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Kia ora e te whanau
Today, I want to emphasize the importance of teachers, students, and the community working well together in achieving our shared mission of providing a quality Catholic education to our students. As we all know, teachers are the backbone of our school. They dedicate themselves to educating our students, imparting not just knowledge but also important values such as compassion, respect, and integrity. We are blessed to have such talented and committed teachers in our school. However, it is not just the responsibility of the teachers to ensure that our students receive a quality education. Students must also play an active role in their own learning. They must come to school ready to learn, be engaged in their classes, and take responsibility for their own academic success. And it's not just about teachers and students. Our community also plays a crucial role in the success of our school. We need parents and guardians to be actively involved in their children's education and support them as they navigate their academic journey. We also need community leaders and organisations to support our school and help us provide the resources our students need to succeed. When teachers, students, and the community work well together, we create a positive and supportive learning environment that helps students reach their full potential. By working together, we can help our students develop not just academic knowledge, but also the character and values that will serve them well throughout their lives. Next week on Thursday the 16th of March, teachers and myself will be going on strike to require improved pay rates and conditions to keep skilled and experienced teachers in the classroom, make secondary teaching a first choice career and encourage thousands of ex-teachers to return. On the TV3 Morning show Melissa Chan-Green criticised teachers for this action saying we should strike on the weekend so as not to disrupt the learning of the children. Sadly the government has not negotiated with PPTA on improving teachers working conditions and salary since May last year so we know that would not work. The last thing we want to do is disrupt student learning but we are out of options. Melissa Chan-Green compared the recent student strikes on climate change to the teachers strike. I would disagree with this assumption. Strikes are admirable in the workforce because strikers sacrifice salary for a greater cause. All of us striking will go without pay this day. Students need to strike on a Saturday to show sacrifice. We have four non-union teaching staff who will be onsite all day on Thursday the 16th of March to supervise any students who are too young or can’t be left at home that day. Please email our Deputy Principal, Bridget Ryan bridgetryan@stpetersgore.school.nz to let us know if your child will be attending school this day. Thank you for your ongoing support of our Catholic co-educational high school. I look forward to continuing to work together to provide the best possible education for our students. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal
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Kia ora e te whānau
We are now well and truly into the season of Lent when we remember and celebrate Jesus’ passion, and the mystery that is, his death and resurrection. It is a time for prayer and reflection of who we are as a Catholic kura. To “Be Mercy” in all we do is an action rather than something we give up for Lent. I challenge our kura to reflect on this as we go through Lent in the build up to Holy week. This week we welcomed back John Parsons to the school and it was a privilege once again to hear stories of mistakes young people have made with their digital footprint and the message that we are people of forgiveness. We can learn from these mistakes and strive to do better and be more responsible with technology. I hope the students and parents who attended the sessions got a lot out of this. Supporting busy young people who balance schoolwork, after school activities, part time jobs and a growing interest in having ‘a social life’ has its challenges. However, I am sure you will agree it brings a huge amount of satisfaction. Catholic schools have always been about academic excellence, but this is not at the exclusion of the education of the whole person. This year we have extended our whānau time to include increased assembly time, where we can come together as a whole school to communicate and listen to shared expectations around our school values as well as come together in prayer. Every fortnight we are also having year level assemblies led by the deans to come together and build a culture of communication and representation of academic and co-curricula activities. When we come together in our house whānau groups this is an opportunity to help integrate our newest and youngest students into St Peter’s College through Tuakana Teina as well as teaching students the social and emotional tools that help students make good choices, manage their emotions, create positive relationships, and collaborate. Something that has become even more important in the wake of the pandemic. A reminder to those of you who were here for the beginning of our whānau time journey and a recap for those of you who are new to our community- whānau time was born from an external pastoral review of the school that told us among many things that students in this school did not feel they had a safe and caring connection with a single adult at St Peter’s College. Whānau time has allowed us to dedicate 2-3 committed staff members to each whānau group of approximately 27 students to help support, nurture and really get to know each individual student. Finding multiple opportunities to let children know that “We care, that they matter, and that we are going to show up for them no matter what” makes all the difference. When we have those kinds of conversations, students show up in the classroom and they have a better sense of how to process whatever challenges they might be facing. The benefits of social-emotional learning are difficult to deny. A recent meta-analysis, which reviewed studies of 1 million students over the last 10 years, found that these approaches have consistent, positive effects on student outcomes, including increased social and emotional skills, attitudes, and academic achievement, and fewer problems with conduct and emotional distress. Thank you for supporting our move to vertical house whānau time. Through this initiative every student, along with caregivers and their subject teachers’ and whānau teachers, will be engaged in developing relationships and setting our expectations for the year. Each one of our students possess God-given gifts and talents and it is our job, and our privilege, to help them become the very best version of themselves aiming high in their aspirations. We certainly hope that here at St Peter’s, the education of the students is a partnership and that our desires as parents and teachers complement our Catholic tradition which aims to form young adults who will make a difference. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
