Spotswood College
August 2020 Newsletter
Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou,
STAFF NEWS
Congratulations to staff member Reiko Smithers who received a significant award at the Japanese ambassador’s residence for her outstanding cultural and language work within the teaching profession and across the country!
よくやった
Yoku yatta
Staff
Principal
Whaea Nicola email: nng@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Deputy Principal
Mr Daryn Shaw email: dsh@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Deputy Principal
Mr Chris Lapworth email: cla@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Senior Leadership
Mrs Paula Cast email: pca@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Senior Leadership
Mrs Hilary Takarangi email: hta@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Senior Leadership
Mr Darren Scott email: dsc@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 13 Deans
Ms Tracey Laurence email: tlr@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Mr Gavin Parr email: gpa@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 12 Dean
Ms Julia Stephens email: jst@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 11 Dean
Mr Wayne Cribb email: wcr@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 10 Dean
Mr Carlin Kumeroa email: cku@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
Year 9 Dean
Mr Darren Scott email: dsc@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
International Director
Mrs Nicola Healy email: nhe@spotswoodcollege.school.nz
STUDENTS AT THE CENTRE OF LEARNING
Enjoy some of our student-directed Impact Inquiry work for this year - personalised learning where students get to innovate their own responses to local and global issues. Taking the best of traditional learning and super enhancing it with future-focused learning!
Congratulations to award winner Filoi Ikitau who won the Massey University Moana Oceania Narratives Award Winning a prize pack including flights to Wellington for a Weta Workshop experience and to Spotswood College for winning the Gordon Harris Highly Commended Schools Award.
Princess Loi
My character is inspired by a Samoa Legend called Sina ma le Tuna and Avatar the Last Airbender.
Basically the story of Sina ma le Tuna is a love story between an eel and a beautiful girl named Sina. The eel got sick and told Sina to plant his head in the ground. Sina did what he said and it grew into a coconut tree. Its says when Sina drinks from the coconut it's like kissing the eel. So I wanted that to incorporate it with the character.
My guardian is named after my nickname Loi. Loi in Samoa means ants, so I thought it would be a cute name. Princess Loi is a goddess that protects the islands from any harm or danger. She lives in a village in Samoa called Salelologa. She had control of the 4 elements air, earth, fire, water and had special healing powers. She is still trying to get the hang of her powers, but with the help of her friend eel, she knows one day she will be as good as her dad. She's 16 years old and wants to carry her family name with pride and honour, but she has a hard time without her parents' guidance. She has no one to guide her through her tough times.
Her parents were killed from a fire that happened when she was young which is where she got her scar from. Even though she doesn’t remember that day clearly, she blames her powers for her parents' death. The eel is the only true form of happiness for her. She knows that she carries her family name with her, she will represent her country till she dies.
The following students entered the 2020 Earth Guardians Character Design Competition, and Spotswood College has been selected for one of five Gordon Harris Highly Commended School Awards for the number, strength and diversity of the entries from the following students:
Esmeralda Dalgleish
Oliver Doole
Daniel Williamson
Toby Penno
Filoi Ikitau
Oliver Doole
Vaughn Te Huki (2 entries)
NCEA Exam Timetable 2020
COMMUNITY AT THE HEART OF WHO WE ARE
Open Night was another successful evening where we were able to showcase some of the exciting world of learning at Spotswood College. Thank you to all who attended.
We are now taking enrolments for 2021
You are now able to book an interview online using the links below:
Devon - 24th and 25th of August 9:00am - 3:00pm: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/kiosk?ecode=tawx7
Highlands - 26th August 9:00am - 3:00pm: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/kiosk?ecode=ucz75
Omata - 31st August 9:00am - 2:40pm: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/kiosk?ecode=9vhhk
Oakura - 2nd September 9:00am - 1:30pm: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/kiosk?ecode=eshwu
Puketapu - 10th sep 9:15am - 2:30pm / 11th September 9:15am - 1:30pm: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/kiosk?ecode=t9qpy
The Interviews will be held at your respective schools.
The SENCO, Joanna Sampson, will be at schools on the designated days Spotswood staff come to school to enrol any student with a learning or health need. This will help us ensure the best fit re timetabling and communication of accommodations for your child.
If your school is not listed please contact the main office (06) 751 2416 and we will provide a date and time for the interview at Spotswood College.
If you require any further assistance please contact the main office on (06) 751 2416.
GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
During tech week students took part in a range of workshops gaining inspiration in reimaging a future where they are positioned to be the shakers, movers, innovators and do-ers.
CULTURAL AND SPORTING SUCCESS
Junior Te Reo students are using their course to learn basic language skills and then teach them to staff and students.
Active bodies, active minds. Sporting teams are back on the courts, fields and gyms training for the season ahead.
SPOTSWOOD COLLEGE SPORT
Term 3 sport is up and running again and it’s great to see the students out and about enjoying the competition and having fun with their peers.
BASKETBALL:
We have 2 Junior Basketball teams this year - both boys and girls taking part in the Secondary School Competition and a Senior Boys team playing in the Men's Division.
It has been fantastic to see our students competing in our new School Gym where we have enjoyed hosting other schools in the region.
FOOTBALL:
Our Spotswood College Girls Football team have also kicked off this term with a new venue on our top field which has access to changing rooms and toilets. The girls started the season on a high with a good win against NPGHS.
NETBALL:
Our two Netball teams have also taken the court this term with our Senior A team playing some exciting netball with strong wins against SHGC and 2 Tysons teams. The Senior development side has shown they are here to stay, with a fantastic effort last weekend with a close loss to a very good team from the Misfits Club. The netball girls are also enjoying the indoor training provided in our new school gym.
BADMINTON: Our College Badminton team trains every Friday from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm in the school gym. We are lucky to have Taranaki coach Trent Riddick come in to help with the team so please encourage your child to come along and have a go.
CHESS: lunchtime chess club takes place in A7 during lunchtimes on Tuesday and Thursday.
COMMUNITY CONNECT:
Over the last couple of weeks, our students have been in the Community helping our local primary Schools by refereeing and umpiring their Year 5 & 6 Football and Netball games.
We are excited to have the opportunity to help out in the Community and are very proud of our students for the part they play in these events.
TSSSA EVENTS:
TSSSA events are finally back! Squash was our first event of the Term and this took place last Sunday at the Kawaroa Squash Club.
Both our competitors, Ethan Clough and Oliver McFarlane played in great spirit against some strong competition and it was great to see our students representing Spotswood with pride.
TERM 3 TSSSA EVENTS
See Mrs Read in the sports office to sign up.
JUNIOR FUTSAL 12.08.20 9.00 am - 3.00 pm
JUNIOR VOLLEYBALL 26.08.20 9.00 am - 3.00 pm
SKATEBOARDING 07.09.20 9am - 3pm
KI O RAHI 09.09.20 9.00 am - 3.00 pm
3 X 3 BASKETBALL 10.09.20 4pm- 7pm
MOTOR CROSS 13.09.20 7.30am-12 noon
LUNCHTIME ACTIVITIES:
Come along and have a go at our term 3 lunchtime activities programme. There are plenty of spot prizes including water bottles, Rebel Sport vouchers and sweet treats. All participants go in the draw to win a $50 Rebel Sports voucher to be drawn at the end of the term.
YOGA -GYM Thursday 6th Friday 7th August
BOX FIT - GYM Monday 10th, Tuesday 11th August
BADMINTON - GYM Tuesday 18th, Thursday 20th, Friday 21st August.
FUTSAL - GYM Tuesday 25th, Thursday 27th, Friday 28th August
INDOOR BOWLS - HALL Tuesday 1st, Thursday 3rd September.
NETBALL - GYM Tuesday 8th, Thursday 10th September
BASKETBALL Tuesday 15th, Thursday 17th, Friday 18th September.
School Uniform
As we are working to ensure our young people represent their school with pride, we have listened to student concerns that they have outgrown their uniform and are reluctant to buy a new uniform for the remainder of the year.
We understand this is a tension point and as a compromise as of term 3, we are encouraging year 12 students to purchase and wear the number 1 uniform of a white shirt and black pants or skirt, which they can continue wearing as year 13s for daily school wear and formal occasions, with a set day of the week for mufti.
Thank you in advance for your support.
SPOTSWOOD COLLEGE CALENDAR
Reminder school finishes at 2.10 pm every Wednesday.
August
12th 7.00 pm Year 8 Information Evening
12th Get Group Course Lvl 3
13th Get Group Course Lvl 3
12th University of AUCKLAND - Enrolment - Staffroom
17th 1.30 pm Combined University Visit
19th 9.30 am WhyOra Health Exposure Workshops - Yr 11-13
19th 7.00 pm NCEA Information Evening
21st Production Get In
24th Devon Intermediate enrolments
25th Devon Intermediate enrolments
26th Highlands Intermediate enrolments