Aquinas College, Tauranga


Aquinas College is a state-integrated Designated Special Character school on the southwestern outskirts of Tauranga City, New Zealand. It is a Roman Catholic co-educational school that combines collegiate and intermediate. It was founded in 2003 with St. Thomas Aquinas as its patron by the first Principal Brendon Schollum.

Principals

The school has four houses. They are:
Each house is represented by a different colour, and each represents a well known Catholic person> These people throughout their lives have represented all of the different touchstones the School is well known for. Bishop Denis Browne- Browne House, Heni Pore Karamu- Heni Pore House, The Cluny Sisters- Cluny House, Father Pat Foy- Foy House. The annual House Championship is fiercely contested for in a multitude of different events across the Schools calendar year. Houses are divided into the classic separate Tutor classes. Every year, each house always has 8 tutor classes and these are the core groups involved in battling for the house championship. While also competing for their house, tutor classes will compete in smaller competitions for prizes and bragging rights over the others.

Sport

Aquinas fields numerous teams across a wide range of sports, with many teams and individuals representing the College regionally and nationally, including: basketball, rugby, hockey, rock climbing, sailing, surf lifesaving, touch rugby, windsurfing, badminton, cross country, water polo, netball, football, gymnastics, squash, cricket, golf, multi-sports, swimming, snow sports, track running, volleyball, tennis, rowing and air-pistol shooting.

Curriculum

NCEA levels 1, 2 and 3 are offered for years ten to thirteen. An accelerate year 10 class in the subjects of science and math undergo NCEA level 1 work similar to year 11 students. Religious Education is compulsory as a subject from years seven to year thirteen.