Archived
In these pages you will find items of interest from 2016, 2017 and 2018
Weaving Bonds of Belonging
This is the theme for this year's Caritas Social Justice Week. As a school we have been learning about 'Who is our neighbour?', and thinking about how we can contribute, as individuals, and collectively, to improve aspects of our society. On Tuesday 5th of September, we sorted out the whole school into mixed age groups and worked on either a craft, baking or a work task. The baking that was made was shared to members of our community who are injured or unwell, and some goodies were also dropped off to the Rest Home residents. Craft activities included making cards for members of our community and for restocking the book marks for church. Our school gardens were given a make over and lots of vegetables were planted to be used to make healthy lunches in Term 4's learning. We also all went out and did a rubbish pick up around our community. This gave our students a little insight into what happens to rubbish when we don't dispose of it responsibly.
Mrs Langton pictured above with her budding gardeners. Now we just need a bit more sunshine so that all the veges that we have planted start to grow!
Photos - Top: the rubbish that we collected around a one block area from the school.
Middle: Room 6 students walking up Allison Street picking up rubbish. We even found fish skeletons!
Bottom: Solai shows Mina and Olivia how to plant lettuces.
On Friday 7th April we held a fundraiser for Caritas. All classes completed a brief study about the effects of climate change in the Pacific. We decided to organise activities that recycled plastic bottles into something new. This was as a sign of solidarity to the people of the Pacific nations that are under threat of water level rising and freshwater becoming salty and unable to drink. The production and disposal of plastic bottles contributes to climate change so finding ways to reuse these was a way to encourage students to reduce their waste.
Caritas Fundraiser
We raised $207.60 for Caritas projects in the Pacific Islands.
National Standards Data 2017
88.8% of students are AT or ABOVE National Standard expectations in mathematics.
85.9% of students are AT or ABOVE National Standard expectations in reading.
88.7% of students are AT or ABOVE National Standard expectations in writing.
National Standard Data 2016
This data is collated over the school year and is reported to the Board and to the Ministry of Education. The National Standards set clear expectations that students need to meet in Reading, Writing and Maths in the first eight years of school.
The data is collected at the anniversary of a student's first year at school, at the anniversary of their second year at school, at the anniversary of their third year at school, then at the end of Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7 and Year 8.
We report National Standards to parents at the end of year, in our school reports. We will indicate the Year level that your child is currently working at, in these reports. (eg. If they are a Year 8 and working at a Year 6 level or if they are a Year 4 working at a Year 7 level etc...)
These links are the Ministry of Education documents for parents explaining National Standard expectations in each of reading, writing and maths.
Reading - End of Year
86.9% of students are AT or ABOVE National standards in reading
81.4% of boy students are AT or ABOVE National standards in reading
93.8% of girl students are AT or ABOVE National standards in reading
Mathematics - End of Year
84.8% of students are AT or ABOVE National standards in mathematics
83.1% of boy students are AT or ABOVE National standards in mathematics
87% of girl students are AT or ABOVE National standards in mathematics
Writing - End of Year
89.5% of students are AT or ABOVE National standards in writing
84.7% of boy students are AT or ABOVE National standards in writing
95.7% of girl students are AT or ABOVE National standards in writing
All Souls Day and All Saints Day
Known liturgically as the "Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed", All Souls' Day is often seen as a continuation and extension of the All Saints' Day celebrations conducted the day before. While All Saints' Day is dedicated to those who are in heaven, All Souls' Day is a day of prayer for those who have died but have not yet reached heaven.
This year All Saint's Day is Thursday 1st November and All Soul's Day is Friday 2nd November.
November- Month of the Holy Souls
In November we particularly remember those who have died. We begin with the Feast of All Saints on November 1st. On this day we celebrate all the saints in heaven, both the officially recognised (canonised) saints and the ordinary people who have lead good lives and are now with God in heaven. November 2nd is All Souls day, when we pray for all those who have died and especially those who are in purgatory. There is a 9:30a.m. Mass on this day, followed by an Opunake cemetery blessing. There will be a Pihama cemetery blessing at 6:30pm on November 14th. Okato cemetery blessing is at 6:30pm on November 15th, followed by Mass. There will be a box in front of the altar at church for names of people you would like to remember and pray for throughout November.
