Advent begins on Sunday 2 December

Naumai e te whānau o te kura St Anthony's Tēnā Koutou Katoa 

Dear Parents and Caregivers

With the end of the school year approaching very quickly, we have many upcoming school events which we are looking forward to. 

Next Thursday, we will be sending out an End of Year Newsletter with reminders about these exciting school events which the students and teachers are currently preparing for. Please also refer to our Parent Calendar for dates and times. We look forward to seeing you there!

Student Led Conferences
Thank you for coming along to the Student Led Conferences (SLCs). We are very proud of the students and the wonderful way they prepared and shared their learning and progress. We will be reviewing the way that SLCs occur for 2019. If you would like to send me an email principal@stants.school.nz regarding what you enjoyed and/or what could be improved, we would appreciate it.

2019 Classes Update

Due to recent enrolments in Year 2 and 3 for next year, we have decided that Takahe Class will now be a composite Year 3/4 class, with the six eldest Year 3 students moving into Takahe with Mr Kelly. Hoiho will now start the year with approximately 20 students and Takahe with 24 students. Thank you to the parents involved for your support. 

School Fun Run - $6,140 raised for the Supernova

We are absolutely thrilled with the huge amount of support from the school and wider community for our Fun Run on 13 November. We have raised an outstanding total of $6,140 for the Supernova. Amber Proudfoot and I are currently working on quotes for the ground space to upgrade the land area prior to installing the Supernova. We would like to have the work undertaken after the Bazaar due to the summer holiday and needing the area space free for Bazaar activities. Thank you so much for your support and we are very much looking forward to next year's latest school project being underway.

Ngā manaakitanga

Jennifer Ioannou

PRINCIPAL

Thank you to all our families, students and staff for their positive and thoughtful contributions to the school uniform review. We received a letter from the Archdiocese of Wellington last week endorsing our proposed uniform changes with the following comment: [The changes] reflect all aspects of practical school life, are thoughtfully inclusive and versatile whilst maintaining the identity at St Anthony’s School. The 2019 uniform will be updated on our website from 3 December 2018: (http://www.stants.school.nz/school-life/)

A reminder that we are seeking your feedback on our draft 2019 Annual Plan. This is the document that sets out our intended priorities to continue to make St Anthony's the best school it can be and it also outlines the philosophy and values that drive those priorities. The document is attached below and we would welcome any comments via the Board email address (bot@stants.school.nz). Comments by 10 February 2019, please.

And one last reminder for the year that it’s not too late to pay your donations; every dollar benefits our students and school. Thank you to all our families who have paid their donation in full for 2018. So far we have received 90% which is the highest amount in the school's history and we are extremely grateful for your support to help make St Anthony's the best school it can be!

Advent … A time of preparation

At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27 (NIV)

In December we begin our time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. December is always a challenging month as we attempt to cram in so many activities and complete end of year jobs. But Advent encourages us to stop and consider how are we preparing as a family for Jesus’ birth?

Sermon4kids express it like this…

Christmas is coming soon. It is easy to tell. We see the signs all around us. What are the signs? We see Christmas decorations in the stores and on houses, we hear Christmas songs on the radio, we see ads on television and in the newspapers. What if we didn't have all of these things to remind us that Christmas is coming? How would we know? I guess we would just have to look at the calendar.

Two thousand years ago, there was no television or radio. There were no newspaper ads announcing that a child would be born and that he would be the Savior of the world. When Jesus was born, very few people even knew about it, but it was an event which God had promised and which had been foretold by prophets many years before. Many people had been looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, they just didn't know exactly when he was coming.

This Sunday marks the beginning of a very special season called Advent. Do you know what Advent means? The dictionary says that advent is "the coming of something very important." What is it? Is it Christmas? Yes, we are looking forward to that, but we are also looking forward to the coming of another very important event. The return of Jesus!

Jesus promised to come again. You won't hear much about it on the television or radio and you won't read much about it in the newspapers, but he promised he would return and we believe it! We look forward to it just as people two thousand years ago looked forward to the coming Messiah. We don't know exactly when he will come, it isn't marked on the calendar, but we are watching and waiting.

As we look to prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Savior, let's also be sure we are prepared for the day that he will come again.

