Term 2, Week 2, 2019

Newsletter M

anukau C

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9 May 2019

Dear Parents and Friends of the School, Welcome to the second school term. Thankfully the wonderful summer weather has not yet given way to Autumn clag and rain. There are a number of issues to discuss in this newsletter.

CIE prepares students well for university study

Cambridge qualifications are the best preparation for university. Stuar t Shaw has recently completed a seven-year research project which confirms this claim. In the U.S. 75% of CIE graduates enter university directly compared with 68% of all other high school graduates. Students from Cambridge schools also have

Principal’s Desk 2-4

Dates to Remember 6

School Happenings 5-9

Community Notices 11

Matters for Prayer 12

Inside this issue: Term Dates 2019

Term 2: 29 Apr to 5 Jul

Term 3: 22 Jul to 27 Sep

Term 4: 14 Oct to 6 Dec

ASSOCIATION OF CAMBRIDGE

SCHOOLS in NZ INC

CAMBRIDGE ASSOCIATE SCHOOL

higher grade point averages in their first year at university than IB students or others. CIE students are more likely than IB students to continue with their studies beyond their first year and in addition, CIE students are the most likely to complete their degree within the standard timeframe. Not only so, but CIE students at university tend to feel they have been well prepared with time management skills and critical thinking skills. See the following link. https://blog.cambridgeinternational.org/cambridge-qualifications-good-preparation-for-university/

Principal’s Message

Page 2 Newsletter Term 2, Week 2, 2019

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From the Principal’s Desk

Screening our kids’ screen time

Principals Today Issue 122 outlines the growing concerns over the use of screens at school. In a refreshingly honest discussion the article quotes Julie Cullen, Paediatric Physiotherapist and leader of a group of parents calling for guidelines around use of IT in schools. “An increasing number of studies are finding that high screen use is associated with negative impacts on children’s health and well-being.” Not only so, but high screen use in school seems to be associated with low outcomes, particularly in mathematics and literacy. One does wonder if the screen use is the main issue here or whether it is the learning methodology that accompanies the use of screens? The position taken by Manukau Christian School is that where the use of digital devices will improve learning we are keen to make use of this technology. Our assessment is that much of the IT use in schools produces quite low-grade learning. Our views are partly confirmed by an OECD report and other research that shows, according to Principals Today….. wait for it…… that high screen use in schools is associated with lower digital skills. Reasons for this are not provided, but we might speculate. Perhaps the IT activities in schools are mostly situated towards the novelty end of the spectrum? Perhaps the current ‘student-centred’ learning approach means that in many cases students can substitute ‘learning opportunities’ for ‘entertainment events’? Loading videos onto You-Tube and posting on social media hardly counts as education, does it? In any case, although our school is not averse to using digital technology where appropriate, we are not rushing headlong into the nation-wide screen experiment any time soon.

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Farewell to Mrs Orr and Welcome to Mr Booker Mrs Orr has been an incredibly dedicated and faithful teacher at MCS and we are sad to lose her from our staff team, but she does deserve to retire! We wish her every happiness and blessing! Mr Booker is joining the MCS team, not as librarian, but as a part time ESOL teacher, replacing Mrs Orr. Mr Booker is a recently trained teacher and a committed Christian who has previously taught ESOL at Auckland Edinburgh College and ACG Sunderland.

Laboratory now in use

After a long process and countless hurdles, we give thanks that the school laboratory is fully functional and in use! We are now in a position to offer quality science education from Year 1 through to Year 13. It is very heart-ening to have received a number of donations to this particular project from families in our school community—we thank you for blessing us in this way. Mrs Prakasa (below) was rapt to have delivered the first lesson this term in her new surroundings!

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The gala did really well raising $4600. If the weather had been fine, we would very likely have raised a lot more. Many thanks to Tabetha Gorrie and Janet Simons, as well as the army of volunteers who worked tirelessly once again to pull off a wonderful event. The rain did little to dampen the spirits of the MCS community, although one principal was thoroughly soaked by a particular fundraising event involving a bucket and a number of young people with surprisingly accurate aim! At both galas that we have run, an iPad has been generously donated by DeXTech. What is DeXTech and what does DeXTech have to offer? Their CEO, Toby Carr states the following:

“DeXTech, aims to help you with your technology requirements. We have a wide range of stock - varying from Smartphones to Macbooks to iPads and many items in between, to suit any budget. Head over to www.dextech.co.nz to see our range or to find out more information..”

