ECS Update Term 3, Week 9 – Friday 12 September 2025

ECS Update Term 3, Week 9 – Friday 12 September 2025

Kia ora koutou, whānau

Next week we join with the rest of Aotearoa in celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori – Māori Language Week. This is a wonderful opportunity for us as a Christian learning community to honour one of the treasures of our nation – te reo Māori – and to recognise the beauty of the language God has gifted to tangata whenua, the people of the land.

At school we will be encouraging our tamariki to learn and use more reo in daily life. As we do this, we are reminded that every language is a gift from God and a way of reflecting His creativity and goodness.

We would encourage you as whānau to join in at home too – even learning one new phrase together can be a joyful step in supporting the revival of te reo Māori.

Let us continue to walk as a community that values and celebrates the diverse cultures and languages God has placed among us.

Ngā mihi nui,

Alistair

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Lockdown Drill – Thursday 18th September
• School Board Elections
• School Accounts
• Papua New Guinea (PNG) Language Week
• From the Library
• Shredders Wanted for Term 4
• Summer Uniform and Sunhats
• Secondhand Uniform Sale – thanks for your support
• Bishopdale Tennis Club Holiday Programme
• SKIDS School Holiday Programme

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)

Lockdown Drill Thursday 18 September

Keeping our tamariki safe is always a top priority. As part of this, we will be running a lockdown drill at school next week on Thursday morning. This is simply a practice, much like a fire drill, and is designed to help children and staff know what to do if we ever needed to keep everyone safely inside.

We talk with the children in an age-appropriate way so they understand it is just practice, and we keep the experience calm and supportive. They will know it is about to occur so they are not surprised when the signal starts.  We will keep the length of the drill as short as possible, again to reduce stress for the children.

As parents, you will receive a text notification when the drill begins, letting you know that what is happening is only a drill.

Thank you for working with us as we help our students feel safe, prepared, and cared for in every situation.

School Board Election

Update on School Board Election Process
Thank you to all who have been praying for the School Board election process. Voting has now closed and we expect to hear results from the returning officer next week.  We will update you as soon as we have this information.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to pray and vote in this election, and also especially to the parents who stood for election.

School Accounts

Invoices (Request for Payment) were emailed by the school this week (these are sent out monthly).
We would appreciate it if these could be paid in full by the end of Term 4.

Regular weekly payments are very welcome.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s school account please email the Office or pop in to speak with us or with Mr McKinnon.

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Language Week

This week we are celebrating PNG Language Week, and we are blessed to have a wonderful PNG family in our ESC community. At Junior Assembly today, we experienced something very special—we heard two worship songs and the Lord’s Prayer in Tok Pisin. Mrs Van Mechgelen, who spent her childhood in PNG, also taught us to sing “Rejoice in the Lord” in Tok Pisin. Now we all know a joyful new word—“Amamas!”, which means rejoice!

From the Library

Our library is blessed to be able to use the services of the National Library, which means we can have fresh books on the shelf, or extra copies of favourites. All at no cost!

Unfortunately, some of these books have gone missing from the collection and need to be returned. Please have a good look around your house over the next few weeks. No questions asked if they are found!

Please note the National Library barcodes are longer than ours. I have included one on the attachment for clarification.

I appreciate your assistance with recovering these books.

Kind regards,
Nicki Davison, Librarian      

Shredders wanted for Term 4

Where? Dove Bookshop, Bishopdale Mall

When? 3:00 – 4:00, once a fortnight  (so just 5 times!).

Who? 2 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!

Thanks, Nicki Davison     nicki@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

Summer Uniform and Sunhats

In Term 4 we move back into the Summer Uniform which includes the Sunhat.

We have sunhats available for sale at the Office.  They are $12.95 each.

If you are unsure about the Summer Uniform please check our website for more information or ask at the Office.

Uniform items can be purchased at Mainland Uniforms on Wairakei Road or you may find second-hand items for sale on our Parents Facebook group.  

Secondhand Uniform Sale – thanks for your support

Thank you for your support of the fundraising committee’s second-hand uniform sale. Over $900 was raised and will go toward a new playground.

The committee hopes to run more second-hand uniform sale days next year so any further donations of uniform may be dropped off at the Office.

Community Dental Service in the Holidays

Bishopdale Tennis Club Spring Holiday Programme 2025

SKIDS School Holiday Programme