Despite a somewhat disrupted academic year in 2022, as expected, it is pleasing that our students have returned to school refreshed, reenergised, and ready to set their goals for 2023. In the coming weeks, once NCEA results are finalised, we will be having our Academic Blues Assembly on Wednesday, March 29th. However, it is important to acknowledge the 2022 NCEA results as they currently stand. Results are down on previous years as we take into consideration the toll three years of Covid has taken and the inclusion of students in individual learning plans, students who left school part way through the year and students enrolled in alternative education: University Entrance pass rate: SPC 66.7%; National 49.1% Level 3 pass rate: SPC 75%; National 67.6% Level 2 pass rate: SPC 91.7%; National 74.2% Level 1 pass rate: SPC 73.8%; National 64% We are thankful that on Tuesday we were able to gather as a school community to dedicate our 2023 school year to God at our Opening Mass, and celebrate the Mass with our students, staff, Board members and guests, including current and new families to our community. A big thank you to all who participated and contributed to the Mass, and to Father Jaime who led the Mass and continues to support our College with his service. Our school motto, Charity Fulfils the Law, calls us to follow God’s commandment to love God and love they neighbour, it encourages each of us to embody the values of community, commitment and compassion. This year we will be continuing to focus on putting our faith into action through our servant leadership council and community service programmes, whereby students are encouraged to strive to be Rosminian and Mercy people who see the need and respond with compassion. Our first project will be Work Day on Wednesday, March 8th, where all money earned will be distributed to worthy charities. At the Mass our 2023 student leaders were blessed and received their Year 13 badges. This team of student leaders have willingly offered their skills and talents in the service of others. They will build on the legacy of those who have previously served in these positions and they, in turn, will leave their own legacy for others to continue. Our 2023 student leadership team is:
I wish this team of student leaders all the very best for the year ahead and look forward to working alongside them. Charity Fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
At our school, we strive to instil the value of Commitment in our students, as we believe it is an essential aspect of personal growth and success in all areas of life. As a Catholic school, we are inspired by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, who demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his mission of spreading love and compassion to all. His commitment to his mission was evident in the way he lived his life, even in the face of immense challenges and opposition. We believe that a commitment to one's values, goals, and responsibilities is crucial for personal growth and success. It requires discipline, perseverance, and sacrifice, but the rewards are significant. As students, commitment is essential for academic success. It means showing up to class on time, completing assignments on time, and putting in the necessary effort to achieve your goals. It also means taking responsibility for your actions and accepting the consequences of your choices. Commitment is also critical in extracurricular activities, whether it is sports, music, or other clubs. It means showing up to practice, working hard to improve your skills, and supporting your teammates or fellow club members. As we look beyond our school community, commitment is a value that extends to our relationships with others and our role in the world. It means being committed to treating others with respect and kindness, and making a positive difference in the world. At St Peter’s College, we aim to foster a culture of commitment by encouraging our students to take responsibility for their choices, to strive for excellence in all areas of their lives, and to be compassionate and supportive of others. At this weeks student assembly we learnt about potential and how you need commitment to reach it. As we continue on our journey, let us remember the example set by Jesus Christ and strive to be committed to our values, our goals, and our responsibilities. Together, we can make a positive impact on our school, our community, and the world. You are all warmly invited to our opening Mass this Tuesday the 21st of February at 11am at the Blessed Sacrament Church where our theme is Commitment. Year 13 parents, caregivers and students are invited to a cup of tea afterwards at the Senior Citizens. Back at school the rest of the school body will partake in free pancakes for Shrove Tuesday- a final feast before we go into the season of Lent. Charity fulfils the Law Tara Quinney, Principal Kia ora e te whanau
As we embark on a new school year, we extend a warm welcome back to all of our families. We hope that this past summer holiday was filled with love, laughter, and meaningful moments spent with loved ones. As a Catholic school, our mission is to provide a holistic education that is rooted in faith and centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of each and every student, and we are honoured to partner with you in this important journey. As we begin this new school year, let us remember that we are all called to be witnesses of God's love and compassion in the world. May we work together in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, building a community that is characterized by kindness, respect, and compassion. It is important that I let you know that the PPTA teachers’ union has sanctioned a strike on teachers taking on relief teaching periods for term one in all state and state integrated secondary schools across the country. For the last three years of the pandemic, it has been the extra unpaid labour of our teachers giving up their important non-contact time to teach their colleagues classes when they have been away, that has kept our school up and running most days. We have endeavoured to hire more external relief teachers but they are in short supply and often work across many schools. We will also be limiting activities, events and professional learning and development that would cause more staff to be out and needing their classes covered. Worst case scenario is that when we have more than a couple of teachers away each day, we will have to roster year levels home in term one. This will be a last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted. Sometimes we do not know which staff are going to be absent until the morning as people call in sick. We will be taking the situation day by day but this will mean that if we do need to roster a year level or year levels home this will be notified to you that morning at approximately 7.15am via Facebook and the school App. Please ensure you have your notifications on. We will always provide supervision for students who must come to school, but it will be supervision, not teaching that takes place that day. We do not want to strike but the government has given us no choice. We are striking for education, and we hope you will support us, despite the inconveniences it will cause. We are striking because we are concerned that the pay for teachers and the funding for schools is not enough to provide quality education. The value of teachers pay has fallen significantly and this has caused a crisis in recruitment and retention. More teachers and school leaders than ever are leaving their jobs and the government cannot recruit enough teachers to replace them. Funding for schools has not kept in line with rising costs and this means: - Many schools face difficulties in finding the teachers they need. - Students with special needs are not getting the support they need. - Schools are spending less on important equipment and resources. - Schools are cutting back on extra curricula opportunities. We are asking you to please: - Support our strike action and our campaign to boost funding for our schools. - Talk to our teachers positively and tell them they are doing a great job. - Contact your local MP’s office and tell them that you support PPTA members taking strike action. Tara Quinney, Principal |
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