THE LIBRARY

The library offers a range of over 10,000 books and numerous magazines for students to read. In 1983 about 600 new books were bought or donated, and subscriptions to ten magazines added to the library stock. About 80 of the new books were donated through the efforts of the Parents Association who again paid for half the cost of each book donated at Parent Teacher evenings. Overall, about half of the $6,000 budget went on purchasing non-fiction, one quarter on fiction, with the rest being spread over periodicals, library materials and capital expenditure.

Change became an important theme in the library during the year with the main intention being to make the library a more useful and interesting resource within the school. Some of the most welcome changes were: the opening of the library each day before school, the addition of comic books for reading in the library, the purchase of free standing shelving for displaying books and the presence of pot plants in the library.

One on-going change has been the the regular displays of class work which have appeared since September when display boards were permanently set up in the library. In the latter part of the year nine displays were put up showing work from the Art, Maths, Social Studies, ODC, Science and English departments. Change of a different sort was necessitated when Mrs Collen was accepted for Library School during the early part of Term III. Her replacement, Mrs Clark, helped the library continue in a smooth and friendly way.

Less noticeable, but just as significant was the completion of two major long-term projects: the culling of old and unpopular stock and the re-classifying of the non-fiction section, the latter project being the culmination of several years' work. In addition to being used by classes for library periods and as a study and recreational area, the library has also been a popular venue for school debates and as a meeting place for various groups.

Overall, it has been a busy but progressive year, with the library again contributing much to the general character of the school. The 1983 school librarians were: Andrew Griffiths, Robert McKay, Glyn Williams, John McGregor, Gabor Toth, Simon Phear, Grant Quinn, Graham Steele, Brian Hoy, Darryl Wilson, Karl Dickson, Nick Fisher, Gavin Feast, Daniel Hodson, Jason Hogg and John Shepherd.

Phoenix Film Club And Theatre

The year 1983 was a very productive one for the Phoenix Film Club and both committee and members achieved a great deal including a goal which has been talked about and planned during the last two years. At last we showed films and made a profit during lunchhours in the second and third terms. They were very popular and the films appealed particularly to the juniors. We look forward to some roaring successes next year also.

At one dollar a ticket, the films were: “Flying High”, “Mad Max II”, and the delightful romance, “The Blue Lagoon”, not to forget the crazy “Caveman”. The audience had value for their money and club funds have been built up for the next step forward.

Because one of the films needed a cinema-scope lens we decided to build a wide screen and this turned out to be a major engineering feat, achieved by Don Smith and his team. Backed with bison-board (black) and lashed with new cords (gold) and with speakers fastened behind it, the new screen provides a focal point for the theatre.

The auditorium is to be painted in November (as we go to print) with a colour scheme which, after full discussion and consultation, has been given to the Headmaster. Renovations and improvements to come will include (hopefully) a sliding projection window and later a better carpet to match the glory of the mural, the walls and the ceiling

The new Instaload projector, replacing the old Graflex which is retired now after many years of good service, makes loading and rewinding much faster and easier for projectionists and teachers.

The Phoenix Theatre, used daily by classes and maintained by the Film Club, is a great asset to the college. The committee this year have been: Martin Prout (Chairman), Greg Moore (Secretary), James Jones (Treasurer) and Don Smith (Proxy). The club once again extends its thanks to Mr Henderson for his involvement and the Headmaster for his interest and support. The number of members has been 23, the highest since the club was re-established in 1980 and next year, with privileged admission to films, there should be many more.

M. Prout

Polynesian Club

Greetings to you all.

Well, we made it through to the end of ‘83. Somehow this year seemed to be against us much of the time, but adversity was conquered, and a small (but very classy!), loyal and energetic group performed at a Wellington College prize-giving, for the first time.

They looked well in their black lava lava, performed well, and were obviously well-received by all present. (And it was just as well the numbers reduced to 14, or the front row of invited guests would have been more than a little surprised when the group moved up to the stage for the sasa, the final item). A special thanks to all of you who hung on in there to the very end. It was worth it.

The year’s programme was indeed a varied one. We started the year off with about 70 members and supporters (including two South Africans — someone who shall remain nameless, evidently told them it was compulsory for overseas exchange students to join).

In Term 1 we had a social with Wellington Girls’ College Polynesian club and played the staff at softball and half a cricket match (day two got rained out), and started rehearsals ofthe Maori items for the Festival.

Our boys again took a leading role in the Wellington Secondary Schools’ Tu Tangata group, with Steve Lau Young as No. 1 Chairperson and Daren Young as Treasurer. We again ran a very successful and profitable social, involving several schools from the district.

Term 2, as always, was the busiest, with five of our main members as prefects, six of them in the First XV, three in the basketball team, and others in volleyball. It was always hard to get everybody together at one time. As if they weren’t already busy enough, several of the same members decided to become North American Indians for the major drama production.

But a lot of hard work was put in by a core of 28 lads, who performed for the school at assembly, and then at the annual Polynesian Festival.

However, something of the excitement and fun of the Festival was missing this year, coming as it did at the end of the Quadrangular Tournament week, in which many of our boys were involved.

A large fa’afetai to Fa’aolatane for her help, at very short notice in teaching the stick dance and the Samoan songs.

Also, a special thank you to Tama Paku, for so much of his time and energy with the Maori items. Kia ora, e hoa.

To the boys in the club, I say a personal thank you, particularly to those who are leaving — to Steve, whose leadership, loyalty and talent kept the show together, to Maeli and Salo who’ve also been with the club since its beginning four years ago; to Titi, and to some of the newer people, Tom and Dio, who were also some of the most reliable, loyal and helpful. It’s good to know that Darin, Ralph, Ige and others will still be around for next year

I wish you all the best for 1984.

Kathy Hansen.

Korimako Speech Contest

This year, possibly for the first time, the school was represented at the Korimako Speech Contest. Ralph Fa’amalepe-Jones spoke in the senior section on the abolition ofthe Maori seats in Parliament and Timothy Motu, our junior entrant, spoke on the importance of education. The standard of competition was high and both acquitted themselves well.

The contest is a national one, instituted to encourage public speaking in the English language among secondary school students of Maori descent. This year’s hosts ofthe regional final were Upper Hutt College and we took a small support group of senior Maori students along We didn’t have a representative in the Pei Te Hurinui Jones contest, where the competition is in Maori, but with the advent in 1984 of the teaching of the indigenous language of Aotearoa, perhaps that can be remedied in the near future.

Tena koutou Katoa.

K. Hansen

Polynesian Club

Back row (left to right): D. Wong, D. To'o, T. Holthausen, P. Manase, A. Tiatia, R. Fa'amalepe-Jones.

Middle row: H. Reiri, D. Roberts, P. Fereti, Ms K. Hansen, M. Taufale, W. Taulelei.

Front row: N. Enari, T. Etuata, M. Faletolu, P. Ifi, B. Lau Young, E. Hendrikse.

Absent: S. Lau Young (leader), M. Peled, E. Foaeva, A. Patea, I. Ete, F. Taufale, R. To'o, T. Fereti, D. Toailoa, P. Ae, V. Shelford.