Responsible for continuing the history and traditions of Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy.
St Mary's College's Alumni's purpose is to reconnect with both current and old students, parents, caregivers, current and past staff, and the wider Catholic college community. We welcome anyone who has an interest in supporting and engaging with the College.
St Mary's College Alumni 'Star' Newsletter
August 2022
Tena Koutou from the St Mary's College Alumni.
Welcome back to Term 3! I hope all families have enjoyed good health and a safe break over the past two weeks. Our teachers are excited to be back at work doing what they love!
This month's main focus of our newsletter is centred around our inaugural Alumni breakfast on Thursday, 29 September 2022, from 7.30 am. Come and meet Dame Fran Wilde at the breakfast, she is looking forward to meeting all of you. To learn more about Dame Fran Wilde, please scroll down.
One of the unique and inspirational aspects of St Mary's College is the sense of loyalty and connection the College community has with the school. Where in New Zealand would you find a Girl's College with the deep-rooted faith-based foundations that stan over 170 years? Thank you, Catherine McAuley!
St Mary's College is proud to represent the six elements around the sense of community, membership, influence, integration, fulfilment of needs, and shared emotional connection. We are all connected to the College in some way, shape, or form.
What defines a good community? People with common interests, actions, places, circumstances, etc. At St Mary's College, we are a community of people who share the same interest or passion. A feeling that people have of belonging to a group and being important to one another.
For the past three years, the College community has not had the opportunity to come together as a group, so let us come together on Thursday, 29 September, and celebrate our uniqueness, our faith, and our unwavering commitment to what we hold dear to our heart, that being St Mary's College – 172 years of leading education for young women.
To register and attend the Alumni breakfast, >> CLICK HERE <<. We look forward to seeing you at the breakfast.
As you know, the College and our Board of Proprietors are determined to improve our campus facilities to reflect better and enhance the quality of education the College provides. Last month we launched our Buy-A-Brick and Leave a Legacy campaign. This special campaign has been established for the purpose of raising funds for our current major works project of building an: Accessibility bridge between the McAuley and Carlow buildings and reroofing/reglazing Carlow Block to ensure that the great education offered to so many over our 172 years continues to be available for future generations. Already we have families and past students supporting this initiative by buying a brick. Purchase a brick today and leave your or your families legacy for future generations. Brick donations start at $149.00 + GST. CLICK HERE to order your brick today.
Additionally, the Board of Proprietors and our wonderful Property Manager Jarvis McLean were busy through the holiday break with upgrading classrooms and bathrooms. You will see from the below photos what improvements have been made. You’ll agree they look great. More next holidays!
Lastly, now is a great time to visit the College; if you are considering enrolling your daughter in 2023, please ring the office to make a time. We would love to welcome you and your family to the College. Ph: 04 473-5554.
Should you visit the College, with COVID and winter illness continuing to impact our college community, we ask that you wear a face mask.
Connect and keep updated with the latest news through the various Alumni college community online channels.
Wilde spearheaded initiatives like the planning and construction of the Sky Stadium, which features an elevated accessway to its entrance known as the "Fran Wilde Walk," which opened in June 2005.
It's a very exciting time for the college as we have many reasons to celebrate with our Alumni college community. The delayed celebration of our 170th Anniversary in 2020, the opportunity to come together, and consequently, our Alumni Breakfast date is also the 244th Birthday of Catherine McAuley.
We invite current and past students, families, teaching staff, and anyone who strongly connects with the college to the Inaugural St Mary's College Alumni Breakfast.
Thursday 29 September 2022
7.30 - 9.30 am
Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings
Host: Paul Eagle, MP for Rongotai
Speaker: Dame Fran Wilde
Speaker: Sr Anna Nicholls
Seize the opportunity, let us come together, let us connect, and celebrate what our sisterhood has achieved over these last 172 years.
The ticket price includes a hearty breakfast, juice, coffee, and tea, renowned speakers, and event management.
Ticket price: $49.00 per person
Refund policy: a full refund will be given before ticket sales close on Friday, 9 September 2022, or until sold out. After this date, we cannot provide you with a refund due to confirmed catering numbers and the requirement of advising Parliament of the confirmed guest list. In the event of constraints caused due to COVID, you will be notified of a postponement, and funds will be held with the college until we can confirm a new date.
