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We are committed to preparing our Students to embrace the future by providing a complete Catholic education in a safe, nurturing community, shaped by our values |
VALUES
Catholic Faith
Education
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The College will aim to educate the whole person; physically, spiritually, academically, socially – to reach each person’s full potential and a high standard of excellence.
Community
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The College is a place where everyone in the community; students, staff and parents will have a part to play in providing an environment that is welcoming, supportive, caring, nurturing and safe.
Integrity
Cultural Diversity
HISTORY
Sancta Maria College is a Year 7-13 integrated co-educational college for Catholic families. It opened in January 2004 for Year 7, 8 and 9 students with a roll of 308.
Sancta Maria College is named after the mission schooner Sancta Maria on which Bishop Jean Baptiste Pompallier sailed around New Zealand. The name Sancta Maria is a Latin title for Mary the Mother of God. It means Holy Mary.
Bishop Pompallier, who is a specially honoured pioneer of the New Zealand Catholic Church, arrived in the Hokianga from France in 1838 with a group of Marist Priests and Brothers. With this group, he sailed around New Zealand converting the settlers to Catholicism in the early 1840s. On the Sancta Maria were administered the first baptisms in Otago and it brought back from Futuna to New Zealand the remains of St Peter Chanel. Fathers Garin and Viard who accompanied Bishop Pompallier established the Churches in Howick and Panmure.
The Houses of the college, Akaroa, Waitemata, Hokianga and Kororareka (Russell), are named after areas in New Zealand where Bishop Pompallier, on the Sancta Maria, spent a significant amount of time.
Sancta Maria College was established to provide the opportunity of a Catholic education for young people in Howick, Pakuranga and neighbouring areas. The population of this area experienced significant growth since the early 1980s and this trend continues. The nearest Catholic secondary colleges are a considerable distance away and their rolls are at capacity. The concept of a Catholic secondary college in this community had been discussed for many years and is now a reality.
Bishop Pompallier devised his own flag for the vessel – a bunting version of the Miraculous Medal. It consisted of a blue cross surmounting a large M and surrounded by twelve stars. The background was white. These twelve stars have been incorporated into the college logo along with the schooner Sancta Maria and the college’s motto Faith is our Compass . Just as Bishop Pompallier used the Sancta Maria to spread the Catholic faith among the Maori people and early settlers, our college continues to educate students in a Catholic faith community. Members of this community will strive to be messengers of God’s Love (Good News) for each other. On 13 January 1838, as Bishop Pompallier offered his first Mass in New Zealand, he consecrated the Mission in Aotearoa to Our Lady of the Assumption.
CHARISM
As the college is dedicated to Mary it is in this spirit that it carries out its mission to evangelise and educate the students in their Catholic faith. The College’s name commemorates the historic arrival and work of Bishop Pompallier. There is a comparison between the vessel Sancta Maria being used to spread the Word and our College being a vessel for furthering the Religious Education of young people in our area. It also links the College with the ships and the sea which are so much a feature of our city. The Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 31 May has been chosen as the Patronal Feast Day for Sancta Maria College. In the Visitation Mary plays an evidently active role. She acts and she speaks. Mary’s response to Elizabeth links with the words that focus the life and mission of Sancta Maria College: Believe, Think, Grow, Care and Act.. In the Visitation Mary goes to Elizabeth in an act of service. She does not focus on the Annunciation as a personal privilege or personal honour. She sees Elizabeth’s need and she responds. Linked with the Visitation is the “Magnificat”, the prayer that St Luke puts on Mary’s lips. Students will be taught how God’s saving plan, fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus, Mary’s Son, is reflected in her prayer.
OUR COMMUNITY
The Howick – Pakuranga community comprises people of many different cultures and has a long history with the Catholic Church. Students from Sancta Maria College are drawn mainly from Our Lady Star of the Sea (Howick) which was established in 1847, making it the oldest existing Catholic school in our Diocese and St Mark’s (Pakuranga) which was established in 1979. Catholic students outside the college zone may have an opportunity for enrolment subject to places being available.
PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES
Sancta Maria College is committed to:
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Attracting and developing a staff of high quality and commitment. Sancta Maria College will continue to be a vibrant and welcoming college community. High priority is given to appoint staff who are experts in their specialist teaching areas and wholly committed to the College’s special character.
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Providing the best possible college environment for teaching and learning. As one of the newest colleges built in New Zealand, Sancta Maria’s buildings have been designed as state of the art facilities for teaching learning.
Sancta Maria College has:
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A Chapel which, as a sacred space, allows for Masses, Liturgies and quiet reflection.
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Classrooms that are innovative and pleasant places for students and teachers to work and to learn.
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Specialist Science laboratories.
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Specialist rooms for the Arts, including the Visual Arts and Music.
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Specialist Technology facilities catering for Graphics, Food Technology, Hard and Soft Materials Technology, Biotechnology and Electronics.
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A fully integrated Information Technology system for student use, serving a Computer Laboratory, Library and classrooms.
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Initially a combined Auditorium / Gymnasium facility. As the College grows, there will be separate Auditorium and Gymnasium.
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An attractive landscaped setting including sports fields, walkways, trees, environmental and shade areas.
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The college has an ongoing building development plan to ensure the future growth of the college is catered for.
STAKEHOLDERS
The Board of Trustees recognises the following groups as being stakeholders in the college and the educational process:
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Catholic Diocese of Auckland
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Ministry of Education
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Teaching and support staff of the college
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The student body
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Parents and guardians of students, present and future
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The Catholic Community of the Eastern Suburbs
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Tertiary education institutions
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Potential employers of the colleges’ students
Foundation Principal’s Vision
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Within a safe, caring, Catholic and disciplined environment the young people will be given the opportunity to develop strong Christian Values and the opportunity to discover and develop their talents |
To enable the College’s Community to achieve the vision there is a focus on our key words:
We ….. Believe, Think, Grow, Care and Act.
and the Sancta Maria Acronym
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S |
Safe |
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M |
Mana |
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A |
Academic Excellence |
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A |
All of Us |
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N |
Networks of Support |
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R |
Respect |
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C |
Catholic |
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I |
Innovation |
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T |
Talents Developed |
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A |
Attitude |
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A |
Appearance |
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Special Character Dimension
Religious Education is an essential learning area and the whole curriculum will be taught from a Catholic perspective.
The College nurtures spirituality and helps students to discover God’s love and purpose in every aspect of daily living.
Gospel values pervade every aspect of the College’s culture.
An understanding that knowledge gained is used for the common good.
Maori Dimension
The College is committed to fulfilling the spirit of the Treaty of Waitangi by valuing and reflecting New Zealand’s dual heritage.
We recognise the National Education Priorities and are committed to improving the learning outcomes for Maori students.
For our students this means:
An expectation to achieve to high standards
An expectation to attend regularly
An opportunity to study Te Reo Maori if requested
That they leave Sancta Maria College with “their heads held high”
For our staff this means:
Understanding basic Tikanga Maori
Having high expectations of Maori students
For College management this means:
Analysing achievement related data for Maori students
Setting specific targets related to improving achievement levels of Maori students
Working with Maori /Pasifika teaches and parents in establishing action plans to meet the above