"Marijuana buying and using is an illegal activity - we hold the view, as many schools do, that this has no place in our schools. We'd hoped the Ombudsman would have supported us on this but, unfortunately, he took a different approach" St Peter's principal James Bentley says.

The Year 11 St Peter's College pupil had admitted buying marijuana as part of an alleged drug trade at the school. He and several other students were later excluded or subjected to disciplinary action for gross misconduct.

Bentley says the board's decision was conveyed clearly and fairly to the students' families.

He also refutes the Ombudsman's claim that the school did not engage with him.

"This happened two years ago and we spent two years engaging with the Ombudsman and ... certainly explained our reasons for why we wouldn't apologise."

Bentley says although some people don't see marijuana in schools as a big deal these days, St Peter's Board of Trustees does.

He said they saw it as serious and stand by their exclusion decision.

Ombudsman disagrees

Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says St Peters failed to act fairly. He says that its board did not properly record how it arrived at its decision to exclude the boy.

That was why Boshier consequently decided they acted unreasonably and must apologise to the student and family.

Boshier claims St Peter's refused to engage and give any good reason why they wouldn't adopt his recommendation that they apologise to the student's family for all of the inadequacies in their communications.

"They just wouldn't give any good reason and essentially thumbed their nose up at our jurisdiction" he said.

Two years of engagement

Not so, says Bentley.

He reiterated the fact that St Peter's board spent two years engaging with the Ombudsman and have explained why they wouldn't apologise.

Furthermore, the board did so when the Ombudsman told St Peter's that more accurate notes about the decision must be kept.

"We complied with that and [his request...] for the decision to be attached to the student's file."

But the board said they would not be apologising to the parents.

Source

• NZ Herald
• NewsTalk ZB

Domilies's Cambridge examination results were the highest among the 1.5 million students from 150 countries and over 6000 schools.

He has been given a badge and certificate to commemorate his achievement.

"It feels great actually" Domilies says.

"It wasn't the subject I was hoping to get top in the world for, or top in New Zealand even.

"I was happy with top in New Zealand, but to get top in the world in a subject - that's honestly really, really good and I am super proud of myself and everyone who helped me!

"I'm wearing my summer uniform, so I can't wear the badge on my shirt, because it'll come off, but I'll probably wear it on my blazer in winter."

The St Peter's College student spoke of feeling nervous when his principal brought him to stand in front of his peers.

Firstly, they announced Domilies had topped New Zealand in the exam.

Then they called him back - after learning he had achieved the best marks in the world.

The winning exam

Domilies said he chose to write about Islam and Christianity in his paper.

"So there were two papers.

"The first paper was two compulsory three-part questions and one of them you had to show your knowledge of a certain topic."

He says Christian pilgrimages and the Vatican are topic examples.

"And then the second part was to explain and relate it to a certain issue of today, and the third question was answering a scenario, to prove your point."

For the first paper, he thought he was nailing it but for the second one he felt the pressure of time.

"To be honest, I had to write my final three-part question in under 15 minutes, which isn't exactly recommended.

"I felt really nervous and I was thinking to myself that this would probably be an exam that I'd get maybe low 90s [points] but I actually got 97 [points] so I was super surprised."

Domilies says he's doesn't know what the three missing marks were for.

The winning study method

Domilies says his study method involved reading all the materials, reviewing content and then answering the questions from previous exam papers.

His method has paid off: he received A* (the top grade) in every subject, except in economics where he got an A.

Domilies says he's thinking of studying law at university, but is still undecided.

"I'd like to get top [marks] in Classics [this year], because that's one of my favourite subjects, and probably also History ... I'd be fine with any subject" he says.

Source

• RNZ

James Haggett, who now lives in Britain, resigned as founding principal of the charter school Middle School West Auckland on the students' first day at the new school in February 2015 after the school became aware that his actions at St Peter's were being investigated. Continue reading

Tainui Singh-Clark, 16, has been giving the handwritten messages to strangers since earlier this year, leaving smiles in his wake. Read more

Jason Hotere, a father of two girls, went on to help others and worked as a counsellor at St Peter's College in Auckland.

His death at age 50 has left the community in "absolute shock". Continue reading

He has been selected by a panel of judges as Youth MP for Mangere for Youth Parliament 2016 from a strong pool of 7 students who competed for the role.

Youth Parliament gives young 121 young Kiwis the chance to learn first-hand about how New Zealand's democracy works.

Christopher is an outstanding communicator with high level of cultural intelligence and oratory skills, " Sio says.

"He is respected by his peers and the wider community and has a strong sense of social justice values.

"He is passionate about Mangere, and youth and I want to work alongside and support him so that he and his peers find their voice and fully participate in the decision making processes of our community.

"We need Christopher and all our youth to find their political voice and to be involved in politics to defend those in our communities who are vulnerable and can't help themselves. We need Christopher and all our youth to stand up for equality and social justice in our communities."

"I was very impressed with the calibre of applications I received. I was touched by the candidates' passion about a variety of youth issues and their eagerness to represent their community at Youth Parliament 2016," Sio said

"I wish I could include them all."

The Selection Panel also selected two other runner-ups this year - Haris Murtaza from Al-Madinah School and Chunte Delores Su'a from Southern Cross - who will join the Youth MP in Wellington if sponsors can be found for them.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• campaign.labour.org.nz

At 68, the life-long schoolteacher was contemplating retirement and the prospect of spending more time with his grandchildren.

But after becoming convinced St Paul's College in Ponsonby would benefit from his experience, he will instead become the Principal there at the beginning of next year.

Fouhy, who is married to a teacher and has five daughters who are also teachers, said he hoped to use what he had learned from teaching in boys' schools his entire career to help St Paul's.

"Parents of boys want their sons to be good men," he said. "In my mind, character trumps achievement. And if you've got good character in the student body, you've got good achievement."

He was extremely proud of his time at St Peter's, particularly of some of the initiatives he had introduced, including all boys taking music, and the requirement for each student to do a service outreach.

But he doesn't expect to cut-and-paste the St Peter's model.

"There are some things that will be the same - you need routines, structure, rituals of belonging - but this is a unique school with its own history," he said.

"I don't know much about it yet but I do know it has potential.

Fouhy's appointment will coincide with a $7 million classroom redevelopment to be done by 2017.

Five things learned from a life in boys' schools

1. To be successful, you need to enrol families, don't just enrol kids.
2. Have a single gate. That way you can meet each student as he comes in for the day.
3. It's important to gather each morning. It helps to create a sense of belonging.
4. University Entrance is a key indicator of success, whether or not students go on to university.
5. Boys never ask for help, they act for help.

- Kieran Fouhy

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• Image: FaceBook metromag.co.nz

They turned to some of the most common - and possibly annoying - teen sayings and replaced them with their Maori equivalent.

It includes words and phrases such as 'yeeyah', 'whatever', 'holy moly' and 'better than nothing'.

And headmaster Kieran Fouhy said he didn't have to go far to find the right words.

"They came from the kids. In this generation it's just the words they use - 'hey bro, holy moly' - and it's in Maori."

Holy moly in Maori, according to the students is wekenui

Watch video clip for other phrases.

Fouhy said Maori culture was more than a haka and New Zealanders should realise the language was a wonderful gift we needed to treasure.

He said outside Maori Language Week, the school was making progress towards using Te reo Maori during the rest of the year.

Source

• m.nzherald.co.nz
• m.nzherald.co.nz Michael Craig