Room 6 Vertical Horizons Camp
Throughout Week 2 the Room 6 kids had the exciting experience of attending Vertical Horizons Camp. Each student had the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor activities and experienced different levels of challenges.
Some of the highlights were the Flying Kiwi, Zip Line, the Cat Walk Beam, Jacob’s Ladder, Archery and the Multivine. They also had the opportunity to get absolutely covered in mud during the famous Mud Run and participate in the ultra competitive Raft Race with a Raft that they had designed in teams.
On Wednesday night the kids had some fun in the team building/fitness games while ending the night roasting marshmallows on the campfire. On Thursday Mr Murfitt hosted a competitive quiz night which was won by the parents team by just a single point!
All in all the kids had a fantastic time and impressed the Vertical Horizons Staff with their organisational skills and their willingness to listen and by giving the instructed activites a real effort.
Lastly a big thank you needs to go out to the parents for all of their support in ensuring that this camp experience went ahead. As you know these kind of events cannot go ahead without you all.
Planet Earth and Beyond
The last term has seen the whole school participate in a Planet Earth and Beyond unit. We have learnt about the planets, the sun, the stars, the moon and other celestial objects. We have written stories, completed 'space' maths tasks, created colourful and vibrant art and both asked and answered questions about space! All of our work will be on display at Pet Day so please come into the classrooms and have a look around.
More Cheese please - room 2!
Mrs Langton came and taught in Room 2 for a couple of days. We tasted different types of cheese and chose the one that we liked the best.
We found out that most people in Room 2 liked camembert cheese the best!
We did think it was pretty close though between that and Cheese Slices!
A = Blue Vein Cheese
B = Cheese Slices
C = Edam
D = Parmesan
E = Feta
F = Camembert
IMG_0194.m4vMaddie was not impressed!
We read the poem - Little Miss Muffet. We had to work out what a 'tuffet' was. We used a google search to find out it was a small stool or a tuft of grass. Then we had to find out what curds and whey were. Amy O'Rorke and Jayden found out that curds is another name for cottage cheese and that the liquid, that is made in the process of making the cottage cheese, is called whey.
IMG_0151.jpgIMG_0153.jpgMost of the students liked the cottage cheese. Two thumbs up meant they liked it lots - one up and one down was it was okay, and two thumbs down meant it wasn't good at all.
IMG_0172.jpgIMG_0197.jpgIMG_0195.jpgIMG_0192.jpgThe students had to write down descriptions of the different cheeses according to what they looked like, what they felt like, what they smelt like and finally what they tasted like.
Liam was our mad scientist!
IMG_0152.jpgFrankie was our other mad scientist!
IMG_0165.jpg
Meringues!
"They were lovely with cream and delicious without cream." Savannah
"They were sticky. They tasted like lollies in the middle." Melah
"The meringues were sticky on the inside. That was a good thing." Joshua
"They were so yum!" James
Wearable Arts
The first day of Spring was full of vibrant colour - not from the spring bulbs that had flowered early - but rather from the stunning outfits on display at this year’s Taranaki Fashion Art Awards. Students from St Joseph’s Opunake were involved in the designing, creating and modelling of outfits in this year’s show. Aria Brophy, Summer Simpson, Mackenzie Gatenby, and Ella Griggs all committed many hours in the making of these designs under the watchful guidance of principal Margaret Duynhoven. Paper flowers, measuring tapes and even old ties were some of the materials used to create the designs.
The girls who modelled, had to travel to New Plymouth to rehearse for the event. Thanks to Rochelle Griggs and Chantal Brophy for transporting them to and from rehearsals. The girls really enjoyed entering the Art awards and learning how to be a part of a larger production. The outfits are on display in Room 3.
The 'Made to Measure' and the 'Miss Monochrome' outfits made the finals in the "Off the Wall" and 'Recycled' categories.
Tatarakihi Kapa Haka Festival
On Friday 24th August our Junior and Senior students competed in the annual Tatarakihi Kapa Haka festival held at the the TSB Hub in Hawera. Our students performed beautifully and looked fantastic in their amazing new Kapa Haka uniforms. A huge thank you to our mentor Matua Lui who has taught us and lead us every Friday afternoon in preparation for festivals like this. Below are some photos from our performances