TOGETHER - BELIEVE - ACHIEVE NGÁTAHI - WHAKAPONO - TUTUKI

Newsletter 2013

ADDRESS: Delshaw Avenue, Stanmore Bay, Whangaparaoa, Auckland 0932 POST: P.O.Box 775, Whangaparaoa, Auckland 0943

TELEPHONE: (09) 424 9177 FAX: (09) 428 4794 EMAIL: enquiries@wgpcollege.school.nz

WEB: www.wgpcollege.school.nz

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Dear Parents, NCEA External Examinations Here’s a prepared ‘lecture’ that some parents might like to deliver to their children who are doing NCEA External Examinations. Warning: if the eyes of your child start to glaze over, stop the lecture and try a chat. Be encouraged – they do want to do well. Examinations are important

Even if you have more than 80 credits now – exams are still important. Working hard until the end of this year sets you up to start next year well. Subject endorsements require exam success. External exams are another opportunity to gain ‘merit’ and ‘excellence’ credits, which are especially important for scholarship applications and university applications.

Start with end in mind Decide on the result you want to receive when the results are posted in mid-January. No-one wants to fail or do less well than they are able. Good NCEA results are not a late Christmas present – they are achieved by determination and hard work; now.

Study daily Cramming in two weeks’ time is not effective. Study every day according to a plan you have set up. Study is a form of training. Top performing sports people or musicians practice; they train every day to achieve their goals.

Make lifestyle changes until the NCEA exams have finished Make changes to show you are serious. Tell the boss you can’t do extra shifts at your part-time job. Tell your friends you’ll be going home earlier so you’re able to study well in the morning. For the next five weeks you only do the dishes six nights a week (instead of seven). Do a little exercise every day and I’ll join you – but no marathon training.

Ask teachers Your teachers are committed to your success. There are tutorials or one-on-one sessions available for you in all subjects. Ask your teachers to share their secrets of success. Have specific questions.

Old papers You have been given a real gift – old papers, plus answers! This never happened in my day (you have to say this at least once). Old papers are available via the NZQA website or your school Moodle account. Print off an old paper; complete the paper without reference to notes, books and answers; then carefully compare your answers to the official ‘assessment schedule’.

Learners who have achieved exceptionally well with regard to credits gained at Excellence level:

Cameron Rossouw Ella Knoester Ata Tomovski Rhianna Lash Zhan Widdison Stevie Marsh Cade Kennedy Paige Williams Akshaya Rajan Elise Lanigan Kate Gumbrell Lea Mueller Eloise McCullough Kelly Yang Nabeel Kapasi Ailise Beales Jessica Faulkner Rose Maclaurin Kelsey Pasco Quein Clarke

James Thomas Principal

Access resources The College website www.wgpcollege.school.nz has a link to

information on study skills, study plans and more. Think forward to exam day

Get your thinking right. On exam day you will be at school 40 minutes before each exam. You will stay in the exam for all the time they are kind enough to give you. Do not leave early unless you have answered every question fully and know (without doubt) that your teacher would think it a good idea.

Start today Study for the externals should have started. If it hasn’t – don’t make excuses; take responsibility and start NOW.

Kia kaha (be strong)

2013 Calendar November 6 Enrolment Evening 4.00 pm – 6.30 pm First Day of Study Leave 7 Year 7 & 8 Top Team 11 - Dec 3 NZQA External Exams 11 - 14 Junior Exams (Year 9–10) 12 - 14 Year 7 & 8 Production 19 Kick-start Parents Evening 25 Year 7 & 8 Athletics – Millennium Stadium 28 Year 7 Social 29 - Dec 5 Commencement of Community Service Week December 3 Senior Sign-out Day 4 Excellence Prizegiving 5 Leavers’ Dinner 11 Year 7-10 Graduation Assemblies 11 Last Day of Term 4

Performing Arts

PERFORMING ARTS PRIZEGIVING

On Thursday 17 October, Performing Arts learners and their families once again gathered for the annual event we all look forward to, Performing Arts Prizegiving. This year, our new format was well received and a wonderful night was had by all. Congratulations to all the nominees for being recognised and the overall winners for your outstanding achievements this year.

2013 Award Winners

Loud & Proud—Most Improved: Shannon Tierney Loud & Proud—Commitment: Kendall Yates Loud & Proud—Excellence: Libby McKay Concert Band—Most Improved: Jacob Thornton Concert Band—Commitment: Sylvia Amor Concert Band—Excellence: Jessica Faulkner Jazz Band—Most Improved: Michael George Jazz Band—Commitment: Rhianna Lash Jazz Band—Excellence: Kullen Dudley Dance Performance—Most Improved: Kirsty Bennett Dance Performance—Commitment: Serena Nielsen Dance Performance—Excellence: Emma Waretini Music Performance—Most Improved: Rachel Johnson Music Performance— Commitment: Flute Trio – Sylvia Amor, Jessica Faulkner, Mae Currall Music Performance—Excellence: Ashlee Stevenson Production Cast—Most Improved: Rose Maclaurin Production Cast—Commitment: Zoe Finlayson Production Cast—Excellence: Jake Southgate Production Crew—Most Improved: Maddison Lisle Production Crew—Commitment: Renee Leenders- Roberts Production Crew—Excellence: Rebeca Brooksmith Junior Choir—Most Improved: Harry Cull Junior Choir—Excellence: Alisha Reddy Junior Choir—Excellence: Samantha Bright Girls’ Choir—Most Improved: Willow-Rose Wilkinson Girls’ Choir—Commitment: Bethany Skyrme Girls’ Choir—Excellence: Nina Gurau

