Campion College Newsletter

E te Atua,

Thank you for our Campion community and for all those who help our rangatahi to learn,

grow and flourish.

Guide us as we work together.

Give us wisdom when we face change,

courage when the path is uncertain,

and compassion in the way we care for one another.

Help us to remember that no one educates alone.

May we continue to plant seeds of faith, hope and love in our young people,

trusting that You walk alongside us in all that we do.

St Edmund Campion, pray for us.

St Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.

Amen.

Tēnā koutou parents, students, staff, and whānau,

It has been a busy and thought-provoking week, with much of my time focused on both Catholic education and the significant curriculum changes ahead of us.

This week, our Director of Religious Studies, Chris Goodwin, and I attended the Hamilton Diocese Catholic Principals/DRS Conference in Hamilton. It was a valuable opportunity to spend time with Catholic school leaders from across the Diocese, sharing in prayer, Mass, professional learning and conversations about our shared mission as Catholic educators.

The programme included presentations from Fr John O’Connor on the prayer life of leaders in Catholic schools, Dr Kevin Shore, the Sunflower Mission Hikoi team, the Diocesan Synod team and others. It was also wonderful to celebrate Mass with Bishop Richard and to reconnect with colleagues from across our Catholic school community.

A particular highlight for me was listening to Cardinal John Dew, who explored the very real concept that no one educates alone. Drawing on Scripture and the words of Popes Francis and Leo, he reminded us that as Catholic educators we are entrusted with helping to cultivate the seeds of the Gospel in our young people – but importantly, we never undertake this work alone.

That message resonated strongly with me. Education is a partnership between our young people, their whānau, our staff, our parish, our wider community and one another. Each of us has a part to play in helping our rangatahi grow into the people they are called to be.

The conference also provided valuable opportunities for Chris to work alongside secondary DRS colleagues, while I spent time with other secondary principals discussing the significant curriculum changes ahead and what these may mean for our respective schools.

Those conversations continued today when I attended a session at the University of Waikato alongside more than 45 secondary principals, focused on the proposed changes to the senior curriculum and the recently announced industry-led subjects. There is still much to work through. It was reassuring to hear that many tumuaki are asking the same questions and grappling with the same challenges, and valuable to hear the perspectives of colleagues from across the sector.

Here at Campion, this connects closely with the work already underway through our Years 7–10 curriculum review. Over recent weeks our staff have been actively involved in providing feedback and engaging in robust professional conversations as we continue to refine the proposed structure for 2027.

I have really appreciated the rigour of this process. Our staff have challenged ideas, asked important questions and offered thoughtful solutions because they care deeply about providing the very best learning opportunities for our students. We are indeed blessed to have such passionate and caring professionals teaching and supporting our rangatahi.

There is still work ahead, but I am excited by the direction we are heading and look forward to sharing the fruits of this work with our wider Campion community soon.

Perhaps Cardinal John Dew's message is particularly fitting for us at this point in our journey: no one educates alone. The work we are doing for our young people is strengthened when we do it together.

Yours in Christ

Karyn Sadler

Principal

We are incredibly proud of our Campion College students who represented us at Chanel Shield 2026 in Hamilton last weekend.

A special congratulations to our individual place-getters:

• Mila Beachman-Hodges – 1st, Junior Poetry
• Santino Camero – 2nd, Junior Scripture Reading
• Rosie Sutherland – 3rd, Impromptu Speech

A real highlight was our entire team winning the Religious Knowledge Quiz – a fantastic team achievement that reflects their knowledge, preparation and commitment.

Chanel Shield is about much more than competition. It brings our Catholic colleges together to celebrate faith, knowledge, creativity and friendship, and our students represented Campion College with pride throughout the weekend.

A huge thank you to all the staff who gave their time and expertise to prepare our students for their events. Your encouragement, preparation and support played an important part in their success. We also sincerely thank the staff who accompanied the team to Hamilton, supporting and encouraging our students throughout the weekend.

Congratulations to every member of Team Campion – you have done us proud! And now, we are very excited to look ahead to Chanel Shield 2027, when Campion College will have the privilege of welcoming our fellow Catholic colleges to Gisborne!

Last week, a group of Campion College students had the privilege of attending the Steven Adams Basketball Camp here in Tairāwhiti. What an incredible opportunity for our rangatahi to learn from and train alongside one of New Zealand’s most successful basketball players. For our students, it was not only a chance to develop their basketball skills, but also to be inspired by someone who has reached the very highest level of the sport.

Opportunities like this do not come along every day, and we are incredibly grateful that our students were able to be part of such a special experience alongside other young people from across Tairāwhiti.

We are sure this will be an experience they will remember for many years to come. Ngā mihi nui to Steven Adams and everyone involved in making this opportunity possible for our rangatahi.

Schools from Gisborne and Napier/Hawke’s Bay celebrated Maths Week by competing in the East Coast Junior Maths Competition at Gisborne Girls’ High School. The competition included a Year 9 round, a Year 10 round, and a combined group round.

Our Year 10 team of Alec Whittingham, Ranya Narayan, and Hayden Stiven placed an impressive 2nd, despite competing with only three team members and with Hayden stepping up as a Year 9 student.

Our Year 9 team of Mila Beachman-Hodges, Michael Slater, Anna Chung, and Kate Somervell-Kemp also performed well. Overall, Campion College placed 5th.

