I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

From the Principal’s Desk 2

General Notices 5

Pre-School 11

Junior School 12

Girls’ & Boys’ Prep Schools 13

Friends’ Association 15

H P Grammar Notes

Enterprising Spirits Engaged Thinkers Moral Citizens

Issue 9 — Tuesday 28 March 2017 DIARY

Wednesday 29 March: Pre-School coffee morning—9.00am Thursday 30 March: Boys’ & Girls’ Schools’ winter sport Friday 31 March: Mufti Day Monday 3 April : Holy Week Service 8.40am Tuesday 4 April : Holy Week Service 8.40am Wednesday 5 April : Holy Week Service 8.40am Thursday 6 April : Holy Week Service 8.40am Boys’ & Girls’ Schools’ winter sport Monday 3 April : Holy Week Service 8.40am Friday 7 April : LAST DAY of TERM Holy Week Service 2.00pm Farewell for Mr Ellis 2.45pm approx. Junior School closes 3.00pm Prep School closes 3.30pm Pre-School closes 5.00pm

Duathalon Champions!

The Canterbury Primary Schools’ Duathlon is a major logistical exercise and so it takes extreme weather to force a cancellation. Thus, the circumstances demanded strong-willed competitors to brave the wet and cold conditions on Monday to compete in this run-bike-run event at Ruapuna Raceway.

Thirteen Grammar pupils competed amongst others from some 70 schools in races numbering over one hundred pupils each.

These statistics make spectacular the gold-medal winning performances of Lucy Vance (6G - 9 years), Finella Guttmann (6G - 10 years) and Nicole Vance (7G - 11 years). Congratulations, Canterbury Champs!

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From the Principal’s Desk En

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Dear parent

Thank you for the positive feedback we have received about the revised nature of the Parent Teacher Meetings held last week. We increased the length by five minutes per session, increased late night availability by an extra night, made goal-setting in English and mathematics compulsory and have scheduled a second interview for Term III. Improved communication with you is a target area for us and these changes are part of this process. It has been pleasing to hear that these modifications have been well-received and are making a difference. Please remember that you can make a time to meet with your child’s teacher at any time throughout the year, and do not have to wait for the formal times in the calendar.

I would like to congratulate Angela Reed, President of our Friends’ Association, and her team for a very successful AGM last night. There was record attendance and due to this we could have gone to an election for office bearer roles, but two parents kindly offered to withdraw to avoid this. We are blessed to have such a dedicated team supporting our school in so many ways and making a difference for our school community. Well done on a very successful 2016! I presented a Wish List to the group last night. Thank you to those of you who contributed towards this. Next term the Friends’ committee will communicate with you what they are about to purchase for your child and our school. Great job, team!

Last week, I talked about some research from the OECD Centre for Educational Research and Innovation regarding the main goal of learning and teaching is to acquire adaptive expertise. I also shared that balance was the key theme that came from you in our survey conducted at the end of last year, and that the OECD states that a balanced and integrated use of three broad pedagogical approaches can help develop adaptive expertise.

These three approaches were:

Guided Learning: The teachers take the main relevant decisions about the goals of learning, learning strategies, and how to measure outcomes, while taking care of feedback, judgements and rewards.

Action Learning: The learners play a much more active role in determining the objectives of the learning than in guided learning; there is a strong element of learner self-organization and self-planning.

Experiential Learning: This is not controlled by teachers and there are no predetermined objectives. What is learned is determined by context, learners’ motivations, the others with whom they come in contact, discoveries made, etc. It is a by-product of the activities in which people are involved.

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How does this sit with you? Is this what you would expect of education in 2017 and beyond, or is it at odds with what you consider education should be about? Why/why not? Could there be a balanced approach of this at Cathedral Grammar? What could it look like? What year level would action and experiential learning best begin? What could be the best balance between guided versus action and experiential learning? What would engage pupils more? What would get the best results? Results in which areas?

