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Presbyterian Church Schools' Resource Office Newsletter
January 2019
Kia ora tatou
 I hope that you have all had a wonderful Christmas and a refreshing Summer break. During my break I enjoyed catching up on a few Netflix recommendations, one of which was The True Cost a 2015 movie by Andrew Morgan about the fast-fashion industry and the horrendous environmental and social impacts it is having on the wellbeing, health and safety of clothing factory workers in developing countries. The movie highlights too the insatiable demand in the western world for cheap clothing (a demand which is said to have increased in the USA by 500% over the last two decades, with all but 3% of garments sold in the USA now being manufactured overseas).
I recommend it for viewing if you haven't already seen it. While it is uncomfortable to watch it feels important to be confronted with the global environmental and social consequences of our local purchasing practices.
The theme in the movie of our addiction to consumption also put me in mind of the Mental Health and Addiction Government inquiry report which came out at the end of last year. That report, with its 40 wide-ranging recommendations, highlighted the severity of the problem NZ faces in regard to mental health and addiction. According to the reporting on Stuff, it acknowledged that 'consumerism and competitive values were also seen to be part of the problem. "Many people are buying more, but according to surveys we're less happy"...we have much to learn from cultures that value collectivism and emphasise family, spirituality and connection to each other and the natural environment.'
Creating mentally healthy and addiction-free communities is of course a significantly complex and multi-faceted issue which requires both macro and micro approaches if change is to come. I am not wanting to minimise the problem here or the approaches needed, but it seems to me that Presbyterian church schools in their commitment to living within a Christian ethos have something that is life-giving to offer. One example: we celebrate God's story found in Scripture as one which insists that as part of God's deeply loved creation 'we are enough' and that there is more than enough for everyone (eg the stories about Jesus feeding the crowds). Abundance to be shared with others rather than scarcity to be grasped to ourselves is the message we are called to embody.
The simple practise of gratitude, traditionally found in one of its most common forms in the saying of grace before a meal, is worth intentionally developing in daily school life. Practising gratitude for who we are and what we already have stands as a transformative counter-story to the prevailing story that we need to have more and more, preferably bigger and better than what others have in order to be happy and of any worth.
Our forebears in faith are witnesses to the intentional practise of gratitude as being a pathway to peace, joy and life. .
Peace and joy to you all as you jump into the new term at your schools.
Sharon Ross Ensor
Director
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News from the Resource Office Director
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I have given notice of my resignation from the role of Director of the Presbyterian Schools' Resource Office. I will be finishing in the role at the end of Term 1 with my last day on Wednesday April 10th.
This year I will be taking up part-time study at Wintec for a Post-Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision and I also want to be open to new ministry opportunities here in the Waikato.
As I wrote in my letter of resignation 'It has been both a joy and a privilege to work in this role for nearly five years and I have been very grateful for the opportunity to develop relationships with and support the Principals, Chaplains, RE/CE Teachers and Board members in the Presbyterian schools around New Zealand. It would be hard to find a group of people who are as passionate, skilled and committed to their work as those I have worked alongside and supported in the Presbyterian Schools’ network. I will leave this role feeling that the Resource Office has helped to create good momentum in bolstering the connection between the PCANZ and the schools, that the Presbyterian schools’ network has been strengthened and that useful resources for Chapel and classroom have been developed.
Much remains to be done though and I feel confident that whoever steps into the role will find good support and encouragement for the ongoing, important work of the Resource Office from both within the schools and the PCANZ.'.
The Resource Office Advisory Group are currently working on establishing a process for appointing a new person to the Director's role.
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Columba College students partnered with Presbyterian Support Otago to provide Christmas boxes for children in need. The girls, working in groups, contributed goods for the boxes along with handmade cards with heart-felt messages.
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Columba College in Dunedin have announced the appointment of Pauline Duthie as their new Principal. Pauline is currently the Principal at Christchurch Girls' High School and will be remembered by many in our network as the former Principal of Iona College. We look forward to welcoming Pauline (back) to the network when she takes up her new role in early March.
Rev Warren Fortune is retiring at the end of Term One as Chaplain at Lindisfarne College after 23 years in the role. Thank you Warren for your involvement in and contribution to the Presbyterian Schools' network over all these years. We wish you a blessed, peace-filled and joyful 'new season'. Mā te Atua koe e manaaki e tiaki, May God bless you and protect you.
The Chaplain's position at Lindisfarne is currently being advertised with applications closing on February 15th. You can find the advertisement and links to the Job Description and application form here.
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Presbyterian Church Schools' Conference - save the date
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The Presbyterian Church Schools' conference will be hosted in Auckland by Saint Kentigern College and Schools this year. It will be held on Thursday August 8 and Friday August 9, with the main conference being at the Pakuranga campus and the conference dinner at Saint Kentigern Boys' School in Remuera.
More information about the conference will be available over the next few months, but meanwhile please save the date!
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Resources on Environmental Care
With awareness being heightened about the vital importance of playing our part in caring for the environment, a number of resources are available on an Environmental Care page on the Resource Office web-site at www.presschools.org.nz/resources/environmental-care/
The resources include a link to the powerpoint slides used by Prof Gary Wilson in his presentation to the 2018 Presbyterian Schools' conference about climate change.
The page also has a three lesson unit for Year 9-10 based on a chapter from the book Pursuing Peace in Godzone (which all Chaplains were sent a copy of last year). The unit looks at the story titled Restoring Karioi: Ecology, Community and the Practice of Peace.which explores the partnership the Christian environment group A Rocha has developed with the Raglan community in restoring the ecological health and wellbeing of Mount Karioi.
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Tactile Prayers resource
Rowan Cant, who has many years experience in both social work and youth work, has produced a wonderful prayer resource called Tactile Prayers: Activities for prayer, journaling and contemplation.
Rowan, for those of you interested in family connections, is brother in law to Malcolm Gordon (Dunedin-based Presbyterian minister, theologian and singer/songwriter known to many in our network).
The resource is over 90 pages long, spiral bound and printed on good quality paper. It is a collection of prayer ideas including suggestions for self-awareness and reflection via drawing, writing and colouring-in pages.
One of our school Chaplains has ordered copies for each of her Year 9 students to help them focus the reflection and journalling time she regularly leads with them.
You can see a sample of six pages from the resource here. The book is non-copyright open source shareware. It has a QR code which links to a folder where you can download the book to print off pages or upload your own contributions. The Resource Office has a copy to loan if you would like to have a closer look.
Tactile Prayers is $15 each for orders of ten or more.
You can contact Rowan at jollygoodas@gmail.com to place an order.
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Christian Meditation in schools
Rt Rev'd Dr Kelvin Davis, a Regional Facilitator for the Anglican Schools' Office, visited a Catholic primary school in Christchurch at the end of last year in order to learn more about their regular Christian meditation practices with their students.
You can read an account of his visit here Some feel quite unsure about introducing Christian meditation to students in our network. I encourage you to read Kelvin's article which has some fascinating observances including 'several classroom teachers voiced their enthusiasm for the program and for what it has done for the school in terms of morale, behaviour and appreciation for the school's special character...Staff told me this has had a remarkable effect on playground behaviour....'
Remember too the contemplative resources available on our Christian Contemplation Curriculum web-site www.ccc.net.nz
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Presbyterian Church Schools’ Resource Office on Facebook
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Follow us on Facebook and ‘like us’. I post stories, events, news, photos and other information about what is happening in our Presbyterian church schools on a regular basis to encourage a sense of connection amongst our schools. You can view our Facebook page here.
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