Junior School

The Marcellin College Junior school has students at both the Year 7 and Year 8 levels. Students are placed in a homeroom so have a homeroom teacher, but there is also a Year 7 Dean, a Year 8 Dean and a Head of the Junior School to care for them.  The

Junior School has its own set of classrooms, a common room and toilets, but also has access to the Chapel, lunch bar, school library, gym, information technology suites, Food and Materials Technology classrooms.

All students are expected to “Seek the Best” in everything that they do.

We have classes in Religious Education which follow the NZ Catholic Education curriculum.  In class, students also learn about the Liturgical year and the lives of some of the Saints. Our students are welcome in the Sacramental programme which prepares students for the Sacraments of Initiation. Each day starts with prayer and the main Feast days are celebrated with different styles of liturgy.

Students study the usual subjects as set in the New Zealand Curriculum.English and reading are taught in the homerooms. The Bannatyne and Rainbow reading programmes are used to strengthen the language skills of some students. The Successmaker computer programme is available at all levels to strengthen and develop English, spelling, reading, Science and Maths skills.

There are also classes for students who have recently arrived in

New Zealand.

Students are streamed, after testing, for Maths. Some students take part in the Otago University Problem challenge Maths competition and Mathex. Students may also opt for the Canterbury Science badge or the Maths challenge badges.In the Arts there are classes in Drama, Dance, Visual Arts and Music. Oral assessment classes are also taken after school.

Over the two years that students are in the

Junior School, they take part in six Technology subjects including Food, Materials, Information technology, Electronics, Process Tech and Bio Technology. Te Reo Maori is taught to all classes. Some classes also learn Spanish and German.

Physical Education and sports classes strengthen physical skills. The

Junior School is a member of the Central Zone Intermediate Sport Association and we participate in a wide range of tournaments including soccer, rugby, touch, basketball, swimming, hockey, netball etc.  There is also a Saturday morning cricket team in terms one and four. Students may participate in the Auckland Netball competition.

As part of the whole school, the Year 7 and 8 students may join the Sacraments of Initiation preparation programme, Itinerant Music classes, the Maori and Polynesian Festival groups, the Kapa Haka group, Keyboard classes, Tongan and Samoan homework centres, Stage Challenge, etc.

There are many other activities offered to the Year 7 and 8 students at

Marcellin College. All we ask is that they Seek their Best.