Kaleideoscope by Benefitz

11.2015

ISSUE 62

IN THIS

ISSUE 62

ISSUE 04

Celebrating Two Great Leaders

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Sharing the Planet

Prefect Camp

Annie

From the Executive Principal

Dovetail Diary - Ecole La Source, Paris

From the Board

Scholarships and Prestige Awards

Celebrating Two Great Leaders

Kristin Sports Academy

Well Within

Creativity in the Canon Cloud Suite

Global Alliance for Innovative Learning

A Tour of Beijing

Sharing the Planet PYP Exhibition

Prefect Camp

Big Boys’ Toys Street Food with Style

1st XI Girls’ Football

International Champions Future Problem Solving

Southwell Exchange Victory National Secondary Schools’ Fencing Champs

Debating Champions Plugged/Unplugged

Dance in the Dove Box of Birds

Tertiary Futures - Destination Melbourne

NZCT AIMS Games

Tournament Week

Water Polo NZ Reps

38 Yachting

18 Annie

John O’connor 35 Years Service Sports Awards Dinner

Showdown Awards 2015 Designz 2015

Season Highlights

Community News

NZ’s Next Top Engineering Scientist National Young Performer Awards

Alumni: Jimi Hunt

Forensic Investigators

Alumni: Like A Storm

Feeding Young Minds at Favona Primary School

Alumni: Nigel Parker

iMacs For Wairau Valley Special School Young Leader Award – Nicholas Sparg

Alumni Reunions NZ and AUS Alumni Connections in Israel

High Acclaim for Kristin Choirs

FROM THE EXECUTIVE

PRINCIPAL

Change is often seen as one of the most difficult things for people to cope with in life. But change can also represent progress, and this is what I see when I look at Kristin.

CHANGE AS OPPORTUNITY

(GAIL – see page 10) complements an already highly successful global learning curriculum.

Life doesn’t stand still, it never has. Change is a constant, and, while it does always affect us to some degree, there are certainly times when everything seems to move at once. The past year has certainly felt that way to me.

The promotion of Adam Heath and Brendan Kelly to senior leadership roles in Australia has created an opportunity for the School. Both men have contributed greatly during their time here and there is no doubt that they will be greatly missed by all who have benefited from their leadership. It does, however, create an opportunity in that we will welcome two new and inspiring leaders to our ranks. Mr Dave Scott will take on the role of Middle School Principal from Term 1 next year. He joins us from Scots College Middle School in Wellington where he is currently Deputy Principal. Joining him will be Mr Dave Boardman, who is taking up the position of Senior School Principal. Currently Deputy Principal at John McGlashan College in Dunedin, Dave Boardman has a wealth of experience in dual-pathway education and currently leads his school’s IB Diploma programme. I am delighted to be able to attract such talented individuals to these roles at Kristin.

As I reflect on some of the significant changes that have impacted both the Oughton family and Kristin School this year, I am reminded of one of my favourite changemanagement quotes: “Everybody has accepted by now that change is unavoidable. But that still implies that change is like death and taxes - they should be postponed as long as possible and no change would be vastly preferable. But in a period of upheaval, such as the one we are living in, change is the norm.” (Drucker, Management Challenges for the 21st Century [1999]) Over the past 12 months, I have changed countries and jobs (obviously), seen my family expand to include a new generation, welcomed new staff into our senior leadership team (a new Director of Business Services and Director of HR, reflecting a new administration structure), and I am preparing to farewell two highly valued and much-loved principals who have quickly become my good friends as well as my respected colleagues. I have never experienced so much change in such a short space of time; none the less, I feel very optimistic about the future and the opportunities these changes afford. Indeed, the new appointments made to the leadership team at Kristin have strengthened my belief in the quality of our school. For every role advertised, both new and existing, we have had extremely talented pools of candidates to choose from. Each vacancy attracted well over 50 candidates from within New Zealand and overseas. Many of the international candidates commented on the outstanding reputation Kristin enjoys in the international school arena. There are several contributing factors to this: our extensive involvement in the International Baccalaureate programme, our many connections with schools around the globe, staff recruitment to and from international schools, and our numerous student service and discovery initiatives like Samoa, India and China. Our most recent adoption into the Global Alliance for Innovative Learning

Change is often seen as one of the most difficult things for people to cope with in life. But change can also represent progress, and this is what I see when I look at Kristin. As educators, change is now a ‘forever proposition’. Education in New Zealand is evolving more quickly than it ever has before – something that is reflected in education systems around the world. Challenges such as the effective use of learning technologies, the shift to student-centred learning, design and implementation of contemporary learning environments, and developing project-based or inquiring learning all require development and appropriate professional learning resources to ensure success. It is an exciting time to be involved in education and I remain optimistic – learning, today, is so much more engaging and relevant than when I was at school. Change has broadened educational opportunities significantly and it will continue to do so. And for our students, this is the greatest news.

TIM OUGHTON

EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

11.2015

FROM THE

BOARD UPDATE ON STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS In the last issue of Kaleidoscope the Board advised the Kristin community that the Board and the Senior Management Team were about to begin a strategic planning process: to take a fresh look at the way we do things at Kristin and to ensure that the school’s values and practices are aligned. The first stage of that process, the development of a shared vision of a Kristin education, has now been completed. While the articulation of the plan will occur later on, in broad terms our focus on the Kristin of yesterday, today and tomorrow identified several key beliefs that have shaped Kristin over the (almost) 45 years - a continuing legacy of a pioneering, progressive approach to learning; traditional Christian values of caring and respect; and an education that respects the distinctive nature of the individual and nurtures well-being. We are now engaged in the next stage, which (broadly) has two facets: • Turning the high-level vision into an operating action plan; • Communicating the ‘Kristin Story’ and the strategic vision to the community in an authentic and compelling way. The form of the communication may involve a mix of visual, digital or narrative media. One of the things which the strategic planning process verified for the Board was that the values articulated over 40 years ago, “progress with vision, integrity and love”, remain as true to Kristin in 2015 as they did when the school was first founded.

A FUTURE AUCKLAND In order to make our students future ready, we need to have some idea of what a future Auckland, New Zealand and the world will look like. We know that Auckland in 2015 is an ethnically diverse city, which has embraced at least 200 ethnic groups. Of its current population 40% have been born overseas. Currently European New Zealanders make up half of Auckland’s population, with residents who identify themselves as Asian making up the second-largest ethnic group. Such diversity brings life, investment and prosperity to Auckland. Such diversity is likely to continue into the future. 2

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Kristin’s aspiration is to provide the best education possible for every child in an environment which reflects our values, including respect for the individual and willingness to accept diversity. The Board and the Senior Management Team are fully aware of the need to provide support to every child, including those for whom English is not their primary language. For those students whose English proficiency is not at a level which allows them to access the curriculum effectively, support is provided by the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme. This programme operates to bring the students’ language skills up to a level that allows them to integrate into the classroom learning and to socialise very quickly. At the September Board meeting we invited Nicky Shave, the Chairman of the KFF, to attend to brief us on the activities of the KFF. Nicky’s passion and commitment to the Kristin community is exceptional. KFF now has an expanded Executive, an extensive Subcommittee and Cultural Committees. The way in which diverse cultural groups have been embraced by the KFF is a demonstration of Kristin’s core values being lived, not just spoken.

