Whitby Collegiate News, Week 1, Term 2, 2026 Updated

Week 1, Term 2 | 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,

A very warm welcome back to Term 2. It has certainly been a memorable start, with the wild weather impacting the beginning of the week. Thank you to our students, staff, and whānau for your flexibility and support as we shifted to online learning as a safety precaution. It was fantastic to see how adaptable everyone was, and even better to now be enjoying some sunshine as we return to school.

At this week’s assembly, we celebrated a number of outstanding achievements from our summer sports codes. Congratulations to Kennedy Wylie for her success at the North Island Secondary School Mountain Biking Championships. We also acknowledged our Senior Girls Volleyball team for their impressive performance at the National Championships, and our Girls Softball team, who achieved the remarkable feat of securing back-to-back National titles—an exceptional accomplishment.

We were also proud to recognise our 2026 Athletics Champions and runners-up:

Junior Boys:
Champion Arthur Chatterton | Runner-up: Alistair Bai
Junior Girls:
Champion: TK Hotai-Metuariki | Runner-up: Sienna Timmins
Intermediate Boys
Champion: Liam O’Leary | Runner-up: Charis Dong
Intermediate Girls:
Champion: Aliyana LeToa-Tuala | Runner-up: Sarah Robertson
Senior Boys:
Champion Toby O’Leary | Runner-up: Apirana Ngarimu
Senior Girls:
Champion Sienna LeToa-Tuala | Runner-up: Beaumia Lemisio

On Thursday evening, we were delighted to host a special event celebrating our vibrant Pasifika community. It was a wonderful night filled with performances, recognition of academic achievement, and a strong sense of fellowship. A special thanks to all those who shared their experiences at Whitby Collegiate from a student and parent perspective and a special mention of Year 9 student Zephania Tele'a whose words and demonstrated leadership was outstanding. Thanks also to Year 13 student and Cultural Prefect, Lina Aiona Te Tau for work in preparing the group for the evening. Thank you to Ms Sauvao for her dedication and leadership in bringing this event together.

Finally, we wish four of our students all the very best as they travel to the United States to compete in the VEX Robotics World Championships in St Louis. Congratulations to Max Tai (Year 10), Hardy Hilbron and Yiqi Liang (Year 8), and Jaden Wong (Year 7). We look forward to hearing about their exciting adventure on the world stage and we know that they will represent Whitby Collegiate with the utmost pride.

It is going to be a very busy and productive term ahead and we wish everyone a positive and successful start to Term 2.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

What a wonderfully wet, windy, and wild Wellington week for the start of Term 2! I am very pleased by the resilience shown by our students and community as we transitioned to Online Learning on Tuesday. I have received some fantastic feedback from parents and students, and teaching staff, and know the day was productive.

We are continuing with our fortnightly reporting on Class Efforts. From next week, now that good organisational skills and habits should have been established over the course of Term 1, Class Efforts will report on how students are on track for academic growth. This new Class Effort reflects whether a student is making expected progress from their individual starting point, not the grade they are likely to achieve in any assessments. Meaning that this Effort at "Always" does not equate to an Excellence / high Curriculum Level grade. Curriculum Level reporting, and NCEA results, will continue to be reported as assessments and projects are completed and results verified. The Class Effort Participates with effort and engagement, will continue to be reported on for the rest of the year.

I am looking forward to this term, and I’m excited to see all the wonderful things our students will accomplish. As we approach this ANZAC weekend of remembrance, I encourage our families to take a moment to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who served. I wish our entire school community a safe, meaningful long weekend - lest we forget.

Have a lovely weekend, and a peaceful Easter break in a week’s time.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Talofa lava, Vanakkam, Mālō e lelei, Ni Hao, Tāloha ni, and Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

It is always very special to witness the warm spirit of our community when staff, parents, families, and students unite to celebrate. Last night’s Pasifika Families Gathering was no exception, an occasion where the values of gratitude, family, and faith blended seamlessly with a rich celebration of culture. We were privileged to hear heartfelt reflections from students, teachers, and parent Nina Nimarota. Their stories of navigating their years at Whitby Collegiate highlighted a shared journey rooted in faith, family and shared success.

We were especially grateful for the presence of former Deputy Head Girls Sheila Tui, Aifili Masoe, Nadia Roach, and Lonasei Lolo. Their return to support the next generation of Pasifika students is the ultimate testament to the impact Whitby Collegiate has had on their school journeys. Students do not return to give back unless they have felt a genuine sense of belonging to a family. At Whitby Collegiate, that family bond remains long after they leave.

Our current student leaders also rose to the occasion. Head Prefects: Gal Becher & Evie Haughton, Deputy Head Girl La’ie Nimarota, and student leader, Zephaniah Tele’a spoke with conviction. Their heartfelt sharing perfectly encapsulated the essence of our school - a community that serves with compassion, care, faith and inclusivity. Additionally, we acknowledge Cultural Group leaders Lina Te Tau Aiono, Safira Schultz, and Meleane Masia, whose hard work and dedication in preparing the group for their performance were evident in every note and movement.

A special thank you to our Year 9 students Yufan Lu, Finn Spohr, and Hudson Swain. Their beautiful photography captured the evening’s warmth, but more importantly, their willingness to step up and serve their school community is very much appreciated.

