Comments from the Principal 6.8.21

Kia ora e te whanau

The Board of Trustees is currently in the midst of planning the schools strategic plan and goals for the next three years. We thank everyone who has shared their feedback and views in the recent online surveys, and it was also very valuable to have a discussion session with our servant leadership students on where they see the direction of St Peter’s College. This is the perfect time therefore to reflect on what we want a St Peter’s College graduate to be and plan for how they get there. All parents worry about their child’s future and how they will turn out in life, and we are here as teachers to support that journey.

From my perspective I believe all young people turn out well if they and their whanau commit to four aspects of school life:

1. They attend school every day from Year 7 right to the last day of Year 13.
2. They play a sport or participate in an extra curricula activity for their community.
3. They never experiment with drugs.
4. Their parents are involved in their education.

I could almost guarantee life success if these four conditions are followed. These four conditions cover four important areas of life:

1. Academic resilience.
2. Teamwork and community.
3. Barriers.
4. Example and encouragement.
So, what do I think is the St Peter’s College graduate? How would I describe her or him?
1. A person of courage: faces issues head on, speaks out about injustice, always completes tasks.
2. A person of hope: Life is always better tomorrow. Never wallows in failures or past mistakes.
3. A person of service: Has learnt that life is about giving back to their community, their family, their school. Life is about the other person - not themselves.
4. A person who is authentic: Has taken on board the St Peter’s College values of Community, Commitment and Compassion. Says yes instead of no.
5. A person that knows life comes from God: Knows we will eventually return to him, lives with gratitude and daily prayer.
6. A person who has to gain academic credentials: Wants to be equal with others in New Zealand and in the world, in their chosen career.
7. A person who understands teamwork and community: Makes sensible personal decisions and is not swayed by public opinion or the latest fads.
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If we insist on this bigger picture of life and the four conditions for living it, we will continue to produce excellent young people who exemplify these characteristics.
To conclude our community consultation on the strategic plan I would like to specifically invite parents and caregivers of our Maori families to a whanau hui on Wednesday 18th August in the staffroom at 7pm to share some kai and have a shared dialogue on the direction you would like to see the school go in over the next three years. All parents and caregivers welcome, not just Maori.
Thank you to those students and families who registered an interest in the April 2022 Cultural Hikoi to Northland as explained in a recent email home. Registrations have now closed, and successful applicants will be notified next week, with a meeting arranged for parents and students with more details. Due to the length of time away and potential demands of this hikoi the decision has been made to restrict the age of students attending to Years 9 and above in 2022. For the Year 7 and 8 students missing out this time there will be further opportunities like this in the future. I would like to thank all the staff who have put so much of their own time and effort into the planning of this event already.


Tara Quinney
Principal