Dear Parents,

I begin my monthly newsletter and bring greetings to you on a Saturday (Queen’s Birthday) afternoon, in Wellington, at the annual Independent Schools’ Conference. Rather appropriately, in this anniversary weekend, our Governor General, The Honourable Anand Satyanand, declared at our conference opening that: “good education sits alongside in providing a child with love and care in his/her development” and, further, that “if it is every child’s right to be educated, it is every parent’s responsibility to provide the best education for his/her child.” At St Michael’s, in the implementation of our high quality programmes, it is always our prime objective that each pupil realises his/her potential in the four dimensions, which we pursue: academic, cultural, spiritual and sporting.

Roll:

It was pleasing to welcome at a recent Monday assembly our two newest Year 0 pupils, Sara Gillman and Tayla Harteveld-Heaslip and their parents, and Tomasi Rainima, who has joined our Year Two class from Nandi Airport School. We also bade farewell to Emily Brooklands (Year Two).

ACADEMIC

National Young Leaders’ Day:

Our ten School Prefects represented our School at this annual event, in the Town Hall, on 26 May. The five keynote speakers, who addressed the 1500 pupils on the day, were: Sophie Pascoe, Rob Harley, Justin Jones, Nick Tuitasi and Justin Vaughan. Our School will receive a report about each of these speakers, at a Friday assembly. One of the best pieces of advice came from Nick Tuitasi, one of the youngest policemen to receive a Q.S.M., who told his audience to:

• protect your integrity,
• choose your friends carefully, and,
• guard your reputation

Otago Problem Solving:

Last week the pupils sat Set 2 of this competition. Congratulations to Arwen Edgar and Caitlin Bee (Yr 7) who scored a perfect 5/5.

Leading scorers, after two sets, who have scored eight correct from ten questions are: Jacob Fitzgibbon (Yr 8), Rachel Chon, Arwen Edgar, Priyanka Nathu (all Y7).

Effort Assessments:

Again it was most pleasing to make a comment on each of our pupil’s effort assessments, having observed each student’s personal industry in the categories on their effort sheets. Thank you for working with us in encouraging your child to do his/her best.

Our Effort Assessment top contenders were:

March May

Year 0: Greer Evans Jasmine Winter

Year 1: Dylan Smith Dylan Smith

Year 2: Jessica Yu Jessica Yu

Year 3: Claudia Gale Imogen Antal

Year 4: Wone Jung Wone Jung

Year 5: Chelsea Yu Chelsea Yu

Charlotte-Jane Irwin Hannah Pearson

Year 6: Madeline Kendrew Madeline Kendrew

Year 7: Megan Lord Megan Lord

Jacqui-Lyn Welch

Year 8: Rory Wilson-Cartwright Emma Wong

CULTURAL

School Council:

We congratulate our pupil representatives on the School Council:

Year 2: Patrick Harrison Ruby Lee

Year 3: Geoffrey Kemp Ella Stewart

Year 4: Bennet Anderson Grace Mitchell

Year 5: Angus Jonker Charlotte-Jane Irwin

Year 6: Oscar Carnevale Madeline Kendrew

Year 7: Jed Scott-Stafford Simone Gale

Year 8: Ella-Jane Todd Sophie Mitchell

Special Choir Auditions:

Seven of our pupils represented themselves for these annual tests: Simone Gale, Priyanka Nathu, Jacqui-Lyn Welch, Rebekah Boyce, Laurel Gregory, Emma Pearson and Ella-Jane Todd.

“Jack”

Sharon Howells, our producer, will be announcing the main role selections, for our 2009 production, next week.

Kapahaka:

Our new tutor, Maaka Kahukuranui, has maintained the high standard achieved by our Kapahaka team in past years, and is putting in much practice time by way of preparation for the 27 August Cultural Festival presentation.

SPORTING ROUND-UP

Cross Country:

I congratulate the following pupils, who are our Cross Country champions for 2009.

