Word From Ms Addison
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 busy week for Whitby Collegiate. We were delighted to welcome a delegation from the Athlete Sports Competition Bureau in Osaka, Japan, and the Pearls Professional Rugby Club. This visit was to launch an official exchange programme hosting students from Japan next year and to provide reciprocal arrangements for our students in Japan. We had an official signing ceremony with the Chair of the Proprietor’s Board, Mr John Fiso, and were thrilled that the party was able to attend the Junior A Girls Basketball final and see the team take out the CSW Division 1 Basketball title for 2023. Our Softball team will also be the first beneficiaries of this relationship when they travel to Osaka next month.
Congratulations to our Senior A Netball team who finished second in a closely fought final of their grade of the CSW Netball competition for 2023. The team are looking forward to competing at the Lower North Island Championships this coming week and we wish them and the Hockey team who will be competing in Levin for tournament week, all the very best.
Our gifted and talented programme continued this week with the ICAS Science exams and students have been working hard to prepare for the Tournament of Minds being held next week. It was wonderful to see our students putting into practise their Spanish Language skills on their field trip with Senorita Huertas, and will certainly be helpful for those who have put forward their interest in the trip to Spain in 2024.
Last night was a great opportunity for the school to connect with our parent community through the meeting of our Parents Advisory Group. We were very pleased to welcome new members to the group, Ms Katelyn Coxson and Mr Rommel Anthony and are looking forward to their contributions in the future. Many thanks to Mr Tim Green, Mrs Danielle Leslie, Mrs Elizabeth Couchman and Ms Abbie O'Rourke who have held the mantle of this group over the years and who continue to provide such wise counsel and input into the development of the school. The aim of the Parent Advisory Group is to provide a platform for parents to contribute valuable insights, suggestions and perspectives to enhance the overall educational experience and well-being of students at Whitby Collegiate.
Lastly, we are excited to announce that the Whitby Collegiate Foundation will be holding a Gala Dinner on the 28th of October at the Hotel Intercontinental. This will be a spectacular evening of celebration and we look forward to providing further details in the coming weeks, but in the meantime "hold the date".
Wishing everyone a relaxing weekend.
Ngā mihi nui,
Shelley Addison
Executive Principal
Deputies’ Updates
From the Deputy Principal (Academics)
Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,
Senior Derived Grade Examinations
Derived Grade Examination week is coming up quickly; Monday 4 - Friday 8 September. An examination timetable can be found here. Students do not need to be at school for DG Examination week unless they have an examination session - the Art and DVC workshops are compulsory for those students involved. I have gone over the rules and requirements for DG examinations, and these are the same as the NZQA rules. The one exception is that students are not allowed to leave exam sessions during the DG exams, a difference to the external examinations. Please take the time to read the rules with your child; these are on the back page of the timetable.
Revision Workbooks for Sale
Students have the opportunity to purchase useful AME subject revision workbooks via this order form. Level 1 and 2 books are $20, Level 3 books are $21, and Scholarship books are $24. I have made the first order, so the revision books should arrive before the Derived Grade examinations, but there will be subsequent orders before the NCEA examinations, as demand requires. See the range via the ESA website
Subject Selection for 2024 Courses
Students in Years 10-12 should be discussing 2024 subject choices with their parents / caregivers. Please read over the Subject Selection booklet with your child before working with them to complete their subject selection via the student OR parent KAMAR portal. Please remember to include an Alternative subject choice. Please note that ALL Year 10-12 students are expected to complete their selection before Thursday 31 August. Following subject selection a confirmation form will be emailed to all parents/caregivers as well.
Students are encouraged to speak directly with any subject teachers if they would like to learn more about those subjects at NCEA level.
If you have any questions about Derived Grade Examination week or 2024 Subject Selection, please contact me via email.
Ngā mihi,
Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz
From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)
Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,
Fostering a sense of gratitude encourages students and staff to appreciate the blessings in their lives and to recognise the contributions of others. Gratitude also promotes a positive attitude and outlook.
