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Dear Parents,
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School Calendar : Coming up in Term 1 2004 Important Dates Terms 2 & 3 2004 ... June 24th Parent/Teacher Discussions 30th Parent/Teacher Discussions July August 9th-20th 13th TEACHER ONLY DAY 23 Aug-3
Sept September Other activities will 'pop up' through the Term .... we will keep you informed.
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Paths and paving! In past Primary Updates I have talked about this all-consuming task I’ve had at home, laying paving. I’ve put down metre after metre of Halswell stone … a great jigsaw puzzle to put the pieces together so they look right. Like the children we teach/nurture the pieces don’t fit together neatly and tidily. You have to be patient and persevere to get the right result! God must have infinite patience with his children … if children exasperate us as parents and teachers how much do we exasperate our Father!
Aha, but I have the answer you see! Why on earth spend so much time matching Halswell stone when you can buy ready made concrete pavers and they all line up? So that’s what I did for the back path. Still a lot of work but it was an easy process—dig out, level up, bed of concrete, tap the pavers in place—lovely! Stand back and enjoy.
The pavers are nice and look a lot better than the original path. BUT, I still like the stone. Halswell stone is not as even, not as tidy, is much more time consuming and much more work. Sounds like a description of children really. But, if you put the time in to make a good foundation, match the stone properly and finish it off carefully the final product is wonderful. Plus, you realise heaps of people have concrete pavers in their gardens … not many have the beauty and durability of stone!
We do need to persevere … as we know as parents! Sometimes we are drained by that perseverance. Other times we can celebrate success! Ultimately, as teachers and parents we need to get the balance. We need to shape children for their life ahead … their social, academic and spiritual paths. But, we also need to be careful not to try to make clones. We want to celebrate the uniqueness of each child … after all, who created them unique? God.
I love the uniqueness of Halswell stone like I admire uniqueness in children … different shapes, rough edges, extra work and all! Really, when it comes down to it, the only reason I did the back path in concrete pavers was because I didn’t have enough Halswell stone!
John Stackhouse, Head of Primary School
PS I’ve still got more paths to pave!
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Don’t
forget …
Parent Teacher Interviews Children will be released at 2.00pm. It is a great help if your child can be collected at this time. Duty teachers will be on gate duty from 2.00-2.20pm only. All children unable to be picked up or who travel home on bus will be supervised. Buses leave at the normal time on these days. If you are collecting your child at 3.00pm on these days they will not be at the gate. Your child must be collected from the school grounds (Years 3-6 playground, Years 0-2 Primary Library). We look forward to
meeting with parents over these days. It will be a
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good chance to catch up and ask questions. If you wish to retain your
child’s profile of work which is discussed at this interview, you may
do so. However, we do ask that profiles are returned to school promptly
as they are a continuing assessment document.
Stop Press:
Pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Brent
Langford (Mrs Langford’s husband) to teach in Room B Year 5, starting in Term
4.
Mr Langford is currently a permanent teacher at St Martins Primary School. He is
in his ninth year of teaching.
Fantastic Inventionz …
A group of budding Year 5 & 6 Edisons have been turning their minds to inventing lately. A lot of time and thought has gone into these creations, so …see Samantha N and Erin W if you want a motorized flipper for scuba diving! Or, Deborah P to assist you with your cappuccino … her electronic stirrer will save you some energy. And whilst sipping your coffee you can play a game invented by Mark J and Chris McF. Protect your precious watch with a novelty watch protector from the Natalie F and Hayley F school of design!
Thanks to Mr Peter Larsen for inspiring these children into producing these designs for display at Young Inventionz … see them and dozens of other amazing creations at Young Inventionz, free at the Christchurch Convention Centre, Kilmore Street - Tuesday 15 June 9.00am-7.00pm, Wednesday 16 June 9.00am-3.30pm.
Fantastic Singers
Eight
Primary School children applied and auditioned for the Christchurch Music
Festival Special Choir … eight were successful. What a great result, the best
we’ve ever had.
