BUILDING A SCHOOL FULL OF COMPASSION

By Brigid Conroy

Suzanne Aubert Catholic Primary School starts to develop with a strong foundation of faith.

Opening in February 2021, Suzanne Aubert Catholic Primary school has a newly established leadership team who bring not only a wealth of teaching talent, but importantly strong faith in Jesus to guide them on this new endeavour.

Anthony Mills is the establishment principal. Husband to Amie-Lee and father to their five children, Anthony and his family are parishioners of All Saints by the Sea and regularly serve the parish by playing music at Mass. Anthony has come to the role from being assistant principal at St Mary’s Catholic School in Tauranga, and before this was director of religious studies at St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui. Anthony has been in teaching and leadership positions within our Catholic schools for the last sixteen years.

As establishment principal, Anthony is very excited about the opportunity to lead the vision and development of our new Catholic school in beautiful Papamoa and is looking forward to connecting with our community.

Deputy principal for Suzanne Aubert is Shelley McKay, a parishioner at St Thomas Aquinas. She is married to Steve and they have two children. Shelley comes from being a Year 7 teacher at Aquinas College and an Across School Coordinator for our Faith Based Kahui Ako (Community of Learning). She has experience teaching and leading across a range of year levels having previously taught at St Mary’s Catholic School Tauranga and Otumoetai Intermediate. Shelley has held a

variety of other teaching and leadership positions in over twenty years in education including team leader, curriculum leader and dean.

Shelley is passionate about learning and empowering students to be the best that they can be. She is incredibly excited to be the foundation deputy principal of Suzanne Aubert Catholic School and feels very blessed to be given this opportunity to serve her community.

Erin Clayton has been appointed as the director of religious studies. Erin is currently the junior team leader at St Joseph’s Catholic School in Hamilton and previously worked at St Peter’s Catholic school in Cambridge and Marist Primary in Mt Albert, Auckland. Erin is a graduate of the Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand where she graduated with a Diploma in Christian Studies - Religious Education and is currently completing her Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture through the Australian Catholic University. Erin is an active parishioner in the Parish of the Holy Cross in Hamilton which comprises two churches and two Catholic primary schools. In the parish she leads children’s liturgy of the word and is a catechist for the sacramental programme. Erin is looking forward to the challenge of being the director of religious studies for Suzanne Aubert Catholic School and connecting with the students, whanau, community and charism.

There has been great collaboration with local iwi with

representatives from Ngā Potiki - Ngai Te Rangi; Waitaha - Te Arawa, and Ngāti Rangi all present at the recent “turning of the sod” and blessing ceremony that occurred a few weeks ago.

“This is certainly important with the school being under the patronage of Suzanne Aubert. She had a great love for Māori and we want that great love that she had for Māori to be in our school,” Bishop Steve Lowe said at the ceremony.

“It’s the weaving together of the story of local iwi but also the weaving of Suzanne’s faith that she brought to our country.”

At the recent turning of the sod, Sr Alisi Tu’ipulotu of the Sisters of Compassion shared about Suzanne Aubert, saying, “She’s

known for her love of the people, especially the children, parents and young mothers. That’s her passion: to care for every walk of life.”

At the time of writing this article, the school’s foundations have been laid and the new classrooms are starting to take shape. Anthony and his team are looking forward to continuing Suzanne Aubert’s legacy, hoping to welcome an expected roll of 100-150 Year 0-6 children from a wide demographic from Papamoa through to Te Puke and Pukehina.

For updates and photos follow the school on Facebook: facebook.com/suzanneaubertschool