It is not often that so few words have such great effect on so many.
These three words “I can’t breathe...” have sparked protests and riots throughout the world.
A tragedy was committed by these words.
Put simply, riots and protests are the language of unheard people, the voiceless ones, those who feel trapped, those who feel victims of life.
Being suffocated is desperate.
Being trapped is also desperate.
My message is to use the notion of breathing as a metaphor for creating and having opportunities in life. There are many people, especially young men, who “can’t breathe" and are denied opportunities in life.
Many young men are being suffocated by the short term, easy come, bright light things in life and as a consequence being denied the rich opportunities that are simply available around us all... through discipline and hard work.
Often this happens with parental approval.
There are many examples...
+ The boy who stays in bed because he cannot be bothered to come to school... Opportunities for an education.
+ The boy who misses sports practice because it “is a bit cold”... Opportunities for character training.
+ The boy who doesn’t hand in his assignment because...? ... Opportunities for intellectual growth.
“I can’t breathe” are the words of young men who feel trapped in being rejected by their girlfriend or when they present themselves for a job and miss out.
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"There are many people, especially young men, who “can’t breathe" and are denied opportunities in life."
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“I can’t breathe” is when the young man cannot speak up with confidence... in front of others.
“I can’t breathe” is literally the young man who smokes dope, eats unhealthy food...
In short “Breathing” is about Life and about education in the real things.
Breathing is about Character as much as Achievement.
It is about ensuring that a young man’s life has value because of the fact that he was born... not for what he has done!
Lockdown and Covid-19 has taught us all, that there is no such thing as elitist air, Catholic air, ethnic air, gay air... etc... there is simply air we must all breathe.
I love the image in scripture where God breathed over ALL creation and found it good.
Modern day humans have a lot to learn.
Worth thinking about!
As a school we have come back well. Congratulations to all.
In His Peace
K.F. FOUHY
HEADMASTER
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
| Mon 15th – Fri 19th June |
Junior Exam Week, Yr 7 - 10 |
| Mon 15th – Fri 19th June |
NCEA Assessment Week, Yr 11 - 13 |
| Sat 27th June |
Rugby Union season begins |
| Fri 3rd July |
Term Two finishes |
| Monday 20th July |
Term Three starts |
| Friday 7th August |
Champagnat Day |
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Above: Our first full school chapel after eight weeks, held on Tuesday.
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With New Zealand now at Alert Level 1 our school Chapel has once again opened after what has felt like a long eight weeks of closure due to the earlier ban on mass gatherings due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The feeling of being together in the Chapel, the Heart of the School, has given a welcome sense of normality and enhanced our College's strong sense of community.
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UPCOMING EXAMS & ASSESSMENTS
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Years 9-10
Years 9 and 10 are having exams next week (Week 10) from Wednesday June 17th to Friday June 19th. These are formal exams like NCEA exams at the end of the year. These are hour-long closed book exams. These contribute to their Junior Diploma credits.
The exam timetable has been emailed to these students.
Years 7-8
Years 7 and 8 are having exams in Week 11 (i.e. the week commencing Monday June 22nd). These exams offer Junior Diploma credits for their subject.
Years 11-13 Assessment Week
Year 11 to 13 students have their internal assessments due next week in Week 10 (the week commencing Monday June 15th) for all subjects.
-Mr Mukesh Prasad.
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HOUSE POINTS UPDATE -
XAVIER & ACQUINAS NECK-AND-NECK!
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This week the boys have been given their effort grade points and below are the boys with the highest classroom effort grades for the past three weeks. Congratulations!
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-Mr Michael Jarvis, House System Coordinator.
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OUR 2020 POLYFEST ROUTINE WILL BE
ON TV THIS SATURDAY
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Above: A combined photo of St Paul's 2020 Samoan and Tongan Polyfest groups.
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There is an opportunity to see St Paul's boys' 2020 Polyfest performances on TV this Saturday despite the formal event having been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The TV series 'Fresh' will feature St Paul's and other Auckland secondary school groups' routines this Saturday June 13 from 10am on TV2.
-Mr Matt Toua.
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NEW DIGITAL EDUCATION APP
'TALANOA AKO' FOR PASIFIKA PARENTS
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A great way for Pasifika families to keep up to date with NCEA and other educational information:
Launched last week, the Talanoa Ako digital app provides Pacific parents with ongoing access to education and learning information.
The content is in plain English and 10 Pacific languages. Each language is also available in audio with visually impaired functionality.
The app provides core information for Pasifika parents and families to build their knowledge and confidence about education in their own time and in their first language so they can support their children’s learning.
The app is free to download for Android and IOS devices.
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Above: Two of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books borrowed frequently from our library.
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A BIG thank you to the boys who are bringing back overdue books that were due during lockdown. Please keep sending them back as we have students waiting to borrow them.
