Week 1, Term 3 | 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.

A very warm welcome back to all our students, staff, and families as we begin what promises to be a busy and exciting Term Three. We hope everyone had a restful and restorative holiday break—recharged and ready for the months ahead!

Our students were certainly busy over the holiday period and it is fantastic to see them taking up opportunities that will have an impact on many areas of their development. A particular mention for Isabela McLean and Adelle Tipper who shared at this week's assembly their time at the at Te Ara Tīrama event, in partnership with Netsafe, gaining valuable insights and inspiration about empowering potential. Mya Gaualofa and Nadia Roach travelled to Samoa to attend the Future Leaders Academy Programme, immersing themselves in cultural exchange, community engagement and developing leadership skills in an international context. Each of these experiences helps shape the leadership and character of our young people, and we’re proud of what they’ve brought back to our school from their time away.

We also farewelled Olivia Kilford, earlier this week as she heads to the UK for three weeks after being selected to attend the London International Youth Science Forum, a 15 day STEM summer camp held at Imperial College.

Whitby Collegiate student athletes were very busy as well with a number involved in representative honours. Special congratulations to Bella Ford and Maria Rountree, who were members of the Kapi Mana rep team that won the North Island Netball Championship over the holidays. Well done to Louise Yuan who represented NZ at the Australian and Oceania Fencing Championships and to Ali Kay who has been selected to represent NZ in the U15 Softball team at the Tasman Cup in Sydney later on this year.

This will be a very focused term parti for the senior students as they progress toward their internal assessments and derived grade exams at the end of the term. Students will be surprised at how quickly the term will go by and our aim is certainly to encourage and support their organisational skills and the management of their workload. Those senior students who are involved in the Young Enterprise Scheme are honing their product development skills and a big thank you to Mrs Patel who along with the senior commerce students have been organising an inspiring Women in Business evening coming up.

This week has been particularly special as we extend a heartfelt welcome back to Georgie Rose. Georgie has been away from school for the last 18 months recovering from a significant neurological injury which saw her undertaking a long, slow and courageous journey. We are so grateful to have her return to our school community even in a small way and hope to see more of her in the coming months. She is the daughter of our beloved Sports Director Sally Rose and to have the opportunity to see them both has been fantastic. Georgie is certainly living one of the school mottos of "Resilience". Her Year 12 peers have spent time catching her up on everything she’s missed over the past year and a half, and it has been truly heartwarming to see the support and connection among our students.

Outdoor Education students have been making the most of the beautiful winter weather during their kayaking practicum this week. It’s been fantastic to see so many students embracing the outdoors and applying their skills in real-life environments. A big thank you to our staff for providing such enriching opportunities.

Senior student leaders have been hard work planning a range of events to celebrate the rich cultural heritage that makes Whitby Collegiate so special. Our cultural club has also been rehearsing tirelessly over the break in preparation for their upcoming performance at Te Kiwa Nui, a festival celebrating the cultures of the Pacific.

Whitby Collegiate sports teams are also hard at work as we head towards winter tournament week and the AIMS games. We appreciate all the support from our staff and parent community and all the work that it takes to ensure our students have the opportunity to compete against their peers at a national level.

We’re excited to celebrate our National Champion Softball team with a special function hosted at Parliament in a couple of weeks time. This will be a proud moment for our school and a well-deserved recognition for our softball athletes. At this function we are also thrilled to announce the launch of our NZQA Scholarship Programme and the students involved in this year's programme will be acknowledged and celebrated.

Our Parents Association and those who are involved in the Foundation continue to work tirelessly for the school and we are looking forward to the upcoming Golf tournament and the Gala Dinner in early September and welcome all to be part of these important community events for our school.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

What a wonderful, if chilly, start we’ve had to Term 3. It is lovely to see our students back at school ready for another excellent term of learning and achievement. Other than the School Ball (Saturday 16 August), I imagine the next biggest event in the calendar for most of our senior students will be Derived Grade examinations, Monday 8 - Friday 12 September (Week 8). All Year 11-13 students will be on study leave during this week, and need only come into school for examinations and/or workshops. Derived grade examinations are important as they give students real-world practice towards their external Achievement Standards under NZQA examination conditions.

