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Presbyterian Church Schools' Newsletter Term 1 2021
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FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
Kia ora tatou,
I hope everyone reading this newsletter has had a relaxing break and has been re-energized for 2021. With all the turmoil of last year I think we can reasonably face the new year with cautious optimism. Even if our blessed freedom from disease is compromised we have proven we can adapt which is comforting as we continue to face an uncertain future.
I hope you like the cover photo this term. It is three greeting cards featuring art from Rangi Ruru students Sophia Smith, Hannah Margison and Esther Hwang. It is a collaboration between the school and Presbyterian Support Upper South Island to produce a fundraising opportunity for PSUSI. Do any other schools do such things? I’d love to hear about them.
I’m not sure what your policies are on the use of cell phones but I have been dying to share this resource my predecessor left me. Perhaps it can become a ritual in your classrooms, staffrooms and boardrooms this year. It’s called the “Liturgy of the Cell Phone”
Releasing Phones
Leader: We surrender our phones
Response: To acknowledge that we are not essential as we would have ourselves believe. And to recognise how essential we are to this moment, this conversation, this process.
Leader: We put down our phones
Response: to put down the false belief that we can be more places than here, doing more things than this. And to commit to being fully present, here and now.
Leader: We turn off our phones
Response: to turn to each other and to the moment at hand, with full attention, creativity and welcome.
May we receive the gifts of full presence and essential connection. May God meet us in this moment.
Phones are shut down and surrendered eg. a basket passed round and phones placed in them
Retrieving Phones
Leader: We return from this moment, taking with us the gift of being fully present.
Response: May we return with gratitude and perspective to the tasks before us and the noise around us, a little more willing to resist the urgency and a little more able to receive the quiet gifts of each moment where God is present alongside us. AMEN
What do you think? If anyone tries it please share how it went.
Ka kite ano
Stephanie Wells (Director)
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CONFERENCE
(Presbyterian Church Schools of Aotearoa New Zealand)
Reminder
The 2021 conference will be at St Andrew’s College, in Christchurch, 5-6 August. The theme is “The Power of the Word”
Student Gathering
We will again be inviting two Year 12’s from each school to join with their contemporaries in devising service ideas for the following year. A local Presbyterian Support team is booked to talk about their work. We will also have some local students sharing about the introduction of the Student Army concept into schools, plus much, much more.
IN ADDITION
The NZ Association of Religious Education Teachers and School Chaplains conference will be in Christchurch 2-4 August.
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NEWS FROM SCHOOLS
WELCOME to all the new staff that have joined this network of schools. And welcome back to everyone else.
FAREWELL and many thanks to Barrie Keenan who resigned from the Independent Schools New Zealand Board in August 2020. Also to Ingrid Taylor who recently resigned from her position on this Board as Deputy Chair. (Barrie was a representative of Scots and Ingrid initially came on based on her involvement with Queen Margaret College).
And FAREWELL to Anne van Gend, Executive Director of the Anglican Resource Office. Anne is resigning from this role that she has held for over seven years to work with the Dunedin Diocese. Due to Anne’s drive for collaboration the Presbyterian Schools network has been able to be part of their much wider resource base and to tap into her own expertise. She has been a tremendous help and inspiration to many.
CONGRATULATIONS to David Jackson, chaplain at Scots College, who will be ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand on 19 February. And to Jo Morrow, assistant chaplain at St Andrew’s College, who was recently appointed Principal of Rochester and Rutherford Hall (Halls of Residence for Canterbury University) Learn more in this Facebook link. (and FAREWELL and Thank You from the chaplain's role.)
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Presbyterian Children and Families Ministry
Welcome to Diane Mckinstry who was appointed the new co-director of Children and Families just before Christmas. She lives in Whangarei and has a background in teaching at all levels including early childhood education amongst other things. Check out a bit more in the department’s most recent newsletter “Woven”.
Do visit the website for lots of resources for the year for younger children and families. Plus follow them on Facebook and Instagram: “Presbyterian Children & Families” and “childrenandfamiliespcanz”.
