9 June 2005

A school is as strong as its community

Dear Parents,

I have often been asked, as an educator, what’s most important for children these days.  At the risk of being boring I believe one of the key factors or traits which our children need today, as much as they have in any generation, is … PERSISTENCE.

Someone once said to me that for every finisher there are dozens of starters!  Our persistent kids are the ones who pursue things to a sound end.  They finish the job, they carry things through.  They undertake to do something and do it well.  They focus on goals.

Within the word persistence lies one of our 7C’s … COMMITMENT.  Commitment begins in small ways … I want to play soccer so I am committed to practice and train each week.  I said yes to going to Jaime’s party and I’m still going to go even though my best friend rang me to invite me over for the weekend.  I said I’d do the paper round by Saturday, even though it’s raining hard!

“Fair weather commitment” is all to common.  I said I would do it BUT…. A true commitment has no escape clause.  Showing commitment builds reliability and brings about a will to do well … it becomes a habit.

Above my office door is a saying from Aristotle:  “We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”  PERSISTENCE and COMMITMENT are part of the habit of EXCELLENCE.  Persistence and commitment can be taught but are also modelled for children by those around them.

Persistence and commitment are critical pillars in our Christian faith.  We are told to be persistent and committed in   Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.“  As described in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, there are earthly prizes to strive for but also the ultimate prize through commitment in our faith.

Commitment to Jesus Christ and to serving God is critical.  Commitment as a character trait is essential.  Teach your children well:  “Don’t let the crowd pressure them; teach them to stand for something or they will fall for anything.”

John Stackhouse, Head of Primary School

As mentioned in our last Primary Update …

Jonathan R, Daphne H, Jonathan M, Joshua G, Mark J, Geoffrey I had a wonderful time at Kids Congress.

The newspaper item gives an indication of what they got up too….

School Notices

School Uniform : 10% Cashback

Just a reminder that you are able to purchase a range of our school uniform or garments from our local Postie+ store and as we are registered on their School Tax Rewards programme, every time a SchoolTex garment is purchased and the sale is nominated to our school we receive a 10% CASHBACK.  This can help enormously with our fundraising projects.

Lost

A school jersey, clearly named Vanderpyl.  Please return to Lucie, Rm 14.

SHARP Quality, Low Cost, Out-of-School Care Now taking enrolments for Holiday and After-School programmes and Breakfast Club.  For details phone 338 4163 (Emma ext.831 or Denali ext.830).

Adoption Part of Your Life? Nancy Verrier (author of ‘The Primal Wound’, adoptive mother and psychotherapist) will be speaking in Christchurch 27-29 August.  Enquiries phone Janine 338 3608 or email JuliaCantrell@xtra. co.nz or m.close@ext.canterbury.ac.nz.

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

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