CAPITAL WORKS UPDATE The Board’s last Kaleidoscope article also set out the capital works programme, which included our Early Childhood Centre, Little Doves. This responds to a need to better support working parents with the provision of quality care and formative education. The project has been approved by the Board and now moves into the detailed design/council approval stage. So, while the Board is being careful to avoid borrowing heavily, there is now greater visibility in terms of new capital works for core school facilities. The priorities and scope of these is currently being assessed. One important project which will begin as soon as possible is construction of the bus bay/carpark on the front field. The design of the bus bay/carpark and traffic movements around the school has been completed with one primary objective in mind – to ensure the safety of our students, teachers and parents. The current ‘teardrop’ roundabout at Gate 1, for example, has been specifically designed not to allow car movements from the Middle to the Junior school,

Some changes which are important for the future have already begun and we are excited about the challenges ahead. as this was the best way of ensuring safe flow of traffic, particularly at peak times. The recent survey of the School community staff, students, parents and alumni provided a valuable reference point for a review of our longer-term planning, and an affirmation of the School’s vision and values. One of the challenges we face is to develop and maintain the connections between members of our community and integrate that into the operations of the School. The stories of the people our alumni have become provide a strong reinforcement of the Kristin experience. It is important to have greater visibility for those stories and create opportunities for conversations. Furthermore, we will need the support of alumni, the wider business community and partnerships to make some of the facilities to which we aspire a reality. These are intergenerational assets and they need intergenerational effort to develop. The Board is working on plans to grow the Kristin Foundation by encouraging benefactors from those who would like to see the facilities developed further and to give the opportunity for a Kristin education to students for whom it would otherwise not be possible. In conclusion, some changes which are important for the future have already begun and we are excited about the challenges ahead. There is a long list of targets the Board has yet to achieve, but in Tim’s appointment and with the strategic planning process nearing completion, we are very pleased we can say ‘job begun’.

PHILIPPA FEE CHAIRMAN

GIVING TO KRISTIN We are very grateful to our families for their generosity and support Earlier this year we introduced an Annual Giving Appeal to provide our families with a regular opportunity to give back to the school and to help grow the legacy of those who have made contributions before us. Families were invited to contribute towards the Kristin Foundation Scholarship Fund and/or an Anzac Day Commemorative Garden. Thanks to the generosity of our families, a large bronze commemorative plaque has been commissioned and will be installed in a newly formed garden in front of the flagpole in the LIC Courtyard over the summer break. The Kristin Foundation Scholarship Programme has been very well received by the community since it was launched three years ago and, this year, donations through the Annual Appeal and Forgiveness of Bond (by both new families and those of graduates) have seen unprecedented donations of $114,838 made towards this important programme. We are very grateful to our families for their generosity and support and look forward to another successful annual appeal and new philanthropic initiatives in 2016. PAMELA PERYMAN DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL RELATIONS 11.2015

CELEBRATING

TWO GREAT LEADERS At the end of this year we will be bidding farewell to two of Kristin’s great leaders. Brendan Kelly and Adam Heath have each been incredibly popular Principals, respected for their strong individual leadership and loved for their passion, enthusiasm and absolute commitment to their students. As we celebrate the significant contribution both Principals have made in their collective 16 years at Kristin, we recognise how fortunate we have been to share in their stories. Both will be taking on senior leadership roles in Australia and will be relocating with their families in the coming months.

Kristin – the Graduation Walk. Introduced at the end of his first year at Kristin, this is a magical moment in the school year when the entire school acknowledges the Year 13 cohort. It is a wonderful, joyous and inspiring Kristin tradition that is now an integral part of our culture. Brendan, thank you for your passion and dedication. You have truly led and progressed the Senior School with true vision, integrity and love. Our thanks, also, to Maree and your family for their support. We wish you well in your new role at Ivanhoe Grammar and every success in your ongoing career.

LIZ DARLOW

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF GOVERNORS

A MESSAGE OF THANKS FOR MR KELLY When Peter Clague became the Executive Principal in 2006, the first appointment he had to make was that of the Senior School Principal – the position Peter had previously held. That could have been a challenging task but at the interviews we knew instantly that Brendan was the ideal person for this role and nine years of superb leadership has certainly confirmed that. Brendan has led the Senior School with mana and dignity, earning the respect of the Kristin community. He has led many positive changes to benefit our Senior students’ academic achievement and personal well-being. NCEA has become as valued a qualification as IB with joint dux awards now presented each year and excellent academic results achieved in both pathways; the Deans structure has been improved; the Faculty structure has been successfully implemented; the dynamic Kristin Futures programme has replaced the old careers counselling; student leadership opportunities have been vastly increased and new methods to enhance student learning through IT have been introduced. And the list does not stop there. The Board has always valued Brendan’s measured judgement and comment at planning and strategy sessions and greatly admired his ability to increase student numbers in the Senior School, particularly during the global financial crisis. His presence around the school and on the sport sidelines will be missed but Brendan leaves an enduring legacy at 4

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FROM THE PREFECTS When we asked students to describe Mr Kelly in just one word, the responses included wise, loyal, knowledgeable, honest and courageous. While the list of his attributes goes on, such words are proof that he is not just a principal but also a true leader and teacher. Mr Kelly has made an enormous contribution to Kristin as Senior School Principal. This school, which has provided endless room for its students to grow, would not be the same warm, welcoming and open community if it wasn’t for his presence and involvement. Ever a role model, he has always been a figure students have looked up to. From assemblies where he addresses the school and shares his wisdom, to his presence on the sidelines of Saturday sports games, or even in a conversation when asked for advice, Mr Kelly never fails to provide valuable counsel and a sense of reassurance. Mr Kelly always lets students have an opinion. Anyone is able to approach him to suggest a new idea for the school, which he would happily consider. He has always cared about the student body’s voice and acted in the school’s best interests. Mr Kelly’s extremely high moral standards have benefited Kristin dramatically over the years, both in and out of the classroom. Through our role as Head Prefects this year, we had the opportunity to work closely with Mr Kelly. In each project or school event we undertook, he provided us with endless advice

and information, but not once did he alter our decisions or contradict our actions; he allowed us to make mistakes and guided us in learning from them, which in the end enabled us to grow as leaders. While Mr Kelly’s leaving will undoubtedly be a massive loss for the Kristin family, he has permanently changed the Kristin culture and education for the better, and for that, we will be eternally grateful. On behalf of all Kristin students – past, present, and future – we wish him the very best of luck in this new chapter of his career and we have no doubt he will bring the same positive impact to his new community that he has shared with us all.

CONRAD EDWARDS AND LUCY JOSEPHSON HEAD PREFECTS

FAREWELL TO ADAM HEATH Adam has specialised in transitioning our students from their strong start in the Junior School through to the demanding final years in the Senior School. Since he joined Kristin in 2009, Adam has led the Middle School with a passion for our kids and the benefits that a specialisation in the Middle School brings. As parents, we all witness the changes that our children work through as they arrive into the young adult years. These are exciting, challenging and formative years and they require an engaging and open leadership style. Adam has these skills and attributes in abundance; his warmth and sense of humour lightens things when they are challenging and encourages a sense of perspective. Like any accomplished leader, he has sought to empower the students and his team to achieve beyond their expectations. Adam and his family’s contribution to the school community extend beyond his role, of course. As a father of three students at Kristin, he has had a foot in both the parent and staff-member camps, and has balanced his approach to each one very admirably. He and Kylie’s active involvement in the school activities and their kids’ vibrant contribution will leave a gap in the school lives of their classmates – it does, however, open up the opportunity for a few Melbourne trips for their friends! Adam, in his new role, is returning to the ‘lucky country’ where he has previously held senior leadership roles at independent coeducational schools in both Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. In that sense it’s a full circle as he returns to Victoria to take on the role of Head at Ballarat Grammar in regional Victoria. So in many ways Adam and the family are undertaking a further transition, this time to a broad leadership role and returning closer to their extended family. Their extended Kristin family will certainly miss them but we know we are the better for having had their contribution and commitment to Kristin and appreciate the huge part Adam has played in the middle years of our kids.

