Artwork by Year 11s Nina Costello, Paige Eastergaard, Isla Morrison and Nina Young has been displayed in Wellington‘s Te Papa Museum as part of a national NZQA exhibition showcasing toi Maori and Pasifika art.

The students are among only 150 artists selected from around New Zealand for the exhibition. They created painted waka paddles that symbolised Aquinas College in Pyes Pa and its community. Continue reading

The 1 hectare property is adjacent to St Thomas Aquinas College.

The purchase was announced at a meeting last Sunday at St Thomas Aquinas College.

The land will be jointly purchased by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton and the parish, with a settlement date of August 31.

Parish priest Father Mark Field said the purchase was a unique opportunity.

"When the opportunity came up to purchase a parcel of land adjoining the boundary of our college, in an area with an increasing concentration of Catholic residents, it was simply too good to pass up."

With Tauranga's population projected to rise by 50 per cent over the next 25 years, the numbers of Catholics attending Mass could increase to at least 2000 each Sunday.

Field said the diocese had also bought land in Papamoa for a school and church, but this would not ease pressure on the Tauranga parish and school.

A site analysis and planning study will be carried out to determine the best use of the property to meet the future needs of the Catholic community, he said.

Need for another church

St Mary Immaculate Church in the city centre is the only large church on the western side of the city and is at capacity.

Need for another School

St Mary's Catholic School in 13th Ave is expected to reach its maximum roll of 500 next year and further any development of the site is challenging.

Field said a second school in Tauranga would alleviate the pressure on enrolments at St Mary's.

When asked whether 1ha would be enough land for a church and primary school, he said two-storey school buildings could be a more efficient use of the land.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: google maps

Schollum died last Friday aged 67 at Auckland Hospital after he was admitted for an infection, viral encephalitis, that caused swelling in his brain.

Schollum was the founding principal of Aquinas College in Tauranga when it opened in 2003 until his retirement in 2010, when he returned to his home city Auckland.

His passing comes only 16 months after his wife Jane died of brain cancer. Mrs Schollum also worked at Aquinas College as a librarian.

At the time of his death Schollum was the acting principal of Marcellin College in Auckland.

He had also served the principal of Sacred Heart College and acting as principal of De La Salle College.

Source

• Bay of Plenty Times
• Image: Bay of Plenty Times

Adam van Leeuwen was named the winner of the award which was run in conjunction with the Trustpower Tauranga Community Awards and was jointly run by Trustpower and the Tauranga City Council. Continue reading