Responsible for continuing the history and traditions of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, students of St Mary’s College actively live Mercy Values.
St Mary's College Alumni 'Star' Newsletter
March 2021
Kia Ora and welcome,
On behalf of St Mary's College, the Board of Proprietors, and myself, Sally Dunbar, I warmly welcome the wider college community to the St Mary's College Alumni. Curious? Pop over to our Alumni community homepage on the St Mary's College website.
The start of the College year was welcomed by many, with glorious days of sunshine. The landscape soon changed to one where all schools adjusted to the new challenge of wearing masks to protect against Covid-19 as the school year got underway. We also had the extra bonus, of keeping both students and the College faculty safe, from the developments surrounding the occupation at Parliament.
Andrew Murray, Principal, says, "wishes to thank everyone for their patience and manaakitanga over this period of time. Your support has been overwhelming, and we thank you for that".
At times like this, we lean on what we know, that of prayer. The Sisters of Mercy offer daily devotion and prayer resources through their website. If you need support, submit your prayer request through the link below.
On a another positive note, as we prepare for the start of our new building works next year that will link the McAuley and Carlow blocks, we will be launching a Supporters Buy-A-Brick campaign. The bricks will be laid around the lift shaft wall. Imagine having your family name, or business name engraved on a brick that will serve as a lasting testament to the College community and to future generations. A legacy for your grandchildren or great-grandchildren to visit and view! More to come on this soon.
Our thoughts are with the wider college community and we send you resilience blessings as NZ travels this journey over the following months.
It is my great pleasure to welcome all new students, parents, whanau, caregivers and our wider community to our March 2022 newsletter to our Alumni from Sally. Please take the time to formally sign up to our Alumni whanau and to read our updates.
I wanted to take this time to thank everyone at the College for the tremendous work that has been undertaken in our first month back at College. To all our teachers, support staff and leadership team, you have prepared for the new year with such dedication. You have also had to do so whilst also preparing for the inevitable arrival of Omicron. Added to that, we have had the challenge of the protest nearby at Parliament. To read the full article, click on the READ MORE button.
Erana Ngarimu- Head Girl
Kaitiaki Māori - Māia Cherrington
Sarah Hay - Deputy Head Sports
Regina Fernandez - Deputy Head Special Character
Michelle Harach- Deputy Head Arts
Tahlia Samuelu - Deputy Head Culture
Bianca Diaz - Deputy Head Houses
Antonia Gray - Deputy Head Levels
A message from our new leaders; We can't wait to see what this year holds, even with some added restrictions we know we can make it a great one.
_________________________
“What I love about St Mary’s is our long tradition of Mercy sisterhood. It is such an incredible honour to follow in generations of young women who have belonged to our college” Alex, Year 13 student
FAREWELL TO THE OLD CHAPEL
You will fondly remember the Old Chapel that sat proudly next to the Sisters of Mercy building and St Mary's College. Can you remember the days when you sat in the Old Chapel, or you walked past it each day as you came onto the College grounds?
Last year the Sisters of Mercy made the hard decision to demolish the Old Chapel, due to structural requirements. At this stage, the building will not be replaced however this does leave a wonderful space for our current students to enjoy until a decision is made on how the space will be used in the future.
The Sister's commitment to prayer is always so inspiring. Of course, one assumes nuns pray. But our nuns really pray. The Old Chapel was well used whether for prayer early in the morning, in the middle of the day, or even late at night. This building was a steadfast part of the St Mary's College landscape.
OLD CHAPEL HISTORY
The convent and chapel were designed by Structon Group and built by Fletcher Construction Company. The Foundation Stone was blessed in July 1961 (the build was not yet completed) on the occasion of the centenary of the Sisters of Mercy arriving in Wellington in 1861. The Sisters moved into their new home in 1963 and in 1964 the chapel was blessed by Archbishop (later Cardinal) McKeefry.
St Mary's College Archives was set up in 1999 on the eve of the College's 150th Jubilee in 2000.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Margaret Deere who recently retired from the Archivist role. Through the years, she has made an enormous contribution to the collection and protection of St Mary's College history, and for that, we will always be ever thankful.
