Piper Issue 80 - April 2024 College

Rising Stars

The Hope of Easter Enhancing Engagement

Four Students Accepted into Prestigious UK Universities

SAINT KENTIGERN TRUST BOARD

Trust Board Chair: Mark Conelly

Executive Trustee: Dr Kevin Morris

130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga 2010

Phone: 09-577 0720

Email: trustboard@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN COLLEGE

Principal: Damon Emtage

130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga, 2010

Phone: 09-577 0749 Fax: 09-577 0700

Email: skc_admin@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN BOYS’ SCHOOL

Principal: Peter Cassie

82 Shore Road, Remuera 1050 Phone: 09-520 7682

Email: skb_admin@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN GIRLS’ SCHOOL

Principal: Marianne Duston

82 Shore Road, Remuera 1050

Phone: 09-520 1400

Email: skg_admin@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN PRESCHOOL

Principal: Megan Storey

82 Shore Road, Remuera 1050

Phone: 09-520 8814

Email: skp_admissions@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN OLD COLLEGIANS ASSOCIATION

President: Thomas Steel

Vice President: Sharnika Leleni

Secretary: Mathew Jones

Treasurer: Daniel Quigley

Email: skoca@saintkentigern.com

SAINT KENTIGERN COLLEGE PARENTS & FRIENDS

Chair: Deborah Higgins

Secretary: Lisa Tyer

Communications: Gabrielle Findlay

SAINT KENTIGERN BOYS’ SCHOOL PARENTS & FRIENDS

Chair: Lynda Millward

Vice Chair: Jane Cashmore

Secretary: Jen Maher

Treasurer: Michaela Shaw

SAINT KENTIGERN GIRLS’ SCHOOL PARENTS & FRIENDS

Chair: Jess Wahlstrom

Vice Chair: Amanda Stretton

Secretary: Brigit Winter

Treasurer: Grace Zhang

Noble Lives of Service

AMr Mark Conelly BCom, FCA, CMInstD Trust Board Chair

s part of a school family that is anchored in Presbyterian values, we celebrate the message of hope and renewal that accompanies the Easter season, rejoicing the good news that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. Scripture encourages us to contemplate the significance of this event, prompting us to recognise the true value of life, our humanity, and to think of those around us.

During this time, we mourn the loss of another of our inaugural Distinguished Alumni recipients, Philip Recordon, who recently passed away.  We also mark the passing of Boys’ School student #20 Peter Nelson, one of the honourees of the Te Pou o te Rīpeka, the Saint Kentigern Place of Honour on our Shore Road Campus. Additionally, I attended a funeral of an alumni of the Boys’ School who sadly departed at the young age of 20 due to a medical condition. Life’s fragility reminds us to cherish every moment. My thoughts are with these families and others impacted by loss during this time.

At Saint Kentigern, we are a true family of schools, of communities, of our staff

and of our students. I was fortunate to play a role in a special occasion recently – the commissioning of Marianne Duston to her new role as Principal of the Girls’ School. During the commissioning service, Mrs Duston made several commitments, and those in attendance were asked to voice their support for her important role. Leading a school is a huge undertaking; there are very few roles that have the responsibility for shaping the hearts and minds of our young people to take their place in this world as good citizens, themselves valuing the very things that the Easter message reminds us of.

The Trust Board has worked hard in recent years to establish clarity of mission and purpose (reflected in the restating of our Statement of Intent and refreshing of our brand identity to include the new brand tagline “Choose to believe”, for example) to show a genuine care for the many staff who form part of our community, and to establish and deliver curriculum through educational leadership. Based on recent academic results, our College is now ranked the top co-educational school in New Zealand and is number five among all schools in the country. This comes alongside our College cohort’s marked achievements in International Baccalaureate, a record we can be very proud of. None of this has taken away from numerous accolades on the sporting field and in

our artistic endeavours.

Alongside these, the Trust Board continues to advance planning for the next stage of development on the Pakuranga Campus. More details will be shared as designs are finalised and key decisions around timing and implications for campus operations become clearer. This is an exciting time for the College as we embark on what will be the beginning of a campus transformation for future generations of Saint Kentigern students.

We are very mindful of the increasing demand for places across our schools. While in part this reflects our growing cohort of alumni, it also reflects our focus on growing good citizens in an environment of excellence balanced with the right level of care. We know education provided by Saint Kentigern is a choice and thank you for the choices you continue to make.

Lastly, our second Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony is planned for this September. With nominations now open, I encourage you to consider who may be a worthy recipient as we continue to recognise alumni who have achieved excellence in their professional lives with exceptional national and international accomplishments and lived the values of Saint Kentigern in their pursuits. Such an occasion will be celebration of the good news indeed.

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At a Glance

Boys’ School Celebrates 65 Years

Sixty-five years ago, 190 foundation students arrived at a brand-new school on Shore Road, putting their trust in Principal Jack Chalmers and hope in the opportunity to be a part of something great. With just one building on a spacious waterfront campus, the potential was unmistakable. Today, over six hundred students benefit from a campus with multiple purpose-built facilities, offering plenty of space to play and learn.

READ MORE ON PAGE 36

Four Students Accepted into Oxford and Cambridge

Our College 2023 graduates Ethan Liu, Eva Ye, Chris Ye, and Sean Wang have been offered placements at two of the world’s most esteemed universities, Oxford and Cambridge. They are set to embark on their academic journey there later this year, studying under the guidance of leading professors in their fields. For these students, this achievement marks the realisation of a dream through years of diligent preparation during their time at the College.

READ MORE ON PAGE 54

Girls’ School Principal Commissioned

Saint Kentigern officially commissioned Mrs Marianne Duston as Principal of the Girls’ School. With a rich background in education, including her capacity as Deputy Principal at Saint Kentigern College from 2017–2020 and Head of Teaching and Learning Excellence at Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney, Mrs Duston brings a wealth of experience to her new role. We are thrilled to welcome her back to the Saint Kentigern family.

A Fresh Identity 'Choose to believe'

The Saint Kentigern identity has strengthened over seventy years, connecting students, families, and alumni. This year, we introduced a refreshed brand distilled from this essence and shaped by over a year of meticulous research and consultation to ensure it truly reflects who we are – generations of families and aspiring students who choose to believe in a Saint Kentigern education.

READ OUR BRAND STORY HERE

Inspiring Alumni Stories of Excellence

With our graduates increasing exponentially, we are continuing to hear inspiring stories from Old Collegians from around the world. In this issue, we talk to Bruce Elliott, Sid Chand, Joshua Douglas, and six University of Auckland Medical School graduates.

In Remembrance

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of two incredible and beloved alumni of Saint Kentigern, Philip Recordon and Peter Nelson. Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with their families and loved ones during this time.

Philip Recordon (1948 – 2024)

Philip Recordon passed on 21 March 2024. He will be remembered for his significant contribution over the span of his illustrious career, his personable nature, and the profound impact he had on all who knew him. As one of four inaugural recipients of the Saint Kentigern Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2022, Phil was recognised for his remarkable accomplishments in the field of law and judiciary, along with his substantial influence on various community groups.

Peter Nelson (1947 – 2024)

Boys’ School student #20, Peter Nelson, passed on 11 April 2024. Peter will be remembered for his remarkable dedication to Saint Kentigern Boys’ School, his tireless efforts in nurturing the bond among Old Boys, and his tenacious support for generations of boys through countless engagements and a constant presence at key events and activities six decades beyond his graduation.

Advancing Learning Strategies

MDr Kevin Morris EdD (Boston) Executive Trustee

edical and educational research has significantly advanced our understanding of learning science, enabling us to provide better support for students with specific learning needs. It has also helped to dismantle some of the dreadful stigmas and the language of the past. Scientific progress and technology, however, also presents new challenges for parents and schools alike. As awareness increases and the diagnoses of learning needs become more prevalent, addressing the complexity and volume of these cases has become increasingly challenging for schools to manage. Saint Kentigern is no exception, though our longstanding commitment to staff and resources in our Enhanced Learning departments reflects our dedication to fostering an inclusive, faith-based, and compassionate culture. These staff (see pictures) work with our teachers and a range of student support areas to help our diverse learners access the curriculum and reach their academic potential.

While the concept of neurodiversity has normalised learning differences, societal expectations and pressures to ‘fix’ difficulties in learning still persist. Rather than focusing on individuals, a broader

focus on the needs of all learners, including those at the highly gifted end of the spectrum, is a more compelling way to think about this challenge for the design of future curriculum, teaching, and assessment. The holy grail is what has become known as Universal Design: the design of learning to accommodate the needs and abilities of all learners, eliminating any unnecessary hurdles in the learning process.

Recent trends in New Zealand include significant increases in the diagnosis of anxiety issues among teenagers, which is consistent with a global phenomenon and the rising medicalisation of many issues. It’s believed that our changing lifestyles, with modern life’s pressures and the pervasive influence of the digital world have contributed to this rise. The disruptions and isolation caused by Covid further exacerbated the challenges, depriving some youth of the necessary development and coping skills for the academic pressures of secondary education. This now means the experiences and capabilities in any classroom are very diverse. The fundamentals of reading comprehension and writing are generally less developed, and the distribution of skills at any age group is concerning. At its extreme, you can imagine the challenge for teachers to ensure all learners can stay in a structured pattern of learning that’s appropriate to their level of functioning and processing.

The move to digital approaches will benefit some and present difficulties for others. The stress in the senior years is with external qualifications, where the type and design of assessments tend to either be more examination-based or projectoriented, and delivered either via paper or increasingly on a device. Unfortunately technology is not proving to be a panacea, and some students find digital tools to be either more stressful to operate or less accessible. It's a work in progress to ensure we have equitable options.

At Saint Kentigern, our approach emphasises a long-term focus, recognising that learners can develop a repertoire of tools to compensate for their differences. Embracing the idea that each learner possesses unique strengths, we seek to avoid deficitbased thinking. This approach fosters confidence and self-belief, providing essential building blocks for a student’s success. We are fortunate to have highly experienced learning specialists who collaborate tirelessly with teachers and students on our campuses to provide wrap-around support, with significant differences in their approach depending on what is appropriate and possible at each age and stage. Our focus remains on creating an environment that encourages a partnership with parents and allows all of us to advocate for students’ needs more effectively.

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Pakuranga Enhanced Learning team: (Back row L-R): Jackie MacArthur, Philippa Becroft, Neesha Patel, Louise Shemmings (Middle row L-R): Biliana Kostova, Wendy Krebs, Anita Walker (Front row L-R): Kay Brown, Charlotte Pearce, Leslie Bender Clark, Catherine Watts Absent: Carolyn de Freyne, Sally Shoebridge, Lawrence Croggan

Shore Road Enhanced Learning team: (Back row L-R) Fiona Liddell, Rebecca Harrison, Louise Smithies, Sue Castle, Louise Miles (Front row L-R) Anne Bowmar, Nicola Beekhuizen, Hilary Chaytor

Big Aspirations for Tiny Houses

FDavid Smith

BTheol College Chaplain

our years ago, our Year 13 Construction class built a playhouse as their year-long NCEA project. Not to be outdone, the class of the following year built two, and the year after four. Typically, the playhouses have been donated to early childhood centres, kōhanga reo, and kindergartens. Megan Norton, Director of the Māngere Living and Learning Family Centre, expressed her gratitude, saying the playhouse had come at just the right moment.

Last year, I sat down with Mr Garth Horsnell, the teacher in charge of the Construction class, and shared the vision of building not a playhouse, but a tiny house built to Code of Compliance standards that could ultimately be gifted to needy recipients in the Far North. The project would present an excellent opportunity for the service component of our Saint Kentigern Mission Statement to be infused into and outworked within a formal curriculum setting, while giving the students the benefit of exposure to a bigger and more demanding project. Mr Horsnell was excited, as was the Head

of the Technology Faculty, the Senior Leadership Team and most importantly, prospective students, and very soon the vision began to come to life.

In November 2023, the plans were finalised (thanks to Tom Whiteman from Notion Architects), and in the 2023/24 summer holidays a covered workplace was built to house the project. While I took on the responsibility of soliciting sponsorship and the funding from College community, Mr Horsnell took on the much bigger responsibility of project management. In February, after the relevant health and safety courses, our eleven Year 13 building students led by Mr Horsnell began the gargantuan task of building not only the tiny house, but also a second building, which on completion will be a bigger, more functional home for our College car park attendants. Fast forward to the end of Term 1 and a good start has been made to both buildings.

In early April, Rev. Reuben Hardie (Chaplain of Saint Kentigern schools on Shore Road) and I headed north to look at a potential site for the tiny house and are subsequently hopeful it will find a home on a marae where it will benefit a community. As for the Boys’ School and Girls’ School, the plan is for one of their service trips to be involved in the landscaping around the tiny house and, potentially, the building of a deck.

The tiny house project is funded out of the generosity of our wider College community and Chapel offerings. In this respect, we are keen to acknowledge the following Saint Kentigern connections who have already donated their time and resources to date, or have indicated a willingness to do so as required:

Tom Whiteman, Notion Architects, Paul Mutschel Builders, IBS Sustainable Building Products , J. A Russell , Jacobsen Flooring, Kiwi Roofing, Marley, NZ Building Group (Platform Homes), Onehunga Powertool Centre, Premier Solutions, Prescott Flooring, Prolux Lighting, Scafman, SolarZero, Steel & Tube, Universal Plumbing Plus, and Vynco Industries.

A huge thanks to Mr Horsnell for his passion and commitment to this project. If you would like to contribute towards the ongoing costs of this project, please contact Mr Horsnell at garth.horsnell@ saintkentigern.com or make a donation to:

St. Kentigern Trust

BNZ

02 0108 0501202 00

Particulars: Tiny House Project

We are excited to continue exploring how curriculum and service can connect to create meaningful learning opportunities for our students.

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Rev.

Enhancing Engagement: Redefining Reporting for Student Success

SPECIALIST EDUCATOR

Mrs Natalie Burridge BA, Grad DigTchg, PG Dig Ed Mgmt Deputy Principal Academic Operations

Arecent study by the New Zealand Education Review Office revealed that 74 percent of teachers have observed a decline in classroom behaviour over the past two years. Disruptive behaviour not only compromises the learning environment but significantly impedes students’ academic progress and their enjoyment of school.

This underscores the crucial need

of promoting student engagement in learning. When students actively participate in their educational journey, the likelihood of disruptive behaviours diminishes. Additionally, a positive and engaging learning environment boosts student motivation, participation, and overall academic performance. Placing high priority on student engagement is essential for cultivating a supportive atmosphere conducive to learning, ultimately leading to a safer and more rewarding educational experience for all students.

Parents and College students will have noticed a new termly report introduced in late March. This

refreshed reporting format includes students’ self-reflection on their level of engagement alongside their teacher’s assessment of the same. This intentional change is the culmination of over a year’s research, focus groups, and implementation.

So, what classroom behaviours lead to overall positive student outcomes? Attempting to isolate a few specific factors would oversimplify the complexity of the matter. Yet there prevails a common misconception that if a student completes their homework on time, answers when called upon, and is a hard worker in class, their grades will be exemplary.

Engagement Indicators

Engaging in activities

• Disrupting the learning Refusing to participate

• Arguing with the teacher

Engaging with peers • Arguing with peers

• Trying to distract others

In his 2018 study, education researcher Professor John Hattie ranked 252 factors with positive influences on student achievement, reporting their effect sizes. In this new reporting approach, we seek to foster the following positive factors (in Cohen’s d): self-reported grades (1.33), self-efficacy (0.92), effort (0.77), evaluation and reflection (0.75), help seeking (0.72) and deep motivation and approach (0.69). These factors have been proven to enhance student outcomes.

As a result, we have implemented a new reporting scale incorporating descriptors crafted through focus groups and feedback from our students (refer to Figure 1).

Referencing the student example described earlier, this student would be categorised as ‘participating’, with potential pathways for two subsequent stages of advancement.

The integration of student selfreflection with teacher assessments offers guidance and outlines an action plan, ensuring there is a positive trajectory of improvement. Encouraging teachers to reflect on student engagement will establish a foundation for constructive dialogue. Addressing disparities in

• Looking for ways to avoid work Being off task

• Being unprepared

• Looking for reasons to leave the room or move around the room

• Off-task talking with others Playing around instead of working

•"Flying under the radar" Physically separating from others

• Being distracted

• Putting in low effort

• Sitting with a group if directed but not interacting

• Doing the work

• Being on-task Paying attention

•Responding to questions

• Working with others when directed to do so

perceptions enables more effective tailoring of support to individual needs, recognising that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is inadequate. It also encourages teachers to be responsive to the data gathered. This approach prompts inquiries into reasons for student disengagement and strategies to transition them from ‘participating’ to taking ownership by ‘driving’ their own learning.

When students become fully invested or driven, there is a noticeable and measurable improvement in their grades. As Hattie aptly articulates,

Investment and striving are more likely to follow successful learning; thus, learning begets engagement more than engagement begets learning.

