St Benedict's School Pānui ā-rorohiko (Online Newsletter) Week 10, Term 4
Upcoming Events from our Calendar
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Week 10
Thursday 14th December 6:00pm Buddy Class Christmas Carols and Year 8 Prizegiving @ St Francis of Assisi Ohariu Parish Church
Friday 15th December House Carols followed by Poroporaki for all leavers - 12pm.
2024
Tuesday 23 January School office opens
Monday 29 January Teacher Retreat and Professional Development day
Tuesday 30 January Begining of year whanaungatanga/relationship building meetings (booking link below)
Wednesday 31 January Continued meetings and school set up
Thursday 1 February Term One begins
Pōwhiri to welcome new students followed by Blessing liturgy
Friday 2 February Usual school day
Dates to diarise
Friday 16 February School Picnic and Sandcastle competion in Eastbourne
Thursday 15 February Rescheduled parent meeting from Term 4.
Items found in the School APP
Teacher Messages
Term 4 Syndicate Newsletter
Documents Section
2024 School Dates
Summer Uniform Order form
St Ben's Handbook
Widget link
Newsletter
SchoolDocs (Board Policies)
Account information
Absences notification and rate of absences.
School Calendar
MyKindo for lunch orders
HoK Facebook and Instagram
Coming Soon: Road Patrol Roster
@School App Access on Work phones
We have recently been made aware that some whānau are unable to download the @School APP due to work phone security settings. If this affects you, you can access the @School APP through safari or chrome browsers using the same log on details we have provided. We encourage use of our @School APP as we regularly send out communication through this.
Catholic Character Christmas Story
Isabella and Siobhān joined in the festive spirit with their choir WYV at 'Carols with the Angels' at St Mary of the Angels church last night. A great experience with various choirs and the Salvation Army Cuba St Brass Band playing in a packed church.
Board update & Annual Report
Therefore casual vacancy has occurred on the school board for an elected parent representative.
The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection.
If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of this notice being published (Friday 8 December), to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.
Request for a by-election should be sent to:
Daniel Marks
St Benedict's School Board
communication@st-benedicts.school.nz by 4th January.
Please read the above Board of Trustees Annual Report for 2023
Tumuaki Korero - A word from our Principal
Tēnā koutou e te whānau,
Invitation to Poroporoaki and House Carol competition
Tomorrow we have our final event for the year. We will have our House Carol competition and our poroporoaki farewell for our leavers across the school.
Class Visits
Yesterday morning we held successful class visits to our new classes. It was a real joy to visit each class and see them beginning to bond as new classes. The tamariki were involved in a range of activities such as painting, scavenger hunts, Christmas quizzes, name plates and book marks to be used next year. There were also plenty of games to build class cohesion.
New Students Next Year
On day one next year we will welcome 23 new tamariki and their whānau to our community. While there is a strong new entrant contingent, we also have new tamariki joining us across the school. In the last week of January I will be shoulder tapping current families to be our new family buddies. This role is a vital one in helping new whānau to feel part of St Benedicts School Community.
KiVa Implementation
As part of our positive behaviour for learning data review, we have identified that whānau and tamariki do not always have the tools they need to advocate for themselves when relationships between tamariki involve behaviour they do not like. Often whānau try to deal with this themselves and do not involve the school until they lose patience with all parties. In 2024 we will be implementing the KiVa bullying prevention programme. Our staff will be trained in this new approach on Teacher Only Day.
Kiva's point of difference is that it very deliberately singles out bullying behaviour from other negative and undesirable behaviours within the school community. In this way it can work effectively alongside our schools existing behaviour management processes (PB4L) and provides clarity for all involved as to what is and what is not bullying and what to do when bullying occurs.
KiVa is a long term preventative approach that works to change the group culture around recognising and not tolerating bullying behaviour. The programme provides students and the wider school community with knowledge and skills to identify and respond to bullying situations.
We hope that having clearer expectations and systems for seeking help will allow St Benedict's to build on the inclusive and caring community that we have. You can find more about the KiVa bullying prevention programme here: https://newzealand.kivaprogram.net/why-choose-kiva/
Property Upgrades
Lower driveway
Beginning next week the final section of our driveway redesign will get underway. The entrance way is being made larger to allow a bigger turning bay when entering from Everest street.
Watertightness remedial work
In early January a significant and complex upgrade of the external staircase shared by Rooms 9 and 7, the cladding of Rooms 9, 10 and cladding and skylight removal from the library will begin in stages.
Our site restrictions plus Wellington City Council Building, Fire and Water regulations make this a tricky project. These restrictions have limited options for the staircase which has meant the current design is unable to be replicated due to the stormwater drain that runs between the buildings. It is so important that our buildings are made water tight, Freear Philips will be completing this work. The site complexity also means that sections of our lower court will again be restricted to store equipment.
As I end this newsletter I wish you a happy and safe Christmas. I particulary want to acknowledge and thank the team at St Ben's our kaiako/teachers, administrative staff, kaimahi/ teacher aides, librarian, after school care team cleaning staff and our caretaker Sokry, you are the back bone of St Ben's and we are a better school for your presence.
Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki hoki, Meri Kirihimete!
May God bless and care for you, Merry Christmas!
Tania Savage - Principal
Congratulations to ....
Congratulations to Jack who received Distinction for his Trinity Grade 3 violin exam. A great result for Jack especially as his fractured wrist meant he couldn’t play for a few weeks.
Plus a very successful time at the Speed Cubing Nationals over the weekend, getting first place in NZ for both the 4x4 and 5x5 blindfold events, and third place for both the 3x3 blindfold and multi-blind events (solving multiple 3x3 cubes blindfolded). Jack was even asked to sign the cube of a fan at the Nationals event.
Congratulations to Sam who was awarded four trophies at Extreme Dance Prize Giving recently. She was also selected to go into the New Zealand School of Dance Scholars Program. Selection criteria was very tough and only two dancers were selected out of the entire Wellington region.
Year 7 & 8 Cake competition
This week the Kauri Syndicate held their Annual Cake competition. Students collaborated on planning, ideas, decorating, and executing their cake designs at school, showcasing impressive teamwork. There were some exceptional designs displaying creativity and perseverance. Well done Year 7/8.
Touch Rugby Update
Touch Rugby - Term 4 Season
The Term 4 season of touch rugby ended last week and it was awesome to have four teams representing St Benedict's. Ka pai to all! A brief update from each team below and some photos:
Year 1/2 TouchWe had a very enthusiastic and energetic mix of Year 1 and 2 players this term who all showed so much improvement as the weeks went on. The other teams really struggled to get past our determined defence. Special mention to our most valuable player Flynn and most impressive player Harry . - Coach: Lizzie Hunter
Year 3/4 TouchCongratulations to the two teams of Year 4s who played in the mixed and open grades. The St Benedict's teams were impressive, and had great wins throughout the season - with minimal close losses. Skills have continued to build and these players will be formidable next season in a new grade. Honorable mentions to the most impressive and valuable players: Eleanor, Lucy, Caleb, and Hadleigh. - Coach: Aimie Hines
Year 7/8 TouchCongratulations to the Year 8 team with some playing in their final term for St Benedict's. Only half our team were Year 8's and we are so grateful to the amazing group of Year 6's that really stepped up. Any current Year 6's and 7's that are keen to have a run around on Monday evenings in Term 1 are welcome: - Coach: Sarah Leilua
Interested in playing Touch Rugby in Term 1? A new 6 week season of touch rugby starts in Term 1 in the local schools competition run by Total Touch. Games are on a Monday afternoon/evening at Alex Moore Park, Johnsonville, with the first game on the 19th of February. Teams can be registered in the following grades:
- Year 1/2 open- Year 3/4 boys- Year 3/4 mixed- Year 5/6 boys- Year 5/6 mixed- Year 5/6 girls- Year 7/8 boys- Year 7/8 girls
If your child is interested in playing for St Benedict's and/or you would like further details please email Lizzie Hunter at lizziemid@gmail.com by the 5th of February. It is a great team sport for all and new players are very welcome! With a growing number of players we also need more parents to help with coaching/managing so please also let us know if you are able to help.
Helping Our Kids
THANK YOU FROM HOK!
Help our Kids (HoK) is St Benedict's School's community fundraising committee. HoK's purpose is to fundraise for extra resources that enhance our children's learning and the school environment while creating community building events and fun for the children.
HoK would like to say a big thank you to our fantastic school and wider community for their support this year. We couldn't have made it happen without your practical help, plus support from our generous sponsors. We've tried out some new events such as the colour run. We've organised firm favourites including the Annual Disco and Father's Day breakfast plus Frosty Fridays throughout the year. Together we've raised $31,043 to put towards great resources for our children's learning and to make the playground loads more fun (check out the new playground markings by the turf!).
A key fundraiser and service that HoK provides is the SECONDHAND SUMMER UNIFORM SALE - Tuesday 30 January 2024.
HOK will be holding the Second-hand Uniform sale on the same day as the Whānau Conference Day on Tuesday 30 January.
Items will be available to purchase from 0900 – 1200. Put a reminder in your diary now if you want to grab some quality second-hand items for Term 1.
2023
Entertainment Book
Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon
The Wellington event will be held on Sunday 17th March at Kilbirnie Park and Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. If you would like to register your tamariki for this event, please click HERE. This will take you to the link for the St Benedict's School team. Please visit the website: https://tryathlon.co.
Parent Road Patrol Roster
NICHOLSON ROAD
(Mornings and Afternoons)
Parents: Please be present from 8:25am - 9:00am and again from 2:45am - 3:15pm
| Term 1, 2024 | ||
| Thursday | 01 February | Jimeno family |
| Friday | 02 February | Jones family |
Monday | 05 February | Joseph family |
| Tuesday | 06 February | Waitangi Day - School Closed |
| Wednesday | 07 February | Kallarackel family |
| Thursday | 08 February | Kaloyanis family |
| Friday | 09 February | Khoo family |
| Monday | 12 February | King family |
Tuesday | 13 February | Kowal family |
Wednesday | 14 February | Kraus family |
Thursday | 15 February | Lai family |
Friday | 16 February | Langos family |