Week 5, Term - The Cathedral Grammar School

Grammar Notes
H P
Issue 25, 2016 — Tuesday 23 August
DIARY:
St Mark’s Interschool
Wednesday 24 August
4.00pm Y7 Cantamaths, Horncastle
Arena
5.00pm Y8 Cantamaths, Horncastle
Arena
Thursday 25 August
Otago Maths Problem Challenge
(Set 5)
Canterbury Schools’ Winter
Tournament
Boys’ House Hockey
Tuesday 30 August
2.45pm Leaders’ Assembly
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
From the Principal’s Desk
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We were delighted to welcome St Mark’s Church School, Wellington, last
General Notices
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week.
Pre-School
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St Marks is very similar to Grammar in size and is co-educational for pupils
Pre-School to Y8.
Junior School
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St Marks has a fabulous chapel choir, a number of their pupils sing with
Girls’ & Boys’ Prep Schools
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Friends’ Association
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the Wellington Cathedral Choir, and they have just completed their own
operetta—a similarly grand experience! Truly, a sister school!
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From the Principal’s Desk
Congratulations to our Olympians! It is so awesome to achieve a first for
our country – 18 medals! And, how about those All Blacks?!
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These first few weeks of my time here at Cathedral Grammar are flying
by! Thank you, again, for the warm and supportive welcome that I am
continuing to receive, I feel a part of our school and, as the weeks pass, I am deepening my
understanding of what it stands for, what makes it tick and the varied needs, wants and aspirations
of different stakeholders.
As you know (hopefully!) as a part of this understanding process I am running a number of parent
feedback and ideas forums. Details about these have been communicated via email and through
Grammar Notes, and are included in this edition also. I realize that some of you may feel you have
done this before and may have differing views as to whether you wish to participate again. This is,
of course, totally over to you. All schools plan strategically, and the purpose of this process is to
support the deepening of my understanding as the new leader of our school in order to best
support the board in enhancing our strategic direction. I look forward to working with those of you
who are coming along.
Thank you to everyone who supported the hosting of St Mark’s Church School from Wellington last
week. It was a fantastic week full of sporting and cultural exchanges, culminating in both schools’
choirs performing at Evensong last Thursday. St Mark’s are a very similar school to ours and we are
committed to maintaining and building upon the relationship we have renewed. It has been close
to ten years since they were last here – it would be great to have this as an annual event.
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Thank you also for the lovely service at the Cathedral on Sunday. It was very special to be officially
inducted into our school and for it to take place with you present. An everlasting memory.
The cricket survey that was emailed to all Y3-8 families will remain open until 5.00pm this
Thursday. We have begun analysing the results and will communicate these to you ASAP with
potential next steps as we realize you may need to register for a club should the need arise.
Have a great week!
Mr Scott Thelning
Principal
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From the Board
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With Mr Thelning now a familiar face around the school and in response to a couple of questions
that have come up from parents, the board thought that it would be a good idea to reissue the
note outlining the role of the school board. We also plan to include the profile of one board
member in future issues of Grammar Notes so that you know who is on the board. I note that
profiles of all the board members are available on the school website should you wish to jump
ahead!
Thanks
Abby Foote
Board Chair
Governance vs Management
What is the Board's role?
The Board provides governance, guidance and a strategic framework for the school which allows
the teaching and managerial staff to focus on their roles. The Board’s role is to oversee the school,
making sure it has a clear strategic direction, lives up to its values and remains viable for the future. Board oversight covers all key aspects of the school's operation, from the financial and risk
management to amenities development and key recruitment decisions. It is important to stress
that the Board's role is a governance role. Governance is about vision and organisational direction
as opposed to day-to-day management and implementation of policy and programs.
Why do we need the Board if we have a Principal?
Every school has a board of trustees to provide governance. It is the same with most commercial
organisations, too, whereby the management reports to a board which represents the interests of
the shareholders. In the case of Cathedral Grammar, the shareholder is, in effect, the Anglican
Church, via the Chapter. As noted above, the role of the Board is different from the role of the
Principal. The Board is also responsible for monitoring the performance of the Principal.
What's the difference between the Board's role and the Principal’s role?
Again, you can liken it to the difference between a board of a company and that of the chief executive. The Principal reports to the Board on all aspects of the school's activities and performance,
and in return takes guidance and direction from the Board on strategic and financial matters. The
Board avoids getting involved in day-to-day teaching, curriculum and administrative matters, unless they have broader significance for the running of the school and its future policy setting. The
Principal’s role is to communicate expectations – mission, strategy, policies – to staff and the
School community, and to manage day-to-day operations and program implementation to fulfil
these expectations. The Principal will ensure that the guidance from the Board in terms of vision
and direction is translated into operational practice. As the person in the role of a chief executive,
the Principal also provides advice to the Board to assist it in its deliberations and decision making.