Gala Update

Health and Safety Please report any hazards that you notice to the office. Your assistance with this is appreciated.

Page 5 Newsletter Term 2, Week 2, 2019

Students in Years 7 and 8 will sit their internal exams during weeks 7 to 10 of this term. Years 9 –13 will also sit exams at this time. These exams, along with the end of year exams and test marks, determine which ‘graduation certificate’ a pupil receives at the end of the year. Graduation certificates are awarded in three categories: Achievement, Merit and Excellence. Achievement—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 50% or higher in at least four subjects including Bible. Merit—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 60% or higher in at least five subjects including Bible. Excellence—awarded to pupils who achieve a pass of 75% or higher in all six subjects including Bible. Cambridge Exams—A reminder that students will be required to pay an exam fee for each external exam that they sit at the end of the year. Fees are determined by CIE and the exchange rate at the time.

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Mid Year Exams

School Trips

We appreciate parents giving up their time to assist us with our school trips in the way of transport and supervision. Under the new Health and Safety Regulations, if you assist on a school trip, you will need to be on our school database of police-vetted parents. If you are not on our list you will not be able to assist with school trip transport and supervision. If you need to drive your car, we will also need a copy of your driver’s licence as well as checking that your vehicle’s WOF is current.

Welcome Mrs Bryant Contact Details

Please update your contact details (including email) at the school office if these have changed. It is important that we are able to get hold of you in the case of an emergency or if your child is sick.

You will see a new face in the office on T h u r s d a y s a n d F r i d a y s — w e a r e delighted that Mrs Sarah Bryant is able to a s s i s t i n a n administrative role and warmly welcome her.

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Dates to Remember Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

13 14 Gymsport R202

14 PIPS Careers Day Rm 207, 203, 202

16 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

17 Swimming R204 Rippa Rugby Y5-8 Mission Training

20 Trustboard Meeting

21 Gymsport R202

22 PIPS Hearing and Vision New Entrants & Y7 ACS Soccer

23 MOTAT Rm 207,203,202 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

24 Swimming R204 Rippa Rugby Y5-8 Netball Session Y1-3

27

28 Gymsport R202

29 PIPS Soccer Save Date

30 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

31 Swimming R204 Rippa Rugby Y5-8 Netball Session Y1-3 School Assembly 2.45-3.15pm Mission Training

3 Queen’s Birthday School closed

4 5 PIPS

6 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

7 Swimming R204 Netball Session Y1-3

10

11

12 PIPS Chess Tournament

13 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

14 Swimming R204 Mission Training

17 Exams start

18 Auckland Art Gallery Rm 207, 203, 202

19 PIPS High School Mtg Y7/8

20 Swimming R205 Swimming R206

21 Swimming R204

24

25 26 PIPS Netball Tournament

27 28 Mission Training

1

2 Parent teacher Interviews 2.00-7.00pm Rm 207, 203, 202

3 PIPS Parent teacher Inter-views 3.15pm to 5.00pm

4 5 Whole School Assembly 8.45am End of Term School finishes 12.30pm

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

The Anti-Money Laundering Act places obligations and regulations on our school. Depositing cash is therefore a time-consuming and lengthy process. We ask that parents do not pay school fees with cash but make an electronic transfer directly to our school account using your child’s name as the reference. We are still happy to accept eftpos and credit card payments at the office.

Cash Payment of Fees ACS Soccer and Netball A number of our school’s soccer and netball teams will soon be taking part in the Auckland Christian Schools tournaments.

ACS Soccer (Years 4 to 8) will be held on Wednesday 22nd May (save date is 29 May) and ACS Netball will be held on Wednesday 26 June (save date is 3 July 2019).

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MOTAT Students in Rooms 204 and 201 had a busy start to their term with a trip to MOTAT on their second day back. Learning how simple machines work through interactive displays and hands-on activities proved to be fun. Students were introduced to the wedge, screw, wheel and axle, inclined plane, pulley and lever—six simple machines that keep the world moving! Key principles and concepts that are the building blocks of larger and more complex machines made this day out fascinating. And many students also enjoyed a ride in the tram. Thank you parents for your help.

Happy Mother’s Day—from Year 1Tuis From Year 1 students’ perspective: Mum is not very good at making a satellite

My mum loves me because I wake up on time.

