It is quite fitting that in the week of our Catholic Character Review, on Sunday, 16 students were baptised by Father Mark Napa. During the celebrations, Father Mark made reference to the name we give our children aligning to creation, the commitment of families to our faith as they support their daughters in being baptised and he welcomed the students into our community of faith. Later in this newsletter is a full article on the celebration.
The baptism of our young women was a very special occasion, and made possible through the time and effort of many people. I would like to acknowledge the many students involved, from those who sponsored our junior students to others who participated in the celebrations through their musical contributions, and to those who assisted with afternoon tea. I would also like to acknowledge Miss Lisa Emmanuel and Ms Rosanna Fouhy. To both Miss Emmanuel and Ms Fouhy, we thank you for your continued support and dedication to our young women through your teachings and guidance as they prepared for baptism and began their faith journey.
This week the college has been quite settled, with most events and activities being ‘business as usual’. As mentioned in previous newsletters, this term is the final full term for our senior students. Therefore, consolidating routines to ensure students are finding a balance between their academic endeavours, extracurricular activities and having time to rest and recover, is important.
On Thursday 15 August our Options and NCEA information evening will be held. We encourage Year 9-12 students, parents and whānau to attend this evening to learn about the different subject areas and the pathways available. We understand that choosing options can be daunting as students discover the opportunities available to them and make decisions about the next steps in their education. However, it is important for students to choose subjects that they will enjoy and are excited about learning. There are clear links between enjoyment, and academic motivation and success. While we will not be the end point of our students’ educational journey, we are where they develop the skills and passion to become lifelong learners; learners who will be empowered to challenge and shape their future as they pursue their personal excellence.
Finally, I would like to thank all who took the time to complete the survey for the Catholic Character review, and to those who participated in focus group meetings. Your time and contribution is greatly appreciated. On this note, if at any time you would like to share or provide constructive feedback, please never hesitate to contact me as we continually seek to improve how we support our young women in their academic endeavours, extracurricular pursuits and spiritual journey during their time at Carmel.
