Columba College

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Columba College

Motto	Gratia et Disciplina Bona "Grace and Good Discipline"
Type	Integrated single sex girls secondary(Year 7-13) co-education primary(Year 1-6)
Year established	1915
Address	399 Highgate, Dunedin
Coordinates	45°51′47″S 170°29′40″E / -45.863125, 170.494375Coordinates: 45°51′47″S 170°29′40″E / -45.863125, 170.494375
Principal	Elizabeth Wilson
School roll	550
Socio-economic decile (10 is highest)	10
Ministry of Education Institution no.	386
Website	www.columbacollege.school.nz

Columba College is an integrated presbyterian school in Roslyn, Dunedin, New Zealand. The role is made up of pupils of all ages. The majority of pupils are in the girls secondary, day and boarding school, but there is also a primary school consisting of boys and girls in years 1-6.

1 Modern Day Columba
2 History
3 Notable alumni
4 Notes
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Modern Day Columba

The school uniform is formal and complusory for all pupils, currently consisting of; a green blazer, white shirt, navy blue jersey, with Black Watch tartan necktie and kilt. Columba has four school houses, Braemar (Green), Girton (Red), Iona (Blue) and Solway (Yellow) named for the founding schools and Saint Columba.

Based on NCEA results, Columba College is one of the highest achieving schools in New Zealand. Its motto 'Gratia et Disciplina Bona" (Grace and Good Discipline) reigns true through its current principal, Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who is known for her strict regulations upon the attending students. It is one of the few schools in Dunedin to teach Mandarin, and has recently built an award-winning gymnasium on the school grounds. Every morning (except on Wednesdays and Fridays) the school congregates in a school hall, that has been recently renovated, and have an Assembly. It is during this time that congratulations and awards are handed out, as well as general notices, and occasionally a concert if recent performing students have done well.

Year 13 is the last year students reach before heading on to tertiary education. Students in this year level are of ages 16-18, and are located in a private residence owned by a college on the premises. At the end of the school year, they often choose to buy a ring of the school emblem, symbolising the part of their life spent in Columba. Students may also leave school at the end of year 12, but most opt to remain for year 13.

Columba College is the "sister school" of local boys school John McGlashan, and close competitor with another local girls school, St Hilda's Collegiate.

[edit] History

Columba College was established in 1915 by the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as a private day and boarding school for girls with co-educational primary classes and a Kindergarten. The Rev'd Alexander Whyte, a key figure in the foundation of Columba College, through his vision for a presbyterian girls school.

Columba College was created from two earlier Dunedin girls schools, Girton College and Braemar House School. The headmistress of Girton College, Frances Ross, purchased Braemar House and became the first Head Mistress of Columba College. The schools moved to the current Columba College site, at Bishop's Court, a property purchased from the first Anglican bishop for Otago and Southland, Bishop Neville.

Columba College became integrated as a composite school under the terms of the Private Schools' Integration Act in 1994.