A Note from Graeme Budler, Executive Principal

Dear KingsWay Community,

Tomorrow marks KingsWay's 35-anniversary celebration. Graham Braddock officially opened KingsWay in the Red Beach Methodist manse on 8 September 1986 with ten primary-aged students. KingsWay has nearly 1600 students now and caters for Years 1-13. I am proud that we have continued as a community to embrace and enhance the vision set by the founders. It saddens me that Harvard, Yale and Princeton universities started as Christian training institutions but no longer hold fast to godly principles. So, where did they go wrong?

In my opinion, three apparent errors occur. First, instead of excellence is a byproduct of faithfulness and hard work, it becomes an end. This pursuit is known as triumphalism. Faithfulness to the mission statement and Jesus is replaced with the pursuit of excellence at all costs. KingsWay is committed to growing in excellence, but never at the expense of compromising character or integrity.

Second, these organizations employ non-Christian staff who do not share the passion for the vision. This decision is a slippery slope and a temptation when trying to fill difficult staff positions. KingsWay is committed to ensuring that all teaching positions remain tagged to teachers who are willing and able to promote the school's evangelical Christian special character. Please pray that God continues to lead people of faith to the mission of KingsWay School.

Finally, the community strays from the original vision. I am grateful that we have parents who believe in what we do and partner with us towards this end. My colleagues envy the level of support and involvement that KingsWay generates in the co-curricular space and support of the foundational Christian principles. KingsWay is not an affordable private school but a space where parents and professionals are committed to supporting each other to raise servant leaders in the Kingdom of God. The outworking of this vision can be messy at times, but we cannot and should not cease from our pursuit.

This year marks 20 years since I started at KingsWay. I came to the school thinking I would stay for a few years and then move on to the next challenge. At KingsWay, I discovered Christian education and am grateful for the school's impact on my children and family.

I want to publically thank the founders who trailblazed a path 35 years ago. Happy birthday, KingsWay School!

God bless,

Graeme Budler
Executive Principal

Whole School Notices

Lockdown Survey

Parents please take five minutes to complete this survey: Lockdown Evaluation Questionnaire

College Sport

College Sport has made the decision to end the season for all non-premier sport teams this season (including Hockey Supercity and A3 Football). All current placings, including all junior grades with incomplete leagues, will be recognised as the end of season placings.

Summer sporting competitions are still programmed to start in Term 4 and registrations will be up on the school website over the next week. However, no payment will be taken with the registrations until we know fixtures can take place under the Ministry of Health guidelines for Auckland.  

Wellbeing

Wellbeing Broadcast | Thursday 9 September 2021 | 7.30pm

We will be live again this Thursday to answer your questions about wellbeing during lockdown. We still have room for people to ask questions of the panel – so if you have questions please ask them HERE. There will also be live Q&A so tune in at 7.30pm.

Middle School Notices

We look forward to being able to celebrate our 35th Anniversary tomorrow in a meaningful and fun way in the morning.

Senior School Notices

Student Wellbeing Webinar
A reminder that we are hosting a Wellbeing Webinar specifically aimed for students this Thursday at 1pm. Students can access this through the link HERE.

Year 13 Scholarships
A reminder to our leavers moving into Tertiary study in 2022 that many scholarships applications will be closing soon. Students should click on this link MoneyHub for an extensive list of available scholarships and ensure they check closing dates. There are a large range of scholarships available to assist in furthering your study.

Massey University has this week sent through several scholarship opportunities for 1st year students studying Engineering or Food Technology.

School of Food and Advanced Technology First Year Undergraduate Scholarship
$3,000 – 1 year duration

David Levene Foundation Bursaries
Up to 10,000

Massey University Undergraduate Scholarship
$5,000 – 3 years duration

Sir James Wattie Scholarship for Food Technology
$10,000 - 4 years duration

The Capstone Editing Textbook Grant for Undergraduates
The grant provides A$3,000 to one undergraduate student in New Zealand or Australia per year to assist in covering the cost of their textbooks for the duration of their degree.

Professional Engineering Scholarship
A maximum value of $5,000

Please check the application requirements well in advance to ensure you have all the documentation required and any referees have sufficient time to complete paperwork.