St Hilda’s Collegiate School, Dunedin: In a newsletter late last year Principal Jackie Barron wrote significantly about ‘wellbeing’, reminding readers that it is not about being ‘happy’ but rather about self-managing emotions, being self-aware, being able to handle disappointment, and being able to persevere with optimism. She mentioned current issues for young women, trying to measure up to their own and others’ expectations, which has become a ‘toxic perfectionism’, the way social media are exacerbating the problems for girls, and the counterproductive results of parents wanting to protect their daughters from negative experiences – the helicopter parenting that can leave children with not room the experiment or risk failure. Readers may wish to ask the school for a copy of the newsletter, or talk to the principal about what she wrote.
McAuley High School, Otahuhu: On the back page of the 12 March 2018 Education Gazette advertisement for the Prime Minister’s Excellence Awards, the school was featured with a photo and a statement “At McAuley High School, we worked to foster our students’ connection to their culture and identity by bringing in Samoan and Tongan teachers.”
Our Lady of the Snows School, Methven, and St Catherine’s College, Kilbirnie, were both the subject of articles in the 30 April 2018 Education Gazette. Click here for the Our Lady of the Snows story and click here for the St Catherine’s article. Students from Our Lady of the Snows were also on the cover of that Gazette.
Stella Maris Catholic Primary School, Silverdale: Ella and Cooper Henderson, and Joseph Lawson, competed at the 3 day Oceania Cup Tag Tournament. The girls represented NZ in the NZ Invitational U12 girls’ team. They beat Queensland in the finals 4-3.The boys represented Fiji and were placed third.
Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School, Flat Bush: Henaka and Alapati were selected to represent NZ at the Tag 20 Oceania Heritage Cup.
Holy Cross Catholic School, Henderson: Visnu Prasad came 1st in the Grapper Jiu Jitsu National Championships for 8 year olds.
Rosmini College, Auckland: In Lacrosse, Rosmini College had 10 players selected for the NZ U18 team: Josiah Brown, William Clarkson, Hamish Liddell, Angelo Marundan, Timothy Carter, Flynn Houlahan, Isaac Houlbrooke, Leo Ganley, Joseph Murahidy and Oliver Crosbie. In Wake Boarding Kyle Kennedy (Y11) competed in the NZ Wakeboard Nationals and took away 1st in the Junior Men’s division, and is now the National Junior Men’s Champion (under 18yrs).
St Mary’s College, Auckland: Sasha Murray-Fiu has been selected as a member of NZ U16 girls Kiwi Tag Blacks Football team. The team will attend the Tag World Cup in Australia. Samantha Stock finished 1st female and 2nd overall at the Laser Radial Yachting competition and was selected into the NZ team to compete at the Youth World Championships.
Carmel College, Auckland: Christie Moncrieff, (Y11) played for Aotearoa Maori Black U16 Girls. Her team was undefeated against Tonga, Samoa, Niue, Aotearoa Maori Green and won against Niue in the final 8-4. Jurlina Carroll has been selected for the NZL Judo team and will be competing at the Oceania Championships in Noumea in April. Tayla Dalton and Andie Quirke competed in the recent New Zealand Surf Life Saving Championships in Gisborne. At the conclusion of the event Tayla and Andie were named in the New Zealand Youth squad for 2018. Para Athlete Sionann Murphy (Y9) smashed the North Island Athletics record for discus with a throw of 15.02m. Izabella Jurlina has been chosen to be a member of the NZ Rhythmic Gymnastics team to represent NZ at the Australian National Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships. She will be competing in the senior international group. Isabelle Pablan, (Y10), entered her song ‘When I step Outside’ into the 2018 Hookline Singalong competition and won a lyric award.
St Peter’s College, Auckland: Brodie Cox (Y12) has been selected to represent NZ at the Oceania Youth Games in Archery. At the Maadi Cup (Secondary School Rowing National) rowers Simon Van Helsdingen, Harry Fitzpatrick, Ben Sothcott, Adam Simpson and Cox Charlie Russel won a Gold Medal and gained a National title in the Boys U15 four.
