Principal's Welcome

 

Nō Belgium tōku whānau, ā, nā Te Tiriti o Waitangi au i whai tūrangawaewae ki Aotearoa.

Ko Amélie Kelder tōku ingoa

 

Kei Te Whanganui-a-Tara tōku kāinga

Nō reira, me mihi ake au ki ngā tohu whenua o tēnei wāhi, arā

Ko Matairangi te maunga
Ko Rongotai te moana
Ko Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o te Ika, ko Te Āti Awa te mana whenua

 

I reside in Kilbirnie with my husband and two daughters and greatly value being part of this vibrant community.

My passions include spending quality time with my family, walking in nature, and reading about education. I deeply appreciate staying connected with both my community and friends. Outside of school, I enjoy reading novels, practicing piano, or learning new languages. Currently, I am learning Te Reo Māori and aspire to one day hold fluent conversations in this beautiful language. I am a proud Tangata Tiriti and place the articles of te Tiriti at the centre of every decision making for this kura. 

It is an absolute privilege to serve as Te Tumuaki o te Kāreti o Hāta Kataraina / the Principal of St Catherine’s College. St Catherine’s is a community where we celebrate the successes of our ākonga, deliver a strong learning programme, and offer a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities. Our Catholic Special Character is central to our College, and the Mercy values guide us in our teaching and learning. With students from a wide range of nationalities, we take pride in cherishing and celebrating our multicultural identities.

My vision for the school is to create a place where every ākonga feels happy and safe, finds joy in learning, celebrates their own successes as well as those of others, and develops their Catholic identity through challenges and decision-making. Our core values—Akoranga (Weaved Learning), Whakapono (Faith and Trust), and Aroha (Love)—are embedded in our annual plan, ensuring every ākonga has abundant opportunities to thrive and shine in our world.

My door is always open, and I warmly welcome anyone who wishes to have a kōrero. I look forward to working with you.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.

Manaaki te Atua,

Whaea Amélie