Anna Kerr a 13-year-old played for St Mary's College Wellington second 15s but after Wednesday's game, she said she would never play on an artifical field again.

Wounds on her knees were torn open and she was forced to stop playing in the second half with a bloody hand and knees, Kerr said. They had become infected since and she was on antibiotics.

But Kerr said his concerns were not just about his daughter. Other girls on her rugby team had broken collar bones and had serious leg injuries - something he believed was caused by the hard surfaces.

Despite being the school's second-best team, four out of their five games - including Wednesday's finals had been played on artifical turf. Read more

Along with security guards, the teachers are helping students from St Mary's College Wellington and Sacred Heart Cathedral School, walk to and from public transport hubs.

The move comes as protests at Parliament spill over into the streets and students are being harassed for wearing masks.

The schools have confirmed the Ministry of Education has also helped them with the security.

St Mary's principal Andrew Murray said the security was there to 'front foot' any conflict that might occur.

"I'd rather just be proactive and keep our girls safe," Murray said.

In an update on the school's website, Murray said he met with the Ministry of Education and Police to discuss concerns raised by families and members of the school's community.

"We will continue to work collaboratively with the Ministry and Police to assess the current protest situation and the impact this is having on students, staff safety and wellbeing," he said.

He said the school had been advised:

• There will be an increase in visible Police patrols around the school and train station, especially when students are travelling to and from school, to ensure their safety and that of the staff.
• Maori wardens are based around the station to minimise any disruptive or anti-social behaviour.
• Police have established night patrols that include monitoring school grounds to ensure no unwelcome guests.
• Students have been advised to avoid nearby Molesworth Street and passing by or entering Parliament grounds because of safety concerns.

Sacred Heart Cathedral School, the primary school adjacent to St Mary's, has also had to make special arrangements to keep the children safe.

Its principal Bernadette Murfitt​ is walking 50 to 60 younger school students up and down to the train station each day, taking routes that avoided the protest completely.

"Our students - those who are coming up from buses and trains are coming up with myself and staff members - and a parent roster is helping me in the afternoon," Murfitt says.

"The children are a real resilient bunch".

Murfitt says the school community is doing its best and ensuring the students are safe was taking a lot of time.

"We need our freedom back as well. I want to get back to what I love, leading the learning".

Sacred Heart's principal agrees. "We just want to get back to normal," he said.

Source

• Stuff
• St Mary's College
• Image: Stuff

St Mary's College Sevens team was first formed less than two years ago. In 2016 the girls won every tournament they entered and are the current National Secondary School Champions.

Now, in April, they hope to be on their way to Japan to participate in the Sanix World Rugby Youth Cup.

Coach Mativa and Savea and go back to their days together Rongotai College.

Savea thought he'd go down and help out occasionally. Instead, he's there every Monday and Wednesday that his schedule allows.

"I got hooked onto how good the girls are and how awesome it is to be a part of everything," said Savea.

"When I first came all the girls weren't talking, they were a bit shy...none of them knew how to pass a rugby ball."

"They were all girls from basketball and netball who'd never played rugby before, but they were just so skilled and so talented and we just tried to teach them."

The Mativa-Savea dynamic is an interesting one. Mativa's in charge but it's inevitable that his famous pal's words sometimes carry more weight.

The team needs to raise $30,000 before Easter and are working extremely hard to fundraise. For some families the amount needed to travel is a big challenge.

A Givealittle page allows people make a donation St Mary's College Sevens team started an amazing journey less than two years ago when a team was first formed.

Source

• st-marys-wellington.school.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• givealittle.co.nz
• Image: collegesportmedia.co.nz

"Tees For Teens" are producing two limited edition designer T-shirts featuring a creation by both Trelise Cooper and Moochi, with profits going to CanTeen.

The white T shirts have a black design that was created as a fashionable alternative to the traditional CanTeen bandanas.

Communications director Laura Giannotti said they explained their passion for supporting CanTeen to the designers via email, and they were more than happy to help. Continue reading

Sister Mary Winefride Blake was a teacher at St Mary's College in Wellington New Zealand for many years.

She says a highlight of her long career was founding St Mary's Schola, which became a major source of entry for young singers into church choirs and other regional choirs.

From 1953 until 1992 this group of 24 college girls, aged 14 to 17, were taught skilfully to sing in beautiful harmonies.

She also trained individual singers, some of whom went on to become notable performers in New Zealand and Internationally. They included Andrea Creighton, Suzanne Green, Val Sinclair and Rosaleen Hickmott. Even now she has one or two students.

From 1944 till 1964, she organised concerts in the Wellington Town Hall. She conducted the students from behind a black screen because it was not considered appropriate for nuns to be seen in public at night.

Sister Winefride was born in Kelburn on March 14, 1914, grew up in a musical house.

"My grandmother was very, very musical and my aunts. My father used to sing duets," she said.

She was trained as a singer before she entered St Mary's Convent on her 19th birthday in 1933 . She became a Sister of Mercy in 1936.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

She took the lead in Mozart's Magic Flute in Hamilton, directed some big productions at Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton, where she studied and later worked, and for Riverlea Theatre - shows like The Wizard of Oz and Oliver.

Now she is the Principal of St Mary's College in Wellington Read interview with Catherine Ryan.