Big Hearts in the Service Committee

St Cuthbert’s has a unique motto which is ‘By Love Serve’. It is simple in nature but more complex to live by, and is woven through life at St Cuthbert’s from the day a student begins their journey through the College. Our students can often be found helping each other, their teachers and the wider community, with many having a strong sense of social justice and thoughtfulness for others.

Principal Justine Mahon is an advocate for service. “It is a wonderful way to build selfawareness and community spirit. Not only do we know that helping others is a boost for mental health, but we also find it helps our girls perform better academically.”

In addition to annual foodbanks and other charity drives, there is a student-led committee who take charge in the service space.

Our Year 13 Service committee embody these principles and do a wonderful job of helping instil these in their ‘Little Sisters’ through their House projects. Each House has a charity with which they, and the College has built up a relationship, and together they fundraise and assist with meaningful projects.

Year 13 Service Committee co-leader, Monelle Niuhulu, is really enjoying the Committee. “Being a part of the Service Committee is very important because it gives me the opportunity to actively serve those in need and build closer connections,” she says.

“We come up with sustainable ideas which will create a great foundation for the Charity organisation so the Service Committee, in future years, can continue carrying out the House project. My House project is Communities feeding Communities and we aim to provide a facility where they can feed their own families.”

Creating meaningful, cohesive and sustainable House Charity projects is the domain of Reverend Francois Joubert and Senior PA Lucretia Kemp. For Lucretia, part of the joy of working with the Service Committee is mentoring the members to encourage students to be actively involved when donating to charities. That means rather than just asking students for donations, it’s in encouraging students to help a neighbour, family friend, or their own family with simple at home chores or gardening, to earn a small donation and experience the joy of giving through the help they gave to their community.

Reverend Francois Joubert is a big believer in the continuance and growth of our Service projects throughout the College and that they are not a ‘one-off’, which is then forgotten. He says “With a world that is forever changing, and more and more challengers to face, the responsibility that we have towards one another is ever increasing.

“We can choose to close our hearts and hands, or we can choose to open our hearts and hands to those around us. It is our choice.”

He continues “It is a blessing to know that St Cuthbert’s continues to choose to have an open heart and hand. To serve. To serve with love. In the Senior School, each House once again took responsibility for a specific project. The variety is amazing. From helping girls in Africa gain an opportunity to be educated, to entertaining the senior citizens across the road from us. “

“We are grateful to our community who continue to support our Service projects through collections in Chapel and other means. I thank you for being part of this beautiful community. I thank you for upholding our motto – By Love Serve.”

House Projects

The Houses have a wide range of charities to which they are aligned. We are grateful for your support.

Iona – Girls in Need

Focusing on preparing gifts (hygiene bags for girls in need) and any other needs.

Elgin – De Paul House (Emergency Housing)

Blankets on Beds and any items for people that have lost their homes.

Dunblane – Presbyterian Support Services Project

Focusing on preparing the centre.

York – Presbyterian Support Services Project

Environmental projects with a focus on food security.

Melrose – Painga Trust

3300 children through seven schools in Auckland, supporting funding for sports equipment and art products.

Lindisfarne – Manurewa East Primary School

Organising for supplies of paper, pens, and pencils project/sports equipment/art resources.

Durham – So They Can

Currently ‘So They Can’ is empowering 45,000 children and their communities in Kenya and Tanzania through 42 schools, a teachers’ training college (ranked number 1 out of all 79 teachers’ colleges in Tanzania), child wellbeing and women’s microfinance programs.

Kelso – Elizabeth Knox

In the Rest Home there are a variety of opportunities to engage with the residents.