Welcome to St Pat's, voted the best school in Hawke's Bay in 2024

Gemma Gardiner

We are all rejuvenated, rested and so pumped for a fantastic year! We have the most amazing staff who are so committed to your child's education. This newsletter is a short snapshot preparing us all for Term 1, 2025

Kia ora koutou,

We welcome back all of our families and a very special warm welcome to our new staff and families joining our St Pat's family. The teachers have been busy prepping their classrooms and learning, and it is fair to say that we are really ready to smash goals this year. 2025 is a big year where one of our biggest aspirations/goals is to truly connect, partner up and journey together with whanau, community and our wonderful Napier Parish. There is work to be done and we know that a reciprocal partnership and hearing and responding to everyone's voices is what will make this year the most successful one at St Patrick's School.

Our Connected Curriculum School Wide Focus theme for 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.”

This year’s theme aligns with Pope Francis's Jubilee Year theme of being "Pilgrims of Hope," inviting us to actively embody love, compassion, and hope in our daily lives.

“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us, and help everyone gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open

spirit and trusting heart.” - Pope Francis

We enter 2025 hope filled and hopeful! Join us on our pilgrimage as we light up our world with Faith, Love and Hope.

If you have any queries for 2025 please email your child's teacher or email me directly principal@stpatsnapier.school.nz

Over the next week, continue to keep an eye on our school app and Facebook page for any further updates. Do not hesitate to reach out to us in the meantime.

God bless you all,
Gem x

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Stationary packs for 2025

Gemma Gardiner

This year we have done things a little differently - Your stationary can be purchased from Office Products in Onekawa.
You can go into the shop or shop online. https://nzschoolshop.co.nz/school.html/STPAR
Your child's pack is all made up for them and ready to go

This year all stationary can be purchased from Office Products in Onekawa.
You can go into the shop or shop online. https://nzschoolshop.co.nz/school.html/STPAR
The packs that are available are:
New Entrant Pack
Year 1/2 Pack
Mission Pack - Year 3/4
St Joseph Pack - Year 5/6
Marist Intermediate Pack - Year 7/8

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Welcome to the team Amanda Good our new Deputy Principal

Amanda Good

We are so excited to warmly welcome our new Deputy Principal, Miss Amanda Good. She comes with so much energy, passion and knowledge and we are excited to have her join our team. Gem

Kia Ora Whanau.

My name is Amanda and I am very excited to be joining St Patrick’s School this year. I feel very honoured to have been appointed your new Deputy Principal and am looking forward to meeting you all in the coming weeks.

Over the Summer I have enjoyed making the move back to Hawke’s Bay, a place where I have frequently visited over the last few years and have always have considered home. I grew up in Taradale and my family all remain in the surrounding suburbs.

For the past eight years I have been working in Auckland, holding a range of teaching and leadership roles which I believe has set me up well to take on my new position.

I am passionate about supporting others to be the best they can be and know this new challenge will allow me to continue to grow as a leader in this space. I also am an avid reader and sports fan so I’m looking forward to sharing these passions with our learners in the coming weeks.

I can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring!

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A message from our DRS

Karina Campbell

We enter 2025 full of Faith, and Hope

The theme for 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope.”

This aligns with Pope Francis's Jubilee Year theme of being "Pilgrims of Hope," inviting us to actively embody love, compassion, and hope in our daily lives. We will be learning about what it means to be a Pilgrim of Hope and about the Holy Doors.

Throughout the year the students will be learning what 'Being Church' means in our day to day. We will be exploring how we are pilgrims and that we can make choices to be our best self, living out the teachings of Jesus.

We look forward to supporting our Parish with the Sacramental Programme, Sunday Masses and Children's liturgy.

Karina

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Marist 2025

Gary Exeter (Mr Ex)

Marist are pumped for a big year

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to the Marist whānau! As we begin this exciting new year, we want to acknowledge some changes within our team. Sadly, we say goodbye to Rachel Smith, who is heading to Sacred Heart College, Karina Campbell, who will be joining the St Joseph whānau and Kate Tarrant, who will be joining the Mission whānau . We are incredibly grateful for their contributions and wish them both all the best in their new roles. At the same time, we are thrilled to welcome Todd Reid to our team and will be interviewing for Rachel’s replacement next week. Please visit our website for information on how to purchase stationery for the upcoming term. We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and can’t wait to see all our students back on Monday, the 3rd of February.
Gaz

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Mission Team

Crystal Hewett

Mission whanau - year 3-4 welcome you all into a fabulous new year

The Mission teaching team are excited to see you all back very soon! The Year 3's have had some time getting to know our space and some of the teachers. We hope they are looking forward to their new classes and team. We know the Year 4's will be looking forward to leading and supporting our new team members and making them feel at home.

