ECS Update Term 2, Week 7 – Friday 13th June 2025

ECS Update Term 2, Week 7 – Friday 13th June 2025

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

Blessings,
Ngā mihi nui,
ECS Team

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Matariki Celebration
• ICAS Assessments
• Mums’ Exercise Group
• Swimming Lessons Year 1-6
• International Languages Week
• School Board Update

Important Dates

Wednesday 18th June – School Matariki Celebration

Friday 20th June – Matariki Holiday

Friday 27th June – Last day of Term 2

Monday 14th July – First day of Term 2

First two weeks of Term – Swimming Lessons Year 1 – 6

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

Matariki Celebration

Our school has a really special day coming up soon and we’d like to let you know about it so you can join in the celebrations.

Matariki is the Māori New Year and as a Christian School there are lots of ways we can use it to celebrate God’s goodness to us. Some of the special things we can be thankful for and celebrate at this special time are our whānau (families), our tūpuna (family members who have passed on), things that God  has done in the last year, things we’d like to see Him do in the future (like we do at New Year’s Eve), and learning and talking through the lessons we have had to learn over the past year.  

Another thing we can also thank God for is the awesome community that we have at Emmanuel Christian School. There are so many people who work incredibly hard in many ways to support our school that we would love to have our families join together for a meal to celebrate our unique character. So on Wed June 18 we are going to do something special. 

We are going to use the day at school on the 18th to join our children into their whānau/house groups. They may come in their house colours, and until lunch time they will rotate around activities that will help them to join in the celebrations of Matariki. Then, for dinner, we would like to invite everyone who is a part of our school community to join us to share our evening meal together. You may choose to enjoy our delicious traditional “in-ground” hangi of chicken and veges, or vegetarian, or bring some takeaways of your own.  Hāngi meals will be presold for $6 (small) and $10 (large) and prepackaged. The hāngi will be unearthed at about 5:45 at night for people to enjoy.

Hangi Orders: Orders need to be completed by 3pm Friday 13th June
Please place your orders through www.lunchonline.co.nz
You can add your family’s orders under your child’s name.
If you haven’t used Lunchonline before you will need to register which is a simple process.  See the ECS website for more information on Lunchonline.

As you can imagine there is a lot of work to be put into an event like this so if you are able to assist in preparing the food on  June 17th, helping lay the hāngi from about 8:00-10:30am on June 18, or helping teachers with running crafts/ activities before lunch on June 18th then please let us know  by filling out the form below. We’d really appreciate the help. Matariki Form

After our meal, some of the school Kapahaka groups will perform for the families, as well as there being some other whānau related activities. We are thinking everything will be finished at about 7:30pm.  This is going to be a really special time for our school and family to build what the Māori term as “Whānaungatanga,” – a developing of togetherness and community… We really hope and pray that, as a part of our school, you and your family can join us to celebrate.

ICAS Assessments

As we have in the past we will be offering the opportunity for students to sit the ICAS assessments in English, Science and Mathematics.  Thse are available for students in Years 3-10 and are designed as a chance for students to enter a competition style assessment.  These are computer based assessments and the students will be supervised at school to complete these. 

Please be aware these are not part of our regular school assessment programme  and do have a cost associated with them.  The 2025 cost is $22.50 per subject for each student.

To register for these assessment you can place an order at: https://shop.icasassessments.com/pages/parent-payment/KSW584

If you need to enter a code it is KSW584

We will hold the assessment on these dates, while we will try it is possible that there will be no catch up times available if students are away.

English: Tuesday 12 August

Science: Tuesday 19th August

Mathematics: Monday 25th August

Orders must be placed by 28th July 2025

More information can be found at: https://www.icasassessments.com/products-icas/

Mums’ Exercise Group!

Just two sessions left this term- It’s not too late to come along and give it a go! Our friendly, fun group is a great way to stay active, especially during these grey, rainy days when it’s harder to get outside.

We meet on Thursday mornings after school drop-off at 90 Highsted Road (around the back of the building). $5 with all funds raised going to the new playground. All fitness levels are welcome-it’s a great way to prioritise your wellbeing and connect with others in a positive setting.