Our grateful thanks to Tui Class who completed the annual spring clean of the church. This is one way the students contribute to preparing for Jesus’ birth.

Congratulations to the following students who placed at the EZ Athletics Competition on 7 November at Newtown Park.

High Jump

Year 6: Brianna Smith (3rd)

Year 6: Fraser Lindsay (reserve)

Long Jump

Year 6: Fraser LIndsay (reserve)

Year 7: Valentina Zadimas (2nd)

Year 7: Daniella Zadimas (reserve)

Quoit

Year 5: Riley Smith (2nd)

Year 6: Elise McArley (2nd)

Short Sprint

Year 7: Daniella Zadimas (1st)

Year 7: Valentina Zadimas (3rd)

Year 7: Sam Taylor (3rd)

Long Sprint

Year 7: Daniella Zadimas (2nd)

Vortex

Year 5: Maramatina Peni (2nd)

Year 6: Siobhan Bolger (2nd)

Interzones Athletics were held today and we look forward to hearing the results. 

This is the second year that we will be using OfficeMax MySchool for your 2019 Back to School student stationery requirements.

Parents/caregivers order their child/ren’s stationery online via OfficeMax determined by year level. You have the opportunity to have the stationery delivered to your home for a small fee OR purchase it instore (Victoria Street).  A flyer should have come home with your child/ren yesterday which gives information about payments options, timelines and free offers.

Once stationery lists ‘go live' these will be available via the link on both the School’s Facebook page and Website.  

Rather than re-charge for items you still have or have been returned unused, parents are able to remove these items from their year lists and continue on with ordering.

MySchool also ensures that we get the cheapest prices at the beginning of the year.

Stationery ordering for 2019 will 'go live' next week with the link available online as well as advised in the last Newsletter for the year.

Twice a term (Weeks 3 and 7) there will be an article in our school newsletter showcasing a staff member at our school. This is our second staff member who we are going to hear from. We hope by reading about our staff, it helps you to get to know them better!

SAM CRIPPS, SENCo/ICT LEADER

Tell us a little about your teaching journey

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Music and English and then a Diploma in Teaching, I began my teaching career in 2008 at Trentham Primary School in Upper Hutt. I was a young teacher and the school was very excited to have me on board. I was extremely lucky to be offered a leadership role very early on in my teaching career so quickly became the ICT Leader. I then became Syndicate Leader and a Teacher Mentor for a number of student teachers. I also had plenty of opportunity to do some very exciting professional development, which has made a positive impact on my teaching and leadership practice.
After my time at Trentham Primary School, I went on maternity leave for a year and re-entered teaching through relief work for a term before accepting the exciting position I have had since Term 2 this year at St Anthony’s. I am now entering another period of maternity leave and look forward to returning to St Anthony’s in Hoiho, Term 3, 2019.

What do you like most about your job?

I love that every day is a new day, full of new learning. I love the energy and creativity that students bring to the classroom; their inquisitiveness is inspiring and gives opportunity for me to push them harder and encourage them to take ownership of their learning. I love the feeling of accomplishment, seeing students grow in knowledge, confidence and skills. It’s so exciting to see my students flourish.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

I don’t remember receiving any particular advice that has stood out to me but my three favourite quotes that I have reflected on particularly through my teaching career are:

‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.’

‘Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!’

‘You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.’

~ Dr Seuss

If you weren’t a teacher, what other career would interest you?

When I was younger, I wondered about becoming a Police Woman but then changed my mind when someone suggested teaching as I love to help others learn and succeed. I have considered becoming more specialised and following another childhood passion of mine to become a Speech Language Therapist, but I also love the idea of the best job ever - just being Mum!

What part of your job do you find the most challenging?

There are always challenges in any job but I like to see challenges as new learning. To me, the biggest challenge in teaching is ensuring that you are engaging and accelerating all learners so that they can achieve to their fullest potential. This requires a lot of work and time commitment, being well-prepared and organised and having compassion for your learners, which I believe are some of qualities that make me the passionate teacher I am.

2019 Bazaar

Next drop off date for the following:  Sunday 9 December, 1.30-3.30pm at the Seatoun Bowling Club.  Please put the date in your calendar NOW!

How and when can you help?

A hardcopy Bazaar Volunteers Request Form has been sent home today, however a softcopy is attached below.  Please complete and return it to the office ASAP. We are looking forward to hearing from you!