Our initiative is grounded in evidence-based practice, drawing on ongoing research led by Amy Berry

•Asking questions about what we are learning

• Valuing what we are learning

• Showing interest in, or being curious about what we are learning

• E njoying learning

• Sharing ideas and thinking with peers Following shared interests

• Setting goals for my learning Seeking feedback to help me improve

• Seeking out challenges

• Monitoring and evaluating my progress

• Collaborating with others towards a shared goal

• Challenging each other to drive improvement

(2022) and endorsed by Professor John Hattie (2023). We are steadfast in our commitment to educational excellence. By consolidating previous reporting metrics into a comprehensive engagement rubric, we aim to provide a holistic view on student progress independent of achievement grades.

Ultimately, our goal is twofold: to foster student-driven learning and nurture a culture where the expectation to engage is explicit and aspirational. By empowering students to take ownership of their learning and providing clear guidance on successful engagement, we aim to cultivate a community of lifelong learners primed for success in a constantly changing world.

Additionally, reporting extends beyond documenting classroom behaviours to provide valuable insights to students. Subjects in which students exhibit high engagement and achieve good grades could suggest potential career paths. Over time, students can analyse their engagement levels in specific subjects, identify patterns in their interests and skills, and leverage this data to make informed decisions about their future endeavours beyond their time at Saint Kentigern.

Berry. A. E (2022).Reimaginingstudentengagement:FromDisruptingtoDriving.CorwinPublishers.

The Hope of Easter

On 25 March, the students and teachers of Shore Road campus gathered before a white cross erected around the usual Celtic cross that hangs off the Macky Building. Though Saint Kentigern students wear the Celtic cross on their chest daily, the occasion afforded a greater symbol, one that would permeate their thoughts throughout the week.

Easter is cause for reflection and celebration in the Christian calendar, its message centred at the cross where Jesus, eternal Saviour and King, died for mankind so that we may live. Chaplain Rev. Reuben Hardie, talking of the cross, emphasised,

It speaks of a love that was so great, a love that died for us, a love that rose again. This is the love that this cross represents for us today. “ “

Girls’ School Principal Mrs Marianne Duston spoke of another Easter symbol, the delicious chocolate egg. Though loved by many as a treat on Sunday morning, she unpacked its important meaning to the story of Easter. An egg symbolises new life, just as a baby chick hatches from a shell. Through Jesus’s resurrection, He offers every person the opportunity for new life in Him – one must simply ask to receive it.

Though the service was rained out at the end, the students left happy, piling back to their classrooms to enjoy hot cross buns. The Year 1–2 boys received homemade ones lovingly prepared by Mrs Patsy Hindson and the senior food tech monitors. We hope that every person who enjoyed an Easter egg was reminded of the cross, felt the love of a saviour, and the hope of a new beginning.

VALUES WE LIVE BY

Distinguished Alumni Awards 2024

The second Saint Kentigern Distinguished Alumni Awards will take place on 7 September this year. Nominations have commenced, with a selection process to follow thereafter.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognise outstanding Old Collegians who have achieved excellence in their professional lives, lived the values of Saint Kentigern in their pursuits while showcasing outstanding leadership, and are role models for our students.

Celebrated every two years, it acknowledges Saint Kentigern alumni for a series of achievements of note in the fields of business, social, cultural, sporting or environmental wellbeing of the community, and for an esteemed career of exceptional national or international accomplishment.

At the inaugural ceremony held at the iconic Auckland War Memorial Museum in 2022, we paid tribute to four illustrious alumni – John Beckett, Sir Noel Robinson, Philip Recordon and Dr Ernest Willoughby – who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of excellence and in service of others.

Ahead of this year’s event, we invite our community to help us identify alumni who embody the ethos and values of Saint Kentigern for our judges’ consideration. For nomination forms and further information please contact Richard Lindroos: richard.lindroos@saintkentigern.com

Nominations close on 3 May 2024.

Saint Kentigern Foundation

Upcoming Events

Throughout the year, there are opportunities through events and programmes for our alumni to reconnect and network. Please email C atherine Harri at catherine.harri@saintkentigern.com if you are interested in attending or supporting any Saint Kentigern initiatives.

WAIKATO AND BAY OF PLENTY ’50 S AND ’60 S OCS MORNING TEA –  22 JULY (TAURANGA)

Reconnect with your old school friends from the classes of 1950 through 1969 and enjoy lunch on us.

ANNUAL BUSINESS NETWORK EVENT –  21 AUGUST

Connect with alumni, commercial sponsors, donors, and staff from our Saint Kentigern community over drinks and tapas.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS EVENING –7 SEPTEMBER

Special ceremony to honour and celebrate our distinguished alumni who have made significant impact of note in their respective fields.

BRUCE HOUSE ’50 S AND ’60 S LUNCHEON –28 NOVEMBER

For all who boarded with us during the 1950s and ’60s to connect over lunch and enjoy a tour of the College campus.

BRUCE HOUSE ‘70 S EVENT (DATE TO BE CONFIRMED)

Back by popular demand, for those who boarded with us during the 1970s to connect, enjoy a meal at Bruce House and a tour of the College.

RUGBY 1ST XV GAMES  (DATES TO BE CONFIRMED)

Support our rich rugby tradition and loyalty to the blue and white as we host our Division 1-A competitors during the preliminary rounds.

Sharon Ensor New Trust Board Trustee

At the start of the school year we announced the retirement of Reverend Ivan Martinez, who had taken up a new role in Dunedin, and welcomed Reverend Sharon Ross Ensor to the Saint Kentigern Trust Board.

Ivan served as a valuable member of the board for the past three years. His diverse background in education and the ministry enriched our board discussions and we thank him for his years of service to Saint Kentigern.

Sharon, as the new Northern Presbytery appointee, brings with her a significant experience in ministry, education, and governance. She has devoted thirty-six years as an ordained Presbyterian minister, serving a number of congregations in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton.

Drawing upon her tenure as the Director of the Presbyterian Church Schools’ Resource Office, where she provided support and guidance to uphold the special character of Presbyterian schools in New Zealand, and her involvement on the boards of St Oran’s College and Queen Margaret College, we are confident Sharon will bring invaluable insights and perspectives to our team of trustees. She is currently the Presbytery Liaison Manager with Presbyterian Support Northern.

Please join us in welcoming Sharon to the Trust Board.

Preschool

Upcoming Events at the Preschool

MOTHER'S DAY

On 17 May we invite mothers and mother figures to join our Preschoolers for morning tea.

MATARIKI CELEBRATION

Join us in celebrating Māori New Year with our students on 12 June.

FATHER'S DAY

Calling all fathers and father figures to join your child for the morning on 30 August.

ART AUCTION

Support the Preschool by coming along for drinks and nibbles while bartering on 20 September.

Curriculum Developments Inspire Curiosity

IMrs Megan Storey

BEd (Tchg) Preschool Principal

n the world of Early Childhood Education (ECE), young minds are shaped and futures are nurtured, but this does not happen by chance. Curriculum is the cornerstone upon which the educational journey is built. Creating a curriculum that ignites a passion for learning requires a blend of creativity, dedication, and love of teaching. It’s a journey that our Preschool educators have embarked upon, driven by a desire to spark curiosity and lay the foundation for lifelong love of learning.

For our Preschool educators who have decades of experience, forming curriculum isn’t simply to meet educational benchmarks; it is about creating an environment where children thrive, explore, and discover the wonders of the world around them.

Every child is unique, with their own set of interests, strengths and areas for growth, and as educators it’s our responsibility to tailor the curriculum to meet the diverse needs of our children. As our Preschool Pedagogical Leader Miss Eileen Coghlan says, “Our

curriculum should tune into what children are passionate about, what they know and what they don’t know, and support the children to find the answers through curiosity, imagination and wonder.”

With my team of dedicated teachers, we are embarking on a journey to revitalise our Preschool curriculum. Handson activities, outdoor exploration, storytelling and artistic expression all cultivate this sense of wonder and have been important for us to include into every aspect of the curriculum. We find these types of activities ensure the children are actively engaged and excited about learning. In this manner, the dynamic nature and responsiveness of the programme allows for the interests, questions, and experiences of the children to be heard and discussed.

“What kind of learning experiences do we want to create for our children? What themes, topics and activities will inspire them to explore questions and learn?” and questions alike have driven our discussions as we look at our curriculum approach.

We have also drawn inspiration from what our teachers are passionate and enthusiastic about. This has allowed us to design and implement a curriculum that is rich in content, taught by passionate educators.

One of our core principles guiding our curriculum development is the belief that play is a powerful tool for learning. We are creating a learning environment that encourages “Respect, empowerment, imaginative play, problem solving and collaboration,” says Miss Coghlan, recognising that these skills are essential for success in school and beyond.

An additional goal for our curriculum is to ensure we promote social-emotional development, creativity and critical thinking. Research tells us that through play, children learn to communicate, negotiate, and navigate the complexities of the world around them.

This process is undergoing continual refinement, however, the impact our refreshed curriculum has had on the children and teachers is evident in how engaged, motivated, and enthusiastic about learning or teaching they are.

The learning experiences and activities you will read about within this section are a snippet of our curriculum in action. You will see the creativity, engagement, and excitement of everyday life at the Preschool jump off the pages, and if you’re a parent, you may learn the why behind the stacks of artwork that gets brought home each week!

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Celebrating the Year of the Dragon

The Preschool’s two-week Chinese New Year extravaganza held from 12–23 February was an absolute hit! Our little ones dived headfirst into crafts, stories, and delicious treats, immersing themselves in the vibrant Chinese culture.

The festivities kicked off with a creative activity, crafting cherry blossoms and a magnificent dragon adorned with handprints. Throughout the week, the calendar was filled with dancing, clay-dragon moulding, and dress-ups, especially on Valentine’s Day when students and staff donned their best red outfits. After all, red signifies good luck! The highlight? A special visit from a shadow puppet master, who wowed everyone with his magical storytelling and a skilful display of traditional puppets. Not to mention the thrill of receiving traditional red envelopes, each containing a golden chocolate coin!

Throughout the week, our Preschoolers also learned the art of calligraphy and fashioned beautiful lanterns to mark the Lantern Festival. To wrap it all up, the children enjoyed a sumptuous dumpling feast! Our chef whipped up rainbow salad fillings, and together they sealed and savoured the dumplings with visible delight. Embracing different cultures has proved to spread much joy at the Preschool, and allowed students who identify with said culture to share with their friends.

Unpacking Te Tiriti o Waitangi

The message in our minds and hearts resonated a sentiment of ‘it is more than just a holiday’. Waitangi Day is a time for us all to reflect on the past and work together in building a better future. As a whole Preschool, each classroom worked together to unpack what the Treaty of Waitangi means to our tamariki and our Preschool.

Our tamariki had varying degrees of knowledge surrounding the Treaty, so our Kaiako got to work with specialised classes, books, and resources, and we all went on a journey of learning. In the Loch Ness room, the Kaiako and tamariki chose to do a role play and re-enactment of the signing of the Treaty, with representatives from both the British Crown and the Māori chiefs making an appearance. The word ‘agreement’ was mentioned, with other words such as ‘respect’ and ‘showing kindness’ coming up as values that our youngest of learners felt represented their thinking and held utmost importance. After revisiting our learning and discussions over the week, Lachie Goodfellow, a three year old from the Loch Ness class, made a proud statement about what the Treaty and Waitangi mean to him: “It is an agreement and partnership, manaakitanga.” His powerful words showed a deep understanding of the wisdom which young children can hold at such an early age. Following on from this, each class decided to build their own individual classroom treaty and a shared agreement on how we will treat each other while at Preschool.

Although there have been strong narratives and discourses written in the past about Waitangi Day, our preschoolers hold their heads high with immense mana and pride in embracing our Māori and British heritage. We all have a strong sense of responsibility planted within ourselves, and the seeds will continue to grow. The world is in need of more smart and kind-hearted leaders, and we hold comfort in the thought that our youngest learners will be conscious of the great impact their actions can have.

Visual Art At a Glance

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Atelier Bustling with Life

At Preschool we are very fortunate to be able to harness our teachers’ strengths and talents in various ways. Specifically, we have been able to enrich our learning programme within the Visual Arts. Our dedicated art room or atelier has become a space for children to engage with art mediums and a diverse range of materials to tap into their creative potential. Alongside our ‘atelierista,’ Ms Colleen Donoghue, our children are realising their creative capabilities in ways they never imagined.

Empowerment as a Learning Disposition

In Loch Rannoch this term we have been looking into strategies on how we can support the children to become empowered learners brimming with confidence and self-belief. This came about when we observed them feeling a bit hesitant on how to start a task and saying: “I can’t do it!” So, we decided to get the children to use visual mediums to describe their feelings – drawing a heart map portraying people, places and things that they considered important and of significance to them. The level of detail that went into their work was unbelievable; the children really took their time portraying what matters to them in a visual form.

LFree-drawing for Young Imaginations

We asked the children in Loch Lomond to draw anything they wanted using their own imaginations and working theories. It is always a delight to watch children draw ‘off the cuff’ without expectation or assignment. Children’s drawing skills change over time. In Loch Lomond, our children’s age puts them at stages three and four. Stage three (2.5–3.5 years) develops lines and patterns; and at stage four (3–5 years old) we begin to see pictures of objects or people. We were so proud of the drawings our children created, ranging from T-rexes, family members, water, forests, the fridge at home, and a rocket ship.

Learning Takes Place Everywhere

earning as we know it isn’t confined to the surrounds of a classroom. At Preschool, learning takes place everywhere. Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) is an integral part of our programme in our transition to school class, Loch Tummel. It is an excellent way to foster fun as well as familiarity once a fortnight on the Shore Road campus, and support children’s growing confidence with their soon-to-be school environment. EOTC in Loch Tummel places value on holistic

learning, confidence, and encouraging children to learn through active exploration with and alongside others. The children are greeted with different experiences that challenge them physically and provide them with the space to develop working theories for making sense of the natural world. Over the past term, they have experienced scavenger hunts, picnics with their favourite animals, confidence course races, and spent time observing school events. EOTC is a wonderful example

of the positive impact that venturing beyond the classroom can have on their motivation to learn and discover.

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Loch Rannoch

Out and About on Campus

Our Preschool has an amazing natural environment for our children to freely explore through openended play and discovery. Loch Rannoch have taken numerous opportunities to explore more of our Shore Road campus. Many of our children have older siblings at the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools, so it is a treat for them to go and experience their learning environments. We walk to different areas on each visit to gain a clearer understanding of the layout of the grounds, as well as become more confident with the schools’ routines. This is a great opportunity for our children to become familiar with their future classrooms and grounds, ensuring a smooth transition when the time comes. We gather in our Loch Rannoch room beforehand and create a buddy system which supports our children in looking out for one another.

Throughout these walks, we have noticed a special new resource down in front of the beautiful Roselle House – an obstacle course which sits at the perfect height for our children. We visit this resource at the end of our walks for some free exploration, and the children love it. They enjoy challenging their bodies and gross motor strength, as well as fostering their turn-taking skills. We hope to visit more often in the months ahead.

A Fun Morning with Mr Yipadee!

We were very lucky to be able to spend a morning with Mr Deano Yipadee, author of the Preschoolfavourite book ‘Nee Naw, the Little Fire Engine’ and many more familiar titles. As a Preschool community, we gathered in the hall with our Year 1 friends from the Girls’ School eagerly waiting for the fun to begin. Deano proved to be a fantastic storyteller who can expertly infuse humour, music and movement into renditions of his well-known stories. From 'Stink-o-saurus’ to ‘Granny’s Undies’ (which had everyone in stitches) and Nee Naw himself, children and teachers alike couldn’t help but have a bit of a boogie and sing-a-long.

Inviting authors of children’s books supports students to learn that the stories they enjoy are created by real people. Furthermore, hearing stories on the big stage invokes a sense of wonder and awe when sharing in a collective enjoyment of oral, written, and visual literacy. The children are well-versed in the stories ‘read’ by Deano. Hearing them in an interactive and sensorial way serves to enrich their comprehension skills and the growing inferential understandings that the text and illustrations provide.

At the end of the show, Deano was presented with a thankyou card from each classroom in the Preschool. The cardgivers were very much awestruck when engaging up close with the creator of Nee Naw himself. Thank you so much, Mr Yipadee!

Spidey and Percy

In Loch Tummel, we have been diving deep into an investigation on bugs. As part of our Reggio-inspired pedagogy, we follow and investigate our children’s interests, and this term the children have been fascinated by bugs. Our investigation started when the children kept finding bugs around our Preschool and showing a lot of excitement and wonder about how they looked. This led to our class spider named Spidey being found. Spidey lived in our classroom for a while, and the children debated theories and discussed ideas all about spiders. They showed true manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga towards our spider; they talked about how we can feed him and make a nice home for him, and this ultimately led to our final decision on rehoming our spider outside because it was the right thing to do. With excitement and a hint of sadness, we said goodbye to Spidey. Our investigation continued through an unexpected visitor to our classroom… Percy the praying mantis! Percy has made a home of our classroom and roams around freely. The children are currently learning all about praying mantises and have made a routine of coming in every morning and searching the classroom to see where Percy is. They show Percy the same amount of respect and care as they did Spidey, and as a result we truly believe Percy enjoys roaming around our classroom. Our children have shown true compassion throughout this investigation, and built wonderful working theories all about bugs through their curiosity and exchanging of ideas. We are so excited to keep investigating and see where our bug journey takes us!

Why is the branch reddish brown?

