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,
As the academic year draws to a close, we approach the culmination of exams and farewell to our Year 13 students. Their dedication and hard work have been commendable, and we're proud to celebrate their achievements and bid them farewell at the upcoming Leavers Dinner tonight. It's a momentous occasion marking the end of their journey as Whitby Collegians, and we'll commemorate these last days together.
It was an absolute pleasure to welcome the incoming Class of 2024 this week. Our gracious hosts were the current Year 7 and 9 students, whose warmth and camaraderie made our newcomers feel right at home. Coupled with baseline academic testing, it was an opportunity for the new students to orient themselves at Whitby Collegiate and make some important connections before they start the 2024 year.
This week our students had the invaluable opportunity to learn crucial beach safety messages from Surf Life Saving NZ during our Beach Education Day. Understanding the importance of safety by the sea is vital, and this engaging session imparted invaluable knowledge to students. Thank you to Ms Levave for organising this and Mr O'Neill and Ms Keilty for their support.
Our school sporting season is rapidly coming to a close and our Volleyball teams acquitted themselves very well at the North Island Secondary School Satellite championships held at Te Rauparaha this week. Our girl’s team had some incredible matches and finished in the top ten and the junior boys gained much valuable experience playing against much older teams. The future is very bright for these young athletes and a huge thank you to Mr Gledhill for all the passion that he brings in encouraging these opportunities. A special thanks to Maria, Lawrence and Lonasei Lolo for the time and effort that they have been putting into this programme and the Golf Academy.
We were also very proud of our girl’s volleyball team who really lived the Whitby Collegiate values when they saw a very distressed and disoriented person at the Arena and they made sure that they took care of her until her carer could be found. We received the following feedback from the staff at Te Rauparaha who took the time to contact the school, with the following comment "the team on duty wanted to let us know how impressed they were with the girls and the high level of compassion and kindness they showed to this woman". Well done girls.
The most important occasion for the school is Prize Giving being held at Te Rauparaha Arena on Thursday night. All parents have received notification and this is a reminder that this is a compulsory event for all our students as we celebrate all the achievements for the year. We have some of our amazing musical talent on display and an opportunity to reflect on the year that has been as well as the presentation of our awards for 2023. We extend a very warm welcome to all our family members and supporters of the school to this wonderful event.
An enormous thank you to Nadine Green and her amazing team of helpers for all the work that they are putting into the Market Day, this is a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to come together and we welcome everyone along on Saturday and thank everyone for their support of the school.
We extend our appreciation to Mr and Mrs Hanning for the beautiful gift of the Nativity scene. This thoughtful gesture holds a profound meaning as we approach the festive season. The serene depiction of the Nativity reminds us of the essence of Christmas - a time for unity, reflection, and gratitude
Finally, we extend our prayers, positive thoughts and energy to our very special Sports Director Mrs Sally Rose for her daughter Georgie, a current Year 10 Whitby Collegiate student who is currently in hospital.
Wishing everyone a happy and safe weekend.
Warm regards,
Shelley Addison
Executive Principal
Deputies’ Updates
From the Deputy Principal (Pastoral and Wellbeing)
Tālofa lava i le mamalu o mātua, faia’oga fa’apea le fanau o Whitby Collegiate,
In times of need, and life's challenges, we are reminded of the strength and resilience within our faith-based community. As we come together to reflect on the values that bind us, our thoughts and prayers extend to those families who have recently lost loved ones or are facing health challenges in hospitals.
In our journey as a faith-based school, we find solace and support in our shared commitment to positivity, hope, and a prayerful heart. Together, we form a community that embraces and uplifts one another in times of joy and sorrow.
During the busyness of end of year events and activities, may we take a moment to reflect on the interconnectedness that binds us as a school family. Your prayers, support, and expressions of kindness make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who may be experiencing hardship and challeging times. May our collective strength, faith, hope and compassion continue to guide us. Thank you to those parents and families who have reached out to our pastoral team this past week. We will continue to do our best to support you and your families.
Finally, I leave with you a scripture from the book of Isaiah chapter 4, verse 10. This scripture is a message of encouragement, hope, and trust in God's steadfast presence and assistance during challenging moments.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Kia kaha, kia toa, kia manawanui.
Ainslie Sauvao
Upcoming Events
Term 4 Activities/Events (Week 8)
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 |
| Last day of NCEA exams L2 Physics Exam | Monday 27 November |
| Tuesday 28 November | |
| Y8 Beach Education Day L3 Music Studies Exam |
Wednesday 29 November |
| Prize Giving - Te Rauparaha Arena, 6:30pm | Thursday 30 November |
| Friday 1 December |
Our Prize Giving this year will be held at Te Rauparaha Arena in Porirua on the evening of Thursday 30 November. We invite all Parents and Caregivers to join the Board, Staff, and Students at the Arena for this event.
Students, Parents and Caregivers should arrive at 6.30pm in order to be seated prior to commencement of our Prize Giving at 6.55pm.
