ISSUE

1st March 2013

Prayer of the Week

ERO Review Details of our recent Education Review Office review are now available online at http://www.ero.govt.nz simply type St Patricks Waimate into the search box up on the top right hand side of the screen and you will see the link to the report at the top of the list that appears. There are some notable quotes from the review that I could include here, that tell of what a good wee school this is and there are plenty of examples given that distinguish us from those other schools around the district. Generally the report is a glowing endorsement of what we do here and we are genuinely pleased with this review. As parents in the school you should be too. As always however, there is room for improvement and the board are now focused on addressing those issues as well as increasing student achievement and providing a safe and friendly learning environment.
A Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI

Gospel Values for Term One:

Lord Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd, We pray for Pope Benedict XVI as he sets aside his responsibilities as Supreme Pastor. We give thanks for his ministry in the Church. Bless him with health, joy and wellbeing. We pray for the Church in these days of transition. Be with the cardinals who will soon gather in conclave to elect a new leader for the Church. Guided by the Spirit, and free from fear or favour, may they choose a man after your own heart, a humble compassionate shepherd, with wisdom to read the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel. We ask this in your name, who live and reign for ever and ever.

Love, Forgiveness and Justice

Quotes of the Week

Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. Dr. Seuss Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present. Bil Keane

Poem of the Week

You are special! Created by the hands of God himself! Awaken by His breath! Filled with His spirit! Redeemed by His blood! Live by His love! For none on this earth could be measured equal to you! So live as what you are supposed to be! The masterpiece of GOD! - By Andreas Yonotan

Amen.

Caitlin Cadogan, Laney Stanistreet, David Xie and Mitchell Thomson warming up before taking part in the Physical Competency Test yesterday in Timaru, a Blue Light initiative. The students managed to post a time of 4:29.

School News
New Student This week Dillon Liang started school in the Junior Room. We hope that Dillon everyone feel makes very

welcome at our school. Subway 12th March. Sunhats compulsary! must wear brimmed a Are wide while Tuesday

Students hat

Principals Commentary:
It certainly is proving to be an interesting year this 2013. I think that time is moving faster than ever before and thats a worry, because it was already moving fairly quickly. I put something down to do later and later shoots by and nek minnit its just too late. This term has been an eyeopener for me, as for the first time in a while I have been able to take a step back and look at the school through a more strategic and long-term view and I like what I see. I see a small, but growing school, nestled in a small but very staunch parish community. I see a dedicated Board with real commitment and a hands on approach to governance, providing guidance and leadership for a small group of exceptional people that care about and for your children. We have a great PTA (Friends at St Pats) and we have a fantastic collection of parents that help out and support our school in whichever way they can. Each contributes to the success of our wee school in their own way, and each and every one of them brings different skills to the table. We now have a permanent Catholic teacher on staff, (Miss P) and we have a

outside NO CAPS. School holding Friday 2.30 in Assembly these our on a at All

This year we will be afternoon room.

Special

Character

family and friends are welcome to attend. Swimming Sports Congratulations efforts School Sports. FASP AGM Held on 7th March at 7.30pm at the School. Everyone is welcome to attend. Scholastic Book Club Due back at school by Friday 8th March. in to all St the students for their the Patricks and the Rural Swimming

good number of new entrant enrolments that if they continue would mean that our school should easily be back to a 3 teacher/classroom school within a year or two. Our National Standards figures show that 85% of our children are reading and writing at or above the National Standard, and in comparison to many other similar sized or situated schools, these are good results. The Board of Trustees and Teachers have set our students achievement targets for 2013 and the Board will be monitoring progress of all students throughout the school year. Any necessary teaching and learning resources will be purchased and training for professional development for staff undertaken. During term 1, we have a small group of students working 1:1 each day with our wonderful Teachers Aid Jo Shea and this is beginning to show good results. The aim is that these few students that need assistance are given every opportunity to succeed. We have had children attend Swimming sports, Police Competency Tests in Timaru and there are a number of times coming up during the year where students will go off-site for enhanced learning activities. For many of these events we will need to ask for parental assistance, supervision and/or transport in order to be able to participate. As we are only a small school, we do not have the luxury of being able to afford to pay for teachers to be released to attend off-site activities. We do not ask for volunteers/ assistance often, but when we do, it is because we need it, not because we simply want to usurp your time or make life difficult for you. Please dont be offended, but please also dont be shy about coming

coming forward if we ask. Earlier this week, I made the decision that we would not be attending the District Swimming Sports this year, mainly because when we asked for parent supervisors / volunteers for the Rural sports (held the day before) we received no volunteers. I still wanted the children to have the opportunity to attend one of the events, so chose the Rural swimming sports, as I believed that we were in good stead to achieve well there. (We certainly did too) We used some of our very meagre operations grant, to pay a relief teacher to take the children to the event, along with another staff member who volunteered their time on a day off (and who didnt even have a child attending the event). Slightly frustrating then to have parents attending the event, some of whom, as it transpired were always going to attend, which means that they could have saved the school some money and our staff member could have enjoyed their day off. Come on folks. You should know us well enough by now to realise that we only ask for assistance when we really need it. There are some parents that offer their time for nearly everything, which is always welcome but also a trifle unfair, as it is easy to take advantage of that kindness, whether intentionally or not. Just how I see it folks. Dont be offended. Naku noa na Me rongo (In peace) Darcy Kemp Acting Principal St Patricks Waimate