The students had a great day testing their maths skills against students from across the region and are already looking forward to next year’s competition.

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support Campion College continues to receive from charitable trusts and funding organisations. These grants make a significant difference to the opportunities, experiences and resources we are able to provide for our ākonga.

We would like to sincerely acknowledge and thank:

Grassroots Trust Central – $23,688
This generous grant will support the purchase of new netball and basketball hoops, as well as our Year 12 Physical Education trip to Blue Mountain Adventure Camp. This funding will directly enhance both our sporting facilities and the learning experiences available to our students.

New Zealand Community Trust – $10,000
This funding will contribute towards travel, accommodation and uniforms for students representing Campion College during Secondary School Tournament Week. The costs associated with attending national and regional tournaments can be significant, and this support helps make these opportunities more accessible for our students and their whānau.

J & T Hickey Charitable Trust – $5,000
This grant will contribute towards a portable staging system for the College, providing a valuable resource that will benefit performances, celebrations, liturgies, assemblies and other College and community events for many years to come.

Kiwi Gaming Foundation – $2,000
This grant will assist with transport costs for our students attending the AIMS Games, helping our young athletes have the opportunity to compete and represent Campion College on a national stage.

We are deeply appreciative of the generosity of these organisations and their commitment to supporting young people in our community. Their investment extends far beyond equipment, travel or facilities — it creates opportunities for our ākonga to participate, perform, compete, learn and grow.

Ngā mihi nui — thank you for investing in our students and in Campion College. Your support makes a genuine difference.

Our Sports and Cultural Photos will take place on Tuesday, 25 August (Week 6).

Students wishing to purchase a copy of their sports and/or cultural photos can collect an order form from the College Office from next week. Completed forms and payment can be returned to the Office. Order forms will also be available on photo day. Please note that individually named order forms will not be issued.

Students need to be in the correct school uniform or playing kit for their photo. For some teams, playing kit will be organised by the Sports Coordinator. If students are unsure about what they need to wear, they should check with the Sports Coordinator or their team coach/manager.

Students should make a note of their photo time and ensure they are ready and appropriately dressed before their scheduled photo so that we can keep the day running to time.

We look forward to capturing and celebrating the many sporting, cultural and leadership groups our students have been involved in this year.

Whether through brush, lens, or sculpted form, students are encouraged to explore what “presence” means - yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Reflect on the Brothers’ mission and values, their influence in schools and towns, and the sense of belonging and compassion they have fostered throughout the generations.

Artworks may take any visual form -

• painting

• sculpture,

• photography, or

• mixed media - offering endless possibilities to bring this story to life.

The competition features two divisions:

Junior (Years 7–9)

Senior (Years 10–13)

Schools may submit up to six entries across both divisions. Artworks will be collected via courier by 28 August and brought to Auckland for judging by a panel of Marist Brothers and a Catholic artist. Please submit your entries to Mr King.

Selected pieces will be exhibited and auctioned during the 150-year celebrations to support the Marist Alternative Education Centre.

The prize to go the artist.

• First Prize $500.00

• Second $250.00

• Third $125.00

So, pick up your pencil, camera, or brush - and join in this celebration of the Marist presence through 150 years of education. Your art could tell the next chapter of this extraordinary story.

For more information, email us at nzmarist@fmspacific.com

One of the highlights of our annual faith calendar is the Caritas Challenge, where students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones while gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by others around the world.

Through a range of interactive activities and challenges, students experience, in a small way, some of the realities faced by vulnerable communities, while reflecting on our call to serve others with compassion, justice and hope.

The challenge also raises funds for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, supporting projects that improve the lives of people experiencing hardship both here and overseas.

We encourage all students to get involved in this meaningful day. It is a wonderful opportunity to put our faith into action, learn about global justice, and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

The countdown is on to one of the highlights of the school year – the Campion College Ball 2026! We are looking forward to welcoming our senior students for what promises to be a memorable evening of celebration, friendship and fun.

This year's Ball will be held on Saturday, 29 August 2026, at Bushmere Arms, 673 Matawai Road, Gisborne. The evening will begin at 7.00 pm and conclude at 11.00 pm.

The theme for this year's event is Starlight Gala, and we can't wait to see everyone dressed for the occasion. Tickets are $80 per person and are available via KINDO.

As the event draws closer, we encourage students and whānau to keep an eye on school communications for important information and reminders to help ensure the Ball is a safe, enjoyable and successful evening for everyone.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful night together! ✨💚💛

Thank you to Megan Steyn for our poster.

Our dates for when the College is open for instruction in 2026 are:

Term 3

Term 4

Teacher Only Days: Please note that there are two further teacher only days. Dates are yet to be finalised.

Keep up to date with all the wonderful things we are doing on our new Campion College Facebook Page. Head over to Facebook to check it out here.

Instagram page is another place you can keep up to date. Find us here,

If you haven't yet downloaded our College App, please do so. It's an easy way to stay on top of school admin.

We love to hear about and celebrate our students' achievements.

Please share info and/or photos with karyn.sadler@campioncollege.school.nz

Our church is St Mary, Star of the Sea. We are fortunate to have our church onsite. Our parish Mass times are:

Tuesday 5.30 pm

Wednesday and Thursday 9.00 am

Friday 12.10 pm,

Saturday 9 am and Vigil Mass 6.00 pm

Sunday 9.00 am

Children’s liturgy at every Sunday 9.00 am