College News

On September 12, 2016, in the presence of former and current school Captains, Staff, and Administrative officials, the Year 12 Common Room was officially opened. According to Loida Patterson, Deputy Head of Senior School and Year 12 Coordinator,

“Prayer from the Captaincy Teams over the past eight years and carefully considered Executive discussions led to the building of this Common Room.  Its purpose is multi-facetted.  It is more than just a room for Year 12’s to socialise in.  The Common Room functions to provide a safe haven for our senior cohort to proactively engage with each other within its walls, to encourage each other, to communicate, to conduct meetings and organise committees that will bring about change in our school communities and to communities beyond college classrooms. Its location allows them to study, to share their Iives over morning tea and lunch meals, to make plans; it’s a place to draw closer as they journey through their final year of schooling.”

The Common Room is fitted out with several colourful stools, adjustable red sofas, multiple long dining benches that inspire group discussions and dining together, as well as a full kitchenette. There is an outdoor patio with BBQ facilities, a ping pong table for some fun competition, and it is fully air-conditioned.

Graduating College Captain Okki Klijn believes “that the construction of a common room was a wonderful way to give the Year 12’s a sense of community and connection, providing us with an ideal area to share our senior year with our peers!” And former College Captain Marnie Allen-Ankins, one of the many students who persisted in seeing the Common Room become a reality, says, “I think the student are so blessed to have an NCC Board that listens and is willing to put into action a plan that becomes something far better than any of us could have imagined.“

With perseverance, and deep gratitude, the Year 12s now have a room of their own!