Opportunities
Extra-curricular Activities
We believe in developing the whole learner by facilitating growth in all areas of life. We are very proud of the wide range of opportunities we are able to offer to cater to the diverse interests and abilities of our learners.
From rugby and tennis, Duke of Edinburgh Award and Leos, choir and film club, and Readers Cup and peer tutoring, there is something for everyone. Please click on the links below for a full list and contact information.
Click here for the latest list of other opportunities and scholarships outside of MGC
Cultural Opportunities
Marlborough Girls’ College offers a vibrant cultural programme for students. Some of these activities include Junior and Senior Combined Colleges’ productions, Jazz Band, two choirs, itinerant music tuition, Stage Challenge entries and involvement in the National Shakespeare Festival.
Ovation is one of four performing groups at the school and is considered to be the flagship for performing excellence at the college. Ovation is in constant demand from the local community of Marlborough to perform at annual events and festivals in the region. High on the list of these festivals is the Big Sing where Ovation have performed at regional and national levels including the Big Sing Finals and Cadenza performances.
Crescentia Choir is a fantastic cultural opportunity, teaching students how to sing in 2-3 part harmonies. Rehearsals occur weekly as a group and students have sectional rehearsals to learn their parts and singing techniques. In June, Crescentia competes at the annual Big Sing competition against other choirs from the Tasman region singing a range of songs in English and Te Reo Māori.
Drama students at Marlborough Girls’ College are dedicated and passionate about theatre. Drama enjoys a high profile at Marlborough Girls’ College and consequently, there are lots of opportunities for students to develop their skills in this field.
Annual events include the Sheila Winn Festival of Shakespeare in Schools, the Combined Colleges’ Production and the New Zealand Theatre Federation One-Act Play Festival. In recent years many national awards have been won for both performances and direction.
The Shakespeare Festival is an opportunity to perform an extract from one of Shakespeare’s plays. You can also travel to Wellington and partake in workshops and see amazing live theatre. Many Marlborough students have been selected at Nationals to travel to London and perform in The Globe Theatre. If you are interested in Art, Costume, Music or Essays, there is something for you in any of these areas.
The MGC Film Club is interested in the art of filmmaking. We meet to discuss, create films and do workshops. We enter film competitions such as the ‘Focus on Ability’ and the ‘Top of the South’ film festivals and sometimes we create our own competitions like creating a film of a chosen category in 48hrs.
Sport
Sport is a major part of many students’ lives and we encourage participation as part of our focus on Hauora. There are a range of sporting opportunities available in the local community and through Marlborough Girls’ College. MGC also offers some opportunities to participate in one off inter school events for other sports such as Equestrian, Skiing, Swimming and Multisport.
MGC Netball Club has 6 teams from Year 9 through to Year 13, generally made up of 4 junior and 2 senior teams. We compete in the Marlborough Competition at Senior and Premier Grade, as well as Regional and South Island Competitions. The season runs from May through to September. Being a part of MGC Netball will give you many opportunities to extend your netball and social skills, benefiting from skilled coaches and enthusiastic team mates.
Team trials begin at the start of Term 1, details of which are published on the MGC Netball Facebook page and in the school notices. To be successful in selection to any of the teams requires more than just netball skills, we need people with great attitudes, dedication and a positive team spirit!!
If this sounds like you then please contact MGC Netball by emailing netball.mgc@gmail.com
Or message us through our FB page.
There are many other netball teams and clubs available within Marlborough for anyone who would prefer to have a more laid-back, relaxed season and not go away to tournaments. These could include Harlequins, SMOG, Tokomaru, Pelorus, Awatere, or United.
The MGC Athletics team is selected every year from our school athletics day, with the top 3 placings in each event qualifying to attend the Tasman Secondary School Champs in Nelson. From there some will qualify for the South Island Champs. The National Athletics Championships is held in December every year and is great for competitive athletes to test themselves against the best in the country.
Also, if you’re interested in starting athletics as a competitive sport, Marlborough Athletics Club meets every Tuesday night @ Athletic Park from 5:30 pm over summer. This is a great opportunity to get some extra practice, coaching, and the competition before Secondary School events. Some interclub events are also offered.
Basketball is an exciting and competitive winter sport. Basketball allows you to learn a wider range of tactical skills, higher fitness levels, and gain superb ball-handling skills. Basketball allows you to expand and learn new skills as being a part of a team. Basketball can offer a number of opportunities out of school including Marlborough Reps, Tasman Basketball and even trials for the NZBA development camps. Basketball trials begin in Term 2, and the competition begins at the start of winter. Marlborough Girls College offers a variety of teams, from the competitive A team to fun teams for students who are keen to have a go. No skills are required as you learn the basic skills through training with your team.
Marlborough Volleyball runs an organised Beach competition in Term 4 on a Tuesday night for both Pairs and teams of 4 people. In January/February/March it is usually a social ‘turn up with a gold coin and we will put you in a team for a hit around.
Keen to give cricket a go? We have social cricket which is 6 aside on Wednesday night, 5th grade on Friday night 5-7pm – 20 overs, 4th grade for more experienced cricketers Saturday mornings 8:45-12:30pm – all of which will start up again in October/ November this year. Womens Marlborough Rep team being formed as well as a MGC college team. Over winter we are looking at a series of sessions to gain and maintain skills ready for the summer – in the process of being planned. Also, Indoor cricket if there is enough interest? Our google classroom code is o2ms3e5. If you’re keen let Ms. Bentley know.
Students who are interested in track or road cycling are catered for by the Combined Colleges Cycling Club who train weekly and compete in several events around the country during the year. We also are trying to foster a strong mountain biking section to compete at the various School events.
The MGC football team is an awesome opportunity to be a part of a great team while building fitness and skills. We’re a squad of around 16 girls and each year we take part in tournaments competing against other colleges, like the Waimea Exchange, and Winter Sports Tournament. Football season starts in Term 2 and finishes at the end of Term 3.
Futsal at MGC takes place mainly in Term 1, when we take 10 girls to compete in the nationals in Wellington and Tasman Champs in Nelson. It’s a good chance to build on football skills, but you don’t have to be a footballer to enjoy it. Played indoors, it’s a fast-paced game and lots of fun.
Whether you are Year 9 or Year 13, the MGC First XI is a great way to expand your hockey skills and abilities. It is a great way to stay fit, meet new people and have lots of fun. MGC offers two levels of teams, being the First XI (playing in division 1) and the Second XI (playing in division 2). Both are fast, fun, and skillful games. The 1st XI attends a week-long secondary schools tournament during October break.
It is played 11 aside on a full field on Friday Nights. The MGC First and Second XI play against adults with a range of hockey experience, so you are always up for a challenge. Costs for the hockey session vary, depending on where the tournaments are located. Hockey is an awesome sport and definitely worth a go!!!
Lawn bowls is a great game that ticks a lot of boxes. It is fantastic for improving mobility, flexibility, core strength, muscle toning and enhancing mental well-being. It develops strategic thinking, motor skills, hand-eye coordination and balance.
It is a lifelong game suitable for all ages, any gender, all physical abilities and has a range of playing options – alone, with a team, play for a long time, play for a short time, competitively, socially, against friends, with family. The basics are simple and you can get instant success, mastering it is not so simple though! School bowls happen on a Wednesday after school at the Blenheim Bowling club from 4 pm to 5 pm. All equipment is provided. Basic coaching is provided and some fun activities are organised. There is no cost involved for school bowls.
Rowing is an engaging and thrilling water sport where you can get your fitness up to its peak, meet lifelong friends and learn skills both physically on the water and mentally. In Marlborough, we are lucky to have the wonderful Wairau river which the Wairau and Blenheim clubs regularly row on during the rowing season. This summer sport’s season begins in early September and finishes at the beginning of April straight after NZ’s largest secondary school tournament, Maadi Cup Regatta. It’s a very busy sport with rewarding benefits.
The season starts in early May and training is on Monday evenings.
Games are played on Wednesdays during school hours and there are typically 5 home games at Lansdowne and 5 away games in Nelson. This is an awesome opportunity to experience what it involves to travel with a sports team.
No experience is needed, your rugby whanau (coaches and teammates) will teach and encourage you.