Our investigation started from a question posed by one of our children whilst playing in the sand pit: “The branch is reddish brown, why is it a different colour from all the others?”

It was a good question and one we decided to pose to the children during our hui time. We headed to the sandpit, and after sharing some time together looking at all the fronds on the palm trees, we asked the children to describe what they saw and share their ideas and thoughts. We had some fabulous suggestions and descriptions, including, “The wind could have blown it down”, “It’s dying”, “A unicorn came to cut the leaf with scissors”, “Someone painted them different colours”, “The firemen painted the tree orange”, and, “It’s been there a long time and that’s why it is brown.”

The children’s fascination with the changing colours of the fronds found us following this further with time spent doing observational drawings from our outside stage. The children were invited to draw what they saw in front of them, using clipboards and an array of coloured pencils.

Group discussions have followed on, taking us to identifying living things and non-living things, the children sharing their ideas as to the differences in these. We have continued our investigation by reading books, watching a video on how plants grow, planting some seeds, and continuing to collect acorns. With autumn now here, we are looking forward to seeing what interest comes from all the falling leaves.

Girls' School

Upcoming Events at the Girls' School

MOTHER'S DAY HIGH TEA

Our girls want to celebrate their mums and mother figures – join us for a High Tea on 19 May.

DISCO

A night of dancing, games, and sweet treats for all; block out 21 June!

HOUSE SINGING

On 1 July, Houses will present their performances for the community to enjoy.

FAMILY CHAPEL SERVICES

Join us on either the 11 or 18 August for our family and community Chapel Service.

Cultivating Courageous, Curious, and Inspired Learners

IMrs Marianne Duston BPharm, GradDip Tchg, MSSL (Distinction) Girls' School Principal

am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Saint Kentigern Girls’ School. I have been so impressed by the warmth of this wonderful community and am very appreciative of the welcome I have received from our students, staff, and families.

Nothing gives me more joy than seeing the smiling faces of our students each day, their excitement to learn and their keenness to take on new challenges with curiosity and courage.

Cultivating curiosity amongst our learners at Saint Kentigern Girls’ School is a priority for me. As an educator with over 20 years’ experience, I know first-hand the importance of inspiring curiosity. Curious learners are more motivated to expand their knowledge, explore ideas and deepen their understanding. Their engagement in the learning process is stronger and they tend to have greater persistence.

Curious learners are also comfortable with uncertainty. While some learners may be naturally curious, it is our role as teachers to foster an environment which enables all learners to develop a sense of wonder, to actively explore their wonderings, and find answers to their questions.

Courage is also a key attribute needed for learning. I believe that we need to be intentional about creating opportunities for our learners to exercise courage –in the classroom, on the sports field, through performing arts, during service opportunities, and through education outside the classroom (EOTC). Students with courage are more willing to take risks when learning, try new things and adopt a growth mindset. Courage is foundational for learning – it helps us to have the confidence and willingness to give something a go. We have been talking about the importance of having courage and a growth mindset during our assemblies in Term 1. I have been emphasising that if we have the courage to begin and the courage to try something new, then we will have the courage to succeed.

Our theme word at the Girls’ School for 2024 is INSPIRE. I am encouraging

all those within our community to look out for those who inspire us, but also to become people who inspire others. As principal of this wonderful school, I want our girls to be inspired to make their mark on the world because they are confident they can.

Student voice is something that I highly value. When we give students the opportunity to share their ideas and act upon these, we enable them to develop confidence, agency, and a sense of responsibility. I want to cultivate an environment within our school where students have opportunity to generate ideas which will make a difference not only within our school but within society. Together with our wonderful staff, we will foster a mindset that anything is possible with motivation, hard work, and dedication.

At my commissioning, I spoke about the power of team, and referenced an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together”. I am so grateful to work with my team of fantastic staff who go above and beyond so that our girls can receive the very best education possible.

Fides Servanda Est.

A New Era of Leadership: Principal's Commissioning Ceremony

IN A SPECIAL SERVICE ON 22 MARCH 2024, SAINT KENTIGERN GIRLS’ SCHOOL’S THIRD PRINCIPAL, MRS MARIANNE DUSTON, WAS COMMISSIONED INTO HER ROLE.

The proceedings took place before a full school joined by the Trust Board, her new colleagues Boys’ School Principal Mr Peter Cassie and Preschool Principal Mrs Megan Storey, old colleagues from her prior tenure at Saint Kentigern College, College Head Prefects, and her family –husband John and their two daughters Anna and Rachel.

The official party were piped into the school hall before the Kapa Haka group performed a haka pōwhiri and Hato Keneti e (waiata a ringa) to welcome distinguished guests. Trust Board Chair Mr Mark Conelly welcomed guests, and Executive Trustee Dr Kevin Morris reinforced the Board’s commitment to supporting Mrs Duston through her leadership. With him, he brought a letter from Mrs Duston’s prior colleague, the Principal of Ravenswood School for Girls Mrs Anne Johnstone.

Mr Conelly led the official pledges, to which Mrs Duston promised to uphold the objects of the Saint Kentigern Trust Deed and to serve the students, staff, principals, and the Trust Board to the best of her ability.

She then addressed the school and guests, highlighting her commitment to ensuring that each student has the very best opportunity to learn and grow in confidence, receive exceptional education, and develop in character.

Mrs Duston added, “In a world that is constantly evolving, we need young people who are courageous, resilient, generous towards others and motivated to make a positive impact. Together with our wonderful Girls’ School staff, I will do my very best to enable a learning environment which draws out the best in each girl, helping her to discover and develop her unique strengths.”

Mrs Duston concluded her address

by emphasising her Christian faith as a strong foundation in her life and leadership.

Following the ceremonial proceedings, Mrs Duston was presented with gifts by the various syndicates – a handmade Korowai from the Junior School, painted rocks and a tree from the Middle School, and a wreath with words of encouragement from every Senior School student and staff. After the conclusion of the ceremony, the guests gathered in the Girls’ School staffroom for morning tea.

We are confident Mrs Duston will continue to further strengthen our Girls’ School as a leading independent Presbyterian primary school offering exceptional education for girls in Years 0 to 8. SCAN FOR CEREMONY VIDEO

VALUES WE LIVE BY

Prefects Commissioned to Begin the Year

Monday 5 February marked the date of a newly commissioned group of leaders who pledged to serve the student body to the best of their ability. The formal proceedings of their pledge, receiving their badges, and signing the prefect book were done in the presence of the school student body, staff, parents, and invited guests.

The chapel ceremony was also attended by College Head Girl Katelyn Quay-Chin and Deputy Head Girl Tiana Gray, an Old Girl of the school. Katelyn spoke to the students, giving the perfect picture of servant leadership to the girls as they take on the year. “The iPhone is designed in a way that you can’t be looking at

yourself through the selfie camera whilst shining the torch and leading others… I believe that as leaders sometimes we can become consumed by perhaps what others think of us, our role and title, personal worries, or the long list of tasks we need to get done. This can cause us to lose focus on the people around us which makes it difficult for us to lead.”

We wish the girls all the best as they look to keep their focus upon others this year. Leadership is ultimately about the people, and the Saint Kentigern core value of service will be essential in their mission to ensure the students and staff at the school are seen, cared for, and included in school life.

VALUES WE LIVE BY

OUR 2024 LEADERSHIP TEAM IS:

HEAD GIRL: FARRAH PALMER

Farrah joined Saint Kentigern Girls’ School as a seven year old in Year 3. Her goal for 2024 is to foster an inclusive and supportive environment for all students and continue to be a good role model living the school values in everyday life.

DEPUTY HEAD GIRL: ELLA FOX

Ella joined Saint Kentigern Girls’ School in 2016 as a five year old in Year 0. Her goal as Deputy Head Girl is to be a role model for the younger girls and to encourage every student to take every opportunity that Saint Kentigern offers.

Chapel: Sadie Fitness

School Council: Georgia Monaghan

Academic: Mikayla Ewart

Arts: Seunghye Chang

Sports: Tarita Nganu

Cargill House: Amelia McIndoe

Chalmers House: Coco Veber-Nichols

Hamilton House: Scarlett Bell

Wishart House: Amber Man

Daughters of Kentigern Celebrate

Flora MacDonald Day

The green, red, yellow, and blue flags dancing above the crowd of excited girls signalled that another Flora MacDonald Day was about to commence. Parents lined the Top Field, cameras at the ready, for the parade led by our College Pipes and Drums to begin.

As is tradition, the shrill sound of the piper begins a parade around the Shore Road campus, our invited guests leading the girls in their clans on a scenic route concluding at the gym. There, guests, and students celebrated their adopted Scottish heritage as Daughters of Kentigern – reflecting on the heroine story of Flora MacDonald, listening to the

lilting lyrics of 'Mairi’s Wedding', and enjoying a traditional sword dance.

At the gathering, Principal Mrs Marianne Duston shared her vision behind a Scotland legacy badge that she announced each girl would receive at her commissioning a few weeks prior. Glasgow’s patron saint, Saint Kentigern, was a Christian minister who pioneered a church in the city later to be the site of the Glasgow Cathedral built in his honour. As a capable leader affectionately known as ‘Mungo’ (translated to mean ‘dear friend,’) his memory will be worn on the blazers of our girls and all those to come through the school, reminding them of his leadership, friendship, and

their shared responsibility as students of Saint Kentigern.

With formalities concluded, the girls enjoyed a quick morning tea of shortbread before beginning their activities rotations. Each girl, together with her House, clan, and big/little sisters, participated in field games, Scottish dancing, inflatable obstacle courses, and a unicorn-crafting activity they could take home. The day was complete with continuous laughter erupting from the students throughout the afternoon as they nailed a hit during the water fights or jigged to the music.

VALUES WE LIVE BY

Girls in the Outdoors

Year 5s at Shakespear Regional Park

Our Year 5 students were lucky to spend three days at Shakespear Regional Park participating in a range of activities as part of their Year 5 camp. The girls went for swims in the sea, raced down the waterslide, kayaked, rock-climbed, and completed team-building challenges. They took every opportunity to push themselves out of their comfort zones and overcome new obstacles, discovering more about themselves in the process!

Year 6s at Shakespear Regional Park

On a slightly overcast Tuesday morning, our Year 6 cohort headed to Shakespear Lodge for their annual camp. Over the next four days, the girls had the opportunity to rock-climb, jump off cliffs while coasteering, shoot air rifles and arrows in archery, and undertake team-building challenges. At night, the girls undertook evening activities including fashion shows, play-dough challenges, and the annual lip sync battle! Thanks to our wonderful parent helpers and staff members.

Year 8s at Great Barrier

With howling 35-knot crosswinds, Year 8 camp got off to a rocky start and we delayed our sailing to Great Barrier by 24 hours. With a shortened camp, we were determined to make the most of every single moment at Orama with the Hillary Outdoors team, and we certainly packed a lot into a few days. Kayak adventures, abseiling, river-hopping, coasteering, rock-climbing, tramping, waka trips, jumping off high rocks into the water below, and team-building. No opportunity was missed. The last evening saw the girls toasting marshmallows by the campfire and singing along with Mr Williams. Their voices were heard from near and far and there was no doubt that the Year 8 girls embraced every opportunity. The resilience and courage shown by many to climb higher, take the jump, push a little further, or even just be away from home for a week was admirable, and they certainly left the island with happy hearts and many new experiences.

Year 8 Tāneatua Service Trip

Our Tāneatua service trip from 11 to 15 March included boys, girls, teachers, and parents who worked hard and collaborated to create a better, high-quality environment for the people of Tāneatua. Over five days we relocated the pou at Tāneatua School and built the first playground at one of their maraes. Aside from the hard work, there were also many rewarding moments that we’ll treasure forever during our time at the school. We played a very competitive game of basketball, worked together to pull out a lot of weeds on the pump track, and some of the students even came over to the marae to help with constructing the playground. We created lifelong friendships and memories, shared moments of laughter, hard work, and determination, and most importantly had fun. Overall, this has been the best trip a school could ever offer, and we all feel grateful and privileged that Saint Kentigern gave us this opportunity to show service not only in school but out of school as well.

WRITTEN BY YEAR 8 STUDENT

AMBER MAN

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Junior and Middle Schoolers Hands-on with SPARK

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

The years we spend at school can be considered life’s training ground. In a safe environment, students are able to learn the basics – arithmetic, reading, and writing, but also highly valuable soft skills that help ease the implementation of their learning. Our girls in Years 1 to 3 have embraced a unique learning opportunity over Term 1 through the SPARK programme, while our Years 4 to 6 participate in Design Time.

Both programmes aim to inspire kids in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The juniors have embraced the theme MOVE for this term. Each term will see them tackle a new theme, with activities that inspire thinking around the topic. In set-aside time each week, the girls tackle a variety of activities like computational thinking and designing different

outcomes. They work through a design-thinking process: testing, refining, and implementing.

In one of their later MOVE sessions, the girls rotated through several crafting activities, making rockets and helicopters that capitalise on forces and gravity to launch or fly. Amongst those activities, the girls looked at the way objects move through mazes.

All of the girls work in vertically structured groups across the Junior School classes that allow them to further develop our school values by reinforcing and encouraging the tuakana–teina role (big sister–little sister). They work with a different teacher on a new learning experience each session, creating a new spark of interest!

In the Middle School, Design Time has also been implemented through mini-projects on a rotational basis. Our students have been developing

their 3D modelling and coding skills using programs such as Scratch, Tinkercad, and Sphero, learning the basics of movie-making, cooking, and sewing through tapestrymaking. Balancing digital and hands-on skills has been paramount, recognising the importance of a well-rounded education in an increasingly digital world.

The programme, as for the Junior School, has allowed a unique collaboration by grouping girls into cross-year whānau units comprising students from Years 4, 5, and 6. They will continue to work in these groups as they tackle a bigger interdisciplinary project over Term 2 around the Remuera Feast. We are excited that STEM isn’t simply about learning skills, but about nurturing curiosity, fostering collaboration, and preparing our students for a variety of future paths.

Enno Qiu to Carnegie Hall

Year 8 student Enno Qiu recently gained three awards in the 2024 Pacific Rim International Music Festival. As a result of these incredible achievements, she has been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York later this year. We wish her all the best and look forward to hearing about the show in August.

Seniors Inspired by Women in Leadership

The Senior Syndicate at the Girls’ School welcomed three inspirational leaders in their community – Principal Mrs Marianne Duston, Head Girl at the College Katelyn Quay-Chin, and Trust Board member Hannah McQueen to a Women in Leadership panel to support our girls with their inquiry: ‘How New Zealand women have made a positive change in their community.’ The women were presented with a series of questions about their leadership styles, how to be a good leader, and the obstacles or challenges they have faced. Through this inquiry, our senior girls are learning important Social Science skills such as Cornell notetaking, paraphrasing, how to evaluate sources, and referencing. After the panel, the girls reflected on the leaders’ responses, another critical skill they are learning. We are lucky to have such inspirational women in our community.

Girls in Service

GIVING BACK

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE SERVICE INITIATIVES HAPPENING AT OUR GIRLS' SCHOOL

Petal Foundation

Our Term 1 mufti day raised funds for Petal Foundation. The girls were fortunate enough to hear from former SKG Director of Sport Kristie Anderson who now works for the charity. Mrs Anderson shared how Petal supports babies in vulnerable circumstances to give them the best possible start in life. This coincided with a nappy drive organised by the Student Council in which girls donated over ten thousand nappies to Petal. Congratulations to Wishart house for donating the most nappies at 2,871!

IN SERVICE OF OTHERS

May Road Pātaka Kai and School Visit

Each week, girls are encouraged to bring in food to donate to the May Road School Pātaka Kai. This term, a small team of year 8s were able to head over to May Road and deliver boxes and boxes of food and household items for families in need in that community. While there, the girls also connected with some of May Road’s new entrant students, helping with creative writing and getting to know their new little buddies. It was great to see a growing connection between our two schools, and for the girls to engage in the community that they have supported through the years.

Year 7 and 8 Service Talk

This term, Year 7 and 8 girls were fortunate to hear from representatives from charities and organisations we are looking to support for our Extra Miler incentive next term. Sharing their passion for their area, we had Danielle LeGallais from Sunday Blessings and Aaron Hendry from Kick Back who work with the unhoused in Auckland City; Brianna Conelly from Shine, a Presbyterian charity working with victims of domestic violence; and Grace Mua from Presbyterian Support Northern, who help to run foodbanks and community initiatives in Mount Roskill. The girls saw the many ways they are able to help these amazing causes and were inspired to raise funds during our Extra Miler campaign later this year.

Throughyear-longandvariedprogrammes,ourgirls,familiesandstaffactivelycontributetocausesclosetotheirhearts.Inthese three videos, you'll witness our community in action.

Victory Lap for Wishart at Swimming Sports

WELLBEING & OPTIMISM

Once again, the beginning of the year saw two electrifying Swimming Sports days encompassing all year groups from Year 0 to 8. The entire school community eagerly anticipated their turn to follow the black line to the finish or cheer on their House mates as they raced to get their hand on the wall.

A flurry of races spanning various distances and strokes had Houses on their feet. The atmosphere was charged with excitement as students, parents, and staff members alike cheered on the competitors.

