Past, present and future celebrate St Mary’s milestone

The only Catholic preschool in the South Island celebrated its half-century on Friday, with many former St Mary’s Preschool students returning to celebrate.

St Mary’s Preschool’s Emma Riley said the organisation for the 50th celebration has been in the background for the past year, with many hands making light work for the important milestone.

“Our tamariki have been practicing waiata to perform, discussing how preschool will be celebrating a big birthday with lots of friends from the preschool coming to celebrate with us, and getting items ready to go in the time capsule”, says Emma.

“One of the values that we have at the preschool is Wairua, which is about supporting the relationship of Tamariki with God - everything we do is in Christ’s light, which includes sharing bible stories and praise songs.

“We started organising last year, with myself, Senior Teacher Charlotte Alford, Board of Governors co-chairs Justyn Hanrahan and Rachel Tau’alupe and members Jenny McElhinney and Kate Harrison.

And while current students played a major part in the celebrations, Kate says many familiar faces from photos on the walls have come out of the woodwork for the 50th anniversary – including some from the very first class when the preschool was on the other side of Maxwell Rd, opposite its current home.

“A lot of our past students who are currently at St Mary’s School said they’ll be attending, as well as some past students who have contributed to the time capsule put down in 2000”, she says.

“Jenny was the first teacher of the preschool when it started in 1975 and we are very lucky to have her still as an important member of our preschool community today, and we have had many former parish priests, past staff and Board members get in touch which has been great to see.

“Our children are grateful each day for the blessings God gives us, the warmth of friendship, the love of whānau, and the nurturing presence of Papatūānuku.”