Mountain Rd – Epsom – Telephone (09) 524 8108 – Fax (09) 524 9459

Email: admin@st-peters.school.nz     -  Website: www.st-peters.school.nz

Friday 31 July 2009                                                                                                                          Newsletter No. 11/09

Dear Parents and Boys

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

LEAGUE TABLES

(The Language of comparison!)

The discussion about education league tables highlights the gap between the education industry and some sections of the business world.

There is no doubt that the disinfectant of public scrutiny about a school’s performance is healthy and can provide an incentive for improvement.

Certainly to (mis)use T.S. Elliott’s words: The life of schools is measured out in coffee spoons in many dinner parties and mid-morning café sessions!

I have another perspective on league tables. Ten years ago I visited several schools in the UK. I used the league tables as a guide in which school to visit. I chose two at the top, one in the middle and one at the end.

My experience of the two ‘top’ performing schools in London was interesting. The teachers were too busy.  They were stressed. One headmaster was really stressed and constantly referred to the weakness of his neighbouring competitor!

The students had the fixed glaze of human robots! It might have been education – but certainly not generative and life-giving.

The ‘bottom’ school was appalling. Teachers at morning break slumped in chairs, bracing themselves for another battle in the classroom.

The Principal had a distant ‘aura’. The students, being told officially, they were the bottom of the heap, set out to prove that fact!

The middle school without the pretension of upper level comparison or the survival of the jungle, simply got on with the job of teaching. They didn’t seem to have the burden of the league table (at either end!)

The students reflected this perception. They were ready to show me around, the principal was eager to show me what he found important. A positive healthy school whose memory has stayed with me.

Was this all about league tables? Maybe other factors as well. Who knows!

My take on the league is threefold:

• Do league tables serve the common good of New Zealand society or do they serve comfort zones of the influential and the self-serving?
• Is the language of comparison an appropriate measurement of young human beings?
• Is naming and exalting, or naming and shaming the best way to get education performance up?

If half the research resources of comparison went into correcting the behind the goal-line starting point for many schools – maybe New Zealand would be better served!

I am also wondering whether Christianity would have got off the ground by a league table approach.

“The last shall be first”.

In this issue: 

• Upcoming events Congratulations Bereavements Careers UpdateDonation ReceiptsAuckland University 2010 Entry ScoresSpecial Character NewsLibrary Update
• Sports Update

In His Peace

K Fouhy

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday 4 August

• 8WIL on Retreat @ Franciscan Friary all day
• Year 7 and 8 NSW English Exam

• 7.30pm Senior Music Night @ Auckland Boys Grammar Centennial Theatre 7.30pm. Entry by ticket only – purchase ticket from Music Office prior to evening to avoid disappointment, unsold tickets only on sale at door

Wednesday 5 August

• 8HEL Retreat @ Franciscan Friary all day
• 1st XI Hockey vs AGS @ 6.00pm @ AGS
• Year 13 Assembly – a speaker from the NZ Police will address the assembly

Thursday 6 August

• 8DOO Retreat @ Franciscan Friary all day
• Coca Cola Career Expo @ ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane from 4.00 – 7.00pm (not during class time).

Friday 7 August

• 8MCK Retreat @ Franciscan Friary all day
• Last day for NCEA fees
• 1st V Basketball vs Glendowie College @ 6.30pm at the YMCA
• Year 9 and 10 Social from 7.30 – 10.30pm in the College Hall. Fundraiser event for Hockey – tickets from front office

Saturday 8 August

• 1st XV Rugby vs St Paul’s College @ 2.30pm @ SPC
• 1st XI Soccer vs Rangitoto College @  12.00pm @ Waikaraka Park
• Coca Cola Career Expo @ ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane from 10.00am – 4.00pm

Sunday 9 August

• The SPC Choir will be live on television between 9.00am and 10.00am during the Telethon - tune in and watch our stars

Tuesday 11 August

• 2010 Course Information Evening for current Year 10 students @ 7.30pm in the College Hall

Wednesday 12 August

• Year 7 and 8 Mass @ 9.40am in the College Hall
• Year 12 and 13 Assembly with Bishop Pat Dunn
• 1st XI Hockey vs Avondale College @ 5.30pm @ Avondale College

Friday 14 August

• Assumption Day Masses
• Level 3 and A2 Geography trip to West Coast beaches. Buses leaving school at 9.00am and returning at 3.00pm
• Year 9-11 Service Journals due in

Saturday 15 August

• 1st XV Rugby Semi-Final (venue to be arranged)
• 1st XI Soccer vs Mt Albert Grammar @ 12.00pm @ Mt Albert Grammar

COMING UP THIS TERM

Monday 17 August

• Lumino Dental starts (free service)

