​10 November 2016
My final piece of advice to our senior students
Last night’s prize giving was the best I have ever attended. EVER.
Thank you one and all for making it so, so special.
Today is the last day for our Y11-13 students as they head off on study leave. For some of
them this will be their first experience with formal external exams. ​For some, it will be their
last day of school for the rest of their lives. I’m going to utilise this moment to give them
some advice before they head off...and be pretty straight about it.
● Use your ​head ​and your ​heart ​in making decisions
○ Too many people make decisions based on feelings or what is happening right
then and there. Ask God for His advice and think about the long term effects
of your decision. The key difference between a ​mature ​and ​immature ​person is
that one group only thinks of the ‘now’ whilst the other group thinks of the
future. Be mature and think about the consequences and benefits. Plan
ahead. ​Now, there’s an idea not many people think of these days.
● Be respectful
○ Honour your parents. Honour your boss. Be respectful to those you meet...even
if you don’t like them. The principle of sowing and reaping applies here. If you
respect others, you in turn will be respected. Don’t wait to be respected before
giving respect. Those who wait to be respected first normally don’t deserve it
anyway. ​Be respectful. ​Use your ​manners.​ It always pays off.
● Work hard
○ You will get a job one day. It may be driving a digger. It may be serving at
Pak’n’save. It may be making your own bed. Do it. Do it well. Work hard and
get a good name for yourself. Work hard and ​represent your family well​. Work
hard and reap the rewards. End of story.
● Be wise with your ​money
○ Use your money wisely. Spending your money on lollies or more credit on your
phone isn’t necessarily the wisest thing to do. Imagine if you decided to spend
your money on things that would actually make you more money. Imagine
giving your money to help others​. Imagine taking your parents out for
dinner...and paying for their kai. Now, that’s wisdom. Use money wisely. Don’t
waste it.
● Think about your ​friends
○ You will become like those you hang around with. If your ‘friends’ swear, it is
likely that you will end up swearing like them. And that doesn’t make you any
cooler than you are right now. Choose your friends wisely. Failure to do so will
lead to failure​. Just saying. Be strong in your identity and ​don’t be swayed by
others. Do you have to go to ‘that’ party to be a better person? Do you have
to take those drugs just to be accepted? ​You’re better and bigger than that.
Stand up, stand strong and be the person you are called to be.
● Get the ​Word ​into you
○ Read God’s Word - the ​Bible​. It helps point the way on your journey. It
encourages you. It disciplines you. It’s good for you. If you’re unsure what to
read, ​read the book of Proverbs. It’s the best, basic, clear advice for life
available (it’s way better than Google).
● Stay connected
○ Too many young people these days try to do life alone or with their virtual
friends. I recommend something else: connect. Connect with your ​family​,
connect with your ​church​, connect with your ​youth group​, connect with
mentors ​and people who can and want to help you. When you connect, you
will be stronger than ever to deal with life. As many of you know, I am always
here available for a yak when needed. This remains true even after you have
left school.
Go well our Year 11 - 13 students. Don’t settle for 2nd or 3rd best. Choose life. Choose
God. Choose Him and win.
--Our taonga
It was an absolute honour to be a part of the unveiling of our school’s taonga last Friday.
Nga mihi to everyone involved.
For those who missed it, here is a brief summary of the story that will be told:
The centre of the whare represents God the Father. The beginning and the end. In Him
and through Him, all was and has been created.
Above is Jesus Christ. The captain of the school. The captain of the church. The one who
has changed the course of history.
Flowing from the Father is the Holy Spirit, pouring out grace and goodness upon us all.
Below are two figures representing Adam and Eve. Clothed to note the sin that we have all
been born into . . . and yet! God continues to pour His love and grace upon us.
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, God does not make mistakes. It is wonderful to see
yet another expression of God’s fullness here at Abundant Life School. May this not be the
last.
2016 – this is the year!
