CATHOLIC SPECIAL CHARACTER

At New Brighton Catholic School, our Catholic special character underpins everything that we do. We endeavour to educate students within a caring, Christian atmosphere and hope to share the wonder of God's love with the students we meet.  This is reflected in our Strategic and Annual Plans to connect and grow in our faith. 

Building upon the beliefs, practices and values at home, our staff create a faith-filled, Christ-centered environment for our students to grow spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally. 

By supporting our students to grow in their relationship with Christ, we want to develop the whole person in Jesus Christ.  Our special character is embodied in our Virtues programme, our RE programme, our interactions with one another, prayer, receiving the Sacraments, and various ways that we live out our Catholic faith.

To find out more about the Sacramental Programme, please contact the Christchurch East Parish Office - parish@christchurcheast.org.nz.

OUR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE) PROGRAMME

Religious Education supports faith formation and is the time when we learn more about God - faith seeking understanding.  We prioritise teaching RE in our school and our students are encouraged to ponder and live out their faith with various projects and activities.  

From 2023, we transition to a brand new RE curriculum - Tō Tātou Whakapono | Our Faith.   

There are four themes in this new Curriculum:

This focuses on the nature of God and considers each person in the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.


Focusing on the Sacred Scripture in the Bible, we will invite and equip our students with ways of reading and praying Sacred Scripture.


Focuses on the Church's story so far, but also on our students' own story, the story of our school, people and land.


Focuses on individual and collective actions, responses and participation in the world in terms of understanding and living what it means to be in God's Catholic Church family.

MASSES AND LITURGIES

At NBC, we attend regular whole-school and class Masses.  We have at least two whole-school Masses each term, with fortnightly Masses attended by individual classes or groups.  Our Masses are led by our Y7/8 Special Character Team.  Parents/caregivers and family are welcome and encouraged to attend masses and liturgies which are notified in our weekly newsletter.