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LATESTCatholic Schools Day 2010 Photos Catholic Special Character Review and Development 2009 Achievement Standards in Religious Studies FaithCentral Teachers' Certification Handbook Connect.org.nz the online hub for young New Zealand Catholics 2010 Handbook for BoTs of NZ Catholic Integrated Schools Catholic Education Convention 2009 photos FOCUSGuidance for Proprietors and their agents in running an Integrated school |
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05.10 Catholic Schools Day, May 19th, 2010 01.10 The Newest Catholic School Opens Its Doors 12.09 Four Scholarships Awarded To Catholic School Principals 07.09 Catholic Education Convention 01.09 Inspiration Tempered By Realism Is The 2009 Education Touchstone 10.08 Government Cash Injection For Catholic School System 01.08 Lessons From Sir Edmund Hillary's Life For Today's Schools 01.08 Education in The Spotlight Catholic Schools Day, May 19th, 2010
18 May 2010 Patrick J. Lynch Leadership Of The Secondary Principals Association Of New ZealandIt has just been announced that Patrick Walsh, Principal of John Paul College, Rotorua, has been elected as the new President of the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand. His Deputy is Paul Daley, the principal of Sancta Maria College, Botany, Auckland. This is an historic occasion to have the leadership of this national principals’ association headed by two principals from Catholic Colleges. Previously Pat Lynch, CEO NZCEO and Paul Ferris, principal of Kavanagh College, Dunedin have been Presidents of SPANZ. It is a great tribute to Patrick Walsh and Paul Daley that they have been so honoured by their colleagues. These leadership roles are very important since they involve close inaction with the Government, the political establishment, the education sector, the media and the public of New Zealand. The milestone is also a recognition that Catholic colleges are seen to actively contribute to the well-being of New Zealand. Congratulations are extended to both men. 2 March 2010 Patrick J. Lynch The Newest Catholic School Opens Its DoorsEarly in February the latest New Zealand Catholic School opens its doors to cater for the Catholic population of the new suburb of Flat Bush in Auckland. The primary school, which is on the Sancta Maria College site, will form part of the Sancta Maria Catholic School campus. The new school is called: Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School. Congratulations are extended from our national school system to Bishop Patrick Dunn and his team who have worked hard over a number of years to bring this school to reality. Congratulations are also extended to Principal Gina Benade and her staff, and also to the Board of Trustees as they embark on their exciting venture. The Government has provided 85% of the capital cost of the new school, for which we can all be very grateful. Over the last sixteen years the New Zealand Catholic bishops have opened fourteen new schools in various parts of the country, which is a wonderful gesture of confidence in our school system. These schools are all doing well Certainly, the future belongs to those who give the next generation hope. In welcoming the newest school community to our national network, encouragement and good will are extended to everyone associated with our schools as they continue to strive for all that is good and ideal. We recall that the Second Vatican Council was simple in its statement about why the Church and our school system exist: “That God’s kingdom may come, and that the salvation of the whole human race may come to pass”. (Gaudium et Spes, 45a). Our schools are strongly committed to promoting the well-being of New Zealand society and to doing their bit in addressing the challenges of the global community, As a Catholic community we believe in the future and as people of hope we seek to inspire those we serve. 29 January 2010 Patrick J. Lynch Four Scholarships Awarded To Catholic School Principals
Latest professional development and research scholarships will benefit the Catholic educational community Anne Miles, McAuley High School, Otahuhu, John Young, St Joseph’s School, Upper Hutt, Stasia Kennedy, St Joseph’s School, Levin and Marie Barrett, St John Bosco School, New Plymouth, are the latest Catholic School Principals to receive Catholic leadership scholarships, awarded by the New Zealand Catholic Education Office. Anne Miles and John Young were awarded the ‘Spotless’ Scholarship, sponsored by the Auckland-based company, Spotless. The scholarships provide significant financial support for the principals’ professional study and for research they are undertaking which will benefit the Catholic schooling system. Anne Miles will travel to the United Kingdom to study how low decile schools are raising academic achievement, and the link between Catholic Character and achievement. Stasia Kennedy will travel to the United States to work with Dr Ken Merrell of the Oregon Resiliency Project focusing on the development of strong young people, and the use of social-emotional assets and resiliency scales. John Young will travel to South Australia to work with Professor Alan Reid on school self review. Marie Barrett is attending workshops on Mindful Leadership, and will further develop her work with Dr Samir Heble, Clinical Director of Mental Health for the Taranaki Health Board, so that mindful living and learning becomes embedded in the school. NZCEO is delighted to be able to support outstanding leadership in Catholic schools, through these scholarships. 28 November 2009 Patrick J. Lynch Catholic Education ConventionThe Catholic Education Convention took place on July 29th – 30th, 2009 in the Wellington Convention Centre. Over 1,000 people attended from all around New Zealand, making it a landmark event in the history of New Zealand’s Catholic schools. Today Catholic Schools educate 66,000 students in 239 schools, they make up 75% of the number of students in State Integrated Schools. The theme of the gathering was, “Be The Change”. This focused on the special character ethos of the schools. Seminars were presented by leading principals and teachers who provided ideas and inspiration, which will enable participants to go back to their schools and put into practice what they have seen and heard from others. Highlights of the gathering were addresses by Professor Gerald Grace from the University of London and Professor Michael Gallagher whose address was presented by video link from Dublin. Professor Gallagher lectures at the Vatican’s Gregorian University. The Minister of Education, the Honourable Anne Tolley, addressed the gathering offering encouragement to the teachers, principals, trustees and others associated with Catholic schools. She urged them to continue to deliver high quality special character education, which contributes to the mosaic of diversity which is a strength of New Zealand’s education system. She was well received by the gathering. Catholic schools seek to positively contribute to the well-being of New Zealand society and the global community. They are grateful for the support they receive from Government and the wider community. 