Our Library Web App is an excellent place for our boys to find and reserve books. It is also a reliable way to find relevant and up-to-date websites that are student-friendly.
Find it here: https://nz.accessit.online/STP29/#!dashboard
It can be viewed as a guest or the boys can log in using their library id number.
(Email me at ktwomey@stpaulscollege.co.nz for those details).
Library Statistics for Feb - June
Our 5 most borrowed books to date this year are:
-Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz. (This is now showing as a series "Alex Rider"on TV1 OnDemand).
-4 books from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Andy Griffiths.
Our 3 most active classes in terms of getting out library books to date in 2020:
-7MWS
-8ACK
-7MTG
-Mrs Kath Twomey, Librarian
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We are running a Sacramental Programme here in school during class hours for those wishing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.
All those students who are interested in receiving these Sacraments, please email Mrs Pam D'Souza at your earliest at pdsouza@stpaulscollege.co.nz
-Mrs Pamela D'Souza, HOD RE.
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Above: Seminarian Joseph Tham.
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Seminarian Joseph Tham is currently spending time at St Paul's during Term 2 and Term 3 observing the practical aspects of teaching RE in schools. A seminarian is a person who is training to become a Priest, which takes seven years and Joseph is in his third year at Holy Cross Seminary on Vermont Street.
As part of Joseph's time at St Paul's he will sit in classes taken by our RE teachers, Mrs D'Souza, Mr Toua, Mr Willets, Mr Ackland, Mrs Tagaloa and Mr Shryvers.
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Student teachers Karim Lee and Yongbin Zhao are currently enjoying doing their in-school placement work experience at St Paul's College.
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Above: Student teachers Karim Lee and Yongbin Zhao.
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It has been wonderful to have both concert band and junior choir rehearsals happening again.
A reminder that concert band practice is 7:30am each Wednesday.
Junior choir is 8am on Tuesday.
I look forward to the growth and development of these co-curricular groups in the college.
Instrumental music lessons happen each week in school time. These are an important part of the NZ curriculum. If your son signs up for music lessons, he is expected to manage himself and be at these lessons at the right time and place.
All year 7 and 8 students are expected to submit a weekly rehearsal diary log as part of their homework for music. I have been enjoying seeing and hearing progress in our young musicians.
Year 8 and 9 music classes have been working on digital composition this term through a trial version of the Soundtrap software, which is so far showing positive results through both student engagement and great quality of what is being created by the young men who are working on this project.
I encourage all of our musicians to keep up their home practice. This is how we go from being good to excellent!
-Mr Glenn Stanbridge, Director of Music.
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Middle School Sport
We're delighted that Middle School (Yr 7 & 8) group sport has resumed this week with NZ's move to Level 1.
Every Wednesday afternoon these students are practicing either basketball, rugby union or soccer football in preparation for when school sporting exchanges recommence next term. Rugby 7's practices are on after school every Wednesday from 3.30 - 4pm to prepare for mini-tournaments which will be held next term.
This year our Under 13s rugby union team will be affiliated with the Ponsonby Rugby Club, practicing after school every Tuesday and Thursday from 3.30-5pm.
-Mrs Molly Tagaloa, Middle School Sport
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MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCCER FOOTBALL & RUGBY UNION COACHES NEEDED:
If you are a student's parent or family member available to coach either soccer football or rugby union at our school
on Wednesday afternoons from 1.30-3pm
please email Mrs Molly Tagaloa at mtagaloa@stpaulscollege.co.nz
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NZ-WIDE HIGH SCHOOL VIRTUAL CAREERS EXPO
Because many traditional College Careers Expos have been cancelled because of COVID-19, a NZ-wide Virtual Careers Expo will be held next Thursday-Friday giving students a unique opportunity to explore some of the country’s best tertiary education and pathway providers.
This will help them get the information they need to map out the next steps on their career journey. To register for the expo (registration is necessary) and see a list of providers and a schedule of presentations please follow this link.
Virtual Careers Expo: Thursday 18th June: 12-8pm and Friday 19th June: 9-5pm.
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REGISTER FOR AUT'S ONLINE PARENTS' INFORMATION EVENING WEBINAR 2020
AUT's online Parents' Information Evening is a webinar giving parents the chance to ask AUT questions, hear more information about their programmes, entry requirements, student support and services.
During the webinar, they'll provide parents with helpful resources that are specifically designed for parents and whānau.
Register now here. Once you’ve officially registered, you’ll receive more information on how to make the most of the event and instructions about how to attend online.
AUT'S ONLINE PARENTS' INFORMATION EVENING WEBINAR 2020: Tuesday 30 June 2020, 6.30pm - 7.30pm.
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SMALL ESTABLISHED HOME STAGING BUSINESS FOR SALE
Can be operated during school hours so may suite a parent. For more information please phone Alison on 022 040 2844.
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"Things have a price and can be for sale.
But people have a dignity that is priceless and worth far more than things."
-Pope Francis
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