STEVE JURKOVICH

PARENT GOVERNOR

FROM THE YEAR 10 STUDENT COUNCIL After seven incredible years of leadership in the Middle School, we are all very sad to see Mr Heath go. His leadership, support and guidance have helped us to achieve our best in everything we have done. His presence has been highly valued and we all feel our successes have been made possible by his commitment and encouragement. When I asked the Student Council members what they most appreciated about Mr Heath, the first thing they suggested was the way he learnt all of our names when we first came into the Middle School. Since then he has continued to greet us whenever we pass by, never failing to remember a name. But he doesn’t stop there. He always congratulates us on any recent success or wishes us well with an upcoming extracurricular competition. Little things like this have always made us feel so welcome and supported. In addition to this, we have all appreciated the way Mr Heath has helped us grow so much. The way he always encourages us to reach our full potential and provides us with so many opportunities to learn about leadership, service and to build character has contributed majorly to our Middle School journey and helped prepare us for future challenges. Mr Heath has helped us face our fears, grow more confident and learn new skills while allowing us to have a laugh along the way. He leads by example, and has always been beside us on all of our Student Council service projects, cleaning windows, talking with the elderly and making jokes right along with us. When I first assumed my role as chairperson of the Student Council, I was terrified. I was so scared I would let people down, but Mr Heath helped me through this stage by supporting me when I needed it – he helped me gain confidence in myself. And I know he has done this for others. The Student Council members all feel that our time in the Middle School, and on the Council, has been extremely beneficial in helping us develop in our confidence and abilities, thanks to Mr Heath. We are all so grateful for what Mr Heath has done for us, and for our school. Although we are very sad to see him leave, we congratulate him on his new opportunity and wish him the best for the future.

MEGAN BRUCE

YEAR 10 STUDENT COUNCIL

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KRISTIN SPORTS ACADEMY In September this year Rob Taylor announced the launch of the Kristin Sports Academy – an exciting new initiative for Junior and Middle School athletes. This comprehensive programme has been designed to support Kristin students who aspire to top-level sporting excellence by providing code-specific skill training and specialised strength and conditioning programmes within the school timetable. Offered in direct partnership with AUT Millennium, the Academy programme will commence for Middle School athletes from Term 1 2016, with a taster-programme being offered this term for selected Year 6 students. It has been developed in consultation with Head of Faculty PE Trevor Hayes to work within the PE programme. The most popular team sports of Basketball, Football, Hockey, Netball and Water Polo will be the focus of the skills-based training, while the Academy’s strength and conditioning component will also accommodate individual athletes from outside these five core disciplines. Rob is excited to introduce the programme at Kristin and believes that by improving the foundational skills of our athletes our teams will experience greater success as they progress through to senior levels. “We are building a culture of sporting excellence,” he says. “It is my expectation that all Academy athletes are 100% committed to their sport; I want them to train accurately and with purpose, to be leaders who set an example for others through their conduct, determination and passion for sport. “We have developed this programme to support our athletes as they progress through age-group competition. It is my belief that by helping our students to establish solid foundations and core skills the Kristin Sports Academy will herald a new era of high-performance sport at Kristin. This is our first major step in what will be an evolving programme.” 6

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“We have developed this programme to support our athletes as they progress through age-group competition.” Specialist coaching is critical to any high-performance training plan. The Kristin Sports Academy will be utilising two experienced and proven coaching teams: Kristin’s Senior and Premier team coaches and those from the AUT Millennium Athlete Development Academy (ADA). Led by Dr Craig Harrison, the ADA programme guides athletes through a long-term development process that teaches the foundations of physical and mental performance, as well as personal development in the key areas of planning, goal setting, time management and nutrition to help young athletes improve faster and achieve more in their chosen sport. Executive Principal Tim Oughton is a strong advocate for school sport and believes establishing high-performance pathways is fundamental in ensuring the future success of student athletes. “The resilience of our Kristin sports teams depends on the ongoing development of strong and capable athletes. By accessing quality development programmes from a young age, our students will establish a strong foundation in fundamental and core skills to become faster, fitter and stronger – ready to realise their potential when they face the challenges of senior sport.”

During Term 4, selected Years 8 and 9 students will be invited to be a part of the 2016 Sports Academy programme. Selection will be based on each student’s performance in the 2015 sports season and is at the discretion of the Director of Sport, in consultation with coaches and the Pastoral Care team. All students entering into Years 7 and 8 in 2016 will have the opportunity to undergo testing for entry through the Term 1 PE programme.

WELL WITHIN Over the past year, a group of Kristin staff representing all corners of the school have launched an in-depth investigation into student well-being. The focus of our inquiry is to identify and understand how we can best support our students’ holistic development so we can ensure all Kristin students develop the skills necessary to thrive. With the help of positive psychology specialist Dr Denise Quinlan, we have embarked on a process of appreciative inquiry with more than 50 staff, honing in on Kristin at its best and looking to an ideal future. Mining through the details and sifting through the trends, we now know that redefining ‘success’ is at the core of what we aim to achieve. While success at Kristin will always contain a strong academic component, our hope is that, with time, the ability to be mindful, perform genuine altruistic acts, show gratitude, express creativity and step outside of one’s comfort zone to achieve personal growth will also be considered with equal value. Staff from each of our three schools are busy developing programmes to ensure that these skills are being embedded within appropriate programmes. In the Middle School this year, all Year 7 and 8 students have completed the Mental Health Foundation’s eight-week mindfulness programme, ‘Pause, Breathe, Smile’. This course aims to teach students the practice of mindfulness to enable them to be attentive in the present moment, while being curious and open to their experience. Possessing the skills of mindfulness offers students a strategy to overcome the many ways they may get caught up in worry and distraction, and

We are committed to developing programmes that help students become the very best version of themselves. provides a clarity, which is essential, not only for learning to occur but also for social and emotional well-being. The ‘Assessing Wellbeing in Education’ (AWE) tool for schools was used prior to and at the conclusion of the Term 3 course to measure the effectiveness of the programme. Student feedback from the survey included the following comments: “I think it helped me become more positive about myself ”; “It was really useful and I use it all the time when I am stressed”; and “I think it helped me calm down and be more aware of my surroundings”. Next steps for the Middle School involve work to expand on the 21-day experiences at Year 9. While these may not naturally come to mind when considering a well-being programme, this is where they are firmly planted. Giving students the opportunity to step away from their everyday comforts to explore new territory, within both their external and internal world, is very much aligned with well-being research. Values in Action (VIA) character strengths are also being explored in relation to the pastoral care programme, where they will form the foundation of individualised coaching conversations between Deans and all students in the Middle School. While the many facets of well-being are vast and varied, and the process of implementing a well-founded programme is a complex one, we are committed to developing programmes that help students become the very best version of themselves, enabling them to achieve success in all measures of life. KATE DICKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

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CREATIVITY IN THE

CANON CLOUD SUITE

Creative projects are now being used extensively to consolidate the concepts learned in the classroom and to communicate new ideas. “The ability to dream, take chances, and create the things we imagine… these are the skills of entrepreneurs, innovators and change makers. Children are born with these exceptional talents, but research shows that over time they begin to lose them.” These are the words of the Imagination Foundation, an international organisation devoted to childhood creativity. At Kristin, we agree, and we are focused on encouraging the creative skills of our students throughout the school. One place where imagination meets production is the Canon Cloud Suite. With the facility now having been open for almost a year and a half, student confidence is growing in the use of the equipment and, as a result, we are seeing more students across all year levels using the space to explore ideas, take risks and publish their learning in new and creative ways. Creative projects are now being used extensively to consolidate the concepts learned in the classroom and to communicate new ideas.

