Piper Issue 54 December 2014

Preschool

We love our grandparents!

There was a special week across all campuses in Term 4 when the schools and Preschool acknowledged the special role that Grandparents play in the lives of our children. They offer strength, guidance and love, with more to spare – and our children love them in return!

The Preschool was buzzing with excitement on the morning that their special visitors were due. Morning tea had been prepared in their honour and the children just couldn’t wait for them to arrive! The occasion was a chance for the children to share quality time as they showed their grandparents all their favorite nooks and crannies at Preschool.

Director, Mrs Sue nash explained to the visitors how honoured she feels to have responsibility for the 3 and 4 year-olds at Saint Kentigern. even though they are only at Preschool for a relatively short time in their lives; it’s a time when children are receptive to exploring new ideas and she has the opportunity to help instil the Saint Kentigern values of kindness, respect, friendship and love into their day to day living.

After enjoying a morning tea, the grandparents were treated to songs from the youngsters along with a demonstration of their morning fitness routine. Mrs Nash explained that this daily routine helps to get rid of all of their ‘jumping beans’ after arriving in the morning!

As they prepared to leave, the Preschoolers gifted a poem complete with handprint as a precious keepsake of the morning.

Off to the Zoo!

The october day dawned hot and sunny when 31 adults and 52 children boarded a double decker bus to head to the Auckland Zoological gardens for a day of animal spotting. Morning tea under the band rotunda was a welcome start to build up energy before the children headed off on their adventure – it was going to be a long walk!

The gibbons were making a whole lot of noise as we headed that way and it was clear that they were very keen to show off their talents - much to the delight of the Preschoolers! There were so many animals to see: tigers, seals, penguins, hippos, orangutans, tortoises, lemurs, alligators and a walk through the New Zealand native bird enclosure where parrots flew around our heads! A major highlight was every child hand feeding the giraffe – and the surprise of his long blue tongue wrapping around their little hands as they fed him cabbage leaves or celery.

Lunch was a welcome relief from the sun as we headed back under cover. Who knew October could be so hot? With all the walking, the children really did have great appetites! With renewed energy we set off to explore some more, this time the elephants, lions, zebra, springboks, cheetahs, kiwis, wallabies, Tasmanian devil and flamingos, before heading back to the big corrugated iron elephant for a group photo. The children were so well behaved and we had many comments from the public, in particular tourists from overseas, about how smart they all looked in their uniform and what great behaviour they showed! There were some very sleepy children on the way back to Preschool!

Preschool has a Big Heart

The Preschool, like the Girls’ School, have put their weight behind Sir ray Avery’s Life Pod Appeal to raise funds for infant incubators especially designed for Third World conditions. Sir ray has a daughter at the Preschool and another at the girls’ School and is an avid supporter of Saint Kentigern.

The Preschool is aiming to raise enough for one LifePod, and has set the challenge to other schools to get behind the Kiwi inventor’s cause. ‘it's about children helping other little children, and it is great to teach them about the importance of giving,’ said Preschool Director, Sue Nash. To kick start their fundraising appeal, the Preschool made an ‘advertisement’ when the children sat down to form a big heart with the photo appearing in the Weekend Herald.

More about Sir ray’s charity, Medicine Mondiale, and their global appeal can be read on page 38 in the girls’ School section. To read more detail about Sir Ray’s work or to make a donation to the cause, visit: https://mondialelifepod.com/

Athletics/Tabloid Sports Day

off to the Boys’ School we headed on the bus ready for our Preschool Athletics/Tabloid Sports Day.

The preschoolers loved being in the big, spacious gymnasium which was a perfect venue for all the activities we had planned. The children fuelled up on a pre-athletics snack of juice and biscuits before breaking into supervised groups for a day of skill and fun. There was a wide variety of activities set up to challenge the youngsters in their running, jumping and throwing skills –all with an element of fun thrown in! The groups rotated through the hurdles, sack races, rubber javelin throwing, high jump, basketball, bean bag throw, soccer goals, cone and ball balance, hoop jump and rubber chicken toss. Yes, that was a rubber chicken toss…now a trademark piece of equipment at the girls’ School and Preschool athletics!

All the children participated so well, trying their best and cheering on their friends. There were plenty of parent helpers on hand to help us out and more on the side lines to give support. They seemed to enjoy it every bit as much as the children - some of them even joined in - and we thank them for being there.

Athletics Day is not quite the same if the children don’t have a chance to see what their parents and teachers can do! The adult sack race was so much fun to watch and cheer – especially when some fell over!

Christmas Party

At the beginning of December, Preschool celebrated Christmas by putting on a great show of Christmas songs for their families in the girls’ School hall; all wearing Santa hats in true Christmas spirit.

After the show it was back to Preschool for morning tea – but what was that noise? Santa’s bell! He must have been able to hear the children’s fabulous Christmas singing. The children hurried outside to see the man in the big red suit. No reindeer and sleigh for this Santa; he arrived in a Cobra Sports Car with a special guest driver… a kiwi!

All the children sat on Santa’s knee for a photo and used beautiful Saint Kentigern manners to thank him for their present. Thank you Santa for joining our party; it was a fantastic way to share the Christmas cheer.

Carol Services

each year our Preschool children join with the girls’ and Boys’ Schools for their annual Carol Services, after having lots of singing practice to make sure they are word perfect on the night.

The first service was with the Girls’ School in St Mary’s Church with its beautiful stained glass windows in the nave behind the young choristers. They sang ‘Don’t Tell Anyone;’ the song chosen by the girls’ School for them to sing. They sang well and loved the chorus with the actions, growing in confidence as they sang.

The following week at the Boys’ School Carol Service in the grandeur of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the children performed ‘Five Little Christmas Trees’ with the ten boys and girls who will be transitioning to school next year taking lead roles.

The carol services are really enjoyable Saint Kentigern community events and our Preschool families love the opportunity for their children to be involved. our Preschoolers sang beautifully making their families and teachers very proud!

A visit from author, Craig Smith

it is not every day a famous new zealand songwriter and author comes to visit Preschool, so there was much excitement on the day when ‘Wonky Donkey’ award winning author, Craig Smith arrived! The 3 and 4 year olds, along with the year 0-2 children from the Boys’ and girls’ School, loved listening to Craig read his rhyme and song stories in the hall.

Craig performed all of his children’s books starting with his newly released ‘Square Eyes.’ The children enjoyed joining in on the actions and got fully involved with singing along –understanding that if they sit too long watching a screen -TV, computers or iPads - they will get square eyes like the panda in his latest book!

‘Kaha the Kea’ saw the arrival of a very large Kea from the South island who danced and high fived the children (and adults) – much to the delight of the children – although we are not sure where our Director of Preschool, Sue nash was at that time? Was she the Kea?

‘My Daddy ate an Apple’ saw much giggling from the children as the daddy zebra ate an apple with a green worm inside - and all the issues he had before … it came out!

Many hilarious Craig Smith songs were included in the show before the all-time favourite, ‘The Wonky Donkey’ which set Craig Smith on his path to fame and saw all the children and adults singing along with some fabulous hee hawing!

Following the show, Craig came back to Preschool to have some photos with the children in our very own ‘Craig Smith’ room full of art the children had made of all his song characters. Craig and his partner, Margaret loved it so much that they asked us to send the large Wonky Donkey, Kaha, Zebra and Panda to them in Queenstown when we take it down –for them to display in their new (soon to arrive) baby’s nursery!

Reflections from 2014

Girls' School

on service and leadership. Students organise fund-raising activities for selected charities and make contributions to causes that broaden their social awareness.’ This year, three of our senior students were awarded their Gold Service Award.

Our service component within the School continues to develop and this year saw the establishment of an initiative led by our Year 4 teacher Mr Andrew Finn, which involved a group of senior girls visiting local rest home, Caughey Preston on Wednesday after school. The visits have brought much joy both to the elderly folk and to our girls, and already some strong friendships have been forged. We look forward to continuing this activity next year and to developing other initiatives which support our Service value which is so central to Saint Kentigern.

NEw INItIatIvEs IN 2014

This year we introduced a new initiative, ‘Dads in School’ and invited all fathers (or grandfathers and uncles) to come in and have lunch with their daughter and join in some fun activities. It was a great success and will become a regular event in our calendar.

2014 has been another amazing year in the life of the Girls’ School. We set ourselves the ambitious roll target of 200 girls by the end of the year, with a promise to the current students that we would celebrate when that target was reached. At the end of Term 3 we had 201 girls enrolled and marked this special occasion with a pink iced cup cake for every girl, a mufti day and a treasure hunt for the Junior School.

The Parents and Friends Association, steered by Mr Paul Fletcher as Chairman, Mr William Black as Treasurer and Mr Stacy Colyer who took on the role as Secretary, continued to work hard at ‘friend raising’ and supporting school events. The annual School Disco, Mother Daughter High Tea and Father Daughter Breakfast once again proved to be highlights on our calendar. Thanks to a wonderful team of parent volunteers, these events were well organised and well subscribed. On behalf of the School, I pay a huge vote of thanks to this amazing team of Parents and Friends. We look forward to their major fundraising event next year in March which is a day at the exclusive Gibbs Farm Sculpture Park. The proceeds from this day will help us to redevelop the front area of our Junior School, including a new playground for the girls.

ERO REpORt

This year we were involved in a school review conducted by the Education Review Office. It has been four years since the last review and the excellent report we received this year is testimony to the amount of work that we have put into developing our curriculum and learning programmes. The following comments were made:

‘Saint Kentigern Girls’ School provides a diverse and enjoyable curriculum. Literacy and mathematics are central to the learning programme at all levels. Students are confident and capable learners and achieve very well. Student progress is monitored carefully and learning interventions are used to support any student with additional learning needs.’

It was also interesting to note the comment on our service and leadership which is fundamental to our core values: ‘A strong emphasis is placed

Mandarin: Our languages programme was extended to introduce Mandarin as a second language for girls in Years 7 and 8. Under the tutelage of Mrs Raewyn Ho, this has been a positive experience and offers our girls the opportunity to learn a European and an Asian language during their primary years.

Mindfulness/ Positive Psychology: The Mindfulness programme was introduced to our senior girls this year and was positively received. The programme aimed to give our students an understanding of the power of their mind, as well as how to use relaxation techniques to cope with stress and how to deal with negative thoughts. These are important tools which I hope will help our girls as they move through their teenage years. The teaching staff also received some professional development on the use of Mindfulness techniques and the School offered a parent information evening which was well subscribed. We will continue to build on this programme next year within the school.

Kapa Haka: We were fortunate to secure the expertise of Ms Paddy Flavell to establish our first Kapa Haka group. A group of interested girls met twice weekly to learn and practise for their first performance in front of the school in Term 4, which was very impressive. We will continue to develop this important cultural programme within our school next year.

As I reflect on the year’s achievements here at Saint Kentigern Girls’ School, I appreciate just how far we have come in our first five years. We continue to set the bench mark high and I am very proud to be the Principal of this wonderful school. I am equally proud of the young Saint Kentigern girlsfrom the newest members of our School to the senior students, they fully embrace the values of Saint Kentigern with a wonderful sense of family and care towards others. It is an absolute pleasure to work with them and see their confidence and skills develop as young women.

Fides Servanda Est

Dr Sandra Hastie, Girls’ School Principal and Head of Primary

Graduation Dinner

Marking the official end of their primary school years, the Girls’ School Year 8 Graduation Dinner was again held at Sorrento Restaurant in Cornwall Park. Family, friends and invited guests gathered together to celebrate and reflect on the girls’ time at the School as they prepare to start their College life in 2015.

Dr Sandra Hastie, Principal of the Girls’ School warmly welcomed all guests followed by Mr Andrew Morgan, President of the Old Collegians Association who gave the sponsor’s address. Deputy Head Girl of the College, Lucy Eden was then introduced by Lucy Frazer, the fellow Deputy at the Girls’ School.

Lucy’s ‘big sister’ pearls of wisdom to the girls were to ‘rise above gossip, remember to look out for those who don’t know anyone, get involved, be thankful and ask for help in class.’ She asked each girl next year to meet the challenges that they face straight on, with their head held high and heart wide open, excelling in everything they do; and striving for excellence in every task, large or small.

Following the main course, guest speaker for the evening and Saint Kentigern parent of three, Jane Hastings gave a heartfelt and inspirational talk. Jane is CEO of NZME - New Zealand’s premier integrated media company with a portfolio of market leading newspapers, radio, digital and magazine titles that engage with 2.9 million people every week. She began her management career at Air New Zealand, followed by working in senior leadership roles in Asia and Australasia. Her message to the girls was clear, ‘make sure that whatever you do, you’re true to yourselves and always listen to your gut.’

Head Girl, Emerald Bendall then spoke on behalf of all of the Year 8 leavers thanking the teachers for making them who they are today - independent, confident and hungry for success. ‘You have prepared us for our next step, at whatever secondary school we attend. You have mentored us, directed us and encouraged us along our way and we thank you for your commitment and dedication.’

We welcomed back former 2013 Head Girl of the College, Sharnika Leleni who has now completed her first year of law at the University of Auckland. Sharnika told the girls that as they get older, Dr Hastie will be a person that they can visit for advice and mentoring. ‘It is important’, she said ‘especially as we are all female, to have very wise and strong women in our lives and that we continually challenge ourselves so we reach our potential.’

In her final address of the evening, Dr Hastie shared how a respected mentor of hers told her that people will not remember what she said, but they would remember how she I made them feel. She said it is something that continually sits with her as she works with others and believes the essence of that comes down to being kind. ‘Girls I encourage you to be kind to others, no matter who they are, what race, gender or age. Kindness will get you far in this life, it is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. I also encourage you to be kind to yourself – your inner voice that at times tells you that you are not smart enough, thin enough, tall enough or that your dream for the future is not achievable. Trust and believe in the incredible power of the human mind.’

Annual Giving 2014

This year the Girls’ School initiated its first Annual Giving campaign. The School identified four areas where additional resources would benefit the girls’ education:

• Robotics and a 3D printer for the Middle and Senior Schools

• iPads for the Junior School

• Musical instruments to enrich the orchestral programme

• Tents and camping equipment for outdoor education in the EOTC programme

We were delighted with the support received from our community and would like to gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our Annual Giving 2014 donors:

Anonymous – 8 donations, Sharon Bluck, Cheeseman family, Dennis family, Raymond & Tanya Dobbe, du Temple family, P Green & R Gadsdon-Green, Andrew Horne & Kathryn Hughes, Horton family, Bianca Ivanova, Robert & Prakashni Khan, Caryn Mawkes, McDonald Trust, Radisich family, Amelie Rae, Jiya Raj & family, Charlotte Ray & family, Rowntree family, Paul & Kirsten Stanfield, Metin & Slavka Yildiz

Girls’ School Prizegiving

Piping in the official party for the first time to the Girls’ School Prizegiving service was Year 8 student and Dux of 2014, Kate Pennycuick. As one of only two pipers at the School this year, Kate’s inaugural performance led the party through the JC Chalmers Hall at the Boys’ School, marking the opening of the annual ceremony.

Family, friends and invited guests were welcomed by the Principal of the Girls’ School, Dr Sandra Hastie before Dr Bruce Goodfellow, Chairman of the Trust Board gave his opening address. Dr Goodfellow commented that this year, the College and the Girls’ School were both visited and assessed by the Education Review Office (ERO), and he is pleased to say that both reports have been the best to date.

Reflecting on the development of the Life Pod by one of our parents, Sir Ray Avery, Dr Hastie said to the girls, ‘You are never too young to make a difference, to invent something that could solve a world problem or improve on something really practical. I look forward to the time when I can read about you and that innovative idea that you have developed to make this world a better place. The only thing stopping you is yourself –don’t let others limit the ability and talent that you have. Believe in yourself, in others and in making a difference.’

Presenting the academic prizes were Mrs Rosemary Harris from the Trust Board for the Junior and Middle School and Mrs Suzanne Winthrop, Deputy Head at the College, for the Senior School. The cultural awards were presented by Ms Jan Davidge who will be leaving after 15 years. Miss Tracey Walker, who also leaves this year, presented the Sports Awards. Concluding the presentations for the evening were the special awards by Dr Hastie.

In her last duty for 2014, Head Girl Emerald Bendall read her final valedictory speech before handing the mantle of leadership to Head Girl for 2015, Moiralisa Ainu’u Aneru. Emerald thanked the teachers ‘who have guided us through our years of primary school. They have taught us not only how to multiply, divide and write essays, but they have expanded our minds and taught us lessons that we will take away from this School and apply throughout our lives. As we carry on the path of life to college, we will miss this ‘small but mighty’ School and all it has offered us.’

KATE PENNYCUICK

In 2014 Kate was placed 1st in Mathematics, Science and Mandarin and attained a 94% average across the core curriculum subjects. She is determined to achieve and worked hard at whatever she undertook, whether it was to organise events, through her work with the school council, or in her role as Deputy Sports Leader.

Proxime Accessit

SHARON SUSANTO

In 2014 Sharon was again successful as the top English scholar and attained a 93% average across the core curriculum subjects. Social Science and English are two subjects that she is passionate about.

Sportswoman of the Year

ZARA SMITH

Zara is the Senior Swimming Champion, the Senior Athletics Champion, she placed 1st in the Year 7 Cross Country and she is a member of the Cricket 1st X1. Zara also was a member of the Year 7&8 Basketball A team and a rep basketball player for Harbour; a team that played in the nationals.

Citizenship Award

ZOE SPENCER

The Citizenship cup is awarded to a student who understands the true meaning of service to others and embodies the school values, fully understanding the Saint Kentigern Way. Zoe joined the School in 2014 and quickly achieved awards for taking on leadership responsibilities in her new school with confidence.

Kapa Haka

After a visit to Ruapotaka Marae in Term 2, a Kapa Haka cultural group was formed at the Girls’ School. The group is a first for the School and they are delighted to have Ms Whaea Paddy Flavell, (Whaea means ‘teacher’ in Maori) on board as their tutor. Whaea Flavell brings with her an extensive knowledge and experience in Kapa Haka performance both locally and internationally. Joining her has been Whaea Jamie Cowell, supporting the group on guitar.

Since its inception, the group has grown to over 30 girls from Year 4-8. The group meet twice a week with each session beginning with a Karakia (or prayer) before Whaea Paddy introduces the new item. The girls’ learning occurs through action games, small group activities and friendly contests. Sometimes the group meet in the gymnasium to play popular Maori games such as, ‘Tahi, Rua, Toru, Wha, Pukana!’ and emphasis is placed on self-expression and discipline. The girls are also taught the cultural and historical significance in the items they learn.

As the group has progressed, the girls have developed an increased confidence enjoyed performing a medley of songs at assembly.

Citizenship Awards

Congratulations to Selena Agaimalo (Year 7) and Nieve Campbell (Year 6) who were recipients of this year’s Remuera Lions’ Citizenship Awards.

These awards are presented each year by the Remuera Lions Club to students who best exemplify the ideals of the Lions Junior Citizenship Code. The code includes values such as ‘Honest in word and deed,’ ‘Willing to accept responsibility’ and ‘Generous with your time and talents for the improvement of your community without thought or personal rewards.’

Selena and Nieve are worthy recipients of these awards. They were selected for their courtesy, caring natures and consideration of others. We congratulate them on being selected as representatives from our School. At a ceremony hosted by the Boys’ School and the girls were presented with badges to wear with pride on their blazers.

Carol Service

‘L et us imagine for a moment, the dawn of Christianity in New Zealand 200 years ago. Rangihoua in the Bay of Islands is a place of beginnings for all New Zealand. It was here in December 1814 that The Reverend Samuel Marsden and his missionaries established the first permanent European settlement in Aotearoa New Zealand. He conducted a simple ceremony for a Maori and Pakeha congregation, which heralded the introduction of Christianity into New Zealand on Christmas Day 1814.’

All those who gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral for the Girls’ School Carol Service were invited on a journey, to seek and discover again the mystery and joy of Christmas. Titled, ‘A Pohutukawa Christmas’, the service celebrated Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere and the 200 years since Samuel Marsden brought Christianity to New Zealand.

The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral welcomed the congregation to Saint Mary’s then Principal, Dr Sandra Hastie greeted our families before the Chaplain to the Schools, Reverend Reuben Hardie gave the call to worship.

Year 5 student, Zoe White opened the readings, setting the theme for a service focussed on Christmas in the summer season being such a stark contrast to the northern hemisphere winter Christmas. For New Zealanders today, she said, roaring fires, snowmen, roasted chestnuts, holly and ivy are reminders of the pictures on Christmas cards from our childhood. Year 8 student, Sophia Pettigrove continued the narrative saying that as a nation we are more familiar with summer barbecues at the beach, red pohutukawa trees, pavlova and strawberries. But across the hemispheres, the Christmas story that was shared is the thread that binds us together.

As the service continued to unfold, the girls through their readings, songs and actions gave life to a Christmas tree that started the evening bare. The juniors adorned the tree with pohutukawa decorations and the girls carried donated gift boxes down the aisle to lay underneath for the less fortunate children of Dingwall Trust.

Reverend Hardie told the girls that Christmas was a time of vision; a time when we dream of the world as it ought to be – a world of love and happiness. He believed that God’s joy should be shared with others and that Christmas reminds him of bubbles; the wondrous, joyful feeling bubbling away inside and best shared with others. In fact, he said as pulled out his own bubble making machine and blew a stream of bubbles into the air, he had a special gift for every student to take home - over 200 pots of bubbles!

As the Performers’ Choir sang, Saint Kentigern Girls’ School Blessing, the Year 1 girls came down the aisle in pairs to create an angelic nativity scene at the front of the church. With the service coming to a close, our Year 8 students came forward to receive their Leaver’s Candle, a poignant moment for the girls and their families as their time at the School comes to an end.

We give thanks to: Mrs Janine Bennett, Mrs Judith Dobson, Mrs Nicola Brown, Dr Michael Jenkins and Reverend Reuben Hardie for their work in preparing this service with the girls.

Readers: Zoe Spencer, Year 8; Zoe White, Year 5; Sophia Pettigrove, Year 8; Ava Darbyshire, Year 4; Keeley Berkovits, Year 3; Ms J Davidge; Alexandra O’Connell, Year 2; Emerald Bendall, Year 8; Mrs M Bendall, Anudi Thilakarathne, Year 7; Kristen Hansen, Year 7; Dr S Hastie, Mrs J Dobson, Charlotte Lindsay Smail, Year 8, Ms T Walker; Taylor Hastings, Year 6.

Saint Kentigern

Leaver’s Scarf Presentation

As the Year 8 girls prepared to graduate, a formal ceremony was held at Chapel in their honour. Each of the girls was presented with a departing gift to mark their valediction; a pure silk scarf embodying the symbols of the tale of St Kentigern; the bird, the tree, the fish, the bell and the Iona Cross.

As the girls’ names were called, they were greeted by the Year 1 students who handed over their gift. Principal, Dr Sandra Hastie explained that this customary tradition was a symbol of thanks from the youngest members of the School to their role models and elder sisters. She said that the scarves were special as they are only given to graduating students and are given as a remembrance of always being a Saint Kentigern girl.

Deputy Principal, Mrs Judith Dobson officially placed each girl’s scarf around her shoulders and Dr Hastie joked that this may likely be the last time that Mrs Dobson fixes their uniforms!

The Chapel was full for the service as members of the youngest and eldest girls’ families joined their daughters to witness the important occasion.

Girls visit elderly

As part of their service programme, twelve girls have volunteered to participate in a new afternoon activity with the elderly at the Caughey Preston Rest Home in Remuera. Every Wednesday after school, the girls travel to the home and spend time entertaining and befriending the residents with musical recitals, board games and by sharing stories. The girls take along photo albums and their laptops to share photos of their family and friends. Several girls have also brought their musical instruments and the residents have had much enjoyment watching the young talent. In return, the girls have listened to veteran war stories, played pool, taken a tour of the rest home and were shown small knitted jerseys one resident is making for sick penguins!

Talking and listening to elderly folk is an essential element in building compassion and empathy towards others and it helps the girls to further develop their communication skills and confidence.

Girls vs Wild

With thanks to student reporters, Annie Yu, Emerald Bendall and Zoe Spencer

Girl vs Wild 2014 was packed full of challenges, new opportunities and an element of service for the Year 8 girls on their overnight adventure at Tawharanui Wildlife Sanctuary. The outdoor experience is part of the criteria to achieve the Gold level of the Saint Kentigern Service Award. In order to qualify, the students must have already completed all the requirements for the Bronze and Silver Service Awards.

Before they arrived, one of the girls first tasks was to buy their food to sustain them over the next two days. Along with assembling their tents, they found that cooking their meals outdoors on gas burners was equally as challenging! The girls said one of the highlights of their trip was visiting Goat Island and seeing the vast variety of species flourishing in the marine reserve through the ‘Glass Bottom Boat’.

The service component of the trip was to help with the upkeep of the Sanctuary’s popular walking tracks. With their buckets and spades in hand, and a whole lot of elbow grease, the girls shovelled and scattered new layers of stones over the paths, regravelling these for future walkers to enjoy.

During their stay, the students were able to learn how the Sanctuary values conservation, recreation and farming and its important role in the New Zealand environment, all the while giving a little back to the community.

Lawn Bowls

Aria Competition

Congratulations to Amélie James-Power, (Year 5) and Scarlett Jacques, (Year 7) who placed at the Waiariki Institute of Technology New Zealand Aria Competition in early November. The singing competition is the largest in New Zealand and is highly regarded throughout Australasia’s world of opera.

Amélie competed in a variety of styles in the Aged Under 10 category and picked up a string of awards. These included: Own Selection (1st place), Folk Tradition (Very Highly Commended), Light Entertainment (1st Place) and Sacred Oratoria (1st Place). Scarlett was awarded 2nd place in the Own Selection Aged 10 & Under 13 category. Congratulations to the girls on their achievements.

A new generation of lawn bowlers hit the Remuera Bowling Club in Term 4 when the Year 7 and 8 girls took on the boys from King’s School. The girls started practising their skills in weekly games earlier in the year when the School was approached by the club offering a chance for the girls to experience the sport.

