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ECS Update Term 3, Week 6 – Friday 28th August 2026
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Kia Ora, Hola, Bonjour, Ni Hao, Sawasdee Khrap, Selamat Pagi, Shalom, Namaste, Sugeng Rawuh, Marhaba, Dobry Den, Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Konnichiwa, Guten Tag, Malo e Lelei, Asante Sana, Goeiedag!
Dear School Community,
What an incredible week it has been! Looking back on our recent Cultural Day, my heart is full of gratitude. Seeing our campus burst into life with vibrant traditional attire, hearing greetings in different languages, and watching our students celebrate one another’s backgrounds was a true joy. A huge thank you to all those who made this possible, without the support of our parent community it would not be the day it is. Also a huge thank you to Mrs Liu for your leadership and work in preparing for this day.
In Scripture, Psalm 118:24 reminds us:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Cultural Day was a powerful reminder that God is the ultimate Artist, and He loves variety. If God wanted a uniform world, He could have made every bird sing the exact same song or every tree grow the exact same shape. Instead, He created a world rich in languages, rhythms, colours and traditions. Each culture represented in our school community reflects a unique facet of God’s creativity.
Above all, we were reminded that while God delights in our diversity, His ultimate goal is unity. Scripture gives us a picture of Heaven where people from every nation, tribe, and language stand side-by-side in worship. Seeing our students laugh together, play together, and learn from one another gave us a beautiful glimpse of that reality right here on our school grounds.
Thank you to all our families, staff, and students who put so much heart into preparing outfits, sharing stories, and making the day an unforgettable success. We are blessed to belong to such a wonderfully diverse, Christ-centered community.
I would also like to acknowledge our School Orchestra for their performance at the Aurora Festival on Thursday evening. 45 of our students, supported by several ex-students and community members, took to the stage at the Aurora Centre. The dedication of everyone involved was truly impressive. A huge thank you to Mrs Naomi Langford for her outstanding work with this group; the high standard shown on stage is the direct result of years of building skills and commitment.
Sawasdee khrap and blessings for the week ahead!
Ngā mihi nui,
Alistair McKinnon
Principal
Emmanuel Christian School
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This email contains information about:
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- Important Dates
- Te kupu o te wiki – Word of the week
- 2027 intentions
- Update on Cohort Entry for 2027
- Cultural Day 2026
- Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser
- Car Parking at school
- KiwiSchools Connect App – Update
- Strum, Strike & Blow
- Yrs 9 & 10 Economics Business Enterprise notice
- Public Health Nurse notice
- Ezlunch orders
- Hot Chocolate Stand
- Second-Hand Uniform Sale
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Tuesday 1 September: Yr 9 & 10 Economics Food Market
Wednesday 2 September: Strum, Strike & Blow
Friday 4 September: School Duathlon
Thursday 10 Septmeber: Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser
Tuesday 15 September: Yr 9 & 10 Economics Food Market
Wednesday 9 December: End of Year School Prizegiving
(The School Calendar including 2026 Term dates can be found here)
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Te kupu o te wiki – Word of the week
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This week’s te reo Māori word/phrase of the week.
We would encourage you to try to use these at home.
This weeks word/phrase is: Kaore he painga – Not a chance!
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As we look ahead to the end of 2026, we know that some families will be moving on from Emmanuel Christian School for various reasons.
If your child will not be returning to Emmanuel next year, please notify the school office as soon as possible if you haven’t already. While we are always sad to see students leave, having this information early helps us plan for the upcoming year and offer places to prospective families.
Note: Families of graduating Year 10 students do not need to contact us, as we have already accounted for these departures.
Thank you to those who have already informed us. We appreciate your assistance and support.
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Update on Cohort Entry for 2027
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Thank you to all of you who responded to our consulation as the School Board considered a move to cohort entry for New Entrant students starting in 2027. At it recent meeting the Board has confirmed that this change will be made. Further details of this descision are in the attached letter from the School Board.
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Once again, we are thankful to God for blessing us with such beautiful weather for our Cultural Day celebrations.
The morning parade was a vibrant display of colour, culture and pride. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich diversity within our school community and to recognise the many cultures and traditions that make our school whānau so special.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all the volunteers who generously gave their time, energy and talents to make this year’s Cultural Day such a memorable occasion. Your support and dedication helped create a rich and meaningful experience for our students, families and wider school community.
We are truly blessed by your generosity and the wonderful sense of community you helped create.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Cultural Day such a joyful celebration!
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Sausage Sizzle Fundraiser
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The Fundraising Committee will be holding a Sausage Sizzle Lunch on Thursday, 10 September 2026.
