Catholic Character & Charism
Here is a brief summary of the Campion College Catholic Character Review Report, May 2008. The review was conducted on behalf of the Diocese by Brendan Schollum and Cora Kemp. The full review document can be downloaded here
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Catholic Community
Campion College is clearly Catholic – in signs, symbols around the College, in documentation, and in staff and student comments.
A major policy development occurred in the College in 2002 when the principal led the Board and staff in a comprehensive review of the Special Character and Charism for Campion College. The resulting document highlights and describes the three key values of the college – commitment, compassion and community. These values have been integrated into all aspects of college life – teaching practice, relationships, student and staff aspirations, the performance management system, and school policies. There is a distinctly Catholic interpretation of each of these three values. Overall this is a powerful document and it should be widely disseminated in its present form or in an adapted form for senior students, for parents, and for new staff and students.
The Principal is a hard-working, thoughtful, committed Catholic leader who is highly regarded in both the school and the wider community. He has spent many hours clarifying with others, the Special Character of the College. He and all members of the Senior Management Team is Catholic. They constantly consider Special Character issues in their meetings, and ensure that school organisation, the curriculum and pastoral systems have Special Character at their core.
The college has traditionally had a mixture of committed Catholic families strong in their faith practice and parish allegiance, and other parents who are keen for enrolment of their sons/daughters in the College, but who do not necessarily support faith development expectations, including parish activities. The college has supported these preference enrolments by offering positive faith development experiences and exposure to a lived Catholic Special Character. The students develop a clear appreciation of what it means to be part of a Catholic community. There has been debate at board and parish levels about what the term "preference" means. Board members, the Parish Priest, and senior management are clear about the desirability of attracting committed Catholic families to the College. It is important that the Principal and Parish Priest in particular, continue discussing the best ways to give actual and potential families clarity regarding what are family responsibilities in attending this Catholic College.
The current three Proprietors appointees are parishioners and have a real passion for Catholic education. The full Board is conscious of the importance of Special Character, among its governance roles. This is clearly evident in Board minutes, in the Strategic Plan and in the Policies.
The principal and parish priest meet regularly. The two priests of the parish are to be commended for coming into the school weekly to help students prepare for class Masses. It would be helpful for this to be extended so all students have a clearer understanding of the parts and purpose of both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of Eucharist.
Pastoral Care
The Pastoral Care Policy directs the school to use the example of Christ the Good Shepherd as a model. In documentation it states that pastoral care focuses on compassion, reinforces commitment and builds a Christ-centred community. The school motto is "In Christ we are alive"
Relationships among staff and students are very positive. Staff members are good role-models for how adults should live work and relate to each other and to the students in their care. Students value the expectations staff place on them; they believe that Campion is a tight knit community and they feel they belong.
Classrooms and buildings are well maintained and the campus is clean and tidy.
Students are given ample opportunities to show leadership in the College. Some of this leadership relates particularly to Special Character, which falls within the three key values of commitment, compassion and community.
Religious Education
The Director of Religious Studies is to be commended for the sound work which she has undertaken to firmly ground Religious Education as a programme of learning and of faith development. The DRS works well with and provides clear direction to the team of twelve other teachers of RE.
Students at Campion College have the opportunity for Religious Education to be part of the contribution to NCEA levels 1-3. Teachers report that this arrangement is working well and students appreciate the opportunity to gain a significant number of credits towards NCEA through these learning programmes, an additional benefit to the studying of RE.
The College is to be commended for the importance it places upon scripture by requiring that students purchase a Bible at the commencement of their studies at Campion which they keep in their RE classroom throughout their studies and with which they graduate from the College.
Parents are informed about the progress of their sons and daughters in Religious Education in the same way as they are for their secular subjects. As appropriate the Principal or DRS communicates about Religious Education and other Catholic Character matters through the school newsletter.
It would be advantageous, once the College website is reviewed and upgraded for this to be used as an avenue to celebrate all that is Catholic about Campion College, including featuring the Religious Education Department and its activities.
We believe that there is no doubt Campion College, is indeed Catholic, in a friendly, nurturing, family environment.