Tuesday 18 August

• 2010 Course Information Evening for current Year 11 and 12 students @ 7.30pm in the College Hall

Wednesday 19 August

• KBB Music Festival in the Aotea Centre Concert Band performing @ 12.05pm, Stage Band @ 2.20pm

Thursday 20 August

• KBB Music Festival in the Aotea Centre - Combined SPC and St Mary’s  Orchestra performing @ 10.55am

Friday 21 August

• Year 7 and 8 Social from 7.30 – 10.30pm in the College Hall. Fundraiser event for India - tickets from Mrs Gin in Middle School

Saturday 22 August

• 1st XV Rugby Final (venue to be arranged)
• Grade rugby semi-finals
• College Ball at Sky City

Monday 31 August – Friday 4 September

• Tournament Week

Thursday 3 September

• Father and Son Breakfast in the College Hall. Pio Terei guest speaker

Monday 7 September

• Year 11–13 Prelim Examinations begin

BEREAVEMENTS

Our prayers and thoughts are with these families at this time:

Connor Leech - Grandmother

James Brabant – Grandmother

Matt Newman – Grandfather

Mika and Herbert Lelo – Grandad

Luteru and Louis Tolai – Grandfather

Peter Oroanu - Great Uncle

Ethan Cacemaille - Great Aunt

If there are other close relatives who have suffered bereavement – please let us know.

CONGRATULATIONS

Matthew Wilkie nominated for Sportsman of the Year at the Papatoetoe Sports Award Ceremony.

James Tsai for reaching the final of the Play it Strange National Secondary School Song writing competition.

DONATION RECEIPTS

A few families have had problems with the IRD disallowing the donation tax credit for the Building Contribution which the College collects on behalf of the Proprietor. Please contact Anne Valk on 524-8108 ext 7366 if you experience any difficulties with the IRD and replacement receipts in the name of the Proprietor, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, will be issued.

CAREERS UPDATE

(a) Coca Cola Career Expo  Thursday August 6 -  4.00–7.00pm

This is an opportunity for Year 12 and 13 students and parents to get an in depth look at the wide variety of options available in Industry Training, Tertiary Education and Employment Opportunities.

The  Thursday evening and all day Saturday times give ample opportunity for students to attend, therefore we will not be interrupting the school programme this year.

The event will be held at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane.

(b)     STEP UP Revision Classes for Years 11-13

In the September school holidays, Revision classes for NCEA subjects (all levels) and Cambridge (all levels) are being held at UNITEC.   These are intensive revision classes to help students consolidate their knowledge base in preparation for end of year external exams.

Applications are available on line on  http://stepup.unitec.ac.nz

or application forms are available for your son to pick up from the Careers Department at school this week.  Places are limited so we recommend applications should be completed as soon as possible.

(c) Auckland University Open Day

Saturday August 29 - 9am-3pm

For Year 12 and 13 students to explore study options:

• Lectures held throughout day
• Copy of programme available from Careers Department
• Free buses to the event

See  ww.coursesandcareers.auckland.ac.nz

Also there will be lectures for Year 9-11 students on "Introduction to the University: What in the world will I study?"

10.45 - 11.10am - Owen Glenn Building (OGGB5 Level 0)

AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY

2010 ENTRY SCORES

Auckland University has confirmed the Guaranteed Entry Scores for admission to the University in 2010 are the same as the 2009 entry scores. These Guaranteed Entry scores are printed in the 2010 Undergraduate Prospectus and the 2010 faculty prospectuses.

All undergraduate degrees now have maximum intakes. Faculties have set rank scores that will guarantee an offer of a place to students. The university is expecting to accept approximately the same number of students as they have over recent years.

Students below guaranteed admission scores will be considered. Selection will take into account performance in relevant subjects also eligibility for a targeted admission scheme or results of an interview where deemed appropriate. Some degrees select largely on the basis of auditions and portfolios, students need to be aware of the subject requirements.

SPECIAL CHARACTER NEWS

(a)     Father and Son Breakfast – Change of Date

The Father-Son breakfast will now be on Thursday September 3 at 7.00am.

(b)     Assumption Day

Year 7 and 8 will acknowledge Assumption Day this year with a Mass on Wednesday August 12.

Years 9-13 will have Masses on Friday August 14.

(c)     Service Programmes

The St Peter’s Man is a man of Service

Years 7-8

Congratulations to Y7 and 8 students for fulfilling their Service Hours for the year, and for handing in their Service Journals and Essays. Well done for loving and serving in your community.

