A Message from our Principal

Wow, the talk around Dunedin has been very much about our performances at Polyfest this week. I was at the Ministry of Education offices yesterday and even the Director of Education commented on it! I am very grateful, and I am sure I speak on your behalf, to all those people who have contributed in some way – big or small – to the wonderful performances by Te Whetū Tīrama and Tangata Moana at the Otago Polyfest. Special mention must go to performers themselves, to Amelia Bresanello, Moananu Pesamino Tili and their staff support crew who have worked tirelessly to perform in such a proud and polished way – well done!

It was valuable to meet with the Minister of Education, Erica Stanford, yesterday while the Minister was visiting Dunedin. Along with a small group of secondary principals from Otago and Southland, we were able to ask direct questions about the new qualifications proposal. Part of our teacher only day today has been dedicated to thoroughly investigating and discussing the proposal in advance of submissions closing on the 15th September. The rest of the day is being spent in subject areas working on curriculum planning and ensuring that excellent teacher practice via the Assessment for Learning Framework, is well integrated into all teaching and learning programmes. We have very limited time together as a whole staff to be able to do this type of work and yet it is such an important and valuable activity that directly impacts our students’ learning.

We enjoyed the privilege of hosting David Wells at Trinity on Wednesday for the day. We were joined by leadership teams from Catholic schools across the Dunedin Diocese. He is a very good speaker and, along with plenty of humour and storytelling, he delivered three excellent presentations about how to not only find hope and joy in our lives, but to be the deliverers of hope and joy to others through our Catholic leadership, and making sure that we give time to the ‘interruptions’ which are where God’s real work for us happens.

Next week is the beginning of Practice Exams for the Year 11-13 students as well as the year 10 co-requisite reading, writing and maths exams. These are very important exams because they will provide the derived grade for NZQA should the student be unable to sit the exam in November. While, from a personal perspective, we think this is an unlikely eventuality, I know that every year I have been teaching there have been students in this exact situation. As well as providing ‘an insurance’, these exams give both the student and the teacher knowledge of where the learning is currently at in preparation for the NZQA exams later in the year.

It has been wonderful to see spring having an effect this week. It is now ten years since the publication of ‘Laudato’Si’, Pope Francis’ well-known encyclical. Spring reminds us that we have been entrusted to care for earth - our common home.

“The entire material universe speaks of God's love, God's boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains:

everything is a caress of God.” (Laudato Si', 84)

Have a wonderful Spring Weekend,

Kate Nicholson

Principal