At first, PE Teacher, Mrs Rowson was a bit unsure about how the girls would embrace the game and at the start she did get a few comments like, ‘This is for old people’ and ‘My Grandad plays this.’ But after their first lesson the girls were hooked! Mrs Rowson said she was amazed at the excitement generated over a large ball being bowled underarm at a target! When the girls did get their bowl close to the jack, you’d think they had won Olympic gold!

The girls were lucky to have very skilled and extremely patient coaches who eventually got the girls bowling accurately. They certainly enjoyed the experience and have a new appreciation for a sport that is reportedly gaining traction with a younger generation both here and in Australia.

Athletics Days

T his year the Girls’ School had three separate athletics events. In Term 4, the Junior and Middle Schools held their competitions, while the Year 7 & 8 girls joined the College in Term 1.

Using the top field and Jubilee Sports Centre at the Boys’ School, the Year 0-3 girls took part in sprints, long jump, Frisbee, chest pass events, sack races and an obstacle course. With her ‘chicken’ in her hand, Principal of the Girls’ School, Dr Sandra Hastie showed the girls how the obstacle course was run, much to the delight of the teams cheering her on! In the 50m and 60m sprints, the top eight in each year level made it through to the finals drawing many parents to the track sidelines to cheer on the girls.

Despite the challenging weather conditions, the Middle School girls put in a stellar effort at this year’s Athletics Day at Lloyd Elsmore Park. The girls were running, jumping and throwing against gusty wind speeds of up to 56km/h and really had to put in that extra effort to propel themselves over the finish line!

The athletics events culminated with the House Relays when the girls joined the boys at the Boys’ School for an afternoon that included both fun and determined racing. Competitors from Years 0-8 took to the field in their teams of four while the rest joined in the cheering from the bank. Hamilton proved to be the strongest House at this event taking the podium finish.

GIRLs’ sCHOOL YEaR GROUp CHaMpIONs 2014 1ST 2ND 3RD

YEAR 0

Rosie Ward Brooke Rowntree Elzineia Dhani

YEAR 1

Olivia Carpenter Claudia Stewart Ashley Cheeseman

YEAR 2

Amelia Evangelidakis Endrica Dhani Sophie Yan & Sienna Haar

YEAR 3

Isabella Hughes Alisa Iosua Charlotte Higgins

YEAR 4

Mary Stanfield Jade Radisich Coco Du Temple

YEAR 5

Laura Lightfoot Kate Frazer Harriet Lightfoot

YEAR 6

Olivia Connelly Ella Grayson India Doo

YEAR 7

Zara Smith Moiralisa Aneru Terri-Jane Warner

YEAR 8

Annie Yu Grace Stehlin Emelia Radisich

Annika Sethi

Georgia Roberts

Zoe Spencer

sOUtH EastERN ZONE atHLEtICs

Congratulations to champion thrower, Moiralisa Ainu’u Aneru, Year 7, who broke two records at the Year 7/8 SEZ competition! Moiralisa threw a whopping distance of 10.20m in shot put and 28.70 in discus. Zara Smith, Year 7, also came second in her grade in the high jump with a jump of 1.40m, a personal best.

Grandparents’ Day

A very special event on our School calendar, this year we hosted a record 250 grandparents to celebrate the important role they play in the lives of our students.

The morning began with a warm welcome from the Girls’ School Principal, Dr Sandra Hastie who said the girls were thrilled to have their grandparents with them, some who had travelled from as far afield as Australia. Outlining the morning’s programme, Dr Hastie firstly thanked those grandparents who had adopted a grandchild for a couple of hours as she knew this really meant a lot to the girls whose grandparents were unable to be there.

A variety of girls took to the stage to perform their acts from recently held showcase evenings. The Year 6 dance troupe performed a dramatic dance sequence; Kate Frazer, Year 5, acted out ‘The Yellow One’ with her bubbly characterisation; Year 0-2 sang ‘The Silly Hat Song’ and the Year

8 students rapped the amusing ‘Gran Rap.’ As a finale, the whole school joined on stage for a joyful ‘Colour My World.’

The book sale, held in the Library, was popular once again, with excited girls deliberating with their grandparents on what book to choose. All book purchases were for donation back to the Library and will be finished with a bookplate inscription of the girls’ names, leaving their own legacy to reading at the School.

After the girls had proudly shown their grandparents around their classrooms and the grounds, it was time for morning tea and a chance to mingle in the hall. This year, the refreshments were sponsored by Miranda Smith Homecare and we thank them for their very generous support.

Girls’ School helps keep ‘little hearts beating!’

The Girls’ School, along with the Preschool, have put their weight behind Sir Ray Avery’s Life Pod Appeal to raise funds for infant incubators especially designed for Third World conditions. The girls’ fundraising got off to a fantastic start raising $2,390 in one day. They have already raised enough funds to buy one Life Pod and have set their sights on raising $20,000 over the course of next year – enough to enable the purchase of ten Pods.

Sir Ray’s charity, Medicine Mondiale, launched a $2 million global fundraising appeal at the end of October. The appeal aims to get the high-quality, affordable baby incubators into production for Third World hospitals. Designed for a hot climate where supplies of clean water and power are intermittent, the incubators will be made with a joint venture in India,

costing around $2000 per pod. This is compared with more than $40,000 for the models currently available that are not suitable for hot, unsanitary conditions. Unlike conventional incubators, the Life Pods are designed to work in hostile environments; they are able to purify their own air and water and have the resource to run for 10 years. Each LifePod has the potential to save up to 500 babies.

Sir Avery has a daughter at the Girls’ School and another at the Preschool and is an avid supporter of Saint Kentigern. The Preschool were first to make an ‘advertisement’ when the children sat down to form a big heart with the subsequent photo appearing in the Weekend Herald.

The creation of the overhead banner for an aerial shot at the Girls’ School was an amazing exercise in logistics masterminded by parents, Fiona and Charlie Marshall, Anna Taylor, Sharon Bluck and Jules Cheeseman. Mr Marshall is well known for his fabulous photography at school events and so bravely volunteered to be the photographer while 200 girls and their teachers were organised into lines to hold 200 printed A2 size cards over their heads. This was no mean feat! The cards needed to be in just the right place and the girls needed to keep still! Not so easy when you’re only five years old! There was plenty of shuffling the lines to get it right – but Mr Marshall admits that in the end, just a ‘wee bit’ of Photoshopping was required to get the finished result! The result is fabulous and we hope it will encourage others to also donate.

To read more about Sir Avery’s work or to make a donation to the cause, visit: https://mondialelifepod.com/

Parents and Friends

ASunday Sculptures Gibbs Farm

activities and was a great success thanks to the careful organisation of Patsy Radisich. The Mother Daughter High Tea, also held in Term 1, was again extremely successful thanks to the hard work of Kim Gear and her team. As winter approached Justine Murchison and her team hosted the much anticipated School Disco at which the girls had a lot of fun. The Father and Daughter Breakfast rounded off the events for the year. This year it was again held off site which meant a lot less work for volunteers and was a great success thanks to Anna Avery, Julie Bolton and Barbara Chin.

We are currently preparing for a major fundraiser at Gibbs Farm at the start of next year. This will be a truly unique and memorable experience and my thanks go to the organising committee of Deborah Higgins, Kim McGregor and Shelley Horton. This event is raising funds for our major 2015 project which is to create a new junior school playground and develop the Ranui Road frontage.

Sunday Sculptur Gibbs

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 2015 AT

s we end another great year of events, my sincere thanks to all our volunteers who through our Parents and Friends Association help make our school such a special place for our girls.

Throughout 2014, the Parents and Friends Association has continued our strategy of running community focussed, fun events. Spread throughout the year, these events involve all parts of our school and help to build the special school spirit and atmosphere for the benefit of our girls and their families.

We started this year with our traditional School Picnic which is an excellent chance for families to mix in an informal setting. This year saw many new

This year is my last year as Chair and I reflect it has been my privilege to lead such an energetic team who have worked so diligently for our girls over the last four years. My special thanks to them for their enthusiasm and hard work, much of which goes on behind the scenes. In particular I thank our Treasurer William Black, Secretary Stacy Colyer and parent liaison Terri Tang for all their hard work throughout the year.

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH AT

The Parents and Friends look forward to an exciting 2015!

Paul Fletcher

Chairman Saint Kentigern Girls’ School Parents and Friends

Sunday Sculptures Gibbs Farm

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 2015 AT

Don’t miss your chance to visit the world class Gibbs Sculpture Park, which boasts a stunning collection of individually commissioned site speci c sculptures from renowned national and international artists.

Sunday Sculptures Gibbs Farm

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH 2015 AT

Sunday Sculptures

See works from some of the world’s greatest artists, including Neil Dawson, Ralph Hotere and Bernar Venet. The privately owned park is also home to exotic animals such as giraffes, zebras and llamas, and is rarely open to the public. Get your tickets now for you and your family to enjoy this special opportunity.

Follow our link for more information & tickets:

http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2015/mar/sunday-sculptures-at-gibbs-farm

Don’t miss your chance to visit the world class Gibbs Sculpture Park, which boasts a stunning collection of individually commissioned site speci c sculptures from renowned national and international artists.

Don’t miss your chance to visit the world boasts a stunning collection of individually sculptures from renowned national

See works from some of the world’s greatest artists, including Neil Dawson, Ralph Hotere and Bernar Venet. The privately owned park is also home to exotic animals such as giraffes, zebras and llamas, and is rarely open to the public.

Don’t miss your chance to visit the world class Gibbs Sculpture Park, which boasts a stunning collection of individually commissioned site speci c sculptures from renowned national and international artists.

Get your tickets now for you and your family to enjoy this special opportunity.

Follow our link for more information & tickets:

See works from some of the world’s greatest artists, including Neil Dawson, Ralph Hotere and Bernar Venet. The privately owned park is also home to exotic animals such as giraffes, zebras and llamas, and is rarely open to the public.

http://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2015/mar/sunday-sculptures-at-gibbs-farm

This event is proudly brought to you by Saint Kentigern Girls’ School.

Get your tickets now for you and your family to enjoy this special opportunity.

Follow our link for more information & tickets:

See works from some of the world’s greatest Ralph Hotere and Bernar Venet. The privately animals such as giraffes, zebras and llamas, Get your tickets now for you and your family

This event is proudly brought to you by Saint Kentigern Girls’ School.

Boys' School

There are many examples in our school where boys are achieving well academically, are accomplished musicians and successful sportsman while also actively involved in the service element that we as a school hold to so dearly. Time management is becoming an increasingly important skill for all students and parents as they attempt to juggle the extra demands in an already busy family schedule.

I encourage each and every boy to be willing to have a go rather than opting out due to a lack of confidence or, worse still, apathy. The other key ingredient required is to keep at it rather than give up before mastery is achieved. It will always be challenging when you start something!

I believe our boys are incredibly fortunate to have such a diverse range of activities available to them. I can assure you that the student who is fully involved in a variety of pursuits gains the most benefit from their schooling.

‘A well-rounded Education’

Aschool is like a super city – many distinct groups that have to work together for a common goal: Trust Board, Parents, Staff, Junior School, Middle School and the Senior School. And in the case of Saint Kentigern, a Preschool, Boys’ School, Girls’ School and College also. All groups have different needs or outcomes requiring a different approach.

One size does not fit all, therefore, the varying ages and stages of education must show the necessary progression to ensure our boys are well-prepared for the next level. In all cases, we acknowledge that academic rigour and understanding is required, however, in order to develop the all-round man, we also need to inspire creativity, entrepreneurship and resilience where service and leadership are ingrained from an early age.

It is also important that schools provide cultural and sporting opportunities for its students. This cannot be simply a PE or Music lesson as our students need more than that to spark an interest that will hopefully become a lifelong passion.

The productions undertaken at both the Middle and Senior School this year are clear examples of benefits. How great it is to see the growing confidence of boys after each performance and I know full well that they will remember this more than the Maths or English lesson missed!

As boys move through the education system, more opportunities become available for them to ‘have a go.’ Competition increases as individuals or teams test their knowledge, skills or talents against peers. Individuals learn to cope with success or failure and develop a better understanding of team work, where working together towards a common goal does make a difference.

Having just completed writing reports for all students at the Boys’ School, it is amazing to see their achievements and growth over the year, along with how involved they are in the extra-curricular life of school.

At times we forget how capable our young men are. They can carry their own bags, they can achieve at a high level if prepared to do so, they do think of others, they become more accepting of others’ differences and where necessary they can fight their own battles. As the years pass by, the growth and development in each of our boys is a pleasure to witness.

We are not always perfect, therefore, we can expect to make mistakes no matter what age we are. This becomes a necessary part of our learning journey. Too often we can dwell on mistakes or previous problems, without taking into account growing maturity, which can hinder development or relationships. Three simple words can assist ‘Let it Go!’

In my teaching career I have had the opportunity to enrol boys at 5 years of age and then see them leave at 18 years ready to head off to university or work. The development that occurs at the different stages of primary and secondary education is incredible to witness. At times parents, boys and schools may experience frustration or angst, however, I can assure you that with growing maturity, independence and the necessary building blocks established at each level, the end result is a student excited, confident and prepared for what life will bring.

‘Enjoy the journey with your son, celebrate his successes, support him with his disappointments, teach him reality and accept his individuality!’

Fides Servanda Est

Mr Peter Cassie, Boys’ School Principal

Graduation Dinner

Our Year 8 boys, proudly sporting their Old Collegians ties, gathered with their parents, staff and invited guests at the Ellerslie Convention Centre to reflect back on the boys’ last eight years of friendship and learning as they readied themselves for the next step in their education. The Dean of the Senior School, Mr Joe Johansen opened the formalities addressing the boys in his care for the final time. He spoke of success and the part this can play in our lives. While it may seem that success is often measured by academic endeavours, he told the boys that personal success may take many different forms, from discovering resilience in the face of defeat to actually making a difference to other people’s lives - in the way they have this year through activities such as helping pack groceries at Foodbank or assisting children with physical or visual difficulties at Halberg Day.

He urged the boys to remember the lessons learned and friendships formed at Saint Kentigern as they move on in life. He concluded by saying, ‘Unlike some parts of the world, we live in a country where we really do have a choice about the future we want. You, young men, are the ones that will make that happen. Whether it be in business, education, healthcare, science, engineering, the arts or sport. Go out and make a difference to the lives of others, make your parents and teachers proud, but most importantly, go out and make yourselves proud.’

Following dinner, we were pleased to invite former cricket great and entrepreneur, Dion Nash to speak. Captain of New Zealand on more than one occasion, he retired from cricket in 2002 having taken 93 test wickets and scored 729 test runs. Earlier in the year, he came to pass on his techniques to our own young cricketers. Since packing away the whites, Dion has embarked on a successful career in business, becoming Global Marketing Manager of success story, 42Below Vodka. He currently has his own men’s skin care range, ‘Triumph and Disaster’ in some of the top stores In Europe. Full of cricketing anecdotes, he gave the boys his list of tips to succeed: Learn to focus; be your own best coach; take risks; take ownership of your actions; make room for difficult people; build fitness into your day; and have respect for your elders.

In closing, Principal, Mr Cassie said, ‘The next five years of your education will be exciting and you will face challenges. You are in the driving seat and the choices and decisions you make will define who you are and what you will become. I encourage you to firmly strap yourself in and put your foot firmly on the pedal.

A final set of ‘reflections,’ a video prepared by Head Boy, Benjamin Lerner and his family, was an amazing compilation of caricatures of each boy drawn by cartoonist, Ant Sang of ‘Bro Town’ fame. He captured each boy perfectly, creating many laughs. The boys all received their own framed piece as a keepsake. The evening finally concluded with one last haka from the boys. Once again we are grateful to the Old Collegians for sponsoring this event and the Prefects' parents for lovingly decorating the venue in House colours.

Annual Giving 2014

We gratefully acknowledge the support of our Annual Giving 2014 donors. Their generosity will enable us to purchase robotics equipment and multimedia technology and continue to assist boys through the Roselle Scholarship Fund.

AnnuAl GivinG DOnORS

Anonymous x 24, Sebastian Batchelor-Barrowclough, BN Carrington, P Cearns, James Collins, Dennehy family, du Temple family, K & S Evans, G & L Graham, Hatherley family, Hiddleston family, Andrew Horne and Kathryn Hughes, Horton family, Oryon Ivanov, Murray King and Fleur Baker, AA Kujovic, Neville Lyne & Fiona Geary, Ormond family, Roberton family, Rowntree family, G & M Ryder, Shearer family, Trombitas family, Wilby family, Michael and Louise Morrison, Rhys and Cathy Mountfort, Paul and Kirsten Stanfield., Michael & Louise Morrison, Rhys & Cathy Mountfort, Philip & Yasmine Newland, Paul & Kirsten Stanfield

ROSEllE FOunDATiOn DOnORS

Thank you to the following donors who have supported the Roselle Foundation during 2014. Your generosity is helping to provide a wonderful legacy for future generations.

ANZ Bank, Ms Joy Clark, Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust, Mr B & Mrs Z Matheson, Megan Jaffe Real Estate, Rachel & Jason Paris, Saint Kentigern Boys’ School Parents & Friends, Saint Kentigern Old Collegians’ Association, Mr M & Ms A Stokes, Winger Motors, Mr H Wong & Ms R Quinlan

Boys’ School Prizegiving

The Boys’ and Girls’ School combined Pipes and Drums opened this year’s Boys’ School Prizegiving with their first ever performance, to great applause, before Piper, David Allan, led our staff and invited guests to their seats for the very last Saint Kentigern event of the year. Students, their families, guests and teachers filled the Old Collegians Sport Centre, at the College campus, to congratulate this year’s prize winners on their academic, sporting and cultural success.

This year the Junior and Middle School Awards were presented by retiring staff member, Mr Barry Kemp; we thank him for his years of service in the Middle School. Longstanding Trust Board member and School advocate, Mrs Rosemary Harris presented the Music, Speech and Cultural Awards; Head of Primary, Dr Sandra Hastie presented the Senior Awards; and Dr Bruce Goodfellow presented the Christian Living and Service Awards. We thank them for their time and constant support of the School.

In his formal address, Mr Cassie said, ‘A school is like a super city –many distinct groups that have to work together for a common goal. Trust Board, Parents, Staff, Junior School, Middle School and the Senior School. All groups have different needs or outcomes requiring a different approach.

One size does not fit all. Academic rigour is important but iIn order to develop the all-round man, we also need to inspire creativity, entrepreneurship and resilience, and to ingrain service and leadership from an early age.’

He gave his thanks to all the staff, the Prefect team whose student leadership has been exemplary this year and the parents and families of our boys, ‘Without your continued support and enthusiasm and willingness to get involved we could not provide your sons with such amazing opportunities.’

To conclude, graduating Head Boy, Benjamin Lerner made his final Valedictory Speech before handing the mantel of leadership to the new Head Boy for 2015, Michael Hiddleston. Benjamin shared his eight years as a Saint Kentigern boy but he said, above all, the School had opened his eyes through the service programme to the reality that there are those whose lives are not as privileged and who need our support.

Dux

GiBSOn nEvill

Gibson has been a self-motivated and diligent student who has received many awards for excellence during his time at the School. This year his combined marks were: English 89.37%, Maths 95%, Social Science 95%, Science 82% creating a total 362 and an average 90.5%. In his examination marks only Gibson earned: English 95%, Maths 96%, Social Science 94%, Science 87%. This was a total of 372 with an average of 93%.

Gibson is a worthy recipient of the Foundation Pupil Cup for Dux.

Proxime Accessit

STEvEn CHO

The Jubilee Cup for Proxime Accessit was awarded to Steven Cho. Steven’s combined marks were: English 89.69%, Maths 96%, Social Science 84%, Science 88% creating a total of 358 with an average of 89.5%. In his examination marks only, Steven earned: English 91%, Maths 96%, Social Science 82%, Science 98%, giving a total of 367 with an average of 91.75%.

Senior School Sportsman of the Year

BROnSOn GlEYE

The Ross Perry Cup for Senior Sportsman of the Year goes to Bronson Gleye who has represented the School in many sporting codes: 1st XV rugby, A Softball team, A Basketball Ball team, Eastern Zone Swim team, Inter Zone Swim team, NIPS Snowboard team and the A Water Polo team which won Winterfest, the North Island Champiopnsships, Tim Sonderer and the Super City competition.

Rex Hooton Cup for School Spirit

SAM lOOKER

The Rex Hooton Cup for School Spirit is awarded to the senior boy who best demonstrates the school spirit of diligence, cooperation, courtesy, sportsmanship and friendliness. Sam exemplifies each of these and is a worthy recipient.

Middle School Sportsman of the Year

CHARlES WilKES

The AW Smith Cup was awarded to Charles for his contribution to Middle School sport: Year 5/6 A Cricket, Year 5/6 A Rugby, 3rd in Year 6 at Remuera Zone Cross Country, Year 6 Athletics Champion, Remuera Zone Athletics team, Year 5/6 Basketball and was in the Year 6 Tennis Championship final.

Boys vs Wild

This year a record 37 boys qualified for the 2014 Boy vs Wild service trip to Motutapu Island, having earned the Silver Badge of the Saint Kentigern Service Award. The overnight trip is part of the Gold Award. The Saint Kentigern boys hosted a further six Year 6 boys from Wymondley Road School in Otara, along with their Principal, Mr Pelu Leaupepetele.

The first day entailed a ferry ride into Home Bay, setting up camp and then a team race around the island, right out to Billy Goat Point, the furthest point. At each check point, in true boy-style, the boys had to complete either a ‘gross’ food challenge, construct a human pyramid or another challenge, before returning to Home Bay for a very ‘refreshing’ jump off the wharf –it’s not quite summer yet but the boys didn’t mind!

After cooking dinner and a game of ‘spotlight,’ the boys were taken down to the beach where they spent time lying on the sand listening to waves roll in and watching the stars appear in the night sky. For some boys, this was one of the highlights of the trip.

After a first day of team work and bonding, Day 2 was all about service. The boys spent five hours digging a trench for a new water pipe in Home Bay, laying the pipe and then refilling the trench. It was back breaking work, the ground was rocky and uncompromising in places but the boys kept at it and felt hugely satisfied when they had finished the job.

The boys returned to their families completely exhausted but with many stories to tell and a strong sense of pride at what they had achieved. This was one of the best Boy vs Wild trips yet!

Our thanks to Rotary for the donation of sausages!

Citizenship Awards

Congratulations to Patrick Reidy (Year 8) and Leo Lindsay Smail (Year 6) who were recipients of this year’s Remuera Lions’ Citizenship Awards. These awards are presented each year by the Remuera Lions Club to students who best exemplify the ideals of the Lions Junior Citizenship Code. The code includes values such as ‘Honest in word and deed,’ ‘Willing to accept responsibility’ and ‘Generous with your time and talents for the improvement of your community without thought or personal rewards.’

Patrick and Leo are worthy recipients of these awards. They were selected for their courtesy, caring natures and consideration of others. We congratulate them on being selected as representatives from our School.

At a ceremony hosted by our school, the boys were presented with badges to wear with pride on their blazers.

With thanks to Reverend Reuben Hardie

Bring back the simple to Christmas

In what must be a first for the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Parnell, a cricket pitch was set up in the nave as Chaplain to the Schools, Rev Reuben Hardie urged the congregation to return to the simple pleasures of life this Christmas!

As the jazz band played, the boys, their families, staff and special guests, along with the children from the Preschool, filled the cathedral to capacity. Every chair was brought out and still there was standing room only!

The service opened with the clear voice of Anthony Gu, from on high, as he sang the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’ accompanied by Sam Looker on the hand bells. This opportunity to sing solo in the grandeur of the cathedral is an annual feature of the Boys’ School service; a moving start to an evening that brings the Saint Kentigern community together to celebrate as a family, give thanks for the year, to rejoice in the joy of Christmas and to farewell the boys in Year 8 as they prepare to move on to their next stage in life.

In his opening words of welcome, Principal, Mr Peter Cassie told the boys that there were only 24 sleeps to Christmas and the time had come to enjoy singing carols and decorate the tree. It’s a time to enjoy summer weather, beaches, barbecues, holidays, family, friends and laughter. It’s a time of gifts and giving. And it’s a time to remember what we are really celebrating as we rejoice in the birth of Jesus.

As the service unfolded, Head Boy, Benjamin Lerner and his mother, Rachel gave the first two readings, followed by retiring staff member, Mr Barry Kemp. We enjoyed performances from the Performer’s Choir, including a solo from Deputy Head Boy, Beck Robson. The staff then joined them to sing ‘Carol of the Bells.’

Reverend Hardie said he didn’t often acquiesce to special requests but as this one came from a higher authority – his wife – he arranged for some Middle School boys to introduce Joy to the World with hand bells. The congregation agreed with his wife; a worthy addition! Well done!

The Junior School boys sat as quietly as possible for inquisitive 5 and 6 year olds in full view; resplendent in the white shirts of their chapel uniform and that oh-so-tempting tie on elastic, until it was their turn to sing ‘The Angels Sang.’ They were promptly upstaged by the Preschoolers who came forward to present ‘Five Little Christmas Trees’ with the children who are transitioning to school in the New Year, taking the lead.

Reverend Reuben Hardie, once again delivered a service that had appeal for all age groups. In these increasingly busy times, many of us continue to add stress to our already pressured lives. He asked if we really need to overload the tree with gifts, glaze the ham in yet another new way, make 25 different side dishes, rush from one Christmas event to the next or plan overelaborate holiday trips? He reminded us that the original Christmas wasn’t that complicated. The wise men limited themselves to only three

gifts. Joseph clearly didn’t bother himself with calling ahead or over-complicating the itinerary and Mary didn’t seem to worry too much about anything - a stable was good enough for the night and she contented herself with a manger to lay her baby. For the most important thing that night was that God loved the world so much he gave his only son.

Rev Hardie urged us to take away the unnecessary and learn to gain pleasure from the simple things that Kiwis have come to enjoy at Christmas time. And with this introduction, the cathedral was transformed as a cricket pitch was set up, the boys fired up the barbie, rustled up a tent and a sleeping bag and found themselves some hokey pokey ice creams. The four boys who scored the final role definitely didn’t draw the short straw!

The Reverend concluded by saying he hoped we will remember that the most important thing in life is love. And that God’s love came to us in a very simple way, ‘For unto us a child was born.’ Jesus was born into the world to help us focus on the things that truly matter.

