Word From Ms Addison
Kia ora, e te whānau - parents, caregivers and families of Whitby Collegiate,
It was a great way to start the week with a wonderful turnout of parents for the Clash of the Generations on Monday night. We saw some friendly but fierce competition, an opportunity to share some fellowship, as well as another opportunity to connect as a parent group. An enormous vote of thanks to the Parents’ Association for such a wonderful initiative.
As we continue to develop our future NCEA programmes, our Year 10 students have had the opportunity to trial the new Literacy and Numeracy tests in order to meet the new standards. This will provide invaluable information and guidance for our students and I would like to thank Ms McKinley and Mr Ogden for the work that they have been putting into these programmes to ensure our students will be meeting future requirements.
A large number of students from Years 7-11 have been given academic extension opportunities already this year, with students sitting the Australian Maths competition this week, the ICAS exams (International competitions and assessments for schools) and the tournament of the minds all coming up shortly. All of these provide additional opportunities for students to not only be tested against their peers but also internationally. Thanks to Mrs Lindsay for all her effort in ensuring there are multiple avenues for student achievement.
Our Physical Education students are also "learning by doing" as the Year 12 students embark on their coaching programme at the local primary school, and our Year 13 students are working on their event management skills in learning the machinations of running the school swimming sports that will be held on Thursday 17 August.
One of the highlights this week was the performance of the Junior B Basketball team. The reason that it was such a highlight was this team showed incredible tenacity to defeat Tawa College, who had previously convincingly beaten this team and to reverse the result in a heart-stopping 35-34 result was a testament to the development of their skills over the season. Many thanks to Mr Bigwood and manager Mrs Lee for their support. In the following game, the Junior A Girls Basketball team won their Division 1 semi-final against Newlands College and we look forward to the grand final in a couple of weeks. Hockey this week was also a highlight with a 7-1 win over St Bernards. A special mention today for Lucas Yang who has for the second year in a row won the CSW Junior Individual Championship in Table Tennis.
We look forward to seeing all our Netball teams out on the courts this weekend and wishing the Junior A Netball team all the best at the invitational tournament on Sunday that they are playing in, as preparation for the AIMS games in September.
I also want to take the time to congratulate our student leaders who have been demonstrating the true meaning of servant leadership and have many activities planned for the whole school in the upcoming weeks.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy weekend.
Ngā mihi nui,
Shelley Addison
Executive Principal
Chaplain’s Corner
I had the privilege this week of joining the annual conference of the New Zealand Association of Religious Education Teachers and School Chaplains (NZARETSC). The theme of the conference was “Beyond the Walls” – reflecting on the ongoing impact that our schools and our lives will have beyond ourselves. I’m always so proud of our amazing school as we share our stories and compare notes.
May we be filled with hope. May our school and our lives make a beautiful and surprising impact on the world. May we see glimpses of transformation.
God bless!
Rev Chris
Upcoming Events
Term 3 Activities/Events (Week 3)
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 |
| Porirua Future Leaders Award Ceremony ICAS Digital Exam |
Monday 7 August |
| Senior Art Workshop ICAS Writing Exam |
Tuesday 8 August |
| CSW Open Singles Badminton Championships Senior Art Workshop Music Showcase |
Wednesday 9 August |
| CSW Jnr Netball Tournament | Thursday 10 August |
| Y9 & 10 Get2Go Adventure Race 2PHED Coaching Sessions Canterbury University Course Planning |
Friday 11 August |
School News
Whitby Collegiate ICAS Examinations Calendar 2023
Below is the Whitby Collegiate ICAS Examination Timetable. Parents, please let your son/daughter know when their ICAS examinations are being held. Reminders will go out in the school notices the day before each exam.
ICAS Examinations Calendar 2023 |
||||
| Week | ICAS Examination | Date | Time | Room |
| 3 | Digital (Year 7 and 8 only) | Monday 7 August | 1.35 pm (P5) | Rm 7 |
| 3 | Writing (all years) | Tuesday 8 August | 9.05 am (P1) | Rm 18 |
| 4 | English (all years) | Tuesday 15 August | 11.05 am (P3) | Rm 18 |
| 5 | Spelling (Year 7 and 8 only) | Monday 21 August | 1.35 pm (P5) | Rm 7 |
| 5 | Science (all years) | Tuesday 22 August | 9.05 am (P1) | Rm 18 |
| 6 | Mathematics (all years) | Tuesday 29 August | 9.05 am (P1) | Rm 18 |
Music Showcase
Whitby Collegiate’s next Music Showcase is happening next week on Wednesday 9 August at 6:30pm.
