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ECS Update Term 3, Week 8 – Friday 11th September 2026
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Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Whānau,
As we reach the end of another busy week of learning, growth, and community life, it helps to pause and reorient our hearts.
A Thought for the Week: Listening with Open Hearts
In Psalm 95:6-8, the psalmist calls us together with a beautiful invitation:
“Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, the sheep of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Psalm 95 is often remembered for its joyful call to praise, but it also contains wisdom in the shift that happens halfway through. It reminds us that we aren’t just called to sing or celebrate when things are going well; we are invited to rest in the care of a loving Shepherd who guides us every single day.
In a school setting, “hearing His voice” isn’t usually a dramatic moment. Often, it sounds like:
- Patience in a busy classroom.
- Kindness extended to a classmate sitting alone at lunch.
- Humility when we make a mistake and choose to learn from it.
- Gratitude for the teachers, staff, and families supporting our kids behind the scenes.
When life gets noisy or busy, it is easy to default to frustration or a “hardened heart”. Psalm 95 gently reminds us to stay receptive, soft-hearted, and anchored in the trust that we are safely held in God’s hands.
As we jump into the events, announcements, and highlights below, let’s carry that spirit of quiet posture and open-heartedness into our community this week.
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
- Relief Teachers
- Car Parking at school
- KiwiSchools Connect App – Update
- Papua New Guinea Language Week
- Message from Librarian
- Yrs 9 & 10 Economics Business Enterprise notice
- Public Health Nurse notice
- Ezlunch orders
- Hot Chocolate Stand
- Rolleston Christian School Spring Fair
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Tuesday 15 September: Yr 9 & 10 Economics Food Market
Friday 18 September: House Haka Competition
Saturday 19 September: Tuhono Kapahaka Festival
Friday 25 September: Final Day Term 3
Monday 12 October: First day Term 4
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: Kua tau – It’s sorted
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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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Along with many schools in New Zealand currently we are finding it challenging to find relief teachers to cover classes when regular staff are unwell or involved in other activities.
If you are aware of any Christian Teachers who would be interested in relief work at Emmanuel Christian School then we would love to hear from them.
Our relief teacher application information can be found here: https://www.emmanuelchristian.school.nz/vacancies/
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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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Papua New Guinea Language Week 2026
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This week, we had the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Papua New Guinea (PNG) Language Week and learn more about the rich culture, languages and traditions of PNG.
At our Junior Assembly, we learnt lots of interesting facts about Papua New Guinea and had the opportunity to hear some Tok Pisin, one of the languages spoken in PNG. We had fun playing “Simon Says” in Tok Pisin! The children enjoyed listening carefully, following instructions and learning some new words along the way.
It was wonderful to celebrate the rich cultural diversity within our school community and to learn from people who have a special connection to PNG. A special thank you to our PNG student and Mrs vanMegelen, who grew up in Papua New Guinea, for sharing their culture and knowledge with us and helping us learn more about this wonderful country. They also came dressed in traditional PNG clothing, a beautiful dress called meri blouse (meri blaus), giving us an opportunity to see and appreciate the colours, patterns and cultural traditions of Papua New Guinea.
We are thankful to God for the many cultures and languages represented in our school community. What a wonderful blessing it is to learn from one another and celebrate the diversity God has created!
Tenkyu tru!
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Message from the Librarian
If your child borrowed a book from the library van, you are welcome to send it back to school, and I’ll make sure it gets returned.
Alternatively, you may return it/them to any of the 21 branch libraries around the city.
If necessary books may be renewed online or on the library app.
Any questions feel free to email me.
Nicki Davison
ECS Librarian
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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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Rolleston Christian School Spring Fair – a good way to support one of our network schools
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