Campion College Newsletter

E te Atua,

We thank you for the life and example of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop,

who reminds us to:

“Never see a need without doing something about it.”

Help us at Campion College to notice the needs of those around us —

the person who feels alone, the friend who needs support,

or someone who simply needs a little kindness.

Give us the courage to act when we see a need,

rather than waiting for someone else to do something.

May our values of Commitment, Community and Compassion

be seen in the way we treat one another,

in the choices we make, and in the way we serve others.

Remind us that even the smallest act of kindness can make a difference.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop,

pray for us.

Amene.

Tēnā koutou parents, students, staff, and whānau,

I write this late on Saturday night, having just returned from Hamilton, where I had the privilege of attending the Chanel Shield competition alongside Ms Goodwin, Mrs Gedye and Mr Sparks, supporting 15 of our wonderful students. The Chanel Shield is named after St Peter Chanel and brings together the five Catholic secondary schools in our diocese. It is always a special event — there is healthy competition, of course, but also a very real sense of being part of something bigger than ourselves.

As I watched our students over the weekend, I was incredibly proud of them. Yes, I was proud of how they represented Campion in their competitions, but I was equally proud of the things that will never appear in a result. The encouragement of one another, the conversations with students from other schools, the willingness to help, the gratitude shown to staff, and the many small acts of kindness throughout the weekend.

Yesterday, we also celebrated the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, and it was easy to see something of her spirit in what I witnessed. A saying attributed to Mary MacKillop is:

“Never see a need without doing something about it.”

I love the simplicity of those words. They don’t ask us to change the whole world. They simply ask us to notice what is happening around us and, when we can make a difference, to act. That is something we aspire to at Campion College, and something I have the privilege of seeing every day in both our staff and students.

For our rangatahi, living these words does not need to be complicated. It might mean:

• Noticing someone who is on their own and inviting them to join you.
• Helping without being asked when you can see something needs doing.
• Choosing kindness, particularly when it would be easier to join in with negativity.
• Putting something right, even when you weren’t the person who caused the problem.
• Checking in on someone who doesn’t quite seem themselves.
• Using what you have — your time, talents, humour, leadership or friendship — to make someone else’s day a little better.

These are small things, but small things matter. In fact, I think they are often the things that tell us the most about a person’s character.

As Principal, I can talk about the type of school I want Campion College to be. We can put our values on walls, in newsletters and in strategic plans. All of those things have their place. But ultimately, the culture of our College is created in the hundreds of small choices that each of us makes every day.

If nearly 500 students and more than 60 staff choose to see a need and do something about it just once each day, that is more than 500 acts of kindness, service, courage or compassion rippling through our College and our wider community. That is how we make a difference.

Tomorrow, at 11.30am, we will come together as a College for Mass. It is another opportunity for us to stop for a moment, pray together and celebrate the faith and values that sit at the heart of who we are as Campion College.

Interestingly, next week’s Principal’s Piece will once again be written after returning from Hamilton! This time, I will be there for our Diocesan Principals and Directors of Religious Studies Conference. Over two days, Catholic school leaders from across our diocese will gather for prayer, Mass, reflection and discussion about Catholic leadership, curriculum, mission and the future of Catholic education.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to step away from the day-to-day busyness of school for a short time, to listen, reflect and learn alongside other Catholic school leaders. I am sure I will return with plenty to think about — and perhaps something to share in next week’s Principal’s Piece.

Yours in Christ

Karyn Sadler

Principal

Get ready for a week of fun, friendly competition, and plenty of mathematical challenges as we celebrate Maths Week at Campion College!

There are lots of opportunities to get involved, with activities including:
🔢 Lunchtime Blooket (Monday)
🏆 Beat the Teacher in the Times Tables Challenge (Tuesday)
📊 Year 7 & 8 IXL Times Tables Competition
🎬 Daily Year Level Quiz, with movie tickets up for grabs!

Whether you're a maths whizz or simply keen to have a go, we encourage everyone to get involved. There are great prizes to be won, plenty of chocolate, and, most importantly, the chance to challenge yourself and have some fun.

A huge thank you to our Mathematics Department for organising another fantastic Maths Week. We can't wait to see our students getting involved.

