Dear Parents, Caregivers and Whanau, here are this week's notices:

1. From the Principal

2. Term Dates for 2021

3. Mufti Day - Friday 25 September 2020

4. Finals Week for the Girls

5. Lost Property 

6. Years 7 and 8 Disco 

7. Uniform Shop Notices

8. Kindo - Our Online 24/7 Uniform Purchases Platform

9. Entertainment Memberships

10. Help Needed Please

11. Car Pooling/Transport Sharing

1) From the Principal

Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Whanau,

Te Wiki o te reo Māori (Māori Language week) has been celebrated each year in New Zealand from 1975. We began this week with a Year 7 – 13 assembly which was led by our Maori student leaders and Matua Pairama Moon. Our senior Kapa Haka group performed several items during the assembly which was well received as there have not been many occasions over recent weeks where we have been able to celebrate together due to the Covid-19 restrictions. We are hoping that we will move to Alert Level 1 next week, which will allow the House Haka competition to proceed.

The week finished with our Junior Kapa Haka group performing at the Primary Year 1 – 6 assembly (see photo below).

Our school Kapa Haka groups have been busy preparing to perform at the annual Tuhono festival, which was due to be held this weekend, but has now been postponed till early November due to Christchurch still being in Alert Level 2.

Thank you to Matua Steve Reid for being our Kapa Haka tutor and for investing so richly into the lives of these children. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe - huge gratitude to you.

I am sure staff and students are looking forward to the upcoming holiday break which is well deserved after another busy term which has again been impacted by the effects of Covid-19.

Nā, tēnei te mau nei te whakapono, te tūmanako, te aroha, ēnei e toru; ko te mea nui rawa ia o ēnei ko te aroha. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

Below are some of the highlights from this week:

We remain in Alert Level 2 until 21 September

• Te wiki o te Māori Language Week
• Y11 – Drama
• Café Acoustic Evening

Next Week – Week 10:

• Y11-13 Music Solo – Tuesday
• Middleton Parent Group – Tuesday 7pm
• Y6 Trek – Tuesday
• Y7-8 Basketball – Wednesday / Thursday
• Y13 Drama Play evening – Wednesday
• Y7-8 Disco – Thursday
• Mufti Day (World Vision) – Friday
• House Kapa Haka (TBC)
• Last day of Term 3 – Friday 25 September

Other:

• Year 12 – 13 Formal - Saturday, 26 September
• Tuhono Kapahaka Festival 2020 – postponed till 1st November

Praise / Prayer:

• Year 11 Perco worship band leading staff in worship
• Girls basketball – into the final of the Whelan Trophy for Division 1
• Students preparing for NCEA exams in Term 4
• One more week of Term 3 to go!

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers for our school and please contact us at office@middleton.school.nz if you need to discuss anything further in confidence or if we can support you in any way.

Blessings

Mike Vannoort

Principal

2) Term Dates for 2021

Term Dates

Term 1 - Tuesday, 2 February - Friday, 16 April

Term 2 - Monday, 3 May - Friday, 9 July

Term 3 - Monday, 26 July - Friday, 1 October

Term 4 - Monday, 18 October - Thursday, 16 December

Teacher Only Days

* MOE - Ministry of Education (Mandated for all secondary schools in NZ)

Term 1 - CENCoL/Kahui Ako - Thursday, 1 April

Term 2 - Teacher Only Day (MOE*) - Thursday, 13 May

Term 3 - Teacher Only Day (MOE*) - Tuesday, 10 August

Term 4 - Teacher Only Day (MOE*) - Thursday, 25 November

Public Holidays

Term 1

Waitangi Day - Monday, 8 February

Good Friday - Friday, 2 April

Easter Monday - Monday, 5 April

Easter Tuesday - Tuesday, 6 April

Term 2

Queen's Birthday - Monday, 7 June

Term 3

-

Term 4

Labour Day - Monday, 25 October

Show Day - Friday, 12 November

A PDF version of these dates is attached below if you would like to print.

3) Mufti Day - Friday 25 September 2020

4) Finals Week for the Girls

It’s been a great week this week, with three of our senior girls teams making it through to the finals next week!

Here’s all the details you need to know.

Hockey Girls – Final v Marian College, Monday 4pm @ Nunweek

Unfortunately at Nunweek Park no spectators are allowed, but it should be a great match. The girls went down to Marian earlier in the season, so no better time to beat them than in the final! Congrats to Anne and her team for making it this far.