CLOUD CASE STUDY: YEAR 5 ADVERTISING The Cloud was a hive of activity towards the end of Term 3 as students from the Junior School descended. While Year 6 were busy using the facility to prepare digital presentations for their PYP Exhibition, Year 5 were turning their imaginations into reality – creating TV commercials to launch the ‘Amazing Volcano Exploding Ice-Cream’. Through the use of the Canon Cloud Suite, the students were able to apply everything they’d learnt in class about advertising in a raft of creative and engaging ways. In groups, the students planned, filmed and edited, using

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humour, drama and exotic locations to garner support for their delicious product. Angela and Daniel in 5A both commented on how surprised they were at the amount of time and effort it took to produce this work. They found it challenging, yet worth it in the end. They loved seeing their carefully prepared scripts and storyboards come to life through the use of the green screen, video and sound effects, and the use of the Camtasia program to bring it all together on a laptop. They learnt a variety of technical skills, but also to be patient, accept the need for compromise when working in a group and that creative problem solving can be fun.

CLOUD CASE STUDY: YEAR 10 DIGITECH VANUATU DOCUMENTARY In Term 3, the Canon Cloud Suite was a training ground for two Year 10 students who were preparing to take their learning out into the field to produce an ambitious documentary. Nick Baughan and Ethan Bull were invited to travel to Vanuatu in October with community organisation Kiwanis to document the delivery of supplies to cyclone-ravaged Efate. The boys attended specialised training in the Canon Cloud Suite with Ian Robinson prior to departure to familiarise themselves with the equipment and gain a better understanding of what technical problems they might need to prepare for. Nick and Ethan had both spent time working in the Canon Cloud Suite in their Digital Technology class – however, this was by far the biggest film project they’d embarked on and it presented a steep learning curve for the pair. Time became a big factor, both in the planning and the practicality of setting up shots on location.

“It was very hard to get the tripod level and ready to film in a short space of time,” said Ethan. “The sound too: trying to make the questions sound smooth was a big challenge. The training helped us a lot though. It meant that we were familiar with the cameras from the start and knew all of the functions and features and how to use them.” On returning to New Zealand, Nick and Ethan headed back to the Cloud to get started on post-production. This stage of production is always challenging and technically demanding. However, with the support of Ian and their Digital Technology teacher Doug De Kock, who accompanied them on their trip, the boys set about editing 17 GB of footage down into a 20-minute documentary. The final product, to be completed by the end of the year, will potentially be used by Kiwanis at a world conference in Seattle next year.

CLOUD CASE STUDY: SENIOR SCHOOL MEDIA STUDIES The Senior School Media Studies students have flourished in their production work in 2015 with the welcome addition of the Canon Cloud Suite and its extensive range of production equipment. Each class working towards the three NCEA levels has enjoyed the opportunity to up-skill on the pod of Canon XA25 cameras under the expert tutelage of Ian Robinson. Here, they have explored the basic set-up functions and begun to learn the intricacies of the many special features available to cinematographers. Learning to master the light and sound functions as well as specialised lens settings has enabled the students to feel confident as they head into their assessment production units.

Ian’s expertise has also ensured each class benefits from a detailed introduction to sound production. Fun experimentation with the various types of microphones and their associated settings provides a practical learning experience that consolidates the theories covered in class. This experimentation leads to an overview of soundtrack recording, with students learning to use the facility for voiceover recording in the booth. The next step is to further their expertise with sound editing software that plugs into the Adobe suite. Sound recording with the new equipment has been at the highest quality ever produced for our assessment productions and it has been rewarding to see the students’ confidence grow as they mastered various microphones, ‘dead wombats’ (windshields) and booms. The Canon Cloud Suite itself has played a particularly pivotal role in the Senior students’ production work. It has facilitated energetic and innovative sessions where they have learnt to manipulate the filming environment for green screen footage. Here, once again, the Canon XA25s have showcased their potential as a creative tool. Barry Baughan and Ian have facilitated immersive and productive sessions in the Cloud on ‘chroma keying’, the post-production technique for compositing two images or video streams together. Once the students’ final production footage has been successfully captured for assessment tasks, the Canon Cloud Suite has proved to be a fantastic space for collaborative postproduction work. Here, students are able to utilise the iMacs for effective editing and to capitalise upon Ian’s expertise as challenges or ideas arise.

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GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATIVE LEARNING

Kristin staff and students are sharing and improving their knowledge and understanding with like-minded peers from across the globe through a new partnership network: the Global Alliance for Innovative Learning (GAIL). Established in 2013, GAIL aims to foster understanding, intimacy and authentic friendship across a global network to build engagement and a genuine partnership of trust, sharing and co-operation. Implicit in this alliance is the belief that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The eight schools that make up the GAIL alliance are all independent, not-for-profit and co-educational, committed to the GAIL principles and philosophies. They are: Kimball Union Academy, USA; Prestige College, South Africa; Robert Gordon’s College, Scotland; Scotch College Adelaide, Australia; The Grange School, Chile; Western International School of Shanghai, China; Woodstock School, India; and Kristin School. Capped at a membership of eight by the founding members, GAIL is small for a reason: there is a strong focus on personal interaction and the sharing of knowledge. Student exchanges and staff research fellowships form a significant part of the GAIL model, with the practical implementation of collective learning a priority for the group.

conducting a two-part investigation into how iPads are being utilised in the Junior School and what impact the Wellness Centre has on the health and well-being of the Kristin community. At the conclusion of her fellowship, Susan submitted a comprehensive report with valuable observations that will be applied to the programme at Kristin and shared across the GAIL network. Two Kristin teachers have been selected to undertake their own GAIL fellowships in 2016. Sandra Milliken will travel to Aberdeen to investigate technology and the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, which is very strong in Robert Gordon’s College, and Martin Allen will be looking into the combining of science and technology, the host-school for which is yet to be confirmed.

GAIL STUDENT CONVENTION Our students are enjoying the opportunities presented by the GAIL alliance as well. Earlier this year, in June, 10 Senior School students joined Ms Paul and Mr Buckley on a trip to Woodstock School in Mussoorie, India, to attend the 2nd Annual GAIL Student Convention. During the week of the convention, the students were immersed in a richly cultural experience, getting to know students from seven very different countries. Together the students identified issues of local and global concern that they addressed through the development of action plans, with the intention of working together to make a real and measurable difference through their cross-continental partnerships. They also spent time exploring the beautiful mountainous landscape and interacting with young people in the local village and school.

GAIL RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Tim Oughton joined the group for the convention and said the work done by the students brought GAIL to life. “To see seven cultures mixing freely, enthusiastically and with a sense of purpose and fun was incredibly moving. This is one of the main objectives of GAIL – to bring people together to enhance global understanding – and this is exactly what I witnessed at the convention.”

Earlier this year, Kristin welcomed our first GAIL research fellow – Susan Jamieson, a teacher from Robert Gordon’s College in Scotland. Susan spent three weeks here

The next GAIL Student Convention is scheduled for 2016 and will be held at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen, Scotland. Kristin will host the event in 2020.

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A TOUR OF

BEIJING

You know it is a small world when, standing in Tiananmen Square, you hear someone say, “Look, it is Kristin School!”

Auckland Airport’s International Terminal was the setting for a stirring Kristin haka as we bid farewell to our parents before the 21 students and six teachers in our group set forth on an epic adventure to Beijing, China in September. Partway through the flight to Hong Kong it was a real surprise to find that the co-pilot was Andrew Lee. Andrew had helped Jamie with his PYP Exhibition, offering some great advice about aeroplanes and flight. Jamie enjoyed his tour of the cockpit – an awesome start to our journey. A quick change of planes and we arrived in Beijing, ready to experience the sights, sounds and smells of a unique cultural experience. Early on in our trip, we took the opportunity to visit Western Academy of Beijing, an international school that follows the IB PYP curriculum model also. After a shared experience in the local fruit market where we bartered for fruit to make into a salad with our new WAB friends, we returned to the school where we were able to share with them some of the features of our PYP Exhibition and the culture of New Zealand. Our trip to the New Zealand Ambassador’s Residence was an interesting one. Gracie Kim, an ex-Kristin student and diplomat, hosted us – along with Avernal McKinnon, the wife of Ambassador John McKinnon. It was great to hear a little about what the embassy does, and the sausage rolls and ginger slice were definitely highlights too. Victor was our host during a thrilling rickshaw ride through the Hutong area of old Beijing and another person who left a lasting impression. His enthusiasm for history and retaining some of the past, along with his animated delivery style, kept us spellbound. You know it is a small world when, standing in Tiananmen Square, you hear someone say, “Look, it is Kristin School!” This came from a family that was living on the North Shore and who have friends with a son in 5M. They were able to have a chat with Leona Marsh (5M’s teacher) and join us for a photo.

As well as the incredible people we met, the history and scale of the places we visited left the entire group mesmerised. There was no end to the new experiences. Climbing the Great Wall was definitely a highlight, especially when we made it to the top and the students could see just how much work went into creating this massive structure. Tiananmen Square and its ability to hold one million people was also mind-blowing, especially as it was decorated ready for a national holiday. So, too, was the vast size of the Forbidden City and the number of people it must have taken to construct and then maintain it. The added bonus of a thunderstorm and some rain during our visits to the Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace were spectacular, although the heat made some wish for a return of the heavy smog that encompassed the area for the majority of our trip. The Water Cube was a real highlight, particularly as we were almost the only people there. The red slide (which includes a vertical drop at the start) was the biggest challenge amidst the attractions, which kept us very busy for hours that seemed to fly by. There were many opportunities to practise our Chinese language skills, none more so than when shopping in the markets. When the stall owner had to ‘check with their boss’ we knew that our finely-tuned bargaining skills had arrived close to the right price. There were many happy faces after each shopping experience; no doubt that joy was shared when the gifts chosen for loved ones arrived home and were unwrapped as well. The students did exceptionally well throughout their challenging adventure. They embraced each new experience with courage and enthusiasm, pushing themselves out of their comfort zones at every opportunity to return home with a greater understanding of their place in the world as global citizens. ROB HUTTON ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, JUNIOR SCHOOL

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SHARING THE PLANET PYP EXHIBITION The annual PYP Exhibition requires students to engage in a collaborative inquiry process in which they identify, investigate and offer solutions to real-life issues or problems in the context of their local and global community.

All 84 of our Year 6 students delighted in the opportunity to showcase their work to the wider school community at the annual PYP Exhibition in Term 3. Arguably the most important assessment-based event of the PYP programme, the Exhibition represents over eight weeks’ work for the students, who each chose their own subject area to investigate. The annual PYP Exhibition requires students to engage in a collaborative inquiry process in which they identify, investigate and offer solutions to real-life issues or problems in the context of their local and global community. Individual projects ranged from space technology to industrial farming, habitat destruction and road safety. Ten-year-old Kali Raj chose to look at the world’s refugee crisis because of its relevance to today’s society: “Originally I wanted to look at racism and segregation, but I realised it would involve a lot of looking back. I wanted to look to the future and find a way to make a positive difference, so I chose 12

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refugees. The current situation is heartbreaking: these people have done nothing wrong and yet they have no options.” Through getting in contact with the Red Cross in Northcote, Kali had the opportunity to meet with a family from Myanmar, who she interviewed for her documentary. “It was amazing to hear their stories. They have been through hideous things and still they were so positive and looking forward. They are happy to be here; they are studying English at AUT and are grateful that New Zealand is a place where they can feel safe.” Rian Wongsarot also chose to focus his Exhibition inquiry on refugees and conducted nine interviews with organisations such as Amnesty International and the Red Cross to better understand the global refugee crisis. He created a compelling video that caught the eye of TVNZ and was subsequently interviewed on Seven Sharp. He spoke confidently and compassionately about the plight of refugees, stating that

“the world needs friends, not enemies”. Rian also successfully campaigned to bring two orphaned sisters from a Sudanese refugee camp to live with their aunt in New Zealand and established Kids 4 Refugees, a buddy programme to help refugee children and their families. Over the course of the weeklong Exhibition, the 84 Year 6 students took tours and explained their work to visitors and younger students, staged a component of their work in two live presentations and celebrated their achievement with friends and family. Reflecting on the experience, Kali says she has learned a lot through the process: “I didn’t think I could do it at the start, there were so many challenges to complete, but by about halfway you start to believe in yourself. So, if I’m ever asked to do something like this again in the future, I will do it in a heartbeat.”

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PREFECT CAMP Bringing together both the old and the new Senior School Prefects, the camp is very much a game of two halves – with a bit of a test match in between!

The annual Prefects Camp at Ahuroa in Puhoi took place over four days in September. Bringing together both the old and the new Senior School Prefects, the camp is very much a game of two halves – with a bit of a test match in between! The first half of the camp is focused on debriefing the old Prefects and reflecting on their accomplishments of the past 12 months. As Kiwis it is in our nature to be a bit reticent to talk about successes, and we find that unless time is actually taken to identify the outcomes of our work we can quickly forget what we have achieved. In the case of our 2014/15 Prefects, their accomplishments deserve to be shouted from the rooftops. We are deeply grateful for the work of this outstanding group of young leaders; they have laboured long and hard for the good of others. Throughout their tenure this team have been relentless in their search for ways to serve their peers, the whole school and the wider community. In all of this time they have been outstanding role models; trustworthy and loyal, they are exceptional young men and women. On the second day it was a joy to see the way the new Prefects were welcomed to camp by their more experienced peers. Taking on the role of older brother or sister, the outgoing group carefully took the new team through what it means to be a Prefect at Kristin, and passed on their wisdom of how to make the most of the role. To help them in this, they prepared a wonderful handbook in the style of a recipe book, with every page full of great ideas and tips to ensure success. The highlight of Prefect Camp every year is the muchanticipated ‘Wide Game’, Kristin’s own, rather muddy, version of Race to the Flag. Taking place on the morning of the third day it really is like a test match in intensity and passion, and full of unforgettable moments of skill and courage. Only in the Wide Game do you see some of 14

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New Zealand’s finest young minds covered in mud from head to foot, crawling through swamps and leaping over creeks with such complete fearlessness. Following the departure of the old Prefects from camp – always a somewhat reflective moment – the new team get straight down to business and are taken through a ‘Prefectship 101’ talk on the do’s and don’ts of the role. Given the importance of these positions, we believe that clear guidelines are essential early on so that our new team understand clearly the expectations that the school and the community will have of them. Once the nuts and bolts of the new roles are out of the way, the programme moves to our new leaders gaining a deeper understanding of their own leadership styles, and the role that personality can have in shaping our performance as leaders. Starting as we mean to go on we talk about leadership in terms of service, altruism, generosity, commitment and something that is always focused on the good of others. Taking this further we initiate thinking about avenues for service in the year ahead, and start shaping ideas about where the most impact can be made by the group. In the days following our return from Prefect Camp we were delighted to celebrate the appointment of all our student leaders at the Leadership and Service Assembly on the last day of Term 3. By announcing more than 120 specific leadership positions at this assembly, we were making a very clear statement about the importance of service in the school. It is not something we treat lightly or only reserve for a small group. Leadership and service are essential to the Senior School at Kristin; they are very much a part of our DNA. BRENDAN KELLY SENIOR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

