Student Life

Culture & Clubs

Clubs

St John's has a lively cultural life, with many music, drama, culture and arts groups performing both in school and in the community.

As well as the regular clubs and cultural groups listed, there are frequent activities advertised in the Student notices:

  • Artistic and musical performances in assemblies, both from students and outside groups
  • Speech competitions in the junior school
  • Chanel Shield - an annual cultural festival hosted in turns by the 5 Catholic Colleges in the Hamilton Diocese.
  • Marcellin Champagnat Day activities
  • Bi-annual Music trip abroad
  • Combined productions with Sacred Heart Girls' College

Students should keep an eye on the notices or make contact with the Teacher in Charge (TIC) leading each club.

  • Chess - Mr Steve Wood
  • E-Sports - Mr Chan Park
  • Irish Ceilidh, Jazz, Big Band, Choir, Concert Band (with SHGC) - Mrs Donna McHugh
  • 'Gat Attack' Guitar Group - Mrs Donna McHugh
  • Liturgy Band - Mr Malcom Barr
  • Pasifika - Mrs Diane Lyons
  • TheatreSports - Mr Connor Maxwell 
  •  Fly Fishing - Mr Mark Anderson
  • Debating - Mr Shaun Healy
  • Guitar Group - Mrs Bridgette Dewar
  • Kapa Haka - Mātua Milton Ross
  • Media Team - Ms Helen Chileshe
  • Student Librarians - Mrs Lynley Keightley
  • Young Vinnies - Mrs Nicola Gelston


Music

The Music programme is very popular. Visiting specialists teach without fee, small groups of two and three students at a time including vocals, symphonic wind (brass and woodwind), and orchestral strings (such as violin). To accommodate the high demand for music lessons in guitar, drums and piano, we have private tutors visiting the College on a user-pays basis, also teaching in small groups. Piano is taught one-on-one.

The College has strong Guitar and Acoustic Guitar groups. 

In combination with Sacred Heart Girls’ College we have a Concert Band, Choir, Drum line, Ceilidh group (Irish folk music), Jazz group and Orchestra.

Theatresports

Both juniors and seniors have the chance to compete with other Waikato Secondary Schools in the Theatresports Competition. Theatresports offers students the chance to develop their improvisation skills and confidence.