POMPALLIER CATHOLIC COLLEGE Te Kāreti Katorika o Pomapārie

“Diligere Verum” “Love the Truth” “Arohatia te Whakapono”

Newsletter 1 : 7 February, 2020

VISION STATEMENT

Pompallier Catholic College is a Catholic community with a Marist charism that challenges all students to excel in their endeavours. We promote Christian values, excellence in learning and quality relationships to enable students to be outstanding citizens. Our College shall be a place where

all “...encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth”.

There is a compelling statement in the film “The Two Popes”, when Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (who is now Pope Francis) says to Pope Benedict, “Truth may be vital, but without love it is also unbearable.” In the film these words arise in the context of the sacrament of Reconciliation. Both men are shown to have deep regret for well-known actions, or inaction, that occurred in their past. Both men recognise that they have fallen short of the ideals they hold for themselves and question whether this failure should disqualify them as a leader. Or does the recognition, atonement and learning arising from their failures, make them a better leader? Pope Benedict’s response to this problem is to provide order and certainty within the Church. People need to know what is right and what is wrong. In his view, the Church is a special place that needs to be an island of perfection in a world of uncertainty. Truth must be taught and followed.

His successor, Pope Francis, embraces the uncertainty, humanness and chaos of the world. He believes that we should not focus excessively on our failings and become despondent, but we should be joyful as we discover truth about ourselves, others and God, within the chaos of everyday life. For Pope Francis, truth is important, but it must co-exist with love, otherwise it is unbearable.

Our Strategic Plan is headlined by our school motto. After watching the film, I noticed how our school motto resonated with the words of Pope Francis: diligere verum, love the truth, arohatia te whakapono. Another Latin phrase quaere verum (seek the truth), is used by many schools as their motto and aligns more with the perspective of Pope Benedict and much of our Church practice in the past and today.

So how do we “love the truth” at Pompallier Catholic College? I think the first step is to realise that we are talking about a journey and not a destination. Loving the truth takes us on a journey into the unknown, where we are likely to encounter the disorder and uncertainty of life.

Life is messy, not certain and rule bound.

Dialogue is essential for helping us to love and truth, according to Pope Francis. In his letter Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love), Pope Francis provides some really good advice to bring love and truth together. “Take time, quality time… be ready to listen patiently and attentively to the other. Often they don’t need a solution, but to be heard and acknowledged.”

“Appreciate the other and recognise their right to think as they do and be happy. We should acknowledge the other person’s truth and value his or her deepest concerns. Don’t get bogged down in our own limited ideas and opinions, but be prepared to expand and change them… for the unity we seek is not uniformity but a unity in diversity.”

All of this tells me that our Pope is actively listening and discerning a way forward for the Church, that will bring its members along the road of truth with him. In a similar way, our College values constant dialogue and hearing your truth in a loving way. We are constantly discerning, with you, how to best serve the needs of whānau and our students. We are not a College that relies upon an adherence to policies and procedures that brought us great success in former years. We are on a journey with you into the realms of the unknown, filled with optimism and hope, knowing that “God is with us wherever we go” (Joshua 1:9).

Richard Stanton

PRINCIPAL

2020 TERM DATES

TERM 1 Thursday 30 January Thu 9 April

TERM 2 Tue 28 April Fri 3 July

TERM 3 Mon 20 July Fri 25 September

TERM 4 Mon 12 October Wed 9 December

UPCOMING EVENTS - Term 1

Page 2

FEBRUARY

Sat 8 Staff Blessing Mass SFX Church 6.00pm

Mon 10 Year 7 Candle Ceremony College Hall 2.10pm

Tue 11 Inter-House Swimming Sports (p/p date: Thu 13) College Pool

Wed 12 Class & Individual Photos College Hall

Wed 12 International Students Meet & Greet BBQ College Staffroom 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Sun 16 - Fri 21 Year 11 PE EOTC Trip Great Barrier Island

Tue 18 - Fri 21 Year 13 Hikoi Far North

Tue 25 Athletics Day - whole school (p/p date: Thu 27) Trigg Stadium 8.45am - 3.00pm

