Campion College Newsletter

KARAKIA

In these longer, warmer days,

with gentle rain and the gradual greening of the world around us,

we are reminded again of the many gifts that surround us.

As winter gives way to spring, darkness gives way to light,

and new life begins to emerge,

help us to recognise your presence in creation and in one another.

We give thanks for those who care for the land,

who plant and gather, who work to provide for our communities,

and for all whose quiet efforts sustain the lives of others.

May we move into this new season with grateful hearts,

renewed hope, and a willingness to use our own gifts in service of others.

Amen.

A WORD FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Tēnā koutou parents, students, staff, and whānau,

This Principal’s Piece is arriving a little later than usual. After what was an incredibly full and rewarding Term Three, I took the opportunity during the break to spend some time with my family, recharge, and prepare for the final term of 2026.

Perhaps no event captured the spirit of Term Three better than our House Singing Competition. What an afternoon. Singing, costumes, props, choreography, dance, gymnastics and an extraordinary level of House spirit transformed the College and created one of those occasions that will be remembered for a long time. Students and staff embraced the event wholeheartedly, and the energy, creativity and sense of fun were something quite special. It was certainly a spectacular way to finish the term, and possibly one of the reasons a little recovery time was needed over the holidays! You can read the full House Singing report below.

Term Three really was an outstanding term at Campion College. Across learning, sport, culture, faith and service, our students continued to step forward, take opportunities and represent themselves and our College with pride.

We now move into the final term of 2026, and it is difficult to believe that I have almost completed my first full year as Tumuaki. Time certainly does fly when you are having fun. It has been a full year, at times demanding, but also deeply rewarding, and I continue to feel privileged to lead this College and serve this community.

There is already a significant amount of work underway as we look ahead to 2027. Our strategic planning continues, alongside staffing, timetabling and subject selections for next year. Mrs Hyland, in particular, is working tirelessly behind the scenes on the considerable task of constructing the timetable. Balancing student choices, staffing, curriculum requirements and available spaces is a complex undertaking, and I am very grateful for the care and commitment she continues to bring to this work.

For our senior students, the focus now shifts firmly towards examination preparation. I encourage each of you to use the weeks ahead wisely. Establish strong study routines, seek support when you need it, and make the most of the expertise and encouragement available from your teachers. Please also take the time to check the school examination timetable below and ensure you are well prepared for what lies ahead.

These examinations matter. They provide students with an important opportunity to recognise areas of strength, identify where further growth is needed, and build confidence ahead of the external examinations. They also provide the College with valuable evidence for derived grades should these ever be required.

As we begin this final term, I want to acknowledge the many people who contribute to making Campion the place it is. Our students, staff, whānau, parish community and College leadership each play an important part in shaping the culture and life of our school. It is through that collective commitment, and through the willingness of people to give their time, energy and care, that our rangatahi are supported to grow into capable, compassionate and confident young people.

Our faith calls us to recognise the gifts in one another and to use our own gifts in service of something greater than ourselves. As we move through these final weeks of 2026, may we continue to walk alongside one another with purpose, generosity and hope, striving always for excellence for the good of all.

Yours in Christ,

Karyn Sadler

Tumuaki - Principal

HOUSE SINGING 2026

Our end of term House Singing Competition was an absolute highlight of Term 3 and a brilliant way to finish the term.

What started as a singing competition quickly became so much more. There was costuming, props, choreography, dance, gymnastics, House colour, huge energy and plenty of creativity. Students and staff completely bought into the spirit of the event, and the atmosphere across the College was fantastic.

Each House performed a hymn and a free-choice song, but it was the way each group brought their performance to life that really lifted the competition. From coordinated movement and creative staging through to costumes, props and some impressive physical performances, every House found its own way to make an impact.

We were very fortunate to have three guest judges join us for the afternoon: Bridget Armstrong, Centre Leader at Stella Maris and a long-standing member of our wider Campion and Catholic education community; Helen McGuigan, Principal of St Mary’s Catholic Primary School; and Gana Goldsmith, a talented Gisborne musician, vocalist and bass guitarist with local band UNI-FI.

Our judges certainly had their work cut out for them, with plenty to consider across vocals, performance, creativity and overall House spirit. We are very grateful to Bridget, Helen and Gana for giving their time and taking on what became a very difficult judging task.

Mrs Sadler and Mrs Gavin did a great job MCing the event and keeping the energy high throughout the afternoon. Mrs Gavin also delivered one of the most memorable moments of the day with an exceptional performance of “the worm”. Not to be outdone, Mr Sparks, Ms Barker and Mr Scott soon joined in and demonstrated some impressive physical and artistic prowess of their own!

