Whitby Collegiate News, Week 5, Term 3, 2025

Week 5, 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.

This week, Whitby Collegiate was privileged to honour our NZ Secondary School Softball champion team and officially launch our new Academic Scholarship Programme at Parliament.

It was a wonderful celebration, and we were delighted to have members of our Board—Chair John Fiso, Tony Hanning, and Keith Taylor—present to make the awards, alongside Mayor Anita Baker and the Hon. Chris Bishop, who generously hosted the event. A special thank you also goes to Rev. Chris Darnell for his inspiring words of encouragement, and to Head Girl Lily O’Rourke for the marvellous job she did as MC for the evening.

At Whitby Collegiate, we love seeing our students excel not only on the field but also on the world stage. We are thrilled to congratulate Max Tai, who has been shortlisted in the Junior Category of the John Locke Institute 2025 Global Essay Prize. This highly prestigious international essay competition received 63,328 entries worldwide this year. Max’s shortlisting places him in the top 18.65% of candidates globally—a truly outstanding achievement.

Our students were all glam and glitter at the School Ball on Saturday, creating some very special memories—particularly for our Year 13 students, for whom this was their last school ball. Many thanks to all those that made this night so special.

On the academic front and as we prepare for derived grade exams, planning is already underway for students to make their subject choices for 2026. Staff recently had the opportunity to present what their subjects have to offer, helping students make informed decisions for their learning pathways. It has also been fantastic to see learning in action, with our Year 12 PE students beginning their coaching assessments by leading sessions at Discovery School this week and our Outdoor Recreation students out with Mr Bigwood, braving the cold and rain and honing their survival skills!

Next week we will see the fruits of the hard work that our budding science students have done over the past year as our teams head to the NIWA Science competition. This year it has been particularly gratifying to see our senior students taking such a strong lead in this area, running "Vision Lab" at lunchtimes providing mentoring and coaching for these teams.

As winter sport regular competition comes to a close, congratulations to the Junior Girls Basketball team, who were crowned CSW division champions on Tuesday night and as we head into the weekend it is a very busy one for sport at Whitby Collegiate, with four of our teams competing in their respective finals of the inter school competitions. The Senior Girls Basketball team play tonight against Onslow College while the Junior A Netball team, the Junior Boys Football team, and the Year 7/8 Netball team all compete in their finals as well. Well done to everyone on getting this far and best of luck!

We also farewell our Senior Hockey, Netball, and Basketball teams as they head off to their national events this week for winter tournament week. We look forward to an incredible week of team spirit, school pride, and living out our values while aiming to give their very best. We also can't forget our junior debating team who will be taking on Wellington Girls College at the inter school semi finals and wish them all the very best. We are very proud of all the students who are embracing the opportunity to represent their school.

Finally, a heartfelt thank you goes to all the parents, staff, and coaches who give so much of their time to ensure our students have the range and breadth of opportunities.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

On Tuesday evening at Parliament, it was my honour to acknowledge our first inductees to our inaugural NZQA Scholarship Pathway Programme. It was a wonderful evening of celebration. This programme is the result of our commitment to providing the best possible opportunities for our students. It is an extension pathway designed to empower our most ambitious learners to excel within the New Zealand qualification system, with a specific focus on achieving NZQA Scholarships.

Early next week, during tutor time, Year 11, 12, and 13 students will have the opportunity to check a printed version of their results and entries towards their respective NCEA levels. It is important that entries are checked carefully, as the final deadline for personalised printed papers for NCEA examinations is 1 September. New entries can be made following this date, however the papers will not be personalised; withdrawals from external examinations will not be processed from this date.

Week 8, Monday 8 - Friday 12 September, are the Levels 1-3 derived grade examinations, held at school. The timetable, and guidelines for the derived grade examinations can be found here, as well as in an email sent to all candidates, and their parents/caregivers. Students must come into school, wearing uniform, for all their scheduled exams and workshops, with illnesses being reported via the normal process. In addition to being excellent practice with examination technique and the following of NZQA exam procedures, the results from these assessments may be used in the event of bereavement, accident or illness preventing an exam candidate from either sitting their end of year exam, or performing to their best ability. More information about the NCEA derived grade application process can be found on the NZQA website.

As we are starting our planning for 2026, yesterday the Years 10-12 students received their subject selection booklets, and instructions for making subject selections. Students also had the opportunity to listen to, and ask questions of, subject teachers at the Subject Selection Expo, and everyone was very engaged. I encourage all students to ask questions of their teachers before making their subject selections for next year, and for parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children regarding options. Students can make their selections via the KAMAR portal, with selections due by Tuesday 2 September.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

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

We are reminded of the hope, devotion, and service of our future leaders within our special school community through the recent Porirua Primary School Leadership Awards for Years 7 & 8. This week, a group of inspiring young Porirua students were honoured for their leadership and service to both their schools and the wider community. The Rotary Clubs of Porirua and Porirua City Council presented Primary School Leadership Awards to more than 50 local schools at a special ceremony held at Elim Church this week. We extend our congratulations to our very own Year 8 students, Zoë Brown and Chanelle Ou, who were recognised for their servant leadership and commitment to being positive role models within our school community.

Both Zoë and Chanelle have served with purpose and a commitment to ensuring their peers experience the very best at school while also upholding and living out our faith-based values. Our values are what shape our school community, and Zoe and Chanelle exemplify this through the way they practice servant-leadership in all they do. We are proud of their achievements and grateful for their commitment to excellence in serving our school. Thank you, Zoë and Chanelle, for your service to your Whitby Collegiate family.

Next Thursday, I will be accompanying our students who have registered for the annual NIWA Science Fair to their judging day and interviews. This event is always an exciting opportunity for our students to showcase their innovation, problem-solving, and creativity. We are especially inspired by the success of Gabriel Anthony, whose outstanding project last year earned him the title of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition winner. Gabriel’s innovative creation, Pill-Bot is an AI-powered medication identifier for the visually impaired, was inspired by his grandmother’s experiences. His project was designed to identify medications using AI and verbally announce their names, preventing confusion and ensuring safety for those with vision impairments.

Gabriel’s success story gained national attention, including an appearance on TVNZ’s Breakfast Show, where he shared his journey and insights. His achievement reflects the creativity, resilience, and STEMM excellence that we encourage here at Whitby Collegiate. We are proud of Gabriel and all our students who continue to shine in this space. We wish the very best of luck to this year’s participants as they take on the Science Fair. May they continue to innovate, inspire, and lead with purpose. Special thanks must go to Year 13 student leaders Ishaan Badiyani and Siddhesh Kalyanasundaram for their mentorship and guidance provided to our junior students throughout the year as part of their Vision Lab & STEMM Club.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our school community—our students, staff, parents, and our Proprietor, Mr John Fiso, for your prayers, support, generous gifts, and comforting words during the loss of my dear mother. Your compassion has been a true source of strength for me and my family. In the work I do to encourage, motivate, and inspire our students to serve their school community and families, I draw deeply on the example set by my mother. She taught me the importance of living out faith-based values and of valuing and embracing the cultural identity and uniqueness of others. For decades, I watched her serve with love and humility, and it is that legacy I seek to pass on to our students. I am forever grateful for the care, kindness, and prayers of our school community, and my family continues to hold you all in our prayers.

Tokanga pea tapuaki'i 'e he 'Otua.

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

School News

Art of the week - Capturing Light and Shadow

The Italian term chiaroscuro literally means "light-dark." It's a technique made famous by masters like the Dutch painter Rembrandt (1606–1669), who used a specific lighting method to highlight a subject's face, creating what is now known as Rembrandt lighting.

Our Year 10 artists applied this same technique to their photographic portraits. Then, using charcoal, they are working towards capturing the tonal interplay in their own work.

Maddy Riley-Hathaway's self-portrait is a standout piece, demonstrating her sensitivity of the medium and an excellent understanding of light and form.

TOPEC Bryce Jourdain Year 8 Scholarship Week - Meredith Burton & Alex Stewart

Meredith Burton and Alex Stewart spent this week in New Plymouth taking part in the TOPEC Bryce Jourdain Year 8 Scholarship Week. The programme brings together Year 8 students from across the Taranaki region to take on a series of outdoor challenges in memory of instructor Bryce Jourdain, who tragically drowned while saving students.