It is with great pleasure that I am pleased to share Old Girl Olivia Quigan has accepted the St Mary's College Archivist position.
She will be supported by the St Mary's College Alumni, Old Girl Trisha Nally, and College representatives Mark Hurley and Erica Leahy.
Welcome to Old Girl, Olivia Quigan.
I was a student at St Mary's from 2006 - 2010. I am excited to be joining the School again to manage the archives, taking over from the esteemed Mrs Deere, who has been at the School for many years and a great part of my time here.
I was Head Librarian during my final year, which was also the School's 160th Jubilee. We celebrated by sharing many aspects of the School's past - from uniforms to photos of old students and buildings. I look forward to helping ensure we can stay connected to the School's long history.
After leaving college, I studied at Victoria University, gaining a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Conservation Biology. I currently work as a Policy Adviser in the Public Sector. I play and coach netball, enjoy reading and get out into Wellington's hills for bird-watching walks in my spare time.
Watch this space. Over the following months, once the team has established itself, we will have lots to share with you.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW FRIENDS OF ST MARYS COLLEGE COMMITTEE (FOSM)
Friends of St Mary’s College (formerly the St Mary’s College Parent Association) is responsible for the hospitality, and fundraising at the college.
On 15 February 2022, we held the inaugural Friends of St Mary's College committee meeting.
I wish to pass on my congratulations to our newly elected Friends of St Mary's College committee members;
Chair; Mona Kruse Hurnen
Secretary; Ruth Vasene
Treasurer; Vacant (Sally Dunbar, temporary)
Second Hand Uniform Shop Co-ordinator; Tasi Commack
Angels Co-ordinator; Benita Murray
Volunteer Co-ordinator; Vacant
Committee members; Vacant
Our next meeting is on Monday 21 March 2022 at 5 pm, via Zoom.
Note, while New Zealand is currently at "red" (COVID traffic light system setting), St Mary's College is unable to open the Second Hand Uniform Shop. When the traffic system setting moves to "orange" or "green," we will review this and seek advice from the Ministry of Education.
We welcome parents, caregivers, and extended family to volunteer to help us support our college community. To volunteer, and join the group, or our mailing list to receive our newsletters, send your email address to email or simply join our monthly committee meetings. We look forward to welcoming you to the next FOSM meeting.
Since those humble beginnings, St Mary's College has grown into one of the oldest existing schools in New Zealand with an enrolment of approximately 600 students.
We are very proud of our many former students who have gone on to be successful in both their private and business lives. The new STMC Alumni past students are making their mark on the world! In all areas of Arts, Community, Culture, Sport, Science, Business and the Environment they contribute to and enhance our lives.
We love to hear of your endeavours and one way is by keeping in touch with us. Join us through the St Mary's College website, our social media channels, or send us an email.
How can you be involved?
Get in touch, we would love it if you reconnected with us,
Spread the word, we want to make sure that all old girls, families, and faculty are aware of this new initiative,
Pay it Forward, and give back to the college community in kind, or through donation.
The Board of Proprietors and the STMC Alumni encourages and facilitates the generous gifts and donations which flow from past students, families, and businesses who have had a past or current connection with the college. Our focus over the coming months is to ensure that the vision and passion of sisterhood through Catherine McAuley's eyes and endeavours continue to educate and empower our young women.
Donations towards,
Scholarships, Growing Great Women!
Student Experiences,
Equipment and Technology,
Teaching and Leadership,
Building Infrastructure and Enhancement,
Student Financial Hardship,
General Board of Proprietors Fund (infrastructure of the college, building upgrades, etc)
Or, in kind. Can you provide goods and services?
There are many ways you can give, other than in monetary terms.
I am very excited to share that as we prepare for the start of our new building works next year that will link the McAuley and Carlow blocks, we will be launching a Supporters Buy-A-Brick campaign.
Imagine having your family name, or business name engraved on a brick that will serve as a lasting testament to the College community and to future generations. A legacy for your grandchildren or great-grandchildren to visit and view! More to come on this, in the coming months.