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Moral Citizens
Governance vs Management
How are the Board members chosen?
The boards of independent schools are typically appointed rather than elected. They tend to
operate in a way that is different to the elected boards of state schools and more like a typical
corporate board. When a vacancy arises or there is a need for a particular new skill-set, names are
proposed and vetted by the Board. It is key that there is diversity of skills and perspectives represented on the Board and we are fortunate to have a strong and balanced team at Cathedral
Grammar. All Board members are appointed to the Board by the Chapter for a three year term
which may be renewed on expiry. The Board includes a number of members who are parents,
some of whom have been appointed through a nomination process that is run by the Friends
Association. This is an important way for the Board to ensure that the perspective of parents is
reflected in board decision making. However, once appointed, all board members are there to act
in the best interests of the school, balancing a number of factors in decision making. Parents are
not appointed to the Board simply to act as the representative of a particular group.
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Are the Board members paid? Do they receive a discount on their school fees?
It is entirely voluntary and there is no subsidisation of fees.
Why don't we see more of the Board?
The Board is not intended to be a public facing body. It is important that the Board allows the
Principal to be the public face of the school and that he be allowed to get on with running the
school. In fact, there is often a direct correlation between how well or poorly an organisation is
being run, and how much you hear publicly from the board. In a well-run organisation, as we
believe Cathedral Grammar to be, there is little need for the Board to play a public role.
Who should I contact if I have a question about how the school is being run?
Any enquiries, suggestions, complaints or discussions regarding the operation of the School should
be directed to the Principal in the first instance. The Principal will elevate to the Board any matters
that need to be considered at a governance level. If you have questions or comments regarding
the School’s strategic position or long term vision or which relates directly to the relationship
between the School and the Chapter then those issues should be directed to the Board Chair.
Abby Foote
Board Chair
Scott Thelning
Principal
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Board Profiles
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Mrs Abby Foote LLB (Hons), B.C.A. (Chair)
Abby is a professional director with experience as a
director of both NZX and Crown companies.
Her background is in law and corporate finance. Abby is
currently director of Z Energy Limited, Livestock
Improvement Corporation, BNZ Life Insurance Limited,
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and the
New ZealandLocal Government Funding Agency Limited.
She has also served on the boards of Diligent Corporation,
Transpower New Zealand Limited and Mike Pero
Mortgages Limited. Abby has been a member of the
Board since 2010, and Chair of the Board since 2011.
She has three children at Cathedral Grammar.
Feedback & Ideas Forum Workshop
Wednesday 24 August: 8.15 - 9.15am,3.00 - 4.15pm (afternoon pick-up:
Prep & Family Rooms available)
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Friday 26 August:8.15 - 9.15am
Wednesday 31 August: 8.15- 9.15am, 3.00 - 4.15pm (afternoon pick-up:
Prep & Family Rooms available)
Friday 2nd September: 8.15 - 9.15am
The evening session is Monday 12 September 7.00-8.30pm.
Please RSVP to this for catering purposes.
[email protected]
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Creating Moral Citizens - Virtue of the Week is: Gentleness
Congratulations! You are practising
Gentleness when you…
What is Gentleness?
Gentleness is acting and speaking in a kind,

considerate way. It is using self-control, in or-
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der not to hurt or offend anyone. You can be
gentle with people and animals in the way you
touch them and the way you speak to them,
You handle things carefully so they will not
break or be hurt. When you think gentle
Make it safe for people and animals to be
around you
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Touch carefully

Speak with a soft voice
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Express your feelings peacefully
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Take time out when you don’t feel gentle
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Think gentle thoughts the make you smile
thoughts, it makes the world a safer, gentler
inside
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place.
General Notices
IMPORTANT!!! Operetta Costume Check Next Week
All Prep School pupils (Y4-8) are required to have their costumes in school next Friday (2 September)
for a cast costume check. Each item of your child’s costume must be named, and in a named
supermarket bag, to be kept on top of the lockers. By all means bring bagged costumes to school
earlier than Friday 2 September to avoid the inevitable unhappiness of forgetfulness.
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If you have any questions about your child’s costume, please contact your child’s class teacher in the
first instance.
Montreal Mondays
Montreal Mondays is an informal gathering after drop-off on Monday mornings, all parents
welcome. Look out for Melanie Baynes and Sharee Cowles over at the Hotel Montreal café.
