What makes a good school great? The People.
He tangata, He tangata, He tangata
What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.
― Karl A. Menninger
During your son’s intermediate and high school life, he will spend over 8000 hours being educated, mentored, and inspired by teachers. Our focus is on recruiting and providing to our parent base the very best educators possible. With the requirements of a 21st Century learning environment and the importance of good supportive role models to develop character, we are proud to be a school that focuses on these areas.
Senior Leadership Team
“What unites is clear: like Jesus Christ, we are passionate about people (He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata) and we are called to teach, develop and implement the Catholic programme in Christian faith and living. Our Special Character is not simply added on to what would otherwise be a secular state school because it is integral to everything that takes place in the school and provides a climate of hope, inspiration and service for all its members. My role is to guide the community of staff, students and whanau to carry out the Church’s mission to bring people to God through sacraments, prayer, service, right relationships and social justice. I am passionate about boys’ education and their development into manhood.”
“ I believe the teacher-student partnership is a key factor in unlocking the potential of our young men both inside and outside of the classroom… Relationships are the foundation as we strive to engage hearts and minds through education”
“Developing young men into well-rounded leaders in our community is our focus. Ensuring they build strong relationships with empathy at the core is the key to Educated Hearts at St Thomas’.”
Leaders of Learning
Specialist Classroom Teacher
Robbie Lange “Guiding our young men in their learning at this key stage of their lives is a great privilege for me as a teacher of the College. I am inspired by the way our College targets the holistic development of the learner both inside and outside of the classroom environment…”
Social Sciences
Seye Chan “…At STC, the Social Science Department focuses on educating global citizens to understands how past and present actions and events have and are shaping our world, and how these actions will define our future … teaching these complex relationships between people and the environment, will give our students the tools to be at the forefront of planning a more sustainable future for the well-being of all global citizens…”
Religious Studies
Tony Mullally
Languages
Elizabeth Kennedy “…It’s so important to learn another language in these modern globally-influenced times. Whether it’s brushing up on a familiar language to cultivate links with your culture or being brave enough to try an unfamiliar language, every student who studies a language at St Thomas’ comes away with a better understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Mathematics
June Chey “…This is the best place to show love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness to our young men who are the future of our generation.”
Health and Physical Education
Tim Muir “…Health and Physical Education isn’t only about providing our young men the opportunity to be physically active, it also challenges them to think critically and provide them skills to live healthy, well-balanced lifestyles. In doing this I believe we set them up for life outside of school and give them every chance of success in wherever their passions take them. The strength of this is creating good characters that are confident in themselves and aren’t afraid of aiming high.”
Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei
Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain
Art
Vincent Raj “…The trick of it is to let the students think they are having fun when in fact they are learning. In my time here I have been able to work with some of the students who do not get much joy through traditional educational pathways. It remains my privilege to help them have fun and get credits too…”
Music
Ben Crosson
English
Angela Smith
Science
Matt Kippenberger
Pastoral
Leader of Pastoral Care
Dan O’Brien dobrien@stc.school.nz
Dan has the overall responsibility for the pastoral team. As a team, they work closely with each other to work out the best path for the individual student. In circumstances that require a higher level of intervention, Dan will work with all parties involved whether that be student, teacher, parents and other relevant community affiliates within our restorative framework.
Director of Pastoral Care
Katie Stanton kstanton@stc.school.nz
Katie joined us in 2022 to take up this 2IC Pastoral Care – a lead role in the day-to-day pastoral issues position which incudes leading high level conferences and supporting our deans to lead conferences. A lead role in the day-to-day pastoral issues.
Leader of Health
Paul Burton pburton@stc.school.nz
Paul Burton is the Leader of Health. He works closely with the house deans on all important matters.
Y13 Dean
Angela Smith asmith@stc.school.nz
Restorative Justice Leader
Kieran Coll kcoll@stc.school.nz
Kieran works alongside the pastoral care team and staff, assisting with the Restorative Justice process within the college.
House Deans
Joyce – Shannon Hurley shurley@stc.school.nz
Shannon has pastoral responsibility for all students in Joyce house.
Marlow – Chris Leader cleader@stc.school.nz
Chris has pastoral care responsibility for all students in Marlow house.
Rice – Megan Heather mheather@stc.school.nz
Megan has pastoral care responsibility for all students in Rice house.
McClintock – Ruihi Kawenga rkawenga@stc.school.nz
Ruihi Kawenga has pastoral responsibility for all students in McClintock house.
Year 7 and 8 Pastoral Care
Billy Gulliver bgulliver@stc.school.nz
Billy has responsibility in the Year 7 and 8 area to support students with behavioural or emotional needs. Billy also works very closely with the house deans.
Head of Learning Support
Dean Smith dsmith@stc.school.nz
Dean has responsibility for all students who may require extra support around learning needs. At St Thomas’, there is a strong emphasis on the holistic development of our young men and Dean and his team have an overall view of students who may need extra support. They communicate with teachers and parents on a regular basis and assess and monitor students throughout the year.
Head of Middle School
Hamish Barclay hbarclay@stc.school.nz
Hamish has responsibility for all students in Year 7, 8, 9. The Year 7 Mentor and House Coordinator will be the first contact and will liaise with Hamish as required.
Counsellor
Maryanne Skidmore mskidmore@stc.school.nz
Maryanne provides support in a confidential setting with individuals, groups and families who are dealing with issues affecting mental health and well-being.
Counsellor
Patrick McEntyre pmcentyre@stc.school.nz
Pasifika
Johnny Leo’o – jleoo@stc.school.nz
Johnny provides leadership and pastoral care to Pasifika students.
Leuma Gali – lgali@stc.school.nz
Leuma supports Pasifika students within the school and wider community. He is involved in many community cultural activities.
Māori Student Academic Achievement (Marcelle on Study Leave in 2023)
Marcelle Leo’o mleo’o@stc.school.nz
Teacher in Charge of Māori Student Mentoring
Ruihi Kawenga rkawenga@stc.school.nz
Order of contact:
Mentor Teacher
House Coordinator
Further discipline required
Mr Dan O’Brien
Further support required
Dean Smith – Learning Support
Staff Contacts
13BB: Brendan Biggs bbiggs@stc.school.nz
13KL: Karim Lafdal klafdal@stc.school.nz
13KM: Kathryn Morgan kmorgan@stc.school.nz
13SM: Angela Smith asmith@stc.school.nz
Joyce House (Red)
Dean: Shannon Hurley shurley@stc.school.nz
JOAA: Andrew Auimatagi aauimatagi@stc.school.nz
JOBL: Bernie Lee blee@stc.school.nz
JOBR: Ben Rapson brapson@stc.school.nz
JODM: Daniel Meng dmeng@stc.school.nz
JODR: Dan Ryan dryan@stc.school.nz
JOMK: Matt Kippenberger mkippenberger@stc.school.nz
JORL: Robbie Lange rlange@stc.school.nz
JOSR: Shane Reddy sreddy@stc.school.nz
JOTT: Tom Tennent ttennent@stc.school.nz
Marlow House (Yellow)
Dean: Chris Leader cleader@stc.school.nz
MABC: Ben Crosson bcrosson@stc.school.nz
MABG: Billy Gulliver bgulliver@stc.school.nz
MAJL: Johnny Leo’o jleoo@stc.school.nz
MAKS: Katie Stanton kstanton@stc.school.nz
MAMY: Jack Mayo jmayo@stc.school.nz
MASE: Daniel Seelen dseelen@stc.school.nz
MASK: Stephen Kennedy skennedy@stc.school.nz
MASS: Sai Saukuru ssaukuru@stc.school.nz
MAVR: Vincent Raj vraj@stc.school.nz
McClintock House (Green)
Dean: Ruihi Kawenga rkawenga@stc.school.nz
MCBS: Blair Scadden bscadden@stc.school.nz
MCCL: Kieran Coll kcoll@stc.school.nz
MCDH: David Hooper dhooper@stc.school.nz
MCJC: June Chey jchey@stc.school.nz
MCJQ: Judeena Quinn jquinn@stc.school.nz
MCMS: Maryanne Skidmore mskidmore@stc.school.nz
MCPB: Paul Burton pburton@stc.school.nz
MCSC: SeYe Chan schan@stc.school.nz
MCPM: Phil McKendry pmckendry@stc.school.nz
Rice House (Black)
Dean: Megan Heather mheather@stc.school.nz
RIAB: Aidan Baker abaker@stc.school.nz
RIAS: Andrew Strachan astrachan@stc.school.nz
RIDS: Dean Smith dsmith@stc.school.nz
RIEK: Elizabeth Kennedy ekennedy@stc.school.nz
RIHB: Hamish Barclay hbarclay@stc.school.nz
RIJT: Jamie Thompson jthompson@stc.school.nz
RILI: Jim Li jli@stc.school.nz
RIMU: Tony Mullally tmullally@stc.school.nz
RITM: Tim Muir tmuir@stc.school.nz
Support Staff – Admin
Reception – Lynley Gibson lgibson@stc.school.nz
Principal’s PA – Jo Fitzgerald jfitzgerald@stc.school.nz
Accounts (Bursar) – Jackie Redmond jredmond@stc.school.nz
Uniforms – Ngaire Lester nlester@stc.school.nz
Attendance – Christina Telea ctelea@stc.school.nz
Support Staff – Learning Support
Learning Support TA – Narelle Ferguson nferguson@stc.school.nz
Learning Support TA – Chris Cranefield ccranefield@stc.school.nz
Learning Support TA – Des Kaisami dkaisami@stc.school.nz
Learning Support TA – Robina Jorgensen – rjorgensen@stc.school.nz
Learning Support TA/Science Lab Technician – Julia Winton jwinton@stc.school.nz
Support Staff – Sports
Head of Sport – Andrew Cavill acavill@stc.school.nz
Sports Coordinator – Daniel Kahura dkahura@stc.school.nz
Sports Coordinator – Joe Hammond jhammond@stc.school.nz
Sports Coordinator – Andrew Cavill acavill@stc.school.nz
Sports Coordinator – Anton Smail asmail@stc.school.nz
Careers
Careers Liaison – Jackie Redmond – jredmond@stc.school.nz
Student Leaders
College Captain
Louie Gordon
Deputy College Captain and ER Inclusive Community
Noah Harmer-Campbell
Deputy College Captain and ER Gospel Spirituality
Moni Avia
WHĀNAU Leader
Kaya Wiparata
Pasifika Leader
Tino Leuta
Filipino Leader
Kyan Verbo
Rice House Leader
Elliott Price
McClintock House Leader
Hugo Gonzalez Garcia
Marlow House Leader
Finn Clark
Joyce House Leader
Jackson Bunting
ER Justice and Solidarity Leader
Samuel Pritchard
ER Liberating Education Leader
Will Hodgson
Culture Leader
Litala Fofoa
Sports leader
Noah Johnson
Student Council Chairman
Callaghan Jones
St Thomas school values its staff and aims to appoint leading educators and experienced practitioners to teaching and non-teaching roles.
