Newsletter 12 May 2016

Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

Welcome

back—particularly to all the new families who have recently enrolled children for the new term. We pray that your association with MCS will be both encouraging and beneficial to you and your children.

Manukau Christian School

School roll numbers continue to climb reaching another all time high. Our roll stands at 186 pupils as at 2nd May 2016. We already have another 10 enrolment applications for term 3. There are now only a very limited number of places available in most class levels. You will have noticed that our adventure playground has been moved to its new location on the main field to make way for another classroom. This is a big undertaking for the school considering it was only at the end of last year that a new classroom was added to the main block. The financial cost of purchasing and setting up a new classroom is around $120 000 and to achieve this goal our trustboard has had to borrow a substantial amount of money to fund this development. If you or anyone you know is able to help contribute financially please let us know as we have set up a building fund specifically for this purpose. All donations are tax deductible. We are also very encouraged with the developments and progress in our high school. In the second half of this term a notice will be sent to parents of Year 8 students regarding an information evening about our high school. The meeting will advise parents regarding enrolment procedures and Cambridge course details for year 9-11 students. It is envisaged that at the beginning of 2017 we will have a total of around 30-35 students in Years 9, 10 and 11. Inside this issue:

Term Dates 2016 Term 2: 2 May to 8 July Term 3: 25 July to 23 Sep Term 4: 10 Oct to 14 Dec

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATE SCHOOL

ASSOCIATION OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOOLS in NZ INC

Dates to Remember

2

Mid Year Exams

3

School Happenings

4

Parents’ Corner

10

Matters for Prayer

12

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Newsletter

Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Dates to Remember Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

16

17

18 PIPS

19

20

23 Trustboard Meeting

24

25 PIPS Netball Tournament

26

27

30 School Assembly 8.50am

31

1 PIPS

2

3 Corbans Art Years 6-8

6 Queen’s Birthday

7

8 PIPS Corbans Art Years 4-5

9

10

13 Dental Van

14 Dental Van

15 PIPS

16

17

20

21

22 PIPS

23

24

27 Exams start

28

29 PIPS

30

1 July

4

5 Red Cross First Aid Training Room 10

6 PIPS

7

8 Whole School Assembly 8.50am End of Term School finishes 12.30pm

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

Updated Contact Details Please update your contact details at the school office if these have changed. It is important that we are able to get hold of you in the case of an emergency or if your child is sick.

ACS Netball Tournament

Lift Required

You may have seen the senior girls playing netball on Friday afternoons after school under the guidance of Mrs Allerby. They have been practising so that we can enter a Year 8 team into the Auckland Christian Schools Netball Tournament in two week’s time. All the best girls!

A parent who doesn’t drive needs a lift for her child from school in the afternoons please. They are in the Fleming Street area—off Alfriston Road, Manurewa. If you can assist, please contact Mrs Oosterbeek in the office.

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Newsletter

Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Mid Year Exams Pupils in Years 7 and 8 will sit their internal exams during week 9 and 10 of this term. Years 9 and 10 will also sit exams at this time.

School Happenings

These exams, along with the end of year exams and test marks, determine what ‘graduation certificate’ a pupil receives at the end of the year. Graduation certificates are awarded in three categories.: Achievement, Merit and Excellence. Achievement—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 50% or higher in at least four subjects including Bible. Merit—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 60% or higher in at least five subjects including Bible. Excellence—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 75% or higher in all six subjects including Bible.

A reminder about new enrolments: If you know of families considering enrolling their children in our school, it is important that they submit their applications to our school office well in advance. Planning for 2017 is already underway. Many classes are at near capacity and some have a waiting list. Siblings of current pupils who wish to enrol need to complete an enrolment form as soon as possible please.

School Trips We appreciate parents giving up their time to assist us with our school trips in the way of transport and supervision. Under the new Health and Safety Regulations, if you assist on a school trip, you will need to be on our school database of vetted parents. A form will be sent home in the next few weeks for you to complete if you would like to be on our database. This will be voluntary, however if you are not on our list you will not be able to assist with school trip transport and supervision. If we use vehicles, we will also need a copy of your driver’s license as well as checking that your vehicle’s WOF is current.

Clothing and Bric-a-Brac A reminder that there is now a bin on site at the senior end of the school for used or unwanted clothing or bric-a-brac. Please support our school as we receive a donation every time the bin is emptied.

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Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Letterland Day Year 1

School Happenings

Learning to read is very exciting for our Year 1 pupils and learning with the phonics-based programme Letterland makes it all the more fun. Pupils came dressed in their favourite Letterland character—what a wonderful array of characters we had! Parents were treated to a lesson and were able to see how the programme works. Pupils also demonstrated how skilful they are at making words. Thank you parents for supporting your child.

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Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Photography

1

Year 10 pupils have just completed an introductory course to digital photography. This included looking at composition, how photographs communicate ideas, famous NZ photographers as well as completing several practical field trips to develop their picture taking skills.