The school day on Thursday 30 November will finish early at 12.30pm in order to allow students to go home, rest, have something to eat, change into their formal school uniform, and arrive at the venue on time. Buses will leave school at 12.35pm to travel home.
Please note that attendance at Prize Giving is compulsory for all students in Year 7 to 13. Should a student not be able to attend, permission for absence must be sought from the Executive Principal by contacting the school office, office@whitbycollegiate.school.nz
Students need to be in formal school uniform. All students will be wearing blazers and ties, with shoes polished and long hair tied up. Boys must be wearing long trousers. Girls may wear trousers or a skirt with black tights. No students will be permitted to wear shorts at Prize Giving. Jewellery should comply with the school’s uniform policy.
Prize winners will have the opportunity to have their photograph taken with their trophies at the end of Prize Giving. Trophies will remain on display at school and will not be taken home by individual recipients.
School News
Year 7 Beach Education Day
On Wednesday, our Year 7s enjoyed a day of fun and learning at Titahi Bay beach, hosted by SLSNZ staff. They learned about sun and beach safety, first aid, had a tour of the club and practised rescue and water skills. Thank you to our wonderful parents Helen, Belinda, Ryan, Sophie, Viktoria and Anna for helping to make this great day happen!
Last Days of School
We are all looking forward to enjoying the last days of the school year together and celebrating a successful 2023 at Whitby Collegiate.
Friday 1 December
Normal school hours for all Junior students in Years 7 to 10.
Students in Year 9 will be attending the Retreat at Talima Lodge.
Students in Year 7, 8, and 10 will participate in an Activities Day to be held at school and details will be confirmed closer to the time.
Monday 4 December
Normal school hours for all students.
Junior Students in Years 7 to 10 will participate in an Activities Day to be held at school and details will be confirmed closer to the time.
Senior Students in Years 11 to 13 will be required to attend a Document Return Day and information will be provided to them towards the end of their NCEA examination period.
Tuesday 5 December (Final School Day for 2023)
This is a compulsory school day for all students in Year 7 to 13. The day will commence with Tutor Time at 8.45am.
A copy of the school magazine will be issued to each student, and the cost has been disbursed to your school account.
Students will attend an end of year Assembly where we will farewell our Year 13 Students.
School will be dismissed for the year at 11am and school buses will depart from outside the school at 11.05am.
Whakataukī o te wiki
proverb of the week
He maramatanga tō tēnei whetū, he maramatanga anō tō tērā whetū
This star has its own brilliance, that star also has its own brilliance
Each star has its own presence and shines its own light in the sky. This whakataukī reminds us of the value of our individuality, and encourages us to share our unique luminescence, thereby lighting up the sky and providing a beacon for others
Sports Update
Term 4 Sports Dates
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
Zaria Phelps | Cheer
Zaria recently competed with her Bigair cheer teams at the Super Nationals Cheerbandz event in Auckland. She achieved 2nd place, 1st place, and Grand Champs with top points for their overall level. The team earned the highest points of 98.28, surpassing all other teams across grades/levels at the NZ Nationals. Over the weekend, they received the news that they are officially the Super Grand Champs, ranking No. 1 across both NZ and Australia for their level, outperforming more than 800 teams and over 7000 athletes.
Zaria has been selected for the Bigair cheer team to travel to Hawaii in 2024 to compete in the Cheer Global Games.
Caelan Taylor | Sailing
Caelan participated in the P Class Yacht Wellington Tanner Cup Trials at the Worser Bay Boating Club on Saturday. The purpose of these trials was to choose representatives for Wellington in the upcoming 2024 Tanner Cup Regatta in Tauranga from January 3 to 5. Luckily, Caelan was successful in securing a spot as a Wellington Representative. This marks his second consecutive year of being nominated for the Tanner Cup.
Looking ahead, these regattas will be Caelan's final appearances in the P Class, as he plans to shift his focus to the Starling Yacht. The national Championships for the Starling Yacht are scheduled to take place in Christchurch at the beginning of February 2024.
Additionally, Caelan achieved the top position among Wellington boats at the P Class North Island Championships in Tauranga over the Labour Weekend.
Robert Borodatov
Football
Congratulations Robert, who has received an invitation to join the Wellington Phoenix Academy U15 team in 2024. Outstanding achievement!
Maija Warrington-Redfearn
Dance
Maija recently competed at her last dance competition before she heads over to Australia for nationals in January. She came away with some amazing scores including four 1st places in musical theatre, self choreography, lyrical Impromptu and jazz duo impromptu. She has had a successful year and is looking forward to heading to the gold coast to represent New Zealand and her studios.
Charlie Stewart | Dressage
Charlie and Beckham excelled at the Dressage Wellington Premier League in Level 2, clinching 10th place in a tough field of 25 riders. The dynamic duo achieved personal bests in their musical freestyle and 2a test, securing 5th place. In a generous move, they sponsored Grit&Grace horse treats for spot prizes. This marks a fantastic start to the season, and Charlie is leveling up her skills on school master Gerry as she trains for Level 3.
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
