Being a Catholic school we have a commitment to maintain and develop our special Catholic character that pervades all aspects of school life. 

The school and parish work very closely together in providing a Catholic education for our children. The parish priests are an integral part of the school and the Religious Education programme.

The school’s Mercy tradition is acknowledged in all we do and it is honoured through feast days, music, artworks and links with the Mercy congregation. Catholic traditions are highlighted through the celebration of the liturgical seasons and major feast days.  Children are taught to understand and appreciate the significance of liturgical ritual, customs and prayer in its many forms including traditional prayers in meaningful ways through careful planning, preparation and celebration of liturgy.

All classes in the school teach the prescribed Religious Education curriculum, which is an integral part of other essential learning areas.

Key Points from  our latest Catholic Character Review 

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

St Anne's School, Manurewa is a united Catholic Community of faith, focused on providing an excellent education saturated with the Mercy charism and values and Catholic teachings. It stands as a model for Catholic education with the home, the school and the Parish working together in harmony for the children's spiritual and academic achievement.

LEADERSHIP

• The students, staff, parents and Board of Trustees all acknowledged the deep spirituality of the Principal which influences his leadership.
• His collaborative approach has built a very strong, inclusive and active team of teaching and support staff.
• he is ably supported in his role by the Board of Trustees and by the Senior Management team, which includes the Director of Religious Studies. Leadership is encouraged within the staff and he recognises potential and enables staff to take leadership in many areas.

PARTNERSHIP

• The school has a high standing in the Parish and wider Manurewa community and this is facilitated by the fact that the Principal and a large number of staff members are from the Community, some having been pupils of the school and others whose children have attended the school.

SELF REVIEW

• The school has a very comprehensive and ongoing process for review and development which is led by the Principal and the Director of Religious Studies.

SCHOOL CULTURE

• The Mercy Charism is given prominence in the Charter and school goals. "St Anne's Catholic School is a faith community where each child achieves personal excellence in a climate of Mercy values and the teachings of the Catholic Church."  (Vision Statement)
• The whole school community is aware of the school's Mercy heritage and ongoing links. There is a Mercy Sister on the staff and the Principal is an active Mercy Associate who is closely involved in the Sister's Mission outreach to their Primary school in Fusi, Samoa.
• The school is proudly Catholic and Mercy and the sisters of Mercy must be encouraged and humbled to see their legacy and tradition still being lived out in the practices and activities of the school.

PRAYER AND WORSHIP

• A prayer assembly is held each Monday morning in the church.
• This assembly held at the beginning of each week places God at the centre of the learning and life of the school.
• Annual Retreats are provided for the Year 6 boys and Year 8 girls andf the Board of Trustees holds a retreat on their role as Trustees of the school's Catholic Special Character.

COLLABORATION WITH THE PARISH

• The school community recognises the blessing of having the Parish situated on the same campus and the close ties that exist with the Priests and the Parish community.
• A large number of staff members are active Parishioners of St Anne's involved in Parish Ministries.
• The Priests have a visible presence in and around the school.

STEWARDSHIP

• The school recognises its responsibility to develop in everyone and understanding and appreciation of the teachings of the Catholic faith and to build a faith community who live out the Gospel values. The Charter and the Catholic Special Character Policy in the purposes and guidelines ensure that this is a reality.
• The Charter and Strategic Plan has a very strong Catholic Special Character content in the Vision, Mission Statement and Strategic Goals. The actual outcomes of the Catholic Special Character planned priorities in the Action Plan are reported on annually.

PASTORAL CARE

RELATIONSHIPS

• Pastoral Care at St Anne's is immersed in the Mercy charism.
• The staff and Board of Trustees acknowledge that Pastoral Care is a living reality and  that the staff is a close knit team.
• Staff are very inclusive.
• This is exceptional.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT

• Gospel values are permeated through "everything" including behaviour management strategies.
• The Principal and senior staff have high expectations of staff and students and there is a consistence in work ethic, behaviour management and curriculum delivery.

BICULTURAL COMMITMENT AND CULTURAL AWARENESS

• St Anne's is blessed to have a staff and Board of Trustees that reflects the ethnic diversity of their community.
• These people bring their own worldview and spirituality which enriches their ministry to staff, children and their families

SERVICE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

• The school actively lives out their Mercy charism and Mission Outreach through their ongoing support for St Theresa's School in Fusi, Samoa over the last six years.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

LEADERSHIP

• Over the last two years the school has been reviewing Religious Education.
• The process and documentation epitomises the professional leadership of the Director of Religious Studies.
• She is a long standing and respected staff member and parishioner who understands and lives out the spirit of Mercy and St Anne's
• She is well supported in her position by the Principal, Senior staff and Religious Education team.
• Under their faithful leadership the Catholic Special Character of the school is exemplary.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CURRICULUM

• The curriculum delivery statement states that Religious Education is at the heart of all teaching at St Anne's school.
• The reviewers were impressed with the high standards of teaching and learning throughout the school in all curriculum areas.
• This is reflected in the Religious Education programme being implemented in every classroom.

INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

• Religious Education is not confined  to formal classroom lessons
• It is seen as part of the whole day, and integrated into other learning areas of the curriculum.
• The staff of St Anne's do this extremely well as they witness to their faith in their everyday living.
• Teachers are intentionally integrating the Religious Education curriculum and the success of this is demonstrated all around the school in art, oral and written language, music, dance, drama and in the children's behaviour.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• All staff have a Religious Education development goal as part of the annual appraisal.
• These are usually related to completing a Religious Education qualification and an appropriate level of accreditation or endorsement.

CONCLUSION

• St Anne's Manurewa is a large Mercy school with dedicated leadership, energetic, enthusiastic staff, children who are eager to learn and a happy, nurturing, supportive community spirit. the Catholic Special character and the Mercy charism is integral to the life of the school and the Board of Trustees, staff, parents and parish can justifiably be proud of the school which is very successfully living its mission and purpose to be a faith community where each child achieves personal excellence in a climate of Mercy values and the teachings of the Catholic church.

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