Contents Trust Board Saint Kentigern Trust Board Chairman of the Trust Board: Dr John Kernohan Head of Saint Kentigern: Mr David Hodge 130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga, 2010 PO Box 51060, Pakuranga Auckland 2140 Phone: 09-577 0720 Fax: 09-577 0736 Email: trust@saintkentigern.com Saint Kentigern College Principal Senior College: Mrs Suzanne Winthrop Principal Middle College: Mr Duncan McQueen 130 Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga 2010 PO Box 51060, Pakuranga, Auckland 2140 Phone: 09-577 0749 Fax: 09-577 0700 Email: skc_admin@saintkentigern.com Saint Kentigern Boys’ School
Girls’ School
From the Chairman of the Trust Board...4
Anything is Possible...................................... 12
From the Head of Saint Kentigern............6
Girls’ School Prefect Team.......................... 13 Flora MacDonald Day................................... 14
Preschool
Tartans................................................................ 15
Learning Through Play…................................8
Girls Assist Stroke Victims.......................... 16
Celebrating Chinese New Year................. 16
Science is All Around Us...............................9
Sleeping With Sharks!.................................. 17
Bug Lab ..............................................................9
Saint Kentigern Banner Unveiled............. 17
Engineers at Work...........................................9
STEAMing Ahead........................................... 18
Learning to Care............................................. 10
Chalmers Wins Swimming......................... 20
Freckles the Leopard Gecko...................... 10
Zone Swimming............................................. 20
Hatching New Life......................................... 10
Summer Fun at Relay Event!..................... 21
A Focus on Te Reo.......................................... 11
Podium For Sacha......................................... 21
We Will Remember Them............................ 11
Podium for Alex.............................................. 21
Commonwealth Champion Visits!............. 11
Just Loving Camp!........................................ 22
Principal: Mr Peter Cassie 82 Shore Road, Remuera 1050 PO Box 28790, Remuera, Auckland 1541 Phone: 09-520 7682 Fax: 09-520 7688 Email: skb_admin@saintkentigern.com
Girls WOWed by Fifi Colston.................... 23 Family Picnic................................................... 23
Boys’ School
Saint Kentigern Girls’ School
Learning in a Rapidly Changing World.24
Principal: Ms Juliet Small 514 Remuera Road, Remuera 1050 PO Box 28 399, Remuera, Auckland 1541 Phone: 09-520 1400 Fax: 09-524 7657 Email: skg_admin@saintkentigern.com
Prefect Team Commissioned.................... 25 Roselle House Welcomes Back the Boys! ...................... 26 Roselle House Officially Reopened.........27
Saint Kentigern Preschool
Environmental Enthusiasts ....................... 28
Director: Mrs Sue Nash 514 Remuera Road, Remuera 1050 PO Box 28 399, Remuera, Auckland 1541 Phone: 09 520 8814 Fax: 09 524 7657 Email: skp_admissions@saintkentigern.com
Spend Some, Save Some, Invest Some .................................................... 28 Coastal Biodiversity Detectives............... 29 Hidden in Time...............................................30 Author, Artist and Storyteller...................30
Saint Kentigern OCA
Junior School Book Parade........................ 31
President: Hayden Butler Secretary: James Bennett Treasurer: Neville Lyne PO Box 51060, Pakuranga, Auckland 2140 Email skoca@saintkentigern.com
Real Dads Read!............................................. 31 Celtic Day......................................................... 32 Actioned-Packed Boys’ Camps!.............. 34 Records Tumble At Swimming................ 36
Parents & Friends (SKC)
Silver For Luke............................................... 36
Chairperson: Margaret Wind Secretary: Mark Jenner Treasurer: Sandra Oliver
Dive, Swim, Rock N’ Roll!............................37
Parents & Friends (SKBS)
Keen Runners!................................................ 38
Chairperson: Vanessa Playle Secretary: Katie Taylor Treasurer: Msnidhs Cordwell Vice Chairperson: Shelley Horton
Played 10, Won 10!........................................ 38 Superb Season for Touch .......................... 38
A Focus on Te Reo 11
A Cup of Service........................................... 39
Parents & Friends (SKGS)
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Chairperson: Mrs Rebecca Scoones Secretary: Mr Stacy Colyer Treasurer: Mrs Julie Bolton
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Published by the Communications Office for the Saint Kentigern Trust Board and the Saint Kentigern Old Collegians’ Association. Editor Jane Kneale, Communications Manager Email: jane.kneale@saintkentigern.com PO Box 51060, Pakuranga, Auckland 2140 Phone 09-577 0738 www.saintkentigern.com
STEAMing Ahead 18
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College ‘Who Cultivates the Culture?’ ..................40 The Importance of Academic Choice ... 41 Celebrating 65 Years!.................................. 42
Wishart Wins College Swimming............72 Hamilton Wins College Athletics!............73 Chalmers Wins Cross Country .................74 Auckland Athletics Medal Winners!........75
Jubilee Cocktail Evening............................ 42
Greater Auckland Girls Touch Champions!.......................................................75
65th Jubilee Dinner...................................... 43
Top Multisport School in NZ!.................... 76
Jubilee Chapel Service................................44
Tough Challenge on the Water................ 77
A Wonderful Weekend of Celebration...................................................... 45
Gold on the Track!......................................... 77
College Prefects Commissioned............. 46 Lest We Forget.............................................. 47 Middle College Student Leaders Appointed........................................................ 48 Renovated Café for Middle College....... 48 Bruce House Leaders.................................. 49 2017 External Examination Results........50 NZQA Scholarships....................................... 51 Senior College Academic Colours and Honours.................................................... 52 IB Top Scholars Awards Ceremony........ 53 Debating Win for Premiers!....................... 53
Auckland T20 Win for 1st XI..................... 78 Colts National Tournament ...................... 78 More Gold for Nathan! ............................... 78 A Winning Season for Tennis!.................. 79 Rowing Gold for Harry and Alex!............80 Competitive Season for Waterpolo.......80 Presbyterian Quadrangular Tournament...................................................... 81
Scholars Welcome Old Collegian............ 54
SKOCA 2018 Calendar................................. 83
Auckland World Scholar’s Cup Win....... 55
In Memoriam................................................... 83
College Musicians Play with NZSSSO... 55
SKOCA Boys’ School Golf Day................. 84
Business Venture to Singapore................ 56
Tai and Tasesa Lavea – Professional Rugby Coaches.................... 85
A Balance of Aesthetics and Function.............................................................57 ‘Living’ Latin.................................................... 58 Journey to China........................................... 59 Performing Arts Tour USA.........................60 Physics Trip to the USA............................... 61
Etene Nanai-Seturo – Commonwealth Gold Medallist................ 85 Jordan Hunter – Commonwealth Bronze Medallist........... 85
The Little Mermaid60
Jamie France – Mechanical Design Engineer, Rocket Lab................................... 86 Shae Lightwood-Morris Quantity Surveyor......................................... 86
Phantom of the Opera................................ 62
James Wenley – ‘Dr Drama’...................... 87
The Little Mermaid........................................ 64
Elizabeth Fletcher- Gap Medic ............... 88
Shake the Quad............................................. 66
Yi (Terry) Pu - Dentist................................. 88
Best Overall Actor........................................ 66
Crystal Sun – World Sailing Title!............ 89
The Pipes & Drums Continue Winning Ways!............................................... 67
Brian Rensford – Christian Missionary..................................... 89
Challenge, Fun and Smiles at Year 7 Camp.................................................... 68
James Fouche – Competitive Cyclist......................................90
Glorious Sunshine for Year 9 Camp!...... 69
OCA v 1st XI Cricket.....................................90
Extended Sports Centre Now Fully Operational!.......................................... 70
OC v 1st XI HOCKEY..................................... 91
Junior School Book Parade 31
Celtic Day 32
Old Collegians From the President of the Old Collegians......................................................... 82
Inspiring Creative Writing...........................57
It tells you that there is even more information available online for your desktop or mobile device at: www.saintkentigern.com
NZ’s No 1 U19 Downhill Rider.................... 77
Fourth Time Win for Andrew! ................. 54
Sharing Hero Stories.................................... 56
Look for this symbol
Journey to China55
Celebrating 65 Years 66
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TRUST BOARD
From the Chairman of the Trust Board A Strong Future: Built on Traditional Values I
n May, we were very pleased to welcome three new Trust Board members who will bring further valuable expertise and commitment to Saint Kentigern. Following on from the three new members who joined us in December, these new appointments reflect growth and renewal as we plan for the future.
A purpose-built Preschool will be located where the existing tennis courts are at the Shore Road campus to the left of the Roselle driveway, with new tennis courts to be created to the west of Roselle House and Lawn. These locations allow us to enhance the distinct character and identity of each Saint Kentigern Primary School.
A commitment to the future has been at the heart of the decision that the Trust Board announced to the community on May 10, regarding the master plan for our two Primary Schools and Preschool. This decision puts us in a highly favourable position to provide for current and future generations of students. It ensures we make the best use of the considerable resources we have at our campuses. Importantly, it allows Saint Kentigern to build a strong future, while staying firmly grounded in the values that have always defined who we are.
In all, we will be investing some $70 million at the Shore Road campus, building new and specialist facilities. The Boys’ School will gain new classrooms, recreational spaces and the significant refurbishment of existing facilities. We will be establishing purposebuilt new facilities for the Girls’ School and Preschool. We are excited about creating an even more positive environment to support educational excellence.
You can see a full background document, including a map, on the master plan on the Saint Kentigern website (https://www. saintkentigern.com/future/building-projects/engagement/), while a summary of key elements is listed on this page. The Trust Board listened to and responded to a call for wider input and the final master plan reflects an intensive and highly valuable period of engagement and discussion with our community. Building on community input and the ongoing work of our planning and management teams, the master plan defines new locations for our new Girls’ School and Preschool. A modern new Girls’ School will be established above and to the left of the Gate 5 entrance on Shore Road where it will have its own ‘front door’ and distinct presence.
We will be updating you on the master plan for the Pakuranga campus later in the year as work at that campus is ongoing. We look forward to continuing close engagement with our community. Discussions in reviewing and finalising the master plan have represented a wide range of views and included a special commitment from members of school reference groups. Collectively, these discussions have also confirmed the strength of Saint Kentigern values. As a community, our commitment to our current and future students remains central to everything we do. That this commitment is so widely shared puts Saint Kentigern in a very strong position for the future. Fides Servanda Est Dr John Kernohan Chairman of the Trust Board
The Primary Schools and Preschool Master Plan at a glance The Saint Kentigern Trust Board is committed to an environment that supports Saint Kentigern values and creates an exceptional educational experience.
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The master plan for the Primary Schools and Preschool will involve an investment of some $70 million at the Shore Road campus, while reflecting the Trust Board’s commitment to the unique and special character of each of the Primary Schools, the Saint Kentigern ethos and single-gender primary education.
This plan provides for: • A new, purpose-built 19 classroom Girls’ School, with a new learning commons, library and recreational areas located above and to the left of the Gate 5 entrance on Shore Road, where it will have its own ‘front door,’ surrounding recreational areas and distinct presence • New purpose-built facilities at the Boys’ School, including the construction of 10 new classrooms, new recreational spaces and refurbishment of the current Senior School classrooms for Years 4 – 6 Middle School students • A new specialist Arts, Science and Technology block that will be available to both Primary Schools on a separate timetabled basis • A new purpose-built Preschool located where the existing tennis courts are at the Shore Road campus, with new tennis courts to be created to the west of Roselle House and Lawn Each Primary School will continue to have its own Principal, staff and teaching curriculum. Planning will now begin on Phase 1 building developments and all aspects of related management; construction is currently anticipated to take place through 2020 – 2021 with all new facilities completed and ready for occupation in 2022.
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We welcome a further three new members to Saint Kentigern Trust Board As part of our ongoing strategy of reviewing our governance, planning and refreshing our Trust Board, we are delighted to announce the appointment of a further three new Trust Board members. All are current parents who bring valuable skills and experience and are already contributing to the life of Saint Kentigern. We give them a very warm welcome.
Mrs Kim McGregor Kim joins the Trust Board with a boy and a girl currently attending our Middle College, one of whom was a foundation pupil at the age of three. She has also long been actively engaged as a parent at both the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools and brings expertise as a trained teacher and leader in education and business. Kim has held senior sales and management roles in the field of ITC in education and more recently has been appointed a director of several large international property development businesses. She is soon to become a chartered member of the Institute of Directors. Kim and her family are very active in her church.
Dr Kevin Morris Kevin joins the Trust Board as an Old Collegian and a parent at the Boys’ School, having also been Head Prefect at the College in 1985. After studying at the University of Otago, he began his career in independent schools in England and New Zealand, when he was also on the teaching staff at the College and Bruce House. He has worked for corporations and universities in Boston and New York for many years and completed a doctorate in education from Boston University. He returned to New Zealand in 2003 and is the Director of Learning and Teaching in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor at The University of Auckland.
Mr Yong Tiong Currently a parent of a boy and a girl at our two primary schools, Yong brings a commitment to Saint Kentigern through his children, along with valued business expertise. Born in Malaysia, Yong and his family identify themselves as Kiwis and see Auckland as their home. Holding a Masters in Finance and Economics from Monash University (Melbourne), Yong is a director on several boards. He has experience in New Zealand and overseas in areas including forestry and property development. Yong has a close association with his local Presbyterian Church.
At this time, we also farewell two most dedicated and long serving Trust Board members, Mr David McCulloch, a foundation pupil of our Boys’ School, who has been a member since 1999 and Dr Vivienne Adair, a former parent and current grandparent who joined the Trust Board in 2000. Saint Kentigern is very grateful for their valued contributions over many years. Dr David McCulloch
Dr Vivienne Adair
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Farewell Vivienne and David
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From the Head of Saint Kentigern Why is there a crisis in quality teacher supply?
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hilst Saint Kentigern is currently in the fortunate position of attracting some of the brightest and best teachers across all subjects, filling teaching roles, especially in the sciences and mathematics, has become increasingly difficult for many schools across the country. Why is there a crisis in quality teacher supply? The most common explanation is simple – in relative terms, teachers’ salaries have not kept pace with the cost of living – especially in Auckland. Teacher salaries can no longer compete in the market for good quality graduates and this could prove a concern to Saint Kentigern in the future.
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However, I believe there is another reason why so few are drawn to the profession. It is that the job of teaching has become extremely challenging and the demands and expectations are huge. Most people who choose to be teachers, do so because they want to do the best by their students, but because of the complexity of what ‘good teaching’ now looks like, it is beginning to turn people away from the role. It is understandable that our rapidly changing world has made it harder for us, as educators, to be certain about exactly what it is we should be teaching our students, how we should teach them and how best to assess it. For parents who look on from the ‘sidelines,’ it is sometimes even harder to grasp. They would like the comfort of having their child’s experience at school look somewhat familiar to their own, yet today’s parents also know that when they started school, there was no Google or YouTube, Amazon was just a river and Twitter a sound. ‘Back then’ few communicated digitally through email, Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype or the other current plethora of digital communication tools, and a cell phone looked like a brick. Their own parents did not have to contend with a child’s addiction to ‘League of Legends’ or Instagram or the obsessive checking of phones at all hours of the day and night, and the insecurities and worries that can bring. We all, as parents and teachers, are not
completely sure what effect this barrage of ‘media’ is doing to our children’s brains or where it is all going to lead. All this change can fill many of us with anxiety and it is not slowing down. Ela Zwingle wrote in 1999 that: ‘Goods move. People move. Ideas move. And cultures change. The difference now is the speed and scope of these changes. It took television thirteen years to acquire fifty million users; the internet took only five.’ Now 30 years later, there are well over three billion people connected online. The world has changed, and it is continuing to change rapidly, especially in the field of technology. How do we as schools and as teachers deal with all this? We simply must. Our job is to educate children for their future. While most of us understand how machinery replaced manual labour, we are now witnessing a remarkable shift in the way that routine cognitive work is being done. A lot of what requires standardised brain power is being out-sourced to low wage economies or is being done by a computer. Many analysts believe that over ten million jobs have been lost to technology in the last ten years. The pace of this job redesign is growing exponentially. A recent Price Waterhouse Coopers report predicts that in the next 15 years, 10 million jobs in the U.K. alone will be lost to automation. Carl Benedikt Frey, an automation specialist at the Oxford Martin School, says: ‘Retail is one industry in which employment is likely to vanish, as it has done in manufacturing, mining and agriculture.’ In 2017, an exhaustive report he co-authored showed that 80% of jobs in ‘transportation, warehousing and logistics’ are now susceptible to automation. Author Daniel Pink writes about the 3 A’s: ‘Automation, Asia and Abundance’ and how they are totally changing the world economy. We have all undoubtedly seen images from Amazon’s and Alibaba’s giant warehouses, once busy with humanity, now being remotely operated by computerised programs. In the face of this, he stresses the need for us to develop both the logical and creative sides of our brain. For us as educators, even in the age of mass production and the ‘digitalisation of labour,’ there is a core body of knowledge that will always be the basic building blocks for a person who is to make their way in the world. Andres Schleicher who runs the OECD’s highly influential global league tables, PISA, points out that in the top performing education systems, the curriculum is not mile-wide and inch-deep, but tends to be rigorous, with a few things taught well and in great depth. He illustrates this with the simple statement: ‘Multiplication tables – if you don’t learn them you will struggle for all your schooling.’ In that sense, education has not changed in the last thirty years. Students must learn facts and concepts and they need these to be embedded. Teachers have to teach all these things well just like they always did.
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‘The role of the teacher has become incredibly challenging. The level of expertise that a great teacher needs over and above their subject matter is profound. The high-quality teachers that I observe here at Saint Kentigern operate at the very highest professional level of any occupation. They are absolutely masterful and without doubt, Saint Kentigern’s greatest asset.’
But Harvard Professor Tony Wagner argues that is not enough. For Wagner and many leading ‘future thinkers,’ the challenge for the teacher is that they need to be much, much more than the ‘sage on a stage’ delivering the facts that students memorise and recall in a three-hour examination. ‘We need to use content to teach core competencies.’ He defines these as: • Critical thinking and problem solving • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence • Agility and adaptability • Initiative and entrepreneurialism • Effective oral and written communication • Accessing and analysing information • Curiosity and imagination Our challenge then as educators is to be both ‘old fashioned teachers’ and ‘new fashioned’ ones simultaneously. We need to do twice the job that we used to do. The technology revolution also means that young people are now connected to a world in which they have an endless supply of digital information and entertainment at their fingertips and are interrupted by a constant barrage of social media alerts. As a result, the challenge for educators is that students can become disengaged from the standard, traditional teaching approach. We have to use the technologies that excite them to personalised learning and allow students, as they are ready, to explore their passions and interests. We have to compete for their attention with addictive and hypnotising on-line entertainment, and because of the instant gratification of this entertainment, we now have to deliberately teach and reinforce resilience, focus and concentration. In the past, teachers used to ‘teach a class’ but it has now long been recognised that good teaching practice aims to develop each individual’s particular talents within the class to allow each student to make their unique contribution to the world they will live in. We have to look at what young people are naturally good at and let them be great at it - to amplify individual talent not stifle it. We must treat diversity as a blessing and a learning tool.
The idea of education being a finite period of one’s life has passed. We now teach our students how to become continuous life-long learners. As Edward Gordon in 2010 Meltdown says ‘You’ve got to keep going back to school.’ Alvin Tofler, who wrote ‘Future Shock,’ says that people have to ‘Learn, unlearn and learn again.’ We must explicitly teach our students how to have a growth mindset. Where once we used fear of failure as a great motivator, we now need to teach them that failure is an important part of personal development. Where once we just assumed that students could learn, now we must explicitly teach them ‘How to learn and how they learn best.’ And finally, because of the stress brought about by rapid change and the future unknowns, the most important thing about teaching has never changed; it’s only become even more important - the development of the special relationship of trust and understanding between the teacher and their student. Teachers still know that at the core of all they do is caring for a student. For teachers, the words of Dr Seuss will always ring true, ‘Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better – it’s not.’ The role of the teacher has become incredibly challenging. The level of expertise that a great teacher needs over and above their subject matter is profound. The high-quality teachers that I observe here at Saint Kentigern operate at the very highest professional level of any occupation. They are absolutely masterful and without doubt, Saint Kentigern’s greatest asset. Is this challenge to do the almost impossible putting our graduates off pursuing a teaching a career? Or is because they feel that society does not recognise and appreciate what great teachers actually do? Our hope is that our students go on to follow their dreams and for some, that will lie in teaching. Fides Servanda Est David Hodge Head of Saint Kentigern
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Author and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman argues that today, more people than ever are able to collaborate and compete for increasingly different kinds of work from diverse corners
of the world. He says that the ‘flattening of the world’ means we are now connecting all the knowledge centres on the planet together into a single global network which has the possibility of ushering in an amazing era of prosperity and innovation. Our teachers now need to educate their students to work with this global perspective, and in and through a global network, we must grow their cultural intelligence and interpersonal skills.
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PRESCHOOL
Learning Through Play… L
earning for children happens every day in many ways, with each day full of learning opportunities for our preschoolers. As they play, they are learning in a fun-filled, stimulating environment, preparing themselves developmentally for all future learnings. For some parents, ‘play’ has attracted a negative ‘time wasting’ connotation but in reality, play is a vital part of every child’s development. It allows them to test ideas, work through uncertainties, explore social interactions and make sense of the world around them. Quality play is not about the end product but about the process – and the exploration of ideas is crucial. Te Whariki - ECE Curriculum supports play as an integral part of a child’s learning journey as they gain confidence, competence, curiosity, and a sense of responsibility and belonging as they learn and grow. When children play with blocks, lego and all forms of construction resources – they are learning about shapes, balance, design and how things work together, developing problem-solving techniques, creating 3-dimensional structures and maths concepts of height, weight, size, space and depth – all needed should they become an architect, builder or a designer.
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Baking and cooking, manipulating playdough and clay using fine motor control, having social interactions with friends, turn taking, acting out real life situations, taking on roles, creating new rules and experiences are all skills needed for life in the wider world. Playing on a digger in the sand or gravel pit, learning about how mechanisms move, working in a team, digging with spades / buckets, trucks and bulldozers all encourage hand-eye coordination and large muscle development. Making sand castles, adding water to
construct waterways and tunnels, all support the work of an engineer, plumber or construction worker. When sitting to read to themselves or with friends, using imagination and expression, playing maths and language games, learning phonics /alphabet and numbers through pre-literacy and pre-numeracy, they learn about co-operating with others. Children gain skills needed for reading and achieving at school, to then go on to be future university students or take on a role in the workplace. Singing at mat times, using puppets, speaking in front of others, performing and dancing encourages children to express themselves in an accepting environment of fun, where socio-emotional learning is integrated with academic learning. Who knows, they may be a broadcaster, musician, actor or politician in the making. Dramatic play, dressing up and interacting with teachers and friends helps with social skills, communication and the ability to build emotional qualities to be a positive citizen of the future. As children play outside, running, skipping, hopping and doing yoga, fitness, balance bikes, balls and hoops, they learn about how their body works, taking risks, being active and healthy, developing skills to be a future doctor, nurse or athlete. Hunting for bugs, researching about creatures, having pets and animals at Preschool, making volcanos in the sandpit and IT research, all teach children about the appreciation for living things and encourage their scientific and technological investigation. As children, their work is play and is a simple joy to be cherished through childhood. At Preschool as they learn through actions, the importance of balancing play with routines and structure is possible with qualified, experienced and passionate staff giving the children the support and love they need. This great start is the ultimate opportunity in education that you can give your child as they begin their learning journey at Saint Kentigern. Fides Servanda Est Mrs Sue Nash Preschool Director
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Science is All Around Us W
hether it is mixing primary colours to make secondary colours, exploring bugs with magnifying glasses, and then searching for more under logs outside, playing with coloured ice cubes that melt to form a mass of colour or watching a scientist come to show us experiments of bubbles exploding into flames and smoke rings floating above our heads. Or whether it is chasing bubbles outside that reflect prisms of colours and then pop, or planting in our garden and then harvesting and eating the produce – potatoes, celery, lettuce, beans and tomatoes. Or maybe tasting honeycomb from a child’s beehive to reinforce our interest in bees, then making afternoon tea using measurements, mixing, blending and baking techniques before watching the food cook and rise in the oven. Or even learning about weather patterns and making kites to blow on the windy day. Science is all around us and we ensure our preschoolers are immersed in opportunities to recognise this every day.
Engineers at Work E
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xploring and investigating about bugs happens regularly at Preschool – whether it’s searching outside under logs, catching crickets for our gecko, drawing and constructing bugs in art or researching about them on our interactive screen – it’s all in a day’s work. With the arrival of Weta Workshop’s BUG LAB at Auckland Zoo, our children headed there for the morning to extend their learning in a new environment. Being greeted by a massive praying mantis, huge honeybees, a 3D cockroach and jewel wasps was an awesome start to introduce our children to the wonderful world of bug life. They were able to make paper butterflies to float up in a wind tunnel, look through glass cabinets to view large dragonflies and other flying insects, research on Ipads, draw bugs for the wall, slide down a large bug slide as well as watch videos of bugs in the living world. The artwork, discussions and learning continued back at preschool as our sleep area was turned into our very own LAB of BUGS!
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Bug Lab
xploration in the sandpit changes each day –wooden diggers, buckets and spades, a café with cooking utensils, funnels and sieves or adding water. A tap and hose attached to the side of the sandpit helps to change the learning focus. The children watched as the water made ‘tracks’ in the sand before their engineering brains went to work- digging channels of different depths and widths. The collaboration and team work in the sandpit took on a new level – with the skills of negotiation, turn taking, sharing resources and control of the water speed – lots of amazing communication and new vocabulary was heard. The discoveries by our engineers continued once the water was turned off – as they created more ‘pathways’ – before the water was turned on again and WOW the anticipation as it ran through their water ways. What great learning again in our huge sandpit!
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Learning to Care T
he arrival of two miniature kunekune piglets – called Elvis (due to his constant noise) and Parker (after boxer Joseph Parker) at the tender age of 20 days has brought much enjoyment for the children – although not so much for Sue with the need to take them home each night for two hourly bottle feeding! However, the nightly vigil was worth it to see the amazing learning in language, art, social interactions, empathy and care that the children are showing. The piglets have also had lots of visits from the Girls’ School classes. The piglets will stay with until they get too big, before going to live on the lifestyle block in Kumeu with our Preschool chickens and pet lamb!
Freckles the Leopard Gecko F
reckles the aptly named leopard gecko arrived to much excitement. She had been especially hand reared by Brian from Hands on Learning (who came to visit us last year with his spiders and creepy crawlies) so she was ready to be held by the children. The children have daily ‘cuddles’ and love it when she crawls up their arms and goes to sleep on their shoulder. They happily go on the search for live crickets. As she is a very fussy eater, her food has to be alive and moving for her to eat!
Hatching New Life 1
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0 fertilised eggs arrived in an incubator and within three days they had hatched into the cutest yellow chicks! The facial expressions on the preschoolers was priceless as they watched the egg start to ‘pip,’ then a very ‘gooey-looking’ chick hatch out to become fluffy within half an hour. Parents and visiting adults were totally smitten in the process, most having never witnessed a ‘live hatching’ before. Each chick was ‘colour coded’ and named for identification, ‘Latte, Perky Nana and Moonbar’ to name a few! After two weeks of living at Preschool under the heat lamp, having books read to them and lots of cuddles, some children went for a drive to Kumeu to take the friendliest chicks ever to Sue’s parents lifestyle block – where they are living the life of free range luxury!
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A Focus on Te Reo A
ll cultures are affirmed and responded to within Preschool and New Zealand’s bicultural practice is meaningfully integrated and highly evident in our learning environment. As teachers, we acknowledge the place of Maori in Aotearoa and focus on ensuring Maori culture is embedded in our daily programme through te reo, tikanga Maori, music and dance, art – always presenting opportunities for our children to be engaged. A focus on the book ‘Pukunui’ saw the children becoming engrossed and even more passionate about all things Maoritanga. As a result, our children now initiate the use of te reo Maori with their peers and teachers, and really enjoyed the chance to dress up to sing and dance.
We Will Remember Them T
he importance of ensuring our younger generation understand and appreciate what ANZAC Day means for NZ is why we include it as a focus at Preschool. From reading stories like their favourites ‘Simpson and the Donkey’ and ‘Caesar the Anzac Dog’ to creating amazing artwork, dressing as soldiers, having our own army barracks and watching snippets about soldiers on our Interactive screen were all part of the learning. A highlight was seeing some real war medals brought in by Enzo – who was so proud to show us his maternal Great Grandfather’s medals from 1914. It is so important to ensure this appreciation continues.
Commonwealth Champion Visits! fter watching our NZ athletes compete at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, the children were thrilled to welcome a champion medal winner to Preschool. Kelsey Smith, a gold medallist as part of the NZ Women’s Hockey team, came to show the children her medal. Sue had briefed the children on the hockey women’s successes and it was amazing to hear their questions, especially ‘Were you scared when you had to do the penalty shoot-out with England in the semi-final?’ Kelsey replied, ‘We were all very nervous but when our captain scored the winning goal – we all cried with happy tears.’ Kelsey now has a new fan club ready to support her and the team at the World Cup in England in July!
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GIRLS’ SCHOOL
Anything is Possible I sat amongst the Year 8 girls and they shared with me the key messages from a recent field trip to #MAKEWHATSNEXT on Microsoft Women’s International Day.
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hey were inspired by the female speakers who were encouraging the students into STEAM related jobs, as less than 10% of women in NZ are employed in this field. I was struck by the wisdom of the girls and their absolute belief that they could make a difference in the world. In the girls’ reflections, they all commented on their change in thinking and how they now would consider STEAM-related career pathways. Interestingly, in our conversations afterwards, I was expecting to hear about the latest technology, such as the virtual reality and artificial intelligence, however, the stronger messages for the girls were around self –belief and how they could make a difference. Currently in New Zealand, there is a fascinating context for our girls growing up. Right now, for the second time, the three top jobs in the country are held by women: Prime Minister, Governor General and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Jacinda Ardern, Patsy Reddy and Sian Elias are all in their positions because they are successful in their respective fields. Jacinda Ardern is the subject of great world interest because, as a young Prime Minister, she is having a baby in office. In New Zealand, we may consider women and men to be equal on the surface, but the evidence shows that women still lag significantly behind men in both pay and appointment to leadership positions. How does this environment impact on the education of our girls? Despite great progress being made, there is still a way to go. It is really important that across all our schools, we continue to affirm girls’ self- belief in their own abilities. So what does all of this mean for our own girls? At Saint Kentigern Girls’ School, the essence of girls is upheld by encouraging girls to try all activities
and embrace new challenges. We still talk about growing great girls, not princesses! We place great importance on the girls being themselves. We also know that girls do well when they can talk about their learning. Research show us that with girls’ learning, not only is the relationship with the teacher very important, so too are the inter- relationships around the room. The relationships from student to student are very important and powerful, and impact on the learning. This is why teachers place emphasis on working together and promoting inclusive classrooms and friendships. An article, written for principals by The Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia in October 2017, effectively summarised the latest research for principals. ‘At a girls’ school, teaching is tailored to girls and they learn in an environment free from gender stereotyping. Just as importantly, girls acquire confidence and resilience, allowing them to embrace calculated risks and step up into leadership roles. Clearly this approach, combining excellence in teaching, with an emphasis on student leadership and wellbeing, is incredibly successful and answers the question of why it is that single-gender schools are so successful, particularly for girls.’ The Saint Kentigern model is such a successful one because it builds on these strong foundations set at primary school to enable further success and achievement, both in academic and co-curricular activities. As role models, all teachers and parents across the wider Saint Kentigern organisation play an important part in nurturing and challenging our girls to be the very best that they can be. Whether it be through aspiration talks at school such as Women in Science, Old Collegian activities or visits to workplaces, the connections are in place to foster very powerful futures indeed. Creativity, problem-solving and collaboration are key skills to develop in the girls, both for now and in the future workforce. This reinforces the importance of the skills the girls are acquiring when working on STEAM Innovations. Anything is possible! Fides Servanda Est Miss Juliet Small, Principal
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New Deputy Principal
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ill Wahlstrom joined Saint Kentigern College in 2010, after nine years as Dean and Head of Curriculum in the Junior Syndicate at Baradene College. In 2016, Jill joined the Girls’ School as Head of English and Dean of the Senior Syndicate, then following the retirement of Deputy Principal, Mrs Judith Dobson, at the end of 2017, Mrs Wahlstrom was appointed to the role. She brings both leadership skills and a particular passion for literacy as well as new teaching and learning pedagogy. She has also been involved in coaching many sporting codes, especially netball, with success at both regional and national levels. From this, she initiated the Year 7 and 8 Netball Development Programme. We look forward to Mrs Wahlstrom’s ongoing contribution to the Girls’ School.
