Week 2, Term 2 | 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,

As we head into another weekend and reflect on a very busy and interactive week for our students I want to take a minute to wish all our mothers a wonderful day on Sunday!

We are very proud of Year 12 student Caelan Taylor’s selection for the Hyundai Pinnacles NZ Programme. As one of only seven selected for this mentoring and leadership programme, Caelan will gain enormous benefits from this experience and we look forward to him sharing his experiences over the next three years.

Senior students are already being encouraged to think about their future career options and attended the Careers Expo held at Te Rauparaha Arena. This event offered them a plethora of career possibilities, helping shape their future choices with valuable information and networking opportunities. 

Our Te Reo Māori programme was energised this week through a series of workshops by Toropikopiko. Their innovative use of interactive puppetry made learning a truly engaging experience. Our Year 10 students in particular gained much knowledge to gain confidence for their much-anticipated Noho Marae visit to Raukawa Marae next week, particularly learning waiata and the protocol.

Winter sport is now well and truly underway. We now have seven Netball teams with the Senior A team playing in the midweek Premier competition. The preseason work that all the teams have been involved with is certainly paying off. Basketball also begins tonight and our players received a large boost with players from the Saints Basketball team taking a skills session this afternoon. Hockey and Football teams are out in force and preparations are already starting for the Year 7 & 8 AIMs Games participants. Many thanks to parents, supporters and staff for their commitment to our sports teams which without the necessary support would simply not happen.

Preparation for the School Cross Country on the 20th of this month has been a focus for the PE Department where students have certainly been put through their paces. A special mention to Mrs McKinlay’s lunchtime running club which is attracting some very committed participants. We look forward to welcoming families to come and support those running. 

We are also looking forward to the Big Sing for our choir in a few weeks and are delighted to have Helen Tupai assisting Ms Ting in preparation for this event. Mrs Tupai has been an integral part in the development of the Mission and Signature choirs who have sung with the NZ Symphony Orchestra. We are delighted to have her expertise to support our choral programme.

Finally, it was wonderful to meet so many prospective families who attended our Open Morning today. They are always so complimentary of our students who act as the school guides on these days. A very big thank you to Mrs Rose and all her hard work and all our staff and students in making our visitors feel so welcome.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

DEPUTIES’ UPDATES

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Ni Hao, Mālō ni, Namaste, Mālō e lelei, Kia orana, Kia ora to our Whitby Collegiate whānau,

Our students continue to make us proud with their achievements in the area of leadership outside of school, showcasing their skills and passion for service. Congratulations to Caelan Taylor for his selection to join the prestigious National Hyundai Pinnacle programme. This programme identifies and nurtures the potential of young New Zealanders by supporting youth passionate about art, science, business, sport, music, film, performing arts, the environment, or politics by providing a mentoring experience unique to each student. Caelan's selection from a pool of 84 candidates nationwide is a testament to his dedication and potential. We wish him all the success in this exciting journey ahead.

This week, we welcomed three new students to our school community: Year 9 student Aria Tasi, and Year 11 students, Olivia Allen and Falken Mataipule. It’s been great hearing how much they have all enjoyed their first week with us and I hope they continue to find joy and success in their journey with us at Whitby Collegiate.

Our junior students had the privilege of participating in special workshops led by special guests Jeffrey and Whaitaima Addison. The workshops, focusing on waiata and Te Reo, were not only educational but also enriching and fun for our students. I was very proud of the way our junior students responded and participated with enthusiasm and pride in showcasing Māori waiata and games. Jeffrey and Whaitaima certainly brought out the best in our students!

Soifua ia ma ia manuia,

Ainslie Sauvao

From the Assistant Principal

Kia ora Students, Parents & Caregivers,

Last Friday our Level 2 Geography students returned from completing the Tongariro Crossing. The purpose of this field trip was to study the intricacies of altitudinal zonation by examining how elevation impacts vegetation. We spent three days exploring a variety of locations around the Tongariro National Park but the main challenge arrived on the second day when we embarked on the 19.4 km journey through the mountains. 