With what has already been a hectic start to the term, sometimes we need to regroup and refocus by going back to the faith-based values we have as a school community. These values play a crucial role in shaping the culture and character of our school. They provide a foundation for behaviour, the way we treat one another, personal development, and a sense of community. I am particularly proud of the work our Wellness Prefects (Sona Beddie & Sam Cribb) have done in helping to improve the wellbeing of those students in need. During school assemblies, our Pastoral Deans and I are always encouraging students to act with integrity, with a strong moral compass in their interactions and decisions. It's okay to encounter challenges along the way, as long as you approach them with an open heart and a willingness to grow. Our faith values, can bring a sense of purpose, balance, and meaning to our journey.
In my daily catchups with students, I asked them what it means to be part of a faith-based school. Here are some of their responses:
Gabriel Anthony
“For me, being at a faith-based school means that I can not only talk about my faith proudly at school but can also live out my faith by helping others. Our school is founded on Christian values, like respect and service, and our teachers encourage us to demonstrate these values in class every day. Being at a faith-based school helps me be my best self.”
Ishaan Badiyani &
Anton Bain
“Being part of a faith-based school means a lot more than just attending classes; it involves embracing a set of core values that guide our academic, cultural and personal goals through respect, resilience and excellence. These values are not just concepts on a wall but rather beliefs that are utilised in our daily lives, shaping the way we interact with our peers and the community around us.”
Jade Lin
“Being part of a faith based school is really cool as you get to learn about lots of different religions and cultures without actually committing to one. The learning of different religions has enriched my knowledge and I’m glad I’m able to better understand those who follow a religion.”
Sophia Ognyeva
“Being a part of a faith-based school to me means not only embracing a particular set of beliefs but also embodying the school's core values of respect, resilience, and excellence in every aspect of education, friendships, and community which all work together to foster a sense of purpose and belonging at Whitby Collegiate.”
The work I do in ensuring these values are integrated into daily school life, and interactions is ongoing - it’s not always easy, but it is an important and necessary part of creating well-rounded individuals who embody the principles of their faith and contribute positively to our school community and society at large. I wish to take this opportunity to thank our Board of Proprietors member Mr Tony Hanning for his wisdom and guidance with helping to build the special character here at Whitby Collegiate.
Finally, may you find time this weekend to regroup, refocus and reflect on the values that are important to you and your whānau.
Noho ora mai,
Ainslie Sauvao
Chaplain’s Corner
This week my mind turns to hiranga (excellence), the third of our school motto words. Romans 16:19 says ‘be excellent at what is good’ which is a fantastic place to focus.
Yes, be excellent at schoolwork and achieving all that you can. Also be excellent at relationships with one another. Be excellent in your creativity and thought life. Be excellent in your attitude. Take pride in who you are and what you do.
There’s this wonderful moment on the sixth day of the creation short in Genesis where God looks at all he made and declares it, “very good.” As you look back over in examen over each day, may you similarly be able to evaluate it as “most excellent”.
Rev Chris
Upcoming Events
Term 3 Activities/Events (Week 6)
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 |
| LNISS Netball Tournament | Sunday 27 August |
| Winter Tournament Week (Hockey) NZSS Golf Championships LNISS Netball Tournament |
Monday 28 August |
| ICAS Mathematics Exam Y7 & 8 EPro8 Challenge Winter Tournament Week (Hockey) NZSS Golf Championships LNISS Netball Tournament |
Tuesday 29 August |
| Y7 & 8 EPro8 Challenge Winter Tournament Week (Hockey) NZSS Golf Championships LNISS Netball Tournament |
Wednesday 30 August |
| Winter Tournament Week (Hockey) LNISS Netball Tournament |
Thursday 31 August |
| Sausage Sizzle Japan Softball Fundraiser Winter Tournament Week (Hockey) |
Friday 1 September |
School News
Whitby Collegiate ICAS Examinations Calendar 2023
A reminder will be posted in the school notices both the day prior and on the morning of the examination. Please remind your son/daughter to attend their examination with their device fully charged.