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Girls’ School Prefect Team O
n a glorious summer’s day, proud family members of the Year 8 leaders joined the congregation at Somervell Church to witness the commissioning of the 2018 prefect team. This was a particularly proud moment for the newly elected Head Girl, Kate Thibaud and Deputy Head Girl, Miabella Robertson as they pledged to honour their new roles. These two young women will lead their team with empathy and a sense of care and friendship to all. Girls’ School Principal, Ms Small welcomed Assistant Principal of the Middle College, Mrs Chay Carter and this year’s College Head Girl, Laura Porteous to the service. Laura spoke to the girls about inspiring women who, through the ages, had grown to be effective leaders. Drawing on the stories of former First Lady, Michelle Obama, the biblical character, Esther and New Zealand activist, Kate Sheppard, Laura spoke of persistence, courage and passion; three qualities that will serve the girls well. Ms Small called on Kate to accept her duties as the 2018 Head Girl, followed by Miabella in her deputy’s role. The rest of the prefect team then joined the Head Prefects on the sanctuary steps. Ms Small read the pledge, asking the girls to serve Saint Kentigern Girls’ School to the best of their ability; at all times demonstrating
a sense of pride in all they do; and with a sense of caring and friendship for all girls and staff. Each new leader then signed the Prefect Book and received their badges. Reverend Reuben Hardie concluded the service with words about student leadership. He echoed Ms Small’s sentiment on kindness to others and said that he looked forward to all that they would bring to the School in their responsibilities this year.
HEAD GIRL Kate Thibaud
DEPUTY HEAD GIRL Miabella Robertshaw
Kate joined the Girls’ School in Year 7 at the start of 2017, as the recipient of the All Rounder Scholarship. She quickly demonstrated her leadership skills both in the classroom and beyond.
Miabella began her schooling at Saint Kentigern in Year 1, quickly immersing herself in all areas of school life. She is a student who is committed to her learning and has made the most of every opportunity given to her. She is also passionate about a variety of sports, particularly swimming. Over the years, she has proved to be a very competent public speaker, last year winning the Year 7 speech competition with the popular topic ‘Why kids should be able to vote.’ An all-rounder, she is keen to pursue her interest in Performing Arts in future years. Miabella clearly demonstrates the values Saint Kentigern holds dear and she says that in her new role, one of her goals is to ‘make a difference.’ in performing arts. She has ambitions to run her own business and perhaps be in a movie one day.
Kate thrives on being involved and enjoys a diverse range of activities, with a special interest in literature, netball and speech and drama. In 2017, she won a cup in the Richard Wilson McDonald Memorial writing competition, for a short story about ‘adventure.’ She also gained Distinction in the Trinity Speech Exam. As a keen sportswoman, she was part of the 7A netball team and was chosen for the netball development programme. Kate upholds what it means to be a daughter of Saint Kentigern and has gained the respect of her peers and the staff. She is committed to her new role, understanding the importance of being a strong and sincere role model for the girls.
Girls’ School Prefect Team 2018 Kate Thibaud
Deputy Head Girl
Miabella Robertshaw
Head of Student Council
Danielle Levy
Head of Chapel
Jade Nomani
Head of Cargill
Charlotte Scoones
Head of Chalmers
Brooke Murdoch
Head of Hamilton
Arya Blackler
Head of Wishart
Zoe Nel
Head of Cargill Charlotte Scoones
Head of Chalmers Brooke Murdoch
Danielle Levy Head of Student Council
Head of Hamilton Arya Blackler
Jade Nomani Head of Chapel
Head of Wishart Zoe Nel
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Head Girl
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Flora MacDonald Day It was second time lucky for the Girls’ School after inclement weather called off Flora MacDonald Day at the end of Term 1. Fortunately, in the first week of Term 2, the assigned day dawned gloriously, turning into a crisp, autumn morning with blazing sunshine as the girls readied themselves for a day when the timetable is suspended in favour of tradition and fun!
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ounded to honour Saint Kentigern’s Scottish ancestry from a feminine perspective, the day is named after an 18th century Jacobite heroine who risked her life to smuggle Prince Charles Edward Stewart – ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ – from exile in Scotland over the sea to the Isle of Skye. It was on account of her bravery and strength of character that Flora was chosen as a strong namesake for the Girls’ School day of celebration. No Saint Kentigern function would be complete without the skirl of the bagpipes! As the College Pipes and Drums prepared to lead the march, it was a delight to see Kate Pennycuik, one of the first girls to take up the chanter at the Girls’ School, playing with the Band; undoubtedly with a sense of pride as she played for her former school. As the Pipes and Drums headed off on parade, the clans fell in behind with the older girls taking charge of the younger students for the day. Cargill, Chalmers, Hamilton and Wishart were further divided to eight smaller clans with each taking the name of a Scottish town: Kirkaldy, Inverness, Skye, Argyll, Glasgow, Dundee, Roxburgh and Stirling. Tagging along were the wee girls from the Preschool also sporting tartan!
Ms Small continued by explaining the history of tartan for the girls to understand the significance of the plaid fabric in time and place, including her own Baird family tartan, and how the Saint Kentigern Tartan came to be. One last song, the iconic, ‘My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean,’ brought out the very best in choregraphed ‘bobbing’ from students and guests alike, stirring up a sense of excited expectation for the girls! As Reverend Reuben Hardie finished by leading us in a joyous Scottish prayer, the smell of shortbread began to fill the air, signalling morning tea was ready for the guests in the drawing room! With the formalities over, the girls headed for their day’s activities, with the older girls mentoring the younger ones at each stop. As the morning progressed, there were delicious wafts of sweetness from the kitchen as the girls worked in groups to make oaty biscuits. Whilst Scottish country dancing kept the feet nimble, and creating Scotty dogs and tartan bows kept the fingers nimble, it was the burst of intense activity out on the lawn and pool that brought the biggest giggles of the day, as the girls slipped and slid down the soapy water slide, bounced on the inflatable obstacle course, negotiated aquaorbs on the pool and tested their abilities at the Highland Games, including the rather Kiwi gumboot toss! A more restful time back in the science lab to make wild thyme scented soap rounded out the day. The weather could not possibly have been better and the activities chosen were as much fun for the oldest girls as well as their youngest charges. Happy and tired, the girls unanimously declared that Flora MacDonald Day was worth waiting for!
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Pipers and Drummers flanked the entrance way to the hall as the girls, staff and special guests filed in. Principal, Ms Juliet Small welcomed one all before Head Girl, Kate Thibaud and her Deputy, Miabella Robertshaw once again told the tale of Flora MacDonald’s extra-ordinary bravery. It was only natural that this story should lead into the singing of ‘The Skye Boat Song,’ retelling the tale of how Bonnie Prince Charlie fled mainland Scotland to the Hebridean Isle with the help of Flora.
This was followed by the orchestra’s first performance of the year playing ‘Brother James’s Air,’ by James Leith Macbeth arr by Dr Jenkins – with Ms Small joining in on the violin.
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Tartans T
artan has, without doubt, become one of the most defining symbols of Scotland and Scottish identity. Early Romans talked of the Celtic tribes wearing bright striped clothing and one of the earliest examples of tartan found in Scotland dates back to the 3rd century AD, where a small sample of woollen check known as the Falkirk tartan was found used as a stopper in an earthenware pot to protect a treasure trove of silver coins. Its two coloured check was identified as the undyed brown and white of the native Soay Sheep. All weavers depended very much on local plants for their dyes so the locality of the weaver might well have some bearing on the colours of the tartan that he produced. If he lived on the west coast of Scotland, Gipsywort would give him lettuce green, seaweeds would give him flesh colour and seashore whelks might provide purple. If he lived inland, then he would undoubtedly looked to the moors for his colours: heather treated in different ways would give him yellow, deep green and brownish orange; blaeberries (the favourite food of the grouse) would provide purples, browns and blues; over 20 different lichens would give him a wide range of subtle shades. If he was affluent or dyeing and weaving for a customer of some substance, then he would seek more exotic imported colours of madder, cochineal, woad and indigo. The original kilt was known as the ‘belted plaid’ and consisted of a length of cloth (basically a large blanket) that was gathered and belted at the waist. Today there are many tartans registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority and each has become synonymous with the symbol of clan kinship.
a M acFa rl
n H u nti
ng Ta rt
an
entigern Saint K
Ta rta n a n Cla n M acFa rl nt Colou rs Ancie
Ta rta n
M a c K ay
Cla n Ta
rta n
Our Saint Kentigern Kilts
However, these are not the only tartans worn at Saint Kentigern. During the 60’s, in recognition of the first Headmaster at Saint Kentigern, Dr Reverend Adam MacFarlan, the Hunting MacFarlan tartan was first worn by The Pipes and Drums, replacing the earlier MacGregor tartan. One of the most iconic photos in the Saint Kentigern archives shows Adam cooking porridge at camp, wearing gum boots and his kilt! The Old Collegians Pipe Band wear another variation of the MacFarlan tartan, this time in ‘ancient colours.’ No matter which the variant, there is no question that when our student don their kilts, they do so with pride, knowing that they are representing Saint Kentigern and a heritage that links us to a country on the far side of the world, yet is very much a part of us.
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It is now ten years since the male prefects at the College first started wearing the MacKay tartan kilt for formal occasions to recognise their leadership position. A few years later in 2008, our own unique Saint Kentigern tartan was registered with the Scottish Tartans Authority, held in the Scottish National Archive in Edinburgh. The female prefects at the College were the first to wear it in 2010 with it now also adopted by the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools.
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Celebrating Chinese New Year Kung Hei Fat Choi! We Wish You A Prosperous New Year And Good Health!
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nlike our western New Year, which always happens on a fixed date, the Chinese New Year varies each year based on the lunar calendar which follows a 12 year cycle. The 2018 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dog, begins today, 16 February – and our junior girls celebrated in style! The Chinese animal zodiac, or shengxiao (which means ‘born resembling’), is arranged in a repeating cycle of 12 years. Each year is represented by an animal and the Chinese believe that people share the same qualities as the animal of their year of birth. As five year olds, the majority of our Year 1 girls were born in the Year of the Dragon, with three born in the Year of the Snake. Their teachers, Mrs Yvonne Gallagher and Mrs Sally Anne Jones, weren’t so ready to reveal their ages but with mention of a goat, it is possible to work it out! In the build up to Chinese New Year, the Chinese girls in the class, took on the role of ‘experts’ to lead the class enquiry. With their fellow five year olds, they brainstormed many ideas around what they could share with their class about
China, the spring festival and Chinese New Year in particular. We were extremely grateful to a number of our Chinese parents who so willingly spent a morning in the classroom to share their expertise, helping to guide the girls though a variety of activities and answer their questions. From fan folding to lantern decorating, mask making and crafting a traditional Chinese red gift envelope, the girls were busy! The highlight of the morning, however, was making dumplings. The girls really enjoyed learning to roll the shapes and add the filling before squeezing the little parcels shut ready for cooking. The morning concluded with talented student, Monica Qian playing the violin before the girls joined together to sing a New Year Song in Mandarin. Then it was time to sample the dumplings – delicious! Our sincere thanks to the parents who so willingly gave their time to work with our girls, they really enjoyed their celebration and the chance to share what they had learnt.
Girls Assist Stroke Victims W gir ls' school
hen the grandmother of Year 7 student, Alisa Iosua ended up in hospital with a stroke, Alisa wanted to help. For a week her grandmother had no improvement in the movement in her hands or arms so Alisa decided to give her a squeeze ball. Within two days she was beginning to squeeze the ball and had begun to regain some movement back in her hand. When Alisa talked with the nurses about this, they said they wished they could have more balls as many patients with muscular issues would benefit greatly from this simple aid. With a clear goal in mind, Alisa approached the Girls’ School Student Council, and Head of the Council, Year 8 Danielle Levy sent out an email to the whole school to help collect ‘squishy balls’ for hospital patients. In the space of two weeks, the girls collected over 200 balls for Alisa and her family to deliver to the hospital. Well done girls on this initiative and we hope their efforts help make a difference for stroke patients.
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Sleeping With Sharks! A
s part of their Social Science inquiry into ‘sustainable environmental practices’, the Year 4 girls embarked on an adventure to Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium. This was not the typical daytime visit that visitors to Auckland enjoy – the girls arrived after the daytime crowds had gone, carrying pillows and sleeping bags, ready for a sleepover with the sharks! Their adventure began with tales about Earth’s harshest habitat, Antarctica, hearing about the life of the early explorers, Scott and Amundsen as they raced to be the first to reach the South Pole. The walk-through replica of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Antarctic hut, complete with authentic memorabilia, offered a glimpse of the grim conditions endured over 100 years ago in the coldest place on Earth. They also heard about the work of scientists on the ice today and the valuable research they do as part of a global understanding of the health of planet earth. After undertaking ‘the ice challenge,’ testing how long they could keep their hand submerged in sea ice, the girls tackled a ‘white out’ exhibit that challenged the senses before watching the resident penguins go about their
lives, both on ice and under water. Having the exhibits to themselves was quite astonishing, allowing them unobstructed views to the vast range of sea life being cared for. They also ventured behind the scenes to appreciate the work involved in ensuring all the sea animals are suitably fed, taking part in a fish feeding encounter with some large and lively fish! In a quiet time following supper, the girls coloured in fish that, once scanned, became part of a large animated art display. There was much excitement as they scoured the gallery wall to spot their personalised fish swimming and darting around the seaweed! And so to bed! With sleeping bags at the ready, the girls could choose whether to sleep under the shark tank or the slightly less ferocious sea creature side in Kelly Tarlton’s famous fish viewing acrylic tunnels! The girls were evenly split! Tucked down in bed, the girls watched as the creatures swam overhead – after an evening of excitement, a most relaxing way to fall asleep! Our thanks to the staff and parents who assisted overnight to make this learning encounter possible.
‘This is the bird that never flew This is the tree that never grew This is the bell that never rang This is the fish that never swam’
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ver the course of 2017, as part of a combined Christian Education and Visual Arts project, the students in Years 4-7 at the Girls’ School worked on a ‘Miracles of Saint Kentigern’ banner, similar in style to those produced in the past for Christmas, Easter and the changing seasons. After many weeks of designing, sketching, painting and applying dyes, the girls completed their artwork prior to Christmas, ready to pass their artwork on for the sewing and quilting process.
Working in small groups within their year level, the girls were each responsible for a section of the banner with each panel depicitng one of the four miracles that Saint Kentigern performed during his life. Once complete, the panels were passed on to Mrs Linda McAdams who kindly took on the quilting to complete the process. The banner was presented at Chapel early in the term and there was an audible gasp as the work was unveiled, a beautiful addition to the set of hanging banners in the school hall. Well done girls and our sincere thanks to Mrs McAdams for taking the time to complete this fantastic piece of work.
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Saint Kentigern Banner Unveiled
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STEAMing Ahead With thanks to Assistant Principal, Ms Helen Prescott
‘STEAM’ is an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. The end results are students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problemsolving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process to find new solutions. They are the innovators, educators, leaders and learners of tomorrow!
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riginally known as ‘STEM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), this educational acronym sprang into wide usage when former US President Obama prioritised educational initiatives to help prepare students to meet the growing need for professionals in the fields of the sciences and mathematics. The concept of STEAM, adding Art to the mix, arose when the Rhode Island School of Design began championing ‘that innovation comes with combining the mind of a scientist or technologist with that of an artist or designer.’ John Maeda, then President of the School of Design went on to say, ‘The scale of STEM is amazing but that alone doesn’t create warmth and humanity and connection. For instance, a thing like an MP3 Player is the result of a STEM technology. But until Apple came along, it didn’t become desirable. It was a STEAM technology that made it a part of our everyday lives.’
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There has been much said about our changing world and the need to prepare today’s students for a future unknown. Whereas past generations could largely predict what direction their learning path would take them, usually into a chosen career for life, today’s challenge for educators is to prepare students to be multi-literate, with the confidence to apply their learning. It is no longer enough ‘just to know.’ With all this in mind, the Girls’ School has begun a journey to empower their girls to think more creatively and develop their communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while challenging them to achieve beyond what they, themselves, thought possible. The STEAM Innovations programme at Years 7
and 8 has been developed with the support of PB Technologies, as part of this journey. Early in the year, all girls in Year 8 were fortunate to take part in a workshop at Microsoft’s premises in the Viaduct. In recognition of Women’s International Day, the #MAKEWHATSNEXT workshop was intended to inspire the future workforce of young women to consider all possibilities. The girls heard from inspirational women who had made a difference in their field. The girls learnt that in New Zealand alone, less than 10% of women are in STEAMrelated jobs and there is an increasingly high demand for innovative thinkers both in New Zealand and the global workforce. On the day, the girls were exposed to various technologies including Micosoft’s Hololens, the first self-contained, holographic computer that enables the user to engage with their own digital content and interact with holograms in the world around them. This was a real eye-opener to future possibilities.
One of the strongest messages the girls took away was around self-belief and engaging with the idea that almost anything is possible with enough determination and hard work – but also to firmly take away the understanding that, reinforcing the initiatives we are working on in STEAM Innovations at the Girls’ School. At the end of 2017, key staff had a training day with PB Technologies, run by the training company ‘Using Technology Better.’ The teachers investigated a range of technological equipment and selected items for purchase which provided ‘low floor entry and high ceiling capability’ - that is, anyone can start with it, regardless of ability, but it caters for growth at all levels. The technological purchases included mBots, makeymakey kits, ozobots, spheros and a drone. Underpinning STEAM is a focus on design thinking, which is a mindset and approach to learning that includes collaboration and problem solving. The design thinking
STEAM Elements Real World Connections • Provide context and relevance • Authentic application
Subject Integration • Cross curricula connection • Deeper conceptual understandings
Modern Literacies • Informaion Gathering • Creative Problem Solving • Collaborative Skills
Challenge Based • Problem / project based • ‘Just right’ challenged
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process empowers the girls to think more creatively to solve problems and be open to the ideas of others and different solutions – sometimes making compromises as ideas are pooled. Students then reflect on the process at the end of each STEAM session. Working in groups allows for each member to have input as they work towards an outcome, also learning from each other’s thoughts in the process. Early challenges seemed simple – building a ping pong launcher from ice block sticks and a rubber band – but when ‘to accurately hit a target’ was added, designs were refined. From this first simple challenge, and the learning that took place, the girls in Years 7 and 8 have moved on to work with robotic equipment and a drone. The mBot Robot is an educational arduino robot to learn about programming and electronics with relative ease. The girls have had great fun designing various types of tracks to programme the mBots to navigate through, reinforcing measurement, critical thinking and problem solving, as well as collaboration.
Makey Makey is a circuit board used to turn everyday conductible objects such as apples, oranges, and even graphite found in pencils, to run computer programmes. Through the coding programme ‘Scratch’, the girls started with learning to connect a circuit with fruit, to play a piano, moving on to create a multi-language-based game. Spheros are a spherical, rolling robot which the girls are learning to program to complete circuits, play ping pong, soccer games and also to learn geometry. From learning how to code the Sphero to roll around a square, they added further constraints such as specific distances, then moved on to other more complex shapes such as scalene triangles.
keep it on the intended flight path, and the value of collaboration to succeed. All of this new equipment requires the new skill of coding – a new ‘literacy’ at school level that will become part of many future jobs. As the girls have worked together learning to code, they have learnt that a simple error at coding stage has impact on the outcome. When applied to real world situations, they have come to understand the need to apply critical thinking and perseverance to ensure the intended outcome – essentially, to avoid disaster! The aim of our STEAM Innovations programme is to ensure our girls are equipped and enabled for a highly technological world. By exposing the girls to a range of challenges and experiences across the curriculum, we aim to develop their confidence and competence, while advancing the key skills of collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and communication – all ‘human’ skills that robots currently perform poorly!
A typical drone is a flying robot, however, the drone at the Girls’ School can also convert into a hovercraft. The girls have been challenged to code the drone to fly high, low, hover and sweep. They have learnt the perseverance to code correctly to
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Ozbots are another small robot, programmed through the use of coloured felt pens, with the combination of colours and lines controlling the robot’s speed and direction. Through the ideation phase of the design thinking process, the girls
developed a town map for the ozbots to negotiate, programming them to make turns, and stop at traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. The girls tested their ideas and refined them, progressing to creating soccer games and BMX tracks, with further refinement seeing a class floor-sized map designed for all types of robots.
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08/06/2018 16:25
HOUSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONS CHALMERS 1ST
Chalmers Wins Swimming A
fter a week of swimming races at the Girls’ School, Chalmers were declared the House Champions, taking a huge 219 point lead ahead of their nearest rivals!
2ND
WISHART
3RD
HAMILTON
4TH
CARGILL
The girls in Years 4-8 began their ‘heats’ on a day that was anything but warm, as Cyclone Hola dumped its load on Auckland! But the following day the sun broke through for a fantastic finals day. The senior girls in particular set a cracking pace in the pool with some incredibly competitive swimming as they swam a range of 100, 50 and 25m lengths and pushed each other right to the final stroke. Later in the week the sun shone again as the Junior girls in Years 1-3 took to the pool with help from their ‘big sisters’ in Year 8 where needed. Smiles were aplenty as the girls put their recent lessons to use, remembering their two hand touch at the end! Congratulations to Chalmers and all the age group champions!
Zone Swimming
SOUTH EASTERN ZONE SWIMMING FOR YEARS 7 AND 8
A
Alex Campion
1st
50m Freestyle
Alex Campion
1st
50m Butterfly
Alex Campion
1st
100m Freestyle
Olivia Rooney
3rd
50m Backstroke
Miabella Robertshaw
3rd
100m Freestyle
1st
50m Butterfly
fter putting in a stellar performance at the College swimming event, a Girls’ School and College combined Year 7 and 8 swimming teams put up a great show at the South Eastern Zone, collecting 33 podium spots between them! In particular, Year 7 Girls’ School student, Alex Campion put in a fantastic performance coming 1st in 50m and 100m freestyle, the open 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke and as part of the Girls’ Free Relay team, as well as collecting two second places. Years 5 and 6 also put up a fight at the Remuera Zones.
Year 7 Girls 50m Backstroke
Year 8 Girls
Open Girls Alex Campion
Combined Girls’ School/College Relays 1st
Edith Li, Alex Campion, Imogen Perry (SKC), Claudia Spencer (SKC)
Year 8 Free Relay
1st
Miabella Robertshaw, Zara Nelson, Ruby Spring (SKC), Kaia Ashmore (SKC)
Open Medley Relay
2nd
Alex Campion, Zara Nelson, Olivia Rooney, Imogen Perry (SKC)
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Year 7 Free Relay
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GIRLS’ SCHOOL SWIMMING CHAMPIONS 2018 Overall Champions
1st
2nd
3rd
Year 1
Emily Albrecht H
Lola Leport-Symonds W
Chloe King CA
Year 2
Kasey Wray H
= Sadie Fitness CA =Isobel Horne H
Year 3
Chanelle Huang W
Violet Lindsay-Smail CH
Isabelle Qu W
Year 4
Sienna Robertshaw CH
Brooke Rowntree CA
Alexi Bower W
Year 5
Indy Neshausen CH
Emma Scholtz H
Gaby Lamb W
Year 6
Scarlett Bassett CH
Katie Donaldson CA
Lucy Hawes CH
Year 7
Alex Campion CH
Edith Li W
Keeley Berkovits W
Year 8
Zara Nelson W
Olivia Rooney H
Miabella Robertshaw CH
Summer Fun at Relay Event!
I REMUERA ZONE SWIMMING For Years 5 and 6 Year 6 Girls Scarlett Bassett
3rd
25m Backstroke
3rd
Scarlett Bassett, Katie Donaldson, Sienna Hirst, Lucy Hawes
HOUSE REL AY CHAMPION S 1ST 2ND
WISHART CHALMERS
t was a fantastic morning of fun 3RD HAMILTON when the girls travelled to the Boys’ School for the annual House 4TH CARGILL Relays. Each year group fielded House teams of four for the relays, whilst the rest of school lined the banks and cheered on the swimmers. House spirit rose in crescendo as swimmers surged forward and the winning place looked certain! Congratulations to Wishart House!
RELAYS Year 6 Girls 4x25m Freestyle
Podium for Alex
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ountain biker, Sacha Earnest represented Saint Kentigern at the National Schools Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua, finishing 2nd in the U13 Girls Cross Country first in the Downhill event. Later that week she raced in the Crankwork / Kidsworx Mountain Bike Competition and finished first in the two events she competed in, the Pumptrack Challenge and the Downhill event. With more to come she also finished 2nd for 12 year old girls at the BMXNZ National Championships in New Plymouth. In June, Sacha will be heading to Baku, Azerbaijan where she will once again be challenging for a world age group title at the UCI 2018 BMX World Championships.
ongratulations to Alex Campion whose strong swimming skills set her up well for the multiport nationals in Nelson. Travelling with the Saint Kentigern team during Tournament Week, Alex gained a medal in 3rd spot for the Aquathon and also placed 4th in the Triathlon.
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Podium For Sacha
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Just Loving Camp! W
hat better way to get acquainted with your classmates and teachers than spending time away camping! Two groups set off for camp from the Girls’ School and all concur, they loved it!
Year 7 And 8 Camp McLaren Falls Camp, Tauranga
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t was a tense few days in the build up to the Year 7 and 8 camp as staff tracked the progress of Cyclone Gita across the Pacific. As it finally became clear that its landfall, winds and rain would hit down south, away from the upper North Island, the all-clear was given and the girls loaded their gear onto buses to head to McLaren Falls Camp, just outside Tauranga. In beautiful parkland alongside the lake, the girls pitched their tents and set up camp ready to sleep under canvas and prepare their own meals. The Year 7’s were staying three days, followed by a further day of activities on return to school while the Year 8’s were pitched in for a week. The park proved to be an idyllic venue to experience a variety of activities on both land and water with forays a little further afield during the course of the week Life in a field with sheep and duck poo underfoot was new for most, as was life under canvas and the challenge of living in such confined quarters, especially when the weather was inclement! But the challenge of adversity can often tighten bonds and on the night when the winds got up and the rain poured down, right on cooking time, the girls rallied together under the communal marquee and just ‘got on with it!’
Year 5 And 6 Camp Shakespear Reserve, Whangaparaoa
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o start the year in the spirit of teamwork, camaraderie, confidence and determination, the girls in Years 5-6 headed out of town - and out of their comfort zone – to Shakespear Reserve in Whangaparaoa. Each day was filled with a range of enjoyable yet challenging activities, combined with the daily responsibilities of looking after their cabins and helping around mealtimes. The girls developed their responsibility, initiative, motivation and cooperation. Perfect weather meant the girls could make the most of the outdoors, with hiking, beach games, co-operative team building, walky talky activities and the chance to test their own culinary skills to cook up pikelets on a stove. Shakespear Lodge ‘has it all’ - farmland, bushes and beaches right at their doorstep and the kune kune piglets close at hand were a huge drawcard for our ‘city girls! Camp is all about developing a growing sense of independence, while learning new skills with the support of friends. It was a tired group of girls, teachers and parents who returned to school having loved the camp experience.
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Girls WOWed by Fifi Colston T
he senior students at the Girls’ School were most fortunate to spend time with Fifi Colston this term - a woman of many talents, Fifi is an award winning junior fiction novelist, children’s book illustrator, non-fiction author and a long-standing presenter of arts and crafts on firstly, TVNZ’s ‘What Now’ and then, ‘The Good Morning Show’. Fifi is also a veritable veteran of Wearable Arts and came to share her creative process for preparing an entry for the show. Over the last 21 years, she has created 23 Wearable Arts entries. Her work has been exhibited many times in Nelson’s World of Wearable Art Museum and her piece ‘Lady Curiosity’ is currently touring internationally. Her most recent entry, ‘The Organ Donor,’ was last year’s winner. She has also worked with Richard Taylor’s Weta Workshop, Peter Jackson’s Stone Street Studios, Pukeko Pictures and The Production Shed as a costumier, puppet maker, illustrator and crafts expert.
needs of the model, those doing the dressing and the logistics of transportation and storage – and staying in budget! The process requires a constant need to problem solve; a skill she told the girls, along with digital/technological literacy, that will stand them in good stead for future years. We offer our thanks to Fifi for sharing her time and insight with us. There are undoubtedly a number of girls now thinking ahead to what they too could achieve with needle, thread, cable ties, foam, fabric and imagination!
With plenty of illustrations and samples to show, she talked the girls through the design to production process of two very different pieces, explaining the sources of inspiration, she initially drafts them as sketches, with the idea then mocked up on a doll-size mannequin. Once happy with her concept, she starts work on pulling the whole piece together, being mindful of the
Family Picnic B
rilliant sunshine, a chance to swim, good food and good company were all the right ingredients for the annual Parent and Friends’ Girls’ School Family Picnic. Families streamed through the gates with blankets, chairs, umbrellas and picnic fare, ready to take advantage of the warm weather, to mix, mingle and relax on the lawn in front of Corran House. This was a perfect occasion for families who are new to the School to familiarise themselves with the Saint Kentigern community, meet the teachers, their children’s contemporaries and other parents.
Whilst the pool was a welcome respite on a warm evening, and the School playground a fun place to play, there’s nothing like a little challenge to make some lasting memories. This year a vertical bungy was brought in for the occasion, with the girls eager to harness up and bounce heavenwards! Age was no barrier and even our youngest gave it a go – and our not-so-young Principal, Ms Juliet Small and Deputy Principal, Mrs Jill Walstrom also kitted up and gave it a go! We offer our sincere thanks to organiser, Mrs Slavka Yildiz and her team who did a superb job of preparing and overseeing the evening; their attention to detail was evident. Our thanks also to the many parents who helped manage food sales, swimming pool supervision and the final clean up; it was a fantastic team effort and a wonderful evening was enjoyed by all.
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As always, a team of willing parents rolled up their sleeves and got behind the BBQ, cooking up a storm for hungry youngsters, while others were at the ready with cold drinks and ice cream. The Year 8 girls rallied around with face paint, letting their imaginations run free on their younger charges. Trends have moved on with legs and arms becoming the favourite painting spots!
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BOYS’ SCHOOL
Learning in a Rapidly Changing World Today’s students face a rapidly changing world, a future world that is very difficult to predict.