Both Meredith and Alex thoroughly enjoyed the week’s activities and made the most of this unique learning experience.

Student Perspectives

66th annual London International Youth Science Forum

Between the 22nd of July and the 6th of August, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the 66th annual London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). This two-week residential programme in London brought together 420 students from 92 countries, all connected by this year’s theme, “Stand up for Science.”

Each day was filled with opportunities to learn through inspiring lectures and visits. In total, I attended eight principal lectures, four specialist lectures, and four visits to universities and research facilities. The topics ranged from physics and astrophysics to medicine, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence. For me, a highlight was visiting world-class universities such as Imperial College London, Oxford, and Cambridge, as well as other leading institutions. Seeing labs and research spaces up close gave me a real sense of how science is carried out at the front line and showed me the connection between what we study in school and real-world discoveries

LIYSF was also about more than just science. Getting the chance to meet students from all around the world and hearing their different perspectives was an incredible experience. I made friendships that will last a lifetime. Attending LIYSF was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has deepened my passion for science, especially astrophysics. I am very grateful to have had this opportunity, and I encourage other students with a love of science to look into attending the forum in the future.

Live Streaming / Production Experience

Since February, James Willets, Ollie Maslin, and I have been part of the Huddy Sports production / live streaming team with Mr Hudson. This Thursday, we recorded something a bit different, the St Patrick’s College Wellington choir fundraiser concert for their nationals. James and Ollie were camera operators, filming the performances on stage, while I worked with their sound technician and ran all of the audio for the recording. It was great to be doing something we have not done before and we all enjoyed the evening.

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”.

Gala Dinner - Tickets Are Selling Fast

The Gala Dinner is a critical fundraiser for supporting Whitby Collegiate students with scholarships and resources, but it’s also going to be a unique evening of laughter and entertainment.

Tickets are selling fast! Grab a ticket and join us at The Wellington Club on 12 September.

Book your ticket now

We’re delighted to confirm that Sir Michael Jones and Tofiga Fepuleaʻi will speak at the upcoming Gala Dinner.

Sir Michael Jones

Sir Michael Jones represented New Zealand as an All Black from 1987 to 1998, and played for Western Samoa and the Auckland Blues. In 2011 he was the Rugby World Cup Ambassador. He received the New Zealand medal for services to the Pacific Island community, and was knighted in 2017 for his contribution to the Pacific community.

Tofiga Fepulea’i

Tofiga Fepulea’i is a Wellington-born Samoan comedian, actor and musician, best known as one half of the iconic Laughing Samoans and now the voice of “Nalo” in Moana 2. With over 20 years of delighting audiences across New Zealand and beyond, Tofiga will bring his trademark humour, unforgettable characters and Pacific flair to the stage for one incredible night.

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 Collegiate Senior A Boys Basketball

The Senior A Boys finished the year with a strong 95–35 win over Aotea A to secure third place. After claiming their division title and narrowly missing the semifinal, the team showed great resilience to end on a high.

We thank Coach Arno for his leadership and farewell our Year 13s, James, Ben, Connor, Garv, Nikolai, and Anton for their outstanding contribution. Well done team!

Whitby Collegiate Junior Basketball

Congratulations to our Junior Basketball team who claimed the Division 2 title at the recent finals held at Walter Nash Stadium. The team showed skill, determination, and teamwork throughout the season, finishing on a well-deserved high. We are proud of their efforts and excited to see them continue to develop in the seasons ahead.

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 Notices

Mountain Biking Competition -Entries Open

Whitby Collegiate will compete at the Manawatū-Whanganui Schools MTB Regional Competition at Arapuke MTB Park, Palmerston North on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October.

We invite any Whitby Collegiate riders who are keen to compete to join us at the event, even if they’re not currently part of the Mountain Bike Club.

If your student is keen to participate, please complete our Expression of Interest form by August 31st. This will help us to plan logistics and organise some helpful skill-building sessions before the big event.

To find out more about the competition, including the full schedule and race information, visit Schools MTB Fest - Manawatū Mountain Bike Club

We can't wait to see our talented riders in action!