Comments from the Principal 5.11.21

 Kia ora e te whanau

I truly believe that St Peter’s College is the best educational option for Catholic students at any year level, because they will learn in an environment where they can peak mentally, physically, socially and spiritually. We have always been renowned for the outstanding care and support of our students, but we want to proactively and intentionally ensure our students are not just ‘OK’ or ‘good’ but are given every opportunity to ‘thrive.’

So, after much consultation, including an external review of our pastoral systems last year that included student, teacher and community voice, we will be moving in a new direction for 2022. Vertical house whanau groups will replace our current horizontal year level form groups. This will have very little impact on our timetable with form time being replaced with whanau time on the same days at the same times. Students will be split into house whanau groups of approximately 27 students that will consist of students at every year level e.g. 4 year 7’s, 5 year 8’s, 5 year 9’s, 4 year 10’s, 3 year 11’s, 3 year 12’s, 3 year 13’s. These students will all be members of the same house e.g. Rosmini, Pompallier, Finlay and McAuley. Each whanau group will have 2 staff members attached, also of the same house. These staff members and students will stay together for the entire 7 years they will be at St Peter’s College. This will allow a smaller group of students to build a strong relationship with at least one adult in the school. This adult will be the students “go to” for all pastoral needs. This adult will get to know the students in their whanau groups very well and will be a first port of call for parents in checking in on their progress and wellbeing.

This change will take place on day one of school next year. Year 7 and 8 students will still be home roomed with a teacher who will be with them for most of their core subjects. Year 13 students will naturally become the leaders of their houses. Tuakana-Teina where the older student’s mentor and guide the younger students will also be able to flourish. Learning Tutors will be renamed Dean’s and will remain horizontal with a year group to add that extra layer of support and they will follow their year group through the years e.g. The year 9 Dean in 2022 becomes year 10 Dean in 2023.

According to two decades of research, a student who has high levels of wellbeing is also likely to have better physical health, better social relationships, more optimism for the future and higher academic performance. It also has a positive impact on a student’s life well into adult life, with longitudinal research showing that wellbeing in the teen years impacts employment, earning capacity, relationship satisfaction and the likelihood of volunteering in one’s 30s and 40s.

We are very excited to be moving in this new direction and as Catholics we are called to build and foster positive relationships, to enjoy social connection and to spread love and joy. St Peter’s College is proud of its holistic education.

Term 4 is moving fast, we have just finished our senior derived grade examinations, teachers are marking these as quickly as they can so students can see where their study time needs to be directed until we get into the real deal beginning November 22nd. Covid level 2 restrictions have meant that some key celebrations and events have needed to be adapted this term so here are some details on these changes:

- Loving for Life Sexuality programme for year 7’s and year 9’s has now been postponed until early next year.
- Tuesday 16th November is the last onsite school day for year 13’s where we will celebrate with a Mass in 
   our chapel for the year group and staff.
- Wednesday 17th November is the last onsite school day for year 12’s where we will have the year 12 retreat
  at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament with a Mass for students and staff only.
- Thursday 18th November is the last onsite school day for year 11’s where we will celebrate with a Mass in
   our chapel for the year group and staff.
- Tuesday 7th, 8th, 9th Dec- Year 7 EOTC days. Weather permitting, one form class out per day.
- Thursday 9th Dec- 5pm- Year 13 prize giving and leavers dinner at the Croydon Lodge for year 13’s, parents
​   and staff only. Dux and other awards will also be given out this night.
- Friday 10th Dec- Last official school day for junior students.

There will be no new student orientation day on Wednesday 24th November, instead new students will be offered individual short tours from the 23rd November onwards.

There will be no junior Christian service morning on Friday 10th December, instead junior students will assist their teachers in cleaning up the school, rooms and helping to stack chairs and tables for the holidays.

There will be no formal prizegiving ceremonies or assemblies for years 7-12, there will be no diligence awards this year due to Covid and school disruptions and to recognise that these changes have affected all students and families in different ways we will instead be showing our school community that wellbeing comes first. Certificates and awards will be sent home.

We wish Mr Ronny Kotkamp, the teaching team, parent volunteers and all of the year 10’s going off to Borland Lodge next week. We are so lucky to be able to make this happen this year and thank all of those involved very much.

Charity fulfils the Law.

Tara Quinney,
Principal