Kōtui: School & Policy Updates - Term 2 Issue 2 2024 (NZCEO)

TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA: Editorial by Dr Kevin Shore, CEO

Kia ora koutou 

The challenges of an increasingly secular society is a common theme that is discussed when I meet with the various proprietors and stakeholders in state integrated educated. There is no doubt that many western governments including New Zealand are driven by a secular humanism or as one definition I found identifies it as ‘an atheist who cares’. Secular humanism theorises that human beings are capable of being ethical and moral without religion. Fundamental to the concept of secular humanism is the strongly held viewpoint that ideology—be it religious or political—must be thoroughly examined by each individual and not simply accepted or rejected on faith. 

I have no problem accepting there are ‘good’ people in society with strong moral convictions who are not religious and who want to see society transformed so that every individual is affirmed, respected and treated with dignity. However, that should not deny a place in society for the beliefs of those who have a strong sense of the spiritual and who want to live a life and pursue an education system that is imbued by a particular faith or philosophy. The beauty of the various special characters and philosophies that underpin the state integrated schools in Aotearoa is the way they bind a school community together and create a sense of community and individual belonging that results in some significant and positive pastoral and academic outcomes. 

APIS continues to engage pragmatically and constructively with education bodies such as the Ministry of Education, ERO and the Teaching Council as we navigate areas where issues of faith and belief continue to cause challenge. I am pleased that these conversations continue in a respectful and honest manner, as if we look at society in general, we have lost the art of talking and debating issues in a mana enhancing manner. We have much to learn from each other even if we have different viewpoints and perspectives. Despite these challenges, I am convinced that we can continue to navigate any issues and difficulties in ways that ensure that the needs of parents, students, staff and stakeholders can be met. It will not always be easy but the value of hope, faith, respectful dialogue and hard work has defined our journey to date and I am sure it will continue into the future 

APIS Meeting with Minister Stanford 

APIS continues to look for opportunities to engage with the Government. A recent meeting with Minister Stanford enabled APIS to talk to key issues for our sector such as insurance, Policy Two funding and increased voice for our sector in national network planning. Getting some scheduled meetings with Minister Stanford over the next six months will be crucial as we look to engage and advocate for our needs. Minister Stanford has shown an openness to discuss these issues and APIS is grateful to her for her willingness to listen and we are keen to make progress within this environment. 

Minister Seymour has reached out to APIS regarding our management of school property. He has seen how effectively the EPMP programme has been delivered across our sector as well as visiting several new state integrated school builds that have been completed within budget and to a high quality. He is a strong advocate of parent choice in education so has a natural affinity for our system while also pursuing charter schools as an additional element of choice within education. 

Essential Property Maintenance Package (EPMP) 

It is almost time to celebrate with the end of the EPMP journey almost upon us. There are only two months left for proprietors to submit their transfer of funding applications and Jenny Gordon and Karen Raitt will continue to work with proprietors to ensure a successful outcome. 

Finally 

Staff at APIS/NZCEO have been working under pressure to prepare for the 2024 National Catholic Education Convention. It was last held in 2018 and due to the pandemic had to be postponed in 2021 with a decision to defer the event until 2024. It is a big beast to organise with over 700 registered attendees, several international keynote speakers, Ministerial visits, an address from the Secretary of Education, twenty plus high quality seminar sessions, Laureate and Tertiary Education Awards and a number of social functions. 

I want to thank Karen Raitt and Rosalie Connors who have carried the major load in organising this event over the last eighteen months. As I finish writing this message, the convention has been completed and it was a very successful event where participants were able to enjoy sharing their common mission and to explore ways in which we can collectively continue to contribute to our school faith communities. 

NZCEO/APIS has now released the History of Integration Video to our sector. It is approximately eleven minutes in length and captures what we believe are the key moments in our shared history. This is included in this issue of Kōtui. 

 Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer 

2024 New Zealand Catholic Education Convention Tūhono Whakapono: Together, one faith community

The National Catholic Education Convention was held at the TSB Arena in Wellington from Wednesday 19 June through to Friday 21 June. Due to the pandemic, this was our first convention for six years and the response was indicative of a sector who wanted to come together in fellowship after such a long period where we could not gather. There were approximately 700 in attendance from across the Catholic education sector in Aotearoa including all of our bishops, a number of priests and religious, principals, DRS, staff (and in some cases students) representing the 235 Catholic schools in NZ

NZCEO wishes to thank the sponsors and exhibitors who provided important resources in support of the running of this event. Businesses such as Toshiba, Gallagher Security, Active Vision, Google for Education and BSM Group Architects made major sponsorship contributions to the success of this event while existing NZCEO sponsor Teamturf and many other exhibitors added to the success of the event. It was also a pleasure to have several Catholic entities share the exhibitor space including Caritas, Pleroma Christian Supplies, Home of Compassion, Te Kupenga Catholic Leadership Institute and the Catholic Enquiry Centre. It was truly a time of community and fellowship for our Church.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2024 National Catholic Education Convention. It is a huge event to organise and I want to thank Kate and her team from Conference Innovators, Karen Raitt and Rosalie Connors and the team at NZCEO and a number of volunteers from diocesan offices and other Catholic regional and national bodies. You are all wonderful and magnificent and NZCEO could not have done this without your support. We look forward to another successful event in 2027.

