Week 8, Term 4 | 2025

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 head into the final week of the school year, it is with a sense of relief and pride that we acknowledge the completion of all NCEA and Scholarship examinations. Congratulations to our senior students for the hard work and determination they have shown throughout this challenging period. We also extend our sincere thanks to all staff, and in particular Mrs Mitchell for their dedication and support in guiding our students to this point. We eagerly await the results in January.

We are also pleased to share that strong progress is being made on the rollout of the Year 11 academic programme of study for 2026. Mrs Mitchell will be sending out a detailed communication to families affected late next week outlining the major changes. This refreshed programme will provide a cohesive pathway that better supports students as they move into the higher levels of NCEA Level 2 and 3, and we are excited by the quality of work and planning completed so far.

This evening we look forward to celebrating our Year 13 cohort at the Leavers’ Dinner at The Lodge in Pāuatahanui. This event is always a special occasion and a fitting way to farewell our graduating class as they embark on the next stage of their life journey.

It has also been a rewarding week for our junior students, who are completing their end-of-year projects and assessments and taking part in a variety of EOTC experiences. A standout highlight has been the Year 8 visit to the Police College forensic testing lab and museum. Our thanks go to Ms Aukett for organising such a memorable learning opportunity.

Our activity days next week will be offering a wide range of experiences for students, including an overnight trip to Somes Island, our Duke of Edinburgh students heading to TOPEC, a trip to Zealandia, along with a chess workshop, Christmas card making, and other day trip activities and of course our own day of the Whitby Olympics. We are especially impressed with the Year 12 future leaders, who have been working hard to prepare an exciting programme for the Year 7 Retreat next week.

This Sunday we are delighted to be hosting our inaugural Sports Prize Giving. We look forward to recognising the outstanding efforts of our student athletes and, importantly, acknowledging the many volunteer coaches and managers who have generously given their time to support our teams. This year has seen some of the highest participation rates across the school, and we thank Mr Ryburn and Ms Martelli for their excellent work in bringing this event together and in driving sporting opportunities for our students.

I would like to pay tribute to our wonderful students who have worked so diligently to provide "Christmas Toys and Treats" to those in the community less fortunate than ourselves. Gabriel Anthony and his band of helpers have really shown our school values in action with their service to the community and we are grateful for the generosity of all those who have contributed. 

As we look forward to 2026, I am pleased to announce that we are fully staffed for next year and are thrilled at the calibre of staff joining us next year. We have an increased capacity in Digital Technology, Mathematics, Physical Education and Health and we are also pleased to announce that our Year 7 & 8 students will have full access to technology subjects, including hard and soft materials. We are very pleased to be able to offer these additional options to our curriculum.

Finally, we are eagerly anticipating our whole-school Prize Giving next week, this is a wonderful celebration of the achievements and successes of our students throughout the year. We look forward to welcoming our community as we close out another successful year at Whitby Collegiate.

As this will be the final newsletter for the year, I want to take the opportunity to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas holiday period and a well deserved break for all, as we head rapidly into the new year.

Ngā mihi nui.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Next week I will be sharing details of the Year 11 Programme of Study, which begins in 2026. This rigorous academic programme will prepare Year 11 students more thoroughly for success at NCEA Level 2, and provide much more support and extension opportunities. The Programme will include recognition of leadership and service, as well as involvement in extracurricular activities, and student effort and diligence in class.

Thanks so much to everyone who has so far participated in the Reporting Structure Survey I announced last week. I will be closing the survey on Monday 1 December, and look forward to reading through the comments and viewpoints of our community so we can continue to improve the way we report student progress.

NCEA examination assessments finished at Whitby Collegiate this morning. I would like to thank Mrs Helen Moran, our examination centre manager, for her tireless and well-organised approach to running these sessions. Helen has spent four years with us in this role, and every year we are so appreciative of what she does. In addition, Helen had a wonderful team of supervisors: thanks so much to Raewyn Janes, Lynaire Parish, Peter McClymont, Jann Brouard, and Liam Amrein for their invigilation, good cheer, and continuous support for our students. NCEA candidates can access their results from Wednesday 14 January, by logging into their NZQA portal.

As we wind down the year, please see below for some reminders for next week.

Prize Giving - Wednesday 3 December

Our Prize Giving this year will be held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on the evening of Wednesday 3 December. We invite all Parents and Caregivers to join the Board, Staff, and Students at the Arena for this event.

Students, Parents and Caregivers should arrive before 6:15pm to be seated before our Prize Giving begins at 6:25pm.

The school day on Wednesday 3 December will finish early at 11:05am in order to allow students to go home, rest, have something to eat, change into their formal school uniform, and arrive at the venue on time. Buses will leave school at 11:15am to travel home. All students Year 7-13 are expected to be at school that morning for Prize Giving rehearsal. Musicians and choir members will be rehearsing at Te Rauparaha Arena.

Please note that attendance at Prize Giving is compulsory for all students. Should a student not be able to attend, permission for absence must be sought from the Executive Principal by contacting the school office, office@whitbycollegiate.school.nz.

Students need to be in formal school uniforms. All students will be wearing blazers and ties, with shoes polished and long hair tied up. Boys must be wearing long trousers. Girls may wear trousers or a skirt with black tights. No students will be permitted to wear shorts at Prize Giving. Jewellery should comply with the school’s uniform policy.

Prize winners will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with their trophies after leaving the stage. There will also be a chance for personal photographs to be taken using the backdrop at the conclusion of the formal proceedings. Trophies will remain on display at school and will not be taken home by individual recipients.

Last Days of School 2025

We are all looking forward to enjoying the last days of the school year together and celebrating a successful 2025 at Whitby Collegiate.

