ECS Update Term 1, Week 4 – Friday 21 February 2025

ECS Update Term 1, Week 4 – Friday 21 February 2025

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

At Emmanuel Christian School we talk about the ECS Way:

Excellence

Christ Like Character

Service 

Wisdom

Over the next 4 weeks I want to take the chance to reflect on each of these:

Christ like Character: When Paul wrote to Timothy we see this encouragement in 1 Timothy 4:12

‘Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.’

Often times I have heard the first part of this verse which links to Timothy’s age without the second half.  Paul is clearly encourgaing Timothy to be an example to those around him in terms of his character; his speach, conduct, love, faith and purity.  That is a challenge to us all.

As a Christian School we have this challenge to model and teach Christ like character.  It is our desire that we would develop this in our own lives and to see these develop in the lives of each of the students.  We certainly do not always get this right, however, how we deal with that can be an example of good character too.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessings

Ngā mhi nui

Alistair

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Year 5-10 Swimming Sports
• Scholastic Book Club Orders
• 2025 School Board
• Open Heaven – combined churches prayer night

Important Dates

Monday 24th February – School Swimming Sports (Year 5-10)

Monday 17th March – Wednesday 19th March – Year 7 & 8 Camp

Friday 21st March – Teacher Only Day

Friday 11th April – Last day of Term 1

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

Year 5-10 Swimming Sports

The Emmanuel Christian Schools Year 5-10 Swimming Sports are being held on Monday the 24th of February at the Wharenui pool. This event is for all students in Year 5 -10. 

Students are to wear house colours where possible or the PE uniform, and shoes. Please ensure your child has plenty of food and drink, their togs and a towel. 

The Year 5 & 6 students will be travelling by bus leaving at 10:15am and arriving at Wharenui pool at 10:30am then returning to school at 12pm.

The Year 7 – 10 students will travel by bus leaving school at 11:45 and returning to school between 2:45 and 3:05pm. 

Students have chosen the races they would like to compete in. Students have choice between length and width races (all races are divided up into freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke.) The width races will be completed in the shallower learn to swim pool. Also in each of the width races flutter boards are available for those who wish to use them.

Parents are very welcome to come and support this event.

Scholastic Book Club Orders

Closing date : Friday 21st February 2025, 6pm

If you didn’t receive a brochure we have some at the Office and they are also available online on LOOP.

If you would like to order any of the books, this can be done online on LOOP.  For your first time you will need to register in order to make a Book Club LOOP login. 
We cannot take orders/payment via the Office so please order online. 
Instructions are on the back of the brocure.  You will have approximately two weeks to place your order.
Once orders close, they will be sent to school and will come home with your child. On all orders the school earns 15% in scholastic rewards which benefits our school library.

Emmanuel Christian School does not endorse all material that is available for purchase from Scholastic Book Club.  Please use your discernment when selecting reading material for your child.

Emmanuel Christian School Board 2025

As a state-integrated school, we have a School Board made up of elected parents, appointed Proprietor representatives, a staff representative and the Principal. The Board is charged (by the Crown) with governing the school – setting its direction and ensuring it is meeting the expressed intentions through good stewardship of the resources the school has.

This is an important group who work hard, often behind the scenes to see the school develop and thrive for the benefits of us all. Please pray for the board as they carrry out this important role.

If you wish to contact the board you can do so by emailing board@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

The Board would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution of John van Ameyde who finished his time on the board at the start of this year.  We have all benefited from John’s contribution to the school over many years.  John’s position as a proprietor appointee on the board will be filled by Mr Rod Thompson. 

Currently the School board has the following members:

Warren Rosser – Presiding Member (chair) – Parent Elected Representative

Natalie Sterne – Parent Elected Representative

Ruth Murray – Proprietor appointee

Kim Coleman – Staff elected Representative

Alistair McKinnon – Principal      

Lucy Harema – Parent Elected Representative

Shawn Liu – Parent Elected Representative

John Hastie – Proprietor appointee 

Rod Thompson – Proprietor appointee 

Open Heaven – Combined Churches Prayer and Worship Night

WHAT IS OPEN HEAVEN?
Open Heaven is an annual event that unites the churches in the city, to pray and contend for  their city. All denominations and churches come together for a powerful prayer night! Wednesday 26 February 2025.