2

3

School Happenings

Esha’s photographs (1 to 3) show how she put some of the compositional techniques into practice i.e. framing and unusual close-ups. Grace’s photo (4) shows an interesting creative angle when photographing an everyday object.

4

The day the playground was moved—Year 3 On Wednesday 4th May the playground was moved. It was moved because we are going to build another classroom. In the morning Mrs Logan kindly told us that we can have a look at what the builders were doing. When I was watching I saw a builder using a jack-hammer. I saw the same builder using something that looks like a huge screw. Then I saw another builder using a spade to dig the hole. All the tools the builders were using are to make holes for the posts to go in. When we went to check again, I saw a builder using a wheel-barrow with cement inside to fill the holes. Then Mrs Logan asked the class a question. This is what she said, “Why did the builder put the string over there?” then the class answered. “So that the builders know that the posts are straight.” Then we had to go back to class. By Caitlin Fernando

At the time of writing this newsletter the playground relocation is almost complete. Pupils are eagerly anticipating sliding, swinging and playing on the equipment.

Newsletter

Term 2, Week 2, 2016

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Developing True Grit Parents’ Corner

What is True Grit? Dictionary.com defines true grit as: “firmness of character; indomitable spirit” Psychologist Angela Duckworth after studying people in various challenging situations, including National Spelling Bee participants and rookie teachers in tough neighbourhoods, she found:

“One characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn't social intelligence. It wasn't good looks, physical health, and it wasn't IQ. It was grit.”

The best definition I’ve ever heard of grit is “Grit is doing what you don’t want to do, to be what you want to be.” If you want to be a winner in the game of life...you need to develop grit...true grit or more properly Holy Spirit grit.

7 KEYS TO DEVELOPING TRUE GRIT 1. Exercise Emotional Control Over Negative Emotions A person with true grit will never give into the list of following seven emotions. Before I list them, let me explain. There is a difference between being attacked by these things and allowing them to take you over. The list includes: “anxiety, fear, doubt, guilt, depression, discouragement and jealousy” It is not mind over matter for the Christian. It is the continual applying of the Word to pull down negative emotions. 2. Bull-dog tenacity What does the Word have to say about tenacity? Hebrews 10:36 in the New International Version says: “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” 3. Mental Discipline As you recall a person with true grit is defined in part as a person with an indomitable spirit which means they will not allow themselves to dwell on foolishness of negative thinking as opposed to seeking the positive possibilities of life. One of the best ways to develop mental discipline is a journey through three powerful thoughts in Proverbs 23. First, mental discipline requires you to THINK. Proverbs 23:7 says: “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” What a person thinks on...is what they will act on. In order to develop a mental positive discipline. . .we must break out of negative thought patterns…filling our mind with the pure, the positive and the powerful from the Word of God. For more detailed thoughts, see the website. 4. Power of the optimistic outlook Your inward disposition will always determine your outward outlook. That is why you must be grounded in God's Word. 5. Be a finisher 6. Don’t complain about your circumstances, instead create the ones you want Circumstances and facts change...truth doesn’t (the Word is truth). Malachi 3:6 says: “For I am the Lord, I change not.” 7. True Grit talks while others walk

For a detailed explanation and with acknowledgement to: https://haroldherring.com/blogs/harolds-blogs/richthoughts/991-7-keys-to-developing-true-grit

PIPS

Parents in Prayer for the school meet each Wednesday morning at 8.40am in the church lounge. Please join our parents in praying for our school and children and acknowledging God’s faithfulness. A prayer box is situated in reception. Prayer requests may be anonymous.

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Term 2, Week 2, 2016

Community Notices School Banking—If you would like your child to join the ASB school banking scheme, please collect an enrolment form from the school office. Banking envelopes are collected every Tuesday morning.

Yummy Stickers—A reminder that the Yummy Sticker Promotion is still supported by our school. Additional sheets are available on the Yummy Fruit website. www.yummyfruit.co.nz

Girls Brigade/ICONZ—Fundraising Movie night on the 28th May in the church – details to be advised.

Please check the lost property basket located in the courtyard of the junior block. All unclaimed clothing will be donated to charity at the end of the term.

FREE

We have a fax machine that is in very good condition that we are giving away. Please see Mrs Oosterbeek if you would like it.

Newsletter

Term 2, Week 2, 2016

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Matters for Prayer Give thanks for a positive start to the new term and for continued growth of our school roll.

Scripture for the Week “Praise the Lord, O my soul,

Give thanks for our teachers and support staff and their wholehearted commitment to our school.

and forget not all His benefits.

Give thanks for the privilege and opportunity we have as parents and teachers to nurture young lives in the things of Christ.

Pray and give thanks for our Trustboard; for their wise governance and oversight of our school.

Pray for financial challenges we face providing suitable classroom facilities to cater for our growing numbers.

77 Rogers Road • P O Box 75-623 • Manurewa Ph 269-1050 [email protected] manukauchristian.school.nz Like us on Facebook

Psalm 103:2