It was cold, it was snowy but our resilient students showcased remarkable determination and adaptability. The 370 steps of the Devil’s staircase tested everyone's character and leg muscles. Every time the students thought they had conquered the staircase another set of steps seemed to emerge from the cloud. I lost count of how many times I was asked “Surely this is the top now sir?” 

Eventually, our hard work paid off when we finally made it to the south and north craters and witnessed the breathtaking beauty of the snow-kissed landscape. Snow balls were thrown, mini-snowmen were made, and we even managed to slip in some Geographical research too. At the end of the hike we were all tired but we were also very happy to have completed the crossing in such beautiful conditions.  

I am very proud of all of our students and very grateful to Mr Richard Marenzi and Ms Charlotte Keilty who made this trip possible. 

Ngā mihi,

Maurice Atkinson

CHAPLAIN’S NOTE

This week’s virtue of the week at school is compassion. The word comes from the latin, ‘to suffer with’. Compassion is a word of action and requires us to see and to respond.

It’s very easy in 2024 to become numb to situations and circumstances, and convenient to assume that compassion is somebody else’s job.

I was looking at a social media post from international students who were struggling with their experience of New Zealanders. In it they described kiwis as indifferent, mean, rude, having no sense of humour, passive aggressive, hard to get along with, unfriendly, and mean. It was a heartbreaking read.

May that not be true of us. May the Whitby Collegiate community be known for its compassion, kindness and open-heartedness.

As Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Blessings,
Reverend Chris

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 2 Activities/Events (Week 3)

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”.

SCHOOL NEWS

Creative Writing Feature

“Days Bay” by Toby Dyhrberg, Year 9

Nestled in the heart of Eastbourne lies the best beach in Wellington. With its sandy shores and grand wooden wharf there is no place I'd rather be. The ocean breathes gentle waves that softly caress the shoreline. From the old surf house to the great tree is the bay with the water that seems to extend to the end of the world. The sand flows through my feet and hides in between my toes, the short lived sensation ends as I run across the bay into the water washing away the grains forever. My throat goes dry as if salty paint had been brushed all around my mouth. The sounds of the gulls and the bombs off the wharf fill my ear drums, echoing through the sky. Like aerial burglars, the seagulls approach people with fish and chips, and while nobody’s watching they nick a chip or two and are 20 metres in the sky before anyone notices.  A tennis ball stops dead at my feet imprinting itself into the sand like a tiny meteorite.

“Bro! Here!” a group of kids playing an intense game of beachside cricket. I Lean over to pick up the ball and throw it to the wicketkeeper “out” calls one of the boys pointing his finger up the fielding team cheers loudly at the call. 

As I walk down the wharf the soft grains of sand latch onto my feet. I take a deep breath and walk the platform like a treacherous pirate, my sandy toes wrap around the edge of the platform and I brace myself. I take a few steps back and like a rocket I launch myself off the platform, for a moment I am lighter than a feather, then I tuck my arms in and stick my legs up to form a V shape mid air. As the surface of the water breaks, water ascends 20 metres into the air. When I am under it feels like a different world. I balloon to the surface and take deep breaths to calm myself down. The ripples from my jump still shake the surface of the water as I climb back out and do it all over again.

As day turns to night Mum calls me back to the car. I say goodbye to the bay with its grand wooden wharf and its soft sandy shores knowing that this place will forever be a part of me.

SPORTS UPDATE

Basketball Session with the Saints

Today was an electrifying day as our students had the incredible opportunity to train alongside the esteemed Saints Basketball players. Their presence ignited excitement as they led a special session with our Senior Boys and Girls team, Junior A team, and selected students, infusing the court with energy and inspiration.

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 submit via the button below OR forward student achievements to communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

COMMUNITY NOTICES

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