Dear Parents,

We have just closed the third week of our last term for 2009, during which we received and welcomed on site two very special groups of visitors:

• 40 pupils and staff from our brother school, St Mark’s Church School (Wellington).
• 110 of the grandparents and great grandparents of our present roll of students.

Roll:

It was pleasing to welcome recently Daniel Kim to our Year Six class.

Taste of Year 6:

On our next Open Occasion, Monday 16 November, we will be inviting current Year Six pupils from other Schools to join our Year Six for the morning. Our prospective parents will receive a Principal’s talk and tour of our School.

National Standards:

On 23 October, our N.Z. Government launched the new National Standards, which are a compulsory entity for all New Zealand primary schools. Whilst there has been some opposition to these National Standards, our School welcomes an opportunity to: analyse and upgrade our pupils’ attainment and, fulfil one of the new New Zealand Curriculum’s premise to ‘lead to a love of lifelong learning’ by our students.

TENZ Award:

It is with great pleasure and pride that I confirm Mrs Jo Clarke’s National Technology Education award as one of the three ‘Outstanding Teacher in Technology Education’ awardees and, the only primary teacher amongst these three candidates. Our “Food to Go” unit will also be used as a case study on the Techlink website.

ACADEMIC

ICAS English:

We congratulate the following:

Distinction: (Principal’s Gold and Red awards and eight merit marks): Wone Jung, Roman Kenworthy, (Year 4), Nicholas Stevens, Taylor Keys, Vincent Kenworthy (Year 5), Henry Rouch (Year 6), Letasha Lowe, Austin Harrison (Year 7), Georgia Rouch (Year 8).

Credit: (Principal’s Gold award and five merit marks):Liam Scrase (Year4), George Warren (Year 5), Isabella Holden, Saskia Klinkenberg, George Addis (Year 6), Simone Gale, Megan Lord, Joshua Carlile (Year 7), Rebecca Tang (Year 8).

Participation: (Principal’s Red award and three merit marks): Grace Mitchell, Myah Klinkenberg,Shuying Wee, Bennet Anderson, Harrison Kendrew (Year 4), Charlotte-Jane Irwin, Joy Kang, Chelsea Yu, Joshua Duddy (Year 5), Karenia Anderson, Madeline Kendrew, Davis Gale, Aaron Li, Freddie Wilson (Year 6), Millie Clifton, Jordan McIvor (Year 7).

ICAS Mathematics:

It was most pleasing to receive the news that one of our pupils had achieved a High Distinction - our 18th of these prestigious awards over the last 9 years - which places these candidates in the top 1% of this large database from twelve countries.

Well done to Vincent Kenworthy.

High Distinction: (Principal’s Double Gold award and ten merit marks): Vincent Kenworthy.

Distinction: (Principal’s Gold and Red awards and eight merit marks): Bennet Anderson (Year 4), Taylor Keys (Year 5), George Addis (Year 6), Megan Lord (Year 7)

Credit: (Principal’s Gold award and five merit marks): Aimee Hayward, Wone Jung, Liam Scrase (Year 4), Nicholas Stevens, George Warren (Year 5), Madeline Kendrew, Saskia Klinkenberg, Daniel Alexander, Henry Rouch, Freddie Wilson (Year 6), Simone Gale, Priyanka Nathu, Joshua Carlile, Austin Harrison (Year 7).

Participation: (Principal’s Red award and three merit marks): Myah Klinkenberg, Grace Mitchell, Shuying Wee, Harrison Kendrew, Roman Kenworthy (Year 4), Meg Byers, Joy Kang, Hannah Pearson, Chelsea Yu, Angus Jonker (Year 5), Isabella Holden, Davis Gale, Aaron Li (Year 6), Millie Clifton, Letasha Lowe, Tyler Smith, Kevin Jonker (Year 7), Georgia Rouch, Rebecca Tang, Jesse Rogers (Year 8).

Otago Problem Solving:

Jacob Fitzgibbon (Year 8) has qualified for the Final Challenge. This challenge is aimed at extending the top Mathematicians from each competing school. Instead of 5 questions in 30 minutes, Jacob will solve

20 questions within 60 minutes. Good luck Jacob!

Effort Assessment:

High Fliers for October:

Year 0: Byron Antal

Year 1: Dylan Smith

Year 2: Brooklyn Jones and Mackenzie Ellis

Year 3 Paige Stolzenberger

Year 4: Alexander Johnson

Year 5: Charlotte-Jane Irwin

Year 6: Henry Rouch

Year 7: Megan Lord

Year 8: Emma Wong and Raphaela Walsh

Christ’s College Science Competition:

We have been accepted once again into this Year Seven competition. The team will be named shortly.

Science Fair:

We were subsequently informed that, in addition to Kevin Jonker’s (Year 7) third placing, that two of our students had also received meritorious achievement awards. Well done to Raphaela Walsh (Year 8) and Connor Lindsay (Year 7).

