Week 3, Term 2 | 2022

WORD FROM MS ADDISON

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

An amazing turnout for our school’s Open Day on Sunday, where we had by far the largest number of groups through the school ever, with the level of interest in Years 7 and 9 particularly high. Our student guides were nothing short of spectacular and we received so many positive comments about the engaging way that they interacted with the families. Along with the staff presentations, it is always the students who provide prospective parents with the greatest insight in regards to their time at Whitby Collegiate. We were able to showcase a range of student work with our Young Enterprise students showing the products that they have produced and honing their marketing pitches.

The Whole School Cross-Country this week was a real highlight and thanks to Mrs Parish for the great organisational feat that it is with these school events. Participation as we expect was very high and congratulations to not only the winners but all those who achieved personal goals. It was so encouraging to see the school spirit alive and well, with students cheering on their classmates to do their best and showing care and concern when students crossed the line after having given their all.

Staff have been working very hard on being future focused with the upcoming MInistry of Education NZ curriculum changes and I thank everyone for your support with the Teacher Only Day this week. These changes in the main will affect NCEA Level 1 next year and there will be a continual rollout of change over time. Mrs Mitchell will be keeping everyone informed as needed and we look forward to innovative developments.

Students have been very busy in a range of activities with a large number of students at the College Sport Wellington referring and coaching clinics today. This will enable students to contribute back to their teams and we look forward to another busy week of sport coming up.

Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

DEPUTIES’ UPDATES

From the Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Unfortunately, we have seen a small resurgence of COVID-19 cases at the school. It is therefore timely to remind you of the importance of our hygiene practices and the use of hand sanitiser. While masks are no longer compulsory at school, they are still encouraged and a very good protection against infection. Remember, if your child has cold or flu-like symptoms, please do not send them to school - please call the school office 04 234 1070 or email office@whitbycollegiate.school.nz to report their absence. Any students presenting with symptoms at school will be sent home. Thank you for continuing to report your child/ren’s and household’s positive cases to the school.

Associated with our student cases, we have a number of teachers also isolating at home. Should there be a need to start rostering home year levels, we will let parents and caregivers know as soon as possible via email and Facebook. Please note that only Years 9-13 students will be rostered home, and we will always make provision for students who are unable to stay home unattended.

My NCEA Information evening on Tuesday 24 May will continue as planned at 7pm in Room 5 (the Music Room). I do ask that everyone who plans to attend register by emailing me at debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz, and wears a mask while in the room.

Additionally, please see below for more information about the Parent Teacher Interviews for Years 7-9, which will now be held online. This Thursday 26 May the PTIs will be for 7ML, 8EH, and 9SO, while on Thursday 2 June the PTIs are for 7NT, 8MW, and 9TG.

Take care everyone,

Debbie Mitchell

FROM THE PASTORAL DEAN

Kia ora Students, Parents & Caregivers,

Our House competition is in full swing and the acorns in each of the House jars are certainly stacking up. The number of acorns required to fill the jars has meant that student volunteers have been busily painting new acorns in my office. It is pleasing to see this growth, as each of these points represents an instance of students putting our school values into action.

Discovery continues to hold on to its lead, but Resolution has caught up considerably. The number of yellow and blue acorns remains low in comparison but there is still plenty of time for Adventure and Endeavour to catch up.

Nga mihi nui, 

Maurice Atkinson

We are actively following the information and advice being provided by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education with regard to COVID-19.

Please get in touch with us as soon as you can if your child or a parent helper/coach has tested positive for COVID-19. You can contact our Health Administrator during school hours on 04 234 1070, or send an email to office@whitbycollegiate.school.nz. If anyone in your family is confirmed as having COVID-19, you will be asked to notify your close contacts yourself.

Click here for Whitby Collegiate’s COVID-19 response

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

Term 2 Activities/Events (Week 4)

Senior Ball (Years 11-13) - Te Papa, Saturday 11 June, 6.30pm-11.30pm

The Senior Formal Ball for Years 11-13 students will be held between 6.30pm and 11.30pm on Saturday 11 June in the Oceania function room at Te Papa.

