Feel free to provide feedback on our charter as community members through our contacts page.
The College Background Information
Verdon College is an integrated Catholic
co-educational school offering education in years 7- 13 with a special
character that is gospel centered.
The school was established in 1982 by
the amalgamation of Marist College and St Catherine’s College.
Verdon was the name of the second Bishop
of Dunedin who did much to support the early steps taken by the Dominican
Sisters and the Marist Brothers to provide a Catholic education for young
people of Invercargill and Southland.
The Proprietor is the Catholic Bishop of
the Dunedin Diocese. The College has a maximum roll of 700 students. Over the
last few years the College has developed a high level of student success in
NCEA qualification and the roll has increased year on year for the past several
years with the roll expected to be in excess of the maximum of 700 students. The on-going expected future intake to the
College at year 7 will be 100 -105 students.
The ethnic makeup of Verdon College
reflects the wider Invercargill demographic. 75 % of Verdon College students
identify as New Zealand European. Maori students make up 18% of the roll, Pacifica
students total 3% and Asian students represent 4% of the learning community.
While the College has an on-going policy
of inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classes, in 2014 year 7-10 students from Ruru School joined
the Verdon community in a new facility known as the Verdon Satellite. The Board
see the operation of this Verdon Satellite as another opportunity to live our
values of inclusion and support the families of our wider community.
The
College Motto is “Rely on God”
Mission Statement
Verdon College is a Catholic learning
community where excellence is fostered and gospel values guide success.
Vision Statement
Verdon College aims to use
gospel values to develop confident, connected, lifelong learners who are
actively involved in their community.
Whakatauaki
Me a matou ki te Toroa ki te rerenga me te whakapono ki te Atua tuturi
We can all be uplifted as
the albatross if we have faith and Rely on God
The Verdon Family Values
Excellence - Respect -
Truth - Community
Members of the Verdon College
community will live and foster the values by:
•
Striving to achieve excellence and supporting all members of the
community to reach their full potential.
•
Respecting others,
themselves and their environment and being
responsible for their actions
•
Living in a genuine and honest manner, seeking knowledge and
truth.
•
Demonstrating whakawhanaungatanga,
being supportive, caring, tolerant, acting with justice and serving others.
|
Our V8 Values
As a Catholic College our practice and
delivery is underpinned by the teachings of Jesus and gospel values. These teachings and values enthuse,
inspire, inform, and underpin our common purpose at Verdon College. These
teaching are conveyed and expressed in our community through the eight
aspects of our charism inherited from our founding orders, St Dominic, St
Catherine and St Marcellin Champagnat. These we acknowledge as our
responsibility translated to the 4 core values which now represent our V8
vision.
|
|
The Verdon Family Values
Excellence Respect Truth Community
;)
|
Key Driving Statements and
Intentions “Rely on God”
Me a matou ki te
Toroa ki te rerenga me te whakapono ki te Atua tuturi
We can all be uplifted as the albatross if we have faith
and Rely on God
Ko te tamaiti te
Putake o te kaupapa – The Child is the Heart of the Matter
Ū ki te ako, tu tangata ai apōpō - Excel in teaching so our learners
will excel in the future
|
|
Verdon College has SOUL
Striving to be the best that we can
be
Owning our Community
Understanding and
respect for all
Living our Catholic Values
|
Whakapaka values
Simplicity - Focusing
on what is important in our lives.
Truth - Living
in a genuine and honest way.
Presence - Being
there for others in the community.
Witness - Demonstrating
our Catholic faith through our actions.
Prayer - Expressing
our faith through spiritual practice.
Passion for our work and diligent study - Striving for excellence and enjoying the fruits of
our efforts.
In the Way of Mary - Being patient, fair, firm, loyal, kind, respectful,
encouraging and forgiving.
Family Spirit and community - Contributing to others as family and community
members.
|
Strategic Planning Links
The planning process has its foundations
within the National Educational Goals and the National Administration
Guidelines. These, coupled with Understanding Faith and the National Curriculum
Statements have guided the Trustees in their strategic planning.
