Principal's Message

Greetings, Kia ora, Talofa, Mālō e lelei

It has been a busy term for our sports teams culminating in last week’s Dunedin Co-Ed Secondary Schools Sports Tournament. Five schools were involved, and I am pleased to be able to say that Kavanagh again took line honours. A big thanks to the students and coaches for contributing to such a successful day.

The Year 7 – 10 reports will be issued to students today and tomorrow. These will also be available through the parent portal in Edge on Friday. Please take the time to go over them with your son or daughter to acknowledge their successes and where necessary guide their next steps.

In recent years the College has been training teaching staff in the use of Restorative Practices. This is a modern approach to behaviour management and can be used at school or home. Liz Cameron our guidance counsellor recently held a refresher session for staff.

The essence of restorative practices

The essence of restorative practices is disarmingly simple: that human beings are happier, more productive and more likely to make positive changes in their behaviour when those in positions of authority do things with them, rather than to them or for them.

Increasingly parents, caregivers and community groups are seeking out support and direction around managing the young people in their care. Building, enhancing and restoring relationships across any workplace, community group, school or culture, is essential for a strongly connected, empathetic, functioning society.

Restorative approaches in schools

Restorative approaches in schools are being sought as alternatives to more punitive disciplinary systems and procedures where often there have been little or no links between wrongdoers and those they have harmed, nor any real connections between the punishment and the actual offence. These restorative practices are not always the way forward and require the agreement of both parties- the perpetrator and the victim.

Previous measures are also often failing to meet the relational needs of teaching and learning in 21st century schools. Increasingly schools are finding restorative approaches more effective in establishing long term lasting changes in relationships, more connecting of the members of a school community, more involving and hearing of victims, and more enhancing of climates of care within schools as a whole.

Punitive verses Restorative Responses

Punitive Responses - Focus on punishment

1. What rule has been broken?

2. Who is to blame?

3. What is the punishment going to be?

Restorative Responses - Focus on accountability, healing & needs

1. What happened?

2. Who has been affected? How?

3. What needs to be done to put things right?

4. What do we need to do to move forward?

I wish you all a safe break and look forward to seeing all the students return to school refreshed and ready for the new term.

God Bless

Steve Read
Acting Principal