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A huge congratulations to Liam Davis (Deputy Head Boy) who recently entered the Southern Shears and won the Novice section. 
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Welcome to our new international students: Batt - Thailand, Clement - Hong Kong, Pokpong - Thailand, Kenta - Japan, Sarid - Thailand, Sam - Germany, Karin - Thailand, Alex - Hong Kong, Chris - Hong Kong, Zoey - Hong Kong  Gateway Students have over the last three weeks completed courses in Safety and First Aid. These courses are invaluable not only for credits gained but it provides students with knowledge before they head out to real life work situations. It is great to have outside providers like the Red Cross come in and share their knowledge and experiences with the students.  This year I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in a science programme called the Science Academy (OUASSA). The programme is specifically for year 13’s around New Zealand, and is run over two camps during the year. They offer many different courses relating to science, and there is something for everyone. I chose Maths and Statistics and Genetics and Biochemistry for my two projects (two days a week each) and Toxicology for my elective (one day). It was really great to work with leading scientists and teachers, as well as attending lectures and hearing about all the different departments of science. The programme gave me a better understanding of science at the University of Otago and what I want to study next year. I encourage anyone who gets the opportunity to attend this course to do so as it’s a great experience. Mia Walton - Year 13  It is an absolute privilege to join the St Peter’s College learning community. I'm originally from Christchurch, where I met my wife Julie whilst attending the Christchurch College of Education. I have spent all of my teaching career in Southland, both in Invercargill and here in Gore. I am enjoying the faith-based education that is clearly evident throughout the school and look forward to what the future brings. I am an advocate for using technology as a leveraging tool to enhance the education of our youth and this, combined with the school’s inherent values, can only make their lifelong learning more meaningful. John Watkins Kia ora My name is Kate Sinclair and I am new to the Year 7 and 8 Department this year at St Peter's College. I have the wonderful privilege of being 8KS' Form Teacher and also having 8KS for English, Social Sciences and Math. For the last six years I was the DP at Longford Intermediate and prior to that I spent almost 12 years at Kaikorai Valley College in Dunedin, in the Year 7-10 area. My husband Hain and I have two delightful cherubs, Marshall (7) and Gracie (5), who attend Gore Main School. I'm really excited about being back in the classroom teaching, working alongside an amazing staff and I am looking forward to all the new opportunities 2019 brings.   A very important aspect of your child’s education and personal growth and development is the strong relationship we seek to foster with parents and wider whanau so we can ensure our home-school-student connection is working well and moving in the same direction. Therefore, it is important to us that we have the opportunities for two-way information sharing and a good understanding of the expectations of all involved in this partnership. In week four of Term One, we will be holding a Whanau Evening for our Year 7 – 10 families. There will be important information sharing about relationships, systems, special character, curriculum, discipline processes, policies and procedures, digital learning and calendar events to name some important items, along with a ‘who’s who’ in the life of your child at school. At the same time, we would like to take the opportunity to meet you and for you to have an opportunity to chat to Learning Tutors and Form Teachers about your child, their aspirations and your expectations of us. You will also have the chance to ask any questions you might have as the year begins. We look forward to seeing you all of our Year 7 - 10 parents on Thursday, February 28th from 6:30pm - 8:30pm.  We were thrilled to receive a free 50” Smart TV for the school this week from Fuels for Schools. We appreciate the families that continue to name St Peter’s College as their ‘sponsorship’ school when they purchase from Southfuels. The more people in our community who do this, the more IT and sports equipment rewards the school gets. Thank you to GR & BM Weller, W & J Erickson and Glenstuart Farm Ltd who currently sponsor us. If you are interested in joining this sponsorship programme, please check the Southfuels website at https://southfuels.co.nz/fuel-for-schools/   Our Whanau Evening on Thursday, 28th February, for parents of Year 7 – 10 children, will be a good opportunity to meet a number of these new staff who are working with your children every day. I encourage you to come along and hear about our plans for the year, information that will directly affect your child’s learning, and to meet your child’s Learning Tutor and Form Teacher. If you are unclear on our various communication channels such as the parent portal and the school app, there will be an opportunity to learn how to connect in regularly with information on events and learning progress. I look forward to seeing you there.
We were fortunate to have Bishop Michael Dooley and Fr Damian Wynn-Williams leading us in a Commissioning Mass for St Mary’s and St Peter’s staff on Wednesday evening in the College Chapel. We are also grateful to Mr Tony Hanning (Catholic Education Office) and Katrina van de Water (schools’ advisor) who joined us for this special occasion. It was a clear reminder of our mission as teachers in a Catholic school and provided a warm welcome to new teachers at our College. Celebrating together in this way to begin the year was indeed very special and it has set the scene for another year of commitment and compassion, mercy and charity, in our College community. Many of you will have heard about the Independent Taskforce’s report on the review of Tomorrow’s Schools. The Taskforce’s proposals cover a wide range of policy and structural changes to the compulsory schooling system. These are proposals only – they are not decisions and they are not final. Therefore, it is very important that consultation is far reaching. I encourage you to have your view heard before the Government makes its decisions. Below is an invitation from the taskforce members to be part in the consultation. Kia ora, Now that the Taskforce’s report Our Schooling Futures: Stronger Together: Whiria Ngā Kura Tūatinitini has been published we are very keen to receive feedback from as many people as possible to help us complete our final recommendations and our report to the Minister, which is due to him in late April. We would be really grateful if you would be able to assist us with letting Board Chairs and members and your wider community networks in your region know about the following: - The Independent Taskforce will be holding nationwide public consultation meetings from 14 February – 27 March. The schedule is here: https://conversation.education.govt.nz/conversations/tomorrows-schools-review/have-your-say-today/. - Postcards for anyone that just wants to briefly ‘have their say’ on a recommendation or the full report. Freepost postcards will be available at the public meetings or contact us if you would like some sent to you. - An online survey which canvasses opinion on each of our 32 recommendations is now available here:https://consultation.education.govt.nz/tsr/survey2019/. It will remain open until 31 March 2019. - Formal written submissions about the report can be sent totomorrows.schools@education.govt.nz A free 0800 number for oral submissions will be available from 11 February. Call 0800 FOR TSR to leave your thoughts on the future of our schooling system. We do appreciate your help in this matter. We want everyone to have their say and we want to do our very best to listen carefully to what is said. Bali Haque (Chair), Barbara Ala’alatoa, Mere Berryman, John O’Neill, Cathy Wylie. Have a wonderfully relaxing weekend, Nga mihi nui, Kate Nicholson This App will be used for important School messages. We recommend you download the App onto your smart phone as soon as possible. The first step you need to do is download the app http://spcg.apps.school.nz/share/ See picture for further instructions. You can use this App:
 Remember to pencil in your Calendar the Whanau Evening for parents of Years 7 - 10, February 28th from 6:30pm -8:30pm. This is a great information evening for parents.
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