ECS Update Term 4, Week 9 – Friday 13th December 2024

ECS Update Term 4, Week 9 – Friday 13th December 2024

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

We have reached the end of the year!  School finishes today at 12pm.

In many ways the start of the year does not seem very long ago.  It has certainly been a busy year with  lots of opportunities.  Thank you again for your support over the year (and for many of you many years before that).  The prayer, support and encouragement you provide is really appreciated.    It was great to see many of you who were able to attend the prizegiving on Tuesday.

Final School Day: Please remember that the School Year will finish at 12pm today.  We would really appreciate it if you could ensure your children were collected on time.

On behalf of all of the staff can I wish you a very Merry Christmas.

As you enter this Christmas season remember the awesome gift of God’s son who was sent into the world not to condemn it but to save it.  We have received a great gift of love in Christ at Christmas.  The challenge before us is to accept that gift of love, and to love in return.  Because of God’s great love for us we can know what it means to love him with all we have and to love others around us.

As Phil Wickham puts it in the lyrics to his  song ‘Manger Throne’

Glory be to You alone
King who reigns from a manger throne
My life, my praise, everything I own
To Jesus the King on a manger throne

From heaven to the cradle
From cradle to the cross
Let heaven and nature sing
This is our King
But the grave couldn’t hold Him
Our God has overcome
Let Heaven and nature sing
This is our King

Aroha mai, aroha atu 

Love received demands love returned

For those of you who end your formal time as part of the Emmanuel Christian School community can I wish you the Lord’s blessing for the years ahead.  Please do stay in touch.

As we finish the school year I would also like to let you know of some staffing changes as we move into 2025.

At the end of this year we farewell Mrs Rosser and Mrs Kerkhoven. Your support of our students as you have supported them in many different ways as Teacher Aides has been very much appreciated.  We pray the Lord’s blessing on you both in the season ahead.

Miss Nicholson will be on leave for the start of 2025.  We will miss her input over the start of the year and look forward to seeing her back in Term 3.

I would also like to welcome Miss Ruthie Ward ,who will be joining the teaching team from the beginning of 2025.  Miss Ward comes to us from Rangiora Newlife School and will be teaching in Koru 1 in 2025.  

Blessings

Ngā mhi nui

Alistair

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Teacher Aide Vacancies 2025
• 2025 Parent Handbook
• Counselling over the holidays
• Community Dental Service 

Important Dates

Friday 13th December – Last day of Term 4 (12pm finish)

(The School Calendar including 2024 and 2025 Term dates can be found here)

First Day for students in 2025 is Wednesday 29th January

Teacher Aide Vacancies 2025

We have some vacancies for Teacher Aide support within our classes in 2025.  With changing needs there is some spaces available within both the Year 1-6 and Year 7-10 areas of the school.

These are part time possitions during term time only.

If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more information please email Alistair at: principal@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

These are important roles within the school as we look to support students needs.

Thank you for prayerfully considering this.

2025 Parent Information Handbook

Our Parent Information Handbook can be found on the ECS website (linked here).

It has been updated for 2025 and is regularly updated with any changes.

Counselling over the holidays

Kia Ora Koutou,

I am Josh Weir, I work as the school counsellor for Emmanuel Christian School.

I am also a part of Gumboot Friday which grants anyone in New Zealand under the age of 25 to get 2 free counselling sessions (and can get more if you can’t afford counselling and have no other funding).

With 2 sessions that are granted by Gumboot Friday, it can give students a good space for support through the long holidays if they felt like they needed that space for a chat.

If this is something you and your child is interested in or if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out; either by emailing me josh@inpeace.org.nz or go through to the Gumboot Friday website: [https://help.gumbootfriday.org.nz/?name=Joshua_Weir&id=112bac9e-8ecd-44cc-8163-81e80997f33c]

Kind regards,

Josh

Community Dental Service