Newsletter No.4, 2nd May 2007

PRINCIPAL'S NOTES

News from the Mathematics Department
1. Mathematics Competitions
We are currently looking forward to the ICAS assessment which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 23 May. Entries are open for the Westpac Awards Competition which is scheduled to take place in July. Students will be given the opportunity to enter via their Maths teacher but are welcome to see Mr Henley directly in B12.

2. Mathematics Department GAT Programme
The 2007 Mathematics Gifted and Talented Programme will kick off over the next fortnight. Students will be invited to register interest with their Mathematics teachers. Where possible, we will withdraw selected students from their normal Mathematics class one lesson a week, for the duration of a term. Students will use this time to work on, and receive feedback regarding their projects, which will be presented to their families, teachers and peers at a presentation evening in term 4.
Parents of selected students will receive written notification.

3. Mathematics Publication
We are looking forward to yet again another fabulous edition of ‘Maths Uncensored ‘. Leadership for the 7th edition will be provided by Tom Wilson and Hannah Cleverly. Participation is open to all year levels and skills are sought in all areas from cover design to proof reading and photography. Interested students should keep a close eye on the notices.
Thea Kilian

Health Education
This term the Year 9 Health classes will have a lesson taken by the Guidance Counsellors. The counsellors will be introducing the Peer Sexuality Students (PSS) to the classes. The PSS students will be explaining their role as a support group for students within the school. The counsellors will also be introducing the Travellers Programme to the classes and the students will be completing the Travellers survey. Information regarding the Travellers Programme should have been received in the January mail-out by the parents/care-givers of all Year 9 students. If you have questions regarding the Travellers Programme, please contact Sue Poupouare here at school.

The Year 10 students are beginning the Keeping Ourselves Safe (KOS) unit of work this term. This year selected Year 10 classes will be trialling some of the lessons from the up-dated KOS Kit. These students will evaluate the lessons and decisions regarding the inclusion of these lessons in next year’s Year 10 programme will be based on their responses. If you have any questions regarding the KOS programme, please contact the HOD Health.
Karalee Green

Home-Stay Families
The College needs to find new host families for a number of international students arriving to start in Term 3. Can you help? If you think you may like to host an international student (from China, Japan, Germany and Italy) or if you have a friend or neighbour who may be interested, please contact the College.

The College pays host families $200.00 per week and our full-time Home- stay Co-ordinator Joanne offers students and families full support. For more information phone the Dean of International Students, Dal McGuirk, at the College weekdays on 8156743 (DDI) or at home on 6254844 (evenings and weekends).

The Careers Centre - Wahi Rapu Umanga
UK Study Information Evening - Wednesday 9 May
Sinclair Room, Level 5, Quay West Suites Hotel, 8 Albert Street,
Run on a drop-in basis between 4 – 7 pm with a presentation at 5.30 pm (visa and application procedures, costs, benefits etc)

The SCI-TECH experience July 3 – 5 2007
Three day hands on Science and Technology Experience!
Aimed at Year 11 students who are interested in science, technology and engineering.
It will be held on AUT. It is organized by Rotary, Unitec NZ, AUT and Manukau Institute of Technology. Closing date for registration is 28 June 2007. To find out more and enrol check out the
website www.sci-tech.org.nz

NAVY TECHNICAL ADVENTURE CHALLENGE 9 – 13 July 2007
Venue: Devonport Naval Base
The objective is to challenge 40 high profile students (Years 12 and 13) who are interested in a technical career using modern apprenticeships to grow into future technical managers and leaders with the Navy. It will suit those students who are interested in gaining technical qualifications in Electrical Engineering, Maintenance and Diagnostics or Electronics Technology (Radar and Communications) and Engineering.

Students need to fill in an application form by Friday 1 June. A CV is also required and a 200 word statement indicating why you should be selected. Forms at the Careers Centre.

News from Languages Department
A group of fifteen Yr 11-13 students from Japanese classes and 2 teachers went to Japan for 13 days during the Term 1 break. The group departed in the early morning of April 5th and returned safely to NZ on the 17th of April.

We travelled from Tokyo down to Osaka and Hiroshima by Shinkansen (bullet train). In the first week, the group stayed in youth hostels, and explored the similarities and differences between Japanese culture and NZ culture. Our itinerary included sightseeing in Tokyo and Osaka, a Universal Studios visit, Peace Park, Peace Museum and Atomic Dome in Hiroshima, homestay with Japanese families and a Japanese school visit. Our students had wonderful experiences exploring the modern and traditional sides of Japanese society.

During the hostel stay, our students experienced a Japanese-style bath for the first time! They were uncomfortable to do it Japanese way at the beginning, but they enjoyed it once they tried and couldn’t stop loving it. Both the students and teachers had strong feelings after Peace Park and Museum visits. The students had great opportunities to live with Japanese families and experienced Japanese school life, seeing how Japanese students learn and spent their day at school. Our students also got to experience some traditional Japanese activities, such as Calligraphy (Shodoo), Kendo and the Tea ceremony (Sadoo)

It is the first time that we organised a Japan trip, and the students practised their Japanese any time they could. I am sure that the students would agree with me that the trip was very successful. We all had great fun and good experiences. It was a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Renae Liao-Marsden

Picture 1: Departure Day at the airport	Picture 2: Day 7 in Hiroshima

Student Writing on the Japanese Trip
On the 5th of April we (15 students and 2 teachers) left for Japan. We landed at Narita Airport in Tokyo at 4:30 pm in Japan. We were all very keen to get some sleep. On our first day in Japan we went shopping in Harajuku and Shibuya. Later on that day we travelled to Osaka by Bullet Train. While we stayed in Osaka we went to Universal studios Japan. The following day we travelled again by Bullet train to Hiroshima. Once there we were lucky enough to visit Hiroshima University and meet some Japanese students studying English. We also visited the Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum, which was extremely emotional. We also went to Miyajima Island, where we saw many shrines and feed the deer.

The most amazing part of our trip was attending a Japanese school (Doshisha Kori) for three days while living with a home stay family. This was an amazing experience as we got to learn about Japanese culture and the way they live. It was very sad to leave behind all the new friends that we had made, especially Takase Sensei who had organised for us to attend his fabulous school.
All in all we had a fantastic trip, we learnt so much and we all feel extremely homesick for Japan. We can not wait to go back again. Thank you so much Liao Sensei for giving us this once in a life time opportunity.
By Hannah Neville and Dexter Henderson (Yr12) and Victor McKenney (Yr13)

Music Department News
Congratulations to Harry Peirse who had outstanding success in the North Shore Piano Competitions during the holidays. Harry came first in Senior Scholarship, Sightreading, Piano Duo and Double Piano Duo (with ex-student Samuel Gavin). Well done Harry!

Senior Performance Assessment Evenings are underway again and the Year 12 music class set off in style on Tuesday night. Families are reminded that these evenings are for assessment purposes and all students must attend. A reminder of the dates for the remaining performance evenings:

Please contact me if there are any concerns about these evenings.

Itinerant music lessons continue this term – all classes are fully subscribed and there is a substantial waiting list. Students who miss three lessons without excuse will lose their lesson.

Where are the Rock Quest bands?? Entries close on May 4th and despite early interest no completed entries have been received. Where is all that Springs talent? Don’t miss out.

Our love and condolences have been with cello and orchestra tutor Vigdis Relph this year. Vigdis’ husband of 40 years, Rex, died last term. Staff and students look forward to her return to full time teaching.
Margaret Robertson

Greetings from the Art Department
Junior Art
Congratulations to the recipients of the Principal Certificates – we are pleased to have had so many keen and diligent students come through the Art rooms last term and look forward to this term’s creative energies. We would also like to remind past students to collect their works and assessment grades from their teachers as soon as practicable.

Year 11
A reminder that Year 11 students need to be working at home approximately 2-3 hours per week to keep up to date with their school work. We are currently completing two of the three internal standards and will begin the folio work in week four. The next assessment deadline is Friday 11 May for the 1.1 Research standard (and also for the 1.2 Drawing standard resubmission).

Year 12 and Year 13
All senior students are reminded that the Art rooms are available for some teacher directed and independent working during lunchtimes and some after school times in consultation with the Teacher in Charge. This is particularly important for Y13 students who are considering the Scholarship option for Level 3, however all Art students are encouraged to develop and extend their ideas and works for the internal and folios submissions.

The next assessment deadlines are:

The Art department will also be participating in the annual Pasadena Art Festival at the end of May – keep an eye out for the selected students whose work will be representing excellence levels from the Junior and Senior school.

Lastly, the Art department is calling on all household recyclers of icecream containers and jars with lids. We are currently collecting plastics and containers for the Level 1 and Junior programmes to use for printmaking and casting – all contributions will be gladly accepted.
Thanks in advance
Lily Laita

Dracula Spectacula
This year the school show is Dracula Spectacula. We will be producing a souvenir programme for the show. The programme will be professionally produced and printed. It will be A5 in size and have 12 pages. We are selling half page advertisement space. So any parent who owns or runs a business who might be interested in advertising in the school production please get in contact with John Cummins ph 846 8197 ext 723.

Te Rumaki Reo o Nga Puna o Waiorea
Kia Ora Whanau

Kaiako Reminders
1) At next Wednesday’s Homework centre Reanga Tuawhitu invites all Whanau & Friends to the inaugural "Hotoke" Lectures on King Lear - in the library 3.30-5pm. Nau mai, Haere Mai Koutou Katoa

General Reminders
1) Manu Korero – All speakers have now chosen their topics and should be working on their outlines. The Competition will be held on the 18th May at Hoani Waititi for those parents interested in coming along to support.

2) "MAUI" – An excellent time had by all with everyone enjoying the performance. Thank you whanau for allowing your child to come.

3) Term 2/3/4 Calendars – have now been posted to everyone’s home addresses, expect it in the mail either Tuesday or Wednesday. If it doesn’t arrive copies will be available at the whanau hui. If you have any questions please give me a call.

4) ERO – That time again. FYI the Ministry of Education will be at the school during Week 8 of this term (June 11th) doing their assessments.

What’s New/Events
This Week

Rumaki Sport - Rugby & Netball trainings now started. They are on Mondays and Thursdays 3.30-5pm.
All enquiries for Netball need to be directed to Whaea Kau.

If you have any ‘take’ please do not hesitate to contact Pa Chris at kura
DDI 815 - 6742 (marae) or email rumaki@westernsprings.school.nz.
CHRIS SELWYN
DEAN/TUMUAKI: NG_ PUNA O WAIOREA

Ko te Manu e kai i te miro, Nona te Ngahere
Ko te Manu e kai i te Matauranga, Nona te Ao!
[The bird that eats of the miro berry survives in the forest
The bird that partakes of knowledge owns the world]