Swimming Lessons Year 1 – 6

In the first two weeks of Term 3 the Year 1 – 6 students will have their swimming programme at the Graham Condon Recreation Centre, with the use of the swimming instructors trained in teaching water skills, safety skills and swimming. 

When students arrive at school next term they will need to have their named swimming gear in a seperate bag with them. Please ensure this (and their uniform) is well named (including socks and shoes). If Year 1 – 6 students would find it easier they may wear their PE uniform for the first 2 weeks of term as this is often easier for getting changed at the pool. 

Each child will need a big strong waterproof bag to store their swimming togs, towel, and comb. We recommend students wear googles and some may prefer to use a cap as well. Many parents find the zip up supermarket bags are idea for carrying wet swimming gear.

Students are travelling in class groups by bus.  If students are late and miss the bus they will not be able to swim.  Parents are most welcome to come watch their children make progress in their swimming lessons.
The swimming timetable is below.
Please note, we cannot confirm the times for Y3/4 or Y5/6 as they may be rearranged after testing on the first Monday.

9.30-9.55 – Year 5/6

10.00-10.25 – Year 5/6 and K2

10.30-10.55 – H1 and H2

11.15-11.45 – K1 and Year 3/4

11.45-12.15 – Year 3/4

For more information on what the lessons will cover please see the flyers below.

International Languages Week

Kia ora koutou ECS whānau,

We are thrilled to share highlights from a truly special time in our school calendar—International Languages Week!

This past week, we celebrated the beauty and diversity of languages from around the world, all while remaining rooted in our shared faith. It was a joyful reminder that the message of God’s love knows no boundaries and is spoken in every tongue and nation.

This week was especially meaningful as it coincided with the celebration of Pentecost—the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, and people from every nation heard the wonders of God declared in their own languages (Acts 2). Just as at Pentecost, we were reminded that the Gospel is for all people, and that God’s Spirit continues to unite us across cultures and languages through worship and love.

At both assemblies (Middle School and Junior), students and staff lifted their voices in a powerful, united chorus of “How Great Is Our God”—sung in over 15 different languages! We are so proud of how our students embraced the opportunity to learn, celebrate, and worship together in unity. 

Hearing our students praise God in so many different tongues was a deeply emotional and inspiring experience, reflecting the Scripture in Revelation 7:9: 

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude… from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…”

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many parents who supported their children by helping them learn and practise their parts for the song at home. Your encouragement and partnership played a significant role in the beautiful outcome we witnessed at the assemblies.

A special thank-you also goes to the parents and family members who were able to join us at the assemblies this week. Your presence added to the joy and sense of community we cherish at ECS. It was a blessing to worship and celebrate alongside you.

Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us cultivate a Christ-centred, global-minded school community.

Ngā mihi nui,
The ECS Team

School Board Update

Kia ora ECS parents and community,

Last term we shared a little about who your Board members are through profiles in the newsletter. We want to keep you updated about what the ECS Board is focused on.
We have two BOT meetings each team – dates for these are in the school calendar and they are open meetings.

A range of activities happen between meetings. This is particularly busy right now as we work through an exciting time of roll growth over the next few years. There are a range of school curriculum areas being adjusted and introduced by the government right now, so we are keeping close to this as it happens.

By the end of 2025 we need to confirm and submit our overarching school strategy for the next three years. A group is thinking about this right now and will be asking for feedback and views from the community before the end of this term.

A working group is being formed to support school growth and the practical planning we need so this can happen successfully. The group is being led by Alistair with involvement from our Proprietors, School Leadership Team and BOT. Warren Rosser (Presiding Member) and Kim Coleman (ECS staff representative) are part of this group.

The next round of BOT elections will be held in Term 3, when two parent representative roles (out of four) will be up for election. We will run the election online again this year. Please prayerfully consider if you would like to be nominated for these elections.

You Board can be contacted by email board@emmanuelchristian.school.nz
Warren Rosser – ECS BOT Presiding Member 

SKIDS School Holiday Programme

For SKIDS school holiday programme information please visit their website: www.skids.co.nz/bishopdale