Principal's Message

”Ooooh, it does get in!” Some of us are old enough to remember the Colgate toothpaste television ad of the 1970s where Mrs Marsh shows her class an experiment with ink and chalk, as a way of imitating the effect of toothpaste on teeth. It was an iconic ad that will be remembered by a generation – so iconic that you can still find it on youtube as a classic. We talk a lot about our purpose as a Catholic school, about the Catholic Social teachings, about what Jesus would do, and about our Gospel values of respect, service, justice and truth. But talk is just talk without action and application. The toothpaste ad and the question of whether everything we talk about is really getting in, came to mind on a few occasions recently.

The weekend before last, we took a team of Bishop’s Shield competitors to Gore to take part in the 79th Bishop’s Shield Public Speaking competition. While some parts of the competition can be prepared and practised there are many parts that require the students to think on their feet, make quick decisions and relate statements to applicable and meaningful real-life situations. I am sure the debater in the opposing team will never forget using Northern Ireland as an example of possible permanent peace, and having her argument expertly cut down during rebuttal by our own Northern Irelander, Che McGivern! A first-time audience member spoke to me about how impressed they were with the genuine way our students could speak about the gospel values and relate them to everyday life, and the ability to speak about the morality and ethics of national and international issues facing the world today.

On Tuesday afternoon, Fr Hook celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Assumption with the whole school. As always, our young people were polite, respectful and appropriate. They know what is right and wrong, and regardless of where they are at on their faith journey, they recognise that celebrating these important days in the Church calendar is an important part of coming together as a community with common beliefs and values.

Yesterday, the nine Catholic schools in our Kāhui Ako worked around Dunedin and Mosgiel to apply social justice teachings in a variety of ways. From weeding the plantings along the Silverstream to cleaning up the Town Belt and helping out at Te Araiteuru Marae, many of our young people supported the primary schools to contribute to our wider community. Along with our weekly senior student volunteers who help cook meals at Mercy Parish every week and today being a clothing donation today, I am very proud of those who continue to live our values in the community. A special thanks goes to Charli Innes, Charlotte Harris and Liam Clifford and their wider team of Young Vinnies, supported by Jo Bell, who took the lead on coordinating the last couple of days. Student leadership at its best!

And so, in reflecting on these few recent events, I think ‘it does get in’. Taking the learning, turning it into belief, and then acting on it, takes commitment and effort. Thank you for the work you do at school and at home to support us and encourage our young people to contribute so positively to our local communities now, and to our international communities in days to come. The future is in good hands.