Tickets are $135 each, and this includes the three-course dinner buffet, soft drinks and orange juice, professional DJ, photobooth and props, and a professional photographer. Students are welcome to purchase a ticket for a guest, but they must be at least a Year 11 student. Guest’s details must be included on the permission slip when purchasing tickets and will be approved at the discretion of the Executive Principal.

ORDER TICKETS HERE

Please complete by Friday 27 May. There will be no late ticket sales. Physical tickets will be distributed to students in the week leading up to the Ball. 

SCHOOL NEWS

Whole School Cross-Country

The weather gods played their role by pulling back the rain curtains just in time for students to arrive on the field for the 2022 Whitby Collegiate School Cross-Country. There was a real buzz in the air with Endeavour waving their flags proudly, the student leadership team leading a warm-up, and anticipation for the first race to start. 

The seniors arrived at the start line both full of nerves, as well as the excitement of not attending period 5 and 6 classes. The junior and intermediate runners roared and cheered in volumes never heard before as the seniors started their race. Full of support and encouragement for others, the intermediate and then junior runners started their race and did themselves proud. 

Before we knew it, the first and second senior boy runners, Sam Sexton (new record) and Toby Kelly, returned to finish their race. 'Knuckles' were given to each other as recognition of their efforts and sportsmanship in acknowledgement of the 20-second gap. 

Jade Lin was the first senior girl only four minutes behind the boys and achieved a new record time for senior girls. Very soon after, Tim Lee came flying around the corner to take first place and a new record in the junior race and Zaria Phelps took out first and a new record in the junior girls. Ben Reichenvater and Gemma Kelly both took out first place in the hotly contested intermediate boys and girls race. 

What an incredible success for all participants with exceptionally close house points yet to be announced. 

- Mrs Parish, PE Department

Environmental Club - Duck Creek

Last Friday during lunchtime, the Environmental Club met with Jemma from Sustainable Coastlines and Porirua City Council. We discussed the future of our stream and a better environment for our eels.

Plans involved planting lots of wonderful plants to clean our stream water and maybe bringing a digger to Whitby Collegiate to scoop up tonnes of rock so the environmental group can create a deeper swimming hole for our eels on Whitby's school ground, giving the eels’ protection from being hunted for kai (food).

Another plan for our eels is to encourage them to rest and feed further down the stream onto the school property so we can better look after them.

- Ollie and James (7ML)

Year 7-9 Parent Teacher Interviews (Thu 26 May & Thu 2 June)

Parent Teacher Interviews for students in Years 7 to 9 will be held on Thursday 26 May for students in Tutor Groups 7ML, 8EH and 9HP. 

Interviews for students in Tutor Groups 7NT, 8MW and 9TG will be held on Thursday 2 June.

We will be hosting the interviews online via a video conference with each subject teacher. Appointments will each be 5 minutes long and will be available between 4pm and 7pm. We strongly advise that you include your son/daughter in the Parent Teacher Interview so they too can hear the feedback and feed forward offered by their subject teachers. 

Bookings for Thursday 26 May (7ML, 8EH and 9HP) will open this evening, Friday 20 May at 5pm and close Wednesday 25 May at 10am. Event Number: 4ab3q

Bookings for Thursday 2 June (7NT, 8MW and 9TG) will open on Friday 27 May at 5pm and close Wednesday 1 June at 10am. Event Number: abj7j

Please go to schoolinterviews.co.nz. This will take you to the booking site. Please follow the prompts on screen. If you need assistance, please contact the school office on 234 1070 for help with the system.

Should you be unavailable for this evening, we encourage you to make contact with your son/daughter’s subject teachers.

SPORTS UPDATE

For all sports information, latest draws & results, sport clubs and registrations please click on the appropriate link below.

• Year 7 & 8 Sport

• Year 9-13 Sport

• Training & Match Days

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

We are currently at Covid-19 CPF Orange, please remember:

• Spectators are allowed at indoor events, but a face mask must be worn. No masks are required for outdoor activity.

• Face masks are advised for players when not actively playing.

• Vaccine passports and contact tracing are no longer required.

• Where possible, warmups should be completed outside the venue before entering for matches.

• Please sanitise when entering and leaving the venues.

• Please cough/sneeze into your elbow.

• Stay home if you feel unwell.

• Teams must leave venues as soon as their game finishes.

Stay Safe Whitby Collegiate families ☺

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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