ECS Update Term 3, Week 1 – Friday 24 July 2026

ECS Update Term 3, Week 1 – Friday 24 July 2026

This email contains information about:

• Important Dates
• Te kupu o te wiki – Word of the week
• 2027 Enrollments – applications close 22 August 2026
• Parent Teacher Interviews
• Year 1-6 Swimming Lessons
• Cultural Day Notice
• Prizegiving Notice
• Keeping our School Community healthy: When to stay home
• Ezlunch orders
• Hot Chocolate stand
• Children of Eden Jr – Production Notice

Important dates

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 12 August: Year 3 and 4 Swimming Sports

Friday 21st August: Teacher Only Day

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: Pai mutunga  – Sweet as!

2027 Enrollments – Applications close 22 August 2026

Enrollment applications for places in 2027 are currently open and close on 22nd August 2026.  If you are aware of families with children looking to apply to start at Emmanuel Christian School in 2027 pleasde pass this on.

Please note this includes applications for any younger siblings of current students looking to start at any stage in 2027.

Term 3 Parent Teacher Interviews

While written reports as were sent home last term contain valuable information regarding your child’s progress at school, the opportunity to discuss this with their teacher adds important depth and context.

We strongly encourage you to make a booking and attend an interview with your child’s teacher.

Key Details

• Dates: Thursday 29th July and Tuesday 4th August

• Interview Times: 3:00pm – 7:00pm on both days

• Early Dismissal: Classes will finish early at 2:30pm on both afternoons to allow time for these interviews.

⚠️ Exception: On Thursday 29th July, Year 9 and 10 Technology classes at Middleton will continue at their regular times.

How to Book – Bookings will be open from 3pm Friday 3 July until 5pm Wednesday 28 July

Bookings must be made online. To secure your timeslot, please go to: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/hsjpj

• Year 1–6 Students: Please book with your child’s primary class teacher.

• Year 7–10 Students: Please book interviews with your child’s individual subject teachers.

Year 1-6 Swimming Lessons – continue next week

We wanted to remind you that our annual year 1-6 swimming lessons run for 2 weeks starting on Monday 20 July (First day of Term 3).

Year 1 – 6 students 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 waterproof bag to store their swimming togs, towel, and comb. We recommend students wearing goggles and some may prefer to use a cap as well. Many parents find the zip up supermarket bags are ideal for carrying wet swimming gear.

Class Swim Schedule for Term 3:

9.30-10.00am – H1, H2, H3

10.00-10.30am – Koru 2 and 17 students from Rimu 2

10.30-11.00am – Rimu 3 and students left from Rimu 2

11.15-11.45am – Rimu 1 and 7 students from Koru 3

11.45-12.15am 23 students from Koru 3 and 10 students rom Koru 1

Cultural Day

On Wednesday of Week 6 (26th August), we will be celebrating Cultural Day — a wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the rich diversity within our school community.

The day will begin with a parade in the morning, and we encourage students to come dressed in traditional clothing or something that reflects their cultural identity. If your child prefers not to dress up, they are welcome to wear their regular school uniform. Students with special or delicate traditional clothing may change back into their school uniform after the parade if they wish.

In the afternoon, from 1:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., there will be cultural stalls set up for students and teachers to visit. These stalls might include things like food, crafts, traditional clothing, games, or cultural displays—a wonderful way to share and celebrate the many cultures in our school. Family and whānau are warmly invited to join us from around 2:30 p.m., leading up to pick-up time, to enjoy the stalls and celebrate with us.

To make this day a success, we need your support. If you are able to help—whether by contributing ideas, materials, or helping to run a stall—please fill out the form below and return it to your child’s classroom teacher or drop it off at the school office by Monday 3 August.

We will hold a planning meeting for all volunteers on Wednesday 5 August at 2:50 p.m. in K3 classroom, where we’ll discuss plans together.

If you have any questions about Cultural Day, please feel free to contact us.

End of Year Prizegiving

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.

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!

Ezlunch orders

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

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! 

Children of Eden Jr