Wed 26 Ash Wednesday Liturgy College Hall 2.10pm

MARCH

Tue 3 Inaugural Mass College Hall TBC

Wed 4 - Fri 6 Year 7 Camp “The Farm”

Fri 6 Year 12 Biology EOTC Trip Waipu 8.45am - 3.00pm

Sat 7 Youth Mass SFX Church 6.00pm

Mon 9 - Fri 13 Year 9 Special Character Event Bay of Islands

Mon 9 Otago University Liaison Visit College Library 10.00am

Thu 12 RYDA - Year 12 Toll Stadium TBC

Thu 12 Victoria University Liaison Visit College Library 9.20am

Mon 16 - Tue 17 Gateway Frist Aid Course (Group 1) College Library 9.00am - 3.00pm

Tue 17 International Students EOTC Trip Cape Reinga

Wed 18 Careers Roadshow College Hall

Wed 18 - Thu 19 Gateway Frist Aid Course (Group 2) College Library 9.00am - 3.00pm

Fri 20 Year 13 Geography Polyfest Trip TBC

Mon 23 - Thu 26 Year 12 Geography Tongariro Trip TBC

Tue 31 - Fri 3 Apr Year 12 PE EOTC Trip TBC

APRIL

Tue 7 Parent / Teacher Interviews College TBC

Tue 7 - Wed 8 Te Tai Tokerau Festival Dargaville TBC

Wed 8 - Thu 9 Shakespeare Festival Competition College Hall TBC

Wed 8 Year 8 HPV Vaccination # 1 College Library 9.00am

Wed 8 Waikato University Liaison Visit 9.00am - 11.00am

Thu 9 Stations of the Cross Liturgy College Hall TBC

Thu 9 Last Day of Term 1 School finishes 3.00pm

Tue 28 First Day of Term 2 School starts 8.45am

YEAR 9 SPECIAL CHARACTER EVENT Monday 9 - Friday 13 March, 2020

All Year 9 students will be given an information notice next week regarding the Special Character Event, being held in the Bay of Islands on the above dates. Their permissions are due back to school by Friday 21

st February, so please

contact the College if you do not receive the notice.

If you have any queries, please feel free to contact the Event Co-ordinator, Anna Williams, by leaving a message at the College office, or email: anna.williams@pompallier.school.nz. Thank you!

SPORTS DEPARTMENT NEWS : Term 1, Week 2

POMPALLIER SWIMMING SPORTS - Tuesday 11 Feb

Year 7 & 8 students swim from 8.45am - 11.10am, then it is interval break.

Year 9 - 13 students swim from 11.35am - 1.25pm. Participants & Officials only to the pool.

In period 5 we hold the relays – entries and relay swimmers should be sorted at the HOUSE meetings today.

The main rule is you MUST swim either Championship (50m, 100m) or Open 25m races, and in the correct age group.

If you are absent on Friday and wish to swim, then you will need to sign-up on Monday at interval so you can be added to the attendance. Thanks and good luck!

NEW ATHLETICS RECORD - 2019

At the Whangarei Primary Schools Sports Association Athletics Champs held last November, a Pompallier record was broken, by William Gross, for Year 7 Boys Long Jump - 4.59m, previously held by Chevy Dunn-Riwhi - 4.26m. Well done William!

NETBALL TRIALS

Collegiate (Year 9 - 13)

Monday 17 February: 3.15pm - 5.00pm, College Courts

Monday 24 February: Only IF needed (TBC)

Intermediate (Year 7 & 8)

Monday 2 March: 3.15pm - 5.00pm, College Courts

Please remember a change of clothes, sports shoes and water bottle!

All players MUST indicate their interest in trialling by giving positions on the rally sheets – this started at Orientation day (Fri 7 Feb). If your daughter has not signed up to trial yet, please make sure this is done immediately, as trial sheets are being compiled.

You can email me urgently to be included, my email address is included on the following page.

