In the Next Week : 31 January to 7 February 2012

Tuesday 31 January

Year 6 Cricket trials: 3.30pm – 4.30pm.

Wednesday 1 February

Tennis practice for Inter club teams: 7.25am – 8.25am.
Years 4 to 8 Fitness session – School pool: 7.40am – 8.10am. (Boys must bring their swimming togs). Uniform Shop: 8.00am – 9.00am.
Water Polo Trials – School pool: 12.30pm.
No Robotics Club.
Chorister Auditions for new boys (Years 6 to 8) – Music Room: 1.00pm – 1.45pm.
Year 5 Cricket trials: 3.30pm – 4.30pm.
Years 1 to 4 Class Barbecue – The Junior School Lawn: 5.30pm – 7.30pm. (New Date)
If wet the barbecue will be cancelled, but there will be ‘Meet-the-Teacher’ meetings. Parents would initially meet in the library at 6.00pm, before moving to their son’s classroom. (Please note that boys would not attend if it is wet). Parents will be advised by etext.

Thursday 2 February

Cricket Practices commence. Please note that boys will have been informed of their cricket team and practice schedule on Wednesday with the exception of the Year 5 boys.
Water Polo Trials – School pool: 12.30pm.
Chorister Auditions for new boys (Years 6 to 8) – Music Room: 1.00pm – 1.45pm.
Models Club starts next Thursday 9 February.

Friday 3 February

Year 7 Orientation Day – Orton Bradley Park: 8.30am – return by 3.00pm.
Tennis practice for Inter club team: 7.25am – 8.25am.
Karate commences next Friday 10 February.
Fencing commences next Friday 10 February.
Touch Rugby commences next Friday 10 February.
Cricket Coaching commences next Friday 10 February.

Saturday 4 February

Cricket Competition matches commence. (Please see weekly sports draw).
Boarders’ Weekend.

Sunday 5 February

Boarders’ Service – The Medbury Centre: 9.00am

Monday 6 February

Waitangi Day.
SCHOOL CLOSED.

Tuesday 7 February

Tennis Coaching for boys who signed up in Years 5 & 6: 7.25am – 8.25am.

General

The email address for absentees is absentees@medbury.school.nz
The email address for ordering uniform is helen.kay@medbury.school.nz

Dear Parents,

Welcome to the 2012 Medbury School year. It is great to hear the sound of the boys laughing and chattering around the school buildings again. It is clearly apparent that they had a wonderful holiday and a well-deserved break.

We welcome over sixty new boys and their families into the Medbury community. Please make an effort to introduce yourself to them and assist them with settling in. The Year level barbecues provide an excellent opportunity for this to occur. The Years 1 – 4 barbecue is being held this Wednesday from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Mr Ryan Shaughnessy joins us from St Andrew’s College as the Year 8 Team Leader. Ryan has had a wealth of experience working in Independent Schools and will be a wonderful asset to the Medbury staff. We also welcome back Mrs Princeton, (nee Robinson), who returns after a year’s maternity leave.

Unfortunately, Ms Hannah Clarkson, our drama teacher has had to resign because of the ill health of her son Basil. They will be spending a significant time at Starship Hospital in Auckland. The school’s thoughts and prayers are with her family. We are, however, fortunate that Ms Lizzie Cooke, who taught Drama and French at Medbury last year, will return and continue teaching in these areas. I am currently looking to appoint someone to take extra curricular Drama and Dance Classes.

Over the last week the staff have been undergoing some professional development and reflecting on the 2011 school year. Utilising these reflections and combining them with the 2011 school wide data, we have been able to complete the School Focus for 2012. It is my intention to share these documents with you over the next three weeks.

I recently went to see the movie, ‘The Iron Lady’ which I thought was superb. Margaret Thatcher had some very thought provoking speeches and one that particularly impressed me is presented below. The simplicity of the words and the depth of their impact caught my attention. These words of wisdom can be an excellent discussion point at some time with your children.

I wish you all the very best for this exciting year and hope that it remains more peaceful and less stressful than 2011.

Yours sincerely,
Peter Kay
Headmaster

“Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words as they become your action.
Watch your actions as they become habits.
Watch your habits , for they become your character.
And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Margaret Thatcher