Principals comments 25.11.22

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