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here will be new technologies that haven’t been invented yet, jobs that are yet to be created and global problems that we may not be able to foresee. Producing more of the same skills and knowledge will not be enough for the challenges our boys will face in the future. Rapid social, economic and environmental change means that we need to prepare our boys for their role as lifelong learners, workers and citizens of an increasingly complex world. At Saint Kentigern Boys’ School, our key focus continues to be providing best quality teaching and learning for our boys. We recognise that in order for this to happen, our teachers need opportunities to develop pedagogies and practices that meet the diverse needs of our boys in this fast-changing world. Creating a culture where learning is embedded in our daily teaching practice, has been a key strategic focus for our staff. Educational research informs us that professional learning must be based on continuous assessment, analysis and feedback that should be built into a teacher’s daily practice. A number of learning culture initiatives have been developed for our teachers to support their pedagogy and practice, to ensure that we are able to prepare our boys to for a future unknown. Recent 2018 additions to our learning culture initiatives: Learning Lunch Series Our 2018 Learning Lunch Series is a learning opportunity for our staff to hear from a diverse range of professionals, working in many different fields. Listening to the stories of others, reviewing current educational research and hearing about new innovations allows our staff the opportunity to collaborate, reflect and embrace new ideas. At our first learning lunch, we were fortunate to have Ms Ashley Fox from The University of Auckland come and speak about her work experience in analytical laboratories, including eight years working at ESR as a Forensic Technician. Ashley shared that her
work has required her to collaborate and communicate with a diverse range of people and to think critically about complex problems. Our second learning lunch topic was the ‘Learning Zone vs Performance Zone’, researched and promoted by Eduardo Briceno. This session reinforced our understanding that all learners, students and teachers need to have ample opportunity to work in the learning zone. It is time spent in the learning zone that ultimately means that we ‘create opportunities for teachers and students to facilitate discussions about complex issues...and to examine different perspectives, confusions and misunderstandings.’ Teacher Inquiry and EduHack We recognise that our learning culture initiatives need to provide our staff with multiple opportunities for team learning and collaboration, as these are pivotal to the development of our learning organisation. We offer our staff two inquiry pathways, teacher inquiry and EduHack. Our teachers use the inquiry model to help them learn from their practice, build greater knowledge, apply innovative ideas into their programmes and improve educational outcomes for our boys. Our EduHack Model has been adapted from the Microsoft Hackathon concept. In teams, our staff take a current idea or problem and collaboratively create an innovative solution. The EduHack framework creates opportunities for our staff to experiment and innovate, and encourages them to have an open mind to do things differently. Reflective Hour Our school is a very busy place and to support our staff with having the time required to examine their practice, we have created ‘Reflective Hour.’ This is a timetabled session for staff to reflect critically, engage with other teachers for consultation and advice, and allows staff the time required to maintain momentum for learning, change and innovation. Saint Kentigern Boys’ School is a learning organisation. By creating and supporting a culture of learning, our teachers are developing the pedagogies and practices required to meet the diverse needs of our 21st-century learners. We believe that because we are focused on learning, as an organisation we can ‘react more quickly to changing external environments, embrace innovations and ultimately improve student outcomes.’ With thanks to Kellie Carpenter – Director of Pedagogy
Fides Servanda Est Mr Peter Cassie, Principal
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Prefect Team Commissioned
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n the very first day of the new school year, the 2018 Boys’ School prefects were commissioned at a special service attended by their parents and invited guests. For the parents of the newly elected Head Boy, Austin McKegg, and Deputy Head Boy, Benjamin Hardie, this was a particularly proud day. These fine, young men both have the capability to serve and lead the School with distinction.
achievement or a badge; leadership is about unifying the people. He concluded saying, ‘Above all, be approachable and kind, and in so doing you will set an example for the rest of the School to follow.’
Principal, Mr Peter Cassie welcomed Head of Saint Kentigern, Mr David Hodge and Senior College Principal, Mrs Suzanne Winthrop who introduced this year’s College Head Boy, George Shirtcliffe. George spoke to the boys with great confidence about his own definition of leadership, saying that leadership is more than just a title, an
Mr Cassie came forward to challenge both Austin and Benjamin with the Prefect Pledge: ‘Gentlemen, do you promise to uphold the values and standards of Saint Kentigern School and to serve its students, teachers and parents to the best of your ability and for the glory of God?’ The boys signed the Prefect Ledger, first started in 1995, then introduced the rest of their prefect team to the School, as they in turn accepted the duties of leadership, committing to serving Saint Kentigern with pride.
HEAD BOY Austin McKegg
DEPUTY HEAD BOY Benjamin Hardie
Austin started at the Boys’ School as a Year 1 student in 2010. At the end of his first year, he received the class prize for General Excellence showing that right from the outset, Austin set high standards. At the completion of his Junior School years, Austin received the Year 3 class prize for Excellence and the Junior Citizenship Cup. His teacher at the time said, ‘His well-developed self-management skills are indicative of his maturity and outstanding academic ability. He thoroughly enjoys presenting speeches.’ Throughout Middle School, Austin continued to succeed. He received the Year 6 class prize for Excellence and was placed first in Art. He was a member of the Middle School A Tennis Team, the Year 5/6 A Rugby Team and the Remuera Zone Swim team. Moving onto the Senior School, Austin’s academic results were outstanding, with this being a true testament to his discipline and desire to succeed. He made the most of every opportunity, whilst displaying the core values of our School. We look forward to his leadership during 2018.
Benjamin also started the Boys’ School as a Year 1 student in 2010, attaining the class prize for General Excellence in his first year. In Year 2, Benjamin won the Class Prize for Public Speaking and began to show his sporting flair by playing touch rugby in a school team. In Year 3 he, again, received the class prize for Excellence and was also the Year 3 Champion Sprinter. His Middle School years were impressive – receiving Academic Excellence, Christian Education, Christian Living and Diligence Awards from years 4-6, culminating with the prestigious Lions’ Citizenship Award at the end of Year 6. Benjamin’s sporting achievements were also impressive during these years, he was the Year 4 Tennis Champion, the Year 5 Athletics Champion and in Year 6, was a member of the Remuera Zone Athletics Team, plus the A Rugby and Cricket Teams. His Year 7 year continued in the same vein as an outstanding all-rounder, receiving the Year 7 Technology Prize, attaining his Bronze Service Badge and representing the school in the Eastern Zone and Inter Zone Athletics’ Teams. Benjamin always gives of his best and is a true role model to all other students.
Cargill House Leaders: Robson Reidy, Etimoni Taufa
Chalmers House Leaders: Hamish Aspinall, Johnny McElwee
Hamilton House Leaders: Leon Cooke, Brodey Warren
Wishart House Leaders: Luke Costello, Adam Morrison
Head Boy: Austin McKegg Deputy Head Boy: Benjamin Hardie Chapel: Jamie Mora Council: Levi Williams Academic: Baxter Hilson Sport: Joe Berman Cultural: Austin Alcock Junior School: Oliver Rowntree Middle School: Louis Lepionka Cargill: Robson Reidy Etimoni Taufa Chalmers: Hamish Aspinall Johnny McElwee Hamilton: Leon Cooke Brodey Warren Wishart: Luke Costello Adam Morrison
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2018 Boys' School Prefect Team
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Roselle House
Welcomes Back the Boys!
Built in 1876, only 30 years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Roselle House, at the heart of the Boys’ School, 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 education, bequeathing a further £5,000 pounds to develop the first classroom block. On 1 February 1959, the school bell rang for the first time.
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n the early days of St Kentigern School (as it was then known), Roselle House was alive to the noise of boys, as many of the rooms were given over to classrooms for ‘Primers 1-4’ and the library. As the roll expanded over the years, new classroom blocks were established and the library was moved, shifting Roselle’s primary function from classroom use to become the administration centre of the School. During the principalship of Jack Chalmers (1959-1978), Brian Irwin (1979-1993) and Geoff Burgess (1994 -2012), the top floor was assigned for residential use by the three successive Principals, but following the Christchurch Earthquake, new, stringent guidelines around seismic safety were put into place. As a listed Category B Heritage building with significant heritage value, not just to the School but the wider Auckland community, there was major work to be done to strengthen the building - and it was time to step back and reconsider the best use of Roselle as a School facility. After a year under shrouds, as an extensive renovation took place, for the first time in almost 40 years… THE BOYS ARE BACK!
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Upstairs has been transformed into a light and airy learning commons with library nooks for quiet reading and open spaces for the boys to work collaboratively. Each space flows easily throughout the interior and continues out onto the wide verandas that have now been glassed in for safety and provide yet another comfortable reading area with outside chairs and a magnificent view! Walls have been removed, a new stairwell and lift have been installed and the floor plan has been reconfigured to maximise the available area. Now up to a 120 boys can comfortably make use of the space at any one time; the previous library having had a maximum capacity of 80.
The Boys’ School current collection includes almost 11,000 fiction, non-fiction and reference titles of interest to boys from new entrants through to their senior years. Years 0-6 visit with their teacher every week, whilst boys in Years 7-8 visit for digital literacy and media option classes several times a week. In addition to the hard copy collection, there are a further 514 titles available as e-books for senior students who, over the last three years, have embraced fiction reading on personal devices. Currently 30 new learning commons monitors from Years 6 – 8 are being trained to provide help every lunch hour and before and after school. They tidy, shelve books, issue to students and take a wider interest in all aspects of the new commons. In visiting ‘upstairs’ you can’t help but notice, colourful, thought provoking artworks that now adorn the walls. Families were offered the opportunity to select and sponsor a quote of their choosing, which went to a graphic design company to illustrate. The results are a fantastic addition. On the way up the original sweeping staircase, a distinctive wooden tree has been installed at the halfway point to acknowledge our bronze, silver and gold sponsors, with their name engraved on the leaves of the tree.
The move from the old library at the top of the campus, to a new learning commons at the bottom of the campus - at the top of a flight of stairs (now with a choice of a lift) - took some careful logistics. And of course, the day that was assigned for a removal company to do the bulk of the work, came with rain! In reviewing the books, almost 5000 old titles were culled from the collection and donated to Steve Farrelly from the Breakfast Club, who will oversee their distribution to local schools in need. Former library shelving and furniture were donated to the Tonga Youth Trust to be distributed to preschools and groups in South Auckland.
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Roselle House Officially Reopened O
n a day that started with sheets of rain, the heavens were merciful as the entire school joined our invited guests for the ribbon cutting ceremony to formally reopen Roselle House. Scissors in hand, Mr Roland Lennox-King, first Head Boy of Saint Kentigern School, as it was then known, and Mr Matthew Wilson, a prefect in 1986 and great-nephew of our generous benefactor, John Martyn Wilson, were given the honour of cutting the ribbon - as three cheers rang out from the boys!
And the old library? That is currently being used as a teaching space for languages until the next phase of the master plan gets underway, with that area of the campus earmarked for a new specialist science and technology block. The top floor was not the only space to get a makeover. The ground floor of Roselle House has long been the home of the administration team, including the Principal’s office and a traditional wood-panelled Board Room. Over the course of last year, the whole ground floor was also transformed, with walls moved and repainted and a striking Saint Kentigern tartan carpet laid throughout. The school office has been remodelled and will offer a more welcoming and spacious environment for the boys and our school visitors. Our administration team has been pleased to return to Roselle, having spent over a year tucked away under JC Chalmers Hall! Much consideration has been given to their new working spaces. The reconfigured area outside will also allow for more parking spaces. In a week of damp and humid weather when the boys first returned to school, the air-conditioned commons proved popular during lunch breaks as the boys settled down to read. New to the School this year, Year 7 student, Mark Galloway spent three lunchtimes reading ‘Sons of Kentigern,’ the Saint Kentigern School history book, written by former librarian, Mrs Jane Mackie. He said he has really enjoyed learning the background to his new school.
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The last word goes to Year 7 student, Oryon Ivanov who said he was really loving visiting the new learning commons saying that it was a beautiful space,’ Each time I walk in, it’s really easy on the eye!’
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Environmental Enthusiasts T
he Year 7 and 8 environmental team meet regularly in their own time to discuss ways they can care for the environment in and around school. They had become concerned about the perceived dwindling number of birds around campus, and that there had been the odd sighting of rats around the edge of the campus close to the water. The boys decided to set up their own monitoring of both birds and pests. Firstly, they did some bird counting. This young group of environmental enthusiasts sat in a specific spot on Roselle lawn over several weeks with clipboards for fifteen minutes each time. They counted bird calls and recorded any sightings. So far, the group has been pleased to see black back gulls, rosellas, kingfishers, sparrows and tuis. Their next step was to set about recording whether there were any predators around the edge of the campus. Researching how to make tracking tunnels on the internet, the boys found a design that was made out of recycled milk bottle containers. They joined two bottles back to back and covered them in black rubbish bags for waterproofing. The group then set up five tunnels around the perimeter of Roselle lawn and placed an ink pad centred on a blank piece of paper inside each tunnel. To lure the predators, they carefully placed some bait (apple and crackers) inside each tunnel. Weather permitting, the paper and bait will be changed on a regular basis and the footprints of any rodents that happen to wander into the tunnels will be recorded for the group to count and monitor over the course of the next few weeks.
Spend Some, Save Some, Invest Some make their money work for them. In prehistoric society, knowledge about the first question was essential - the animal could feed or harm you. For almost identical reasons, fiscal knowledge holds equal importance in this century! Financial Literacy is a core life skill, for today’s children will eventually take charge of their own financial future. As young adults learning to live independently, they will need to know how to budget and make wise financial choices for everyday living, how to manage risks, save for a ‘rainy day,’ avoid taking on unmanageable debt, and provide for their old age and health care. Poor financial decisions can have a long-lasting impact on individuals, their families and society.
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1. If you spotted a dangerous animal in your vicinity, what would you do? 2. If you know that inflation forecasts were one per cent lower than actuals and commodity bundles would cost two per cent more than expected, would you know how much to save each year so that the quality of life in your retirement is not compromised?
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ost young people would have a ready answer for the first question, but they would not be alone in being bamboozled by the second! Even adults can have a thin grasp on how they can
With this in mind, the ‘Innovations’ programme for senior boys offers Financial Literacy as an option, with the focus on guiding the boys in ‘wise decision making’ around financial activities. Many boys have their own savings accounts and a developing awareness of the amount of interest their account is accruing. They are also learning about compound interest and how savings accelerate over a longer period of time. Discussions around investing and the risks and returns associated with this, led to the boys visiting the NZX – the New Zealand Stock Exchange Their hosts for the morning caught the boys’ attention immediately, using lollies to represent share trading! Questions came thick and fast about whether it is possible
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Coastal Biodiversity Detectives A
s New Zealanders, we love our beaches, oceans and foreshores. Our coastal waters are New Zealand’s playground, sustaining us with access to seafood and providing areas for recreation on and off the water. However, as our urban environments increasingly encroach on the natural landscape and the competing use of the marine environment grows, the impact from surrounding land use, along with global influences such as climate change, mean our coastal ecosystems are coming under increasing stress. To turn the tide, education about the delicate balance to sustain biodiversity on our planet is essential. For our Year 2 boys, a trip to the Omana Regional Park foreshore, as part of their ‘sustainable living’ unit, was a chance for them to become coastal biodiversity detectives. Omana Regional Park is stunning piece of coastal land retained for recreational use. Not far from here, the new sub-division at Beachlands is springing up. Our towns have an infrastructure that provide access to food and clean water, and provide services to deal with our waste and assist with our general well-being. Councils are set up to help regulate this. Marine ecosystems have similar services – they are delicate and complex, not so easy to see and don’t have a council to report to when things go wrong! The boys learnt that life in a rock pool is tough! Creatures are especially adapted to life in this environment where part of the day is spent immersed in water, part is spent battered by waves and another part is fully exposed to the elements
– searing sun at the height of summer. Creatures of the rocky shore expend a lot of energy growing shells to protect their bodies – in much the same way as our boys are growing their own internal skeletons. Sadly, the boys also learned about the developing problems in our world's oceans regarding plastic pollution. They learnt that a third of the turtles taken to Kelly Tarlton’s for rehabilitation have either ingested or been caught in plastic. With a magnifying glass in hand, the boys headed to the ‘strand line,’ the high water mark where dead seaweed and shells are left behind, and discovered that sandhoppers eat the seaweed and in turn provide food for seabirds. Moving further to the rock pools, they learnt that true detectives never disturb the scene, they learn more by observing the detail closely. Whilst the opportunity to spot whelks and crabs provided plenty of excitement, the highlight of the morning was an unexpected bonus when the boys found a dead juvenile hammerhead! Even the smell of decomposition didn’t deter their curiosity! The boys had a fabulous morning of hands-on learning. From as simple an instruction as not being tempted to turn over a rock, so the life beneath is respected and can stay undisturbed, the boys are beginning to learn that they too have a part to play in the future sustainability and biodiversity of our planet.
Back at school, the senior boys have encountered the uniquely Kiwi board game, ‘Market Share’ and with new-found enthusiasm, set about considering strategy, risk management, budgeting, asset planning, negotiation and cash flow to gain and grow shares. If you follow the financial news, you'll hear that the sharemarket rose, fell, soared, plummeted, sank, dipped, stalled, rocketed, tanked - or sometimes did nothing at all. It might be a bull market or a bear market. If you’re a little confused by these terms, ask a boy in Year 7 or 8!
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for a school boy to get into trading. Mentally, pocket money was quickly getting reassigned!
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Hidden in Time D
uring the renovations made on Roselle House over the course of last year, culminating in the opening of the upgraded interior and new Library/Learning Commons early in Term 1, a time capsule was discovered by the builders, hidden in the walls of the building. Collated in December 1992, the box was recently opened by Principal Mr Peter Cassie and senior boys to reveal the contents. Dating back to when the school was referred to as St Kentigern School and the logo still had elements of red, with Mr Brian Irwin as Headmaster, Mr Rex Hooton as Deputy Principal and Mrs Ngaire Allwood in the Assistant Principal role, the box contained a 1992 Yearbook – just a small A5 size booklet that year - and the prospectus of the time. In an age before the internet had truly taken hold, the prospectus folder contained ‘home-grown’ inserts with a single typed page describing all on offer – a far cry from our multiple website pages and social media posts to help inform prospective parents about the School, 26 years later in 2018! Despite the passage of time, some things never change and the words of 1992 still ring true today. ‘The tone and atmosphere of St Kentigern School is designed to foster personal achievement, with the acceptance of Christian principles as the basis for working and living. The School has established an excellent reputation for high academic and behavioural standards, a caring, committed teaching staff, and sound educational environment.’ Today’s boys are currently giving thought to the proposed contents of a 2018 capsule to be hidden for a future generation to find!
Author, Artist and Storyteller O
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n the first day of the new school term, the Boys’ School invited author, artist and storyteller, Stu Duval to open Book Week. Stu has been a regular visitor to the School over the years, combining his multiple talents in the arts, written and spoken word to enthral the boys. Considered one of New Zealand’s master storytellers, his books are much loved by children and praised for their ‘crackling prose’, ‘rip-roaring adventure’ and ‘spellbinding narrative.’ Having two young sons of his own, his stories are well and truly tested before reaching a wider audience - and have ‘boy appeal’ in particular! Equally renowned as an artist as well as an author, Stu incorporates live art into his performances, creating large, colourful illustrations as he weaves his original tales, full of lively characters, sound effects and
music into a show with plenty of sidesplitting humour.
paper, the finished three art works left for the School to display.
He did three separate shows for the Junior, Middle and Senior syndicates with each tale age-appropriate. His signature chalk on black illustrations grew as the chalk flew across the
A good storyteller has the power to invoke the imagination and in a week dedicated to all we love about books and reading, Stu provided the boys of all ages a great insight into developing a good narrative.
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Junior School Book Parade ‘If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.’
Albert Einstein o matter what the language, how rich or poor the nation, the power of the written word to tell a story, the joy of reading and the love of books themselves is powerful. Much has been made of the electronic age and the move from hard copy books to reading on an electronic device. We’re in an age of transition, recognising that iPads, Kindles and Smartphones can add many extra layers to the reading of a story or the researching of facts. Our current generation of children are living in a fast-paced world of change where much is expected at the click of a button and yet the ‘school library,’ now a beautiful Learning Commons at the top of Roselle, with shelves stocked with hardcovers, paperbacks and magazines, remains a popular, tactile, diversionary, imaginary, adventure-seeking draw card! After a full week devoted to books, with an author visit and dads reading to sons before school, Friday dawned bright and clear, the perfect weather for a fantastic Book Parade by the Junior School. With the rest of the School out lining the paths to cheer them on, a profusion of book characters took a circuit of Roselle. Passing motorists on Shore Road must have been delighted and surprised!
‘Where’s Wally’ won the day, with Willy Wonka and golden tickets from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ making strong presence and the ever-popular boy wizard, Harry Potter. Star Wars continues to capture the imagination as does the venerable diary written by a ‘Wimpy Kid.’ It was heartening to see that children’s stories from another generation still endure with the Saucepan Man from Enid Blyton’s ‘Magic Faraway Tree’ added to the mix! To finish off the morning, the boys buddied up with visiting Year 8 boys from the College to share stories they had written. Literacy is born from the human need to tell stories to better understand ourselves and the world in which we live; it can also transport us to another world on a journey rich with words. The Boys’ School Learning Commons plays a key role as place for encouraging curiosity and unlocking the imagination. As electronic devices take their place in the library alongside the shelves of books, one fundamental is unchanged, the need to encourage children to read for both pleasure and learning.
Real Dads Read! I
n a play on the old adage of whether real men eat quiche, our Dads were invited to join their boys to show that ‘real dads read!’ Early before school during Book Week, a large number of Dads joined their sons across the school to share in some early morning reading. No matter what our age, there is always great pleasure in being read to!
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Celtic Day
Whatever the weather, Celtic Day is always a most warmly anticipated event for those in the know - and can be quite an eye-opener for the uninitiated, especially the parents who offer up their services for the first time!
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he day began with that curious mix of heritage, as our tartan-clad Kapa Haka group, led by Sam McLeod, laid down the challenge, their voices carrying far across the field, signalling the moment for the College Pipe Band, followed by the Boys’ School Pipe Band, to begin the parade. This is day for our oldest students to show leadership and provide care for their junior clan members, knowing what fun lies in store! With their younger counterparts firmly under their wings, our senior boys led the way, as the House Clans followed the band in a ribbon of colour as they marched towards the Jubilee Sports Centre for the official ceremony. Nick Forgie had the honour of piping in the official party.
This year we welcomed Saint Kentigern grandfather and true Scot, Mr Terry Brown to talk to the boys about his childhood in the Orkney Islands – a far cry from a Saint Kentigern boy’s life in Auckland, 70 years on. We thank Mr Brown for taking the time to be part of this special day. Our House leaders then gave a sobering reminder of the source of our House names – the four Scottish Martyrs, Donald Cargill (1619-1681), James Chalmers (1841-1901), Patrick Hamilton (1500-1528) and George Wishart (1513-1543). Each successive Head Boy will tell you that along with the pride of being named the student leader of Saint Kentigern Boys’ School… comes the trepidation of knowing that Robert Burns’ fiendishly difficult ‘Ode to a Haggis’ will need to be learned and recited on Celtic Day – in Gaelic! This morning, Austin McKegg joined those who have gone before, in not
boys' school
In his opening address, Principal Mr Peter Cassie explained to our new families that the day is to celebrate our Founders; a day when our Scottish ancestry is welcomed, unravelled and put and on show in ways you may not always expect. Like the introduction of a square of carpet to the formalities
- and the revelation that if Mr Cassie lay down in his Saint Kentigern kilt on the new floor covering in Roselle House, he’d be well-camouflaged!
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only mastering the soliloquy but delivering it with immense confidence and spirit. His long applause was well earned! And so to the business end of the day, as far as the boys were concerned! After the traditional tasting of the Haggis – a morning snack made from ‘the less interesting parts of a sheep!’ – the boys set about enjoying their day out on the field for riotous action with quiet interludes inside for craft activities. A new activity this year saw the boys prepare and cook damper over an open fire pit – always so much tastier when made yourself!
As always, we must thank our Parents and Friends Association, chaired by Vanessa Playle, who did a fantastic job in providing support on the day, from preparing shortbread for the guests’ morning tea, offering haggis to the boys (who let’s be honest, would have preferred the shortbread!), to being at the forefront of the games on the field and in the pool. Our sincere thanks to a wonderful group of mostly wet, muddy parents! Celtic Day could not happen without your enormous contribution!
boys' school
There was much to enjoy but nothing quite captures the imagination like the castle siege as boys set about with wet sponges to attack the cardboard ramparts
created by staff and parents. As the day wore on, Roselle Lawn wore out, so those taking on the challenge later in the day found themselves wallowing in mud – including the stoic parents on duty!
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Action-packed Boys’ Camps! T
he boys in Years 4-8 relish Term 1 as, along with plenty of outdoor activity at school, this is the term that they get to go on camp! No matter what the age group or the location of the camp, all our camps away aim to offer new experiences, develop independence, discover selfconfidence and help the boys find success in the face of new challenges. The boys returned to school at the end of the week brimming with excitement and totally exhausted!
YEAR 4 CAMP Peter Snell Youth Village in Whangaparaoa For most of these boys, it is their first experience of being away from home in a camp setting – and we were really impressed with how well they handled the experience! Orienteering, archery, a Burma trail, bivouac building, wall climbing, rifles, slingshot paintball, slippery slide and an initiative course -the activities were all designed with boys in mind to keep them active, engaged and challenged. And with the beach on the doorstep, there were plenty of opportunities for beach sports and kayaking!
YEAR 5 CAMP MERC, Long Bay A week jam packed with marine-based education and outdoor recreational activities kept our Year 5 boys challenged with a daily rotation of activities that both tested them mentally and physically. Both land and water based, the activities included abseiling, climbing, canoeing, orienteering, a giant’s ladder, slingshot, archery, raft building and sailing.
YEAR 6 CAMP
boys' school
Kaueranga Valley Located just outside Thames and surrounded by hill country farms, the acres of terraced grasslands overlooking the Kaueranga River proved to be a fantastic spot for the boys to get away from the busyness of city life and get busy in the outdoors. With a river running through the camp, there was plenty of opportunity to get out on the kayaks. Go karts, BMX riding, archery and a flying fox also featured. by far one of the most memorable activities for the boys was the mud slide. With plenty of recent rain turning the alluvial soil a distinctly bright orange, the boys revelled in the chance to get mucky!
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YEAR 7 CAMP Camp Manaia, Whangarei Heads This year, Year 7 looked north to the Whangarei Heads, alternating the 128 boys between two campsites, one in the bush and one in cabins. The boys loved the mix of locations, spending two nights at each but especially enjoyed their nights at Jagger Camp in the bush. This was camping in its truest form with the boys experiencing real bush life. They learned how to start a fire without matches, weave flax to make fishing lines to catch their own food, and cooked bush pizza and damper donuts over an open fire. To add to the experience, the boys slept in hammocks in the trees or in tepees with some boys electing to simply sleep out under the stars!
YEAR 8 Tongariro Adventure
boys' school
After the success of the inaugural trip last year, the Year 8 boys headed to Tongariro National Park for their annual camp. Spread across three locations, each group had a day on the lake in kayaks or canoes, a local activity day and an overnight expedition that encompassed many fantastic activities. The heart of the camp was the expedition that each team undertook. This involved packing a pack, hiking to various locations, making shelter and undertaking different activities along the way. Caving, abseiling, rock climbing, flying fox, canoeing as well as making camp, cooking their own food and ensuring that all members of the group were looked after were necessary for each student. The boys spent two days and one night out in the bush relying on their own resilience and each other’s before returning to the lodges.
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Records Tumble At Swimming! W
HOUSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONS HAMILTON 1ST
ith one of the hottest summers on record, the school pool has provided some very welcome relief for the boys this summer. From the first day back at school, the swimming programme got underway in earnest, so by the time the Junior, Middle and Senior School swimming events came around, the boys were ready to dive in and give it their best.
swimming championships, as all the Junior School boys have progressed to swimming unaided or with a flutter board under the watchful eye of Year 8 students. Way to go Juniors!
There is a huge amount of organisation that goes into these days with well over 200 separate races to get organised, involving marshals to get the swimmers to the starting blocks, race-starters, time-keepers, results recorders and, of course, the boys themselves every single one of them had the chance to swim!
The sun shone brightly for the Senior School swimming. Our Year 7 and 8 boys powered through the water in some fantastic races. Despite the competitive streak to win, it was great to see them ‘highfiving’ each other at the end of each race!
The Middle School was the first for a taste of competition – a day when umbrellas lined the banks as parents sat in the rain to watch. Not such a pleasant day for the timekeepers but we owe them our sincere thanks!
Congratulations in particular to the three boys who broke five records! Mark Galloway broke the Year 7 25m backstroke title (17.03), whilst James Crosbie broke two Year 7 records in the 50m butterfly (35.37) and 50m backstroke (35.84). Year 8 swimmer, Jackson Kennard also broke two records with his impressive wins in the 50m butterfly (36.28) and 50m breaststroke (40.00)
The Junior School declared they were ‘too good for noodles!’ Testament to the strength of the swimming programme at the Boys’ School, this year there were no ‘noodle races’ at the Junior School
2ND
CARGILL
3RD
CHALMERS
4TH
WISHART
Well done to all our champion Boys’ School swimmers!
BOYS’ SCHOOL SWIMMING CHAMPIONS 2018 Overall Champions
1st
2nd
3rd
Year 1
Austin Watson CH
Matthew Burns HA
Bruno Dickinson CH
Year 2
Austin Zhao CA
James Zhang HA
Kane Clarke CH
Year 3
Benjamin Durose CH
Harold MacCulloch CH
Harry Lynn CA
Year 4
Toby McFarlane CA
Toby Wigglesworth CA
Hugo Bricklebank HA
Year 5
Max Trankels HA
Thomas Campion HA
Theo Colyer CA
Year 6
Oscar Bower WI
Tom Butler CA
James Hiddleston HA
Year 7
James Crosbie CA
Luke Gibson WI
Mark Galloway HA
Year 8
Jackson Kennard WI
Thomas Hunter HA
Brendan Meyer HA
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Silver For Luke W
ell done to Luke Gibson who placed 2nd in the National Aquathon held at Nelson in March. Luke had to complete a 1 km run then a 250m swim finished off with another 1km run. Luke finished in a time of 14m 03 gaining a silver medal!
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Dive, Swim, Rock N’ Roll! A
blaze of sunshine, a sea of colour, determined swimming, spirited chanting and a dancing Chaplain were a fantastic way to end this year’s swimming sports. The electric-charged event brought together both the Girls’ and Boys’ Schools in a friendly morning of relay competition, wrapped up with a good dose of fun! There was no time for energy to drop or spirits to flag as in between races, those watching were set dance HOUSE RELAY challenges – with Reverend Reuben Hardie leading the charge on the timeless favourite, CHAMPIONS the YMCA. The music and moves were all CARGILL there – and the parents weren’t shy 1ST about joining in either! Well done to CHALMERS 2ND House Champions, Cargill.
