Week 1, Term 3 | 2024

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,

Welcome back to what promises to be an exciting and productive winter term at Whitby Collegiate! We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable holiday break. As we settle back into the rhythm of school life, we have many exciting events and activities on the horizon to look forward to.

We are thrilled to share the incredible experience of, Ishaan Badiyani, who spent part of his holiday break at Yale University in the USA. Ishaan had the opportunity to connect with students from around the world and engage in solving global issues. At this week's assembly, Ishaan shared his experiences and insights, inspiring all of us to seize opportunities and broaden our horizons. Our Deputy Head Girl Aifili Masoe-Patelesio also embraced an international opportunity at the Future Leaders Academy course held in Samoa, another example of students taking advantage of opportunities to expand their knowledge and experiences.

Over the holidays a contingent of Whitby Collegiate students travelled to Taranaki and to TOPEC to complete the tramping component of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. Many thanks to Mr Free for his organisation of this trip which was thoroughly enjoyed by the students and to Mr Bigwood who also joined the students on the tramp.

We have had a record number of students entering in the Australian Maths competition this coming week, and the ICAS exams that occur over the next four weeks. We are thrilled to see our students' levels of motivation to extend themselves in all academic areas. I have been impressed with the junior science projects that have been submitted this term already and to hear students come and talk to the staff about their projects for the upcoming NIWA Science fair has also been inspiring. We look forward to seeing the results of all this innovation over the coming weeks.

Our cultural group has been busily preparing for next week's secondary schools Polyfest, which is a first for Whitby Collegiate, and the excitement is building! This event celebrates the diverse cultures within our school and offers students a chance to showcase their talents and heritage. We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support from our parents, who have been instrumental in helping us organise and prepare for this special event.

Our sports teams are back in action this week, energised and ready to tackle the challenges of the new term. Our Hockey team and Senior A Netball team had notable wins last week, all the Basketball teams are back in action with games tonight along with Football and Netball competing in their Saturday sport slots.

The Whitby Collegiate Foundation continues to make great progress in the major events for the school later in the year, and we are of course thrilled that Risi Pouri-Lane and Mahina Paul from the Gold Medal winning Sevens team will be our special guests at this years Gala Dinner along with our very own Ms Baker who was part of the NZ Sevens programme at the Rio Olympics. This will be a great night and we will also be joined by other Olympians including gold medalist Sarah Ulmer and parents and coaches at the school Mr Matt Beach and Ms Kiri Shaw. It will certainly be an amazing night.

We are currently in the planning phase for increasing and upgrading our school facilities and are pleased to announce the development of an all weather turf, and a sport performance centre in the coming months. There has been much hard work put into this concept which will see a greater use of lower field, catering for an increase of our sports in the school and importantly another teaching and learning space for all our students.

Wishing everyone a relaxing and restful weekend.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Welcome back to Term 3, traditionally a very busy term, especially for our senior students. I have enjoyed seeing all our students back at school, keen to continue their learning. There are a number of important assessments coming up, so I encourage you to subscribe to our Calendar, details below, to track dates and times for upcoming events.

If you have entered your child/ren into either the ICAS or Australian Mathematic Competition assessments, please be on the lookout for an email outlining the details of the competitions. Of important note is the minimum specifications required for devices to complete the assessments, and of course having the locked down browser installed on student devices for the ICAS Writing and Spelling Bee assessments.

Our dedicated teachers are busily preparing themselves and their Level 1 students for the new type of NCEA external assessments. These “overtime” or submitted externals will be completed during class time over the course of this term. There are individual subject specifications for each of the assessments. KAMAR and NZQA portals will show students’ NCEA entries.

The submitted externals are a new type of assessment for students nationally, and there will naturally be a lot of questions. Next week I will send out comprehensive details to students and parents/caregivers of Level 1 candidates. Please note that students are unable to apply for derived grades for these assessments, so need to be in class to complete the work. Students entered in Level 1 external examinations (“point in time” externals held in November/December) will complete a derived grade assessment during class time.

All results from the May session of the Literacy and Numeracy CAAs will be released to students’ NZQA portals on Monday 5 August. If there are any concerns regarding these results, I encourage you to contact either me or Mrs Katherine McKinlay (LitNum Coordinator) to discuss. Entries for the September session of the LitNum CAAs are being confirmed, and more details are forthcoming. The most likely dates for these assessments are on the school calendar, held between Monday 9 - Friday 20 September.

Levels 2 and 3 candidates will have a Derived Grade Examination week from Monday 26 - Friday 30 August, Week 5 of this term. A timetable will be available for students early next week. Our expectations for DG examinations are exactly the same as the NZQA-run externals in November and December.

With the continual advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) it is timely for me to remind students that the use of any generative AI is not allowed in assessments. Students may use spell checkers, but all forms of generative AI such as paraphrasing tools on Quillbot and Grammarly, and of course ChatGPT, are forbidden by both the school and NZQA. Our Assessment Policy and Procedures, printed in the Student Planner pages 10-16, and signed by all Years 10-13 students and parents/caregivers, outlines this clearly.

For resources and more information regarding NCEA assessments, please have a look at our website.

I wish everyone a very happy weekend. Please get in contact with me should you have any questions or concerns.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Ni Hao, Mālō ni, Namaste, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, and Kia Ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Welcome back to Term 3 everyone! I hope you all enjoyed a restful break.

During yesterday’s assembly, Ishaan Badiyani shared with us his experience at Yale University in the USA during the school holidays. Ishaan returned with newfound enthusiasm and inspiration. His journey was more than just an academic venture; it was an eye-opening experience that broadened his perspective on global issues and enriched his understanding of diverse cultures.

