Principal’s Message

Nau Mai, Haere Mai,

My name is Marina Binns, and I am honoured to serve as the Principal of St John’s School. Situated in Mairangi Bay on Auckland’s North Shore, we are a Catholic primary school with a roll of 337 students between the ages of 5 and 11.

St John’s holds a very special place in my heart. As a school and as a community, it continually inspires me through the deep importance placed on relationships. We treasure and nurture connections at all levels—our children, their families, our dedicated staff, the wider school community, our Parish, and the North Shore Catholic School Kahui Ako. Strengthening and building on these relationships ensures that St John’s remains a place of warmth, welcome, and inclusivity.

Our school is a place where students are nurtured in their learning and faith journey, with many opportunities to encounter Christ and deepen their relationship with God. We are committed to fostering a community where the faith and practices of the Catholic Church are not only taught but lived out in everyday experiences.

Our core values—faith, community, respect, and resilience—are at the heart of everything we do. St John’s students stand strong in their faith, respect themselves, others, and creation, and are encouraged to actively contribute to their School and Parish community. Through the legacy of our Patron Saint, St John the Baptist, and the inspiration of Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Sisters of St Joseph, we embrace our Josephite Charism in action. Guided by their example, we strive to live out the words, “never see a need without doing something about it.”

I feel privileged to be part of this wonderful school community and look forward to continuing our journey together in faith, learning, and service.