Rugby will teach you many important skills and is a great way to meet lots of new people from all around Marlborough. There are multiple pathways and opportunities for people who intend on taking their rugby further so it’s an awesome sport to get into if you would like to go further in sports.
Team sailing is an exciting sport where skills, tactics and working together as a team combine to make success. Each “Team” consists of three boats, each with two crew members – a skipper who steers the boat and a crew, who controls the jib (the front sail) and calls out information on the position of other boats, wind conditions and so on. Working together is essential and both helm and crew have equally important roles. Each team sails against another team of three boats. The sailing season starts in October and runs through the year till April. You can click on the following website to get the contact information for each school team manager.
Squash is a friendly indoor racket sport, and an excellent way to stay fit and make new friends. Keen to try it out? Get in contact with julie.saul@mgc.school.nz or come down to the MBC squash courts on Thursdays after school with non-marking shoes.
During term 2 and term 3 Table tennis will be held at the Indoor Centre on Batty’s Road on Tuesdays.
- 4pm – 5pm Coaching for beginner players
- 5pm – 6.15pm Two player teams (2 singles and a doubles). We can find you a partner if needed.
Cost: $2 per session or both sessions for $3 which includes bat hire.
Touch rugby is a great way to keep up your fitness levels, or just to have fun playing in a team with your friends.
The Marlborough Touch season runs from October to March and MGC usually have 2 teams that play in the Women’s grade. We also select a Senior team (made up of players from any year group) that competes in the SISS tournament in March and the Nationals in December, as well as a junior team that competes in a Tasman Secondary Schools one day competition in November.
Volleyball is offered at many levels at MGC. We have Senior volleyball teams who play during Term 1 in a variety of tournaments and Junior volleyball teams who play in tournaments during Term 4. Trials are normally held for senior teams at the end of Term 4 and junior teams at the end of Term 3. We also have opportunities for teams to enter the Marlborough competition and if you are keen to be an official, there are opportunities to referee at a junior level for Marlborough Volleyball.
The Marlborough Underwater Hockey Club opens opportunities for our students here at MGC to play this sport. It’s a sport that is becoming more known and growing, we are always looking for new members to join the team! Each year we usually head to Christchurch for SI Champs and Secondary Schools held in Wellington. This year the MGC Junior Girls team ended up in the top 5 making them eligible for the NZ Secondary Schools Nationals in Wellington. This is a great, fun and unique sport so come and give it a go.
For more information contact details for the Marlborough Underwater Club contact Nicola Poswillo (Poz)
The Marlborough Water Polo Club offers opportunities for our students to play in a local competition as well as inter secondary school tournaments and representative fixtures. New members are always welcome to come and try this sometimes physical and fast paced sport.
College age students are welcome to join in our sessions which are held at the Combined Clubs Shooting range on Fridays after school. We cater for all levels of experience and a team is selected to compete in a postal shoot in the national secondary competition as well as a shoulder to shoulder event held in September.
Academic Opportunities
We believe in developing the whole learner by facilitating growth in all areas of life. We are very proud of the wide range of opportunities we are able to offer to cater to the diverse interests and abilities of our learners.
The Laboratory Assistants, working under the guidance and supervision of the Science Technician assist the MGC Science Technician. This may involve restocking equipment and chemicals, preparing simple chemical solutions, administration, maintenance of specialist equipment, set up for practical sessions and general housekeeping duties. You would be expected to turn up on a rostered shift for ½ hour during one lunch break each week. As well as providing a service to the College, you will gain technical skills fundamental to Science Laboratories.
From Year 10 onwards, students can apply to be Student Librarians. Student Librarians assist in the library, on a rostered basis, shelving, covering new books and assisting at the circulation desk. If you love books but also want to be part of a team that provides service to the school and promotes reading, then this role is for you. You will also help plan activities during our Library Promotion month and in the senior school this role gives you the chance to develop your leadership skills. This is a role where students often develop lifelong friendships with others in the team.
