|
|
ECS Update Term 2, Week 10 – Friday 26th June 2026
|
|
|
Kia ora e te whānau,
I hope you’ve had a blessed and peaceful week!
As we wrap up another busy week and head into the next, I’ve been resting in the comfort of Lamentations 3:22–23:
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Education and parenting requires a lot of energy, and some days it feels like we run completely on empty. It is incredibly freeing to remember that God doesn’t expect us to rely on our own limited strength. His grace and faithfulness reset for us every single morning. No matter what yesterday looked like, today is a fresh start for both us and our children.
With that fresh perspective, here is a look at what’s ahead:
Please note, Hāngi orders are due by 3pm this afternoon. A link is in the Matariki Section below.
Ngā mihi nui,
Alistair McKinnon
Principal
Emmanuel Christian School
|
This email contains information about:
|
- Important Dates
- Te kupu o te wiki – Word of the week
- Prizegiving Notice
- Mobility parking spaces at School
- Matariki Hāngi Notice
- Matariki – Shared Morning Tea
- World Cup – Emmanuel Christian School
- Kapahaka at Rehua Marae
- Keeping our School Community healthy: When to stay home
- Bikes and Scooters on the School grounds
- Shredders Needed
- Ezlunch orders
- Hot Chocolate stand
|
|
|
Wednesday 1 July – ECS Matariki Celebration and Shared Morning Tea
Friday 3 July – Final day of Term 2
Monday 20 July – First Day Term 3
Monday 20 July – Friday 31 July – Year 1-6 Swimming Lessons
Thursday 30 July and Tuesday 4 August – Parent Teacher Meetings
Wednesday 9th December – End of Year School Prizegiving
(The School Calendar including 2026 Term dates can be found here)
|
Te kupu o te wiki – Word of the week
|
This week’s te reo Māori word of the week.
We would encourage you to try to use these at home.
This weeks word is: Māku e āwhina – I’ll help
|
|
|
We have finalised the date of our end of year school prizegiving for 2026.
This will be held on Wednesday 9th December.
More details to come later in the year.
|
Mobility parking spaces at School
|
Parents and caregivers are kindly reminded that the school’s designated mobility parking spaces are reserved strictly for vehicles displaying a valid mobility permit.
These spaces are essential for members of our community who require accessible parking due to mobility needs.
We ask everyone to please show consideration and respect by leaving these parking spaces available for those who genuinely need them. Your cooperation helps ensure our school remains safe, inclusive, and accessible for all.
|
Matariki Celebrations – Annual Hāngi
|
Our annual Hāngi is taking place on Wednesday, 1 July
Final Reminder to have your orders in by 3pm today!
Orders can be placed online via the following link or by downloading the MyKindo App: https://shop.kindo.co.nz/app/login
(Please note that payment cannot be made at the school office.All orders must be placed through the MyKindo App.)
Parent Volunteers Needed
We are urgently seeking parent volunteers to help with the preparation of the Hāngi on Tuesday afternoon, 30 June 2026
If you are available to help, please email the School Office at office@emmanuelchristian.school.nz.
Many hands make light work, and any assistance you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your support of this special community event
|
|
|
|
|
Matariki – Shared Morning Tea
|
As part of our focus on manaakitanga (caring) and whanaungatanga (fellowship) during our Matariki celebration, we would like to ask that each family contribute a plate of food for a school wide shared morning tea on Wednesday, 1 July 2026.
Students can bring the plate of food along to the hall before school.
If possible, please ensure the food does not need to be refrigerated, and that it is on a disposable plate or container. Please ensure food does not contain nuts or kiwifruit.
Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free options
There will be some gluten-free and dairy-free options available for students on a separate table. If your child is dairy-free or gluten-free, please feel free to provide something for this table with a clear label.
A Couple of Parent Volunteers
We would like to have a couple of parent volunteers to arrive around 10am and set the tables outside (weather permitting), and to supervise/clear rubbish and empty plates during morning tea. We will be finished around 11am. If you are able to come and help, please contact Mrs Luke, tania@emmanuelchristian.schoo.nz as soon as possible.
We look forward to sharing kai and fellowship together.
|
|
|
|
|
World Cup – Emmanuel Christian School
|
Tuesday was a great afternoon of football for the Emmanuel World Cup. Seeing large numbers of our Year 3-10 students together was a highlight. Thank you to Nomads United AFC for your support with providing goals and other equipment for us to use for the afternoon.