Following an intense series of individual races, House relays followed. The top eight girls from each House by year group competed against each other for coveted points. In the end, with individual and relay points combined, Wishart emerged victorious. Their performance was bolstered by strong relays in Years 3, 5, and 8, as well

as Anna Tagi, Lola Ke, Charlotte Dobson, and Phyllis Xia who each won their year-group competition. Congratulations to all our winners for their incredible efforts.

HOUSE RANKINGS:

1st Wishart

2nd Cargill

3rd Chalmers

4th Hamilton

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:

YEAR 1

1st = Anna Tagi and Katie Clark

3rd = Coralee Stretton and Freya Seton

YEAR 2

1st = Aaliyah Aves and Emilia Winter

3rd = Lexi Wang and Muqi Dai

YEAR 3

1st Lola Ke

2nd Sophia Gunn

3rd Amanda Zhang

YEAR 4

1st Eve Gascoigne

2nd Olivia Boyd 3rd Elly Chiu

YEAR 5

1st Charlotte Dobson 2nd Hilary Shek 3rd Olivia Ouwerkerk

YEAR 6

1st Charlotte McGuinness 2nd Lara France 3rd Lena Sun

YEAR 7

1st Phyllis Xia 2nd Bella Boyd 3rd Chloe King

YEAR 8

1st Zara Hong 2nd Emily Miles 3rd Eve van Aalst

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Sports Round Up

A CONCISE OVERVIEW OF SPORTING EVENTS AT OUR GIRLS' SCHOOL

Monica Qian to the US for Golf Tournaments

Due to her success at Australian Age Group Championships last year where she won silver in the 9–10 age group, Monica qualified to play the World Champion of Champions golf tournament in Ireland. However, over the summer break, she also earned herself a well-deserved qualifying spot to compete in the FCG International Championship 2024 scheduled to take place in the United States (San Diego) this July. This event attracts over a thousand world champs representing 56 countries and 42 states. Instead of attending the tournament in Ireland, Monica will travel to the US to compete in several world golf tournaments. We wish her all the best.

Relay Girls Grasp Bronze at Interzone Swimming

Following a successful Eastern Zone Swimming Championships, we had four individuals and a relay team represent the Girls’ School at Auckland Interzones. Phyllis Xia, Zara Hong, and Bella Boyd each qualified individually along with our Year 7 4x50m Freestyle Relay team. At Interzones, Phyllis Xia came a commendable fourth in the 50m breaststroke, and the relay team of Phyllis Xia, Bella Boyd, Karina Li, and Chloe King clinched bronze.

First-ever Tag Rugby Team Wins Eastern Zones

Our first ever Girls’ School tag team competed at the Eastern Zones in Term 1 and emerged as champions! Parents Terrence and Mckenzie Tuala-Glassie and Matt Tavita-Falesiu took up the job of coaching our girls, half of whom had never played before. Much of the girls’ skills and game sense can be credited to them. They represented the school beautifully at both Zones and Auckland Championships –  we could not be prouder.

Annika Wells Wins National Optimist Championships

Year 6 student Annika Wells recently competed at the 2024 NZIODA National Championships. There, she became the overall winner and the 2024 National Champion in the Optimist Green Fleet. Annika showed determination throughout all ten races held over four days of sailing. She led after day one, maintained, and extended her lead on the final day of competition with an impressive 15-point advantage in tricky conditions. It was a proud family moment as Annika’s older sister Zofia Wells, who attends the College, won this same trophy in 2023. This year, Zofia became the 1st Overall Female Sailor at the NZIODA National Championships within the more advanced Optimist Open Fleet.

Rosalie Pollyn Represents Tennis New Zealand

Year 8 student Rosalie Pollyn recently represented Tennis New Zealand at the International Tennis Foundation World Tennis Tour for Under 14s in Malaysia. Team NZ played some amazing tennis with several solid wins. A tough loss against the top seed Japan early on in the tournament meant they could not qualify for the finals. However, as a twelve year old in amongst thirteen and fourteen year-olds, Rosalie will be able to return in future years and improve on her performance.

Boys' School

Upcoming Events at the Boys' School

CELTIC DAY

A celebration of our Scottish Heritage on 3 May.

AMUMZING RACE

Spend mum-son quality time and get competitive on 15 (Cargill), 16 (Chalmers), 20 (Hamilton), and 21 May (Wishart).

YEAR 8 SERVICE TRIP TO FIJI

On 4–9 June , parent-student pairs are heading to Fiji to serve the local communities.

YEAR 8 EXTRA MILER CHALLENGE

In its second year, the Extra Miler challenges boys to engage in meaningful acts of service in support of charities of choice. The campus to campus walk is on 14 June.

Sixty-five Years Young!

RMr Peter Cassie TTC, BEd Boys' School Principal

eflecting on our history is crucial to preserving the stories, pivotal events, and individuals who have shaped our school. Since 2023, we've initiated an annual Founders Service to commemorate the school’s establishment in 1959 and share our rich history with current students. This tradition underscores our commitment to an independent Presbyterian education, a legacy we’ve upheld for sixty-five years. Inviting old boys from 1959–1969 back to their campus to celebrate our anniversary reinforced the importance of capturing our stories now for the future.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!

What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people!

At the heart of our school are the people, past and present, who have contributed to our legacy. While building and facilities are important, and have certainly changed over the years, our school will always be about the people.

This aligns with the Māori Whakataukī just mentioned, emphasising the importance of people in shaping our world.

The school’s origin traces back to the Wilson family, who had owned the land and Roselle House since 1874. In 1949, Martyn Wilson bequeathed his estate for the establishment of Saint Kentigern Boys’ School, which opened in 1959 with 190 boys and twelve staff. Today, we’re proud to have 646 boys and sixty-five staff members, thanks to the foresight and generosity of individuals like Wilson.

Key figures in our history include Neil (Polly) Macky and Warwick, his cousin, who played significant roles in the school’s development. The Goodfellow family, spanning

four generations, has contributed immensely through service and philanthropy. The dedication of Trust Board members over the years has also been instrumental in our growth and success.

Our principals, including Jack Chalmers, Brian Irwin, and Geoff Burgess, have each left a unique imprint on the school, fostering a community that values hard work, play, and moral values. Mr Chalmers, our first headmaster, emphasised the family-like atmosphere of the school, a value that remains central today.

Peter Nelson (Old Boy #20), a Form 1 foundation pupil, has maintained a lifelong connection with the school, embodying the spirit of dedication and support that we cherish.

Looking ahead, we ponder the legacy of future generations and the mark they will leave. Their challenge is to build upon the strong foundation laid by their predecessors.

My personal journey brought me to Saint Kentigern Boys’ School

Reflecting on Legacy at Founders' Day

in 2012, after years of admiring its spirit and values hidden behind the gates on Shore Road. My tenure here has been marked by a strong sense of community, the outstanding character of our boys, and the shared commitment to excellence.

The evolution of Saint Kentigern into a comprehensive educational institution reflects our adaptability and commitment to excellence. Our facilities have grown to include topclass amenities for academics, arts, and sports, enhancing the learning environment for our students.

Saint Kentigern Boys’ School stands as a testament to the power of community, tradition, and the enduring impact of dedicated individuals. Our history is not just a record of past achievements but a continuous thread that weaves through the present and into the future, shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Who will be added to our story when we celebrate our seventy-fifth year?

Fides Servanda Est.

The commencement of the school year ushered in the second-ever Founders Day, marking sixty-five years of delivering Presbyterian boys’ school education. Students and staff were joined by members of the Trust Board and Old Boys to reflect and commemorate the progress made since that first day of school in 1959.

During the ceremony, Principal Mr Peter Cassie posed a thoughtful question that demanded contemplation: What will be your legacy?

He reflected on individuals who have left a remarkable legacy at Saint Kentigern Boys’ School, which naturally allows one to reflect on their own contributions.

Citing people such as John Martyn Wilson, whose vision led to the bequest of the school’s initial property (Roselle House), the Trust, and Mr Warwick Macky, who dedicated thirty-eight years of faithful service as Chairman of the School Board, Mr Cassie provided tangible, aspirational examples for the students.

As the school year unfolds, there exists an opportunity for introspection and deliberate action. Mr Cassie’s challenge to consider the impact one can have on others resonated strongly, urging the boys to look beyond themselves and aspire to make a meaningful difference. It is our hope that the students of the Boys’ School begin their year with a deep sense of duty, determined to leave a legacy worthy of remembrance.

People Who Made Us: Celebrating 65 Years

VALUES WE LIVE BY

Sixty-five years ago, 190 foundation students showed up to a brand new school, putting their trust in Principal Jack Chalmers and hope in the opportunity to be a part of something great. With just one building on a spacious waterfront campus, the potential was unmistakable.

It was the foresight and generosity of Mr John Martyn Wilson who gifted Roselle House and its grounds to the Saint Kentigern Trust, laying the cornerstone for sixty-five years of independent Presbyterian education, now part of the country’s largest independent educational provider.

As we contemplated our sixty-fifth anniversary celebration, it was evident there could be no better companions for the occasion than those who witnessed its inception. We were honoured to welcome back students from 1959 to 1969 alongside members of our current community for a

commemorative evening. There was a real air of nostalgia as guests reminisced and flicked through what could now be deemed as ‘vintage’ yearbooks.

Current Principal Mr Peter Cassie addressed the group, expressing his desire to see community at the forefront of everything we do. “While building and facilities are important, our school is about the people. The people who have gone before us and who have left us with a legacy that we must continue.”

He recounted the stories of pivotal figures whose vision and sacrifice laid the foundation upon which we stand today. Martyn Wilson, (Neil) Polly Macky, and his cousin, Warwick, were essential in the establishment and development of the school; the Goodfellow family of which four generations have served on the Saint Kentigern Trust Board; previous principals; and Mr Peter Nelson, student #20.

Today, our 646 students enjoy multiple purpose-built buildings and plenty of space to play and learn. Guests were afforded the opportunity to tour the school, and for those who had not been back since their school days, a lot had changed. Nevertheless, the historic Roselle House, now home to the library and principal’s office, stands sentinel, preserving the school’s foundational spirit.

We are filled with gratitude to be able to celebrate sixty-five years at the Boys’ School. Armed with a rich legacy, we remain committed to ensuring that Saint Kentigern continues to lead the charge in independent education for boys across New Zealand.

SCAN HERE FOR EVENT VIDEO

SONday Funday

Atypical Sunday morning for most of our students would not have them heading to Shore Road. A spot of weekend sport, a church service, or a catch up with friends is more likely to be on the cards. However, Sunday, 7 April welcomed our boys and their parents for an extra day of ‘school’ with some exciting challenges and activities to deepen parent-child relationships. Not to mention, a whole heap of fun!

Parent and child duos could sign up for various activities throughout the day, culminating in a prizegiving and foodtruck picnic at the end. The activities on offer were the Fishing Competition, Bird Box Construction, Corflute Boat Race, Tennis Tournament, Jenga Block Art, Cake Decorating, and a line-up of vintage cars boys could view.

There were some highly competitive events, particularly the boat races, tennis, and fishing competitions. It was a tough weekend on the water for many of the boat crews, but the lucky ones had success reeling in fantastic-sized snapper, which we then auctioned off with the money raised going to charity. In the corflute boat races, our teams had one hour to design and construct a boat for the student to race down the pool in. Many laughs were had watching some unfortunate designs sink to the bottom of the pool, leaving their brave sailors drenched!

Thank you to our all our sponsors and the Boys’ School Parents and Friends Association for your incredible organisation. Thanks also to Principal Mr Peter Cassie for all his hard work and support of this day. SONday Funday has proved to be a well-loved addition which will feature every two years.

Year 7 Service Week

The Year 7s were busy during their service week in Term 1. As part of their curriculum, they spent a day up at Shakespear Reserve carrying out essential work on the track network. Together, they filled bags of ‘metal’ to spread over the track, ensuring they’ll last for the many future hikers. The task completed certainly demonstrated that many hands make light work.

Boys in Service

Starlit Hope Foundation

Our Term 1 mufti day raised funds for Gabby’s Starlit HOPE Foundation. The Year 7 boys were fortunate enough to subsequently hear from representative Mary Anne Wright who works for the charity. The founder, Gabby Devine, while getting treatment for cancer decided to make presents for others. A decade on, the charity has expanded to providing play parcels, support for families, baby and mum packs, and teen mental health packs. The boys learnt that no matter their circumstance, there is always cause for an outward focus.

Staff Cook Up Whānau Kai

Our staff got their hands stuck into our Whānau Kai programme this term. Together, they spent an afternoon cooking for those in our community who may be experiencing challenging times such as moving house, the birth of a new baby, bereavement, or long-term or sudden illness. Sixty-six meals were cooked, packed lovingly, and distributed.

Food Drive

Toffee pops, tuna and toothpaste arrived en masse to classes for our food drive during Week 4. Then, Mr Isaac Williams and a group of Year 8 boys delivered the 2,338 items to The Shed, ready to be packed in food parcels. Among the items brought in were 600 packets of Toffee Pops. Last year, Griffin’s pledged their support to our food drives and promised to match every packet of biscuits brought in. True to their word, Griffin’s delivered 600 packets of Toffee Pops just after Easter to The Shed to help bolster stocks.

As always, the boys eagerly anticipate learning the results: Cargill achieved 461.25 House points, Wishart – 573.25 items, Hamilton – 602.25 House points, but Chalmers won with a fantastic effort of 701.25 House points. The .25 points across the Houses reflected Principal Mr Peter Cassie’s contributions which were shared equally among the Houses.

Extra Miler Panel at Service Symposium

Before delving into their Service Week held later in Term 1, our Year 7s engaged in a Service Symposium where they learned from key individuals collaborating with our school to provide service opportunities. It was an opportunity to absorb information, recognise their potential contributions, and get inspired to be changemakers.

On the panel was Chaplain Rev. Reuben Hardie who discussed service trips and the Extra Miler, Grace Mua from Communities Feeding Communities, Brianna Conelly from Shine, Danielle LeGallais from Sunday Blessings, and Aaron Hendry from Kick Back. Each of them offered a little about their group’s beliefs, the problems they are trying to combat, and put into perspective for our boys how privileged they are.

The Extra Miler initiative, slated for Term 2, tasks the boys with selecting an organisation aligned with their interests. They complete a challenge to go the ‘extra mile’, whether in service or physical activity, and fundraise for its fulfilment. The organisations featured in the Symposium are those supported by this initiative. Hearing directly from their representatives proved invaluable for the boys as they plan their fundraising efforts.

At the end of the panel, the floor was opened for questions about mission and services. Curious hands shot up, so much so that they went overtime! It is incredible to see our boys passionate about service. Having a heart for others will never go out of fashion.

A Week with Dad: Tāneatua Service Trip

Driving to Tāneatua, I had no idea what to expect as I had not been to the area of Whakatāne/Ōhope before. I had heard about the Tāneatua school from last year’s Year 8 boys, who said it was really friendly, rewarding and hard work! It would be a long week but I knew that I was going to enjoy being with the group and my dad who was doing it with me. I told myself to think positive and go down there and make the most of it.

When we arrived at the school, the school pupils and teachers were very kind and welcoming. I looked around and could see lots of open fields, some buildings and no traffic! It was quiet and peaceful. The Tāneatua kids were shy at first but then we were also a bit nervous and didn’t know what to expect.

My team worked on painting fences and I learnt to do water blasting which was really cool and it made a difference to cleaning up the fence for the painting team. I also worked on the playground building, using a mallet to knock nails into posts so we could put up the slide and ladders.

My dad and I talked a lot and we got to build together and also experience the area of Ōhope and Tāneatua which was new to us. I actually thought those kids were lucky being able to ride horses to school. I came home with lots of memories and a new skill of waterblasting!

WRITTEN BY YEAR 8 STUDENT LOUIS BURN

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Boys’ School Prefect Commissioning

The official commissioning of our prefects marks the commencement of a new year of leadership within the school. Each group of boys brings a distinct set of qualities, strengths, and passions that will drive the student body forward throughout the year.

During each commissioning ceremony, the incoming prefects make a pledge to serve their school to the best of their abilities. They receive their badges and formalise their commitments by signing an agreement, solidifying the promises they have made. Once again, this year’s cohort has vowed to uphold the values of Saint Kentigern –respect, integrity, service, excellence, and love – as the guiding principles of their mission.

The chapel service was attended by several notable guests from the College. Principal Mr Damon Emtage was accompanied by Head Boy Ricky

Shen and his Deputy Sam McLeod. Both with their roots in the Boys’ School honoured the occasion with their attendance.

In his address to the prefects and the student body, Ricky presented a thoughtful analogy, holding up a piece of paper. “I want you to imagine this year as a blank piece of paper, an unmarked sheet that you get to decide what to do with... You have a choice: to either do the bare minimum to get by the year, or to rise up to the challenge to leave this place better than it was before.” He emphasised that these marks should have a positive effect on those around them as a product of servant leadership.

The prefects hit the ground running with a camp in Term 1, summer sports starting up, and classroom learning underway. We look forward to watching them begin to mark their blank canvas.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2024 PREFECTS:

HEAD BOY: HARRY SIMPSON

Harry started as a Year 0 student – another ‘lifer’! That year he was awarded the Deans Certificate of Merit in Term 3, marking the first of many acknowledgements throughout his school years confirming a boy who strives to be excellent. This attitude has overflowed outside the classroom to his many extracurriculars, including school council, touch, football, hockey, sailing, run club, Kapa Haka, being a librarian, and partaking in writing competitions. We look forward to his leadership as he poises himself to tackle challenges with determination and effort, using his endless energy to serve the student body.