We are still calling for donations for the baking team. (Remember points for your child/ren's House will be accumulated, with the winning House team receiving freshly baked muffins.....!)

• flour (plain and self-rising)
• sugar (caster and icing sugar) 
• condensed milk
• cocoa
• chocolate block (dark and milk)
• chocolate chips (dark and white)
• desiccated coconut

Also please save, clean and bring in plastic strawberry containers and more glass jars/bottles.  The preserving team have requested:

• tinned plums
• tinned chopped tomatoes 

Very many thanks for your continued support!

This week's Parish Newsletter also includes the Christmas and holiday Mass times.

SVdP Christmas Boxes 2018

Christmas is not far away and we are again seeking supplies for the Christmas boxes we distribute each year.  From very generous collections last year, we were able to assist/surprise 58 families with a box of supplies and gifts for children.

Any and all donations can be made by dropping them into the school office.  We so look forward to the generousity of our local families and community to enable us to spread with good word and give a little at Christmas time to those who might be struggling.

Sisters of Compassion - On the Eve of Advent

We warmly invite you and your community to join the Sisters of Compassion at our Advent Family Day. This festive day is centred around setting up the nativity crib at 11am with Christmas carols for all to follow. Throughout the day, get creative with nativity arts and crafts or search for nativity rocks in the Christmas treasure hunt. 

10am - 3pm , Saturday 1st December, 
Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre
Our Lady's Home of Compassion
2 Rhine Street (off Murray St), Island Bay

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Kilbirnie Christmas Parade and After-event

This year's Christmas Parade is on Sunday 2 December from 10.30am – 1.30pm.  The Kilbirnie Shopping Centre is on Facebook, so please do like us and share our Santa Parade posts and event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2090140674583396??ti=ia  We want as many people to come as possible!

*** SAVE THE DATE ***

Carols on the Green returns to the Seatoun Bowling Club this year for a fun evening for the whole family. Come along from 5pm (Friday 7th December). The bar will be open. Entertainment for the kids. Food will be available but you can bring your own food too. Christmas Carols playing in the background with a compulsory sing-a-long! So get your friends and family together, grab the picnic blanket or deck chair and head on down to the bowling club, 16 Dundas Street, Seatoun. AND It's all for a good cause. Proceeds from the day will go to Foster Hope (to buy Xmas gifts for kids who might not normally get one). Last year people asked if they can bring a gift of their own to donate to the charity, absolutely but if you wrap it can you please label it as For a Girl/Boy and the age group it's appropriate for.  

CodeCamp - Summer Holidays

Samuel Marsden School:  7-10, 14-17 and 22-24 January 2019

Thorndon Primary School:  7-10, 14-17 and 22-24 January 2019

Petone: 17-20 December 2018, 7-10, 14-17 and 22-25 January 2019

CodeCamp allows kids from the ages of 7-12 to develop 21st century skills in a fun and action packed environment.  Develop confidence and initiative through deisgn, creativity, solving problems & collaboration.  Create games, apps & work with robots and electronic building blocks.  Book now at http://codecamp.co.nz/holiday-codecamp/

School Holiday Camp for Young Illustrators - "Draw Like an Illustrator"
An off-shoot of the highly successful "Write Like an Author" program, this is a highly acclaimed illustration course that teaches young artists the skills and techniques that professional illustrators use to create their artwork. During the camp, each participant will develop and write an original creative artwork under the guidance of well-known illustrator Fifi Colston. The camp will be held at Raroa Intermediate School during the school holidays, starting on Monday, January 14, 2019 and running until Thursday, January 17, 2019.
The camp is ideal for young people who have a dream of becoming a published illustrator or anyone who wants to improve their artistic skills.
The camp is non-residential, and runs from 9am to 4pm each day. The course fee is $220.00, which includes a discount for early registration. The number of places on the camp is strictly limited. www.drawlikeanillustrator.com

Mobile Phone Recycling for Wgtn Children's Hospital - Medical Equipment

'Recyling for Charity' are running a mobile recycling appeal to help with funding for new medical equipment for the new children's hospital. The more mobile phones we receive for recycling the more money that can be donated to this wonderful charity.  All you have to do is to bring your old mobile phones to the school office.