At the conclusion of the service, the Year 8 boys came forward to light a candle; a poignant time for the families as their long association with the School comes to an end.

The School offers thanks to Rev Tony Surman for his words of welcome and for hosting our service in cathedral and to the organist, Mr Philip Smith, for providing the accompaniment to our carols.

Boys’ School Donate 66 Hampers

Over the course of this term, our boys have been collecting items to place in hampers for the families at Wymondley Road Primary School in Otara. The spirit and generosity of our School community towards creating these hampers at Christmas time is amazing and the boys loved watching the hampers build and grow in their classroom.

This week, the boys who received the Christian Living Award from each class, across all age groups, gathered up the 66 huge hampers, along with $2000 worth of meat pack vouchers that we raised at a recent mufti day, to deliver to Wymondley. It seemed as though the entire school community came out for the special assembly to welcome us.

After words of welcome from their Principal, Mr Pelu Leaupepetele, and his expression of thanks on behalf of his school community, their school choir sang two songs, including a traditional Samoan song. Following this, our boys were surprised when, in gratitude, the Wymondley students and parents came forward to place lolly leis around the boys’ necks. Our Year 1 boys almost disappeared under the weight of them!

Mr Leaupepetele explained that the leis symbolised eternal love, which is at the heart of the Christmas message and which, he said, their community was experiencing though the generosity of Saint Kentigern.

This was a very humbling, special experience for the boys, staff and the parents who accompanied the hampers this year.

As Thomas Webster, a Year 8 boy said, ‘This is an experience that will stay with me forever.’

National success at the Arias!

C

ongratulations to seven year old Charles Adams who punched above his weight to win the U10 boys’ section at the New Zealand Aria Competition, held in Rotorua; one of Australasia’s most

prestigious singing competitions. Saint Kentigern was well represented with Amelie James-Power from the Girls’ School also winning the U10 girls, and the College also winning a swag of awards, including the U16 title for former Boys’ School student, Liam Braithwaite.

Charles sang in four categories and was awarded Highly Commended for each with his aggregate score placing him in first place in the overall U10 category. Charles, like Amelie, has singing lessons from well-known stage performer, Tim Beveridge.

Well done Charles!

Tate, the Fairyland Hero

What an awesome production! Every single seat in the house was sold for the inaugural Middle School musical production - Tate, the Fairyland Hero. The first night’s audience was witness to the ‘world premiere’ of a show written by music teacher, Mr Edwin Randell and brought to the stage by the boys in Years 4-6. Every single boy had a part to play, whether it was as a lead, part of the chorus or a ‘techie’ role behind the scenes - and the combined effort was a truly outstanding, toe-tapping musical production!

Like all good fairy stories, this one had its fair share of good and evil characters with twists and turns in the plot. The story played homage to every well-known story book character throughout the ages and the chorus was packed with personalities as wide ranging as the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the Seven Dwarves, the Gingerbread Man, Red Riding Hood and Puss in Boots, to more modern day characters such as Cruella de Vil, Mickey Mouse and Shrek! The costume and makeup department were very busy prior to the show!

The opening number, ‘You can be bold, you can be free, you can be what you want to be’ assembled the entire cast on stage for a roof-lifting song to set the scene. Such was their enthusiasm, it soon became clear that despite their young age, these boys were going to deliver a very strong vocal performance!

The plot unfolded through narration from the Fairy Godmother (William McLachlan) who sat to the side in ‘her’ rocking chair reading from a fairy story. William played this slightly cantankerous role well, making demands on her stage audience to make her comfortable before she would proceed!

The show’s namesake, Tate, is a young boy who fell asleep mid-story to find himself caught as a ‘dream walker’ living out his imagination. Ably played by Benjamin Graham, whose strong vocals and characterisation shone through,

Tate found himself on a ‘mission’ to save Fairyland. His first encounter with the folk resulted in a fantastic rapping song, ‘Yo everybody in Fairyland’ that gave a number of solo performances to individual performers.

Once again, this song, so suited to the age group, is a reflection of Mr Randell’s talent as a writer and understanding of just what appeals to boys!

We were introduced to Gaspar (Leo Van Druten), Giuseppe (Regan Nash) and the Witch of the East (Jack Sandelin) who, falling on the side of evil, were hatching a plan to overthrow the King. Jack, in his role as the Witch, revisits the stage a number of times and plays the role superbly with just the right amount of wickedness! With the spell, ‘Statueratapus Freeziamus’ cast, the first act ended with every good character turned into ….a fruit tree!

Tate escaped the spell as it had been his turn to hide in a game of hide and seek but with the spell cast on his new found friends, he had some quick thinking to do to work against the forces of evil.

The characters of Cruela de Vil (Charles Wilkes), Dr Ulbelstein (Charles Swain) and the Ugly Sisters, Esmerelda (Jack Webber) and Grizelda (Akash Mudaliar) combined superbly with the Big Bad Wolf, One-Eyed Sailors, Trolls, Rats and Bats to bring malice to the land. Tate, meanwhile, worked on a double cross. Realising that the fruit on the trees was tainted, he brewed up a punch.

Dressed as the evil Abanazer (the genie from Aladdin) to gain an audience, he proposed a toast to their wicked plan and as they imbibed, each evil character collapsed from the poisonous punch – all but one. The Witch was too quick and turned Tate into a donkey!

As with all good fairy stories, the bad undoes at the end! This time it’s magical brownies that revert Tate to a boy and an ancient chant ‘Azar bahnecktah loowha’ sung as a round by the cast that restores wrong to right!

Congratulations to all the boys in Years 4-6 for a truly fantastic show!

Our thanks to Musical Director, Mr Edwin Randell, who can be justifiably proud of the show he has written; Producer and Director, Mrs Carolyn Williams; Vocal Trainer, Mrs Mary Jones and the rest of the Middle School staff for the work taken to bring this show to the stage. Our thanks also to the many parents who lent their expertise to make this such a success.

Music showcase

In a first for the Boys’ School, visitors to this year’s Music Showcase were greeted by emerging pipers and drummers as the School begins its journey to creating its own Pipe Band. David Allan, resplendent in tartan, took the lead on the pipes along with six boys on the snare drums. Their teachers, Old Collegians, William Tremlett on the pipes and Matthew McQueen on the drums, were there to support their first group performance.

The Music Showcase is the culmination of a year of music lessons, practising and performances for the boys and features our very best musicians. The boys who played were selected through an audition process to perform in front of a large audience of students, staff, parents and invited guests.

Director of Music, Mrs Janet Grierson said the purpose of the morning was threefold. Firstly, it’s a competition to determine the best soloist on each instrument. Secondly, it gives the younger boys an overview of the instruments that they might like to learn as they progress through the School. And finally, for those whose musical journey has just begun, they can see the different ensembles and begin to think about where they might like to fit in.

The Symphonic Orchestra, comprising beginner and more experienced players, opened with the popular, ‘Gonna Fly Now,’ from the movie ‘Rocky.’ We were then treated to polished individual performances across a broad range of piano, violin and wind and string instruments.

Amongst the talented solo musicians, a variety of groups also presented their pieces including the the jazz combo, flute ensemble, recorder groups and clarinet quartet, with the Jazz Band closing with this year’s signature piece, Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’

Principal, Mr Peter Cassie congratulated the players who had stretched to reach the top and were chosen to play today. He also thanked the players right behind who were pushing just as hard to keep the standards high. He paid tribute to our graduating Year 8’s for all they have done for our music groups. Whilst they will leave a hole, we know we have equally great talent coming through the ranks to fill those places and keep the programme incredibly strong. Mr Cassie also thanked the parents for supporting their boys and encouraging their practice, ‘In music, you have given them a gift for life.’

Zoo Snooze

Junior Boys get Firewise

‘Get down, get low and get out fast!’

Our Junior School boys could hardly contain themselves when the local Remuera fire fighting team paid a visit in a gleaming red fire engine. They were bubbling over with questions to ask!

Station Officer, Rob Appleton, along with three of his fire crew, patiently worked with the boys, firstly to let them climb into the cab for a glimpse inside before explaining about the incredible equipment tucked away neatly around every side of the truck and the job that they do. Most importantly, they talked to the boys about fire safety and what they should do in the event of a fire.

Thankfully most children will never need to escape from a burning building, however, the skills taught during the Firewise unit will be invaluable if ever faced with this terrifying experience.

Whilst the spirit of Kashin and Burma lives on in the Old Elephant House at Auckland Zoological Gardens, thankfully the smell has long gone –just as well, as the former housing for the zoo’s elephants now provides eating and sleeping quarters for school groups taking on the ‘Zoo Snooze!’

Each year, our boys in Year 3 have the chance to visit the zoo for a night time, torch lit safari and a sleepover. For many, this is their first time away from home overnight so the excitement levels are always high! Sadly the weather was not in their favour this year, causing traffic chaos on the trip there and a very wet night for touring the zoo but that did not dampen the enthusiasm for a group of young boys! The parents and staff, however, put on brave faces in the badly-timed torrential downpours!

As the gates closed to the general public at 5pm, the zoo became the domain of just over 20 boys on each of the two nights. Before dinner they set off with maps in hand to see how many animals they could spot. Each small group had a well-protected iPad and the boys thoroughly enjoyed the chance to take photographs and short movies to turn into iMovies on return to school.

Whilst they waited for the sun to set, the boys got a look at the behind the scenes food stores, including the freezers. They learnt about the role that food can play in behaviour enrichment, as so many food sources have interesting smells. A sack dowsed in coffee or peanut butter smeared between the pages of a book can keep an orang-utan engaged. As can frozen ice blocks – not the sort we are familiar with, but in bucket sizes possibly containing fruit, fish or blood and meat depending on which animal it’s destined for!

Right on cue as the boys prepared their torches, covered in red cellophane, for their after dark outing, the heavens opened. Boys being boys, they weren’t the slightest bit fazed, even when the animals did the sensible thing and sought shelter well out of sight! The hippos were the highlight when, right on cue, they came and opened wide to receive a cabbage for supper!

And so late into the evening, a group of tired, soaking wet but happy boys retired to their sleeping bags in Kashin and Burma’s former sleeping areas for a good night’s sleep!

The crew discussed safety around matches and lighters and how important it is to have smoke alarms in every home. It is a good reminder to everyone that the Fire Department will willingly arrange to install these for you if you are unable to install them yourselves. They will also take a moment to advise what you can do to ensure your home is fire safe.

This visit was part of a learning unit about 'Aid Agencies' and how people help us in our community. The boys also had a visit from the Police and the St John’s ambulance crew. This is all part of learning to keep themselves safe and developing an understanding of what to do in an emergency.

Our sincere thanks to these agencies for taking the time to visit and talk to our boys.

understanding urban Design

With thanks to Year 8 teacher, Mr Richard Kirk

With a focus on architecture and urban design, the Year 8 boys recently welcomed architect, Gregor Hoheisel from the design company, GRAFT, to discuss the urban design process and talk about some of their significant works. The company is currently employed to think about the design of a city that will potentially house one million people in China and, among other global projects, they designed the VW Headquarters in Germany. The boys had much to learn and many questions to ask. We thank Mr Hoheisal for giving his time to our inquisitive boys.

Later in the week, the boys went into the city to visit the Auckland Art Gallery, noted for winning ‘Building of the Year’ in the World Architecture Festival 2013. The boys were given a tour of the building and were told about all the different considerations - cultural, functional, social and financial - that were taken into account when designing the building. Whilst there, the boys also visited ‘The cubic structural evolution project, 2004,’ a hands-on installation by Danish-Icelandic artist, Olafur Eliasson. Comprising thousands of pieces of white Lego bricks scattered on a 12-metre-long table, the work invites gallery visitors to become 'architects' by using the Lego to create endlessly re-forming structures limited only by their imagination! The construction, modification, destruction and re-construction processes of the Lego city mirror the lifecycle of any metropolis as urban renewal takes place.

The boys’ next visit was to the site of the proposed Orakei Bay Village development. They were able to see scale models, floor plans and talk to representatives from Barfoot and Thompson about different aspects of the design and also had a chance to ask questions to the project manager. With all they had learnt already, the depth and probing nature of the questions were excellent!

Photon Factory visit

With thanks to science teacher, Mrs Patsy Hindson

Agroup of Year 8 students paid a visit to a unique facility at The University of Auckland – the Photon Factory. Associate Professor Dr Cather Simpson, Director of the Photon Factory, kindly opened up her hi-tech lab for an afternoon for our boys to gain insight into the kind of research projects that science and engineering university students undertake as part of their degrees.

The Photon Factory is a multi-user laser facility with an amplified ultrafast laser system. These lasers have micro to nanosecond pulse widths that can machine microscopic features in any material. The machines are available for university students and staff to study how molecules convert light to useful energy and exploit short laser pulses in micromachining projects for scientists all over New Zealand. The high-tech machines are used for everything from discovering fundamental knowledge (research projects) to manufacturing on a microscopic scale. The ultra-fast lasers can cut and shape many materials from glass to plastic to metals.

Several PhD students gave demonstrations and talked about their projects which were as diverse as an investigation to find out what happens at the molecular level when sun fades paints in fine arts to sorting male and female bovine sex cells for selective reproduction on dairy farms.

The boys were shown how surfaces can be lasered with a hydrophobic relief on a custom made Saint Kentigern perspex plaque and then they were challenged to navigate through a laser light course using dihydrogen monoxide spray to identify the pathways.

Our thanks to Dr Simpson and her students for taking the time to host our boys in this incredible facility. Visits such as these put the boys’ learning in context and gives them insight into where their studies might take them later in life.

Year 6 Mini Expo

F or the first time last year, the boys in Year 6 were presented with a unique opportunity – to undertake a significant and lengthy inquiry over the course of a term and then exhibit their learning journey for the wider school community in the form of an Expo. Such was the success of last year’s venture that it was again undertaken by this year’s cohort.

At the heart of inquiry learning is a commitment to structured, purposeful questioning as the leading vehicle for teaching and learning. Inquiry gives ownership of learning to the students themselves, developing their research and critical thinking skills. With the theme ‘Where we are in space and time,’ they worked in small groups of two or three to brainstorm which path their own inquiry would take. First they picked an overall line of inquiry and from that each planned their own personal exploration within their chosen theme – these ideas were many and varied.

The boys were required to explore multiple perspectives and in the process developed their collaborative and communication skills; they

went beyond the school gates to talk to experts in the wider community, conducting all the organisation and safety information (RAM: Risk Assessment Management) for this to take place; and they conducted surveys and used a wide variety of primary sources. As the boys worked, they kept log books that recorded all their work and in the final stages, worked out how best to present their findings to engage an invited audience.

Over three sessions, parents were invited to visit the Expo to view the boys’ displays and seek a deeper understanding of the different topics from the boys themselves. They proved to have a good understanding of the work they had done and were articulate in their explanations. In a frequently changing world, understanding how to inquire, how to sift through the ideas to make informed decisions is a valuable journey that these boys are just beginning to discover. The Expo brought all this into focus and the boys were very proud to present their own first public Expo.

Grandparents’ Day

‘W

hat children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humour, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, treats!’

The initial response to the invitation to this year’s Grandparents’ Day suggested that we could expect 492 visitors ….as our special guests poured into the Jubilee Sports Centre, the call went out for more chairs as it became abundantly clear that the final guest list was a little closer to 600, leaving standing room only for the welcome!

A group of selected Junior boys stood proudly to attention at the entrance, handing out 400 single roses to the surprise of the Grannies, Grandmas and Nanas as they arrived to take their seats. When all were settled, Head Boy, Ben Lerner told the Grandparents about their special place in the lives of the boys, ‘Because we don’t see you so often, you never tire of us. At least you pretend you don’t!’

Principal, Mr Peter Cassie came forward in welcome saying that our boys are fortunate to have such people in their lives who so readily provide unconditional love and support. He then set them some ‘homework!’ He asked them to make a lasting story of their lives, knowing that these life stories grow in value to grandchildren as they grow older. He encouraged them to do this for their families – Make a Memory – and then told them that their homework was due in next year, no excuses!

Our guests were then escorted to visit their grandsons’ classrooms, amid much excitement, and to tour the school before taking time out for morning tea. The Parents and Friends are to be applauded for the incredible spread laid out in JC Chalmers Hall, fully catered by the parents themselves. We give our thanks to them; we know our guests certainly enjoyed it!

Sir Peter Blake’s Legacy

With thanks to Mr Joe Johansen

The Year 8 boys were fortunate to experience the legacy of Sir Peter Blake and his teams through a day out sailing on the iconic maxi yachts, Lion New Zealand and Steinlager 2. This experience focused on the values of leadership, teamwork, communication, courage, determination and respect as each team member learnt the various sailing roles on a true racing yacht.

Divided between the two boats, the first groups sailed downwind through the Rangitoto Channel amongst the inner islands of the Hauraki Gulf. The boys were responsible for trimming the sails, taking the helm or adding additional weight to the rail.

Class against class, each boat was pushed to its limit towards the morning finish line near the northern tip of Motutapu Island. After a lunch break ashore, the boys explored Motutapu’s coastline, went swimming, built sun shades and some even hiked to the observation post high up on the island. The afternoon forecast of easing winds didn’t hold true as 25, pushing 35 knot westerly winds howled across the Gulf! The now able-bodied seamen of Year 8 took their positions, all hands on deck and battened down the hatches. A strong beam reach sent the boys high upon the rail clinging for dear life as each maxi yacht raced towards the East Coast Bays. The standard ‘macho’ expression was soon replaced with concerned looks of doubt and concern as they winced and squinted into the headwind and foamy white water spray. However, as time passed, and upon hearing the Skipper’s screams of excitement, the boys soon realised that these maxi yachts were supposed to be on a 40 degree lean and that the opposite side of their comfort zone was actually a thrill-seeking rush! Some brave boys took the plunge to head up on the bow just in time for a rogue wave to drown out their screams but certainly not their spirits! The boys were now in charge and tacked and jibed their way home into the sun and back to the Viaduct. Wow… what a day!

Boys’ School hosts the Halberg Foundation Parasport Day

The Halberg Disability Sport Foundation Vision: ‘Sport and Recreation for all New Zealanders - No Exceptions’

Sir Murray Halberg (ONZ)

It is now five years since we first offered the use of our sporting facilities to the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation for their School Parasport day. Five years on and it has found a firm place in our annual calendar; a day when our boys in Year 8 offer their service and support to this community venture.

This year, 80 of our boys hosted 90 children and their caregivers from 12 schools across Auckland for a day that gave young people with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy a range of sporting activities tailored to their abilities. Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman, the remarkable young girl who was NZ’s first quadruple amputee after the devastation of meningitis, was in attendance and was an inspiration to all, zipping around on her skateboard!

As well as enhancing the lives of physically disabled children through sport, the aim for the day was to include our Year 8 boys in an element of community service. The boys attended training earlier in the week and then diligently played their part in assisting their visitors when and where needed, alongside the families and staff from their support networks. Staff from the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation, were also on hand to give guidance. We were proud to witness the boys encouraging their guests, helping them perfect their sporting techniques, congratulating their efforts and sharing in their triumphs.

Our thanks to the team of volunteers from the Parents and Friends who assisted with a rolling morning tea and barbecue for the visiting staff and parents.

Tennis Championships 2014

n a week of typical Auckland spring time weather, with strong winds and intermittent rain, the annual tennis championships got underway. Dodging showers, the boys worked their way through the preliminary rounds to try and score a place in the semi-finals. The competition stepped up a notch at this level with the boys pushing their physical and mental boundaries, often having to adjust their game to gusty winds.

During the final round, the boys umpire themselves, under the guidance of Head of Sport, Mr Dunacn Grant. This could prove to be a test of their Saint Kentigern values, however, all the boys respond with great respect for one another and a sense of fair play in their decision making; something that the boys can be extremely proud of. Well done to all boys that put their names down for the championship and congratulations to the finalists.

Waterpolo team wins NI Tournament

Riding on their Tim Sonderer Memorial Trophy Tournament and AIMS Games success, the Saint Kentigern Boys’ School A Waterpolo team has gone on to win the North Island Water Polo Tournament to cap off a fantastic season of success.

The boys were playing in the A Grade where they faced some tough competition. As they were top of the pool they bypassed the quarter-finals and went straight to the semi-finals. The team beat Aquinas College 3-2 in the semi-final and won 5-3 against Sacred Heart College in the final.

Congratulations to the team on a fantastic result and to Theo Thomson who was awarded Most Valuable Player of the tournament and Hugo Borich who was awarded Outstanding Player.

Boys’ School A Waterpolo team: Max Barr (captain), Teague de Jager, Rory Kenna, Sam Looker, Jack Dufaur, Bronson Gleye, Hugo Borich, Theo Thomson, Will Bason, Sam Jackson

Pool Play

Vs Kings A - won 9-1

Vs Northcross - won 6-1

Vs Kristin - lost 5-4

Vs Mount Maunganui - won 5-2

Semi-Final

Vs Aquinas - won 3-2

Final

Vs Sacred Heart - won 5-3

A visit from CJ Bruton

Our Year 7/8 Basketball boys had a special visitor at the end of October. After a stellar career with the Breakers, professional basketball player, CJ Bruton knows what it takes to win championships. He spoke to the boys about his career, his dreams and aspirations – and what it takes to win. The boys were delighted to have the chance to play some one on one with him and have him stay to watch a game.

CJ is a very humble man who after a long career as a player, now wants to give back to the game at grass roots level.

Athletics I

hoUse Champions

1ST CARGILL

2ND HAMILTON 3RD WISHART

4Th CHALMERS

n less than ideal weather conditions at two separate events, our boys ran, jumped and threw with a healthy dose of competitive spirit to gain individual places and accrue house points. Dodging rain showers, the Junior boys cheered each other on at school, taking part in a range of events that included the ever popular sack races. Individual places were awarded for running and there were some very determined neck to neck finishes in that event! The Middle and Senior School boys took their track and field events to Mt Smart Stadium on a very blustery November day. In the track events, there were some clean sweeps along with some closely fought battles towards the finish line.

Four records were broken this year with Ethan Knox, Year 3 securing 16.21s in the 100m, Archie Marshall, Year 4 securing 32.40s in the 200m, Ashe Renault-Pollard, Year 4 throwing 17.64m in the discus and Ben Anderson, Year 8 running the 800m in 2.26.80.

Athletics concluded with the House Relay afternoon with the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools coming together in the spirit of House competition. It was great to see so many parents out in support of both events. We love having you here!

Year 0 Champions

1st Oliver Goodfellow CA

2nd Will McLeod CA

3rd Daniel Tiong CH

Year 1 Champions

1st Max Trankels HA

2nd Scott Nel WI

3rd Cooper Thomas HA

Year 2 Champions

1st James Hiddleston HA

2nd Pierce Gault CA

3rd Lachlan Hay CA

Year 3 Champions

1st Ethan Knox CA

2nd Ashan Weerasinghe HA

3rd Sam McLeod CA

Year 4 Champions

1st Archie Marshall CA

2nd Ben James CH

3rd Benjamin Hardie WI

Year 5 Champions

1st George Beca CA

2nd = Isaac Wong HA

2nd = Sebastian Hardie W

Year 6 Champions

1st Charles Wilkes WI

2nd Robbie Jones CA

3rd William McLachlan CA

Year 7 Champions

1st Isaac Chaytor CA

2nd Nathan Robinson HA

3rd Max Dudson CA

Year 8 Champions

1st Tom Moloney CA

2nd Theo Thomson HA

3rd Ben Anderson WI

reLaY Champions

1ST CARGILL

2ND HAMILTON

3RD CHALMERS

4Th WISHART

Zone aThLeTiCs

Congratulations to the team of athletes who represented the School at Zone competitions.

remUera Zone aThLeTiCs

Year 5

High Jump Isaac Wong 2nd

800m George Beca 3rd

Relay SKBS 3rd

Year 6

800m Vinay Chichester 2nd

Ball Throw Robbie Jones 1st

High Jump William McLachlan 2nd

Relay SKBS 3rd

easTern Zone aThLeTiCs

Year 7

200m Arden Ongle 3rd

400m Isaac Chaytor 3rd

800m Isaac Chaytor 2nd

1500m Michael Hiddleston 1st

1500m Benjamin Humphries 2nd

Relay SKBS 3rd

Long Jump Max Dudson 2nd

Discus Ashton Nelson 1st

Year 8

200m Theo Thomson 3rd

400m Thomas Moloney 2nd

800m Benjamin Anderson 1st

High Jump Thomas Moloney 3rd

Roselle House to be ‘Reinvented’

‘At

9am on the 1st February 1959, the bell rang for the first time as 208 boys and 8 teachers gathered in the grounds of Roselle House, the gracious home that has become the heart of Saint Kentigern Boys’ School. Built in 1876, Roselle House was generously gifted by John Martyn Wilson to the St Kentigern Trust, a charitable entity with links to the Presbyterian Church. He stipulated that his bequest was for the sole purpose of educating boys, bequeathing a further £5,000 pounds to develop the first classroom block. Generous of nature, Martyn also offered three acres of land in Shore Rd to the Council, expressing the wish that the School, when established, should have the use of the land for field sports. To this day, Roselle House and Martyn Wilson Field are used by the School for this purpose.’

As one of the earliest established homes in Auckland, Roselle House has a long history; one that has been closely tied to a sense of family, philanthropy and the community. The land was originally bought in 1874 by Joseph Liston Wilson, the family synonymous with the New Zealand Herald. In 1876 Joseph instructed architect, Richard Keals to draw up plans for a grand home and by 1879, the Wilson’s Italianate mansion, Roselle, dominated the headland of Hobson Bay. Shortly after, he transferred the title of the property to his wife, Mary Ellen Wilson.

Befitting of a gracious home, the gardens were laid out beautifully and as the home and grounds were developed, the setting lent itself perfectly to lavish entertaining, particularly in the form of garden parties. Family gatherings, annual picnics for the Mothers’ Union, Bible Classes, Sunday School and the YWCA were regular occurrences.