Prices:
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Sausage sizzle – $2.50
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Ice block – $1.00
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Cookie – $1.50
Orders will be delivered directly to classrooms in time for lunch. Tomato sauce will be added by the teacher if requested by the student.
Please place your order online via the following link or by downloading the MyKindo App: https://shop.kindo.co.nz/app/login
All orders must be submitted by 3:30pm on Monday, 7 September 2026.
Please ensure your child’s classroom number is entered correctly to guarantee delivery to the correct room.
Please note that payment cannot be made at the school office. All orders must be placed through Kindo.
Thank you for your support.
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Can we please remind you to ensure when you are parking at school you only park in the appropriate marked carparks.
This includes:
- Not parking in the marked accessible carparks (unless you are ceritified to do so) so these are available for those who need them.
- Not parking in the area beside the admin block where student bike parking and the minivan is stored.
Thank You
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KiwiSchools Connect App – Update
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For those who are unaware, Emmanuel Christian School has a Mobile App for access by the school community. To download the app click this link (or use the QR Code): link
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This App allows school:
· Student Absences – this is our preferred method for notifying absences – it’s easy for you to use.
· Communications – school communications all in one spot at one time and you can be connected at all times.
· Calendar – links to our school calendar.
· Links – to our newsletter and school website.
· Alerts – The app also allows us to send out an Alert really promptly if something is happening at school that you need to know about urgently.
We encourage parents to download the app today to stay up to date with what is happening in and around the school.
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We are aware that there is currently an issue for new users trying to register with the APP. KiwiSchools is aware of this issue and are working to resolve it as part of their APP rebuild. They hope to have a resolution to this soon.
We thank you for your patience as we work together on this .
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Students have been working toward our spectacular performance with 49 other schools around Christchurch in the:
Wolfbrook Arena on Wednesday 2nd September.
This year we have 70 students playing either the recorder, the ukulele or a marimba.
This is always an exciting and memorable event for students! Once again many of our students will be taking the solos which is a huge deal! They not only perform in front of their peers, but also the audience, usually totalling over 2000 people!
Tickets are $5 and are available on the Strum, Strike and Blow website!
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Yrs 9 & 10 Business Enterprise Food Market
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As part of our Year 9 & 10 Economics programme students are starting up their own business enterprise. These businesses will be set up and run over two Tuesdays: the 1st and 15th of September.
The different groups will be selling foods such as hot chips, toasties, ice cream, brownies and more!
Below you will find an itemised price list of goods, so that you can have a discussion with your child about what they may like to purchase and have an idea about what is an appropriate amount of money.
On the days, we will be using cash (mainly coins please) to purchase items. Students money will be collected by their teachers in the morning, placed in a ziplock bag and then handed out just before lunch.
It will be collected up again after lunch (if there is any left) and returned at the end of the day.
Please be mindful about how much money is given to students.
Thank you for your support
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Public Health Nurse: Notice
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Please find attached some comms you can share with your school around some new care options available to tamariki and their whānau as we experience high levels of sickness across our communities.
Online GP care now free for all under – 14s
With lots of winter illnesses about right now, health services are experiencing very high demand. If you need to speak to a GP and can’t get in to your usual doctor or its after hours, Online GP provides a great option for accessing safe and quick care. The service is available from anywhere in the country, anytime day or night, and is now free for all under – 14s.
Appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call, and the service can prescribe medicine and send prescriptions to your nearest pharmacy.
It also provides another care option for rural communities, reducing the need to travel.
To learn more visit Online GP Care: https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/online-gp-care
Online GP costs for young people:
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Age
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With Community Services Card
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With no Community Services Card
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0 to 13 yrs
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Free
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Free
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14 to 17 yrs
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up to $13.50
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up to $45
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For more info on which health service to use when you or your child are unwell visit: www.healthnz.govt.nz/which-health-service-should-i-use
For advice on when you should keep your child home from school or ECE if they’re unwell visit: www.healthnz.govt.nz/knowing-if-your-child-is-well-enough-to-go-to-school-guidance-for-parents
Or download this factsheet: https://healthed.govt.nz/collections/school-guidance/products/should-i-keep-my-child-home-from-school-or-childcare-he7040
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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.
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Marshmallow Mayhem – Hot chocolate stand
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We’re back for Marshmallow Mayhem for 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 this 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!
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The Fundraising Committee will be running a Second-Hand Uniform Sale over two days:
When: Wednesday 2nd & Thursday 3rd September 2026
 The “shop” will be open: 8.30am – 9.00am and 2.30pm – 3.15pm
 Location: School Hall
If you have any second-hand uniform items you would like to donate, these can be dropped off at the Office during office hours.
Thank you for supporting our Fundraising Committee!
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