3RD
WISHART
4TH
HAMILTON
REMUERA ZONE SWIMMING FOR YEARS 5 AND 6 Year 5 Boys
Year 7 Boys 1st
25m Freestyle
James Crosbie
1st
Freestyle
Max Trankels
2nd
25m Freestyle
Mark Galloway
3rd
Freestyle
Max Trankels
1st
50m Freestyle
James Crosbie
2nd
Backstroke
Max Trankels
2nd
25m Backstroke
Mark Galloway
3rd
Backstroke
Year 6 Boys
Year 8 Boys Brendan Meyer
2nd
Freestyle
Relays
Thomas Hunter
3rd
Freestyle
Year 5 Team: Max Trankels,Theo Colyer,Thomas Campion, Archie Kersey
1st
4x25m Freestyle
Thomas Hunter
1st
Backstroke
Brendan Meyer
3rd
Backstroke
Year 6 Team: Tom Butler,Caleb Power,James Hiddleston, Sam Jancys
2nd
4x25m Freestyle
Jackson Kennard
3rd
Breaststroke
Open Team: Jaden Renault-Pollard (back) Tom Butler (breast) Thomas Campion(butt) Max Trankels (free)
1st
4x25m Medley
James Crosbie
2nd
Butterfly
Thomas Hunter
1st
Freestyle 100m
Year 7 Boys: James Crosbie, MarkGalloway, Harrison Klouwens, Luke Gibson
1st
4x25m Freestyle
Year 8 Boys: Thomas Hunter, Jackson Kennard, Brendan Meyer, Adam Morrison
2nd
4x25m Freestyle
Year 7/8: Mark Galloway, Jackson Kennard, James Crosbie, Thomas Hunter
1st
4 x 25m Medley
James Hiddleston
2nd
25m Backstroke
Remuera Zone School Champions
Relays
Field Championship Open Relay
1st
Boys’ School
Boys Champions
1st
Boys’ School
Overall Boys/Girls Champions
2nd
Boys’ School
2nd
Open Boys’ 4x50m Medley Relay.
INTER-ZONE SWIMMING Team: Mark Galloway, Jackson Kennard, James Crosbie, Thomas Hunter
Year 7/8 Boys
boys' school
Thomas Campion
EASTERN ZONE SWIMMING For Years 7 and 8
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Played 10, Won 10! S
ince 1974, the ‘Klippel Shield for Preparatory School Cricket’ has been contested between three strong cricket playing schools – Saint Kentigern, King’s School and Southwell School - with the Boys’ School taking stewardship of the Shield on many occasions…but not for the last two years! This was rectified in Term 1 when the Boys’ School 1st XI played King’s School – holders of the Shield for the last two years - in a 35 over match. In what can only be described as an ‘epic’ low scoring match, our boys secured the trophy on the last ball! They then went on to defend the the Shield against Southwell School from Hamilton mid-way through the season.
This has been an incredible start to the cricket season for the Boys’ School 1st XI. They have played seven interschool fixtures and three NZ Cup fixtures and have not lost a game - that’s played 10 won 10! The highlight of the first term of cricket was a trip to play St Peter’s on their main cricket oval at Cambridge. This is a new fixture and we will continue to foster this relationship with St Peter’s. The 1st XI are now in the quarter final of the NZ Cup which will be played in Term 4. Good luck boys!
Superb Season for Touch T
ouch rugby has had a superb season so far. With some incredibly fast and skilled players taking on the sport, they have gone through the first half of the season unbeaten. From six games they have secured five wins and a draw. With a game structure and pace that had proved a challenge for other schools, Term 1’s play bodes well for the Eastern Zone Tournament when play resumes in Term 4.
Keen Runners!
boys' school
E
ven the pouring rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of 30 boys who turned up for the first Boys’ School running club meet of the year. Despite being summer, on a wet, grey morning, with the rain hosing down, the new bright orange ‘hi vis’ vests were a necessity as they headed off to run around the Orakei Basin boardwalk, through the mangroves past Wilson's Beach, up Victoria Ave, down Shore Road, around Burwood, down to Shore Road Park and then once around the Park…and if that wasn’t enough, a small group also took on an extra 1.5km extension run, before heading back to school to get dry and enjoy breakfast together before heading off to class. Thank you to the parents who accompanied us, even in the rain - what a great way to start the day!
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A Cup of Service O
n the wall of the new Learning Commons in Roselle House is a quote from Martin Luther King Jr, ‘What are you doing for others?’ In the same vein, silver service took on a whole new meaning at the Boys’ School Mothers’ Morning Tea with a strong message about the value of service to others, delivered by guest speaker Stacey Shortall. This was the annual opportunity for the mothers of our boys to simply take time out. Whenever the Boys’ School needs assistance. It is inevitable that our mothers are the first port of call with a request for help. The Mothers’ Morning Tea has become the one occasion where they can step back and let others do the work. The hall had been transformed the day before with crisp table linen and row upon row of fine china. With an early start, four willing, yet unseen dads, Troy Hageman, James McLeod, Guy Weerasinghe, Mark Hiddleston and Craig Knox, lent helping hands to get scones jammed up and the cake stands loaded with morning tea fare ready for our guests! The classroom doors were opened wide early on for mothers to see their boys’ classes in action, before piper, Nick Forgie and drummer, John Zhu led our guests to the hall – every seat was taken! In her words of welcome on behalf of the Parents and Friends, organiser, Mrs Philly Hiddleston said, ‘We hope that this morning you can enjoy each other’s company, feel appreciated and perhaps contemplate the very special school community we belong to.’
Guest speaker, Stacey Shortall is a Wellington lawyer and mother of four young children, whose leadership and generosity of spirit to the wider community has been acknowledged with a number of significant awards. A true inspiration, her words encouraged us to dig deep and re-evaluate what each of us, personally, could be doing for others. Whilst working as a top Wall Street litigator, she worked pro bono with vulnerable women, volunteering in New York women’s prisons to help mothers understand their rights and obligations to their children. On her return to a law firm in New Zealand, she set up the Mothers’ Project at the Auckland Regional Women’s Correction Facility to empower imprisoned women to make better choices. She also encouraged fellow lawyers to be involved in the community after establishing the Homework HELP Club at a low-decile school to help the children with their homework one afternoon a week. This has now been launched a nationwide. Stacey has continued to inspire others with her call to action – ‘Who did you help today?’ – founding a nationwide movement that connects skilled people with not-for-profit community projects. Her message was poignant, and it is hoped that the mothers gathered will be inspired to find avenues to also help their communities. Our sincere thanks to organiser, Mrs Philly Hiddleston and her team of helpers.
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More than anyone, Principal, Mr Peter Cassie recognises the value of the contribution by our mothers and so this is the day that he and his team of Year 8 helpers put their school work aside, dust off their aprons and get down to the serious business of waiting on some very important members of the Boys’ School community! With tea pot in hand, Mr Cassie cheerfully headed around the room while the boys with milk jugs followed on behind! Meanwhile, accomplished pianist, Year 8 student, Sunny Le, played the background music.
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middle college
‘Who Cultivates the Culture?’ It is often quoted in various forms that ‘culture beats strategy every time.’
T
his cliché has been floating around the business world for a few decades. It is fair to say both are essential. In terms of ‘strategy’ our 2017 Saint Kentigern ‘Statement of Intent’ outlines our clear strategic focus and goals for the next three years. (You can find a copy of it on the OLE or our website).
have appreciated his firm but fair care and his clear teaching style during their time here. Mr Taylor teaches and lives out the values and attributes that we endeavour to cultivate in our young people. His leadership, role modelling and compassion are appreciated by all within our learning community.
Recently, I noted with a strong sense of ‘yes, he’s on to something here,’ the words of British educationalist, Sir Ken Robinson. When speaking at a Future Schools conference in Australia, he stated, ‘What great schools know is, if you get the culture right, the learning takes care of itself, engagement goes up … we shouldn’t be looking at yield, we should be looking at culture.’
In saying all of this, I would dare to say that creating a positive school culture starts in the homes and families of our students. We, as a College, are very fortunate to be in collaboration with our parents and families working towards the same goal. Our students benefit from their ‘prior learning’ experiences at home - time spent in discussion around the dinner table, family opportunity for travel together and wider community involvement. Do not underestimate the vital ground work that you as parents are doing. Our homeschool partnership, based on mutual shared values, is certainly the spring board for developing the ‘right stuff’ at College.
At Saint Kentigern we know our culture is essential to learning. We would be the first to acknowledge that creating and maintaining the right culture takes hard work. As Dylan Wiliams, another insightful educator based in the USA, has highlighted, no teacher or school will ever reach perfection in their lifetime. ‘If a teacher or school thinks they are perfect, then their expectations of themselves and their students are too low.’ The culture of the classroom and of the College as a whole, is something we need to cultivate in an ongoing way, to continually strive for excellence in all areas.
middle college
The quality of our teachers and the learning experiences provided by them for our students is a priority. We are fortunate to have many outstanding practitioners at Saint Kentigern with an excellent balance of those new to education, with all of the freshness, energy and enthusiasm that affords, and those passionate, experienced teachers who have invaluable wisdom to share. This balance is absolutely crucial in creating a vibrant, effective learning culture. In the latter group, one teacher particularly stands out within our Middle College. This year, Mr Kevin Taylor celebrates 30 years of excellent service to Saint Kentigern. Many current and past generations of students
Culture is cultivated through the way teachers and students engage with each other, and by how the students relate and interact with one another. Our expectations of the learning, behaviour and character of each student in our Middle College is high. It is not by accident that the routines of formal assemblies, weekly Chapel services, the ‘Navigate’ wellbeing programme and the ‘My Learning’ academic goal setting focus are part of every student’s experiences at the College. It is, in part, through these structured activities that we develop and enhance the learning culture and values of Saint Kentigern. In closing, who cultivates the culture? We all do, as the famous African proverb says, ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. Our ‘village’ may be large, diverse and incredibly busy as we offer a ‘world of opportunities’ to our students, but careful cultivation of our culture is essential if we are to succeed in our mission to inspire our students to strive for well-rounded excellence
Fides Servanda Est Mr Duncan McQueen Principal, Middle College
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senior college
The Importance of Academic Choice As an Independent School we believe it is important we offer our students the choice of alternative academic qualifications to best suit their personal needs and style of learning. n our Senior College, all students study NCEA Level 1 in Year 11, with some of our more able students electing to study at Level 2. During the course of Year 11, our senior students and their parents are given ample opportunity to learn more about their choice of qualification pathway for their final two years of study in Years 12 and 13, enabling them to make an informed decision as to whether they want to continue with NCEA or choose to study for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement) NCEA was introduced by the Labour Government in 2002 with NCEA Level 1 replacing the former School Certificate. This was followed by Level 2 replacing Sixth Form Certificate in 2003 and Level 3 replacing Bursary in 2004. Many adjustments have been made to NCEA over the past 16 years and currently the Labour Government is undertaking a full review. It appears the Minister of Education is very aware of the main concern around NCEA, which is the workload for students and staff alike, created by over-assessment. If, as a result of the review, assessment is reduced, that will be a positive change. At Saint Kentigern, we ensure that we prepare our students for life after college. In this regard, it is the actual NCEA subjects that we choose to offer our students that is crucial. 93% of the NCEA subjects we offer at Saint Kentigern are university approved, ensuring that our students are well-prepared to continue on to tertiary education if they choose. International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma In 2005 the Saint Kentigern Trust Board made the decision to offer an alternative qualification alongside NCEA. At the time they considered all options, looking carefully at the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), IGSE and A-Levels, and the IB Diploma. The IB Diploma Programme was selected as a comprehensive and challenging preuniversity course that demands the best from students and their teachers. The two-year course covers a wide range of academic subjects that meet the needs of well-motivated and well-organised pupils. It offers academic rigour, genuine breadth and coherence, developing
initiative and resourcefulness, and has proved to be an effective and successful preparation for university and the world of employment. In an increasingly international market, Diploma holders can gain admission to top universities throughout the world. It has stood the test of time for over half a million students in 119 countries since its inception in 1968. In reviewing the various alternative qualifications, the Trust Board selected the IB Diploma over Cambridge as its more holistic education is more closely aligned philosophically to Saint Kentigern. Cambridge students are not required to independently research or process information in the way required by the IB Diploma, and NCEA Levels 2 and 3. IB Diploma students are exposed to both the humanities and the sciences until the end of Year 13, and they learn to study both independently and as part of a group. Each IB student is also required to research and prepare a 4000 word extended essay – all excellent preparation for senior students to make them ‘tertiary-ready.’ Accelerated classes Our most academic students can be extended leading up to and in studying both NCEA and the IB Diploma. We have accelerated courses in the Middle College leading into Senior College in mathematics, science and music. In mathematics, able students begin accelerated classes in Year 9. Able senior students can take NCEA Level 3 Calculus or Statistics at Year 12, moving onto Scholarship in Year 13. Both NCEA and IB Diploma students can sit NZQA Scholarship examinations in both Year 12 or Year 13. Whether our students select to follow NCEA or the IB Diploma, most importantly, there is academic rigour in both qualifications. Whatever qualification a school may offer, they are only as good as the teachers who are employed to lead the learning of the students. At Saint Kentigern we can confidently say we are fully staffed with professional, specialist teachers who know how to encourage, engage motivate and inspire our students to strive for excellence in all that they do.
Fides Servanda Est Mrs Suzanne Winthrop Senior College Principal
senior college
I
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Celebrating
65 Years!
1953-2018
In March 2018, the Saint Kentigern College community came together in celebration of 65 years on the Pakuranga Campus; a moment in time for reflection and the sharing of our proud history.
S
ince the College first opened at 9am on 3 February, 1953 with just 92 pupils, Saint Kentigern has established a strong heritage and clear reputation as one of the leading independent co-educational schools in Australasia. Today, 65 years on, the College is stronger than ever and enjoys unprecedented demand for places. We gratefully acknowledge the wise stewardship of our Trustees and all those who have gone
before, whose clear strategic intent has made the best use of the magnificent campus to ensure generations of students receive the very best education. As much as the 65th Celebrations were a celebration of all we have achieved, they were also a springboard for the future; a future that will require an equal commitment to ongoing vision and energy to build on the solid foundations established over the first 65 years.
Jubilee Cocktail Evening Friday 16 March, 2018 To commence the celebrations, a large group of past and current staff, including former Executive Head, Mr Warren Peat (2001-2008), Trust Board members and Old Collegians gathered on a balmy evening in the Jack Paine Centre for cocktails and fellowship. For many of the older, returning students, this was the first time they had visited the stunning Arts and Technology block that lends itself so well to a function such as this. There was much laughter and reminiscing as friends and former classmates caught up with one another, with many an old tale to tell. This was particularly so for the group of former Bruce House boarders whose bonds ran deep. Also in attendance was Danny Gowan from London, who for many years has graciously hosted the London Old Collegians’ Reunion. Principal of the Senior College, Mrs Suzanne Winthrop welcomed the guests saying that the College truly appreciates the support of the Old Collegians who continue to provide support for each of our schools, in particular, funding scholarships for students each year. President of the Old Collegians, Mr Hayden Butler also spoke on behalf of the Association encouraging those gathered to continue their ties to Saint Kentigern.
college
The guests chatted on long into the evening; a most successful event enjoyed by many.
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65th Jubilee Dinner Saturday 17 March, 2018 After months of planning, we could not have wished for a better weekend to celebrate the Saint Kentigern College 65th Jubilee. The focal point of the weekend was the Jubilee Dinner and in a blaze of sunshine, guests gathered to chat over pre-dinner drinks in the Old Boys Sports Centre, while the Old Collegians’ Pipe Band entertained. Overseen by the Parents and Friends Association, the gymnasium had been transformed to a glorious dinner venue as we welcomed both past and present staff, students and Trust Board members, along with the many people in our community who have been part of the history of the College. We were delighted to welcome past Executive Head, Mr Warren Peat (2001-2008) and his wife Gwyneth; past Head of College, Mr Steve Cole (2009-2016); Dr Maitland MacFarlan, son of the founding Headmaster, Reverend Adam MacFarlan; Mrs Jan Oram, daughter of Mr Herb Massey, the founding Deputy Headmaster; Mrs Judy Stone, wife of Ron Stone, founding PE master, along with son, Matthew; Dr John Beckett, Rhodes Scholar 1967; and founding Boys’ School student, ‘No 1’ David Adams and both founding College students, ‘No 1 and 2’ Warren Boyes and John Corban. President of the Old Collegians, Mr Hayden Butler, called the room to order, wishing Saint Kentigern a ‘Happy 65th Birthday’ saying, ‘At an age when most are seeking to ease into retirement, I can assure you that Saint Kentigern is in the prime of its working life and has never looked stronger!’ Current Head Prefects at the College, Laura Porteous and George Shirtcliffe formally welcomed the guests before Head of Saint Kentigern, Mr David Hodge was invited to speak. Mr Hodge outlined changes that have taken place over the course of the last year and indicated what the future may hold. Recognising Saint Kentigern’s place in history, he said, ‘The past 65 years has been a remarkable story of remarkable people, who through their deeds inspired generations of students to strive for excellence for the Glory of God and in the service of others. There is no limit to the strength and resolve we can draw from their example.’ Our Old Collegians have moved on to many different fields, some far across the world. Guests enjoyed a short video snippet from Mana Vautier, a proud former Saint Kentigern student and Bruce House boarder who has worked in the space programme at NASA for a number of years. Proudly wearing a Saint Kentigern shirt, he made it clear that he is proud to be both a New Zealander and an Old Collegian.
Following graduation, John was accepted to Cambridge University to study Law, also gaining a rowing Blue in his time there. He went on to lead a distinguished career in business and foreign affairs with over 25 years of executive management in a range of companies. In more recent years, with his role as Chancellor at AUT, his wisdom and energy has been directed to education with a focus on lifting the aspirations of young people in South Auckland to go on to tertiary education. John was an erudite speaker who has fulfilled the Saint Kentigern vision to serve and lead with distinction. Former Head Girl, Sharnika Leleni was called on to give thanks to John, saying that functions such as these are not only for celebrating milestones but for allowing us to meet, listen and gain wisdom from other Old Collegians. One Old Collegian, who has given so much to Saint Kentigern over so many years, was surprised to find himself in the limelight. Warwick Bell was called forward to receive the newly created ‘Legacy Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Saint Kentigern Community.’ Warwick started as student No 560 in 1957. He was Deputy Head Prefect, Head of Bruce House and Captain of Rowing. Following university graduation, he re-joined the College as a staff member in 1967 where, other than a year teaching overseas, he stayed until his recent retirement, taking many teaching and leadership rolls, and finally spearheading the creation of the Archives Centre. A hard working, true son of Kentigern, Warwick is truly a worthy recipient for his 50 year connection to the College. Another more recent Old Collegian closed the evening. Manase Latu is remembered from his College days as a quiet student with an amazing voice who took the lead in musicals and won the College Solo Music competition two years in a row. Manase gained a scholarship to study music at The University of Auckland, graduating with a BMus with Honours and is now an Emerging Artist with NZ Opera for 2018. Opening with ‘Dein is mein ganzes herz’ by Franz Lehar, we discovered that in the intervening years, Manase’s voice has matured to a rich tenor. He followed this with ‘O Sole Mio’ – hamming it up brilliantly for the Saint Kentigern audience! Our guests were in awe of his talent. With the formalities over, it was left for the Old Collegians to mix, mingle and laugh the night away as they enjoyed catching up with old friends and reminiscing on their place in the last 65 years of College history. We value each and every one of them for their individual talents and collective wisdom. Our Old Collegians are a valuable asset as they play their part in preserving traditions and opening doors for new students at the College.
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After an enjoyable dinner with much chatting and laughter echoing around the room, 1959 graduate, Graham Little introduced guest
speaker for the evening, fellow former student, John Maasland, who joined Saint Kentigern in 1955.
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Jubilee
Chapel Service Sunday 18 March 2018
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joyous weekend of celebration culminated with a Sunday morning chapel service to give thanks for 65 years of achievement at Saint Kentigern College. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows as the Chapel filled with those with close ties to Saint Kentigern. College Chaplain, Reverend David Smith offered a special welcome to all on behalf of our two College Principals, Senior College Principal, Mrs Suzanne Winthrop and Middle College Principal, Mr Duncan McQueen. In particular, we were pleased to be joined by former Executive Head, Mr Warren Peat (2001 – 2008) and his wife, Gwyneth; former Head of College, Mr Steve Cole (2009-2016); former longserving Deputy Head, Mr Jack Paine (1954-1992) and his family; along with Chair and Deputy Chair of the Trust Board, Mr John Kernohan and Mrs Rosemary Harris. The service opened with Year 12 soloist, Christina MiddelbeekHarrison giving a confident delivery of a Bob Dylan number made popular by Adele, ‘Make You Feel My Love.’ This was followed by the congregation rising to sing ‘Be Thou My Vision’ and ‘Blessed Be Your Name’ – two hymns that are frequently sung and enjoyed by students at College chapels throughout the year.
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Reverend Smith’s chapels are renowned for being student-centred with universal appeal. The Jubilee Service was no different as Jacob Borland-Lye, Matthew Farnell, Harrison Griffiths and Vincent JudsonLeitch came forward in a take-off of a well-loved Monty Python skit with each ‘gentleman’ recalling just how tough his childhood was, each trying to outdo the other with more and more far-fetched assertions. Reverend Smith summed it up saying, ‘It’s interesting how we sometimes remember the past.’ The first reading came from Deuteronomy 26.1-10 and was read by Reverend Barrie Keenan, student No.140 and the first Old Collegian of the College to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister. Rev Keenan was followed by our Premier Choir, Kentoris. Our choristers have developed immeasurably in recent years under the tutelage of former student, now Director of Choirs, Mr Lachlan Craig. They performed a new work by American composer Thomas LaVoy, ‘Neither the Moon by Night’ based on Psalm 121. This was especially commissioned for the College and the students performed the piece so beautifully it drew spontaneous applause. Chapel Prefect, Selena Chen took the second reading from Job 28.12-28. This was the reading given by the first Headmaster, Rev Adam MacFarlan at the very first assembly on the day the College
opened in 1953. ‘But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?’ Reverend Smith offered thanks for our special weekend and asked that we, as a community, count our blessings. The ‘Rev’ as he is affectionately known at College, gave a slightly cheeky recap of the last 65 years looking at the changing landscape and people who have been part of our history. A recurring theme of the weekend was that whilst many things have changed, so have many things stayed the same and he quoted from Reverend Dr Adam MacFarlan’s report from 1954 - the end of the second year of the College.
‘Whatever the ultimate size of Saint Kentigern, the foundations are already laid – hard work, clean sport, good manners and reverence for the things of God. This is a Church School, a religious foundation, and in it our Christian heritage has to be preserved and enlarged. We owe much to those men of vision who started the School and those who have worked hard and given generously to build it up. They have faith in us, and that faith must be kept. That after all is our motto – ‘Fides servanda Est.’ - Reverend Dr Adam MacFarlan There is a well-known story at College about the Rev’s ‘dabble with chemistry’ when preparing for one of his Chapels – the subsequent need to replace the Chapel carpet will be ‘one of those stories’ that will go down in history! Rev Smith used a chemistry analogy to review advancements at the College in recent years, saying that our success has not been up to chance but rather due to ‘turning up the heat,’ an intentional, committed and dedicated effort to keep ‘heating, reheating and heating again’ the values and ideals that are so important to us as one of Australasia’s leading church schools. As we look to the future he said, ‘With God’s amazing grace, what can stop us?’ Another talented vocalist, Year 12 student, Venice Qin sang a powerful rendition of ‘Amazing Grace,’ before the congregation joined voices one final time with ‘Guide me O thou Great Jehovah’ – one of Adam MacFarlan’s favourite hyms. In his closing prayer, Reverend Smith said, ‘Gracious God, we thank you for the weekend, for the celebration of the past and the present. And now, as we look to the future with hope and expectation, we pray for all those who currently hold the baton that they will continue to lead us with courage and wisdom. ‘ Following Chapel, a smiling congregation joined together for morning tea and fellowship in the Goodfellow Centre; a time to reflect back on a milestone in the history of the College.
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A Wonderful Weekend of Celebration
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College Prefects Commissioned A
t a full school assembly early in Term 1, our Senior College prefects for 2018 were commissioned with both the Middle College and Senior College students in attendance. This year, we congratulate Laura Porteous and George Shirtcliffe, whose leadership skills, self-confidence, hard work and pride in the College have seen them appointed as this year’s Head Prefects. Both Laura and George have committed themselves fully to their academic, co-curricular and service endeavours during their time here. They have both
demonstrated the potential to fulfil the Saint Kentigern Vision to ‘lead and serve with distinction.’ Laura and George will be supported by Hannah Williams and Benjamin Staite who have been selected as Deputy Head Prefects, as well as an extended team that includes Academic, Chapel, Art, Service and Sports Prefects, and House Leaders. Congratulations to all the students who have been appointed as prefects for 2018!
2018 College Student Leadership Team
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Laura Porteous George Shirtcliffe Hannah Williams Benjamin Staite Andrew Chen
Head Girl Head Boy Deputy Head Girl Deputy Head Boy Academic Prefect
Molly Griffiths Selena Chen Elizabeth Ellis Hannah Blake Samuel Scott
Arts Prefect Chapel Prefect Service Prefect Sports Prefect Sports Prefect
CARGILL PREFECTS
CHALMERS PREFECTS
HAMILTON PREFECTS
House Leader Josh Ellwood Natasha Leishman House Leader Hugo Dorresteyn, Joshua Pan, Hannah Panchuk
Roynan Clune House Leader Amy Waters House Leader Ryan Church, Tayla Earle, Henry Ewan
House Leader Kenya Ashcroft House Leader Matt Graham-Williams Rupert Gates, Daniel Mar , Juliet Shepherd, Kahurangi Tataurangi
STARK PREFECTS
WILSON PREFECTS
WISHART PREFECTS
House Leader Courtney Griffiths House Leader Edward Wilkes Tevita Ahokovi, Jackson Cleaver, Sajith Dhambagolla, Olivia Dodd , Rivez Reihana, Michael Thomas
House Leader Nicholas Kirk House Leader Madison Whitford-Joynt Jayden Lal , Mikayla Mackie , Robert Rush, Harry Salvesen
Laura Porter House Leader House Leader Callum Walsh Lewis Elliott, Emma Hitchcock , Benjamin Morrison
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HEAD GIRL: Laura Porteous
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aura has been at Saint Kentigern since Year 9. Her empathetic approach and well developed leadership skills allow her to get the most out of the people around her, while making them feel included and confident. Laura leads by example and applies herself to all that she attempts. Outside the classroom, Laura is a member of the Photography and Tramping Clubs, and is also a member of our girls’ choir, The Musettes. Laura has been involved with makeup and costumes for the Senior College musical production and plays netball for the College. She has completed her Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award and is working towards achieving her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. Last year, Laura led a very effective Young Enterprise Team. Laura is happy to lead from the front, or build capacity within others to lead. She has done, and will continue to do Saint Kentigern proud.
HEAD BOY: George Shirtcliffe
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eorge joined the Saint Kentigern family in Year 7. He is a confident and caring young man who understands the need to lead by example and the concept of servant leadership - to lead by serving others for a greater good. George brings his determination and strong work ethic to his classroom work where he gained an Excellence Endorsement in both NCEA Level 1 and Level 2. George is involved in a wide co-curricular programme, playing football and running with the College running club to stay fit. He also enjoys the arts, playing the drums in a College Band and learning the guitar. He has been involved with Theatresports as both a player and coach. George is an approachable young man who sets people at ease quickly. He has an enduring quest to better himself which will no doubt play a vital role in his year as Head Boy and beyond
DEPUTY HEAD PREFECTS: Hannah Williams And Benjamin Staite
Lest We Forget A
s tens of thousands of New Zealanders, young and old, gathered to pay their respects at ANZAC Services around the country, Saint Kentigern students were both proud and humbled to play significant roles in remembering the fallen. In Auckland, the Dawn Service at the cenotaph in the forecourt of the Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of the largest ANZAC gatherings, this year attracting almost 18,000 to pay their respects. Head Girl, Laura Porteous and Head Boy, George Shirtcliffe were honoured with the privilege of reading the dedication in the early hours of the morning at the service. It was a proud moment for Saint Kentigern as their voices rang clear across the gathered crowd and was streamed live on Maori TV to the nation. In a television interview following the service, Laura admitted that it is was a little ‘nerve-wracking’ but also ‘super exciting!’ Both students said that ANZAC services continue to hold their importance, something they have come to understand more deeply as they get a little older and similar in age to many of those who headed to the First and Second World Wars. Of the service, George said, ‘The moment of silence resonated with me. With the lights dimmed, I really got that moment of reflection, the scale of the war and lives lost.’ Shortly after the service, as members of the official party and veterans made their way from the court of honour into the Museum, the Saint Kentigern Premier Choir, Kentoris, together with a cohort of Old Collegians, performed a concert of dawn-inspired music in the evocative surroundings of the WWI Sanctuary. A little later in the day, Old Collegians joined with College players to form a combined Pipes and Drums to take part in the service on Stockade Hill in Howick. Even with the passage time, ANZAC Day is just as relevant to our students now, as it ever was. There is important recognition and an acute awareness that so many who paid the ultimate sacrifice were not much older than themselves. For our Head Prefects, our choristers and members of the Pipes & Drums, their contribution to this year’s services on behalf of Saint Kentigern represented our tribute to all of those who have served.
aura and George will benefit from the support of two strong Deputy Head Prefects. Hannah and Ben are vibrant and energetic young people who are well organised in their daily lives. They are both attentive to their academic studies, most recently gaining an Excellence Endorsement in Level 2. Hannah plays netball and volleyball, works backstage in productions and is working towards her Duke of Edinburgh Gold. Ben has displayed considerable talent in basketball where he is a member of the Premier Basketball team. He is also working towards his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
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Middle College Student Leaders Appointed
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arly in Term 1, the Middle College leadership teams were introduced at assembly. For the first time, these positions have been appointed for a full year, rather than a semester, and in addition to the team of Middle College Leaders from each House, a Peer Support team has been created.
Middle College Student Leaders The Middle College Leaders are expected to provide positive leadership in the Middle College and within their House. Over the course of the year, they will be involved in leading assemblies, taking readings at Chapel, helping coordinate teams for House events, helping organise our Year 10 Graduation Lunch and various other College events, whilst also representing the views, opinions and concerns of the Middle College student body. Congratulations to our first full year appointment, Year 10 Middle College Leaders. CARGILL Nathan Bailey, Sam Gunn, Andie Clothier, Samiya Patel CHALMERS William Eaton, Thomas King, William Gregory, Olivia Bartlett, J’adore Harris-Tavita HAMILTON Harry Lowe, Anna Liu, Andrew Sun, Charlotte Cornwall, Kevin He WISHART Quinn Thompson, Josh Crenfeldt-Smith, Hunter Donley, Catherine Lord, Mia Harries STARK Charles Wilkes, Nathan Smith, Emma Jorgensen WILSON Taylor Kerr, Evan Metcalfe, Kyra Rogers, Christina Chen
Middle College Peer Support Leaders After taking a training programme, our Peer Support Leaders will facilitate a Peer Support programme for Year 7 and 8 students, and will assist with the Year 7 and 8 Social and other key events, liaising with pastoral care staff throughout the year. They, too, will represent the views, opinions and concerns of the Middle College student body. Congratulations to our first Middle College Peer Support leaders. CARGILL Grant Slark, Asti Wallace, Olivia Yi, Addison Peebles CHALMERS Hank Huang, Axel Bostock, Geoffrey Chen, Anya Prakash, Sophie Spencer HAMILTON Logan Walesby, Ruby Akolo, Daniel Short, Tessa Birch, Akshay Vegesna WISHART Sam Everitt, Tommy Stevenson, Samuel Costello, Sophia Hynds, Zara Jancys STARK Hamish Campbell, Lucas Quiroz Frankland, Olivia Ropati WILSON Lachlan Douglas, Rohan Patel-Kumar, Lucia King, Erin Shields
Renovated Café for Middle College S
Rather than being served at a window, students can now move quickly through the café self-selecting their purchases from refrigerated or heated display cabinets before passing through the tills to pay. Early in Term 1, Kents Café was officially opened by Middle College Principal, Mr Duncan McQueen, in front of a crowd of hungry Middle College students…waiting to enjoy a slice of celebratory cake!
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ince the opening of Saints Café underneath the MacFarlan Centre for our Senior College students, the original ‘tuck shop’ underneath Elliot Hall was reserved for the Middle College. The layout of the original facility was not altogether practical when it came to the quick feeding of hungry students in short periods during interval and lunch break so over the course of the summer break, a great deal of thought went into renovating the space.
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Bruce House Leaders A
t the end of the day, when all others have gone home, there are currently 113 students who stay behind on campus and head up to Bruce House to share dinner, do homework and settle for the night. For these 31 girls and 82 boys who board, College life is so much more than a school day – it is a 24/7 immersion! Accordingly, the student leaders of Bruce House have the responsibility and privilege of having a huge impact on their fellow boarders’ lives. This year, Robert Rush and Courtney Griffiths have been appointed as Bruce House Head Boy and Head Girl, having demonstrated leadership, self-discipline, humility, sensitivity and empathy in their time as boarders - above all, they lead by action and example. They are well supported by their Deputies, Rafe MacDonald and Brooke Wylie. The four leaders received their Bruce House prefect badges at the first formal dinner of the team, where the two Bruce House Head Prefects were given the opportunity to address their peers. Courtney has been a boarder since 2016, and like many before her, spoke of being nervous when she first arrived, even with the support of her older brother who was also boarding for the first time. But like others, she spoke of the nerves being short-lived, as she was quickly made welcome and discovered new friends. She said, ‘One of the things that I absolutely love about boarding is that it teaches you a tremendous amount of independence, something that most kids don’t really get to learn until they get to university. I’ve also found that boarding has taught me to become more understanding of others around me, as everyone has lived a different life, experienced different things and that makes them who they are – an individual and that’s awesome. She finished by saying, ‘Don’t be afraid to lend a helping hand to anyone that needs it, because at the end of the day,
without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community and obviously that’s something that is vital in a boarding house.’ Robert joined the boarding house last year and recalls how scared he felt on his first day; a feeling that was soon dispelled as he settled into boarding life. He said, ‘Boarding is just the best opportunity. The best way to form new bonds, friendships, memories, and learn new life skills and lessons. Boarding is all about being organised.’ He also spoke about the importance of ‘getting along and learning how to talk and live with over 100 boys and girls. Bruce House is another tool towards our growth as a person for our lives after college.’ Between the four of them, the Bruce House prefects are well attuned to lead their fellow students and help new students adjust to life as a boarder. They all recall the initial feelings of missing their families but came to learn that the best way to combat homesickness is to get involved. With the College and all its facilities on their doorstep, the capacity for boarders to engage and gain the benefits of our ‘World of Opportunity’ is easy. We wish Courtney, Robert, Brooke and Rafe well as they take on the challenge of leading Bruce House in 2018.
‘One of the things that I absolutely love about boarding is that it teaches you a tremendous amount of independence.’
‘Boarding is just the best opportunity. The best way to form new bonds, friendships, memories, and learn new life skills and lessons.’ Robert Rush, Bruce House Head Boy
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Courtney Griffiths, Bruce House Head Girl
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2017 External Examination Results
NCEA and International Baccalaureate Diploma With thanks to Mr Richard Stead
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he 2017 results in both NCEA and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma qualifications were pleasing overall. Highlights included the percentage increase of Excellence Endorsements at NCEA Level 2 and NCEA Level 3, and an increase in the University Entrance rate for Year 13 NCEA students. Four International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma students gained 40 points or more towards their Diploma; an excellent achievement. Most of our students gained their respective NCEA Level Certificate or IB Diploma. 87.5%. of our Year 13 students overall gained University Entrance.
National Certification Of Educational Achievement (NCEA) The majority of students at Saint Kentigern College sit the NCEA and we are extremely proud that the measurable indicators at all three levels of the qualification have shown improvement on the previous year. Of greatest note is the continued rise in the number of students who have strived for and attained either a Merit or Excellence Endorsement.
NCEA Level 1
Of further note, we have a substantial number of students who gained high enough results to be awarded Saint Kentigern Academic Colours and Honours, testament to student effort to achieve at the highest level.
At Level 1 (Year 11) 96% of all the students gained their NCEA Level 1 certificates with 28.9% attaining their certificates with an Excellence Endorsement and a further 50.6% gaining a Merit Endorsement.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Students
25 students met the criteria for gaining Saint Kentigern Academic Colours or Honours.
At the end of 2017, our eighth cohort of Year 13 International Baccalaureate Diploma students completed their two-year course of study, culminating in their final external examinations. As in the previous years, our students performed well. The IB pass rate of students who were awarded their Diploma for 2017 was 82%, this pass rate remains higher than the world average. The average points gained by Saint Kentigern students were 33 (from a maximum of 45), again higher than the world average. We are proud of all students, however, the following four students all gained ‘40 points and over’ from a maximum of 45. They join the elite few that gain more than 40 points in the Diploma Programme worldwide; their results are outstanding. These students were honoured at the New Zealand IB Top Scholars Awards Ceremony at Government House, Auckland, where they were presented with their awards by Sir John Key, New Zealand’s past Prime Minister.
Misaki Chen Misaki Chen Isobel Merrie Christopher Simonds Jenny Jiang Jesse Niu
41 points 41 points 41 points 40 points
Average GPA – 99.33% Average GPA – 99.17% Average GPA – 99.17% Average GPA – 98.33% Average GPA – 98.33%
NCEA Level 2 Our Level 2 results continue to remain strong with 98.6% of students gaining their NCEA Level 2 certificates. 29.5% gained their certificates with an Excellence Endorsement and a further 41.5% gained a Merit Endorsement.
Congratulations to our top IB Diploma students: Tate McGregor Laura K Smith Chris Lee Josh Looker
Congratulations to our top five NCEA Level 1 students:
Amy Waters
We are proud to acknowledge the 36 students who have met the criteria for gaining Saint Kentigern Academic Colours or Honours.
Congratulations to our top five NCEA Level 2 students: Amy Waters Ben Creemers Ben Staite Daniel Mar Mackensie Cooper
Average GPA – 99.17% Average GPA – 98.00% Average GPA – 97.67% Average GPA – 97.17% Average GPA – 96.50%
NCEA Level 3
Tate McGregor
Our 2017 leavers also produced a very good set of results. 96.9% gained a NCEA Level 3 Certificate while our University Entrance success rate for NCEA was 88.5%. Excellence Endorsements were achieved by 17.3% of these students with a further 39.3% gaining a Merit Endorsement.
Laura K Smith
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Erin Meek
Chris Lee
Josh Looker
Erin Meek Alyssa Hatton David Thibaud Matthew Stirling Isabella Denholm
Congratulations to our top 5 NCEA Level 3 students: Average GPA – 97.4% Average GPA – 96.0% Average GPA – 95.0% Average GPA – 95.0% Average GPA – 94.8%
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NZQA Scholarships In the end of year, external NZQA Scholarship examinations, 22 of our students gained a total of 35 Scholarship awards, with 8 classed as Outstanding, across a range of 16 subjects.
NZQA Scholarships Explained Scholarship exams are rigorous, requiring high level abstract thinking and the application of knowledge and ideas to complex situations. NZQA’s intention is that 3% of the total number of Year 13 students in the country sitting Level 3 in each of the 35 available subjects will be awarded a Scholarship, provided Scholarship standards are met. Of this top 3% nationwide who gain a Scholarship pass, a small number, equating to approximately 0.5% nationwide will be accorded an Outstanding Scholarship. In 2017, more than 9,800 students participated in New Zealand Scholarship examinations. At Saint Kentigern, our brightest NCEA students can elect to study towards Scholarship exams. Scholarship exams are offered by NZQA and are, therefore, aligned to NCEA. Where course content is similar, our IB Diploma students can also elect to sit Scholarship exams. However, in many cases this is not possible for some of our brightest IB Diploma students as each year there are examination clashes.
Alyssa Hatton
Overall Outstanding Scholarships A highlight from 2017 is the awarding of Overall Outstanding Scholarships to Andrew Chen (Year 12) and Alyssa Hatton (Year 13). These Scholarships are awarded to students who gain at least two scholarships at an Outstanding level plus at least one at Scholarship level, or one Scholarship at Outstanding level plus five or more at Scholarship level. Andrew gained individual subject Outstanding Scholarships in Physics, Statistics and Calculus, and a Scholarship in Geography. Alyssa gained individual subject Outstanding Scholarships in Media Studies and Classical Studies, and Scholarships in English and History. This is an outstanding achievement and we congratulate Andrew and Alyssa on this fine performance.
Overall Scholarship Award
Daniel Mar
A further highlight was Daniel Mar (Year 12) gaining an Overall Scholarship Award. These are awarded to students who gain Scholarships in three or more subjects. Daniel gained an individual Outstanding Scholarship in Physics and Scholarships in Calculus and Geography.
Other Noteworthy Performances We would also like to acknowledge other noteworthy performances from Ebba Olsen (Year 12), Josh Looker (Year 13), Tate McGregor (Year 13), Patrick Ye (Year 13) and James Matson (Year 13) for each gaining two Awards.
Josh Looker
Ebba Olsen
Tate McGregor
There is great monetary incentive for students to aim to achieve in these exams. New Zealand students who do well in Scholarship gain substantial monetary awards. A Scholarship in just one subject receives $500, as a single payment. An overall Outstanding Scholarship Award is worth $5,000 each year for up to three years for as long as the recipient maintains at least a ‘B’ grade average each year of their tertiary study. An overall Scholarship Award is worth $2,000 each year for up to three years for as long as the recipient maintains at least a ‘B’ grade average each year of their tertiary study. A Premier Scholarship Award is worth $10,000 for up to three years as long as the recipient maintains a “B” grade average each year of their tertiary study. For the top candidate in each of the Scholarship subjects the recipient receives $2,000 each year for up to three years as long as a “B” grade average is maintained each year of their tertiary study.
2017 NZQA SCHOLARSHIP RESULTS SUBJECT Accounting
SCHOLARSHIP Victoria Tse
Agriculture & Horticulture Calculus
Tate Mcgregor Daniel Mar (Yr 12)
Classical Studies
James Matson
Andrew Chen (Yr 12) Alyssa Hatton
Dance
Isabella Bostock Josephine Crawford
Drama
Hugo Dorresteyn (Yr 12) Matthew Farnell (Yr 12)
Earth & Space Science
Tate Mcgregor
Economics
Joshua Looker Patrick Ye
English
Ebba Olsen (Yr 12) Alyssa Hatton James Matson David Thibaud
Geography
Andrew Chen (Yr 12) Daniel Mar (Year 12) Patrick Ye
History
Alyssa Hatton Lauren Oliver Xueer Zhou
Japanese
Keitaro-Luke Iso
Media Studies
James Matson Erin Meek
Physics
Patrick Ye
OUTSTANDING SCHOLARSHIP
Callum Lee (Yr 12)
Alyssa Hatton Andrew Chen (Yr 12) Daniel Mar (Yr 12)
Spatial Design
Ben Lowe
Statistics
Ben Creemers (Yr 12) Ebba Olsen (Yr 12) Hannah Williams (Yr 12) Josh Looker
Andrew Chen (Yr 12)
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Andrew Chen
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Senior College Academic Colours and Honours I
n recognition of our students who strive to achieve at the highest academic levels, Saint Kentigern College awards Academic Colours and Honours. At the beginning of the year students are recognised for their achievement in the previous years’ assessments.
The standard set to gain Academic Awards is high and intended to motivate our top academic students to achieve at the highest levels of excellence. The students who are awarded Colours receive a special breast pocket to wear with pride on their blazer.
NCEA (NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT)
Year 13 NCEA Academic Colours
Year 13 NCEA Academic Honours
Amy Waters, Ben Creemers, Benjamin Staite, Daniel Mar, Mackensie Cooper, Hannah Williams, Elizabeth Ellis, Ryan King, Juliet Shepherd, Ebba Olsen, Joshua Ng, Keegan Manning, Samuel Scott, Lauren Aspoas.
Hannah Blake, Victoria Caddle, Nicholas Carlier, John Chow, Christine Chu, Jackson Cleaver, Roynan Clune, Kaitlyn Dalton, Sajith Dhambagolla, Josh Ellwood, Sam Fletcher, Lok See He, Amelia Heimsath, Samuel Kemble, Rafe MacDonald, Abigail Pool, Sifei Ren, Hollie Riddell, Amy Savory, James Skinner, Claudia Spain, Kirsten Swindell, Ryan Walker.
Year 12 NCEA Academic Colours
Year 12 NCEA Academic Honours
Misaki Chen, Christopher Simonds, Isobel Merrie, Jesse Niu, Jenny Jiang, Emma King, Margaret Li, Benjamin Shepherd, Annabel Shepherd, Cindy Yi
Sophia Chiang, Steven Cho, Madison Clarke, William Feng, James Grant, John Hsieh, Charlotte Lindsay Smail, Richard Lu, Alexander MacMillan, Venice Qin, Samantha Shing, Alice Smith, Fiona Wang, Samantha Rose Watson, Ning Yen.
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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA
Year 13 IB Academic Colours
Year 13 IB Honours
Andrew Chen, Liam Scott-Russell, Akshay Mor, Yunfan Yu, George Wu, Desmond Yong
Noel Argoseputro, Ericia Chang, Jonnie Danesh-Clough, Joy Han, Jason Hsiao, Callum Lee
NCEA (NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT)
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA
The table below shows the standards required for Colours or Honours in each of our Senior College year groups who study NCEA.
The table below shows the standards required for Colours or Honours in each of our Senior College year groups studying for the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
NCEA
Year 12 Year 13
International Baccalaureate Diploma Awards Academic Colours
Academic Honours
Academic Colours
Academic Honours
Overall GPA of 95+
Overall GPA of 90+
Year 12
38+ points
36+ points
Overall GPA of 85+
Year 13
38+ points
36+ points
Overall GPA of 90+
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IB Top Scholars Awards Ceremony T
he success of some of New Zealand’s finest young scholars was celebrated at the annual International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Top Scholars’ Awards Ceremony held at Kristin School in early February with proud families in attendance. The students received their awards from The Rt Hon Sir John Key and the keynote address was given by Saint Kentigern Old Collegian and former Head Girl, Tessa Meyer. To achieve the title of an IB Top Scholar, graduates must achieve a score of at least 40 points out of a possible 45 in their final examinations. Four Saint Kentigern students were among those who were presented with an award in recognition of their exceptional personal achievement: Tate McGregor (41 points), Laura K Smith (41 points), Chris Lee (41 points) and Josh Looker (40 points). (See below for an explanation of the point system.) In New Zealand, thirteen schools are accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Students from ten of these schools were present at the ceremony. Tim Oughton, chair of the NZ IB Heads’ Association said, ‘The challenging and world-renowned qualification has been embraced by a growing number of our nation’s leading schools and our IB scholars ranked among the world’s highest achievers.’ Last year 460 New Zealand students joined students from 150 countries around the globe to sit the International Baccalaureate qualification. There are more than 1.61 million International Baccalaureate graduates worldwide. In honouring the students, Sir John said that gaining 40+ points was a phenomenal achievement which benchmarked the students against the highest achieving students in New Zealand, and also, importantly, against students internationally. The keynote address was delivered by Saint Kentigern Old Collegian Tessa Meyer, a former Head Girl who graduated with the IB class of 2011. Throughout her time at Saint Kentigern, she favoured artistic pursuits, with one of her artworks being displayed in the MacFarlan Centre. However, the broad nature of the IB Diploma Programme ensured that Tessa continued studies in both Science and Mathematics, these subjects were invaluable to her when she decided to read Environmental Science and Geography at university before going onto to complete her Master’s degree. Tessa’s Master’s thesis on community resilience was inspired by the CAS programme she followed as an IB student. She believes that the IB Diploma
Programme equipped her with the knowledge, awareness and confidence to succeed at university and beyond to her work with Panuku Development, Auckland. Our congratulations to Tate, Laura, Chris and Josh on their -wonderful achievement and we wish them well as they begin their tertiary studies both abroad and in New Zealand.
Debating Win for Premiers! P
rior to Easter, our Premier Debating teams competed in the Auckland Regional Debating championships - regarded as the most prestigious and demanding debating tournament of the year. The College entered two teams in the competition, with both teams winning the majority of their debates on the first day of competition, securing them a place in the Sunday ‘knockout’ round.
Premier 1 team member, Abigail Pool was recognised as a top speaker in the tournament and named in the Auckland Regional Team as an outstanding third speaker. Ben Fraser, of Premier 2, was also recognised and named in the Auckland Development Squad – a pool of talented Year 12 speakers who will receive extra training. These
selections affirm the quality of speakers we have in our College squad, currently being coached by Old Collegian, Arun Prakash, a talented former College debater.
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Our Premier 2 team, comprising Henry Ewen, Daniel Mar and Ben Fraser, reached the quarter final, only to be knocked out of contention by fellow College debaters, our Premier 1 team! From there, the Premier 1 team of Andrew Chen, Ben Shepherd and Abigail Pool talked up a veritable storm, winning every debate, finally leading them to a spot in the Grand Final to face Macleans College, a very worthy adversary. Our students successfully affirmed ‘This House would treat assaults on the sports field as criminal offences’ and in a close but clear victory, took the Clare Ryan Cup. This is the second time in three years that a Saint Kentigern team has won this cup, a testament to the skill and strength of our College debaters.
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Fourth Time Win for Andrew! T
he current Academic Prefect at the College, Andrew Chen is a busy person. Not only does he work hard to achieve at the highest level for himself, but he also mentors others to follow in his footsteps. Whilst Andrew is focused on all aspects of his learning, he has a particular gift and passion for mathematics. For the fourth time in four years, Andrew has won the Auckland Mathematical Olympiad – making it his second time win in the Senior Division (Years 12&13), having earlier won the Junior Division for two years in a row. In addition, he was awarded an Outstanding NZQA Scholarship in Calculus, Statistics and Physics in 2017 (as a Year 12) and was Top in NZ in Statistics Scholarship and Scholarship in Calculus in 2016 (as a Year 11). The competition attracted up to 180 participants in each category for a taxing set of mathematical challenges. Joining Andrew in the senior division were Year 12 students, Alex Zhang and Grace Chang, whilst Year 11 students, Xavier Yin and Tony Yu competed in the junior division. Saint Kentigern won 5 of the 30 awards on offer. Run by The University of Auckland, the Auckland Olympiad is part of a nationwide programme that builds to the selection of a New Zealand team to compete at the International Mathematics Olympiad. This year, it will be held in Romania during July and Andrew is already confirmed as part of the 6-person team to compete. He is no stranger to this prestigious competition, it will be the third time he has represented New Zealand! Andrew enjoys inspiring and mentoring other students at all levels to achieve mathematically. He has been coaching the College Mathex team since Year 10 and has led the Maths Club for three years. To assist other students, he has prepared many Mathex questions and trial papers for all year levels – a fantastic resource for the College. At a higher level, he has tutored Grace for the last two years. Grace also went to the Maths Olympiad camp in January and has been selected into 12 squads this year. To help and encourage other students to attend the Olympiad, he contacted potential contestants, wrote documents such as ‘useful things to know’ (available on OLE), shared resources, ran tutorials during the holidays and term time, wrote trial papers and organised a trial test. He is very pleased that it has helped to lift the total number of College students who were
placed in the top 15 this year, and that more students now enjoy the challenge of maths. Congratulations Andrew on your latest achievement and thank you for your commitment to helping others. A true son of Kentigern who is already fulfilling our vision that ‘Our Graduates will Serve and Lead with Distinction.’
Scholars Welcome Old Collegian O
ur Year 13 Scholars group were delighted to welcome Old Collegian, John Beckett back to College to share insights about his university studies and working life.
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John is the only Old Collegian to have been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University. Having initially studied engineering as an undergraduate at Auckland University, he went on to complete a M Phil in Management Studies, specialising in Economics at Oxford. John has had a varied and distinguished career in government, economic consultancy and as an Executive Director on a number of Boards. Overseen by the Enhanced Learning Centre (ELC), the Scholars Group comprises students who perform at a level significantly beyond their peers and benefit from extension and enrichment opportunities such as this. The students welcomed the opportunity to gain insight from John’s diverse career and to gain sage advice about choosing a university pathway as they begin to plan for their future careers.
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Auckland World Scholar’s Cup Win With thanks to Year 11 student reporters, Amelie Murphy and Heeju Rho This was further split into four different components to test different areas of learning: Collaborative writing, Team debating, The Scholars Challenge and The Scholars’ Bowl. A fun element of the competition is its alpaca mascot. Contestants ‘adopted’ the stuffed animal to balance out the serious academic side of the event. Congratulations to all the students who entered this challenging competition, but particularly to the following teams who have qualified for the Global Round to be held in Melbourne this August. Senior Division • Josie Lu, Heeju Rho, Amelie Murphy • Esther Oh, Christina Chen, Michelle Guan
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fter success in the World Scholar’s Cup last year, our students were looking forward to this year’s event. Over two days of intense academic competition, four College teams topped the Auckland round of the World Scholar’s Cup, paving the way to the next round of international competition!
Junior Division • Lucas van den Brink, Daniel Huang, Sarah Harper • Danielle Mayer, Charlotte Cornwall, Sarina Wang
The College entered eight teams of students, divided between the Junior and Senior divisions. They soon discovered that the level of interest in the Auckland round of the competition had grown significantly from last year’s event, with a strong field of contenders. The first World Scholar’s Cup took place in Korea in 2007; a small regional tournament, since then it has grown to reach tens of thousands of students in dozens of countries with the ultimate goal of working through the regions to take part in a final global competition. Each year, the competition takes on a theme, this year it was entitled, ‘An Entangled World’, with a focus on six broad areas of focus. With a unique theme chosen each year, it’s a chance to challenge students to extend their knowledge and capacity for learning. Special Area Science & Technology History Literature Art & Music Social Studies
Human Relationships The Science of Memory The History of Diplomacy Voices of the Inseparable Braving the Distance Black Markets
College Musicians Play with NZSSSO T
he New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (NZSSSO) has convened annually since 1960, selecting the top students in each instrumental category from around the country. Many of New Zealand’s top professional musicians have taken part in the group which provides a stepping stone to the exceptional National Youth Orchestra.
Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor (Prokofiev) and Symphony No. 2 (Rachmaninoff). We congratulate these students for their selection and performance and look forward to hearing them as part of their College music ensembles as our musicians prepare for the KBB Festival later this term.
The repertoire prepared by the orchestra this year pushed the abilities of the musicians to their limit, requiring significant input from NZSO, CSO and local Christchurch section tutors. The programme for the concert included the testing Finlandia (Sibelius),
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This year, four of our College students were selected to join the orchestra to perform in the 2018 concert at St Margaret’s College, Christchurch during the April holidays. Head of Music, Mr Ross Gerritsen was absolutely delighted to see his music students, Nicholas Scott (trombone), Evan Metcalfe (French horn), Ericia Chang (violin) and Joshua Pan (violin) perform at this level and represent Saint Kentigern admirably. They join the list of past students who were also selected whilst at College: Thomas Scott (trumpet), Emily Young (cello), Ethan Blight (principal clarinet) and John Moon (double bass).
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Business Venture to Singapore With thanks to Year 13 student reporter, Jayden Lal
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uring the April school holidays, I had the privilege of being one of ten selected students from all over New Zealand to attend a fully paid business trip to Singapore. With the help of fellow student, Cameron McCormick, I submitted a 60-second application video that ultimately led me to being selected as an ambassador for New Zealand Entrepreneurs. Meeting the other students at Auckland Airport was exhilarating. The 10 of us got on extremely well and the time spent together helped develop a better understanding of cultural differences in
NZ. Ahead of us lay seven full-on days of business trips, touring Singapore and seeing its culture. On the last two days, we undertook a 48 hour shark tank/dragon’s den presentation, working in conjunction with a Singapore student business group. We formed mixed groups and went straight into building a business idea and prototype, as well as creating and practising our presentation. Yes, I will admit it was a stressful time, but we all worked extremely hard in the limited time assigned and achieved as much as we could. My group created a prototype app called FOODPAL, designed to help track the food you have in your pantry and what you have spent on items, as well as keeping records of all your recipes. We had to demonstrate its functionality and use to the judges in the NZ Chamber of Singapore. My group won the challenge: ‘Winners of the 2018 Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence.’ We visited many people including the High Commissioner of NZ and his team, and NZ entrepreneurs who run successful businesses,which gave us insight to their professions. We also went to visit and speak in places such as the Singapore Stock Exchange and High Commission, which was very interesting. Singapore was a truly enriching experience. Beyond the business knowledge I have taken away from the trip, the differences in New Zealand and Singapore’s lifestyle allowed me to gain a new perspective on culture.
Sharing Hero Stories I
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n their English classes, the Year 8 students have been studying the conventions of children’s literature, with the aim of writing their own hero story and supporting it with a visual component. As inspiration, the students looked the nature of Greek myths. After considering the storyline or ‘journey’ of each central character - ‘the heroes’ - they used their learning to plan their own writing, applying their new-found understanding about the narrative features of story-telling, parts of speech and increased vocabulary to create interesting and engaging stories. To test their final piece on a discerning audience, the Year 8 girls visited East Tamaki Primary to share their stories and show the visuals they had made. They received a wonderful welcome from the school and their students really enjoyed the interaction. Later in the week, the boys headed to the Boys’ School to coincide with the end of their Book Week. To their surprise, their young buddies were all dressed in character, having just taken part in a parade. At both schools, the youngsters loved the engagement with the older students and there were certainly plenty of questions fired their way! Both groups enjoyed having a genuine audience for their writing, hearing their own stories come to life and the pleasure of receiving of feedback - a highly valuable experience for our students!
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Inspiring Creative Writing E
xperiences that weave together real world texts with learning opportunities, offer students the most enriching and engaging connection with their studies. With this in mind, our Year 9 English students visited Auckland Art Gallery to take part in Vision and Verse; a programme that works to encourage students to create their own written work using original works of art as a starting point. The outing was part of the Middle College English programme, which works to challenge students to use their creative and critical thinking to make sense of the world around them in a range of forms, from the written and oral texts they typically meet in the classroom, as well as, in this instance, visual texts such as those found in the gallery environment. The students spent time in the galleries exploring visual language through the guided exploration of artworks. Starting with the paintings in the Mezzanine Gallery, moving on to interactive art in the Obliteration Room and then viewing the modern sculptures downstairs, the students used the artworks as inspiration. They were encouraged to experiment and craft written work independently, with guided tasks to support their efforts. EOTC (Education outside the classroom) opportunities such as this help bring student learning into context, adding another rich layer to their classroom studies.
A Balance of Aesthetics and Function I
n times past, woodwork, metalwork and acrylicwork featured on the curriculum in the Jack Paine Centre (JPC) but in recent years, there has been a shift in thinking as the JPC reviewed its practice in response to our changing world. It is no longer enough to just know; tomorrow’s work force needs to be able to apply their knowledge. The earlier curriculum was largely focussed on developing the practical skills required for each medium. In more recent years, good design and the ability to problem solve has been given equal footing with learning and applying practical skills. Now embracing all mediums, the Product Design course is diverse, with each year level focussed on the design of innovative products through designerly observation, while developing the practical skills to bring their idea to fruition.
Together, students and their parents were tasked with choosing two of the chairs on display to look at critically, examining the material used, the joinery and any special features incorporated. The information gathered will form the basis of their research as the project gains momentum. If we are to move forward as a nation of creative and critical problem solvers, design has to be a valued part of our culture. That means investing in education that promotes problem-solving through ‘designerly’ thinking, risk taking and intelligent failure – exactly what Product Technology offers those who take it on. Our sincere thanks to Kent Hemingway and Dale Clothier from Homage (Newmarket and Takapuna) for their kind assistance with this project.
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Early in Term 1, the year-long ‘Stand by Me’ project for our Year 10 Product Design students was launched. Parents were invited to attend with the intention that they would work alongside the students on a research task to prepare for the year ahead. Homage Furniture store kindly displayed a diverse range of classic mid-20th century chairs; designs
that have stood the test of time and are as popular today as they were over 50 years ago. Over the coming year, the students will design and produce a side table that is inspired by a classical chair of their choice. The end result is required to be practical, be matched aesthetically to the classic chair and constructed using the appropriate techniques and procedures.
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‘Living’ Latin With thanks to Teacher in charge of Latin, Mr Jared Banham
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s a ‘dead language,’ some may question the relevance of Latin in today’s world. Teacher in charge of Latin, Mr Jared Banham will argue differently and has some compelling reasons for its place in today’s curriculum. The chance of a sabbatical last year gave him an amazing experience to be immersed in the language, bringing back new teaching ideas to Saint Kentigern. Mr Banham reports: During 2017, I had the incredible opportunity to spend an intensive two months in Villa Falconieri, Frascati, about 20km SE of Rome, home of the internationally recognised organisation Accademia Vivarium Novum. The Accademia strives to encourage the study of Arts and Humanities by providing a fully immersive Latin experience for students. The course itself was definitely one of the most challenging and rigorous academic experiences of my life. From the very first day, all interactions with both the teachers and students were conducted solely in Latin! The daily timetable kept us busy from dawn to dusk with classes, pedagogical learnings and evenings given over to Latin readings, performances and songs. In keeping with Italian culture, dinner was finally served at 9pm each night after long and enlightening days! Every day we worked through Hans Ørberg’s book ‘Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata: Familia Romana’ and then ‘Roma Aeterna’. These differ significantly from other popular Latin courses, by adopting an immersive, linguistic approach. Latin is generally taught as a language to be read and translated, but these contained a gradation of texts and, unusually, conversations which introduced new vocabulary and grammatical concepts. The objective was not to focus on translating Latin into English, but rather to understand Latin through Latin (hence per se). This was complemented by scaenae, or performances which act out the various scenes in order to help facilitate students’ understanding and also allow the teacher to monitor each student’s language acquisition. Latin moved from being words on a page to once again become a living, spoken, conversational language. One of the most interesting aspects of the experience was getting to know some of the other students. As we had gathered from all corners of the globe, we had no common language other than Latin. In the early days, the conversations were simple but that changed as the days progressed to the point that I could explain in Latin how to play touch rugby, leading to a short game one afternoon! The other students had incredibly diverse backgrounds fromteachers to priests, retirees, university students and even high school students – the youngest being just 11 years of age!
because of the relevance and impact that they have had on our world. The study of Latin also has significant cross-curricular benefits, as it has been proven to exercise the analytical and sequencing faculties in the brain – giving benefit to the STEM based subjects, as well as supplying students with an incredibly broad vocabulary in English from Latin derivatives, and a sound grammatical understanding. Our modern Latin classrooms are now filled with costumes, props, music and communicative Latin, while still upholding the traditional values and benefits that its study offers. At Saint Kentigern, Latin is a language option that begins at Year 9 through to Year 13 with both NCEA and IB options. Additionally, there is an extension class in Year 8 called Ancient Languages and Cultures which gives students a broad understanding of the ancient world and is a great introduction to what Latin and the classics has to offer in the 21st century. Past Saint Kentigern graduates who have taken Latin to Year 13 have gone on to courses as varied as Bio-medicine, Law, Psychology, Engineering and Ancient History. Listen at the door of our classroom today and you will be left in no doubt that Latin is definitely not a ‘dead’ language!
