Comments from Darren Jack - Deputy Principal

​Kia Ora Whanau

As our very busy term comes to an end and students and staff look forward to a well-earned break, we pause to reflect on the many things that have been most memorable throughout the term. Most recently our students competed in the Catholic Schools Sports’ Tournament held at St Kevin’s in Oamaru. Although we were not successful this year in taking out the tournament title, many people commented on the high standard of our students, how they carried themselves both on and off the field, the way they treated each other and the way they represented St Peter’s College. While we inherently know this about our students, it is nice to get that unsolicited feedback form another community. This annual Senior Sports’ Tournament, played between the five Catholic Secondary Schools south of Christchurch since 2013, is an excellent pre-season opportunity for football, hockey, basketball, netball and rugby players to come together in preparation for the season ahead. More importantly, it is an opportunity for the more than 400 participants to spend time together, celebrate together at Mass and be reacquainted with those whom they have met on the sports field in previous years. Thank you to all the students involved for representing St Peter’s so successfully during the tournament.
A huge thank you to Daniel Wards (Sports’ Co-ordinator) who organised our students from this end. The logistics surrounding this tournament are challenging and Daniel did a great job. Thank you also to all the staff and parents/caregivers who came along to support our wonderful students. 
Also happening this week have been our annual visit form John Parsons, our cyber safety and digital citizenship ‘guru’ who met with all the students and staff, as well as running a well-attended parent meeting. John reinforced the message of our responsibility to treat each other with kindness and dignity both online and face to face.

Also, in keeping with the theme of wellbeing, has been a visit form the Healthy Attitudes people. Emma, who represented them this year, spoke to all of our students over two days looking at a range of factors affecting student wellbeing, including relationships, physical, social and emotional aspects of health and taking care of yourself and others. This was done with humour but held some very important messages on navigating the way through the ‘adolescent minefield’.

During the holiday period we will have the return of the Vietnam trip, who by all accounts, seem to be having a wonderful time, and the Kapa Haka trip will leave for their Hikoi to Wellington for Anzac Day, then onwards to Parihaka and Whanganui for a cultural exchange like no other. We certainly wish them all the best in their endeavors.
 
To end the term, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the parents/caregivers and members of the community for their ongoing support of our students and College.  As we head very quickly towards Holy Week, we remember the ultimate sacrifice Jesus Christ made for all of us through his crucifixion.  May we take the time to be thankful for all God’s blessings, take time to nurture ourselves and those we love, and come back refreshed and ready for an exciting Term Two ahead.   
 

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Darren Jack
Deputy Principal

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