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LATESTConnect.org.nz the online hub for young New Zealand Catholics Catholic Education Convention 2009 Handbook For The Board of Trustees Of New Zealand Catholic Integrated Schools 2007 [pdf 1025kb] Special Character Review and Development 2007 document [pdf 665kb] The Role of the Proprietor's Appointee on the Board of Trustees [pdf 120kb] The Declaration (poster and brochure)
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01.08 Lessons From Sir Edmund Hillary's Life For Today's Schools 01.08 Education in The Spotlight 11.07 Launch of New Cirriculum 10.07 International Teachers' Day - October 26th 07.07 Stocktake of the Board of Trustees Governance Model 06.07 Availability of Healthy Food in the Nation's Schools 05.07 NCEA Achilles Heel On The Mend 04.07 Catholic Schools Days - May 2nd 2007 02.07 Graduating students from our schools who are "Globo Sapiens" in their outlook 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 Launch of the New CurriculumThe New Zealand Catholic Education Office welcomes the Prime Minister's launch of the new school curriculum today. The revamped document is a much more coherent statement than its predecessor and will be broadly accepted by the community, which has had a significant input into its creation. Being a forward looking document it recognizes that the fundamentals of literacy and numeracy will be emphasized but also recognizes that in a globalized world other sophisticated skills are equally important in our school graduates. The statement of the values that underpin a successful modern democracy is also encouraging. One of the more important features of the new curriculum is its recognition that each school community is able to identify and establish its own expectations and values. This will enable the particular ethos and culture desired by a Board of Trustees and its community to be fostered and developed. A curriculum's success is only as good as its teachers and principals. The long term benefits of the document will be seen in the way each self managing school gets behind it and makes it work, so each young New Zealander can have their place in the sun and become a contributing national and international citizen. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 6 November 2007 Patrick J. Lynch International Teachers' Day - October 26thTeachers are never far from the public spotlight. While they might not like it, the attention is a reflection of the profound influence teachers can have on the life of a young person who is one of their students. It is now common wisdom that while the academic side of education is becoming more important, even more important, is the realization that the attributes of the human spirit are vital for a young person's life success. Teachers who are able to inspire students, connect with them, challenge them, correct them and build up their confidence as individuals are the great ones. Today's world requires resilient young people who have the vision, energy and global appreciation of their place in the family of nations. They all will need to contribute whatever leadership qualities they have to enhance the well being of human kind. Teachers who are able to switch on young people are dealers in hope. At the same time they are able to touch eternity with the influence they have. Yes, teachers do come under the spotlight from time to time. May this often be for the reasons of their vital importance to our nation's growth and development. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 25 October 2007 Patrick J. Lynch Stocktake of the Board of Trustees Governance ModelThe New Zealand Catholic Education Office supports the Minister of Education's determination that additional resourcing is required to better support and upskill some Boards of Trustees who may feel out of their depth in governing and managing their school. This is not a widespread problem, but nonetheless, is an issue particularly with some smaller primary schools. We ought not forget that secondary schools have been governed by individual Boards of parents and community representatives for well over 100 years. The model of governance has a long history of working successfully. There is no doubt that parents who are now a well educated constituency are eminently capable of governing schools, albeit with a little more help to ensure they are well briefed about their role. There is certainly no issue with their vision, common sense and good judgement regarding the pivotal role they have in the school system. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 10 July 2007 Patrick J. Lynch Availability of Healthy Food in the Nation's SchoolsThe Government's "Mission On" programme which is led by the Ministries of Health and Education, is timely and one whose implications for our young people reach over the horizon. The additions to the administrative regulations governing schools which focus on nutrition issues for students are reasonable and are worthy of active support. Many New Zealanders are not fully aware of the implications of the insidious creeping health crisis which is facing the nation. If nothing is done to change eating habits and attitudes to food, the nation's health budget, which is already significantly stretched, will be unable to look after those who will be beset by illnesses related to unhealthy eating and lack of exercise. Governments are elected to lead and to face issues which affect the common good. This initiative, when all the evidence is stacked up, is necessary, if New Zealand's well being and resilience as a nation are to be safeguarded. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 11 June 2007 Patrick J. Lynch NCEA Achilles Heel On The Mend
http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 30 May 2007 Patrick J. Lynch Catholic Schools DayMay 2nd, 2007 New Zealand's 240 Catholic Schools celebrate who they are and their contribution to New Zealand society with a special national day on May 2nd. This is the sixth such celebration since 1996. A wide range of events and activities are taking place around the country to mark the special day. Many schools will organise joint celebrations, bringing together primary and secondary schools, and early childhood centres, and involving parents and communities. Catholic schools are part of an international network of schools, which number 192,400, with numbers of students in excess of 50 million. The Church community believes in the importance of Catholic schools, which seek to make a positive contribution to world peace and development. Schools encourage their students to be people who live with gratitude for the past, enthusiasm for the present and hope for the future. The theme of the day is "Radiating hope and celebrating excellence". Catholic schools were urged by the late Pope John Paul II to reach out into all aspects of society, helping "to make human life more human. In this way we honour the God who made us to be fully human and fully alive." Given the challenges the world faces, we need all the brain power, creativity, enthusiasm and solid common sense we can master to help make the world a better place. Catholic schools are committed to achieving this vision of a better world, and to working alongside others who are similarly committed to the well-being of all humanity. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/shakeit.php 30 April 2007 Patrick J. Lynch Graduating students from our schools who are "Globo Sapiens" in their outlookThe start of the 2007 school year is a good time to reflect on how effective our schools are in forming young citizens who are willing to actively contribute to the well–being of the world community. Despite the country's geographic isolation, New Zealanders have to be globo sapiens in their outlook, attitudes and behaviours. It is too easy to adopt isolationist approaches to world issues, when the growing reality is one where New Zealanders are expected to be contributing global citizens. For this to occur, our schools need to be bold and acknowledge that there is a spiritual dimension to each student, which ultimately motivates them and is the basis of their decision making in every setting. A free society requires a set of common ideas based on the acquisition of virtues, which are fostered at home and school. Education is more then skill and knowledge acquisition because it is fundamentally a moral endeavour. Young people will only become virtuous when they are taught to be so and are able to interact with virtuous people. It is only through paying attention to, and fostering individual spirituality, that teachers and parents encourage students to have reasons for living and reasons for contributing to the well–being of others, not only within the country, but internationally. History teaches us that anarchy readily emerges in States that lose their moral vision and moral purpose. When the social virtues, like: self control, politeness, decency and the pursuit of ideals are not taught and practised, a rapid dilution of social cohesion occurs. There is a vital need to constantly acquaint our young people with their civic responsibilities and to promote education which focuses on confronting prejudice, while seeking to bring about understanding of religious and cultural differences. The fundamentals of the world's great religions and the inspiration and insightful ideas of the great civilizations, when appreciated, will help open the minds of our young people who frequently do not know what they do not know, since they are tucked away at the bottom of the world. After all, this nation has among its citizens individuals who were born in over 150 countries. Not only are we all citizens of New Zealand, we are also international citizens who have an obligation to contribute to the resilience, development and well–being of the world's nations and peoples. The concept of the human family where individuals reach out as one another's keepers is the education framework which needs to be promoted in schools. Fundamentally, boldness is called for all of this, since the bold decision is normally the right one. 3 February 2007 Patrick J. Lynch |
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