Kia ora e te whānau

As we embark on a new school year, we extend a warm welcome back to all our families and a special greeting goes out to our new families. We hope that this past summer holiday was filled with love, laughter, and meaningful moments spent with loved ones. As a Catholic school, our mission is to provide a holistic education that is rooted in faith and centred on the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are dedicated to nurturing the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of each and every student, and we are honoured to partner with you in this important journey. As we begin this new school year, let us remember that we are all called to be witnesses of God's love and compassion in the world. May we work together in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration, building a community that is characterized by kindness, respect, and compassion.

Term one is going to be jam packed with exciting new learning, sporting, spiritual and cultural activities! Next week our year 13 students will go into retreat and experience leadership training, we have a young farmers competition for all existing and new member’s next weekend. The following week our senior gateway students have their health and safety course, and we have Waimumu field days. The rest of the term includes the Wanaka challenge, athletics day, gateway first aid courses, class photos, our opening Mass, year 12 PE camps, workday and we start the first of our many Duke of Edinburgh tramps. We will also have our religious education and health programme, “Loving for Life” in and our Academic Blues awards, our school ball, Southland Athletics, and this term we are also hosting the senior Catholic school’s quad sports tournament. There is a lot going on!

As a heads up, Waimumu field days takes place from the 14th to the 16th of February and to avoid student groups being out of school sporadically for all three days we are having a non-instructional day on Friday the 16th of February to allow students to attend with their families in mufti in their own time. This also allows many of our students and families to be involved in fundraising activities. School will be open with minimal staff to supervise any students who will still need to come to school. Please email: office@stpetersgore.school.nz if you would like supervision for your child/children that day. The canteen will be closed, so students will need to bring a packed lunch and be in full school uniform.

Property and construction continue to be a big focus for St Peter’s College in this first half of the year. There is still a large amount of construction going on and a lot of remedial work like skirtings, new wall coverings and paint. We have had many people in helping to ready the school for the new year and builders Jones and Cooper, Flooring Xtra and with support from the Dunedin Catholic Diocese have been phenomenal over the holidays. An extra thank you needs to go out to the Science department teaching team who have been readying the new Science laboratories and storage for the new year. We also thank the Ajax team for delivering us two brand new Science classrooms. The hall will continue to be out of bounds for the first few weeks as asbestos is removed from the heating ducts and a new heating system installed. Please be assured that this area is completely sealed off and only minimal amounts of asbestos have been detected. We hope to have a temporary floor in the hall by Easter.

We welcome this year Duncan McAlister from McAlister builders who replaces Robert Erskine as Materials Technology TA and Technician. We have a new gardener, Beth Campbell for the school and hostel and she is already making amazing changes around our grounds. Nikki Cunningham has been appointed our new International Director and we are currently advertising for a new International Administrator and homestay coordinator along with an ESOL teacher. We welcome back Mr Darren Jack, our DP of Pastoral Care from his one year of study leave and Ms Gabrielle Brenssell from maternity leave. Ms Rebecca Chittock has stepped down from her role as Arts Coordinator and is now solely Sports Coordinator.

We look forward to a fun and faith filled year grounded in the teachings of Jesus Christ. As I said to our new students yesterday at the Mihi Whakatau, God chose you for this school and we will do everything to support you on your journey through these next seven years.

Charity Fulfils the Law