EC2 - September 2014 EC2 - September 2014 | Page 10

10 INDEPENDENT Sanet Bircham, Year 9 Dean at Marist College with daughter Amelia, a pupil at Marist. Picture / Ted Baghurst Catholic schools are increasing in popularity, especially with non-Catholics. Dionne Christian finds out why When you have children of a certain age, discussion between friends inevitably turns to which high school you may send them, especially if you’re not fortunate enough to live in a ‘good’ school zone. The New Zealand Catholic Education Office, an umbrella organisation for the country’s 240 state integrated Catholic schools, doesn’t keep figures on the number of non-Catholic pupils attending its schools. However, anecdotal evidence points to a growing number of non-Catholic or nonpractising Catholics enrolling their children in such schools. Ministry of Education figures show about 65,700 students attend a Catholic school – primary as well as secondary – and, according to the NZ Catholic Education Office, between 1994 and 2010, the rolls in Catholic schools leapt by around 22 per cent. Monica Johnson is principal at Marist College, a year 7 – 13 Catholic secondary school in Mt Albert where 750 girls receive a student-centred and holistic education within the framework of Catholic values in the Marist tradition. Founded in 1928, Marist College’s site is just one acre allowing little room for growth but, year after year, Mrs Johnson fields a growing number of inquiries and meets at open days more and more parents who aren’t of the Catholic faith but are interested to learn about enrolling their daughters. “I tell them we get more applicants than we have places available, that we have a waiting list and that they should have a ‘plan b’.” She believes parents increasingly seek schools where education is based as much on Gospel values as well as the NZ Curriculum values. They want a safe and sup- THINKING ABOUT YOUR 2015 STUDY OPTIONS? Get an Early Lead! OPEN NIGHTS • 146,000 Thursday Herald readers have children aged 15-17 years and / or aged 18+yrs and living at home Don’t just read about Laidlaw College, come and experience it for yourself! 30 Sept & 7 Oct, 6-7pm | Henderson Campus 15 Oct, 6-7pm | Manukau Learning Support Centre We offer a range of programmes and courses in theology, mission, ministry, counselling and teaching. Henderson | Manukau Christchurch | Distance Learning ENQUIRE TODAY www.laidlaw.ac.nz | [email protected] | 0800 999 777 Showcase your course / programme to the Herald audience • 17% of parents with children intending to start University in next year, read the Herald on a Thursday • 99,000 Thursday Herald readers intend to start some kind of Tertiary education program in next 12 months • 115,000 Thursday Herald readers believe they ‘ need to do more formal study to advance their career’ Source: Nielsen CMI Q4 2012 – Q32013 AP15+ The next supplements publish on 23rd October 20th November 18th December Distributed to the full circulation of The New Zealand Herald For advertising inquiries contact your Account Manager or Himanshu Shah (Group Sales Manager) on 09 373 6975 / 021 870 372 or email: [email protected]