I must pay tribute to all of the people who invest their time and effort into our students so that they may participate in, and enjoy such a wide variety of sporting activities. A most sincere thank you to all of our TIC’s, committees, coaches, managers and volunteers who enable our students to have these wonderful opportunities. Without your passion and commitment, our students wouldn’t enjoy the opportunities and successes they currently enjoy. Thank you so very much!!!
SPECIAL CATHOLIC CHARACTER
After the forty days of Lent, culminating in our Cross Walk and the wonderful Holy Week liturgy and drama presented by our senior students, we are now celebrating the joy of the Resurrection. We look forward to the Caritas Challenge next term, and celebrate with our Year 10 Social Studies class their successes in a week of special events to promote Caritas FUNdraising. We love the fact that students from Year 10 to Year 13 spent the weekend of Palm Sunday at the Set Free Youth event. We love the fact that 15 of our students are spending time to learn more about their faith in preparation for the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.
Finally, this week we are launching our commitment to Service Day and asking that we start looking for genuine, worthwhile service that we can do for people in our community. May the blessings and joy of the Easter season be with all of us.
2018 Caritas Lenten Appeal Week
This term in weeks 8 and 9, 10P successfully ran 13 Social Actions to support the work of Caritas. We were raising money for the people in Timor-Leste. Timor-Leste is recovering from recently becoming independent. They were occupied by Indonesia from 1978 and only regained their independence in 2002. A large war was fought to gain this independence and many people’s lives were lost, many farms were destroyed, and vital crops were demolished along with the heart of many communities. Many Timorese people have suffered or are still suffering from the loss of basic needs. Many of the men in Timor-Leste died during the war to become independent and so many women have been widowed. This means the women have been left to sustain their families. Women were given political rights but have been refused the recognition of their voices and opinions. This has caused a decline in culture and participation in the women’s rights. Caritas is working to build these women factory warehouses to help them gain back their socio-economic rights.
During the two weeks, we ran many fundraisers such as stalls at the Twilight Festival, a bake sale and a sausage sizzle. We also ran activities to raise awareness about the challenges being faced in Timor-Leste such as a lunchtime quiz, tutor class activities, and a junior RE class. A Staff Carwash was a new idea and was very popular with the teachers. They paid $5 to get their car washed and while the idea was organized by one group, the whole class participated in the washing. This fundraised $150.00! Another group ran a Caritas Café where teachers paid $5 to get a cup of coffee and a cupcake and biscuits, which fundraised $175. The Silent Day and Coin Trail were our most successful events and raised over $1,500! The Silent Day funds were all raised by students in school being silent for the whole day to represent people in Timor-Leste who don’t have opportunities to speak out about the challenges they are facing. The Coin Trail was a competitive way to fundraise. Tutor classes were told to raise as much money as possible and also the most coins possible. Quantity and quality! Mrs. McManaway’s tutor class won this competition, collecting over $90 in 10 and 20 cent coins, winning themselves a pizza lunch for the whole tutor group.
The week was very successful as we were able to support a worthy cause and raised over $2,500! We spread awareness of the lack of human rights and social justice in Timor-Leste and highlighted the amazing work of the Catholic charity, Caritas. Thank you to all who supported us and helped us be Christ’s hands and feet.
The students of10P.
Crosswalk 2018
Our annual crosswalk began with our wonderful group of students and staff meeting at St Thomas Moore Church at 8.15. After prayer and final instructions we commenced our pilgrimage to Aquinas college, sharing our faith with those we met along the way.
CURRICULUM
Incredibly, we are almost one third of the way through the senior academic year. All students should be well underway with internal assessments and have a number of results from standards already completed.
REACH
For Year 9 and 10 students they are working towards their REACH Assessments. WHAT IS REACH? For information about the Year 9 and 10 academic programme – CLICK HERE
YEARS 11-13
Remember that a student needs to gain 50 credits at Excellence for a certificate endorsed with Excellence. If a student gains 50 credits at Merit (or Excellence) then they are awarded their certificate with a Merit endorsement. Students can also gain subject endorsements by gaining 14 credits (of which at least 3 must be external and at least 3 must be internal) at Merit or Excellence.
CURRICULUM
Year 7 and 8
On the 3rd April the Year 7/8 Department had the privilege of hearing from New Zealand author David Hill. David talked about the writing process and shared the first chapter of his latest book.
A reminder to view the Year 7/8 latest news page to keep up to date with everything going on.