As you know we are currently revising the strategy for our school. A key piece of work that will fall out of this, is revising our curriculum and clearly defining a set of learning and teaching principles that will underpin the ‘how’ in terms of teaching practice across our school. As I have said previously, during this process we will be engaging in credible research and local, national and international best practice, sharing aspects of this with you to stimulate thinking, discussion and understanding. The three approaches above are an example of this. We may or may not use this research as a part of our thinking, but it does provide some strong approaches to consider for our school.

I can assure you that while we are revising our strategy, we are not waiting for this to be fully complete before beginning key pieces. We have already begun work on our curriculum, developing an Information Communication Technology Strategic Plan and improving communication. We are also starting the process for the next stage of our building programme. I will keep you informed as key details and information are confirmed.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Mr Scott Thelning

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Creating Moral Citizens - Virtue of the Week is: Respect

What is Respect?

Respect is an attitude of caring about people

and treating them with dignity. Respect is

valuing ourselves and others. We show

respect by speaking and acting with courtesy.

When we are respectful, we treat others as

we want to be treated. Respect includes

honouring the rules of our family or school,

which make life more orderly and peaceful. It

is knowing that every man, woman and child

deserves respect, including you.

Congratulations! You are practising Respect when you…

Treat others as you want to be treated

Speak courteously to everyone

Take special care of other people’s

belongings

Are receptive to the wisdom of elders

Honour the rules of your family, school and

nation

Expect respect for your body and your

rights

General Notices

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General Notices

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Mufti Day on Friday

Friday is Mufti Day (31 March) and the theme is What I want to be when I grow up. The price of wearing mufti is a gold coin donation to BOSS charities.

Pyjamas are not acceptable attire (with the exception of appropriately characterful onesies) and jandals are not permitted for safety reasons.

Even though it is Mufti Day, as with every day of the week, all pupils need their full tracksuit or fleece + track pants in school in the event of a Civil Defence emergency; and their sports’ shoes for changing to play at break and lunchtime.

Correct PE Uniform: the 5G, 6B & 8B classes have PE on Fridays and so require their full tracksuits, PE uniforms and sports’ shoes for these lessons on Mufti Day.

Holy Week, 3 – 7 April

Next week is our Holy Week during which we join Christ in his final steps towards the Cross and his joyful Resurrection. Years 1-8 begin each morning, Monday – Thursday, with a Chapel service, 8.40-9.15am. Wednesday morning is a service of Holy Communion and so will finish slightly later at 9.30am. The final chapter is in our early Easter service on Friday at 2.00pm. Parents, grandparents and friends are most warmly welcome to these services, and we hope that you will be able to join us.

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General Notices Mr Ellis’s Farewell, 7 April

On the last day of term, Friday 7 April, we celebrate the Grammar career and service of Mr Paul Ellis (not ‘retiring’!) You may not be aware that Mr Ellis began as a Cathedral chorister, served on the Grammar Board in the 1990s and has been on the staff in the music department and as Director of the Girls’ Chapel Choir since 2002. He has served as the Cathedral’s organist and Director of Music, did a brief stint across the road as Director of Music at Christ’s College, 1988-2002, is the President of the Royal School of Church Music in New Zealand and the current organist and choir director at St Michael and All Angels.

Parents are warmly invited to join our musical celebration for Mr Ellis in the hall which will begin after our final Holy Week Chapel service - at 2.45pm approximately on Friday 7 April.

No Prep Room, Family Room or Clubs on the Last Day of Term

Please be aware that there are no Prep or Family Room services, or after-school clubs, on Friday 7 April. It is the end of term and the departments go down for the end of term at the following times:

Junior School: 3.00pm

Prep Schools: 3.30pm

Pre-School: 5.00pm

Head Lice (also called nits, kutis, kutu bugs, headlouse or cooties!) in School

Please be aware that we currently have cases of head lice in school. It is essential that you check your child’s hair daily. Please follow the attached link for details of what to look for and how to treat the little blighters!

parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/wellbeing/head-lice

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General Notices

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MOTIVATIONZ RUGBY YOUNG GUNS HOLIDAY PROGRAMME

GAIN THE EDGE IN 2017

We wi l l be looking at core ski l ls of catch and pass, running with the bal l and a massive emphasis on safety into contact .