Mary Ellen died in 1914, leaving the property in equal shares to her surviving four sons and daughter but a month later, they each agreed to sell their share to their brother, John Martyn Wilson. Martyn, as he was known, served with the New Zealand Infantry in France during World War 1 but was invalided

home after being wounded at Passchendale. He lived a quiet life, marrying his house keeper at the age of 38. As no children resulted from the marriage, and as he became increasingly infirm, he worried about his estate. At the time, Neil Lloyd Macky was looking for a property to start a Presbyterian school for boys and so it was that Roselle was offered to the fledgling St Kentigern Trust. When Martyn died in 1958, not only did he bequeath the property but he also left £5,000 to assist with the transition to a boys’ school. And so it was that in 1959 the doors opened for the first time to the foundation boys of Saint Kentigern School, as it was then known. In the early days, Roselle was filled with the noise of young boys as many of the rooms were given over to classrooms for ‘Primers 1-4’ and the library. As the School expanded over the years, new classrooms were established and Roselle became the administration block. Now 55 years after the first boys entered Roselle, plans are afoot to ‘Reinvent’ Roselle and with plans on the drawing board to create a Learning Commons on the upper floor, Roselle will once again be used according to John Martyn Wilson’s bequest – ‘for the sole purpose of educating boys.’

Source: Sons of Kentigern. A History of Saint Kentigern School 1959- 2009

2014 Piper Saint Kentigern

Fireworks Night

With a new pyrotechnic supplier whose credentials include the Rugby World Cup 2011, events at Eden Park, fireworks off the Sky Tower and Coca Cola Christmas in the Park; the Boys’ School Parents and Friends Association promised that this year’s Fireworks Show would be ‘bigger, better, louder and longer’ – unfortunately, sometimes ‘spanners get in the works’ and things just don’t go quite the way we plan!

The logistics for a Fireworks Night held on school grounds are such that a lesser team, faced with so many hurdles and safety requirements, may have simply placed it in the ‘too hard basket’ long ago. Our own determined organising team has conquered the paper work over the years ensuring that both people and property are safely protected. Planning began at the start of March and the team, spearheaded by parent, Mr Peter Green, has been totally focused on ensuring that that a safe and successful Fireworks Night continues as our school’s signature event.

The weather is a critical factor in its success and with thundery, wet and windy conditions as the precursor to the weekend, there was some nervous tension in the build up to Saturday! There was a huge sigh of relief when the gates opened at 5pm in glorious sunshine and 2000 ticket holders made their way in to settle down on the field for a picnic in the build-up to the ‘main event.’

For the youngsters, the pre-show on field ctivities are always a huge draw card while on stage we welcomed a variety of musicians including former Boys’ School students, Isaac Samuels on guitar and talented violinist, Jeramy Bhanabhai. Lead vocalist, Beck Robson led the Boys’ School rock band whilst Brodie MacDonald took the vocal spot for the College rock band.

Meanwhile, Head Boy, Ben Lerner had his first major gig as a DJ, hosting the musical entertainment on stage and did a superb job - especially when the ‘turn of events’ later in the evening called on his services to fill the void!

And so to the greatly anticipated main event! As the night darkened, Principal, Mr Peter Cassie welcomed the College Pipe Band onto the field playing the traditional Highland Catherdral…then in a change of tempo, the Band burst into Queen’s ‘We will, we will rock you’ as the ‘best flame projectors in New Zealand’ sent almost 200 shots of flame 6-8 metres high signalling the start to the fireworks…. Well what can we say? The start was promising but a sudden ‘technical glitch’ caused an enormous amount of angst and disappointment as the pyrotechnic crew frantically tried to ascertain what was blocking the radio frequency between the music and the fireworks, preventing the planned ‘choreographed’ show. As the families waited, DJ Ben pumped out the tunes and the youngsters in the audience waved their glow sticks. It took a while to get the show back in the sky but unfortunately, without the planned musical backing, it was not quite the show anticipated. However, many families will agree, despite this disappointment, the evening had been a great time for relaxing and socialising amongst friends.

Our sincere thanks to the Fireworks Organising Team for their immense effort in bringing this to fruition: Peter Green, Kerry George, Lyzadie Renault, Simon Ward, Kathryn Hughes, Jane Sheetz, Chris Pettit, Maryanne Looker, Laura Lane, Naomi Hageman and Robyn Kenna.

Our thanks to the following sponsors: The Saint Kentigern Boys’ School Parents & Friends Association were delighted to have the generous support of Spark New Zealand as our headline fireworks sponsor. Thanks also for the wonderful support of: A-Ward, Hirepool, Eastridge New World & TPI Waste Management.

Saint Kentigern

Parents & Friends Association

Yet again, 2014 has been a busy year for the Saint Kentigern Boys’ School Community with our involvement not just in fundraising activities but also taking a very active role in the School’s ‘friendraising’ activities.

We have continued to host, on the first morning of each term, a New Parents Morning Tea. This helps to firstly, move parents out of the classroom to allow the ‘settling’ to begin and also gives them the opportunity to socialise with other new families. Many thanks to Kerryanne Tisdall who organises this with the team of Amanda Wilkinson, Kirsten Stanfield and Nikki Joyce who help host.

The Year 7 picnic is proving to be a very popular addition to the school social calendar. Held the first Sunday after school starts for the year, the picnic allows existing families to welcome new families and build on the connections the boys have already made in a very relaxed setting.

Celtic Day was held on the 4th April and Parents and Friends were again delighted to be able to host, and sponsor, the field activities. The event planning, led by Vanessa Playle and assisted on the day by Hilary Chaytor and team, resulted in yet another successful and efficiently run Celtic Day.

Father and Son Breakfast has become another highlight of the school calendar and a sell out event. Finding a speaker that holds the interest of a wide age group is never an easy feat but this year’s talk and demonstration by the Auckland District Dog Squad was superb. Erica Hussona has successfully event managed this for a number of years along with Jess O’Rourke, Kirsten Falconer, Tanya Holyoake and Roz McLaughlin. Our thanks to Erica and Jess who now move on.

With the refurbishment of Roselle House coming to fruition, a large fundraising event, known as ‘Once in a Blue Moon,’ was held in June with all funds raised earmarked towards the technology for the Learning Commons. A subcommittee chaired by Katie Hatton managed to create not just a memorable event at the Jubilee Hall, Parnell but also ran a very successful auction raising close to $60,000. Many thanks to Suzanne Morpeth, Jen Bilkey, Roz McLaughlin, Robyn Kenna and Helen Van Schaardenberg and the incredible management skills of Katie Hatton.

It is our pleasure to be involved in the support of Grandparents’ Day by way of supplying the catering as well as serve staff on the day. With 592 grandparents on site, many pots of tea, jugs of milk, cups of coffee were consumed! Our thanks to the parents who provided sandwiches and slices

and special thanks to Julie Graham who cooked all the sausage rolls as well as baked all the scones.

Quiz Night was a successful fundraiser again this year and Thelma Meyer and Christina Bai brought together another fun filled, night. The creative costuming by the teams lends a whole new competitive element over and above the competitiveness of the quiz.

With the better part of nine months of planning towards Fireworks, the team, led by Peter Green, gave the community an amazing night. Sadly, due to a technical issue on the part of the pyrotechnics team, the fireworks themselves did not quite go off with the expected bang, however, all feedback has been that the community felt they got value for money. Thank you to Naomi Hageman for the effort and work she put into securing Spark as a key sponsor.

As the school year draws to a close, I wish to thank the parent community for their support of all our events. Our calls for assistance are often very close together but we still manage to get the volunteer support and help we need each time. Also, thank you to Peter Cassie and his management and administration teams who always appear willing to encourage and help when required.

The filling and packing of Christmas Hampers for Wymondely Road School brought our year to an end and as 2015 starts, we look forward to building on the already close working relationship our Association has with the school management and staff.

Mrs Laura Lane, Chairperson, Boys’ School Parents and Friends

New Artwork in memory of Mrs Robyn Spooner

During Term 4, the Boys’ School invited the family of former Head of Art, Robyn Spooner to the unveiling of a painting gifted by the Parents and Friends Association in memory of Robyn who passed away in 2013.

Robyn is fondly remembered by the staff and her former students as a gracious lady with a love for art and the many boys she taught during her lengthy teaching career. During her time at the School, she actively worked towards building a professional art collection and enjoyed involving the boys in visiting the galleries to make the final selection.

Robyn’s husband Bob; son, Joe (an Old Collegian and America’s Cup sailor with Oracle); and daughter, Libby joined with the Parents and Friends to select ‘Stormy Night, Red Roof,’ an oil on canvas by young NZ artist, James Watkins. The International Art Centre’s youngest artist, he has been with the gallery for nine years since studying at Elam School of Fine Arts. His works, particularly those of the Red Roof Series, feature illuminated landscapes, sometimes portrayed under the blue skies of summer, but often reflecting a dramatic atmosphere of their own. He says, ‘I try to make beautiful paintings which convey certain personal interpretations of the reality of our life in New Zealand. I’m particularly interested in the simple architectural structures of older New Zealand along with the universal symbol of home. In my paintings, home is a place of belonging, a happy memory, security.’

The painting now hung in Roselle House in Robyn’s honour will be a happy memory of her time at Saint Kentigern and the passion she brought to her role.

College

Our Mission Statement has three parts:

The first entreats us to seek excellence in all areas of College life and we take this very seriously. Not only in the classroom, where improving academic results in all departmental areas has been a feature of the past few years, but also in the wider life of the school where the great majority of competitive and creative activities continue to develop a work ethic and attitude that very often gets them close to excellence or achieving excellence in their endeavours.

We, as a teaching staff, continue to seek this standard in our professional lives and I must say that next year’s academic and co-curricular staff will be of a quality that I have not before seen in any secondary school that I have served. That there is, occasionally, a student who falls beneath our high standards of excellence is disappointing but part of the maturing process for that person. It is our challenge, as educators, to find something in each individual which will inspire them to seek excellence in some area of school life.

Looking back on 2014

We come to the end of what has been an outstanding year for our College. Following a very positive ERO report which highlighted, amongst many elements, the focus on the process of learning, our high quality facilities and our strong leadership team. Our students’ achievements have been exceptional – in academic studies, in co-curricular events and in representation at both a regional and national level. I am very proud of all of our students and their individual successes.

We bid farewell to two long serving stalwarts of our staff at the end of the year. Mr Rod Biel and Mr Doug Anderson have retired after many years of commitment and service to Saint Kentigern. We wish them both well. We also said farewell to a number of our teaching staff who now move on to new roles and opportunities. The start of 2015 sees us welcome a number of new teachers, each of whom will be an outstanding addition to our staff.

We began the year with 1793 boys and girls and this has remained remarkably steady throughout the course of the year. At the time of writing, a further increase to just over 1870 students for the 2015 academic year is being projected. This roll growth will mean that the College facilities are fully utilised and does, of course, reflect the demand for places which is not necessarily replicated at other private schools in New Zealand.

The College has been extremely fortunate that our far-sighted founders chose this remarkable site which in itself has been a significant factor in the College’s success. Of course, debate continues about the optimum size for the College and a strong consensus suggests that next year’s number is ideal for our present facilities but that continuing development of the campus could and should mean continued roll growth in the decades to come.

Our Mission Statement also includes Service to Others. The most obvious is the service that Mr Robinson drives which is now deeply ingrained in the College. This includes breakfasts in schools, visits to the elderly, sports coaching, World Vision Malawi … there are too many to mention! But, Service to Others surely means generosity of spirit and kindliness to all people within and beyond the College community. It greatly distresses those involved with the pastoral care of our young people to have to deal with instances of unkindness which, of course, is now often through social media. Surely if we are so concerned with the happiness of people around us we should be kind in our words, thoughts and deeds towards all, particularly if they are vulnerable, different, high achievers or those who express their own high personal standards. I am sure that we are no worse than anywhere else but it would please all in authority here if our Service to Others included helping and supporting people in our own sphere of influence.

Our Mission Statement also refers to the Glory of God and, in practical terms, the work of our Chaplain continues to be of the highest order. In my opinion, it is a text book case of how a Chaplaincy should be run. Is this all that our Founders meant when they referred to the Glory of God? I am not sure but I hope they too were thinking of young people and those who work at this remarkable place making the most of all the positive opportunities provided as they would have strongly believed that these opportunities were provided by a higher deity. I hope that our Founders would be pleased with the College’s development and as they were good Presbyterians, the resources that the College is providing to educate young people and, importantly, see the College financially placed to enable the next stage of physical development to be planned and undertaken.

I wish you all a safe and enjoyable summer and look forward to 2015. Thank you all for your support of our College. This community spirit is what makes us unique.

Fides Servanda Est

Steve Cole HEAD OF COLLEGE

Thank you to two special long-serving staff members

‘When the history of this great College is told, it will no doubt be filled with stories of Trust Boards and Headmasters, Deputies and new buildings, successful teams and musical groups, and famous students. But behind all this, seldom hitting the headlines, are the people who enable a huge organisation like the College to function. Those who teach the students well and undertake administration to make it all work on a day-to-day basis. Those who help create good relationships with attention to detail and concern for the well-being of our students and staff.’

Warwick Bell, current Archivist, former Associate Head

ROD BIEL – 43 years on staff and 5 years as a student

After almost 50 years of direct association with the College, firstly as a student and then as a member of staff with 43 years of unbroken service, Mr Rod Biel is finally stepping back having earned a restful retirement. Such a long association, having worked for each of the five Heads, is unlikely to be repeated and Mr Biel’s commitment and faithfulness to the Saint Kentigern community is most significant.

Mr Biel joined the College as a student in 1962, graduating in 1967. He attended a College Christmas Service as a student teacher and was approached by the first Headmaster, Rev. Adam MacFarlan, to apply for a suddenly vacated English position. And so it was that Mr Biel began an incredible length of service when he was appointed to the staff as an English and Social Studies teacher in 1972 whilst still completing his MA. In 1974 he also joined the staff at Bruce House where he spent 13 years as a Resident Master.

With his Scottish ancestry and love of the bagpipes, he and his late father Fred made a very special contribution to Saint Kentigern, reviving the College Pipes and Drums in 1972 and drilling them to such an extent that the Band was able to proudly march and play at the end of year prizegiving.

DOUG ANDERSON – 33 years service

Mr Doug Anderson has achieved a great deal in his 33 years of teaching at the College and is well remembered by his former students as a task master who expected high standards and had the ability to light a spark. His senior students understood that his motivation and drive came from a genuine desire to see them do well.

He joined the College back in 1985, initially as a teacher of English. It didn’t take long to discover that he had an enviable grasp on ‘foreign’ languages and soon after he was appointed Head of Department. He is fluent in Japanese, Russian and French and has taught all three languages at the College, including Russian during a spell in the 1980’s -1990’s! During that period there were two College trips to the old Soviet Union. In more recent times, he provided the Russian voiceover for a Saint Kentigern DVD that was sent to prospective families in Russia and we have since welcomed Russian international students into Bruce House. For many years, he helped ESOL students settle into College life.

Mr Anderson has been involved with the New Zealand and Auckland Associations of Japanese Language teachers and is recognised nationally for input that was said to be ‘driven, formidable, knowledgeable and passionate,’ especially during the early days of NCEA. He was known for taking issue when he felt examination papers didn’t hit the mark and has since written, marked and moderated NCEA.

Former student, Craig Smith, along with his brother Shane, has gone on to develop Education Perfect, an online learning tool that has gained a global following. Their original programme, Language Perfect was first conceived

They did such a great job that, despite some difficult years, they ensured the survival of what is now one of the iconic traditions of Saint Kentigern. He noted that in 2014, the Band is still performing the drill movements first instilled in 1972.

Late that year, he was also appointed as Teacher-Librarian beginning a long connection with the Library, playing a significant part in the organisation of the then new Sir William Goodfellow Memorial Library. During the early years he also began his long association with the logistics of organising Prizegiving; a task he has continued to organise right up to his retirement. With his proven organisational skills, he was appointed as Office Manager and Attendance Officer during the Rev David Williams years - in the days before computers! This role was later changed to Teaching Services manager which included organising staff relief.

For many years, he was the voice on the public address system on athletics days. He also supported a number of student activities such as chess, tennis, badminton and choir trips; thoroughly enjoying his contact with the students.

Mr Biel’s daily meticulous organisation of staff matters such as teacher relief, his advocacy for staff on HR matters and his many kindnesses to what has become a large teaching staff have made him a most highly valued and respected person amongst his colleagues. We are grateful for his tremendous input and wish Mr Biel and his wife, Raewyn well in his retirement.

when the boys were learning languages in Mr Anderson’s class. Craig said that, ‘In life we meet thousands of people but there are only a small handful who have a profound impact on who we become.’ He credits Mr Anderson’s words of encouragement that set him on a path that now sees Craig and Shane work with 10,000 teachers and half a million students every day in an online world.

Today there aren’t many who know about another area of expertise that Doug took on for many years - directing College musical productions! Former student, Blair Strang fondly remembers taking part in shows such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Pirates of Penzance and Fiddler on the Roof. Blair has gone on to be a wellknown New Zealand television personality. He remembers Mr Anderson as his first director and in that role he was ‘hard, dedicated and epic.’ He attributes his success later in life to the mentoring, direction and expectation of excellence he was given by Mr Anderson whilst at College.

Mr Anderson is to be thanked for his incredible contribution to Saint Kentigern and he leaves with our very best wishes.

Senior School Prizegiving

Senior Prizegiving signalled the end of another notable year in the life of the College as the Saint Kentigern College community gathered in Elliot Hall to congratulate our Year 11, 12 and 13 IB (International Baccalaureate) and NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) academic prize winners, including those who have received scholarships to continue their education at tertiary level.

Each year a significant number of our students are awarded scholarships to assist with their tertiary education at universities and other tertiary institutions both within New Zealand and overseas. At the time of writing, 28 scholarships have been awarded to 26 of our students to provide financial assistance to continue their chosen tertiary studies. This year’s cohort has been awarded the largest number of scholarships to date - but this figure generally increases over the summer break as exam results become available.

Dux Medallist - IB

ANDREW (BOKAI) QI

Andrew is a naturally gifted scholar who fully deserves to be the International Baccalaureate Dux for 2014. Andrew joined the College at the beginning of 2013 for Year 12. He quickly distinguished himself as a very strong academic student with a remarkable work ethic. Last year he was the top student in the Year 12 IB cohort winning the prizes for Biology, Economics, Mathematics and Japanese. This year as IB Dux he has won the prize for Biology and will be sitting Scholarship examinations in Geography and Economics. He also sat a paper at the University of Auckland in Semester 1 this year in Psychology (108).

Andrew’s co-curricular involvement has also been a significant part of his time at the College. He is a key member of the Premier Boys’Tennis team which won the New Zealand Championship earlier this year. Andrew is a College Prefect, a member of the Amnesty International Council and the Monetary Policy Team.

Andrew has won the prestigious University of Auckland Scholarship to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics with a view to continuing his studies in the USA.

As well as our top academic achievers, Senior Prizegiving also recognises our very best sportsmen and women, debaters, actors, dancers and musicians, and those who have given well beyond expectation in Service. At all levels, there are many who strive to achieve their utmost in every endeavour they undertake.

Each student who came across the stage could be rightfully proud of awards that recognised their significant contribution. The afternoon culminated with the announcement of the highest academic honour, the Dux. The honour was awarded to both the top IB Diploma student, Andrew Qi and the top NCEA student, Sian Seeley. Congratulations to these two deserving students who have worked hard and made the most of every opportunity.

Dux Medallist - NCEA SIAN SEELEY

Sian is a student of outstanding ability who has achieved significant academic success during her time at Saint Kentigern College. At NCEA Level 1, she gained an Excellence endorsement with 112 credits at Excellence level. In 2013 she gained NCEA Level 2 with 96 credits at Excellence level with an Excellence Endorsement in every subject. She also won the prizes for English, Spanish, Accounting, Statistics (Year 13) and the P.G. Hadfield Prize for First in Year 12 NCEA. This year Sian has won the subject prizes for Accounting, English, Physics and Spanish. As a further academic challenge, Sian will also be sitting Scholarship examinations in Physics and History.

Sian’s co-curricular involvement has shown her all-roundedness and wide interests. She has played Senior B Netball, is a member of Art Space, is a member of the Premier Theatresports squad and coaches Theatresports, was a part of the musical support crew for the production of Blood Brothers and was an exemplary College Prefect representing Hamilton House.

Sian has been awarded The University of Auckland Faculty of Business and Economics Entry Level Undergraduate Scholarship and plans to study a conjoint Commerce and Engineering degree.

Middle School Prizegiving

On the final day of the College year, the Sports Centre was packed to capacity as family, friends and special invited guests gathered with our students in Years 7-10 to celebrate their academic, sporting and cultural successes at the Middle School prize giving. The official party was piped in by Mitchell Jackson followed by the College Sinfonia, comprising our Middle School musicians, accompanying the National Anthem.

Proud parents looked on as the top students in each age group came forward to collect their prizes from Trust Board member, Mr Murray King and long serving staff member, Mr George Wolken. Dux of the Middle School, Joshua Looker, was a well-deserved recipient after significant academic achievement as well as considerable involvement in all areas of College life.

At the conclusion of the formalities, the Second Pipe Band finished the year in our traditional manner by ‘Beating the Retreat’ from the bridge.

Our congratulations to all our award winners and especially to Joshua.

Dux Of The Middle School

JOSHUA LOOKER

Joshua Looker has the honour of being awarded the Dux of Middle School for 2014. Joshua has consistently achieved Excellence or Excellence Plus in his subjects. He has had outstanding results for both Year 11 Mathematics and Year 11 Music in Year 10, as well as attaining Merit in the New Zealand Junior Mathematics Competition and High Distinction in the Australian Mathematics Competition. He has been commended for Latin and Science for which he received a High Distinction in ICAS Science.

As an all-rounder Joshua has excelled this year both academically and in his co-curricular activities. Strong leadership skills made Joshua an obvious choice as a Middle School Student Leader. His musical ability has been demonstrated in the Concert Band, Stage Band and the Saxophone Ensemble. He has also found success in Water Polo in both the Junior and Senior Teams, Football, the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and Junior Debating.

Joshua is a strong leader with a commitment to strive to achieve at the highest possible level. His ability to immerse himself with a passion in all areas of learning is a testament to his all-round maturity.

The J.E.H Kururangi Cup

For the Year 10 Boy Showing All Round Ability

SHIDDRATH (SID) CHAND

Shiddrath has been a strong achiever throughout 2014. His outstanding musical talent is evident in his leading role in Oliver, involvement in the winning Cargill House Band and as a section leader for Kentoris Choir. He was also a finalist in the Solo Music Competition and was selected for the Auckland Youth Choir. Shiddrath has played an active role in Junior Cricket and the U15A Hockey team. Shiddrath’s diligence and perseverance in the classroom have seen him consistently achieve to a high standard, excelling in music in particular. He is a high achieving young man who is commended for his accomplishments.

The Birch Cup

For the Year 10 Girl Showing All Round Ability

TATE ALEX MCGREGOR

Tate is a multi-talented student who has excelled as an all-rounder in the Middle School. She has achieved Excellence and Excellence Plus across all her subjects and was awarded the French, Drama, English and her Class Prizes. An outstanding sportswoman, Tate has represented the College in Athletics and also in the Girls Premier Basketball, Football, and Touch teams. She participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and her strong leadership skills saw Tate selected as a Middle School Leader. Tate is a committed and diligent student who strives to achieve at the highest possible level in all facets of College life.

28 significant Tertiary Scholarships awarded!

The College is thrilled that at the time our seniors began their end of year external examinations, 26 of our students had already been awarded 28 significant tertiary scholarships providing them with financial assistance for their chosen tertiary studies. In some instances, these provide a very substantial sum and these students can be very proud of their achievement.

This year’s cohort has been awarded the largest number of scholarships ever offered to our students - this figure generally increases over the summer break as exam results become available.

Congratulations to the following students!

The University of Auckland Scholarship

Andrew Qi and Shuo Yang

These are awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional levels of academic excellence, all-round ability and leadership. The University received almost 1300 applications for these scholarships and 120 have been awarded throughout New Zealand. It is the university’s premier Scholarship. All fees for the first 3 years of an undergraduate degree are paid up to $50,000 plus academic mentoring in the first year. We are very pleased to announce 2 Saint Kentigern students have been awarded these University of Auckland Scholarship for 2014.

University of Otago Academic Excellence Scholarships

Eden Hawkins and Sarah McQueen

These are awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional levels of academic excellence in their course of study. Worth $30,000 each towards tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses for three years of study, only 22 have been awarded across New Zealand..

The Victoria University Excellence Scholarship

Hannah Wood, Ben Clarke, Anna Murphy, Max Christie, Katherine Ford, Georgia Foster, Christie Stringer and Tomo Suzuki

These scholarships are is awarded to recognise students who have gained NCEA Level 2 endorsed with Excellence. It is worth $5000 towards tuition fees or accommodation in the first year of study:

The AUT Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship

Melissa Porter

This is an award for student achievement for academic excellence at secondary schools in the wider Auckland region. This award provides tuition fees for 4 papers a semester over 3 years.

The AUT Undergraduate Scholarship

Tim Mudford

This is a full fee Scholarship paid for 1 year worth $6000 and is awarded to students with excellent course work school grades.

Saint Kentigern Scholarships

Each year at Senior School Prizegiving, the College awards special Saint Kentigern Scholarships to our highest achieving scholars in recognition of their academic achievement. This year, seven scholarships were awarded to be put towards further study.

Andrew (Bokai) Qi and Sian Seeley, our IB Diploma Dux and NCEA Dux each received $3000. James (Jia Lin) Yang, Ashley Chan, Andrew Jackson, Aditya Arolkar and Shuo Yang each received $1000.

These students have applied themselves fully to their academic studies whilst at College and we wish each of them the very best as they move on to their tertiary studies.

The Massey University High Achiever Scholarships

April Fini and Mimi Seagar

These are awarded to students whose grades reflect a level of excellence across a range of subjects recognized by an endorsement of Excellence, and or excellence within the subject areas of proposed study. This scholarship is worth $3000 for 1 year.

The PriceWaterhouseCoopers Accounting Scholarship

Sam Dakin

This provides study assistance valued at approximately $7,000 over 4 years as well as mentoring support. It allows scholars the option to work at PricewaterhouseCoopers in their university holidays.