Barber Shop—Most Improved: Tait Trimble Barber Shop—Excellence: Bennjamin Weston Barber Shop—Excellence: Matthew McKay Senior Choir—Most Improved: Jake Southgate Senior Choir—Excellence: Zoe Finlayson Senior Choir—Excellence: Matthew McKay Kapa Haka—Most Improved: Nathan Schultz Kapa Haka— Commitment: Tyla Armstrong Kapa Haka—Excellence: Tia Neale Junior Dance—Most Improved: Alisha Reddy Junior Dance—Commitment: Keelia Waters Junior Dance—excellence: Claudia Fowlie Dance (Stage Challenge) Cast—Most Improved: Lawrence Jones Dance (Stage Challenge) Cast—Commitment: Alexandra Matthews Dance (Stage Challenge) Cast—Excellence: Ailise Beales Dance (Stage Challenge) Crew—Most Improved: Maddison Lisle Dance (Stage Challenge) Crew—Commitment: Rebeca Brooksmith Dance (Stage Challenge) Crew—Excellence: Benjamin Ripley Outstanding Contribution to Music (Jnr): Nina Gurau Outstanding Contribution to Dance (Jnr): Georgia Leggett Outstanding Contribution to Kapa Haka (Jnr): Tyla Armstrong Overall Cultural Excellence (Jnr): Annah Clune Outstanding Contribution to Music (Snr): Matthew McKay Outstanding Contribution to Dance (Snr): Ailise Beales Outstanding Contribution to Drama (Snr): Jake Southgate Outstanding Cultural Achievement Award (Snr): Sheniya White Overall Cultural Excellence (Snr): Ailise Beales

Sports Talk WGP

Zone Days Term 4

Athletics Day 4 November

North Harbour Athletics 25 November

Year 7 and 8 Boys’ Volleyball On Monday 21 October, the Year 7 and 8 boys competed in the North Shore Intermediate Schools’ Volleyball Tournament. This was an exciting occasion for the boys as many of them were new to volleyball. They had been training all of Term 3 and were keen to test their new found skills against the best. The boys played seven games during the day. Their first few games were quite tough, leading to quite large losing margins to Murray’s Bay 47-18, Takapuna 30 -14 and Belmont 39 -17. As the day progressed, the boys reflected on what they needed to do to be more competitive and this resulted in closer games. They lost 30 - 25 to Glenfield and unfortunately gave away a six point lead in both their final games to eventually lose 31 - 23 to Wairau and 38 - 33 to Kristin. The player of the day for our team was Harry Cull. His serving and general play around the court was consistent and accurate. Connor Gilbert also played very well saving many game points with accurate striking of the ball. The team as a whole showed excellent sportsmanship and represented the college in a positive light. Michael Baty

Congratulations

Finn Kennard-Campbell won three gold, two silver and a bronze at the N.Z. Short Course Championships. He also broke the Auckland and National record for his 50m Backstroke and the Auckland record for 100m Backstroke.

Is now seeking...

COACHES, MANAGERS & VOLUNTEERS

In the following sports for 2014 Cricket Athletics Tennis Water polo Basketball

Football Lacrosse Netball Rugby Volleyball

Please contact Ray Garrett, by Friday 8 November, with your expression of interest

rayga@wgpcollege.school.nz or phone (09) 4249177 ext 3221

North Harbour Junior Girls Touch Our Junior Girls’ Touch team has begun their six week competition on Tuesday evenings down at Hateo Petera. They came away with a win against Westlake on their first day of play. It’s great to see our two learner referees, Alysha Mills and Matthew Hellesoe, out there refereeing the team each week. Team members are: Tayla Flatt, Emma Hamilton, Amber Ferriera, Chloe Cullen, Monique Rousseau, Samantha Foster, Lydia Spencer, Te Aroha Pearce, Kate Jack, Kachamas Thammasri, and Elise Langlands.

Outstanding Sports Uniforms Time to check those wardrobes and drawers for any sports uniform that you

have not yet returned. These are overdue and should be returned NOW to

the sports office.

