26 February 2010

Dear Parents,

A belated but sincere and warm ‘Happy New Year’ to all of you. I have met and spoken to many of you, especially at our most successful and well supported annual Pool Party two Fridays ago. As always, this monthly newsletter will seek to reflect on our most recent happenings.

New Families:

It was most pleasing to welcome our 14 new pupils and their families, during the course of this first month to the year. Thank you for ‘joining’ with me to ensure that all members of our community feel ‘at home’ and part

of the St Michael’s family.

Year 1: Sophie Allnutt, Sadie Lee, Eva Rankin, Akari Shimzu,Phoenix Taurua, Breanna Cherry, Corbin Jones

Year 2: Lachlan Frazer

Year 3: Ben Frazer, Ella Frazer

Year 4: Vincent Mukundu

Year 5: Dalton de Ronde Robo, Kimberley Purvis

Year 7: Mégane Lallemant

ACADEMIC

National Standards:

Our Curriculum Director, Mrs Lynne Horwood, and I attended a National Standards workshop last Thursday. One message that was emphasised was that our New Zealand Curriculum underpins these National Standards. A pupil’s achievement and understanding of the Curriculum levels skills in Literacy and Numeracy and, next steps, will be reported to parents. Our parents will appreciate and know that the N.Z. Curriculum is already delivered and reported upon by our dedicated and most professional staff members. We will keep you informed and updated as to our implementation and reporting of these National Standards.

Parent-Teacher Interviews:

Thank you for your excellent response to these important interviews.

PAT Testing:

These norm-referenced tests have been completed this week and teachers may discuss your son’s/daughter’s abilities/skills, during your interview(s).

CULTURAL

Chess:

This popular club has recommenced, on Monday lunchtimes, again under the direction of Mr Hamish Kenworthy, whom we are indebted to and thank.

Choirs:

Again, we have received great interest in vying for a place in either our Junior (Year 4 and 5) or Senior (Year 6 - 8) choirs. I thank Murray Lennox for his work with our choirs.

Kapahaka:

There has been growing and high interest in this group with 60 pu

pils joining our 2010 ‘muster’. I pay tribute to our tutor, Maaka Kahukuranui and our staff member, Sarah Mahoney for attracting and maintaining such strong numbers.

Orchestra:

It is most pleasing to observe a resurgence in woodwind instruments again, with a number of our students learning the clarinet and the flute. These will complement the other instruments represented in this important group.

Ukelele:

There are nine students ‘signed up’ to join this Tuesday group under the direction of Elspeth Godfrey-Chatterton, Sarah Mahoney and the Principal.

Special Choir:

Applications for the Music Festival Special groups - choirs, concert band, orchestra and recorder - can be made online: http://musicfestival.school.nz. Please phone the School Office for the password.

School Concert:

We plan to ‘stage’ a concert at the end of Term Three to showcase our Cultural groups.

Royal Schools of Music:

It came to my notice recently that Joshua Duddy had passed his Grade Two Piano Royal Schools’ examination with distinction (138/150) and was subsequently invited to play in the High Achievers Concert at the Music Centre. Well done Joshua.

Leadership Appointments:

Librarians:

The following have been appointed:

Head Librarian: Arwen Edgar

Deputy Head Librarian: Caitlin Bee

Librarians: Letasha Lowe, Jordan McIvor, Joeman Chan, Phoebe Brosnan, Shaun Graveston, Jed Scott-Stafford, Millie Clifton, Simone Gale, Kevin Jonker, Logan Robinson

House Leaders: In keeping with our School’s tradition, our pupils have selected their two House Leaders for 2010. I congratulate the following who were ‘voted in’ at the first meeting of our four School Houses:

Averill: Arwen Edgar Austin Harrison

Harper: Priyanka Nathu Kevin Jonker

Mathias: Millie Clifton Megan Lord

Perry: Angus Auwerda Jed Scott-Stafford

School Council:

Year 8: Megan Lord * Tyler Smith *

Simone Gale Jed Scott-Stafford

Year 7: Mégane Lallemant Conor Hamilton

Year 6: Charlotte-Jane Irwin Nicholas Stevens

Year 5: Shuying Wee Liam Scrase

Year 4: Claudia Gale Jasper Savage

Year 3: Ruby Lee Patrick Harrison

Year 2: Jasmine Winter Dylan Smith

* Head Prefects

SPORTING ROUND-UP

Colgate Games:

At the Colgate South Island games in Timaru last month Anoushka Chiswell received three gold medals for her 1st placings in the 60m,100m and Long Jump and a bronze for her 3rd place in the 200m. She was also a member of the winning mixed boys/girls relay team. Anoushka was also placed 1st in the 60m and 100m, and 2nd overall (8 year olds) in the

Canterbury Athletics last Saturday. Well done Anoushka.

Tennis:

We have recommenced our Thursday coaching (Years 5 - 8) and practice sessions at the Hagley Tennis Courts, with about 30 students in this programme.

I thank Mrs Ray Tennant for the coaching that she has begun with our Year 3 and 4 pupils on Thursday afternoons.

Touch:

We have maintained an entry in the Friday Touch competition at St Andrews. Our team is being: coached by Tony Kendrew and to date has recorded wins in their last three games. Well done!

