Newsletter No.13 Friday 18th May 2012 Dear Parents

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE DEMANDS OF LIFE

Parents and Christian school educators have the delightful and sometimes frustrating task of raising and teaching children to live productive lives that will bring honour to Christ. When we think of children and young people, it is important that we keep the long range, full life perspective in view. Life is like a tapestry. The total picture is not complete until the last threads are finally woven into the work. The early weaving, of course, greatly affects the completed picture.

There is much more to our job description as the 'molders and shapers' of the next generation than training children in the basics of elementary literacy. Quality academics is important but proficiency in basic skills represents only a few threads in the overall tapestry of life. Preparing young people for the demands of life involves much more than filling students' minds with information and training them in the rudiments of making a living. A partial list of our broader responsibilities in helping children develop an inner and outer order in their lives is as follows: 1) Inspire them to follow Jesus Christ: Too simplistic? Most often children will receive Christ as their personal Saviour when they see Christ in their parents and teachers. Be a soul-winner. Begin by lovingly leading your own children to a salvation experience with Jesus Christ. "Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way" (Proverbs 23:19). Christ is the cornerstone upon which meaningful lives are built.

2) Maintain positive confidence in your children: Our youngsters and young people assimilate more from us than most of us realize—not the least of which is their own perception of themselves. Your children and mine will believe they are worthwhile, that they are significant to God and that they can lead useful lives if we, their parents, speak positively about them. Too often we major on their shortcomings. We are forever after them about the things they do wrong—and we need to direct them. But the predominant message they should hear from us is that God loves them, we love them and that God has a unique plan for their lives. Our ever-present verbal support of our children is essential to their confident approach to the future. 3) Stimulate their vision: Train your children to visualize a wide variety of useful things they can do with their lives. Teach them to set short-range and long-range goals and then encourage, encourage and encourage! There are too many young people today who have no vision for the future. Parents and teachers can do much to expand youthful horizons. 4) Teach them patience: Patience is becoming a lost virtue in our 'instant everything' society. In Romans 8:25 we read, "But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." The modern day decline in patience often means a decline in human relations, in-depth worthwhile achievements and a relaxed lifestyle conducive to emotional tranquility. By word and example, teach your children patience. 5) Train them to cope with failure: Patience and coping with failure go hand in hand. It takes both patience and courage to pick yourself up off the floor, so-to-speak, and try and try again. Thomas Edison made 586 experimental failures before finding the right filament for a light bulb. Admiral Robert Perry spent 23 years searching for the North Pole before finally reaching it after eight attempts.

Blast from the Past

Hebron Happenings

6) Teach them humility: The Scripture says, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4). A proper understanding of who the Lord is brings humility. In our attempts to inspire children and young people to "make something of their lives" we must never overlook their need to acknowledge God as the divine sovereign of their lives. 7) Ground them in the Word: If we are to effectively prepare students for the long-range demands of life, it is imperative that they have the stabilizing influence of Biblical principles to guide them. A favourite verse of mine is, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105). The chances of your children developing a pattern of personal Bible reading are greatly enhanced if they see their parents faithfully reading God's Word. My own three daughters consistently read the Scriptures each day, primarily because they have observed this pattern in their parents. Your children and mine need the stability of God's Word in their lives.

There is an interesting advertisement on one of the commercial pages of a recent ACSI Directory. The headline reads, "The Real Test." In the centre of the page in small type is this simple but profound statement: "Success in school has little value if you fail in life." Our children need not "fail in life" if we prayerfully prepare them with biblio-centric principles of practical Christian living1.

It is always a great joy to catch up with past students and to hear how they are going in adult life. This week, two ex-Hebron students visited us. Izumi Iwasa came to our school from Japan and returned to her homeland after finishing high school in 2004. She has now graduated from university as a psychologist. Brodie Trebilco followed her two older brothers, Michael and Barrett, to Hebron Christian College, joining our New Entrant class in 1993 and eventually left us in 2006. Brodie works at the Auckland Art Gallery.

News from Africa Hebron Mums Monique Douglas and Cathy Gillies have arrived safely in Tanzania and are down to work at the New life Foundation orphanage. Monique writes:

Hujambo Hebron Community

By the time you read this we will have been in Tanzania for just over a week. It is rainy season over here so the weather is very changeable. The advantage of the rain is that the country is very green, which is quite different from the Mission Team trip last July and there is no dust to polish off our shoes, only mud.

Cathy has been busy teaching the Fountain of Joy girls vocational sewing and English lessons. These skills are vital for the girls when they leave the FOJ programme to ensure they have the ability to earn an income for their families. As they have often been rescued from the streets, their English is very limited so Cathy is increasing their language skills using games and repetition. Cathy is very impressed with the way the girls work swiftly and independently. The projects that normally take 6 hours in NZ have only taken them 2 hours to complete.

I have been working on images and narrative for the new NLF website. In the last few days I have been interviewing many of 1 By Dr Paul A. Kienel, past Executive Director, Association of Christian Schools International

the students and asking them to share a story about God’s hand in their lives. It has been an amazing blessing to hear student after student witness to the power of God to save, heal, forgive and set free from witchcraft and spiritual bondage. These teenagers have been through so much and yet they are joyful, content and on fire for God. Tomorrow we will visit the High School (Form 5) and reconnect with the oldest students.

