Carmel College, Auckland


Carmel College is a Catholic secondary school for girls located in Milford on Auckland's North Shore. It was established by the Sisters of Mercy in 1957 starting with a student roll of only 15 girls. The College's brother school is nearby Rosmini College.
WWW carmel.school.nz

Location

Carmel College is situated on the northern shore of Lake Pupuke.

History

The school was established in 1957 by the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Mary Justine Gillies was given the mission of founding Carmel College on donated land, initially with 15 students and no actual classrooms. Sister Justine gathered dedicated teaching Sisters and, as the school grew, these Sisters were joined by the first full-time lay teacher, Verena Butler, in 1963.
Under Sister Pauline Engel, the third principal of the College, who was appointed in 1983, the college undertook an programme of building, expanding and refurbishing. This included building a gymnasium, a food and technology block, an arts block, and the refurbishment of the science laboratories.
On 19 June 2013, Bishop Patrick Dunn and the mayor of Auckland, Len Brown, opened the Harkins Building, which included a classroom block to accommodate music, drama, information technology and social sciences, a performing arts centre seating 160, a covered atrium providing break-out teaching and social spaces, and a new library overlooking Lake Pupuke.

Enrolment

As of, the school has a roll of students, of which identify as Māori.
As of, the school has an Equity Index of, placing it amongst schools whose students have the socioeconomic barriers to achievement.

School activities

Carmel College students take part in a range of activities throughout New Zealand including Stage Challenge, Big Sing Choral Festival, Filo Night, and Polyfest. The school has a number of clubs, including the Human Rights Group, Creative Writers' Club, Students Against Driving Drunk, Young Vinnies and the SAVE environmental group. Carmel has different music groups such as the Carmel College Orchestra, the Carmel College Jazz Band, and Chamber groups.

Notable alumnae