Week 2, Term 1 | 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,

It has been another fantastic week at Whitby Collegiate, with achievements both in the classroom and on the sports field. The sense of energy and commitment from our students has been inspiring, and we are looking forward to what the rest of the term will bring.

We are immensely proud to celebrate the success of Abigail Dawson (English) and our 2024 Dux, Juliana Ritter (Biology) for earning New Zealand Scholarships in their respective subjects. This recognition is awarded to the top-performing students across the country and is a testament to their hard work, perseverance, and passion for learning.

Both Abigail and Julianna have demonstrated, not only academic excellence but also, a deep curiosity and dedication to their studies. We congratulate them on this well-deserved honour and have no doubt they will go on to achieve even greater success in their future studies.

It was also incredibly special to share the progress of our turf project with the community as we continue to enhance our facilities for students. This all-weather surface will provide a valuable space for sports and physical education classes to fully utilise. We are grateful for the outstanding support from our community in making this project a reality.

Our sporting calendar is officially underway, and it has been fantastic to see our students embracing their competitions with enthusiasm and commitment.

Futsal: All four of our Futsal teams have kicked off their weekly competition in impressive fashion, showcasing skill, teamwork, and determination on the court. The teams have already recorded some great results, and we look forward to watching their progress as the season unfolds.

Volleyball: This week marks the start of the Volleyball competition, with both our junior and senior teams stepping up to the challenge. The dedication from our players has been outstanding, particularly from the junior team, who have impressed in attending the 7:00am training sessions. The lunchtime programme for the Year 7 & 8 students has also been very well received.

Golf: Our Golf teams have had an excellent start to the season, with two of our three teams competing this week and securing wins against Aotea and Mana Colleges. Golf continues to grow in strength at Whitby Collegiate, and we are thrilled to see our players performing so well so early in the year.

Cricket: The Cricket team is competing in the senior grade this year and has already made an impressive start to the season. Their hard work and dedication in training are evident on the field, and we look forward to seeing how they progress throughout the term.

Summer Netball: Building on last term's efforts, we have two Year 7 & 8 Netball teams competing in the weekly grade with this providing the opportunity for the ongoing development of skills and importantly the camaraderie that comes from being part of a team.

It’s been fantastic to see such a high level of engagement across all our sports, and we encourage all students to continue striving for excellence both on and off the field and are looking forward to the build-up of our Athletics Sports Day in a couple of weeks.

With the term now well underway, there is plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks. Keep an eye on the school calendar for upcoming events, and as always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or for further information.

Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Warm regards,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

It was so lovely getting to see so many parents at last evening’s Meet the Teacher BBQ. What a wonderful way to start the year.

I am so very pleased for 2024 Year 13 students Julianna Ritter and Abigail Dawson who have been awarded New Zealand Scholarships for Biology and English, respectively. Congratulations to them both, for the hard work they put in, and to their parents and teachers for their support.

In addition to the electronic NCEA Assessment Policy and Procedure that is signed by parents and students, all Years 10 - 13 students have been introduced to our Student Agreement for Authenticity of Work. A copy of this agreement is also on all tutor group Google Classroom pages. By signing this agreement, students pledge that they understand the importance of maintaining academic integrity, and acknowledge that they will adhere to the principles The Whitby Way (Respect, Excellence, and Resilience) in all their academic work.

Yesterday I reminded those students who completed NCEA external assessments last year that the NZQA Reviews and Reconsiderations close next Wednesday 19 February. Full instructions for the process of applying can be found on the NZQA website. Students can access their marked examination scripts on their NZQA portal, with cut scores (differences between the different grades) found here. The deadline for NZ Scholarship Reviews and Reconsiderations is Friday 7 March. If anyone needs particular help with this process, they should make contact with me as soon as possible.

Please feel free to email me with any questions, or if I can help in any way.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Mālō le soifua manuia, Tēnā koutou e te whānau,

Firstly, a big thank you to all our families who attended last night’s Meet the Teacher BBQ. Building strong relationships between home and school is essential, and it was wonderful to see so many families connecting with staff and each other. I appreciated hearing from our new families about the strong sense of community and belonging their children have already experienced in such a short time. I look forward to continuing to foster these connections throughout the year.

One of the key themes for our students this year is servant leadership—not only hearing about it in assemblies but also witnessing it in action within our school. This approach helps nurture a positive and supportive culture, empowering students to make a meaningful impact. We are thrilled to have almost 60 students apply for leadership roles this year, reflecting their eagerness to serve and contribute to our school community. Over the next few weeks, our Prefects and I will be interviewing our junior applicants, and we look forward to seeing their enthusiasm and commitment firsthand.

Today, our Peer Leaders officially started their weekly Peer Support sessions with our Year 7 students. This valuable initiative helps our new students settle in, providing them with role models they can turn to for guidance and support. Peer Support plays a key role in their Whitby Collegiate journey, and there is so much more to look forward to in the coming weeks.

I am also excited about the upcoming Year 7 Parents’ Evening in March, where our Peer Leaders will have the opportunity to share with families what they’ve been working on during their Peer Support sessions. It will be a great chance to celebrate their efforts and the positive impact they are having on our new students.

Thank you again for your ongoing support—we are excited for the term ahead! Please feel free to connect with either your son/daughter’s tutor teacher or one of our pastoral team.

Fa’afetai lava ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Student Perspective

Super Rugby Pre-Season Live Streaming Experience

Last Friday, I had the amazing opportunity to assist Mr Hudson in live-streaming the Super Rugby preseason match at William Jone Park, Wainuiomata between the Hurricanes and the Blues, alongside Will Whitehead, Caelan Taylor, and Caleb Whelan. This was live-streamed on Mr Hudson’s YouTube page Huddy Sports.

Meeting rugby stars like Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, and Tyrel Lomax was a highlight of the day, adding an unforgettable touch. I operated the sideline camera, working alongside two other professional cameramen. Caelan managed the camera switching, and Mr Hudson provided insightful commentary.

It was a fantastic experience, meeting our rugby heroes and gaining valuable hands-on experience in sports broadcasting. Altogether, over 36,000 people have watched the livestream.

A huge thanks to Mr Hudson for this incredible opportunity. I am looking forward to more exciting events in the future!

James Willets
13DT

Upcoming Events

School News

Inspiring Future Entrepreneurs

This week, our Year 11 Commerce students had the privilege of hearing from Sushil Prasad, founder of Sushil’s Musclechef, as he shared his passion for business and valuable industry insights.

Sushil spoke about the realities of running a small business, covering topics such as purpose, vision, business strategies, and the importance of doing what you love while making a positive impact in the community. His engaging talk helped students connect classroom theory in business, accounting, and economics to real-world application.

A huge thank you to Sushil for inspiring our students and to Mrs Vaishally Patel for making this opportunity possible!

Meet the Teacher BBQ Photos

Thank you Andrew for capturing the evening. You can view and download the full album here.

Music Lessons Registration

At Whitby Collegiate, we offer itinerant lessons for the following instruments: drums, piano, vocal, guitar, ukulele and bass. If you require more information or would like to sign up for lessons, please fill out this form or email Ms Ting nicole.ting@whitbycollegiate.school.nz.

Outdoor Education

Our new NCEA Level 1 and 3 Outdoor Recreation is off to high heights with the students rock climbing and bouldering at Hangdog Climbing Gym.

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