FIRESIDE CHAT WITH CATHERINE FYFE AND SR ANNA NICHOLLS
BUY-A-BRICK AND LEAVE A LEGACY CAMPAIGN
Thank you to those of you who have purchased a brick. One small step for wo-man, one great step towards the Accessibility Bridge project.
Now is the perfect time to purchase a named engraved brick and be part of the College’s Buy-A-Brick campaign! You can both support the College and also create a very special momento in the College grounds on behalf of you, your child(ren) and/or their families, Old Girls, current students, families, current and past parents, staff, supporters and organisations are all invited to help us with this campaign as we build this wonderful walkway between our two main tower blocks and update Carlow block for the next generation.
Background
This special fund has been established for the purpose of raising funds for the major works project that we are working on to build an accessibility bridge between the McAuley and Carlow buildings and to reroof and re-glaze the adjoining Carlow Tower. The funds raised will be in the name of St Mary’s College Wellington Ltd, the proprietor/owner of the College. All income generated used exclusively to fund these major works projects.
These works will enable students to move from one building to another at every level and provide lift access for those with access needs to our two major buildings. They will also ensure that our four- storey Carlow Block is weather-proof and that the windows have modern double-glazing with consequential heating and cooling benefits. We are using our accumulated Policy One funds, the generous gift from the Sisters of Mercy and a facility provided through the NZ Catholic Education Finance debt-servicing scheme to fund these two major projects. The total cost is currently estimated to be in excess of $5.5million but costs and standards are continuing to increase.
We need your help to cover $500,000 (half a million dollars), to enable this project to go ahead. The Accessibility Bridge project build is scheduled to start in late 2023 or early 2024, allowing us time to raise funds before we begin this project.
We welcome donations from all members of the College community. Every donation will be honoured and your contribution will literally change the lives of young women today, and for years to come.
Nominations are open! - Get involved in your Kura:)
We are seeking six parent representatives for the St Mary's College School Board (Board of Trustees).
We invite you to consider becoming a parent representative on the St Mary's College School board. All parents and caregivers have been emailed election information, including a nominations form and a link to the election portal.
Nominations are due by midday Wednesday 2 August.
For more information, don't hesitate to get in touch with the school office via email.
SCIENCE INNOVATIONS
In late May, students, Carla Parinas and Erin Botuyan entered the 2022 CRISiS Lab Challenge competition run by Massey University. In short, they had to create a presentation, with python coding examples, of how they can use the data streaming from the seismometer (a Raspberry Shake) in Lab 16 to detect earthquakes and then alert the public of an approaching earthquake. Their approach is somewhat different to detecting earthquakes, in that they came at the problem from a Game design angle: using the vibration sensors in the seismometer to design a dance game that determines the position of your feet relative to the sensors.
Working in their own time, they had to present their results on the 23rd of June and out of 20+ teams in the Wellington Area (from 8 Colleges), they are one of 9 teams selected to move into the second phase of the competition. The comment from the CRSISiSLab judges is that the girls had created the most entertaining video presentation out of all of the schools. They will now have to actually make their code work with multiple seismographs, physically make the game, and compete directly with the other 8 teams on the 23rd of September. We wish Carla and Erin the best of luck!
ARE YOU A LOVER OF MUSIC
St Mary's College is proud to share we have many budding musicians in our midst but not all have the means to access suitable instrumental lessons. Many of you may remember those days spent happily in the music room at College. Now is the perfect time for you to help some of our musically talented students.
If you are a lover of music and have a keen desire to help a student to grow their musical talent through sponsoring individual lessons, please get in touch with our Head of Learning area: Music, Emi Steedman via email. Your help and support with this will be very meaningful.
HOLIDAY RENOVATIONS
Over the school holiday period, our Property Manager was busily renovating parts of the College. Here are a few photos of what they achieved, and some of their outcomes. Making it a great place to learn for our students returning in Term 3, 2022.
CELEBRATING OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
Another of our students has experienced success in the musical arena.
