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Kia ora e te whanau
And just like that, our last full week of the 2022 academic year draws to an end. We have seen the final NCEA examinations take place for our seniors, and our junior students have been involved in a range of different activities, including Retreats and Camps. Staff have been busy preparing for 2023 and are already looking forward to the many exciting opportunities that the new year will bring to the students of St Peter’s College. Next week we will conclude the academic year with the whole school prizegiving. Although not all students will be recognised at this prizegiving, each and every student should be very proud of what they have achieved this year. By contributing to our wider community, through participation in sport and cultural events and by making the most of learning opportunities in class, our students continue to develop the skills and attributes to be empowered through their Mercy and Rosminian education to challenge and shape their futures. We strongly encourage all members of our community and all of our students to attend this Wednesday night at 7pm at the Gore Town and Country club. All schools, no matter how good their academic results, cultural and sporting track records, will have its challenges and improvements to be made. We will never be a perfect College, but we are very proud of the place this school has in the community as the Catholic touchstone for past, present and future families. St Peter’s College could not exist without our mission, vision, motto and values. I will take this opportunity to remind you all of these values at this time: Compassion, Commitment, Community “It is important for our students to follow in Jesus Christs footsteps through servant leadership. Consideration for others is evident in all that we do, and St Peter’s College exists to ensure all students are grounded in the Catholic faith through living these values.” If we get this right, then everything else needed will follow. The summer break is nearly here and as we head into the festivities of Christmas, not only is this a pivotal time in our Catholic calendar as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is also a time for each of us to stop, reflect and evaluate, to learn from our mistakes and celebrate our successes. One way we can support our young people is by encouraging them to reflect on what has worked well this year and what hasn’t, and look at reasons why. There are opportunities to learn and strategies to develop which can then be put into practice as our students prepare for 2023 and another stepping stone along their personal journey. I also challenge our students over the Christmas break to find a balance between rest and recuperation, and preparation and self improvement. Yes, our students need a break, but they also need to ensure that each day they are doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity, at least 30 minutes of reading, and unplugging from devices to enjoy time reconnecting with family and friends. Loving God, during this holy season of Christmas we ask for your blessing on our all families. Let Mary’s openness to your wondrous ways be an inspiration to place all trust in you. Let Joseph’s courage provide hope during times of anxiety and uncertainty. Let Jesus’ life ignite all families with a spirit of light and love. May the grace that encircled the Holy Family widen to embrace all families. Amen. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau As the year slowly winds down, it is only right that we take time to recognise the contributions made by our Year 13 students in the time they have been at St Peter’s and farewell them. These young people have grown in wisdom and stature over time and have rallied to enhance the traditions that have existed here at St Peter’s College. They have been role models and brothers and sisters to the students who have joined us, as they progressed through the college. They have built strong relationships with their teachers and strengthened life long bonds with their peers. We are blessed by their presence here and wish them well as they complete their external examinations at this time. Next Friday we have the opportunity to host our 2022 Leavers’ Dinner at the Gore RSA. We hope all of our year 13 parents and caregivers can join us to witness and enjoy this last rite of passage at St Peter’s College. So, as we farewell one group of leaders, we look forward to the establishment of the next group of student leaders. We received 21 year 12 applications for the 5 student executive roles for 2023. It is never an easy task to choose just 5 but we feel that is the optimal number required to get the job done and lead the school well, alongside myself and the year 13 dean. I am often asked what the criteria is for choosing the top 5 student leaders and it is an impossible one to answer as no criteria will ever be able to truly sum up what it takes to be a servant leader at St Peter’s College. Instead, it is a mix of the student and staff vote, application letter and interview and the balance of a proven servant leadership record throughout the years and the potential leadership qualities we are just beginning to see at the right time. There is also a myth out there in the community that having a leadership title helps you in future tertiary applications like getting into the halls of residences. We know from our feedback from tertiary institutions that this is not the case. All year 13 students are leaders in the school and all year 13’s not selected for the student executive team automatically take on the role of house captains for their whanau groups and houses. Therefore, all year 13 students at St Peter’s College have a leadership title. I don’t usually mention individual students in the weekly newsletter but I would like to recognise a year 13 student this year who did not have a traditional leadership