Back List Summer Reads for long evenings

by Amy Riach

In the heat of February, evenings spent reading by the fire have been abandoned entirely, replaced in favour of evenings spent reading outside. Of course reading outside is often better in theory than in practice, and it only takes one flying bug too many to send me right back indoors. But inside or out, these are some of the best books to add to your list for February 2023.

THE DANTE CLUB by

Mathew Pearl

You don’t need to have read Michelangelo's 300 sonnets in order to appreciate the beauty of David, and in much the same way, you don’t need to read Dante’s ‘Inferno’ to enjoy ‘The Dante Club’. Feel free to make like I did and skip those 9 layers of hell in favour of Pearl’s version, inspired by ‘The Divine Comedy’, but easier to get through in one afternoon. ‘The Dante Club’ is Pearl’s debut novel, a murder mystery in the vein of Dan Brown; age old and populated by Harverd Professors and literary poets, all of them sporting names like Longfellow or Holmes. It is Boston, 1865, and the literary geniuses of the Dante Club are completing at last, America's first translation of ‘The Divine Comedy’ and are preparing to unveil Dante's remarkable visions to the New World. When a series of violent murders breaks out across Boston and Cambridge, it is the Dante Club alone who realise that gruesome killings are modelled on scenes from ‘Inferno’. With the police of Boston in the dark, and Dante’s literary future at stake, The Dante Club must shed its' sheltered literary existence to find an erudite killer.

ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan

‘On Chesil Beach’ is deceptively small, a novella of only 200 pages, which contains unflinching multitudes. Written by Ian McEwan, author of the brilliant and introspective novel ‘Atonement’, ‘On Chesil Beach’ is governed by the internal monologues of our beguiling protagonists; Edward and Florence, young innocents married that morning in July 1962. We first meet the beautiful, promising young couple the evening of their wedding, and through McEwan’s omniscient narrator, we are also privy to glimpses of their childhoods. A complicated tangle of emotions and backgrounds is slowly exposed, and the disastrous tone which dominates the beginning of the novel becomes increasingly evident. Ian McEwan has captured with understanding and nuance the deep innocence of Edward and Florence, at a time when marriage was presumed to be the one outward sign of maturity and independence.

A quiet soul and talented musician, Florence dreams of a career on the concert stage and of the perfect life she will create with Edward, an earnest young history student at University College of London, who quite unexpectedly won her heart. Newlyweds, Edward and Florence arrive at a hotel on the Dorset Coast, and privately, though next to each other, they each struggle to suppress their silent fears about the wedding night to come. While Edward frets over Florence’s response to his advances, and nurses his private fear of failure, Florence’s anxieties run deeper. And as their wedding night unfolds, and the years to come begin, we are offered a window to two souls; who are above all else, remarkably, unforgivably human.

BIG LITTLE LIES by Liane Moriarty

It’s a lesser known fact that all the best murder mysteries begin at PTA Quiz Nights. At Pirriwee Public’s annual school Trivia Night, the ordinary, suburban lives of Moriarty’s ordinary, suburban characters are torn apart; when a parent ends up dead, and in a room full of people it seems nobody saw anything at all.

‘Big Little Lies’ is at once a scathing and compassionate account, telling of ex-husbands and their second wives, of mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the little lies that can become lethal. The children of Pirriwee Public are second only to their parents in petty gossip and flitting alliances, but they are keeping just as many secrets as their mothers. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that she is mistaken for the nanny, and she is sure there is something that her son won’t tell her. She comes hand in glove with a shrouded past, and a sadness that seems far beyond her years. Her newest friend and biggest protector, Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny, biting, wildly disorganised and wildly passionate; she remembers everything and forgives no one. At her side, Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare, but she is paying a great price for cultivated perfection. These three women are at three very different crossroads, but they will all wind up in the same heart-stopping place.

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The Malvern Farmers Vet Club Charitable Trust (MFVCCT) would like to invite individuals, community groups and organisations to apply for grants from our organisation. The MFVCCT purpose is to advance the welfare of our rural community and the individuals connected to the community.