Basketball Girls – Whelan Trophy Final v St. Andrew’s College, Tuesday 5.15pm @ Cowles Stadium

Our first appearance in a final since 2004! The team has had a great year so far, and had a great battle earlier in the year with STAC coming out on top. All going well we will be in Level 1, so we can pack the stands as we did last year for the boys final and get loud for Helen and the girls. The match will also be live streamed.

Netball Girls – SuperNet Reserve Final v Riccarton, Wednesday (Time TBC) @ Avonside GHS

It’s a Battle of Suva Street as the final match for the Senior A Girls, the only team they haven’t beaten in this year’s competition. It should be a cracker! Fia, Dani and Winnie will all be backing up from the night before, but what a way to finish the term! 

5) Lost Property

We have a number students who are missing items of clothing at present. Please remember to name/label all clothing. It is easy for us to return named clothing to students but it is very difficult when it is not named. Thank you.

6) Years 7 and 8 Disco 

Years 7/8 have a disco on Thursday, 24 September. After discussion with the SLT, we have decided that our Disco will proceed under Level 1 conditions. If the Prime Minister announces a continuation of Level 2, then we will postpone the event until next term.

The Disco is on next Thursday evening, from 7-9pm. It will be held in the Primary School Hall and the theme is Western. There will be food and drink available for purchase on the night. All profits from the Disco will be donated to World Vision.

Early bird tickets (up to Monday 21 September) cost $8.00. After Monday, tickets will cost $8.50. We would like to encourage you to purchase tickets as early as possible, so we can get an indication of numbers. There are a number of different ways payment can be made. Cash and Eftpos payments can be made at the School Reception, or you can make a payment through internet banking.

The bank account for Disco ticket payments is
02 0874 0182976 02

Please include your Child’s name and Disco in the references to show on the school bank statement.

The Disco is an optional event. However, after all the disruption recently, we believe it will be a great way to celebrate the end of term. We hope to see you there.

7) Uniform Shop Notices

From the 21st September our Uniform shop will be open for summer hours which are:

Mondays: 2.30 - 4.00pm
Tuesdays: 12.30 - 4.00pm
Thursdays: 12.30 - 4.00pm

Please note we are NOT OPEN during public holidays, teacher only days, or school holidays except for a period over Christmas where we will be open by appointment only, of which you can book online (dates and times TBC)

Our next secondhand intake day is Monday 2nd November 2.30 - 4.00pm.

If you are unable to bring your secondhand items to us on this day, please call or email the uniform shop to arrange another time. Please DO NOT take your items into student services or the school office. See our website for all secondhand uniform intake information.

Blazer, Kilt and Pinafore orders for 2021

We are now taking orders for Blazers, Kilts and Pinafores.

Come in for fittings during our shop hours. Shut off date for orders this year is Monday 16th November. We will be taking more orders next year, date to be confirmed.

8) Kindo - Our Online 24/7 Uniform Purchases Platform

We are excited to introduce our Kindo Uniform Shop!!

A simple user-friendly way of purchasing uniforms, to avoid the hassle of having to leave work early to make it during shop opening hours. Even consider the ease of shopping from your lazy-boy chair, any time of the day!

Simply go onto the website, set up your Kindo account within, view, click and order.

This online convenience comes to you complete with:

• photos for ease of uniform selections

• a helpful sizing chart guide to ensure a good fit

• Various payment options – something for everyone

• Helpful online tutorials, backed up by a helpdesk free phone support

• The service is fully explained within the attached pdf below

• Able to download the Kindo app on your apple and or android devices for ease of purchasing

9) Entertainment Memberships

Purchase here today https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/1341w62

10) Help Needed Please

We have Senior College School exams coming up in the first week of next Term and desperately need Reader/Writers to help with reading and/or writing on 13th October through to the 19th October. The sessions can be up to three hours starting at 9am for the morning sessions and at 1pm for the afternoon sessions.

If you can help or know of a family member or friend that would like to help, then please contact the Learning Centre by emailing

learningcentre@middleton.school.nz

THANK YOU

We appreciate your help.

11) Car Pooling/Transport Sharing

I am looking for someone that may be travelling to the school from Springfield or Darfield (even West Melton) that may be interested in some car pooling/transport sharing with my son next year. They could email me elisearm@gmail.com or phone 0211485400.

Remember to browse our latest newsletter.

God bless

Middleton Grange School
(03) 348-9826
www.middleton.school.nz

Mission Statement

At Middleton Grange School we are committed to a rigorous learning culture based on an understanding of truth as revealed in the whole counsel of Scripture. We equip pupils with the knowledge and skills to understand their heritage and their place in it; and to critique and engage contemporary society. We work with parents to encourage pupils in their gifts and abilities to serve God and others.