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,

At the heart of Whitby Collegiate's ethos is the concept of servant leadership, a principle that encourages individuals to lead by serving others. This principle was celebrated and reinforced at our Commissioning Assembly this week, an event that not only recognises our student leaders but also asks them to commit to their roles with integrity, humility, and dedication. During the assembly, students from various leadership positions were presented with their badges, a symbol of their responsibility and commitment to the school and their peers, where they pledged to serve their community with the best of their abilities. They were asked to uphold the values of Whitby Collegiate, leading by example and supporting their peers in achieving an inclusive, supportive, and dynamic school environment.

Thursday night also saw another opportunity for our engagement with our parent community. Firstly for the Netball information evening and then for our Pasifika parents evening, a testament to the rich diversity and spirit of our school community. This special event provided a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, connect, and celebrate the achievements and aspirations of our students. As we reflect on the success of the evening, we are reminded of the strength that comes from embracing and celebrating our diversity. Whitby Collegiate is proud to be a place where the aim is for every student to feel valued, understood, and supported in their journey. Many thanks to Ms Sauvao for her work with our student leaders and to Mr Leota for his inspirational speech to parents and students alike.

It was an early start to the week for many, and seeing the spirit of dedication and commitment by our Netball players turning up at 7.00am for their preseason training sessions for the last few weeks has been inspirational. These early morning sessions have been about learning from the best and we have been so fortunate for the players to receive expert coaching from Netball international Frances Solia. The success of these sessions and the positive atmosphere surrounding our Netball programme can be attributed to our incredible parent community and a big thank you to Onour Murray, Piri Weepu, Candice Russell, Tania Taylor, and Nadine Hansen for their exceptional support and care of our students. We are certainly looking forward to a great season ahead.

This week we also welcome the Proprietors Board for the first governance meeting of the year and as always are grateful for the support of the Chair Mr John Fiso, and the rest of the Board Mr Tony Hanning, Mr Roger Moses, Mr Keith Taylor and Mr Api Fiso. The depth and breadth of knowledge and experience of this group ensure that the school is in very competent hands. Also a very special welcome to Mr Peter Free who joins our Science Department as the Physics teacher and who has already made an impact on the student body.

Our summer sports season has also been in full swing and congratulations to Louie Lust who made the semi finals of the CSW Open Tennis Championships narrowly being defeated in the super tie break 7-10. A fantastic effort Louie. Our school Volleyball teams are competing this weekend at the CSW regional championships and looking forward to competing at the National Championships in a couple of weeks along with the Softball and Futsal teams who are also attending the National Championships during summer tournament week.

Next week is an extremely busy one with our EOTC programme being in full swing and our whole Year 9 cohort heading to Talima Lodge for a range of outdoor experiences which will encompass new skills, team building and an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors. A great vote of thanks to Mr Bigwood for making this all happen and what will be a very rewarding experience for our students, many of whom will be stepping outside of their comfort zone.

Wishing everyone a safe and restful weekend.

Shelley Addison
Executive Principal

Deputies’ Updates

From the Deputy Principal (Academics)

Kia ora e te whānau o Whitby Collegiate,

Please remember to come along to the NCEA Information evening, from 6.30pm on Tuesday 12 March in the Ioane Fiso Pavilion. I will summarise the NCEA programme, including the changes that are being implemented this year, and of course I will answer any questions that you may have. The information session is targeted at Parents and Caregivers of students in Years 10 and 11, but everyone is welcome. If you are unable to attend the session, I will link a copy of my presentation and any resources from the Information evening to next week’s newsletter, and it will also be made available on our website.

All parents and caregivers of students in Years 10-13 have been emailed the link to our Assessment Policy. Students and their parents are asked to read and sign the school’s NCEA Assessment Policy. There are specific updates to this year’s policy to keep us in line with NZQA’s official line that no AI Chatbots are used to produce assessments. I would appreciate it if you and your child could take the time to read the Policy carefully, and sign electronically to submit an agreement that these guidelines will be followed.

