Kia Ora School Families and Whanau
It has been with grateful hearts that we have resumed school at Level 2. How delightful to see almost all of our students back this week, and they, like us, were happy to be reunited with their friends and the routine of school. While we can’t call it completely normal yet with the social distancing and extra cleaning and hygiene practices, it is a good step closer to “normal”.
As staff, we really missed the day to day contact with our students. It was very helpful for us as teachers, when we were able to keep in touch through different methods, even though some of them were a little difficult to get used to (Zoom). The Seesaw app was a great way of keeping in touch and informed about how our students were coping with the isolation.
We want to say a huge “Thank You” to you, our parents who worked hard at supporting your children’s learning and kept in contact with us over the lockdown. Many were working their own jobs from home as well as helping their children with their reading, writing and maths.
Our thoughts are with those who have found this time challenging due to job situations, or through illness and death of loved ones.
For many, it has been an opportunity to take a step out of our busy lives and take time with our families to just be. Even for those of us working from home, there was a change of pace. I found that limiting our grocery shopping trips meant that meals were made with preparation and thought, rather than thrown together for convenience. Outings for walks were deliberate and unhurried—taking time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Spending unhurried time in Bible reading and prayer has been refreshing. The verse “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 truly encapsulates this time for me.
I don’t know about you, but I have enjoyed taking this time to re-evaluate what I do with my time. I pray that you too have found some aspects of this lockdown time refreshing and life-giving. If you have made any changes to how you and your family do life as a result of this, I pray that you will be able to maintain these over the coming weeks and months.
Steve Matthews, Principal
It has been with grateful hearts that we have resumed school at Level 2. How delightful to see almost all of our students back this week, and they, like us, were happy to be reunited with their friends and the routine of school. While we can’t call it completely normal yet with the social distancing and extra cleaning and hygiene practices, it is a good step closer to “normal”.
As staff, we really missed the day to day contact with our students. It was very helpful for us as teachers, when we were able to keep in touch through different methods, even though some of them were a little difficult to get used to (Zoom). The Seesaw app was a great way of keeping in touch and informed about how our students were coping with the isolation.
We want to say a huge “Thank You” to you, our parents who worked hard at supporting your children’s learning and kept in contact with us over the lockdown. Many were working their own jobs from home as well as helping their children with their reading, writing and maths.
Our thoughts are with those who have found this time challenging due to job situations, or through illness and death of loved ones.
For many, it has been an opportunity to take a step out of our busy lives and take time with our families to just be. Even for those of us working from home, there was a change of pace. I found that limiting our grocery shopping trips meant that meals were made with preparation and thought, rather than thrown together for convenience. Outings for walks were deliberate and unhurried—taking time to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Spending unhurried time in Bible reading and prayer has been refreshing. The verse “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 truly encapsulates this time for me.
I don’t know about you, but I have enjoyed taking this time to re-evaluate what I do with my time. I pray that you too have found some aspects of this lockdown time refreshing and life-giving. If you have made any changes to how you and your family do life as a result of this, I pray that you will be able to maintain these over the coming weeks and months.
Steve Matthews, Principal
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An excellent education based firmly on Christian values and beliefsTasman Bay Christian School is a State-Integrated Special Character School, not a Private School. This means we seek to make education as affordable as we possibly can and teach the same New Zealand curriculum as all other primary schools in the country. Free bus transport is available to our school from the Motueka area, Moutere, Mapua and Redwoods Valley.
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Our Special Character gives us an opportunity to ensure all teaching at the school builds on a solid Christian world-view. All teaching staff and support staff who deal directly with children in the classroom support and believe in the special character of the school at a personal level.
We strive to help students realise their full potential in every area of life. We really value the academic side of education, but also the development of the whole person. We seek to ensure each child flourishes in regard to their social, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. We also seek to shape each child's character so they increasingly develop a healthy respect, care and concern for others.
We strive to help students realise their full potential in every area of life. We really value the academic side of education, but also the development of the whole person. We seek to ensure each child flourishes in regard to their social, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. We also seek to shape each child's character so they increasingly develop a healthy respect, care and concern for others.
Why Christian Education?
The Bible does not contain all knowledge or all truth, but it does form the foundation from which all knowledge and truth springs. When we exclude God from the classroom, we effectively admit that God can be safely ignored when it comes to learning about ourselves—what it means to be human and to live well in our world. Children need a challenging, comprehensive academic curriculum built on a foundation of Biblical absolutes in order to learn as God intends us to. They also need to be able to look to those who teach them as Biblical and godly examples of what it means be a Christian and live in a way that pleases God.
Find out more about the value of Christian Education.
Find out more about the value of Christian Education.
From the principal
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Kia Ora,
The theme for this term is Courage. Our weekly Bible verses and devotion times will focus on this. Courage is often linked to risk-taking, but sometimes risk-taking can be foolish! Think of the photographer who puts their head inside a crocodile’s mouth for the perfect shot, or the person climbing to the spire of a building to get a selfie. In terms of the Christian faith, courage is being prepared to do what God has asked us to do regardless of the consequences. We do this because we love and trust God more than anything else. Teachers will use a variety of ways to help students develop an understanding of what courage is, and how to become increasingly courageous in their own lives. |
Memory Verse
Each week students are encouraged to memorise our Memory Verse, and are tested on it at the end of the week. The scores are tallied through the year and the class with the highest overall score is awarded our Scripture Trophy at Prizegiving.
Our memory is like a muscle and every time we memorise something we build our capacity to memorise more. This helps us with the rest of our learning as well. In addition to this we are storing Scripture away in our minds, which has long term benefits for our Spiritual Development. So please encourage your children in their efforts to learn their memory verses. You may even want to join them in trying to learn each one!
Blessings,
Steve Matthews
Each week students are encouraged to memorise our Memory Verse, and are tested on it at the end of the week. The scores are tallied through the year and the class with the highest overall score is awarded our Scripture Trophy at Prizegiving.
Our memory is like a muscle and every time we memorise something we build our capacity to memorise more. This helps us with the rest of our learning as well. In addition to this we are storing Scripture away in our minds, which has long term benefits for our Spiritual Development. So please encourage your children in their efforts to learn their memory verses. You may even want to join them in trying to learn each one!
Blessings,
Steve Matthews
What's On Or Coming Up?
What if I'm not a christian and don't go to church?
Not a problem! Many people want to take advantage of a Christian Education for reasons other than matters of faith. We have a small number of places available to anyone who wants to come to our school. These places are limited by the Ministry of Education and there may be a waiting list.
LIVE IN NELSON OR RICHMOND?
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If you are interested in giving your child a high quality Christian Education but live in Nelson or Richmond, we would recommend you take a look at Nelson Christian Academy.
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INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION?
We have established a student scholarship fund to ensure that families on very low incomes can still take advantage of having a high quality Christian Education. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can contribute to this fund, take a look at our brochure here.
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NEW TRANSPORT RUN
One of our teachers, Craig Starrenburg, lives in Wakefield and will be driving a 13 seater van to and from school each day.
If you live in the Wakefield, Brightwater or Hope area and are interested in coming to our school, please get in touch with us to talk about reserving a space! |
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