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Senior Prizegiving Speech Nov 2010 Holy Week Reflection 2011 As a teacher Miss Prendergast taught English, Classical Studies, Art History and led adult trips to Europe in the latter subjects. She enjoys travel and has wide interests including photography, reading, horse riding and sailing. She is also a passionate musician who enjoys traditional folk music and delights in the humourous, the unusual and the untold story that needs a ready raconteur. Miss Prendergast was born in New Zealand but has a strong Irish heritage on one side and an English heritage on the other. She is committed to Te Reo Maori and to the partnership. She has studied Te Reo Maori as part of a Dip. T.E.S.L. at Victoria University. Miss Prendergast's vision for Sacred Heart College embraces the College's Mission Statement and is committed to enhancing the fine academic, sporting and cultural achievements that this college is known for. She is proud of her Catholic heritage and believes in the power of prayer, the life of the spirit, and a commitment to service which was at the heart of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions. She is also proud of the staff of this College. She sees them as the heartwood - The Poutokomanawa of the school (the centre post). She wants the staff to have the very best professional development and to know that the school supports them in their pursuit of excellence. Her educational vision is for:
She believes laughter should be a daily experience and that gospel values should underlie all the day to day relationships within the school community. Her hope is for all the community to pursue wisdom. "Happy is the person who finds wisdom and the person who gets understanding, for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her." Sacred Heart College commends this pursuit of wisdom or 'virtue and knowledge' to its students. The leadership of the College, the Management team and the whole college community is totally committed to this pursuit. Overseas Travels 2003 - 2011In July 2003 Miss Prendergast travelled to Scotland for the International Principals Conference. Principals from Finland, Belgium, Ghana and the United Kingdom to name a few were present. In the second part of her trip Miss Prendergast visited schools in Germany and Ireland to help facilitate a student exchange. Earlier in 2003 Miss Prendergast had also visited China and Japan. In 2006 Miss Prendergast led a group from the Mission Colleges of New Zealand on a pilgrimage to France. Before the start of the pilgrimage proper, Miss Prendergast and Sister Josephine Kane visited Sturry in England where the Foundress of the Mission Colleges Euphrasie Barbier is buried . Some of the places of interest that the group visited in France were Lisieux, home of Saint Therese, Caen, the birthplace of Euphrasie Barbier, St Rambert en Bugey, Lyons, Chartres, Laon and Moissac. In 2007, while on Sabbatical Miss Prendergast visited Ireland, Scotland, and France..... In 2008 Miss Prendergast attended a Catholic Secondary Principals Conference in Adelaide Australia. As well as attending the conference Miss Prendergast also visited an interesting new school called the Nazareth Community. It is two Catholic Secondary schools and three Catholic Primary which have combined. Ultimately there will be 1600 students on two campuses, one primary and one secondary . Miss Prendergast also visited two Aboriginal community centres. In 2010 Miss Prendergast attended the Catholic Secondary Principals of Australia Conference in Hobart Tasmania. The conference took as its theme "Salt and Light for the World" and there was a strong emphasis on eco-theology and sustainability. 
Holy Week Reflection 2011 |
