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Marcellin College Newsletter 2026
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Marcellin College
Newsletter
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Identity, Pride, and the Future of Our Marcellin Uniform
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School uniform plays a vital role in shaping the daily life of a school. Beyond practical daily wear, a uniform fosters a strong sense of identity, equality, and pride. It signals that when our students walk through the gates, they belong to something larger than themselves - a shared community grounded in Marist values. Wearing our colours proudly reminds our young people of who they are and the legacy they carry.
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Over Marcellin College’s history, our uniform has evolved, and listening to our community is an essential part of that journey. In 2025, parents and students shared feedback regarding uniform quality, design, and supplier service with The Warehouse. The BOT took those concerns seriously and made the decision at the end of last year to end our contract with The Warehouse.
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We have now officially signed a contract with NZ Uniforms as our new exclusive supplier for all school and sports uniforms starting in 2027.
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Together with NZ Uniforms, we have designed a refreshed uniform with a sharp, clear brand identity. It honours our heritage by drawing directly from the original colours of our school crest: Royal Blue, White, and Gold.
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Over the past few weeks, our students have had the chance to try on sample garments and share their feedback, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Senior parents (Years 11–13) also got a first look at the samples during our meeting this week. There is immense excitement across the College - especially around the introduction of blazers for all Year 11, 12, and 13 students.
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- Supplier Location: From the beginning of 2027, all uniform items will be purchased directly from the NZ Uniforms Penrose store or online.
- Rollout Timeline: The new uniform will roll out gradually over a three-year transition period starting in 2027 to ensure a smooth, cost-effective transition for families.
- Further Details: Full information regarding pricing, store hours, the phased rollout schedule, and purchasing details will be shared next term.
We look forward to seeing our students wear this refreshed look with pride as we step into this exciting next chapter together.
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Optima Quaere - Seek the Best
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IMPORTANT DATES: Week 10 - Term 3
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Monday 21 September - Friday 25 September
- Navigators Mentoring (A7&8, A13), Time: 8.45am Venue: Chapel
- Year 13 Production, Time: 6.30pm Venue: Chapel
- Navigators Mentoring (B7&8, B13), Time: 8.45am Venue: Chapel
- Year 13 Production, Time: 6.30pm Venue: Chapel
- Southside Debating, Time: 4.00pm, Venue: De La Salle College
- Navigators Mentoring (M7&8, M13), Time: 8.45am Venue: Chapel
- Dox Shield, Time: 4.00pm, Venue: De La Salle College
- Navigators Mentoring (P7&8, P13), Time: 8.45am Venue: Chapel
- Badminton Open Boys, Open Girls & Open Mixed Team, Time: 3.30pm, Venue: Badminton Stadium
- Term 3 Concludes at 3.15pm
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Catholic Character
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Mālō e lelei and blessings to you all,
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Term 2 has been a faith-filled and joyful season for our Marcellin College community. Our Catholic Character team and Prefects did an outstanding job leading our school, bringing our core Marist pillars to life through service, fellowship, and worship.
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- Sacramental Mass: We were privileged to welcome Bishop Steve to celebrate our Sacramental Mass, where 14 of our candidates received their Sacraments of Initiation - a truly blessed occasion for these young people and their families.
- La Valla Games Night: A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our games night fundraiser! Thanks to the fantastic turnout and community support, we raised $660 to support our ongoing La Valla programs.
- 'Devoted not Distracted' Formation Evening: Marcellin had the privilege of hosting 84 students from across Auckland Catholic schools for an inspiring evening of spiritual reflection, which ended with a joint praise and worship. We extend our gratitude to our visiting partner schools: De La Salle, Marist College, St Mary's College, Carmel College, Rosmini College, St Peter's College, and St Dominic's Catholic College.
- Navigators Mentorship: Our Year 13 leaders and Year 7 & 8 students wrap up a wonderful term of the Navigators program. It has been heartening to see our seniors guide and bond with our younger students, truly exemplifying our Marist pillar of Family Spirit.
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A sincere thank you to our Catholic Character Prefects and student leaders for their tireless work, dedication, and leadership throughout this busy and rewarding term.
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Director of Catholic Character
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Curriculum
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Term Three Support
A reminder of the initiatives we are rolling out this term to help ākonga and their whānau stay on top of learning:
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- Library Homework Club: Drop-in support, quiet study space, and extra assistance available after school in the library every Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: Whare Pukapuka / Library Homework Club.
- Year 11, 12 & 13 Parent Evening: Join us to ensure that we can partner together to navigate NCEA, exams, and expectations for the remainder of this year: Wednesday 16th September, 6.30 pm, in the La Valla Gym.
- Senior Study Tips (Yrs 11–13): Year 11–13 students will receive weekly emails every Monday, featuring evidence-based study techniques and revision strategies.
- Senior Tutorials (Yrs 11–13): Year 11-13 students to attend additional tutorials in the upcoming holidays: Senior Tutorials 2026
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Senior Practice Exams
Our NCEA Practice Examinations will be held in Week One of Term Four. This examination period will serve as a crucial component of the learning process, and the results could be used as a Derived Grade if your child is absent for valid reasons in the November NCEA Examinations (NZQA - Derived Grades). Attendance at Practice Exams is mandatory.
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To assist with the success of your child, it is important that they:
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Seek assistance from teachers
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Deputy Principal Curriculumn
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Upcoming Open Days
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These events offer the opportunity to explore campus facilities and see first-hand what it would be like to attend the institution. All are welcome. Generally there are information sessions about different programmes and there is the opportunity to speak to current students and staff.
