Week 2, Term 1 | 2026

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.

This week has provided a number of standout moments for Whitby Collegiate, particularly with the announcement of the scholarship results from our senior students in 2025. These prestigious awards see our students competing in the top 3% of all students nationally with seven scholarships across six subjects and we were very proud of our 2025 Dux, Ashleigh Gore, who gained scholarship in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Calculus, a truly outstanding result. This was supported with scholarships to Ishaan Badiyani in English, Conor Sellar in Calculus and Caelan Taylor in Technology. We are also thrilled to be able to confirm that our NCEA results are now sitting at 100% for NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3, reflecting the dedication of staff and students and the commitment to academic excellence.

We were also thrilled to welcome families back to school this week at our annual start‑of‑year gathering. Supported by our wonderful Parents Association, and driven by the tireless work of the amazing Sue Payne and her team. The welcome BBQ was a fantastic opportunity for families to connect and reconnect after the summer break.

It was the opportunity for all those families new to the school to meet the teachers and to introduce our new staff to the community. It was a wonderful atmosphere where everyone could relax, enjoy our beautiful environment and make strong connections for the year ahead. A very big thank you to all who contributed their time so generously and to our students who are always looking for ways to serve their school, they really showed the "Whitby Way". A special thanks to our custodian Mr Marenzi who also worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the evening.

We were honoured to have Mr John Fiso, Chair of the Proprietor’s Board, join us for the occasion. His opening address and ongoing support set a positive tone for the year ahead.

Sport has seen a big uptake in registrations for our summer codes and along with the usual summer sports we are pleased to see new codes join the offerings to our students including Floorball, Touch and Flag football. Our senior girls Volleyball team last week qualified for the Premier division for the first time ever and had two wins in their first competition night defeating both Aotea College and Onslow College senior A teams. A great start to the season!!

Congratulations once again to our Softballers who continue to shine at representative level and along with our recently announced national U23 representatives, Bella Coxson, Ella Smits and Safira Schultz we acknowledge Kiana Byrne a new Year 9 student who has just been named in the NZ U15 Junior White Sox team.

From academic excellence to community connection, this has been a week that reflects the spirit of Whitby Collegiate. Congratulations once again to all our scholarship recipients, and thank you to everyone who helped make our welcome event such a success. What a great start to the year.

Ngā mihi nui.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

I was so pleased to access our NZQA portal early on Tuesday morning to see that we had seven NZQA Scholarships from six subjects! I add my congratulations to Ashleigh, Ishaan, Conor, and Caelan, 2025 Year 13 students, for their success. I would also like to acknowledge all the students that pushed themselves to prepare for and enter Scholarship; the skills you learned on that journey will inevitably reward you in the future. Thanks also to the teachers that supported our students in their learning, and to the parents and caregivers who continue to encourage their children.

While we are no longer offering NCEA Level 1 at Whitby Collegiate, students in Years 12 and 13 are still working towards Levels 2 and 3. Parents and caregivers who wish to learn more about the NCEA qualification system are invited to attend my annual NCEA information evening on Tuesday 10 March. I target the information to parents of students in Years 10 and above, but all are welcome to attend. I will also be happy to speak to the Year 11 Collegiate Diploma, should there be any interest. In the changing landscape of the New Zealand Curriculum, the NCEA information session will be preceded by our Heads of Faculties addressing how Whitby Collegiate will be assessing and reporting in the junior school (Years 7-9) this year.

Tuesday 10 March information sessions in the Ioane Fiso Pavilion:

• 6pm Curriculum at Whitby Collegiate (targeted to Y7-9 parents)

• 7pm NCEA at Whitby Collegiate (targeted to Y10 and above parents)

It has been great to see so many senior students over the last two weeks, as they have looked to confirm their subject choices and timetable for the year. There will be no more subject changes after today, except in exceptional circumstances.

NCEA candidates from 2025 are reminded that applications for Reviews and Reconsiderations close next Wednesday 18 February. More information is on the NZQA website.

This week, all students in Years 10-13 have read over and signed the Authenticity Agreement. As there is increasing access to Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is very important that students only submit work for assessment that is authentically their own. In addition, the Assessment Policy and Procedures that was emailed home this week should be discussed between children and their parents/caregivers to ensure full understanding and acceptance. In addition to appearing on the website, the documents are also on tutor group Google Classrooms, and have been discussed in depth at tutor times.

To help them with their planning and organisation this year, today I emailed senior students the link to the Assessment Planner for the Year 11 Collegiate Diploma, and NCEA Levels 2 and 3. A live document, this will be updated if and when assessment deadlines change, and can also be accessed by parents for added support with keeping track of due dates.

I enjoyed meeting with so many parents last night at the BBQ, and am looking forward to a fantastic year of guiding our students’ personal development and academic success.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Da jia hao, Mālō e lelei, Namaste, Kia orāna, Tāloha ni, Kia ora Parents, Caregivers, and families,

What a great way to kick start the school year! 

Having the opportunity to connect with so many of our families during yesterday’s Meet the Teachers’ BBQ is already one of my highlights for 2026. It really brought to life the culture of Servant Leadership that we instil in our students everyday here at Whitby Collegiate. Seeing our Parents’ Association, students, and staff working hand-in-hand to make our first school event such a special and memorable one was simply awesome.

The sense of community felt incredibly strong, and we even had the privilege of seeing former parents, Pastor Ken and Tai Roach, return to serve our school community once again - Mālō fa’afetai, mālō lava le tautua. To all who attended and helped, especially our wonderful Parents’ Association, thank you for making our ‘village’ feel so vibrant.

Our senior students have already begun representing us with excellence as ambassadors. At this week’s Cullen Breakfast, Louisa Egley-Turner, Gabriel Chionh, and Adelle Tipper had the opportunity to hear the Minister of Education, Hon. Erica Stanford, spoke about the future of our nation's schools. She offered insights into the upcoming NCEA and curriculum changes, highlighting a shift to a more structured and aligned curriculum between other schools and countries. With many schools in attendance, it was great to consider how these changes might influence teaching and education standards, as well as learn about the challenges faced within our current system. It was a proud moment to see our leaders engaging with such important conversations.

There is a powerful quote that resonates with the culture we have at Whitby Collegiate relating to service; “When you teach a student to serve, you light a lamp that will eventually guide a thousand others.” In my role overseeing student leadership, one of our goals is to promote a culture where service becomes a shared passion, where one student’s initiative inspires the next to step forward. As I meet with students to discuss how they can contribute to our school life, I am consistently impressed by their genuine willingness to put others before themselves. We are already seeing this "lamp" being passed between our students. A wonderful example is Yufan Lu and Finn Spohr, who took the initiative to serve as our school photographers. They are incredibly excited to share their creative talents to capture the spirit of our community, and the fantastic photos featured in this report are a testament to their skill and dedication.

Chaplain’s Note

Next week brings a remarkable pairing. Lent and Ramadan begin at almost the same time. (This happens every 33 years, I will be old the next time this happens.)

For Christians and Muslims, these seasons look different, but they share something important: a deliberate pause. A decision to step back from constant consumption — from eating and drinking on demand — and to remember that life is bigger than appetite.

At its simplest, both Lent and Ramadan remind us that we are more than consumers. We can choose self-control over impulse, reflection over noise, generosity over self-focus. While the world tells us we are what we buy, eat, achieve, or display, these seasons quietly suggest another way to live.

That feels like a timely lesson for all of us.

Blessings,
Rev Chris

School News

Whitby Students at Hurricanes Pre-Season Game

Last Saturday, our students experienced an unforgettable day at the Hurricanes preseason game against the Chiefs at Porirua Park. From the moment they arrived, the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as our students immersed themselves in the world of professional rugby.

Throughout the day, students had the wonderful opportunity to watch high-level rugby in action, cheering enthusiastically for the Hurricanes alongside thousands of passionate fans. The highlight for many was meeting their sporting heroes after the match, collecting autographs and sharing memorable moments with the players. Our students proudly waved their flags and represented Whitby Collegiate with enthusiasm and spirit.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude to Mr Fiso, Chair of our Proprietor's Board, for his outstanding generosity and thoughtfulness in organising this special opportunity for our students. Our sincere thanks also extend to Head office Fiso Group for their generous sponsorship of this event. Mr Fiso's continued commitment to enriching the educational experience of our Whitby Collegiate students is truly remarkable, and this day will remain a cherished memory for all who attended.

Experiences like these remind us of the value of community support in creating meaningful opportunities for our young people to grow, connect, and be inspired.

Tech Thursdays

Students from 7NA and 8JE experienced a stimulating morning of Technology on Thursday. Throughout the term, they will engage in hands-on learning across the curriculum areas of Hard Materials, Food, and Textiles . This week's sessions culminated in the inviting aroma of freshly baked scones, the excitement of designing original electronic puppets, and the satisfying process of cutting and engraving their very own wooden keyrings. Excitement is already building for the next session.

Art of the Week - Handscapes

Inspired by the wonderful and imaginative world of Surrealism our talented students from 9GA have explored their personal interests and ideas as a creative and unique “handscapes”

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”.

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

Community Notice