Executive Principal’s Update

Kia ora, Talofa, Bula vinaka, Malo e lelei, Fakatālofa atu kia te koulua, Kia orana, Hallo, Hola, Ni Hao, Namaste and Greetings - parents, caregivers and families of Whitby Collegiate,

As we embark on another term ahead we extend a warm welcome back to all our students returning to Term 2 and special greetings to those new families who have joined us in Term 2. We are certainly looking forward to having you as part of the Whitby Collegiate family.

As our students have now returned from Spain, it was lovely to hear from Head Girl Jade Lin and Lachlan Dyhrberg recounting some of their most memorable moments at this week's assembly.

"There were so many highlights for me, but if I had to narrow it down, I would say that it was getting to try the different Spanish cuisine and attempting to start conversations with locals. I truly felt the friendliness of the people of Spain on the trip. I also want to express my utmost gratitude to Señorita Huertas, Mr G and Mr Duckett for looking after us and entertaining us, especially Señorita Huertas as I can’t imagine the amount of hard work you have put into planning this whole trip.” - Jade Lin, Head Girl

Our Year 12 Geographers headed off earlier this week to complete the Tongariro Crossing. Not only have the students been challenged physically, but the importance of collecting and collating data to provide critical information for the NCEA assessments is an excellent example of experiential learning. Many thanks to Mr Atkinson, Miss Keilty and Mr Marenzi for accompanying them to meet these goals. Other senior students have had a great opportunity to further their leadership skills at the World Vision leadership conference supported by Ms Sauvao. Opportunities like these are crucial for developing essential leadership skills that will serve our students throughout their lives.

In this week's assembly our Year 7 students impressed everyone with their confidence in stepping outside of their comfort zones and presenting a range of activities to the whole school. A special mention to Kennedy Wylie and Hudson Swain whose enthusiasm to set up the Mountain Biking Club and the video presentation that they put together was inspiring, and we look forward to the development of this club.

Today also marked the inaugural meeting of our new Student Council, spearheaded by our Head Prefects. This initiative is a fantastic platform for our students to voice their ideas and actively participate in the governance of the school community. We look forward to their contributions.

Next week, we are eagerly preparing for the Noho Marae trip to Raukawa Marae on the Kāpiti Coast, an enriching cultural experience for our students. Additionally, we are thrilled to announce a visit from the NBL Saints Basketball team members next Friday. This will provide an exceptional coaching opportunity for our basketball players and is very timely as the winter sports season is about to begin.

We look forward to an exciting term ahead filled with learning, growth and community spirit.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

As we kick off Term 2, it's wonderful to see our students return from their well-deserved break, refreshed and ready for the term ahead. Our student leaders have an exciting lineup of events and activities planned, promising a jam-packed and eventful term for our school community.

Here's a glimpse of what's in store:

Kindness Week: Organised by Gabriel Anthony. This is a week dedicated to spreading kindness and compassion throughout our school community, culminating in Pink Shirt Day on the 17 May.

Grandparents Morning: A special opportunity for our students to honour and celebrate the amazing support and love of their grandparents on Thursday 13 June.

Noho Marae: An enjoyable and immersive cultural experience where our Year 10 students will learn about Māori customs and traditions from 15 - 17 May in Otaki.

Cultural Day: A celebration of our many diverse cultures, where students will showcase their talents and traditions on 19 June. Students will also be able to wear their cultural attire on this day.
House Cross Country: Students have been preparing for a fun-filled day of cross-country running and competing for House points.

New Lunchtime and Extracurricular Clubs: We're excited to introduce a range of new clubs and activities to cater to the diverse interests of our students.

We're also proud to acknowledge the leadership initiatives of our Year 7 students, who have stepped up to lead aspects of our school assembly. Special congratulations to Hudson Swain and Kennedy Wylie for their initiative in starting our very first Mountain Biking Club!

Additionally, Gabriel Anthony has been hard at work organising Kindness Week (May 12-17) with the support of Jade Lin, to promote kindness and empathy within our school community. Their efforts have been very much appreciated, including the successful Can Appeal for families in need, with Fiso House emerging as the winner of the Can Collection.

Today, a group of our Year 12 and 13 students had the privilege of attending the World Vision Conference for student leaders. They participated in interactive workshops aimed at empowering them to step into their leadership potential and make a positive impact in their school and communities.