NCEA Assessment Policy 2024

When students miss valuable teaching and learning time due to holidays and sports events, it is the responsibility of the student to make sure they are meeting milestones and deadlines for assessments. Parents and Caregivers are expected to apply for permission for any holidays and trips taken during school time, by emailing office@whitbycollegiate.school.nz. Although this process lets the school know that the student is absent, students must also ensure they speak with their subject teacher and ask what can be done while they are away. Should there be an assignment affected by an absence, then the student must apply for an extension, if appropriate and in line with the Assessment Policy linked above. Students may contact me directly for the extension request form, or access the pdf on our school website.

Year 11-13 students have been emailed a link to the Internal Assessment Planner. This is a live doc, with changes occurring to assessment due dates as needed to reflect subject programmes. Only students can access the doc using their school email address. I encourage students to work with their parents to plan in advance how to approach different deadlines.

Along with subject teachers and the pastoral team, I want to support each of our students to be the best they can be, including ensuring their academic outcomes meet their goals and abilities. Please feel free to contact me if you have any academic queries or concerns.

Have an enjoyable and safe weekend.

Ngā mihi,

Debbie Mitchell
debbie.mitchell@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)

Tālofa lava, Ni Hao, Mālō ni, Mālō e lelei, Namaste, Kia ora, & Kia orana to our Whitby Collegiate community,

I am incredibly grateful for the wonderful support shown by our parents, grandparents, staff, and students at last night's Pasifika Families event. The turnout was fantastic, and our students truly shone with their eloquent speeches. I am particularly proud of the inspiring words delivered by our Head Boy, Liam Cuming, Head Girl, Jade Lin, and Deputy Head Girl, Aifili Masoe-Patelesio, Lileyah Spragg and Anvi Sankrit. Our Cultural Group also provided entertainment with an impressive siva Samoa performance.

Here is an excerpt from Head Boy Liam Cuming's speech as it beautifully encapsulates the essence of our school community.

“A few weeks ago, someone asked me what school I went to. I said, “Whitby Collegiate - It’s the most culturally diverse private school in New Zealand '', And you know what? That’s something to be extremely proud of. It’s not just about numbers and statistics, but about the mix of people and stories that make our school special.”

It was a humbling experience to hear our Pasifika and Māori parents and grandparents express their heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of our school in nurturing their daughters and sons. A special thankyou to Mr. John Fiso, Chairman of our Proprietor’s Board, and Rebecca Ama, Executive Assistant from the Fiso Investment Group for their invaluable support throughout the evening. Your presence and encouragement mean a lot to our school community. I am also extremely thankful for the support of our Executive Principal Ms Shelley Addison, and the following staff members Mr Maurice Atkinson, Mr Dan Shaw, Mr Brad Hudson, Miss Nicole Ting, Miss Charlotte Keilty, Mr Michael Leota, and Miss Shannon Longstaff for attending this event.

Yesterday, our students and staff gathered for our Commissioning Assembly, a special occasion where we celebrated and recognised our student leaders for 2024. On behalf of our school community, I would like to congratulate all the students who have courageously stepped up to serve, lead, and support the values of Whitby Collegiate.

Today, we had the privilege of having three of our Year 12 student leaders, Ishaan Badiyani, Garv Aurora, and Nadia Roach, represent our school at the Porirua City Council Youth Forum held at Pataka. They made valuable contributions and shared insightful ideas on the impact of student voice in shaping Porirua into a great city for all. Their active participation reflects our school's commitment to empowering students to become engaged citizens and change-makers in their communities.