HOCKEY TRIALS

Collegiate (Year 9 - 13)

Sunday 1 March: 9.00am - 10.00am

Real Deal Turf, Northland Hockey Please arrive at 8.45am by the turf for player registration.

JMC (Year 7 & 8)

Sunday 1 March: 10.00am - 11.00am Real Deal Turf, Northland Hockey Please arrive at 9.45am by the Grandstand for player registration.

Second Trial for Collegiate (only if needed)

Sunday 8 March: 9.00am - 10.00am TBC

All welcome! Please ensure you have your mouth-guard, stick, shoes, shin pads and drink bottle.

POMPALLIER BASKETBALL & FOOTBALL TRIALS

These will be happening later this term, dates to be advised.

IF you didn’t sign up at the Orientation Day, then come and give your name to Mrs Yorke, or ensure you attend any further meetings at school. Always read the daily notices so you know when to attend these, and trials

The Sports Department has emailed out to families a request for help with Coaching - please contact Mrs Yorke if you can help with this.

POMPALLIER SPORTS TEAMS - STUDENTS TRIALLING

We want to encourage everyone to be active and join our teams, so we provide Coaches, uniforms/gear and support for this to happen.

From our students, we expect respect towards the Coach, Manager, Officials and your team mates. This includes making a solid commitment to the team by making all training and games - on time, fit, and prepared with the gear you need!

Pulling out of a team after the selections is very frustrating for myself, the Coach, and your team mates. So please ensure you have thought carefully about your ability to fully commit, “before” you trial. Thank you.

It should be seen as a privilege and good citizenship to represent your school and bring your unique skills and passion to the team.

Team Selections:

Based on merit

By a selection panel - Coach, School Rep and independent selectors not related to player

Players must attend trials to be considered for teams, exceptional circumstances may be considered by the organiser/management

POMPALLIER SPORTS ROLES - HELP NEEDED

Our Sports Department is looking for helpers to support active students.

We have defined our roles and hope to get assistance from willing and committed people whose enthusiasm can inspire our students; as a Coach, Team Manager or a Teacher in Charge of a Sport.

Our Codes this year, are: Cricket, Basketball, Futsal, Football, Netball, Rugby, Volleyball.

If you would like to help with a sports team/event this year, or can help with transport for an event etc, please contact me for more information, via the email on address on page 4.

NOTE: All adults working with our students (in any capacity for sports, or other areas too), must sign our Code of Ethics form which is valid for the current year/season, and also be willing to undergo a Police Vetting Check.

… continued page 4

Page 3

SENIOR STUDENT COACHES FOR 2020

If you would like to help with Sports Coaching or events this year, come and see Mrs Yorke to discuss how you can be involved

FOOTBALL REFEREES

As a requirement of entering the Mid-week Football competition (starting Term 2), the College teams have to provide a referee for HOME games at Pompallier. Games are played after-school, at 4.00pm.

If there are any students who are willing to do this for us, or a parent/caregiver/adult from our Pompallier families, please contact the Sport Co-ordinator to get more details.

ORIENTATION DAY - Friday 7 February

If you missed our Orientation event you may like to see the Sport Co-ordinator to sign-up for any SPORTS in 2020. Come to the Sports office at interval or lunchtime.

WHANGAREI ROWING CLUB

If you are interested in Rowing, please contact the Club: whangareirowing@gmail.com

UPCOMING EVENTS - TERM 1

All events entered are subject to student interest, parent help and organiser’s changes.