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Every evening we had carmina, certamina et scaenae (songs, contests and performances) which were always a highlight. The scaenae were often related to the content we learned that day, but we also branched out and performed farces and comedies, complete with costumes and props. Every Sunday we had a field trip to various places of interest and relevance around Rome and with sites dating back well over 2000 years, it brought the source of the language back into focus. On return to Saint Kentigern, I was keen to put my new-found ‘living’ language to practice. At a time when school curricula worldwide are giving a great deal of focus to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, it has become increasing clear that ‘A’ for Arts has been a notable omission, hence the more recent move to STEAM. Latin and the Classics are perhaps more relevant than ever, not just as the language learned, but the access and insight that it gives to some of life’s most challenging philosophical questions. It allows students to access and discuss some of the greatest thinkers, writers and leaders who have ever walked the earth; whose works and deeds are still studied today
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Journey to China With thanks to Year 12 student reporter, Ben Fraser
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isiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World, exploring the historic Forbidden City or enjoying the second largest Disneyland in the world were all ‘just another day’ on our fantastic trip to China. Mr Stead and Miss Yan accompanied 15 excited students on the almost 12-hour flight to China at the start of the Term 1 holidays to begin 14 days of cultural immersion in the language we’d been learning at school. We began the trip in Beijing where we quickly discovered that street vendors are to be avoided and that the Chinese food tasted delicious! We visited the Summer Palace, home of Emperors throughout Chinese history and were in awe of its beauty and size. Covering 44 hectares, Tiananmen Square was massive, and we were only able to explore a small part before heading to the Forbidden City. There we were again reminded of the incredible scale we saw throughout China - there wasn’t quite enough time to look in all the 9,999 and a half rooms in the Forbidden City! We also stopped off at the Temple of Heaven, set in a park four times the size of Central Park. It provided the perfect opportunity to get into some traditional Chinese costumes and take a photo with our newly crowned emperors/teachers! The next day, we explored the Great Wall of China. We were left in awe of its scale, despite only exploring a few kilometres of the full 21,196 km! We rounded off our time in Beijing with a visit to Keystone Academy which gave us a fascinating insight into education in China and gave us valuable but intense practice of our Chinese skills. Our thanks to all those at Keystone who generously gave up their time to host us.
The final leg of trip took us to Shanghai were we quickly discovered the opportunities and challenges of living in a city of 24 million people! There were so many places to shop from the vast Nanjing Road to the Wujiaochang Roundabout which had five different malls around it. But some of us preferred the vast Fake Markets or Old Shanghai where you had to barter to get the best price possible. I found that appearing like you didn’t want to purchase something was the best strategy, one vendor pursued me across multiple streets to try and sell me a watch! While in Shanghai, we also travelled to The Warehouse Group, one of the offices that supplies goods for The Warehouse in New Zealand. They gave us a fascinating presentation on their processes for finding goods to sell in New Zealand and the significant challenges they face. Thanks to everybody who made the visit possible, it was extremely valuable! Another highlight was exploring Zhujiajiao, a river town just out of Shanghai; its historical buildings provided a fascinating insight into how people lived in China throughout history. The most fun part of the trip, though, was our day in the Shanghai Disneyland, where we explored all the fantastic rides and activities. The park is the second largest Disneyland in the world with just the castle larger than the entire original Disneyland! For all the students, exploring China was a once in a lifetime opportunity. We gained a greater understanding of Chinese culture and society as well as exploring some incredible places along the way. We were challenged by the language and cultural barriers but ultimately found the experience to be enriching and valuable. The trip motivated us to continue studying Chinese and highlighted the benefits of being bi-lingual. Thanks a lot, to Mr Stead and Miss Yan for supporting us in this incredible opportunity. As we said many times in China: Xiexie! (Thank you!)
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After a challenging 14 hours travelling by overnight train, we arrived in our second city, Xi’an. The city was a hive of activity, with the bustling Muslim quarter offering us an opportunity to try adventurous traditional food and experience interesting, local activities like fish foot spas! Our Chinese language skills were challenged in buying food and gifts as all the vendors spoke very fast. But the absolute highlight of our time in Xi’an was the Terracotta Warriors. Considered by many as
the Eighth Wonder of the World, we were again amazed by the scale of the discovery and the dramatic historical stories of how they came to be.
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Performing Arts Tour USA With thanks to Year 13 student reporter, Georgia Cook San Francisco After delays and a couple of long and restless flights, 42 students and 6 teachers touched down in San Francisco. Once customs were cleared, we headed to Fisherman’s Wharf with its unique array of shops and the sea lions noisily chilling on the wharf. Before checking into our hotel, we ate at the famous Hard Rock Café. A great first day! The next day we all toured the fascinating San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Centre before the dancers headed to ODC, to participate in a contemporary class, tour the amazing facilities, watch the company rehearse and participate in a class to live music; a new experience and a highlight for us all. Meanwhile, the drama and music students went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, connecting with Sam Rich, a former College student, to see how the facility provides programmes to enhance talent. We visited Alcatraz, hearing about the complex and crazy great escapes as told by former prisoners and officers and back on land, we visited the Golden Gate Bridge, caught a tram and shopped!
member. That afternoon we took the subway to the Apollo Theatre to meet Billy Mitchell a.k.a Mr Apollo; his story was a highlight. We then toured the streets of Harlem with a guide who explained the Performing Arts history of the area. That evening we attended another Broadway show, ‘Chicago.’ On our last day in New York, we headed to Radio Music Hall, meeting one of the Rockettes who compared her training regime to an Olympic sport. Time for more shopping before watching ‘Aladdin.’ The set was unbelievable and the singing and dancing was beautiful – how did that magic carpet fly?! Ending the night, we went to the 9/11 Memorial to absorb the enormity of this tragedy.
New York
Los Angeles
Barely able to contain our excitement, landing in New York was unreal! The yellow cabs and constant hustle and bustle was an exciting sight. We headed to Times Square at the heart of ‘The City that Never Sleeps.’ We saw Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and the Lincoln Centre and finished with most of us attending a fantastic performance of ‘Kinky Boots’ whilst two dance students attended YAGP Ballet to observe top ballet dancers competing.
Following a smooth transition to LA, we were excited to join a live audience for ‘American Idol’ shortly after landing. Broadcasted to 10 million people worldwide, it was a treat to be in the same room as Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Luke Bryan as well as getting an insight into how live TV works. On Day 2, we headed to Warner Brothers Studios, touring the various sets including that of ‘Friends.’ Next the dance students headed to Millennium Dance Complex where they were challenged to dance from the heart whilst the drama students went to the Stella Adler Academy of Acting for a character workshop and the music students toured the MI College of Contemporary Music. Dinner that night was the famous Bubba Gump’s on Santa Monica Pier.
The next day we met a member of the cast of ‘Kinky Boots’ for a Q and A session; a fascinating chance to learn about her journey to Broadway. That afternoon, the dancers headed to Broadway Dance Centre to participate in street jazz, hip hop, heels, contemporary classes and more. The Drama students toured the NYU Tisch Drama Department while Mr Gilmour took Amy Savory to the NY Guitar School for a lesson with Alana De Lage. That night we saw the city lights from the Empire State Building.
Overall our tour was an experience we will never forget. We would like to say a huge thank you to all who made this trip possible. We will be forever grateful!
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Day 3 included an ‘Aladdin’ Broadway Workshop with a vocal warmup and a chance to learn the opening number from a chorus
After an amazing day at Disneyland., we went on to visit Walt Disney’s Concert Hall with its incredible architecture and acoustics. Finally, we explored Venice Beach where we spent our last dollars, literally!
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Physics Trip to the USA With thanks to Year 12 student reporter, Tarryn Gill
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n the 27th of April, 35 physics students and 5 teachers set off on the 2018 Physics Trip of a lifetime. We arrived in San Francisco and embarked on our first tourist attraction, walking across the Golden Gate Bridge. This really was ‘Supersized America’ with their bridges, motorways and the Berkley University building housing electron microscopes the size of a whole room. We caught the famous San Francisco Cable Car, went to the top of Twin Peaks and had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe on Pier 39. All these iconic locations made for an amazing first day! After a tour of Alcatraz, our physics experience started in earnest as we visited the California Academy of Sciences. What an amazing place with a massive aquarium, planetarium and an indoor rain forest. We saw the science behind animal colouring leading to a greater understanding of how light waves work. Next was a tour of the Johnson and Johnson Innovation Laboratory (J-Labs), learning how they assist other companies to produce breakthrough healthcare technologies. A visit to the Molecular Foundry at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory gave us insight into the use of electron microscopes in nano-technology.
Our second day in Santa Clarita was a fun visit to Six Flags Theme Park. What a hands-on way to learn about gravity, inertia, centripetal acceleration and G-Force! A little different from our physics experience at Rainbow’s End! In Los Angeles, the ‘City of Stars,’ we did the walk of fame, visited the Griffith Observatory and took a tour of the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The NASA tour was one of the highlights as we were able to see them constructing the new Mars 2020 Rover. This gave us an appreciation of how much more of the universe there it to be discovered. Next was the California Science Centre where we visited the Endeavour Space Shuttle. Very few of us realised that there were 125 Space Shuttle Missions! We then tried our hand in IFLY’s wind tunnels with winds going as fast as 100-120mph. The day ended with a Dodgers baseball game where we cheered on the team and ate classic stadium food. San Diego opened our eyes to the world of aviation. We explored the Air and Space
Museum and the USS Midway Aircraft carrier which was decommissioned in 1992. It was amazing to see how much work it took to be able to land a plane onto the deck of the ship. Our final destination was the big, bright city of Las Vegas. Not the traditional shows and gambling but the mysterious world of Area 51. We visited the National Atomic Testing Museum and had a lecture from Dr Marylesa Howard, Senior Scientist and Mathematician from the Nevada National Security site. This was a sobering reminder about nuclear warfare. On our last day on the tour, we visited the solar fields of the vast Nevada Desert and the massive Hoover Dam where electricity is generated, solidifying our experience of ‘Supersized America.’ During our two-week trip we managed to travel 2,150 miles, averaging 44 mph (traffic slowed us down) and we spent a whopping 48hrs on the bus and ate 20 pounds of candy. The experience will last us a lifetime. I would like to thank every one of the teachers, tour guides, guest speakers and our parents for giving us this opportunity. The knowledge we gained about the world outside New Zealand will allow us to apply the skills we learn in the classroom to the world around us. This trip has broadened our horizons allowing us to see career paths we might never have thought of before. The world is much bigger than I ever imagined and there is so much we can accomplish.
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We journeyed south to Santa Clarita and on the way we visited Blade Therapeutics where they are researching life changing
treatments for fibrotic diseases. It was awe-inspiring to hear scientists explaining their passion to make the world a better place. The day ended with a tour around the gigantic campus of Stanford University, led by Old Collegian, Harry Mellsop. Harry had much to share, opening our eyes to the possibility of studying abroad in the future.
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Phantom of the Opera
Over the last decade, the Saint Kentigern stage has seen some of the ‘block busters’ of musical theatre superbly delivered by our talented student cast, crew and musicians. Whether the epic masterpiece, ‘Les Miserables,’ the rollicking fun of ‘Spamalot’ or the fairy-tale fantasy of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ our students have risen to the challenge, and our audiences have left Elliot Hall in awe of the ability of our students and the overall staging of each show.
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here was one piece missing in the ‘masterpiece’ puzzle; one of the most successful theatrical productions of all time and the longest running musical on Broadway and the West End – Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash-hit musical, ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ With the recent release of the rights to allow staging by schools in New Zealand, Saint Kentigern led the charge! As a show that is largely sung-through, with only occasional spoken lines, it requires a tremendously talented cast of singers. Knowing we had the necessary flair within our current student cohort to do the show justice, the College is proud to be the first school in New Zealand to bring this amazing production to the stage. West End, Broadway, Elliot Hall…the College is in fine company!
Played as a ‘show within a show’, the audience is pulled into the story by many characters as the parody of French grand opera unfolds in the first act. Venice Qin (Year 12) played the role of preening Italian Diva, Carlotta Giudicelli to a tee, with a strong voice and beautifully affected, over the top mannerisms. Sam Ashton (Year 13), playing opposite Carlotta as Ubaldo Piangi, was long-suffering as the ‘underdog’ to Carlotta’s demands, a role he played with wit. Natalya Trombitas (Year 13), brought poise to the stern ballet mistress, Madame Giry, stalking the stage commandingly. In contrast,
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Based on the 1910 novel ‘Le Fantôme de l’Opeéra’ by Gaston Leroux, Lloyd Webber’s musical tells the story of a disfigured musical genius living in the dark shadows of the Paris Opera House. In the title role of the Phantom, Year 13 student, Harrison Griffiths brought everything we have come to expect and more to the show. Those who attended the earlier Masquerade Evening and saw Harrison sing alongside Tim Beveridge, the professional singer who played the original New Zealand Phantom, were left in no doubt that this was a young man with an exceptional voice who gave every ounce of his being to the role.
Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the Phantom lives a shadowy existence. After hearing the hypnotic voice of a young soprano, Christine Daae, the Phantom becomes besotted, taking her under his wing to groom for operatic fame - but turns mad with jealousy when he discovers she is in love with another man, Viscount Raoul de Chagny. Year 12 student, Millie Elliot, is a stalwart of the Saint Kentigern music scene and proved once again that her vocal range can handle the most demanding of roles; switching convincingly between the young girl in love with Raoul and the upcoming soprano in fear of her musical mentor. Year 13 student, Jacob Borland-Lye took on the role of Raoul, another young man with a powerful voice and incredibly strong stage presence.
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Challenging Makeup!
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ostuming a production such as this takes months as each performer is sized and fitted, with some requiring numerous costume changes. Alongside the team caring for the wardrobe, is another undertaking hair and makeup. Harrison, in his role as the Phantom, spent the longest of all in makeup as the silicone mask of a tortured soul was carefully applied to the side of his face for each performance – only seen when Christine tears away his mask. For the girls charged with applying the silicone mask, this was a rare makeup opportunity, last offered when the College staged Beauty and the Beast.
comedic relief was delivered superbly by Matthew Farnell (Year 13) and Matthew Turner (Year 12) as Richard Firmin and Monsieur Gilles Andre – two men who have no experience with the arts but have purchased the opera house and try to assert their influence on the upcoming operatic and ballet production – which goes badly awry as the Phantom becomes increasingly angered. The show music is so well-known that there is no room for ‘hitting the wrong note!’ As soon as the orchestra struck up the ominous, thundering organ chords, it became clear that this was a well-rehearsed and capable group of musicians who were able to take on a difficult score. Stage crews are usually only seen fleetingly as they change props, but in this production, they moved as one, often remaining on stage as the large set pieces turned and changed. Despite the limitations of the available stage space between props, the choreography was also superbly executed by those with focussed dancing roles. The vocal range, strength, power and beauty of this performance was breathtaking – just reward for months of detailed work. It was an enthralling spectacle and the staff and production team, along with their student cast and crew, are to be applauded for having the courage, talent, dedication and commitment to be the first to bring this to a school stage in New Zealand. Well done, the audience loved it!
Phantoms Join Force
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n the build up to the show, Tim Beveridge, New Zealand’s original Phantom, was invited to perform at the fundraising Masquerade Evening. For the final song of the evening, Tim and our own Phantom, Harrison Griffiths, joined forces to sing ‘Music of the Night.’ The joint performance was a powerful piece and made it clear that Harrison has the depth to sing with the best! The standing ovation was well-deserved!
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The Little Mermaid
Middle College Production
Based on one of Hans Christian Anderson’s most beloved stories, it’s hard to believe in 2018 that the story of The Little Mermaid who was willing to give up her life in the sea, so she could win the heart of a human prince, was actually written in 1837!
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52 years later, in 1989, Disney released the enduring, animated film, with an irresistible sound track and stunning underwater visuals, to give the story new life. Now, almost 30 years on since the film was released and 181 years after the story was first published, Saint Kentigern Middle College has added its own unforgettable layer of magic to the timeless classic!
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Year 10 student, Chloe Haerewa was cast in the coveted role of the determined little mermaid, Ariel. In her time at the College, Chloe has proved herself over and over to have a strong stage presence and a superb vocal range. She channelled just the right mix of charm, headstrong stubbornness and vulnerability into the part, making her a superb selection for the title role. The story is familiar. On her 15th birthday, like her five sisters before her, Ariel swims to the surface for a glimpse of the world above. As she yearns for a life on land, sea-faring Prince Eric hears her sing from afar and is captivated by her voice. Sam Everitt (Year 10) is also well-known to Saint Kentigern audiences having played Peter Pan in last year’s Middle College production. A year on and Sam’s voice has further matured, making him an equally strong selection for this key part.
Transporting the musical to the stage created many opportunities for supporting characters to shine, like Ariel’s loyal companion, Flounder, the rambunctious fish (Arwyn Stevens, Year 9) and Sebastian, the music-conducting Jamaican crab, brought to life with great humour by Josh Rose (Year 9), as he reluctantly assists his head-strong, young charge in her pursuit of Prince Eric! Alongside Sebastian, Jack Webber (Year 10) provided comic relief as Scuttle, the know-it-all seagull with a just bit of attitude! As ruler beneath the sea, King Triton (Daniel Short, Year 10), tried in vain to keep his wayward daughter away from the humans he so fears. Whilst Daniel played the caring father well, he also mastered the role of the explosive solo-father venting his frustration! From deep below, the sea witch, Ursula, emerged, flanked by her eely henchmen, Flotsam (Emma Canton, Year 9) and Jetsam (Lucy Lyons, Year 10). Year 9 student, Melody Liu-Webster does a superb job as the larger-than-life, malevolent, calculating and betentacled villainess who rues the day she lost control of the kingdom to her brother, Triton. Waiting to take revenge, she seizes on Ariel’s desire to be human, creating a pact with the young mermaid to trade her beautiful voice for legs, for three days only, during which time she must win the prince or pay the consequence – relinquishing her soul forever to her wicked Aunt Ursula. To complicate matters, Prince Eric is seeking a bride and whilst his heart was captured by Ariel’s singing, he hasn’t seen her. How can Ariel persuade Eric to kiss her and break the spell?
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Our thanks: Our thanks to staff who, along with the students, spent countless hours to bring this production to the stage. Produced by Head of Performing Arts, Ms Jane Horder and Mrs Kim Smith, the roles of Director, Musical Director and Choreographer were taken on by three Old Collegians, Mr Ashton Brown, Mr Oliver Gilmour and Ms Morgan Heron, who were all actively involved in the Performing Arts whilst at College. Along with Technical Designer, Mr Glen Mortensen, a host of other staff took on roles in costuming, hair and makeup, backstage and front of house. We thank them sincerely for bringing out the very best in our students.
Not easily! As a song contest unfolded at Prince Eric’s 21st birthday party, in his bid to find the ‘girl’ behind the voice, Chef Louis (Lucy Horsnell, Year 10), the diabolical palace cook, was busy in the kitchen trying to serve up Sebastian as the main course! Meanwhile Grimsby (Jonathan McCabe, Year 9), Eric’s slightly stuffy, faithful servant is charmed by Ariel and the course to marriage is set.
Almost!
The costumes and makeup were beautiful! In particular, the costume worn by Sea Witch Ursula, with its undulating tentacles hiding the dancers beneath was masterful! The choreography was superb, backing up many of the scenes with delightful action, and the young orchestra was faultless. The large cast, musicians and crew clearly had an absolute ball bringing the show together! The audience had an absolute ball watching it! Well done Middle College!
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Ursula doesn’t keep to her word and captures Ariel, but distracted, Ariel smashes Ursula’s magic shell and in a moment the wicked witch vaporises. King Triton is free and now recognises where his daughter truly needs to be – on land with her one true love, Prince Eric. As the entire cast gathers on stage, they join in one rapturous final song, leaving the audience with the sense of a really ‘feel good’ show!
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Shake the Quad ‘Never was there a tale of more woe, Than that of Juliet and her Romeo. Never was there a tale of more strife, Than that of Macbeth and his stabby knife. Never was there a tale more sad, Than that of Hamlet and his spooky Dad.’
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C, Sam Ashton’s opening lines at this year’s Shake the Quad left the audience in no doubt that this was Shakespeare, just maybe not as we have come to know it! Playing the role of the ‘Fool,’ Sam kept the evening rolling along at a cracking pace, keeping the wisecracks and knock, knock jokes coming between scenes! For fans of The Bard, ‘Shake the Quad’ was a wonderful way to spend a summer evening. Under a perfect twilight sky, family and friends gathered outdoors in the Goodfellow Quad, ready to watch a series of scenes from Shakespeare’s plays. Fifty two young thespians from Years 7-13 had been rehearsing since the start of the year in preparation to perform on the outdoor stage, with students involved as cast members and directors, to those working behind the scenes to ensure costumes and props were at hand. The event was part of the build up to competing in the SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. The students largely had free rein – the scene could be set in any time, place or costume, there was just one essential, the lines spoken had to be true to Shakespeare’s words! The
one exception was MC Sam – where did he get all those ‘Shakespearean’ puns?! The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III, Macbeth, Midsummers Night’s Dream, Henry VIII - whether it was the youngest of our students making their first foray into Shakespeare’s works or our more seasoned actors taking command of the stage, each performance was a joy to watch as the carefully rehearsed words were delivered. An earlier weekend workshop with one of New Zealand’s top Shakespearean actors, Stephen Butterworth had paid dividends and each scene had an air of confidence. The evening concluded with our Year 13 extension drama students swapping genders to explore what it means to be male and female, opening with pressures of the modern day, before switching to a scene from Henry VII, as the king pursued his obsession for a male heir, making his way through six wives and changing the course of history in England forever. These students were all very strong character actors and brought a depth of passion to their roles, honed through the years they have given to the stage during their time at the College. This was a powerful piece of work; one they can be proud of.
Best Overall Actor F
ollowing on from Saint Kentigern’s ‘Shake the Quad,’ our 52 young thespians from Years 7-13 went on to take part in the Auckland Region of Shakespeare’s Globe Centre NZ, University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival held at Botany Downs College. The College entered several pieces from the Bard’s plays, performed to a panel of judges. Each piece could be either 5 or 15 minutes long. For the second year in a row, a Saint Kentigern student was awarded ‘Best Overall Actor.’ Rafe MacDonald (Year 13) won the NSSP (National Shakespeare Schools Programme) Direct Entry Award. This is awarded to one student from every region of the country for the most outstanding performance on the day.
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Rafe gave a passionate performance as part of the Year 13 production of Henry VIII. As part of the extension drama programme, these students elected to swap genders with Rafe playing the part of one of Henry’s wives. Rafe’s performance was particularly impassioned leaving a powerful impression of a strong character actor. Rafe will go to Dunedin in the October school holidays with 47 other students across the country for a week of intensive workshops. From this group, 23 of the students will be selected to perform at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London during 2019. Well done!
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The Pipes & Drums Continue Winning Ways! E
arly in the year, The Pipes & Drums of Saint Kentigern successfully competed at the annual Auckland Centre Pipe Bands Championship. Bands from around Auckland and neighbouring provinces gathered in Drury to compare their performance skills in various disciplines. Despite the record high summer temperatures, the bands enthusiastically pressed ahead, dressed in Scottish Highland uniforms, and still managed a full day of outdoor competition. Our Pipes & Drums once again established themselves as the top juvenile band in the region, in the U19 grade, holding on to the Alexander Family Trophy for the tenth year in a row. At the massed bands and prizegiving at the end of the event, they were also awarded the Auckland Challenge Shield as the ‘Best Turned Out’ band over the entire competition. Notably, the band was complimented on its very good sound. One of the highlights was attaining excellent marks in the categories of piping, drumming and ensemble, which carried them into third place in the Grade 4 Street March event against an all-adult field. Drum Major, Fraser McEwen; Pipe Major, Lewis Hoggard and Leading Side Drummer, Alice Smith were proud to bring the trophies back to College.
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After a strong start to 2018, The Pipes & Drums continued with a very busy schedule performing at the College Open Day before heading to Rotorua to compete at the RNZPBA National Championships. They were also be involved in the 65th Anniversary celebrations, at the Boys’ School, Flora MacDonald Day at the Girls’ School and they represented the College at the ANZAC Day service in Howick.
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Challenge, Fun and Smiles at Year 7 Camp T
here were smiles all round when our youngest sons and daughters of Kentigern headed to the Year 7 orientation camp at Chosen Valley in the Bombay Hills. 144 students enjoyed the sun, fun and camaraderie of a ‘full-on’ 5 day camp run by Head of Year 7, Mr Kevin Taylor and the Year 7 teachers. The many activities on offer provided an excellent means to ensure that the new students were well integrated into our College community. After the deluge of last year, that dumped endless rain on the camp, flooding the site and calling for every ounce of resilience, this year’s camp, by comparison, was a breeze! Once Cyclone Hola departed at the end of the first day, the weather stayed fine and warm for the rest of the week. Activities are plentiful at camp to provide new challenges, plenty of fun and the chance for students to get to know one another. Of all the activities on offer, the students definitely put a positive spin put on those that involve water – fresh and clean or cloudy and muddy, it doesn’t seem to matter! Wherever there’s the opportunity to enter water at high speed - the bigger the splash the better! In addition to the action-packed activities were the slightly more mundane as the students worked together on duties such as table preparation and clean up before and after each meal, and keeping their living quarters tidy. These duties are part and parcel of a successful camp routine and help students build independence, cooperation and a sense of responsibility. These camps are an invaluable part of our orientation for students who are new to Saint Kentigern. New bonds are formed, House loyalties are entrenched and big, tired smiles of campers saying, ‘Awesome, let’s do it again,’ make the experience worthwhile.
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Our thanks go to all the staff but in particular to the many parent helpers who were able to join us at camp in the afternoons and provide valuable assistance and supervision.
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Glorious Sunshine for Year 9 Camp! D
uring a week of glorious sunshine, with just the occasional drizzle to cool things down, Year 9 had a fantastic camp away at Totara Springs in Matamata, with half the students heading off for the start of the week, followed by the rest taking their place for the second half from Wednesday. The Year 9 camp is a great opportunity to help cement new friendships and create strong bonds in each of the Tutor Groups. With a new intake of Year 9 students at the beginning of the year, joining those who have already been at the College for Years 7 and 8, this camp is strategically timed to bring new groupings together in a week where activities and the opportunity for challenge were plentiful. Set amongst 90 acres of park-like grounds and native bush, Totara Springs offers a multitude of challenges both indoors and out. The students enjoyed many of the traditional camp activities including abseiling, archery and the kart track. Highest in the popularity stakes by far, however, was the downhill, high speed foam slide, awash with bubbles! The students were also set team-building tasks that were particularly worthwhile as it got the whole Tutor Group talking, helping to set up their Tutor Group dynamic. Amongst these tasks was the requirement to build their own shelter from supplied materials for a night camping out. Some were successful but others found themselves up in the dead of night reconnecting their sagging shelter! Regardless, fun was had by all! Camp is a fantastic opportunity for the boys and girls to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves physically and mentally in a new, yet supportive, environment. Through their time away from home, they were able to learn more about themselves and others, while growing in self-confidence. Our Year 13 Peer Support leaders played a big part at camp, providing support, encouragement and guidance for the Year 9’s and instilling a sense of what it means to be a Son or Daughter of Kentigern.
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There is an enormous amount of careful planning to ensure trips beyond the campus are challenging, have a true sense of purpose, are safe and run smoothly. We accord our thanks to staff, together with their team of House Tutors, and senior students who worked together to ensure the camp was once again a great success.
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Extended
Sports Centre Now Fully Operational!
Our physical education, sporting, fitness and dance communities were waiting with great anticipation over the course of last year, as work progressed on fantastic additions to the sports and dance facilities at the College, in readiness for the start of 2018.
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ompleted on target, the extension to the Old Boys Sports Centre was formally opened on Friday 16 March by special guest, former Head of College, Mr Steve Cole. Mr Cole is well remembered for his love of sport and was instrumental in getting this project underway. Whilst both the Middle and Senior College students gathered for a whole College assembly, Mr Cole and Middle College Principal, Mr Duncan McQueen, along with Sports Prefect, Sam Scott and the Arts Prefect, Molly Griffiths, stepped outside to cut the ribbon – with the ceremony live-streamed back to the assembly. Year 13 student and keen sportswoman, Tayla Earle offered thanks on behalf of all the students for the outstanding new facilities to support the growth of student sport at the College. Our current students and staff were eager to begin their new school year in the extended and greatly enhanced building, but there are probably not many people on the College campus today who realise that prior to 2001, the original College ‘gymnasium’ was housed in what is now the Music Centre! A look at the roof line inside that building gives away its early origins. In 2001, a time when the College was still all boys, the original Old Boys Sports Centre was opened on the hill and haled as ‘one of the best college sports centres in New Zealand.’ At the time, this was a
magnificent addition to the College campus to meet the needs of an ever-growing roll of students. It boasted two gym spaces, three class rooms and a small boutique fitness centre. There was a new staff room catering for the five PE staff and an office for the Director of Sport. The College roll at the time of its opening was 1100 boys from Years 7 to 13. At the time, we were proud that we had ‘future-proofed’ the new Sports Centre by including a dance studio, and both male and female changing rooms, in anticipation of girls joining the College in 2003. As the years passed, the roll continued to swell, putting pressure on the Sports Centre facilities that, in recent years, has been operating at full occupancy from very early morning to well into the evening to cater for the extra demands of an increased roll. To cater for this growth, construction work for an expansion to the Sports Centre began late in 2015, when 4800 cubic metres of soil was moved from the ‘Bruce House end,’ to open up a flat building platform. The soil was relocated to the sports grounds, where it was used to extend a training pitch into a full-sized playing field. Now in 2018, seventeen years since the original sports centre first opened, an extension to cater for this year’s 1207 boys and 818 girls is now complete. The work has doubled the size of the former number two gymnasium, meaning that the centre now boasts two court
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Gyms 1 and 2
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Fitness Centre
Classroom Space
Dance Studio
spaces, one catering for volleyball, basketball, netball and badminton and the second catering for netball, basketball and badminton. One of the court spaces has an electric curtain that allows it to be configured into two distinct teaching spaces or left as one large 1,800m2 space. This greatly enhances the opportunities for both physical education classes during school hours and co-curricular sport before and after school. The strength and conditioning programme has come to play an important part in our sports programme in recent years. The original ‘boutique’ fitness centre has been replaced by a centre which is more akin to tertiary sports facility and will be the envy of any Australasian college. This new, greatly extended fitness centre includes a physiotherapy room and a presentation room for video analysis. Most importantly, it will now allow access for a greater number of students at any one time, ensuring that their bodies are well-prepared for the rigours of competitive sport. The increasing popularity of dance as an examinable subject has meant that the original dance studio, along with a second ‘temporary’ studio that had been created in the area of the former squash courts, was no longer sufficient to meet demand. A state-of-the-art dance studio has now been added, which has the capacity to host performances as well as be divided into two acoustically separate teaching spaces. This is achieved by having an electrically operated, sound proof, dividing wall which retracts into the ceiling space to give greater flexibility of available space. The existing dance studio has been revitalised and another multi-purpose dance/activity room has been created downstairs. These studios have suitably cushioned floors, fit for purpose, to reduce the impact on students’ bodies.