We wil l pract ice the latest safe and ef fect ive techniques so you are al l ready to hi t the 2017 season running when your teams have tr ials.

Where: Christchurch Boys High School

When: Wednesday 19, Thursday 20, Fr iday 21 Apri l

Time: 1.00pm - 3.00pm

Who: 6 - 11 year olds

Cost: $90

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Events & Notices - Beginning of Term II

School opens for Term II on Monday 1 May at 8.00am.

Winter Uniform

A reminder that pupils should return to school for Term II wearing winter uniform, and with winter PE uniform for PE lessons and sport.

Combined Chapel Choirs’ Morning Practices, 1 & 2 May

The Boys’ and Girls’ Chapel choristers will have combined morning practices on Monday 1 May and Tuesday 2 May at 8.00am in the hall, in preparation for our ANZAC Service.

Senior Teams’ After-school Sports’ Practices

The following teams will have after-school practices, with Netball A and the Boys’ 1st XI

beginning on the first day of term:

Netball A Mondays 3.45 – 5.00pm

Boys’ 1st XI Hockey Mondays 3.45 – 5.00pm

Girls’ 1st XI Hockey Wednesdays 3.45 – 5.00pm

ANZAC Service, Tuesday 2 May

On the first Tuesday of next term, we commemorate ANZAC Day and especially remember the Grammarians who gave their lives for us in the Boer War and World Wars I & II. Our service is at 10.00am. Parents, Grammarians, grandparents and friends are warmly welcome to join our commemoration.

School Cross-country, Tuesday 2 May

We welcome parents to join us in North Hagley Park (the rugby fields opposite Riccarton Road). A good coat, warm hat and gumboots or walking boots are strongly recommended!

Pupils’ Gear:

Pupils should wear formal school uniform to school for our ANZAC Service and normal morning lessons. In their sports’ bag, pupils must bring their summer PE gear (House shirt for Prep Schools), full tracksuit, sports’ shoes, drink bottle and any mediation. A school fleece, thermal shirt, rugby jersey and beany hat are optional but recommended if you have them. If the weather is chilly or windy but not wet we will likely run, so please pack warm named mufti items – eg: fleece/coat, woollen jumper, thermals, beany – as alternatives if you don’t have school versions of these items. It’s a long afternoon and warm is good!

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Events & Notices - Beginning of Term II

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Race Schedule:

12.50pm Power Walking Race

1.30pm Junior School Y1-3 races

1.50pm Bantam Girls

2.00pm Bantam Boys

2.10pm Junior & Middle Girls

2.25pm Junior & Middle Boys

2.40pm Senior Boys & Senior Girls

At the End of Race Day:

You may take your child home at the conclusion of the race programme, ie: directly after the final race (3.00pm approximately).

For emergency purposes, before doing so, please inform your child’s class teacher if you are taking your child home directly. Please be aware, however, that for security reasons, access to the school buildings and pupil belongings therein will not be possible until the rest of the school returns at the conclusion of the event.

Postponement:

Should the weather be uncooperative, the postponement day is Wednesday 3 May. Any decision to postpone Tuesday’s races will be made by 11.00am and posted on GrammarNet > Newsflash (Home Page).

Open Day, 9 May

We are open all day for our second Open Day of the year on Tuesday 9 May, Week II. Please share this date with any friends or acquaintances you may know who might be interested in independent school education.

Founders’ Day Service, Sunday 21 May, 4.30pm

The school celebrates its 136th birthday this year at our Founders’ Day service at the Cathedral on Sunday 21 May, 4.30pm, which is the beginning of Week IV. Chapel and Cathedral choristers report at 3.45pm, Junior Choir at 4.00pm, and remaining pupils by 4.15pm. This service is compulsory for all pupils in Y1-8, so please put this date in your diary now.