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Presbyterian Youth Ministry
In their recent newsletter The Buzz the team is promoting Easter Camps (events worth promoting to students} and their own youth leadership event “Connect” - all of which we hope will go ahead this year. Whatever happens they will also be having on-line Connect training evenings on Zoom which students and staff may like to dip into. The Buzz is also promoting the recently developed video leadership formation course “Emerge”. They suggest a church context but I’m sure it could work with school groups too. See details on their website.
The website also has a list of the Presbyterian campsites spread throughout the country that may be helpful when planning outdoor education trips, retreats, etc. Not on the list, but also worth considering is Te Kahano O Te Aroha Marae in Lower Hutt (Contact Hine Crown enih@xtra.co.nz)
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Global Mission
Phil King has branched out into promoting Peace and Care for Creation studies as COVID has restricted the global aspect of his work. He’s super happy to provide resources or come to talk to classes or staff on this and what global mission is about. Check out Global Mission | Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand for contact details and great stories about what people have done, and are still doing. Schools may be interested in Charissa Nicol (Rangi Ruru chaplain) and her family’s trip to Taiwan. Nicol Family trip to Taiwan.pdf (presbyterian.org.nz). You can also check out their Facebook page “Global Mission Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.”
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ANGLICAN CHURCH SCHOOLS
website www.anglicanschools.nz - a reminder to use this when searching for ideas for this year. For example, they have a COVID-19 section with information plus interesting chapel ideas both on-line and for when we can gather.
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TERTIARY CONNECTIONS
This Office and PYM are working with tertiary chaplains to produce transition information for school students moving into tertiary institutions which we plan to roll out by the end of this year. In the meantime if you still have connections with former students who will be going to university, polytech, etc please pass on the following;
Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy
Canterbury University
Wellington
Auckland University
*Best links, I’m told, come from chaplains being sent students’ details (with their permission, of course) so they can contact them early in the semester. Students tend to get overwhelmed with all the other stuff they need to do.
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FUN PROP
I found these “Emoti-Pong” table tennis balls at The Warehouse ($8). They show a variety of emotions, some of which you may need to define. I could see them being useful for students to express feelings without being verbal, or having fun with difficult emotions by throwing or hitting the ball, or being the focus of a group discussion on what it means to be sad, mad, glad, etc. Perhaps extra emoti-pongs could also be devised on blank balls to fill in any gaps.
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PICTURE BOOKS
Further to last year’s newsletter, where I highlighted Children and Families’ article about the value of picture books for all levels, here are some more ideas: Canterbury University Child Wellbeing Research Institute has produced computer-based but printable picture books for families that are worth checking out, especially if we go into Lockdown again.
Some local (to me) Methodist ministers (with a few Presbyterians thrown in) put together a list of useful books for worship services. If you are interested please contact me, and I'll send you the list. I’d be interested in other people’s recommendations too.
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The University of Otago has launched a Chaplaincy Studies branch of the Theology Department with Rev Dr Graham Redding as its lead. Papers can be done for qualifications such as Masters of Chaplaincy or just for interest. I’m planning on doing Maori Religion and Theology which is held for one week at Ohope Marae in July. Read about it here.
For more information on papers click here.
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BOOKS
Local distributor; Pleroma Christian Supplies has children’s picture books in stock Aroha Knows and Aroha’s Way which I’ve been hearing good things about. I also notice they have some on ANZAC and Kate Sheppard plus other local topics. Have a look here.
Another local distributor, Philip Garside Publishing, has put out their Lent and Easter range at www.pgpl.co.nz. I was particularly intrigued by the study guide by Rachel Mann based on the movie “Rocketman”. Apparently there is another by the same author based on “The Greatest Showman”. Don't they sound fun?
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LENT/EASTER
Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, 17 February this year, and goes until Easter Sunday which is 4 April. Lent has traditionally been a time of giving up stuff like chocolate or social media as penance or an exercise in discipline. However, an alternative is to add things; like setting aside an item per day to give to the local food bank, or doing a random act of kindness every day, or starting something you want to make a habit like journal writing. Last year I decided to fill in a gratitude journal as a daily exercise over Lent. With the stress of Lockdown it was a life-saver, so I can highly recommend this idea for this year. Also, I recently learnt that the 40 days of Lent does not include the Sundays so if you are giving up something this is a day when you can indulge! 🙂
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