Week 1, 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,

What a start to the 2025 year and I offer a very warm welcome to our Whitby Collegiate community. Our students are now fully embedded in their academic programme after an important few days of induction and introduction.

We trust that everyone enjoyed Waitangi Day which is always a special occasion, offering us a moment to reflect on our shared history, the values of partnership and unity, and the journey ahead. As we step into a new school year, it’s a time to embrace new opportunities, build connections, and set goals for the months to come.

We are immensely proud of our 2024 academic results. With provisional results already released, we are on track for an exceptional 100% pass rate in NCEA Levels 2 and 3 and University Entrance. This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication of our students, the guidance of our teachers, and the unwavering support from families. We look forward to celebrating these successes once final results are confirmed.

We were thrilled to welcome our largest cohort of students at the start of the term, including all our new Year 7s, who had a great start with their orientation and peer support days. These days were designed to help them transition smoothly into college life, giving them the chance to get to know their teachers, classmates, and the school environment. Our pōwhiri for all new students and their families was a meaningful way to acknowledge the beginning of their journey with us, and we look forward to seeing them thrive.

Our Year 13 retreat was a fantastic way to start the year for our senior students. This experience gave them the chance to strengthen their leadership skills, reflect on their role as mentors within the school, and set a foundation for service and support across all year levels. Their enthusiasm and commitment to leading by example will shape the culture of Whitby Collegiate in 2025.

The work on improving our facilities here at Whitby Collegiate continues with the artificial turf project commencing this week. Once this is fully completed students will have an all-weather surface for sport and PE and we look forward to our impressive exercise training facility being completed as part of this project. We are always grateful for the support of those who have contributed to make this possible and continue encourage our community to be part of the legacy of Whitby Collegiate in their support of the turf project.

To help new families settle in and build connections within our school community, the Parents' Association is hosting a Welcome BBQ after the Meet the Teacher afternoon. This is a fantastic opportunity for students, parents, and staff to meet in a relaxed setting and learn more about how to get involved in school life. We encourage everyone to come along!

As we embark on this new year, we are excited about the opportunities, challenges, and achievements ahead. Thank you for being part of the Whitby Collegiate community—we look forward to a special year together!

Warm regards,

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

This week it has been a pleasure to walk around our park-like grounds, in beautiful weather, and seeing so many familiar faces mingling with new ones. I welcome everyone back, raring to go for another successful year.

Last year’s senior students have all received their 2024 academic results via their NZQA portal. I am very proud of our students’ work from last year, but do encourage those with doubts as to the marking of their external assessments to speak to their subject teacher. NZQA Reviews and Reconsiderations close on 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. If anyone needs particular help with this process, they should make contact with me as soon as possible. Those students who completed NZ Scholarship examinations last year can access their results from 11 February.

I look forward to seeing parents and whānau at the Meet the Teacher BBQ on Thursday.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Talofa lava, Namaste, Malo e lelei, Ni Hao, Kia orana, and Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

It has been a wonderful start to the school year, filled with exciting activities led by our capable Year 13 student leaders. The Year 13 Retreat was a busy and productive time, allowing our senior students to plan for the year ahead.

The Peer Support programme got off to a great start, with our Year 13 students working alongside our new Year 7 students to help them settle in. House activities have also been in full swing, launching the much-anticipated competition for House points as we gear up for our school Athletics Day in just two weeks.

The many activities, including lunchtime clubs, sports events, House competitions, charity events, and more, all contribute to the overall wellbeing of our students. We are very fortunate to have dedicated student leaders who make these events possible.

I have enjoyed many conversations with new students during morning tea and lunchtimes and am delighted to hear how quickly they have adjusted to their new school environment. I look forward to continuing to mentor and support our student leaders as they contribute to our school’s special culture.

Additionally, I am excited to review the junior leadership applications over the next few days. It is fantastic to see so many of our junior students eager to take on leadership roles and serve their school community.

For any queries regarding pastoral care, our dedicated Pastoral Team — Mr Michael Leota, Mrs Vaishally Patel, and Mr Atkinson — are always happy to assist. Please feel free to contact us at the school.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Meet the Teacher BBQ next Thursday!

Ainslie Sauvao
ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Assistant Principal

Kia ora Students, Parents & Caregivers,

Welcome back to another exciting school year. I hope everyone had a restful summer break and is ready for a year filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities.

This year you are going to hear a lot about ‘The Whitby Way’. This is our philosophy that embodies our school values and guides everything we do. It is built on our motto of Respect, Resilience and Excellence. 

At our recent Leadership Retreat our Year 13 student leaders spent some time unpacking The Whitby Way. Here are just a few of their ideas…

Respect – At Whitby Collegiate, we show respect for our peers, teachers, and our school environment. A simple ‘good morning,’ lending a hand to someone in need, or looking after shared spaces all help build a positive and supportive community.

Resilience – When things get tough, we keep trying, whether that is pushing through a challenging assignment, bouncing back after a setback in sport, or supporting a friend who needs help. 

Excellence – This means striving to do your best, whether that is in academics, on the stage, in leadership roles, or on the sports field. It’s about setting high standards for ourselves and taking pride in your achievements.

I am looking forward to exploring The Whitby Way further with our students. 

Ngā mihi,

Maurice Atkinson

maurice.atkinson@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Student Perspective

Spirit of New Zealand: 10-Day Youth Development Voyage - Caelan’s Remarkable Experience

I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to embark on a 10-day voyage aboard the Spirit of New Zealand as part of the Hyundai Pinnacle Programme. This incredible journey included 40 trainees aged 16 to 20 and 14 crew members.

The programme is designed to foster personal growth by pushing participants out of their comfort zones. Our voyage set sail from Princes Wharf in Auckland CBD on January 7th, journeying around Great Barrier Island before returning on January 17th, with several exciting stops along the way.

It was my first experience sailing on a square-rigged ship, and I was eager to learn how it differed from conventional sailboats. Unlike most square-rigged ships that can only point as high as 90 degrees off the wind, the Spirit of New Zealand can point as high as 60 degrees off the wind, thanks to its forestay sails, along with the main and mizzen sails.

We were fortunate to have perfect sailing conditions, with clear skies and wind speeds ranging from 10 to 25 knots. However, sailing was just one aspect of the voyage. The experience also included team-building activities, leadership development, and opportunities to face personal challenges.

For me, these challenges included climbing the 25-meter mast – despite my fear of heights – cliff jumping for the first time, and leaping off the bowsprit, which, at 6 metres high, was the highest point I’d ever jumped from into the water. We also encountered an array of marine life, including dolphins, whales, sharks, and penguins.

The voyage taught me that I can push myself much further than I ever thought possible. It was an unforgettable experience, and I would highly recommend this opportunity to anyone who gets the chance to participate.

• Caelan Taylor

Upcoming Events

School News

Meet Your Student Leaders

We are thrilled to introduce the Whitby Collegiate Student Leadership Team for 2025! These outstanding students have been selected to lead and inspire our school community, and we can’t wait to see the impact they will make.

• Head Boy – Ishaan Badiyani

• Head Girl – Lily O’Rourke

• Deputy Head Boys – Garv Arora, Conor Sellar

• Deputy Head Girls – Nadia Roach, Lucy Bain

• Sacristan – Ben Reichenvater

• Academic Lead – Yogesh Gavini

• IT Lead – Caelan Taylor

• Transitions Lead – Amber Sceats

• Head of Houses - Nikolai Baird, Hattie Jones, Gemma Kelly

• Prefects - Petro Goosen, Olivia Kilford, Siddesh Kalyanasundaram, Aari Bhat, Holly Newland, Xavier Braga, Luka O’Hara, Lonasei Lolo

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.

Parents' Association First Meeting

Parents and caregivers are warmly invited to attend the first meeting for 2025 of the Whitby Collegiate Parents' Association (WCPA). To be held on Monday 10 February at 7:30pm in the school staff room. We have already started preparing and planning for what bodes to be an exciting year ahead as we support the school by organising events that bring the wider school community together. If you are interested in joining us for 2025, we invite you to complete an expression of interest form here and join us on Monday. If you have any questions please contact us at wcpa@whitbycollegiate.school.nz.

Uniform Requirements

A reminder to all families about our uniform expectations. Please ensure that students adhere to the full uniform guidelines, including:

• Hair - must be neat and tied back off the collar. Boys must be clean-shaven.

• Skirt - hems must sit on the knee.

• Earrings - and other forms of jewellery are not allowed except for one pair of plain silver or gold studs or sleepers, worn in the ear lobe. 

• School Bags - only Whitby Collegiate school bags are allowed. No other bags are permitted.

• Earphones or earbuds - are not allowed, unless required as part of a lesson. Students should not be using earphones during breaks.

• Nose Piercings - are not permitted.

Visit our website here for the complete uniform policy and further details.

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.

Summer Sports Registrations

Sports registrations for Term 1 have now CLOSED. For further details, please contact sports@whitbycollegiate.school.nz. 

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