Year of Faith
This Year has been decreed to be an official year of Faith and with all the wealth of bad news and mayhem that seems to proliferate planet earth on a daily basis, I can see no better time for this profound appeal to those who have drifted away from the Church, to return to the welcoming embrace of Christ. For that is what this year of faith is about; re-awakening the faith. Catholics from around the globe re-affirming their commitment to Christ and reinvigorating their lives through prayer and the sacraments. Perhaps much of what is wrong in our world today would not be so if more people were holier, reverent, respectful of each other and committed to their faiths, whatever they might be. His Holiness, Pope Benedict spoke many times about the need to embrace each other whatever our religious beliefs. If every Catholic were to embrace this year of faith and return to the church, even in Waimate, the Churches would probably not be big enough to accommodate them inside. If every Catholic (and everyone else too of course) were to actively adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ, then the world would be a better place, surely. Perhaps then the endless avalanche of dramas and mayhem, suffering and pain that adorns the news daily, in both digital and print media would fade away? I have to admit that the words of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in his final address to the crowds were very apt, when his unusually personal remarks included an admission that "there were moments ... when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us and it seemed that the Lord was sleeping". I am sure that for many people around the world, there are often times when it must seem as if we have been deserted and that the Lord must be sleeping. From the man brutally killed in a shark attack, the deadly balloon tragedy in Egypt, Jews suffering persecution, again, the family hurt in the balcony collapse, to the most recent of car or bus accidents, murders, natural disasters and calamities, it all may indeed appear as if the Lord is asleep. But perhaps, all is not what it seems. Perhaps the reason why we are inundated with these stories of heartbreak and disaster is only because we share a ghoulish curiosity to know what goes on around the world, and news agencies not only accommodate that desire; they thrive on it. Indeed television ratings and newspaper subscriptions are dependent on the shock factor, as it is within our nature to want to have a peek. The frequency, breadth, or depth of these calamities is not increasing. It is the coverage that is. It is the accessibility, in both directions that is too. The ability of news agencies to get right to the scene of the action, or even be a part of the action, and the deliverability: the medium for reporting that pervades our every waking moment, via the internet, newspapers, televisions, cellphones, billboards, and radio. It is not the fault of the delivery mechanisms either, as they are only vehicles that enable global corporate news agencies to satisfy a demand. A demand that you and me and our fellow beings create. Sadly, it is only bad news that makes the news. Good news does not sell newspapers or increase ratings. In the information age, good news is not necessarily good business. Maybe though, its not the Lord thats sleeping. Maybe it is you. When you are experiencing times when the seas seem rough and the wind is raging against you, and all seems lost, maybe you are asleep and need to wake up, spiritually? But there is another option to consider when the seas are getting rough and that is that we should look around for those rays of sunshine that tell us that the Lord isnt asleep, in fact far from it. That He is out and about and doing his stuff: Those stories in the papers in the small print, the little tales of triumph hidden away in the margins of news websites and blogs. The story about the baby surviving the twenty metre fall, the two or three survivors from the balloon disaster in Egypt; the dolphins that delight in Wellington harbour, Iran coaxed into talks. etc, etc And suddenly it becomes rather obvious that He isnt asleep at all , because there are just as many good stories,. lots and lots of them, but we just dont hear about them because they dont sell. He isnt sleeping. He is busy saving people and creating miracles all day, every day, all over the world. Faith is the lifelong companion that makes it possible to perceive, ever anew, the marvels that God works for us.

Community Notices
Playcentre - Waimate Playcentre welcomes pre-schoolers and their families to come along and play at 6 Belt Street Mon/Thur 9-12 noon for more details turn up and play or contact Amanda 689 8982 or Pam 6891176.

Junior Starts School 9am

Cricket again grounds

this from

Saturday at the High

Teddy Bears Picnic Held on Saturday 2nd March from 10am at the Waimate Stadium.

Waimate Community Garden Day - Open Day fundraiser to be held on March 2nd from 6pm.

Waimate resuming and in

Scottish dance social March. Hazel for

Country Dance Club classes sessions Please (Club 1202.

contact

Friends at St Patricks School

The Easter Hunt is soon approaching so make sure you get talking amongst your friends and generate some interest. It will take place on Sunday 24th March, tickets will be on sale from Monday 4th March and will be available at the School Office or the El Paso Dairy. We look forward to seeing a great crowd which continues to grow each year.

Secretary)

more details

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Logo for the Year of Faith. The boat in the logo represents the Church. The main mast of the boat is a cross and its sails are the shape of the sun which represents the Eucharist. On the sails are the letters IHS, the first three letters of the Greek name for Jesus.
Faith is the thing that we believe in and it is also the way by which we believe.

May the Year of Faith be a time for all Catholics to renew their desire and zeal for the Eucharist and to avail themselves regularly of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. During this Year of Faith, may all Catholics publically proclaim their love for Christ and his Church. May this Year of Faith remind us of ways to serve those in our midst who are overlooked, ignored or rejected, so that all may experience the peace and healing of Christs love. May the Holy Spirit guide the Church during the Year of Faith so that all Catholics may experience a deepened renewal of faith, hope and love. May young people be inspired by this Year of Faith to listen attentively and respond to Gods call to priesthood and religious life.

St Patrick School would like to thank the following sponsors

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