8 Years: Grace Mitchell Bennet Anderson

9 Years: Hannah Pearson Nicholas Stevens

10 Years: Isabella Holden Davis Gale

11 Years: Simone Gale Joeman Chan

12 Years: Olivia Ong Alex Irvine

The House positions for Cross Country were:

1st Harper 2nd Averill

3rd Mathias 4th Perry

Huff n’ Puff:

I also congratulate the following pupils, who are our Huff n’ Puff champions for 2009.

5 Years: Emily Galbraith Brooklyn Muir

6 Years: Saskia Rankin Fletcher Anderson

7 Years: Talia Bee Jasper Savage

Hockey:

Our five hockey teams continue to produce some excellent skill standards in their Saturday games. Our Intermediate Eights remain unbeaten. Again we praise and thank our parent coaches: Suzanne Tuetue, Kim Kemp, Hitesh Ravji and our co-ordinator, Mr Michael Graveston for his careful organisation.

Netball:

The Future Ferns have certainly been ‘dogged’ by rain and bad weather. Both teams have played one round; hopefully the weather will be kinder to us this week.

The Under 13 team is well coached by Rhianna Graveston, a past pupil. Round 2 of the competition has commenced with the team being regraded into a grade that will offer teams of more equal ability. The Under 12 team continues to go from ‘strength to strength’. They have been moved up two sections. This is a strong team that play together as a unit and are well coached by Margaret Mattison.

Rugby:

Our Sports’ Vice Captain, Alex Irvine, has continued to display some excellent skills for his Saturday rugby team.

Mara'Fun:

Over 40 of our pupils competed in the Queen's Birthday event and I thank Mrs Jo Clarke for ensuring that our School was so well represented at this major local event.

Trampolining:

Shannel Cartwright, our Sports’ Captain, came 2nd in synchronised and 3rd in individual in her most recent Trampolining competitions.

SPIRITUAL

Year Eight Assembly Leaders this month have been: Jesse Rogers, Emma-Kate Gardenbroek, Rory Wilson-Cartwright, Emma Pearson, Kendra Dunstan, Jacob Fitzgibbon, Austin Poit, Samantha Clark, Laurel Gregory, Ella-Jane Todd and Raphaela Walsh.

Bible Readers at recent School masses have been: Georgia Rouch, Skylar Brown, Alex Irvine, Ella-Jane Todd, Sophie Mitchell and Austin Poit.

Bishop’s Visit:

Our new Bishop, Victoria Matthews on Wednesday 6 May. Bishop Victoria celebrated Mass and then visited each class and stated that it was wonderful to see the level of Christian content being taught in the School and remarked how St Michael’s lived the Christian Gospel and the Virtues. She had thoroughly enjoyed being in the School and talking to the children. Bishop Victoria’s visit proved to be one of this year’s highlights and memory moments.

SYNDICATE REPORTS:

Senior Syndicate:

Our senior classes are enjoying a new integrated Health and Social Studies unit about Disasters. Pupils are being asked to critically investigate historic disasters, to determine causes and effects, and to identify how those involved coped with the disaster and organised themselves in response.

Throughout this unit pupils are being introduced to Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory, and are using their own areas of intelligences to help in their learning.

Both classes are making extensive use of the new computers, with pupils using them to research information, design and draw graphs, create Power Point presentations, and present written work.

Over the last six weeks, the seniors have been attending the Christchurch School of Gymnastics for lessons and assessment in gymnastics. Pupils have been introduced to gymnastic movements and are developing their balance and co-ordination.

A P Kendrew

Middle Syndicate:

‘Food to Go’ is certainly alive and well in the Middle Syndicate. Each class surveyed stakeholders on varying food preferences and decided to make healthy food options that include: pizzas, wraps, and sushi. Each class has followed a technological scaffold to enable them to clearly set the process. This unit will culminate with each class manufacturing to order during Week 8.

