friday flyer - michael park school · 6/8/2018 · for urgent messages please continue ... hild...
TRANSCRIPT
COMING EVENTS
8-10 June World Vision Famine
Wednesday 13 June Meet & Greet Principal Terry Storer
Friday 15 June Class 4 Lunch Bar
Friday 15 June School Lantern Festival
Tuesday 19 June Sports & Team Photos
Tuesday 19 June High School Parent Meeting
Wednesday 20 June Open Day
FRIDAY FLYER 8 June 2018
Newsletter 20
MEET OUR NEW PRINCIPAL
13 June, 7pm in the Eurythmy Room
On Wednesday 13th June we will have a whole school meeting for
the community to come and meet Terry Storer in an informal
setting and begin the process of getting to know him. We look
forward to seeing you there.
AN UPDATE FROM THE RSST
Many thanks to all those who attended the whole school
community meeting on Wednesday night, it was a great turnout
and useful discussion. This year within the school there have been
some unexpected changes, which bring challenges and
opportunities. It has lead to many conversations, reflection and
work at the RSST. We consider this a healthy part of the school life
to reflect, question and then move forward with purpose.
As part of our reflections we would like to acknowledge the
passion and commitment to Steiner education, which is evident in
all areas of the school. This is heartening for us to know, as we
work hard to support the Special Character of the school, in
conjunction with the College of Teachers, Board of Trustees and
Senior Management Team and staff. We have learnt from your
messages that it is important we continue to communicate about
the work that goes on to support the Special Character.
Along with our monthly Friday Flyer articles, we also thought it
would be beneficial to write a document to help explain how the
RSST supports Steiner education at Michael Park School. We hope
that this information will be useful to addressing some of the
concerns about the integrity of Steiner education at MPS. We
would like to give a gentle reminder that the individuals who
donate their time to the Board and RSST do so on a voluntary basis
and thus we appreciate your patience while we bring together
resources to answer questions regarding the Special Character. In
the meantime, some information is also available in the parent
handbook, which is available on the school website:
www.michaelpark.school.nz/about-us/resources/parent-handbook
The school vision developed in 2012 spoke of three sides to a
strong and healthy school - Living Waldorf pedagogy, Vibrant
community and Financial resilience. The Living Waldorf pedagogy
speaks to the way that Steiner education is brought into life in the
school, through action and discussion. Details about how this is
living in the school can be found on the school website under
Charter and Vision, and shows the goals for 2018. Please see the
link for more details:
http://www.michaelpark.school.nz/media/resources/general/MPS
-Charter-Vision-2018.pdf
We start our meetings with the motto of the social ethic:
The healthy social life is found
When in the mirror of each human soul
The whole community finds its reflection,
And when in the community
The virtue of each one is living. – Rudolf Steiner
This helps remind us that we are all doing the best that we can at
the present time, that we are all at different stages of a journey
with Steiner education and that through discussion, reflection and
work we can grow as a community.
A special farewell to Miles Purchase who has now stood down
from the RSST after serving for three years. We thank him for all
his hard work; he brought his experience and knowledge to the
property group, and we valued his clear and candid insights, with a
sense of humour that helped us all in our work.
We advertised in the11th May Friday Flyer for a new volunteer and
we are specifically looking for someone with Early Childhood
Education experience to support this governance role on the Trust.
In total we have two current vacancies on the RSST. We are looking
for people who have skills and enthusiasm, and we also take into
consideration the balance of the Trust as a whole. For instance,
having a range of parents from different areas of the school. Those
interested are invited to discuss this further with the Chair, and
then to attend a RSST meeting, and finally applicants are voted
onto the Trust by the existing members. We have had four
expressions of interest, and if anyone else is interested please
email Dana before the 14th June [email protected]
He waka eke noa
A canoe which we are all in with no exception (We are all in this
together)
Thanks, The RSST
Melanie, Rochana, Nadine, Suzanne, Craig and Mary
PROBLEM WITH PHONE SYSTEM
As you know we have been having ongoing issues with our phones
not working and at this stage the phones are still down. Please note
that this is an outside issue, not the school phone system. We
appreciated that it is very frustrating for all of us.
Chorus technicians have been working on the fault and we hope to
have this issue resolved soon. For urgent messages please continue
to email [email protected]
Please use School Links for absentees or email reception.
LANTERN FESTIVAL DINNER
Class 8 families invite you to a enjoy a fabulous warming dinner
before the Lantern Festival on Friday 15th June.
Bring your family early and bring along some cash to purchase a
selection of yummy, warming food including curry, soup, burgers &
sausages on the BBQ, apple crumble with custard, etc.
GIFT OF HOPE CHARITY TEAM
40 hour Famine 8-10 June - THIS WEEKEND!
A huge thanks to those students who are standing for the children of Sudan this weekend
In taking the 40 hour challenge giving up something they love and raising funds for the Refugee Crisis in Sudan
A shout out to Class 5 Market last Friday they made a incredible $657 for the Famine
Please support our students as they take up their challenges
You can go to our page:
https://my.worldvision.org.nz/d/ss/iIVM6o/michael-park-school
Just $10 Can give Five children School Supplies !
Come on Michael Park School lets stand with the children of Sudan
Thank you for your support
The Gift of Hope Charity Team
LANTERN FESTIVAL
Friday 15th June
We look forward to seeing many of you next week at our Lower
School Lantern Festival, Friday 15 June. We would like to have the
children of classes 1-7 back at school by 5:30 at the latest. A bell will
ring at 5:45 to tell the children to return to their classrooms.
Class 8 will be running the lunchbar, giving you an opportunity to
support their camp fundraising efforts as well as to enjoy some
yummy and nutritious food.