For reference France came out on top in a close final against NZ.
|
|
|
|
|
On Saturday our Kapahaka group were invited to perform at Rehua Marae as part of their community Matariki celebration. It was a great afternoon as students from right across the school (Years 1-10) performed together.
Thank you to Mr Hitchen’s and all the parents and wider whanau who were part of making this possible.
|
|
|
|
|
Keeping our School Community Healthy: When to stay home
|
At our school, we love seeing our ākonga (students) in class every day, learning and catching up with their friends. Regular attendance is incredibly important for their progress and wellbeing! However, as we manage the usual bugs that circulate, we also need to balance this by keeping our school environment safe and healthy for everyone.
A friendly reminder about tummy bugs: If your child has experienced vomiting or diarrhoea, Health New Zealand guidance requires them to stay home from school for at least 48 hours after their last symptom. We know it can sometimes be a bit tricky to decide when a child is ready to come back, but viruses that cause tummy bugs spread very easily in classrooms. Giving them that full 48-hour window ensures they are completely recovered, have their energy back for learning, and aren’t at risk of passing anything on to their classmates or staff.
Another common illness a is Hand, Foot and Mouth. In this case the medical advice is that children should stay away from schools (and early learning centres) until all blisters have dried up so that these are not infectious.
What to do if your child is unwell:
-
Let us know: Please contact the school office as early as possible to report their absence and the reason for it.
-
Need advice? If you are ever worried about your child’s symptoms, you can contact your GP or call Healthline anytime on 0800 611 116 for free, 24/7 health advice.
Thank you so much for your support in keeping our whole school community healthy, happy, and ready to learn!
|
|
|
Bikes and Scooters on the School grounds
|
We love seeing so many of our students active and riding to school. However, we have noticed an increasing number of students riding their bikes and scooters while on the school grounds before and after school. To keep everyone safe, all bikes and scooters must be walked once inside the school gates.
We will be talking to the students at school to remind them of this, and we would greatly appreciate it if you could reinforce this safety message at home. Thank you for helping us keep our school site safe for everyone!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shredders wanted for Term 3
Where? Dove Bookshop, Bishopdale Mall
When? 3:00pm – 4:00pm, once a week (or two pairs, once a fortnight)
Who? 2 or 4 students (Y7 – 10)
What? Shredding old, damaged or unwanted paperbacks at the shop
Why? Our students volunteer to help in this way; in return we get a substantial financial donation to our school library plus, each time, three free books of their own choosing to keep.
If this might work for your family, please contact me for further info. If your child has volunteered before, and wishes to do so again, they would be very welcome!
Make a pair and volunteer!
(I have found it better if students have chosen a “friend” to go along with, rather than going with someone they don’t know very well).
Thanks
Nicki Davison – Librarian nicki@emmanuelchristian.school.nz
|
|
|
Our school now uses Ezlunch, part of the Kindo platform, for all online lunch orders.
Ezlunch offers a simple, mobile-friendly way for families to order fresh, tasty lunches from the same local providers you already know and love (Sushi Factory on Wednesdays & Subway on Thursdays).
The ordering process is quick, payments are secure, and delivery to school is reliable and easy.
Parents can order using the Kindo app (iPhone and Android) and choose from a range of convenient payment options including card, bank transfer, Google Pay, Apple Pay and more. The system also includes helpful allergen alerts and automated reminders, so no one misses out on lunch day.
|
|
|
|
|
Marshmallow Mayhem – Hot chocolate stand
|
Thanks to your amazing support, Marshmallow Mayhem has been a huge success! With the colder weather just getting started, we’d love to keep it running throughout Term 3.
Hot chocolates will continue to be available every Thursday from 8.20 for students in Years 5 and up, located by the Senior School near the Shed.
If you already have a concession card, great news, it will continue to be valid next term.
For the rest of this term, hot chocolates are available for:
• $2.50 each (cash sales welcome as we end the term)
• $10 concession card
To purchase a concession card, please make payment to: ECS School Fundraisers Association Account Number: 06-0870-0073625-00 Once payment has been made, please email your child’s name and classroom details to ecsfundraiser@gmail.com, and we’ll organise their concession card.
Children are also welcome to bring their own reusable cup for us to fill. Please ensure it is clean and has a secure lid.
Thank you for your continued support-every hot chocolate helps support our school community!
|
|
|
|
|
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
Filipino
French
German
Hindi
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Maori
Portuguese
Russian
Samoan
Spanish
Thai
