12 Our girls’ achievements
Budding Leaders Acknowledged Year 8 student Victoria Jagush and Samara Saunders in Year 6 have been recognised for their outstanding leadership qualities with Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards. The awards are presented to students who work well with others, get stuck into tasks, take on extra duties with a positive attitude and are kind and thoughtful in their words and actions. Victoria was surprised to receive her award in a special assembly presentation by Dr Rochelle Constantine, an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and marine mammal specialist who delivered an inspiring speech for the girls. Samara received her award from sponsors Westpac in another special assembly where Principal Justine Mahon applauded her enthusiastic and supportive leadership style as a Junior School House Leader for York. Congratulations to both these aspiring young leaders. Science Badge Bonanza STEM learning is a critical part of our students’ education as they set
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MAKING GIRLS AMAZING
out on the path towards becoming Global Citizens. A great example of this is the Middle School Science Badge programme. Girls in Year 7 and 8 have the opportunity to nurture their science passions through extra-curricular learning in any of 29 science areas from Home Chemistry to Zoology and Optics to Wool Science. The programme gives particular focus to areas of science beyond the New Zealand Curriculum for intermediate school learners. The girls complete the research and experiments required for each badge in their own time and those who complete four badges receive a bronze award, eight badges a silver award, and 12 badges a gold award. The girls’ enthusiasm for the programme is evident in the 248 badges the 2017 Year 8 cohort accumulated over their two years in the Middle School. One student who is well on her way to a gold award is Jifei Shao in Year 7, who in just two terms has already completed eleven science badges! Jifei’s science passions are human biology, chemistry and physics and she loves the hands on learning the science badges offer. She hopes to study in the medical field after school.