He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?”  Mark 4:21

Kia ora kātoa, and welcome to the 2026 School Year.

It has been a busy and productive start to our school year. A very warm welcome back to all our school whānau and those students who are new to our school.

I would like to start this newsletter by thanking the Sancta Maria College community for the warm and generous welcome I have received over the past few weeks. This was highlighted by the powerful mihi whakatau which signalled my official start at the college. The students were superb in their singing, prayer, and haka – thank you.

The Sancta Maria College staff and I are committed to developing well-rounded, faith-filled, young people. We want our students to immerse themselves in the four cornerstones of the school: faith, academia, co-curricular, and pastoral care.  These cornerstones are what encapsulates being well-rounded. If students can commit themselves to these four things, then they will have a full life; a life where they can let their light shine.

Supporting these cornerstones are our school values and I have reminded students that to make the most of their talents and the opportunities on offer, they need to work hard, say ‘yes’ to opportunities, and to look after each other.

Making the most of opportunities on offer is evident in our whole school activities. We have whole school Athletics Day this coming Friday where students represent their Houses in both competitive and non-competitive athletic events. This is an opportunity for House bonding and allowing students to show case their talents. We expect every student to attend – students gain house points for getting involved, no matter what their level of participation.

Likewise, our first whole school Mass will take place next week as we celebrate Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. Our Wednesday school Masses which all students are encouraged to attend then begin on Wednesday 25 February at 1:30pm.

This term, students would’ve noticed some small changes in the delivery of lessons, particularly at the beginning of their classes. Young people flourish in a stable, structured and predictable classroom and school environment. This allows teachers to teach and young people to learn. To support positive behaviour and ensure students begin each lesson focused and free from distraction, students now complete a short paper‑based starter activity as soon as they enter the classroom. This activity engages thinking, allows students to retrieve previously covered material and to cognitively engage with new material.

Finally, attendance at school is a priority for us at Sancta Maria College. When young people attend school regularly, they stay up to date with their learning and their academic development. Just as importantly, they stay connected to their friends, develop resilience, and feel that they belong. Missing school makes it harder to catch up, both academically and socially. The Ministry of Education defines ‘regular attendance’ as being at school more than 90% of the time. This means missing no more than five days in a term. Missing just one day every two weeks adds up to four weeks away from learning over the year. Over time, those missed days really affect a young person’s learning progression and social development. With students having 12 weeks holiday per year, we cannot support holidays during term time. Students need to be at school every day to make the most of the academic, faith, co-curricular, and pastoral opportunities that we offer.

Click this link to access our 2026 Parent and Student Handbook which outlines protocols and procedures.

Nga mihi,
Andrew Mackenzie
Principal