The Mara’Fun was run on Sunday 31 May with many children from the Middle Syndicate competing. Well done on getting out there and being active to all the runners. The ISSA Cross Country was run on Wednesday at North Hagley again, with age group teams competing from the Syndicate. Thank you to Mrs Clarke for her overall school and syndicate organisation.

Numeracy is continuing with the domain Multiplication/Division being studied. The children are learning strategies to enable them to calculate answers to problems.

Year 6, visited Science Alive as part of our ‘Electricity’ unit. The session involved making series and parallel circuits and also constructing a night-light.

The Science Fair is only a matter of weeks away and children in Year 6 are busy experimenting and attempting to reach conclusions. Years 4 and 5 will present their technology unit for your perusal on the night.

J C Russell

Junior Syndicate:

Naturally, the highlight of the last month was the Junior Huff’n Puff.

We are very proud of the effort all children put into the practices and the race and the enthusiasm they had for participating. For many children it was a real personal learning experience in setting goals and striving to attain them, and experiencing the joy that comes from realising their goals (just like the Little Red Engine!). Thank you so much parents for your support and encouragement.

Our topic for the rest of the term is “Traditional Stories” as part of our Social Studies focus. Traditional Stories are part of any culture’s heritage and sharing them is a way of enriching our children’s learning.

S G Walker

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Open Day:

Our 15 May Open Day provided us with another opportunity to ‘showcase’ our School. Whilst our visitor numbers were down, our Year 8 guides again demonstrated their excellent: Knowledge about and pride in their School. Please cordially invite any prospective parents to contact us about visiting our School.

P.T.F.A. Annual General Meeting:

At our A.G.M., the following committee members and office holders were voted in:

Chairperson: Hamish Kenworthy

Vice Chairperson: Amo Perelini

Secretary: Moranne McIvor

Treasurer: Christine Scrase

Principal: Kevin Boyce

Staff Representative: Tony Kendrew

Committee: Angela Ellis, Anna Petterson, Bea Pickering, David Irvine, Dianne Boyce, Jenny Addis, Penny Warren, Robin Gardenbroek, Sonia Mountain, Vicky Barkway, Kim Kemp and Warren Kemp.

School Board:

It is with regret that I report to you of, Mrs Patricia Anderson, our Board Chairperson’s six-year tenure on our Board coming to a close. On your behalf, I thank Mrs Anderson for her caring, professional and thorough leadership of our Board and for her untiring commitment and contribution to our four million dollar rebuilding fundraising fund between 2002 and 2005.

Swine Flu:

The focus of the Ministry of Health and the efforts of the Public Health authorities are very much on containing any suspected or actual cases of this influenza. To date, there is no evidence of community spread of the virus here and numbers remain stable. All of the cases had recently returned from travel in affected areas including the original cluster from Rangitoto College.

(Ministry of Health: media release)

Principals’ Tips:

Routines and Security:

Having routines doesn’t mean an end to spontaneity; just that you have general patterns to the way your family does things, for e.g. How you prepare for an outing, get ready for bed, or where and when different games are played.

Babies and pre-schoolers are immensely comforted by the predictability of family routines. Older children appreciate the things that make their family unique and highlight their sense of belonging.

Being flexible is essential at times, but don’t underestimate the importance to your child of having some things ‘the way we always do them’.

(from Mary and Ian Grant’s Hot Tips for Parents)

I hope and trust that our School families had a restful Queen’s Birthday holiday. Thank you for your excellent support for our most recent long distant running events. Your children have achieved a high level of fitness. Well done!

K R Boyce

Principal

Friday 12 June

Save the Children Fund Mufti Day

Saturday 13 June

P.T.F.A.

QUIZ NIGHT

Richmond Working Men’s Club

Tuesday 16 June

Science Fair

School Hall

P.T.F.A. Raffle

Thursday 18 June

School Photographs

formal uniform