ECS Update Term 4, Week 2 – Friday 17th October 2025

ECS Update Term 4, Week 2 – Friday 17th October 2025

Kia ora koutou,

Over the past few weeks, our Emmanuel community has been shining brightly — most recently through the Light for Little Lives project. A huge thank you to our student leaders who initiated and coordinated this outreach, and to everyone who contributed so generously. It’s a wonderful example of our students living out our school motto to “Walk as Children of Light.” You can read more about this initiative later in the newsletter. Lily Mansour one of our Head Students has been working on making this possible since Term 1, it is great to see it come to fruition.

Please note that school will be closed for instruction on Thursday 23rd October due to industrial action by NZEI union members. Supervision will be available for children who need it, further details are included below. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” — Psalm 107:1

Blessings,
Alistair McKinnon
Principal

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Industrial (Strike) Action – October 23rd – School closed for instruction
• Thank You for Bringing Light to Little Lives
• Scholastic Book Club

Important Dates

Wednesday 22nd October – Athletics Sports (Postponement Date 24th Oct)

Thursday 23rd October – School Closed for Instruction – industrial action

Monday 27 October – Labour Day Holiday

Friday 14th November – Canterbury Show Day Holiday

Monday 17th November – Teacher Only Day

Wednesday 10th December – Final Assembly (Prizegiving) – at La Vida

Friday 12th December – Last day of Term 4

(The School Calendar including 2025 Term dates can be found here)

Strike Action – 23 October

The New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) has notified schools including Emmanuel of industrial (strike) action on Thursday 23 October.

Since the email yesterday we have now received formal notification of this action.

The school board has discussed this scenario, with a significant number of our staff impacted.  Emmanuel Christian School will need to close for instruction on Thursday 23rd October, as we will not have sufficient teaching staff available to safely operate classes. 

We are aware that this may cause challenges for some families.  While the school will be closed for instruction, if you require supervision for your child on that day, we will have several staff available to provide this. Please use the form below to let us know supervision is needed:

Supervision Request Form

We understand that situations like this can be disruptive, and we want to assure you that we will keep you informed of any information as soon as it is available.

As always, we continue to approach these times with patience and grace. We are thankful for the unity and support within our school community and trust that God’s wisdom will guide all involved in the process ahead.

Alistair McKinnon
Principal
Emmanuel Christian School

On behalf of the Emmanuel Christian School Board

Thank You for Bringing Light to Little Lives

Over the past few weeks, our Emmanuel community has come together in an incredible way, donating to support Light For Little Lives — an initiative bringing hope, joy, and comfort to children in hospital.

Thanks to your generosity, kindness, and support, we were able to collect teddies, books, crafts, Bibles, puzzles + board games, and so much more! These donations are being gifted to children who come into hospital — making their day a little brighter and reminding them that they are loved and never alone.

We’re so excited to share that our school raised almost $500! Every dollar will go towards the Children’s Wards at Christchurch Hospital. The hospital is deeply grateful — and so are we.

Thank you, Emmanuel, for living out our motto to “Walk as Children of Light.”

Blessings,
Lily Mansour
Head Student

Scholastic Book Club

Closing date : Friday 24 October 2025, 6pm

If you didn’t receive a brochure we have some at the Office and they are also available online on LOOP.

If you would like to order any of the books, this can be done online on LOOP.  For your first time you will need to register in order to make a Book Club LOOP login. 
We cannot take orders/payment via the Office so please order online. 
Instructions are on the back of the brochure.  
Once orders close, they will be sent to school and will come home with your child. On all orders the school earns 15% in scholastic rewards which benefits our school library.

Emmanuel Christian School does not endorse all material that is available for purchase from Scholastic Book Club.  Please use your discernment when selecting reading material for your child.