VALUES WE LIVE BY SCAN FOR MORE

DEPUTY HEAD BOY: TOMMY WRIGHT

Starting out as a Year 4 student, Tommy is described by his first teacher Mr Graham Knox as a determined boy with a positive outlook on all he does. He channelled this determination as he found his feet over the next few years, immersing himself in a wide array of activities within the school – run club, hockey, cricket, basketball, Science Symposium, Kapa Haka, winning the Middle School speech competition, and being consistently awarded several class end-of-year prizes for his service and commitment. His diverse experience in school life and determination make him an excellent leader, able to relate to students of many interests. We are confident in his abilities to lead the school forward this year.

Chapel: Christian Buchanan

Academic: Ray Yang

Cultural: Ryan Yeh

Sports: Alex Grant

Council: Henry Hewes

Sustainability: Benji Roberts

Junior School: Nicholas Fail

Middle School: Hamish Turnbull

Head Librarian: Nathan Kirkham

Cargill: Sam Priscott and James Deacon

Chalmers: Noah Hammond and Penisoni Pome'e

Hamilton: Adam Hood and Dylan Taylor

Wishart: Christian Tu'akoi and Daniel Cooney

Leadership Investment at GRIP Conference

Our prefect body along with the Summer Sports Captains and Music Leaders had an enriching experience at the GRIP Leadership Conference on 15 March. It was jam-packed with insightful sessions aimed at equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to lead effectively.

The first session, “How Everybody Can Step Forward and Lead”, emphasised the importance of taking initiative and contributing personal talents to make a difference. Through a series of engaging games and activities, students learned the value of helping others and trying new things.

In the second session, “The Sacrifices of a Student Leader”, students gained a deeper understanding of the commitment and dedication required to be a successful leader. They explored the idea that leadership involves sacrifice and a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone.

“Stepping Forward With New Ideas” came third – a practical workshop where students were exposed to a variety of innovative ideas implemented by students from other schools. This workshop encouraged collaboration and ideasharing, fostering a creative and inspiring environment.

Finally, the fourth session, “The Extra Steps – Doing the Things that Leaders Often Forget”, provided students with practical tips and tools to have a lasting impact at their school. They learned about the importance of attention to detail and going the extra mile in their leadership roles.

Overall, the GRIP Leadership Conference was a valuable experience for our student leaders, providing them with the skills, inspiration, and motivation to lead effectively and make a positive impact in our school community.

WRITTEN BY MR STEVE AUCAMP, SENIOR SCHOOL DEAN

Top: Harry Simpson (Head Boy) Bottom: Tommy Wright (Deputy Head Boy)

Boys in the Outdoors

Years 0–2 EOTC

The Junior Boys immersed themselves in nature during a mid-March EOTC day. Engaging in tactile activities, they stretched their creativity and explored the environment. Constructing cardboard castles and forts, they competed to build the tallest tower, until the wind intervened! At Wilson’s Beach, they marvelled at a sighting of baby flounder and learned the importance of mangroves. Waterplay thrilled as they experimented with volume and wielded water guns. Finally, at the Confidence Course, they tackled obstacles with gusto, honing their fine motor skills.

Year 4s at Camp Adair

‘Pirates of Adair’ marked a highlight in Week 4 of Term 1. Boys eagerly embraced three action-packed days. The pirate treasure hunt, focusing on school values, led to coveted coins and golden rewards from the treasure chest filled with board games, sports equipment, educational IQ games, and model aeroplanes. Outdoor adventures including air rifle shooting and kayaking instilled leadership and teamwork. Upon completion, each boy earned a pirate medallion, a reminder of their resilience and spirit.

Year 5s at Sir Peter Blake Marine

Education and Recreation Centre

Year 5 Sons of Kentigern thrived at Long Bay Camp from February 26 to March 1. Each day unfolded with sailing, abseiling, and ‘student shout-outs’ recognising peer kindness. The students mentioned were given seconds of the delicious home baking we had brought along, a reward met with extreme enthusiasm by all. Evenings featured sunset walks and talent shows, bringing the boys together to entertain and revel in nature.

Year 8s at Great Barrier

Year 6s at Kauaeranga Valley Camp

Year 6 boys enjoyed a week packed with go-karting, rafting, and axethrowing. Each activity prompted togetherness, pushing boys beyond comfort zones with many laughs shared along the way. A challenging hike up the Pinnacles pushed the boys to persevere. It was no mean feat due to the nature of the walk – a steep incline over seven hours, and in true New Zealand fashion, four seasons in one day. The F1 go-kart race, featuring parents and teachers, added a touch of competitive spirit to round off a fun, adventurous week.

Great Barrier Island is a special place and our Year 8s have been fortunate enough to be able to go there for the last few years. The activities the boys partake in at Barrier are mainly water based, varying from sea kayaking, paddling waka, boogie boarding, kayak surfing, cliff jumping, coasteering, fishing and eating kina! The week finished off with an overnight camp. Some groups rafted to their destination while others walked. The Barrier offers a special opportunity for boys to experience challenges and water-based activities far away from the city life of Auckland. There are only two ways to get off Great Barrier and that is by boat or plane so the boys had no option but to make the most of the experience.

Year 8s at Tongariro

The Year 8 Camp to Tongariro National Park, led by Hillary Outdoors, was a transformative experience for our boys. Over the course of the camp, they learned valuable lessons in teamwork, leadership, and personal challenge. Activities such as abseiling, rockclimbing, caving, overnight camping, service projects, hiking, and river trails pushed them out of their comfort zones and encouraged them to overcome obstacles. The highlight after a long hike for most boys and staff was the exhilarating waterfall jump at Tawhai Falls, which symbolised their willingness to take risks and embrace new experiences. Against the stunning backdrop of Tongariro National Park, lifelong memories were created, fostering a deep appreciation for nature and personal growth.

Classroom Learning

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Look Both Ways!

In late March, the Junior School welcomed a special visitor, Constable Gordon, who took the time to educate our Year 0 to 2 boys about the importance of crossing roads safely. In his four lessons, Constable Gordon conducted interactive sessions focusing on two key aspects of road safety: crossing roads and identifying potential hazards such as cars pulling out of driveways. The constable’s visit to the Junior School proved to be a memorable way to give the boys essential pointers in road safety, and any learning in the sunshine is an added bonus!

Middle School Mad Scientists

The Year 4s have delved into an exciting topic on the mysteries of our planet and solar system ahead of their trip to Stardome Observatory. In the Science Laboratory, they have explored the relationship between the sun, moon, and Earth, including their gravitation pulls and effects on each other. Students have been introduced to the scientific method of inquiry, and subsequently used this to carry out small experiments. With support, they have practised forming a hypothesis using the key words ‘if, then, because’; identifying variables to ensure fair testing; observing; note-taking; and finally, articulating what they have discovered to form a rational conclusion. These inquiry skills will be applied to a variety of disciplines across the year.

‘A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats’

In Character Education recently, Year 6s have been discussing the concept of ‘A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats’ and what it means to them in their school setting. They shared their ideas about friendship, helping each other, and being encouraging as a part of the ‘rising tide’. They also discussed times at school when the concept would be applicable: in sport when the coach trains boys of all abilities, or in class where each teacher does their best for every boy no matter their inclinations, likes or dislikes, or whether they have mastered or are still learning the concepts. We hope to see a unity in our boys moving forward, lifting each other to excellence in all areas of school life.

Sewing for Service

In conjunction with Activities Week (Week 7, Term 1), our Year 7s took to the sewing machines for a service project. The boys learnt basic sewing skills to create a pencil case they will fill and send to an Auckland school in need. There has been much enjoyment in getting creative, and the knowledge they will be enjoyed and appreciated by another student has driven them to put in their utmost effort. The end product, totalling 155 pencil cases, will be delivered to various schools in Auckland, no doubt a welcome addition to many classrooms.

Five New Records at Swimming Sports

WELLBEING AND OPTIMISM

The boys held their Swimming Sports over four days, each providing temperamental weather to challenge the grit of our top swimmers. Despite that, we saw recordbreaking performances across several year groups, revealing the competitive streak inside our boys when House points are on the line!

This was the first year our Year 3s competed the 25m breaststroke and 50m freestyle. Kaleb Shek set the pace to beat for next year at 30.00s and 48.22s respectively. Year 6 student Jeremy Wu set a new 25m breaststroke record at a blistering 20.25s, and Year 7 William Gascoigne set two records in the 25m (16.62s) and 50m (34.96s) backstroke. Congratulations to all our boys for their sportsmanship and go-getter attitude over the competition.

HOUSE RANKINGS:

1st Cargill

2nd Chalmers

3rd Hamilton

4th Wishart

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:

YEAR 1

1st Leo Gunn

2nd Henry Langerak

3rd = Hugo Burroughs and Sean Liu

YEAR 2

1st = Landon Tang and Oscar Southam

3rd = Henry Ellett and Rio Zheng

YEAR 3

1st Kaleb Shek

2nd James Wilkinson

3rd Tommy O’Connor

YEAR 4

1st Alex Hills

2nd William Liu

3rd Charles Cashmore

YEAR 5

1st Kelvin Sun

2nd Zach Miles

3rd Jack Stephens

YEAR 6

1st Brayden Zha

2nd Jayden Huang

3rd = Jeremy Wu and Jeffery Chen

YEAR 7

1st William Gascoigne

2nd Tom Dempsey

3rd Allan Liu

YEAR 8

1st Austin Zhao

2nd Ryan Zhao

3rd Flynn Hagstom

SCAN FOR MORE PHOTOS

Chalmers on Top for House Relays

To round off the Swimming Sports series, boys from all year groups came together for House Relays. This annual event always brings much anticipation with valuable House points on the line. This year, it was the battle of the lowest scores, with first place receiving one point, second receiving two points, and so on.

Boys in Years 2 through 8 were selected for the relay based on their performance in Swimming Sports. In our intermediate years, relay teams A–D gave lots of students a shot to put some points on the board for their House.

In first place was the mighty blue Chalmers, perhaps with an advantageous colour for aquatic sports. Only three points separated second and third place, though Cargill snuck past Hamilton for the silver medal. Finally, Wishart rounded out the competition in fourth place.

As is tradition, the day finished with the Year 8 vs teacher vs parent 4x25m freestyle relay. The teachers took back the win from the parents this year to finish off a highly successful swimming season. WELLBEING

SCAN FOR MORE PHOTOS

Sports Round Up

South Island Summer Tour

Our summer sports teams – tennis A team and 1st XI cricket – travelled to the South Island to compete against several schools in early April. They spent three nights on the road, competing against Waihi School (Winchester), Medbury School (Christchurch), and St Andrew’s College.

Cricket 1st XI

The first match of the tour against Waihi School looked like it would be a tight one after finishing with a total of 197/8 after 40 overs. However, after the top order fell, the boys managed to bowl Waihi all out for 148. A great win for Saint Kentigern. The boys won the toss for the second match against Medbury and decided to bat. Overall, they scored 192/4 off 30 overs with a standout performance by Noah Hammond who scored 107 – not often seen at schoolboy level! The fielding and bowling was excellent, and they had Medbury all out for 54 after 15 overs. The final match against St Andrew’s College saw Noah reach his second century with 102 runs, helping the team to a 218/4 win.

Sean Poon Second at Opti Nationals

Sean Poon recently competed at the New Zealand International Optimist Dinghy Championships in Picton. He performed admirably and secured the position of first runner-up in the White Fleet category. Our congratulations to Sean on his incredible achievement.

Silver and Bronze at Interzone Swimming

After a haul of three podium finishes at Eastern Zones, Year 7 student William Gascoigne went to Interzone to take bronze in the Year 7 50m Backstroke. The Year 7s (William Gascoigne, Allan Liu, Tom Dempsey, and Austin Chen) also had a strong relay team this year, finishing second in the 4x50m Freestyle Relay.

Tennis A Team

The clash against Waihi School for Tennis A was a blowout, winning all singles and doubles matches to finish twelve matches to nil. They scored the same against Medbury, 12–0, proving their dominance was not a fluke. The team continued in similar fashion against St Andrew’s College and ended the tour without dropping a single match.

Marco Manson Wins Rotax Class at Go Karting Nationals

Over Easter, Marco Manson raced in the New Zealand Go Karting Nationals – the biggest title in the country. Marco raced in two classes, a huge effort. He came fourth overall in the DVS class and is now first in Rotax class, making him one of the youngest ever to win this title. Congratulations, Marco, we look forward to following your future success.

College

Upcoming Events at the College

HOUSE MUSIC

Join us on 28 May for an evening of House Spirit and performance for the whole community.

DANCE SHOWCASE

Showcasing the passion, creativity and talent of our talented dance students on 4 and 5 July.

CULTURAL CELEBRATION

On 22 August, join us at Elliott Hall for an evening celebrating our cultural diversity.

WINTER TOURNAMENT WEEK

Over 2–6 September, our premier athletes compete at national competitions..

Harnessing Technology’s Benefits in the Digital Age

AMr Damon Emtage BEd, M Ed College Principal

s we step into the academic forefront of 2024, it's with great anticipation that we unveil the roadmap of our Learning and Teaching Strategy, crafted to invigorate and refine the educational experience here at the College.

At the heart of our strategic vision lies a commitment to pedagogical leadership and innovation. We recognise that the key to unlocking our students’ potential is nurturing the diverse teaching practices within our classrooms. Thus, in a significant move, we have appointed a deputy principal charged with overseeing our pedagogical approach. Alongside, a pioneering pedagogy coaching programme has been introduced, serving as a catalyst for instructional excellence. Our educators are being equipped with a deep understanding of the science

of learning, engaging in professional reading groups, and applying high impact teaching strategies guided by our newly established pedagogical framework. These efforts are bolstered by our Principal and Senior Leadership Team, who are undertaking learning walks, ensuring that our educational ethos is not only upheld but also continually evolving.

Curriculum revitalisation is another cornerstone of our strategy. By aligning the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) with departmental collaborative time and thorough curriculum mapping, we are laying the groundwork for a cohesive and dynamic educational programme. A college-wide learning review integrating student experiences inside and outside the classroom stands as a testament to our adaptability, ensuring that our curriculum transcends the traditional classroom boundaries.

Empowering our students to be active participants in their learning journey is paramount. We are equipping them with

essential resources that demystify the learning process. Reporting methods are being refined to provide a continuum of feedback, enabling students to remain engaged and responsive to their learning trajectory. The integration of literacy strategies across the College underscores our commitment to comprehensive educational development, coupled with a robust end-of-year schedule and the inception of student-led study sessions fostering a culture of self-driven learning.

Data analytics will illuminate the path to individualised student success. Initiatives such as student goal setting, tripartite data reporting, and the development of academic tracking dashboards are instrumental in tailoring our educational approach to meet the unique needs of every learner.

In an era where technology seamlessly intertwines with education, we are dedicated to crafting and implementing a strategic digital pedagogy. By augmenting the digital acumen of our staff, we ensure that our students receive an education that is not only rooted in

tradition but also forward-looking and technologically adept. Vigilantly we scout the horizon for emerging technologies, poised to assimilate them into our teaching arsenal.

Moreover, the College takes pride in soon launching the Digital Citizenship program. As digital natives, our students will learn to navigate the complexities of the online world with integrity and awareness, ensuring they become responsible digital citizens.

This holistic strategy embodies our dedication to fostering an environment of growth, innovation, and academic prowess. As we embark on this transformative journey, we stand united in our quest for excellence, ready to shape the minds and futures of our College community.

Fides Servanda Est.

Pakuranga Campus Master Plan Update

Following the announcement at the end of 2023, the Trust Board is gearing up to commence the staged redevelopment of Pakuranga Campus, focusing on two priority buildings: a general classroom facility and a creative and performing arts centre. The classroom building will cater to Year 12 and 13 students and is anticipated to include a combination of formal and informal learning spaces, socialising areas, new student commons, gathering spaces for year groups and House groups, and tutor group rooms. This new development will be located on the site of the Wingate block and the Goodfellow Centre building. Concept design work is underway. Pending progress throughout 2024, including acquisition of the necessary statutory consents and successful tender outcomes, construction work could commence sometime in 2025, with indicative completion and occupation around mid-2027.

FOLLOW THE PROGRESS OF THE PAKURANGA CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT HERE

Where We Belong

WELLBEING & OPTIMISM

After a refreshing six-week summer break that the majority of Aucklanders would describe as necessary after the downpours of 2023, our students filed into school glowing and well-rested. There was plenty of excitement to see friends and catch up on the events of the break.

To ensure 2024 was set for success, our Prefects and Middle School leaders came back a week earlier than the rest, beginning the year with a Leadership Camp hosted at Bruce House. Over three days, they bonded, shared their visions, and brainstormed ways to enhance the student experience.

aim to infuse a culture of kindness and positivity through everyday interactions with individuals across classes, teams, and groups. This year, they plan to capitalise on those consistent small acts of kindness that are packed with potential for positive change.

