A Message from our Principal

Greetings, Talofa, Mālō e lelei, Kumusta, Namaste, Kia ora tātou

I recently came across an article from Australia that reported on research using the most recent Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) Survey. The survey reports that people who attended Catholic schools are likely to see lifelong benefits in employment status, general health and life satisfaction. These findings were statistically significant and include adjustments to the data to isolate the impact of attendance at a Catholic school from other individual and family characteristics and influences. While I realise that Australia and New Zealand, and their schooling systems, are different in many ways, the data resonated with me as a Catholic school leader because I see many of the lifelong successes coming from the expectation of excellence, from strong pastoral care where students are acknowledged and valued as individuals, from the social justice values, and from home environments that value education and make a deliberate choice to choose education in a Catholic school.

Please see the attached image below highlighting key differences in post-school outcomes based on school attended. If you would like to read the full report, you can find it through this link.

During the weekend, when the rain kept me inside, I watched ‘Adolescence’ on Netflix. I have been recommending this four-part series to anyone who will listen! It highlights elements of the ‘secret lives of teenagers’ that, as adults, we don’t see unless we know where to go looking. The internet can be a dangerous place for easily influenced adolescents growing up; what might appear to be innocent screentime behind closed doors or hidden away from the family view, can sometimes be the complete opposite. All of us know that teenage years are often accompanied by huge insecurities, fluctuating self esteem where even innocent comments can be misinterpreted and create a storm of different emotions, and the almost visceral need to be liked. This series deals with some heavy hitting teenage truths, sexting, the ‘manosphere’ phenomenon, and the secret meanings behind Instagram posts. While it contains triggers with violence that could be a bit close to home for some, I would recommend it to anyone who is trying to understand the secret lives of today’s teenagers. I would imagine that watching this alongside your teenager, could bring about some very interesting conversations including the opportunity to talk about respect for each other, respectful relationships and respect for self. It continues to disappoint me that after so many decades of work to ensure women are seen as valued members of society and valued in healthy relationships, misogyny and degradation has taken a new foothold via the internet. Because of the publicity around this new series, you will also find a number of reviews and commentaries online about the issues raised in this series which make for interesting reading if you want to delve further.  

And so, with a research report to read and a Netflix series to watch, I have given you enough homework!

Have a wonderfully autumnal weekend and enjoy the beauty that the change of seasons brings.

Ka kite,

Kate Nicholson