ECS Update Term 1, Week 7 – Friday 15 March 2024

Emmanuel Christian

School Newsletter

Kia rite tā koutou haere ki tā ngā tamariki o te mārama – Walk as children of light

ECS Update Term 1, Week 7 – Friday 15 March 2024

This newsletter contains information on the following:

Important Dates
Winter Sport 2024
Reader Writer Volunteers Wanted
Mana Ake
Parent Fundraising Group
Board of Trustees Election
Netball Tournament Fundraiser

Important Dates

Friday 29th March – Tuesday 2nd April – Easter

Friday 12th April – Last day of Term 1

Monday 29th April – First day of Term 2

(The School Calendar and full 2024 Term dates can be found here)

Winter Sport 2024

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

During Term 2 & 3, on a Friday afternoon for 6 weeks per term we have teams of Year 5-8 students travel to Hagley park to play Football, Hockey & Netball against other schools from around Christchurch. We typically trial for teams late in Term 1 or early in Term 2 depending on timings and other events.

For us to be able to enter into these competitions, we need some parents who are able to help with the coaching of a team on a Friday afternoon.

This typically takes from 12:30pm – 3:15pm if you come with us on the bus or from 1pm – 2:15pm if you meet us at Hagley park.

If you are able to help, or would like some further informartion please contact Tom Littlejohn tom@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

Without some parent help we would not be able to be fully invovled in this valuable activity.

Thank you for considering this.

Reader Writer Volunteers Wanted

The purpose of a Reader Writer is to assist students on a one-to-one basis in examinations and assessments.

This can involve reading instructions / questions and writing / typing answers for the student at a speed they can follow / or supervising students as they complete their own work.

Reader Writers are required at occasional times throughout the week during school terms to assist students with an internal assessment and practice external examinations. These are usually 1 period (1 hour) slots but when it is busy you may be asked to come in for more than 1 period.

Please see the letter attached below for more information.

Download: Reader Writer letter .pdf

Mana Ake

Mana Ake are a support agency who provide mental health and wellbeing support for children in primary school years 1-8 across Canterbury. Mana Ake kaimahi (workers) are employed by one of 12 NGO providers and support schools, families and whānau when children are experiencing issues that impact their wellbeing such as managing emotions, friendships and bullying, parental separation and grief and loss. At Emmanuel we work with Ruby Richards from the Barnardos.

Mana Ake are offering Parent Drop Ins in which you can chat about your child and any concerns related to them. On Tuesday 26th March, Ruby will be avaliable at Emmanuel if any of you would like to come and talk to her.

To help to plan this, if you would like a time then please email the office with the following information.

Your name and your child’s name.

What would you like to talk about (you do not need to be at all specific).

Times are avaliable every half hour from 8:30am until 11:00am on Tuesday 26th March.

Please indicate if a particular time suits you best. We will get back to you with a confirmed time or to arrange another option if needed.

Parent Fundraising Group – can you help?

Another way you can serve our school community is to join our fundraising group.

We are a small group and are keen for the group to grow and for someone to take over the main organising from Michelle Posthuma who has been running this group for many years.

We try to aim for 1-2 sausage sizzles per term and 2 bigger fundraisers in the year (eg. Dr Bugs Popcorn, Baking Paper etc) but due to the lack of helpers we haven’t been able to run these as often as we would like. The Book Fair is another fundraiser we haven’t been able to run due to lack of helpers although this is always a fantastic way to get more books for the library and classrooms.

Funds raised through our fundraising group over the past few years have gone toward: purchasing new library books, supporting Cultural Day, EPro-8 challenge equipment, new musical instruments, refurbishing our school piano, sports team uniforms, sports equipment, kapahaka uniforms, art supplies, picnic tables, science lab equipment and boardgames for classrooms.

Most recently we raised $900 through the Food Wrap fundraiser. This is going toward sport team uniforms.

We also raised $350 through the Sausage Sizzle this week and will update you once we know what these funds will go toward.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in please speak to Michelle Posthuma or Louise at the Office.

amposthuma1@gmail.com

Board of Trustees Election Update

It is fantastic and really encouraging to have 7 really high caliber candidates for this election. Unfortunately there are only 2 vacancies as all of our candidates have so much to offer.

Voting will remain open until the 25th March at 4pm.

Can I encourage you to read the candidate statements carefully and pray about who you should vote for? A great way to honour these 7 candidates would be to have a really high number of you vote in this election. Voting information was sent by email on Monday 26th February

Download: 1168-candidates (1).pdf

Netball Tournament Fundraiser

We have the opportunity this year for some students to join a combined Christian Schools netball team and go to the South Island Netball Tournament in July.

We will be running a sausage sizzle outside Prestons New World, 420 Marshland Rd, on Saturday 16th March from 10am – 2pm so if you’re looking for something to do tomorrow, head down to buy a few sausages for lunch and support the team!