This involves distributing grants that meet the following criteria:

• The strengthening of charitable community and voluntary organisations involved in the relief of poverty.

• The advancement of education.

• The provision of financial support for specific community projects that advance charitable purposes.

• The strengthening of charitable community and voluntary organisations.

• The provision of financial and other support in anticipation of or in response to emergencies or adverse events.

• The enhancement and retention of essential services that advance charitable purposes.

To apply for grants please visit: mfvc.org.nz for more information on the application process. All applications to be received by the 31st March 2023.

with Dan Gordon

I hope you all had a wonderful summer break, enjoying time with your family and friends.

Just like many others, I have enjoyed spending summer right here in the Waimakariri District, getting to the local beaches and parks and most of all spending time in my own garden. I have a well-established garden and have been enjoying adding and removing plants this summer. In particular, I have enjoyed adding some vibrant new colours in the mix.

For us as a Council, we have a busy programme this year and will continue to work to achieve our communities’ expectations.

We will be working through our budgets and, given this current difficult economic climate, a key factor for us will be around rates affordability. We are committed to providing the highest quality service to our residents while keeping rates as low as possible.

Another thing to look forward to is a chance to engage with you and hear your feedback on various issues. We will be holding hearings on submissions to the proposed District Plan throughout the year and we will be consulting on the proposed cycleways in the District as a result of the new funding allocations.

I will continue to work with my fellow Mayors to ensure a Three Waters model is brought in that respects community property rights and voice. A key aspect of that work will be influencing the Opposition on the detail of its reform model, given that Three Waters reform is shaping up to be a key issue of the October General Election.

We will be working with other Canterbury Councils, where there is a lot of work being done within various forums to attract funding to our region.

We will also be navigating our way through a raft of other proposed Local Government reforms, including the Resource Management Act, and providing our feedback on the Future for Local Government report.

Our first Council meeting for the year will be on 7 February and I am very much looking forward to getting started on what is set to be a busy, but exciting year ahead.

I welcome contact from anyone who needs assistance or has an issue that you may want to discuss. Email me at dan.gordon@wmk.govt.nz or phone 021906437.

I’m here to help.

Mike Hart

Tumuaki|Principal update

Tēnā koutou katoa,

We trust everybody had a lovely break over Christmas and have recharged for the new year.

At Oxford Area School we are looking forward to the year ahead. It is exciting that we are able to put the last few disruptive years behind us and focus on the future.

Our vision for our learners remains the same: Kāhui Whetū | Tātai Whetū | Rau WhetūAs a community, we align our learning and skills, showing how extraordinary we are.

This year we look forward to our new administration and teaching block rising up from the ground following the demolition of the site over the Christmas break. It is promising to see some action!

We have a full calendar of learning experiences and activities to ensure our students have engaging, authentic, and relevant developmental opportunities. This includes ‘deep learning’ where we continue to grow our six global competencies of character, creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, citizenship, and communication.

Homestays required for Oxford Area School International Students

As New Zealand's borders open up to International students, we are looking for suitable host families in the Oxford township or on the school bus route.We are currently seeking homestays with horses for next year and beyond.

· We require caring, kind and inclusive host families who can provide a safe, warm home. Horse stays provide students with an interest in horses to ride, work with and generally be around horses/ponies.

· Options to host students short term (1 week to a month) or long term (one term to a year or more)

· Students must have their own room and a place to study

· There is a generous weekly payment (reflecting the additional equine aspect)

· Hosts should be active and willing, on occasion, to take students out for local sight-seeing or other activities

· We do our best to match the students’ hobbies, interests and riding ability to the host family and horse

· Police vetting is mandatory for anyone in the home over 18 and other conditions may apply

If you are interested or have any questions please contact: International Homestay Coordinator international@oxford.school.nz

In the first half of this year, a significant number of our staff will complete the Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori course while we continue our growth in Te Ao Māori. This knowledge helps us to support our students at school on their path to being successful citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Building update

With the demolition of the Admin block to make way for the upcoming build, it was timely to look back into the archives.