Kwa heri

Sports Results This last week’s sports results are Sport Level Opponent Result Netball Primary Y3 & Y4 Played Cornwall Park Gold Won 2-1 Intermediate Kowhai D Won 3-2 Wesley C Won 4-3 Secondary Selwyn College Lost 13-17 Futsal intermediate Ponsonby Int Lost Basketball Intermediate Kowhai Red Won 43-2 ouch! World vision 40hr Famine In the non-Mission year, we encourage children to participate in the World Vision 40 Hour Famine where children in Year 7 and older classes commit to going without food for 40 hours to raise money for overseas aid projects. Children younger than Year 7 are encouraged to go without non-food items such as computer games, talking, TV, etc. This year the money will go to Mali to fund irrigation projects in arid areas. Please be generous and sponsor a child who approaches you with a 40Hr famine booklet and a big smile! It’s all for a good cause! Mastermind Tests Every two years, we run a “Mastermind” competition in the primary school, testing children on their general knowledge then giving those children who excel, the opportunity to go through to the final on Tuesday 19th June where they are once again tested on their general knowledge and a topic of their choice. Mastermind testing will take place on Monday next week. Perhaps we should have a Mastermind Test for Parents asking questions like:

• How many wings does a honeybee have? • What is the capital of Bolivia? • What’s the chemical symbol for water? • Who invented the steam engine? • Who is the Prime Minister of the UK?

• What do the letters MFAT stand for? • Who wrote “Lord of the Rings”? • How many sides does a rhombus have? • Who won the last Soccer World Cup? • Name the 7th planet from the sun.

Answers at the end of the newsletter. New Zealand Christian Schools Leaders Conference Next week 3 Hebron senior teachers (Mr Breetvelt, Mrs Scott and Mrs Seah) and myself will be attending a 3-day conference for Christian school leaders at the Chancellor Hotel, Mangere starting Thursday afternoon and finishing on Saturday midday. Consequently the four of us will not be at school next Friday. School will carry on as normal and I have asked Mrs Greybe to be Acting Principal in my absence. The conference delegates from all over New Zealand will blessed to see and hear our very own Year 13 Head Girl Emily-Anne Muli singing to them after the Friday night dinner and before the keynote speaker. Intermediate Sports Camp Training Begins Fourteen Year 7 and 8 Hebron students have been selected for the Intermediate Sports Camp. Our students will combine with eighteen Elim Christian College Year 7 and 8 students and travel to Totara Christian Camp, Matamata on Monday 11th June to compete for the Overall Intermediate Sports Cup. Each team will participate in a variety of different sporting activities including: basketball, hockey, swimming, table tennis, handball, rugby, cage soccer, softball, netball, crochet, chess, wallball, scramble, volleyball, touch rugby, triathalon & athletics

Upcoming Events

Homestays needed for Japanese students

The Hebron/Elim Sorts Camp team Peter Biondic practising his soccer skills This afternoon, Elim children travelled to Hebron and the team members met for the first time for one of 4 training sessions practicing netball and soccer. A Star of Persia Musical Well, the cast has been chosen for Star of Persia, our school musical, which will be held in early September. Esther will be played by Sofia Berry, King Xerxes by Michael Nuysink, Haman by Jonathan Sellar, Mordecai by Joshua Scott and Vashti by Ruth Turner. While the major parts are played by secondary students, it is planned that all the primary school will have the opportunity to be on stage at some point in the production. Rehearsals start next Monday after school, but usually only the major players need attend, and they will be told individually. Most of the primary school will not be needed after school. Mrs Rauch will be teaching the primary school their songs during music classes. Decisions about costumes are still being made. If there are any parents who would like to help, please let us know. We would be grateful for whatever time you may volunteer to give us, whatever your skill. We will try to send out updates regularly, but if you have any questions, please feel free to speak to Mrs Huston, Mrs Rauch or Mrs Scott. Rehearsal: Monday 21st May, 3.30-5.00pm Act 1, Scenes 1, 2, & 3 Students required: Michael Nuysink, Joel Collecutt, Logan Griffiths, Rebecca Cummins, Thelma Magengezha, Elijah Gillies, Nikhil Chauhan, Ruth Turner, Madeline Schnell, Genevieve Ross, Bethany Oram, Sherene Rajkumar, Annalina Crosbie. New Entrant Testing Current Hebron families sometimes forget to inform us that they have a child ready to start school. As we are now processing our Term 3 new Entrant intake, the office staff would remind current families with children about to start school to complete an application form and pass it into the office as soon as possible. Many thanks.

We now have ¾ of our 20 Japanese high school students visiting us for 9 days in Term 3, 2nd-10th August billeted in Hebron homes but need some more families to volunteer. Would you offer to have one of these students? Males can share bedrooms and females can share bedrooms if need be. You will be paid $360 and will need to supply all meals (including a lunch for schooldays), wash clothes where needed and assist with transport to/from school. Please let me know of your availability and whether you prefer a male or female or either-or.

Mums in Touch

Hebron Mums in Touch meet every Tuesday morning from around 9am in the school staffroom to pray for the school. All are welcome including pre-schoolers (we have lots of toys). Have an enjoyable weekend.

Geoff Matthews Principal Answers to quiz…

• How many wings does a honeybee have? 4 • What is the capital of Bolivia? La Paz • What’s the chemical symbol for water? H2O • Who invented the steam engine? James Watt • Who is the Prime Minister of the UK? David Cameron • What do the letters MFAT stand for? Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade • Who wrote “Lord of the Rings”? J.R.R. Tolkien. • How many sides does a rhombus have? 4 • Who won the last Soccer World Cup? Spain • Name the 7th planet from the sun. Uranus