 Kevin Shore, Chief Executive Officer 

School art from the Catholic Education Convention Prayer Room

A highlight of the 2024 Catholic Education Convention was a special space within the venue for quiet prayer and reflection. This space was brought to life by artworks created by students from around the Motu that invited us to contemplate the Convention theme Tūhono Whakapono: Together, One Faith Community. We are delighted to share just a few of these wonderful artworks below. 

New Zealand Catholic Education 2024 Laureate Awards

On 20 June we gathered to honour four distinguished contributors to Catholic education in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Laureate Awards honour those whose leadership in Catholic Education has has enriched people beyond their normal circle of professional colleagues. A Laureate Award is recognition of an Outstanding Contribution to Catholic Education in New Zealand. 

We know that our laureates are supported by the work, faith and prayers of a huge number of committed people.  We wish to express gratitude to all those who contribute and who have contributed so much to Catholic education. 

Paul McGuiness

Paul McGuinness is a leader in Catholic education, with a career spanning over three decades. Paul’s journey began as a dedicated member of the Campion College, Gisborne Board of Trustees, culminating in his appointment as Principal in 1995. Paul’s tenure has been characterised by transformative initiatives that have shaped the educational and faith experience of countless students and educators alike. At the heart of Paul’s contributions lies his profound commitment to the Catholic faith and its integration into every aspect of educational practice.

Paul is distinguished by his remarkable leadership, unwavering commitment to Gospel values, and profound influence on his college community, parish, and wider educational landscape.

Janne Pender

Janne has given and continues to give outstanding and generous voluntary service to Catholic education in the Auckland Diocese and the wider Marist community. Janne has been involved in governance of Catholic schools since 1995, having first served on the Sacred Heart College Auckland Board of Trustees and Development Foundation Trust. For her work and leadership on these entities Janne was the first woman to receive an honorary life membership of the Sacred Heart College Old Boys’ Association.

Janne is a woman of deep faith, wisdom, experience, and vision. She is a wonderful team player who has helped strengthen the nation's Catholic school system.

Tom Silverwood

Tom has made an outstanding contribution to Catholic education through being a model of servant leadership-a faith leader who ‘quietly gets on with it’ by giving witness to his faith through his words and actions. Over the course of his career Tom has taught and been Director of Religious Studies at all three Catholic colleges in the Hawke’s Bay area: St John’s College, Hastings, St Joseph’s Māori Girls’ College, Greenmeadows, and Sacred Heart College, Napier.

Tom is one of those rare teachers who lives out a deep personal faith, supported by significant theological knowledge, grounded in a real and meaningful aroha for the young people in his care.  

Lyn Smith

 For ten years Lyn was a moderator for NCEA Religious Studies - eight of those years as the national moderator. Once Religious Studies became a scholarship subject, Lyn worked across Aotearoa with teachers and students, providing online tutorials for scholarship exams.

As a secondary religious education advisor in Auckland, Lyn is highly valued. She has supported, motivated, and inspired our Religious Educators. At a national level she has contributed to the implementation and roll out of the new Religious Education curriculum, Tō Tātou Whakapono. Lyn has also taught papers in Religious Education and Religious Studies at the University of Auckland. Her role as human sexuality education coordinator through NCRS has been invaluable. The ability to capture the heart of Church teaching, in this critical area of human development, and create materials and structures, and lead a team of educators, to support teachers to convey these same messages in engaging and meaningful ways, has been a great gift to Aotearoa Catholic education.

Lyn is generous in her service to Catholic Education, teacher and leadership formation, and curriculum development.

Video on the History of the Integration Act (PSCIA, 1975)

The focus of this video is a summary of the historical timeline leading up to and beyond the Private Schools Conditional Integration Act (1975).

A Future for Education: The Principles of the Global Compact on Education

Dr Sandra Cullen inspired us at the National Catholic Education Convention with her seminar on Pope Francis’ initiative the Global Compact on Education (GCOE) including suggestions for implementing the GCOE’s seven educational commitments.  

Consistent with the theme of the GCOE the La Salle Academy (Australian Catholic University) published in 2022 an article by Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani A Future for Education: The Principles of the Global Compact on Education. This article explains the objectives of the GCOE and the principles underlying the compact. Furthermore, archbishop Zani identifies as Dr Cullen did the fields of application. You can read the full article here. 

The last edition of Kōtui, Term Two Issue 1, had links to Pope Francis’ video on the compact and posters and booklets outlining the seven commitments of the GCOE. 

You and discover more about the compact here:

The Seven Commitments for the Global Compact on Education are:

New Zealand Catholic Education Convention Certification Hours for Teachers

Teacher Certification Hours are available on the NZCEO website here. There is a form to complete and forward  to your Director of Religious Studies and local Diocesan Education Office in order to have the allocated credit-hours recorded on your Certification Record. Details of the allocation of credit hours for keynote speakers and seminars are also available on the website.