Following the ribbon ceremony, guests, staff and students were invited to the dance studio for an inaugural performance from two Old Collegians now studying dance at tertiary level. Erin Meek and Chris Clegg both graduated from the College with a love of dance and are now both studying dance in Wellington. In addition, there were performances from talented Year 11 ballerina, Monet Hewitt, a contemporary duet by Isabella Fox, Year 11 and Hayley Adams, Year 10, as well as full class demonstrations. In addition to the ‘active floor’ space throughout the centre, the area vacated by the original weights room has been converted to a further two and a half classrooms, to increase the PE and Health teaching spaces to five. Additional changing rooms have been created for both girls and boys. The PE staff room now caters for 13 PE staff and office space has been included to support the Sport Development coaches. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on health and well-being for all sectors of our communities, but in particular with a focus on young people in their early, formative years. Increasing and maintaining fitness is fundamental to good physical health, but being involved in a physical group activity, team sport, or working under the guidance of a mentor such as in the fitness centre also has proven benefits for the well-being and developing mental health of our young people. Extra-curricular activities at the College play an important part in developing ‘all-round’ students, encouraging them to find a passion that may well last a lifetime. With recladding to the outside finishing the building, the extended, revitalised and refurbished Old Boys Sport Centre has further enhanced the fantastic College facilities for our students. Staff and students have waited with anticipation through the construction phase and are now loving the new spaces!
GROWTH IN DEMAND FOR THE OLD BOYS SPORTS CENTRE FACILITIES
In 2001…
In 2018 – a snap shot
1100 boys
1207 boys and 818 girls
4 boys-only basketball teams
19 girls and boys basketball teams
10 boys-only football teams
32 girls and boys football teams
No netball teams
32 netball teams
No dance classes
369 dance students
5 PE staff
13 PE staff
No strength & conditioning coaches
2 fulltime strength & conditioning coaches
No strength & conditioning programme
500+ students involved in strength & conditioning
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A small sample of figures clearly show why there was a need to extend our sporting, fitness and dance facilities!
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HOUSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONS WISHART 1ST
Wishart Wins College Swimming O
n a day when the rain fell but failed to dampen spirits, Wishart laid claim to the House Swimming title, knocking Hamilton from their three season winning streak. Preliminary heats had been raced during the first days of term, to award House points for participation and determine which swimmers would race in the finals. To say the weather was a little unkind is an understatement! Not so bad for the swimmers who came and went for their races, but for staff on the side of the pool on the days of rain, it was a test of endurance! On finals afternoon, the atmosphere around the pool was buzzing as the first group of swimmers took their mark. The noise was deafening as the
2ND
CHALMERS
3RD
STARK
4TH
HAMILTON
5TH
CARGILL
6TH
WILSON
races got underway and the House prefects led their students to cheer on their House representatives. Once again we welcomed Year 7 and 8 swimmers from the Girls’ School who put in a strong performance. The day concluded with relay racing and as always, it was heartening to see our newly appointed student leaders rally around our youngest swimmers to give them support. The annual staff v prefects’ race. Who won? Hard to tell but each would like to claim the victory! Congratulations to all swimmers, age-group champions and Wishart for winning the first House event for the year.
INDIVIDUAL HOUSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONS 2018 1st
2nd
3rd
SENIOR GIRLS
Olivia Overfield (CH)
Chelsea Simmons (W)
Maddy Clarke (H)
SENIOR BOYS
Josh Harford (CA)
Ryan Church (CH)
Ben Morrison (W)
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS
Beth Harford (S)
India Doo (W)
Grace Chang (CA)
INTERMEDIATE BOYS
Will Bason (CH)
Danny Weng (CA)
Eamon Foley (WL)
JUNIOR GIRLS
Isabella Campion (CH)
Hannah Iosefa (W)
Sophie Spencer (CH)
JUNIOR BOYS
Oliver Avis (W)
Alex Perry (W)
Charlie Bassett (CH)
YEAR 8 GIRLS SKC & SKGS
Zara Nelson (W)
Kaia Ashmore (W)
Olivia Rooney (H)
YEAR 8 GIRLS SKC
Kaia Ashmore (W)
Ruby Spring (CH)
Charlotte Richardson (WL)
YEAR 8 BOYS
Sunny Sun (W)
Jack Dempsey (CH)
Liam Marks (CA)
YEAR 7 GIRLS SKC & SKGS
Alex Campion (CH)
Imogen Perry (W)
Claudia Spencer (WL)
YEAR 7 GIRLS SKC
Imogen Perry (W)
Claudia Spencer (WL)
Issy Orlandini (H)
YEAR 7 BOYS
Samuel Boyes (CA)
Matthew Phipps (W)
Max Lye (H)
Fantastic Results at Eastern Zone Swimming!
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The Girls’ School and College combined Year 7 and 8 swimming teams put up a great show at the Eastern Zone event collecting 33 podium spots between them! (The Girls’ School individual swimmers are listed in the Girls’ School section.) 100m Freestyle
3rd
Sunny Sun (Year 8)
50m Breaststroke
3rd
Julia Huang (Year 8)
Year 7 Girls Free Relay
1st
Imogen Perry, Edith Li (SKG), Alex Campion (SKG), Claudia Spencer
Year 7 Boys Free Relay
2nd
Max Lye, Samuel Boyes, Ethyn Brookes, Wil Graydon
Year 8 Girls Free Relay
1st
Miabella Robertshaw (SKG), Zara Nelson (SKG), Ruby Spring, Kaia Ashmore
Year 8 Boys Free Relay
3rd
Jack Dempsey, Harry Moulder, Samuel Boyes, Sunny Sun
Open Girls Medley Relay
2nd
Alex Campion (SKG), Imogen Perry, Zara Nelson (SKG), Olivia Rooney (SKG)
Open Boys Medley Relay
3rd
Sunny Sun, Sam Boyes, Jack Dempsey, Liam Marks
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S
Hamilton Wins College Athletics! A
fter an intense two days of athletic competition, Hamilton House out-ran, out-threw and outjumped the other five Houses to claim the overall College House Athletics Cup. Calculated by percentage on the number of students in each House, Stark won the participation numbers, putting up a great showing in each event. Previous overall winners for the last two years, Chalmers rose to the top on finals day results, however, when all the scores were tallied across participation and finals, it was Hamilton who took top honours. The competition, which also included the Year 7 and 8 students from the Girls’ School, was held over two days, with perfect weather on both occasions allowing the athletes to perform at their peak. On the first day, the winners of all but the 100m and relay disciplines were decided, with both track and field events run simultaneously all day.
HOUSE ATHLETIC CHAMPIONS 1ST
HAMILTON
2ND
STARK
3RD
CHALMERS
4TH
CARGILL
5TH 6TH
WILSON WISHART
On Finals Day, the semi-finalists of the 100m first returned to the track for additional races to determine who would go on to the contest the finals, sprinting down the track in front of the entire College, as cheers rang out in support. The day concluded with House relays in each age group, with one final race when the prefects took on the staff – and won! Congratulations to all our age group champions!
INDIVIDUAL HOUSE ATHLETICS CHAMPIONS 2018 1st
2nd
3rd
SENIOR GIRLS
Jaymie Kolose (W)
Lisa Putt (Ca)
Hannah Blake (Ch)
SENIOR BOYS
Alex McRobbie (H)
Sam Scott (Ch)
Peni Lasaga (W)
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS
Cecile Velghe (S)
Mia Harries (W)
Catilyn McKenzie (H)
INTERMEDIATE BOYS
Logan Cowie (Ca)
Jordan Warren (H)
= Quinn Thompson (W) = Harry Strang (S) Isabella Campion (Ch)
JUNIOR GIRLS
Charlotte Manley (W)
Neve Webster (H)
JUNIOR BOYS
= Louis King (S) = Matthew Larsen (Ch)
Kiyaan Manukonga (S)
YEAR 8 GIRLS SKC & SKGS
Ruby Spring (Ch)
Jade Nomani (W)
Emily Clark (H)
YEAR 8 GIRLS SKC
Ruby Spring (Ch)
Emily Clark (H)
Isabella Nigro (Wn)
YEAR 8 BOYS
Daniel Hayes (S)
Broughton Weenink (H)
Jaxon Wilson (Wn)
YEAR 7 GIRLS SKC & SKGS
Alex Campion (W)
Madeline Ballard (Ca)
= Isabella Mills (S) = Katelyn Quay-Chin
YEAR 7 GIRLS SKC
Madeline Ballard (Ca)
= Isabella Mills (S) = Katelyn Quay-Chin
YEAR 7 BOYS
Dejan Naidoo (H)
Max Lye (H)
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Ryan Ellis (W)
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HOUSE CROSS PIONS COUNTRY CHAM CHALMERS 1ST ILTON 2ND HAM N 3RD WILSO 4TH
Chalmers Wins Cross Country
WISHART
5TH 6TH
STARK CARGILL
W
ith the College calendar becoming increasingly busy, the decision was made to move the College cross country championships from Term 2 to the last week of Term 1 and, for the first time in a number of years, it was not elective - all students were required to run. With the Senior College and Middle College originally scheduled to run on two separate days, more rescheduling was required when wild weather moved through at the start of the week! However, by Thursday, the morning dawned gloriously and the sun shone down on our early Middle College runners - but by the time the seniors took to the course later in the day, a chill autumn blast had set in! Once again, we welcomed the Year 7&8 runners from the Girls’ School who put in a good showing in both age groups, winning places on the podium. Congratulations to all the runners but especially those who took the top spots and will go on to represent Saint Kentigern at the zone competition. After all the points were tallied, including places and participation, Chalmers were the winners! CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS 2018 2nd
3rd
Sam Waldin (CH)
Sam Russell (S)
Fin Orr (W)
SENIOR GIRLS
Maddy Clarke (H)
Hannah Blake (CH)
Sam Watson (S)
INTERMEDIATE BOYS
Logan Cowie (C)
Aiden Iqbal (WN)
Jack Melhuish (CH)
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS
Sasha McLeod (H)
Emma Hannan (CH)
Genevieve Trimble (H)
YEAR 10 BOYS
Tommy Stevenson (W)
Jacob Spring (CH)
Sam Gunn (C)
YEAR 10 GIRLS
Sophie Spencer (CH)
Zara Jancys (W)
Jadore Harris-Tavita (CH)
YEAR 9 BOYS
Issac Wong (WN)
Callum Murray (W)
Dylan Rueben-Menzies (H)
YEAR 9 GIRLS
Neve Webster (H)
Brooke Conover (H)
jasmine Zhang (C)
YEAR 8 BOYS
Daniel Hayes (S)
Maddix Brady (CH)
Clarke Gleeson (W)
YEAR 8 GIRLS (SKC &SKGS)
Olivia Rooney (H)
Ruby Spring (CH)
Alya Blackler (H)
YEAR 7 BOYS
Dejun Naidoo (H)
Ryan Ellis (W)
Charlie Hughes (S)
YEAR 7 GIRLS (SKC &SKGS)
Madeline Ballard (C)
Alex Campion (CH)
Mya Zoricich (WN)
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1st SENIOR BOYS
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Auckland Athletics Medal Winners! I
t was a fantastic day of competition for our athletes at the Auckland Secondary School Auckland Athletics Championships held at Mt Smart Stadium. The students hauled in 18 medals, including eight gold – a proud moment for each of the medal winners, especially for those in first place. For the second year in a row, Year 12 student, Lisa Putt led the charge with the most medals on the day, achieving gold in the long jump, triple jump and as part of the Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay team. She added a 3rd place in the 100m to her haul. Well done to all who competed on the day! Junior Girls Charlotte Manley
2nd 200m
Natalia Rankin-Chitar
1st Shotput 1st Discus
Intermediate Girls Cecile Velghe
2nd Long Jump 1st Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay 2nd 200m
North Island Athletics
Senior Girls Mahina Paul
2nd 100m 1st Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay
Lisa Putt
1st Long Jump 1st Triple Jump, 1st Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay 3rd 100m
Jaymie Kolose
1st Senior Girls 4 x 100m Relay
N
atalia Rankin Chitar and Lisa Putt were part of the team representing Auckland at the North Island competition. Both girls had some fantastic results with Natalya winning gold in the discus, breaking both the College Record and North Island Record. She followed this up breaking another College record when she placed 3rd in the shotput. Lisa also broke two 13 year old College records when she won gold in the long jump and placed 2nd in the triple jump. She also placed 2nd in the 100m. Junior Girls
Junior Boys
Natalia Rankin Chitar
TJ Panini
3rd 4 x 100m Relay
Callum Murray
3rd 4 x 100m Relay
Kiyaan Manukonga
3rd 4 x 100m Relay
Senior Girls
Anish Edekar
3rd 4 x 100m Relay
Lisa Putt
Senior Boys Sam Waldin
1st Discus (New College and North Island Record) 3rd in Shotput (New College Record)
1st Long Jump (New College Record) 2nd in 100m,
2nd 3000m
2nd in Triple Jump (New College Record)
Greater Auckland Girls Touch Champions! he College Sport Greater Auckland Premier Girls Touch competition provided our Premier Girls’ team with a strong early season challenge against tough opposition, and a chance to show their true mettle – winning the event for the second year in a row! Held at Cornwall Park over three consecutive Mondays, the girls dominated the pool play beating Westlake Girls, Mt Albert Grammar, Howick College, Baradene College, One Tree Hill College and Saint Cuthbert’s College. Having won all six games comfortably, scoring 58 tries with only 4 against, they went on to face Westlake in the final and
had to work hard to finally secure the 5-4 win! The team now qualify in top position from the region for the NZ Secondary School Championships in December – a title they won last year! Congratulations to talented young sports woman, Mahina Paul (Year 13) who has been named in the NZ Women’s team to play in a Trans-Tasman tournament. As last year’s Girls Runner Up to the Dux Ludorum, Mahina is no stranger to international competition, representing NZ for the second year in a row.
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Top Multisport School in NZ! O
ur triathletes were thoroughly prepared and excited about the racing during Term 1, following the intensive three-day training camp in Taupo in January, which focused on racing skills and fitness. Training continued during the term providing an ideal platform for the racing ahead.
Auckland Secondary School Triathlon Championships
Auckland Championships
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The season began with the Auckland Triathlon Championships at Maraetai – which quickly turned to a duathlon when the swim leg was unfortunately cancelled due to lack of a suitable water safety patrol. Triathlon is usually a three part event consisting of a swim followed by a bike leg and finishing with a run – an event in which Saint Kentigern typically does very well. In this instance, the swim portion of the race was replaced with a 2 km run prior to the cycling and second run. Seven medals were gained, including three individual golds and two team golds. This haul was added to at the Auckland Aquathon Champs (swim/run) held at the College, where the team again amassed seven medals including two individual golds and one team gold.
Sophie Spencer
Gold Junior Girls
Maddy Clarke
Gold Senior Girls
Finian Orr
Gold Senior Boys
Will Bason, Jensen Foster, Logan Cowie
Gold Intermediate Boys Team
Sam Waldin, Callum Walsh
Gold Senior Boys Team
Ruby Spring
Silver Junior Girls
Sacha McLeod
Silver Intermediate Girls
Auckland Secondary School Aquathon Championships Sophie Spencer
Gold Junior Girls
Will Bason, Logan Cowie
Gold Intermediate Boys Team
Finian Orr
Gold Senior Boys
Emma Hannan
Silver Intermediate Girls
Hamish Jones, Zachary Clarke
Silver Intermediate Boys Team
Ryan Church
Silver Senior Boys
Maddy Clarke
Silver Senior Girls
National Secondary School Individual Triathlon Sophie Spencer
Gold U14 Girls
New Zealand Championships
Ruby Spring
Silver U 13 Girls
The College Triathlon team travelled to Nelson for the highlight of the racing season, the National Triathlon and Aquathon Championships. This event is a step up from the regional competition, so it was with a good deal of pride that we gained nine medals across the individual and team events. Along with two individual gold medals and one team gold, we also had two silvers and four bronze places on the podium. With this medal tally Saint Kentigern achieved sufficient points overall to be named overall top school for the competition!
National Secondary School Aquathon
Saint Kentigern College was also, once again, named overall top School for the Competition!
Sophie Spencer
Gold U14 Girls Race
Ruby Spring
Bronze U 13 Girls Race
Alex Campion
Bronze U12 Girls
National Secondary School Teams Event (4 Person Team) U14 Team: Eva Melhuish, Alex Campion
Gold (combined schools)
U 14 Team: Hunter Donley, Isabella Campion, Ryan Gill, Ruby Spring
Silver (1st single school team)
U16 Team: Jack Melhuish, Emma Hannan, Tommy Stevenson, Sophie Spencer
Bronze (1st single school team)
U19 Team: Ryan Church, Maddy Clarke, Finian Orr, Sacha McLeod
Bronze (1st single school team)
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Tough Challenge on the Water O
ur premier sailors have faced some tough battles on the water in recent weeks. Beginning with the 2018 Harken National Secondary Schools Keelboat Championships, they started well with two 1st place positions in the first five races on finals day. The team were narrowly holding onto 2nd place but unfortunately could not hold off a late run by Rosmini College and Westlake Boys and were bumped out of podium contention to 4th place. During Tournament Week, the team competed in the Auckland Cup Teams Racing Championship and after some epic battles on the water, finished 3rd overall. The team sailed fourteen races over the two days in variable condition, with light winds and calm seas on the first day and heavy seas and winds blowing over 20 knots on the last day, so they were well and truly tested!
Gold on the Track! E
ight cyclists represented the College at the inaugural New Zealand Schools Track Cycling Championships held at the Avantidrome in Cambridge during Tournament Week. The competition was run in an Omnium format with each age group contesting three events to determine the overall medallists. There were also team events for both U16 and U20 categories. In the U16 category, Ben Connell finished just outside of the medals in 4th place overall with a 3rd place in the 3000m Scratch race and 2nd place in the 4000m points race. Three riders competed in the U20 events with Zac CantellRoberts riding a great scratch race for 3rd place and 8th overall. Cam Manley raced consistently for 4th place overall after a 4th placing in the 6 lap Keirin Final and 5th in the 7500m Points Race. Following a strong 3rd place in the Points Race and a 4th behind Zac in the 5000m Scratch Race, Callum Walsh received a Bronze Medal for 3rd overall.
Y
ear 13 student, Josh Oxenham is still ranked New Zealand’s No 1 U19 Downhill Mountain Bike rider. Over the last few months Josh has competed in twelve National and International races, winning ten of them and finishing 2nd in the other two. Most recently, Josh competed against the world’s best in Crankworx Rotorua, winning all three races, including the NZ Secondary Schools National Downhill U20 title. Most impressively, he won the Crankworx Junior Men’s Downhill by 10 seconds over the second placed rider, finishing in a time that would have placed him 3rd in the Internationally stacked Pro-Elite field, including beating the current World Champion! At the time of writing, Josh is off to compete in the first of the UCI World Cup Downhill Series in Losinj, Croatia, followed by further World Cup races in Scotland, Austria, France and Andorra, all going well and barring injury!
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The Pursuit Team of Callum, Cam, Zac and Jensen Foster were fastest qualifiers in the 3000m event on the first night of competition to make the final for the following day. The final was against the local Cambridge High School team. With an adjustment to the starting order and Ben stepping in for Jensen, the team produced a great ride with an exceptional last lap by team captain, Callum to pip Cambridge by 0.349s and win the gold medal. This was a great team effort by all five riders! Well done boys!
NZ’s No 1 U19 Downhill Rider
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Auckland T20 Win for 1st XI T
he change in format to T20 during Term 1 brought new determination to the 1st XI. Prior to the Summer Tournament Week play at Parrs Park, the boys had beaten Botany and MAGS, lifting their confidence as they went into three full days of cricket. As the tournament progressed, the team’s performances improved, putting on clinical performances for the first two days of play, making it to the final day sitting comfortably at the top of the table. The last day of the tournament saw Saint Kentigern play the final round robin against Westlake Boys High School. With the toss won and our boys batting first, a formidable total of 182 was set. Contributions from skipper Conor Ansell and a quick half century from Sajith Dhambagolla allowed them to set an incredibly competitive total. A mammoth chase eventually proved too much for Westlake as they were all out for 111, with the wickets being shared equally among the bowlers.
It was to be a Westlake vs Saint Kentigern double header for the final. The toss was lost and Westlake chose to bat. As Westlake finished the power play only one wicket down, they looked set for a big score, however, fantastic bowling contributions throughout the middle overs limited Westlake to a total score of 132/9 from their 20 overs. Opener, Simon Keene and number 3, Sajith Dhambagolla made small work of the total, scoring 47 and 55* respectively. In the end, Saint Kentigern had another convincing win, beating Westlake in the final by 8 wickets to gain the Auckland T20 title and cap off an unbeaten tournament!
Colts National Tournament I
t was with great excitement that our younger, Colts Cricket team travelled to Palmerston North to play against the best Colts teams in the country. We started with a very thorough win against King’s from Dunedin, which saw a nearly faultless bowling, fielding and batting display. Unfortunately, In the next two matches against St Andrew’s and Wellington College, the boys were unable to reproduce the same consistency to put enough pressure on the opposition and, as a result, had two close losses. In their last match, our young men again showed their capability and had a comprehensive win against Saint Johns from Hamilton, to finish 4th overall. The represented their school with pride and Harry Lowe led the team with real quality and character over the week.
More Gold for Nathan! Y
ear 10 table tennis player, Nathan Xu, has had stellar results in his competition as he builds up so far this year to the Youth Olympics in October. Recently, Nathan returned from Australia after competing in the 2018 International Table Tennis Federation Oceania Senior Championships. Only 14 years old, he travelled to the Gold Coast as part of New Zealand’s Under 21 Men’s team!
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After five long days of competition, Nathan returned home with gold in the team event, as well gold in the Under 21 Men’s Singles and a bronze in the Under 21 Men’s Doubles! Nathan was only 13 when he qualified last year for a place in the 2018 Youth Olympics taking pace in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October. He is likely to be one of the youngest competitors at the games where he will come up against the best youth players in the world. Nathan began playing table tennis at just four years old and, despite his age, is currently ranked as one of the top three male players in
New Zealand. He said ‘Seeing the ball fly over the net to win a game after countless hours of practising and trying to master that shot is simply the best feeling ever. Table tennis is a really complex sport which requires the player to constantly adapt. The way every shot is different and the fact that you have to react to those changes swiftly is what makes table tennis beautiful.’
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A Winning Season for Tennis!
I
Auckland Secondary Schools Tennis Teams Championships
National Tennis Teams Championships
A
n the final weeks of Term 1, our tennis teams were involved in both national and regional competitions proving that the tennis programme at Saint Kentigern continues to be strong with some great results from both our boys and girls!
Saint Kentigern was the only college in NZ to have a team in all three national championship events in Christchurch. The Mixed Premier Tennis team made it through to the final unbeaten and then went on to beat St Andrew’s comfortably to win the mixed title. The Boys’ Premier team had a much tougher journey through to the final. Initially losing on countback to Christ’s College, they went on to beat top seeds Wellington College in the semi and replayed Christ’s College in the final, this time winning 4-2 to also claiming the New Zealand title!
NZ Tennis Championships NZ TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
t the Auckland Secondary Schools Tennis Teams Championships, the Boys’ Premier Tennis team continued their dominance of this competition winning it for the 4th year in a row, beating Botany 4-2 in the final. The Girls Premier Tennis team beat Westlake Girls 5-1. This was really exciting play as it is the first time the girls have won this title for 4 years! AUCKLAND TEAMS COMPETITION Boys Premier Tennis Team Liam Stoica, Nick Beamish, Rudi Aksenoks, Sean Kelly, Max Allais
Champions
Girls Premier 1 Tennis Team Ema Miyaura, Ana Tamanika, Ela Vakaukamea, Aimee Brown
Runners up
Mixed Team: Ana Tamanika, Sam Hodges, Max Allais, Ema Miyaura
New Zealand Champions
Boys’ Team: Nick Beamish, Rudolf Aksenoks, Sean Kelly, Max Dickey, Liam Stoica
New Zealand Champions
Auckland Champion of Champions
O
ur premier players represented the College at the Auckland Secondary Schools Tennis Champion of Champions, competing in singles and doubles with Saint Kentigern represented in nine of the twelve finals. AUCKLAND CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS SENIOR Ema Miyuara
Senior Girls Singles Champion
Ema Miyuara and Aimee Brown
Senior Girls Doubles Runner Up
Sean Kelly and Rudolf Aksenoks
Senior Boys Doubles Champions
Rudolf Aksenoks
Senior Boys Singles Runner Up
INTERMEDIATE Ana Tamanika
Intermediate Girls Singles Champion
Ana Tamanika and Ela Vakaukamea
Intermediate Girls Doubles Champions
JUNIOR Jack Loutit
Junior Boys Singles Champion
Jack Loutit and Alex Mirkov
Junior Boys Doubles Champions
Boys’ Team: Champions: Rudi Aksenoks, Sean Kelly, Max Dickey, Samuel Hodges, Jack Loutit, Ales Mirkov Girls’ Team: Runner Up: Ema Miyaura, Aimee Brown, Ana Tamanika, Ela Vakaukamea , Meg Downs , Annabelle Loutit
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OVERALL SCHOOLS TROPHY
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Rowing Gold for Harry and Alex! W
ith the rowers encouraged to involve themselves in winter training ready for the first half of the season at the end of 2017, followed by a solid training camp at Finlay Park, Karapiro during January, the rowers, under the watchful eye of coaches Peter Mason and Guy Williams, were ready for the Term 1 regattas, building to the nationals in Twizel this year. The North Island Rowing Championship Regatta was held over four days with heats taking place on Thursday and Friday, followed by the finals on Saturday and Sunday. This year, the College had an astonishing 26 crews qualifying for A, B or C finals. This volume of successful crews has clearly shown that the many hours of training for this season have paid off.
Some notable results from this regatta included a Silver medal in the U18 Boys Double for Harry Church and Alex McRobbie, who then followed this up with a Bronze in their U18 Quad with team mates Ben Franich and George Beggs, coxed by Grace Barry. A successful season was completed with all of the crews that were taken down to the New Zealand Secondary School competition in Twizel making A or B finals. The success of the campaign, however, was the Boys U18 Double of Alex McRobbie and Harry Church winning the Gold medal in this event. This is the first title won at U18 level in 18 years! Harry has gone on to be named in the NZ Junior Quad to race at the Junior World Rowing Championships at Racice, Czech Republic, in August. Well done!
North Island Rowing Championship Silver Medal
U18 Double: Alex McRobbie, Harry Church
Bronze Medal
U18 Boys Quad: Ben Franich, Alex McRobbie, Harry Church, George Beggs, Grace Barry (Cox)
New Zealand Secondary Schools Championship Gold Medal
U18 Double: Alex McRobbie, Harry Church
Competitive Season for Waterpolo T
he Premier Water Polo season wrapped up in late April after a competitive and tightly-fought New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships. After a good build up, the Premier Boys’ season was highlighted by a place in the Auckland League final for the second consecutive year. The 2018 edition was played at the National Aquatic Centre as a part of the FINA Inter-continental World League qualifying event. The opportunity to play in a fully set up, world championship level pool was a once in a lifetime opportunity. The team came up against arch rivals Sacred Heart College, who after a tight tussle in the opening half, pulled away to win 8-6 leaving the boys in second place in Auckland.
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The boys travelled on to nationals, determined to right the ship after the loss in the Auckland Final and a fourth place finish in the North Island. They had a real fight on their hands in the quarter-final against surprise package, St Peter’s who pushed them all the way to a Penalty Shootout. However, young goalie, Alex Mcnaught’s quick reflexes proved decisive as he made two clutch saves to secure a third consecutive national semi-final. However, it was a tough last two games for the squad who fell to Westlake Boys’ High School and Rangitoto to finish fourth in the country. It was a season filled with learnings for this young team who will no doubt be back pushing for titles in 2019. The premier girls also travelled to Wellington after finishing 7th in Auckland, 8th in the North Island and wrapped the season by finishing 10th in the country.
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Presbyterian Quadrangular Tournament or three days during the April holidays, our Saint Kentigern 1st XV hosted fellow Presbyterian school teams, Scots College from Wellington, St Andrew’s College from Christchurch and Lindisfarne College from Hawkes Bay for the Annual Presbyterian Quadrangular Rugby Tournament. Bound together by our strong Presbyterian roots with links to Scotland, the tournament is keenly contested each year by the 1st XVs from each school. Now in its 30th year, with each school taking it in turn to host the tournament, many players have taken to the field over the years since its inception. Before play began, we welcomed almost 100 young men into the Chapel of Saint Kentigern for an ANZAC service conducted by Chaplain (and keen rugby supporter!), Reverend David Smith. It was a pleasure to hear the boys, in full voice, singing the National Anthem together before laying poppies in memory of those, many similar in age, whose lives were cut short by war. Soon after Chapel, the first games were played with St Andrew’s beating Lindisfarne 31-5 and Saint Kentigern beating Scots 62-5. As much as the competitive spirit of the tournament is important, so is fellowship and with the teams billeted in Bruce House, there was plenty of opportunity for new friendships to be forged. This carried through into the evening of the first day of play when the formal Quadrangular Dinner was held in the setting of the Year 13 Common Room, with the schools sharing the tables that had been beautifully set for dinner. Senior College Principal, Mrs Suzanne Winthrop welcomed the guests to dinner, including fellow leaders and special guest speakers for the evening SKY Sport rugby reporter and commentator, Mr Scotty Stevenson, and former players, Mr Grant Fox, now an All Black selector and Mr Ian Foster, an All Blacks Assistant Coach.
Run as a question and answer session, Scotty asked Grant and Ian pertinent questions to give the boys insight into what it takes to become a professional rugby player. Both Grant and Ian made it clear that to succeed and take the sport to the next level, talent is not enough, the boys need to be of a mindset to work hard at the game to maximise their chances, but also ensuring they have a strong educational fall back if they don’t attain their dreams. In conclusion, Grant told the boys to wake up every day grateful for what they have been given – each boy attends a great school with opportunities to make the most of their talent both on the field and in the classroom – the rest is down to hard work and ‘bit of luck.’ Prior to dinner, Deputy Head Boy, Ben Staite made the address to the haggis and during the course of the evening, the captains from each team, Dom Cornish from St Andrew’s; Jaylen Tuapola from Scots, Daniel Livingstone from Lindisfarne and Rivez Reihana from Saint Kentigern all made toasts. ANZAC Day was a day of rest before it was back to the business of rugby the following day. On a brilliantly sunny autumn day, with our grounds beautifully prepared, Scots and Lindisfarne were first to playing for 3rd and 4th place with Scots winning the game. The final game of the tournament was a spirited game between St Andrew’s and Saint Kentigern but the home side proved too strong with our boys winning the game 29-21 to claim the Quadrangular Cup. With the Auckland 1A competition underway, the tournament was a great opportunity for our boys to get some early season game time. We thank St Andrew’s, Scots and Lindisfarne for making the journey and hope they enjoyed their time with us as much as we enjoyed hosting them.