The RSM Prince Accounting Scholarship

Lucy Eden

This scholarship is exclusive to Saint Kentigern College and is awarded annually to a Year 13 student. It provides $4,800 study assistance over four years together with mentoring assistance and opportunities for paid employment during University holidays.

The University of Waikato Vice Chancellor’s Academic School Leaver Excellence Scholarship

Sam Dakin and Lucy Eden

This is offered in recognition of academic success in NCEA worth $5000.

The Sir George Elliot Scholarship

Courtney Rowse

This is awarded to an applicant who is likely to succeed in their proposed course of study, has demonstrated academic achievement, has demonstrated personal qualities of leadership and has faced exceptional challenges as a result of personal circumstances. This award provides study assistance valued at $25,000 for the period of study.

University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

Ashley Chan

This is awarded to students who have academic ability, have demonstrated leadership, have a sporting and/or cultural involvement and have made a contribution to the community. The scholarship is worth $5000 towards tuition fees or accommodation in the first year of study.

The University of Auckland Faculty of Business and Economics Entry Level Undergraduate Scholarship

Sian Seeley

This is only awarded to forty students and is worth $2,500 for the first year of study towards a Commerce Degree. The student receiving this will do a conjoint Commerce and Engineering degree.

The Kelliher Economics Foundation Award

Aditya Arolkar

For a student who has demonstrated a proven ability in Economics, the scholarship worth $2000 is awarded to study economics at an approved tertiary institution of their choice.

Lincoln University Sports Scholarship in Rugby

Brian Enari and Iri Enari

This scholarship covers full fees for the course of study.

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Scholarship

Kelly Drew

This is a 100% scholarship covering full fees for both the academic and sporting programme.

Wichita State University in Kansas Scholarship

Edi Stoica

This is a 100% scholarship covering full fees for both the academic and sporting programme.

Year 13 Graduation Dinner

A ptly titled, ‘An Ending and a Sending’, the Year 13 Graduation Chapel and Dinner was a momentous occasion for our Year 13 students as their years of secondary education drew to a close. Coming together for one last time to mark the end of their College years, the formal evening celebrated their successes, learning and friendships at Saint Kentigern.

Held at the Ellerslie Event Centre, over 800 parents, friends, family members and invited guests heard Reverend David Smith give his final Chapel Service. Reverend Smith reflected on all that he hoped the students had learned in Chapel and he encouraged the Year 13 graduates to go forth with all of their strength ‘and then some’. ‘Three words,’ he said, ‘that can transform our lives.’

The audience were treated to two very powerful and moving solos by Amorangi Malesala, who sang ‘Forever Young’ followed by a soul stirring ‘Amazing Grace’. The Heads of Houses then called each student up to be congratulated by Mr Bruce Goodfellow, Chairman of the Trust Board and Mr Steve Cole, Head of College and to receive their Diplomas and testimonials.

As the guests moved upstairs to their dinner venue, they were traditionally piped in by members of the College Pipes and Drums. MC’s for the evening, Head Boy, Sam Dakin and Deputy Head Girl, Lucy Eden introduced the two leaders for each House to come to the stage to give their last words. The Leaders proudly spoke on behalf of their Houses as they reflected and shared their special and defining moments over the past year. All students extended their heartfelt thank yous to their teachers, tutors and College staff for all that they had done.

In addressing the students for their next stage in their life, Mr Steve Cole poignantly said, ‘There are times in your life when you have to move on. Mostly you know when this time is, and do so with no regrets. If there is the odd regret, put it right tonight.’ Mr Cole went on to say that in over 61 years the College has achieved a tremendous amount they are all a part of this. ‘This group is the golden generation and I pray that you will be great ambassadors for your family, your College and most of all yourselves.’

In one last tribute to the spirit and honour of Saint Kentigern, Wishart House Leader, Aiden Phizackerly invited all guests to stand as he led the students in an ardent chant of ‘When the Saints Go Marching In.’

The evening marked the definitive end to their College days for each of the graduating students. We wish these students and their families well as they end their time with us. We send them on their journey with life lessons learned and the potential to go on and do good things. We will always be interested to hear how their lives progress and look forward to our students keeping in contact and retaining their special ties to the Saint Kentigern community.

Saint Kentigern

Bruce House Dinner

Each November, as the academic year draws to a close, parents of the Year 13 graduates, staff and Trust Board members join the boarders at Bruce House to celebrate their achievements and give thanks to those who care for them – their surrogate family members during term time. This is a special evening where the invited guests soon gain an understanding of the strong family bond that pervades the boarding house.

This year, Year 13 student, Brian Enari led the Bruce House Haka, before the guests were escorted to their table for dinner by the graduating Year 13s. In his address following dinner, Housemaster, Reverend David Smith, said he felt it was a privilege to share in the daily lives of 113 young people. He said, ‘As I cast my eyes over you, I see a community, a family, a whanau. It’s a very special whanau that others don’t really ‘get’ until they, too, belong.’ He said that the enjoyment for him comes from the ‘every-day stuff,’ hearing their laughter, observing the camaraderie, hearing their stories and celebrating their successes, as talent abounds amongst the boarders. He said that whilst it was hard to explain the enormity of the responsibility he feels for all the girls and boys in his care, he found it equally hard to express the immense pride he has in his newly ‘extended family.’

Current Bruce House Head Boy, Ridgely Paxton, along with College Head Girl, Hannah Wood (standing in for Bruce House Head Girl, Gabrielle Faleto’ese) both came forward to speak in favour of their boarding experience. Ridgely said that he struggled to put into words how much being a boarder has meant to him and he would find it hard to move on. Hannah said that, ‘When you find yourself with a 100 or so new brothers and sisters, life is undoubtedly going to change but at the end of the day, it’s easy to feel loved here. Everybody has a respect and affection for each other.’

Head of College, Mr Steve Cole drew the boarders’ attention to the names of the previous Bruce House Head Prefects. He told them that each that had gone before sat at the same tables in the same room. They shared the same sense of family and belonging and created memories that live on in the spirit of the House, in the same way theirs will. He paid tribute to the work done by Reverend Smith and Mrs Juliet Dale this year, and Mr Martin Piaggi and Mrs Suzanne Winthrop before them, to change the face of boarding at Saint Kentigern into a bubbly boarding house with a bright future. He said that whilst the nature of boarding has changed over the years, the students’ needs remain the same – to feel part of a family, to develop resilience, the ability to get along with others and adjust to new situations.

The evening concluded with the Bruce House Awards for 2013 and the announcement of next year’s Bruce House student leaders – Head Girl, Sienna Spence, Head Boy, Trent MacDonald and their deputies, Valentina Pons and Charlie Rillstone.

BRUCE HOUSE AWARDS 2014

The MacFarlan Award for Head Boy: Ridgley Paxton

The MacFarlan Award for Head Girl: Gabrielle Faleto’ese

The McGuiness Cup for Academic Honours: James Yang

The Morgan Cup for Year 11 Academic Achievement: William Langley

The Marcroft Cup for Sportsman of the Year: Sam Nock

The Bruce House Cup for All-Rounder Boy: Lloyd David

The Norma Cowie Cup for All-Rounder Girl: Hannah Wood

Celebrating the Arts

After two years of holding this event in the outdoor setting of the Senior School Plaza, the decision was made to take this year’s end of year celebration of the arts back into ‘climate controlled’ Elliot Hall, removing any element of pre-show, possible inclement weather worry! The stage also promised a better surface for our dancers and better acoustics for our musicians! This was an evening to join in celebration to recognise our many talented performing artists across all disciplines, giving some the opportunity to perform.

Head of College, Mr Steve Cole, spoke in praise of a very fine group of Performing Arts students who have responded well to his challenge to ‘continually raise the bar’ in seeking excellence in all they do. He reaffirmed the importance of the Arts within the College telling the students that more than ever, selecting an art subject will stand them in good stead. Not many will go on to dance, sing, play or act as a career but the transferable skills of creativity, presentation, team work, dedication and passion will add immeasurably to their chosen vocation. He quipped that he wished that some of the professionals who come to him to bid for work could bring a bit of drama to their presentations!

Arts Prefects, Jamie Hofer and Eden Hawkins hosted the evening’s entertainment that was interspersed with the handing out the Cultural Awards for 2014, building to a new trophy being awarded for the first time this year to the ‘2014 Performer of the Year.’

In a College with so many talented young people who have excelled in many artistic endeavours this year, selecting the finalist was not an easy decision to make. This new award mirrors the Dux Ludorum Award presented to the top sportsperson at the College and recognises a student whose achievements as a performer in his or her chosen field are exceptional. The Performing Arts Committee received a number of nominations from students whose outstanding achievements span the stage, musical performance, television, theatre sports, pipes and drums and dance.

The inaugural winner is the very talented musician, Ashley Chan

Performer Of The Year 2014

ASHLEY CHAN

In 2014 Ashley achieved significant success both at College and in the community.

Her highlights at College include:

• Pianist and Percussionist for the Gold Award winning College Symphony

• Senior Tenor Drummer for The Pipes and Drums

• Keyboard player for the Winning House Band – Cargill

• Pianist in the Stage Band and the Blood Brothers Orchestra

• And most notable, Ashley was the Winner of the Piano Section of the College Solo Music Competition and then named 2014 Overall Solo Music Champion, the second time she has won it, the first time as a Year 9.

Outside the College, Ashley has also achieved outstanding success as a pianist. This year Ashley received her Licentiate of the Trinity College London Diploma with Distinction. She also experienced unprecedented success winning three sections at the South Auckland Performing Arts Awards, one of New Zealand’s biggest Music Competitions. It is also notable that Ashley is a diploma level ballerina and a diploma level harpist.

Te Manu Ahi

Eighteen College dancers from Years 9-12 were given an amazing performance experience this term. Joining students from James Cook High School, New Lynn Primary School, Northcote Intermediate and Freemans Bay Primary School, along with contemporary dance students from Unitec, they performed Te Manu Ahi (The Fire Bird) on stage at the Aotea Centre, with live accompaniment from the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra (APO).

A collaboration between Atimira Dance Company and the APO, Te Manu Ahi (The Firebird) marked the fourth year of the widely-praised Auckland Dance Project. This year, the team brought 150 dancers from across Auckland together to dance as a highlight of the annual Kiwi Kapers concert.

Over a six week period, our students travelled regularly to the Unitec studios where they combined with dance students from Unitec to be taken through their paces by renowned choreographer and director of Atamira Dance Company, Moss Patterson, and his assistant and associate choreographer, Gabrielle Thomas. Our dancers have been truly inspired to work with dancers of such calibre; they worked hard at each rehearsal, rising to each new challenge.

Stravinky’s score, The Firebird provided the launch pad for Patterson to write a new Māori story Te Manu Ahi; a narrative contemporary dance. It featured an evil sorcerer, scary creatures living in a cloud kingdom, the abduction of young girls and their rescue by a young boy aided by the firebird.

At their final rehearsal at the Aotea Centre, our students were blown away by the spectacular performance space, the costumes, lighting and incredible stage set by set designer, Robin Rawstorne, featuring a huge steel-frame stringed helix that spanned the stage. This was also the first time they danced to APO’s live performance. Dancing to a score, note for note, to a full live orchestra is something that many professional dancers may never experience which made this opportunity all the more incredible. With swirling woodwind, grand brass chords and rich orchestration, the rousing orchestral work, along with the original choreography, created a powerful visual and musical extravaganza for two matinee performances to a 2000 strong audience.

In reviewing the performance, Senior Lecturer of the Bachelor of Dance degree at AUT University, Dr Linda Ashley wrote: ‘Sometimes when we think about dance as a school subject, we might imagine children running rampant. However, Patterson and Thomas in their skilful choreography show how dancing children focus completely, give wholeheartedly, understand how to work together and reach levels of skill, control and teamwork that are way beyond their years; qualities that the New Zealand Curriculum framework is charged with nurturing.’

The students would like to thank Head of Dance, Mr Geordan Wilcox, a former dancer with the New Zealand Ballet Company, for making this incredible experience available to them.

Photo Credit: Adrian Malloch

Photography

Top Spots at the Arias!

F or the second year in a row, our choral students have achieved great success at the New Zealand Aria Competition held in Rotorua with Saint Kentigern being awarded the largest number of prizes from any one school. Fifteen College students travelled to the event and each can be very proud of their efforts.

The Waiariki Institute of Technology New Zealand Aria competition is one of Australasia’s most prestigious singing competitions and it has generated such a widespread reputation that it attracts a high calibre of entrants, judges and conductors. The impact is enhanced by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Nine students competed in the U16 category which involved four separate sections: 'Own Selection', 'Folk Song', 'Light Entertainment' and 'Sacred'. Two fine young singers, Liam Braithwaite and Isaac Samuels both sang superbly to win their sections. Sid Chand gained two second places and two highly commended which placed him second overall in his section.

Two younger singers from the Girls’ School were also successful with Amelie James-Power winning the U10 Girls’ section and Scarlett Jacques awarded second place in the U13 category. Charles Adams from the Boys’ School was also successful winning the U10 Boys’ section.

Well known recent Old Collegian, Manase Latu was cheered on by our students and was also very successful again this year. Manase gained three first placings, three third placings as well as retaining the trophy he was awarded last year for Most Promising Competitor.

UNDER 16

Own Selection

1st - Liam Braithwaite

Very Highly Commended - Sid Chand

Commended - Isaac Samuels, Victoria Tse and Crystal Sun

Folk or Traditional

2nd - Sid Chand

Commended - Liam Braithwaite, Emily Young, Victoria Tse and Crystal Sun

Light Entertainment

3rd - Emily Young

Very Highly Commended - Sid Chand

Commended - Luca Heard

Oratorio or Sacred

1st - Isaac Samuels

2nd - Sid Chand

3rd - Victoria Tse

Very Highly Commended - Emily

Young

Commended - Liam Braithwaite

Under 16 Overall

2nd Sid Chand

18 AND UNDER 21

Own Selection

Very Highly Commended - Sam Downes

Folk/Traditional

Highly Commended - Sam Downes

Oratorio or Sacred Song

Highly Commended - Sam Downes

Light Entertainment

Highly Commended - Sam Downes

16 AND UNDER 18

Own Selection

3rd - Lili Taylor

Folksong

3rd Aaron Leng

Success at Showdown Awards

Each year the Auckland Showdown judges have the mammoth task of watching dozens of Auckland Secondary School drama and musical productions in order to determine the most outstanding students and staff in a variety of categories. Run by the Auckland Community Theatre Trust and presented at SkyCity Theatre, the Awards Night brings together the best performing artists and technical crews from across the city.

This year, the College’s Senior School Productions, Othello and Blood Brothers were nominated in 14 acting and technical categories for the final round of judging. We were absolutely delighted when a key member of all our recent productions, Year 13 student, Lloyd David, was announced the ‘Best Male Lead in a Play’ for his title role in Othello. Head of Drama, Ms Emma Bishop was also awarded ‘Best Costumes’ for the detailed work on the ‘post-apocalyptic steam punk’ style costumes. Ms Bishop, along with light and sound technician, Mr Glen Mortensen, also received an award for ‘Best Lighting.’

Lloyd first came to attention when he played the role of John Proctor in last year’s production of The Crucible. He has since gone on to take lead roles in subsequent shows, with his outstanding portrayal of Othello as his last College production. Lloyd is hoping to pursue acting as a career and has appeared in a role on Shortland Street this year. He’s set himself the ultimate goal of achieving a Tony or an Oscar, so we wish him luck and will watch with interest!

SHOWDOWN AWARDS

Best Male Lead in a Play Lloyd David

Best Costumes

Emma Bishop

Best Lighting Emma Bishop & Glen Mortensen

Success for our Film Makers

Hunter Williams

C

ongratulations to our filmmakers! Year 12 College students, Henry Donald, Liam Roberts, and Sam

Strang and Year 10 student, Hunter

Williams placed 2nd in the Fair Go School Ad Awards 2014. The boys set out to create a tongue in cheek, circular narrative, providing the audience with a small mystery at the start which required watching the rest of the ad to ‘solve’ it. They were amongst ten finalists selected from hundreds of hopefuls and their advert was shown live on the Fair Go television programme.

Hunter has also had amazing success with a very poignant documentary he made. Quinn's Quest captures the story of Roanne Hautapu and her daughter Quinn, now age 9, who was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer at age 7. In the last two years she has undergone close to 1000 procedures. Through her ambassadorship with The Child Cancer Foundation NZ, she is impacting the lives of thousands of people.

Hunter’s work won the O'Halloran North Shore Media Empowerment Award in the Outlook For Someday sustainability Film Challenge and he was also the overall winner in the Inspiring Stories competition and received $2000 plus a two day internship at Images & Sound.

Well done

Hunter!

Winning Streak for College Designers

Budding fashion designer, Clara Wigmore is familiar with success. In October she won the Year 13 Urban Category at the Botany Design Awards, received first runner up in the Senior category of the Newmarket Young Designer Awards and won the fashion category of the ‘4.30 Show People’s Choice’ award as a finalist in the national secondary school creative competition, ‘Brother Design Styles’.

The inaugural ‘Brother Design Styles’ competition was open to all Year 7-13 students across New Zealand in two categories - fashion and art. This year’s theme was, ‘Use Old, Create New’, and challenged fashion design students to create a ready-to-wear item or outfit, giving something old or used a new life.

Clara’s recycled garment expressed her individual fashion style with her ‘tulip ice dyed’ dress, made out of a bed sheet. Using this dying technique, Clara experimented with sprinkling coloured dye powder on to ice cubes layered over the sheet. The ice then acted as a resist and the colour melted down over the fabric to create the watery and patterned stain effect.

Lucy Conyngham, was also announced as the Year 12 Urban Category at the Botany Designer Awards and placed runner up in the Year 12 Junior Category at the Newmarket Young Fashion Design Awards. Lucy’s winning design was a lined cape adorned with 3D geometric shapes that were edge stitched. The annual Newmarket competition selects its entries from throughout New Zealand.

Congratulations to Clara and Lucy on their creative achievements.

College Debater Represents NZ

A fter representing the Auckland Region in the National Competition and being awarded 2nd place, Year 13 student, Arun Prakash was one of five speakers from across the country chosen to represent New Zealand in the WSDC (World Schools Debating Championship) this year in Bangkok, Thailand.

To prepare for the international championship, Arun attended the University of Auckland for six days in July, training for an intensive 12-14 hours per day. During this time the team competed three debates per day against top tier university debaters as well as attending workshops and sessions on style and content factors that comprise good debating.

There were 46 nations represented at the tournament in Thailand and only 16 made it to the knock out rounds; the octo-final. To decide the top 16 teams, there were first eight rounds of debate against eight predetermined teams. These eight debates took place over four days.

Over the course of the competition, the New Zealand team debated against many countries including Argentina, Israel, Pakistan, Slovakia, Netherlands, Barbados, Nigeria and England with both triumphant wins and disappointing losses. After completing these rounds the team qualified in 7th place for the octo-final, unfortunately losing out in this round to the Netherlands.

At the end of the tournament, team New Zealand finished in 9th place. In the individual result, Arun finished in an impressive 15th place out of 220+ speakers across the entire tournament. On his achievement he said that it was ‘definitely a satisfying result and not many people can call themselves 15th in the world at something!’

Best Speakers

More recently, Arun was crowned the best speaker in the 2014 Auckland Schools Debating Competition in September. This now solidifies him as one of the finest speakers in the country. Also achieving success was David Thibaud, (Year 9) who was awarded best overall speaker in the Junior Open competition, and Rachel Worthington (Year 13) who was awarded 5th out of the 10 top ranked speakers.

Young Enterprise Award

‘P

rogressus,’ one of our two Year 11 Young Enterprise companies, were delighted to receive an award for the 'Start Up Company of the Year' in the Auckland South/East Regional Business Awards at a special event hosted by the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise held at the Villa Maria Estate.

The team of five students each had a business role within the company. ‘Managing Director,’ Emma Westbrooke came up with the company's unique mission. Their goal was to make both doctors and patients lives easier by relieving some of the stress young children suffer when waiting for injections and similar procedures in their medical provider’s rooms. Their solution, ‘Don’t Flip Out’ comprises packs of brightly decorated, interactive cards based on Kiwi icons and designed to distract, entertain and occupy young patients. The company designed, manufactured and packaged these sets, including instructions, and marketed them to appropriate medical practioners.

The award was a fine accolade for this younger group competing against many students up to Year 13 throughout Auckland.

Team: Managing Director, Emma Westbrooke; Financial Director, Kevin Shen; Communications Director, Kurt Hawkins; Marketing Director, James Brown; Production Director, Haswell Brooke.

Engineering Team Wins $2000!

ACollege team with a love of mathematics and science was awarded runner up in the University of Auckland’s annual competition, ‘New Zealand's Next Top Engineering Scientist’. Our congratulations to the team of Year 12 students, Maheer Zaveri, Oscar Sims and Jed Robertson and Year 11 student, Kevin Shen who were awarded $2,000 prize money.

Run by the Department of Engineering Science, the competition is hotly contested with over 200 teams of students entering each year. This year the College entered seven teams in a bid for three top prizes.

The challenging topic put to the students was, ‘If Mount Taranaki erupted, how much would it cost the aviation industry?’ The teams worked on this project for a lengthy nine hours. The boys submitted a ten page, well researched document complete with their data, calculations, assumptions and limitations giving their answer at $49.1 million.

In addition to the prize money, all members of this team who later choose to study in the Department of Engineering Science will be guaranteed a paid summer internship at Orion Health, Fonterra, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare or the Department of Engineering Science.

As questions from previous years show, this competition requires a high level of thinking:

‘How many balloons would be required to provide balloon-powered internet coverage to all of New Zealand?’ (2013)

C.E.T.A. Team Auckland Champions

At the annual C.E.T.A. (Commerce and Economics Teachers Association) Pursuits Competition for schools in the greater Auckland region, our Accounting Team won for the fourth consecutive year to become the Auckland Regional Accounting Champions. A fabulous achievement!

The students took part in a series of seven rounds of competition with seven questions per round to achieve best school for this region. The team outstripped our nearest challenger, Lynfield College and third place went to Westlake Boys. The students found it an excellent way to prepare for their examinations and thoroughly enjoyed this testing yet entertaining evening.

CETA Accounting Team: Lucy Eden, Hamish McDonald, Andrew Jackson, Sam Dakin, Harry Rillstone.

‘In the event that electronic tracking is unavailable, what size search area is required in order to retrieve the capsule?’ (2012)

‘If a severe Tsunami warning was issued, how long would it take to evacuate the 13,000 people who live on Te Atatu Peninsula?’ (2011)

‘How much fuel is required for a manned mission to Mars?’ (2010)

‘Could New Zealanders save enough electricity via energy efficiency improvements in homes to avoid New Zealand requiring an additional power station being constructed?’ (2009)

Sarah Stumps NASA Staff!

When Year 8 College student, Sarah Liu, asked the question, ‘What would happen if we took one of the planets from of our solar system? Would it mess up the solar system or would it remain the same?’ she started a chain of questioning that began in her Year 8 classroom at College, moved to the physics labs in the Science Block, progressed to the Librarian at NASA Headquarters in Washington, who was stumped by the question, and finally drew a response from an astronomer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology! This was also followed up by an answer from our own physics teachers once they, too, had time to reflect on Sarah’s request.

The Year 8’s had been studying the solar system as part of their new science topic looking at the different planets and their orbits. A recent visit from Starlab, a mobile planetarium, had set the scene for probing questions about the solar system. Sarah’s seemingly simple question highlighted the importance of continuing to probe and question in search of an answer.

Not so long ago, students would have turned to a set of printed encyclopedias for an answer, or written a letter that would arrive and return

in its own good time. Now, our students have information online at their fingertips, although with a question such as this, the answer may not always be so easy to find. Emails have changed the way we communicate and so Sarah, her teacher, Mrs Catherine May, and her classmates were tickled pink when staff at NASA took the time to consider Sarah’s email and respond.

The first to respond, Rick Spencer, the Information Services Manager at NASA Headquarters admitted to being stumped and so passed the question on to Stephen Edberg, an Astronomer at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. Stephen’s response was similar to that from our own physics teacher, Mr Hamish Wilde that, in essence, not a lot would happen, however, Mr Wilde made a very pertinent point, ‘The biggest cost to humanity would probably be, once again, rewriting all the astronomy books and web resources to reflect the change to there now only being 7 planets in the solar system!’

The responses to Sarah’s email may be read online: https://saintkentigern.com/news/year-8-collegestudent-stumps-nasa-staff/

Year 9 Scientists visit Thermo Fisher Laboratory

Recently a selected group of Year 9 College students were fortunate to be invited to visit the Thermo Fisher Laboratories in Penrose. As the leading supplier of scientific, environmental and healthcare instruments and consumables in Australasia, their aim is to enable their customers to make the world a healthier, cleaner and safer place.

The visit started with an introduction from Senior Manager, Mr Iqbal before the students watched a fascinating demonstration of how employees are required to be fully gowned before entering the aseptic production area. The students were glad they watched carefully as one of them was called on to repeat the process ensuring all the correct steps had been taken! In a facility such as this there is no room for error. It was the sort of head to toe gear only usually seen in a movie or on the news in a medical disaster!

The group was given a guided tour of the aseptic production area and the quality control laboratories with the highlight for the students, the -30c blast freezer! Both labs were fascinating in their detail and the students learnt a great deal about the work carried out and the degree of care taken to ensure the product is of the highest quality.

They then witnessed an experiment using the 3M ATP monitor systemcutting edge technology that is used to analyse the number of microbes

found on surfaces. One of the greatest infection risks to a patient entering a healthcare facility is acquiring a pathogen from a prior room occupant. The factors that contribute to this risk are many and emphasise the importance of environmental cleaning for reducing the spread of infections. Rapid results allow for corrective action to be taken at the time of testing and this equipment allowed for an instant result rather than waiting for a culture to grow.

Our students thoroughly enjoyed the visit and learned a great deal about where a career in science could take them. Our sincere thanks to Mr Iqbal and his fellow staff for welcoming our students and taking the time to talk with our students.