Good luck, everyone! 🟰➕➗✖️

Congratulations to JC van Wyk and Charlotte Gray on their outstanding performances at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships.

Competing against the country's top secondary school swimmers, both JC and Charlotte achieved multiple personal bests while representing Campion College with pride, determination and sportsmanship. They were exceptional ambassadors for our College, demonstrating not only their talent in the pool but also their encouragement and support of their teammates throughout the competition.

We are incredibly proud of the way they represented Campion College and congratulate them on their achievements. We also acknowledge and thank their families for the countless hours of support, encouragement and commitment that make opportunities such as these possible.

Well done, JC and Charlotte!

Nominations are now open for the position of Student Representative on the Board of Trustees.

Are you keen to represent the student voice within the Board? Can you confidently share the views and perspectives of students during Board discussions?

Nomination forms are available from the College Office. This opportunity is open to students in Years 9–13. Students may nominate themselves or be nominated by another student.

The nomination deadline is Tuesday, 25 August 2026, at 12.00 noon.

For more information, please visit: https://www.schoolboardelections.org.nz/

As nominations are received, an updated list of candidates will be displayed at the College Office. This list will be available for students to view before election day.

Voting will take place on Thursday, 10 September 2026.

Your participation is important in helping choose the student representative on the Board of Trustees. Have your say!

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

A huge congratulations to Team Gerard, who have been crowned the 2026 Secondary School C Grade Netball Champions!

The team remained undefeated throughout the entire season, an outstanding achievement that reflects their skill, commitment, teamwork, and determination. They have represented Campion College with pride every time they stepped onto the court, and we couldn't be more proud of what they have accomplished.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our coaches and management team for the countless hours of preparation, encouragement, and support that have helped make this success possible.

Congratulations, Team Gerard, on a fantastic season and a well-deserved championship! 💚💛

We're incredibly proud of our Campion College hockey teams, who have both earned places in the Secondary School Grade Hockey Finals this Monday, 10 August at Harry Barker.

💚 Campion Green will take the field at 4.00 pm, playing for 3rd and 4th place.

💛 Campion Gold will follow at 5.00 pm, competing for the Championship Final and the chance to be crowned this year's Grade Hockey champions.

Both teams have shown outstanding commitment, teamwork, and determination throughout the season, and they have represented Campion College with pride every step of the way.

We'd love to see a strong Campion crowd there to cheer them on. If you're able to come along on Monday afternoon, your support would mean a great deal to our players.

Go Green! Go Gold! 💚💛

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.

🎉 Happy 4th Birthday, Stella Maris Catholic Early Childhood Centre! 🎉

Congratulations to our wonderful friends at Stella Maris Catholic Early Childhood Centre as they celebrate four years of nurturing, inspiring, and caring for tamariki and their whānau.

For the past four years, Stella Maris has provided exceptional early childhood education and care in a warm, faith-filled environment where children are encouraged to learn, grow, and thrive. Their dedicated team creates a strong sense of belonging while laying the foundations for a lifelong love of learning.

We are incredibly grateful for the important role Stella Maris plays in our Catholic education community and wish them every blessing as they celebrate this special milestone.

🎈 Happy 4th Birthday, Stella Maris! May there be many more wonderful years ahead.

💙 Enrolments are now being accepted for the waiting list. If you're looking for exceptional care and education for your child in a nurturing Catholic environment, now is the perfect time to get in touch with the Stella Maris team.

Happy Birthday from all of us at Campion College! 💛💚

Our Senior A Netball team is gearing up for an exciting tournament season and is busy fundraising to help cover the costs of attending the Upper North Island Secondary Schools (UNISS) and WBOP Secondary Schools Tournaments this August.

They have two incredible raffles on offer:

• 🐑 A professionally processed whole mutton – perfect for filling the freezer.
• 🪵 A trailer load of premium Old Man Pine firewood – just in time for winter.

Tickets are $10 each, with winners drawn once all tickets are sold.

Every ticket purchased helps our girls represent Campion College with pride while easing the financial burden on families. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our students and our tournament teams. Your generosity truly makes these opportunities possible.

If you'd like to purchase a ticket, please contact the College Office or any member of the Senior A Netball team. Good luck! 💚💛

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