Ishaan described his experience as transformative, highlighting the profound impact of sitting at a table with students from China, Ghana, Argentina, the US, and many other diverse backgrounds. "These conversations were not just insightful – they were transformative, broadening my view in ways that lectures alone never could," he shared. The opportunity to discuss global challenges with peers from around the world was invaluable, offering him new perspectives and a deeper understanding of the complexities of these issues. Networking was another significant aspect of Ishaan's trip.

Ishaan's journey to Yale University has undoubtedly inspired him and his experience serves as a reminder of the importance of global perspectives and the value of cultural exchange in education. We are proud of Ishaan's accomplishments and look forward to seeing how he will apply his newfound knowledge and enthusiasm in our school community.

Congratulations also to Aifili Masoe-Patelesio, who had the privilege of attending the Future Leaders Academy course in Samoa. This prestigious week-long course included student leaders from all across New Zealand, Australia, and Samoa. Throughout the week, Aifili participated in multiple activities focused on strengthening leadership skills, developing confidence, experiencing other pacific culture, and preparing for the future. The programme provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with other student leaders and learn from each other’s experiences and insights. Aifili’s participation in the Future Leaders Academy not only highlights individual achievements but also brings pride to our school community. We are excited to see how these newfound skills and connections will contribute to Aifili’s leadership journey and to our community at Whitby Collegiate.

Also at assembly, Year 7 student Faustina Anamani did a fantastic job promoting the upcoming Poly Festival. Faustina highlighted the significant efforts and commitment shown by our Cultural Group, who have been diligently rehearsing and perfecting their performance. We extend our best wishes to the Cultural Group for their performance in front of the school community next Tuesday at 6 pm at Elim Church in Porirua. Their dedication and hard work are a source of pride for all of us at Whitby Collegiate. Their performance promises to be a memorable and inspiring event for everyone.

I am grateful for the amazing work of our parent groups, especially the Whitby Collegiate Foundation, who play a major role in changing lives through fundraising for bursaries and scholarships. Their tireless efforts and dedication have had a profound impact on our students' lives, providing them with opportunities that might not have been possible otherwise.

Staff see the fruits of their hard work daily, as many of the students who have benefited from these bursaries and scholarships have made outstanding contributions to the sense of community at Whitby Collegiate through their leadership roles. Their success and dedication are a testament to the positive impact of the Foundation's efforts. Special thanks to the Chair of our Foundation, Mr Tim Green for his leadership.

Lastly, please don't wait until the Parent Teacher Interviews to contact me or members of our pastoral team. We value and appreciate parents reaching out with any queries or concerns. Your ongoing communication and partnership are essential in ensuring the best possible experience for our students.

I look forward to seeing families next Tuesday evening if you are available to support our Cultural Group.

Fa’afetai lava ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Upcoming Events

School News

Aifili’s Experience at the Future Leaders Academy in Samoa

In the second week of the school holidays, I had the privilege to attend the Future Leaders Academy course in Samoa. It was a week-long course that included student leaders from all across New Zealand, Australia and Samoa.

Throughout the week we had multiple activities that were focused on strengthening our leadership skills, developing our confidence, experiencing a new culture and preparing us for the future. It also enabled us to make connections with other student leaders, and learn from each other. Not only did we do activities to grow our leadership capabilities, we also participated in activities where we learnt more about the Samoan culture, for example making an umu and teaching/learning siva samoa. The whole week was an amazing experience and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that I had to attend the course, the things I learnt, the new friends I made.

Future Leaders Academy holds courses all over the Pacific Islands for leaders aged 16-18 and is an incredible course that I strongly recommend to apply for. If anyone is interested or has any questions about the course feel free to contact me and I will be more than happy to help.

Aifili Masoe-Patelesio

Clash of the Generations

As always our parent community plays such an important part in our school life and we thoroughly enjoyed the "Clash of the Generations" held on Wednesday night. This fun-filled evening featured friendly competitions between students, parents, and staff and a great night was had by all. Many thanks to the Parents Association for their commitment to bringing our school community together.

Exciting News from the Whitby Collegiate Foundation

We are thrilled to announce a new phase in our journey with several key updates:

1. Launch of Raisely Platform: Our new community engagement and fundraising platform is live! Explore it and join us in supporting our mission to create “Partnerships That Change Lives.” Check it out and share

2. Gala Dinner: Our annual Gala Dinner is coming soon, featuring Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ulmer and Paris 2024 Black Ferns Sevens gold medallists Mahina Paul and Risaleanna Pouri-Lane, along with other inspiring speakers. Secure your tickets now

3. Community Market Day: Join us for a fun-filled day with stalls, food vendors, and raffles. Contribute by donating items, becoming a stallholder, or sponsoring raffle prizes. Learn more

4. Foundation Appointments: We welcome new Board Members and Julie Sellar on her appointment as Deputy Chair & Treasurer.

Thank you for your continuous support! For more details and to get involved, email us at foundation@whitbycollegiate.school.nz.

Read the full update

School Uniform

As we kick off the new term, we want to remind families about our uniform guidelines to ensure all students are dressed appropriately. For a complete list of required items and guidelines, please visit our uniform webpage. If you have any questions or need assistance with uniform purchases, feel free to reach out to the school office.

Bring in those YUMMY fruit stickers to earn new sports gear for our school!

YUMMY fruit stickers help us purchase sports equipment for students to play with at lunch times. Please bring your stickers, or cut out labels from the big bags of apples into the school office! YUMMY fruit can be purchased from your local supermarket or fruit store.

Apples: Genesis, Lemonade, Granny Smith, Ambrosia, Sweet Tango, Mariri Red, NZ Rose, Red Delicious, Royal Gala, Smitten, Ballarat, Braeburn and Fuji.

Stone Fruit: Nectarines and Peaches.

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