ECS Update Term 1, Week 6 – Friday 7 March 2025

ECS Update Term 1, Week 6 – Friday 7 March 2025

Kia ora Parents and Caregivers,

At Emmanuel Christian School we talk about the ECS Way:

Excellence

Christ Like Character

Service 

Wisdom

This week I want  to reflect on last of these: Wisdom

Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” However, better advice came from King Solomon, who wrote centuries earlier: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10).

To give that a little more context.  In 1 Kings 3:1-15 we read of a time when King Solomon has been anointed King but has not yet finished building the Temple.  As was the custom he went to the most important high place in Gibeon to make sacrifices to the Lord (v.4). While there, the Lord came to Solomon in a dream, saying, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you”(v. 5).   

King Solomon starts his answer by praising God – clearly a great start and  something we can learn from.  He goes on to recognise his own youth and to ask for discernment, he is asking for God to give him the discernment, knowledge, understanding.  Not for his own sake but so that he could distinguish between right and wrong.  In humility he is asking God to help him carry out the role that God had given him as king.

Solomon recognised his own position as a servant to God, he recognised God for who He is, out of this reverence and fear of the Lord he requested discernment.

When the wise man says in Proverbs 4:5, “Get wisdom, get insight,” he does not mean, “Go to school, take more courses.” That might be part of God’s plan for you. Yet the command comes to us all: “Get wisdom!” What does this mean? How shall we do it?  

How do we grow to understand our own humble nature before our Lord.  To worship and praise His name, knowing that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 9:10)

“Hurihia to aroaro ki te ra, tukuna to ātārangi ki muri i a koe” – Turn and face the sun and let the shadows fall behind you.

Remember the chorus, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”? Turn and face the Son and let the shadows/darkness fall behind us as we follow the Son. For, “the Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God” (Hebrews 1:3). And we “who have had that veil (ignorance) removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Blessings

Ngā mihi nui

Alistair

This newsletter contains information on the following:

• Important Dates
• Year 3-10 Parent Teacher Interviews
• School Board Introductions
• Teacher Aide Vacancy
• Christchurch Schools Music Festival
• School Accounts
• Spare Small Uniforms needed 
• Baking Paper Fundraiser

Important Dates

Tuesday 11th March – Year 3-10 Parent Teacher Interviews

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

Friday 21st March – Teacher Only Day

Friday 11th April – Last day of Term 1

Monday 28th April – First day of Term 2

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

Year 3-10 Parent Teacher Interviews

On Tuesday 11th March we have a second opportunity for you as parents and caregivers to make a time to meet with your child’s homeroom teacher to discuss how the year as started.

Times are available from just after 3pm until 7pm on each day.  These can be booked online by following this link:  Interview Booking Link

If this link does not work for you then please go to schoolinterviews.co.nz and select ‘make a booking’.  You will need to enter the event code: qwmuz.  

Booking will be open until 5pm Monday 10th March.

For children in Years 0-2 opportunities for a conference with your child’s teacher will be available later in the year.

School Board Introductions

Teacher Aide Vacancy

We have a current vacancy for a Teacher Aide within our Middle School Team.  This position would involve 4 hours per week (2 each on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings).  

The teacher Aide would be supporting students with their learning programme either within the classroom or with small groups.  A willingness to be flexible, and an encouraging supportive nature are key requirements for this role.

If you are interested please contact Alistair for an application form: principal@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

Christchurch Schools Music Festival 

For Years 5-8 students only.

Our choir is excited to be part of the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival this year.  The Festival is still looking for more applications to audition for one of the Representative groups.  They are looking for the best singers for the Junior Choir (Yr 5 & 6) and Senior Choir (Yr 7 & 8), and for talented musicians (Grade 3 equivalent and above) to audition for the Orchestra and Concert Band. 

The audition process takes only 5 minutes and each student is auditioned individually. Information on what is required in the audition is on our website.

The Representative groups are on stage in the Christchurch Town Hall for every performance of the Festival (4 nights).  With more than a thousand people in the audience and 900 children in the choir stalls watching every night, it is an amazing experience they will never forget.

To find out more information or to register your child click here:

https://musicfestival.school.nz/representative-group-information/joining-a-representative-group/

Be quick, registrations close Tuesday 01 April.

Please email Naomi Langford if you need more information about this. Every year we have students in these representative groups and they are extremely fortunate to have the training they get in these groups! 

I prepare the students auditioning for the representative choir auditions during a lunchtime once a week beginning later this term. Itinerant teachers should be helping to prepare students for auditions into the concert band and orchestra.If you have entered your child, please make sure that itinerant teachers are aware of this!

naomi@emmanuelchristian.school.nz

School Accounts

Summary of Fees for the 2025 year

Proprietor Fees requested by the Emmanuel Proprietor Trust (EPT)
Attendance Dues $ 1,400.00 Per annum per child (compulsory). 
If you would like to pay this in full before 31 March 2025 there is a $50 discount.  You may deduct the $50 discount and pay the remainder $1350.00
Payment to the Emmanuel Proprietor Trust 06-0821-0611597-00

Voluntary Special Character Donation requested by the EPT
$ 300 (1st Child at the School) Per annum per child (voluntary)
$ 250 (2nd Child at the School)
$ 150 (3rd Child at the School)
No request is made for a donation for the 4th Child

Voluntary Activities Donation requested by the School
$ 90 per student in 2025 (voluntary)
Payment to Emmanuel Christian School 06-0821-0208431-00

Camps
Those of you who have children in years 5 – 8 will see a camp charge on your child’s school account.  Payment is due before camp please.  Without your contributions the camps would not be possible. 
Please note, you will receive a donation receipt for the camp payments which are eligible to claim a tax credit.
If finances are an issue please talk to us as we don’t want this to restrict any students attending camp.  

Spare small uniforms needed

We are in need of some small girls summer dresses (size 4-8), small sizes of girls underwear (sizes 5-8) and small PE shorts and tops (sizes 6 and 8) to keep in the Office for those times when students need a change of uniform.  If you have anything you are able to donate please let the Office know.

Baking Paper Fundraiser

The fundraising commmittee is running the very popular Baking Paper/Food Wrap/Tin Foil/Mini-grip bags fundraiser again!

Your child will be bringing home an order form today or early next week.  There is also an order form attached below.

Orders will close on Wednesday 26th March 2025. Please return your completed order form along with payment to the Office. You will be notified when orders are ready to be collected from the Office which should be around Wednesday 2nd April 2025.