Tēnā koutou kātoa ngā whānau o te kura

​​2022 has been quite a year! We can feel deep gratitude and appreciation for all the events and experiences this year has offered. It has been a year of celebration, full of participation and achievement at all levels. It’s also been a year of tremendous challenge. Once again, thank you for your incredible support this year!

Advent is upon us

Beginning the Church’s liturgical year, Advent (from “ad-venire” in Latin or “to come to”) is the season encompassing the four Sundays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. The advent season reminds us to hope and believe that the fulfilment of God’s promise is near.

Like Lent, the liturgical colour for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas. During Advent, we’re invited to enter more frequently into silence, into prayer and reflection, into Scripture, and into the sacramental life of the Church, all to prepare for celebrating Christmas. Let us prepare ourselves and spread the Good News that Jesus will come.

A prayer for Advent

God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Important Changes for 2023

1. Mobile Phone Policy Update - Refer to my email dated Monday, 5 December (attached below.)

2. Uniform Change for Year 11 - Refer to the email sent by our Board Chairman, Mr Rod Way, dated Friday, 2 December (attached below.)

End-of-Year Prizegiving

Please remember that our Middle School Prizegiving will be held at 10:00am tomorrow in the College Gymnasium. This is a special occasion where we can focus on recognising our Middle School students and particularly celebrate our Year 10 student graduates of our St. Thomas Aquinas Middle School Award (STAMSA). All Year 10 students receive recognition as part of this prizegiving. Parents of prizewinners have already received an email notification.

Following the conclusion of prizegiving, students will be released for the summer holidays. Buses will depart school shortly after the close of prizegiving.

Aquinas College Building Projects

Currently, there are three exciting building projects underway at the College. You can read about them here:

1. Air Quality Upgrades

In the September newsletter, I shared with you about the Air Quality Upgrades. This project involves retrofitting our classrooms with mechanical ventilation and air conditioning units. The main reason we are starting back in 2023 a week later is to allow our contractors additional time without students on-site, enabling them the time required to complete three blocks completely. At the beginning of next year, J Block, S Block and the Wahrenui will be complete. H Block and M Block work will be ongoing throughout Term 1 and possibly the beginning of Term 2. Classrooms will be temporarily relocated to the administration block while the work is being completed in stages.

1. Administration Block

The administration block is being renovated in two stages. Stage one involves the redevelopment of the entrance, reception and office areas as well as the redevelopment of a fit-for-purpose student well-being centre. This will bring together our student wellness services (counselling, guidance and medical services), providing greater levels of privacy. The detailed design for Stage 1 has now been completed, and consent has been lodged with the council. The indicative start date for these works is May next year, which will follow the completion of the air quality upgrades.

1. New Block and T Block Conversion

The design process is well underway for a new block, which will need to be built to accommodate the roll increase application being put forward to the Ministry of Education. This new build will accommodate the required spaces for the projected roll increase to 1000 students. In addition to building a new block, the scope of the project includes a refurbishment of the T Block (current Technology and Arts block). The allocation of these spaces will include a combination of new specialist spaces and generalist classrooms. Procurement of consultants has commenced, and we expect to have a cost estimate and concept design by February 2023.

I pray that the Holy Spirit continues to unite and guide us in our daily lives. May we always remember to press into the richness and fullness of the gift that is our faith. May the peace of Christ be with you all this Christmas Season.

Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki

May God’s Blessings be upon us all.

M R Dalton

Principal | Tumuaki