LEADERSHIP ROLES 2015/16 The 2015/16 Prefects and House Captainsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; positions are as follows: Head Prefects: Head Girl: Hattie Jones Head Boy: Toby Ellis Deputy Head Girl: Jessica Tucker Deputy Head Boy: Declan Marshall House Prefects: Apollo: Lucy Chambers Jupiter: Emma Cadman Mariner: Fraser Cotterill Saturn: Jung Woo Bae Liaison Prefects: Junior School Liaison: Samantha Barrable and Thomas Greenop Middle School Liaison: Anna Thornton, Grady Bower and Ana Ross Committee Prefects: Cultural Committee: Livia Wicks Events and Hosting Committee: Juliette Jenkins International Committee: Charles Law Tertiary Futures Committee: Clodagh McCullough Management Committee: Molly Watson Publications Committee: Sohee Kwon Service Committee: Rocky Jiang Sports Committee: Henry Will Well-being Committee: Jessica Hoeps House Captains: Apollo: Tahlia Bridger, Samantha Khan and Jack Rogers Jupiter: Hugo Donaldson, Nadia Meyer and Jamie Todd-Brown Saturn: Riley Behrens, Nitika Govind and Jocelyn Rooke Mariner: Edward Campbell, Lucy Revell and Annabel Wylie 11.2015

BIG BOYS’ TOYS A beautiful, albeit chilly, winter’s morning brought with it a sizeable crowd of Kristin fathers, sons and daughters for our Blokes’ Breakfast on 28 August. With two helicopters on display alongside race cars, trucks, bikes, boats, jet-skies, scooters, cameras and more, there was something for everyone. As the sun emerged through the fog, the crowds made their way around the attractions armed with bacon and eggs, made fresh by the principals and senior staff. As well as the opportunity to appreciate the amazing machinery on display, the purpose of the event was to support Ronald McDonald House Auckland. Thanks to the generosity of those in attendance, over $530 was raised for this worthy cause. We’d like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who came and contributed to the event, especially to the families who brought along vehicles for the display. It was a fantastic morning, enjoyed by all.

STREET FOOD WITH STYLE Parents and friends came together on Tuesday 8 September to enjoy a delicious lunch and the latest fashions at the KFF’s ‘Street Food with Style’ function at Madam Woo, Takapuna. There was a fun and friendly atmosphere as everyone arrived, keen to check out the new restaurant, which provided the perfect backdrop for the fashion-focused event. With sun streaming in through the windows and a delicious array of food on offer, the guests settled in for the fashion and style workshop provided by author and celebrity stylist Anna Caselberg. The familiar faces of a few Kristin mothers modelled a selection of latest trends, including stunning but practical ‘school gate’ options alongside some of the latest garments straight off the runway from designer and special guest Liz Mitchell. It was a wonderful fundraiser, enjoyed by all and greatly supported by the Kristin community. Our thanks to Sarah Amos, Lisa Linton, Janine Jurkovich, Chia-I Liu, Keren Wallace, Samala Robinson, along with Nicky Shave and the KFF committee, and the many others who contributed to making the event such a success.

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INTERNATIONAL

CHAMPIONS FUTURE PROBLEM SOLVING

They had only two hours to complete a rigorous five-step problem-solving process on the topic of Intellectual Property in a futuristic scenario.

Kristin’s Future Problem Solvers returned home with three trophies from the 2015 Future Problem Solving International Conference, held at Iowa State University in June. The Kristin team competed in the Global Issues senior division. They had only two hours to complete a rigorous five-step problem-solving process on the topic of Intellectual Property in a futuristic scenario. The students had been researching and preparing for this challenge all term, a process that included special workshops with Intellectual Property lawyers and other experts involved in this field. This initial work led on to the second compulsory category of the competition – the presentation of the action plan. This is a more practical component of Future Problem Solving that requires competing teams to present their action plan in the most dramatic, interesting and creative way possible. The Kristin team produced a brilliant presentation to claim 1st place in this very competitive category. The boys were asked to perform their winning presentation again at the closing ceremony in front of the entire conference attendees – an experience that they all enjoyed and from which they received very positive feedback. Further celebrations were in order when two of the team’s individual participants, Rocky Jiang and Oliver Denny, received awards in the Multiple-Affiliate Global Issues division. This category is for composite teams who undertake the Future Problem Solving challenge alongside fellow participants they have never met before. Rocky and his team were awarded 1st place while Oliver took 2nd. The team was greatly supported by their coaches Christine Mackway-Jones and Helen Mansfield, who shared the news of their success, saying: “It has been very exciting. The boys have all been very thoughtful, appreciative and motivated despite the excitement and pressure of the last few days.” The Kristin Future Problem Solving team members were Iain Campbell, Oliver Denny, Joe Gauld, Rocky Jiang, Hyeongjin Kim, Nicholas Miehlbradt and Rohan Naik. As well as enjoying their time at the International Conference, the boys had a great time exploring San Francisco, Chicago and America’s Midwest. An absolute highlight was the half-day visit to Google, where they were hosted by Kristin alumnus Sam Johnson.

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ANNIE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION

The collective result was a show that you could take anywhere, play anywhere in the world and people would happily pay to be entertained so wonderfully. One of the world’s classic and much-loved family musicals – Annie – took to the Kristin stage at the beginning of Term 4. With an incredibly talented cast and crew and a passionate production team, supported by a fantastic group of parents, Kristin’s continued tradition of excellence in the Performing Arts was assured. The intensive production process involved hard work and challenges, but, above all, it was a joyous journey from start to finish. Close on 180 students from Years 6 to 10 were involved and a record number of 1,726 tickets was sold. All three performances received standing ovations. Middle School Principal Adam Heath wrote to the cast and crew after Opening Night: “No one in the audience was quite prepared for the standard of the vocal performances last night – the individual performances and choral pieces were superb. The ease with which you drew us into your characters and the stories defied everything. Perhaps most striking was the collaboration, the teamwork and the sense of unity that seemed to underpin the astonishingly high standard of performance – with every last detail attended to meticulously by the backstage crew and every cast member 100% focused on playing their part to the best of their ability. The collective result was a show that you could take anywhere, play anywhere in the world and people would happily pay to be entertained so wonderfully. Bravo cast and crew – you have made me and everyone else at Kristin very proud to be part of this amazing school of ours.” LORNA ROOD DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS 18

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SHOWDOWN AWARDS 2015 Kristin has been nominated in a total of 17 categories at the annual Showdown Awards. This event recognises high achievement in Secondary School Productions across Auckland in every area of production.

PLAY - NOISES OFF Best Male in a Supporting Role: Cameron Stables (Selsdon) Best Male in a Supporting Role: Lucas Hinton (Lloyd) The production also received nominations for Best Properties, Best Set Design and Best Director.

MUSICAL - MISS SAIGON Best Male in a Leading Role: William Deane (Chris) Best Female in a Leading Role: Maisy Smithers (Kim) Best Male in a Supporting Role: Cameron Stables (Engineer) Best Male in a Supporting Role: Conrad Edwards (John) The production also received nominations in the following categories: Best Set Design in a Musical, Best Lighting Design in a Musical, Best Sound Design in a Musical, Best Performed Choreography, Best Performance by a Chorus, Best Choreographer, Best Musical Director and Best Director.

DESIGNZ 2015 Term 3’s DesignZ showcase was a fantastic success, once again. The event, now it its third year, brings together some of our most creative Middle and Senior School students in a format that demonstrates the depth and breadth of their design and technology skills. This year’s show included garments from Middle and Senior School Soft Technology and Design classes, and the types of pieces that were displayed varied from wacky wearable art to recycled denim products and up-cycled outfits, as well as cultural fashion runs showcasing traditional fashion from around the world. A number of collections were shown from our talented young Kristin designers, as well as by alumna student Emma Sinclair. Every year, we have a Wearable Arts Competition to give the show an extra edge. This year the themes were plastic bags and neon colours. Congratulations to our three winners: Amber Nye-Hingston (Overall winner, $200 prizemoney), Emma Dil (Senior School winner, $100 prizemoney) and Anastasia Golovkova (Middle School winner, $100 prize-money). During the interval, the guests enjoyed some fantastic finger-food prepared by the Year 13 Soft Technology class. We also had the pleasure of welcoming Mrs Noyes, one of the original producers of Kristin’s previous Fashion Show. The evening was very successful and we hope to see you all again next year for DesignZ 2016.