We were also honored to have Mrs Anne-Marie Fiso and members of the Fiso family join us, adding an extra layer of warmth and connection to the night. This gathering was a stepping stone as our Cultural Group prepares for the Te Kiwa Nui Festival on Friday 7 August. We look forward to seeing our students shine on stage.

Thank you to all our families, students and staff who made last night’s event a special event.

Ma lou fa’aaloalo lava.

Ainslie Sauvao

ainslie.sauvao@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Assistant Principal

Kia ora Students, Parents & Caregivers,

At Whitby Collegiate, we are committed to fostering an environment where every student feels safe, respected, and ready to learn. To better support this goal, we are introducing a new initiative during our scheduled assembly times: Targeted Deans’ Workshops.

As many of you know, our pastoral team works closely with students to navigate the complexities of social dynamics. From time to time, specific issues arise that require further reflection and guidance. Traditionally we have held Deans’ assemblies but sometimes these issues do not apply to an entire year group. By moving away from "blanket" presentations and instead gathering smaller, specific groups of students, we can address these matters more directly and meaningfully.

These workshops provide a space for students to reflect on their choices and understand the impact of their actions on the wider school community. Our goal is efficiency and efficacy—ensuring the right message reaches the right students at the right time.

Topics for discussion throughout the year will include:

Digital Citizenship: Navigating the pitfalls of inappropriate messaging in large group chats.

Social Inclusion: Addressing the deliberate exclusion of classmates and building a culture of "belonging."

Respectful Relationships: Challenging the objectification of others and upholding the dignity of every student.

We believe this more tailored approach to pastoral care will empower our students to take greater ownership of their behaviour and contribute to a more positive school culture for everyone. We intend to start holding these workshops next week and will continue to do so, when needed, throughout the year.

Nga mihi nui,

Maurice Atkinson

maurice.atkinson@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Chaplain’s Note

Welcome back to the term. We continue to celebrate Easter and the good news of resurrection life - a reminder that hope is not lost, that new beginnings are possible, and that God’s love is at work even in the middle of literal and metaphorical storms. Easter speaks of life overcoming death, light overcoming darkness, and a future shaped by grace.

This weekend, Anzac Day brings us together to remember the people and events that have shaped our nation. As we honour sacrifice and reflect on the cost of peace, we may also notice the deep connection with the Easter story: both point us toward self-giving love, remembrance, and hope beyond loss. May you know God’s love and life at this time.

Blessings,

Reverend Chris

School News

SVA Club Card Making Initiative

Over the past few weeks, the SVA Club has been actively engaging students in a meaningful lunchtime project—creating handmade cards for patients at Wellington Hospital. This initiative has seen a wonderful response, particularly from our junior students, who have shown great enthusiasm and commitment as they contributed their time and creativity to brighten someone else’s day.

We would like to acknowledge all the junior students who have contributed to this initiative, with special recognition to Jessica and Alyni for their outstanding involvement and leadership within the group.

“In SVA for the past few weeks, we have been making cards for the hospital. This is important because people who are having a hard time sometimes need a little bit of happiness to brighten their day. We enjoy making cards and feel good knowing that we are making someone’s day better.”

Jessica & Alyni

Are we alone in the universe?

A dedicated group of senior students made an early start at 7:30am this Thursday to join an exciting Zoom session on astrobiology. They heard from Hari Mogoșanu, an astrobiologist from the University of Auckland, and Megan Li, a PhD researcher with UCLA SETI.

Students were introduced to real radio signals captured by the Green Bank Telescope, which searches the universe for signs of extraterrestrial technology, known as technosignatures. The session offered a fascinating insight into how scientists search for intelligent life beyond Earth and how signals from deep space are detected and analysed.

Students also learnt how they can get involved in a real-life citizen science project, helping to classify and analyse these signals by distinguishing between interference from Earth-based sources such as GPS satellites and signals that may potentially originate from beyond our planet.

It was an inspiring and thought-provoking talk that highlighted for our students how biology, physics and technology can come together in the search to understand our place in the universe.

Student Perspective

During the April school holidays, the Young Enterprise Trust gave me the privilege of travelling to Auckland alongside 35 students from across New Zealand. The first day consisted of group activities aimed at building connections and encouraging collaboration among participants. The second day is when the work started; we began the planning and development of our business ideas. Students were divided into six groups of six, each tasked with addressing a real-world issue. I was part of Team Deloitte, and this year’s business challenge focused on reducing confusion around recycling practices.

On the final day, each group presented their business proposal to a panel of three judges. Presentations began with a short skit, followed by a formal pitch outlining each team’s solution. This made the experience both engaging and insightful. Team Coca-Cola was awarded first place. A highlight of the experience was the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students from a range of schools. I also found it valuable to observe the presentations, as they showcased a variety of creative and innovative approaches to the challenge. I would like to thank the Young Enterprise Trust for this invaluable opportunity as it provided me with the chance to enhance my business skills and build meaningful connections. This experience would not have been possible without their support.

By Kate McGinley - Young Navigators Programme (Business Studies)

Art of the Week: Art of Change

Last term, Year 9 artists embraced the fun challenge of creating the "Art of Change". The unit began with studying the imagined distortion of objects, such as Salvador Dali’s melting clocks and images of melted cheese, before progressing to transformations from one object into another. This theme allowed students to engage with a range of art-making processes, starting with observational drawing and encouraging students to push boundaries of reality with Surrealist concepts.

Upcoming Events

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Student Achievements

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