A school for the whole diocese
Garin’s innovation starts in the bedroom with the school tossing out the old-fashioned dormitory style for its hostel and introducing flats for six students living two to a room. From the start both hostels have been full and Garin’s Hostel Trust is now planning a third hostel to cater for the overflow.
A real Catholic community
Like most Catholic schools, Garin College is a tight community, a safe place with excellent pastoral care, and real ways of caring for the whole person each of us was created to be. Staff and students put a lot of work into Masses and the school is gaining recognition for the innovation of its liturgies.
Garin is also possibly the only secondary school in New Zealand that has an integrated retreat and outdoor education programme taking students to an adult understanding of religion and spirituality.
Award-winning school
The school has won awards for its use of light and colour. Dance, drama, music, language, and art show the school’s commitment to excellence with students already winning numerous awards in these areas including the O’Shea Shield for the first time last year.
As a new school, Garin has attracted a superb group of educators and leaders drawn by the opportunity to bring initiatives in effective learning to fruition in the school.
You can help
Parishioners are able to play their part in helping the school develop students into future church leaders. Last month Archbishop John Dew threw his support behind the Garin Hostel Trust’s appeal to take their bed numbers from 54 to 75. In his letter he asked parishioners to consider a five to ten-year interest-free loan to help the trust complete this project. Garin has also received a number of outright donations, and welcomes your support whether it be a cash donation, support in kind, a bequest, buying a bed, or prayer.
The Catholic community of Nelson is proud of Antoine Garin’s school. As we accept the challenges of the modern world and the modern church, we rely on the practical and prayerful support of the wider Catholic community.
For more information contact Robert Booth (03) 543 9488 or email boarding@garincollege.ac.nz