During their time together, our Head Prefects outlined their proposed projects for the year. Head Girl Katelyn Quay-Chin introduced the overarching theme for the leadership cohort: ‘Focus on the one’. This approach shifts away from grandiose gestures of leadership towards meaningful oneon-one interactions. Recognising the significance of each personal encounter, the Prefects and Middle School leaders

For our younger students in Years 7 to 9, the first day back at school was a ‘Belonging Day’. Following a traditional pōwhiri and introductions to Peer Support in the morning, the afternoon was dedicated to House games. With stations set up around the lower fields, led by Year 13 Prefects and Middle School leaders our younger students engaged in sports, teambuilding activities, and enjoyed the sunny weather alongside their peers.

It was the perfect way to welcome our youngest students back to school, many for their first day at the College. The 31st of January saw the full student body return for the beginning of classes, the start of a full 2024 calendar for students involved in every area of school life.

Prefects Commissioned for Leadership

VALUES WE LIVE BY

With excitement and anticipation, the next generation of dynamic leaders has embraced the opportunity to guide and lead the College into 2024. At the Prefects Commissioning on 5 February, fifty-five Year 13s were awarded their prefect badges and robes in the presence of students, staff, and family. Together, they pledged to lead with excellence, to serve the school with integrity, love, and with the utmost

respect for those around them.

Principal Mr Damon Emtage offered his counsel to the incoming cohort of prefects, emphasising the importance of servant leadership. “This style of leadership focuses on serving others rather than being focused on personal gain or power. It involves putting the needs and wellbeing of others first and leading by example.” He challenged the prefects, reminding them of their responsibility to serve the student body

and ensure their experience at the school this year is their priority. There is a real sense of togetherness in this year’s prefect group. It is evident from the way they interact with each other that there is clear vision – they are intent on outward focus, and cohesive in their mission. We look forward to the coming months as they begin to forge ahead with new projects and infuse their vision throughout the school.

HEAD PREFECTS

Head Boy Ricky Shen

Head Girl Katelyn Quay-Chin

Deputy Head Boy Sam McLeod

Deputy Head Girl Tiana Gray

BRUCE HOUSE

Head Boy Benjamin Moughan

Head Girl Cassandra Cai

Deputy Head Girl Sara Triamchanchoochai

Deputy Head Boy Harry Baik

CARGILL

House Leader Henry Lang

House Leader Madeline Ballard

Prefect Logan Bellard

Prefect Audrey Lee

Prefect James Crosbie

Prefect Jaime Chandler

Service Kyden Chan

Chapel Prefect Charlie Astwick

CHALMERS

House Leader Freddy Hitchcock

House Leader Ruby Cutler-Welsh

Prefect Charlie Dickinson

Prefect Zahra Abeysekera

Prefect Isabella Hughes

Prefect Oscar Horton

Service Indigo Launder-Upton

Academic Prefect Nicholas McKinlay

Te Amokura Prefect Jake White

HAMILTON

House Leader Calla Lane

House Leader Will Ormond

Prefect Lata Holi

Prefect Hugo Harkness

Prefect Harry McNamara

Prefect Cilla Fa'afua

Chapel Prefect Xarya Knox

Arts Prefect Patrick Yu

WISHART

House Leader Amalani Taiala

House Leader Anamia Rangihaeata

Prefect Imogen Perry

Prefect Josh Shortt

Prefect Toby McLean

Arts Prefect Amelie Carter

Arts Prefect Keeley Berkovits

Academic Prefect Eric Pan

STARK

House Leader Amaan Mohammed

House Leader (BH) Cassandra Cai

Prefect (BH) Benjamin Moughan

Prefect Sai Prabhu

Prefect Mahinarangi Warren

Prefect Maggie Robinson

Te Amokura Prefect Manawa Rogers

Sports Prefect Emmerson Garrett

Sports Prefect Coen Anderson

WILSON

House Leader Gracie Thomlinson

House Leader Hame Palelei

Prefect Sara Adams

Prefect Eilish Johns

Prefect VJ Brown

Prefect Eva Paton

Prefect Indie Nichols

Four Students Accepted into Prestigious UK Universities

As many of our recent graduates prepare to dive into university life with the onset of early March classes, some Year 13 alumni from last year are still basking in their well-deserved break. Among them, Ethan Liu, Eva Ye, Chris Ye, and Sean Wang have received offers from two of the world’s most esteemed institutions, Oxford and Cambridge. They have been offered the opportunity to attend these universities later this year and learn from leading professors in their fields. For these students, this marks the realisation of a dream through years of diligent preparation during their time at the College.

Ethan, Eva, and Chris have secured spots at Oxford University, ranked at number 3 in the QS World University Rankings. With an acceptance

rate of just seventeen percent, and lower in competitive courses, these students demonstrated outstanding performance in tests, interviews, and their International Baccalaureate (IB) certificates during their time at the College. Sean has been admitted to Cambridge University, ranked number 2 worldwide, with an acceptance rate of twenty-one percent.

While at the College, these students emerged as top-performing IB candidates. Sean and Chris achieved the school’s highest marks – an impressive 44 out of a possible 45 – while Ethan secured 43 and Eva attained 40.

Upon conversing with the students, certain key attributes became apparent. While each displayed exceptional academic rigour and critical thinking skills.

“

What set them apart was their unwavering commitment to go the extra mile, often surpassing even their own expectations.

We are immensely proud of our graduates. Their achievements speak of resilience, consistency, and a keen ability to seize relevant opportunities during their time at the College. As they embark on their university endeavours this year, we extend our warmest wishes to them and all our graduates for a successful future.

Ethan Liu

Ethan’s acceptance into one of Oxford’s most prestigious courses, PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), speaks volumes about his focused approach. Beginning his journey with a clear vision early in high school, he took incremental steps each day towards his goal. His avid interest in philosophy was nurtured through personal reading. Coupled with a strong grasp of economics, his consistent daily effort built the foundation for his successful application. Described by his economics teacher Mr Aldiss as “mature, selfcontained, focused, and humble,” Ethan embodies perseverance.

Chris Ye

In contrast, Chris faced a dilemma between his passions for medicine and law. Through introspection during the admissions process, he realised that his skill set aligned more with the latter. Joining the College in Year 10 from Botany, he immediately gravitated towards debating, ultimately earning a spot on the Premier Junior team. His high-school career culminated in representing New Zealand at the World Schools Debating Championship in Vietnam, an experience that fortified his interest in litigation. With a promising future ahead, Chris is sure to make his mark in the courtroom in a few short years.

Eva Ye

Eva will be studying fine art at her “dream school” – Oxford’s Ruskin School of Art. While undertaking her IB certificate, she dedicated herself to numerous art-related pursuits including teaching at a Painting Pen Art School, and curating and contributing to several exhibitions, most notably ‘WE ARE ONE’, which generated $120,000 for charity. She now turns her attention to fine art, with the aspiration of becoming a professional artist upon completion of her degree.

Sean Wang

Rounding out our students is Sean, who was accepted into Cambridge for Natural Sciences. His keen interest in physics and chemistry drove him to learn course content early, building knowledge with “consistent efforts of longer periods of time”, which he maintains was the key to his success in IB. His coursework, coupled with participation in research outside of school and membership in Team New Zealand at the International Young Physicists’ Tournament last year, proves he is a committed physicist primed for novel discoveries in the future.

Outstanding International Baccalaureate Results for 2023

Following the release of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma examination results last week, we are pleased to share the outstanding results of our 2023 cohort. This comes off the back of having the largest cohort from the College undertaking the IB examination in November 2023.

The College had fifty-five students sit the November examinations, achieving an overall average diploma score of 34. This compares favourably with the world average of 29.06 points.

Additionally, there were sixty-eight 40+ point-earners in the country, with Saint Kentigern boasting eleven of them. Congratulations to these students listed below who were honoured at the Top Scholars Ceremony at Kristin College. The evening acknowledged students from across New Zealand who scored at least forty points from a maximum of forty-five in their final examination. This feat is only achieved by approximately ten percent of students in New Zealand and they represent the top ten percent of IB students worldwide, based on historical data.

Of those eleven Saint Kentigern students who scored forty points and above, Sean Wang and Chris Ye recorded an almost perfect forty-four points each.

Our College’s continuous focus on academic excellence and students’ commitment to the highest academic standards have resulted in another solid set of examination results. Please join us in congratulating our 2023 IB cohort on their outstanding achievements. We wish them well as they begin their tertiary studies both in New Zealand and abroad.

Sean Wang (44), Chris Ye (44), Ethan Liu (43), Avik Mehta (42), Ivy Wang (42), Raymond Wang (42), Orlando Ye (42) Rianna Samant (41), Jamie Hilliam (41), Eva Ye (40), Leticia Liang (40)

High Achievers in 2023 College NCEA Cohort

The 2023 cohort of Year 11–13 NCEA students left no confusion that they are a group of individuals committed to academic success. The recently released NCEA results speak for themselves.

In all three levels, our students improved on the pass rate from the previous year. On top of this, the percentage of students passing with a higher endorsement surpasses seventy percent at all levels. These achievements are qualifiers for students to receive a prestigious Saint Kentigern Academic Colours or Honours – a school award for recognition of academic excellence.

Our preliminary results, barring completion of final recounts and remarks which we expect to improve these statistics, are as follows:

Level 1 NCEA

At Level 1 (Year 11), up from last year, 98.8% of our students gained their NCEA Level 1 certificate. This is an impressive 415 out of 420 students. Of these, 40.96% achieved the highest level of Excellence Endorsement and 44.82% attained Merit Endorsement. Therefore, 85.78% of our students achieved Level 1 with an Excellence or Merit Endorsement.

Level 2 NCEA

Our Level 2 (Year 12) students also improved from last year’s scores with a 99.29% pass rate – 279 out of 281 total students. The cohort had 31.54% achieve their certificate with an Excellence Endorsement and 47.67% with a Merit Endorsement, resulting in 79.21% of our students achieving Level 2 with an Excellence or Merit Endorsement.

Level 3 NCEA

Finally, 97.84% of our 2023 Year 13 students received their NCEA Level 3 certificates, improving on last year’s results by over a percentage point. An impressive 272 out of 278 students received their qualification. Additionally, 21.94% achieved an Excellence Endorsement and 48.2% a Merit Endorsement. Therefore, 70.14% of our students achieved Level 3 with an Excellence or Merit Endorsement. The University Entrance rate was 90.64%.

Congratulations to all our students on their determination, dedication, and achievements. The statistics we see are the culmination of everyday decisions to be better, with eyes firmly set on accomplishing lofty academic goals. All the best to this year’s NCEA students as they begin their learning for the year.

Exceptional NZQA Scholarship Success

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

We are delighted to share our College students’ exceptional achievements following the New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s (NZQA) scholarship announcement, which recognises outstanding academic accomplishments by secondary school students nationwide.

Among the recipients, forty-nine students from Saint Kentigern College have been awarded seventyfive scholarships, with an impressive sixteen scholarships at Outstanding level given to the top forty to sixty students in the country.

Sean Wang (Year 13, 2023) was named a recipient of the prestigious Premier Award for 2023, an accolade presented to the top ten students in New Zealand. Sean achieved six scholarships – four at Outstanding level in Chemistry, Economics, English, and Physics, and two at Scholarship level in Biology and Calculus. Sean was also recognised as a Top Subject Scholarship Award winner for Economics.

In addition, three senior students have been recognised as Outstanding Scholarship Award Winners. Ethan Liu (Year 13, 2023), Nicholas (Nico) McKinlay (Year 12, 2023), and Daniel Xian (Year 11, 2023) each secured two Outstanding Scholarship Awards and two Scholarship Awards, respectively. Nico again scored top marks in Calculus, winning the Top Subject Scholarship Award for the second consecutive year.

Across our Senior School, dedicated students in Year 11 achieved a total of fifteen scholarships, while those in Year 12 earned thirty two, and our Year 13 cohort secured an impressive twentysix scholarships.

Additionally, Alan YiNing Chen (Year 11, 2023) was awarded two Scholarship Awards and one Outstanding Award, while Eric Pan and Sai Prabhu (both Year 12, 2023) each received three Scholarship Awards.

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Service Snippets Premier Debaters

Win Auckland Championships

Fiona Yan, Kyden Chan and Hamish Stewart-Webb delivered an outstanding debating performance on 23 and 24 March, confidently breezing through the heats before winning subsequent quarter, semi, and grand finals to take the Auckland crown.

The team successfully affirmed that community service should be the exclusive form of punishment for petty crimes, beating Pinehurst in the final. Not only did the College win the tournament, but we had two teams representing us in the break rounds – SKC1 (above) and SKC2 (Alan Chen, Edison Zhou and Ada Hu) who reached the quarter finals but were narrowly defeated by Kristin School.

Additionally, two of our speakers have made representative teams – Alan Chen who was selected in Auckland White, and Hamish Stewart-Webb who is the reserve for that team.

Our aim at the College is to weave service into the lives of our students, whether it be through curriculum, leadership opportunities, service experiences or one-off events.

To this end, in most weeks throughout the term, four different tutor groups visit four local primary schools to help add value to their teaching and EOTC programmes.

We have also resurrected, post the Covid years, our Vanuatu service trips and in July a Year 12 team will be travelling to Onesua College to, among other things, re-establish a library. One week later, a Year 13 team will be building a house for a person in need in Pango Village.

Our Term 1 foodbank was a huge success, with $19,000 worth of priority stock donated to our Food Box programme. We understand some supermarkets ran low on Weetbix, which was unsurprising with some 1,200 packets received! In Week 4, the Boys’ School focused their foodbank on the three T’s: Toffee Pops (600 packets!), toothpaste, and tuna.

The goal of sixty donors at our annual blood bank was exceeded with sixty-eight generous students and staff donating. And in week eleven, 372 pairs of shoes were donated to the Painga Project, which exists to reduce barriers to educational engagement in South Auckland.

First Formal Dinner Welcomes New Bruce House Prefects and Boarders

In 2024, Bruce House proudly accommodates a thriving community of sixty-eight students, including twenty-two newcomers this year. As graduates bid farewell, fresh faces from around the world continually enrich our family.

The inaugural formal dinner of the year serves as a warm reception for our newcomers and the newly appointed prefects. Leading the five-strong prefect team are Bruce House Head Girl Cassandra Cai and Head Boy Benjamin Moughan, supported by deputies Sara Triamchanchoochai and Harry Baik, alongside prefects Terri Sim and Oscar Anderson.

In attendance was College Principal Mr Damon Emtage. In his post-dinner address, he urged students to invest in their surrounding community. He highlighted the invaluable advantage boarding students gain in fostering relationships across diverse cultures, family backgrounds, and age groups – an asset that bodes well for future workplace dynamics.

Following Mr Emtage’s remarks, Director of Boarding Mrs Bridget Anitelea presided over the badge ceremony, where prefects and new boarders received their insignia. Prefects took the opportunity to introduce themselves, sharing a fun fact and a little on their background. Under their leadership, the goal is clear: to cultivate a family within Bruce House – a community where students and staff alike cherish, honour, and support one another.

An Update from College Parents & Friends

It has been a pleasure for the Parents & Friends Association (P&F) to assist the College in welcoming parents at their ‘meet the tutor’ evenings. Years 7–9 parents were invited to an information and social evening at the beginning of Term 1. The P&F has also launched a new initiative to connect our Year 9 parents by way of a class representative system. These families are at the beginning of a five-year journey with Saint Kentigern and we hope they enjoy connecting, becoming extended family over this time.

Later in Term 1, the P&F hosted a Year 10 parents’ social evening, followed by a Senior School social evening. It was great to see these events so well attended.

What's New in 2024

• Forums are booked for Terms 2 and 3. Parents are invited to come along for a wine and cheese evening to hear from the Trust Board and College Principal. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet other parents.

• We are also in the planning stages for a Quiz Night in Term 3 this year, date to be confirmed. In the meantime, start getting your team together!

• Food from the Heart has been filling freezers for those in our community who could benefit from a prepared meal. Thank you to our Year 8 girls for a great start in Term 1 with seventy-six meals going to families. In Term 2, we’ll have the Year 8 boys, and in Terms 3 and 4 our Year 7 students will have the opportunity to cook. We invite parents to join their daughters and sons for these sessions. It is a fantastic opportunity to bond with your child and meet other families in the same year group.

• P&F have streamlined a booking system for parents and carers to volunteer at events through OLE. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved. If you have any questions, write to us at skc_pfadmin@saintkentigern.com

For more details, please head to our OLE page:  https://ole.saintkentigern.com/homepage/9025/

Thank you to all of the P&F committee and parent volunteers so far for 2024.

Reflections from a Great Barrier Sojourn

WELLBEING & OPTIMISM

Spoiled for choice with landscapes and natural beauty, New Zealand calls its people outdoors to explore. The students who tackle the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award are given the opportunity to do so, completing overnight hikes in our surrounding natural areas.

Open to Year 10 students and above, those who choose to tackle the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards are required to spend a certain number of hours learning a skill, in voluntary service, in physical recreation, and on outdoor sojourns that require care and understanding of our native surroundings. Those completing their Gold Award must complete an additional residential project to give back to a community or group they feel passionate about.

Throughout Term 1, Bronze and Silver students have completed expeditions: Bronze to the Hunua Ranges and Silver on Great Barrier Island.