The College acknowledges the place of
the Tiriti o Waitangi in informing the College’s Board with regard to its responsibilities
to tangata whenua and the operation of
the College in a manner that is consistent with these obligations. The College also acknowledges the special
place of Ngai Tahu as Mana Whenua in relation to the operation of the College
in Murihiku . The College will prioritise the resources to enable the delivery for
the delivery of te reo and tikanga programmes for the students of the College
to access.
The Board acknowledges the work that has
occurred with contributing primaries and partnership schools over the past few
years and the benefits that this has provided our community. We are focussed on continuing this work
potentially through Communities of Learning if that pathway is consistent with
our Catholic ways of working and reflective of kaupapa Maori beneficial to all
parities
The College fosters links with Aurora
College, Te Wharekura o Arowhenua and Ruru School for the benefit of students
in each of these learning communities and for the mutual benefit the
communities within this partnership.
In developing this current charter the
Board acknowledges the current strengths of the College and the improvements
that have been gained in the last several years.
The Board wishes to continue to set new
aspirational goals and develop a future for the College which will guide the
direction of the College while still staying true to the traditions and the
charisms of the founding orders – the Dominican Sisters and the Marist
Brothers.
The College is focussed on delivering
the National Curriculum’s identified directions for learning: the foundations
are Vision, Principles and Values linking together with key competencies and
achievement objectives in the Learning Areas.
The Board acknowledges its
responsibility to deliver education programmes that support:
· the engagement and achievement of all students.
· the achievement of groups of identified priority learners
within the College.
· the achievement of National Standards (or replacement)
in Mathematics, Reading and Writing by
all students in years 7 and 8.
· the objective of 85% of school leavers achieving at
least NCEA Level 2.
· Maori and Pasifica learners in order to maximise their
success.
The Board of Trustees intends to give
emphasis to the following:
•
Continuing
formation and development in Special Character;
•
To undertake good
governance of the College including being a good employer, and ensuring that
the learning provides the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the
students and staff of the College.
•
The promotion of
excellence within all aspects of teaching and learning.
•
To develop all
aspects of the College with a view to achieving excellence in all that we do.
•
Prioritising
strategies to maximise the outcomes for all students particularly Maori and
Pacifica students.
•
On-going
professional development of the staff to promote excellence in teaching and
learning.
•
Ensuring the
school has a very active, supportive community comprising past pupils, staff,
parents and friends of the College.
•
Providing resources
to create an educational environment that enables students to become effective
and connected 21st century citizens.
•
Developing goals
and monitoring the achievement of students in years 7 and 8, in relation to
National Standards in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
•
Providing support
and resource to groups of students identified as requiring extra support in
order to realise their potential.
The College has formed goals in
relation to students’ achievement in recognition that all students’ achievement
will be raised by introducing, into the College, effective pedagogy that has
been shown through Te Kotahitanga, Ka Hikatia and He Kakano programmes and
research, as effective in maximising educational outcomes for Maori. The
College goals included within this Charter should be viewed from the
perspective that through our involvement in the He Kakano initiative we have
developed an understanding “That what is good for Maori is good for all” and as
such goals and objectives within this Charter document have been developed with
this perspective and the underpinning values of our Special Character.
Strategic Vision
Our vision for the Year 2018 – 2021 is
to retain our strengths while at the same time, being responsive to the
changing needs of our students and our community.
Ko te tamaiti te Putake o te kaupapa - The Child is the Heart of the
Matter
A priority is seen as ensuring that we
are focussed on making the child the heart of the matter and that our effort in
all things are focused on supporting each student to develop to their full
potential in all areas of their lives.
Ū ki te ako, tu tangata ai apōpō -Excel in teaching so our learners will
excel in the future
The Board is also focussed on ensuring
that there is a culture of excellence in the delivery of teaching and learning
programmes within the College. The Board
is focussed on ensuring that the teaching staff of the College is as effective
as possible in delivering outcomes for the students of the College. This requires the Board to maintain structure
and processes to employ, support and develop the teaching staff of the College
towards being seen as leaders in their respective fields.
•
An unwavering focus
on quality teaching and learning to support students’ achievement.