Mark
The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them
Proverbs 20:7
Prizegiving: Monday 12 December 2016
Join us to celebrate the success of our students for 2016
Monday 12 December
10am: Year 1-6
1pm: Year 7-10
Find Kaitaia Abundant Life School and LIKE us on facebook for
current info on what is happening ...
PHOTOGRAPHY AT SCHOOL
From time to time we will be photographing and video recording
school events and publishing them in the school newsletter and
other media outlets. If you do not wish for your child’s image to
be published please contact the school office.
LOOST PROPERTY
We have a lot of unnamed school uniform in lost property at present.
Please name all gear - it is impossible to reunite items with owners if they are
not named! You are welcome to grab an item from lost property (if it is un
named), as all items will be disposed of/donated shortly.
Some members of the school orchestra joined Mr Stevenson at the 2nd Street Festival in Kaitaia
last week. Such a positive fun event for our community organised by the Kaitaia Business
Association.
Our sincere thanks to Sharyn van Heerden and the Whakaaro Tahi Community Trust for their
ongoing funding for Mrs Hillier and for the use of their cello. We do appreciate the huge
contribution to music at Kaitaia Abundant Life School.
12 Adult Helpers / 12 Youth Leaders NEEDED!
Adults: Camp Mum & Dad, Cooks, Activities,
Games, Chapel
Youth: 15yrs+ Leaders/14yrs Trainee Leaders
Far North Holiday &
Coopers Beach Camp
Friday13th – Tuesday 17th January 2017
Leaders Training: 6pm, Wed 11th to Fri
13th
Forms available online:
FAR NORTH HOLIDAY CAMPS
Love God -- Enjoy Life
www.lonsdalechildren.blogspot.com
Abundant Life School
Far North Athletics
RESULTS
A big congratulations to
everyone that competed
Yr4 Girls:
Yr5 Girls:
Yr5 Boys:
Yr7 Girls:
Yr7 Boys:
Yr8 Girls:
Yr8 Boys:
Girls Open:
Boys Open:
400m​ - 2nd Adriana Brass Goodman
Discus​ - 1st Shekinah Tahitahi
400m ​- 3rd Nickolas Joyce
100m​ - 2nd Amelia Talatofi
Long Jump​ - 2nd Tio Rota-Dumas
High Jump​ - 2nd Kyan Clark
400m​ - 3rd Jacinda McCloy
400m​ - 2nd Tyler Shepherd
800m​ - 3rd Jacinda McCloy
800m​ - 1st Kiah Young / 3rd Tyler Shepherd
This week at WILDLIFE we continue our #REALLOVE series with "The BAE-sics".. All about
Godly relationships, honoring God with our time, staying safe on social media and seeing
what the Bible really tells us about relationships! Come, and bring the BAE!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Kia ora koutou whanau,
I had the privilege of representing our Board last night at our Year 11 to Year 13 Prize giving. What
a fantastic evening, so many moments that were a standout for me.
● Our children honouring Mr Swart and he honouring us by being a part of the evening
presenting awards, sharing with us and blessing us in prayer.
● Our amazing Principal, Mark Tan as MC for the evening sweating profusely from the eyes
(umm I’m sure you were crying).
● Our Head Boy Liam and Head Girl Renee their speeches were off the hook awesome and
inspiring.
● Our amazing school staff who are truly supportive of the kaupapa to see our tamariki
achieve.
● Our tamariki honouring and encouraging each other as the awards were distributed. Being
able to be among our School whanau to share in this celebration and to know the tangible
presence of the Holy Spirit among us truly a memorable night.
Nga mihi nui
Karena Hita, BOT Chair
SPOT THE ERROR?
We have hidden an error somewhere in this newsletter. Email it to:
[email protected]​z and go in the draw, announced at
assembly each Monday.
Congratulations to all of our 2016 Award Winners
Proxime Accessit - Julia Walker
Dux - Liam Hobson-Scott