We look forward to a term filled with fun and meaningful experiences for all our students. Thank you once again to all our parents who have reached out to arrange meetings with me to discuss their child’s leadership goals and queries relating to pastoral care.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful weekend.

Soifua ia ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao

Upcoming Events

Term 2 Activities/Events (Week 2)

Key dates are located on the website calendar. Please check for your activities.
Subscribe to the Whitby Collegiate calendar from the school website calendar page here by clicking the button that reads “subscribe to this calendar”.

ACTIVITY/EVENT	DATE
PCC Careers Day (Y12 and Y13s)	Thursday 9 May
Open Morning Basketball Training with the Saints	Friday 10 May

School News

ANZAC Remembrance Day

Over the holidays, a poignant ceremony held in Porirua commemorated ANZAC Remembrance Day. It was a privilege to have Deputy Principal Ms Sauvao and Chair of the Parents' Association Geoff Walsh (who is also a serving member of the forces) join students and Her Worship Anita Baker - Mayor of Porirua City for this wreath-laying ceremony. Special mention goes to Chloe Newland for crafting the wreath, supported by other student leaders from our school. It was a moment of unity and remembrance, embodying the spirit of the occasion. Lest we forget.

PCC Careers Expo - Thursday 9 May

Year 12 and 13 students will be attending the PCC Careers Expo during Periods 3 and 4 (Session 2) on Thursday 9 May. Parents and Caregivers have been emailed the information letter. Students from other year levels, and members of the public may attend after school, with the Expo open until 5.30pm at Te Rauparaha Arena.

Each attendee will be given a passport on arrival. They will use this to help navigate their way around the Expo, and to find a career / education path that suits them. Each stallholder will be given a stamp, which they will place in the Passport of each attendee they engage with. If attendees have at least six stamps and complete ‘My Journey’ in their Passport, they will go into a draw to win a major prize (bikes, speakers etc). The MC will draw a major prize winner at the end of each session.

Tech Workshops
As part of the Expo there will be Tech Workshops. In these panels, students will hear from a range of young people working in all areas of tech from game development, engineering, and cybersecurity right through to other key roles like people and practice and customer success.

They’ll describe their role, their pathway, and advice for young people who are interested in this type of work. This chat will be facilitated by the Dev Academy Aotearoa and the speakers from a range of top Wellington tech companies including PikPok, Arlo, Paperkite, ZX Security, IT works and more.

WCPA Golf Fundraiser

Join us for a day of fun and fundraising at our 1st Annual Golf Fundraiser on Saturday 15 June presented by the Whitby Collegiate Parents' Association!

ENTRY DETAILS: $300 for a team of 4 / $75 for individuals (includes 9 holes, prizes, and morning tea) + add on: participation bundle for $25, including entry into putting challenge - 2 putts and 2 mulligans. No handicap required - all ages and abilities are welcome!

PRIZES: best individual gross score, best team gross score, best dressed team, longest drive, and nearest to pin.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Platinum: $1000
Gold: $500
Putting Green and Challenge: $300
Premium Hole: $200
Hole Sponsor: $100

For more information and to register, contact Maria Lolo at 021 023 27273 or wcpa@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

**whakatauki o te wiki**
*proverb of the week*

*Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua. Those who lead give sight to those who follow, those who follow give life to those who lead.*

Sports Update

Notices

Basketball Session with the Saints
Next Friday, we're thrilled to announce that players from the Saints Basketball team will be joining us for a special session! This exciting opportunity will see 30 students, including the Senior Boys and Girls team, Junior A team, and selected students, engaging in a dynamic basketball session led by the Saints players.

Term 1 Uniform Returns
Please return any sports uniforms to the sports office as soon as possible to avoid incurring fines.

**For all sports information, latest draws & results, sport clubs and registrations please visit our online sports hub** **here**.

Join the Whitby Collegiate Sport Facebook Group

Keep up to date with all Whitby Collegiate sport news, draws & results, achievements, and LIVE updates at facebook.com/groups/whitbycollegiatesport

Student Achievements

We love to celebrate our students’ achievements. For inclusion in the Whitby Collegiate newsletter or on our Facebook page, please fill in the online form here or forward it to communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz