17 January 2012

Dear Parents and Caregivers

 Welcome to the 2012 school year. We are currently well advanced with our planning to ensure everything is ready to welcome our new students and to welcome back our current students on the 31^st January and 1^st February.  We are especially looking forward to meeting our new Year 9 students and helping them to develop into good St John’s men.  We will work with you to make the start of the year simple and enjoyable.  If any of our 2011 students are not returning to St John’s College for 2012 please let us know as soon as possible.

 Support for our Special Catholic Character

All our families have agreed to support our Special Catholic Character which is the reason for our existence.  The best way you can help us at the start of the year is to ensure your son is familiar with attending Mass.  Every Catholic Church has regular Sunday Masses and if you or your son has not been for some time, please attend with him over the next few weeks.

 Below are the arrangements for the start of the year. NOTE: Some of these dates have changed since the end of 2011.

Thursday 26^th January - Course Confirmation for seniors (Years 11-13)

Senior students must come into school at the times below to confirm their subjects for 2012.  This is an important part of our preparation for the new school year.  If students do not attend they may not get the course of study they want for 2012.

 Year 11 students should come between 9.30am and 11am.

Year 12 students should come between 11.00am and 12.30pm.

Year 13 students should come between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.

 Parents are welcome to accompany their sons. Students do not need to wear school uniform. It is likely that this process will take about 30 minutes but some delays are inevitable.

Tuesday 31^st January at 8.35am

Year 9, students attend school.  Year 9 students should bring a pen and paper and be dressed in summer uniform. The school day is from 8.35 a.m. till 3.05 p.m.  Students will be met on arrival at the front gates.

Wednesday 1^st February at 8.35am

All students attend school.   New students should report to the Office.

 From Wednesday 1^st February all students should be attending school every day. Year 13 students will be involved in a leadership programme on Thursday and Friday 2^nd and 3^rd February. Parents have been sent details of this programme and students will be fully briefed on Wednesday 1^st February.

Buses

Buses will be running from Tuesday 31^st January.  Any parents requiring information about buses should phone Mr Paul Dine our Deputy Principal.

 NCEA Results

Students should have already accessed their NCEA results on the NZQA website www.nzqa.govt.nz   There are some very pleasing results. I will give you details in our first full newsletter.

 Sports

Registration for summer sports will take place during the first two weeks of school. A small booklet outlining the sports that are offered at St John’s is included in this posting for Year 9 parents.

School Uniform

Postie shops in Hastings and Napier are the supplier of our school uniform.  The school tie has to be purchased at the College Office. Ties cost $30. Every student must have a school tie to wear when dress uniform is required. (All students will need to be in dress uniform for our Academic Mass on Thursday 9^th February). We sell some second hand uniform ourselves. Our second hand uniform sale is on Tuesday 24^th January at 5.00 pm in Room M2. If you have any uniform that you would like sold please bring it to the school office as soon as possible. 

 Shoes and Socks

Sandals may be worn in summer. They must have a backstrap. School uniform shoes must be black leather shoes - not black canvas or skate shoes. Our uniform socks are long plain black socks.

Hats

The only hat that may be worn with school uniform is our flexifit cap.  These are available from the office for $30.

 Grooming

Students may need reminding that we expect them to look neat and tidy. Hair needs to be cut off the collar and out of the eyes. Dreads, plaits, mohawks, rats tails and other extremes are not allowed.  If hair is dyed it must be only one natural hair colour.  Students must be clean shaven.  Parents please support us to ensure your son complies with these standards when he comes to school.

 Stationery

St John's College stationery is now sold by OfficeMax.  You can either purchase from the Hastings or Napier stores or on line at www.myschool.co.nz. Our stationery lists are available at both stores and on the ‘myschool’ website. The College gains a donation of 10% of all stationery sales purchased through OfficeMax. Please quote account number 4084373 to ensure the College earns the reward points.

 School Fees

If you wish to start an automatic payment to cover St John’s College Fees and/or Catholic Schools Board Attendance Dues please contact the office.

 The College Office:  Phone 878 6853.  Email admin@stjohns.school.nz 

The office is now open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.  If you have any concerns, please phone the office.

We are looking forward to what should be a wonderful 2012 school year.

Yours sincerely

 
Neal Swindells

Principal

Start of the Year Arrangements