Visual Arts

The Auckland Middle School Art Association’s annual art exhibition has been on display at MOTAT over the last week. This exhibition has been running for 40 years and is an example of the best artworks from learners aged 11-13 years. Whangaparaoa College has had a number of young artists exhibiting their work and we are very proud of their selection. The learners selected were:

1 Olivia Guy Acrylic paint/mixed media

2 Sam Creevey Acrylic paint/mixed media

3 Carmen Delle-Donne Acrylic paint/mixed media

4 Adam Windelburn Acrylic paint/mixed media

5 Isabella Little Oil Pastel

6 Laura Fereday Acrylic Paint

7 Cerri Unsworth Acrylic Paint

8 Jessica Hook Acrylic Paint

3D Samuel Wilcox Acrylic paint/construction

3D Georgia Gibbons set of 3

Acrylic paint/construction

3D Notana Snowden Acrylic paint/construction

3D Shenay Austin Mixed Media/construction

3D Courtney Tuohy Mixed Media/construction

3D Halle Mitchell Mixed Media/construction

3D Ella Risbrook Mixed Media/construction

3D Blake Ezekie Mixed Media/construction

3D Jo Hyung Jun Park Mixed Media/construction

Whangaparaoa College Years 7&8

present

SHOWS

November

12, 13 & 14

7pm nightly

ADMISSION

Adults $10

Students $5

TICKETS

College Office

or ph 424 9177

WHANGAPARAOA

COLLEGE

AUDITORIUM Book and Lyrics by

SIR WILLIAM S. GILBERT

Music by

SIR ARTHUR S. SULLIVAN

As presented on Broadway by The New York Shakespeare Festival

Produced by JOSEPH PAPP Directed by WILLIAM LEACH

Music Adaptation by WILLIAM ELLIOT Choreography by GRACIELA DANIELE

by arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd. Exclusive agent for

Music Theatre International (NY)

Year 7 and 8 Wetlands Community Project. The Year 7 and 8 learners are working with Auckland artists, Tiffany Singh

and Anna Evans, to produce wetlands themed art/conservation projects for

their Community Week Open Day on Friday 6 December. They began with

drawing in the wetlands and followed up with some classroom sessions

based around the flora and fauna found in the area adjacent to the school.

Tiffany’s project will see the learners all producing a flag printed with their

own design, which will be hung around the wetlands on the open day.

Anna’s project involves learners working on and producing a mural based on

their drawings of the wetlands. Both of these projects will be able to be

viewed on the day and afterwards in the school grounds.

A ship load of fun for whole family Long before there were The Pirates of the Caribbean, there were The Pirates of Penzance. And for more than a century, they have entertained audiences of all ages all over the world with their swashbuckling antics, comic capers and delightful singing voices. Now the hugely popular and multi-award winning Gilbert and Sullivan musical is being brought to the stage by the Year 7 and 8 learners. The show centres on a host of colourful characters including bumbling policemen, dim-witted young lovers, dewy-eyed daughters, an eccentric Major-General and a ship load of sweet-sounding pirates. “It’s a classic for a reason,” says teacher/director Janette Steel. “It’s easy to relate to, lots of fun and perfect for the whole family to enjoy.”

For show dates, times and ticket prices, see ad on opposite page.

Community Notices

BUY local – GIVE local is the Christmas appeal organised by your local community newspaper, Hibiscus Matters, in partnership with the Hibiscus Coast Community House and the Orewa Baptist Church Christmas food drive. It’s about spending a few dollars this Christmas to help others in the community who are going through hard times. Here’s how it works: While you’re doing your Christmas shopping, purchase a voucher of any denomination over $10.00 and drop it in to a collection box (located at Manly Care Chemist, Manly Village; Eddie Law, Top of the Plaza, Whangaparaoa; Beds R Us, Silverdale Centre; Dad’s Pies, Silverdale Industrial or Hibiscus Matters’ office, Tamariki Plaza, Orewa) or post to Hibiscus Matters, Unit G, 18 Tamariki Plaza, Cammish Lane, Orewa, 0931. Vouchers will be distributed to families in need with the Community House’s Christmas food parcels, and by the Orewa Baptist Church as part of its Christmas food drive. Vouchers can be for anything that will bring a little sunshine to a struggling family on Christmas Day – fuel, groceries, toys, electrical goods, toiletries, clothes and so on. Vouchers must be dropped into the boxes or received in our office prior to 10 December. Together, we can make a difference.

Microsoft have announced the Student Advantage programme, which will help ensure all students at New Zealand schools have access to the productivity tools used in most NZ workplaces. From 1 December 2013, Whangaparaoa College can offer every student Office 365 Pro Plus completely free of charge. We will put updates on our website and in our newsletter.

College Physio Clinic Monday, Wednesday & Friday 11.30am – 2.30pm - J Block John Lanigan Physiotherapist for all College sports teams, teachers and learners - Get all those pre-season “niggles” treated! ACC treatment $10 Co-payment (subsidised) For the convenience of on-school assessment / treatment / referrals Text /Phone: 021 187 3299 or Manly Physio Clinic: 424-1309 Proud to support Whangaparaoa College Sport

Is your son/daughter different? Do they have an invisible disability, eg ADHD, Aspergers, ASD? Or do they seem as if they may have? If so, contact Unique Families. We are here to help with strategies, information and support for both you and your son/daughter. Phone us on 424 2880, we look forward to hearing from you.