Year 7 & 8 Events:

Tue 11 Feb Swimming Sports (p/p 13 Feb) Pompallier

Sun 1 Mar JMC Hockey Trials Ntlnd Hockey

Mon 2 Mar Year 7 & 8 Netball Trials Pompallier

Tue 10 Mar Boys Cricket TBC

Wed 18 Mar WPSSA Swimming WIS

Wed 8 Apr NPS Swimming TBC

Secondary Events:

Tue 11 Feb Swimming Sports (p/p 13 Feb) Pompallier

Thu 13 Feb Equestrian Show Jumping Barge Park

Fri 14 Feb House Meeting - Athletics

Mon 17 Feb Netball Trial 1 Pompallier

Mon 24 Feb Netball Trial 2 TBC Pompallier

Thu 30 Feb NSS Swim Champs Dargaville

Fri 21 Feb NSS Triathlon TBC Kai Iwi Lakes

Tue 25 Feb Athletics Day (p/p 27 Feb) Kensington

Thu 27 Feb NSS Surfing #1 Central

Sun 1 Mar Collegiate Hockey Trials Kensington

Sun 8 Mar Collegiate Hockey Trials TBC Kensington

Thu 12 Mar NSS Track & Field Kensington

Tue 17 Mar Futsal U14 TBC TBC

Wed 18 Mar Futsal U16 TBC TBC

Thu 19 Mar Futsal U19 TBC TBC

Thu 19 Mar Special Olympics Swimming TBC

Sat 21 Mar NSS Mountain Biking TBC Waitangi

Sat 21 Mar Stand Up Paddleboarding TBC Waitangi

Thu 26 Mar NSS Surfing #2 TBC TBC

Fri 27 Mar Equestrian Event Kaikohe

Sat 28 Mar WNC Netball Grading Kensington

Sat 4 Apr WNC Netball Grading Kensington

Sat 4 Apr NISS Track & Field Champs TBC Hamilton

Wed 8 Apr Tennis Singles TBC TBC

Chantelle Yorke SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR

438 3950 Ext 222

chantelle.yorke@pompallier.school.nz

Page 4

SPORTS… continued from page 3

Page 5

PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE 2020 Vaccinations

Just a reminder to Parents/Caregivers that all Year 8 students will be offered the FREE vaccination to protect against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) this year. Education and consent forms will be provided in the first term.

For any further enquiries please contact our School Public Health Nurse - Leah Bamford: 021 735 313, or visit: www.health.govt.nz/hpv

Vaccinations dates are as follows:

Year 8 HPV immunisations: 1st vaccination:

Wednesday 8th April, 2

nd vaccination: TBC.

Year 7 Boostrix: Date TBC.

SENIOR SCHOOL LOCKERS

Lockers are available again this year for students.

Cost is $50.00 per year, plus a refundable $10.00 bond.

If you would like to rent a locker for 2020, you will need to fill in an online order form as soon as possible, at: http://www.stowawaylockers.co.nz/.

Get in quick as they are going fast!

Note: The lockers are supplied and maintained by Stowaway Lockers, they are not owned by the College. Therefore, please contact Stowaway Lockers direct for any queries or for more information, on 027 4221 783, or 437 5818.

Thank you.

HOMESTAY FAMILIES NEEDED URGENTLY !!!

The College is hosting a group of international students from Thailand, and we are looking for families who would be willing to host them. They are here from Sunday 8

th

March to Friday 3rd

April.

The students range in age from 12 to 16 years old and would prefer to be placed in a home with children. Ideally you would live close to school as well.

Families are paid $250.00 per week to host these students.

If you can help, or know someone who can, please contact Julia as soon as possible:

Julia Lecky

438 3950 ext 219 or 027 634 3650 or: julia.lecky@pompallier.school.nz

COLLEGE ACCOUNTS

Our College accounts are sent to families monthly, via email. You should expect to receive your child’s account for this year in the next week or two.

In the meantime, returning families will have received an account in December. If you have an overdue outstanding account from last year (or previous years), please ensure that this is paid as a matter of urgency. Thank you to those families who have contacted us and have a payment arrangement in place.

We would like to remind families that we are happy to accept regular automatic payments throughout the year towards your school account, and all accounts should be paid by the end of each year. Please contact Jane Woolston in the College office if you would like assistance with this.

Please also note that additional compulsory costs (e.g.: sport activities, extra-curricular trips etc.) must be paid for at the time of the event, as they are not paid from your regular automatic payment.

As always, if you are experiencing any difficulties in making payment at any time during the year, we encourage you to contact Jane, sooner rather than later, so that options can be discussed in confidence.

