Week 3, Term 1 | 2023

WORD FROM MS ADDISON

Kia ora, e te whānau - parents, caregivers and families of Whitby Collegiate,

As you will see we have had to put the school newsletter out this week in a different format. Many of you would have met Hillary who is responsible for our newsletter communications and has been caught in Gisborne without power and internet access. Fortunately, we know she is safe but due to the severity of the conditions in the region we are not able to have our newsletter formatted or distributed in the normal way, so apologies for this. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with all those who have been so dramatically affected by the cyclone in these past few days. Disappointingly we had to postpone our very important meet and greet of our whole community but look forward to seeing everyone on the 28th of February.

Despite the weather setbacks we have still had a very productive week with much activity across all curriculum areas. We have been able to utilise two of the three new classrooms this week, and with the science lab waiting on some critical items it will be another week or so away before we have full access here. I have enjoyed seeing the new drama room being in full use, and as always, seeing the junior students enjoying their science classes especially when they have been making ice cream!

We were pleased to formally induct our student leaders with the commissioning assembly today. Our prefects ably led by Ryan Field and Madeline Wareham, have been very active in chairing the house meetings and already have a number of activities underway for our student body. Within the role of prefect, students have also been allocated a portfolio area of responsibility. We have been very impressed with the attitude of this group and the genuine care being demonstrated to our wider school community. Senior house captains were announced today, and this group of students will add a further dimension to the student service and leadership at the school.

We congratulate the following students: 

We have also been impressed with the number of junior students who have indicated a willingness to also take on leadership roles and we look forward to announcing these next week.

School sport is well underway, and we are looking forward to the School Athletics Day next week. Everyone is invited to attend, and we hope to see you all there. It has been very encouraging to see the number of entries received and the offer of coaching to our younger athletes by our sports captains means that we will be looking forward to some excellent performances.

 We were thrilled to be able to welcome Rosa Vesty, a NZ Indoor and Beach Volleyball player who recently competed at the World Beach Volleyball Championships to take our junior volleyball teams for an inspiring coaching session early in the week.

Our junior Volleyball, Golf and Futsal teams all won their inaugural matches this week, and our Cricket team plays their first match this weekend. The Equestrian show jumping team will be competing at the interschool event in Masterton on Monday, with Tennis and Summer Hockey getting started next week. We had a record number of attendees at the Badminton skills and drills session after school and we have the CSW Open Touch and Softball tournaments at the end of the week. The Athlete Development Programme has also begun and if anyone would like further information on this please contact Sally Rose.

Cultural and music activities are also strengthening their footprint around the school, with the cultural group already starting their performance practices, the choir getting into action this week, and newly formed orchestra beginning today as well. The school band that was so successful last year has already got a core group of enthusiasts and the large number of lunch time clubs where there is a variety of activities for the students to be involved in are all underway. We also enjoyed seeing the talents of Leo and Olivia on display at assembly, and look forward to many more opportunities for our students to perform in front of the whole school community.

We hope to be back to our normal newsletter format next week and in the interim wishing everyone’s families are safe and well wherever they may be.

Ngā mihi nui,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

DEPUTIES’ UPDATES

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Kia ora koutou, 

This week, our Year 7 students had fun learning about the science behind making ice cream. The enthusiasm our new students are showing towards their learning, house events, and taking part in school activities has been refreshing and has given our student leaders greater motivation to organise more fun events. 

Peer Support for Year 7 students also started this week and I am extremely grateful for the leadership, care, and mentorship our Prefects have shown to our new students during the first session. Peer Support provides our Year 7 students with the opportunity to get to know their student leaders better, ask questions, and develop confidence as well as a genuine sense of belonging within their new school community.

Today's special commissioning assembly celebrated our student leaders who have done an amazing job already leading by example. Seeing the level of commitment and organisation from this group has been impressive and I cannot wait to see their leadership flourish as our Year 13 group make their mark throughout their final year. Our student leaders are excited about planning House sports fixtures, House Spirit week in Term 2 which will include a House musical talent show, an art competition, and creative wear which will all contribute to House points.

Thank you to those parents who have already reached out to ask questions and share how their son/daughter is finding school life. I appreciate very much your feedback, and kind support and I look forward to meeting parents and families at the Meet and Greet BBQ later this month.

Have a safe weekend and God bless.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

FROM THE PASTORAL DEAN

Kia ora Students, Parents & Caregivers, 

The start of the school year brings with it the commencement of our house points competition. Every year Resolution, Endeavour, Discovery and Adventure battle it out for our coveted house shield.

Currently, Adventure is off to an early lead but as the picture demonstrates, the competition has really only just begun. 

Nga mihi nui,

Maurice Atkinson

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 1 Activities/Events (Week 4)

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”.

Athletics Day - Wed 22 February (Adventure Park)

This is an extended school day for all staff and students. Whānau are welcome to attend and support. Assistance with running events is welcomed. Please email merita.levave@whitbycollegiate.school.nz with offers. Please note that the day will finish at 3.15pm and buses will depart at 3.20pm.

All parents/caregivers of Whitby Collegiate are warmly invited to attend the Parents’ Association Annual General Meeting Monday 27 February, 7.00pm in the staff room. These meetings give you an opportunity to be involved in your child’s education and meet other parents/caregivers of the school. Our wonderful team works together to support and provide extra facilities for the school community.

It is with great pleasure that we warmly welcome ALL parents/caregivers and students to Whitby Collegiate on Tuesday 28 February at 5.30pm for our annual Whitby Collegiate Parents Meet & Greet BBQ. This is the first major engagement that the school has with the parent/caregiver community and is an opportunity to come together to meet the teachers, key staff and other parents/caregivers at the school.

Please join us initially in the gym as a group, followed by individual meetings with tutor teachers and then an opportunity to mix and mingle with other parents at a BBQ kindly put on by the Parents’ Association. Students are required to wear their formal school uniform.

To ensure we can cater accordingly, please RSVP online here or email communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz by Friday 24 February.

The Parents’ Association is seeking parent/caregivers to help assist at this event. Please email wcpa@whitbycollegiate.school.nz if you are keen to help out. 

SCHOOL NEWS

SPORTS UPDATE

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 forward student achievements to communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz and sporting results to the Sports Coordinator, sally.rose@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

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