Due Dates and Instructions

Year 9-11:

Service Journals and Essays due on or by  Friday August 14. Hand journal and essay into the student academic centre. Put both in your class’ file in your Year Level’s Service Box

Blank Service Journals can be obtained from the Academic Centre

Year 12:

Service Hours Sheet due on or by the last day of term (September 24). Hand completed Hours Sheet into the student academic centre. Place in your class’ file in your Year Level’s Service Box

Blank Service Hours Sheets can be obtained from the Academic Centre

LIBRARY NEWS

We now have a complete collection of the series "Great Books of the Western World" (54 books) in our reference section.

We have processed many of the books donated to the school during Terms 1 & 2 plus the extra books that were donated by Wheelers Books as a result of the purchases (donations) made by our school community families. These books are now available for borrowing.

Please ensure any overdue library books are returned to the library ASAP!

CHAOS AT THE SCHOOL GATE

St.Peter’s College will continue to be part of the initiative with the Auckland City Council called “Chaos at the School Gate.” This initiative has been implemented to reduce traffic congestion and danger to students around the College gates particularly after school.

Auckland City Council traffic wardens will be targeting drivers who do not comply with the parking laws around the College and will be issuing parking infringement notices.

As always, student safety is our first priority and we ask parents to consider the safety of our students if they are picking them up from school.

Parents are asked not to enter the College grounds to pick up boys after school, but make arrangements to collect boys further away from the College.

The College main driveway will be monitored daily from 2.30pm- 3.30pm and only essential services will be permitted to enter.

HEALTH CENTRE UPDATE

Physiotherapy ACC related injuries free. Make  an appointment with nurse at interval time.

Please update your contacts with the school office. All conditions and medications must be brought to our attention for the safety and wellbeing of the students.

We are selling strapping tape for $5.00 and antiflam for $3.00.

All White Crosses will see our students if they are injured at school at no cost. Please get your card from the Health Centre. The radiology department will also will do X-rays free of charge. This is only for our students injured at school.

All students requiring use of an Epipen have received a letter from the school and these must be returned to the Health Centre ASASP.

MAORI NOTES

Whaea Tania Siueva has study notes available to all parents and families of boys in Year 7 and 8 studying Maori.

These notes will be of great assistance in helping your son in this subject.

Email the Maori teacher, Whaea Tania Siueva on: tsiueva@st-peters.school.nz or phone Whaea on 09 524 8108 and leave your postal address.

SPORTING NEWS

(a)     1st XV made to work hard for their win against Aorere College

The 1st XV worked hard for their 23 – 11 win against a strong Aorere team. The game was set alight in the first couple of minutes with two tries. Winger, Ben Paltridge scored a converted try for the Firsts. Aorere College responded straight away with an unconverted try from a charge down. In the 15th minute St Peter’s stretched the lead out to 10 – 5 with a penalty goal from Bryn Hall. Aorere College applied strong pressure for long periods before halftime, however, unrelenting defence meant they only came away with one penalty before halftime.

Another Aorere College penalty early in the second half put them ahead 11 – 10 for the only time in the match. A sweetly struck 45m penalty from Bryn Hall put the firsts back in the lead. Ben Lam scored a brilliant individual try to extend the margin to 20 – 13. The win was sealed with another Bryn Hall penalty late in the game.

St Peter’s flankers Daniel Coll and Nepia Fox-Matamua had outstanding games. Player of the day went to lock Patrick Tuipulotu for his excellent work in the lineout and his general play.

Everyone is now looking forward to the top of the table clash with Auckland Grammar on Saturday.

(b)     1st XI Soccer score yet another win

The 1st XI Soccer team turned the tables on Kings College avenging their 2 – 3 loss in the first round with a 3 – 2 win on Saturday to cement fourth position on the table.

Isaac Fitzgerald in action against Kings College

In the first half both sides created chances but it took a late first half goal from Kings College to break the deadlock.

Midfielder, Joseph Nihotte, scored his first goal for the 1st XI early in the second half to level up the scores. The Firsts then scored two goals from superbly executed headers from corners. Isaac Fitzgerald delivered the pinpoint crosses. Rory Kelly and Hugo Wulf made no mistake in finding the back of the net. Kings College scored a late consolidation goal.

Andrew Van Ross looks to pass

Ethan Galbrith gets past a Kings College defender

The team put the Catholic Cup on the line this weekend against Sacred Heart College. The side are also looking forward to playing the semi final of the Knock Out Cup against Northcote College.

(c)     U15 Rugby Team finish third in the North Island Catholic Tournament

The U15's placed third in the North Island Catholic Tournament held in the first weekend of the holidays at Sacred Heart. The team won three of their five games. There best performance was the 17 – 3 win in the third and fourth play off against Francis Douglas. Having lost to Francis Douglas in pool play.

The following boys were named in the tournament team: Siale Hola, Junior Lolohea, Anthony Casy and Easton Malietoa-Brown. Siale Hola was named MVP for the tournament.