Kia ora e te whanau
Despite a somewhat disrupted academic year in 2022, as expected, it is pleasing that our students have returned to school refreshed, reenergised, and ready to set their goals for 2023. In the coming weeks, once NCEA results are finalised, we will be having our Academic Blues Assembly on Wednesday, March 29th. However, it is important to acknowledge the 2022 NCEA results as they currently stand. Results are down on previous years as we take into consideration the toll three years of Covid has taken and the inclusion of students in individual learning plans, students who left school part way through the year and students enrolled in alternative education: University Entrance pass rate: SPC 66.7%; National 49.1% Level 3 pass rate: SPC 75%; National 67.6% Level 2 pass rate: SPC 91.7%; National 74.2% Level 1 pass rate: SPC 73.8%; National 64% We are thankful that on Tuesday we were able to gather as a school community to dedicate our 2023 school year to God at our Opening Mass, and celebrate the Mass with our students, staff, Board members and guests, including current and new families to our community. A big thank you to all who participated and contributed to the Mass, and to Father Jaime who led the Mass and continues to support our College with his service. Our school motto, Charity Fulfils the Law, calls us to follow God’s commandment to love God and love they neighbour, it encourages each of us to embody the values of community, commitment and compassion. This year we will be continuing to focus on putting our faith into action through our servant leadership council and community service programmes, whereby students are encouraged to strive to be Rosminian and Mercy people who see the need and respond with compassion. Our first project will be Work Day on Wednesday, March 8th, where all money earned will be distributed to worthy charities. At the Mass our 2023 student leaders were blessed and received their Year 13 badges. This team of student leaders have willingly offered their skills and talents in the service of others. They will build on the legacy of those who have previously served in these positions and they, in turn, will leave their own legacy for others to continue. Our 2023 student leadership team is:
I wish this team of student leaders all the very best for the year ahead and look forward to working alongside them. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal
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Kia ora e te whanau
At our school, we strive to instil the value of Commitment in our students, as we believe it is an essential aspect of personal growth and success in all areas of life. As a Catholic school, we are inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his mission of spreading love and compassion to all. His commitment to his mission was evident in the way he lived his life, even in the face of immense challenges and opposition. We believe that a commitment to one's values, goals, and responsibilities is crucial for personal growth and success. It requires discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice, but the rewards are significant. As students, commitment is essential for academic success. It means showing up to class on time, completing assignments on time, and putting in the necessary effort to achieve your goals. It also means taking responsibility for your actions and accepting the consequences of your choices. Commitment is also critical in extracurricular activities, whether it is sports, music, or other clubs. It means showing up to practice, working hard to improve your skills, and supporting your teammates or fellow club members. As we look beyond our school community, commitment is a value that extends to our relationships with others and our role in the world. It means being committed to treating others with respect and kindness, and making a positive difference in the world. At St Peter’s College, we aim to foster a culture of commitment by encouraging our students to take responsibility for their choices, to strive for excellence in all areas of their lives, and to be compassionate and supportive of others. At this weeks student assembly we learnt about potential and how you need commitment to reach it. As we continue on our journey, let us remember the example set by Jesus Christ and strive to be committed to our values, our goals, and our responsibilities. Together, we can make a positive impact on our school, our community, and the world. You are all warmly invited to our opening Mass this Tuesday the 21st of February at 11am at the Blessed Sacrament Church where our theme is Commitment. Year 13 parents, caregivers and students are invited to a cup of tea afterwards at the Senior Citizens. Back at school the rest of the school body will partake in free pancakes for Shrove Tuesday- a final feast before we go into the season of Lent. Charity fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
As we embark on a new school year, we extend a warm welcome back to all of our families. We hope that this past summer holiday was filled with love, laughter, and meaningful moments spent with loved ones. As a Catholic school, our mission is to provide a holistic education that is rooted in faith and centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of each and every student, and we are honoured to partner with you in this important journey. As we begin this new school year, let us remember that we are all called to be witnesses of God's love and compassion in the world. May we work together in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, building a community that is characterized by kindness, respect, and compassion. It is important that I let you know that the PPTA teachers’ union has sanctioned a strike on teachers taking on relief teaching periods for term one in all state and state integrated secondary schools across the country. For the last three years of the pandemic, it has been the extra unpaid labour of our teachers giving up their important non-contact time to teach their colleagues classes when they have been away, that has kept our school up and running most days. We have endeavoured to hire more external relief teachers but they are in short supply and often work across many schools. We will also be limiting activities, events and professional learning and development that would cause more staff to be out and needing their classes covered. Worst case scenario is that when we have more than a couple of teachers away each day, we will have to roster year levels home in term one. This will be a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted. Sometimes we do not know which staff are going to be absent until the morning as people call in sick. We will be taking the situation day by day but this will mean that if we do need to roster a year level or year levels home this will be notified to you that morning at approximately 7.15am via Facebook and the school App. Please ensure you have your notifications on. We will always provide supervision for students who must come to school, but it will be supervision, not teaching that takes place that day. We do not want to strike but the government has given us no choice. We are striking for education, and we hope you will support us, despite the inconveniences it will cause. We are striking because we are concerned that the pay for teachers and the funding for schools is not enough to provide quality education. The value of teachers pay has fallen significantly and this has caused a crisis in recruitment and retention. More teachers and school leaders than ever are leaving their jobs and the government cannot recruit enough teachers to replace them. Funding for schools has not kept in line with rising costs and this means: - Many schools face difficulties in finding the teachers they need. - Students with special needs are not getting the support they need. - Schools are spending less on important equipment and resources. - Schools are cutting back on extra curricula opportunities. We are asking you to please: - Support our strike action and our campaign to boost funding for our schools. - Talk to our teachers positively and tell them they are doing a great job. - Contact your local MP’s office and tell them that you support PPTA members taking strike action. Tara Quinney, Principal |
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