House Service Projects

‘By Love Serve’ lives across all aspects of school life and brings our St Cuthbert’s community together. This bond is nurtured within our House structure, and as such, our service projects are run by House.

The Senior School’s House system is based on developing a sense of belonging/Manaakitanga to show respect, generosity, and a sense of caring for others. Involving the girls in service projects within the Houses builds on this foundation.

Over the past two years a Year 13 student from each service project, six projects over eight Houses, has met with their charity to discover what they are most in need of. The Service committee representative then presented the project to their House, where together, in Tutor Groups, the girls brainstormed ways to support their amazing cause. The Year 13s then decided which ideas were best to implement and presented these at our Family Chapel services, where funds were raised to support their efforts.

Reverend Francois Joubert says the specific projects were chosen as they are local, practical, and diverse in reach. Chaplain Joubert says he teaches St Cuthbert’s students to “Serve by Love, not by Guilt.”

“The highlight for me is when the students realise how big the need is in this world, and that they can actually do something about it. Placing the responsibilities in the hands of the students gives them an opportunity to showcase their leadership, creativity and gives them an opportunity to take their compassion for others to a practical level.”

We are so proud of our students for making such an impact in our community. A huge thanks to our families for supporting their daughter’s House Service Project.

Let’s find out about how our girls made such a difference for so many lives.

Iona and Elgin, Painga Project

Painga Project, the initiative of Old Girl Sarah Corson, is focussed on the health and wellbeing of students, families and their communities in low decile South Auckland primary and intermediate schools.

During the two Sunday Family Chapel services, Iona and Elgin raised money to purchase hygiene products, sports equipment, and stationery for low decile schools.

Dunblane and York, Camp Quality

Camp Quality believes in the power of fun to help children and their families overcome the challenges that living with cancer brings. Each year Camp Quality caters for around 300 children at various locations around the country. Through Camp Quality, families get a much-needed break and the opportunity to spend time with other siblings while their child is at camp.

The funds raised during the Dunblane and York Family Chapel services, went towards buying art supplies for the children to enjoy at camp.

Durham, Manurewa East Primary

St Cuthbert’s Old Girl, Emily Hackett Pain, started the Paper, Pens & Pencil project with Manurewa East Primary School - a not-for-profit which distributes unused stationery that was otherwise destined for landfill, to students at low decile schools to ensure that every child gets a fair start at school.

Funds raised were used to purchase stationery for Manurewa East Primary.

Melrose, De Paul House

De Paul House provides housing and support services for homeless families and aims to keep families united in a safe and dignified environment. Families set goals with the assistance of a support team including housing, budgeting, and a compulsory savings programme. De Paul House also runs a playgroup and an afterschool homework centre.

The girls raised money to provide the specific needs of the emergency housing project at De Paul House.

Lindisfarne, Girls in Need (G.I.N)

G.I.N focusses on the various needs of girls in New Zealand. Unlike the other House service projects, it is not dedicated to a specific organisation or group, rather it is up to the girls to initiate and implement various smaller projects.

During their Family Chapel service, our families raised money to provide girls with hygiene products.

Kelso, Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre

The Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre (MRRC) is the central processing and assessment location for all refugees who arrive in New Zealand. All United Nations Quota Refugees enter the centre for a six-week period of assessment and orientation prior to resettlement. The MRRC is a ‘one-stop-shop’ with a collaborative service run by several key agencies.

Kelso raised funds to provide equipment and stationery to MRCC.