Clubs

The following are some of the clubs/activities which Carmel students can be involved with:

Tuakana Atawhai

Tuakana Atawhai goal is to develop and maintain a sense of pride and richness in the native culture of Aotearoa by promoting Maori culture within the school and community

Each year the group works to achieve this goal by organising and becoming involved with events such as: Year 13 Hikoi to the Hokianga, Matariki event for Maori New Year and a Hui

Pasifika Festival

Polyfest, the merge of Pacific Nations, where secondary schools showcase their cultural talents. Carmel College enters cultural teams into the festival and has achieved great results. This is a fun event that showcases dance routines and lyrics

Youth Parliament

Every three to four years the Ministry of Youth Development coordinates New Zealand’s Youth Parliament. Young people are selected by members of Parliament to take part in Select Committee and in the General Debate, where a number of youth MPs are given three minutes to bring to the fore a topic of their choice. Jenny Zhang and Sylvie Admore (ex Carmel College students) wrote of their experience "The people we met and the opportunities we were given have definitely motivated both of us to pursue careers in politics and diplomacy. We want to encourage young people to get out there and make sure their opinions are heard; because the youth of today do have a voice, we just need to start using it."

Muna

Rotary Model United Nations Assembly or MUNA is all about building bridges of goodwill for world peace and understanding in the minds of our youth. The main aims are to develop in students an awareness of the United Nations and the international situation of other countries in the world by: enabling students to improve their public speaking and debating skills, to encourage them to make sympathetic and informed comments on world problems, to share their opinions and friendship with students from other schools and to lay the foundation for the free sharing of ideas across national boundaries which is the essence of a truly open society tolerant to differences of race, religion, and political opinion.

World Vision/Famine

The aim of World Vision/Famine is to raise awareness and funds for children, families and communities to overcome extreme poverty and injustice.

Each year the group works to achieve this aim by organising and becoming involved with events such as: 40 hour famine, Bake Sale and ‘trapped for hunger’

Human Rights

The Human Rights group underwent a serious revitalisation in 2010 and increased to around 50 members. On top of covering a range of issues about human rights abuses on a local, national and international stage, the group have focused also on inspiring each other to ‘be the change you wish to see in the world’. Activities include: Donations to a food bank and to Shine Women’s Shelters and a Karaoke Night.

Z Club (Zonta)

This club is about helping women overcome barriers to equal education, health care, legal rights, credit and employment through education, service and advocacy. Activities include: Body image week, Bake Sale and Zumba Night

SAVE – Environmental Group

SAVE is about raising awareness and taking positive action towards environmental issues. Activities included: ‘The Big Clean’, Earth Hour, photography competition and 'Trash Fairies'

Peer Support

Peer Support is to enable the orientation and settling in of Year 7 and 9 students. The Year 13 students are trained to be leaders and they work with 4-6 students to be Peer Supporters. In the first few days of the school year the Year 13 supporters work alongside their Year 7 and 9 peers helping them come to grips with a new timetable system and they may provide them with ‘student oriented’ information about the school. Thereafter, a regular meeting takes place at lunchtime. During these meeting, the Year 7 and 9 students learn life skills and how to cope with a number of situations that they may encounter.

There is a separate Peer Support programme run for International Students. This is organised by the International Dean.

Young Vinnies

Young Vinnies is the youth division of the St Vincent de Paul Society which helps people in need all over the world. Activities include: weekly meetings, Easter Egg Drive and Year 12 and 13 students volunteering at the de Paul House Homework Club.

Librarians

The librarians duties/activities include: input into the library, raising the library’s profile, helping others to use the library, assistance with library duties such as returning and issuing books

Carmel College