ECS: Update Term 3 Week 7 Friday 29 August

ECS Update Term 3, Week 7 – Friday 29 August

Tēnā koutou katoa, nau mai, haere mai. Talofa lava, mālō e lelei, bula vinaka, kia orana, dumela, nǐ hǎo, konnichiwa, Dumelang, Ola.

This week we had the opportunity as a school family to celebrate the wonderful gift of culture. Each language spoken here, each tradition shared, and each story told reflects something of God’s incredible creativity. Psalm 86:9 reminds us, “All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, Lord; they will bring glory to your name.”

As we shared food, music, dress,dance, and stories, we not only enjoyed  the richness of culture but also remembered that in Christ we are one family. Different backgrounds, different languages, yet united in His love.

Can I please express a huge thank you to the many parents, grandparents, wider whanau and friends who contributed to this day.  And a special thank you to Mrs Christine Liu and Mrs Bronwyn van Mechgelen for their work in making the day possible.

Ngā mihi nui, fa’afetai tele lava, vinaka vakalevu, thank you.

Blessings,
Alistair

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• School Board Elections
• Year 0-4 Wheels Day
• Cultural Day 2025
• Secondhand Uniform Sale
• Rolleston Christian School Spring Fair
• Tuning in to Kids and Tuning in to Teens course

Important Dates

Friday 19th September – Last day of Term 3

Monday 6th October – First day of Term 4

Friday 12th December – Last day of Term 4

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

School Board Election

Update on School Board Election Process
Thank you to all who have been praying for the School Board election process. We’re pleased to share that several nominations have been received. Thank you to those who have put their names forward—it’s encouraging to see such strong interest and support from our school community.

You should have received an email with instructions re voting and information reguarding our 4 nominations.  A copy of the candidate statements is also attached to this email.

Thank you to those who have already voted, the returning officer has let us know that while a number of votes have been receieved there is a majority of parents who have not yet taken this oportunity.  

We encourage you to continue praying for this process, and to seek God’s guidance as you consider who to vote for. Voting will close at 4pm on Wednesday 10th September.

Year 0-4 Wheels Day

On Thursday the 4th of September, students in years 0-4 will be having a wheels day.

Students are encouraged to bring their bikes/scooters to school and have fun riding them around a series of courses.  

Students are required to bring helmets, other safety gear (knee pads, gloves etc.) are optional. Students can also come in PE uniform if they choose.  Each class has an allocated half an hour to enjoy their bike or scooter, with the supervision of teachers and senior students.  During morning tea and lunchtime students will not be able to ride their wheels day item.  

The order of the day is as follows:  

Harakeke 1 & 2 from 11:00 to 11:20

Harakeke 3 from 11:20 to 11:40

Koru 1 from 11:40 to 12:00

Koru 2 from 12:00 to 12:20

Kowhai 3 from 1:30 to 2:00  

Kowhai 4 from 2:00 to 2:30

Cancellation If the weather turns nasty and we need to cancel the event, we will notify parents in the following order.

• A notice will be placed on the ECS Website Home Page and Facebook page by 7.30am on the morning
• An email will be sent 

Cultural Day 2025

We are thankful to God for blessing us with beautiful weather. The morning parade was a vibrant display of colour and pride, and a wonderful celebration of the diversity within our school community.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the volunteers who contributed their time and effort to make this year’s Cultural Day such a special occasion. Your support and dedication created a rich and meaningful experience for our school whānau, and we are truly blessed by your generosity.

Secondhand Uniform Sale

The fundraising committee are going to run a second-hand uniform sale over two days in Week 9 on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th September. 

More details will be given closer to the time but for now please make note of those dates on your calendar as this will be a great opportunity to purchase some uniform items for your children.

If you have any uniform items you would like to donate to the fundraising committee these can be dropped off at the Office.  Please ensure all donated items are clean and in good condition.

The fundraising committee have been working steadily this year to raise funds for a new playground.  They have run a sausage sizzle, done some catering and run exercise classes which so far has raised just under $3000!  All funds raised through the secondhand uniform sale will also be going toward a new playground.

Rolleston Christian School Spring Fair

Tuning in to Kids and Tuning in to Teens course

Join us for Tuning in to Kids and Tuning in to Teens, 6-session group programmes designed for parents and caregivers of children aged 5-13 years old. These sessions focus on practical skills to navigate the ups and downs of your parenting journey.

• Learn how to better understand and manage emotions, for both you and your child.
• Discover ways to strengthen your relationship through emotional moments.
• Get tools to help children express and handle their feelings.
• Gain strategies for problem-solving and setting appropriate boundaries.

Each session includes videos, group discussions, role-playing, and home activities.

Click on the link below for more information.

https://manaake.health.nz/tuning-in-to-kids/