31 July 2009 Patrick J. Lynch Inspiration Tempered By Realism Is The 2009 Education TouchstoneThe recent inauguration of President Barrack Obama not only marks a dramatic milestone in American history, it also represents a recurring theme where inspiration provided by a leader taps the aspirations of many millions of people, not only in the United States of America, but elsewhere in the world. Human beings always respond to being challenged, particularly when they see that their lives and the lives of those about them can be bettered. If the 21st century is calling out for anything it is deeply receptive to leaders, at whatever level in society, who put before people a vision for the betterment of their world and at the same time provide the inspiration to do something about it. Inspiration is not a commonly found commodity. It is however, found in the behaviour of mentors and achievers. Principals and teachers are in privileged positions to provide the inspiration many young people require to spark their engagement with the world and to set them off on the path to success. As the world faces financial uncertainty, principals and teachers are able to demonstrate that with inspiration, resilience and hard work, their charges will be able to better cope with the challenges they encounter. History has taught us that the strongest asset we all have is the human spirit’s capacity for enduring hope in the face of adversity. This is a lesson all schools have the responsibility of conveying to their students. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 30 January 2009 Patrick J. Lynch Government Cash Injection For Catholic School SystemThe Government, through the Minister of Education, The Honourable Chris Carter, announced on Monday 20th October at Sancta Maria College that it was giving $18.8 million to the national Catholic school system in retrospective funding to pay for 85 percent of the capital cost which has been expended on establishing Sancta Maria College in Botony, Manukau City. This is a wonderful statement of confidence by the Government in the national Catholic school system. It complements the $13.3 million that was recently received in retrospective funding to help pay for the establishment of Aquinas College in Tauranga. The receipt of a total of $32.0 million is part of a long term agreement the Board of NZCEO has had with the Government on behalf of proprietors of Catholic schools in creating student places in areas of demographic growth. Bishop Patrick Dunn, on behalf of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, sincerely thanked the Minister of Education, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance for their generosity in bringing forward the Sancta Maria College payment by twelve months. In so doing, pressure has been relieved on the NZCEO loan funding agreement with the Board's bankers. Pat Lynch, the NZCEO Chief Executive Officer, recalling that the Prime Minister had opened Sancta Maria College five years ago, praised her interest in Catholic schools and for the tangible support she has shown for them. He also acknowledged the active support the Ministers of Finance and Education have given to the Integrated school system. Sancta Maria College will enrol close to 900 students in 2009 serving the Catholic community of the south east Auckland region. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 23 October 2008 Patrick J. Lynch Lessons From Sir Edmund Hillary's Life For Today's SchoolsThe reactions of New Zealanders to the death of Sir Edmund Hillary are clear evidence that there is a common decency amongst the overwhelming number of our fellow citizens. People are impressed with goodness when they see it and are equally impressed with those who go out of their way to help those who need a hand-up. As the 2008 school year gets under way parents and teachers could profitably reflect on the inspiration Sir Ed. demonstrated supporting so many Nepalese and Indian people, despite their economic disadvantage. These people are like so many hundreds of millions of fellow human beings who share our common humanity yet without the advantages we enjoy in this country. Despite geographical isolation young New Zealanders have increasingly to recognize and accept that the 6.85 billion individuals in the world are global citizens with the same aspirations for decency and progress as themselves. This reality means education has to be delivered through a global lens. Not to do so will be to court future disaster. Sir Ed. demonstrated that goodness and altruism can move mountains and change the world. It would be wonderful if most of our young people absorbed this message and did something about it. Young New Zealanders will be well served in their education if they become challenged by the normalcy and heroism of other wonderful New Zealanders, like Sir Edmund Hillary. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 28 January 2008 Patrick J. Lynch Education in The SpotlightThe Prime Minister's announcement that an education leaving age is to be implemented is a welcome development and will lead to the evolution of a wider range of transitional school to work courses in the community. John Key is also right, simply raising the compulsory school leaving age would not be a wise move in itself. It is good to see both major political parties addressing education as a major issue in creating a resilient society. For quite a number of years education sector groups have been calling for this development, which is essential if our country is going to foot it with the inexorably rising global standards in education. The New Zealand Catholic Education Office has for many years promoted the notion that 'it takes a whole village to raise a child'. It is only when the education sector and other organizations in the community work closely together that we will achieve the goal of having a successful education leaving age structure. The key to success with the bulk of our young people is to provide them with incentives to improve themselves. This means they have to be convinced that whatever education opportunity they have available to them, it is engaging and means something to them. The overwhelming number of young people ultimately wish to improve themselves and make a success of their lives. Setting a clear education leaving age expectation will be welcomed by most in the education/enterprise sector, as a significant step forward. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 28 January 2008 Patrick J. Lynch |
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