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ECS Update Term 1, Week 8 – Friday 20th March 2026
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Kia ora e te whānau,
It’s been another full and encouraging week in the life of our school. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to spend an evening with a number of board members from Christian schools across Canterbury. It was a real encouragement to be reminded of the strength we have together. Schools partnering to support families and to see God’s Kingdom extended through our shared work. We are grateful for these connections and the unity we have in Christ.
It has also been great to see so many of our students involved in opportunities beyond the classroom. Well done to those who have taken part in Zone Swimming Sports and Canterbury Athletics, you represented the school so well. At the same time, our Year 9 and 10 students have been out serving in practical ways, including painting over graffiti in partnership with the Christchurch City Council. It’s been wonderful to see them contributing positively to our local community.
Whether through sport, service, or simply the everyday moments of school life, we are thankful for the many ways students are growing and using their gifts. As Scripture reminds us, “whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Ngā mihi nui,
Alistair McKinnon
Principal
Emmanuel Christian School
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This Email contains information about:
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- Important Dates
- Māori and Pacific Whanau Hui
- Attendance and Lateness
- Year 9 Poetry
- School Holiday Art Classes
- Yr 5 – Yr 8 Music Festival
- KiwiSchools Connect App
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Thursday 2nd April – Last Day of Term 1
Monday 20th April – First Day of Term 2
Monday 27th April – ANZAC Day observed
Wednesday 29 April– Māori and Pacific Whanau Hui
Monday 1st June – King’s Birthday
Friday 29th May – Teacher Only Day
(The School Calendar including 2026 Term dates can be found here)
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Māori and Pacific Whanau Hui
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For all of our Māori and Pacific Whanau we would like to invite you to a hui on the evenning of Wednesday 29th April. This is a great change to be together and to share and plan as we look to how we can support your whanau as a school community.
More details will be available over the coming weeks.
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School attendance plays an important role in both academic progress and maintaining strong social connections within the life of the school. This afternoon, you will receive an email outlining your child’s attendance for Term 1, 2026.
We recognise that there are legitimate reasons for absence, particularly when students are unwell. At the same time, regular attendance provides the best opportunity for students to engage fully in their learning and to be part of the classroom community.
Under the Education and Training Act 2020, parents and caregivers are legally required to ensure their child attends school each day it is open during term time.
If you would like support with your child’s attendance, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we are here to work alongside you.
It is also important that students arrive at school on time. When students are late, they miss key parts of the day’s learning and their arrival can disrupt the flow of the class. Our school day begins at 8:50am, and we encourage students to arrive by 8:40am where possible. For safety reasons, please avoid students arriving before 8:20am.
As a Christian school, we are reminded of the value of faithfulness in the small, everyday habits of life. As Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Regular attendance and punctuality are simple but important ways we help students grow in responsibility, diligence, and community.
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On the Border
By Grace
For My wonderful family
i guide my paint and clay stained hands,
clutching at the tools i wield,
i attack, seated on the banding wheel,
creating on the border of my weird wonderful world and the border of reality,
In defiant carves and gouges,
until i can no longer recognize the clay, nor myself
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Running in the Wind
By Isaac
I cantered my hind limbs onwards
Into the trackless urban trails throughout,
creating a distinct pattern of footsteps
thumping on the scenic clouds
In slight sagittal movements,
alongside soft touches on the mire terrain.
Making me elegantly advance towards the…
objective.
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Race day
By Joey
To Toby
I twisted my gloved up hand in place, using the key to coax the engine to life, as it spluttered and then started, screaming its V8 engine, as if a lion roared at night.
Smoothly, the car drove up to the stadium, people screaming as we rolled up to the starting line, waiting…
…the light flashed
Orange,
Orange,
Then Green!
