Jess attended Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich, and in her last year at school, having attended Marist Youth Leader in Christchurch, she was invited to join the Marist Youth Leader team.

Over the next five years, while she was studying Exercise Science and Religious Education at Australian Catholic University, all with a view to secondary school teaching, Jess made frequent trips to New Zealand, working with the Young Marists team on a variety of programmes and retreats.

Upon graduation from university in 2015, Jess took up a teaching position at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, where she currently teaches Religious Education and Social Justice.

In your job at Silverstream, how do you relate "Being Marist" to what you do on a day-to-day basis?

"Besides teaching, I am also involved in mentoring the Manaakitanga Leadership Pou which looks after things such as charity events, pastoral care & community involvement.

"I am part of the Stream Youth Ministry team which plans Masses, retreats and anything related to special character. This year I am also managing the mighty 3rd XV.

"I love teaching at, and being involved with Stream, as it provides me with many challenges and opportunities, but most of all it keeps me connected to the Marist Network."

"It's very easy for me to "be Marist" in my work as I am lucky enough to be teaching in a Marist school surrounded by some pretty passionate Marist educators.

"I can relate my day-to-day attitude to a quotation I found from Jean Claude Colin which says "There is a constant and shared desire for an education based on everyday life, where the quality of life and of relationships is as important as the quality of teaching. It's not just a question of giving knowledge and of transmitting the faith, but also forming men and women who are responsible, solid and prepared to take their place in society."

"This has become something of an educational philosophy for me, but it is so much more than that. This means that I have to have respectful relationships with each student that will enhance their dignity and form them into the men we want them to be.

"I can't expect them to grow into good young men if I am not willing to demonstrate the behaviours myself." Continue reading

Source and Image

• Everyway blog

It took two years for him to build up the courage to confide in his Catholic schoolmates that he was gay.

When college rector Gerard Tully gave the green light to same-sex partners being allowed to attend the school ball this year, Mr Go said he knew attitudes had changed.

Mr Tully said it was in line with the school's philosophy that every student was valued and supported for what they were.

"We make no apologies for the fact that we're a Catholic school and the gospel is at the centre of what we're about."

He was proud of Mr Go's achievements and success in receiving a scholarship to help with his tertiary studies.

"Johann's a fantastic young man who has made a positive contribution to school life, and we're all very happy for him receiving this award," Mr Tully said.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Image: GABA

St Patrick's College Silverstream is the latest Wellington high school to adopt the restorative justice principles, with a no-detention approach for even the worst troublemakers.

The practice is becoming widespread in schools nationwide, with restorative measures - including encouraging naughty pupils to evaluate their behaviour - replacing traditional behaviour management methods.

While detentions, expulsions and suspensions have been typically used as forms of punishment to control pupil behaviour, restorative principles are based on the idea that a pupil needs to take responsibility for his or her actions.

St Patrick's Silverstream rector Gerard Tully said that fitted in with the school's focus on encouraging positive, respectful relationships between pupils and teachers.

Instead of being punished, a misbehaving pupil would discuss the impact of their actions with a teacher.

That could range from a two-minute chat to a formal, sit-down conference. While it would require a shift in thinking, it made more sense to prepare young people to be adults by tackling their problems, Mr Tully said.

"I used to be a real detention man: `If a student does things wrong there must be consequences.' But it's a waste of time. What do you achieve by making kids, if they've done something wrong on a Monday, come back on Friday afternoon and write out something out of a dictionary?

"It doesn't actually address the behaviour. This way, the student can think about what they've done wrong and who they've affected, and how we can resolve it in the future."

Continue reading Restorative Justice goes to school

Source

• Image The Dominion Post

He was accompanied by his whanau, a large contingent from his present school, Naenae College, and students and staff from his previous schools.

After korero and waiata, Tully and the school community exchanged pledges as part of the Rite of Welcome.

Tully is an old boy of Silverstream, having first arrived there in 1976 as a fourth former.

Prior to being named rector of St Patrick's College Silverstream, Tully taught Mathematics at St Patrick's College Wellington, Wellington College and Naenae College. He has been the rector of St Patrick's College Wellington, deputy principal at Porirua College, principal of the Challenge 2000 College, a school for troubled youth.

When rector at St Patrick's College Wellington the college enjoyed considerable success in lifting its academic, sporting and cultural performances.

Gerard Tully is married with three children, is a keen sportsman and enjoys the Theatre.

Source

• St Patrick's College Silverstream
• The Society of Mary
• Image: St Patrick's College Silverstream

"Throughout the interview process he was very clear that Silverstream must be a "Gospel-based school." Gospel teaching are his guiding principles and will underpin the ongoing development of the college under his leadership."

For the last five years Mr Tully has been involved in the Marist Education Project. This project, established by the Society of Mary, promotes the Marist educational ethos to al its staff, students, parents and even the board. The project also includes the well sought after Marist Youth Leader programme, which Mr Tully has been involved in leading.

Prior to being named rector of St Patrick's Silverstream, Mr Tully taught Mathematics at St Patrick's College Wellington, Wellington College and Naenae College.

He was deputy principal at Porirua College, Principal of the Challenge 2000 College, a school for troubled youth.

When rector at St Patrick's College Wellington the college enjoyed considerable success in lifting its academic, sporting and cultural performances.

Gerard Tully is married with three children, is a keen sportsman and enjoys the Theatre. An old boy of Silverstream, the College hopes he will be able to join them towards the end of the third term.

The announcement was made jointly by Denis Boyle, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Brian McGuinness, Chairperson of the Board of Proprietors.

Sources

• Society of Mary NZ