Congratulations to choir members …
Siobhan C, Natalie F, Samantha H, Geoffrey I, Jessica J, Julia M, Samantha N,
Felicity W.
Also, sincere thanks to Mrs Kench for the time spent organising, encouraging and coaching these children.
School Notices
Congratulations to New Board of Trustees members ...
Frances Sutherland and Steven Rees, who both have children in the Primary School. Also welcome back to Karen Baird (Board Chair), Andy van Ameyde and Craig Jenkins. Our pupil representative is Sarah Keast and staff representative is John Ruge.
The Board of Trustees work hard for the good of the school. It is not an easy task at Middleton Grange with four schools in one! As a staff we appreciate their input to the school and their commitment to Christian character.
Disappointing … Non-Payment of Bus Fares
It appears a number of children are not paying for bus travel. They have failed to have their blue multi-trip cards marked off or have not paid for tickets. Please ensure your child pays.
Buses are subsidised by the
school as a service to children and parents. Please assist us by ensuring fares
are paid. We will be checking tickets/fare payment in classrooms each morning.
 SHARP
After-School Programmes
For children aged 5-13 years, based at Spreydon Baptist Church. 3.00-5.30pm daily, $7.00-7.50 per afternoon. WINZ subsidies available. Children are taken by school bus from Middleton Grange School. Contact Cherie (338 4163) for more information. 
What Now : ’Family of the Week’
Irish Dance Classes Help your child develop poise, grace, improved body alignment, increase their physical and mental skills, and self-esteem through developing ‘stage presence’. For all enquiries phone Seaneen Copeland (TCRG) 377 6335 or 021 732 643. Cartooning Classes at COCA The Centre for Contemporary Art (COCA) is running a art course called KIDZ CARTOONING, comprising 5 x 2 hour classes during Term 3, held on a Saturday (1.00-3.00pm). In addition to attending fortnightly classes students will be encouraged to work on cartooning projects in their own time. This course is suited to students aged between 9 and 13 years who have a strong interest in the medium of cartooning. Some drawing skills are preferred but not essential. For more information e-mail reception@coca.org.nz or phone (03) 366-7261.
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Absences
Please remember to inform us should your child be ABSENT or LATE. This must happen before 9.20am by
Class rolls are checked first thing each morning and if a child is
absent, and we have not received notification, parents will be contacted
by phone. If your child is away because of illness, it is necessary to let
us know how long you expect to keep them home, or phone us everyday of
their absence. This process is to help ensure the
safety of your child(ren). A message from the District Truancy Service With the cooler weather it is often harder to get some children out of bed. We all know sometimes it’s easier to give in than force an issue, but there needs to be a five day a week commitment by parents/caregivers to ensure their children are at school every day and always on time. An absence explained by a parent is not necessarily a justified absence. A child should only be absent from school for the following reasons - sickness, family bereavement or emergency. Any other reasons should be discussed with the school. Encouragement is a great tool and you will see, with plenty of it, your children will respond positively. Pat Hay, Truancy Officer
Rhythmic Gymnastics Olympia Gymnastic Sports classes for girls at Westburn Primary School (Waimairi Road). Fridays 3.30-4.30pm during the Term. Phone 357 1272 for further information. ImpactAlpha Gymsports Pre-school and after school gymnastics and trampoline classes. Phone 338 4566 for further information. |
Is
your family up for a challenge on TV2’s WHAT NOW? Do you have a crazy
mum or dad? An adventurous brother or sister? Got any special skills or
bizarre talents? Each fortnight, WHAT NOW sets a task for its ‘Family of
the Week’ – it could be memory or skill-based. WHAT NOW sets up the
challenge at the family’s house and gives them a week to practice before
they appear live in the studio on WHAT NOW. Call Erica at Whitebait TV to
register your interest: 339 7101 or email: erica@whitebait-tv.com. Note:
To qualify, at least one child in the family should be aged between 5-15.
"In thy light shall we see light."
Psalm 36:9
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