Greetings from St Bede’s

A shortened week due to the holiday that marked Waitangi Day on Monday, but the year is off to a good start and all classes have begun to be established and have their programmes up and running. The cooler temperatures today didn’t detract from the boys enjoying themselves at the annual swimming sports.

Last night our Year 9 parents attended a function here at the College which had a two-fold purpose. One was to meet their son’s Year 9 Mana Tāne teacher, and begin a relationship that could potentially last five years. The second part of the meeting, we outlined the various programmes that support the pastoral and learning needs of the boys. It was well attended and just as the staff are making connections with the boys in their Mana Tāne groups, the importance of establishing similarly with the parents is also invaluable.

Next week, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and as a Catholic community we mark this 40-day period with the distribution of ashes, a visible sign of our commitment to the opportunities offered in preparation for Easter. The word Lent is actually from the old English word meaning “spring” as in lengthening of the days.

In New Zealand we are nearing the end of the summer so it is a bit odd thinking spring when autumn is almost upon us!! But the insight into Lent being a time we seek spring-like spiritual growth is one that we can all grasp, and certainly something we will be making the boys aware of during these next six weeks.

Until next week,

J. G. Boyle