http://www.careycollege.com/News.html Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:14:47 GMT We have received a good Education Review Office report following our September review. The report confirms that the school is meeting all legal obligations and notes that children are taught in a settled environment, that students work quietly with a high level of independence, and that students know and respond positively to the schools expectations. As well as noting that the Cambridge Curriculum has been integrated into the school's teaching at all levels, it reports that International Students are successfully included in the school's life and are well supported. The ERO will publish the report on its site in about two weeks, but you can view it here now. Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:40:09 GMT 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 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:24:22 GMT 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. Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:11:15 GMT 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. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:14:42 GMT 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. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:44:15 GMT 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. Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:45:24 GMT 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. Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:50:19 GMT 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.” Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:50:51 GMT The Meeting on "Keeping Children Safe" planned for 24 March has been cancelled. Our guest speaker became unavailable. Rather than hastily reschedule it, we have not set a new date but hope to take up this topic again before the year progresses too far! Thu, 07 Apr 2011 10:53:40 GMT At today's monthly assembly, we explored the changes in culture found with the introduction of sin in Genesis 3. We looked at culture as the way we live, the things we do that arise from what we believe and think. The culture from Heaven of Genesis 2 was one of truth based on faith in what God said. The culture of Genesis 3 was one of deceit based on experience. Genesis 3 brought shame, blame and death in place of righteousness, peace and life. We plan in future assemblies to look at the implications of that for the way children study and live. Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:46:45 GMT 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 . Fri, 08 Apr 2011 09:58:30 GMT School closed for the end of Term One today. Term One has been very successful and I would like to thank the Staff and students for their efforts. Science Projects were the focus of attention this week, with all projects due to be completed today. The projects will be judged during the Term Break and displayed at the Carey College Science Fair held on Friday 6 May at 7pm. Please keep this date free so that you can attend, as this promises to be a very interesting evening. After Easter Monday, and Anzac Day, school begins again for Term 2 on Tuesday 26 April. Dates such as these are printed in the Term/Module Record books, and on the Carey College home page as Key Dates this Term and on Google calendar there. Regards Eunice Hall Associate Principal Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:23:48 GMT Today Primary children will take home the last of their Term 1 art works (except for those whose paintings are on display in the classroom). This large painting was modelled on an expressionist painting by Alexej Jawlensky Mr Drake first saw in a gallery in London. Expressionism can be cute - this painting was - with a simplistic rendering of the subject. It was well suited for using in the class to help children master the proportional representation of a child's figure, use different techniques for applying paint to achieve texture, colour and form and to introduce shading in response to the direction of the light falling on the subject. And it was fun! Pictured is Kaitlin Fisher's painting. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:51:06 GMT As part of our commitment to training Christian teachers for Christian schools, we are supporting Mr Pope in his degree studies through Waikato University. Part of that course requires his engagement in practical work in various schools (including Carey College). For most of this term he will be on leave to complete one of those "practicums". Mrs Hall and Mr Drake wil pick up some of the science and maths classes Mr Pope has been teaching, and Mrs Holmes will break into her year's leave to take the senior maths courses for 8 weeks. Also this term we welcome Mr Scott-Wilson (who is studying at the Bethlehem Training Institute) for his practicum, working mainly in the secondary school. The Senior Primary and Junior College students' technology course this term includes cooking, which Miss Eastwood will be teaching from next week. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 10:23:30 GMT 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! Fri, 13 May 2011 21:53:12 GMT One of the highlights of our year, the annual Carey College Science Fair is now set for the evening of 2 June. All science students in years 7 through 13 have prepared projects as part of the practical component of their science courses. These will be on display from 7:00 pm with an award ceremony at 7:30 pm. The best projects will be entered in the NIWA Auckland City Science and Technology Fair later this year. All parents, friends and pupils are welcome.. http://www.careycollege.com/News.html/Partner_Schools.html Tue, 31 May 2011 22:27:30 GMT We are delighted to announce that agreement has been reached with Manukau Christian School for Carey College to be the exclusive provider of secondary schooling for their pupils. That means we will enable the transfer of their pupils directly into our Year 9 in the same way we transition our own primary students into their first year of secondary schooling. There are three benefits from this: 1. Students from Manukau Christian School now have Christian secondary schooling through Carey College as an extension of their own school; 2. Carey College will be blessed with additional secondary students who are ready for our secondary courses; and 3. the blessing of Christian schooling will be promoted to a wider community. More information is here. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 06:48:33 GMT 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. Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:10:31 GMT 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. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:51:09 GMT Mr Drake is scheduled to be in the UK till the beginning of September. Among other things he will be working with Cambridge University on a revision of the A Levels Divinity Syllabus, and studying a course at OXford Univeristy on literary features of New Testament Greek (which we hope will also strengthen our A Levels Divinity Courses). He will also be undertaking research and having a holiday. (When first planned it was goings to be a sabbatical, but that will have to wait till another time!) Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:52:35 GMT Pray for our Secondary (Year 9-13) students who are sitting internal mid-year exams in the week beginning 27 June. Click here for the timetable. These are important checks on student progress, and will inform our teaching in the second half of the year. Results will be recorded in the Secondary Reports issued 22 July. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:53:33 GMT 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. Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:33:16 GMT 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! Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:05:42 GMT 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. http://www.careycollege.com/News.html/Careers.html Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:04:31 GMT Our new Careers Page is an important new resource for parents and students. Check it out for up-coming events: at present it is listing a couple of university information events and two exciting summer camps. There are also permanent links to the NZ Careers Service, and a selection of other sites with information and guidance on careers and study. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:05:27 GMT Class and individual photos were taken today. We expect them to be available at the start of next term. If parents requested an individual photo, a pack for approval will be sent home. Every child in a class photo will also receive a copy on approval. There is no obligation to buy, but we ask that either payment be made or photos returned promptly. Mon, 19 Sep 2011 12:55:29 GMT 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. Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:32:19 GMT The school will close for the end of Term Three at 2.00pm on Friday 23 September for the two week school break. End of Term Three has different connotations for the different grades: for some it means summer is coming, daylight saving begins and it's time to bring out the sunhats for summer. But for our senior students it means one last term break for revision, before final examinations; less sun and more study, at least for a while. We wish them well for their exam preparation. Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:22:31 GMT Term 4 begins today. This is a very full term dominated by senior college Cambridge exams and climaxing in our Final Assembly at the end of the term. Key dates and items for prayer are listed in this term's diary. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 08:47:49 GMT Such a busy term - we couldn't keep up with posting events! Here are highlights: At our Final Assembly Daniel Brinkman (pictured with Mr Drake) was presented with both the Lotu-Iiga Cup for Christian Character and the school's Premier Award - our congratulations to an outstanding pupil who completed a very good last year of schooling. Our Electorate MP Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga attended the assembly and presented his cup to Daniel after a speech in which he made a very clear call for students and the school to always put Christ first. Cambridge Exams (including practicals in art and the sciences) were completed without incident. Year 1-9 Cambridge Progression tests were completed without incident. School exams were completed without incident. We farewelled Mrs Fisher with a special presentation at the Final Assembly. Junior Secondary students completed a successful special studies last week that included a visit to Auckland University; a workshop with the manager of the Panmure WestPac Bank on banking and personal finances; and a field-study of Panmure's rich history and culture. Year 13 students enjoyed a Study Link workshop in preparation for university. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:13:54 GMT 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.” Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:17:11 GMT Welcome back to school. We are excited to get back to teaching, confident of God’s faithfulness in a new year. Last week another set of very pleasing Cambridge exam results came through, staff engaged in three days of Professional Development, we finished a summer programme of maintenance in the grounds and buildings, and completed planning for the first term. Keeping in Touch Over the last month we have trialled a new emailed-newsletter format. The trial has run smoothly so we plan to make it a key way of keeping in touch with you. Our aim is to email a newsletter each Monday, highlighting events, courses and school news. We will not normally send out printed newsletters: parents who don’t have regular access to email need to let us know so that we can send printed copies home. If you are not receiving our Email Newsletter, fill in the box at the top of this page and ensure you get your copy every week straight to your own mailbox.