Houses

House activities earn House points and at senior prizegiving a cup is awarded to the champion House.  Each House is associated with a saint and a colour, and has a House banner depicting these associations.  

House Banners - Borders

This border was created to show that, although the Saints and heritage of Europe are revered, this College is a product of New Zealand and its heritage.  The Maori sun, moon and wind, the rafter patterns and the Marae acknowledge the presence of Maori culture in our lives.  The pohutakawa and clematis flowers show just two of our many beautiful plants, while the mountains, sea and sky; stream running through bush and punga groves remind us of our wonderful countryside.  Twelve pairs of New Zealand native birds are depicted; the tui; shining cuckoo; fernbird; saddleback; bellbird; stitchbird; yellowhead; whitehead; bushwren; kingfisher; South Island robin; and fantail.

The Celtic Cross recognises that Catholic education in New Zealand owes its existence to Irish Orders who came to this country to educate Catholic students.  The Mercy Cross acknowledges that St Mary’s College owes its continuing existence to the Sisters of Mercy.

The current House banners were created by Sylvia Wells in 2001.

The six Houses are as follows:

Anne

St Anne is the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In the House banner she is depicted teaching the young Mary.

Anne

Bernadette

Bernadette was born in Lourdes, France in 1844, to a very poor family.

Bernadette

Catherine

St Catherine of Sienna, Virgin and Doctor (Teacher) of the Church is one of the great figures of Christianity.

Catherine

Joan

St Joan of Arc is the heroine of France as she helped the King of France reconquer his country.

Joan

Maria

Maria Goretti was the daughter of poor farm workers in Italy. She was stabbed to death by a young man attempting to rape her.

Maria

Teresa

 

St Teresa was born in France in 1873.  She was only acknowledged after her death when her diary, “The Story of a Soul” was published.

Teresa