•
Fostering and
enhancing understanding of the traditions and values of the College community –
our Special Character.
•
Developing the College
programmes and community structures to better support the achievement of all
students.
•
Ensuring high
personal achievement levels for all students in spiritual, academic, sports,
cultural, leadership and social dimensions.
•
A continued focus
on achievement for all students while focusing on a culture of pursuing
excellence both as individuals and as a community.
•
Developing
teaching staff professional knowledge in appropriate strategies to maximise
success for Maori students and all students within the College.
•
Providing
appropriate buildings and learning environment to engage and support students enabling
them to access 21st century learning opportunities.
•
Maintaining and
improving our commitment to our Maori community and other cultural groups.
•
Fostering an
environment where people are respected, feel positive about themselves, can
express their ideas and feel part of the decision making processes of the
College.
Strategic Goals
Our goals define the areas that have
been identified by the College community to focus upon during the next 4 years.
The order in which these goals are presented is not intended to indicate any
particular priority; we believe that all these goals are important.
|
Development
area
|
Objectives 2018 -2021
|
|
Owning our Community
.
All levels of the
community are invested in actively participating in maintaining and
developing the quality of our community.
|
·
Maintaining and developing physical resources
of the College to support the work of staff and students.
·
Develop the Verdon College has SOUL concept as
an approach to personal relationships and interaction across all levels of
our community.
·
Further develop pastoral processes to support
the success for every student towards developing community relationships
meaningful success and engagement beyond school.
·
Develop a culture of contributing to others,
working collaboratively with the wider community for the benefit of young person’s holistic
wellbeing so they can be active contributing members of a community.
·
Develop mutually beneficial partnerships that
support our students’ learning and community.
·
Develop a culture of personal and community
accountability towards delivering outcomes for our entire community.
|
|
Striving to be the
best that we can be.
All members of our
community are working to develop themselves to attain the highest personal
standards
|
·
Students’ achievement targets are set at all
levels of the College and processes and practice reviewed regularly and
appropriately towards achieving progress towards each student being the best
they can be.
·
Maintain and improve on high levels of
academic achievement and maintain parity of achievement for Maori students.
·
Ensure that we are developing the physical and
financial resources of the College towards underpinning students’ success.
·
Recruiting and providing opportunity for
training for staff to develop professionally and to enable them to develop
best results for our students and community. Supporting their professional
success.
·
Continue to develop the quality of the
educational experience at Verdon College making it first choice for Catholic
students in Invercargill.
·
Further develop and maintain for all a focus
on self-review and best practice towards continual improvement and
innovation.
|
|
Understanding and
respect for all.
All members of the
community are working to develop productive supportive relationships
underpinning each other’s success and well-being.
|
·
Ensure that the importance of te Ao Maori
Kaupapa Maoris and te reo Maori has a priority place interwoven within the
operation of the College towards underpinning success of all.
·
Verdon College is seen by all in the community
that it is focused on celebrating and supporting individuals’ talents and
inclusive of individualism and support of all cultures while holding true to
Catholic character.
·
Fundamental to all interaction of the College
is for each member to recognize and
acknowledge each members cultural and social background to forming
understanding and productive relationships.
·
That students experience a safe, welcoming,
supportive environment second to none in Invercargill, supported by effective
processes
·
That we are seen in the wider community as a
place that supports all peoples and lives the teaching of Jesus.
|
|
Living our
Catholics Values
As a Catholic
community all members are working to ensure our Catholic character underpins
and central to all that we do
|
·
Continue to work towards developing a community
that is more Catholic yet inclusive towards positivity of welcoming new
people to our Catholic community and reigniting Catholic faith.
·
Continue to develop expression of Catholic
faith, masses and liturgies as part of our everyday life at the College.
·
Make living the fundamental teachings of Jesus
and gospel underpin all our work within the College.
·
Continue to make living whakapapa our Marist
and Dominican charism and the foundations community values underpin our
heritage.
·
Develop our teaching staff understanding of Catholic
character and their ability to feel involved in this aspect of the College
whatever their background.
|