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OLD COLLEGIANS
From the President of the Old Collegians A
s we enter the second quarter of 2018, events and occasions that the Old Collegians have been involved with are already well underway. With a very successful 2017 now behind us, the main focus of the Old Collegians early this year has been the 65th College Anniversary Celebrations. Beginning the year, we had quite a few Old Collegians of the Boys’ School playing in their Golf Day, which was organised by Peter Nelson, old boy No. 19, at the Royal Auckland Golf Course. I’m pleased to report it was a cracking day and the course was in perfect condition. Most pleasing was that after five years of trying, the eventual winners of the day were none other than your President’s team! The 65th Anniversary Weekend Celebrations started with the official opening of the extension to the Sports Centre, a truly impressive facility that only further enhances the incredible facilities available now at the College for both boys and girls. Moving into Friday evening was a juggling act, as there was some unfinished business in the form of defending the Wirihana Cup, when the Old Collegians of the Boys’ School play the current 1st XI Cricket team. I wish I could report success, but unfortunately it was a tied game and the boys deservedly won the super over playoff. Well done lads, next year us old boys will be better prepared! Friday evening was a fantastic way to start the weekend celebrations with a cocktail evening hosted in the Jack Paine Centre. It was great to see so many Old Collegians and also past teachers attend the event, reconnecting and reliving their times at Saint Kentigern College. The Saint Kentigern Jazz ensemble were superb in setting a great background vibe to the evening and really added to the event. I’d like to thank both Suzanne Winthrop and Duncan McQueen for hosting the evening. Saturday evening was the main event, a formal Back Tie Dinner held in the Sports Centre. It was a great evening, especially for the number of foundation students representing the 1950’s and 1960’s. Mr John Maasland was our guest speaker, ably introduced by Mr Graham Little. John has had an incredible career and it was interesting listening to his views on education and how fortunate Saint Kentigern is to have the facilities and teaching staff it does in today’s climate.
Vautier, who currently works at NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), provide a video diary of his working life as well as recall insights in to his time at Saint Kentigern College. We also had a very special inaugural award created by the Old Collegians, which celebrates and recognises Outstanding Contribution to the Saint Kentigern Community. The award has been named after its first recipient, Mr Warwick G Bell, who started at Saint Kentigern College in 1957 School Number 560. Deputy Head Prefect, Head of Bruce House and Captain of Rowing, he achieved much in his school years. Rejoining the College as a Staff faculty member in 1967, He spent the next 40 years teaching, leading and motivating students in various capacities including Head of Department in English, Rugby Coach, Master in Charge of Rowing, Field Centre Master, IT & Publications, Head of Admissions. More recently, Warwick was responsible for spearheading the creation of the Archives Centre that will serve to keep the history and heritage of the College alive for students, staff and Old Collegians. He is a most worthy and deserving recipient. To top off the night of we had Old Collegian, Manase Latu perform two incredible operatic pieces. All in all a great celebration. Another annual sporting fixture that took place over the 65th weekend was the Old Collegian Cricket Team vs 1st XI College Team. A hard-fought game ensued with the ‘OC’s’ coming out on top – 1 all in the annual cricket fixtures! Looking forward to the rest of 2018, we have the traditional Australian Reunion weekend due to coincide with the Sydney Bledisloe Cup Rugby Game. Please touch base with us if you are going to be in the area for these two events. Both the Girls’ and Boys’ Hockey Teams have played against the OC’s and the Rugby 1st XV College team have a number of important home fixtures which I hope you can attend and support. As always, our main focus is to continue to work on our core goals of Fellowship, Scholarship support, Philanthropy, Special Grants and Graduation Celebrations.
Fides Servanda Est Mr Hayden Butler, President of the Old Collegians The committee welcomes feedback from members so please keep in touch via the website.
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Another Highlight was watching the video diary and congratulations from Mana
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
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SKOCA 2018 Calendar SKC V ST PETERS - 1ST XV RUGBY Saturday 26 July
SKOCA – COLLEGE GOLF DAY Monday 12th November
Time: 12.00pm Time: 2.30pm Venue: No 1 Field, College After match refreshments & BBQ provided
Time: Assemble at 11.00am Venue: Remuera Golf Club Ticket: $100.00 per head. Refreshments provided. RSVP: skoca@saintkentigern.com john.howard@raywhite.com
AUSTRALIAN REUNION - SYDNEY Friday 17 August Time: 6.30pm (Friday) Venue: TBC – Central Restaurant/Bar Ticket: A$65 (ROC’s A$40) Refreshments provided.
OTAGO UNI –ROC’S (RECENT OLD COLLEGIANS) COCKTAILS July – TBC Time: 6.00pm Venue: TBC RSVP: skoca@saintkentigern.com hacjames@gmail.com
Saturday 18th August Bledisloe Cup Rugby – ANZ Stadium Tickets available RSVP: skoca@saintkentigern.com
BOYS’ SCHOOL 2013 LEAVERS - BBQ Sunday 8th December Time: 3.30pm Venue: SKBS Sports Centre RSVP: skoca@saintkentigern.com sue.bowskill@saintkentigern.com
SKC V AGS - 1ST XV RUGBY Saturday 4 August Time: 2.30pm Venue: No 1 Field, College After match refreshments & BBQ provided
It is with sadness that we record the passing of the following students and staff. We express our condolences to their families.
Kevin Noel HAWKEN Lester William Eric MOLLER David Litchfield PACEY Ingulf Cassin REVEIM
WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT DO YOU DO? EVER WONDERED WHAT YOUR OLD CLASSMATES ARE UP TO? EVER THOUGHT THEY MAY BE INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU DO? 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.
Terrence Ian WARD
Please direct all correspondence to the Editor: jane.kneale@saintkentigern.com Communication Manager, Saint Kentigern Trust Board
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In Memoriam
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SKOCA Boys’ School Golf Day O
n a fabulous summer’s day bathed in sunshine, a field of almost 80 players convened at the Royal Auckland Golf Club for the annual SKOCA Boys’ School Golf Day. The guests, many of them former students, enjoyed lunch and a catch up prior to play.
Collegians, Hayden Butler, with James Brown, Simon Rowntree and Phil Lewis. The Ron Stone Memorial Trophy is awarded to an Old Collegian displaying ‘the true spirit of sportsmanship.’ This year it was presented to Paul Wilkes for his continued support for the School.
Principal, Mr Peter Cassie outlined the high stakes for the afternoon, notably ‘The Mungo Cap’ - a replica of the original grey school cap worn in earlier times – to be awarded to the top team at the end of play. At the other end of the scale was the gaudy, multi-coloured blazer, not exactly a prize to be coveted; one that would be awarded for ‘blooper of the day.’ As the first recipient of the jacket three years ago for a less than admirable shot, Mr Cassie is always keen to see the jacket well-homed elsewhere!
And the Jacket? It was awarded to James Kidd – for a shot that didn’t pass the ‘Ladies tee!’
As the fours headed out to their starting tee, carts loaded with provisions did the rounds to keep the players fed and hydrated. Players were surprised to discover an icecream van at the midway point!
Winners: Mungo Cap for first place: Hayden Butler, James Brown, Simon Rowntree, Phil Lewis Ron Stone Memorial Trophy: Paul Wilkes Bloopers Jacket: James Kidd Our special thanks to the following ‘Hole’ sponsors for their generosity: Matassa Property Services, Ace Kare Cleaning, East Imperial, Brez Electrical, SKOCA, Outline Design, PR Technologies, Ricoh, Boyd Visuals Thank you also for the amazing range of prizes donated by: East Imperial, JUCY, Giltrap, ANZ, Odyssey Wine, Burger Burger, Blue Frog, Tax Traders, Abbex Meant, Family Boats, Sulco, Golf Warehouse, Cruise Time
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Following play, the teams retired to the club house for refreshments and the prize giving. The School is grateful to the many generous sponsors who provided some fabulous prizes for those whose score cards were favourable; we thank them for their generosity. The winning four and recipients of the Mungo Cap was a team hosted by President of the Old
This was a fabulous afternoon and it was great to see former students of all ages turn out to support the School. Our thanks to all who helped ensure that the day ran smoothly and to Old Collegians’ representative for the Boys’ School, Mr Peter Nelson for his support.
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Tai and Tasesa Lavea – Professional Rugby Coaches O
ur top-level rugby players at the College could be forgiven for thinking that it was ‘business as usual’ on the coaching front, despite a change of leadership at the top. Former 1st XV Head Coach, Tai Lavea has stepped down and his identical twin brother, Tasesa, has taken up the coaching role! Tai and Tasesa are both proud Old Collegians. Both were boarders and are hugely thankful to the College for the opportunities that were afforded to them to excel on the rugby field and then continue on to forge rugby careers. At the start of this year, Tai resigned from his role as 1st XV Coach, having secured the Assistant Coach role with the Auckland Mitre 10 Cup side. We are absolutely thrilled for Tai and excited to think he will be working with Alama Ieremia, Graham Henry and Filo Tiatia in helping put Auckland Rugby back where it should be. He will also be back working with a large number of former Saint Kentigern boys who have gone on for selection at this level. The Auckland team are very lucky to have Tai on board and he has certainly earned his place in that management team. Tai had been with the College 1st XV since the end of 2009 and during his tenure had set the team on an unprecedented path to success, leading to wins
at regional and national level, as well a world title in Japan. He coached a changing team that won 52 games in a row, a record that will be difficult to match – no pressure Tasesa! Although Tai and Tasesa are twins, they bring different qualities and strengths to the programme. Tasesa initially played professional rugby for nine years, firstly with the Melbourne Storm followed by the Manly Sea Eagles, Auckland Rugby, the Blues, the Chiefs, Counties Manukau, Clermont Auverne, Manu Samoa and English Premiership side Sale Sharks. Over the last ten years he has accumulated significant coaching experience with the Chiefs U20, Counties Manukau U19 and most recently as Head Coach and Head of Rugby at King’s College. Tasesa has now taken ownership of the whole College rugby programme, taking on the Development Group as well as Head Coach the 1st XV. Whilst they are proud Old Collegians, we are also extremely proud of their achievements. We thank Tai for his commitment and look forward to Tasesa’s contribution.
Etene Nanai-Seturo – Commonwealth Gold Medallist H
aving graduated from College only last year, young rugby sensation, Etene Nanai-Seturo, has certainly made an early mark in the world of professional rugby. The subject of a cross-code dispute between New Zealand Rugby and the New Zealand Warriors, he eventually signed with New Zealand Rugby after being released from his contract with the Warriors. Earlier in the year, he had his first call up to an All Black side in the Seven’s World Rugby series in Sydney, joining fellow Old Collegian, Teddy Stanaway, in the side. Later, there was initial surprise
when he was omitted from the men’s Commonwealth Games squad for the Gold Coast games, but he was then called up after Ngarohi McGarvey Black suffered an ankle injury in a warmup match, and travelling reserve, Caleb Clarke was forced to return to New Zealand for surgery after being diagnosed with appendicitis. This was a lucky break for Etene – and arguably the team – as the All Black sevens were the first to score in the final game when Etene was the first to touch down with a try in what proved to be a win for a Commonwealth Games Gold medal! We will continue to watch Etene with great interest!
Jordan Hunter – Commonwealth Bronze Medallist
A talented sportswoman, Jordan’s skill as a basketball player became clear during her College years. Following her Saint Kentigern graduation, Jordon headed to Crowder Community College in the States to combine her academic studies with representative basketball. Strong showings earned her a transfer to Southeast Missouri State University where she completed her education, graduating in 2014. She
averaged 8.8 points and a team-leading 3.7 assists for the Redhawks in her senior year. Jordan was a stand out in the New Zealand Women’s Basketball Championships (WBC) helping her team, Auckland Counties Manukau Lady Hawks, finish runners-up in 2015. Hunter led the competition in points (20.3ppg) and assists (4.5apg) that season. She was signed to Australian side, Adelaide Lightning for the 2016-17 Australian Women’s National Basketball League season and currently plays for the Sturt Sabres. When she graduated College, Jordan said she had gained a true respect for Saint Kentigern and the opportunities it had provided her.
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Etene wasn’t the only Old Collegian to come home from the Commonwealth Games with a medal, Tall Fern, Jordan Hunter, was also a medallist, winning a team bronze medal with the New Zealand Women’s Basketball team!
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Jamie France – Mechanical Design Engineer, Rocket Lab F
rom my early years, playing with Lego constructions, I always wanted to be an engineer. In my final year at Saint Kentigern (1995) I focused my subjects on maths and science to set myself up for studying engineering. I went on to Auckland University, completing my Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) in 1998. All engineering students have to complete onsite work experience during their summer holidays and I was lucky enough to complete mine at Team NZ in 1997, just as they were starting to gear up for the first America’s Cup defence in 2000. After I completed my degree, I went to work full time for Team New Zealand. I started as an engineering assistant, doing data analysis from the on-the-water testing, and went on to write some of the software for other navigation on-board systems. In 1998, Team New Zealand started to use 3D CAD (Computer Aided Design) modelling in their design process, and I was able to pick up that skill alongside my other duties. We won the 2000 America’s Cup, so I stayed on for the next campaign. I continued to do some software creation, but also designed some of the simpler custom hardware for the yachts. Ultimately, however, we lost the 2003 America’s Cup, and like the other team members, I was out of a job. I decided to push for more industrial engineering experience in my career and joined Fisher & Paykel in their production machinery division. I designed machines for the production lines that make their washing machines and other appliances, including working on a new production line which manufactured 1 million SmartDrive washing machine motors per year. After a tenure of 18 months, the lure of the America’s Cup became too strong and I was shoulder-tapped to start back at Team New Zealand (now known as Emirates Team New Zealand) for the 2007 challenge in
Valencia. Over the three-year campaign, I was responsible for the CAD model of the yacht, acting in a liaison role between the sailors and the design team. I designed hardware for the yachts and created tooling for the composite team to manufacture those components. The sailors were the customers of the design team, so I acted as their interface to turn their ideas into reality. It meant they had the yacht they wanted on the start line. After the loss in 2007, the team again disestablished and I found a new opportunity at Air New Zealand. This was fortunately just as they were kicking off a development project, looking to completely reinvent the concept of long-haul air travel. I was lucky enough to spend a year working in a secret warehouse, developing seating concepts for the new Boeing 777-300 aircraft that Air New Zealand had committed to. Out of this came brand new seat designs for international air travel, including the SkyCouch, which I developed from a concept into a working prototype that could then be licensed to a manufacturer. This won a Gold Pin in the Best Design Awards for 2010, along with being a contributing factor in Air New Zealand winning Airline of the Year for the past five years in a row. With the America’s Cup back up and running in 2011, I went back to Emirates Team New Zealand. This time, my role saw me taking on more of the same responsibilities for the global CAD model, along with significant mechanical hardware design – particularly in the rudder and daggerfoil systems for the new AC72 catamarans. The R&D program was excellent, and was credited with bringing foiling to the America’s Cup. However ultimately the sporting result didn’t go our way and in 2013 I was once again looking at other options.
Six months spent as an independent contract designer saw me develop the daggerfoil system for the 100-foot racing yacht Comanche (current holder of the 24hour distance record for monohulls, winner of the Sydney to Hobart in 2015 and 2017, and holder of the Transatlantic record). I also worked for the French Gitana yacht racing team developing daggerfoil and rudder systems for their 70 and 100-foot ocean racing trimarans, which were leading the development to bring foiling to a new generation of ocean racing yachts. In early 2014, I joined a small start-up called Rocket Lab as a mechanical design engineer. At the time there were only 14 staff and the challenge of creating a small commercially-funded start-up to launch small satellites into space from New Zealand was enormous – and enormously exciting. I spent three years in the vehicle design team, designing many of the custom components on the launch vehicle. 18 months ago, I changed roles to become Production Manager, leading the team of talented technicians that mechanically build the launch vehicle and complete the final assembly, before shipping out to the launch site in Mahia, Gisborne. It has been amazing helping to build this company up from its very small beginnings to the more than 200 extremely talented staff that we have today. After the 100% successful launch of just our second test flight in January, this journey is only just beginning….
Shae Lightwood-Morris - Quantity Surveyor old collegi a ns
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first attended Saint Kentigern College in 2009, before leaving the College to sail around the world with my family, where I was exposed to many unique and life-shaping experiences. In 2012, I made the decision to return to the College and become a boarder at Bruce House, while completing the International Baccalaureate Diploma, as my family continued their sailing adventure. I was unsure of what I wanted to do when I left College so I decided on taking a gap year, travelling Europe and eventually working and living on Hamilton Island in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
Throughout my travels, I met a series of interesting people working as Quantity Surveyors, an occupation I was unaware of when I left school. The more I looked into Quantity Surveying, the more intrigued I became. Quantity Surveying, in a construction sense, is the cost management of construction projects. I made the decision to study a Bachelor of Construction, majoring in Quantity Surveying at Massey University, a three year degree course incorporating construction, general commerce and business management aspects of Quantity Surveying.
In fact, the Bachelor of Construction includes many of the same papers as the first and second year Bachelor of Commerce degree. I had always enjoyed business studies but had not been interested in becoming ‘another commerce student’, as for the construction, this was a stab in the dark and something I had no previous experience with! As it turns out, studying Quantity Surveying was generally a male dominated degree, which is also evident in the industry. The Bachelor of Construction course is designed to allow students to gain industry
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James Wenley – ‘Dr Drama’ I
suppose it won’t be a surprise for my teachers and contemporaries to learn that I have gone on to complete a PhD in Drama at the University of Auckland. But this would be a surprise for the 2006 version of me, living my Year 13 year and wondering what life outside the college gates would hold. Sure, I was ‘Mr Drama’ at school. I’d become (in)famous for a series of roles including Pharaoh in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat,’ Hitler in Stage, Freddie Mercury In Hamilton’s winning House Choir performance and the villainous Bill Sykes in ‘Oliver.’ But I didn’t think I’d become Dr Drama. That was never part of the plan. At College graduation I was harbouring ambitions to go to Drama School overseas and become an actor. I was shortlisted and got very close but in the meantime, I went to The University of Auckland to do my undergrad. It was there that I had the revelation that what I really loved was the behind-the-scenes aspects of theatre, of seeing a project through from conception to closing. I began putting on work – producing, directing, writing. I formed a theatre company, Theatre of Love, and I also became a theatre critic (www. theatrescenes.co.nz). But it was only after completing my Masters in Drama that I decided I wanted to do a Doctorate too. My mission is to promote a wider awareness of the theatre of Aotearoa/New Zealand. My thesis, entitled ‘Finding Ourselves: New Zealand Theatre’s Overseas Experience’, allowed me to write a mini-history of NZ theatre by researching plays and productions from New Zealand that have travelled internationally.
I am passionate about drama education: it fosters creative and collaborative skills, lets us imagine other lives and keeps us connected with our humanity. My Drama 100 course felt like the culmination of everything I’ve been working on up to this point, including my own performance and public speaking experiences at the College and even the Boys’ School. Indeed, there’s a lot that I credit to my time at Saint Kentigern, like the leadership opportunities that are on offer if you step up. Leading Hamilton House in my last year was hugely influential. Also, the excellence of the teaching staff – I have such fond memories of my English, Drama, Classics, History, Media and Photography classes. I owe a lot to my then Year 13 English teacher, Flora Mather, who sat me down at the start of the year and showed me that if I worked
experience while studying full time. At the beginning of my second year, I was offered a cadetship at Watts & Hughes Limited, a main contractor for commercial construction projects throughout New Zealand. I began working full time with Watts & Hughes while studying full time. This was ideal as I was able to gain first hand industry knowledge alongside experienced Quantity Surveyors, complete my degree, get paid and have my university tuition covered! I am now 21, have completed my degree and continued my position with Watts & Hughes Limited where I have two years experience behind me and am
hard it would be possible to become DUX. And of course, the superb performing arts programme. I was a Theatresports coach and even got to direct the Senior School production ‘Pressure’. I think I benefited a great deal from the College becoming coeducational, which ushered in a cultural change and a greater emphasis on the arts. In my final year, I felt accepted for the course I had been charting. It’s been great to venture back to the College from time to time, whether it’s to see a production, take part in a Theatresports competition, or more recently, to use my academic credentials to talk to the drama students about ‘Epic Theatre’. Recently, I was asked if I wanted to sponsor a cup for the Performing Arts Awards. I know how much it will mean for the recipient to have what they do recognised and validated.
starting take on greater responsibility, although I still have years of learning ahead of me. I spend time on site, in the office and work in teams alongside construction and project managers, engineers, architects and clients. I am starting the process of becoming a registered Quantity Surveyor, which is recognised internationally. Being a Quantity Surveyor isn’t only limited to the traditional ‘on site’ contractors construction, you can work on projects representing banks and clients to assist with niche construction cost management. I would recommend this career path to anyone looking for something a little bit different, in an ever changing and fast paced industry.
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While studying, I have also had many incredible teaching opportunities in the University’s English and Drama department. I am in the fourth year of running a course for third-year medical students called ‘Performing Medicine’, where we examine the intersections between the medical and the theatrical. Last year I got to design and teach a brand-new Stage One Drama course called ‘Taking the Stage: Performance and Presentation Skills’, which helped 175 students develop their skills in public speaking, acting, improvisation and devised theatre making.
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Elizabeth Fletcher- Gap Medic I
knew for my last few years at school that that nursing would be my career of choice but how could I know what it’s really like? It is very hard to get hands-on, real-life experience in New Zealand to discover if this was the career I really wanted to pursue. About half way through my final year at College, I came across an advertisement that said ‘Want to become a Nurse?’ through a group called Gap Medics. I spent some time researching and trying to find out as much as I could before I showed it to my parents! Gap Medics is a UK-based organisation that helps students gain international medical work experience through shadowing doctors, nurses, midwives or dentists in a hospital environment. Placements can be anything between 1-8 weeks and are in a variety of countries worldwide with opportunities for 16 - 17 year olds, or 18-25 year olds. I applied for the pre-nursing internship in the Spanish-speaking Dominican Republic for a twoweek placement. It took three flights from Auckland to get to Santo Domingo, all up around 30 hours travelling time. I arrived at the Gap Medics house on New Year’s Eve to share with nine other students from the USA and Canada. By the second week, this had grown to twenty, including another New Zealander, Australians and a ‘Brit’, as well as a chef, a security guard to keep us safe, a handyman, placement co-ordinators and a female night supervisor. So we were well looked after! In the first week, we shadowed our mentor during her normal working day as an intensive care nurse. From day one, she was enthusiastic and eager to show us what she does and how they cope in public hospitals, as compared to private hospitals. We learnt that many patients in Santo Domingo are victims of motorbike accidents. Of course, not all of them survive. I spent a day in the intensive care ward where one of the male patients had been shot at least nine times trying to save his possessions
from a robber – a sad side of life that was previously outside my realm of experience. I also saw a dislocated shoulder being put back into place; an amputation, due to diabetes, where the surgeon had to deal with multiple power outages during the operation; and babies being born - two beautiful boys, one full term and one who needed help from a neonatal intensive care unit. For the second week, I had requested to spend my time in a paediatric and maternity hospital. There were many parents who brought in their babies and children simply seeking reassurance as parents. Often the babies just needed ‘winding.’ Different to New Zealand, when a baby was born in the hospital, it was taken away from the mother and not returned for 2-5 hours. Our group visited a disability orphanage one day. The majority of the children had either Downs Syndrome or microcephaly. These children are usually abandoned to the orphanage by their parents regardless of their financial situation, as having a disabled child is seen locally as a bad reflection on them personally. It was so heart-breaking, as the conditions the children live in are very basic and they appear to have very limited interaction with the carers in the orphanage. This was honestly a life-changing experience, it has made me see things in a different way and that being a nurse is greater than I originally thought. It has certainly confirmed my initial thoughts about what type of nursing I want to end up doing. In addition, I have formed some great new friendships with like-minded people from other parts of the world and have gained a new appreciation of the country in which we live. I highly recommend Gap Medics if you are interested in a medical career and want to experience real-life before committing to a university degree.
Yi (Terry) Pu - Dentist I
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studied at Saint Kentigern College from 2005, graduating in 2009. During my college years, I was a member and eventually the concert master of the Orchestra and Concert Band. I obtained my Associate Diploma in Violin Recital the same year I won the Saint Kentigern College Solo Music Competition and the Music Award in 2009. I was admitted into The University of Queensland’s Bachelor of Dental Science where the leadership and artistic aspect of my college years helped me pursue my love for dentistry. During my university years, I was also the member and, for a brief period, the concert master of the Queensland Medical Orchestra. I volunteered for the Tzu Chi International Medical Association to help improve the oral health of the homeless and refugees. I was also the founder and president
of the Taiwanese Dental Group in UQ during my study. I graduated from the UQ Bachelor of Dental Science with Honours in 2015 and started working in private practice. I am currently the Principal Dentist in Australia Dental Burpengary and my main goal is to help promote and improve the oral health of people within the community. My next life changing step is my recent admission into James Cook University’s Graduate Diploma of Dental Implantology in 2018. My ultimate goal is to contribute into the research of dental implantology while maintaining my life as a private practitioner. My time in Saint Kentigern College was truly unforgettable. Without the help of my mentors, family and friends during those years, I would never have become who I am today.
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Crystal Sun – World Sailing Title! R
ecent Old Collegian, Crystal Sun proved herself to be a strong sailor during her College years. In September 2017, during her final year at school, she and her sailing partner, Olivia Hobbs from St Cuthbert’s, won the 2017 NZL Youth Trials. This win led them to selection for the New Zealand Sailing Foundation Youth Team, qualifying them to compete in the women’s skiff class (29er) at the Youth World Championships in Sanya, China in December. They had both been sailing the 29er since 2015 and partnered up in 2016. The lead up to December was a busy period for Crystal as she completed her school work towards gaining an International Baccalaureate Diploma, while training 4-5 times a week in readiness for the event. As well as training, they also attended youth clinics and other regattas. After Sanya, they travelled onto Hong Kong in January
to compete in 2018 29er Open World Championships. Racing in the same Gold Fleet as the men, they faced some tough sailing conditions with two days racing lost to gusty conditions. With racing complete, they won the Women’s 29er Open World title! Crystal now plans to go on and study physics and geophysics at The University of Auckland, starting in Semester 2. As she and her partner no longer qualify as youth sailors, they have moved into the 49er fx which is the Olympic level women’s skiff. Their next major event will be the 2019 World Championships, which will be held in New Zealand at the end of next year, but for now they are spending 4-5 days a week on the water, working on the transition from 29er to 49er fx with a long-term goal to hopefully qualify for the 2024 Olympic games in France!
Brian Rensford – Christian Missionary B
rian began at Saint Kentigern in 1959 and in is final year was made a prefect, something he said was a turning point in his life journey, having been a little ‘unruly’ in his younger years. Two years later, halfway through a Commerce degree at AU, he made a commitment to Lord Jesus Christ and has followed, loved and served Him ever since. After completing his studies, he moved to Melbourne to commence training as a Christian minister and the following year, hitchhiked 900km to Sydney, drove semi-trailers and lived and served in an Aboriginal mission in the inner-city slums of Redfern; his first Christian worker assignment. In the following years, he also worked for a large auditing firm and became company accountant for (what is now) Rivers Shoes – in their largest manufacturing plant in Australia. He also married an ‘Aussie girl.’
Brian says that Saint Kentigern has left an indelible mark on him and he said it was joy to catch up with fellow students at the 2009 Jubilee celebrations. He says that the impact of the School motto, Fides Servanda Est, its true meaning and call to loyalty to the essential gospel has been something he has stressed to his African friends and extended family. He says he has found that ‘Keeping the Faith’ must have a warm, relational aspect for there to be any genuine bonds that endure. The crying need for affection is greater than ever in our societies… St Kentigern himself understood this. For more information about Brian’s missionary life, he invites you to visit his website: http://www.hnlc.org.au/rensford
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In 1974, he and his wife, Elizabeth made a permanent move to Sydney and set out to pastor a church, whilst continuing to selfsupport doing contract work, saying he ‘discovered he had a God-given gift for fixing up messes - financially, relationally, and organisationally.’ This is something he has continued for over 49 years since he was ordained.
For the past 35 years his church has supported a ministry called ‘Lifeline Ministries Southern Africa’ and in the past 21 years, he has visited mainly Zimbabwe and Mozambique on 27 extended trips, teaching, training, pastoring leaders, and learning how to conduct ‘real safaris’ in his 4WD for the other 22 people from his church who have been ‘brave enough’ to accompany him! Through this work, he made the surprising discovering that the phonetics of the local language, Shona, are identical to Maori so when he speaks pidgin Shona, they think he was raised there.
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James Fouche – Competitive Cyclist A
College student from Year 7, James was a stalwart of the cycling team, taking on the captaincy of boys’ cycling in 2015. Whist he started out with the Saint Kentigern College Triathlon team, he found that swimming ‘wasn’t my sort of thing’, however, cycling was. A love of the speed of cycling channelled his energy in that direction in Year 9. Multiple successes followed during the next five years while at the College, including competing in the UCI World Championship in Richmond, Virginia in his final year. After graduating, he gained a second place in both the 2016 Oceania Road Race Championships and the Time Trial. A few weeks later he won the U19 National Time Trial Championships. Both those results helped him to be selected for the UCI World Championships in Doha, Qatar later that year, which proved a further learning experience. In 2017, James competed in the U23 Giro d’Italia which is one of the biggest races for U23’s. After competing creditably in this Italian tour, he headed to Belgium where he won two prestigious titles and placed
second twice, along with winning the National U23 Road Race. These top placings meant James was awarded the NZ Cycling Corp Memorial Trophy, the first recipient of this special award. The trophy is made from a cobblestone from the Kemmelberg Climb in Belgium and is mounted on a piece of timber from a WW1 trench where the NZ Cycling Corps fought – a significant trophy and memorable achievement. James said that it was special to be the first recipient and that he gained increased motivation for racing the event after learning about the history behind the trophy. Because of his performances over the last year, he received a contract to ride for Team Wiggins in 2018. James says he is thankful for the support he received at the College, having Rick Faulding as the Triathlon and Cycling coach was definitely a big influence. At the College he also met his current coaches, Patrick and Tammy Harvey who coached at the College for the first few years he was there and have remained his coaches ever since.
OCA v 1st XI Cricket B
eautiful weather set up what was a fantastic day for a cricket game between the College 1st XI and the Old Collegians XI. The Old Collegians went to bat with some very handy cricketers, including New Zealand U19 cricketer, Sandeep Patel and Auckland Ace, Jamie Brown.
Thank you to Hayden Butler (President of the Old Collegians), Hamish McGregor (Old Collegian Head Boy on the BBQ), Hilary Low (Scorer) and Sandeep Patel and Ryan Phizackerly for organising the Old Collegians team. Also a massive thanks to member of staff, Malcolm Cowie who organised and set up the event.
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The Old Collegians started nervously with the College’s Simon Keene picking up 2 key wickets early. Devon Jones top scored with 31 and Ashwyn Herwels added a handy 20 to anchor the innings. The Old Collegians went along at a steady run rate until Ryan Phizackerly came out and blasted 29 from 13 balls with plenty of lusty blows. This finished the innings at a respectable but gettable 126/9.
The College team started slowly losing wickets at regular intervals but with Connor McKenzie steadying the ship for the College with 21, they managed to maintain a steady run rate. Spin twins Ashwyn Herwells and Rob von Elling picked up two wickets each which set back the College’s run chase restricting them to 105 all out. The end of the innings was followed by a BBQ with valuable time to chat.
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OC v 1st XI HOCKEY N
ow an annual fixture on the calendar, a team of Old Collegians played against the Hockey Boys 1st XI as part of their pre-season preparations. The Old Collegian’s team, made up of a mixture of recent, and not-so-recent graduates of the College, put the current 1st XI through their paces. Greg Chadderton, Mike Hook and Cameron Wilson led the team well through the midfield, with the Old Collegians holding the lead for a significant portion of the match. As always, players enjoyed some time to catch up and share stories following the final whistle. The final score of the match was 4-2 to the current team.
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Special thanks to Mr Ramesh Patel, Mr Paul Bennett and Mr Malcolm Cowie for their organisation of the event.
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