Carmel College

History

Carmel College was open in 1957 as the first Catholic girls’ mercy school; the land was purchased from the Poynton family. When it first opened it had no real classrooms and started with 15 students. Sister Justine found hardworking teaching Sisters, as the school grew; they hired their first lay teacher.
The second principle was Sister Monica Costello; she became principle in 1975 after teaching at Carmel since 1959. In 1982 she was elected the superior-general of the sisters of mercy for Auckland. Her quote “a true successor to Cecilia Maher” became famous.

Mercy values

Respect for Human Dignity

We respect human dignity when we:
o Respect the sacredness of life.
o Care for the whole person.
o Demonstrate unity of purpose while recognizing individual differences.
o Value each person’s contribution.
o Act in a culturally appropriate manner.
o Cultivate the potential for excellence in a holistic way.

Compassion

We show compassion when we:
· Act with understanding and sensitivity towards each other.
· Work cooperatively with others.
· Make ourselves available for others.
· Respect and nurture the environment.

Service

We provide service when we:
· Create an environment of welcome and hospitality.
· Promote quality care and excellence in teaching and learning.
· Encourage and demonstrate team spirit.
· Show openness to constructive criticism and feedback.

Justice

We promote justice when we:
· Act with integrity.
· Respect the rights of others.
· Take responsibility for our actions.
· Preserve our resources.
· Provide quality without extravagance.
· Demonstrate fairness in decision-making.
· Affirm, celebrate and develop the talents and gifts of each person.
· Model justice in all aspects of teaching practice.
Care for the Poor and Vulnerable

We care for the poor and vulnerable when we:
· Collaborate with others to share resources.
· Create access to educational opportunities.
· Listen attentively to identify unmet needs.
· Respond in a practical way to those in need.

Special character

Carmel has a high pass rate in NCEA with most students getting a great mark. All students that leave the school are supposed to be confident, mature young women. They are expected to have independence and lead a successful life.