Term 3 has been another busy time for the international department, who begun the term warmly welcoming a number of new students from China, Japan and Mexico into our school whānau  with a tour of our school, orientation and mihi whakatau.

One week later, we welcomed a further 44 students and five teachers from JinCai Experimental School, China with a mihi whakatau led by our Junior kapa haka students, orientation and tour of our school. This group of students were only within our school for one week and were once again hosted by our school whānau.  They continued their travels down to Rotorua and Tāupo, to enjoy sightseeing, after leaving us.  We hope to see some of them return next year as full-time students.

On Monday 12 August, we welcomed five students from China for a short two-week New Zealand experience.  Three headed into Year 7 classes with buddies and two into Year 9 classes. The Year 7 students are from Inner Mongolia, whilst the Year 9 students are from Guangdong and Tianjin.  We hope their stay gave them a wonderful taste of New Zealand and Sancta Maria College life.

We farewelled several international students from Wuxi and other areas in China, on Friday 16 August, as they return home after a short but fulfilling stay with us.  As a parting gift, one of their students played a beautiful piano piece for the whole school to enjoy, after Assumption Mass.