On Wednesday mornings the library is turning into a sewing room! Any parents or grandparents with a
sewing machine or over-locker are invited to come and help sew skirts and tops for The Wizard of Oz.
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General Notices
Motivationz Rugby
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Motivationz Rugby is running its Touch and Sevens Summer programme for boys and girls. The
programme is overseen by Rowan O'Gorman, Canterbury Sevens Coach.
When:
Monday afternoons 12 & 19 September, 10, 17, 24 & 31 October
Where:
Heaton Intermediate back field
Time:
4.00-5.00pm
Cost:
$80 per child; If your whole team books in $70 per child
Ages:
Primary and Intermediate children
Programme focus - Touch Skills; Sevens Skills; Big focus on Catch & Pass, Speed & Agility, Cutting
& Running Lines
To book please contact Anthony on 356 2110 or email through your name, DOB, address and
phone number to [email protected]
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Coming up at Hagley Tennis Club
Hots Shots arrives in the park. This is for players as young as 3 through to 10-years old and
includes games with special balls on smaller-sized courts . A great introduction to tennis.
Holiday Programme: Sessions will be held 26-29 September and 3-6 October from 9.00am12.00pm daily and 1.00-3.00pm . Book any number of days or morning and afternoon sessions..
The weekly cost is $140; morning sessions are $25.00, afternoons $20.00.
Join Mark, Kenta, Caddy and the team in Hagley Park.
Contact Mark Belcher 0274986363 [email protected]
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General Notices
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Co-Curricular Notices
Girls’ House Hockey on Thursday
Girls’ House Hockey is on this Thursday (25 August.) All Y4-8 girls require a mouthguard, shin pads
and, if possible, a hockey stick. The school does have some sticks available to borrow.
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There will be matches at school and at Nunweek Park. Your daughter should know her playing
venue by now, and if she does not should ask her Home Room teacher..
If you wish to collect your daughter directly from Nunweek Park after hockey on Thursday, and
you do not usually do so, please advise Mrs Jones of this: [email protected].
Please be aware that the buses depart at 3.35pm and your daughter will return to school on the
bus if not collected by this time.
Boys’ Sport on Thursday
Good luck to the Y5&6 and Y7&8 Football teams playing in the Canterbury Schools’ Winter
Tournament.
All other boys will be going to hockey at Nunweek Park. For the Balls Skill boys, this is an
opportunity to practice before House Hockey in Week VII. All boys will require a mouthguard, shin
pads and, if possible, a hockey stick. The school does have some sticks available to borrow.
If you wish to collect your son directly from Nunweek Park after hockey on Thursday, and you do
not usually do so, please advise Miss Tatterhaw of this: [email protected]. Please be aware that the buses depart at 3.35pm and your
son will return to school on the bus if not collected by this time.
FRIDAY / SATURDAY SPORT
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Netball

Congratulations to the Netball A players who finished top of section 3 in the U12 grade to
qualify for the quarter-final / semi-final play-off day on Saturday (27 August.) Good luck,
girls and Mr Matai!

Netball C finished 3rd in their section so we are awaiting the Netball draw to find out if they
will be in the quarter finals on Saturday.

Netball D & E teams play their final round-robin matches for the season on Friday (26 August) at 4.00pm but may have a second match at 4.30pm. We are awaiting clarification from
Netball Christchurch as we have a draw mix up at the moment which has one team playing
three matches in two time slots!
We will publish the Sports’ Draw as usual, as soon as we have matter finalized by Netball
Christchurch.
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Co-Curricular Notices
Hockey
The hockey season has now finished. It will take some time for Canterbury Hockey to collate the
final results of the many and varied competitions which have been in operation; we will publish
this information if and when we receive it.
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Goalkeeping Gear
Hockey goalkeepers: please wash (in cold water!) and return all gear to Miss Tattershaw’s office in
Inveresk – and if Miss T is not there, leave a note on top of the bag to say it is yours!
Boys’ House Hockey now Week VII
A reminder that Boys’ House Hockey will now be played in the afternoon on Tuesday 6
September. School will finish at the usual time of 3.30pm. Details will given closer to the event.
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Pre-School
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Open Day was a great success today, with many enquires for next term and the new year. Thank
you to those parents who let friends know. If you have friends or family who are interested in
having a look around and could not make it today, please let them know they are welcome to visit
any day or time.
This will be our student teacher Aaron's last week at our Pre-School. We have thoroughly enjoyed
having him here and we will really miss him. Aaron has become a part of the Pre-School team and
we have loved his energy and enthusiasm with the children. Aaron was visited by his lecturer twice
during his five-week placement and received excellent feedback on his practice. We wish Aaron all
the very best for his future and hope he comes to visit us soon.
