Whitby Collegiate News - Week 2, Term 1, 2024

Week 2, Term 1 | 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 the new academic year unfolds, we extend a warm welcome to all our students, faculty, and community at Whitby Collegiate. The beginning of a new year is always filled with excitement, aspirations, and a renewed dedication to excellence. We are thrilled to embark on this journey together, embracing both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We are looking forward to making 2024 a year of remarkable achievements, personal growth, and collective success.

As previously mentioned, we are incredibly proud of our outstanding academic results from 2023. Our students have once again raised the bar, showcasing their dedication, hard work, and exceptional talents. In particular, this week we are thrilled to announce that we have gained three scholarship awards from last year's external examinations. Congratulations to Leon Cao from Year 13 who gained scholarships in Calculus and Physics, putting him in the top 3% of academic achievement nationally, and Bailey Symons who, as a Year 12 student, gained a scholarship in Physical Education, putting her in the top 1.3% nationally. This is truly an exceptional result, and we are looking forward to the ongoing development of our scholarship programme under the leadership of our new Faculty Head, Mr Shaw.

As we complete our first week of school, we welcome Ms Shakira Baker (Maths and PE) and Ms Nic Aukett (Junior Maths, Science & Digital Technology) to our full-time teaching team this coming Monday. They will be joined by Mr Peter Free (Physics & Science) and Ms Anneliese Brown (Biology & Science) in the next few weeks. Unfortunately, there have been some unavoidable delays in these staff joining us, but we are very excited about the wealth of experience, new ideas, and fresh perspectives our new and upcoming staff members will bring to our community.

We are very much looking forward to our first opportunity to come together as a whole school community next Thursday at 5.00 pm at the Parents Meet & Greet BBQ. This event will be a wonderful occasion for parents to meet with members of our Proprietor’s Board, Senior Leadership Team, and new and existing staff, and learn more about our educational programmes and the opportunities available to our students this year. I certainly encourage all to attend and am grateful to our Parents’ Association who host this event.

Summer sports are also underway with a huge rush and thank you to all those students who have signed up through the sport registration process. We are looking forward to an increase in participation across the board and in particular for the first time our Volleyball senior girls and boys teams will be competing at the National Volleyball Championships in Tournament Week, alongside our Softball team who will be heading to Auckland to compete at the National Championships also. Much hard work has already gone into the preparation of these teams in the build-up to these events, and we look forward to supporting them over the coming weeks.

We also look forward to welcoming our parent community to join us at our annual Athletics Day coming up very shortly which is always a great event where students can showcase their sporting talents, but also an opportunity for everyone to participate and join in the camaraderie of the day and gain coveted house points.

We also welcome a student-led initiative to extend our Houses to five, and are pleased to announce that the name of the new House will be “Fiso” after the Founder and Chair of the Proprietor’s Board, Mr John Fiso. I am sure that all members of the new Fiso House will do him proud!

Finally, I would like to commend all those in our student leadership team, ably led by Head Boy Liam Cummings and Head Girl Jade Lin, who have been leading by example and making all our new students feel welcome to the school and upholding the values and standards that are Whitby Collegiate. An enduring memory for this week has been how eloquently Year 7 student Lucy Rees-Thomas spoke to the full school assembly, outlining her impressions of her first few days at Whitby Collegiate and the impact that in particular our school leaders have had through the peer support programme. A special thanks to Ms Sauvao for her leadership in setting up these very important activities in the school that bind our school community together.

As we move forward into the year, we are filled with optimism and enthusiasm for what our students and faculty will achieve together. Let us continue to support one another, strive for excellence, and make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. Here's to a year of growth, achievement, and success at Whitby Collegiate.

Warm regards,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

DEPUTIES’ UPDATES

From the Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

NCEA examination Reconsideration and Reviews for 2023 close on Wednesday 21 February. Should any students require help with this process, applied via the NZQA student log-in, I encourage them to see me as soon as possible.

As I have walked around the campus this week it has been fantastic to see our busy classes with highly engaged learners. Students have been coping well with the muggy heat, and teachers have been making great use of our wonderful park-like grounds to teach some classes outside.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

What a fantastic start to the new year it has been at Whitby Collegiate! I have enjoyed catching up with students this past week especially meeting our new students. The energy and enthusiasm amongst our students and staff has been inspiring as we embark on another exciting year of growth, learning and celebrating success.

Our Year 13 student leaders have hit the ground running, working tirelessly to plan and organise our first House activities and Peer Support programme. The positive feedback we have received from our new students speaks volumes about their dedication and initiative. Well done to our Year 13 student leaders!

I am pleased to see that many of our students are already taking advantage of the opportunities available to participate in extra-curricular activities. Engaging in these activities not only enriches their overall school experience but also helps them develop essential skills, build lasting friendships, and cultivate a sense of belonging within our school community. I commend our students for their initiative and commitment to exploring their interests beyond the classroom.

It was great to see a fantastic turnout at our first Cultural Performance Group meeting at lunchtime today. So many enthusiastic students eager to showcase their talents and celebrate our school's diverse cultural heritage. I am incredibly grateful for the student leadership demonstrated in this space, particularly the mentorship of Aifili Patelesio. Aifili's dedication and guidance have been instrumental in shaping this initiative, and I am confident that under her leadership, our Cultural Performance Group will flourish.

