Encouraging CIE Exam Results
30 January, 2012
We are encouraged by the results from last year’s exams, released to us last week. Particular congratulations go to Daniel Brinkman and Isabelle Holder who have A* passes in their results. We were also delighted to see students who, though having found schooling challenging in past years, achieved excellent results. Contrary to a popular urban myth, Cambridge provides well for students of all abilities. We are reminded of the comments of an Associate Minster of Education when visiting the Carey College, “I would not have believed it possible for such a small school on such a limited budget to produce students demonstrably the best in the world and at the same time be picking up special students with enormous learning challenges and benefitting them as well.”
Mrs Fisher Leaves Carey College
19 September, 2011
It is with sadness that we have today announced that Mrs Fisher has left Carey College. Details are attached, but as her husband's work has unexpectedly taken him to Christchurch it is appropriate that Mrs Fisher join him there. So we are sad to see Mrs Fisher leave but thankful for God's leading in her life, and are confident to of his continuing blessing on our school. Miss Eastwood began teaching Room 1 full time today. Please do read the attached letter from our Principal Mr Drake as it has additional important information and items for your prayer.
Catching Up on School News!
12 September, 2011
Today we emailed a newsletter to all our school parents. It contains news about Parent Interviews, School Photos, the Science Fair, Mr Drake's return to school (and comments about the English Riots), Family Activity called Move, and a reminder about the coming term break. Click here to view the Newsletter.
September's Assembly: World Cup and Treasure
12 September, 2011
With all the excitement around the Rugby World Cup 2011, this month’s assembly had to look at the theme of the rewards we strive for. But it also featured two superb musical items: Jerram (Year 9) and Kevin (Year 10) played a piano duet Kevin had composed, and Daniel (Year 13) again played a guitar piece.
Speaking on Matthew 6:19-21, Mr Drake challenged students to enjoy the pleasures God gives us, including opportunity for recreation such as watching the rugby, but to make treasure in heaven the thing they value most. The treasures of earth - including the Rugby World Cup - fade, rot, get lost or stolen, or go out of fashion. They don’t last and they can’t satisfy for ever. But the treasures in heaven are lasting and satisfying.
What are the treasures of heaven? There wasn’t time in assembly to explore this beyond challenging students to do everything they do to the best of their ability for Christ. But we take this up in more depth in Term 3’s Devotional.
And yes, we do hope the All Blacks do well!
Parents' Meeting at Manukau Christian School
23 June, 2011
We are looking forward to our first meeting with parents at the Manukau Christian School on the evening of 29 June. Carey College has a special relationship with MCS providing seamless transfer of Year 8 students from MCS into the Carey College secondary programme. Associate Principal Mrs Eunice Hall will introduce MCS parents to Carey College, explain our courses, and how transferring their children to Carey College will work.
Family Winners at Great Science Fair
03 June, 2011
The de Graaf Family shone at last night's Science Fair with Saskia (year 7 - pictured) and Jerram (year 9) being awarded the top prizes: nominations for the NIWA Auckland City Science and Technology Fair. Teaching this year in the research module of science courses in years 7 to 13 focused on measurement, and this showed up in the consistently sound measurements taken and reported in projects. There was a noticible development too in student's appreciation of a Christian perspective in their work. Jerram's project explored the absorption rates is sphagnum moss while Saskia engaged in a lengthy study of the flexibility of trees in differening conditions. A number of other students were awarded reserve awards and are likely to go forward to the regional Science Fair on completion of a little more research.
Lots of Parents Take Part in June Assembly
03 June, 2011
We enjoyed having so many parents at today's monthly assembly. They got to help pass out the numerous merit certificates awarded. Kevin Jung (pictured) played Chopin for us in a delightful performance. Mr Drake explored Matthew 7:13 & 14 (Jesus' brief direction to take the narrow way to life that few choose) with students and applied it to choices they make in how they learn and who they run with. That is part of this year's assembly theme of looking at how children live and work.
A New Playground & Lots of Pruning!
26 April, 2011
We have a beautiful new playground! At the end of last term the Jesze family left for overseas, and gave Carey College a significant donation for a special project in appreciation of the time they have spent here. You may remember that in January we tried to top-sow the playground, and you may have noticed that it didn't work! With the Jesze's kind gift, we have contracted Turfgrass to rebuild the field (including bringing in new topsoil) and lay mature heavy-duty playground grass. The photo shows some of the Primary children inspecting the new lawn which should be finished today and ready to play on in a couple of weeks.
Over the term break we have also pruned back much of the tree growth and tidied up the grounds. Thanks to Andrew Hall for carting away a huge trailer load of prunings!
