Tēnā koutou katoua ngā whānau,
At the close of week 1 of term 3, I reflect on a very busy yet productive week. Our learners and staff are positive about the term ahead and have settled into school life with renewed energy after the holiday break. On Monday we were excited to mihi whakatau our first four new international students since 2020, Valerie Doell (Germany) into year 12, Ing Premprasertsuk (Germany), Nick Boonyakitjakarn (Thailand) and Samuel Weisselberg (Germany) into year 10, we wish them every success in their learning journey at Garin. Our International department would be keen to hear from any families interested in hosting an international student.
I have been impressed with the uptake in face mask wearing by our students and staff following the implementation of our requirement for those eligible to be wearing face masks in all indoor settings for the first 4 weeks of term. We trust that face mask wearing along with our health measures will reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission and winter illnesses within the college. Thank you to all parents and caregivers for ensuring your student is well presented in their uniform, prepared for learning and arriving for the school day before 8.35am each day.
Enrolments for Garin College are now open for 2023. Our Parent Information evening on Wednesday evening was an outstanding success. We welcomed a capacity audience and shared with our wider community the exciting opportunities available to learners through an education at Garin College. I am incredibly impressed with, and appreciate the support and passion of our many student leaders and staff who presented and interacted with the many visiting whānau throughout the evening.
We look forward to welcoming students and whānau to our year 8 College Open Day, on Wednesday 3 July 12:00 – 2:20pm this week. Should you have whānau, friends, colleagues or neighbours considering Catholic, co-ed secondary education for their children, please do encourage them to make contact with our school office for further information and enrolment pack.
We are now preparing for our year 9 – 12 learners to get underway with their course selection for 2023. I encourage Parents and Caregivers to engage in conversations with your student about their career goals and the subject choices they are to make for 2023. Learners will receive course information and have access to subject teachers, year level Deans and our Careers Advisor throughout the course selection period. Parents, Caregivers and Whānau are invited to attend our Course Selection Evening on Wednesday, 10th August. This is an opportunity for learners, parents and whānau to meet with our Deans, Careers advisors, Gateway & Trade advisors and college staff in charge of transition.
The Triannual Board Elections are being held in September this year. Nominations are open for the election of five parent
representatives to the Garin College school board. The nomination form is available here. You can use this form to nominate yourself or someone in your community. Please note the information on who is not eligible to be a board member. Nominations close at noon on Wednesday 3 August 2022. Completed applications can be delivered to the school office or emailed to: returningofficer@cloud.garincollege.ac.nz. Please provide a signed candidate statement (max of 250 words) and a colour head and shoulders photograph (.jpg file) with your nomination. If you wish to learn more about the Garin College Board you may contact the school office or the Board Presiding Member, Mr Chris Ward.
Te Ara a Maria – Mary’s Way. This artwork painted by Damien Walker (called Ko Hata Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua, Holy Mary, Mother of God) is on tour and will be set up for one day at Garin College from 9am to 3pm on Thursday, 4 August as a teaching aid for Garin students in our lead up to the Mass of the Assumption in week 4. In 2020, during the Covid Pandemic, the Catholic Bishops of Aotearoa received a number of requests from worshippers calling on Mary’s protection during significant times. The Bishops agreed to rededicate Aotearoa New Zealand to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven. Te Ara a Maria is to finally rest at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church Wellington
God bless,
Ngā manaakitanga,
John Maguire
Take a moment – Shared by Cardinal John Dew
Prayer for a Community in Time of a Pandemic
God of the branches, God of the vine,
God of the fruit that will last, when much of the familiar is pruned away,
the work routine, the school run, the certainty of our day,
may we see what is good and true blossom in reassuring ways:
colleagues working as one, children learning from home, families praying together.
May these days of great disruption bear out what is always true:
that we can reach others with the love you provide when our roots remain in you.
Amen.