Tēnā koutou kātoa ngā whānau o te kura

As we navigate the dynamic start of 2024, I am filled with pride over the notable celebrations and achievements that highlight our successful year so far, as featured in this newsletter. In this section, I will offer important reminders on how you can further support our mission.

“Words can inspire and words can destroy. Choose yours carefully.” Robin Sharma

Over the past couple of weeks, I have focused my assembly reflections with our student body on the themes of kindness, compassion, and the significance of our actions towards each other. I believe it is crucial to extend this conversation to our parent community to reinforce these messages at home.

Two weeks ago, I reflected on the profound symbol of the Cross during Lent, representing suffering, sacrifice, and unconditional love. We discussed how, like Jesus, we all have our own challenges and crosses to bear and how our actions can either add to or alleviate the suffering of others. Unfortunately, we've observed instances of unkindness and bullying within our school community this year, which is deeply disheartening. We emphasised the power of words and the importance of being upstanders rather than bystanders in our interactions.

Building on this, just this week, I shared Pope Francis's recent message about God's profound love for us — a love that focuses not on our faults but on lifting and saving us. This message beautifully ties back to our ongoing conversation about fostering a supportive, understanding, and compassionate community. Pope Francis's recount of Jesus and Nicodemus reminds us to welcome and support each other without judgment, especially in times of mistakes or when someone needs help.

These discussions are not just for Lent but are lessons for life. We strive to cultivate a school environment where kindness, mercy, and support are the cornerstones of our interactions. As parents and guardians, your influence and reinforcement of these values at home are invaluable. Together, we can strengthen our community's commitment to being kind, standing up against anti-social behaviours, and supporting one another through our challenges.

I encourage you to discuss these themes with your children, reflect on the significance of our actions, and how we can all contribute to a more compassionate and supportive school environment. Let's make our community a testament to the strength, kindness, and compassion we wish to see in the world. Thank you for your cooperation in nurturing these values within our community.

Term 1 Reporting and Parent-Teacher Conferences

Term 1 progress reports will be emailed out in Week 8. From Term 2, you will receive progress reports twice each term (Weeks 4 and 8). We will hold our Term 1 Parent-Teacher Conferences on Monday, 8th April. These meetings will run from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Bookings are essential and will be made through SchoolBridge. Booking information will be included in reports. Meetings are for 10 minutes, except for Year 7 Homeroom bookings, which are for 15 minutes. You are strongly encouraged to bring your child to maximise the effectiveness of these meetings.

This is an important opportunity to connect with your child(ren)’s teachers to develop strategies that will enable us to work together to ensure your child(ren) reaches their full potential this year. If you are unable to secure a booking, please make contact with your child’s teacher by email. Please note that there are no classes on this day.

Stay Connected: Your Guide to Aquinas Communication Channels

Don't forget to connect with us and be kept up to date with our two social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram), our newsletters (published twice per term), the Aquinas website, the parent portal (including for attendance) and checking your emails. If you have any queries, do not hesitate to email us. Email addresses for all staff can be found on our website. Please do not expect to see a teacher without making a prior appointment. Appointments can be made directly with that staff member or by calling the office.

Email Etiquette: Respecting Work-Life Balance of our Staff

Aquinas College prioritises staff well-being and work-life balance, emphasising the importance of distinguishing between professional and personal time. The Principal and the Board are dedicated to preventing burnout by upholding these boundaries.

In keeping with this commitment, we understand that while emails may be sent or received outside of our standard working hours (8:20 am to 4:20 pm), as per the Teachers’ Union (PPTA) and Ministry of Education guidelines, teachers are not expected to respond during their personal time. Staff should generally reply to emails within 48 hours during their working hours, ensuring we maintain a supportive work environment while respecting personal time.

Supporting a Phone-Free Environment at Aquinas College

As part of our commitment to fostering a focused and engaging learning environment, we kindly remind you of our collective responsibility to adhere to the government's legislation on phone use during school hours. This legislation requires that students must not use or access their phones at any time while at school, including lunchtime, breaks, and even during school courses or visits outside school grounds.

We understand the importance of staying in touch with your child. In line with this policy, we ask that you please direct any messages to your child through the school office, rather than contacting them directly. Thank you for your understanding and support in reinforcing this change.

Attendance Matters

We would like to remind you of the significant role regular school attendance plays in your child's education, as highlighted by New Zealand's Education and Training Act 2020. Ensuring your child is present at school every day it is open is crucial for their continuous learning and development. Unjustified absences, including those for holidays during term time, mean students miss out on valuable learning opportunities, and it can be difficult for them to catch up on the work they have missed. It's also important to remember that it falls outside our teachers' responsibilities to support your child's learning during these absences.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can offer our young people the best opportunities for success.

A Reminder to Explore the Aquinas College Strategic Plan 2024-2026

We warmly invite our Aquinas College families to delve into our Strategic Plan for 2024-2026, if you haven't already. This plan, enriched by the insights of more than 700 community members, charts a course for our collective aspirations and educational excellence. Reflecting our dedication to faith, unity, and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, it serves as our guide for the coming years.

Special thanks to Charlie Way, a talented 2023 graduate, for his exceptional design work on the plan. Charlie's creativity has brought our vision to life in a visually compelling way.

We encourage you to familiarise yourself with our strategic objectives and join us in this purposeful journey towards cultivating Catholic servant leaders. Together, let's turn our shared vision into reality.

Ma te Atua tātou e manaaki

May God’s Blessings be upon us all

Matt Dalton

Principal | Tumuaki