Peer Support Systems

An ESL Mentoring Project

With thanks to Mrs Kym O’Toole, ESL teacher

It is a predicament that is hard to fully comprehend; your first language is not English, yet it is the medium in which all of your classes are taught. You are struggling to understand new ideas and develop new knowledge, both in your own language and in the one that dominates your environment, but your command of English is limited, and everybody talks too fast. Add to this, the fact that you are new to the school.

This is the reality for some of our international students at the College; teenagers who have travelled from afar for secondary schooling, often arriving with only a basic command of English. Currently there are students from Korea, Russia, Thailand, China and Japan receiving language support from their peers.

The ESL-IB Mentoring Project at Saint Kentigern College began in Term 1, 2014, initially as a strategy for English Language Learners (ELLs) to extend their practice outside of classes; as new students with lower proficiency in spoken English were less confident and more inclined to group together with those of the same first language (L1). This stymied their progress to some extent and left these students in need of more significant, individualised support. Student interaction is a major source of input for language development, something Richard & Hurley (1988) call, ‘The language of peers’. Therefore, I wanted the students to communicate as freely as possible, as often as possible and as meaningfully as possible.

Volunteer mentors were sought from the Year 12 International Baccalaureate (IB) students. I specifically looked for those whose first language was not English, as I felt they would be able to relate to the ELLs and show a greater depth of empathy. They would also model good work ethics, excellent academic results and potential future pathways. However, requests flooded in from non-IB students of various nationalities; Kiwis, French, and Samoans, amongst others. It was heart-warming to see so many students willing to give up their time for their peers. Wherever possible, students of the same nationality and language were placed together, allowing ESL students to develop their L1 in conjunction with English.

The mentors and mentees met during lunch and cultivated good relationships, even strong friendships in some cases. The mentoring sessions established a conducive platform for ESL students to collaborate and converse with peers, which eradicated the fear often associated with putting a hand up in class. There were a number of approaches to the mentoring sessions too. A number of mentors read books with their mentees, whilst others went over homework requirements or discussed new information gleaned from mainstream lessons, all the while modelling correct grammar and pronunciation.

To new ESL students, the mentors became a life-line; showing their mentees around the College, introducing the mentees to students, and familiarising them with the wider school community and culture, all of which had a tremendous impact on helping the new students settle quickly into the life of the College.

Upon asking for feedback on the experience, one mentor stated, ‘ESOL mentoring is a great programme. The IB student mentors are all working closely with their mentees and you can really see them bonding, learning and creating strong friendships along the way. The ESOL students are progressing with the help of their mentor, as it is easier and more interesting for them to talk to a student of a similar age. The mentors are really dedicated to this program and the mentees are more and more involved as they gain more confidence and support. It also really helps the ESOL students adapt to the cultural change and be more involved in school activities as the mentors are students at SKC who help them not only with English, but other aspects of living and learning in NZ as well.’

Merry Liu, Year 12

Initially the ELLs were reluctant to ask for help and even resistant to the offer. However, much to their credit, the mentors persisted and they soon experienced a shift in attitude; a steady stream of meeting requests began to flow in. Mentors also attended a mainstream period with the ESL students each cycle, in order to measure how their mentees coped with the language demands, and to provide assistance with subject specific vocabulary. This proved very useful for both mentor and mentee, as it reduced delays in the comprehension of tasks through vocabulary explanations. Furthermore, it resonated within the ESL and mainstream classes as significant scaffolding was put in place for class work.

ESOL at Saint Kentigern College is blending support strategies to encourage growth in confidence and language proficiency. This powerful mentoring project breaks down barriers to mainstream education, through meaningful language use in a non-threatening environment. Through the commitment and hard work of both mentors and mentees, the ESL-IB Mentoring initiative has established itself as something much more significant than a project. It is a study programme, an induction for newcomers, a pathway into College life and a peer-assessment tool. But above all, it is a student academic support network helping students to strive for excellence.

A visit to New Caledonia

With thanks to student reporters, Isabella Cockell and Francesca Armstrong

During the Term 3 holidays, a group of students from Years 9-11 left for a ten day exchange to Noumea in New Caledonia. It was an incredible experience; we learnt so much about not just the language but about the culture as well. Every day was filled with new activities to give us more of an understanding into the French lifestyle.

Being immersed in a country is a very different experience to just taking an ordinary holiday; it allows you follow the typical daily routine of a French family and to become accustomed to a completely different way of life. A typical day in a French family proved to be quite different than the New Zealand routine we were accustomed to. The first culture shock came with the realisation that the school day begins a lot earlier for Noumean students! Classes begin at 7.00 in the morning and run through until 4:30 in the afternoon. The French school system is purely focused on academics leaving no time for co-curricular activities such as sports and music - a huge contrast to Saint Kentigern!

The immersion with the families we were billeted with and being surrounded by French teens allowed us to pick up the language extremely quickly. Their enthusiastic approach towards hosting us meant we felt at home straight away. The students took on the roles of our tour guides, teachers and friends, showing us their favourite aspects of their island and helping us to develop our French speaking skills, teaching us the use of French slang and helping us to adapt to their incredibly fast speech. Being similar ages to our billets meant we all bonded exceptionally quickly; connecting over typical teenage crazes such music and hobbies. Our relationships with our billets continued to grow over our two week stay as we learned more about each other and experienced more things as a pair.

There was a new plan each day, involving new sights to see and new foods to try. While experiencing the tropical island we spent a lot of time at the beach, snorkelling, freaking out about the Tricot Rayés (snakes - who in reality just slept in the sun), swimming and enjoying the heat which, at 25 degrees, was a dramatic comparison to mid-winter Auckland. Other days were spent visiting markets, going on cultural tours and experiencing the local culture of Noumea. Each day was exciting in a different way and there was something for everyone, even if just enjoying a nap on a lounger while soaking up Phare Amedee’s sunrays is your thing!

We quickly adapted to the French diet of pastry upon pastry, the extensive buffets, our billet family’s cooking and, of course, the new discovery of Nems, Vietnamese spring rolls. By the end of our ten day stay none of us were ready to leave and return to Term 4 and exams! The goodbye at the Airport proved to be an emotional experience and a few tears were shed on the way through security checks. We will never forget the experiences and friendships we created and shared on this experience and are thankful to have had the opportunity to take part in this exchange.

French Immersion Experience for Cameron and James

This year a new initiative was trialled with two Year 11 boys, Cameron Low and James Hansen, staying an extra 10 days in New Caledonia for an immersion experience. They left earlier and returned later than the rest of the group, flying on their own. They were hosted by families from Georges Baudoux College, attended school, wore their uniforms and took part fully in the life of their billets.

During our three day tramp, we experienced bad camp food, wet socks, the most uncomfortable sleeping positions and some of the best times we’ve ever had. As friendships were tested and physical abilities pushed, we triumphed through the hardship of kilometres and kilometres of walking. The Tongariro Crossing was another challenge - it felt like we were on a Lord of the Rings set!

William Luxton, Year 10

Field Centre 2014

The old adage, ‘It’s not what life throws at you but how you deal with it, that makes you who you are,’ was definitely put to the test at this year’s Field Centre. As the first buses pulled away from College to head to Tongariro National Park, the weather reports were hinting at ‘wild, cyclonic westerlies’ – they forgot to mention the snow!

This is the 45th year that the College has run Field Centre with this year’s group being the biggest to date. 320 students and 65 staff were split across 13 separate lodges (one more lodge than last year) for a week of activities that challenged our Year 10 students to gain independence and explore personal strengths in an exciting, spectacular and challenging outdoor environment.

The conditions at Tongariro change constantly and no two trips are ever the same – in fact it’s rare to get two consecutive days the same! The weather can be beautiful one moment, exposing the terrain in all its glory, only to close down in a short space of time as the weather changes. Over the years our students have had to deal with high winds, rain and snow that can be demoralising at the time but on reflection becomes part of digging deep and building character. Other years, the sun has shone and the mountain has been at its best. It’s all about planning and being prepared.

Few of us would plan to go camping in the snow, but when you do emerge from your tent during a three day tramp to discover that it has snowed overnight, there is an element of magic – especially for those who have never seen snow before! Regardless of the conditions, and no matter how hard a tramp may seem at the time, our students generally love Field Centre and look back on it fondly as one of the highlights of their time at College.

Ever since Year 7, I have had mixed feelings about the ‘rite of passage’ that is Field Centre. The hype associated with the dangerous terrain, talk of injuries and severe weather that accompany these ‘adventures’ were enough to ensure my Year 7 excitement was tempered with trepidation. Field Centre tested us, not only physically but mentally also. The feeling of just wanting to lie down and not move was strong but the urge to persevere and move on was stronger. It helped knowing that what awaited us at the end of a tramp was warm food and showers, a shelter and as much as we all loved ‘Doug the Shovel’, a toilet! Over this time at Field Centre I have made new friends, and strengthened old ones. My tutor group became closer than before and the memories I made with these lovely girls is something I will cherish forever.

Amelia Ayres, Year 10

Before I went on Field Centre, I had a very vague idea of what I was in for. I knew we were going to climb a few mountains, tent somewhere and there would be no shower/bathroom access, not such a big deal right? Wrong! Turns out a few mountains was many mountains and we had to keep going through the rain, hail, blistering wind and even snow! Being pushed to our limits has taught me lots of things and, as cheesy as it sounds, I learnt not to give up when things were tough, which was most of the time! And who knew face-to-face talking to someone could actually be quite enjoyable, even though most of us did miss our phones - it was definitely an insane experience!

Kerry Ni, Year 10

We headed off for our first day of tramping under a blanket of grey cloud with cold showers definitely dampening the mood. At the end of a very long day of challenging terrain and weather, we arrived at our campsite soaking and exhausted, and used our remaining energy to pitch the tent, cook some noodles and collapse into our sleeping bags. On the final day of our three day tramp, we awoke in our tents to discover that it was snowing! Overall, Field Centre was an amazing experience that made us all laugh, cry, and shout, but it also taught us so many important lessons about resilience, bravery and teamwork. Our lodge has formed strong bonds and amazing memories that will stay with us forever.

Laura Wyeth, Year 10

College Sports Awards

The Sports Centre was packed to capacity for the annual Sports Awards Dinner to honour our sporting elite. Over 500 people attended this year’s dinner to celebrate the achievement of our finest young sportspeople. The College sports programme is deservedly one of the most diverse and successful in New Zealand and our players, coaches and managers can be proud of the efforts they have made to continue to strive to maintain that competitive edge.

This year we were very pleased to welcome back former student and professional sailor, Mr Blair Tuke to present the awards. As a yachtsman in the 49er event, he was an Olympic silver medallist at the London Olympics and a World Champion in 2013 and 2014. He helped win the Youth America’s Cup and is now a member of the America’s Cup Emirates Team New Zealand.

Dux Ludorum

The hoWeLLs TRophy

MAIA JeAn WATene

The Dux Ludorum is the major individual sporting award of the year and is awarded to the most outstanding sports person, girl or boy. The winner is generally an all-round sports person who has represented the College at a number of sports rather than someone who has concentrated on just one sport.

Nominees: Ayden Lamont, Emma Hanley, Christina Oscar, Grace Wood, George Hollingworth, Isabella Richards, Kelly Drew, James Fouche, Leba Korovou, Liam Ward, Madeline Evans, Maia Jean Watene, Mathew McCullough, Patrick Herbert, Richmond Lum, Sam Dakin, Sam Nock

Maia Jean played in four Premier teams for the College this year and all four teams qualified for their National competitions: Netball, Touch, Basketball and Football. She is captain of the Premier Girls’ Basketball team and has played in the New Zealand Maori Women’s team and the New Zealand U20 National team. She is the Premier Girl’s Touch captain and has played for the New Zealand U19 Touch team and the New Zealand Women’s team. She is also a member of our Auckland champion Netball team. Last year Maia Jean was runner up to the Dux Ludorum.

Blair shared with the audience important factors that have helped him to achieve his own hopes and dreams, two of which were to remember where you first started and to acknowledge those who have helped you along the way. He said he enjoys getting back to Saint Kentigern sports games to support the teams, and that no matter where he is in the world; he will always remember his roots. He wished all of our sportspeople good luck in their next chapter of their lives, and we thank him for taking the time to return to College to present the awards.

The Sports Dinner is the culmination of the efforts of many people but Director of Sport, Mr Martin Piaggi and Sports Manager, Miss Lynne Scutt deserve our thanks for the huge amount of work it takes to bring this together.

Proxime Accessit

IsABeLLA RIChARDs

Isabella was the Senior Girls Athletic champion. She placed 1st in the 200m, 1st in the 400m, 1st in the 800m and she set a new College record in the 1500m. She is the College and Auckland Senior Girls Cross Country champion and placed 3rd at the nationals. She is the Auckland Senior Girls road race champion. She plays in the Premier Girls Football team which is the 2nd best girl’s team in the country. She represented New Zealand in the U17 Girls Football team at the U17 Girls World Cup. She has just been named in the Pathway to Podium programme with Sport New Zealand.

Boys Runner Up to the Dux Ludorum

The BRuCe pALMeR MeMoRIAL AWARD

sAM noCk

He is captain of our Auckland champion Touch team. He is captain of our 1st XV team. He played his first test for New Zealand against Fiji as a rugby player in the New Zealand Secondary schools U18 rugby team. In his second test against Australia, he scored two tries securing a very good win. He has already played Senior Men’s 7’s rugby for Northland. He has signed a contract for 2015 with the Northland ITM Cup team and the Blues Super 15 franchise. In addition, Sam was part of the Senior Boys 4x100m Relay team. These boys broke the College record which was set back in 1985, 11 years before he was born!

Individual Sports Awards

The phILIp yoLLAnD MeMoRIAL AWARD

yeARs 10 & 11 spoRTsMAn oF The yeAR

LIAM WILLIAMs

Nominees: Conor Brown, Etene Nanai, Caleb Aoake, Ethan Blight Year, Liam Williams, George Ellete, Michael Wood, Matthew Manning

Liam has been a major contributor in two of our very successful premier teams. He was influential as a member of the 1st XI Football team helping them place 3rd in the Auckland competition and 3rd at the National tournament. He was also an influential team member in the Premier Boys Touch team which won the Auckland tournament and competed in the Nationals. At 16 years of age he is in the Waikato U20 Football team and the Western Springs U19 Football team. He has also just been named in the New Zealand U17 Boys Football squad for the next U17 World Cup.

yeAR 10 & 11 spoRTsWoMAn oF The yeAR

syDney FRAseR

Nominees: Hannah Ward, Madeleine Park, Mayah Coleman, Mererangi Paul, Summer Jean Motufoua, Sydney Fraser, Tait McGregor, Victoria Kolose

As a track athlete, Sydney placed 2nd in the 100m, 3rd in the 200m and was a member of the winning 4x 100m Relay team at the Eastern Zone Athletics meeting. She also placed 1st in the long jump, setting a new College record. She is in the Premier Girls Touch team and will contest the Nationals. She is a member of the Premier Girls Netball team who are the Auckland champions. This year she has played for the New Zealand U17 Touch team. She has been selected for the U19 New Zealand Team to play in the TransTasman series early next year. She was a New Zealand Secondary Schools netball trialist and she won the Raewyn Henry Cup as Senior Emerging Player for the Carlton Premier team. She has also just been included in the Pathway to Podium programme with Sport New Zealand.

The LeyTon Monk AWARD

yeAR 9 spoRTsMAn oF The yeAR

DyLAn

McCuLLough

Nominees: Dylan McCullough, Nico Carlier, Liam Stoica, Rivez Reihana, Ryan Church, Ryan Laumatai

Dylan was 3rd in the Junior Boys Swimming and 3rd in the Junior Boys Cross Country. He was also 3rd in the Eastern zone 3000m. He was named Saint Kentigern College Triathlete of the year and won the Alan Reeves U13 Triathlon prize. He is the Auckland Junior Duathlon champion and is the Auckland Secondary Schools Junior Triathlon champion. He is the New Zealand Junior Triathlete champion. He was also first in New Zealand in the U14 Boys Individual Time Trial and Hill Climb both with new record times. Last year, he was the Year 7&8 Sportsman of the Year.

yeAR 9 spoRTsWoMAn oF The yeAR

hAnnAh BLAke

Nominees: Claire Johnston, Hannah Blake, Lizzie Ellis, Amy Waters, Natasha Leishman

As a Year 9 student, Hannah is in two Premier sports teams: the 1st XI Girls Cricket team, who are the Auckland champions and the 1st XI Girls Football team, who were runners up in the Auckland competition and 3rd in the national competition, beaten by only one team all season. She was named MVP for the 1st XI Football team. She has also been a member of the Football Auckland Football Federation Programme since 2010.

The sIssons AWARD

yeAR 7 & 8 spoRTsMAn oF The yeAR

Ben LoWe

Nominees: Ben Lowe, Ben Shepherd, Daniel Thibaud, Harrison Dakin, James Archibald, Tom Downs

Ben played in the Year 7/8 1st XI Cricket team and played and captained the Year 7/8 1st XI Football team. He was selected in the AIMS Games Tournament team and captained the College team who placed 3rd out of 54 teams from around the country. He played in the College U13A Football team. He was the Year 8 Athletics champion winning the 100m, 200m, 300m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m and long jump and placed 3rd in the discus. He was the Year 8 Cross Country champion and he is also part of the Top Flight Football Academy. As a batsman for the Auckland University 7 Prems, he scored 400 runs averaging 50.

yeAR 7 & 8 spoRTsWoMAn oF The yeAR

oLIvIA

oveRFIeLD

Nominees: Annabelle Waterworth, Elizabeth Lightfoot, Olivia Overfield, Sam Watson

Olivia was the Year 8 Girls Swimming champion winning the 33m backstroke, 33m freestyle, 33m breaststroke, 33m fly and the 100m free. She was 3rd in the Year 8 Cross Country and she is in the Year 7/8 Girls Cricket team. She is the Saint Kentigern College U13 Triathlon champion and was a member of the U13 Girls team that won the New Zealand Secondary Schools Super Sprint championship. She was in the U14 Girls College Cycling team which won the Airport Series finals day race and she was a member of the Year 7/8 Cycling team that won the New Zealand Year 7/8 team Time Trial.

Team Sports Awards

TeAM oF The yeAR premier Boys Tennis Team

In selecting Team of the Year, we consider competitive edge, dedication to training, consistency throughout the season, self-respect, respect of the opposition, respect for team mates, the overwhelming desire to perform as a team and representing the College with pride. The Boys’ Premier Tennis Team completely dominated extremely tough competition throughout the season and secured the National title for the third year in a row. They also qualified for the World Championships to be held in Qatar in 2015. They were also the winners of the Auckland Champions of Champions competition. These are a group of boys who train hard and play hard. A well deserved win.

2014 Tennis Boys premier Team:

Andrew Qi, Liam Stoica, Edward Stoica, Trent Smith, William Matheson. Coach: Mr Peter Langsford.

John IRvIne ouTsTAnDIng peRFoRMAnCe oF The yeAR premier netball Team

This award is given to a team or individual who has achieved at the highest level and gained the results reflective of their dedication, determination and desire to succeed.

This year’s winner pulled off the near perfect game, dominating from the start and playing from in front for the entire game. They weathered marginal calls, momentum shifts and spikes in intensity by the opposition. They believed in themselves and ultimately they beat the best girls’ netball team in New Zealand, Mount Albert Grammar. The Premier Girls’ Netball Team are awarded the Performance of the Year for winning the final of the Auckland Premier Netball competition and becoming Auckland champions for the first time.

2014 premier netball Team:

Sydney Fraser, Victoria Kolose, Leba Korovou, Madison Morete, Christina Oscar, Mererangi Paul, Kristina Tipene, Maia Jean Watene, Amorangi Malesala.

Coaches: Mrs Andrea Leleni, Mrs Lianne Inkster, Manager: Mrs Leisha Slade.

heADMAsTeR’s

spoRTs AWARDs

T he Headmaster’s Sports awards are presented to male and female senior students who have played for the College demonstrating commitment and professionalism in their chosen code. They are regarded as ‘power houses’ making a difference to the performance of their teams.

sam nock - JeRoMe kAIno Cup

The Kaino Cup is presented to a team athlete who ‘the team could just not do without.’ Awarded to Sam for five years of service with an outstanding contribution. Also a New Zealand Rugby Representative.

Daniel Maclean - gRAnT DALTon Cup

A new cup in 2014, this was awarded for leadership, team building and the development of others. Daniel received this for commitment to Football and the College; a dedicated leader of the team.

Maia Jean Watene - Netball, Touch, Basketball and goalie for 1st XI Girls Football team. Maia Jean has made an outstanding five year contribution.

Madeline evans - Cycling, Running, Triathlon and allrounder who always put in her best effort.

Lulu Tuilotolava - A key member of the Premier Girls’ Hockey team who always led from the front.

Alice Boyd - For the pursuit of excellence in her chosen sport of Fencing.

kelly Drew - For her contribution to Premier Netball and Tennis. Kelly is the recipient of a 100% university scholarship to the United States for Tennis in 2015.

Leba korovou - Leba has made significant contribution to Premier Girls’ Basketball and Netball. She is a representative player for Fiji.

nikita Lieshout - Nikita has made a major contribution to Premier Girls’ Football. She had a ‘no nonsense’ attitude towards winning!

Mathew McCullough - A talented, results-orientated triathlete, cyclist and swimmer, Mathew was also a committed Sports Prefect.

Richmond Lum - Richard played 1st XI Cricket and as a talented hockey player, took part in the Hockey Youth Olympics putting in 100 % effort.

george hollingworth - George is a member of the 1st XV Rugby and 1st XI Cricket; a ‘no nonsense’ competitor.

Chad Crenfeldt smith - Chad has been an outstanding captain of 1st XI Cricket.

Thomas konusi - Thomas has given his all to the Football 1st XI since Year 9.

patrick herbert - Exciting 1st XV player who has signed with Newcastle Nights Rugby League team.

sam Taiseni - A member of the 1st XV, Sam is an unsung hero who has never been beaten in the line out.

edi stoica - A stalwart of the Premier Boys’ Tennis team, Edi has exciting tennis talent that has resulted in a scholarship to the United States for tennis in 2015.

national silver for Touch girls

After qualifying in March for the New Zealand Secondary School Championships, both the Girls’ and Boys’ Premier Touch teams trained hard towards the December National competition.

premier girls

The girls initially lost to Rangitoto but won their other pool games convincingly to progress to the top half of the competition. Three big wins then a draw with last year’s winners, MAGS, meant a spot in the semi-final to meet Hamilton Girls;’ a game played in atrocious weather. Considering the conditions, it was an outstanding game with Saint Kentigern holding out to beat Hamilton 4-3 to qualify for the grand final for the second consecutive year. The girls faced Rangitoto in the final and dominated the first half but in a close second half, Rangitoto scored when it mattered, and our girls were places 2nd again. Despite the disappointment, they can be proud of this achievement. Congratulations to Maia Jean Watene, Sydney Fraser, Christina Oscar, Mererangi Paul and Tori Kolose were named in the NZSS Girls Tournament Team.

Premier Girls’ Team: Maia Jean Watene (captain), Christina Oscar, Emily Cran, Verity Bowring, Brittany Smith, Melissa McNaughtan, Sydney Fraser, Mererangi Paul, Emily Braid, Tori Kolose, Summer Jean Motufoua, Jemma Tasman Jones, Tate McGregor, Elise Conway, Amy Waters, Maddison Barnett.

premier Boys

The boys team also had a very tough pool with a loss to last year’s winners Hamilton Boys’ but had two very good wins over Palmerston North Boys’ and Matamata to progress to the top half of the competition. The boys lost to Rotorua Boys,’ beat St Paul’s and Kelston, then lost to Hastings Boys’ meaning the best they could play for would be 5th. They beat both Auckland Grammar and King’s High to place 5th in New Zealand. Congratulations to Sam Nock who was named in the NZSS Boys Tournament Team.

Premier Boys’ Team: Sam Nock (captain), Thomas Konusi, Joseph Bradshaw, Lloyd David, Logan Fonoti, Patrick Herbert, Keiryn Hart, Marika Laing, Emmanuel Lamositele, Brosnan Meleisea, Joseph Mitai, Rupena Patuawa-Parkinson, Rivez Reihana, Wesley Tameifuna, Jacob Wright.

nATIonAL seLeCTIon

Congratulations to the students who were selected to represent New Zealand to play in Australia in January:

Maia Jean Watene NZ Womens Team

Sydney Fraser NZ U19 Team

Mererangi Paul NZ U19 Team

Brosnan Meleisea NZ U21 Team

JunIoR TouCh gIRLs WIn AuCkLAnD Zones!

After winning the Eastern Zone Touch competition, our girls went on to play exceptionally well at Auckland Zones Junior Touch Competition, chalking up good wins in the round robin and knock out stages, attaining 29 touch downs and conceding only 5, beating Mt Albert Grammar in the final 4-2.

Team: Tate McGregor (co-captain), Tori Kolose (co-captain and winner of the tournament Most Valuable Player award), Elise Conway, Summer-Jean Motufoua, Jessica Hill, Jemma Tasman-Jones, Ashleigh Garner, Mayah Coleman, Lucy Scarborough, Maddison Barnett, Amy Waters, Imogen Pilkington and Samantha Watson.

TouCh gIRLs vIsIT

The pResChooL

It was an afternoon of fun for big and small when girls from the Touch teams paid a visit to the Preschool to lend a hand. The ‘big’ girls played games outside and enjoyed quiet times inside reading and spending time with our youngest Saint Kentigern students.

year 7 & 8 Cyclists nZ Champions!

With thanks to Simon Walker, Cycling Manager

Congratulations to the College Cycling Teams who completed their cycling season in style with both the Year 7 & 8 Boys’ and Girls’ teams winning the title of New Zealand Champions! Silver was awarded to the U20 Girls and to Madeline Parks in the Points Race with Bronze awarded to the U16A Boys and the U20A Boys and to Dylan Parks in the Points Race. Well done!

The teams travelled to Palmerston North for the three day event which was the culmination of months of training and regional competitions. The Saint Kentigern contingent was made up of 14 teams with a total of 62 riders, making ours the most well represented school in New Zealand. Team Time Trials took place on the first day on a 16 km course at Koputaroa. Our riders are to be applauded for gaining podium finishes in 5 out of 6 categories.