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NATIONAL YOUNG PERFORMER AWARDS

NZ’S NEXT TOP ENGINEERING SCIENTIST New Zealand’s Next Top Engineering Scientist is an annual competition run by the Department of Engineering Science at The University of Auckland. This year, nearly 200 teams entered the competition from around New Zealand to answer the problem: “If a New Zealand student uploads a video clip that goes viral, how long will it take before 1% of the world’s population has seen it?” Two Kristin teams of Year 12 and 13 students entered the competition, which involved a nine-hour weekend workshop in August. Although they were working alongside each other, both teams approached the problem differently to arrive at strikingly different conclusions. Hyeongjin Kim, Tina Zhang, Jack Liu and Marco Tyler-Rodrigue decided on a mathematical approach and surmised that the answer was approximately 80 years. Their reasoning was so thorough that the team was awarded Runner-up in the hotly contested competition. Hyeongjin explains the team’s approach: “We opted for a more mathematically rigorous attempt in which we made various assumptions from references on the net, such as the overall curve in the graph of the number of cumulated views of ‘viral videos’ in respect of time. We then formulated a few rough mathematical functions (which was quite tricky to do). We used our model to calculate how long it would take for our example video ‘The importance of correctly pronouncing Māori words’, posted by a New Zealand student, to follow the ‘viral video curve’ to reach about 70 million views (1% of the world’s population), and we got an answer of about 80 years.

In late October, I had the privilege of performing in the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand (PACANZ) National Young Performer Awards rounds in Palmerston North. This competition is for all students under the age of 21; it is a multi-discipline competition that represents eight of the art forms traditionally covered in the competitions movement and is one of the highest levels of competition for young performers in New Zealand. Twenty-one of the country’s best musicians were nominated by their district competitions. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the competitors were full-time university music majors at The University of Auckland, Victoria University of Wellington and The University of Waikato. This group of 21 was whittled down to six and I was very fortunate to make this cut. All competitors who made it through were university students, apart from myself. We were required to perform our 20-minute recital of three contrasting pieces again. This group of six was further reduced to a final three. The three finalists were Matthias and Brigitte Balzat, and me. We gave a final performance to a buzzing, full Regent Theatre along with the other art forms. I was awarded 2nd prize and received $3,000 to further my violin studies. The event was very professional and well organised and I am truly grateful for the support the school has given me during my years at Kristin. This accomplishment tops all of my previous ones and I am immensely happy and appreciative that I am able to end my music journey at Kristin on such a high note. GEN WOODS

“Meanwhile, the other Kristin team used graphical analysis to get an answer of about 371 days, provided that China cannot access the video and 271 days if China could. However, there were some similarities within our methodology, one being that we both considered there to be two parts within the cumulative views of video vs time graph: the rapidly increasing section (exponential curve-like) and the steady increase section with curve concave down (logarithmic-like). Furthermore, we assumed a linear, straight line that could appropriately estimate the steady increase section by calculating the tangent function.” As Runner-up in the national competition, the team has won $2,000 and each member has been guaranteed a paid summer internship at Orion Health, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare or the Department of Engineering Science. 11.2015

FORENSIC INVESTIGATORS In the five years since it was first established, Forensics@ Kristin has seen incredible growth. Now attracting over 300 Year 3 to 13 students from across the country, this studentled programme has become renowned for providing a fun and unique non-residential camp experience where students can test their problem-solving, research, logic and creative skills within the framework of forensic investigation.

techniques, such as fingerprint testing and DNA analysis, and the multitude of resources, skills and intelligence at their disposal to identify critical evidence and direct their own lines of inquiry. Their investigations culminated in a simulated court trial where Detectives became defence and prosecution lawyers, interviewing key witnesses and arguing their side of the case.

This year’s programme took place in June and included three different camp experiences: a five-day non-residential camp for students in Years 5 to 10, a one-day Junior Edition for Years 3 to 8, and a five-day Senior Scholars’ Edition for selected students in Years 11 to 13.

Over the course of the week, participants had the opportunity to meet with police detectives, forensic scientists and criminal defence lawyers who explained the real-life application of what the students were learning and the realities of forensic investigation and court processes.

Forensics Co-ordinator and GATE teacher Raewyn Casey says it is the student leadership that makes the Kristin Forensics camp so unique. “This is the only programme on this scale in New Zealand that is entirely student led.”

Designing the complex scenarios was the responsibility of a team of students who held the roles of Controllers and Scenario Doctors. These students, mostly in Years 9 and 10, had been selected from the very best of previous years’ Detectives. They invested many weeks in preparing the scenarios and related evidence and were kept busy throughout the week, generating information and responding to the many lines of inquiry from the Detective teams.

“Although teachers are there to provide guidance, the complete control of the experience is handed over to the students,” she says. “They learn skills of managing small and large groups and have to communicate with a variety of companies and many different adults. The skills they are learning, especially when there is a problem to solve, will remain with them for life. I am always amazed at how capable the students are and the high level of commitment we see from them.” Joining together as teams of Detectives, the students doing the full programme had three days to work through their cases, during which time they utilised forensic 22

“This is the only programme on this scale in New Zealand that is entirely student led.”

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An additional team of students was responsible for the logistics of running the camp. This included catering for all of the participants and supervising teams, overseeing the science laboratories and the general day-to-day business of running the camp. While staff were on hand to help and guide as necessary, it was the students who led the camp, addressed the participants and took responsibility for its ultimate success.

FEEDING YOUNG MINDS AT FAVONA PRIMARY SCHOOL Children at Favona Primary School in Mangere have a new learning space thanks to the Senior School Prefect team. The student leaders spent their July holidays installing a portable building, complete with brand-new kitchen facilities, to help empower young students with a love of cooking and a foundation of strong food literacy skills. Ably led by Deputy Head Prefects Amelia Vincent and Declan Weir, the Prefects invested months of preparation to raise funds and source supplies for the project. Thanks to overwhelming support from the Kristin community, the team raised over $21,000 through their food-themed quiz night and givealittle campaign, and gathered box-loads of kitchen supplies with their ‘Stuff a Truck’ drive. The support was so great that they were able to send extra supplies home with Favona students to help them stock their own kitchens and cupboards. When it came time to do the physical work, all 22 Prefects spent a week of their July holidays on site at the school, transforming the previously unused space behind the hall, under the watchful eyes of some very excited students. In addition to their work on the kitchen, the team spent hours clearing and creating gardens around the school grounds and planting a myriad of vegetables and herbs that will be used in the new kitchen. They also spent time working alongside Favona students, discussing the importance of good nutrition and healthy food choices. “We taught them how to use Google Docs and asked them to collate their favourite recipes,” said Declan. “Then we looked at how the recipes could be made even healthier and compiled the recipes into a book that they can use in the kitchen.” Amelia says engagement was key to getting the students excited about the new facility. “The kids and their teachers came to visit us every day, to look around what we had been doing. They talked a lot about what they’re going to do in the kitchen and looked closely at how the deck was being built. They’ve even been talking about healthy foods; so it is really great to get that conversation started.” Throughout the build, the Prefects’ activities were a source of inspiration with classes writing stories and poems about the new kitchen and the place it will hold in Favona school life. Many factors contributed to the project’s overall success; however, Amelia maintains that it has been the community support that enabled them to realise their goal. “It has been incredibly heart-warming to see how generous everyone has been and how ready everyone has been to get behind the project.” Senior School Principal Mr Kelly is very proud of the work achieved by the Prefects. “It has been an honour to witness this project come to fruition,” he says. “By working so closely with the staff and students at Favona Primary School, our Prefects have gained true insight into the value of what is being achieved. They can see that it isn’t just about creating a place where the children can learn to cook: these facilities will enable the school to provide sustainable programmes that both nourish and inspire their young students and deliver immediate benefits within the school community.”

