In what is being described as an epidemic of Catholic schools’ closures, the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has hit Catholic education hard. To date, more than 100 US elementary and high schools have announced they are closing down. The Catholic schools’ closures are affecting parish schools and those run by religious orders. “It’s not a pretty Read more
Concerns from New Zealand’s Catholic education sector over the wording of a bill concerning religious instruction in state schools and how this might affect integrated schools were heard by a parliamentary select committee earlier this year. In a submission to the Education and Workforce Committee about the Education and Training Bill, former New Zealand Catholic Read more
The Sisters of Compassion consider that having a school named after their foundress is an honour. Although other schools have named classrooms and class houses after the Venerable Suzanne Aubert, this is the first time a whole school has been so named. Sr Josephine Gorman, DOLC, told NZ Catholic the sisters “are happy knowing Suzanne Aubert’s Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic agency for justice and peace, is proud to announce the winners and finalists of the 2020 Kaitiaki2Share creative competition. Kaitiaki2Share encourages New Zealand students of all ages to consider how we can care for all creation, both people and the environment. Students were asked to send in a creative Read more
My children’s parochial school is about as low-tech as it is presently possible for an institution to be. That has actually been a good thing in an era of “distance learning.” It was obvious from the start of the coronavirus pandemic that the students could not be expected to attend a battery of Zoom classes Read more
The New Zealand Catholic Bishops and the NZ Catholic Education Office have written to the families of pupils attending Catholic schools urging them to contact the education/school office at their local Diocese if they have problems paying attendance dues because of issues related to the COVID-19 Lockdown. The letter says the bishops are “mindful of Read more
Dr Kevin Shore has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the NZ Catholic Education Office. (NZCEO) Shore will be Chief Executive of both NZCEO and the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools (APIS). APIS serves a network of 70 non-Catholic “special character”, faith-based schools – private schools that have been integrated into the state Read more
Sancta Maria College, in Flat Bush, has used social media to allow their Big Band to perform together during the current lockdown. In the week before the lockdown, the school decided to cancel all music rehearsals while students also faced the potential cancellation of the most significant events in their school calendar. Inspired by a Read more
Pāpāmoa is going to get new multi-million dollar Catholic primary school. The Suzanne Aubert Catholic School is expected to open at the beginning of Term 1, 2021. The news was confirmed by the Ministry of Education last Thursday. The school, owned by the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, is expected to start with a maximum roll Read more
Catholic education is in demand – but going to a Catholic school and attending Sunday Mass are not necessarily a package deal to many Catholic families. Taranaki priest Simon Story says many Catholic families approach him for the religious endorsement required to get their children into a Catholic school. This endorsement attests to the children Read more