Term 4 Newsletters

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Fortnightly Newsletter

180 Hill Rd, Belmont, Lower Hutt. Ph: 565 0749
Fax: 565 0747 e-mail: maranatha@maranatha.school.nz
Principal: Debbie Middleton

Term 4, Week 4, 5 November 2009

COME O LORD

 
Dear Maranatha Christian School Community
Members,

A number of our parents and friends of the community now know what a fantastic asset the new bush track is for the school. Parents and visitors who attended the recent parent meeting and board meeting experienced the beauty of its natural setting first hand, taking a walk down through the bush, over the creek and up the loop track.

Last Thursday & Friday, Mrs Parlane and I were inspired by the speakers at the Wellington Primary Principals Leadership Conference. A common thread was a reminder of the importance not only of good role models but also of the words we use. The words we use and hear shape our thinking. Positive words motivate and inspire, whereas throwaway comments can be damaging, especially to children. It reminds me of Christian writers, such as Don Gossett, who encourage speaking words of affirmation: words can work wonders, but conversely they can work blunders. We are to say or affirm what God has said over and over again, until the thing desired and promised in His Word is fulfilled. We “Believe It, Say It, Receive It”. For “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12 v 34).  This is a week…month…term… of affirmation at Maranatha!

Debbie Middleton


“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”
Proverbs 25 v 11


Mark your calendar
06 November Swimming—Huia Pool
12 November Parent prayer meeting 9 am - All welcome
16-19 November ERO visit
20 November Swimming Huia Pool
17 November School Assembly 2.15 pm — All welcome
18–24 November Life Education Bus visit
27 November Swimming Huia Pool


SCIENCE at MARANATHA

As you know improving science is one of our strategic goals, and it is a focus this year.
Thank you to the parents who assisted their child in accessing the internet to complete the survey. If your child has not completed it yet, it would be appreciated if you could enable this to happen. (If your child is in room 2 and completed the
survey at school, please help him /her to do the survey again, as due to a technical glitch it did not show up on the analysis of the survey.) Follow the link at home to complete it: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=D88Lui4A6TcylvMRN_2f_2fWjw_3d_3d
Analysis of results so far show that:
95% of students would like to do more science.
98% think that the science they have done this year has been very good, good or O.K.
80% say they have done more science this year compared with last year.


Uniform issues

Uniform shop vacancy:
Able to spare some time? We need someone to take over the running of the uniform shop from next year (2010). Full training will be given. Hours can be flexible to suit you. If you are interested, please contact Ellen on 564 4904. Thank you.

Wearing of uniform after school hours:
Students are expected, when visiting public places, to either wear their full school uniform, or full mufti and not mix the two. (This includes footwear). As a representative of Maranatha, students are expected to wear the uniform with pride.


Health & Safety issues

Footwear:
A reminder—It is compulsory for all students to wear footwear at all times on the school premises, due to safety risks. Exceptions for not wearing shoes are:library time (shoes should be left outside in the shoe rack), inside the classroom, at the discretion of the classroom teacher.

After school:
A reminder that students need to remain in the courtyard or classroom until collected by their guardian from the courtyard. They may not go out on to the tarmac or playground to wait. After they have been collected they may play on the adventure playground only under the direct supervision by their guardian.


International Competitions and Assessments for Schools—English

Congratulations to the following children:

Noah     Credit      Year 4
Lovely   Credit      Year 4
Ethan    Credit      Year 4
Ryan     Distinction Year 6
Rebekah Credit      Year 5
Daniel   Distinction  Year 5


International Competitions and Assessments for Schools—Maths

Congratulations to the following children:

Lachlan   Distinction Year 4
Noah      Credit       Year 4
Ethan     Credit       Year 4
Caleb     Credit       Year 5
Aidan     Distinction Year 5
Daniel    Distinction Year 5
Ryan      Credit       Year 6
Richard  Credit       Year 6
Adriana  Credit       Year 8
Lily        Credit       Year 7


Talent Show

“Maranatha has talent!!” Students enjoyed the talent show last week and had the opportunity to display some exciting competence!! Items delivered were: gymnastics, dancing, singing and drama. There were also musical performances on instruments: piano, recorder, keyboard and the guitar. Well done to all who participated in this event.


Camp 2010

We wish to remind our parents about the possibility to pay the camp fees in installments, in advance. Thank you to those families who have chosen this option, especially those with more than one child.

The maximum cost for the camp, (scheduled for 8—12 February), is as follows:
Years 1—3, staying 2 nights = $100
Years 4—6, staying 3 nights = $150
Years 7—8, staying 4 nights = $200

The camp will be held at Wellesley Country Park in the Akatarawa Valley.


LifeEd programme

There is a parent session for the LifeEd programme on Thursday 19 Nov 2.40 pm. This is to explain and answer questions. Parents are welcome to look inside the
classroom. 


Hutt Valley Christian School

Parents who attended the parents’ meeting last week received a very good overview of the vision and plans for the Christian College. If you are interested, or know of
someone who is, enrolments are accepted from years 9 to 11 for 2010. For more information, please contact our school office.


Photographs

Sport/Cultural Group photograph orders need to be in by tomorrow. They are $12.00 each. Please place the correct amount in the sealed envelope and return it to the school office.


Trophies

In preparation for Prize Giving 2009, we request that all cups and trophies be returned to the school office as soon as possible. Please ensure that the trophies are in the same good state of repair as they were when handed out.


Reflections

On the 21st of October, the Choral group from our school performed at the Town Hall for the ‘Kids for Kids’ concert. We sang with Suzanne Prentice & 300 children from other schools.
Over the past few months we practised singing 17 different songs which included a ‘New Zealand medley’, ‘My Favourite Things’ and even an ‘Elvis medley.’ Some
children auditioned for a solo part & Amanda was chosen to sing solo for ‘Don’t Rubbish the Children.’
In the end, all of our hard work paid off, as all of the money earned from the tickets,
T-shirts and CDs signed by Suzanne went to World Vision, and a few of the audience even chose to sponsor a child.
By Michelle, Year 8.


Lost property

Nico from Room 3 lost his jersey. Could you please check, as his name is on the label.
We also have a few pairs of shoes in the lost property box.

PE Tops for sale
Interested in buying 2 ‘hardly worn’ old- style PE tops for $5.00 each (sizes 6 & 8)?
Contact Karyn on 934-8767.

Pauatahanui School’s Lamb & Calf Day is THIS weekend, Saturday,
November  7th from 10am to 2pm – Rain or Shine (12 Paekakariki Hill Road). Pouring cups of tea with real Diggers, Photos with the Bledisloe Cup, Climbing Wall and, of course, all of our usual Country Fair Fun!!

Pony Rides, Free Petting Zoo and Farm Animal Displays, Mechanical Bucking Bull Ride, Ferrari and other Classic Car Rides (including a raffle for a ride in an Aston Martin!), Homemade Cakes, Sweets & Preserves, Fun Games, Raffles, Competitions, Prizes, Silent Auction, Huge Plant Sale, Wacky Hair,  Face Painting… AND SO MUCH MORE!