2024 Race Unity Speech Awards

From Aimee McNaughton, St Mary's College, Wellington

Jessica Tupa’i won the national final of the 2024 Race Unity Speech Awards. A year 12 student from St Mary’s College in Wellington, Jessica spoke eloquently and powerfully on this year’s theme of Te Taura Tangata | The Rope of Unity.  

Jessica flew up to Auckland and competed in the semi-finals on Saturday 4 May and attended the Race Unity Hui, where she was one of seven from across the motu to earn a place in the national final on 5t May. The aim of the awards is for students to speak about their ideas and solutions to create greater social cohesion and racial unity in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Jessica used the metaphor of rope from a Pacifica context, talking about the process of using coconut fibre to make ropes and using that process as a metaphor for three actions we need to take as a society to achieve greater racial unity. Her speech included elements of spoken word poetry and called on policy makers and politicians to repeal racist laws and policies that hold people of colour back in Aotearoa.

The awards are organised by the New Zealand Bahá’í community and receive principal sponsorship from the New Zealand Police, alongside the Human Rights Commission, Foundation North, Manukau Institute of Technology, Ministry for Ethnic Communities, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, Speech New Zealand, Hedi Moani Charitable Trust, and Studio Marque.

Jessica also received two special awards: the Tohu Auahatanga - Speech New Zealand Award for Delivery and the Tohu Māramatanga - New Zealand Baha’i Community Award for Insight. She receives $2000 dollars, and $1000 for her school.

'A Taste of Theology' Lecture Series

These mini-courses in Theology offered through Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College cover a range of topics including Scripture, dogmatic, moral and spiritual theology, Church history, Philosophy, pastoral and liturgical studies and Canon Law. Presenters are lecturers of Te Kupenga Catholic Theological College.

General Information:

Courses will be online via Zoom on Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30PM. Click the link(s) to register. Fee for all courses is $60 (one-off). You can register to all or as many as you want. Sessions will be recorded and made available to all registered participants.

Topics:

The Liturgy as an expression of our Christian identity, life and mission. (Revisiting Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy)

02 July 2024 Sr Susanna Yun, PDDM

Register here

What is Philosophy? A short introduction to the fascinations and frustrations of philosophical questioning.

06 August 2024 Rev Dr John Owens, SM

Register here

Christian identity, life and mission in Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church

03 September 2024 Rev Dr Mervyn Duffy, SM

Register here

Vatican II in context: The age of Vatican II

01 October 2024 Mayte Ramos

Register here

Christian identity, life, and mission in the Third Millenium (Revisiting Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

05 November 2024 Dr John Evangelista

Register here

Application of Moral Theology to bioethical issues: Working with the Mercy Healthcare Group

03 December 2024 Rev Dr Bernard Teo, CSSR

Register here

Enrolment for study in semester two is open

Safe use of digital technologies in education settings

From Julie Cullen, Paediatric Physiotherapist, Te Whatu Ora. Lead author of Recommendations for the use of digital technologies: schools, kura and early childhood education

New recommendations for safer use of digital technologies in education settings were published last week through the Paediatric Society of New Zealand website, available here:

The recommendations were developed by a diverse group of local and international scientists, educators, clinicians and experts in digital media use for children and youth. We have created these recommendations to support students from ECE to high school, aiming to help them to maximise the benefits that digital technologies can offer to learning, with lower risk of harm. 

Based on our narrative review published in the NZ Journal of Physiotherapy, existing international guidelines/legislation, subject expert input, and consultation, the recommendations have been reviewed and endorsed by the Paediatric Society of New Zealand, Brainwave Trust, The Office for Early Childhood Education, The New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association, The Australia and New Zealand Myopia Working Group, and Sensible Screen Use.

We hope that this document supports our hard-working educators, and the health and well-being of our young people. All those involved have given their time freely for this non-profit mahi.

School security case studies from Gallagher Security

In recent years, the rise of e-cigarettes and vaping has been cause for concern among New Zealand educators and parents. While vaping was initially perceived as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, recent studies have shown that the long-term health effects of vaping are still largely unknown. With the growing popularity of vaping among young people, it’s more important now than ever for schools to educate students about the risks associated with vaping and promote the importance of health and wellbeing. But to be effective, educational methods need to be innovative and memorable enough to connect with a student body who may not be receptive to the message. One such tool that can be used to create these tangible, teachable moments around vaping is the Halo sensor, a small device that measures air quality and provides real-time data about pollutants such as particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon monoxide.

The Halo sensor can be integrated with schools’ existing Gallagher solutions, enabling air quality results to be instantly forwarded to administrators who can then identify the location and nature of the vaping (eg: whether THC is present, etc.) and jumpstart constructive conversations with students, though that’s not all it’s capable of achieving. Learn more about how Gallagher Security is helping Metcalfe County Schools tackle their vaping problem, increase students’ health and wellbeing, and even saving the school money by clicking the link to read the full case study.