Greetings from St Bede’s

As this is the first newsletter of the year, could I wish all in the community a happy New Year. We come to the end of the first week, and the last two days we have been able to operate a full timetable for all classes.

Conference Day on Monday for the Year 11-13 students and their parents began the week and provided the opportunity for parents and their sons to meet their Mana Tāne teacher and to confirm courses.

2021 sees a number of structural and operational changes to the College as we embark on our new strategic plan. The most obvious to parents is the move to a horizontal pastoral system from the vertical system. This means rather than having House Tutors we now have Heads of Year and students are placed in horizontal Mana Tāne groups rather than the vertical tutor group system. Heads of Year are as follows:

• Year 9 – Mr Kurt Paterson
• Year 10 – Mr John McPhail
• Year 11 – Mr Liam Foley
• Year 12 – Mr Daniel Winchester
• Year 13 – Ms Calie Cron

The introduction of the Mana Tāne programme (growing young men) is the other notable change.

We have decided to build a bespoke 5-year programme to support our boys as they develop into young men of faith. Each boy will spend an hour a week with their Mana Tāne Kaiako (coach) learning new age appropriate soft skills while setting personal goals covering the areas of wellbeing, academia and careers. The role of the Kaiako has also changed from the traditional tutor teacher model. Kaiako’s focus is on advocacy and coaching their respective boys rather than the compliance-based model prior. Your son’s Kaiako will follow them through the College and will be the first point of call for parents and whanau.

The College community should be buoyed by the outstanding NCEA results, a true credit to the hard work and commitment of our staff and community in what was a very trying year. 

• Level One results are our highest ever which is impressive considering NZQA changed the reporting three years ago to include all students rather than just those that participated. Over 60% gained an endorsement.
• Level Two results are our 3rd highest ever, with near on 39% of boys gaining an endorsement.
• Level Three results are our highest ever by some margin with 35% gaining an endorsement.
• University Entrance – our 5th highest result. 

Congratulations to the following boys who were awarded scholarships in their respective exams. Many thanks also to staff who supported these boys and the others with their scholarship exams.

Lewis Meates

• SCHL History
• SCHL Religious Studies

Jack Ryan

• SCHL Statistics
• SCHL History
• SCHL Religious Studies

Mason Devlin 

• SCHL History

Our Prefects have begun their year of leadership well with helping to induct the Year 9 boys during the Orientation Day on Tuesday and leading our staff in an opening liturgy last week with the theme of “hope” for 2021.

Two other ceremonies, one to welcome the Year 9 boys and the Tie Ceremony for the Year 13s featured this week.

We also welcome the following new staff:

• Mr Richard Pithey - Director of Sport
• Mr David Van Voorst - Mathematics Teacher
• Mrs Michelle Schikker - Receptionist
• Mrs Amy Symington - Teaching & Learning Administrator

Until next week,

J. G. Boyle