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 may have been a short week, but a busy one nonetheless. There was certainly some excitement and air of anticipation with the final meeting of the families of the students who are set to embark on the trip to Spain next week. It is hard to believe that the time is nearly here, giving the students a once in a lifetime experience, immersing themselves in another culture. Many thanks to Señorita Huertas and Mr Gledhill for all the work that has gone into organising this trip.

It was great to see one of our debating teams in action this week and was so impressed with Kelcie Spragg, Zoe Hastings and Ella Joostens speaking so confidently against Kapiti College. The thought and effort that goes into debating is considerable and I really admired the logical and quick thinking on their feet. Well done everyone and thank you to Mr Atkinson and Ms Auckett for their coaching and mentoring of the team.

I must also acknowledge the great work done by our student leaders in the Relay for Life that was held a couple of weekends ago. This was an incredible effort and we are so proud of our school who raised an extraordinary amount of funds for such a good cause. We had the largest number of participants every and a particular mention of the Badiyani family who put their heart and soul into this. Thanks in particular to Hannah Kansara and Lucy Bain for their tireless commitment and effort over many weeks and to the staff and parents who gave their time to be with the students for the whole of the relay.

Last night was also an opportunity for the families of our Year 7 students to come together as a cohort, and for the student leadership team to introduce their peer groups to everyone, telling engaging stories about the individuals in their groups and the work that has been done in the peer support programme. Our Year 7 students reciprocated and the speeches from Lucy Rees-Thomas, Chloe Newland and Faustina Anamani were inspiring and heartfelt. It was also wonderful to have the input of parents Mr Rees-Thomas and Mr Anamani who were able to speak from the perspective of our parents and caregivers of our Year 7 students. The term "fellowship" perfectly encapsulates the essence of the evening - a community coming together to support, celebrate and welcome its newest members. Such events are fundamental in building strong, supportive networks that students can rely on throughout their time at Whitby Collegiate.

Our summer sports codes are coming to a close and we congratulate our Futsal team who last night won the final of their division, it was a fantastic effort and we are looking forward to the continuation of the development of this sport in the future. We wish Sienna Letoa-Tuala who has qualified for the North Island Secondary School Athletics championships being held this weekend. It was also great to be able to present the CSW championship medals today to our Cricket team for their well deserved division finals win. We are very much looking forward to our winter codes starting next term and again thank all our community for the continued support of our teams.

As we head into next week, the last of the term we can reflect on an excellent term for our students. Next week we look forward to Market Day from our Social Sciences class where they will be putting their terms work into action and importantly mentoring day on Thursday, an important opportunity for families to meet with staff and discuss the academic and other goals for the rest of the year.

Wishing everyone a restful weekend.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral & Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Ni Hao, Mālō ni, Namaste, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Kia Ora, & Konnichiwa to our Whitby Collegiate whānau,

It was a fantastic turnout at last night's Year 7 Parents Evening. The Ioane Fiso Pavilion was nearly bursting with the warmth and energy of our wonderful parents, students, and staff.

A big thank you goes out to our Prefects, who spoke with such eloquence and sincerity during the evening. Their dedication to Peer Support this term was evident in the way they spoke about each Year 7 student they worked with, demonstrating warmth and care in every word. I must also commend our Head Prefects, Jade, and Liam, for their exemplary leadership. Their positive influence on our student body, especially our Year 7 students, came up during my conversations with parents at the end of the evening.

Special recognition is also due to Chloe Newland, Lucy Rees-Thompson, Faustina Anamani, Matāniu Lolo, and Chanelle Ou for their outstanding speeches and musical performances. Their talent and presentations added an extra layer of warmth and joy to the evening's proceedings.

I would also like to thank parents James Rees-Thompson and Siaosi Anamani for their contributions which added depth and richness to our gathering, offering encouragement and wisdom to our parent community.

James and Siaosi spoke eloquently about their daughters' experiences at Whitby Collegiate, providing firsthand accounts of the warmth and inclusivity our school community provides. Their advice for new parents was both practical and profound, emphasising the importance of connecting with staff and getting involved in parent groups such as the Parents' Association. I encourage all parents, both new and existing, to take heed of their advice and embrace the opportunities for connection and involvement that our school offers.

Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to all the staff who attended the evening. I understand that this time of the term can be particularly busy, and your presence and support are very much appreciated.

Thank you once again to everyone who contributed to making last night's event a success. Your involvement and commitment to our school community are what make Whitby Collegiate the special place it is.

I look forward to meeting and connecting with parents at next week’s Mentoring Day.

Have a lovely weekend.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Ainslie Sauvao

From the Assistant Principal

Kia ora students, parents & caregivers,

It has been pleasing to see how diligently our Year 7-11 students have been preparing for next week’s mentoring sessions. In collaboration with their tutor teachers, students have been actively engaging in goal-setting exercises, reflecting on their academic progress, personal aspirations, and areas for growth. These discussions have encouraged them to take ownership of their learning journey and set targets that inspire and motivate them.

By investing time and effort into this process, students are not only gaining clarity on their academic and personal objectives but also developing crucial skills such as self-awareness, time management, and resilience. These are essential skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

We strongly encourage you to support your child's commitment to these mentoring sessions. Your involvement reinforces the importance of self-reflection and empowers your child to strive for excellence.

Nga mihi nui,

Maurice Atkinson

Upcoming Events

Term 1 Activities/Events (Week 10)

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”.

ACTIVITY/EVENT	DATE
Open Day @ 11AM - 1PM	Sunday 7 April
Parents’ Association General Meeting @ 7PM	Monday 8 April
Y10 Market Day	Tuesday 9 April
Otago Junior Mathematics Competition	Wednesday 10 April
Mentoring Day Y7-11	Thursday 11 April
Last day of Term 1	Friday 12 April
Atiawa Toa FM Netball Tournament (Senior A and B Squad)	Saturday 13 April

School News

Pita Pit - Coming Soon on Mondays & Fridays

Due to the Tuck Shop being closed on Mondays, Pita Pit orders will be available through Lunch Online on Mondays and Fridays. The Monday service will be starting on the Monday 6 May (Week 2, Term 2).

Scholarship

This year we have a number of Year 12s and 13s taking scholarship exams in several subjects. Some of them have already started preparing for these exams by attending extra lessons with their teachers or going into sessions at Victoria University. For those that are contemplating doing these exams in the future, you need to be preparing for these by aiming for Merit and Excellence on external examinations at Level 1 and 2. If you require any more information on these please do not hesitate to contact Mr Shaw at dan.shaw@whitbycollegiate.school.nz.

Kiwi Competitions

The University of Canterbury is delighted to offer their annual online Kiwi Competitions for Primary, Intermediate and Secondary schools. The English, Mathematics and Science competitions cater for students of all abilities, currently in years 5-10. They are skills based tests, closely aligned with the New Zealand curriculum. To register your son/daughter for this competition please complete this form by Friday, 10 May 2024. No late entries will be accepted. The competitions will be run in school in the last three weeks of Term 2. Dates and times will be announced closer to the time.

**whakatauki o te wiki**
*proverb of the week*

***Mauri mahi, mauri ora***
*Do the mahi, get the treats*

Sports Update

Futsal

Congratulations to the Whitby Collegiate Futsal teams on their outstanding achievements! WC Gold's victory in the Northern Junior Division 2 is a testament to their skill, teamwork, and dedication, while WC Navy's impressive third-place finish further highlights the school's strong futsal programme. Well done to both teams for their remarkable performances!

Notices

Basketball
Junior (Y9-10) Basketball trials are Tuesday 9 April during lunchtime in the gym.

Term 1 Uniform Returns
Please return any sports uniforms to the sports office as soon as possible to avoid incurring fines.

Winter Sports Registrations
Last chance to register for winter sports. If you're keen to play, please register using the online registration forms on the sports website (registration links below).

**For all sports information, latest draws & results, sport clubs and registrations please visit our online sports hub** **here**.

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

Student Achievements

We love to celebrate our students’ achievements. For inclusion in the Whitby Collegiate newsletter or on our Facebook page, please fill in the online form here or forward it to communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz