Student Support
Relationships At The Core Of Everything
As a Catholic school relationships are at the heart of school life. When issues arise, we are committed to the values of reconciliation, restoration, and the right relationship. This is done in a way that promotes healing and supports healthy, positive relationships at all levels.
- Waterford Programme – The Waterford Programme is a new initiative starting in 2025. In this programme, we want to explore learning and connection through different contexts. We want to provide students with the tools to help every learner to be at their best.
- Waterford Programmes – 1) Accelerate Learning: For 200 minutes a week, students receive Literacy and Numeracy support to accelerate learning. This provides students with targetted inventions in reading, writing and mathematics to best prepare them for co-requisites & NCEA.
- Waterford Programmes – 2) Connect Opportunities: For 100 minutes a week, we explore passion projects that relate to our school values. Connect provides students with the ability to explore learning through a different lens.
- Waterford Programmes – 3) Operation Deregulation: This programme provides students with the tools to regulate their emotions. Navigating a school week can be overwhelming and its important we understand how to manage our emotions in different situations.
Hato Tamati — Kotahitanga
Kotahitanga Program
A mentor program that every student is part of. This class is timetabled for period one on Mondays and for ten minutes every other day throughout the week.
Whare
The home room and classroom where students are based for their Kotahitanga class. This will be shown in each student’s timetable.
Ta’i Ta’i
The home teacher leader of the Kotahi class. They are responsible for their village and lead that class.
Kaihāpai
Deans responsible for each house who lead our Ta’i in the houses of Marlow, Joyce, McClintock, Dowling and Rice.
Kaitiaki
Our student leaders of each house. They work closely with the students and with the house deans (Kaihāpai) to implement the culture of the house.
Counsellor
The Counselling service at STC is for students, staff, and parents. It is a confidential and professional service. Difficulties such as depression, anxiety, anger management, grief, social skills, addictions, conflict resolution, bullying, adjusting to change, human development, sexuality, career direction, and home and family issues are all helped by the service. The counselling service also makes referrals to mental health services, health nurses and child protection agencies.
If you have a pastoral or health concern related your son, please refer to your Ta’i ta’i (Kotahitanga Mentor Teacher) as the first response. From there, the Pastoral team will follow the appropriate processes to make a response. If you have any major concerns, then please contact the school counsellor directly.
School counsellor: Patrick McIntyre
Pastoral Team
Where To Get Help
1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 any time
Lifeline – 0800 543 354
Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234, or email talk@youthline.co.nz or online chat
Samaritans – 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
What’s Up – 0800 942 8787 (for 5–18 year olds). Phone counselling is available Monday to Friday, midday–11pm and weekends, 3pm–11pm. Online chat is available 7pm–10pm daily.
Kidsline – 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline) for young people up to 18 years of age. Open 24/7.
thelowdown.co.nz – or email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626
Anxiety New Zealand – 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389)
House Groups
Houses provide friendly, competitive behaviour with a huge sense of pride, passion, and loyalty. At St Thomas’ boys are placed in one of the five houses:
McClintock
Rice
Joyce
Marlow
Dowling
Competitions are held throughout the year to find which house is the strongest each year. Houses provide friendly, competitive behaviour with a huge sense of pride, passion, and loyalty.