Marist College, Auckland

Marist College (originally called Marist Sisters College) is an integrated Catholic girls high school located in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. It teaches from year 7 through to year 13 with an education "founded on the Catholic faith", and as of 2019 had a student roll of 760.[4]

Marist College
Address
31 Alberton Avenue,
Mount Albert

Auckland

New Zealand
Coordinates36.8817°S 174.7257°E / -36.8817; 174.7257
Information
TypeState integrated
MottoLatin: Ad Jesum per Mariam
"To Jesus through Mary"
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic
Established1928; 92 years ago
Ministry of Education Institution no.70
PrincipalRaechelle Taulu[1]
Years7-13
GenderGirls
School roll774[2]
Socio-economic decile7O[3]
Websitemaristcollege.school.nz

The college was associated with a cluster of 96 COVID-19 cases in early 2020.[5]

Foundation

The college was founded in 1928.[6] According to the college, it was founder by the Marist Sisters,[7] a congregation or order of Roman Catholic women started in France during the early 19th century by Jeanne-Marie Chavoin and Jean-Claude Colin. The college was initially called Marist Sisters College;[6] it officially changed its name to Marist College in 2000.

History

COVID-19 cluster
See also: COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, a large cluster of cases was associated with the school.[8] The school closed on 23 March 2020 after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.[9] It stayed shut after a Government decision to close all New Zealand schools. Marist College reopened on 18 May, at the same time as other schools; before reopening, all staff, students and families were offered free Covid-19 testing and more than 900 tests were done.[10] There were 96 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the Marist College cluster, making it the second-largest cluster in New Zealand.[5] On 15 June, the Ministry of Health declared the Marist College cluster to be closed.[11][12]

Black Lives Matter and allegations of racism
See also: George Floyd protests in New Zealand

In June 2020, teachers at Marist College tore down posters placed by students to promote the Black Lives Matter movement. The school's student cultural leader quit the role over the teachers' actions and said that the college had a systemic problem with racism against students.[13][14] Further students also voiced concerns, alleging systemic racism at the school.[15] In a statement, the school's principal, Raechelle Taulu, said that the school was aware of the students' concerns "about racism in our society and in the world" that the school rejects actions and attitudes that are racist and violent, and that it was "reviewing the issues raised".[15] Taulu also threatened police action against the students; in a school assembly recorded by a student without her consent, Taulu said that while the cause was "amazing", the actions of some students was "non-Catholic", and said that she felt the student had defamed her character.[16] The Catholic Diocese of Auckland, which owns Marist College, said it would mediate a meeting with students who have raised issues.[17]

On 16 June, 30 students staged a peaceful protest against alleged "systematic racism" at Marist College.[18]

Operation and events

The whole school community, through the general school programme and its instruction and observances, exercises the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ. Marist College has daily prayers, regular celebrations of the sacrament of the Eucharist and formal study of a religious education programme.

Each year, Marist College celebrates Marist Day, starting with Mass in the morning and a themed fun time after that. It is always on 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. In 2008, it celebrated Marist Day's 30th Anniversary, which started in 1978.

Every year, Marist College holds Family Festival, a festival for numerous cultures dances, many foods and cultural activities.

For year 7 and 8, a social is held either at Marist College, St Peters College, etc around October. The social includes dancing and formality.

According to the school, the school has four houses, named after significant members of the Marist Story:[19]

NameColourNamed after
ChavoinRedJeanne-Marie Chavoin (1786–1858), founded the Marist Sisters with Jean-Claude Colin
ChanelYellowSt Peter Chanel (1803–1841), a Marist priest who, as a missionary in Futuna was martyred in 1841
ColinGreenFather Jean-Claude Colin (1790–1875), the founder of the Marist family
ChampagnatBlueSt Marcellin Champagnat (1789–1840), a Marist priest who founded the Marist Brothers

In 2019, the school had the following ethnic makeup: NZ European/Pākehā 40%, Māori 10%, Indian 10%, Samoan 10%, South East Asian 8%, Tongan 8%, Chinese 5%, other Pacific groups 5%, other ethnic groups 4%.[4]

Notable alumnae
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References
  1. "Marist College". www.educationcounts.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  2. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  3. "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  4. Education Review Report 2019 (from the Education Review Office. Retrieved 19 April 2020.)
  5. "COVID-19 - Significant clusters". Ministry of Health NZ. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  6. "The key to living to 100? Laughter". Stuff. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. "History of the College - Marist College". www.maristcollege.school.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  8. Clent, Danielle (1 April 2020). "Coronavirus: Auckland's Marist College cluster reaches 50". Stuff. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  9. "Back to school after lockdown: 80 percent of children return to classes with hygiene rules". RNZ. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  10. "Back to school after lockdown: 80 percent of children return to classes with hygiene rules". RNZ. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  11. Martin, Hannah (15 June 2020). "Coronavirus: Marist College cluster officially 'closed', health authorities say". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. Kirkness, Luke (15 June 2020). "Covid 19 coronavirus: Marist College cluster officially closed by Ministry of Health". New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. "Marist College students in trouble over Black Lives Matter posters". Radio New Zealand. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. "Student says Marist College teachers are racist towards her peers". Radio New Zealand. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. "Marist College students unite over school's Black Lives Matter response". Radio New Zealand. 10 June 2020. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  16. "Marist College principal threatens students with police action after Black Lives Matter posters torn down". NZ Herald. 11 June 2020. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. "Diocese to meet school after Black Lives Matter posters torn down". Radio New Zealand. 11 June 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  18. Clent, Danielle (16 June 2020). "Marist College students hold Black Lives Matter protest after posters torn down". Stuff. Archived from the original on 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  19. "Pastoral care - Marist College". www.maristcollege.school.nz. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  20. Smith, Janie (1 September 2009). "Lucy cast in ultimate role". Stuff. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  21. Cheng, Derek (28 January 2019). "Meet Parliament's new MP: Agnes Loheni, National Party list MP". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
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