Newsletter No.11 Friday 4th May 2012 Dear Parents Hebron Christian College is a private Christian school. What does it mean to be a “Christian school”? We believe an education without the acknowledgement of God is an incomplete education and effectively teaches a child they can live their life without reference to or be in submission to the God of the universe. At Hebron we incorporate Biblical truths and principles into as much of the programme as possible to show our students that true Christianity is not just something we “do” on Sunday mornings at church but is a way of life, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Acts 17:28 describes this life as…In Him we live and move and have our being”. But does the “Christian’ teaching detract from the academics? The core business of any school, whether a state, private or special character school is to competently teach children and encourage them to reach proficiency in all the key learning areas such as literacy, numeracy, science, social studies, music, art, sport, etc. The New Zealand Curriculum takes as its starting point a vision of our young people as learners who are confident, connected, actively involved, life-long learners, able to ultimately leave school, enter the adult world and succeed as well-rounded citizens. Data gained from school and national testing indicates and clearly shows that Hebron Christian College students achieve well above the average. The NCEA results Hebron secondary students achieve have always been above average. Our 2011 results, as reported to you in my first newsletter of the year, were well above average and for a small secondary school, quite astounding. The primary teachers who are now testing children against the National Standards made compulsory in state schools are finding most students are achieving well beyond the National Standards. We also know children leaving Hebron to join other schools often find the work level in their new classes well below the Hebron level. Similarly, new children joining Hebron classes often struggle to reach the level operating in our classes. Our annual PAT (Progressive Achievement Tests) testing programme indicates superior learning. Our recently analysed February results once again reinforces this. Some examples are:

HEBRON HAPPENINGS Football NZ Workshops The Football NZ soccer workshops held with all Y1-Y8 classes on Wednesday were a great success and thoroughly enjoyed by all the children that took part. The children learnt how to control a soccer ball by dribbling, trapping, heading, and throwing. They also learnt how to receive a ball without it being intercepted, running to empty spaces for safe retrieval. Hebron children in Years 1-8 wanting to continue to improve their soccer skills can enroll in a 5-week Skills Clinic starting at our school on 15th May during Tuesday lunchtimes. The cost is $40 per child with siblings paying $20. Registration forms are available at the office. Contact organiser Matthew Upton for more info at mattupton.fknz@gmail.com or phone 021 213 0418.

New Ride-on Mower Our 15yr+ ride-on KingKat mower has had to be “put out to pastures” as it has well and truly gone past its expiry date. It has become uneconomical to repair. We have now purchased a new machine, a John Deere ride-on mower. It comes with 4-wheel steering and cruise control! Mr Khalaf Kaseem, our caretaker is delighted with the upgrade and already has given it a 5-star approval rating! (Part of your annual Property Levy paid for this equipment).

Off to Africa Hebron Mums and 2011 Mission support staff, Monique Douglas and Cathy Gillies will be returning to Tanzania next Thursday for 3 weeks to undertake further aid work with the New Life Foundation orphanage and school. Monique will particularly be developing a new website for the Foundation and training staff to keep it up to date. Cathy will be working with the Fountain of Joy girls (ex street girls & pregnant teenage girls) teaching them sewing and handcraft vocational skills. They return to New Zealand on 1st June. Please pray for them during this trip. I will keep you updated with reports and photos during their time away. Thanks to all the families who ensured their children were attired in the correct winter uniform items at the start of the term. A few reminders:

1. No sandals to be worn for Terms 2 & 3 – school black leather lace-up shoes only

2. Girls’ socks are white ANKLE socks ie covering the ankles – not bobby socks.

3. Girls’ tunics to be at knee length – not above, not below. 4. Girls’ underwear/bike pants NOT to be seen below the tunic

hemline 5. Singlets or T-shirts worn under the shirt not to show at the neckline 6. Jewellery NOT permitted except for watches and/or plain gold or

silver stud in ear lobes (girls only) 7. Ribbons and clips must be plain navy blue or black in colour 8. Only the school jacket is permitted to be worn. No other jackets can

be worn to/in/from school

WINTER UNIFORM

Soccer & Netball Field Day The Auckland Christian Schools annual Soccer and Netball Field Day will take place next Tuesday. All participating students have been given a Trip Permission Letter which must be signed and returned to school. The netball games will take place at Lloyd Elsmore Park, Howick and the soccer will take place at Keith Hay Park Mt. Roskill. Teams will travel to and from the park by bus. In the event of wet and undesirable weather, the event will be postponed to Thursday 10th July and the postponement will be advertised on the school website (www.hebron.ac.nz) after 7:30am. Please Note: Parents are urgently needed to assist with team supervision and umpiring…can YOU help? Musical in Term 3…”Star of Persia” Calling all prospective actors and actresses! This year Hebron Christian College is performing the musical “Star of Persia”. “Star of Persia” is the story of Esther, as found in the Bible. Esther was a young Jewish girl living in Persia during the reign of Xerxes. She has lost her parents and has been brought up by her cousin Mordecai. When the king in anger dismisses his current queen, Vashti, Esther is chosen from a host of beautiful maidens to be his new queen. Trouble looms when Haman, the king’s advisor, proposes a law to kill all the Jews. He is unaware of Queen Esther’s nationality. Esther must gather up her courage to plead her cause, because to approach the king without invitation is death. Only her faith in God carries her through. The musical is planned to be performed on the 6th, 7th and 8th September 2012, at a venue yet to be decided. The original production was written by Room 7 teacher, Mrs Margaret Sellar, several years ago. With Mrs Sellar’s permission, it has been lengthened to suit Hebron requirements by our librarian, Mrs Lois Huston. The musical is open to all Hebron students, and it is planned that all the primary school will have an opportunity to be on stage. Initial casting sessions have begun, with major character and singing auditions planned for this coming Monday after school. Further audition times will be available if needed. There are four major characters: Esther, Mordecai, Xerxes and Haman, 19 secondary characters, and 39 minor parts with one or two lines to say. It is not too late to sign up to audition! If you are interested, please see Mrs Huston. The play is being directed by Mrs Huston, the musical director is Mrs Sarah Rauch, and the production manager is Mrs Ruth Scott. We welcome any offer of help! We will need all kinds of workers, from background painters to props makers to costume designers to makeup artists. If you think you would like to help in any way, please contact Mrs Scott. Lapathon Thanks to all those who have handed in sponsorship money for last term’s Lapathon. Our total has reached $4,253.10. This money will go towards new video cameras and software once it is all in. Entertainment Books 67 books have been bought/sold by Hebron families to date and this has raised $871.00. Would those of you who still have books in your possession, please send the money to school or return the book. Thank you.

UPCOMING EVENTS

FUNDRAISING

Homestays needed for Japanese students

Missing

Mrs Frances Goulter, our secondary Careers Guidance teacher draws student and parents attention to 2 Open Days/Open Evenings at the Massey University Albany Campus (12th May 10am – 3pm) and the AUT University (10th May 6pm – 8:30pm).

She also encourages students and their parents to check out a very good website on career guidance at: www.nomajordrama.co.nz This website helps students learn about majors for Bachelor degrees from across all eight New Zealand universities and rank them based on each user’s skills and interests. The website is free.

We now have half of our 20 Japanese high school students visiting us for 9 days in Term 3, 2nd-10th August billeted in Hebron homes but need some more families to volunteer. Would you offer to have one of these students? Males can share bedrooms and females can share bedrooms if need be. You will be paid $360 and will need to supply all meals (including a lunch for schooldays), wash clothes where needed and assist with transport to/from school. Please let me know of your availability and whether you prefer a male or female or either-or.

Thomas Garner’s school jersey has gone astray. Parents…please check the name tag on your son’s jersey…it may be Thomas’. If found, hand into the office or send to Thomas in Room 12. Have an enjoyable weekend.

Geoff Matthews Principal

CAREERS ADVICE & GUIDANCE