Monday 1 December

• School is open for normal school hours for all Junior students in Years 7 to 10.

• Students will be participating in the Whitby Olympics.

• Students may come to school in their PE gear.

Tuesday 2 December

• School is open for normal school hours for all students.

• Year 7 students will be participating in their retreat at the Bowling Club.

• Years 8-10 students will be involved in various elective activities.

Wednesday 3 December

• Students must be in their full school uniform.

• Prize Giving Rehearsal and uniform check during Periods 1 and 2.

• School finishes at 11.05am with buses departing at 11.15am.

• Prize Giving at Te Rauparaha Arena, 6.25pm start.

Thursday 4 December (Final School Day for 2025)

• This is a compulsory school day for all students in Year 7 to 13. The day will commence with Tutor Time at 8:45am.

• A copy of the school magazine will be issued to each student.

• Students will attend an end of year Assembly where we will farewell our Year 13 Students.

• School will be dismissed for the year at 11:10am and school buses will depart from outside the school at 11:20am

I look forward to seeing whānau next week, and celebrating our students’ successes together.

All the best for a wonderful and safe summer break and festive season. I am anticipating another fantastic year for Whitby Collegiate in 2026.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Da jia hao, Mālō e lelei, Namaste, Kia orāna, Tāloha ni, Kia ora Parents, Caregivers, and families,

It has been a busy few days preparing for our final school events, but it has been incredibly rewarding to see our students step up and contribute to what promises to be a memorable end to the school year. This week, students have organised class Christmas lunches, Olympic activities, gifted their teachers with thoughtful treats, wrapped up end-of-topic learning, set up for Sports Prize Giving, donated to worthy causes, and prepared for Leavers’ Dinners.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” This verse feels especially fitting as we reflect on the year our students have had. Despite challenges, they have continued to demonstrate kindness, service, and compassion, acts that reassure us that every effort, both seen and unseen, will bear fruit in its time.

This spirit has been clearly evident within our school community. Our students continue to show resilience, generosity, and a genuine willingness to support others. A shining example of this is Gabriel Anthony, who faithfully led our Christmas Collection this year, rallying our community to give generously to those in need. His leadership beautifully reflects the heart of this scripture and shows the impact one person can make when they choose to “keep doing good.” May this verse encourage us all to continue serving, supporting, and uplifting one another as we enter the festive season.

This morning, our staff were treated to a wonderful morning tea organised by our Parents’ Association. We extend a special thanks to Sue Payne and her dedicated team for their time, effort, and commitment behind the scenes, ensuring that our school community continues to enjoy a wide range of enriching opportunities both in and out of the classroom.

An outline of next week’s schedule will be included in this newsletter and emailed to parents. I look forward to seeing you all at Prize Giving next week.

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to seeing you in 2026, refreshed and ready for another eventful year.

Have a wonderful, restful, and blessed weekend. May the sunshine lift your spirits!

Fa’afetai lava ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

School News

Year 11 Commerce Students Visit Sharesies

Four of our Year 11 Commerce students had an exciting opportunity today, visiting the Sharesies offices as part of an exclusive programme sponsored by Porirua City Council and WellingtonNZ.

Jonathan Hearn, Aiza Kamal, Gabriel Chionh and Toby Shaab were among just 10 students selected for this experience, which provided valuable insights into the fintech industry. During their visit, the students heard from professionals about various career pathways in financial technology, explored the creative process behind digital advertising campaigns, and participated in a hands-on activity that highlighted the critical importance of precision when developing algorithms in software environments.

This learning experience gave our students a glimpse into the innovation happening in New Zealand's growing fintech sector and the diverse opportunities available in this field.

Artist of the week - Year 10 Students

In Term 4 our Year 10 artists had the free choice to explore personal ideas and ways of working. This has built on their ownership to drive their creative project forward independently. The amazing diversity of their ideas and techniques is celebrated here with these selected artists. Maddy Riley-Hathaway shines again with her incredible hyper realism painting. Jack Owen-Smith demonstrates his keen eye for photography and skills in manipulating imagery of the bunkers in Wellington. Toby Dyhrberg has enthusiastically explored digital drawing and an interest in basketball. Mila Binns has created a flower design with beautiful textures in the detail. And finally Holly Stoner expressed her memories of her treasured pets with an imaginative idea and a playful use of colour. It's been a pleasure teaching all of the Year 10 artists over the year and supporting them as they continue on their own creative journeys.

Christmas Toys & Treats Collection – Thank You

A huge thank you to our Whitby Collegiate community for your incredible generosity in this year’s Christmas Toys & Treats Collection.

Together, we filled more than thirteen large bags with toys and festive treats - an extraordinary response that shows just how much kindness lives within our school. Even better, our friends at Clark & Co have generously offered to match every donation, meaning all of your gifts will be doubled. Our combined efforts will help Kiwi Community Assistance support dozens of families across Wellington who would otherwise be facing a very difficult Christmas.

Your donations will bring real joy to children who may have woken up to empty hands, and to families who will now be able to share a special Christmas meal together. This is the true meaning of Christmas - compassion, generosity, and giving without expecting anything in return.

And thank you for making Christmas brighter for so many.

Upcoming Events

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 by clicking the button that reads “subscribe to this calendar”.

Sports Update

For all sports information and registrations visit our online sports hub here. Join the Whitby Collegiate Sport Facebook Group to keep up to date with all sport news and achievements.

Student Achievements

We love to celebrate our students’ achievements. For inclusion in the Whitby Collegiate newsletter or on our Facebook page, please submit via the button below or email communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Community Notice