Kia ora kātoa, and welcome to the final newsletter of 2025.
As we all know, Sancta Maria College is a school recognised nationally as a place of excellence, and our work in 2025 has only enhanced that reputation.
Many students proudly represented our college in local competitions, regional events, and national tournaments with many achieving outstanding success. These achievements and highlights can be seen in this year’s school magazine.
Inside and outside of the classroom in 2025, students have enjoyed being challenged to think critically, creatively and have thrived from having opportunities to collaborate, and also from being given autonomy in their learning. In doing so, they are supported by our hard working and dedicated staff. I thank them all for a successful year.
As we also all know, Sancta Maria College is founded on our four core values of aroha, hope, respect and faith. These four values are not only about building strong character, and a Catholic Christian foundation, they can also be applied to our students’ learning, and their academic journey.
When we show aroha, we grow positive relationships with those around us. We value teachers, classmates, and ourselves, and this connectedness helps us all in our learning.
When we adopt hope, we have an optimism in our work – we embrace challenge, are not afraid to make mistakes, and have a positive ‘can do’ attitude.
When we show respect, we recognise the gifts that God has given us, whatever those gifts and talents are, remembering that not everyone can be great at everything, but every one of us can be great. The sooner we recognise this, the sooner we can flourish and reach our full potential.
And when we have faith, we have a purpose, an outcome, and a knowledge, that in all we do, God wants the best for us. This gives us confidence which boosts our learning capabilities.
Our wonderful young people must continue to show aroha, hope, respect and faith in all they do.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff members who since the last newsletter have given notice that they will be leaving us at the end of this year.
Ms Siân Redwood, Head of Social Sciences, Mrs Kirsty Wearmouth, Head of Religious Education, Mr Craig Humphries, teacher of Music, Mr Elias Worrall-Bader, teacher of Social Sciences, and Mrs Lorraine Dawes our Librarian all leave with our gratitude and blessings. I thank each of them for their work, and all they have done for our rangatahi.
2025 is also the year that I myself will be moving on from Sancta Maria College. It has been a wonderful 10 years, and I thank staff, students and parents past and present for making those years so rewarding.
So finally, from me, I would like to take this opportunity in this time of advent, to wish you all a blessed Christmas and a restful summer break. Keep safe and Sancta Maria College looks forward to welcoming all new and returning students and families at the start of 2026.
Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou.
With blessings.
Ray Green (Acting Principal)