After a lengthy deliberation from our judging panel, the final placings were:

1st – Hato Maria
2nd – MacKillop
3rd – Marcellin
4th – Gregory

Congratulations to Hato Maria on taking out the 2026 House Singing title.

More importantly, though, congratulations to every student and staff member who got involved. The level of enthusiasm, courage, creativity and House pride on display was outstanding. Events like this are at their best when people are prepared to throw themselves into them, and that is exactly what happened.

House Singing has quickly shown that it has the potential to become a major feature of our College calendar. If 2026 was the starting point, we are very excited to see how far we can take it in 2027.

The challenge has now been set: bigger performances, even more creativity, and perhaps a few more staff members brave enough to show us what they have got!

STRATEGIC PLANNING - BE IN TO WIN!

As we look ahead to 2027 and 2028, Campion College is beginning the process of setting our strategic direction for the next two years.

Our current vision is:

Excellence for the good of all, grounded in faith, belonging, and the development of the total person.

At present, our work is centred around three key strategic areas:

Faith and Formation
Strengthening the Catholic character of our College, providing opportunities for students to lead in faith, service and prayer, and continuing to build strong connections with our parish and wider Catholic community.

Learning and Achievement
Ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve their best. This includes strengthening our Years 7–10 curriculum, improving literacy and numeracy, developing consistent high-quality teaching practice, and ensuring our learners are well prepared for their future.

Belonging and Wellbeing
Ensuring our students feel known, valued and connected to Campion. This includes strengthening attendance, pastoral support, student leadership, cultural opportunities and our relational and restorative approach.

These priorities have guided our work, but strategic planning is also about looking forward.

We now want to hear from our students, parents, caregivers, whānau, staff, parish and wider community about what matters most for Campion over the next two years.

We are particularly interested in five questions:

KEEP
What does Campion College currently do well that you believe we should protect and keep doing?

IMPROVE / CHANGE
What do you think Campion College most needs to improve, change or do differently?

START
What should Campion College start doing, or do more of, to better prepare our young people for their future?

OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
When a young person leaves Campion College, what do you hope they will know, be able to do, and be like as a person?

OUR PRIORITY
If Campion College could make significant progress in just one area over the next two years, what would you most want that to be? Why?

Over the coming weeks there will be a number of opportunities for different groups within our community to contribute.

We want our 2027–2028 Strategic Plan to reflect both the evidence we have about our College and the aspirations of the people we serve. Please fill out the form below, your voice is an important part of this process.

Parent/Whānau/Community Consultation

CHANGE TO THE PUBLISHED CALENDAR

We want to let you know about an important change to our previously published school calendar. Friday 16 October (Show Day) was originally scheduled as a Teacher Only Day. This has now changed, and Campion College will be open for instruction as normal on this day.

As a result, our final day of school for students will now be Friday 4 December, following our Christmas Liturgy, rather than Monday 7 December as previously published. We appreciate that some families may have made plans based on the original calendar and apologise for any inconvenience this change may cause. We are providing as much notice as possible to support families with their planning. Please update these dates in your calendars.

2026 KĀINGA SUPER 12 TAPUWAE CHAMPIONS

A huge congratulations to our Campion College Year 7–8 Mighty Monkeys, who have been crowned the 2026 Kāinga Super 12 Tapuwae Champions!

This is a fantastic achievement from a group who have shown outstanding strategy, organisation, teamwork and commitment throughout the competition. Ka pai, Mighty Monkeys. We are very proud of you!

TERM 4 SCHOOL EXAMS

Our Year 11–13 school examinations will take place from Monday 12 October to Thursday 15 October, the first week of next term. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and ensure students know the day and time of each of their exams.Important information:

If you are timetabled for two exams in the same session, please see your Learning Mentor or Mrs Hyland by Thursday 10 September.
Exams can only be sat at the times stated on the examination timetable. Please check with your teachers if you are unsure of your exam dates or times.
Any application for a variation to an exam time or day must be made to Mr Deane by Thursday 10 September.
(D) indicates a digital exam and (P) indicates a paper exam.
All examinations will be held in the Gym.
Students must arrive at the Gym 15 minutes before their examination begins.
Correct school uniform must be worn.
Each examination session is three hours, and students may use the full three hours if they wish.
Students must remain in the examination for a minimum of one hour per standard.

During the examination period, Year 11–13 students are not expected to be at school unless they are sitting a timetabled examination or choosing to study onsite.

Students who choose to study at school must be in correct school uniform and must sign in and out at the school office.

We encourage all students to check their examination timetable carefully, prepare well, and speak with their teachers if they have any questions or concerns.