Just a reminder that you are responsible for your children on the
night once the singing has finished and the grotto walk
begins. Please ensure that your children stay with you at all times.
Please also remember our healthy eating policy by not having
marshmallows at the braziers, damper would be a nice alternative
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
Ex Tauranga Steiner Student wanting Room / Board in the
Ellerslie, Mt Eden, Mt Roskill or Mt Albert areas from middle
July to 10th Dec. Please contact Rebekah 027 902 1758.
Child minding for little ones and Kindi kids. Mornings till noon
and from 2pm-6pm after kindi. If you’re in need of some
support, time off or after kindi care call or txt Nina on
021 208 6206. We are right by the school and have a big
outside area for playing.
Class 3 mama looking for a 2brm home near school for me
and my daughter... and a small dog. Contact Belinda 022 386
3167 or [email protected].
Violin lessons for beginners and advanced. Txt or call Nina on
021 208 6206.
The Flash Bang Science Club Winter Holiday Workshop -
Liquid Density & Lava Lamps (7yrs-12yrs). Open for bookings
now and filling fast! Explore liquid density and chemical
reactions as we make our own bubbling lava lamp! Ellerslie
10th July, Pakuranga 11th July & Pukekohe 12th July. For
more information and bookings please check out
www.flashbangscienceclub.co.nz
The “Give a kid a blanket” campaign begins on 1st July for this
winter. We are collecting warm things for children and
families in Auckland who need them. If you have any
(preloved or new) blankets, sleeping bags, sleep sacks,
bedding, Pyjamas, hats or socks that you would like to donate
please get in contact. 021 0815 5023. Rachel (Jacaranda
Mum). Many thanks!
Contact the editor [email protected]
Guideline 150 characters please. Deadline Thursday lunchtime.
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
The High School Combined Parent Meeting
We regret to say that Sue Simpson, due to personal circumstances,
cannot present to our parents on the 19th of June. However, we are
pleased to say that our very own Jane Patterson will be speaking
about the ideals of Steiner education on that date. Our invitation to
all interested parents, from kindergarten to high school, still stands;
so if you wish to hear Jane then you are most welcome to join us.
Parents with High School students can, therefore, attend Jane’s
presentation on the 19th of June for the combined part of the
Combined Parent Meeting and then go their respective class
meetings for Classes 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
Jane’s presentation will be given in the Eurythmy room at 7:00 p.m.
We do ask our guests to remove their shoes before entering the
Eurythmy room to respect that space. We hope to see many of you
there.
Warm regards
Adam Driver, High School Deputy Principal
GIRL EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE
Female students are invited to The Girl Empowerment Conference
2018. This event is organised by students at Macleans College, and is
hosted at Macleans College on Saturday 16 June 2018.
“This is an opportunity to encourage young females who are
interested in business, feminism, and politics to chase their dreams,
promote women’s rights, as well as provide a platform for young
women to discover their talent.
We hope to inspire young females to be future change makers by
providing them with the opportunities to design their own business
in a real-life scenario and present it to a panel of leading
businessmen [sic!] and entrepreneur judges.”
Female high school students (class 9 + ) are invited to register
themselves at this website: www.tgecnz.com
*Please note that this is not a Michael Park School organised or
supervised trip. Parents and caregivers, not Michael Park School,
would be responsible for making any supervisory and health and
safety arrangements with Macleans College.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SURVEY
Do not miss the opportunity of contributing to potentially the
biggest education change in our times...
The Ministry of Education survey closes on Thursday 22 June and
our voices should be loud and clear amongst the respondents –
children, parents, teacher, whanau - everybody
Go to www.conversation.education.govt.nz to access the survey.
BIG BIODYNAMIC AUTUMN DAY
CELEBRATING MIDWINTER – THE SPIRAL
FESTIVAL
Monday 25th June
For many years in the school we have celebrated midwinter with a
Spiral festival, where, in a darkened room with a spiral made out of
green branches, students walk into the centre and light their
individual candles. The room begins in darkness, and by the end is
filled with light, and the story material used, appropriate to the age
of the students in the room, is about an individual striving to reach
the light in some way or another.
For about 18 months the College has been studying the celebration
of festivals from a range of viewpoints, asking questions about
whether what we are doing at present meets the needs of our
modern students in Aotearoa. About six years ago, the High School
began a new Matariki festival for after midwinter which includes the
flying of flags and is a favourite of many of our students. Now we are
ready to try out something a little different for Midwinter as well.
This year there will still be traditional Spiral festivals for all the
primary students. However, high school students will be given a
choice; they can either continue with the inside Spiral festival,
joining the primary school classes as has been done in the past, or
they can be part of a new festival which will happen at exactly the
same time and which will take place outside (or in the gym if the
weather is really against us).
During this outside Midwinter festival, we will take inspiration
from the Maori celestial compass that guided Polynesian
navigators on their immense journeys, told them when the right
time to plant their crops was, and showed them the direction of
their lives. We will construct a temporary Atea a Rangi (celestial
compass) on the soccer field, moving within it on our own
journeys, and together creating an immense new form of spiral
that the rest of the school can visit when they leave their rooms.
Afterwards, we will review what we have created and experienced,
and see whether this is truly a way forward for our school into the
future of festival celebration.
We look forward to sharing the outcome of this with you all!
Jane Patterson for the College.
Do you enjoy working with wood? Do you want to get involved in our community in a practical way?
If so, come along to the Wood Group and help us make things to sell to raise money for the school at the Summer Fair.
We meet in the woodwork room (above the tennis courts) each Monday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
All parents are welcome (we are not allowed children, sorry) and no experience is necessary.
For more information contact Doug Cross
021 455 831