Annual Swimming Sports:

Our 2010 annual swimming sports again ‘ran like clockwork’ and I pay tribute to the organisation of our Sports’ Co-ordinator, Jon Russell. I congratulate our 2010 Champions:

8 years: Wone Jung Geoffrey Kemp

9 years: Chelsea Yu Daniel Welch

10 years: Karenia Anderson

Saskia Klinkenberg Nicholas Stevens

11 years: Caitlin Bee

Millie Clifton Jesse Simkin

12 years: Megan Lord James Nicholls

SPIRITUAL

Altar Servers for 2010:

Logan Robinson Kevin Jonker

Joshua Carlile Ben Mitchell

Jordan McIvor Arwen Edgar

Olivia Mattison Harry Briggs-Jones

Tyler Smith Shaun Graveston

Year Eight Assembly Leaders this month have been: Megan Lord, Austin Harrison, Tyler Smith, Kevin Jonker, Millie Clifton, Arwen Edgar, Harry Briggs-Jones, James Nicholls, Priyanka Nathu, Jacqui-Lyn Welch, Jordan McIvor, Angus Auwerda.

Bible Reader at School Mass: Austin Harrison.

Mothering Sunday 14 March:

This is the first of our three compulsory services for the year and is a wonderful occasion, when we acknowledge the special ladies in our lives.

Anglican Schools’ Office:

The Anglican Schools Office serves

34 Schools in Tikanga Pakeha

2 Schools in Tikanga Maori

9 Schools in Tikanga Pasefika

A total of 45 Schools.

There are 36 priests and 4 lay chaplains ministering in Schools in New Zealand and each School in Polynesia has a visiting parish priest. An interesting statistic - in New Zealand 12 of the Schools are girls only, 12 boys only and 12 are co-ed.

SYNDICATE REPORTS:

Senior Syndicate:

The last month has gone in a blur for the Senior Syndicate. It has been a settling in period for pupils as they adjust to their new roles and responsibilities, Year 7 as monitors and Year 8 as Prefects, Librarians, House Leaders and Altar Servers.

During the last month, pupils have been involved in the Year 8 Survey in Cashel Mall, where the class surveyed the public on topics of interest. It was pleasing to get positive public feedback regarding this exercise. Also, the Seniors enjoyed the Helen Moran workshop, where she taught us to draw portraits. Add to these the Swimming Sports, Technology, Cricket games and Touch Rugby, and you can sense the ‘busyness’ of the Senior School.

Finally, I must add my congratulations to the Senior Touch Rugby Team, who have now won three straight games against other Independent Schools. Amazing results. A P Kendrew

Middle Syndicate:

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

Year 5 went on an action packed camp to Living Springs. Firstly we visited a farm where we got to try a variety of activities from bull whip cracking, milking cows by hand, riding horses to shearing sheep. We even had a go at lassoing and Mrs Godfrey-Chatterton will be practising just in case any of us get out of line!

Sailing was a huge success with everyone feeling confident in a boat by the end of the day. Year 5 even had a go at showing their fashion design talents by designing an outfit for a group member - handbags and earrings were even included!

Thanks goes out to Mrs McIvor and Mr Klinkenberg for their fabulous help at camp; without our camp Mum and Dad our camp would not have been possible. E. Godfrey-Chatterton

The annual Year 6 Camp was a great social experience and a fantastic way to start the year. We were fortunate enough to have John Somerville come in on Tuesday night and take the children for the Animal Survival game: this was thoroughly enjoyed by all the participants. A huge thank you to Annie Keys for spending the week with the Year 6 class.

Last week Years 5 and 6 commenced a swimming week at Aquagym. Children in these two classes are again continuing to refine their technique, as this is a really important part of the curriculum.

The Swimming Sports was an action packed morning and seemed to run fairly smoothly. A number of children from the Middle Syndicate have been selected to represent the school at the Independent Schools' Swimming next week.

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

J C Russell

Junior Syndicate:

We welcomed new students in all our classes, Years 1, 2 and 3 and all children quickly made a splash with their swimming tuition week at Aquagym. The children have settled happily into the School year. A highlight for all was a visit from Hunter Elson’s aunt, Tammy James, who read and talked about her newly published book ‘The World Is Your Oyster’. Years 1 and 2 walked to view the Floral Festival topiary animals in Victoria Square. The children have been enjoying the extended summer weather.

A drawing workshop by Wendy Duggan heightened the children’s powers of observation as they all drew a hedgehog with a sparkle in his eye. These are on display so all can appreciate our budding artists.

B M Byers

School Fee Automatic Payments:

If you have not already done so, could you please ensure that you have set up the new amounts for 2010: Our School Bank is Westpac Trust Bank Canterbury Centre and our Account Number is 03 1593-0012094-00

1 Child 2 Children 3 Children

Weekly 135.15 271.30 405.80

Fortnightly 272.30 542.60 811.60

Monthly 589.90 1,175.40 1,758.40

D M Burrows

Emergency Clothing:

Any donations of good clean uniform and underwear, particularly in the smaller sizes, would be greatly appreciated for use in our School sick bay when pupils are sick or have accidents. We would also be grateful for any old linen and towels. Thank you.

Principals’ Tips:

How’s Family Life?

A new year is a great time to think about the path your family is taking. Are we all contributing to the work load? Are we speaking to and treating each other with respect? If there’s anything that might need tweaking, gather everyone together and make some plans for change. The reality is that daily life will regularly veer away from your goals and dreams for your family, so make the time to stop and reset the directions whenever necessary.

(from Parents Inc - Hot Tips for Parents)

Year Two enjoying the Floral Festival flowers

As I close this letter, I would ask you to encourage prospective parents to view our display in the Merivale Mall: 3 - 6 March inclusive.

K R Boyce

Principal