Additionally, in the rare event that illness, accident, or bereavement results in a student being unable to sit their end-of-year examination, or impairs their performance, students are able to apply to NZQA to use their DG exam result. I will ensure that all students are aware of the process to apply for the use of a DG result closer to NCEA exams starting in November. 

Next week our Years 9 and 10 students will be participating in an Introduction to Storytelling with Gen AI workshop, facilitated by Accenture: New Zealand. During Storytelling with Gen AI, students are introduced to generative AI tools to understand more about emerging technologies that are increasingly shaping our world. Learning about Gen AI opens doors to exploring how technology can change the way we interact with the world around us, paving the way for future innovations and opportunities. Year 9 tutor groups will each have a two-period session on Thursday 31 July, and Year 10 tutor groups on Friday 1 August.

ICAS competitions begin on 4 August. If your child wants to enter one or more of the ICAS competitions, please see this communication with instructions for entry. Entries close Monday 28 July at 11.59pm.

Have a lovely weekend.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

CHAPLAIN’S NOTE

There’s a moment in the Bible when the disciples are caught in a storm—exhausted, terrified, and struggling against the wind and waves. Then they see Jesus, walking toward them on the water. He says, “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

What a gift courage is. And what a gift it is to receive encouragement from others. When we’re caught in our own storms—whether visible or invisible—it is often the people around us who help us stay afloat. Their encouragement gives us strength. It gives us courage.

So how do we become people who offer that kind of gift? People who give courage to others?

I think it begins with delight—delighting in others, wanting to see the best in them, and drawing that out. It comes from generosity. It flows from a deep kindness.

As someone who does more than my fair share of public speaking, I know the difference encouragement makes. A simple nod of encouragement draws out the best in me. It helps me grow. It makes me more.

Perhaps you find yourself in a storm this week. If so, may you take courage from the fact that you are not alone. May you discover courage in the eyes and presence of those around you. And may your faith be a wellspring of strength.

Have a great week,
Reverend Chris

Student Perspectives

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”.

School News

Art of the week - Year 9 Matariki designs

Our Year 9 artists collaborated in groups to create mixed media artworks inspired by the stars of Matariki. Beginning with a cardboard box, they carved, painted, and drew their designs across the four sides. A huge congratulations to all the students for the way they supported each other in sharing ideas and the amazing creativity demonstrated in making art.

Photos from across all 3 classes

Future Leaders Academy – Samoa Trip

Mya Gaualofa & Nadia Roach

In the second week of our school holidays we were privileged with the opportunity to travel to Samoa for a future leaders academy programme, amongst many other year 12 and 13 students from New Zealand, Australia, and Samoa. Our journey to Samoa was an unforgettable experience filled with connection and adventure. As future leaders, we had the opportunity to meet inspiring people from local communities, exchange ideas, and build lasting friendships. We explored the stunning landscapes and scenery of Samoa all while soaking in the island’s warm weather. Each day brought something new which allowed us to reflect and grow as individuals and leaders. We would both highly recommend this programme to anyone who is interested in growing their leadership skills whilst exploring the beauty of the pacific. 

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.

Whitby Senior A Basketball Team

The Whitby Senior A basketball team continued their incredible run with a 71–59 win over TMK Porirua — their seventh straight victory this season. It was a game filled with energy, sharp teamwork, and emotion, as the team also farewelled MVP Mitchell Collins in his final match before heading to the UAE. Mitchell gave a standout performance and leaves behind a legacy of leadership, skill, and laughs on and off the court.

With four league wins under their belt, this is shaping up to be one of Whitby’s strongest teams yet, one to watch and support. Thanks as always to our ref Ollie, and congrats to the whole team on a stellar season so far!

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