Term Two, 2025 - Te Ao Mārama – Embracing Hope through Aroha and Whakapono.

 It has been a real privilege to attend the NZCPPA Conference in Wellington.  A really important time to connect with other Catholic Principal's throughout Aotearoa.  

The theme Te Ao Mārama – Embracing Hope through Aroha and Whakapono really resonated with the importance of connection.  God made us to connect with others to support our faith as community.

Keynote speakers

Vince Ford

Suggests that we ask an open ended question of students who are in our office “What does it feel like to be you today?”

See things from their perspective. He challenges us to connect through storytelling.  As leaders, imagine the stories behind the behaviour.

In daily interactions - Take a breath before you judge. There is more to the story. 

Mass with Archbishop Paul Martin in the Wellington Cathedral. This beautiful church has only been open for one year, as it was made earthquake proof which took approximately 5 years. It radiated peace and hope. The homily from Bishop Martin was truly inspiring. He spoke about being a secondary school teacher and understood the significance of education. He prayed for our hope, wisdom and passion as we head for Pentecost Sunday this weekend. An absolute highlight of my time away.

Maggie Craig was a keynot speaker who linked parables to communion with others.

She spoke about the "Road to Emmaus, 7 miles - 7 is a significant number". She spoke about Jesus is not a subject to teach but a person to engage with. 

Do not be afraid appears 365 times in the bible. One for each day of the year 

Theology of friendship. Friendship has power.You are built to be in relationships with others. Spiritually we need friends 

4 levels of friendship 

Heart - very rare - take time. Lot of honesty. Defined by vulnerability 

Common interest - see the world the same way

Convenience - see each other regularly- work, live nearby 

Functionality - mutually helpful to each other

- very basic 

We need each other - to send the devil back. The devil brings doubt, criticism and loneliness. Work on developing friendships of the heart. Be vulnerable. Be courageous.

Term One 2025 - TTPA Conference - "Navigating New Horizons - people, place, environment"

Kia ora

As I reflect back on the term, we have had so many new opportunities as kaiako and for our tamariki.  Highlights have certainly been the recent professional learning opportunities. Most recently is the Te Tai Tokerau Principal Conference "Navigating new Horizons - People, Place, Environment".  Discussions on the use of AI in schools.  Encouraging the opportunity to teach our tamariki to not be "consumers" of digital technology, but rather to think critically about what is online, how we use it and whether it is correct.  AI is certainly progressing at a rapid pace, but our real need in the world is peace, kindness and care.  If we took action to help others in need if we are able to, we would be in a beautiful place.

Inspirational speakers such as our MC Pio Terei, Arnika Macphail, Dan Te Whenua Walker, Vince Ford, Jemarl Paerata and Dave Letele.

Te Mataiaho has rolled out for our kaiako to use in our classrooms, alongside structured literacy and structured maths.  Our staff are brave and trying so many new things in the classrooms and I am so proud of the progress we are making in all aspects.

At the end of the day, we are committed to our students and providing an environment which is rich in faith, learning and opportunities.  It is a privilege.

Nga mihi nui

Kathryn Carey

Tornadoes, power cuts and more....but the best art unveiling ever!

 Kia Ora Koutou!

What a heading to start off term 1 2023, but this is just what we have been navigating as a kura.  Delays and interuptions due to the weather patterns.  Our poor kura received damage to our walkway roof areas, our garden shed doors were ripped off and our playground shadesail had torn.  Thankfully no-one has been hurt and we keep all whanau in our prayers as they navigate through the damage, slips and power cuts with this weather pattern.

Anyhow, we are back in to the term with loads of fabulous learning going on.

The highlight has to be our whanau breakfast for our local curriculum artwork.

The stories and richness behind this mural makes my heart warm.  A summary as follows:

He waka eke noa - we are all in this together. We began early in the morning and gathered for our art unveiling prior to the sun rise. A massive thanks to our staff, tamariki, whanau, parish, board and community for supporting this project. Sylvie Currin our artist that designed and co-ordinated the stunning student art, Father Larry for karakia and blessing, and Bill Pomare for his mihi and board representation. We are so proud of this mahi. A summary of the art:

Part 1: Bishop Pompallier and his journey to Aotearoa NZ and sharing our Catholic Faith with the first Mass being held at Totara Point.

The four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The Mass and communion with the bread and wine.

Part 2: Catherine McAuley and the establishment of our Mercy charism school in 1958 with the key elements of sharing a cup of tea, walking in Jesus shoes and showing aroha to all.

Part 3: Aotearoa NZ with Motuti, and koru patterns. Kaitaia with the mountains, fish, ocean and links to plentiful kai. The Southern Cross stars.

Mary sitting proudly with Jesus.

At the top is our Mercy cross with the five main iwi within it.

So many rich elements to this piece of art.

Thank you for this special journey where we gathered such rich historical facts about how we were formed as a Catholic School and parish.

After the blessing our staff pulled together a delicious breakfast for us to finish our celebration together.

Very blessed

Tight rope

Kia ora koutou

We have made it through to the end of term three!!  I am so proud of our staff and students.  Amongst ongoing illness and absenteeism, limited relievers, we have done it!  Our students continue to give me warm fluffies.

The highlight was Tai Media visiting our kura to promote school attendance.  We are sitting as one of the highest levels of attendance with average rates of 90-95% each day.  In this link you can hear what our tamariki say about school.  They simply love it, see the importance of learning and appreciate their interactions with us as a whanau together.  Whakawhanaungatanga in action!  It made me so happy to hear them speak without any prompting, it was simply from their hearts!

Check it out https://fb.watch/fED1OFe5b3.

Within the term we had cross country with many of our tamariki reaching the finals as top ten runners.  Again, a great chance to mix with other schools in Te Hiku.  Congratulations to them all.

Go and see the newsletter for snippets of our seniors sharing their local curriculum learning with their musuem feature too.

We are looking forward to refuelling our tanks this term break.  The heading of my spiel is tight rope.  The kura functions so well and relies on everyone covering each other in times of need.  When the rope is slack, we have resources and energy.  When the rope is tight, everyone is drawn to their maximum.  Yet again it is a village approach that makes such gains.  I thank our staff, students and you our whanau for the ongoing support.

Nga mihi nui

Kathryn Carey

 End of term two 2022

It is the last day of the term.  We have all of our staff at school for the first time in almost three weeks.  We have been hit with illness with staff and students and it has been a "trying" final four weeks to ensure we have an adult in front of every class.  Similar to climbing of a mountain, when you see the peak and struggle to the final crest, to then see another wave of hills in the midst and the peak is in fact further on.  I liken the analogy of climbing a mountain, to my role as Principal.  Hugely challenging yet so rewarding.  The hours of work at home and school to ensure that systems are in place for safety, opportunities are there for staff and students to feel a sense of struggle, accomplishment and reward, and to provide a space for top line education drives me forward.  I am surrounded by a wonderful team that excite me and encourage me to be the best that I can.

This week has been celebrating Tumuaki like myself in NZ.  There is a real push to bring attention to the role that Principal's are doing in our schools.  The hours are huge.  The stress can be overwhelming.  But I thrive on the challenge that my role provides and I love it!

When I look back over my 8 years of leading our school as Principal I feel a real sense of accomplishment.  The students faces, smiles, pride, joy, struggles and trials are all part of our day-to-day life.  Trying to ensure whanau feel a welcome part of our journey, strategically planning with the board and our key stakeholders while attempting to keep a balance in the work load for my staff is part of the juggle.  I appreciate being in a Catholic school, embraced by the prayers of our parish.  The partnership is an important part of who we are.

I am looking forward to the term break to rest and replenish.  I usually work right through, but I am exhausted.  The added pressure that covid has put on myself, my staff, our students, whanau and community is huge.  I know we will be OK, but right now rest is required.

I wish our entire community a fabulous term break.  I pray that we come back full of health, excitement and energy to continue with the great learning at PCS.  Thank you to those that continously provide support, awhi and care.  It is much appreciated.

God bless

Kathryn

 Term Two, 2022

It is already week three of the term and I have the privilege of being part of a learning group of Principals around NZ doing a book study of "Limitless mind" by Jo Boaler.  The first chapter unpacks the idea of having a fixed mindset and brain pathways.  My favourite term in the first chapter is "LIMITLESS POTENTIAL".  I love this!  Every student we have in our kura is one that has limitless potential.  We are all on a growth journey as part of our existence in life.  I am so excited to be part of this group to "fire up" our thinking to cause great positive change for our students.

Kathryn Carey

Term One, 2022

 As we are nearing the end of the term it has been timely to reflect on how we are going at Pompallier Catholic School.  Term one has been full of challenges as we navigate through health and safety requirements of covid.  Constant changes to formalities and limiting adult interaction with our students.  To say it has been challenging is an understatement!

We have worn masks in our senior school the entire 11 weeks which has seen relatively low illness rates transfering between our students, which was our goal.  The last six weeks has seen us juggling staff isolation requirements, trying to keep everything ticking along for our learners!

I am so proud of our team.  We have had our Catholic Schools Office Review that was done remotely.  Check out our video to show the whanaungatanga at PCS.

This review consisted of sharing our planning, learning and documentation remotely.  Interviews were undertaken with staff, board, students, whanau and parish.  The passion from our community, awhi, aroha and whanaungatanga seeped from every area.

We have worked hard to promote the local curriculum learning so that our tamariki are able to recognise who we are, we we came from and be proud to be Catholic.

Since the review, as a school team we have worked together to support our tamariki and each other.  That is really what being Catholic is all about.

We soon head to the term break.  As a Principal, I cannot wait.  I am exhausted!  My team are exhausted.  However, we are looking forward to moving ahead to get into the deep learning that our tamariki thrive on at PCS.

God bless

Kathryn