Disappointingly, the second day of racing, the road race, was cancelled as the weather gave way to heavy rain and gusting winds.

This final day of racing was a Points Race held at Manfield Race Track in Fielding. The riders had to complete a number of circuits dependent upon age category and collect points for designated laps. This riding requires endurance and speed, both of which need to be coupled with a tactical awareness unique to points racing. Congratulations to Madeline Park and Dylan McCullough who both rode medal winning races.

TeAM TIMe TRIAL ResuLTs

Year 7 & 8 Girls Cycling Team - NZ Champions

Team: Sarah Cappel (Captain), Abigail Houghton, Olivia Overfield, Annabelle Waterworth

Year 7 & 8 Boys Cycling Team – NZ Champions

Team: Jacob Hannan (Captain), James Archibald, Cameron Manley, Caleb Atkinson

Junior Boys Cycling Team – 3rd in New Zealand

Team: James Brown (Captain), Liam Cappel, Daniel Whitburn, Dylan McCullough

Junior Girls Cycling Team – 5th in New Zealand

Team: Jamie Lindsay (Captain), Alesha Lamont, Kate Fouche, Emma Fuller

Senior Boys Cycling Team – 3rd in New Zealand

Team: Sam Dakin (Captain), Liam Foster, Ayden Lamont, James Fouche, Connor Brown

Senior Girls Cycling Team – 2nd in New Zealand

Team: Lauren Hendricksen (Captain), Simone Nightingale, Maddie Parks, Aimee Hollis, Lizzie Mudford

poInTs RACe ResuLTs

U17 Girls

2nd in New Zealand: Madeline Park

U14 Boys

3rd in New Zealand: Dylan McCullough

Cricket girls national Top 4!

After winning the Auckland title earlier in the year, our Premier Girls Cricket team qualified for one of six places at the NZCT Secondary School Girls’ National Tournament held in Palmerston North at the start of the holidays. Unfortunately the weather was not kind for most of the competition! Rain affected their first game against Rangi Ruru Girls’ School with the opposition having to abandon their innings with 56 off 16 overs for 4 wickets. After a significant rain delay in a reduced over match, our girls were set the target to score 19 runs off 5 overs. The Saint Kentigern girls scored a total of 21 giving them the win.

The weather cleared enough for a complete game to be played in the afternoon with Saint Kentigern batting first to score 88 for 5 wickets off their 20 overs in a close fought battle against Palmerston North. Unfortunately a well-timed 4 gave Palmerston th victory. Unfortunately the weather closed in completely the following day and all play was abandoned.

The last morning of tournament saw the games transferred to artificial pitches with the girls playing a finely tuned Tawa College who were the eventual unbeaten winners of the tournament placing the Saint Kentigern Premier Girls’ team 4th in New Zealand. Malaea Tangi was awarded the Saint Kentigern Most Valuable Player of the tournament for her all round ability and her leadership both on and off the field.

Six ASB ‘YSPOTY’ Awards

Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards

T he annual ASB College Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards were held at Eden Park to honour the best student athletes in Auckland across the 32 sanctioned college sports.

The top three students across Auckland are selected as finalists in each sport culminating in an overall Sports Person of the Year. This year the College was pleased to have 10 students selected as finalists.

To receive an invite to these awards is an honour as it means the student has been noted during the season as one of the top three players in their chosen sport from every secondary school in the Greater Auckland Area.

Over 600 people attended the event and it was a proud moment for the students, their families and the College when the winners were announced. At the end of the night, out of all the winners of each sport, finalists are named for overall Sports Person of the Year.

Seven boys and six girls were named as finalists and it was great to have Sam Nock (rugby), Richmond Lum (hockey) and Maia Jean Watene (all rounder) named as nominees.

AsB ‘yspoTy’

AWARDs

All Rounder Winners

Maia Jean Watene

Christina Oscar

Finalists

sport Winners

Isabella Richards - Distance Running

Maia Jean Watene - Girls Touch

Sam Nock - Rugby

Richmond Lum - Boys Hockey

Liam Ward - Multisport, Madeline Evans - Multisport, James Fouché - Cycling, Daniel Young - Boys Cricket, Isabella Richards - Girls Football, Grace Wood - Distance Running

great start to Rowing season

After two warm-up short course regattas at Lake Pupuke in November, our rowers competed in the first long-course regatta of the season at Mercer in December. The long hours of training over the winter paid dividends with the club winning the Mercer Regatta Cup for the first time – a fantastic result so early in the season.

Our rowers competed in a total of 45 races on the day, in all categories from Novice right up to the Open Men’s Club races. Impressively, from those 45 races, the club achieved an outstanding haul of 16 wins, 11 second places, and 7 thirds – a total of 34 placings.

Mercer is a challenging place to row; the currents are swift and there can be many hazards floating in the river, so it’s a testament to all crews that they were able to not only cope with these testing conditions, but also achieve such fine results.

Show Jumping Success

A team of five riders competed at the North Island Secondary School Show Jumping Championships in Cambridge. The day was a fabulous success and two of our teams of pairs placed 1st and 3rd equal in their event. Each rider competed in three classes from which overall points were calculated.

1st = Team Winners: Ginna Auld and Jess Collinson, 26 points

3rd = Team Winners: Georgie Alcock and Caitlyn Lochore, 24 points

Equestrian Team: Georgina Alcock (Captain), Kate Westbrooke, Ginna Auld, Jessica Collinson and Caitlyn Lochore

New Zealand Medals for Athletes

A small group of Saint Kentigern College athletes travelled to Wanganui to compete in the New Zealand Athletics and Road Race Championships in December. Year 10 student, Mayah Coleman had a top 10 finish in the Junior Girls Javelin and Hammer. Andrew Jackson, Year 13 also had top 10 finishes in the Senior Boys shot put, discus and javelin.

The Senior Girls road race resulted in some great medals with Grace Wood, Year 12 running an excellent race to win a Bronze medal, and then combined with Year 11 students, Katherine Chang and Ruby Houghton, to win a Silver medal in the three person team.

grace Woods

grandparents’ Day

I t is with great pleasure that we invite the Grandparents of our Year 7 and 8 students to visit the College each year and learn a little about their grandchildren’s teaching and learning programmes - that are so very different from when they attended school!

Our visitors play a very special part in the lives of our students, offering not only love, support and moral guidance but, in many cases, also offering the financial resource to ensure their grandchildren have the very best education available to them.

Almost 300 extended family members joined Head of Middle School, Mr McQueen and staff for morning tea in the Sports Centre Lounge. Each year Mr McQueen asks which grandparent has travelled the furthest. A bit of a discussion ensued but it was agreed to call a tie between Wales and Ireland! Head of College, Mr Cole welcomed our special guests and gave them insight into the values and expectations for excellence in all endeavours that we place on a Saint Kentigern education. He explained about our ‘parallel education’ model, where boys and girls are taught separately in our Middle School before coming together in a coeducational setting in

the Senior School. He also spoke about the importance of developing the whole child and the part that the co-curricular life of the College plays alongside academic endeavour. He said that in ‘his’ generation, university graduates could be assured of a job. That is no longer the case and he sees great benefit for those students who take up the extra opportunities offered by our co-curricular programmes in service, the arts and sports. 'There is a lot more about life, compassion, self-confidence, skill development, presentation and team work to be learned from these endeavours,' he said.

Our Year 7 and 8’s waited excitedly to escort their visitors back to their classrooms. Each class had devised their own programme for the morning but the use of technology, in particular smart boards, notebooks and video were prominent. There was also a questionnaire for the Grandparents about school life when they were growing up. Whilst the use of technology was an obvious difference, there was one common answer that was totally foreign to this generation of students….their grandparents walked to school!

After a tour of the campus the morning concluded with them being welcomed to a Middle School assembly and an invitation to join their grandchildren for lunch if they so wished.

Thank you to all grandparents who came from near and far for your support to your grandchildren, families and the College.

CAN YOU HELP?

We are seeking willing contacts who can offer work experience for our senior students

Head of Student Services, Mrs Sandra Shaw is working with the Parents and Friends Association to build a list of contacts who would be willing to offer our senior students one of the following:

• Work experience

• The opportunity to shadow an employer

• A visit to a work place to observe a wide range of occupations

• The chance to talk to an employer about a particular career

If you are able to offer assistance, Chairman of the Parents and Friends Association, Mr David Courtney would be pleased to hear from you. please email: pandf@saintkentigern.com

Parents and Friends

ChAIRMAn’s RepoRT FoR 2014

This year has been a busy year for the Parents & Friends as we have continued to provide support to various aspects of College life, mainly:

• Volunteer workers at the Middle School tuck shop and the Senior School Saints Cafe

• Refreshments for events such as Parent/Teacher Interviews; Open Days; New Entrants Days; Graduation Dinner; Welcome Events for new Year 7 & 9 parents; and musical performances

• Providing financial support of approximately $61,000.00 to travelling cultural and sports groups and buying of equipment for activities as diverse as PE & Health and Robotics

• Providing support to College families in times of bereavement or other hardship

The Saint Kentigern College Parents & Friends Association enjoy a unique arrangement with the Trust Board in that, in return for providing volunteer workers at the tuck shop and Saints Cafe, we decide how the profits will be spent in support of our students. This means that the Parents and Friends do not need to regularly fund raise – instead we donate our time to support our students and the College.

This year, in addition to our usual activities, we have started two new projects. The first is a monthly meeting for parents who do not have English as their first language. The meeting is run by a Parents and Friends member, Mrs Jessie Liu who can provide guidance and information relating to the College that these parents might otherwise find hard to understand.

The second new project is working with Head of Student Services, Mrs Sandra Shaw to provide the opportunity for senior students to shadow an employer or have a work experience. We are asking for parents or their contacts willing to give students the opportunity to go into a work place to observe a wide range of occupations, to contact us. This could be the opportunity for work experience, the chance to observe or the chance to talk to an employer about a particular career.

The Parent & Friends Association relies on time contributed by parents. This year has seen a number of changes in our executive committee as long serving members retired following the graduation of their children. Pippa Styles, Heather Skelton and Tracey Goldstine have retired this year. I thank Pippa, Heather and Tracey for their wonderful contribution to the Parents and Friends, the College and Saint Kentigern over many years, and wish them well in the future.

I welcome to the executive committee the new members who have replaced those that have retired. The Parents & Friends will continue to provide support to students, families and staff of the College. I encourage all parents to take part in our activities so as to make the most of both your and your children’s experience at Saint Kentigern College.

需要中文帮助吗？

n eed help in Chinese?

扫一扫以上二维码

加入Saint Kentigern

家友会亚裔家长微信群

Scan the above WeChat code and join the Asian Parents Social Group of Parents & Friends Association, Saint Kentigern College.

家友会亚裔家长联谊会可以为英语语言有困难的亚裔家长提供 帮助，让家长更多了解孩子在校期间的学习和生活情况，并提 供与其他家长交流的机会。亚裔家长联谊会由家友会主席David Courtney先生及联络员刘小勤女士共同组织。联谊会每月在学校 的Saints Café组织一次小型聚会。使用微信的家长可以扫二维码 加入亚裔家长微信群。

The Asian Parents Social Group of P&F provides an opportunity to parents who have difficulty with English to meet and discuss issues of interest and ask questions about all aspects of their children’s life at College, making friends of other parents or generally participating fully in College life. This group is led by the Chairman of P&F, Mr. David Courtney together with Ms. Jessie Liu, convenor of P&F. The group meets once a month in the morning at Saints Café. Scan the WeChat code to learn more about the Asian Parents Social Group of the College Parents & Friends Association.

Old Collegians President’s Report

It seems quite incredible that we are now at the end of another school year at Saint Kentigern. Another year of high achievement in the classroom, on the field, court and stage, and also amongst our Old Collegians. Past students are continuing to achieve distinction at universities in New Zealand and around the world, in the boardroom and on the career ladder. It is evident at the various SKOCA reunion events around the world that ‘striving for excellence’ remains with our students even after they have graduated from Saint Kentigern.

The 1990-1999 Bruce House Boarder Reunion Dinner in September was another reunion of successful and confident young men who said they had all ‘survived’ their ‘boarding house years’ and now, despite what they thought were some tough times then, looked back with fond memories at how this experience had shaped their lives for the better. It was also an event in the College history where we had second generation OC’s returning to reunite with their classmates such as Cameron Marcroft whose father Brian was a foundation boarder in the early 1950’s, and Andrew McMillan who also boarded and is the son of Bob McMillan, also of the College foundation decade and a Past President of SKOCA.

The SKOCA Golf Day at Titirangi was lighter in number due to a clash with the school holidays with many OC’s away, however, the golf played was outstanding and in some cases, such as the Golf Academy Team, unbelievable! With a generous sponsor prize pool, the top teams received top prizes.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the ongoing event sponsorship from Bayleys Real Estate, Giltrap Prestige, Southpark Group, Ricoh, Toshiba, Angus Steak House and the Saint Kentigern Trust Board who are key to this event’s success. Next year the event moves to Remuera Golf Course on 9 November, where we intend to hold this annual event indefinitely.

The Australian Reunion in Brisbane saw over 30 Old Collegians meet on the Friday for lunch then again for a late dinner, followed by lunch on Saturday before the journey to Suncorp Stadium to witness a true ‘last minute’ recovery and win by the All Blacks. The weather was brilliant, comradery excellent and all attendees aged 24-72 years commented they would make the trip to Sydney in 2015 for a repeat reunion and rugby weekend. A special moment was witnessed when Foundation Boy’s School Old Collegians, Stephen Cassrells, John Lewis and Duncan Millar, reunited after 40 years since completing 13 years at Saint Kentigern School and College. They remained inseparable during the night, laughing and recalling the mischief they had caused. My thanks to Brisbane-based John Lewis and Ross Patrick (another 13 year gentleman) for organising this most successful reunion weekend.

SKOCA committee members Kelly Alexander and Sharnika Lelini organised a competitive SKOCA team to play the College Senior Netball team, however, the College was too strong again. Committee members James Hackett and James Bennett organised the ROC’S (under 26 OC’s) events at the four main universities again this year and each event was well attended, with the Auckland event clearly the most outstanding with 348 ROC’s in attendance! My thanks to these members of the committee and all the SKOCA committee who generously give their time to organise and support the various events on the annual SKOCA calendar for the benefit of the wider SKOCA members.

I would like to welcome Rachel Goldstine and Caleb Hill from the 2014 College Year 13 leavers onto the SKOCA committee next year as key members to ensure we link with the 2014 leavers’ group wherever they may be studying or beginning their careers. We would love our graduates keep in touch.

I wish all members of the SKOCA and the wider Saint Kentigern family a long and enjoyable summer vacation and look forward to meeting many again at the various annual events in 2015 for another unbelievable year of achievement at Saint Kentigern.

Fides Servanda Est.

Andrew Morgan, President of the Old Collegians Association

The committee welcomes feedback from members so please keep in touch: skoca@saintkentigern.com

HAvE YOu MOvED?

Are you moving?

People are constantly on the move and sometimes forget to let us know! Please help us to keep our database up to date so that you can continue to receive Piper Magazine and email news of upcoming SKOCA events.

If you request us to do so, we will amend any personal information about you, held by us, which is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date, however, we can’t do it if you don’t let us know!

There are many younger Old Collegians who are still receiving Piper via their parents’ address. If you have moved to your own address, please let us know!

If your contact details have changed, please take a moment to fill in the form on the Old Collegians section of the Saint Kentigern website, alternatively, you may contact us by emailing skoca@saintkentigern.com

SKOCA Calender

SunDAy 10 mAy 2015

SKOCA - ROWING REGATTA & BBQ

Time: 3.00pm

venue: College Rowing Shed, College

Make a crew and challenge the 1st vlll!

BBQ dinner after races

rSvP: skoca@saintkentigern.com

FRIDAY 13

FEBRuARY 2015

Boys school - sKocA GolF DAy

Time: 12.00pm (1 pm Teeoff)

venue: Auckland Golf Club $100 per head (ROCS $60) Refreshments provided rSvP: sue.bowskill@saintkentigern.com (see advertisement on page 68) skoca@saintkentigern.com

SuNDAY 22 FEBRuARY 2015

FriDAy 10 APriL 2015

ColleGe FoundAtion deCAde FoCus

venue: Elliot Hall, Saint Kentigern College Campus

All Old Collegians welcome with special rates for (ROCs) Recent Leavers

rSvP: skoca@saintkentigern.com

sKocA vs collEGE - ‘cricket 12 overs Tournament’ (6 Teams)

Time: 12.00pm

venue: No 1 Field, College Refreshments & BBQ provided rSvP: skoca@saintkentigern.com

London Reunion & Dinner

FriDAy 3 JuLy 2015

‘1st XI Cricket UK Tour’

Time: 6.15 pre-dinner drinks

venue: roSL House, Park Place, St James St, London

Calling all old Collegians based in the uK! We look forward to seeing you for this annual get-together.

This is a great venue in the heart of London with accommodation available if required.

rSvP: DgoWAn@dacbeachcroft.com

golf Day Boys’ School SKOCA

Friday 13 February 2015

Time: 12.00 for 1pm Tee-off

Venue: Auckland Golf Club

Tickets: $100 per head. (ROCS’s $60)

Refreshments provided.

RSVP: skoca@saintkentigern.com, sue.bowskill@saintkentigern.com

Five years on

Boys’ school class of 2009

An unseasonal mid-December drop in temperature, along with wet and blustery conditions, proved little deterrent for a large group of boys from the Boys’ School Class of 2009. Five years on, having just graduated from various colleges, they and their parents were welcomed back to school for a Sunday afternoon BBQ to catch up with old friends before they head off on the next stage in their lives.

A group of over 90 took shelter in the Jubilee Sports Centre Lounge and enjoyed a BBQ cooked up by Principal, Mr Peter Cassie and representatives from the Old Collegians Association.

It was great to see these friendships rekindled as the boys shared stories of their respective college experiences and talked about ‘where to from here.’ Parents also had chance to reconnect and remember a time shared during their sons’ days at the School. This group of parents have particularly fond memories of that final year in 2009 as it was the year of the School’s 50th Jubilee and the official opening of the Jubilee Sports Centre. That year was filled with many social events, creating strong bonds among the parents, with the highlight being the Jubilee Weekend that included the spectacular Jubilee Ball in the newly opened gymnasium.

On payment, this becomes your GST invoice (GST no 10-686-660)

The boys took the opportunity to take a look around the grounds to see how things have changed on campus. The tiles on the tiered bank seating were a magnet as they sought out personal artwork from their primary years. They then carried on to find their name on the set of bronze plaques, that were installed retrospectively in the Jubilee year, on the wall of the Senior School.

This is now the fifth year that the Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association has hosted the BBQ on the Boys’ School Campus and with this the largest gathering to date, it is an event that is sure to stay as a regular fixture on the Calendar.

Joshua Tomlinson, Head Boy 2009

Joshua Tomlinson, 2014

Bruce House Reunion Dinner 1990 - 1999

I

n late September, it was the turn of the boarders from 1990-1999 to be invited back to dinner at Bruce House; the place they called their ‘home away from home’ during their College years. For some, this was the first time they had returned in 20 years and as other returning boarders have said before them, the flood of good memories made for a most enjoyable evening.

Five of the past Housemasters, Jack Paine (1955-1958), Ron Stone (1964-1980), Warwick Bell (1981-1984), Jim Wyatt (1993-1994) and Malcolm Cowie (19972005) were present along with Mrs Rosemary Capill who has been Matron to the boarders for over 23 years! ‘Matron’ played and continues to play a significant role in the lives of boarders and so it was with true affection that that the reconnections were made. She surprised a number of them by recalling their names!

Prior to dinner, President of the Old Collegians, Mr Andrew Morgan gave a brief overview of ‘SKOCA’ (Saint Kentigern Old Collegians Association) and the work that they do to keep the connections alive between former students and their place of learning. He also explained that SKOCA currently funds twelve annual scholarships across the three campuses along with other grants that are allocated for specific purposes to both students and Old Collegians.

Following dinner, guest speaker for the evening was Mr Jim Wyatt. Mr Wyatt had been the Housemaster from 1987-1994. He had also been a history teacher, 7th Form Dean and coach of the 1st Xv for a number of years. He, like the boys, said that coming back to Bruce House after so many years felt like coming home; it brought back the fondest of memories and invoked truly warm feelings. He went on to say that Bruce House has always been a vibrant place where you could not just be a bystander; you had to be involved and each generation of boarders will believe they had the best of times. He regaled the audience with tales from the past, supplemented by input from another Housemaster, Mr Neil Ritchie (1995-1997) who was unable to attend.

Following dessert, Head of College, Mr Steve Cole gave an overview of College life today and how boarding has changed over the years. Bruce House has been a dedicated part of the College since 1954 and whilst the numbers of boarders waned during the 2000’s, the numbers are once again strong – largely the influence of the introduction of girls and the recognition by families of the positive effects of having siblings board together at the same school. He also explained how the nature of boarding has changed over the years and how many of the boarders are now seniors who live relatively locally and board during the week days only to enable greater commitment to their studies and sports. He said that the College continues to excel in all areas and he makes no apology for wanting the College to ‘be the best!’

The evening concluded with the former boarders reflecting back on their time at Bruce House and the influence being a boarder had in shaping their lives. They all spoke of the positive impact of being part of an extended family and how the Housemasters and Matron were guiding figures during those years. Above all was the strength and sense of camaraderie that developed and has since transcended the years. We look forward to seeing them all again at other Old Collegian functions.

Old Collegians on the Staff at Saint Kentigern

The retirement of Rod Biel this year after an almost 50 year association with the College has highlighted the depth to which many connect to their place of learning. When students graduate and move on from College, there are probably not many who imagine that they would return to their school to work, yet a number of our Old Collegians do just that. Over the years we have seen former students return as student teachers on teaching practice, to assist coaching sports teams or teach Pipes and Drums. We have others who assist with administrative tasks during university breaks or return to help in the IT Department. We also have those we can call on to assist at Field Centre, lend their expertise to debating teams and a host of other minor roles. Then there are those who make the commitment to return and give back to their school, joining as full time members of staff. In the case of Nigel Toy, he returned to lead the College as Headmaster from 1983-1997.

WArWiCK BeLL

Former English Teacher, Associate head and current Archivist

2014 marks Warwick Bell’s 47th year of employment at Saint Kentigern College. He attended Saint Kentigern as a student from 1957 to 1961. He was Deputy Head Prefect, Head of Bruce House and Captain of Rowing in his final year. After University, (MA Hons in History) he attended Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College.

Warwick originally joined the staff in 1967 while completing some university history papers, for one of which he was awarded the Hayden History Prize at Auckland university. He went overseas in 1971, spending some of the year teaching at Hurstpierpoint College, a public school in Sussex, England before returning to Saint Kentigern in 1972.

Warwick has had a teaching career involving a wide variety of activities and responsibilities. He has been Head of English, Housemaster of Bruce House, as well as being involved with rugby, rowing (MIC for several years), outdoor education (organiser of Field Centre), information technology and publications. Later in his career he was Senior Master, Associate Headmaster and Head of Admissions. In all of this, his principal interest has always been people - teaching his students, meeting parents and students in interviews, and working with other staff.

Warwick formally retired from teaching in 2005 but since then, until recently, has spent several days each week helping in Admissions to conduct interviews for prospective students. His links with the different phases in the history of the College and his belief in preserving its heritage has since involved him in a project to organise and catalogue the many resources the College has into an Archives Centre which will be accessible to our community.

AnDreW LigHTFooT Music Teacher (Pipes and Drums)

When asked how long he has been at Saint Kentigern, Andrew’s quick reply is ‘since the third form’ – that was 1978 Andrew! Student number 3765 enjoyed his time at the College; the highlights of which include being a rower and being Pipe Major of the Pipes & Drums.

While at university, he continued tutoring the pipers and is just about to complete 30 years of teaching. After starting with a small handful of keen pipers, there are now pipers across all three Saint Kentigern campuses, including two College pipe bands, an Old

Rod’s long association with Saint Kentigern is remarkable, only to be upstaged by Warwick Bell who formally retired in 2005, was farewelled with honour, even appearing on the cover of Piper – only to return shortly after and commence work again, which he still does to this day!

There have been many over the years who have returned to do a teaching spell at Saint Kentigern and then moved on. There have also been a good number of young people who were active in the former PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) programme in the IT Department who have returned to both make use of and further their knowledge in this area. Currently there are fourteen full time members of staff who are Old Collegians. Each has given a brief snapshot of life between being a Saint Kentigern student and working on campus today.

roD BieL

Former English Teacher then Teachers’ services Manager

Rod retired at the end of 2014, having been a student from 196267 followed by an unbroken 43 years working as a staff member at the College. As a student, he counts his major highlight as playing the Archbishop of Canterbury in T S Eliot’s ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ and being interviewed on television about his role.

Following graduation, he went on to The university of Auckland followed by Auckland Secondary Teachers Training College whilst also a Territorial Army Officer, a role he maintained for 26 years. When asked why he came back, he explained that English staff were desperately scarce in the early 1970’s. The Headmaster, the Rev Dr Adam MacFarlan had an unexpected vacancy and so encouraged him to apply after his last section at the College as a student teacher, agreeing to work his timetable in such a way that Rod could complete his MA.

Like Warwick Bell, Rod has had a varied career, initially teaching English, Social Studies and then Christian Education. He was a resident master at Bruce House, HOD Library, then Office Manager & Attendance Officer before finally taking on the role of Teaching Services Manager until he retired. In amongst this, he took on many other tasks, organising teacher relief, formal photo days, manning the microphone at athletics and making sure prizegiving ran like clockwork.

A fuller report about Rod, including his contribution to the Pipes and Drums, may be read on page 39.

Collegians band and a combined Junior Pipe Band at the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools.

Andrew has also been involved with Year 10 Field Centre, has been a Bruce House Duty Master and has taken the Pipes and Drums on eight international trips, including five tours to Scotland. As well as this, Andrew is a retired officer of the RNZVR, receiving his service medal in 2012. He is also an Elder of St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Remuera.

