The spiritual and personal development of all members of the St Paul’s Collegiate School community is built on the Christian faith, fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self
control) and Anglican Special Character.
As an Anglican school, St Paul’s is deeply committed to delivering a holistic education as a central element in the curriculum, including a spiritual dimension. From the strong presence of faith within the school, students are given the opportunity to accept responsibility, serve others and be aware of the spiritual and moral dimensions of life.
Chapel services
St Paul’s place of worship, the Chapel of Christ the King, represents the heart of the school. Whether for chapel services, school assemblies or music and drama performances, the Chapel is the place where the entire school community comes together on a daily basis. During Chapel services, St Paul’s prides itself on quality performances by choir groups or concert bands, further enhancing the overall experience of Chapel of Christ of King.
Chaplain
The chaplain occupies several roles: Chapel, Leader of Religious Education, service program coordinator, faith
development and counsellor. These roles often overlap. The chaplain serves as the pastor to the School family and, as such, provides a friendly listening ear, advice, guidance and spiritual support to students, staff, parents and families.
Students in Year 9 and 10 take part in the School’s Religious Education programmes and every student attends regular worship in the Chapel of Christ the King.
The chaplain is also a professional counsellor who works with all staff and students who need spiritual (or other)
guidance or solace. The chaplain makes regular visits to boarding houses and regular visits to Tihoi to keep in touch with each boarding house as a whole and with individual students and staff across both campuses.
Service
Over the Fence Ministry
Students spend lunchtimes helping in local primary schools – Bankwood and Fairfield. This engagement includes coaching sports, helping with reading and music or simply eating lunch with the students.
Year 11 Service Programme
Year 11 students are encouraged to find a charity that interests them and volunteer their time to help that charity reach a goal. The programme has established a partnership with the Refugee Orientation Centre Trust – a not-for-profit organisation helping refugees settle into life in New Zealand. The students volunteer for the Centre’s after-school homework programme, which helps primary-aged children get up-to-speed with their academics.
International Service Trip
A group of students travel each year to Cambodia to work alongside the charitable organisation FLAME, which operates a number of activity centres in Phnom Penh that allow children to attend classes if they missed out on government-provided schooling.
Waikato Hospital Chaplaincy
Students assist the Sunday morning programme at the Waikato Hospital’s chaplaincy department by helping with the transfer of patients from the wards to the hospital Chapel for morning worship.
Community Fridge
Through a partnership with the Fairfield Community Project 'Te Whare O Te Ata', the community fridge ensures the delivery of fresh vegetables, fruit and meat to local families surrounding the school who are in need. Staff, students and school families stock the fridge located in the chapel for delivery to the Fairfield Project.
St Joan’s Rest Home – Ukulele and Art Lessons
Students teach ukulele on Tuesday lunchtimes and art on Wednesday lunchtimes to the elderly residents of St Joan’s rest home.
The Serve
A team of students supported by the school chef and catering staff, plan, prepare and cook a two-course meal for anything up to 80 people. Once prepared this food is taken to The Serve. The Serve is a community project based in Hamilton that serves a substantial evening meal year-round to those in need.
Flame Cambodia: A group of students travel each year to Cambodia to work alongside the charitable organisation Flame Cambodia, who operate a number of activity centres in Phnom Penh that allows children to attend classes if they miss out on government-provided schooling. The Book Tuk Tuk, a mobile library, is a project born out of a partnership between Flame Cambodia and St Paul’s.
To find out more about service at St Paul’s, contact Reverend Peter Rickman, School Chaplain, on:
Tel: +64 21 197 7788
Email: revpeter@stpauls.school.nz