CURRICULUM
The Collective Chronicle
This term marks the first installment of the new Aquinas student newspaper – The Collective Chronicle. Editor by Lilli Scott and Jessica Treanor, this is a newspaper by Aquinas students, for Aquinas students . It is planned that this will become the must read newspaper each term. Check out this term’s edition by using the link below.
CURRICULUM
Lilli Scott wins essay competition
Lilli Scott, a current Year 13 student, was announced as the senior winner of a youth essay competition created by Taonga Tauranga to encourage youth to voice their thoughts on having a museum on the city’s proposed Cliff Road site. Lilli’s efforts awarded her the $1000 first prize.
SPORT
It has been a busy start to the school year with Term One coming to a close. The annual Athletics Sports and Swimming Championships were a great success with many students achieving both personal goals and breaking school records. Summer Sports are now starting to wrap up, with the conclusion of Summer Tournament Week.
The Senior A Volleyball Team faced a challenge heading to the NZ Secondary School Nationals in Palmerston North with many of the starting players out for the tournament. Over the week, our team managed to escape a gastro bug that teared through the event decimating school after school, and finished 14th in the Challenger Division. A big thank you to Ange McManaway who stepped up to take the team away to Tournament Week.
Weather was not on the competitors side in Twizle at the Maardi Regatta. Unfortunately strong winds resulted in long delays over the week. Stella Janissen and Aoife Taylor had to scratch from their U17 double so that they could be at the start line in time for their U16 double. In that race, they managed to place 2nd in the C Final. Aoife Taylor came 2nd in the D Final. Stella Janissen came 7th in the B Final of the U16 single giving her a final placing of 15th in the country.
Special well done to Blair Bromwich who received a silver medal at the FINDNG OUT WHAT IT WAS
As we start to face the darker evenings and the cool mornings, the Winter Sport Season is coming upon us. Aquinas College will be represented in force over the winter in Rugby, Football, Basketball, Hockey and Netball.
Best of luck to our Senior Water Polo Teams who are competing in the North Island Secondary Schools Championship over the Term 1 break, and to all of our students starting training for their Winter Codes.
SPORT
1st XI win Northern Districts title
Aquinas College has won the 2018 Northern Districts T20 knockout competition with a 15 run win over St Peter’s. School, Cambridge.
The victory highlights the progression this team has made over the last few years. Three years ago they finished third in this competition, last year they endured a heartbreaking last ball loss to Pukekohe High School and this year the team managed to go one step further and claim the trophy.
SPORT
Aquinas Swimming Championships
Well done to all of our students who competed in the Annual Swimming Championships over the past couple of weeks. There were some great results achieved by our students. In particular a special congratulations to Lochlainn O’Connor, Connor Farrell, Ruby Helm and Caitlin Farrell who all achieved new school records in the pool.
Swimming Championship Results
A very special congratulations to each of our Individual Champions
Year 7 Girls: Izzy Jones
Year 7 Boys: Henry Scholes
Year 8 Girls: Caitlin Farrell
Year 8 Boys: Jacob Lewis and Luca Adsett
U14 Girls: Ruby Helm
U14 Boys: Dylan Beilby
U16 Girls: Kate Kuka
U16 Boys: Connor Farrell
U19 Girls: Anais Magner
U19 Boys: Lochlainn O’Connor
SPORT
Aquinas Equestrian Team
On Wednesday 28th February five Aquinas College students represented and rode for the Aquinas College Equestrian team in the Bay of Plenty Area Schools Show Jumping competition held at the Edgecumbe Pony Club grounds in Otakiri.
The team consisted of six riders including a student from Tauranga Intermediate who made up the 6th member of the team. All six girls know each other well and are part of Tauranga Pony Club.
There were 21 teams competing from all over the Bay of Plenty in three levels of heights. Each team member jumped around three courses of show jumps with different routes and rules for each course.
Aquinas College did extremely well and ended up coming third overall for the day. A fantastic result that the girls and school can be very proud of.
Yachting team excels in Taupo
The Aquinas College yachting team have completed a very successful regatta during Tournament week in Taupo.
The first day of the regatta, Sunday, was tough and they came up against the best teams from the year before. Despite some losses the team remained upbeat and in their final race of the day thrashed Taupo Nui, the team who beat us last year for first place in the Silver fleet. In a fleet of six boats we placed 1st, 2nd, and 4th.
Monday was a frustrating day with little wind for much of the day. When racing did get underway Aquinas came out firing. In the first race Aquinas placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the six boat fleet, cleaning up the other team.
In our second race Aquinas again placed 1, 2, and 4 another resounding win.