Andrew and his wife Kate were married in the College Chapel in 1997 by the late Rev Neil Dow, who was the Chaplain when Andrew attended the College. Their three daughters now attend Saint Kentigern, with Elizabeth in Year 7 at the College and Laura and Harriet in Year 5 at the Girls’ School.

reverenD reuBen HArDie chaplain to the Boys’ and Girls’ schools Reuben followed his two older brothers, Caleb and Joseph to Saint Kentigern College in 1987. He was there for Year 7 and 8 and thoroughly enjoyed the two years he had at the College. He recalls that in Year 8 he won the cross country and the 1500 metres, coming 2nd overall in Athletics - at least that’s what he says he tells his sons!

After secondary school, he spent six years down at Otago university completing a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Theology and a Diploma in Ministry before being ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 2000. He worked as a Church minister in Eastbourne in Wellington for four years before taking up the Begg’s Scholarship of the Presbyterian Church and studying a Masters of Religious Studies at the university of Leuven in Belgium, which he graduated from with Hons.

He worked as a Parish minister in Wales (uK) and Auckland and in 2009, he took over Chaplaincy at Saint Kentigern Boys’ School. Since 2010, he has been full-time Chaplain to Saint Kentigern Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. In that time, he has also completed a post graduate teaching diploma.

One of his favourite sayings is Kurt Hahn’s ‘There is more in you than you think.’ He is married to Lucy and they have four boys, all of whom attend Saint Kentigern Boys’ School and a daughter who attends Saint Kentigern Preschool. He thoroughly enjoys his role as Chaplain. He says he can say that as a former student, a staff member and a father, that the Saint Kentigern community is an amazing community to be a part of.

AnDreW Finn

year 4 Teacher at the Girls’ school

Andrew was a student from 1988-1995. After university he went on to teach at King’s Preparatory School and then Saint Kentigern College over a period of seven years. Andrew became Associate Principal at Epsom Normal Primary School and during this time he completed his Masters of Educational Management.

In 2008, Andrew won a contract to teach at a prestigious IB World School, the united World College of South East Asia (uWCSEA) in Singapore. Outside of his teaching duty, Andrew’s main area of responsibility was as the Local Service Coordinator at uWCSEA, where he was responsible for setting up new and sustainable service initiatives for student signees, such as weekly visits to rest homes, hospitals, schools for special needs education and the SPCA.

After six years in Singapore, the family repatriated home and he now holds the position of Middle School Dean at Saint Kentigern Girls’ School. Andrew has also rejoined the SKOCA Executive Committee. His wife Su is a tax consultant at Ernst and Young and together they have three young children, Kaythi, Zeya and Ninsi, all of whom attend Saint Kentigern.

eLLioT SHArP

social studies, Physical Education and 1st Xv coach

Elliot attended the College from 1996-1998 and again in 2001. He then took a place at the university of Waikato on a Rugby Scholarship. Whilst there he studied a degree in Sports Science and completed a postgraduate diploma of teaching in Physical Education. After receiving his teaching registration he travelled to the uK to coach rugby in Yorkshire before getting a teaching and coaching role at an independent school in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 2013, he returned to New Zealand to an exciting job at his old school, where he teaches Social Studies, Health and PE and coaches the 1st Xv rugby team. Elliot is a passionate member of the Saint Kentigern

riCHArD KirK

year 7 Teacher at the Boys’ school

Richard attended Saint Kentigern School from 1984 until 1991 and then moved on to the College from 1992-1996. After this, he took a GAP year in the uK before attending Auckland university to train to be a teacher. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) in 2001 and then moved straight back to the uK to begin working as a teacher at Crosfields School in Reading, Berkshire. He worked here for four and a half years before applying for and getting the Head of English role at Moulsford Preparatory School in Oxfordshire. This was a challenging role, but one that he loved and so he stayed in this post for eight years until December 2013.

He spent most of his time in the northern hemisphere working, travelling, playing a bit of cricket and trying to experience everything it has to offer. During 2013, he decided to return to New Zealand to live. Just before he moved home, an opportunity to work in the Senior School at the Boys’ campus became available and he was lucky enough to be offered the job. He is now combining the teaching of English and Social Science to Year 8 with being Head of English at Saint Kentigern Boys’ School. He says that being back in New Zealand has been great, as has being back in the Saint Kentigern community.

STuArT SAunDerS Music and christian Education Teacher

The College of 2014 bares scant resemblance to the institution I remember between 1967 and 1974. No girls in my time! Then, A and B stream boys mostly took Maths, English and three Sciences, possibly Latin and Greek too. I was the only music student in my year and music comprised only history and theory; no performance or composition. HOD John Bayfield was inspirational - that time would later redefine my life.

unsure what to do after school, but having all that Biology, Chemistry and Physics, I was pointed towards Pharmacy as a secure career. I discovered after a couple of years that it wasn’t for me! I saved hard, gradually put myself through a Music degree and played the piano professionally. The 1987 crash eviscerated live music, so I taught secondary school. A Christmas Carol Service ‘gig’ one year lead to a job offer. Even 30 years on, it was awkward initially being on first-name terms with staff members who had been my teachers in another life! Sitting in a staffroom briefing and feeling that I was maybe ‘out of bounds’ took some ignoring too! Now, I enjoy so much about work – particularly the way Christian Education is taught. I’m blessed to be here.

College community who values the holistic education he received and the expectation that students and staff alike should strive for excellence in all aspects of College life.

On the final day of College for the 2014 Year 13 students, Elliot addressed the graduates on behalf of the Old Collegians, telling them that they will always be part of the extended Saint Kentigern family and the importance of staying in contact with their peers and place of learning.

PAuL BenneTT Physical Education Teacher

Since leaving the College in 2003, Paul went to the university of Auckland, to study a Bachelor of Physical Education. Finishing his studies in 2007, he went travelling and working to Rhode Island in the united States, taking on teaching and leadership development roles. He also spent some time in Canada.

He returned to the College in 2009 and began teaching in the Physical Education Department. Paul’s major roles involve the facilitation of the senior Physical Education programme, as well as coaching roles in the Rugby and Touch programmes. Paul is recently engaged and is busy renovating his first home.

LACHLAn CrAig Music Teacher, choral

Lachlan attended the College from 2001 –2007, was Arts Prefect and involved in most things ‘musical’ at the College, ‘Thankfully not to the detriment of passing school exams,’ He went on to the university of Auckland to study Choral Conducting and Performance Voice. He sang for five years with the NZ Youth Choir and has since moved on to voices NZ, the country’s top Chamber Choir and has a busy schedule as a freelance solo and ensemble tenor. He also has frequent work as a Guest Conductor, Choral Clinician and Adjudicator, and he was recently appointed Director and Conductor of the Auckland Youth Choir. After teaching stints at Mangere College, Rangitoto College, Pakuranga Intermediate, Saint Kentigern Boys’ School and St Peter’s College, he returned to build the Choral Programme at the College in 2011, at the suggestion of HOD Music, Ross Gerritsen. Lachlan says that returning to College was ‘both weird and excellent!’ He says that, as an environment to teach in, it’s second to none, but it was a little strange using first names of staff that taught me. There are still a few that I call by their last name; Cowie, Holmes, venter… but the rest of the teaching staff do too, so I figure I’m safe!’

oLiver giLmour Music Teacher

Oliver has been a Music and Social Studies teacher at the College since 2012. He currently directs several ensembles and coordinates the Chamber Music Programme. He attended Saint Kentigern College from 2003-2007 and was a Hamilton House Prefect in his final year. He became fully involved in the Music Department, playing in many musical ensembles and productions throughout his time at the College.

After leaving College, he studied a Bachelor of Music at Auckland university and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching. During this time, he taught as an itinerant music tutor at several schools including Saint Kentigern Boys’ School and College, and Pakuranga Intermediate.

Oliver’s family owned and operated a music school in Howick for several years which taught a variety of instruments to children and adults. Musical theatre has become a passion for Oliver and he has become involved in many amateur productions at various theatre societies around Auckland. Oliver is really enjoying beginning his teaching career in such a great environment.

TAi LAveA

head coach of The college 1st Xv

Tai (along with his twin brother, Tasesa) attended the College from 1996-1998. He returned to the College in 2010 as Head Coach of the College 1st Xv. Before joining the staff, Tai was the Head Coach of the 1st Xv at Aorere College where he worked for three years after his position as Assistant Coach of the Auckland u18s.

Tai’s rugby background prior to making the move to coaching saw him play for the Melbourne Storm Rugby League where he stayed for three years from 1999-2001.

Some of his most notable achievements with the Saint Kentigern 1st Xv have seen the team win the 2010 and 2011 National Co-Ed Top 4 Competition, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Auckland 1A Competition, 2012 National Top 4 Competition and the 2013 Sanix World Cup held in Japan.

He said that for him, the most memorable time of his career was coaching the 1st Xv to win three Auckland 1A Competitions back to back.

mATTHeW WAy

Technical lead in IcT services

Matthew was a student from 1998-2002. Whilst at the College he was involved with the PAL (Peer Assisted Learning) tutor programme (similar to the current SIT (Students in IT) programme) throughout most of his time at the College, leading the group for a number of years. He enjoyed being able to use his own rapidly developing IT knowledge and skills to help others. He was awarded leadership colours for his work in this area.

After graduating from the College, he was given an opportunity to start working part-time in the ICT Services department whilst still studying through the Cisco networking academy that was running at the time.

Eleven years later and he’s still here! His current role is Technical Lead in ICT Services which calls on him to manage the network infrastructure and provide technical leadership to ICT Services across the Saint Kentigern organisation. He says it’s never a boring job as there is always something new or different happening. Matthew’s services are well appreciated by staff when ‘things go wrong’ on their PCs!

niC SCHoFieLD Network / systems Technician

Nic attended the College from 1997 to 2003 firstly as day student and then a boarder.

He went on to study at Manukau Institute of Technology in Computer Networking, before returning to the College in 2007 as a casual technician before becoming full time in 2008.

Nic currently works in the ICT Services Department as a Network/Systems technician working closely with Matthew Way managing the Network/Servers infrastructure and supporting staff and students across the four campuses.

Academy Award for Areito Echevarria

Currently Head of FX at Weta Digital, Old Collegian, Areito Echevarria is living every young movie-maker’s dream, working on some of the biggest name films ever to hit the silver screen – and this year, he went one step further, sharing in an Academy Award with his team of four for developing a new technique of creating digital images. His career proves that with hard work, persistence and the right training, a job making movie magic is not out of reach.

Areito graduated from Saint Kentigern in 1993, going on to join South Seas Film School. He quickly showed tutors that he was committed and intent on his goal of working internationally in the film industry. By the end of the course he was so skilled in both online and offline Avid Editing that he had no trouble finding an editing job with Ambience Entertainment in Sydney.

His career ended up leading him to London where he helped create the world of Harry Potter for the big screen. Since joining Weta Digital in 2005, Areito has worked on a number of films, including as a compositing sequence lead on King Kong, a lead compositor on The Lovely Bones and Avatar, and as an effects technical director on Rise of the Planet of the Apes and The Adventures of Tintin.

In 2010, Areito joined Weta Digital’s FX Department as an effects technical director, working on fluid simulation and rendering. His recent credits include The Hobbit: An unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. He has recently completed work as the Head of FX on the final film in the trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

While working as compositing supervisor for The Day The Earth Stood Still, Areito co-prototyped the Weta deep compositing work flow – which is now the industry standard for integrating CG images without using traditional holdouts. It was for his contribution to this innovation that he was recognised this year with an Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences technical achievement award (a ‘scientific/technical Oscar’).

Weta is celebrating its 20th year and Areito has been with it for ten. He has said that the job is perfect because it combines two things he loves - computers and film but the hours can be long and leading a team of 42 people is challenging at times. ‘That’s the thing about filmmaking, it’s a collaboration, so you are always dealing with people and managing expectations.’ The best part for him is seeing the results on screen and the satisfaction of making a film that will be a part of popular culture.

He recently told reporter, Simon Smith from the Eastern Courier that he has good memories of his time at Saint Kentigern College. He was a member of the drama and philosophy groups as well the rowing club. Our congratulations to Areito on his remarkable career so far.

Source: Simon Smith, Eastern Courier. South Seas Film School

calvin sang

W e caught up with Calvin Sang recently when an agency employed him as the photographer at a photoshoot, working with our students to create the 2015 Open Day advertisement. It was great to see Calvin in action, doing what he has always loved – working with a camera.

Remembered for his passion while at College for making movies, first noticed as a young Year 9, Calvin has since gone on to work as a freelance videographer and photographer. He says, ‘It is mostly video, and video is my main passion, but I love photography too!’

Most of his work is in the corporate world, creating advertising and promotional videos - which he says, ‘Doesn’t sound as bland as you may think. You can definitely have fun with it and it beats working in an office.’ He did undertake a ‘couple of film papers’ at university but decided that getting real world, hands-on experience was what he really needed to achieve his own goals, so moved towards full time employment. His work has taken him up and down the country shooting a huge range of experiences as diverse as fashion shows, research expeditions, giant squid, film premieres, cooking competitions and ice cream buffets! He was also on hand during the 60th Jubilee at the College to record events and create a short video of the celebration weekend.

Calvin said that there is a huge variety in the projects he takes on and that’s what he really likes about it; his work is never boring and he learns so much about new areas of life – things he didn’t even know existed! He says that he’s glad he can say that he’s able to do what he loves for a living!

As for his ‘own’ projects, when he is able, he dedicates his time to a Tv series called ‘Oddballs’ that he’s working on with Jason Hoon, a friend from College. It’s a comedy about two flatmates who live with a robot. Calvin is writing and directing while Jason is producing. They’ve shot a pilot episode that they are trying to pitch to get it on Tv. He says it’s a slow process as he currently doesn’t have much spare time to dedicate to it.

http://www.overbridgemedia.com/oddballs/ for more information.

One day, Calvin says he’d really like to direct a feature film. How he’s going to get there, he’s not really sure yet but until then he says he’s going to continue with his current working role and then try find time to make more of his own work.

James Ioelu

– oPera siNGer

We were pleased to hear from 2003 Head Boy, James Ioelu and learn about his dedication to his chosen career.

‘The years since I finished at Saint Kentigern College have been exhilarating ones. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a New Zealand born Samoan opera singer. This career path was first forged under the guidance of a very prudent Saint Kentigern teacher who pointed out, after overhearing me sing during a break, that I should probably get some singing lessons. At the time, I thought it was an insult but what she was really saying is that I had talent that needed to be honed and developed. It was through this recommendation that I started to see Ian Campbell, who was my singing teacher in my last year of College.

My love of opera was set in stone at the New Zealand Opera School, which I attended in Year 13. I continued with my vocal studies privately while I completed another degree through the university of Auckland. It was here that I learnt the ropes of vocal technique. After my studies at the University, I set a firm resolution to head to the united States and it helped that I was accepted into the prestigious Manhattan School of Music in New York.

Since completing formal training in NYC, I’ve split my time between intense professional development - studying with renowned singer and coach, Madame virginia Zeani - and performing a number of roles and concerts in America, Europe, and New Zealand. Highlights include the role of Bruno in Michael Williams’ original work, ‘The Juniper Passion’, which premiered in Rome, understudying the bass soloist in Haydn’s, ‘The Creation’ with the NZSO, and most recently performing the role of Raimondo in Donizetti’s, ‘Lucia de Lammermoor’ produced by Auckland Opera Studio.

I have also been extremely fortunate to receive a number of awards ranging from New Zealand Young Performer of the Year and Iosefa Enari Emerging Pacific Artist Award, to more recently placing in three of the top Aria competitions in the Southern Hemisphere. Within the last year, I have won the NZ Aria, as well as taking home the runner-up prize in both the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto competition and the Sydney Eisteddfod Operatic Aria.

Professional development, competitions, and performing roles are the bread and butter for young singers. This is a usual path for a singer before they head out into the ruthless world of auditions – where it becomes very clear that you need a lot more than talent to get by. You need to be brilliant, in every sense of the word, as there are often hundreds of other singers vying for the role you are. It is extremely competitive. Currently I am in New York for my first audition season and have had some success so far. I would definitely say that Saint Kentigern played a crucial role in my pursuit of this craft – the work ethos, a focus on excellence, as well as a competitive and sporting spirit were all fostered during the years I spent at College.

To learn more about James, go to www.jamesioelu.com

Ashlee Lennon – social Media Marketer

Irefuse to believe it’s been eight years since I became the first ‘girl’ House Leader and led Wishart to a winning House choir performance, singing ‘I Believe’ from the Honey soundtrack.

What I can believe is that the values instilled in me at College around leadership, integrity and excellence, to this day, pave my thoughts and shape my days.

In the past three years, I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world; watch elephants washing in the Indian monsoon, visit the Dalai Lama’s home in Dharamasala, trace the steps of Sir Edmund Hillary in Nepal and get helicopter rescued off Mount Everest. I have experienced the magic of venice and the pulse of London. These times of travel and living abroad have given me great perspective and I encourage everyone to seek it too.

Having spent a few years working in Public Relations and not enjoying it, I made some changes. I now call myself a Social Media Marketer – a real Gen Y title I know! I love working with different brands and figuring out how to do cool stuff on social media.

To all you leavers this year – the time is now. Agreed, it’s hard to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. Listen to your instincts, imagine the end result and start your engines!

Alistair Kendrick

– UNiVersity challeNGe teaM

We recently learned that the television show of ‘fingers on the buzzers’ fame, university Challenge, has started to air again on Prime Tv and that College Dux in 2010, Alistair Kendrick, features in the show as part of The university of Auckland team.

Alistair has recently completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science conjoint degree at The university of Auckland, majoring in Biology and Anthropology. He will graduate in May next year but will be continuing with postgraduate study in Biology.

He reports that he had a great time filming the TV series. The show last aired in New Zealand in 1989 and was brought back this year by Cue Tv, a production company based in Invercargill. He was one of the five members (four students appear in every game + one reserve) of the Auckland team. All 31 episodes of the show were filmed at the beginning of July in Invercargill and the show will continue to air at 11:30am on Saturdays on Prime until next June. Whilst he knows the outcome, he isn’t giving anything away!

Alistair is currently doing a research project on the genetics of riflemen (NZ’s smallest bird) at the university. He spent the second semester of 2013 doing an exchange at King’s College London, after which he spent 10 weeks travelling around Europe.

He says he is currently training to do the Oxfam Trailwalker in March next year, which requires his team to walk 100km in 36 hours and raise money for Oxfam – something he did in 2010 as a Year 13. Earlier this year, he was elected to the National Council of Scouts NZ, the National Council is a governance body that elects the board of Scouts NZ.

We’ll watch with interest to see how Alistair’s team fares!

Melissa Percival (nÉe o’KeeFFe) – TrAiner AnD nuTriTion

I was one of the founding girls at Saint Kentigern and the main reason I chose to change schools to the College was for the Tennis Academy. I did mainstream schooling and Tennis Academy at the same time, so most days I would be at school from 6am until 6pm at night; I was dedicated to becoming a tennis player!

In the time I was at the College, I learnt great work ethics and came to appreciate the high academic expectations – all while playing four hours tennis a day. I was Sportswoman of the Year twice, the first girl sports captain, overall Academy winner and our tennis team won Team of the Year. So sports was my life and I knew that’s the avenue I wanted to take in later life.

I was going to continue my tennis but found a new love in Year 13 which was a shift to Triathlon and now Ironman. So I stayed in Auckland to study sports science at Auckland university, followed by nutrition at Massey university.

After four years I came out as a sports scientist and nutritionist. In the first year of studying I got a personal training job at a gym and everything grew from there. I didn’t go in thinking I was going to be a personal trainer. But over the years I kept growing and found my niche in women’s health.

When I joined Contours Highland Park at age 20, I got my first client, then within three months I was taking spin classes, pump classes, Bootcamp and was full on with personal training clients. Within two years I came up with a programme called, ‘Better for you’. I started with eight ladies and grew to two groups of sixteen ladies.

I was loving it, but after five years of working for someone else, I thought, ‘I am going to do it myself,’ so I took the leap and now my business is placed under Sunnyhills Tennis Club – close to College! It was a total renovation of the building and I have now made it my own space called ‘Peak for Life.’ I have over 90 ladies participating in my programmes, 20 men, a teens’ group, over 40 personal training clients, over 50 nutrition clients and I am continuing to grow.

I also help out at the Tennis Club with some fitness tennis sessions and sports nutrition. I love going to work every day and my clients love the fact that they know each session is never the same; they are always challenged, motivated and there are always new recipes and nutrition ideas.

The future plan is to take my concept and share it with the rest of the nation with a bit of spice and personality, with the help of my husband who is also very successful with a fast growing signage and project management company: Onform and Signarama.

If you would like to know more, visit my site: www.peakforlife.co.nz

Duke of Edinburgh GOLD AWARD

Taking on the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award is a huge commitment in time during the final year at College and such are the requirements of the Award, most students achieve gold status after leaving school. Thirty five of our 2013 graduates have gone on to receive their Gold Award with those who were able, attending the ceremony at Government House in Auckland or in Wellington, where their awards were presented by the Governor General.

The Gold Qualifying group undertook their practice and qualifying expeditions during the summer break at the start of 2014. They initially completed a three day kayaking expedition on the Tamaki Estuary and across to Browns Isalnd. The final qualifying expedition took place around Kawau Island where the students displayed leadership, teamwork and mastered skills.

Throughout their final year at College in 2013, the Gold Award students went far and wide as they completed their residential project. This required them to spend five days in an unfamiliar environment undertaking activities that are of benefit to themselves or others.

2014 Gold Awards (2013 Graduates): Tia Ansell, Amy Aspoas, Jessica Aspoas, Shaan Bone, Jacky Cheng, Finlay Christie, Louis Christie, Maddy Cron, Kandarp Dalal, Jack Elliott, Grace Findlay, Sam Grant, Patrick Gu, Jack Gudgeon, Daniel Guthrie, Tyler Hendricksen, Sheryl Ho, Sandy Huang, Andrew Lindsay, Rosemary Longstaff, Jason Mackey, Sean Mackey, Alex McKenzie, Elyse McSkimming, Laura Myers, Anna Piaggi, Richard Power, Letitia Puni, Casey Seto, Claire Skelton, James Stevens, Chelsea Tong, Anna Wei, Kirsten Wong, Mabel Ye.

Paige Hourigan

After leaving the College earlier this year, tennis powerhouse, Paige Hourigan went out on the professional circuit playing predominantly in Australia and China. In April, she went looking for scholarships in the uS and secured a full scholarship to Georgia Tech in Atlanta where she is studying chemical engineering.

Her parents, Doug and Tracey Hourigan said, ‘Paige is really intent on going pro and a college scholarship in the US is a good way to prepare. We finally decided on Georgia Tech in Atlanta. The tennis conferences around that area are the strongest in the uS and Georgia Tech is one of the strongest on the college circuit.’

The Hourigans say that Paige’s coach, Rodney Harmon, is also one of the best and was only the second Afro-American to reach the quarter-finals of a uS Open, so his own record is great. ‘His training regime is brilliant and he’s got Paige looking awesome - she’s really strengthened up.’

Paige’s first tournament was the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Invitational at the Ken Byers Tennis Complex in September against three other strong colleges. She won all three of her doubles matches and two of her singles and lost one - that loss was her first since April.

Paige has a career-high ranking of 175 in the International Tennis Federation rankings, an overall career singles record of 48-29 and career doubles record of 45-26. During the early part of the 2014 season, she took part in numerous international tournaments, gaining experience and strengthening her game. We wish her well as she pursues her tennis dream.

James Raea 2005-2011

Member of the 1st Xv in 2010 and 2011, James Raea played for the Cook Island 7s at the Hong Kong 7s in March this year. He went on to play for the Cook Island 7s at the Commonwealth Games in August where they placed top amateur team in the Commonwealth. More recently he played for the Cook Islands at the Oceania 7s in Australia. He has also played for the Auckland 7s this year at the World Club 7s Series in Limerick and at Twickenham, London where the team placed runner up in both of these tournaments. In April this year, James played for the Cook Islands 1st XV against Fiji in a World Cup qualifier match. James is currently studying towards a conjoint Bachelor of Commerce and Property degree at the university of Auckland.

William Raea 2007-2013

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013 Dux Ludorum and member of the 1st Xv between 2011 and 2013, William Raea has continued on with his sporting career since graduating from the College last year. In April, William played for the Touch Blacks in the Open Men’s New Zealand Touch team in the Trans-Tasman series in Australia. In September, he played for the Cook Islands 7s team in the Oceania 7s in Australia. William is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the university of Auckland. He will be taking up a contract with the Canterbury Bulldogs NRL team in November and transferring to a university in Sydney next year to continue his university studies.

Old Collegians vs College Premier Netball

The Old Collegians Netball team was stronger than ever before when former players from across the years came together to take on this year’s Auckland Champions, the College Premier Netball team. The stage was set for a great battle and indeed it was! The teams were extremely well matched and it wasn’t until the last quarter that the SKC Premier team managed to hold on to a narrow lead. The final score was 33-21.

It was a truly a wonderful occasion to catch up and relive memories of games played before. Enthusiastic Old Collegians reminisced about their time playing netball and were keen to give their congratulations to the 2014 Premier players for their successes this season.

Ideas were muted of a three match series next year and the possibility of the Old Collegians training together prior to the series to be even better prepared! Delicious nibbles and drinks topped off a great night.

WHERE ARE YOU?

WHAT D o you D o ? ever Won D ere D WHAT your o LD CLASS m AT e S A re u P To ?

ever TH oug HT TH ey m Ay B e in T ere ST e D in WHAT you D o ?

These pages belong to you, our Old Collegians. We need your help to make these pages interesting and informative. Write a few lines to fill us in on what you’ve been doing since leaving school, or what you are about to do, a recent achievement, a momentous event or any other item of interest. Alternatively, we also welcome more in depth articles, as appear on these pages. Family and friends, tell us what our sons and daughters of Kentigern are up to nowadays.

Pictures speak a thousand words! In this digital age, it’s really easy to provide a photo but please email all digital pictures at maximum resolution. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please direct all correspondence to the editor: jane.kneale@saintkentigern.com Communication manager, Saint Kentigern Trust Board

Nick Lyus & Julia Nah

No. 1 Team at Barfoot Remuera

M 021 998 004

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