SPECIAL+CHARACTER

St Thomas Aquinas is a State Integrated Catholic School and part of the New Zealand State Education system. This agreement was made between the State and the Catholic Church under the Integration act of 1975. Under this Act St Thomas Aquinas School has a maximum roll of 105 students and enrolments are made up of Students with Preference (Students that have a Catholic connection as described by the Bishop Conference) and a 5% allocation of places for Open Enrolment for those students who may not have Preference. ||
 * **The Catholic special character of St Thomas School guides and underpins the school’s vision for education. The relatively small size of the school is used to advantage to ensure the school’s values around wellbeing and positive, trusting relationships are very visible in practice. (ERO 2014)**

Our 2014 theme is **Spirituality** The Special Character of the school is reflected in the teaching and practice of the Religious Education Programme and in all areas of school life.
 * ===__Special Character __===

__Religious Education Programme __
It is the belief of St Thomas Aquinas School that the home nurtures, witnesses to, celebrates and develops faith in God. The School supports the family - whanau and parish by teaching the Religious Education Programme.

__School Mass __
The school celebrates Mass together at various times throughout the school year. Parents, family and friends are invited to attend.

__Class Mass __
Each term classes lead a Wednesday morning Mass or Liturgy. Parents, family and friends are invited to attend these.

__School Prayers __
Each Monday classes take turns to lead whole school prayers. All parents are welcome to attend. Time: 9.00am. Place: Hall.

__Sacramental Programme __
The Sacramental Programme for Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist are both school and parish based. The school supports the family - whanau and parish within the Religious Education programme. ||

<span style="background-color: #000000; color: #00ff00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">**Sunday Mass 10.30am** <span style="background-color: #000000; color: #00ff00; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;">**Saturday Vigil 7pm**

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Religious Education in the classroom encompasses:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Teaching and learning what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Understanding and appreciating the ways the Catholic Church celebrates, lives and prays.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Teaching children how to respond freely to God according to their gift of faith.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Delivering the essence and spirit of the Gospel Values and the Bible stories

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Parish Sacramental Programmes <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 1.5;">The sacraments mark important milestones in the children’s faith which are celebrated by the whole school and parish community. At St Thomas Aquinas School we encourage our students to celebrate the sacraments and we support them, in partnership with the parish to undertake the sacramental programmes. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The sacraments of initiation are baptism, reconciliation, confirmation and Eucharist. Traditionally in the Catholic Church of New Zealand, in the case of children, this initiation process is extended over a number of years. Typically we run our sacramental programme on alternate years.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Parents are the first educators in faith. A child’s faith comes from the family who nurtures it. The parish and school accompany and support families in this. Most children are baptised as infants and then when old enough prepared for the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist which complete the initiation process.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Participation in the Church’s sacramental life is the means through which people enter more fully the faith life of the community.

=__ 2014 Sacramental Programme __=

9 April - Reconciliation 7pm

29 June - Confirmation 10.30am

23 November - First Communion 10.30am

|| The Sacrament of Penance (or Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession) is for spiritual healing. Catholics believe Jesus left the Sacrament of Penance because only God’s grace can heal a wounded soul.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 22px; line-height: 19.5px;">Reconciliation: **

After you confess your sins, the priest gives you a penance to perform. This may be doing something nice for others and/or a set of prayers, such as saying the Our Father or the Hail Mary, a certain number of times. || || This sacrament is called Confirmation because the faith given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong. Confirmation means accepting responsibility for your faith and destiny. The focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith. Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms Catholics during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the same gifts and fruits. The ceremony may take place at Mass and the Bishop wears red vestments to symbolize the red tongues of fire seen hovering over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. || || Of all seven sacraments the Holy Eucharist or Holy Communion is the most central and important to Catholicism. The Holy Eucharist is food for the soul, so it’s given and eaten during Holy Communion at the Mass. When you receive Holy Communion, you’re intimately united with Jesus Christ — he literally becomes part of you. Also, by taking Holy Communion, you express your union with all Catholics who believe the same doctrines, obey the same laws, and follow the same leaders.
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 22px; line-height: 19.5px;">Confirmation: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 22px; line-height: 19.5px;">First Communion: **

