SCC Newsletter
Friday 31 July
Kia ora whānau of St Catherine’s College,
Welcome to Term 3. It certainly feels like we are in the middle of winter; cold brisk mornings, ripe for full winter uniform. Thank you for all your early term organisation; the term calendar is bursting with the usual Term 3 events plus a number carried over from Terms 1 and 2 because of lockdown.
At our first two school assemblies we shared ideas on striving for potential.
One of Jesus’ parables and the arrival of Matariki have provided the stimulus for this theme.
Jesus compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of mustard seed, which is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becomes a tree that provides shade and protection.
Matariki signals the Māori New Year. It is a time of renewal and celebration in Aotearoa New Zealand that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster. It is interesting that many school mottos aspire to reach for the stars, to attain the light.
So the heavens, light, and the stars have strong importance for many people - for achievement, for being the best, for striving to reach the stars.
I encourage your partnership with us to promote high aspirations for our students/your daughters during Term 3.
Three senior student leaders accompanied me to a Cullen Breakfast this week where the Hon Judith Collins was the guest speaker. If there was ever a time for prospective first time voters to be well informed it is now. With decisions around general election candidates, and 2 referenda - on whether the recreational use of cannabis should become legal, and on whether the End of Life Choice Act should come into force - our young people need time and opportunity to consider these issues in light of their faith and values.
Life beyond the classroom is vibrant:
After-school Homework Club runs on Tuesday afternoons from 3.20pm to 4.30pm in the school library. It is supported by curriculum teachers who are available to work with students on homework, assignments and assessments. All students are welcome to attend to receive help with their homework. Refreshments are provided for the students. Homework Club is a fun environment and it has been very successful in the past. If your daughter requires help or assistance with homework, please encourage them to attend.
Trade and Technology Careers Expo - September 2nd, 11am-1pm at St Catherine's College. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend this event which is open for all SCC students and Year 7 and 8 female students from our local Catholic schools. The programme is hands-on and action packed. More details to follow.
We are holding a Junior Music Concert on the 11th of August at 5.30pm in Studio Two. Orchestra is held every Monday lunchtime with Heather Miller.The SCC Barbershop Quartets and Barbershop Chorus are back up and running. Belles Voix Choir is working towards a Wellington Regional Mini Sing at the end of Term 3. The SCC Jazz Combo is preparing for the annual Eastern Suburbs Jazz Evening at Toitu - The Hub.
The SCC Multicultural Club is practising for the inter-school Vaka o Le Pasifika Day at Wellington College on Tuesday 18 August. Their repertoire includes songs and dances from across the Pacific. There will also be presentations from young Pasifika leaders and information on future pathways for Pasifika students.
The intercollegiate debating season is drawing to a close for the year, with our teams recording variable results. However, despite losing the last two Senior Prem A debates, our team of Grace Ellis, Isabella Ross and Aoife Moss has debated at an exceptionally high level and have been commended by the adjudicators. Their one-point loss to Paraparaumu College in Round 4, in particular, was one of the best school debates Mrs Ryan can recall seeing. Our team affirmed the moot that "this house regrets the commercialisation of social movements". Their debate against Queen Margaret College, earlier this week, was affirming the topic that "all political campaigning and advertising should be banned, except for public debates" - not easy, but a very feisty debate!
The Junior Prem team recorded a win this week against Onslow College, affirming "that children should be responsible for the elderly parents". With an overall result of two wins and three losses, the team has not made it through to the quarter-finals
In the Junior Certificate grade, SCC 1 (our Year 9 team comprising Aine Bolger; Michaela Borja; Angela Roberts) lost narrowly to Queen Margaret and SCC 2 (our Year 10 team comprising Kathryn Eagle, Ava Saulbrey; Shazia Rafey) won against Samuel Marsden arguing the moot that ‘Parents should track their children through the use of GPS on their phones (even without their children's knowledge)’. The debates clashed over the importance of safety v privacy.
The Senior Certificate team of Year 11 debaters has had a difficult season with other schools defaulting to them twice. The girls have their final round robin debate next week, but that will be only their second debate this year, as one was cancelled during lockdown, and they have won the last two debates by default. Good luck for next week, girls!
Congratulations to Heloise, our Sports Coordinator, on the birth of Oliver. Both are doing well and keeping warm! Welcome to Anna, our new Sports Coordinator, who is doing a grand job organising and supporting our sportswomen. Thank you to the parents who are assuming coaching and managing roles. There has been a real upturn in this level of support and our sports participation is on the rise.
Congratulations to Ella Loftus Yr 9 for her winning logo entry across the 13 schools of our Wellington Catholic Schools’ Kahui Ako. Watch out, Saatchi and Saatchi!
Punctuality to school is in need of improvement! Many students arrive after 8.55am with feeble excuses for lateness, most commonly that they slept in! Please encourage and support your daughter’s morning routines in order for her to be at school for the start time. It will not be long before our students are independent and expected to arrive at a lecture theatre, office, or workplace well before 8.55am (the start time of school). Lateness impacts on the rest of the day. Attendance = Achievement.
On Thursday 13 August at 2pm in St Patrick's Church, Kilbirnie we are celebrating the Feast of Mary’s Assumption into Heaven. In this special Mass we praise Mary for her life of devotion and love, and for the life she gave us; that of Jesus Christ. We send a special invitation to all our mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters, to join with our school and honour the place of those women in our lives.
Ngā mihi nui
Steve
Principal
This message from our BOT Chairperson,
Kia ora
At last month's Board of Trustees meeting we decided to opt in again to the Government's donations scheme for 2021. This means that, like this year, in 2021 the school will receive from the Government an extra $150 per student, but we will not be able to ask whānau for curriculum related donations. We are still able to ask for payments related to optional activities and for school camps. This decision hopefully will continue to provide relief to some families from the financial pressure that donations have placed on them in the past, but it does leave us with a funding shortfall. On that note, a big thank you to all of you that have continued to generously support the school through PTA, Board of Proprietor and other donations. We really appreciate this during these volatile times.
Ngā mihi nui
Emma Richards
Board Chair