14 August 2002  

A school is as strong as it's community

Dear Parents, 

Last Friday was a significant date for the Primary School … it was the last day of enrolments for

2003. This is a very busy time for me as I go through the 150-odd applications. This takes a lot of thought, time and prayer. Decisions made could have a great effect on the life of each child and could lead to the next thirteen years of a child’s education being based at
Middleton Grange. Your prayer over this process would be very much appreciated as the senior staff (Marion Gudsell, Heather Kench,
Andrea Bosma) and I go through the applications.

As you will be aware we have a Teacher Only Day next Tuesday. This will be a great time of reflection and learning. The ERO report, about to be finalised, was all positive for the Primary School and it was great to receive this recognition. However, as a staff we will be focusing very closely on the special character of Middleton Grange. We need to be sure we teach your children effectively from our
biblical base and do not compromise this foundational aspect of our school.

The main presenter for the Teacher Only Day will be Steven Fyson from Pacific Hills (Christian) School in Sydney. He has an excellent background in Christian Education and teaching Christianly. We will also have the company of staff from other Christian schools in Christchurch and Timaru who have been invited to join us - an
excellent way to establish even greater interaction and co-operation between Christian schools.

We are looking forward to learning from each other and developing even better ways of catering for the needs of your children.

Finally, we have recently surveyed all Years 3-6 children about
bullying and our school programmes and climate. I have collated about half of the returns. The results will be analysed and a report sent out to you as soon as possible. This provides excellent information for us which helps us help your children.

John Stackhouse,

Head of Primary School

 

 

ROOM 6 : LETTERBOXES GARLORE! The Year 2’s have been doing a technology unit on letterbox design. This has involved discussing a ‘brief’ - what is required, designing the letterbox, building a model of it, and then evaluating it. A great thinking exercise!

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CULTURAL FESTIVAL &
THE KAPAHAKA GROUP

Fantastic! Wonderful! Marvellous! Three words that spring to mind to describe the performance of our Primary School Kapahaka group at the Primary Schools Cultural Festival on Thursday 15 August.

Our group would be the youngest overall to perform with most groups having Year 8 students involved. It was wonderful to see them on stage. The enthusiasm and vitality really shone through and they were received enthusiastically by the audience. Congratulations to the whole group …

Ben, Holly, Dayna, Gabrielle, Isabella (Room 2)
Emilie, Laura Callista, Anna, Sophie P, Sophie B (Room 6)
Sarah, Ilisapeci, Pippa (Room 7)
Elinor, Jessica, Cameron, Joshua C, James,
Joshua van DM (Room 10)
Lucie, Serena, Isla-Rose, Grace, Jonathan, Reuben,
Geoffrey, Shylo (Room 11)
Natalie, Samantha, Siobhan, Sharon, Hannah (Room 8)
Samantha (Room 9)

FANTASTIC! WONDERFUL! MARVELLOUS!

 

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MIDDLETON GRANGE SCHOOL FIJI MISSIONS TRIP FUNDRAISER A3 size portraits in watercolour. Painted from photos by Steve Wakerley $60.00 each All proceeds towards the Fiji Missions Team trip Phone: 942 4645

FENDALTON TENNIS CLUB, BURNSIDE PARK Tennis Clinic during September and October - a complete tennis coaching programme for primary and intermediate school children. Cost $45.00 per child. Inquiries to Brian Faulls (358 9980). YMCA SPRING HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES 23 September—4 October. Further details and registration form available from the Student Services Office.

 

"In thy light shall we see light." 
                                        Psalm 36:9