Kia ora e te whanau

Welcome back to term 3! This term promises to be jam packed with sports finals, tournaments, curriculum trips and many other community events. It will be a busy time for our students, so it is important to monitor the time spent at home catching up on study and homework to ensure they do not fall behind on their school work which must come first.

Sports is an integral part of the holistic education here at St Peter’s College. We strive to nurture and educate the whole child and by providing opportunities to participate and compete in many teams we believe we are preparing our young people for life. Representing the school is more than just playing a sport, children learn a sense of pride, respect, discipline and a camaraderie with their peers that helps build up a strong school culture. Sometimes our students are invited to play in teams away from the school, sometimes our students are even offered spots in other schools to play in their teams because they are seen as better. I am deeply proud of our students who commit to wearing our school crest on their chest when they go out to play and represent. Our students are a community who want to play together and live our values out on the field, court and turf with pride. I would like to thank the many coaches, managers and committee members who support our teams. These are the adults in our community that continue the seamless Catholic values in their coaching and leadership that we also work so hard to instil in the classroom. It is a partnership that ensures our students can be the best they can be in all areas.

I hope you have been enjoying watching the Olympic games on TV at the moment. Despite the pandemic, we are so lucky to be witnessing some excellent examples of what can happen when you work hard towards your goals, and it has been impressive to see so many teenagers compete in this year’s games. The International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee are committed to building a better world through sport. They aim to ensure that the spirit of fair play prevails, and to act against any form of discrimination that affects the Olympic movement. They also encourage and support the development of sport for all. It is good to compete. When we take part in sports at school, regional or national level, or even just in competition among friends, it is important to remember the ethos of the very first Olympic Games of Ancient Greece: to follow the rules and to compete fairly without cheating. The Bible also reflects this by telling us “anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2.5).

Thank you to all of you who shared your views on the proposed amendment to our uniform policy on students getting Ta Moko or or other cultural tattoo’s like Pe’a. Over 150 students responded, 40 staff and 23 parents with the overwhelming majority of you being in favour of students being able to display their culture in this way. Consultation also took place at the Board level and with the local runaka, and after much research and dialogue we will be adding the following to our uniform policy:

The St Peter's College uniform policy will allow for students who wish to have visible (partially or fully) traditional cultural tattoo Ta Moko, Pe'a etc whilst at school, to do so, however all cultural tattoos must comply and adhere to established cultural values and tikanga. St Peter's have engaged Mana Whenua (Hokonui Runanga), student, staff, and community voice to establish what this tikanga will be for our school, and any student wishing to have such a tattoo, will need to satisfy the below pre-conditions.

1. A student will need to establish lineage or whakapapa back to a known Hapu or Iwi.
2. A student must have the permission of both caregivers.
3. A student will also require the permission of their Koro, or person acting in that capacity. This elder will need to be able to grant permission on behalf of their Hapu or Iwi (or be able to seek such permission from the appropriate person), for the use of the design and placement of the tattoo by the student. This is to ensure Hapu or Iwi ownership of designs have been protected. Where the tattoo artist or other person has developed their own design, permission must still be gained in the same way.
4. A meeting will be held involving the student, caregivers, and Principal to discuss the features and the whakapapa that the Ta Moko represent.

Where one or more of these conditions cannot be met, in extenuating circumstances an application may made to the Principal and BOT who will consult Mana Whenua Tikanga.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in the student being required to cover up the tattoo or tattoos while wearing the school uniform and/or representing the school in any sporting or cultural events and activities. If the student refuses to cover up this refusal will result in disciplinary actions including stand down and/or suspension to the Board of Trustees.

Mana Whenua stress that Ta Moko should only be considered for those students at the end of a journey of cultural self-discovery as they represent a whakapapa and connection that needs to be established and well considered.

We will also be amending the same uniform policy to reflect our stance that all students may wear the girls or boys uniform depending on their preference and comfort.

Dear God,
We pray that our dealings with others will always be accompanied by respect and fairness.
Having ambition is important, but in our desire to be the fastest, highest and strongest,
Let us not forget that true success cannot be achieved at the expense of others.
Amen.

Charity Fulfils the Law

Tara Quinney
Principal

Kia ora e te whanau,

It is the end of term two and just over the halfway point for our senior students in their journey towards NCEA achievement for 2021. Some key indicators that will signal to you as parents and caregivers if your child is on track to achieve this year is dependent on their course and whether it is portfolio based or more internally or externally weighted. In general, your child should be sitting on at least 40 credits at this stage in the year and have an attendance rate of over 85%. If you are concerned that your child is falling behind these key parameters, please get in touch with their year level learning tutor to co-construct a plan going forward. We are here to help.