This is an excerpt from the Reflections magazine (1997) published in 1997 to commemorate 125 years of Oxford Schools.

With the introduction of the Area School in 1978 the buildings were upgraded to meet the Area Schools Building Code. Coupled with this as the school roll has increased, and as the school has offered students a greater number of subject options so has grown the need for either the provision of more specialist rooms, or the upgrading of existing rooms.

The last twenty-five years in the life of the school have been the “building boom” years where staff and students have learnt to live with the sound of concrete trucks, circular saws, and hammers banging as yet another extension, or remodelling job is undertaken.

There have been four different library buildings. Each one being bigger than the last until now we have the Grigor library opened in 1991. This library is fully computerised, and is complete with Internet.

We have been well served by a number of librarians including Mrs R Paget, Mrs G Lysaght , Mrs S Boocock and Mrs R McKeown.

(And in more recent times, Sarina Barron who left in 2016, and our current amazing Library Manager Mrs Rose Parmee).

The Science Laboratory has had two overhauls.

The first remodelling was in 1985, and it was again remodelled in 1995 when the two laboratories were established to provide more room for the greater number of classes, and the wider variety of Science being offered. Remodelling was done in the Home Economics area also in 1985. Whilst this was being done classes were taught in a small room belonging to the Oxford Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

It was a challenge to all with the limited facilities available - namely one stove and one sink for twenty-plus students!

Until 1995 there were no special facilities for the teaching of Clothing. This class had to be taught in the Home Economics Room.

A Clothing Room has been built beside the Home Economics Room and it contains up to date technology.

1985 also saw the construction of a music suite and an adjacent classroom. This suite actively encouraged students to participate to a greater extent in music. Itinerant teachers of music visited the school, and continue to do so, to instruct in such instruments as the piano, violin, flute and the guitar.

Until 1985 Art was taught in a converted prefab. In this year an Art Room was built and facilities in here continue to be altered to meet the demands of the curriculum. A photographic darkroom has been installed, and in 1997 the room is again being remodelled to cater for the needs in Art and Photography.

A new staffroom was opened in 1985, and revamped offices provided for the Senior Teaching and Office Staff. With the increase in Staff numbers rooms are again inadequate, and will require further extension. In 1991 a Gallery and Teachers’ Workroom were built alongside the Staffroom, and the Audio Visual Room established adjacent to the Library. To allow for these extensions the northern block of open air classrooms were removed and are now to be found at Ashley Gorge Camping Ground.

The old School Hall - a local landmark - was removed to a farm on Bay Road in 1984. A General Purpose Hall was opened that year.

It was built in co operation with the Oxford Agricultural and Pastoral Association, being built on land belonging to them and the school. An additional bay was built to allow for a greater variety of sports to be played. It was a joint financial venture between the Canterbury Education Board and the Oxford County Council, and is both a school and a community facility.

Term Dates 2023

Term 1 Monday 30 January to Thursday 6th April (94 half days)

Waitangi Day - Monday 6th February

Easter - Friday 7th April

Term 2 Monday 24th April to Friday 30th June (100 half days)

Anzac Day - Tuesday 25th April

King’s Birthday - Monday 5th June

Term 3 Monday 17th July to Friday 22nd September (100 half days)

Term 4 Monday 9th October to Wednesday 13th December (92 half days)

Labour Day - Monday 23rd October

Show Day - Friday 17th November

Teacher Only Days

Tipu Māia Hui Friday 10th March

Teacher Only Day Monday 24th April

The hall incorporated a tuck shop and stationery shop where students could purchase lunches and school stationery. While the hall was being built an Agricultural and Pastoral Association shed was used as the gymnasium. This became known as the “ Tinnasium.” It caught fire in 1981, and was no longer useable. An adventure playground was established behind the Junior School.