When boys and girls make their First Holy Communion, it’s a big occasion for Catholic families. Like their Baptism, the day of First Communion is one filled with family, friends, and feasting after the sacred event has taken place in church. ||

|| <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The chief priest of the diocese (the word derives from the Greek word episcopus meaning an overseer) who shares with priests their general ministry but in a senior leadership role within a diocese. He fulfils the pastoral roles of teacher and Shepard. The Bishop of our Diocese is Bishop Colin Campbell. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The term is understood in a number of ways, 'Catholic' comes from the Greek term meaning 'universal' or 'world-wide'. So that the term refers to a communion of churches who are linked especially through the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). Sometimes called the 'Roman Catholic Church' for that reason. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">A formal statement of faith and a summary of Christian beliefs. The most familiar are the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">A cross with the figure of the crucified Jesus upon it. Used by Catholics to bring to mind the suffering of Christ. Our school has a large crucifix situated in our gardens. Upon the cross is a number of key words and images reflecting the special character of our school. The images were created by one of our Y8 students. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The administrative unit (normally a geographical region) of the Church presided over by a bishop. Our school belongs to the Dunedin Diocese which encompasses all of the Catholic schools from Oamaru to Southland. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">From the Greek word meaning 'thanksgiving'; the term used to name the sacrament popularly called the 'Mass'. Sometimes the term is used to describe consecrated elements received in communion. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The gift of God's love and help which is given to humankind freely, without any previous efforts on our part. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Water which has been blessed by a priest. Catholics touch themselves with the holy water as they make the sign of the cross on entering a church as a reminder of their baptism. It is also used to bless certain objects to recognise their sacredness. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The wafer of consecrated bread which Catholics receive at Holy Communion. It is usually round and thin for convenience, and there are two sizes - the larger is used by the priest at the altar. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">From the Greek words meaning, literally 'the work of the people'; it is used in the Christian Churches for public, formal acts of worship. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The books of scripture written, it is thought, from approximately the years between AD 50 and no later than AD 120, which recount the life of Jesus and contain letters attributed to some of Jesus' earliest followers, reflecting on his message. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The collection of sacred books of the Jewish scriptures, sometimes called the Hebrew Bible or Hebrew Scripture, which are included together with the New Testament to make up the book called the Bible. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">A smaller geographic region in each diocese, with its own priest. Our St Thomas Aquinas Parish has Father Hamesh Wyatt residing in the Presbytery located at the back of the school. || || <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">The Pontiff of the Catholic Church, known as the Holy Father. The Pope is the bishop of the diocese of Rome. The word pope come from the Greek pappas meaning 'father'. The Pope of our Catholic Church is Pope Francis. ||
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Useful Terminology: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Bishop **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">:
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Catholic: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Creed: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Crucifix: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Diocese: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Eucharist: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Grace: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Holy Water: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Host: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Liturgy **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">:
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">New Testament: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Old Testament: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Parish: **
 * **<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; line-height: 19.5px;">Pope: **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">**__<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">BLESSINGS - MANAAKITANGA __** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Blessings are a way to praise God and request God's loving care. Blessings can be given to people, places and things. Blessings remind us of God's loving presence - God's eye's are on us always.

**<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Check out the links below that help explain a little about important people and organisations associated with our school: ** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;">
 * [[image:st-thomas-aquinas/sister_of_mercy.jpg width="148" height="202" caption="Click here to find out more about the Order who established our school - The Sisters of Mercy"]] || [[image:http://wordonfire.org/getmedia/5ea956ba-4b52-4870-a696-724e8e5bdc8b/St.-Thomas-Aquinas.aspx width="168" caption="Click here to find out more about our Patron Saint - Saint Thomas Aquinas"]] || [[image:st-thomas-aquinas/caritas.jpg width="271" height="202"]] || [[image:http://www.catholic-kids.com/images/t_banner1.GIF width="278" height="56" caption="Catholic Kids"]] ||
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; text-align: center;">**The school's Catholic character is highly evident. Student's and their families are quickly made to feel a part of the school and it's community. The Catholic character and values are strongly evident in the caring and respectful relationships throughout the school. (ERO 2011)** ||