Board Update
Tena koutou katoa
As we approach the end of Term 2 and look ahead to the celebration of Matariki, it's a wonderful time to reflect on our achievements and prepare for Term 3.
Caroline McClinchy - Speaker Event
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou for your support at last night’s speaker event with Caroline McGlinchy.
St Anthony’s School was thrilled to host Caroline as part of our Speaker Series. Her talk, Calmer Kids and Happier Homes, was an inspiring and practical session. With warmth, humour, and real-life strategies, Caroline gave parents and caregivers advice and tools to build stronger relationships with their tamariki and bring more joy into everyday parenting. As Caroline shared, “It’s about building stronger relationships, bringing back the fun in parenting, and creating calmer, emotionally attuned environments.”
This free community evening was informative and uplifting, leaving everyone feeling more connected and confident. He mihi ki a Caroline and to all who attended the event. A special ngā mihi nui to our organising team and volunteers who made the event run so smoothly and to our sponsor, New World Miramar, for their generous support.
Board elections 10 September 2025
School Board elections are coming up in September. This is a great opportunity to have your say in the future direction of our school. Information about the role of school boards can be found here: https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/advice-and-support/information-for-board-members
Keep an eye out for nomination forms and voting details, which will be sent home soon.
School board meetings are public meetings and you are warmly welcomed to attend. Our next board meeting is Week 3 of Term 3 (29 July) at 6pm. Meetings are held at St Anthony’s School.
Celebrating academic excellence at St Anthony’s - mid-year achievements
We are proud to share the strong academic progress our students have made in their mid-year assessments. With 93% of students on track in reading and an exceptional 98% in mathematics, these results reflect the depth of learning and the strength of our teaching programmes. Nationally, recent data shows that fewer than 60% of students are meeting curriculum expectations in reading, and fewer than 30% in mathematics, making our results a real testament to the quality of teaching and learning at St Anthony’s. Our structured literacy and numeracy approaches continue to support learners across all year levels, and we’re seeing encouraging signs of growth in writing (76% of students are on track or above expectations), particularly among our female students and senior classes.
Source: Curriculum Insights and Progress Study: Foundational Area – Mathematics and Reading (2023); Mid-year achievement assessment, St Anthony’s School, Seatoun (2025).
Note: Writing was assessed nationally in 2024, with full annual assessments of reading, writing, and mathematics beginning in 2025. The 2024 writing results are not yet published.
These outcomes speak to the dedication of our staff, the excellent teacher-student ratios at St Anthony’s, the engagement of our tamariki, and the supportive partnerships we have with whānau.
Ka rawe! Let’s keep building on this momentum in Term 3.
Camp fundraising – delicious ways to support our senior students
Help our Year 7 and 8 students get to camp in Term 3 by purchasing from our tasty fundraiser.
We’re currently selling:
- Fresh Roti
- Chocolate Treats
- Butter Chicken Sauce
You can place your order with Year 7 or 8 students or by sending your order directly to the school office (office@stants.school.nz). Every purchase helps!
Leadership update – Term 3
We send our best wishes to Mrs Denise Johnson as she begins her Term 3 sabbatical, a valuable opportunity for professional learning and reflection. Her focus will be on exploring inclusive practices and strengthening whakawhanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga. We look forward to hearing more about her insights and experiences when she returns in Term 4.
We’re also delighted to welcome back Miss Francesca von Lanthen, who returns from a year travelling and teaching in the United Kingdom. Miss von Lanthen will step into the role of Acting Principal for Term 3, working alongside Mrs Sam Cripps, who continues as Acting Deputy Principal. Together, they bring a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to nurturing the learning and wellbeing of our tamariki and wider school community.
Looking Ahead – Matariki mā Puanga
As we prepare to close Term 2 and welcome the school holidays, we look to the stars and the spirit of Matariki mā Puanga. This year’s theme invites us to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and set intentions for the future, together as whānau, as a kura, and as a school community. May this season of renewal bring rest, reconnection, and inspiration to all our whānau.
Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori. Greetings and happy Matariki.