Thank you.

SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL - REQUEST

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is looking for sponsorship towards the operating expenses of our Lunches-In-School Programme.

We make approximately 700 sandwiches per week, supplying to 9 schools in the Whangarei community. This allows schools to supply food to those children who may come to school with none, some of them without lunch every day.

The programme costs approximately $2,500 per term to run.

We are looking for people that would be willing to sponsor the programme, either by a regular payment, or a one-off donation. All sponsors would receive a donation receipt, regular updates, and reports on how the donation has been spent.

If you are interested in sponsoring the programme, please feel free to contact Anna Williams via email: awjwsvdp@outlook.com, or alternatively please leave your name and number at the Parish Office on 437 7902 and we will be in contact.

Thank you.

Remember, if you have a student success you would like to share,

email us at …

newsletter@pompallier.school.nz

Page 6

UNIFORM REMINDERS ...

We have a compulsory school uniform and we expect that our students will wear it with pride.

We are very proud of our College, and as our students are seen by members of the wider community outside of school, we insist on the correct uniform being worn to and from school, as well as during school hours.

If you require any clarification on our regulation uniform items, please refer to the Uniform pages on our website: www.pompalliercollege.school.nz (under Enrolment Info).

Your assistance in enforcing that your child has the correct uniform is greatly appreciated.

YEAR 12 & 13 STUDENTS

Our Number 1 formal uniform can be ordered from Bethells Uniforms in the Strand.

Also, a reminder for senior boys - if you are wearing our formal uniform, you must wear a tie with your white shirt. These are available to purchase from the College office, for $30.00.

PE UNIFORMS

A reminder that all students should be wearing regulation PE T-shirts in House colours.

If you are not sure which house you are in, please ask your Whānau Teacher.

STUDENT ABSENCES and Contacting the Student Centre

Reporting a student absence:

When you phone the College, our automated system will tell you to press 1 to report a student absence. This will transfer you to an answerphone so you can leave a message with your child’s absence details.

Messages are cleared regularly.

You must ring in each day your child is going to be absent. Please also note that we do not accept emailed notification of student absences.

For absences of 3 days or more we require a medical certificate to be handed in at the Student Centre.

Note that you cannot speak directly with Yvette in our student Centre by pressing this option.

Speaking to Yvette in the Student Centre:

If you wish to speak with Yvette, when you ring the College, you need to enter extension 202 to be put through directly to her.

Use this method if you have an urgent message for your child, and it would be most helpful if you contact us in plenty of time to deliver the message to your child before the end of the school day.

Thank you.

PROCEDURE FOR ALL VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL

(including parents)

The College has a duty to provide a safe environment for our students. We therefore have a strict policy around visitors to our school, which is also in place to fulfill our Health & Safety legal requirements.

All visitors and parents MUST report to Reception upon arrival at the College.

Please do not go directly to your child’s classroom, or elsewhere in the College grounds, without reporting to Reception first.

If you are coming to see a teacher without an appointment, please be advised that our Receptionist will be able to let you know if they are available or not - however we do encourage parents to make an appointment wherever possible, to avoid disappointment.

Thank you for your understanding and assistance in this matter.

BULLETIN BOARD ...

Our College bulletin board is updated each day with activities happening in the College, and is also used to inform parents during the day of any other important messages.

It is also updated as necessary if there are any emergency situations where we need to get information out to parents (for instance in a school lock-down), and email or phoning is not possible.

If you are not aware of the bulletin board and how it works, when you phone the College and hear our automated welcome message, you can press 4 to listen to the bulletin.

We encourage you to make use of this valuable information service.

College Bulletin Board

Phone: 438 3950, Option 4

VIEWING STUDENT INFORMATION

Our Parent Portal allows parents to access some of the records we have for your child, like attendance, timetable, pastoral etc.

Click here to be directed to the log-in page.

Log on using your child’s name: firstnamedotlastname (eg: fred.flinstone) and the password they use at school.

