May we all be surrounded by God's love and grace as we embrace what feels like the looming hurricane of Omicron. We know God is our one constant through all changes in life. Whatever we may be facing we can be sure our Loving God is close.

What a stunning start to 2022. Your children have begun the year in a respectful, organised and settled way, ready to learn and ready to make the most of the new school year. Thank you for your support in making this happen.

Masks

Masks have not been an issue and we have been very pleased with the way our young people are ensuring these are being worn inside throughout the day. Staff, too, are doing this of course, and we are all feeling for those employees who have been wearing masks for so many months now! Although it feels far from natural, we know that we are doing it to protect those around us who have health concerns and worries in the face of covid. 

RED Phase 2 Traffic Light Setting at SCC

 We have a plan for what we will do when we get a case and we will be sharing this with you next week.  If your daughter tests positive please contact the school immediately.  The privacy of all cases will be taken seriously and will only be shared with a small number of people for contract tracing and will not be made public.

When we get a case that impacts our community you will be emailed as soon as possible.  We will ring any close contacts.

We are prioritising getting devices to our senior students and then will be trying to get devices to Year 9 & 10 students.  If you would like to support the school by donating a device that is still in good condition or purchase a chrome book for our library, it would be greatly appreciated.

Hybrid learning is a new word - what this means is that staff are working hard to make a program that can work for all students, if they are at school, if they are isolating or if the teacher is isolating.   

Athletics 

Tuesday's Athletics Day was a wonderful event, it was great that we could join together.  The weather was as stunning as the students' attitudes. There were some outstanding athletic performances with some powerful throws and some very quick track times. Everyone had a great day and there was a wonderful sense of our SCC community coming together.  St Bernadette's took out the days victory.

Academic Awards

Our Academic Awards were held on Wednesday. We are proud of all our students and their achievements last year. Once again had some fantastic results and were well above the national averages.  We also presented the badges to our leaders.

Cell phones

No doubt you heard or read the media coverage of schools that are removing cellphones at breaks so students would begin to talk to one another again. At St Catherine's we are asking students and staff to keep their phones in their bags so that they are not distracted while in class.  If you need to contact your daughter please be aware she may not check her phone until the end of class.  I am pleased that our students continue to comply with our mobile phone rules.  Walking around the College it is pleasing to see everyone running around, communicating and socialising, playing games, and generally gathering in a healthy way together, without the need for phones – even though they have access to them in their bags. It is important that teenagers can live well and positively in the ‘real world’ with those around them and, on the whole at school, this happens on a daily basis.

Congratulations Whaea Chez

The staff enjoyed our Staff Hen's Party for Chez during the morning break.  Chez is getting married this weekend and the staff gave her options for an Eco-Friendly Dress.  We wish Chez and Travis a long and happy marriage together.

Mā te atua e manaaki – God Bless