By Katrina Kerr Bell (Principal of Sacred Heart, Lower Hutt)
Archdiocese Principals with Fr Dyson at Garin College, Nelson; Mike Savali (St Patricks Kilbirnie), Myra Coley (Chanel), Rob Fereira (St Patricks Silverstream), Katrina Kerr Bell (Sacred Heart), John Maguire (Garin College), Sarah Parkinson (St Marys), Amelie Kelder (St Catherines), Fr Dyson, Chris Theobald (Bishop Viard).
On the 7th March 2025 the Wellington Catholic Secondary School Principals ventured to Nelson to join with fellow Principal – John Maguire from Garin College.
The group meets twice per term to discuss matters and support one another with the role of Principalship in their respective Colleges and communities. However, the Cook Straight is often a barrier for all of the Archdiocese Secondary School principal’s to join together in person.
Being the only Catholic Secondary School at the top of the South Island, Garin can be isolated from other Catholic Secondary Colleges and although the modernities of Zoom and Email afford regular contact – there is nothing like face to face / kanohi ki te kanohi opportunities to connect.
Seven of the eight North Island based Principals of the Archdiocese were present with only Mr Simon Stack (St Bernard’s College) absent due to attending a school camp.
Following a small mihi whakatau (welcome) Mr Maguire had arranged for his North Island based colleagues to have a tour of the College, celebrate the joy of Mass with some of Garin’s Year 12 / 13 students and then a meet together before breaking bread with one another.
The mass was celebrated by the engaging Fr Dyson and coincided with the annual day of prayer for survivors of abuse in state and faith based care. It was poignant to have the Catholic College representatives join together for this.
Mr Maguire was able to showcase some of the best of Nelson’s wonderful hospitality and the manakitanga of the Garin staff and students was warmly appreciated by gathered principals.