role but who excelled at leadership and was rewarded for it. Eden McPhail was a house captain for McAuley. Not only did she encourage, organise and lead her house to win both the waiata and singing sections at the Eisteddfod she has exemplified servant leadership through never giving up and through her ability to get her peers to follow her. Eden was pivotal in getting our very large ball committee to function effectively this year ensuring a very successful evening. All of this was done without expectation and with very little adult support. That is why she receives the Principal’s Leadership Scholarship for Otago Polytechnic next year. I am also asked to share what it is that our servant leaders do here at St Peter’s College, and I am pleased to share with you the basic requirements of each role as we look towards the future in appointing these leaders for 2023, see below. Charity Fulfils the law Tara Quinney, Principal   Kia ora e te whanau
Over the next few weeks there are a number of key dates that we wish to highlight: Saturday 19 November: Southland Primary Athletics, Surrey Park Invercargill,
Sunday 20th November: Gore Interschools Equestrian competition, Gore Showgrounds
Week 6 – Wednesday 23rd November
Week 7 – Tuesday 29 November
Week 8 – Monday 5th December
We are looking forward to an exciting yet busy end to the school year. To our junior students I would like to remind them that through their participation, by being involved in various activities and opportunities, they will develop the skills and attributes to be equipped and empowered to pursue their own personal excellence and will be prepared to challenge and shape their futures. So please encourage your children to make the most of the final weeks of 2022. Lastly and sadly, our prayers go out to the Hokonui Runaka whanau at the news that Kaumatua Taare Bradshaw has passed away. Kaumatua Taare was pivotal help to us during our Ta Moko consultation and he will be greatly missed. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
With our senior students on study leave and now only coming into the College to sit exams or attend tutorials, the school may feel quieter, but there is a lot left in the year for our students in Years 7-10. This week alone has seen our Year 7 and 8 students participate in swimming lessons at the MLT and Loving for Life evening sessions with parents. Our Year 9’s have also participated in Loving for Life sessions in their Religious Education classes this week. Our Year 10 students are out at Borland Lodge currently and I was privileged to be able to spend a little time with them last night. I was super impressed with the staff and parents help out there, which without, this amazing outdoor education opportunity would not be able to go ahead. This Saturday we have our Year 9 to 13 Southland Athletics qualifiers compete at Surrey Park in Invercargill followed by our Year 7 & 8 qualifiers the following weekend. We have four very full weeks of learning and activities to go so please support your children by ensuring they are at school every day taking advantage of all the opportunities we have to offer. As always, we keep in our prayers our senior students taking part in the NZQA examinations. With our encouragement they will run their race with confidence and will cross their finish line with a sense of accomplishment. Let these words be a source of encouragement for all our young people - Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
So now we move into that time of the school year where our farewells begin. Farewells are an important ritual of any community and yesterday we began with our Year 13 leavers Mass. A lovely celebration led by Fr Aidan Cunningham at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. Our Year 13 families have invested seven years of loyalty, commitment and dedication to their child’s education here at St Peter’s College and we thank you for sharing in this educational journey with us. We hope you can join us for the year 13 leavers dinner later in the year on Friday the 2nd of December. The school year however is far from over and we have senior examinations, junior classes, camps, tramps, athletics, tournaments and orientation days for new students coming up. Plenty of activities and learning opportunities to focus on and keep busy with. It can be a time where young people begin to feel tired and restless when more than ever they need courage and resilience.
Today is Gumboot Friday where we raise awareness for the mental health of young people and all donated money goes towards free counselling for them. A wonderful initiative to support when statistics show us that 1 in 5 teenagers is struggling with their mental health. Tonight at 6pm we have the PTFA Hole in One Helicopter drop on the school field. Thank you for supporting this event by either selling - or buying some tickets. All proceeds are going towards the refurbishment of the Susan Horrell Memorial courts. Without our Parents, Teachers and Friends Association this event would not be possible and I would like to recognise our amazing volunteers: Mrs Justine Abernethy, Mrs Lisa Boult-O’Neill, Mrs Kate Bratschi, Mrs Dione Grant, Mrs Sharon Miller, Mrs Julie Chisholm and our forever energetic staff representative, Mrs Liza Wilson. We would love to have more members so if you are interested in joining please let me know. Lastly, I am delighted to announce that Mrs Julie Watkins will be Acting Deputy Principal of pastoral care for 2023. Mr Darren Jack has been awarded a study leave grant for next year, so we congratulate them both on these new pathways in their careers. Mrs Julie Watkins has been a long serving member of our staff as Year 7 Dean, and we look forward to working with her on our senior leadership team. Her pastoral experience and top-notch organisational skills will be excellent for St Peter’s College. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal |
