Week 3, Term 2

Dear MCS Parents and Caregivers,

Some exciting news regarding the future of our school!

As you may be aware, the Mahurangi Christian School is an “integrated” school, meaning that it’s land and buildings are owned by the Mahurangi Baptist Charitable Trust on behalf of the Snells Beach Baptist Church.  The School is “integrated” into the state school system, but is allowed its own “special character”.  The MBCT is the School’s Proprietor – responsible for the oversight of the School’s special character as well as the development of its land and buildings.

At the end of 2014, the MBCT approached the Kingsway Trust to consider purchasing the School’s land and buildings in association with the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust who would take over as Proprietor. The NZCPT is also the proprietor of KingsWay School, working in consultation with KWT who are the landowners.  The KingsWay Trust has subsequently made a conditional offer and, after much prayer and discussion, and with the support of the School’s Board of Trustees and Principal, the Snells Beach Baptist Church has voted to accept that conditional offer.

This means that the MBCT will now sign a conditional sale and purchase agreement with the Kingsway Trust and together work through the remaining issues, and, if successful, the Integration Agreement with the Crown will be transferred to the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust.  Both sides have further due diligence to perform, and this is expected to take a number of months - mainly due to the new boundaries needing Council approval.

What does this mean for parents and students at the school?  

It means an exciting future!  The Kingsway Trust & the NZ Christian Proprietors Trust plan to grow the school, both in terms of buildings and student numbers, and it is with anticipation and excitement that we look forward to the next chapter in the life of the School.  The Snells Beach Baptist Church will, of course, continue to support and serve the School in any way we can.

In a practical sense, the Board of Trustees will continue to govern the school, and Mrs Pearson will remain as Principal.  The new Proprietor has assured us that they have no plans to raise Attendance Dues in the immediate future, and after that their expectation is that Attendance Dues will only rise in line with inflation or as needed to pay for site developments.  The uniform will not change, and the School will retain its local name and identity - MCS will not become a campus of Kingsway.  The NZ Christian Proprietors Trust has been asked to take over a number of Christian Schools throughout New Zealand and these have retained their independence.  Information about NZ Christian Proprietors Trust is easily found on-line. Their motto is “National Synergy – Local Identity”)

Once the sale has gone unconditional, a service will be arranged to formally hand the School over to the Kingsway Trust. You will all be invited.  

If you have any questions or suggestions for the MBCT, please email either of us :

Jennifer Smith (treasurer) - jennifermariewatt@gmail.com.

Rob Jensen (Chair) - robdi.jensen@gmail.com or

Mahurangi Baptist Charitable Trust

SCHOOL NEWS

Assembly

This Friday we are having a special Mothers Day assembly being led by Room 2 at 9.10am.  Parents, grandparents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Wanted:

We are in need for some parent help in a number of areas in the school at the moment.

Mrs Holdsworth would like to do knitting with a group of children on Friday mornings. If you have needles, or wool, or would like to knit with a small group of children, please email vanessaho@mahu.school.nz.

Room 2 is in need of a computer monitor.  If anyone has an unwanted monitor they would like to donate to the school, could they please contact Vanessa on vanessaho@mahu.school.nz

We are also in need of a nice coffee table. If you know of one that is no longer required, please contact the school office.

Sports Uniforms

As of 2016 sports uniform will become compulsory for Years 4-8. This will be black shorts and maroon polo shirts. The total cost to parents for these uniforms will be approximately $45 per set. These will be used for lunchtime sport, PE lessons (the school has provided these for free in the last two years), and Saturday sports and interschool sports.

School Uniform

There are currently a large number of children missing their school polar fleeces.  Could all parents and caregivers please check that you have the correct polar fleeces at home.

Spoons, Knives and Heating of Lunches

Please note that all school lunches need to be eaten independently of teaching staff. 

This means:

-We will not give out knives for cutting of fruit, or cut fruit (please do this yourself at home)

-We will not lend teaspoons (we have had to purchase a lot more due to spoons not being returned)

-We will not be heating lunches, providing boiling water for noodles etc

Please realise that our teachers get 45 minutes lunch break, which usually ends up being significantly reduced due to the demands of teaching and/or lunch duties. It is not feasible for them to be interrupted multiple times to supply things for lunches if they are to get a well-needed break. Thanks for your understanding J

Photographs for the School Website

On Wednesday 13^th May we are having Matt Gerrand come in and take photos of the children for our website.  Please could the children all have uniform, shoes and sports uniform that day.

Parent Meeting

Our parent group is meeting this Wednesday 6^th May.  The meeting is at 3pm in the school office and all are welcome.

Parent Discussion Group

Lynne William’s group for Gifted and Learning Challenged children will meeting on Wednesday, May 6^th from 7 – 8pm.  The meeting will be in the school office.

Hockey
The Hockey session started on Saturday.  We have players in two of the senior Snells Beach hockey teams – the SB Strickers and the SB Snapdragons.  Both teams had hard games and lost on Saturday.  However our junior team the MCS Rockets had a win (2-0)

The draw for this Saturday is:
MCS Rockets v M Pink Panthers on field 1 at 8.30am
SB Strikers v M Hawks on field 3 / 4 at 9.20am
SB Snapdragons v KF Sticks on field 3 / 4 at 11am

Prayer for our school

If you are interested in praying for our school, you are welcome to come along to a prayer meeting being held each Tuesday morning, during term time.  The meeting is from 8.50am - 9.20am in the crèche room, in the chapel.   Any queries please contact Louisa Kimber through the school office.

 Yummy Stickers

Its that time of year again, when we are collecting YUMMY Apple Stickers  The link below is for a sheet to put the stickers onto.

HTTP://WWW.YUMMYFRUIT.CO.NZ/PDF/NEW_VARIETY_STICKER_COLLECTION_SHEET.PDF

Parking

Please note that the gravel carpark is the main carpark for children to be dropped off and picked up from.

40 Hour Famine

World Vision 40 Hour Famine will occur from 22-24 May. 

We will not be doing this as a school. However, if you would like your child to participate, please email us and we will send an information pack home for you.

Permissions slips must be received by Thursday 7 May 2015.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Free Learn to Skateboard Hubs

Auckland Council has organized a free learn to skateboard lesson this Sunday May 10^th at 9am.

The lesson  will occur at the Snells Beach Skate Park.  All skateboards, helmets and safety pads are provided on the day.  Register at www.onboardskate.org.nz

Elevate Dance Company Tour NZ and Perform at KingsWay School!

Elevate dance company of London are putting on a performance at the KingsWay Events Centre!  They are currently on a 3 month international tour and will be in New Zealand for just 12 days.

When: *Saturday 23rd May, 7pm *
Where: *KingsWay Events Centre, 100 Jelas Road, Orewa*
Cost: *$15.00 per person*
Email elevatetour2015@gmail.com  to secure your tickets.
Seats are limited, so book your tickets now!/

As the company takes you on a journey through faith, life and dance you will encounter beauty, truth, compassion and hope in a performance that will awaken your body, mind and soul. The dancers use their highly physical skill to capture energy, excitement, stark reality and raw emotion. They will encourage you to reflect through the powerful imagery evoked and make you shake with laughter through the theatrical comedy in their storytelling. The evening is woven together by the dancers sharing their own thoughts and readings to complete this stunning tapestry of dance theatre. Invite friends and family, it will be a great opportunity to reach out to those who are seeking truth.