The car surged and swayed as it gripped the track, as it left the others in its dust, as it created a feeling of soaring and flying through the air. We were fading, fading fast…
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Shooting the Stag
By Luke
i drew my finger further towards the trigger creating an explosion of smoke, in one motion, the stag collapsed.
i felt my whole body freeze for a moment, creating a sense that time had stopped after a few seconds, he started cheering.
i endured – my whole body tumbling and staggering through the thorns, feeling like sharp knives one step after another.
after mauling through obstacles, my legs felt completely numb, creating a sense that i had no legs, nearing the body of the stag.
the stag pushed its whole body upwards towards him, creating a sense of danger, he put the gun towards his face and pulled the trigger.
the stag tumbled towards the ground, creating a sense of deja vu, after a few seconds, i got down and posed for a photo.
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The KA Driver
By Levi
Dedicated to Charles Parker – The driver who died at the Tangiwai Disaster driving an NZR KA class
I draw the reverser back towards
me on the massive machine,
Causing the black giant to shift its load
In throttling up and picking up steam.
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A Gentle Swan
By Michelia
I swung my leg toward the sky as the floorboard beneath me let out a soft sigh
creating a picture of an icy, white, swan
who glides above a still lake ,
barely,
it caresses a lake of pure, crystal-clear water,
as I soared my body and leapt through the air – I AM the icy white swan.
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The Amazing Shot
By PETER
For my Family
I uplifted my hockey stick to just below my shoulder
as I stood before the goalie,
my thoughts swinging to all the times I had missed the ball before,
with a heave my stick went gliding towards the ball
my arms using the pendulum movement they had practiced for centuries,
with a puff of smoke the the ball blasted towards the goalie launching from the top of the circle,
my eyes rose to where the ball was heading,
the ball took flight and glided past the goalie with a shout of triumph I leapt up and jumped for joy,
the game was won
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The Reverie of Writing
BY QUIANA
i drifted my writing hand, clasping a pencil across to feel the sheets of refill paper mounted upon my small cluttered working space,
creating a mirage of words swirling in spirals, slowly absorbing my thoughts and making everything around me a reverie.
my mind locked in to a faint idea and my fingers led my pencil to print out the words filled up sheets fly off the desk, each telling a different story of
dragons,
illusions
and reality.
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Boots on a Canvas
BY RILEY
i advanced my spiked boot across a ball rapidly,
an arena of green around me with the triumphant roars of lions,
creating a piece of art with careful strokes,
in fluid movements i become one with the ball and use
precise touches to leave defenders dancing
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Dear Basketball
By WALEED
I thrusted my hand, fluctuating it up and down In the vast grey concrete with long strokes of paint,
Creating a gust of dust
Guiding my hand through the air and
Lifting my feet up in quick succession,
Witnessing the ball gliding through the air As it falls back down
Beep, beep, beep as it flows in as I secure victory.
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School Holiday Art Classes
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Music Festival – Years 5-8
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Our choir is excited to be part of the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival this year.
The Festival is still looking for more applications to audition for one of the Representative groups. They are looking for the best singers for the Junior Choir (Yr 5 & 6) and Senior Choir (Yr 7 & 8), and for talented musicians (Grade 3 equivalent and above) to audition for the Orchestra and Concert Band.
The audition process takes only 5 minutes and each student is auditioned individually. Information on what is required in the audition is on our website.
The Representative groups are on stage in the Christchurch Town Hall for every performance of the Festival (4 nights). With more than a thousand people in the audience and 900 children in the choir stalls watching every night, it is an amazing experience they will never forget.
To find out more information or to register your child click here:
https://musicfestival.school.nz/representative-group-information/joining-a-representative-group/
Be quick, registrations close 01 April. For Years 5-8 students only.
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For those who are unaware, Emmanuel Christian School has a Mobile App for access by the school community. To download the app click this link (or use the QR Code): link
We are aware that there was previously an issue for android users and this has now been rectified.
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This App allows school:
· Student Absences – this is our preferred method for notifying absences – it’s easy for you to use.
· Communications – school communications all in one spot at one time and you can be connected at all times.
· Calendar – links to our school calendar.
· Links – to our newsletter and school website.
· Alerts – The app also allows us to send out an Alert really promptly if something is happening at school that you need to know about urgently.
We encourage parents to download the app today to stay up to date with what is happening in and around the school.
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