Baradene College, Auckland: Emelia Molloy and Pascale Hertnon have been selected to represent NZ at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships, where they will compete against over 70 different nations. Pascale is in Team New Zealand All Girl squad and Emelia is in Team New Zealand All Girl and Co-ed squad. Danielle Watson, competing at Auckland Championship for Weightlifting, won the gold medal for the 48kg category, breaking two National records. Audrey Rossolatos (Y8) has been selected in the NZ Archery team to compete in the Trans-Tasman competition. She will compete in the U13 category. Audrey is the current U13 Female Recurve national record holder. Abigail Morton achieved a silver in the U19 Women’s Road Race at the Oceania Cycling Championships. At the NZSS Track Cycling Championship Jorja Clouth won the U16 3000m Scratch race. The school’s team at the NZSS Mountain Biking MTB placed 1st in the Girls U16 relay. The team consisted of Christie McCahill, Alex Galvin and Aimee Blackmore. Baradene sent a team to the NSS Triathlon and performed extremely well, gaining 2nd school overall and 1st place in the girls’ schools. Valentina Serrano has been selected to play for the AFL NZ Youth Girls team over Anzac weekend in Wellington. The team will be playing at Westpac stadium in the curtain raiser for the NZ Hawks vs AFL Academy. The NZ Orienteering Club Championships were held in Auckland over Easter. Lucy Burrell won Gold in the women’s 16A to take out the NZ Middle distance race.
Liston College, Auckland: Aniel Bontogon (Y11) competed in 2017 Youth World Cup Volleyball team. He was named in the tournament team and was crowned the Best Setter of the tournament. This indicates that he was the best at his position at the whole tournament. This is a huge achievement for Aneil, as this is the first time a player representing NZ has received an individual award in an international volleyball tournament. Awa Stephenson has been selected as a member of the NZ Secondary Schools Football team to tour the United States of America in April 2018.
Sacred Heart College, New Plymouth: Alix Blyde has been selected into the NZ U16 Mixed Black Development Team 2018 from the Touch Nationals held in February. At the NZ Athletics Track and Field Nationals, Hannah O’Connor came away with two Gold medals in the U18 3000m and the U20 1500m. Hannah also competed for NZ in the World Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships. Hannah ran a brilliant race and finished 4th senior girl – in the world! Hannah was also captain of the New Zealand team and carried the NZ flag at the opening ceremony. Jorja Rosser and Danelle Sadler have been selected for the NZ U18 Junior Women’s Inline Hockey Squad. Charlote Askin has been selected to represent NZ at the Oceania Youth Archery Championships. Tiana Davison was selected in the NZ U18 sevens team to go to the Oceania Tournament. Bella McEwan won the U11 Beach Sprints Gold at U14 Surf Life Saving Nationals.
St John’s College, Hastings: Max Williams has been selected for the NZ Junior Cycling team and will compete at the 2018 Australian Junior tour. Zayne Coffey has been selected for the NZ Level 9 Gymnastics Team to compete in the Australian National Championships.
Marian College, Christchurch: Brie-Ellen Harding was selected for the NZ U15 Softball Squad. At the Dragon Boating National Championships the school team won two Golds in the 200M 20 man and also in the 2km 20 man and they also won three silver medals. Chloe Taylor and Sara Gillman (U12 Eclipse team) and Laura Weir, Renae Rae, Courtney Hogg, Jorja Tallott and Porshia Ward (U16 Eclipse team) recently competed in the National Marching Championships in Hamilton. The U12 team won the NZ Champion Display and Technical Drill title as well as overall NZ Championship team. The U16s Eclipse team took out the NZ Champion Display title and came second for NZ Champion Technical Drill and second overall NZ Championship team. Jenna Martin-McKenzie (Y12) was selected to join the Sir Peter Blake Trust and the Ministry for The Environment for a week-long, fully funded, leadership development adventure. YELF 2018 will focus on different environmental issues related to climate change.
Catholic Cathedral College, Christchurch: Sebastian Lipp represented Canterbury at the Age Group National Champs in cycling and came away with a Gold medal and a National title in the U17 Boys Team Sprint.
Villa Maria College, Christchurch: Georgia Stroud (Y13) won Gold in the U19 2km race and Silver in 2km open women at the NZ Surf Lifesaving National Championships. Isabella Cosgrove (Y7) and Isabel Vane (Y8), were both selected to dance with the Royal New Zealand ballet in The Piano for the Christchurch performances. Anna Hooker (Y12) and Sarah Quinn (Y11) were selected for the NZ Rhythmic Gymnastics Team and will compete at the 2018 Australia National Championship. Melissa Dunn (Y10) has been re-selected for the NZ Karate Team to compete at the World Karate Federation Oceania Champs 2018, held in Auckland. Melissa has represented New Zealand for five consecutive years achieving 2 Commonwealth medals, 4 Oceania medals, 16 National titles, 23 NZ Open titles and 38 South Island titles.
Kavanagh College, Dunedin: At the National Junior Surf Life Saving Competition Erika Fairweather came 1st in Run Swim Run, Surf Race and Diamond, 3rd in Beach Relay. In Softball Josh Forrester was chosen to represent NZ at the NZ U14 ISA tournament in Sydney. Josh was named co-captain of the team and generally played 2nd base and shortstop. New Zealand won the tournament and were crowned 2018 champions.