Peer tutoring is an in-school support system which allows those confident in sharing their academic strengths to provide assistance to students seeking additional support or even a different style of learning. It is a customised programme which can fit into a school lunchtime or outside of school and focuses on subjects you want or need help in. The programme runs throughout the year and helps to build leadership and character in the tutors, as well as confidence and improved ability in students receiving the help.
An opportunity for avid readers to represent the school. Every year we enter two Year 9 teams in a ‘Top of the South’ Quiz. If you are interested in making new friends and exploring different books, this may be just the thing for you. Students answer questions based on six selected books and coaching is offered by the Librarian and previous competitors. In Year 10 there is an online national competition called ‘Battle of the Bibliophiles’ for those keen to continue exploring new genres.
A club for all age groups where you can let your creative juices flow, share your work for inspiring feedback and discover competitions to enter. This club meets fortnightly in the library and is a chance to develop your creative writing skills.
Leadership and Community Opportunities
There are a range of other opportunities for all students to grow their leadership skills and contribute to our community in a meaningful and positive way. Some of these are internal clubs run by students for students, others are external opportunities available within our community.
The Duke of Edinburgh programme is a 1-3 year commitment, depending on which medals you wish to achieve (bronze, silver and gold), but is an overall awesome experience. With learning new skills, volunteering, participating in sports and having the chance to go on expeditions, you will have the opportunity to explore somewhere new. Duke of Edinburgh is an amazing way to challenge yourself, develop self-discipline and enhance your CV. You will need to be in year 10 -13 to sign up.
Stars is a 12-month mentoring programme that pairs Year 9 students with senior students who have undergone structured Peer Mentor training. Stars offers proactive measures to support enhanced resilience, mental health and wellbeing of students through weekly lessons run by the Senior Peer Mentors. If you are in Year 12 or 13 you can apply to become a Star Mentor and help support our new Year 9 students when they join us each year.
The Marlborough Youth Council is a collective group of students from all the Marlborough Colleges. They aim to positively influence and provide a voice for the youth of Marlborough, as well as encouraging young people to get involved in the community. Each year they set goals and a plan that highlights specific areas to focus on, including; youth programmes, pink shirt day and the youth civic awards. The Marlborough Youth Council is a great opportunity to share your ideas and make a difference in the community and the lives of young people in the Marlborough District. You gain a lot of leadership experience and you also have your meetings in the council chambers.
Leo’s is a community service fundraising volunteering group which provides Leadership, Experience and Opportunity for students here at MGC. It is an amazing group to be part of as it provides an opportunity for students to work together, build leadership skills and long lasting positive relationships. We fundraise for events that need financial support and provide community service when needed. There are 200,000 leo’s members in over 140 countries and we work together to make communities better.
“Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love”.
CACTUS has programmes in Blenheim and Picton, with more than 650 youth people going through courses in Blenheim alone since 2008. Young people take part in the course for eight weeks, three mornings a week between 6am and 7am, building up to “The Longest Day”, when all their skills are put together in a series of exercises. The CACTUS programme is run by the Marlborough Youth Trust and is every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6am-7.30am for 8 weeks, designed for Year 9s through to Year 13s.
If you aspire to be fit, want to build self-confidence, learn to work as a team and enjoy a challenge, then CACTUS is for you.
Eternity is a Christian group at MGC that meets weekly in K3 on Wednesday at lunch time. They focus on stories of the bible and what can be learnt from them. There are opportunities for anyone to share a testimony or a God story. Everyone is welcome to join as it is a safe space to come and chill.
Spectrum is a space at MGC for the LGBTQ+ kids. It is also for straight allies and for anyone to come and support. It runs on Tuesday lunchtimes in P12. Meetings include a circle of introductions, any news (both LGBT friendly and non-lgbt) and sharing or games. Kate and Brylee are the leaders and they also run activities outside of school. Everything said at Spectrum, stays at Spectrum. We aim to provide a safe space for everyone and a place for young students to find support and advice about their everyday lives or just about the LGBT community. Every year the spectrum leaders also arrange a pride day at school and the Spectrum group help out with setting up the stalls and fundraising for Rainbow Youth.
We believe in developing the whole learner by facilitating growth in all areas of life.
We are very proud of the wide range of opportunities we are able to offer to cater to the diverse interests and abilities of our learners.