ICAS Examinations Calendar 2023 |
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| Week | ICAS Examination | Date | Time | Room |
| 6 | Mathematics (all years) | Tuesday 29 August | 9.05 am (P1) | Rm 18 |
Y10 Mexico Wellington Restaurant
“On Wednesday, Señorita Huertas took the Year 10 students to Mexico, a Mexican-style restaurant in Wellington. It was a great experience for us, with lots of delicious Spanish food, drinks, and dessert. The restaurant staff were kind and very efficient with their serving and the restaurant itself was nicely decorated, with murals all over the walls and Spanish news pinned on them. It was a great way to experience the culture and to learn something new at the same time.” - Eleanor Parker
“I thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Mexico Wellington restaurant. As soon as we walked in we were immersed into Mexican culture. I think that it was a great experience to try new food and learn about Mexican culture and traditional dishes.” - Emma Evans
“Mexico Wellington was amazing! The flavourful Mexican dishes, vibrant and welcoming environment and friendly staff made our experience very enjoyable. Thank you Señorita Huertas.” - Sophie Ward and Annie Sullivan
whakatauki o te wiki
proverb of the week
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari, he toa takitini My success is not mine alone, but that of many
This whakataukī speaks about mahitahi, or collaboration. It recognises the combined efforts of the group to achieve success.
Sports Update
We have lots of events to look forward to in the coming weeks:
27 August – 1 September – Winter Tournament Week – Hockey & Netball
2 – 8 September – AIMS Games (YR 7/8)
19 September – Aotea Kotiro Sports Participation Day
21 September – 3 October – Whitby Collegiate Girls Softball trip to Japan
Junior A Girls Basketball - CSW Division 1 Champions
We're thrilled to announce the triumphant victory of our Junior A Girls Basketball team in the intense CSW Division 1 showdown against Taita College last night! Well done to all our players and Coach Logan McLean and Manager Katelyn Coxson for their hard work and dedication throughout this remarkable season.
Senior A Netball - CSW Divisional Final Silver Medialists
Congratulations to our Senior A Netball team for their performance in the CSW Divisional Final at ASB Stadium this week. It was a tough game, and they gave it their all against Naenae College, with an extremely close score of 33-35 and coming away winning silver!
Given this team is comprised of players in Year 9-11, it looks like they'll be sticking together for a good while, which is fantastic!
Hats off to coaches Onour and Nadine, and the entire support crew.
Year 7 & 8 Parumoana Schools Swim Sports
Our Year 7 & 8 swimmers competed in the Parumoana Schools Swim Sports at Cannons Creek yesterday and Whitby Collegiate finished in 4th place for overall points!
Camille Zhou - 1st Place in the Year 7 Girls 50m Freestyle and 25m Butterfly Finals
Trinaya Bharath - 2nd Place in the Year 8 Girls 25m Breastroke, 4th Place in the 50m Freestyle
Max Zhang - 3rd Place in Year 7 Boys 50m Freestyle
Max Tai - 4th Place in the Year 7 Boys Freestyle Final, 4th Place in the 25m Breaststroke
Andrei Lupanin - 5th Place in the Year 7 Boys Breastroke
Olivia Lu - 5th Place in the Year 7 Girls 50m Backstroke
Marc Cui - 5th Place in the Year 7 Boys 50m Backstroke
The Whitby Collegiate Year 8 Girls relay finished 1st and the Year 7 Boys relay finished 3rd.
Congratulations to all of our swimmers who competed yesterday!
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
Te Aio Halatau
Rugby League
Congratulations Te Aio Halatau, who was named in the U14 Wellington Girls Orcas Rugby League team this week! There are a huge number of trialists from the entire region (Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Kapiti and Levin) and only 20 players are selected to play in the team. The team will be playing against the Auckland U14 Girls team on Sunday 3 September at the Jerry Collins stadium.
We love to celebrate our students’ achievements. For inclusion in the Whitby Collegiate newsletter or on our Facebook page, please forward student achievements to communications@whitbycollegiate.school.nz
