First bell 8.55a.m. - Home time 2.55p.m.
Office hours 8.30a.m. to 12.30p.m.
There are times during the year when the whole School attends Church at 8.45a.m. An example would be for the Stations of the Cross during Lent. Please ensure your child is in School in time for these services whenever possible.
The school was originally founded by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. It is one of the oldest Catholic schools in the country. The school and convent were originally placed next to the church, which was in Mangawhare at the time. It was not until around 1940 that the church, the school and the convent were moved to the site on Hokianga Road. In 1991 the Sisters were withdrawn from Dargaville and the school was left in the control of lay staff for the first time.
The Catholic Community is delighted that your child will be attending our school. We consider it is a privilege to be able to assist you with the education of your child. In doing so, we are able to begin fulfilling the promise made to you when your child was baptised: that the Catholic community would always be there to support and help you as Christian parents, and to be with you and your child as you walk the way of Jesus Christ.
The parish school is an important part of the journey in faith. But it takes many years of love and care for the child to reach Christian adulthood. When the years of primary schooling are over, the care of the community is extended to young people in different but equally important ways. The journey, which began for your child on the day of Baptism, now takes an important step forward. We are confident that working together - parents and parish - we can provide the environment in which your child will grow to that creative adulthood to which every human person is called by God.
Term 1 2008
Calendar
The Special Character of St. Joseph's School and Preferential Enrolment
The special character of St. Joseph's School requires that the Gospel of Christ be both lived and taught. It is very important that this Catholic character of our school is kept alive, and your Parish Priest has an obligation to see that this happens. Those parents who seek preferential enrolment for their children must obtain, from the Parish Priest, a card, which states that a least one parent has "an established connection with the Parish community".
For you as parents, this means:
1. That there is an involvement in the parish community and some personal and financial contribution to it.
2. That the child has been baptised as a Catholic and that you accept your responsibility to guide and influence your child in the knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith.
3. That as a family, by word and example, you encourage and support your child in prayer and the celebration of Eucharist and Penance.
4. That you are willing to involve yourself in the Parish and school Religious Education programme.
The following information is important:
Integrated Schools have a maximum roll. Ours is 130. This roll is made up of Preference (Baptised Catholic) pupils, and Non-preference (non-Catholic) pupils. The Integration Agreement allows 5% of our maximum roll to be non-preference pupils. These children are not in any way singled out and take part in the Christian programme as a condition of enrolment. Further non-preference enrolments must form a "waiting list" until such time as a place is available. Having an older brother or sister already enrolled as a non-preference pupil guarantees other siblings right of place on their fifth birthday. At times, there may be more than six non-preference, because of this reason.
Boys
Winter
White or navy skivvy or white or navy polo shirt, school navy polo fleece, navy shorts, navy socks, black lace-up shoes and School hat. Long navy trousers are optional.
Summer
White or navy polo shirt, navy shorts, brown (Roman) sandals, school navy polo fleece and School hat.
Girls
Winter
School navy polo fleece, navy or white skivvy or navy or white polo shirt, red, white or blue hairties. Tartan pinafore or skort, navy tights or white or navy socks, black shoes (either lace up of T-Bar) and School hat. Long navy trousers are optional.
Summer
School navy polo fleece, navy or white polo shirt, tartan pinafore or skirt, brown(Roman) sandals and School hat.
Y7/Y8
Optional school jacket which can be worn throughout the year.
Boys and Girls
P.E. Uniform
School T-shirts (terracotta), black shorts, running shoes. (T-shirts available from Jon Matich’s shop in Dargaville).
Attendance dues (or school fees) are $82.50 (incl. GST) per pupil per term,$330 p.a. and are compulsory. These dues are fixed by the Minister of Education and cannot be altered without his approval. Statements are sent out by the school at the beginning of the year. The amount may be paid in full, term by term or monthly. Please contact the office for more information. Cheques should be made payable to the AUCKLAND CATHOLIC DIOCESE
It is important to understand that attendance dues do not go towards the running of our school, parish or the support of our priests. They are collected from all schools within the Auckland Diocese and go into a common fund purely to pay back interest and principle on loans from the Housing Corporation. Such loans were necessary to finance the upgrading of schools to the standard required by the Government at the signing of the Integration Agreement.
The school has an obligation to collect the dues on behalf of the Auckland Diocesan Office each term, being based on the total number of pupils at the school.
However, we do have a policy that children should not be excluded from the school purely because a parent cannot afford all or part of the fees. In this event, we would be happy to discuss some alternative arrangement, and you should contact the Principal.
A Special Catholic Character Contribution of $10.00 per term for each child is payable to the school who collects the payment which is sent to the Catholic Schools Office to pay for the help we receive from them throughout the year. This is a donation but we hope that you will pay it as you have chosen to send your child to a Catholic school. If this amount cannot be paid, please see the Principal or the Chairperson of the Board of trustees. Cheques should be made payable to St Josephs School.
Lunch is eaten at school for the first 10-15 minutes of the lunch hour, during which all the pupils sit down to eat in the covered area. On Mondays lunches can be ordered from the school. Prices are available from the office:
Vogel Sandwich – chicken, ham
Filled Rolls, ham, chicken
Sandwiches – ham or egg or chicken or corned beef,
Sandwiches - mixed- e.g. ham/lettuce/tomato(to order)
Mini Pizza
Hot Dogs(American)
Cookies
Muffins – bran or sweet
Scone - bacon/cheese or date
Yoghurt
Milk drinks, chocolate, strawberry,
Just Juice – carton or bottle
Often, unnecessary worry can be caused by unfounded rumour or misinterpretation. On the occasion of any suspected trouble, please contact the class teacher in the first instance, then the Principal before taking any further action. If you feel that your complaint has not been dealt with correctly, you have the right to contact the Board of Trustees. If you wish for a matter to be brought to a Board of Trustees meeting, the issue must be put in writing for it to be considered.