5 March 2004

A school is as strong as its community

Dear Parents, 

As a school we place high priority on communication. We greatly value two-way communication between home and school seeing the importance of dialogue as opposed to monologue! The coming parent teacher discussions are a chance for dialogue. This is a chance for you to learn a little about your child’s beginning to the year and for us to learn about your child from your perspective as a parent.

Our whole-school vision clearly states that we are in partnership in educating your child(ren):

“Middleton Grange School assists families in the education of their children by providing an environment in which the Biblical truths of Jesus Christ are taught and live.”

The assists implies a partnership. Together we can maximise the education of the children in our care.

We would encourage you to come along to the parent/teacher discussions with some questions in mind and with some ideas about goals for your
child(ren). What would you and your child regard as important goals for the year?

These discussions are a chance to get to know the classroom teacher a little more too. It is really one of our ‘formal’ meeting times which becomes part of our reporting process. However, any time during the year you are welcome to discuss your child’s progress … not just when there is a concern, but to keep yourselves well informed of where your child is at. At mid year we again have parent/teacher discussions and at the end of the year you will receive a written report to keep as a ‘souvenir’ of your child’s work for the year.

However, the most comprehensive ‘report’ is your child’s profile. This is a folder of tests, work samples and cumulative records carried on right through the Primary School. You can ask to access this at any time during the year although you need to give the classroom teacher a couple of days warning. This record is a working document which is regularly updated by the teacher.

What should our reporting to you be like? It should be honest. We want you to know quite clearly how your child is going at school. You need to be aware of your child’s strengths and also any areas of concern. It should also be a two-way process … parents need to take notice of our assessments of children but we also need to take notice of parent input - hence we very must value the two-way nature of parent/teacher discussions.

So, I would encourage you to keep that communication open! We look forward to meeting with you next week.

In what is very much a “Me, Me, I, I” world, the aspect of service to others is a very important one generally in society, but also particularly in a Christian school. I would encourage you as parents to have your children serve others regularly in some way - from the small kindness towards an elderly neighbour, to being involved in fundraising for 40 Hour Famine, there is a wide spectrum of ways to serve.

Showing courtesy is a small but important daily aspect of service to others. Opening a door for someone else, offering to do a small task, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’, etc. Courtesy, or good ‘old fashioned’ manners, is often seen as a dying art! This does not need to be so. Encourage your children to have a servant heart as well as being able to ‘stand tall’. Following on from the last Primary Update, encouraging service to others is one way of ‘shaping the stone’.

John Stackhouse, Head of Primary School

Children are NOT to remain playing in the playground. If you have an interview between 2.00-2.30pm your child should be either in the Primary School library or the hall.

Year 1,2 staff breathed a sign of relief when the day dawned warm and pleasant. With sunblock, sunhats and a cheery smile an enthusiastic group of children, parents and teachers went off on the junior syndicate beach visit last week to Sumner Beach.

The children had a wonderful time on the beach, joining in with the ‘big kids’ (parents) building sandcastles, finding shells and getting their feet wet!

Thanks to staff and parents for organising such a great day!

Primary School Swimming Sports

Wednesday 18 February was really a dark day for the sport of swimming. In a hotly contested pupils vs parents vs staff relay race in the pool, two teams were disqualified. The parent team cheated in the ping pong ball and spoon leg by using chewing gum to stick the ball to the spoon. This was followed up by a teacher running most of the length of the pool, out of the water of course, to try to catch up to the parents who had cheated earlier! Fortunately we have taught the pupils well and they did not stoop to underhand tactics. They were duly crowned the winners! Staff and parents involved in the somewhat dubious tactics have been suitably reprimanded. The MGSF (Middleton Grange Swimming Federation) is considering a life ban from competition swimming for those involved!

Seriously now … it was wonderful to see such great effort from so many swimmers. It was also great to see so many children receiving certificates at our Wednesday assembly. Also, however, I was very impressed with those children who knew they were not going to win their race but showed great determination to complete it. Well done everyone.

Special thanks to parent helpers (of which there were many), Mr Pomare and Mrs Kench. Thanks also to all staff involved and parents who came along to support children.

School Notices

Reminder …

Please do not park in Arthur St during restricted parking times.

A black ‘cocoa pops’ backpack - lost at the end of last year from outside Room 10. Belonging to Daniel Hay and it is named. Please return to Daniel in Room A.

Missing named school jersey - Hamish Dow’s jersey went missing at the end of last year. Please check the name on your child’s jersey. It can be return to Hamish in Room 7.

Congratulations...

Gareth Williams … 3rd in 6/7 year old novice race at the Canterbury BMX championships. A great result!

Saturday/Sunday 3/4 April 40th Weekend

Building has commenced and may mean some disruption over the next few months. Please note:

The construction area will be fenced off. No children or parents will be allowed inside the construction area.

The fencing will close off the ‘gap’ through to A-D block from the Acacia Ave drive. Parents and children will have to follow the drive around and enter the A-D block from the main playground end (by the adventure playground).

Occasionally, access via the Acacia Ave Primary School drive will be blocked off. There will be times when other school entrances will have to be used.

These issues may cause inconvenience but the long-term result is worth waiting for! We appreciate your forbearance!

Uniform … some reminders

Please remember:

No jewellery at school

School shoes to be worn to and from school.

Boys are not to wear studs in their ears. Girls may wear plain silver or gold studs only.

Girls hair ties are to be white, green or red.

No extreme hair colour. Hair colour must be in the ‘natural’ colour range.

Sport Canterbury Aquathon Series Friday 12 March, 6.30pm, Jellie Park. Non-competitive participation based. Beginners or advanced Y4-8 children. McDonalds Duathlon 28 March at Ruapuna. Phone 377 0962 for more information or check it out on www.sportcanterbury.org.nz. Pippins/Brownies/Guides/Rangers For girls aged between 5 and 17 years. Contact Bonny (349 4416) to find out when and where the nearest unit gets together. Rhythmic Gymnastics A mixture of gymnastics and dance, leading to total fitness and confidence for girls aged 5 and above. Classes at: Rolleston Community Centre on Tuesday afternoons from 3.45-4.45pm. For information phone Carrie (366 5456) or Kerri (358 5536). ChCh College of Education. Enquiries to Fay (358 5728) Carpool from the Leeston Area Are there any families from the Leeston area interested in carpooling with a family who has a daughter at Villa Maria? Contact Elizabeth Alloway (339 8209).

After School Art and Art & Craft Classes In Opawa. Contact Caroline (337 9131) or for more details MagpieArts@xtra.co.nz. Avon City Rock n Roll Come and enjoy this social activity. All new Club members welcome at the Hoon Hay Club, Tankerville Rd. Phone Ali 322 5599 or Alanna 332 4080. Ballet & Modern Classes held at 28 Shands Rd, Hornby and 166 Waimairi Rd, Avonhead. Very reasonable fees/family discounts. Enquiries phone Jacqui (03 318 1070). Newtown Primary Sch. (Wgtn) 125th Anniversary Labour Weekend. An invitation for past pupils, teachers, staff and friends to contact us by email 12thann@newtown.school.nz or write to 125th Anniversary Jubilee Committee, PO Box 7325, Wellington South.

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

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