Carmel College

The SAVE group with their decorated cupcakes. Carmel College students playing a chopsticks game.

Open Afternoon for new students in 2023

Poi making. “When I first came here, I was timid and shy but look at me now – I’m talking to all of you." This was part of the presentation from Piper, one of the Year 7 students who spoke at our Open Afternoon recently. In a little over 14 short weeks, Piper and Defne were confident enough to talk to a hall full of parents and potential 2023 students about their experiences of coming to Carmel at the beginning of this year.

This Open Afternoon event marked a milestone for 2022 – our first large gathering of people, mainly for those who are not yet part of the Carmel community. We had all the health and safety precautions in place and we were overwhelmed with the number of eager attendees.

Not only were we able to showcase our usual curriculum offerings, but we added something different this year: the students showcasing their own offerings. Our college has a culture of student initiatives and one of the main initiatives is School Clubs. The Culture Club group was teaching how to write names in Korean; the K-pop group not only performed their own choreographed dance routines, but showed how the older students were teaching the younger ones; the Kapa Haka group demonstrated poi; and the SAVE Environmental group creatively decorated cupcakes.

At Carmel, We Believe.

We Believe in honouring our Mercy heritage and the pioneering women who laid the foundation for the opportunities we are now given. In honouring these traditions, we practise compassion, kindness and justice. Our respect for others is matched only by our self-respect.

We Believe in God. Our faith is a special bond we share. It is the compass which guides us through life's many challenges.

We Believe that girls can do anything. We aim high, strive to better ourselves and achieve our goals whatever they may be.

We Believe in being brave and bold, for it is the courageous who will shape the future. Carmel women are courageous.

We Believe in each other. We’re in this together; a community, a sisterhood. Our differences do not divide us, they unite us…for together we are stronger.

At Carmel We Believe…in God, in others and in ourselves.

Year 13 Drama production

The recent Year 13 Drama production of 'Girls of the Garden Club' by John Patrick enabled these senior students to create their most memorable final performance at Carmel. While there were certainly challenges with Covid restrictions – cast members isolating, having to delay the show and the uncertainty of whether the show could, indeed, go ahead – four incredible performances were enjoyed by all the audience members who not only came to watch the show, but laughed out loud at the antics of a rather dysfunctional group of Garden Club Girls.

Annise Boothroyd, Year 13 Drama Student and Head of Academic

My experience as the North Shore Youth MP

By Ivy Mitchell of Westlake Girls (17), the local Youth MP for the North Shore

Having the opportunity to be the North Shore’s Youth MP for Simon Watts is an incredible honour and opportunity that doesn’t walk past every day. Being the local Youth MP, there has been an exciting plethora of doors that have opened to further immerse myself in politics, the community and more.

For those unaware of the Youth MP position, the role is attached to a unique, and spectacular part of New Zealand Parliament, Youth Parliament. Youth Parliament runs every three years, and on every third year, each MP across the motu selects a young person aged around 16-19 to represent them and their electorate. Throughout the year, the Youth MPs get the privilege to work alongside their MP, initiate a community project, engage with local schools, and importantly, learn more about the role that parliament plays within the local community. So far this year, I have held a small beach clean-up to celebrate Youth Week, but I am particularly focusing on the issue of youth mental health. I am currently organising my project, a Youth Mental Health Forum, aiming to create opportunities to hear from North Shore youth leaders on improving mental health for rangatahi.

As well as community projects, all the Youth MPs travel to Wellington and take part in the three day Youth Parliament event, which this year, will be held towards the end of July. The Youth Parliament provides a mock parliamentary experience, including debate over this year's mock bill which discusses the youth wage, questioning ministers, and general debate on issues of concerns to rangatahi. As well, each MP participates in a series of mock select committee sessions. This July, I will be part of the education select committee and I am looking forward to discussing some of the issues within the education system that affect youth today, particularly

in regards to mental health. If you would like to engage with Youth Parliament, the Youth Parliament select committees are accepting submissions which will aid in the committee's final report. More information can be found on the New Zealand Parliament website. A few weeks ago I was also lucky enough to travel down to Wellington for the day and shadow Simon Watts around Parliament. During the day I got a personal tour of Parliament, with the debating chamber and ornate Parliament house being a particular highlight. I also met other MPs and had an interesting chat with the National Spokesperson for Youth, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Matt Doocey, about the issues concerning youth mental health. Another highlight was having the Ivy Mitchell in parliaments debating chamber. opportunity to watch question time live in the Chamber. A big thank you to Simon Watts and his team for organising this incredible experience! As Youth MP, I look forward to the further opportunities and experiences of being involved in the beautiful community of the North Shore.

Ivy Mitchell during the small beach clean-up she organised to celebrate Youth Week in May 2022.