ABOUT ST MARY'S
Delivering a well-rounded Catholic education since 1890
Our warm and inviting school is located in central Gore next to our Church, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. Our learning spaces are spread across three classroom blocks including breakout rooms for individual and small group work, as well as our library which provides a vast selection of books for children to borrow.
On site we have a modern playground, huge well shaded sandpit, running track and tennis and basketball courts which double as the landing pad for the Rescue Helicopter. We are lucky to be within walking distance of many local facilities; Gore and Districts Library, Gore RSA, Eastern Southland Art Gallery and Hokonui Moonshine Museum, Gore A and P Showgrounds to name just a few.
St Mary's School today
A history rich in Mercy tradition
Only a few days after the Sisters of Mercy had arrived in Gore, they met 43 Catholic children who lived in the area and arranged them in primary and secondary age groups.
The Sisters taught the primary school children in the Town Hall until the school was built. The secondary school students were taught in a room in the Convent.
In October 1890, the new St Mary’s School was finally opened.
The parents of the primary school children paid the Sisters for teaching their children by giving them food and other things the Sisters needed. Only the parents of secondary students who could afford to pay gave money to the Sisters for teaching.
The Sisters knew that they needed more classroom space- many more primary students wanted to go to St Mary’s School, and more girls in Gore wanted to attend secondary school.
In 1936, a new primary and secondary school was finally built to provide for the many Catholic children in the area.
