The Aquinas Student Executive WANTS YOU! Our student leaders are looking for students from Years 7 to 13 to join the executive’s seven committees and have a say in what happens at Aquinas. They’ve even produced this snazzy video — take a look below…

Tēnā koutou kātoa ngā whānau o te kura

Aquinas whānau, get a group together for a night of fun-filled musical BINGO to help send our premier girls' basketball team on tour to the USA!

Our lunchtime sausage sizzle held yesterday and tomorrow (March 2) will raise funds for 10 Campion College, Gisborne families who lost their homes in Cyclone Gabrielle.

Our first Māori whānau hui of 2023 is on tomorrow (March 2) at 6.00 p.m. in Te Taumata.

We recently shared the outstanding 2022 NCEA results of Aquinas students, but did you know they achieved excellent endorsements at a far higher rate than their national and local peers?

Good luck to the four Aquinas athletes taking on the nation’s best at the 2023 NZ Track and Field Championships in Wellington tomorrow.

Here they are folks, the Aquinas athletes who smashed 11 school records at last week’s Athletics Day. Some amazing performances by some very talented athletes!

Records tumbled (as did a bit of rain) at last week’s mighty 2023 Athletics Day! Our athletes smashed an incredible 11 Aquinas records, some of which have stood for years. It was a brilliant day Aquinas, with House pride on full display.

Under the Education and Training Act of 2020, school boards have responsibility to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by ensuring its plans, policies, and local curriculum reflect local tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori and te ao Māori, and achieve equitable outcomes for Māori students.

Aquinas is thrilled to announce that seven students have been awarded New Zealand Scholarship! Five Aquinas Yr 12 students attained Scholarship in 2022 as did one Yr 11 student. Four of those were in Biology, again underscoring the Aquinas Science Faculty’s prowess.

Aquinas’ Middle School Council is back up and running, giving students from Yrs 7 through 10 a say on school activities.

Good luck to our Senior A Girls’ Volleyball team as it competes in round two of the BOP Secondary Schools Championships this weekend.

Aquinas is proud to announce Caitlin Tarr as the college’s new Director of Sport, the first woman to ever hold the job.

Year 13 students Sophie Rogers and Ethan Nirmalaraj are doing a sterling job as Aquinas’ Head Girl and Boy of 2023. But who are they? And what makes them tick? We asked them a few questions to help students get to know them better. Below that we feature the highlights from their inaugural speeches.

Please update your calendar, Aquinas College will be closed on these days for either Parent Conferences or Teacher Only Days.

You did not choose me, but I chose you…” John 15:16 Students, do you want to receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation or Eucharist? Are you interested in learning more about the Catholic faith?

Aquinas rugby star Grace Kahle is making a splash on the world stage, winning selection to a Women’s World Barbarian team and currently playing rugby in Hong Kong.

IMPORTANT TOOL FOR AQUINAS PARENTS: Have you downloaded the SchoolBridge App yet?

In each Aquinas Newsletter, we’re putting one of our staff under the microscope so you get to know the people helping to mould your child. First up is Mr Richard Watson, PE head honcho and the powerhouse behind last week’s Athletics Day.

A warm Xin chào, Kon'nichiwa, Guten Tag, Olá and Nǐ hǎo to the 15 new international students joining our Aquinas whānau this term.

SENIOR STUDENTS: We have a few available spots in this month’s Defensive Driving Course, so register now!

Congratulations to Yr 9’s India Scholes who medalled in an impressive seven events — four of them individual races — at last weekend's Oceans '23 Festival of Junior Surf Lifesaving.

Did you know Aquinas has free on-site doctor visits for students Year 9 and older?

A number of Aquinas students had noteworthy successes during the summer holiday. Our congratulations to the following students…

Aquinas’ 1st XI Boys delivered a cracker of an innings in its recent pre-season practice match against St John’s College of Hamilton. The home-game victory is an encouraging warm-up for the Gillette Cup which kicks off this week.

Aquinas students and staff last week celebrated Ash Wednesday Liturgy, which reminded us of our preparation to celebrate the Easter Mysteries.

Aquinas’ new mobile phone-free policy impacts parents’ ability to pick up their child(ren) early from school. Without a phone, how do you tell your child to come to the office? Here’s how…

BOP Rotary Clubs have put senior Aquinas students on course for safer road use by subsidising their participation in a national road safety education programme.

Need to contact Aquinas Principal Matt Dalton?

A new year means a few new faces among the Aquinas staffing lineup. Let’s introduce them…

For the first time ever, Aquinas is introducing Sports Camps for sporty middle school students.

More than 150 new students and several new staff members have joined the Aquinas whānau this year.

At Aquinas College, we are incredibly fortunate to be able to offer the following music lessons during school time. If your son/daughter would like to start learning an instrument please click here for more information.

Here is the Aquinas Food Truck menu for Term 1. A reminder that it is cash only. Students will need to bring money from home as they cannot withdraw cash from the school office.

In the lead-up to Term 1, Aquinas staff members were blessed to spend time with the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, nourishing relations and learning more about the order’s charism.

Adolescence is a time of growth and development and can be challenging for some.

Aquinas College has teamed up with local innovator, UBCO, to trial its electric utility bikes — the company’s first pilot with an NZ school. If successful, the switch to battery power could help fuel Aquinas’ ongoing sustainability drive.

The Aquinas Second-Hand Uniform Shop is open every Tuesday during term time from 12.35 pm to 3.15 pm and is located next to the main office in the Administration block.

Aquinas is proudly cheering on another alumnus! Taylor Harris, a Yr 13 student last year, has been selected for the Aotearoa Māori U19 Men’s team.

A reminder that Aquinas students have the services of an on-site physio. Marike Sonneveld is available for appointments at Aquinas each Tuesday. See the school office for appointment requests, or phone the Bay Physiotherapy Centre at 07-577-9798 or email enquiries@bayphysiotherapy.co.nz

REMINDER: Aquinas hockey is holding pre-season coaching clinics on Mondays from 3.30 p.m. until 5.00 p.m. at the college hockey turf.

Wondering what to do with that pile of old newspapers? The Aquinas Art Department is on the hunt for newspapers for an upcoming project.

Interested in rowing? The Tauranga Rowing Club at Memorial Park has launched a Learn to Row programme for students Yr 9 and over.