Silver Award students Tara Arrol and Henry Sutton have been involved in the programme now for over two years. They chose to get involved because it is a great excuse to give new things a go as well as meet new people. A significant part of Duke of Edinburgh for Tara is the service element. She is making boxes for The Shed initiative, participating in Kapa Haka for her skill, and competing in netball and volleyball teams for physical recreation. The efforts of service, skill, and physical recreation require consistency from each student, though the tramps are often the highlight of the award.

Henry is taking part in rowing and rugby as his sports, debating as his skill, and he spends time at his local retirement village in service. He has found a richness in meeting people outside his typical acquaintances through the service element, which can be challenging but incredibly rewarding.

Under a starry expanse on night two of their most recent tramp to Great Barrier, Tara and Henry said their highlight was being surrounded by friends on a beautiful beach, staring out into creation. Small moments such as these become memories locked away for a lifetime. Broadening one’s learning experiences makes for well-rounded individuals –something we are passionate about creating at our school.

Thirty Years at Chosen Valley for Year 7 Campers

This year marked the thirtieth anniversary of our Year 7 camp at Chosen Valley in the Bombay Hills, making Saint Kentigern the longest-running group to utilise their incredible facility. Excitement, nervousness, and anticipation filled individuals as they headed out on their three-day adventure. Only a few weeks into the school year, all the students were still getting to know their peers – heading away for a few days certainly takes courage.

“I strengthened my friendships at camp by mixing with the girls from different classes.” – Antonella Retamales

Mornings were spent engaging in leisurely pursuits like camp searches, creative showcases, compass tutorials, tower construction, and cooking over gas cookers. Afternoons were packed with outdoor challenges, from the Confidence Course to trolley races and Balance Island. Evenings brought laughter with Mastermind sessions

and entertaining movie screenings or Camp Concert Gong Shows.

Free time was spent on the zip lines and playing volleyball. The pinnacle was the Inter-House Tag Team Relay, culminating in a Wishart House victory. Despite occasional weather challenges, the camp proceeded smoothly thanks to dedicated teachers and supportive parents.

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Chicago Razzle Dazzles for Senior Production

There is nothing like the hush of anticipation that blankets a waiting audience before a show or movie is about to begin. The dimmed lights signal to spectators they are in for a treat, conversations abruptly stop, and all eyes lock with a glittering 'Chicago' as the band raises their instruments to begin.

Our Senior Musical of 'Chicago: Teen Edition' took over Elliott Hall in the penultimate week of Term 1. With a live orchestra, talented cast, and an incredible backstage team, the four performance nights were filled with Fosse and satire which were well received by those who came to watch the sold-out shows.

The story follows two women convicted of murder vying for the public eye as they pursue the American Dream: fame, fortune, and acquittal. Adapted from the original

Broadway show debuting in 1975, our version maintained the exposé on abuse of power and celebrity status while ensuring the story was appropriate for our teen cast. The directors, Mrs Naomi Wilson and Miss Amelia Ayres, brought the vision to life; Mrs Wilson inviting the audience into an “underground cabaret club” to be inspired “by each vaudeville number… as much as they did their audiences in the 1920s”.

Upon reflection, the glaringly obvious mention for this musical was the powerhouse cast. Strong vocal performances carried the storyline forward and demanded the attention of viewers. Particularly, Eva Paton’s rendition of ‘When You’re Good to Mama’ followed the well-known ‘Cell Block Tango’ with a force that perhaps only she could do. Leads Chlöe Miller, Amelia Evangelidakis, Harry McNamara, and Nathan Dick

were polished, expressive, and captured the dichotomy of a grungy cabaret seamlessly.

An added highlight was the live jazz orchestra directed by Mr Albert Lee. The brass-heavy band offered an air of nostalgia, transporting the audience back to the roaring twenties. Additionally deserving of mention are choreographer Miss Erin Meek, producer Miss Sara Standring, and the behind-the-scenes expertise of technical director Mr Glen Mortensen, responsible for lighting, sound, and set design. Many hands had a part in the complete package delivered seamlessly to audiences, including our VIP Night on the Thursday showing. The show certainly captivated all who attended, and many a guest could be heard humming ‘Razzle Dazzle’ back to their cars.

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WehostedourVIPsfortheThursdaynightshowtime,invitingthemtodrinksandtapasbeforetheyenjoyedtheproduction.

Goodfellow Quad Turned Globe Theatre for ‘Shake the Quad’

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Our annual Shakespearian festival saw ‘Shake the Quad’ return to its home on the Goodfellow Quad after moving around for the past few years. In 2019, ‘Shake the Chapel’ ensued, followed by ‘Shake the Goodfellow Centre’ in 2020 and 2022. This year, its outdoor location was revived, and guests gathered at the Goodfellow Quad on a brisk March evening to enjoy five-minute snippets of Shakespeare’s well-loved plays.

Over eighty cocurricular and Academy drama students spanning all year levels performed in the first performing arts event of the

calendar, ‘Shake the Quad’. Under the setting sun, in the same manner that these plays captivated their original audiences, ten scenes were performed from nine of Shakespeare’s dramas.

‘Romeo and Juliet’, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, ‘Richard II’, ‘Henry VI’, ‘Troilus and Cressida’, ‘As You Like It’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘King Lear’, and ‘Othello’ were all brought to life, their original scripts held to, while artistic interpretation was entirely up to the students. A fresh take on ‘As You Like It’ saw the cast turning the Shakespearean language into a hip hop song sporting gold chains, baggy clothes, and baseball caps, while others chose to stick

with more traditional costuming and character interpretation.

With the largest group ever to be involved in ‘Shake the Quad’, the love for our sixteenth-century playwright is still ablaze some five hundred years later. Several of our groups will go on to perform in the regional competition at Macleans College in the hope of making it to the University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. We wish them all the best as they make their final preparations.

Music Highlights

National Jazz Triumph!

Our Jazz Ensembles were the first of our music groups to prepare for a national-level competition this year. Over Easter, they travelled to the Tauranga Jazz Society’s annual National Jazz Festival and National Youth Jazz Competition. It was a highly successful weekend for the students, coming away with a Gold Award for Big Band, a Silver Award for the Senior Jazz Combo and Jazz Orchestra, and a Bronze Award for the Junior Jazz Combo. We are grateful for Mr Albert Lee, Mrs Hayley Barker, and Mr Tim Baker who have taught and supported our jazz students over the last few years in a programme that is on the rise.

International Music Success

Bang (Bruce) Xiao won first place in the Debussy International Music Competition in piano (ages 11–13 section). He is currently adding to his skillset, taking on a new instrument and learning trumpet in his Year 7 Music class. With such success early in his high-school career, we know he will be an asset in the College ensembles moving forward.

Maodong Li (Year 10) received Second Prize Winner at the 2024 Concert Artists International™ Competitions. This is an outstanding achievement, opening the invitation to perform in Carnegie Hall in New York later this year.

The Strength in Celebrating Whakapapa: Kapa Haka at Polyfest

Within the diverse community of our College, a powerful narrative unfolds—a story echoing immense pride, empowerment, and accomplishment. As Deputy Head Girl and a passionate advocate for our beautiful Māori culture, opportunities for promoting and celebrating cultural integration resonate deeply with me.

As the Saint Kentigern Kapa Haka group returned to the ASB Polyfest stage for the second year in our school’s history, it marked a significant step in our journey of cultural unity. With Saint Kentigern’s very first Kapa Haka Wānanga, our students felt an immense sense of belonging as they became a part of a kaupapa greater than themselves, one that celebrates the integration of our Māori culture into our school’s identity.

As we performed, each step and note carried the weight of our collective whakapapa. Anamia Rangihaeata, my cousin and the Wishart House Leader for 2024, was unable to perform this year, yet, her spirit resonated in the faces and voices of our group. We dedicated our performance to her, honouring her legacy and impact on Kapa Haka at Saint Kentigern.

Our kaitātaki wāhine, Manawa Rogers and Tāne Allen-John Martin, embodying the spirit of our rōpū, each secured a well-deserved second and third place. While significant, these achievements are second to the sense of pride and belonging we felt as we stood united on that stage.

For me, this journey has been more than a performance; it validates our identity, celebrates our heritage, and showcases the power of cultural expression. Embracing our culture is not simply preservation – it is empowerment, deepening our connections with others and ourselves. I am reminded that honouring our differences brings unity, strength, and the true essence of being a Son or Daughter of Saint Kentigern.

Written by Tiana Gray, Deputy Head Girl of Saint

Kentigern College

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VIDEO. VIDEO FOOTAGE COURTESY OF

Chalmers Tops College Swimming Sports

WELLBEING AND OPTIMISM

The electric energy that filled the school for the first major House event of the year set a high bar for the ensuing inter-House competitions. Held in the second week of Term One, Swimming Sports saw the best swimmers vying for points on the board and top-place finishes. Having previously competed in heats, the finalists had their whole House backing them as they raced down the pool.

Students from each House lined the edges of the pool, cheering and rallying behind their representatives. The relays at the end of the day garnered heightened enthusiasm for the teams of four racing to the finish. Ultimately, Chalmers House emerged victorious, amassing the highest tally of points through active participation and stellar performances, clinching the inaugural inter-House competition of 2024. Congratulations to our winners.

HOUSE RANKINGS:

1st Chalmers

2nd Cargill

3rd Hamilton

4th Wishart

5th Stark

6th Wilson

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:

SENIOR GIRLS

1st Scarlett Bassett

2nd Imogen Perry

3rd Olivia Kay

SENIOR BOYS

1st James Crosbie

2nd Oliver Schnauer

3rd Coen Anderson

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS

1st Lisa Shi

2nd Amelia Duff

3rd Jordan Iosefa

INTERMEDIATE BOYS

1st Lachlan Schnauer

2nd George McGuinness

3rd Liam Jones

JUNIOR GIRLS

1st Talia Yuan

2nd Olivia Duff

3rd Ellie Duff

JUNIOR BOYS

1st Yi Fan Zhang

2nd Liam Zhao

3rd Michael Chen

YEAR 8 GIRLS

1st Zoey Wilson

2nd Lilian McIntyre

3rd Chloe Quan

YEAR 8 BOYS

1st James Zhang

2nd Leo Liu

3rd Cooper Atkin

YEAR 7 GIRLS

1st Lucy Castles

2nd Amy Zhang

3rd Lauren Wood

YEAR 7 BOYS

1st James Ward

2nd Slater Hauraki

3rd Hugo Kingham

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Chalmers Back on Top for Inter-House Athletics

WELLBEING AND OPTIMISM

Chalmers House is off to a stellar start to the year, claiming the victory at Athletics Day just one week after dominating Swimming Sports. With a legacy of success in athletics, having secured four consecutive wins from 2016 to 2020 and again in 2022, they were momentarily dethroned by Cargill last year. However, Chalmers has swiftly regained its footing and is ready to continue the momentum in upcoming competitions.

As we look ahead to the next interHouse clash, the start of Term 2 promises Cross Country to be a close contender, with defending champions Cargill looking to break Chalmers’ winning streak.

HOUSE RANKINGS:

1st Chalmers

2nd Wishart

3rd Cargill

4th Wilson

5th Stark

6th Hamilton

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS:

SENIOR GIRLS

1st Emmerson Garrett

2nd Zahra Abeysekera

3rd Cilla Fa’afua

SENIOR BOYS

1st Tim Wallace

2nd Angus Bannatyne

3rd Ryan Ellis

INTERMEDIATE GIRLS

1st Imogen Barlow

2nd Paige Fletcher

3rd Eleanor Young

INTERMEDIATE BOYS

1st Owen Lamb

2nd Leofe Usufono

3rd Sean Kane

JUNIOR GIRLS

1st Morgan Day

2nd Eden Moyle

3rd Madeleine Du Toit

JUNIOR BOYS

1st Samuel Nichols

2nd Oliver Lee

3rd Oliver McGuinness

YEAR 8 GIRLS

1st Emma Pinder

2nd Eva Gray

3rd Zofia Wells

YEAR 8 BOYS

1st Levi Spiess

2nd Freddy Gordon

3rd Matthew Thomas

YEAR 7 GIRLS

1st Stephanie Hills

2nd Lucy Castles

3rd Cassandra Addis

YEAR 7 BOYS

1st Luke Pinder

2nd Dylan Tan

3rd Ayaan Manocha

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Sports Highlights

AN OVERVIEW OF SPORTING EVENTS AT THE COLLEGE

Rowing

The Saint Kentigern College Rowing team went into the start of the 2023/24 season with the objective of achieving at least a 3% improvement in terms of results from the previous season. They achieved this and then some.

Leading up to nationals they had an extremely successful season, detailed in the QR-linked article. Their experience throughout the year presented invaluable opportunities to fortify the team and maximise our chances of success at the Maadi Cup down at Lake Ruataniwha, Twizel in the South Island.

When the lights were brightest, Saint Kentigern secured eight A finals at the New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Championships. Notably, they excelled in the U15 coxed octuple and the U15 coxed quad event, winning a

U15 BOYS COXED QUAD BRONZE

Liam Dowling, Ben Rickard, Monty Neubert, Sebastian Wallace, Charles McRobie

Tennis

The Premier Girls team of Mahinarangi Warren, Audrey Tran, Genevieve Dickey, and Jasmine Tran had an unbeaten run through the weekly Auckland Premier Competition, coming up against a higher-ranked King’s team in the final. After a number of close games, it was 3–3 in matches and Saint Kentigern took the win by one set to be Auckland Girls Team Champions for the seventh consecutive year.

The following week, the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships were held at the Auckland Tennis Centre. This year, we were represented

U15 BOYS OCTUPLE SCULLS SILVER

Liam Dowling, Sebastian Wallace, Ben Rickard, Monty Neubert, Zach Pebbles, Freddie Simons, Leo Sargent, Hugo Jancys, Charles McRobie

by a girls’ team and a mixed team.

The girls’ team – Mahinarangi Warren, Audrey Tran, Genevieve Dickey, and Jasmine Tran had two close losses against King’s in pool play and Queen Margaret’s in the semi-final to set up a third- and fourth-place playoff, beating Wellington College to claim bronze. The mixed team – Max Richardson, Tudor Dalzell, Frankie Wingate, Arshpreet Kaur, and Supreet Kaurhad played a round robin competition with losses

silver medal and a bronze respectively.

only to St Andrew’s and Macleans to also claim the bronze medal.

Triathlon

Stunning weather greeted athletes for two days of competition at the New Zealand Secondary School Triathlon Championships in Mount Maunganui in March. Saint Kentigern College had 21 athletes on the start line for the individual and tag team events.

Day one featured the individual races, seeing Coen Anderson on the podium – a great result after a severe stress fracture hindered his training preparation.

Outstanding results also came from Alex Bishop and Sophie Archer winning the U16 and U14 categories, and Dorothy Anderson placing third in the U16 Girls Championship. Over the two days, Saint Kentigern won three gold medals, two silver medals, three bronze medals, and the Overall Points Trophy for best performing school in NZ.

Day two featured the tag team events with each team comprising of four athletes (two males and two females.) Saint Kentigern’s U14 team finished third with Dylan Davies, Sophie Archer, George Sharp, and Charlotte McGuinness executing a fantastic race.

The U19 teams of Coen Anderson, Liv Kay, Isaac Morris, and Ruby Cutler Welsh finished a close second, and Parker PercyBrown, Stella Pearson, Aanya Abeysekera, and Ben Gordon-Glassford rounding out the podium with a third place.

Our U16 teams of Ben Archer, Neve McKenzie, Alex Bishop, and Dorothy Anderson took home the gold and also produced the fastest time overall, beating the U19 Senior team from Palmerston North by two seconds.

Yachting

Ten Saint Kentigern sailors competed in the NZSS Keelboat Championship hosted at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Sailing in the Elliott 7 yacht class, our sailors competed strongly on the Waitematā Harbour. Saint Kentigern Team Two (Louis Quere, Keaton Lay, Jack Scarlett, Natalie Mitchell, and Edward Gravit) placed third overall.

Saint Kentigern students also competed at the Secondary School Teams Sailing Regionals at Royal Akarana Yacht Club. Defending champions, the Premier team again competed strongly, dominating most of their races but finally finishing second,

Golf

Our Golf Premier team of Emma Zheng, Jax Loh, Jacob Qian, Alan L. Chen, and Cassie Luo made the playoffs in this year’s Auckland Premier Golf Competition.

Beating Kristin School in the semi-finals, we went on to play King’s College on 25 March at North Shore Golf Club. A great day of exceptional golf resulted in a silver medal, King’s College beating us on the day.

Athletics

Following the College Athletics Day and the Zone competition, over 25 students qualified for the Auckland Athletics Championships held at Mount Smart Stadium. Despite very variable weather conditions, there were a number of great performances with many top three placings. Scan for our medallists.