“We were excited to share our collective contributions towards our city's Youth Council. Together, we've actively participated in shaping discussions and advocating for initiatives that directly benefit the youth in our community. Our commitment to civic responsibility and leadership is evident in our collaborative efforts. As students of this school, we take pride in our ability to positively influence local youth discourse. Through thorough interaction and bonding games with other schools and leaders, we were able to strengthen our relations. As a group, we're even more enthusiastic about the positive changes we can bring to our community, and we look forward to continued involvement in the Youth Council's initiatives.” Ishaan Badiyani

Our Year 7 students have started off on a positive note in their Religious Education class. They've had the opportunity to share their interests, hobbies, and family backgrounds as part of an introductory activity, fostering a sense of connection and understanding among classmates. This activity not only encourages self-expression but also promotes a welcoming classroom environment where students feel valued for who they are.

I look forward to connecting with our families throughout the next two weeks during the many sporting fixtures.

Wishing you all a safe and restful weekend.

Fa’afetai tele lava ma ia manuia.

Ainslie Sauvao

Upcoming Events

Term 1 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
Year 9 Camps GRIP Leadership Forum (Y11-13) Netball Trials (Junior) @ 3:30PM Netball Trials (Senior) @ 5PM Parents’ Association Meeting @ 7PM	Monday 11 March
Year 9 Camps GRIP Leadership Forum (Y7&8) Senior Ki O Rahi Mixed Tournament NCEA Information Evening @ 6:30PM	Tuesday 12 March
Year 9 Camps	Wednesday 13 March
Year 9 Camps	Thursday 14 March
Year 9 Camps Netball Trials (Junior) @ 3:30PM Netball Trials (Senior) @ 5PM	Friday 15 March

Parents’ Association Meeting - Monday 11 March, 7PM

The next Parents’ Association Meeting is this coming Monday 11 March at 7pm in the school staffroom.

School News

Netball Preseason

Whitby Collegiate Netball players have been hard at work for the past three weeks with early morning starts at their preseason fitness and skills training. Sessions have been starting at 7.00am twice a week and with over 25 players regularly turning up this has been a fantastic show of dedication and the kind of attitude that will see players performing at their best. The team has been very fortunate in having International Netballer and former captain of the Central Pulse team taking these sessions and Whitby Collegiate have been very grateful for her input to the team. A special thanks to Onour Murray for convening the Netball programme and supported by our amazing parent community of Piri Weepu, Candice Russell, Nadine Hansen, Tania Taylor who provide such incredible support for the players. A special thanks for the hot breakfast on the final day ensuring the players were fuelled and ready to go for class!

Whitby Collegiate App

We are thrilled to introduce the Whitby Collegiate App! Stay connected with important school alerts and access quick links to permission forms, newsletters, contacts, the absentee line, parent portal, term dates, the school calendar, and much more - all in one convenient location.

To get started, you can download the app directly from here OR visit your phone’s app store and search for “School Apps NZ”. Once downloaded, simply search for Whitby Collegiate and add our school to your app. Don't forget to join all relevant alert groups to ensure you receive timely push notifications.

Billets for Visiting Japanese Students Required

Would you and your family be interested in hosting a small group of visiting Japanese students for a week in mid-March? We have three young ladies spending a week in New Zealand from Sunday 17 March for approximately 5 nights. They are travelling for sporting and educational experiences and will have busy schedules during the day but would love to experience a Kiwi home during the evenings. If you think that this is something that you would like to be involved in or would like further information, please contact Lorraine Rose in the school office by phone, or email enrol@whitbycollegiate.school.nz

Relay for Life

Students interested in taking part in this year’s Relay For Life event in support of the New Zealand Cancer Society, the event will take place at Trentham Racecourse, Upper Hutt, beginning at 3.00pm Saturday 23 March and finishing at 8.00am Sunday 24 March, with a free breakfast. Please see the full event information and permission forms here.

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

Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata,
ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina
Pursue distant horizons, and hold fast to those you attain.

Sports Update

If you missed the sports update email yesterday with upcoming events, registrations and notices: view here

Sports Registrations

Winter Sports
Registrations for winter sports have now opened and must be made 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