My mum is really good at cooking some cereals.

Mum’s favourite thing to do is washing the dishes.

Mum is not very good at making cup cakes.

Mum’s favourite thing to do is play volleyball.

My mum loves me because I love her back

Mum, I love you because you are the best mum to me.

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Students in Room 202 have started their Gymsport sessions at Bruce Pulman Park. At MCS we promote this programme as the benefits gained from developing core muscle strength translate directly into increased muscle tone—required for all learning areas from listening and sitting, to reading and writing.

PE—Rooms 207 and 203

Getting a move on with some fun equipment at PE time. Stretching, hopping, jumping, climbing and running are all important for development.

PE—Room 202

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PE—Rooms 204, 205 and 206

Over 80 of our students are currently part of the community swim programme, made possible by the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams Foundation. This 7 week programme upskills our students and is complemented by the Drowning Prevention Auckland in-class programme—enabling students to work toward gaining the Water Skills for Life Certificate of Achievement.

PE—Room 201

PE—Room 210

Netball was the order of the day for students in Room 201. Although they resembled bees round a honey pot, their play on attack and defence was formidable! Next term swimming is on their agenda.

S tudents were do ing ba l l familiarisation activities and passing drills leading up to their Rippa Rugby sessions next week.

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Let’s talk about exercise. Physical activity is really

important for full bone development

Inactive teens do not develop adequate bone strength. A reasonably recent study found that teens who were less active had weaker bones. Breaking bones is such a nuisance. Having limbs in casts causes mayhem in the family home, not to mention the lost opportunities for learning, sport and recreation that result from the lack of function! The critical window of time for bone development is between 10 and 14 years for girls and between 12 and 16 years for boys, so these are the years where exercise is very important. Pretty much any exercise is useful provided it gets us moving. However, teenagers’ discretionary time is increasingly being swallowed up by various screen-based activities, rather than physical activities. The article states that… ‘Parents and caregivers can support healthy choices by being role models and limiting screen time.’ We think this is very good advice. See https://news.ubc.ca/2017/03/23/inactive-teens-develop-lazy-bones-ubc-study-finds/ It is also worth noting that in the pre-school years there are a multitude of developments that are necessary so students can learn to read, write and participate in class by the time they start school. Children need to be able to balance, to track with their eyes, to have hand-eye co-ordination, gross motor skills and some fine motor skills. The list goes on. Counter to intuition, the best preparation for writing is not to start pre-schoolers writing as soon as possible, but to get them outside running, jumping, climbing, riding tricycles and learning to throw and catch. These activities help their motor skills and balance to develop and tone their developing muscles so they can sit upright, hold a pencil and do the other things that we adults take for granted.

Parents’ Corner

Newsletter

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Community Notices

PIPS Parents in Prayer for the school meet each Wednesday morning at 8.40am

in the church lounge. Please join our parents in praying for our school and children and acknowledging God’s faithfulness.

A prayer box is situated in reception. Prayer requests may be anonymous.

Clothing and

Bric-a-Brac

A reminder

that we have a

bin on site lo-

cated at the

senior end for

used/unwanted

clothing or

bric-a-brac.

Thank you!

YUMMY STICKERS We are still collecting stickers so that we can get sports equipment for our pupils.

Sticker collection sheets are available from the office or on the Yummy Fruit website

www.yummyfruit.co.nz. Thank you for your diligent collecting in the past!

Step Out for IDFNZ / Kids Foundation

Sunday 26th May 2019, Cornwall Park Auckland

A Fun Run/ Walk event to support IDFNZ

All proceeds go towards this amazing charity supporting PID & Liver transplant

patients.

Email Julian.p.ng@gmail.com.

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Matters for Prayer

77 Rogers Road • P O Box 75-623 • Manurewa • Ph 269-1050

admin@manukauchristian.school.nz • manukauchristian.school.nz Like us on Facebook

Give thanks for:

A completed science laboratory

The various generous people who donated money towards the

completion of our science laboratory

Our dedicated and capable team leaders – Miss Luck, Miss

Kennedy and deputy principal, Mr Scott Kennedy

Waiting lists at most year levels at our school

Pray:

The science laboratory to quickly gain Code of Compliance

Final preparations for our school mission team so we can make a

positive impact in Fiji in July

Scripture to Ponder with your Family ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.’

Psalm 51:10-12