OTHER ALUMNI COMMUNITY NEWS
WORK EXPERIENCE REQUEST
St Mary’s College is currently developing and broadening a work experience programme for our senior students. We are asking local businesses and government agencies to support our programme by hosting one or two St Mary’s students for a small number of work experience days. The course supports students with career planning and making choices about future employment. One way to do this is by allowing them to see and experience real workplaces and real jobs, first-hand. If you can help us by hosting a student, we would love to hear from you.
Please let us know if you can help, by emailing Anne Paton or phoning us on 04-473-5554 to discuss further.
Many of you would have lived and breathed sport when you attended college. The many sports codes we run play an important part at the College and have an enormous impact on the college student experience. We continue to develop and thrive at our traditional sports of netball, rugby, basketball, rowing, football, volleyball, and hockey.
We also encourage participation in handball, water polo, futsal, badminton, cricket, golf, kio-rahi, touch, and golf, and place great importance on our large amount of social teams. We are very proud that a large number of St Mary's students are selected for either Regional, National or International representation.
We are at a crucial time with our sports teams. Please help support our students so that they can continue to excel in this area and have the vital equipment they need to play a good game. We ask the Alumni community to become a volunteer coach or help with a donation towards funding the sports kits we hand out to volunteer coaches and teams at the start of the season. Can you help? If so, please email us through the below button/link.
(A new date will be advised later in 2022)
7.30 - 9.30 am
Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings
Host: Paul Eagle, MP for Rongotai
Speaker: Dame Fran Wilde
On 23rd January 2022, all of NZ moved into the “red” traffic light system setting. This change has had a direct impact on the below event which was originally scheduled for 30 March 2022.
VENUE HIRE: While New Zealand is currently at "red" (COVID traffic light system setting), St Mary's College is unable to hire out any of its facilities to external parties. When the traffic system setting moves to "orange" or "green," we will review this and seek advice from the Ministry of Education.
ST MARY'S OLD GIRLS' ASSOCIATION (SMOGA)
The St Mary’s Old Girls’ Association (SMOGA) is focused on enjoying the friendship of those who have been past pupils of St Mary’s College Wellington and their friends. We normally have a variety of social events during the year but the last 18 months have been different because of the COVID restrictions. We hope to have interesting, fun events in 2022 when most people are vaccinated. Past pupils and friends of the College of all ages are encouraged to attend. We do have a lot of fun and enjoy sharing our lives, past and present, with each other. While we are having fun we also try to raise a little money to help the current group of students at the College who are in need.
If you would like more information about these events or would like to join our association then please contact Judy Houlahan.
Let us embrace "kaiako" (feeder of knowledge), and embrace leadership that is reciprocal (ie, the teacher and child have opportunities to learn from each other). The spirit of St Mary’s college represents this, we are truly unique, we are all part of one thread, the sharing of knowledge, we are a community that has experiences and memories that span over 170 years.
Today it is so important to network, interact and stay in touch — the alumni network offers students, families, the wider college team a host of benefits. One thing that will always remain in our Sisterhood. It is solid, it is constant, it is a community of women, a family, we are all linked by a common interest. Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all.
We must strive to do ordinary things, extraordinarily well. Catherine McAuley
Our next newsletter will be distributed in early April 2022. Newsletter submissions close mid-March 2022.
Nga Mihi,
Sally Dunbar
Community Director
P: +64 4 473 5554,
E: sally.dunbar@stmw.school.nz
St Marys College Term Dates 2022
Term 1: Wednesday 2nd February -Thursday 14th April
Term 2: Monday 2nd May - Friday 8th July
Term 3: Monday 25th July - Friday - 30th September
Term 4: Monday 17th October - Friday 9th December
Disclaimer
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this correspondence is complete and accurate, St Mary's College does not represent or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, or that this information is suitable for use in every situation. The College, and its directors and officers, do not accept any responsibility or liability arising directly or indirectly from or in connection with your use or reliance on this information, or from any omission in the information.
