Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

It’s hard to believe we have reached the end of Term 3 already and that I have completed my first term as Principal of Middleton Grange School. It has been a blessing and a privilege to serve our Lord and the wider Middleton Grange School community during the past term and I look forward to what Term 4 brings and then 2020.

Last Friday we hosted a Kahui Ako Teacher Only Day at Middleton Grange School for all of the Christian Schools in our network namely; Hillview Christian School, Aidanfield Christian School, Emmanuel Christian School, Rolleston Christian School, Christchurch Adventist School and Middleton Grange School. The focus of the day was on ‘Wellbeing’ and we were privileged to listen to Dr Lucy Hone share keynote addresses with us and Sally Murray facilitate workshops. They both commented on how fortunate we are as Christian schools to have a spiritual foundation for our wellbeing, but as we all know, this is not something to be taken for granted.

On Monday I shared a devotion with our staff about wellbeing and asked them the following question? How do you keep re-filling your spiritual or wellbeing tank?

I asked them to reflect for a few moments on the following questions, which I would also encourage you as parents and whanau to do also. How well/often do you:

• Read/study your Bible on your own?

• Spend time in prayer on your own?

• Spend time in Corporate worship?

• Have fellowship with other Christians?

How are you growing your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

We are reminded in 2 Timothy 3:15–17 that the Bible is able to make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and that 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We are further reminded in Romans 12:2 and 12,  2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. And to 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Let this be our purpose in the coming weeks as we continue to seek our Lord and grow our relationship with Him.

Blessings

Mike Vannoort

Principal