News from Christchurch East Technology:

Design Technology Wood:

Year 8 students are working on a Storage unit. They have come up with some innovative design ideas and enjoyed working through the various development processes to test and trial their ideas.

Design Technology Fabric:

The Year 8 students have been designing and making cushions in all shapes and sizes with

applied theme designs. The students enjoy the challenge of working with the computer machines for specific features of their designs. The Year 7 students are working on a zipped container with a pocket feature with an original applied feature design. They have spent time

becoming familiar with using a sewing machine.

Structures and Mechanisms:

This term students have been developing a range of structures, which include specific mechanisms. The Thermo former is one of the specialised pieces of equipment used to form the moulds for the structures. Their structures have also included attachments such as propellers, counter weights and electronic circuits.

Food Nutrition: In Year 8 the focus is on how food connects with aspects of health and well being, influences that affect what we choose to eat, how to analyse, interpret and use information on what you are eating and how to group and choose food for health.

Year 7 students have been learning about safe food and kitchen safety.

Christchurch East Technology Department

CULTURAL

Annual Debate with St Mark’s (Wellington):

The moot for this year’s debate was: “That New Zealand is a safe place to live.” Our team was lead by Georgia Rouch with her two team members comprising: Emma-Kate Gardenbroek and Emma Pearson. It is most pleasing to report that our team which took the negative stance ‘carried the day’ and retained the Goodall Family Cup.

Christchurch Music Festival:

Our School sang with the Massed Choir on Tuesday 20 October. Those who represented St Michael’s were:

Rebekah Boyce

Caitlin Bee

Shannel Cartwright

Phoebe Brosnan

Samantha Clark

Simone Gale

Laurel Gregory

Shaun Graveston

Sebastian Gurobi-Hines

Megan Lord

Georgia Hetutu

Letasha Lowe

Sophie Mitchell

Jordan McIvor

Emma Pearson

Priyanka Nathu

Jesse Rogers

Jed Scott-Stafford

Georgia Rouch

Jacqui-Lyn Welch

Rebecca Tang

Oscar Carnevale

Ella-Jane Todd

Davis Gale

Austin Harrison

Madeline Kendrew

Our three representatives in the Senior Special Choir sang for the six nights of this annual event which this year was celebrating the 70th year of the Festival, having started in 1939. We congratulate our three St Michael’s girls: Ella Todd, Laurel Gregory and Rebekah Boyce.

Choral Workshop:

Our choir joined with their compatriots from St Mark’s by way of preparation for our Wednesday Mass, lead by the combined choirs. Our Orchestra also played at this Mass and our Kapahaka group gave their welcome to our visitors at our afternoon tea for these special Wellington visitors.

Chess:

Term 3 saw the school chess championship contested by way of a round robin involving the top six players on the chess ladder: George Addis, Daniel Alexander, Sebastian Gurobi-Hines, Vincent Kenworthy, Olivia Ong and Tyler Smith. The players were evenly matched with four players finishing the competition tied on five points. The clear winner, with four wins from five matches and eight points, was Vincent Kenworthy, repeating his win in 2008.

In Term 4 our chess team played St. Mark's Church School from Wellington. In a comprehensive 19-5 win all our players enjoyed at least one win with Vincent and Daniel winning both their matches. Vincent's two wins gave him a record in inter-school matches this year of seven wins from seven matches.

During the remaining weeks of this term members of the chess club will be sitting their New Zealand Chess Federation badge tests. The Interhouse competition will also be contested. H R Kenworthy

SPORTING ROUND-UP

St Mark’s Fixture:

Chess: A win to St Michael’s: 19-5

1st XI Hockey: A loss by 5 goals to 1

1st XI Soccer: A win to St Mark’s: 10-1

Netball A: A victory to St Mark’s, who are the current Primary Schools’ Team Champions.

Netball B: A win to St Mark’s.

Rugby: South Island Tournament. Our School recognised Alex Irvine’s selection in the South Island Primary Schools’ team, after the completion of the recent tournament.

Rugby League: Jed Scott-Stafford also gained selection in the South island team after his recent tournament on the West Coast.

