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Education: Kristin School
Kristin’s Young Leaders Recognised by
The Sir Peter Blake Trust Kristin Junior School has recognised two emerging leaders thanks to the Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Awards. In a special end of term Leadership Assembly last week, Year 6 student Ayla Hall was named as this year’s recipient of the Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Award, with Lena Jacobs as runner up. Both of the girls are significant contributors to their school. Ayla is a Peer Mediator and Class Captain and is known for the positive and enthusiastic attitude that she applies to her many co-curricular activities. Lena is also actively involved in a number of leadership roles within the Junior School including that of Peer Mediator and ViceHouse Captain, and positions on the Student Council and Chapel Committee. The Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Award, in association with Westpac, recognises young people who have shown promising leadership in their schools and communities. Nominees for the award must demonstrate a number of leadership qualities and characteristics such as integrity, determination and will to succeed, be a good team builder, leader and member, be hard working and know how to have fun. “We celebrate a culture of leadership and service here at Kristin, so selecting one Year 6 student to receive this award was a big challenge,” said Junior School Principal Mrs Diana Patchett. “These two students are a part of a larger group of wonderfully skilled and motivated Year 6 students, each who would be a deserving recipient of the award. However, we selected Ayla and Lena because of the many ways that they demonstrate the attributes of leadership set out by the Sir Peter Blake Trust. They are each incredibly talented and involved students who set a wonderfully positive example to their peers, as well as to the younger students in the school.” It was the first time that a runner up for this award has been named at Kristin. Mrs Patchett felt that both girls deserved to be recognised for the incredible contribution they have made to the school, and this was a decision supported by
the Sir Peter Blake Trust. Kristin Junior School celebrated the life and achievements of Sir Peter Blake with a Red Sock Day and Leadership Assembly on Friday 5 July. The last day of term saw students throughout Kristin Junior School wearing their red socks in place of their usual school socks to raise money for The Sir Peter Blake Trust in support of KidsCan. A total of $870 was raised.
Pictured, from left: Ayla Hall, Kristin Junior School Principal Mrs Diana Patchett, Westpac Bank Manager Mr Gareth Southcombe and Lena Jacob.
Euphony’s High Note at the International Eisteddfod Euphony has outshone all expectations, taking 3rd place at the 67th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales in the hotly contested Female Choir category. Kristin’s premier girls’ choir was invited to attend the prestigious international music festival as the sole representatives from New Zealand following their Gold-winning performance at the 2012 Big Sing Finale. The girls were incredibly honoured to take part in the celebrated event and spent months preparing under the tutelage of Music Director David Squire. While a placing at the festival was always their aspiration, it came as a big surprise to the girls when they secured their prize in the more challenging of their two competitions. Euphony’s first competitive performance at Llangollen was in the Senior Children’s category where they were up against 20 other youth choirs from throughout Europe and Asia. In this event the girls performed beautifully to finish a commendable 7th. As the only school choir in the Female Choir category, and with some of the youngest singers, Euphony were up against seven extraordinary groups from England, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic and Russia. They were the last to perform in the division and together the choir produced a spectacular recital that left audiences spellbound. It was an anxious time for girls as they waited for the feedback from the adjudicators and nothing could have prepared them for the excitement they felt as it was announced Euphony had placed 3rd in the category, behind the two choirs from the Czech Republic and Russia. “This is an astounding achievement for Euphony,” commented Executive
Issue 35 - August 2013 www.channelmag.co.nz
Principal Peter Clague. “Their hard work, passion and dedication are evident in every note and harmony they produced throughout the festival. These girls are worthy of great applause; not only for their collective talents but also for the way they have represented themselves, Kristin and New Zealand. We could not be more proud.” Still on a high from this amazing achievement, Euphony are now touring the south of England where they will perform at Oxford University, Cambridge, Chester and St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in London, before returning home in time to prepare for this year’s Big Sing Finale in Wellington. Euphony has won major awards at five Big Sing National Finals since 2007, including three Gold awards and two Silvers. They were named Big Sing Youth Ambassadors in 2010, an honour given to the ensemble making the most positive impact on the festival, and last year they received an award for the top female recital programme, awarded at the Auckland regionals. Just before the group set out for their UK tour it was announced that they have once again been selected to attend the Big Sing Finale as one of New Zealand’s top secondary school choirs. The International Eisteddfod is a five-day spectacular featuring top choirs from all over the globe. With over 20 high quality competitive events, the prestigious festival includes a series of evening concerts where the best and most colourful competitors share the stage with professional artists. New Zealand’s own Kiri Te Kanawa and Hayley Westenra have previously graced the Eisteddfod stage, along with international stars such as Pavarotti and Elaine Paige. A video of Euphony’s winning performance can be viewed at: http://llangollen.tv/en/clip/euphony-kristin-school-choir/