Alternatively, phone the College office and request the Caregivers logon password. We will email this to the registered email address we have on our system for you.

Page 7

2020 BUS INFORMATION

All students will shortly be issued with Student ID cards, which show which bus they are eligible to catch. These must be produced every time when boarding their allocated bus.

We operate a “No Pass No Ride” policy. If a student is unable to produce the correct pass for that bus, they may be refused travel and have to make their own arrangements.

Due to movement with families around the area, some eligibility has changed from previous years. Eligibility is dependent on where a student lives, available public services in the area and loading limits.

BUS TRAVEL CODE OF CONDUCT:

As a student at Pompallier Catholic College I agree to abide by the behavioural expectations described below:

When I am a seated passenger, I will remain in my seat for the whole journey.

I will not eat on the bus or throw anything inside or out of the bus.

If I am a standing passenger, I will stand quietly and not push or move around the bus.

I will respect other students and their property at all times (this includes pushing, verbal or physical abuse, or any other behaviour that may distract the driver).

I will use socially acceptable language when conversing with the driver and/or other students and I will not speak at a volume that may distract the driver.

I will respect the property of the bus operator at all times (e.g. refraining from standing on seats or vandalising the vehicle in any way).

I will not engage in any behaviour that could put the driver or other students at risk.

I will observe the requirements and instructions of the bus driver and the teacher/s responsible for bus duty at all times.

I understand that any damage I cause to the bus will result in my caregiver being billed for the cost of repairs.

The safety and comfort of everyone on the bus depends on a standard of behaviour and consideration for others that is expected in the classroom. We hope that caregivers will support the school in maintaining these standards of behaviour.

IF THIS CODE OF CONDUCT IS BROKEN:

The student may be spoken to by the driver and/or bus controller. There may be a requirement of reflection, apology, assigned seating…

The student may be placed on daily report for one week and their caregiver notified.

If no improvement is evident immediately, an interview may be arranged between the student, caregiver(s), and school.

If there is still no improvement, travel on a school bus will be withdrawn, and the caregiver will be required to find alternative transport to get the student to school.

In extreme cases of misbehaviour the privilege of travelling on a school bus could be withdrawn immediately.

PARENT INFORMATION …. Important information regarding leave passes

and sick children

We would like to remind Parents and Caregivers of the process if your child needs to leave school during the day for an appointment, or if they are sick.

Leave Passes for appointments:

Students must bring a signed note from home to the Student Centre before school and ask for a pass. They must do this before they need to leave the College. If someone other than a parent/caregiver is taking your child, it is vital you include their name in the note, otherwise we will have to call you for verbal permission, which could cause delays in your child leaving for their appointment on time. If unexpected appointments arise during the day, parents should ring the Student Centre and speak with Yvette before collecting your child. This is to allow us time to arrange a pass and get the message to your child.

Before students leave for their appointment, they need to go to the Student Centre, and an adult must sign them out. Please do not go directly to your child’s class to collect them, you can meet them at the Student Centre. When students arrive back at school, they must go and sign back in before heading back to class. This is extremely important as we need to know where all students are at all times in cases of emergency or fire.

Sick children:

If students are feeling unwell, they need to go to the Student Centre, and we will ring parents.

We would appreciate parents reminding their children that they are not to go home or text/contact parents themselves before reporting to the Student Centre. The College must ring parents before students are allowed to go home.

If you have any queries regarding the above, please contact Yvette in our Student Centre on 438 3950 ext 202, or email: yvette.tattersall@pompallier.school.nz.

We appreciate your assistance with these matters.

HAS YOUR CONTACT

INFORMATION CHANGED??

Have you moved house over the holidays?

Changed your phone number or email address?

Have a new emergency contact person, or Doctor?

It is vital that we have the correct up-to-date contact information for you and your child. Therefore, any time you have a change in circumstances, please ensure you contact the College Office and let us know.

Also, a lot of College information is sent out via email, along with our newsletters, so if you change your email address, please let us know so you can continue to receive this information.

Page 8