Embedded Files
Special Character Policy
St Patrick’s Catholic School
RATIONALE
St Patrick’s Catholic School was established by the Sisters of St Joseph in 1921 with the purpose of providing a Catholic education for families. Our special Catholic character is our taonga and should always be protected, celebrated and treasured.
PURPOSES
This policy ensures that the Principal, Board and teachers of St Patrick’s Catholic School will:
Assist parents/caregivers in passing on Catholic teachings
Have Catholic values and principles which are central to the operation of the school
Encourage students to live their lives by the values of Jesus Christ
Provide systematic teaching of the Religious Education programme
Support each Board and staff member to understand that he/she has a role in promoting the special character of the school
Provide professional development opportunities for staff to further develop their own faith.
GUIDELINES
The school will provide quality education within the school’s special Catholic character through the general school programme and its religious instruction, observance and exercising the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ
The Strategic Plan will reflect the importance of the school’s special Catholic character by including a number of special character goals
Board
The Board will follow all guidelines from the Proprietor as part of the recruitment of new teaching staff and all job descriptions will contain references to the school’s Catholic character.
Expectations and Limitations
Staff
Staff will be encouraged and assisted to undertake professional development that would assist their teaching in a school with special Catholic character.
Support will be given to staff who are not Catholic to ensure that they can participate in a school with a special Catholic character.
The Board respects the conscience of all teachers and will not require a teacher to act against his/her conscience unless this is contrary to the Church’s teaching.
Religious Observance & Pastoral Care
Religious observances will be celebrated in the school community with class/school liturgies and staff and student prayer.
Students will be given opportunities to celebrate the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation at scheduled times of the year.
Prayer will be part of each school day, in every class.
Opportunities for staff prayer will take place at least once a week.
School assemblies and gatherings will begin and end with a prayer
Prayer and practical pastoral care support will be offered to those in the school community who are suffering hardship.
Curriculum
All curriculum documents in the school must reflect the aims and objectives of the school’s special Catholic character.
In order for the curriculum to reflect the school’s special character, resources used and referrals made in the school, must be in harmony with the Church’s teaching.
Any moral interpretations of issues that may arise in the teaching of the curriculum must be in accordance with Catholic doctrine.
Class programmes will include material appropriate to the church liturgical seasons.
Parish/School Relationships
The parish priest will be encouraged to visit and communicate formally and informally with the school, on a regular basis, as part of organised school life.
The school will be responsive to invitations to share parish liturgies and invite members of the parish, where appropriate, to share the celebrations, liturgy and other school activities.
The school will actively and practically support Parish Sacramental Programmes and other faith formation programmes.
Reporting & Review
A written report on the special Catholic character of the school will be produced annually by the Director of Religious Studies
The Special Catholic Character Committee of the Board will complete the Proprietor's Representatives Report annually. This report will be submitted to the Board, the Bishop of the Diocese and be available to the school community as part of the school’s Annual Report.
A self-review of the school’s special Catholic character will be undertaken as part of the regular review cycle (triennial).
Monitoring & Reporting
It is important for the integrity of this policy that evidence is gathered about the effectiveness of the curriculum delivery procedures. This evidence should include both subjective and objective data. Where appropriate, evidence about the impact of policies on student achievement must be gathered.
Sources/methods for the gathering of evidence may include:
Regular staff feedback, that is, staff meetings and informal feedback sessions
Principal’s feedback, that is, via senior management team and informal feedback sessions
Use of outside consultants if appropriate
Student achievement information based on curriculum reports to the Board
Consultation with the parent community
School procedures/supporting documentation
Integration Agreement
Board strategic plan
Annual budget
The Declaration of the Proprietors of Catholic Schools in New Zealand on the Essential Characteristics of Authentic Catholic School Education
Handbook for Boards of Trustees of New Zealand Catholic State Integrated Schools
Catholic Education of School Aged Children
Catholic Special Character Evaluation for Development document
Legislative compliance
Education (School Boards) Regulations 2020
Reviewed 30 October 2024
Page updated
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