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Co-curricular Notices Prep School Winter Sport this Week

All Y4-8 pupils have winter sport on Thursday (30 March): Hockey & Netball for the Girls; Hockey and Ball Skills Group for the Boys.

All Girls who play hockey are reminded to check their mouthguards for mould, over-chew-ability and size. Also, please ensure that new mouthguards are fitted BEFORE coming to school on Thursday. The Tuck Shop or the Girls’ kitchenette are not the places for this to be done correctly.

For your diary…

Junior School Hockey & Netball Clubs: For those pupils who have enrolled, these clubs begin in Week I of Term II.

Canterbury Hockey has announced that: 11-aside matches start on Saturday 29 April for our Girls’ & Boys’ 1st XI teams (Y7&8). Please note that this is the Saturday BEFORE the school term starts. 6-aside matches start on Saturday 6 May for Y3-6 players, and Y7&8 players who are in our Kwik Sticks 6-aside teams.

Netball Christchurch has tentatively advised that matches will start next term on Friday 5 May & Saturday 6 May. This is, however, still subject to final confirmation.

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Pre-School

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What a great visit we had to Parkhouse Road Landscaping! The children really enjoyed watching the digger at work and were especially grateful for the seeds which the staff gave us to plant. The children were a little concerned on the way back to Pre-School that the soil may blow away and were happy to see that upon our return it was still in the trailer! Those children who did not go with us were great helpers spreading the soil around the garden bed. Tomorrow the Kiwi group will be heading to Bunnings with Ms Manson and Mrs Watson to choose some suitable vegetables to plant for this time of year. We have been doing a little investigating on the iPads and have discovered we will need to wait until later in the year to plant potatoes and carrots; and we have decided that broccoli will be definitely on the list. With all our learning about planting foods, we have also been talking about healthy eating at Pre-School and are encouraging the children to eat their sandwiches, hot food, fruit and vegetables before eating any snack foods in their lunchboxes. Tomorrow is our Parent Morning Tea, so please come and join us for a coffee and a chat at 9.00am. We will be welcoming to the Pre-School Mrs Amelia Simpson who is a member of the school’s Board Our new glue gun station is being used daily to create some wonderful masterpieces. However, with this enthusiasm, we are running short on recyclable materials. If you have any spare boxes, milk bottle tops, yoghurt pottles etc, please bring them in. Helpfully, this links to our focus on recycling and reusing items. Finally, as the weather is changing, please ensure that your child has the appropriate clothing and footwear each day at Pre-School to suit both sunshine and showers.

We hope to see you for a coffee tomorrow. Have a wonderful week!

Miss Libby Avery

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Junior School

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During the last two weeks, the children have been swimming each day at Aquagym. Swimming is an integral part of our Physical Education curriculum, and it is particularly important for all New Zealand children to learn to swim. Our country has so much water surrounding it and weaving through it with all our beautiful lakes and rivers. We love to enjoy picnics and outdoor activities throughout the summer months and water is always nearby.

Moreover, as our children move into the Prep School, they will participate in a school camp each year in which there will be water activities such as kayaking, raft-building, coasteering and river crossing. Thank you for ensuring your child has their togs each day and that they participate fully in our swimming programme so that they can be safe ‘Kiwi kids’.

Reminders:

Please ensure the Kiss ’n Ride is for drop-offs only. You should not park in this area and leave your vehicle unattended.

There is no assembly this week due to swimming. Our break times are different and this unfortunately impacts on the Junior Assembly time.

Children need to bring and wear their cycle helmets on Wheels Day (Fridays) if they are riding on bikes or scooters.

Parents are warmly welcome to join our Holy Week Chapel services next week – please see General Notices for the details.

There is no Family Room on the last day of term, Friday 7 April. Junior School closes at 3.00pm.

