Last weekend marked a special milestone at Marian College, as we hosted our very first class reunions celebrating the cohorts of 1985, 1995, and 2005.  Around 35 alumni and staff gathered for an afternoon of reconnecting and reminiscing, some traveling from as far away as Australia to be part of the event.  Our Year 11 music students provided the background music, and for many, the event was a reminder of the lasting bonds formed at Marian. 

Past teacher Pam Tibble reflected, “An event like this one reinforces that wonderful feeling of belonging that comes from an association with Marian College. Since my first day there in 1993, that special connection has never gone away.”

Alumni shared similar sentiments.  Nicole Vercoe, from the class of 2005, commented on the blend of old and new: “It was wonderful to see how despite the new site there is still so much to remind you of ‘old Marian’. It was lovely connecting with teachers past and present and enjoying the talents of current students.”

For Sara Fairbrother (2005), returning to Marian was a meaningful experience. 

“I loved returning to where it all began for me! The new school is absolutely stunning, and I loved seeing some of the items carried through from the older sites. It was such a special thing to have some teachers in attendance - that really made it for me. I’m 20 years on from leaving Marian, but it still feels like I only left school 10 or so years ago. I would totally recommend attending school reunions in the future, for anyone who gets the opportunity. What a fabulous school! It really set me up for a life of success.”

We look forward to hosting more class reunions in the future.

If you are a past student of Marian College, we would love to invite you to join Rauru: The Marian College Past Whānau Network.  This network is about connecting past students to the school and each other and includes mentoring opportunities, archives of our past yearbooks and photos as well as the opportunity to attend reunions and other events. You can join online at rauru.mariancollege.school.nz.