I have had the pleasure of chatting with some of our new students, and I am delighted to share their thoughts on their first few days with us:

I would like to thank all our parents for the positive and supportive emails and phone calls. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we are thrilled to hear that your son/daughter is settling in well. It is heartening to hear such positive feedback, and we are committed to ensuring that every student feels welcomed, valued, and supported at Whitby Collegiate.

I look forward to working with our students and families this year, and I hope to see you at our Meet & Greet BBQ next Thursday evening. Please feel free to connect with your son/daughter’s Tutor teacher or any member of our Pastoral team if you have any questions.

Ma lou fa’aaloalo lava,

Ainslie Sauvao

UPCOMING EVENTS

Term 1 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 here by clicking the button that reads “subscribe to this calendar”.

Friendly reminder: We're just a week away from the Parents Meet & Greet BBQ! RSVP HERE

5:00 PM: Musical performances and guest seating in the gym.
5:30 PM: Welcome speeches from the Chair, Executive Principal, Student Leaders, and introduction of key staff. Parents will also have the chance to meet Tutor Teachers.
6:00 PM: BBQ and mingling for everyone!

Our school Athletics Day is fast approaching. This year, we will be holding it on Wednesday 21 February, at Adventure Park. For those who are new to our school, it is a great opportunity to connect with other students and staff, and demonstrate House pride. Whānau are welcome to attend and support. All students must enter two events: one track event and one field event. The fun 50m is an example of one of our new, less competitive events. Points for participation go to each House's overall total.

For our more serious athletes, we are introducing a new category: the Pentathlon. Pentathletes must compete in five events: either two track and three field, or three track and two field. Pentathlon participation points are worth double, and our overall school athletics champions will be selected from those competing in the pentathlon.

All the information about the categories, events, and pentathlon is on the registration form.
REGISTER HERE

The first 10 people to register will get a Dominos pizza, which our Deputy Head Boy, Jackson Bigwood, will collect at lunchtime on Wednesday next week.

If you have any questions about the day, please see Mrs Levave in the PE office, and if you want to know how to become an Athletics Champion, see Jackson or Jade for some tips. The programme for the day's events, and current school records will be published in next week's newsletter.

Kia kaha and karawhiua!

SCHOOL NEWS

Senior PE Beach Education Trip

On Wednesday all of our senior Physical Education students spent the day at Titahi Bay beach, hosted by Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ). In preparation for their upcoming trip to Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits Centre (TOPEC) later this term, students learned about how to identify hazards, minimise risk and manage safety in the outdoors. They had turns setting up for beach patrol, identifying a rip, and practising beach drags and water rescues. Many thanks to SLSNZ and the Beach Education team, Mrs Emma Laurenson, Miss Sophie Green, Miss Ava Jones and Mr Marenzi, for accompanying us on the trip, and to Mr O'Neill for sharing his beach cricket skills.

School Tuck Shop

The school tuck shop will be open for lunch orders and sales every day from Monday 19 February. Students will be able to purchase ready to eat items and drinks at morning tea. They will also be able to pick up pre-ordered lunch items and purchase ready to eat items and drinks at lunchtime.

Note: pre-order lunch items need to be ordered online by 9am, purchasing in advance will be available. (e.g. ordering lunch on Monday for Thursday). This can be done through your Lunch Online account.

SPORTS UPDATE

We welcome Rachel Martelli to our Sports Department supporting Sports Director Sally Rose in the development of sport at Whitby Collegiate. Rachel studied at the NZ Institute of Sport and her extensive background in both operational and strategic facets of sports administration makes her an invaluable asset to the team. Her experiences range from working directly with athletes in the health and fitness industry to managing commercial partnerships and community engagement initiatives for professional sports teams. Specifically, she was a Commercial Executive with Wellington Rugby and the Hurricanes and then with the Wellington Phoenix as a Community Development Officer. This varied experience ensures she brings a wealth of knowledge in sports management, event coordination and community development. Rachel is looking forward to seeing sport continue to flourish at Whitby Collegiate and working with our talented athletes, coaches and managers, and continuing to foster the vibrant sport culture where students have the greatest opportunity to develop.

Sports Registration

For any last minute sports registrations, please do so before Monday 12 February! Register Here

Email Change

Due to recent email bouncing issues, we have switched to sports@whitbycollegiate.school.nz. Going forward, please use the updated email address for any sports related communication.

Golf Programme - Registrations NOW OPEN

The Golf Programme runs in Term 1 & 4 and is a 6 week introduction to golf. Registrations for the programme are open to all Whitby Collegiate students. There is a maximum of 10 players.
More Info / Register Here

Netball Preseason and Trials

Our Netball Committee has been working hard behind the scenes to plan for the season ahead. Please note the following dates here, to help with planning for Winter Netball in 2024.

Winter sport registrations are not yet open, but a form will be sent out next week for players to indicate their interest in pre-season training and trials. All players wishing to be considered for Senior A and B teams must attend preseason training. If you have any questions about the season, please see Mrs Levave in the PE office, Ms Martelli in the Sports office, or email our Netball convenor, Onour Murray smonour@gmail.com.

College Sport Wellington Referee / Coaching Workshops

If there are any students interested in the CSW referee (16 February) and coaching workshops (19 February) at Te Rauparaha Arena, please email sports@whitbycollegiate.school.nz or see Ms Martelli in the sports office.

Sports Uniform Returns

Please return any sports uniforms to the sports office ASAP to avoid incurring fines.

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