SCC Newsletter - 25th September 2020
Friday 25 September
Tēnā tātou e te whānau,
Yesterday was Mercy Day. We received the most beautiful card from Ngā Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.
‘Ma te Whaea Atawhai e manaaki e tiaki koutou katoa
May we be blessed in God’s tender Mercy
As we consider anew the call of Catherine’
Mercy Week has been special at St Catherine’s. Students and staff have celebrated the call of ‘mercy’ through service, reflection, prayer, and Mass. It was special to celebrate Mercy Day Mass yesterday at Patrick’s Church yesterday. It has been some time since we were able to share the Eucharist as a school community. The Caritas Challenge last night was held in Mercy Hall with over 40 students and 6 staff sleeping over in cardboard communities (they discovered the school bell rings at 12.15am!).Today we take part in ‘Mercy in Action’ Day. Despite Covid limitations on the expanse of outreach, students are busy tree planting, making cards, knitting masks and hearts for gift bags for the children's hospital, collecting donations for a Toiletries Drive, and gardening.
Year 11,12 and 13 Reports have been emailed to all parents/caregivers. Teachers’ comments provide excellent pathways for students as they complete internal assessments, and prepare for Derived Grade Exams starting on Tuesday 27 October and then the NCEA exam programme which starts on Monday 16 November. A number of staff are hosting tutorial sessions during the holidays for NCEA courses.
We are hosting a Hui ā-whānau on Tuesday 13 October at 5.30pm in Studio 1. We invite all our whanau to attend and share ideas on Māori student identity and achievement at St Catherine’s.
Our PTA does a marvellous job. They recently pledged over $7000 towards the costs of new data projectors in the school. They are organising a Community Quiz Night at Gasworks on Sunday 8 November. Get a table of 6 organised and buy tickets ($15 each) by emailing the PTA email account; stcatherinescollegepta@gmail.com
Congratulations to Ellie McLaughlin on being awarded Honours in both her practical and theory components (100%) of her recent Highland Dancing exams.
Congratulations to our hockey team who ended the season on a high - beating the top team, Marsden. The last time they played Marsden they lost 0 - 3. On Wednesday night in the cold and rain we came out on top by winning 2 - 1.
Congratulations to our netball teams: SCC1 for winning Collegiate 2B, SCC2 for winning Collegiate 3D, SCC3 for 2nd place in Jnr Collegiate 1C, and SCC4 for Jnr Collegiate 2A.
The uncertainty and anxiety of Covid throughout Term 3 has taken its toll on the wellbeing of staff and students. We head into a break where rest is important. The freshness of spring offers hope for new energy and growth.
A verse from the Mercy card we received,
‘All shall be well,
All shall be well…. for there is
a force of love
moving through
the Universe
that holds us fast
and will never let us go. (St Julian of Norwich)
Ngā mihi nui
Steve
Principal