MEDALLISTS:

Senior Girls Hammer GOLD

Nora Caffery

Senior Boys 800m SILVER

Tim Wallace

Int Girls 400m SILVER Sienna Moyle

Int Girls 800m GOLD Immy Barlow

Int Girls 1500m GOLD Immy Barlow

BRONZE Neve McKenzie

Int Girls Hammer GOLD

Paige Fletcher (new Auckland record)

Int Girls Shot Put SILVER

Paige Fletcher

Int Girls Relay 4x100m SILVER

Int Boys 100m SILVER

Isaac Sulu-Kiripati

Int Boys Relay 4x100m GOLD

Junior Girls 100m GOLD Eden Moyle

Junior Girls 200m BRONZE

Madeleine Du Toit

Junior Girls 800m GOLD Morgan Day

Junior Girls 1500m SILVER

Morgan Day

Junior Girls 3000m BRONZE

Sophie Archer

Junior Girls Long Jump GOLD

Eden Moyle

Junior Girls Relay 4x100m GOLD

Junior Boys 100m SILVER

Nathan Theron

Junior Boys 200m BRONZE

Nathan Theron

Junior Boys 800m BRONZE

Oliver McGuinness

Junior Boys Relay 4x100m BRONZE

Touch

Our girls' and boys' teams entered the College Sports Touch Championships with the girls going through unbeaten in the round robin to win the final and the tournament.

Mountain Biking

Over three days of North Island Mountain Biking Championships we saw races in cross-country, relay, downhill, and enduro. Mother Nature was on side with some of the best trail conditions ever.

The weekend of racing started off with the XC where Alex Clark won silver in the U20 Girls. She backed this performance up with a bronze in the enduro, and fourth place in the downhill for a first overall finish.

The often-chaotic team relay event saw Alex Clark, Luuka Petersen, and Ava van Rij clinch bronze in the U20 Girls, and Angus Dickinson and Tom Underdown win silver for the U16 Boys.

Coast to Coast

In the gruelling South Island multisport schools’ race, Alex Bishop, Hunter Ballard, and Ben Archer took second in the boys’ school team category. Holly Bishop with teammates from other schools placed second in the mixed schools category and second overall in the mixed three-person team. She also recorded the fastest female time on the final bike leg. Isaac Morris took on the individual two-day challenge, storming home with a blisteringly fast second place in the Individual school race.

Cricket

The 1st XI boys cricket team contested the Auckland T20 final against MAGS, following impressive qualifying wins against Rosmini, Westlake, and King’s College in the semi-final. An excellent performance in the field saw MAGS restricted to 144. Despite losing early wickets, a middle order recovery and some huge sixes later in the innings kept the game in the balance until the final over. The result was a narrow defeat, but a strong performance in the competition which saw Saint Kentigern receive a finals medal for the first time.

Old Collegians

Upcoming Events for Old Collegians

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING AND DINNER

We will be welcoming Mr Nigel Toy as Patron of SKOCA at our upcoming AGM and Dinner on 24 May.

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS

Honouring the significant contributions of oustanding alumni on 7 September.

SKOCA GOLF DAY

Join us on 18 November for some sunshine, food and drinks, and 18 holes with old mates.

25TH ANNIVERSARY FOR CLASS OF 1999

Graduates from the College Class of 1999 are invited to join us on 1 November.

Packed Year Ahead

FMr Thomas Steel

Dip Bus

Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association

rom the end of 2023 through till now we have seen several Old Collegians excel on the court, field, or pitch, on the stage, on the track and even in or on the water. It’s hard to keep up with all the amazing achievements of these athletes, sports stars, and performers. Please keep sharing your successes and achievements with Saint Kents – all 19,000+ Old Collegians want to hear how you are getting on and we all share at least one thing in common. Well done and keep striving for success. Firstly, thank you to the committee members of SKOCA who give up their time freely in support and betterment of Saint Kentigern and to continue the legacy of others before. A big congratulations to SKOCA committee member and Old Collegian Amorangi Malesala who has been selected for the Silver Ferns and played in the Nations Cup in England at the beginning of the year. An awesome effort, and I can vouch for Amorangi’s commitment as she only missed one committee meeting during this time!

Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the passing of two of the Saint Kentigern Distinguished Alumni Award recipients from 2022, John Beckett and Philip Recordon. Both of these gentlemen were held in high regard within the Saint Kentigern community and their respective professions.

In February, Saint Kentigern Boys’ School celebrated sixty-five years of the school. It was an incredible evening with many of our Old Boys from the classes of 1959 to 1969, current staff, and Trust Board members in attendance. The connections that these Old Boys still had with the school and stories of the past made this a wonderful and enjoyable evening.

Reconnecting is one of SKOCA’s values and during December last year we supported both Graduate Reunions at the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. The inaugural Girls’ School Year 13 Graduates Reunion was for Old Girls who graduated from 2016–2018, making space for them to reconnect and have a tour around the Shore Road campus. The Boys’ School welcomed the Old Boys Class of 2018 and their families for a BBQ and a tour of the latest developments on campus.

This May the 24th at 5:45pm, SKOCA will be hosting the annual AGM at the Northern Club. We will be honouring Dr Bruce Goodfellow as the past Patron and welcoming Nigel Toy as the current Patron of SKOCA. The following day, Saturday 25 May, the Saint Kentigern College 1st XV plays King’s College at home – kick off 2:30pm. The game will be followed by refreshments in the Elizabeth MacFarlan Centre, hosted by SKOCA.

The Annual Golf Day is confirmed this year for Monday 18 November at the Remuera Golf Club. Get in quick as this has sold out for the past few years with limited numbers/players.

SKOCA will always continue to work on our core goals of fellowship, scholarship support, philanthropy, special grants, and graduation celebrations. Remember to stay connected via the website https:// www.saintkentigern.com/oldcollegians/update-your-details or email skoca@saintkentigern.com

I hope to see you at one of the SKOCA events this year; please come and introduce yourself to me or one of our committee members.

Fides Servanda Est.

Hole-in-one at Old Boys’ Golf Day

GIVING BACK

February put on a bluebird day for the Old Boys’ Golf Day hosted at Windross Farm Golf Course in Ardmore.

The players, all members of the Saint Kentigern community made up of former students, current staff, and business partners, took to the course for an eighteen-hole competition with some impressive prizes up for grabs.

For the first time in this tournament’s history, we had a holein-one! Steve Langerak had a cracker day and alongside his hole-in-one was the closest to the pin on the seventh and seventeenth holes and received the infamous bloopers jacket for his incredible efforts.

We cannot host such a fantastic event without the help of our sponsors. Thank you to our golf-hole donors:

• Aspec Construction Ltd

• Brez Electrical Ltd

• Container Door Ltd

• Cyclone Computers Ltd

• Cameron Marcroft - Loan Market Central

• Matassa Property Services Ltd

• Outline Design Ltd

• Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association

• Spark Business

• UniSports Physiotherapy

The Mungo Cup for the winning team was clutched from two-time winners Team Halliday and has found a new home with Team Stuart Evans. The Ron Stone Memorial Trophy, which acknowledges an Old Boy displaying the true spirit of sportsmanship, was awarded to Eddie Wilkes. The Longest Drive went to Cooper Rand, and the Closest to the Pin (third and thirteenth hole) went to Matt Stevens and Tom Irving, respectively. SCAN FOR MORE

We would also like to thank Resene Paints for the goodie bag sponsorship. It was an incredible day and we appreciate those who travelled from around New Zealand to connect with old friends and spend an afternoon in the sun.

A Legacy of Adoption: Bruce Elliott

VALUES WE LIVE BY

In the four walls of Foundation Principal Reverend MacFarlan’s divinity class in 1963, a young Bruce Elliott sat, perhaps unaware of the profound impact the teachings would one day have on his life. Little did he know, the lessons learned in those classes would resonate far beyond the classroom, fueling a purpose-filled life a teenager in high school could never have imagined.

Having obtained his high school diploma from Saint Kentigern College and a commerce degree from Victoria University, Bruce began his career, driven to steward the education he had been given. Despite an impressive career and a successful startup software company, looking back over his life, Bruce recalls his first trip to the Ukraine as one of the most impactful in his life.

Post-Soviet Ukraine was a devastating place to visit. In 1998, the extreme levels

of child homelessness due to nearanarchy after Soviet control caused many of the children to turn to glue-sniffing to warm their bodies in the freezing winters. Looking into the faces of children living on the street, Bruce was moved with compassion and determined to help in whatever way he could.

The exposure to such poverty on that first trip began a twenty-five-year journey of operating a children’s home in the heart of Kiev – the Children’s Rescue Center. They started simple, offering food and blankets to those they found on the street and trying to persuade them to come in out of the cold. The simplicity of Jesus’s words from Matthew 25:35-36 brought clarity to their mission as they offered their help to whoever was willing to accept it. “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and

you clothed me.” The profound impact of these simple acts of kindness led to great growth – at its largest, the centre sheltered 110 children at any one time. Bruce, Anne, and later their biological daughter Sarah would take trips to the centre, building relationships and meeting the immediate needs they saw in front of them. As trust in the family increased, they were able to offer help and hope to these children, bring them in, and place them in homes where they could begin to thrive.

Bruce and Anne ended up adopting one of those children, Slavik, as their youngest son. He currently lives in San Diego where Bruce and Anne now reside. More recently, they have moved the children in the home to Germany as the war between Russia and Ukraine persists.

The familial legacy does not stop there. They have been involved in a refugee

camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and an orphanage in Blantyre, Malawi. Three of Bruce and Anne’s six grandchildren, and two soon-to-be adopted children, are from Malawi. They now feel the call to empower the next generation of changemakers. Planted at Light Church, Encinitas, California, they are serving churchgoers mostly in their twenties and thirties, equipping and encouraging them to go beyond their bubble of privilege to reach those who are poor in spirit.

Bruce looks back at his time at the College as formative to his faith. The foundation of service, and getting outside oneself to help those around you, planted the seeds for a generational legacy. Just as Christ adopts us into a spiritual family, Bruce and Anne have carried forward that same ‘spirit of adoption’ (Romans 8:15) as they continue to partner with those across the globe.

Sign Up for the 2024 SKOCA Golf Day

Join us on Monday 18 November at the Remuera Golf Club for eighteen holes and a drink with old mates.

Cost per player is $130 – green fees, food, prizes, and the highly sought-after refreshments golf cart roaming throughout the tournament.

This year, our proceeds are going towards the Performing Arts department and Field Centre. If you’d like to partner with us by sponsoring a hole for $600, sponsoring a hole and adding a team of four players for $1000, or donating goods for prizes, please contact Dan Quigley: daniel.quigley@outlook.com

Our ‘Hole in One’ prize this year is unmatched – a Subaru Crosstrek Petrol Premium 2024 valued at $50,440 thanks to Winger Motors. You’ve got to be in it to win it!

To register, email the names (group or individual) to skoca@ saintkentigern.com with your handicap and club membership if relevant. Cut-off date is 30 September 2024, and we are limiting the field to 130 players.

Payment by direct credit to:

Account name: SKOCA ANZ Auckland 010295 0083826 00

Please state ‘golf’ and names.

For credit card payments, please contact Glennis Pearson at the College: glennis.pearson@saintkentigern.com.

In Memoriam

It is with great sadness that we record the passing of the following members of the Saint Kentigern community. We express or condolences to their families.

HASLETT, Dr Timothy 465 02/2024

LEARNER, Zachary Boys’ School #138172 16/03/2024

NELSON, Peter Boys’ School #20 11/04/2024

RECORDON, Philip Boys’ School #24 21/03/2024

WOOLNOUGH, John 87 30/11/2023

Tenor Trailblazer: Sid Chand

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

For those Old Collegians in the Class of 2017, your memory may afford you to recall a young vocalist sinking his teeth into ‘Jean Valjean’ in the production Les Miserables. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of the same boy in Kentoris or Chapel Band. He may have been your friend – nevertheless, Sid Chand’s unequivocal love for classical music has only grown since leaving the College, and seven years on, he is living his dream.

Through his university years, he studied law and classical music. Following his undergraduate studies, he made another decision to pursue what he loved, completing a Masters in Classical Music. Reflecting on his countless Zoom singing lessons, he is grateful, but glad to be in person once again.

In October last year, Sid auditioned

to be a Circle100 Scholar. Incredibly, he was one of three individuals in the country awarded funds. Sid won the top scholarship of twenty thousand dollars to aid him financially for a oneyear Professional Studies Certificate in Voice at San Francisco Conservatory under the instruction of renowned voice teacher César Ulloa.

Packing up his life in New Zealand, he headed to San Francisco with only a few days to prepare for his opera auditions. Remarkably, a jet-lagged Kiwi fresh off the plane landed a part in both the Fall and Spring Operas. Though a massive culture shock, Sid said he feels completely at home in the United States. He has also found that there are pockets of New Zealanders everywhere, who have quickly become his family away from home. One such person is Saint Kentigern Old Collegian Samuel Downes. The

two have been friends since their time at the College when they both took singing lessons and sang in choirs with the same teacher over ten years ago.

Ironically, the Sons of Kentigern played family members in the Spring Opera of 'Proving Up' by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek this March. Samuel took the stage alongside Sid, who played Miles Samuel’s Pa in San Francisco’s premiere of the nineteenth-century homestead story.

There are two people to whom Sid credits the success of his career thus far: his singing teacher at Saint Kentigern, Lachlan Craig, and his pianist-turned-friend Gracie Francis. While at the College, he recalls Mr Craig brought together and invested in a young group of singers that are now scattered across the globe developing their careers in music.

Sid and Sam recently reauditioned at the San Francisco Conservatory in hopes to earn a place in the Artist Diploma programme. This year, the programme, which awards a fulltuition scholarship, only had two open spaces – and we are delighted to report that these two spots went to Sid and Sam. They will both spend the next two years in San Francisco honing their craft in hopes to one day have amazing professional careers.

From Chapel Band and school productions to the stage in San Francisco, Sid’s career has progressed far from the after-school practices in Elliott Hall. He plans to return home in May for a short break before he travels back to the United States to be one of eleven Manetti Shrem Vocal Fellows at the Maria Manetti Shrem Opera Program in July.

Seizing the Stage: Joshua Douglas

New Zealand School of Dance graduate Joshua Douglas has completed his first few months dancing for the illustrious Queensland Ballet as a part of the Jette Parker Young Artists programme. During early April he will prepare and perform Stephanie Lake’s piece ‘Colossus’ amongst classes, conditioning, and preparing for their Bespoke season in July. It is safe to say, he’s hit the ground running, or, more likely, with a chassé pas de bourrée.

Josh began at the College as a Year 9 student, seizing any opportunity to take the stage for a performance. He recalls his three years spent at the school as a blur of productions, dance showcases, talent quests, and weekend classes with Mr Geordan Wilcox. Namely, the Senior School production of ‘Catch Me if You Can’ in 2021 was a particular highlight. At the end of Year 11 he was invited to study at the country’s leading pre-professional dance school, the New Zealand School of Dance. There he spent two years honing his craft, performing, and enjoying the company of other young artists.

Now establishing himself as a performer in Australia, he is looking forward to working with Annabelle Lopez Ochoa on her piece ‘Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon’. After being a backstage admirer of her work for some time, he is finding the bucket-list opportunities are becoming more frequent, like this chance to perform for an inspiration. As he continues to get stronger, gain more control, and improve his quality of movement, the sky is the limit for Joshua Douglas.

Prescription for Change: Class of 2017 Graduates Medical School

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Upon graduation from Saint Kentigern, some of our Old Collegians from the Class of 2017 found their way to the same medical programme at the University of Auckland. They have been quietly working away at their profession for the last six years, and after many long nights studying and hours in training in the hospitals, they came together to celebrate their graduation last December. Now, they are placed in various hospitals around the country. We connected with them to see what their plans were post-graduation in the medical field.

JASON SETO:

Jason originally decided to pursue medicine because of his fascination with the human body and physiology. He also wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives, providing optimal care for individuals in their most vulnerable time. He is currently at Te Toka Tumai Auckland City Hospital and is interested in specialising in surgery down the track.

OLIVIA HOFER:

Olivia is also at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland and is looking forward to working in the obstetrics/gynaecology and paediatrics spaces. A fascination with science when she was younger has developed into an opportunity to learn and problem solve within human biology. In her words, “It’s a privilege to be able to work with the patients.”

ADORA HUSSEINI:

Adora’s journey into medicine began with a fascination with human biology and a desire for a servicedriven career. She now works at Auckland City Hospital and is making the most of working in different specialities, all of which are unique and exciting

JESSIE LIU:

Jessie is Auckland-based at Middlemore Hospital and is interested in surgery, though is continuing to explore as she learns her different rotations. It’s this lifelong learning attitude that was one of the drivers for Jessie to enter medicine. In her eyes,

medicine had all the elements of a good career: meaningful, rewarding, unpredictable, and stimulating.

ASHLEY POTTER:

Ashley did not originally plan to work in human medicine – she was going to be a vet! That is, until she discovered she had to put animals down. So, she pivoted to medicine and has landed at Tauranga Hospital. Her interest is in the heart’s anatomy and function, so she’s thinking about exploring cardiology. She says, “Listening to the heart is a cool thing, something you can’t see but works so hard for you!”

MATTHEW STIRLING:

Matthew is currently a PGY1 working in Tauranga Hospital. Medicine was an exciting field for him for a number of reasons – being able to work as part of a diverse team was a big factor, but his main driver was the diversity of specialties and workplaces possible. Whilst his interests initially lay in general practice and internal medicine, he now finds himself more drawn to anaesthetics as a top career option.

As an Old Collegian I am proud to partner with Saint Kentigern to support its students to play sport and stay active.

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