A Message from our Principal

Kia ora e te whānau

As we come to the end of a busy and fulfilling Term One, I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our students and staff. It has been a very positive term with our young people taking up countless opportunities to learn, connect and contribute.

As a staff, our focus has continued to be on strengthening teaching practice, and we have enjoyed having a weekly slot before school when departments are rostered on to share the good practice happening within their lessons. Within a staff of about fifty teachers, it can be easy to become siloed in our curriculum areas. Keeping the sharing of good practice and ideas for learning, helps us connect and learn from each other. I encourage you to engage in conversations with your children about their learning, asking them not just what they did, but what they learned. 

It has been good seeing so many parents and students attend the parent-teacher interviews. Keeping this three-way partnership strong helps learning outcomes. For those of you who don’t make this a priority, please do! We love seeing the parents of students who are well engaged in the learning process, but we know significant change can happen for those students less engaged in their learning, when their parents and teachers work together. Parent teacher conversations are an easy way to strengthen this partnership.

The last couple of weeks have been busy with the year 7 camp at Puketeraki Marae, the Shakespeare Competition where our four entries were all of the highest calibre, the semis and finals of summer sports, and our four Catholic colleges coming together for the annual Sports Quad earlier this week. I would like to give a huge thank you to all the staff, parents and volunteers who contribute to the success of these events. You are greatly appreciated.

With Holy Week and Easter ahead of us as we begin the holiday break, we are reminded of the deep significance this season holds for us as a Catholic community. Easter calls us to hope, renewal and connection. May this Easter season be a time for your family to enjoy rest, reconnection, and the peace that comes from shared time with loved ones. May it also be a time to reflect on the messages of compassion and light that lie at the heart of our faith, and encourage us to engage fully with our faith during this Jubilee Year of Hope.

After such a full and positive term, I hope that all our students (and staff!) take the opportunity for a well-earned rest. We look forward to Term Two and the learning and adventures yet to come.

Wishing you all Easter blessings and a safe, happy holiday.

Ngā mihi nui,
Kate Nicholson
Principal