’S BUSH & have fun with your family!!! Saturday 11 March. Everyone Out in Otari is an adventure

treasure hunt where you will need to work together to complete activities & navigate to secret points hidden throughout Otari-Wilton’s Bush. You’ll probably get wet, will definitely get dirty, are likely to learn something new & you’ll absolutely have fun. So what are you waiting for! Enter your family team now! Tickets can be purchased from Eventfinda. http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2017/everyone-out-in-otari/wellington Check us out on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/everyoneout/ MSP JUNIOR RUGBY has built one of Wellington's proudest & most successful sports clubs. The club is about children enjoying their

sport & developing their skills in a fun, safe & family oriented environment. Come & check out our vibrant club culture with a strong family atmosphere! Register online at www.msprugby.co.nz or come to one of our registration events at the MSP gym (next to St Pats College artificial turf) on Saturday 18th Feb 1pm to 3pm, Wednesday 22nd February 5pm to 6:30pm & Sunday 26th February 12pm to 1:30pm. Not sure? Email us at mspjuniorrugby@gmail.com or check out our Facebook page for more.

Term 1

Tuesday 21 Feb Pugh family

Wednesday 22 Feb Quinn family

Thursday 23 Feb Ramachandran family

Friday 24 Feb Rasalan family

Monday 27 Feb Rayala family

Tuesday 28 Feb Reid family

Wednesday 01 March Robilliard family

Thursday 02 March Rodgers family

Friday 03 March Ruvando family

HOK Sponsors

Thank you to businesses and individuals that sponsor and support St Benedict’s School. We acknowledge and appreciate their support and ask that you use them when you can.

http://www.salonvillair.co.nz