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Term 3 Issue 3

Tēnā koutou e te whanau o Whangaparāoa,

Our Full School Assembly held today provided a powerful reminder of the unity and spirit that define Whangaparāoa College. The assembly was a celebration of our collective achievements and a moment to acknowledge the hard work, perseverance, and talent that each of our learners bring to the school. It was also a key time for me to remind senior learners of their upcoming examinations.

Literacy Week is in full swing and has been a highlight, with learners engaging enthusiastically in a variety of challenges and activities. As we continue to have our school wide focus on improving literacy all round, this week has been great to highlight the importance of literacy through various events.

The Winter Sports Semi-Finals, and Finals have brought out the best in our athletes recently. The dedication shown by our learners and coaches throughout the season has been exemplary, and I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all those who participated in winter sports. Your hard work and commitment have not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly proud of your achievements. I want to make a special mention to our Youth 14 Rugby team who have their North Harbour final, this coming Saturday at Rosmini College at 9.30 am. It would be great to have good support there for the team on the day.

In the arts, our learners excelled at the KBB Music Festival, bringing home an impressive Bronze medal for the Concert Band. This success is a testament to the talent, dedication, and passion of our musicians, as well as the support and guidance of our music department. The performance was outstanding, and it’s clear that the arts continue to thrive at Whangaparāoa College. I encourage all our learners to keep pursuing their artistic passions.

As we look ahead, our senior learners are gearing up for their practice exams. These exams are a critical part of their academic journey, providing an opportunity to practice under exam conditions and to identify areas for improvement before the final assessments. I encourage our senior learners to approach these exams with focus and determination and to make the most of the resources and support available to them. Parents and caregivers, your encouragement and support during this time are invaluable, and I thank you for the role you play in your learners' education.

Finally, I want to express my gratitude to all our staff, learners, and whānau for your ongoing commitment to making Whangaparāoa College a place of excellence and community. Your contributions, whether in the classroom, on the sports field, in the arts, or in supporting our events, are what make our school truly special.

Ngātahi, Whakapono, Tutuki - Together, Believe, Achieve

Ngā mihi

Steve McCracken
Tumuaki | Principal

Recent News

School TV

Healthy Study Habits

In today's world, where distractions are abundant and the pressure to excel is high, guiding children to develop healthy study habits is more important than ever. As students aspire to achieve academic success, the cornerstone of that achievement lies not just in their intelligence or drive, but in the study habits they cultivate.

This Special Report will help you support your young person as they embark on studying for exams.

To view, please visit: Healthy Study Habits

School Closed 23 September

On Monday 23rd September the school will be closed to learners. On that day we will have a Staff Only Day. Staff Only Days are usually organised through an Accord between the Ministry of Education and PPTA to enable teachers to focus on upcoming changes or, like in this case, in observance of our contractual obligations. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation and thank you for your continued support.

KBB Music Festival

Our fantastic Concert Band competed in the KBB Music Festival this past week at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Auckland. They spent weeks practicing their three pieces and performed superbly to a large audience.
The judges awarded them a BRONZE award!! A huge congratulations to Mr Ha’unga who led the band, and Ms. Shone for all of her support.
Awesome work Concert Band!!

Stand Up Stand Out Competition

SUSO is a platform that gives aspiring young musicians and dancers an inclusive and supportive environment to perform at and be discovered, as well as valuable development opportunities and experiences to build a career pathway.

This year, secondary school students auditioned in front of judges selected from the New Zealand music and performing arts industry .

Whangaparāoa College band ,The People entered the Stand Up Stand Out competition on August the 14th which was held at Te Oro, Glen Innes and are now one of the 15 bands to advance to the semi-final of the Stand Up Stand Out music competition , which will be held on August 31st at the Concert Chamber in the Auckland Town Hall. We are very proud of what they have achieved and wish them all the best for the semi finals.

The People: Liam Aalders, Caleb Gardner, Tui Whatling, Jess Quayle, Jake McKenzie.

Attendance

Should a Learner suddenly take ill while at school they are required to visit the Health Centre, where the school nurse will assess their need to go home and ensure that their attendance is marked to reflect this.

A Leaving Early Pass will be issued if arrangements have been made for
the Learner to leave the school grounds.

Rocket Lab

This week, Miss White, Mr Hodson and Mr Mueggenburg, took 26 of our learners to RocketLab - some who had signed up for Space School, and some from our Future Innovators Association - a club that meets weekly.
Everyone thought the trip was amazing. We got to see the control centre for launching rockets, got to see rockets being made, and got to talk with some of the people who work for RocketLab. We weren't allowed phones or cameras inside the building, but one of their staff took some pics for us - Photos still to come, keep an eye on our socials.

Social Media

As parents and caregivers you may feel you are constantly weighing up the positives of social media, but also be mitigating the risks it can pose to your child.
It’s important to help them to use the online world in a way that’s safe and positive for their mental health, but it can feel overwhelming and challenging to know where to start. Netsafe offers advice, toolkits and other resources to support parents navigating things from having ongoing conversations with your child to managing online screen time and reporting harmful content.

For further information head to:
https://netsafe.org.nz/

1st Place

Congratulations to Whangaparāoa College (Year 8 Band) Chaotic Blaze on achieving 1st Place in RockShop Bandquest in the Greater Auckland two regions and are now a National finalist.

Judges comments included:
“Phenomenal musicianship ! Crazy good technique, Lead singer bringing the energy, you are locked in as a unit, have put hours into your instrument and it shows in your confidence . You took us to another world. Great outfits! insane energy, super strong from start to finish, Drummer is ridiculously good, way beyond your years. Wow! What an electrifying performance !.
You brought your uniqueness to the stage and took your journey. What a privilege to witness such an exceptional young band with an amazing future. Can’t wait to see where you go!”