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Techtorium Open Day: Saturday 19th September (9am - 11am) Register HERE
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Discover study opportunities in tech at the Newmarket campus (182 Broadway, Level 3).
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Unitec Scholarships for School Leavers
Unitec has a number of dedicated scholarships for School Leavers commencing full-time study at Unitec. The scholarships help cover education-related costs and provide opportunities to connect to various induction and mentoring opportunities.
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1. Te Pou Angitū Scholarship
This scholarship supports Māori ākonga new to Unitec to pursue their education goals with Unitec.
Closes 10 March 2027
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2. Pacific Success Scholarship
This scholarship supports Pacific ākonga new to Unitec to pursue their education goals with Unitec.
Closes 10 March 2027
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3. Āheinga Equity Scholarship
This scholarship is to encourage disabled and neuro diverse ākonga to pursue their studies at Unitec.
Closes 17 February 2027
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Summer Camp & working holiday opportunities
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You can compare this experience with the official Camp America website here.
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2027 High School Leavers Scholarships- Crown Institute
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For the 2027 academic year, Crown Institute will award scholarships of up to NZ$3,000 to eligible students enrolling in programmes commencing in February 2027. Application form and more details are on the website HERE. Applications close Friday, 16 October 2026.
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University Transition Summer Programmes for Year 13s - Applications now open.
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Year 13 students planning to attend university in 2027 can undertake a six week university preparation programme over the summer at either AUT or the University of Auckland.
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These programmes help students to:
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- Familiarise themselves with the campus and student support services available.
- Learn about university level study, how to structure assignments, find resources, and reference correctly.
- Complete a 100-level university paper, with points that may count towards their degree (general education course).
- Meet other students and be a part of fun activities.
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Undertaking a summer prep programme at either of these universities does not require the student to commit to studying further at that university. Students can then go on to the university of their choice (although the points may not count at another uni).
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AUT UniPrep Programme – Open to all students starting university in 2027, it is held at AUT’s South Campus (Manukau) and is completely FREE.
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University of Auckland- Three programmes to choose from- one designed for Māori students, one designed for Pacific students, and a general programme.
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The programme costs vary but budget for approximately $1100 - $1500. Scholarships are available for students experiencing financial hardship- Kokiri Raumati Scholarships (applications open late Nov / early Dec).
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Tahatū Career Navigator
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It’s always worth having a look at the Tahatū Career Navigator site for ideas and inspiration. Students can take an interest quiz to help identify good career matches for them. There is also a new Path Finder tool that helps outline the journey for a variety of careers.
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Sports
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As Term 3 ends, our students can take pride in a highly competitive winter sports season.
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Special congratulations to our three runners-up:
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1st XI Football: Central Eastern Championships (B Grade) Runners-Up
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Senior Gold Netball: St Johns Auckland Schools Senior A Res Runners-Up
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Marcellin Starz Netball: Year 8 Windmill Park C Grade (Sect 2) Runners-Up
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Thank you to our coaches, managers, and students for their hard work and commitment.
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We now look ahead to spring and summer sports, with Rugby 7s, Volleyball, Tag, Softball, and Futsal underway.
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Due to rising sports participation, we urgently need additional coaches to support all of our teams. If you can help, please contact Director of Sports, David Aiolupotea at aiolupotead@marcellin.school.nz.
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Pastoral Care
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Thank you to everyone who made it to our Years 11–13 Parent Information Evening. It was great to connect and talk through how we can partner together to get our senior ākonga over the line as NCEA practice and external exams approach.
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Setting our young people up to succeed comes down to the daily habits we build at home. Here is a recap of the key points on sleep, technology, and attendance that directly impact your child's achievement and well-being.
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The Science of Sleep and the Teenage Brain
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- The adolescent brain is undergoing major neural restructuring. Sleep is when memories solidify and complex learning is processed.
- Students need 8 to 10 hours of quality sleep a night for focus, emotional regulation, and stress resilience.
- Chronic sleep deprivation and late-night screen time disrupt melatonin, making it much harder to retain revision material and cope with exam pressure.
Key Home Strategies for Success
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- Consistent Sleep & Morning Routines: Keep bedtime regular. Have uniforms laid out and bags packed the night before so students arrive 10–15 minutes before the first bell, calm and ready to learn.
- Strict Digital Curfew: We strongly recommend all devices off by 9:00 PM. Keep phones, laptops, and consoles out of bedrooms overnigh - charge them in a central living area instead.
- Absence Reporting: If your child is genuinely unwell, keep them home to recover and let us know via the school office or the SchoolBridge app as early as possible so we can support their catch-up.
Building Strong Attendance (90%+ Target)
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- Adequate sleep directly cuts down on "unnecessary" days off caused by morning fatigue.
- Being in class every day means students don't miss crucial revision, direct teacher support, or key assessment updates.
- Every day counts toward building the confidence and resilience they need to flourish in their NCEA exams.
Let's keep working together to give our young men and women the structure they need to reach their full potential.
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Deputy Principal - Pastoral Care
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School Attendance Dues - Financial Assistance
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Financial assistance is available to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of Attendance Dues for preference students attending both primary and secondary Catholic schools in Auckland Diocese.
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Families facing financial difficulties can contact the Business Manager, Peyton Hepi at hepip@marcellin.school.nz, their Parish Priest, or Auckland Common Fund Ltd at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland on 09-360-3040 for further information.
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Application forms for this assistance are available from school and parish offices, or can be downloaded from the Catholic Diocese of Auckland Website:
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Marcellin College - Own your own device
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Optima Quaere - Seek the Best
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