Athletic Champions 2009:

8 Years: Grace Mitchell Bennet Anderson

9 Years: Eveane Tuetue-Gray Nicholas Stevens

10 Years: Karenia Anderson Isaiah Schwanen

Aaron Li

11 Years: Madeline Kendrew Jed Scott-Stafford

12 Years: Simone Gale Ashton Finlayson

13 Years: Raphaela Walsh Alex Irvine

Junior Syndicate Sprint Winners 60m:

5 Years: Lauren Matthews Rihan Lallu

6 Years: Macy Greenland Dylan Smith

7 Years: Claudia Gale Geoffrey Kemp

8 Years: Anoushka Chiswell Jasper Savage

Junior Syndicate Sprint Winners 100m:

5 Years: Jasmine Winter Rihan Lallu

6 Years: Macy Greenland Fletcher Anderson

7 Years: Claudia Gale Daniel Carlile

8 Years: Anoushka Chiswell Jasper Savage

Trampolining:

During the School holidays Shannel Cartwright travelled to Hamilton to compete at the Nationals for Trampoline. She managed to get into all finals, she got 2nd for tumbling, 4th for double mini, 6th for individual trampoline and 6th for syncro trampoline. She is now training, hoping to qualify for the New Zealand team to compete at Indo Pacific’s in Japan in July 2010.

SPIRITUAL

Year Eight Assembly Leaders this month:

Jacob Fitzgibbon, Sebastian Gurobi-Hines,Rory Wilson-Cartwright, Georgia Hetutu, Emma Pearson, Rebekah Boyce, Georgia Rouch, Kendra Dunstan.

Bible Readers at recent School Masses: Laurel Gregory, Jacob Fitzgibbon, Jesse Rogers, Ella-Jane Todd, Shannel Cartwright, Sophie Mitchell.

SYNDICATE REPORTS:

Senior Syndicate:

As usual, this final term is proving to be busy for our Senior pupils, and there is promise of more busy memorable events in the weeks to come.

Last week we hosted St Mark’s and to all those who took billets into their homes, a big thank you.

Our Senior debating team, coached by Lynne Horwood, proved no match for St Mark’s and had a fine win, retaining the Goodall Cup for the third year in a row.

In the classroom, pupils are involved in assessments, which will help teachers to report up to date information at the end of the year. All pupils are preparing speeches, from which some will be chosen as entrants to the Speech and Poetry Competition. In Mathematics, Geometry is the focus, while the Living World remains the area of study in Science.

We are pleased to hear reports from Secondary Schools who say the standard of French at St Michael’s is very high, and gives the pupils an excellent base for Secondary study.

As always, we look ahead to the next month with anticipation,especially to events such as the Year Eight run School Disco and the Independent Schools’ Dance. A P Kendrew

Middle Syndicate:

Our final term has certainly been full on with many highlights.

The Athletic Sports was an action packed day and luckily we were able to just beat the weather.

St Marks School from Wellington joined us last week to share in cultural and sporting exchange. In the Chess team were Vincent Kenworthy, Daniel Alexander and George Addis. In the Soccer team were Oscar Carnevale and Freddy Wilson. Our hockey players were Logan McConnel, Daniel Hayward, Jesse Simkin, Isaiah Schwanen and Conor Hamilton. A great contribution from the Middle Syndicate.

It was great to see so many grandparents here last Friday and to share some of what is happening at St Michael's both in and out of the classroom.

Mrs Clarke and Mrs Godfrey-Chatterton have been busy putting up a display of Middle Syndicate art at Ballantynes. The display is located in the downstairs coffee lounge, so if you have the inclination to have a coffee please go and have a look.

This week the Middle Syndicate commenced a swimming week at Aquagym. All classes are again continuing to refine their technique, as this is a really important part of the curriculum.

There is plenty happening during the remainder of November so please keep an eye on your calendar.

J C Russell

Junior Syndicate:

What an action packed term we are having! The Junior Syndicate swimming week is in full swing. Next week we have visits to the Art Gallery and the Life Education Mobile Caravan.

Year Three are preparing for the Poetry Competition in in Week Six.

We have begun our Topic study of Reduce, Reuse Recycle, so be prepared for discussions at home!

Our Athletic Sports were very successful and we are looking forward to another day outdoors at the beach in December. S G Walker

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

National Dog Safety Conference:

A letter received from the Christchurch City Council:

“Dear Kevin

Just a quick thank you to your school for helping us with our National Conference last week.

The class and children who attended were exceptional and helped us enormously in presenting our Dog Safety and Bite Prevention programme, with their keen interaction etc. I had many comments from our delegates that confirmed this also.

So once again Kevin, many thanks and if there is anything Animal Control can do to help your school in the future please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Jim Stokes

Education Team Co-ordinator”

Principals’ Tips:

Making Meal-Time Family-Time

‘No matter how young or old your children are, mealtimes are an ideal opportunity for the family to gather and share a special ritual that says we are a team. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, eat together once a day if you possibly can. Take turns to read a story, tell a joke, or say something you appreciate about each other.

Every now and then get silly; only people wearing purple, or a hat, can come to the table. Declare a silent meal, and see who giggles first, or serve each course in the wrong order. Mealtimes can be about so much more than food.’

Food for thought! (from Parents Inc weekly hot tip)

We now look forward to sharing our November events with you: our disco, Poetry/speech competition and the Recital for our musicians.

All the best.

Yours sincerely

K R Boyce

Principal