Regina Fernandes submitted a piece to the Orchestras Central and University of Waikato 2022 Composition Competition. She has been selected as one of the "winners" of this competition and will have her piece "Bittersweet Waltz" rehearsed, performed and recorded by the Orchestras Central Ensemble. A great achievement as the standard of entries would have been very high!
The Wellington Pride team has been named
We are very proud to learn that two of our present St Mary's College 1st XV players are now members of Wellington Pride team. Arene Landon-Lane and Justine McGregor.
Last weekend was the opening weekend of the 2022 Bunnings Farah Palmer Cup campaign with Wellington Pride taking on Canterbury in Porirua. Newcomer Arene Landon-Lane gets the nod for number 10. “Credit to Arene getting her start. She came into the squad to learn from the senior players and has taken every opportunity, and now she gets the chance to shine on the big stage. Age isn't a factor here, she's ready to play,” said Head Coach Zak Feaunati. To read the Stuff article, CLICK HERE.
Whitney Souness stars in Silver Ferns' Commonwealth Games warm-up win
We are very proud to learn that Old Girl Whitney Souness has earned the Silver Ferns' starting centre bib for the Commonwealth Games with her standout play. Souness was a major winner from last week’s Cadbury Series Commonwealth Games warm-up tournament in Auckland.
Commonwealth Games: Nicole Toomey's emotional tribute to her late father
Birmingham 2022 will be Old Girls Nicole Toomey's debut Commonwealth Games, competing in the Women's Triples and Fours disciplines. It’s a goal she first wrote down at 15. It was that age when he was selected for a talent development squad. The whole team sat down and wrote their goals. This one has finally been reached. “It proves hard work and goals written down on paper, it’s achievable,” she said.
Ever wanted to have breakfast at Parliament? Why not join us and celebrate St Mary's, our amazing daughters and show our support to the school community. Friends of St Mary's invites both current and past students, families, teaching staff, and anyone who has a strong connection with the college to the Inaugural St Mary's College Alumni Breakfast.
Thursday 29 September 2022
7.30 - 9.30 am
Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings
Host: Paul Eagle, MP for Rongotai
Speaker: Dame Fran Wilde
Speaker: Sr Anna Nicholls
Seize the opportunity, let us come together, let us connect, and celebrate what our sisterhood has achieved over these last 172 years. We look forward to reconnecting with you. To register, >> CLICK HERE <<
Mona Kruse Hurnen, Chair of FOSM
FOSM SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP UPDATE
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WONDERFUL UNIFORM DONATIONS! They are already being put to good use!
Today, Monday 1 August, we open the Second-Hand Uniform Shop between 1.30 – 2.30 pm. The next shop opening is on the 1st Monday of each month, during term time, Monday 5 September.
Between now and then, we are asking you to consider donating your no-longer-needed St Mary’s College uniform items. Friends of St Mary’s (FOSM) are a not-for-profit group, and all proceeds from the Second-Hand Uniform Shop are channelled back into the College. Your donations will help us continue to offer scholarships and support to St Mary’s College.
Should you wish to donate any items, we ask that they are in very good condition. Drop your uniform item into the College office before Term 3 ends on Friday, 30 September.
To learn more about where the shop is located in the College, pricing, donating uniform items, etc. CLICK HERE >> https://lnkd.in/dxuayc9r
On behalf of the Friends of St Mary’s College, THANK YOU for supporting our service and your College.
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.
St Mary's College's Alumni's purpose is to reconnect with both current and old students, parents, caregivers, current and past staff, and the wider Catholic college community. We welcome anyone who has an interest in supporting and engaging with the College.
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 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. 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, via the SMOGA webpage.
SISTERS OF MERCY: LASTING REFLECTIONS
Sister of Mercy member, Sr Anna Nicholls shares with us her reflections and spiritual nourishment tips.
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,and 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 current and past students, families,and 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.
Our next newsletter will be distributed on Monday 5 September 2022. Newsletter submissions close mid-August 2022.
Nga Mihi,
Sally Dunbar
Community Director
P: +64 4 473 5554,
E: alumni@stmw.school.nz
St Marys College Term Dates 2022
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.