Our team letter will have more information on what we are focusing on in Term One, so keep an eye out for it.

Remember to check the Year 3&4 team on the school app and update any sports groups your child will be involved in. Have a look on Kindo for the sports available. There is a team entered for Futsal, so I hope we can fill the team!

We will send out a list for labelling your stationery before it comes into school through the school app.

Enjoy the rest of your break and we look forward to welcoming you all back.

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St Joseph Team 2025

Kaehlah Dawson

A new and refreshed team await you this year in St Joseph

Mrs Campbell, Ms Macdonald and Miss Dawson are getting our learning spaces ready and are really looking forward to being all together again very soon. We cannot wait to hear about your holiday break and begin our 2025 school year. Just like Mission, our whānau newsletter will be out in Week One but please keep an eye out on our school Facebook, School app and Kindo for any updates on stationery, sports etc...
As a heads up, we get straight into it with St Joseph beginning swimming lessons at the Onekawa pools in Week 2 - Tuesday 11th February. More details to follow. Until then, enjoy the rest of your holidays and we'll see you on Monday 3rd February!

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Angels

Pip Draeger

Welcome to all of our lovely Angels

The Angels teachers, Jan, Pip, Matt, Anna and Cath can't wait to see you all soon! Remember to bring your school sun hats to school. Angels are ready for yet another big year and can't wait to welcome our new families to Angels. Remember this year our stationary is being sold off site and is all pre made and ready to be collected before school starts.

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Sun hats in Term 1

Gemma Gardiner

Sun hats are available for purchasing on our KINDO app and collected from our school office

In Term 1, wearing our school hats is an important rule to follow. We are a Sun Smart School.

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Shoes in Summer terms

Gemma Gardiner

A question we get asked a lot - what shoes can my child wear

We know that children outgrow and go through many different pairs of shoes in their early years and we recognise how expensive this gets. We do not wish to make things more expensive or trickier. For summer sandals in Term 1 and 4, we have become more "kind" in what is allowed and what is not allowed, due to cost of living, practicality and the wear and tear of shoes these days.

Sandals need to be black and have no other colours, patterns or designs on them, just basic black. Smart/tidy. Black or navy crocs are allowed, but no Jibbitz. We have always accepted navy blue sandals as well - black is preferred but we will still accept navy too for 2025. If you are unsure whether sandals are smarty/tidy within our uniform expectations please check in with the classroom teacher or myself.

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Important Dates

29 Jan 9:00am

31 Jan 3:00pm

School Office is Open

Our office will be open 9am-3pm on January 29th, 30th and 31st. The uniform shop at school will be open. Remember to sign up for KINDO to make any purchases at school.

St Patrick's School Office

3 Feb

School starts

All Day

We can't wait to see you all again. Remember school starts at 8.45am and ends at 2.50pm. If you are unsure where to go, please come and see our friendly faces at the office and we will help you.

St Patrick's School Napier

6 Feb

7 Feb

School is Closed

All Day

This year, Waitangi Day falls on a Thursday, so like most NZ Schools we are closed Friday 7th February

11 Feb

4 Mar

St Joseph Year 5-6 Swimming starts

All Day

All students will receive a notice in week 1

Onekawa Aquatic Centre

5 Mar

6 Mar

Road Patrol Refresher Training (year 6 and 7)

All Day

All students who were trained in 2024 (including those who missed for legit reasons) will have a two day refresher with Constable Mark Johnson

St Patrick's School Napier

5 Mar

19 Mar

Marist Year 7-8 swimming

All Day

Comms will be sent at start of Term 1

Onekawa Aquatic Centre

21 Mar

Curriculum Teacher Only Day

All Day

This is one of the two compulsory Curriculum Teacher Only Days for 2025 - Teachers will be onsite for Curriculum Professional Development - school closed for students

Welcome back!

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