Year 10 Noho Marae
Last week, our Year 10 students were privileged to have the opportunity to experience a noho marae (overnight stay) at Raukawa Marae in Otaki. We were welcomed at a formal powhiri by our host school, Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano. A highlight of the trip was being joined in the powhiri by the international football superstar, Ian Wright. Wright and his crew are here visiting for the Women's World Cup, and visited our host school to have a taste of Māori culture and traditions. The fierce and heartfelt welcome we received was a thrilling way to begin our trip. Other highlights included listening to our ākonga share their pepeha in the wharenui, participating in an intense PE session with the local kura kids, eating a phenomenal amount of delicious kai prepared for us by the amazing kura team, singing our waiata in the historic Rangiatea church, and visiting the 'Hori' Gallery, and meeting with artist Hohepa Thompson, AKA Hori. Our students were blown away by the incredible manaakitanga we received, and developed a new appreciation for Māori culture and people. We look forward to continuing this Whitby Collegiate tradition, and strengthening our relationship with Raukawa, and the community of Te Kura-a-iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano.
To view Ian Wright's video of his visit, which features our kaiako and ākonga, check out the link to his you tube account here https://youtu.be/RQPdzHjVCFM
Mrs. Merita Levave
E-Sports
After a long and hard season in Term 2, the Whitby Collegiate E-Sports team, The Whitby Wizards, have made it through to the national finals. The team have been competing since the start of the year and have made their way into the Top 12. The team is comprised of Year 7 - 10 students and they will be competing from others all round the country in a double elimination format, over the whole of this term. The event format is double elimination and our first game is Monday 7th of August. This specific match is also being streamed live on the Twitch channel https://www.twitch.tv/getintogamesnz, so pop online to watch and support our team!
Y7 Tie-Dyeing in Science with Ms Sauvao
Sports Update
We have lots of events to look forward to in the coming weeks:
6 August – Maidstone Intermediate Invitational Netball Tournament (AIMS Netball)
10 August – CSW Junior A Netball Tournament
11 August – Get2Go Adventure Challenge (YR 9/10)
17 August – Whitby Collegiate School Swim Sports
20 August – Manawatu Junior Netball Tournament (AIMS Netball)
24 August – Parumoana Swim Sports (YR 7/8)
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
Summer Sport
Please look out for summer sport (Term 4) registrations that open mid-term.
Fundraising
Several of our tournament teams have fundraising activities on the go. Please keep an eye open for them on our Whitby Collegiate Sports Facebook page as your support would be much appreciated by the teams. Dates for your diary are:
Sunday 6 August – Softball team quiz night, Cossie Club, Upper Hutt - $20 per ticket – please contact sally.rose@whitbycollegiate.school.nz to book a table or more information.
Tuesday 25 August – AIMS Netball team sausage sizzle at school during lunch period.
Junior Basketball
A great night for basketball at the Whitby Collegiate gym this week! The Junior Boys B team had a heart-stopping game against Newlands College, winning 35-34. Considering that they were defeated by the team by a considerable margin, it shows how far they have come!
The Junior A Girls team bet Newlands College 69-34 in the semi-final of their competition and now they are onto the Division 1 finals in two weeks at Walter Nash. Awesome job by all concerned, and many thanks to the coaches and managers supporting the teams. We're looking forward to it!
Hockey
A special mention to the Whitby Collegiate Hockey team who defeated St Bernard's 7-1. This team will be competing in Levin in a few weeks' time at winter tournament week.
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
Lucas Yang Table Tennis
Today Lucas Yang won the CSW Junior Individual Table Tennis Championship, at the Empire Table Tennis Stadium in Petone, for the second year running.
Mia Xuan Taekwon-Do
Congratulations to Mia Xuan who competed in the International Taekwon-Do (ITKD) National Tournament in Auckland last weekend and achieved a silver medal in Sparring Female Pre Junior Micro 4th-1st Gup.
Te Aio Halatau
Rugby League
Congratulations to Year 9 student Te Aio Halatau who was named in the U14’s Girls Western Bays Rugby League team.
Ethan Mackay Scouts
Last month former student and prefect Ethan Mackay was awarded one of the last Queen Scout awards at Government House (the ceremony had been delayed due to covid). The Queen Scout Award is the highest youth award achievable in the Scouting movement in the commonwealth.
Ethan is currently in his second year at Canterbury University studying chemical engineering.
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
