Grammar Notes. "The Ideal Preparation" in action this week! Year 3 Nativity Play

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1 H P Grammar Notes DIARY: Wednesday 11 December 8:40am Final House Meetings (Y3 s to attend) 1:30pm Prep Schools Final Assembly Last Day of Prep & Family Rooms 7:00pm Year 8 Leavers Dinner, Christ s College Dining Hall Thursday 12 December 9:00am Pre-School Graduation Assembly & Morning Tea 10:00am Junior School Final Assembly 11:30am Leavers & End-of-Year Service, Cathedral (Pre-School, Y1-Y8) Friday 13 December 11:00am Prize giving, Christ s College Hall Issue 36, 2013 Tuesday 10 December "The Ideal Preparation" in action this week! I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : From the Headmaster's Desk General Notices 3 2 Year 3 Nativity Play Pre-School 4 Junior School 5 Boys Prep School 6 Girls Prep School 7 Friend s Association 8 The Year 3 children presented their annual Nativity Play at The Transitional Cathedral on Sunday the 9 th December. The children shared the true meaning of Christmas. The Nativity was a beautiful musical, directed by Clare Erasmus, Amanda Botting and Catherine Dark.

2 P A G E 2 From the Headmaster s Desk I want to wish all of the school families and a safe and relaxing holiday over the Christmas and New Year period. To those families who are leaving us, especially the families of our Year 8 s, thank you for the precious time we have had with your child, and I wish you and your children all the very best for the future. For everyone else, I look forward to seeing you all again in the new year as we continue to provide the Ideal Preparation for your child. Paul Kennedy Headmaster Carol Service Last night s Carol Service was a most wonderful occasion with superb singing from the choirs and the School. Congratulations to Mrs Dodgshun, Mr Ellis and all the students for their hard efforts which culminated in such a wonderful and uplifting occasion as was experienced by all who were privileged to be at the Transitional Cathedral.

3 P A G E 3 General Notices Music & Speech Applications Music and Speech and Drama application forms were due on Friday last week. A plea to have these in very quickly, otherwise places might be filled and your child may miss out. Forms are available on Grammarnet (Dates and Events/Music Speech Tuition/Tuition information/ application forms) or from the office. Lost A child s silver bracelet. It was lost on Pet Day. If found please return to School Office. Uniform Shop Holiday Opening Hours December: Tuesday 17th & Thursday 19th 10am - 2pm January: Monday 13th & Wednesday 15th 10am - 12pm Tuesday 21st & Thursday 23rd 10am - 2pm Wednesday 29th & Friday 31st 10am - 2pm School Office Holiday Hours The School office will be open all of next week (Monday 16th Friday 20th) Re-opening next year intermittently from the 13th January 17th January Commencing officially on the 20th January 2014 Any queries or urgent matters please office@cathedralgrammar.school.nz

4 P A G E 4 Pre-School The last few days of term have been action packed. We had some very anxious moments as the chicken pox virus spread to our Nativity play actors. We were very relieved to see the angels return in time to perform. Unfortunately Mary was still too spotty to join us but a very good substitute filled the bill. It was wonderful to see so many parents and grandparents at out Carol Service. The children performed very well. Our thanks to Mrs Catherine Dark for playing for the service and to Rebecca Harris for her lovely solo. Thank you to parents who responded so generously to the City Mission appeal and the appeal for Michael Bush. Today we visited the Cathedral and put gifts under the Christmas tree. The children sang some carols and then gathered round the crib. It was very special to be in a Cathedral building again. On Thursday morning we have our graduation and final assembly at 9am in the Pre-School. Morning tea will be served straight after the assembly to allow Junior School parents to be at the Junior School at 10am. The children will then all go by bus to the Cathedral for the end of year service at 11-30am. All children are to be collected from the Cathedral at approximately 12-15pm. We thank you all for all your help to us this year. All the Pre-School staff wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas and a refreshing holiday. Adrienne Winnicott Singing in The Cathedral Nativity Play

5 P A G E 5 Junior School As we come to the end of another exciting year, we look back at the progress the children have made during the year and exciting learning opportunities they have experienced. We have the most amazingly dedicated and talented teachers but we could not achieve half the things we do without your support. Last week in assembly the J1s and J2s presented their concert items. On Thursday at 10am, it is all about the Year 3s who are going on to exciting possibilities in the Prep School. Please come and thank them for their wonderful progress through Junior School. The remaining special occasions for this year are posted at both ends of the hall as a reminder. Please remember that Wednesday is the final day for Family Room and for cards and treats coming to school. The children will not be requiring their school bags nor hats on Thursday. Please look closely at the starting times (later on Friday) and finishing time of on both days. Pick-up is from the Cathedral on Thursday and from Christ's College on Friday. In conclusion, thank you for all your help and support this year. Your warm comments are appreciated. The Junior School team wish you a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Carole Wright Junior School pupils at the Christchurch Cathedral to place gifts under the Christmas Tree for those families who are in need.

6 P A G E 6 Reflections on With Penny Tattershaw and Averil Worner moving fully away from their roles as Head of Boys and Girls School respectively next year, they were asked for their final reflections on Boys Prep School 2013 has certainly been a most productive year in so many areas. The prefabs used by several classes in the Boys School since the February earthquake of 2011 were removed at the end of Term 2 and the Year 7s and 8s were able to take up residence in the new Specialist block. Of course, the opening of the Transitional Cathedral in Term 3 meant that the Cathedral choristers, at last, had a home base again and the School was able to reconnect, in a more tangible way, with its Anglican roots. A glance back through Grammar Notes over the whole year provides a reminder of the many activities and achievements throughout the year. The numerous camps at all class levels, the Amazing Place competition, Scholarship successes, WAMM and the Cathedral choristers Australian tour just to mention a few of the highlights! Probably the most important ingredient in determining the real success of a year is down to the leadership of our Year 8s. This year, we had a superb group of Year 8 boys who led from the front, exemplifying the qualities and values which we believe are so important in developing moral citizens. They proved to be fine role models for their Houses and Mentor groups and maintained their high standards throughout the year. Congratulations and thank you, Year 8! We wish you all the very best for the next stage of Life s journey. Finally, thank you to all students in the Boys School for your efforts and contributions, this year. Holiday time is a great opportunity, not only to recharge your batteries, but also to re-set your goals for Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and enjoyable holiday. Penny Tattershaw

7 P A G E 7 Girls Prep School As we come to the end of the school year, our eyes face back to where we have been as we also look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. Oh the places you ll go said Dr Seuss, and the Girls School has been many and varied place this year. To make a list of all the exciting happenings in the Girls School would be to have a list longer than the space I have available! It has been the first year of the Future Problem Solving program offered as a trial in the Girls School, and feedback is that this is a welcome addition to our programs across the Prep Schools. There has also been an introduction of a leadership program offered by Marg Foster and Anthony Beck, as an excellent addition to our development of the senior school. Of course at the heart of our school, are families and girls who are multi-skilled and talented, who give so much to the life of our community, and whose skills and talent we have celebrated. I am fortunate to be a member of a staff who cares so deeply about each family, working beyond the normal requirements to offer the Ideal Preparation. We have also been treated to a wonderful set of year 8 girls who have led the school with grace and skill. Their leadership assemblies have involved all classes and all girls, have involved role plays and skits and showcased the excellent academic work done in classes. I want to take this public opportunity to thank them all for their contribution to the life of the school this year, and wish them every success for their futures. It has been our privilege to have been part of their journey. I would like to wish all families a safe and restful break. Look after one another and God Bless. Averil Worner

8 P A G E 8 Friend s Association News Dear all Grammar families, Well we are now in our final week of school for 2013 and I am sure you will be looking forward to a wonderful summer break with your families. This year seems to have gone by very fast and we have certainly had a busy year! The Friend's committee are thrilled with the success of this year and are looking forward to new and exciting events for Some of our achievements of 2013 are: Purchase of a Cathedral Grammar School van Purchase of 32 ipads Music scholarship of 2 children (musical instrument and lessons) 'The Grammar Gatsby' - a fun night for families and friends of our school Allocation of funds to pay for a new pre school playground. Purchase of a baby grand piano School disco for all children from Year 1 to Year 8! Successful Back to School BBQ Of course none of this would be possible without your generosity and so thank you to you all and we hope you will continue to support us in 2014! PLEASE PUT IN YOUR DIARY Back to School BBQ 14th February 2014 (save date will be 28th 5.30 pm. We have lots of fun planned and look forward to seeing you all there! Tickets will be in the office to purchase as soon as we return to school in Term ! Our Friends' Association AGM will be held in March 2014 and so please print a nomination form if you wish to be part of the committee for 2014 or indeed wish to nominate someone else! More details to follow in the beginning of Term 1. And so on behalf of all the committee we would like to wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for Best wishes Donna Sharp, President, Friends Association