Tuesday was a day full of success with numerous wins and a final result of second in the Silver fleet.
Overall the team placed ahead of teams from Taupo, Napier, Tauranga and Rotorua.
Music Department
Events for March/April:
- Voci Celesti choir have a workshop this Sunday 8th April from 3-6pm where they are continuing to prepare for the Big Sing competition coming up on Friday June 8th.
- Our Jazz Band performed at school assembly on Tuesday March 27th and was extremely well received. They performed “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder and “Green Onions” arranged by Roger Holmes.
Upcoming Events for May:
- Voci Celesti will be serving as the curch coir for the Mass of the Spirit on Wednesday 16th
- All NCEA music students are preparing for there first Performance assessments on Wednesday 23rd May during school hours.
- For service Day Thursday 24th May, Voci Celesti have been asked to perform again at the Waipuna Hospice as the residents enjoyed having them so much last year.
PTA
Working Bee
Thank you too all the parents and students that came along to assist us with the working bee a couple of weeks ago. The team assembled more outdoor seating which is now in use.
Next PTA Meeting
The next PTA next meeting is being held on the 22nd May, 5.30pm in the staffroom.
Other News
Careers Update
Universities and Tertiary Providers are starting their rounds between schools, please watch for specific dates.
This week we attended the Cultivate Your Career Tour. As part of the tour we visited the Port of Tauranga, Tuhono Whenua Horticulture, Robotics Plus work shop and heard from speakers from Zespri and Kiwi Leaders.
Parents and students please remember to subscribe to the Aquinas College Careers page, this will alert you to Trips, Speakers, Open Days, Expos, Visits to the College and other important dates.
Gateway: We have 14 students attending Gateway courses at the moment. If you are keen to look into Gateway further please contact Mrs Consedine.
Enrolments for 2019
Aquinas College is a Catholic, co-educational, Year 7-13 secondary school. Our school roll has a maximum of 750 pupils plus up to-25 International Students.
Because we generally receive more applications than positions available, we have in place a balanced process to enable everyone the same opportunity for enrolment. This process is quite lengthy which means that 2019 enrolment applications open on Thursday 3rd May and close on Friday 6th July 2018. We do not operate a waiting list system but favour a system whereby everyone gets considered at the same time each year.
We have an Open Day each year where you are encouraged to bring your child along to see the school in action and listen to a presentation from the Principal and senior leaders. Open Day this year is Wednesday 30th May. Two sessions are offered; 9-10am or 12:30-1:30 pm.
Congratulations Sam Rush
Samuel Rush has won a trip to attend the Silicon Valley Bootcamp as a representative of his iwi, Ngai-Tahu. The trip is designed to help Year 9 and 10 students engage with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Samuel will take part in design workshops and meet leaders from companies like Google and Facebook. As part of his application he had to submit a short video about himself.
Movie Night
Come along to the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society movie and support the Fiji Service Team. The film is a British historical drama directed by Mike Newell and written by Don Roos and Tom Bezucha. It is based on the 2008 novel of the same name, written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. Tickets can be purchased from the school office.
Aquinas College School Uniform
A reminder that all students should be in full and correct winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3, starting Monday 30th April 2018. The wearing of the PE uniform at school on Tuesdays and Thursdays by Year 7/8 students is only during the summer months. Year 7/8 students are required to wear the winter uniform in Terms 2 and 3.
Second-Hand Uniform Shop – where you’re sure to find a Bargain!
The Second-Hand Uniform shop is a great service the PTA provides for our community. There is a dedicated team running the shop which is open every Tuesday during term time from 1:00pm to 3.30pm.
As a special service, the second hand uniform shop will be open during the upcoming school holidays on Tuesday 24th April, from 1:00-3:30pm.
Want to purchase new uniform items?
NZ Uniforms is the only retail outlet available in Tauranga to purchase new Aquinas College uniform items. They are situated at 94 Elizabeth Street, Tauranga. http://aquinascollege.nzuniforms.com/catalog/uniform-1103911.htmx
Selling your old uniform?
If you would like to sell your old uniform items, we ask that they be in at the College office by Tuesday 17th April. The PTA require time to process the items for re-sale. Items should be washed, ironed and without rips or stains. They should be accompanied by a completed form available online from http://3qei1h3uyzy6q3aq23v0elk1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Second-Hand-Uniform-Form.pdf for you to fill in, prior to handing in your uniform items for sale.
If you have any queries, please contact Mary Walton by email on;
mwalton@aquinas.school.nz