Last week, Carter Eden excitedly arrived at Pre-School in his Paw Patrol pyjamas which prompted
the suggestion of having a pj day. We like to follow the children's interests so we will be having PJ
Day on Thursday (25 August.) We can't wait to see who turns up in their winter pjs. We will serve
warm toast and Milo for morning tea.
This week, the children have been doing some observational painting, and taking a closer look at
some of our daffodils which are growing in our garden. In support of Daffodil Day and the Cancer
Society, we will be having a Yellow Day on Friday (26 August.) Come dressed in yellow with a gold
coin donation.
As you will have noticed we are updating our display boards. We have moved our world map to the
back wall to display where everyone comes from. We would like to use this information to then
record each child's mihi. A mihi is a basic introduction to let people know a little bit about yourself.
It tells people where you are from and who you are, linking you to the land and mountain, river and
sea, tribe, sub-tribe, whakapapa (genealogy) and marae (sacred meeting place). Non-Māori might
identify places that are significant to them and the country they are from. Over the next few weeks
we will be talking with you and your child about their heritage.
We are continuing to encourage the showing of respect amongst our children and we are aware
that certain cultures have different ways of showing it. We are wanting to know amongst our
families if there are any cultural differences in showing respect of which we are unaware that we
could introduce to the children. Please talk to your child’s teacher if there is anything that you think
might be relevant. We appreciate your support with this.
We would like to thank Kyoko Matsudaira, Kaia Hartstonge’s mother, who taught the children how
to make sushi two weeks’ ago. Thank you for making the time to share a little of your culture with
our children. Last week the children enjoyed trying some of Mrs Roger's homemade Kentucky fried
chicken. The children are enjoying learning a little about each other's traditions and trying different
foods. We value parent participation in our Pre-School programme, and we encourage you to share
any family traditions with us.
Mrs Emily Stock
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Junior School
Learning
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The Life Education caravan is currently at our school. The Junior classes have been lucky enough to
attend two lessons in it. Life Education covers important health topics such as Healthy Bodies and
Social Relationships. It is incredibly interactive and fun for the children and the energetic teacher
keeps our children very engaged throughout the lessons.
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The Life Education teacher, Amanda Thompson,
and Harold.
Reminders:
J3E and J3B are sharing their learning in Assembly this week.
Mrs Simone Whalley
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Girls’ & Boys’ Prep Schools
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It was a special treat last week to enjoy a visit from our friends at St Mark’s Church School in
Wellington. They were in our city for three days to experience a sporting and cultural visit. Whilst
with us they competed in netball and football games, and sang Evensong with our chapel choirs at
the ChristChurch Transitional Cathedral. They also took the time to sing for the residents of the
Merivale Retirement Home and visit our wonderful museum, the Antarctic Centre and Quake City.
Thank you to all the families who hosted billets during their time with us. It is always gratifying to
see so many lovely friendships made during these exchanges. We hope that a return visit to Wellington may be
organized in the future for our senior students.
We hope you were able to join us for the Service of Baptism and Holy Communion which also saw
the induction of our new Principal, Mr Scott Thelning. As always it was a splendid ceremony with
four pupils being baptised and Mr Thelning being presented with his license as Principal of Cathedral Grammar from the Bishop.
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Good luck to our Year 7 & 8 pupils taking part in the annual Cantamaths competition at Horncastle
Arena on Wednesday. We look forward to hearing how they go.
A reminder that this Thursday is the House Hockey competition for the Girls’ School. Senior school
games will be played at Nunweek Park while the juniors will play their games at school.
Congratulations to Natalya Seaward (5G), and Sophie Schneideman (5G) who earned Silver Merit
Cards this week.
Ms Kirsty Bond
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Mr David Sickling
Girls' School
Mullan
Connon
Merit Cards
Merit Cards
Natalya Seaward 5G Scarlett Bailey
Nya Kinajil-Reding
Alice Ferguson
Lucy Vance
Values Cards
Values Cards
Chloe Jiang
5G Caroline Conaghan-Carr
Natalya Seaward 5G Emily Fradd
Alice Ferguson
Silver Merit Cards
Silver Merit Cards
Natalya Seaward 5G
Dell
Merit Cards
4G Livvy Barnett
4G Sophie Schneideman
5G
5G
Values Cards
4G Livvy Barnett
4G Sienna Godfrey-Chatterton
5G Sophie Schneideman
Silver Merit Cards
Sophie Schneideman
Hart
Merit Cards
5G Polly Lee
5G
4G
Values Cards
5G Freddie Greening 5G
5G Sophia Sare'
5G
5G
Silver Merit Cards
5G
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Friends’ Association
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