We Welcome Visitors from Other Christian Schools
08 April, 2011
Today we welcomed Mr Neil Benfell (pictured), recently retired Principal of King's College in Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia. Mr Benfell, who in the 1960s introduced our Principal to Christian schooling , is now ministering to Christian schools in Australia and New Zealand. We were encouraged to learn of God's continuing blessing on King's College and on Mr Benfell.
On Wednesday we hosted the team managing the City Impact Christian School on the North Shore. We shared with them the way in which our Junior and Senior College courses are taught, and the value of the Cambridge International Curriculum and Cambridge International Examinations. We pray God will bless them as they continue to serve him teaching children in the context of faith in Christ and a biblical view of the world and life .
Minister Commends Student and School
02 March, 2011
On Wednesday 2 March the Associate Minister of Education, the Hon Mr Rodney Hide, visited Carey College. He presented Year 13 student Elizabeth Jung with a Certificate of Commendation for gaining an A Pass of 100% (endorsed with Merit for Speaking) in last year’s Cambridge International AS Level examination in Japanese. “I am enormously impressed with the school,” Mr Hide said. “I would not have believed it possible for such a small school on such a limited budget to produce students demonstrably the best in the world and at the same time be picking up special students with enormous learning challenges and benefitting them as well.” MP for Maungakiekie, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, accompanied the Minister. He said, “I’m extremely proud of the achievements of one of our local schools which serves our community well. The future of our children is secure and bright with the teaching and hard work of the teachers and staff.”
Minster and MP to Visit Carey College
01 March, 2011
The Associate Minister of Education, the Hon Rodney Hide, and the MP for Maungakiekie, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, will be visiting Carey College tomorrow to familiarise themselves with the school and for discussion with the Principal on issues relating to the effective delivery of Christian schooling.
Good Weather & Good Sausages!
16 February, 2011
We were blessed with a fine evening (despite the weather forecast) for this year's picnic. Once again the Fishers cooked while the rest of us ate and enjoyed getting to know other school families. Photos can be seen on our flickr site.
The picnic was followed by a meeting of parents and children explaining how Cambridge exams work at Carey College. Senior College courses are now being finalised and students should be settling into routine.
2011 School Year Starts Well
03 February, 2011
School got off to a smooth start on Tuesday, with the Primary class and core Secondary courses getting underway right from the start. Secondary students have been working with staff on selecting course options. These should be settled by tomorrow, and parents will have option forms sent home to check and sign (if happy with them! Parental questions and input are of course welcome.) Today we sent home a form to book your participation in next week's picnic: please fill those in and return Friday. Also today we held our first assembly at which we passed out CIE Result certificates and considered the question of children's place in eternity (that will come up shortly in our Term's Devotional). It was good to have a number of parents in the assembly too.
Encouraging Results from 2010 Cambridge Exams
31 January, 2011
We are thankful for the results from last year's Cambridge exams released last week. Special congratulations go to Elizabeth Jung (year 12) for 100% with Merit for Speaking in Japanese, Gretchen Young (year 12) with 100% in Classical Studies, and Michael Holder (year 11) who gained an A* in Maths and the maximum possible C in Coordinated Sciences (core) after just 1 year of study in in the two year course.
A Good End to a Good Year
18 December, 2010
School closed on Friday for the summer holidays. The previous night's Final Assembly featured some great presentations by children: musical items, speeches and an IT programming challenge. Photos can be viewed here. This year's guest Past Pupil Speaker was Dr Lyndon Drake who challenged parents and pupils to consider the nature of true success. He said that Carey College, though small, clearly made it possible to have academic and vocational success but that there was a better measure of success that the school stood for. His speech is here. We described aspects of our primary art curriculum as well as contrasting the constructivism of the New Zealand Curriculum (the compulsory curriculum for state and integrated schools) with the Carey College Curriculum. The Lotu-Iiga Cup for Christian Character was awarded to Michael Holder, Year 10, and the Premier Award was mde to Elizabeth Jung, Year 12.
The school office is now closed until 17 January 2011, and the new school year begins on Tuesday 1 February 2011.
A time to give thanks ...
17 December, 2010
Today this school year ends, and as Principal I want to express thanks to God and to all those who in his service have made this year one of blessing for Carey College. So much of what goes well in our little school seems to be "normal" that it would be easy to overlook the continual grace of God who watches over us and will not let our foot slip (Psalm 121:3). Thanks too go to the teachers whose dedication and skill are truly great: they serve far beyond their duty. To parents I say "thank you!" for your support and encouragement: it is good to be able to work with you. To the children also I am grateful: they make my work, and the work of all the teachers, a joy. And to my wife Priscilla, who not only unfailingly supports me, but does heaps of unseen tasks in keeping the school functional, "thank you too!" May you all know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ at Christmas, and have a restful and refreshing holiday. ~ Michael L Drake, Principal 