One of the strongest predictors of high academic achievement is linked with student’s motivation to doing their best as opposed to doing just enough. These different approaches to learning are firmly embedded in the NCEA system. They are the difference between going for just an Achieved, versus aiming for Merit and Excellence when they are capable. This means spending their study time after school wisely. A key learning ethic requires self-discipline and the drive to know that doing just enough is viewed as under performance.

There will be those of you reading this now that will be thinking but what if doing your best is just not enough? What about those with special learning needs, disorders, and other difficulties? What about those from low socio-economic backgrounds or those that lack financial and parental support? These are tough propositions but in the words of Winston Churchill, “you must do what is required.” One of our challenges as parents and as a school is focussed on improving our best, sometimes called “raising the bar.” If we never expect our children to attempt more than they currently can do, while giving them certainty, it will not lead to them fulfilling their potential. Now is not the time, in their most important years at school, to take a back seat and let your child decide when they will be bothered to attend school or complete homework. They are still children and need our guidance to “raise the bar.”

We have seen many examples of students raising the bar this week and last nights Eisteddfod concert was a culmination of individuals, teams and families working hard together to perform at their very best. I would like to thank our Eisteddfod co-ordinator, Mrs Laura Thomas and our Arts co-ordinator, Mrs Stephanie Matheson especially, for their tireless leadership of this event that takes many weeks of planning. My sincere thanks also goes out to Ms Prue Scorgie who was recognised last night for her many years of service to the Eisteddfod.

Have a restful and happy holiday break.


Tara Quinney
Principal

Kia ora e te whanau,

Once again, Eisteddfod week and St Peter’s College feast day is upon us, and it is fantastic to see the students involved take on the challenge of entering events that may take them outside of their comfort zones. It is also amazing to see the more established talent from students in our school who are really able to showcase their gifts. A huge amount of organisation goes into this event, from the lighting and sound to the crowd control and timetabling. We are so lucky to have such generous support from within our community in attending to many of these areas, as well as those people who come in and judge each section. My sincere thanks also goes out to the many school staff that spend a lot of hours outside their teaching load to ensure this event is successful and supportive of all students, especially Mrs Laura Thomas our new Eisteddfod coordinator, who has worked tirelessly. And last but not least without our Year 13’s taking a lead role across the many duties required, including delivering morning teas to the judges, keeping guard on doorways and cheering on our younger students, the Eisteddfod would not be as special as it is.

It is also the time of Matariki in New Zealand, and it is great to see many of our junior classes embracing this celebration in their learning programmes. Staff have also gotten involved with a special professional development session being run for us last week by our Kaiawhina, Whaea Vanessa. The pre-dawn rise of Matariki, also known as the Seven Sisters or Pleiades, traditionally signals the Māori New Year under the Maramataka, or lunar calendar. In general, the celebration of Matariki starts when the first new moon can be seen following the rise of Matariki. Traditionally Matariki was both a time to commemorate those who had passed on and to celebrate a time of plenty when stores were abundant from horticulture, hunting and fishing. I am sure we all look forward to this being recognised as a public holiday next year!

Lowness of winter sun,
thin-ness of shadows,
paleness of winter sky,
now praise the Lord.
Bareness of cherry tree,
seed-seeking silvereye,
spent husks of harakeke
now praise the Lord.
Now in the dropping,
now in the deepening,
now in the loosening,
God’s name be sung.
Now in the leaving,
now in the losing,
now in the ending,
God be our home.
Whirring of tui-wings
chirping of sparrows,
wheeling of seagulls’ flight
now praise the Lord.
Squelching of muddy grass,
yielding of sodden moss,
puddles and dripping blades,
now praise the Lord.
Now in the star-rise,
now in the Little Eyes,
now in the dawn-watch
God’s name be known.
Now in the story-ing,
now in the sky-gazing,
now in the waiata
God’s love be sung.
Coldness of shadow,
lateness of light
swiftness of sunset,
now praise the Lord.
Fierceness of frosty night
hardness of icy earth,
wildness of southerly,
now praise the Lord.
​Now in the grounding,
now in the falling,
now in the dying,
God’s Name be known.
In the remembering,
in the relinquishing,
in the returning,
God be our home.
Adrienne Thompson


Tara Quinney
Principal