Please read General Notices for important information about the start of next term.

Mrs Simone Whalley

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Girls’ & Boys’ Prep Schools

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It has been very pleasing to see the anticipated arrival of the winter sports’ season over the last week or two. It has been great to see pupils out at morning tea and lunch times honing their netball and hockey skills. A reminder that there will be an afternoon of trials and practices on Thursday. Information about when competition starts for your child’s team is in Co-curricular Notices. Many of our Y8 pupils are turning their attention to making choices for which high school they will attend from 2018, and a number of boys and girls enjoyed a morning experiencing what St Andrew’s College has to offer last Friday. Our boys had a similar opportunity at Christ’s College in Week VI. For some, this is a challenging time as they make an important decision about their future education. We wish our Y8s all the best with their selection of high school that is best for them and their family.

The last of summer sport interschool matches were played on Thursday against Hereworth School from the Hawkes Bay. Whilst the results in the tennis and cricket did not go our way this time, those pupils who have taken part in several interschool fixtures this term have displayed excellent sportsmanship and can be proud of their efforts. We look forward to winter sport in Terms II and III.

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Girls’ & Boys’ Prep Schools

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Well done to our Literature Quiz team who competed in the regional competition yesterday at Cobham Intermediate. The team received a small prize for winning the second round of ten but we are awaiting the overall placings. Congratulations to our duathletes who also competed yesterday in the Canterbury Duathlon at Ruapuna Raceway. Horrid conditions faced the athletes before, during and after their races! The wind picked up towards the end of the morning and, coupled with the rain, this made it a tough course for all. However, Grammar battled against the elements and completed the challenge. All competitors had a 2km run to start and another 1km to finish, with either a 6km (9 + 10 years) or 9km (11 + 12 years) bike in between. All pupils showed determination and perseverance throughout and should all be very proud of their efforts. Outstanding performances were achieved by Lucy Vance (9 years), Finella Guttmann (10 years) and Nicole Vance (11 years) who each finished 1

st in their respective age groups. Fantastic!

Ms Kirsty Bond & Mr Owen Foster

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Friends’ Association

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Last night the Friends’ Association held its Annual General Meeting and it was great to see a number of new faces attending. We are pleased to announce that Chantal Taylor was elected Vice President and Dagmar Kieberger, Amanda Davis and Stelios Michaelides were elected onto the committee. We also had a number of individuals who expressed an interest in continuing to be involved in activities or subcommittees, which was really valuable. We farewelled Meagan Duston from the committee. Meagan stepped down after three years as a committee member and six years as a Class Friend. Meagan has also been our Class Friend liaison over the last year and has done a superb job of keeping our Class Friends informed. Thank you for all your work, Meagan. We truly appreciate it. Chantal will be taking over the role for the coming year and the Class Friends will hear from her soon. The Annual Report of the Friends’ Association was tabled at the AGM, and this, and the Minutes of the AGM will be emailed soon to all school families, and available to view on GrammarNet>Friends’ Association page. After the AGM we held a General Meeting at which the principal’s Wish List was presented to the Friends to consider projects for which funds raised could go towards. No decisions were made on the evening but the committee was left to contemplate this list for decisions at our next meeting on Monday 1 May. We have also set up a subcommittee to review the Friends’ Constitution to ensure it is in tune with current legislative requirements and meets the current needs of our school community. Friends’ Association Committee: President: Angela Reed Vice President: Chantal Taylor Treasurer: Diana Wylie Secretary: Nicky Oram Committee: Bridget Parfitt Victoria Wynn Thomas Libby Avery Natalie Sneddon Kim Chan Dagmar Kieberger Stelios Michaelides Amanda Davis Sury Kinajil-Reding Linda Hazel (Honorary Member) Scott Thelning (Principal) Linda Marsh (Executive Assistant) School Disco – Term II

A school disco will be held on Thursday 22 June so please put this date in your diary. We will keep you posted on details in Term II.