Dear Parents,

After a lovely ‘patch’ of weather during the Easter holiday, we have been gently reminded this week that we have now entered the winter months. Some of our pupils have shared their most recent experiences - abroad and local - with us and these ‘hands on’ activities do much to enrich their worldly growth and knowledge.

OPEN DAY

Our annual OPEN occasion is set for Friday 15 May from 11 am to 2 pm. It is an opportunity for prospective parents and pupils to see our School in action and observe extra-curricular pursuits such as choir, orchestra etc. Please draw this invite to the attention of your friends and relations, who may be considering our School for their children.

ACADEMIC

Otago Problem Solving:
Pupils in Years 6 - 8 are participating in this annual Mathematics Problem Solving Competition. There are five sets of problems, with the top achievers qualifying for the Final Challenge. We are still ‘basking in the glory’ of Tae Joon Kim’s success: 3rd in New Zealand for Otago Problem Solving (2008). While no-one achieved 5/5 in Set One, there were a number who scored 4/5. They are: Saskia Klinkenberg, Daniel Alexander, Freddy Wilson (Year 6), Austin Harrison Tyler Smith, Rachel Chon, Priyanka Nathu (Year 7) Jacob Fitzgibbon, Sebastian Gurobi-Hines, Jesse Rogers, Rory Wilson-Cartwright, Emma-Kate Gardenbroek, Sophie Mitchell, Olivia Ong and Raphaela Walsh (Year 8).

NZASE Primary Science Conference:
This conference, held during the School holidays,
was titled ‘Active Learning: Science Talk from the Classroom to the Dinner Table’. We were
represented by Tony Kendrew. The conference discussed current trends in Science education, and methods to raise children’s interest andengagement in Science. This conference centred on developing children’s discussion of Science and identified some key words: ‘Wow!’, ‘Why?’ and ‘Because’. Children love to be amazed by scientific things, and while enjoyment and interest is important, they must be challenged to make sense of what they see, and to offer ideas and reasons. Our scientists of tomorrow start with enquiring attitudes and an enthusiasm for Science today.

Effort Assessments:
Our second Effort Assessments for this year, will be sent home prior to the Queen’s Birthday holiday weekend.

Christchurch East School Technology Centre:
Students have settled well into programmes.
Alternate year Technology subjects for 2009 are Biotechnology, Structures and Mechanisms and Design Technology Wood. All students will receive a component of Food Nutrition and Design Technology Fabric.

CULTURAL

‘Jack’ our 2009 Production:
Our Musical Director, Elspeth Godfrey-Chatterton, and our Producer, Sharon Howells, have chosen a show called ‘Jack’, which was written by the same writers, who wrote ‘Ali Baba’. Ms Howells is conducting auditions on Wednesday 6 May.

Austin Harrison:
We congratulate Austin on his winning a role in ‘What Now’ as an animal care presenter.

Library:
In the holidays a number of staff assisted our Librarian, Jo Clarke to cull 900 books from the Library. Our pupil librarians also met in the holidays. Thanks to all those involved.

SPORTING ROUND-UP

Cross Country:
The annual cross country will be staged at North Hagley Park on Wednesday 12 May. Parents are welcome to witness this important event.

Huff n’ Puff:
Our Junior Syndicate compete in this event on Wednesday 27 May at 1.45 pm

Hockey:
Competition for our teams commenced last Saturday with some great results. The five hockey teams practised during the holidays in readiness for the upcoming season, so all bodes well for another great year.

Netball:
Saturday Netball has started with teams playing on Friday and Saturday. Future Ferns commences this week with a team from Year 4 and one from Year 5. Year 7 (under 12) and Year 8 (under 13) have already started a successful season.

Karate:
Alison Yee won a bronze medal at the recent New Zealand Karate open Championships in the 8 yr old Kumite (fighting).

Rugby and Soccer:
A number of our boys play rugby or soccer for a Club on Saturdays. We continue to recognise our players of the day and special achievements at our Mondays’ Awards’ Assemblies.

Tennis:
We congratulate Megan Lord on her successes:
Bishopdale Tennis Club:
• Intermediate Girls Doubles - Runner Up
• Best Performed Team 2009 - 11 year old girls
• Intermediate Mixed Doubles Winners
• Intermediate Girls Singles Winner
• Best Performed Interclub Girl 2009
Canterbury Junior Tennis
• 11 year old girls Junior Championship Interclub winners
Canterbury Junior Tennis Championships
• 2009 Girls 11 years Doubles Runner Up
Well done Megan.

SPIRITUAL

Year Eight Assembly Leaders this month have been: Jesse Rogers, Kendra Dunstan and Georgia Rouch.

Parish A.G.M:
It was a pleasure to be present and speak to one’s report about our School in 2008 at our St Michael’s Church A.G.M. on Sunday 3 May and again highlight the comments made by E.R.O. after their visit last year: “students learn in a culture that has a strong New Zealand Anglican tradition”, “assemblies and church services are an integral part of the school's Christian values and virtues” and we have a “learning rich environment” where “our pupils love their learning”.

Bishop’s Visit:
We are looking forward to receiving our new Bishop, Victoria Matthews on Wednesday 6 May.

SYNDICATE REPORTS:

Senior Syndicate:
The Senior Syndicate has settled into the new term well. We have a focus on P.E. at the moment with pupils enjoying the first of six sessions of Gymnastics last Thursday, as well as training for the Cross Country.
A P Kendrew

Middle Syndicate:
Welcome back to another exciting term in the Middle Syndicate.
A highlight this term is the Middle Syndicate Technology Unit ‘Food To go’. It is looking at technological practice, in particular the children developing a brief plan, looking at outcomes and evaluating the final outcome. We will be sharing the results on Science Fair night later on this term.
It is certainly shaping up to be another busy term with much to keep our children’s minds alive and exploring for ways to solve problems that will arise along the way.
J C Russell

Junior Syndicate:
Term Two has started enthusiastically and the children look so smart in their winter uniforms. We have welcomed Sophie Stewart, Sara Gillman and Dominic Johnson into Year Zero and Imogen Antal in to Year Three.
The Juniors have begun training for our ‘Huff and Puff’ river run on the afternoon of Wednesday 27 May (please note changed day). Our Science topic for this term is ‘Electrifying Electricity’.
We have enjoyed sessions at Science Alive exploring static and stored electricity, constructing simple circuits and learning about safety with electricity.
We are all conscious of catching our coughing, sneezing and hand-washing before meals and after toilets.
B M Byers

Pandemic:
Dr Julia Peters says “We are taking this very seriously and doing everything necessary to manage this situation. The Ministry of health is managing the response to this issue at a national level.”
“The best things you can do to stop the spread of any type of influenza virus is to:
stay at home and away from others if you are sick
cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
put used tissues into a rubbish bin
avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth - germs spread that way
be careful to wash hands often with soap and dry them thoroughly - hand hygiene is critical: even when you start to feel better there is still a risk of infecting others, so keep to the 20/20 rule - 20 seconds washing and 20 seconds drying
keep surfaces clean at home, school and work.

(Health Alert: media release)

Again thank you for promoting our School so positively in Christchurch and beyond. It continues to be an honour and a privilege to be your Principal and represent our ‘cause’ wherever I can: together we have a special School to be proud of.



K R Boyce
Principal