The team raised over $21,000 through their food-themed quiz night and givealittle campaign. 11.2015

IMACS FOR WAIRAU VALLEY SPECIAL SCHOOL Earlier this year, members of the Year 10 Sports Leadership team established a new partnership with Wairau Valley Special School (WVSS) when they set up a programme to mentor and coach the school’s students. The success of this new venture has led us to look at other ways in which we can foster a collaborative relationship between the two schools. In Term 3, two of our Middle School students, Sean Chenery and Sarah Swanepoel , visited the WVSS Transition Class to make a very exciting delivery. Aimed towards senior students aged 17 to 21, this specialised class enables students to attend local work placements and gain levels of independence in a supportive manner. Kristin has donated four iMacs to the Transition Class to assist students in gaining valuable computer skills ahead of work placement. This has been a highly worthwhile and rewarding experience for both schools and we hope to encourage further student collaboration. RACHEL FEATHER ICTS MANAGER

YOUNG LEADER AWARD – NICHOLAS SPARG The Sir Peter Blake Young Leader Award, in association with Westpac, recognises young people who have shown promising leadership in their schools and communities. The award is made to one student in each primary and intermediate school as nominated by teachers and peers. At the end of Term 2, the Junior School was proud to recognise the leadership potential of Nicholas Sparg. Nicholas has been at Kristin since Kindergarten. His aspirations to serve, lead and achieve were evident early on; Nicholas was a Year 1 representative on the Student Council, attained numerous academic awards and began a pattern of outstanding achievement in sport, especially Cross-country running. Now in Year 6, this young leader has held the roles of Peer Mediator and House Captain and is a member of five sporting teams that represent Kristin. In presenting this award, Diana Patchett said: “Sir Peter Blake showed all of us that there are leaders and there are dreamers. Leaders make things happen. Dreamers have a vision. The truly special people do both. The first step to making these dreams happen is to believe in yourself, and to believe you can do it. Nicholas is a respected role model who demonstrates humility and inclusivity, and it is a pleasure to recognise him with this award.” 24

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Leaders make things happen. Dreamers have a vision. The truly special people do both.

HIGH ACCLAIM FOR KRISTIN CHOIRS

Euphony had the opportunity to perform in the Holy Trinity Cathedral where their singing was recorded for an episode of TVNZ’s Praise Be.

Three of our top choirs have attracted high acclaim this year in their respective competitions, taking on the region’s best school groups and experiencing some of New Zealand’s most spectacular performance venues. First up was Euphony, who was named Best Female Choir in Auckland for the fourth consecutive year at the Auckland Big Sing Regional Festival in June. Performing in the Auckland Town Hall, the premier girls’ choir was also awarded Highly Commended for its performance and selected to compete alongside the country’s top groups at the Big Sing Finale in Wellington in August. In preparation for the Finale, Euphony had the opportunity to perform in the Holy Trinity Cathedral where their singing was recorded for an episode of TVNZ’s Praise Be. When the National event rolled around, the girls were ready. Within two recital sessions they performed five pieces. While they were given the difficult task of being the first to perform in the festival, they set the standard throughout and achieved very well across the competition, ultimately to be awarded Silver and the Tour Time Cup for Best Classical Piece at the Finale. In August, it was the turn of our younger singers. Our Junior School auditioned choir, the Treble Clefs, performed in the Auckland Town Hall as part of the New Zealand Choral Federation’s junior regional event, The Kids Sing. Ably led by Edith Poon-Lai, who composed an original piece for the performance, and accompanied by Renee Morin, the choir performed exceptionally well and were awarded Silver and the Adjudicator’s Prize. Adjudicator David Hamilton gave special praise to Edith for her realisation of the test piece, noting the delightful narrative quality of her interpretation of I Had a Little Nut Tree. Our Barbershop boys, the Game of Tones, rounded off the trifecta of a fabulous few months with some exceptional results. They finished in the top two at the Auckland Barbershop competition less than three months after forming as a performance group. Despite most of the group members having had little to no experience in the challenging and complex style of singing that barbershop entails, they all worked exceptionally hard in their preparation for the National Finals. Their combined efforts paid dividends when, under the direction of Eddie Kim, they were awarded 3rd place in the national competition – an absolutely exceptional result for these 13 singers. 11.2015

DOVETAIL DIARY ECOLE LA SOURCE, PARIS WEEK 1 - ARRIVAL IN PARIS It was so exciting when I woke up and realised that I would soon be on my way to the airport to get on a flight to Paris! We met everybody else at the airport and checked-in together. After a very long 12-hour flight, we arrived in Singapore where we had time to visit the butterfly garden there. Our second flight, to Paris, was delayed by about half an hour so we sat at the gate and tried to speak French. Finally they called our group and we boarded the very nice A380 for the next leg of our journey. And then, the moment we were all waiting for, PARIS! This is where we went our separate ways. To be honest, the rest of the day felt really weird because we had been together for the past 36 hours, so being without each other was quite odd. On our first day, we went into school for lunch at the canteen and went to our first class. Thank goodness that it was English! Our next class, however, was a little more challenging: MATHS! You can imagine how hard we found Maths, especially after a 36-hour journey and in a different language?! On Sunday, Roxanne and her mother took me to Versailles. There were so many amazing structures. My favourite part in the gardens is the Ballroom; this is a gorgeous circular space, with hedges that form steps and a trickling fountain along the side. We then went to Hameau De La Reine, a small village Marie Antoinette had had built so she could have a break from the life of a queen. The village was so adorable; it had a mill, a farm and a couple of little lodge-type buildings. I found out that the only person who can stay in the castle is Queen Elizabeth. She is one lucky lady! IMOGEN HARWOOD 26

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WEEK 2 - BONJOUR! Despite what had been an exhausting few days here in France, I am now taking everything in! Initially I felt somewhat alienated from the other kids at the school (what with the whole language barrier and all), but I feel that I’m now well and truly rising to the challenge of being surrounded by a different language and my French has improved unimaginably already. I can’t emphasise enough just how worthwhile it is to be here, living the mirrored life of a normal French teen. Though it was exhausting at first, I appreciate how effortlessly my host family include me in their already busy lives. I’ve been treated as a normal person here and expected to follow the same routine as everyone else, which I imagine I’ll come to appreciate fully once I’ve left. The other weekend we journeyed into the French countryside, where I was welcomed into the house of my correspondent’s grandparents like a member of the family. From biking through the breath-taking countryside to watching a vibrant indie music festival, that weekend truly was one to remember. After a fun and immersive week of school, I embraced my inner tourist and visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame, among other sites. All this was done via traversing the daunting maze that is the Parisian metro. NICK ABEL

WEEK 3 - CAMP WEEK Camp Week started with an almost four-hour train ride from Paris to Bordeaux, followed by a 75-minute bus ride from Bordeaux to Temple Sur Lot (125 kilometres away). In the end, the long journey was all worth it. The best part was being able to wake up every morning and look at the beautiful scenery of the still, mirrorlike lake, as fog would dance above it like ballerinas. We were all able to learn and experience many new things, from kayaking to the cultivation of apples and

SCHOLARSHIPS AND PRESTIGE AWARDS The annual Senior School Prize-giving recognises the achievements of students who have achieved academic, sporting and cultural excellence throughout the year. It is also when we announce the 2016 scholarship recipients. This year we have been delighted to announce over $400,000 worth of scholarship offers for 34 Kristin students, with a number of scholarships still to be confirmed over the coming months.

nuts! We were able to create amazing memories with our many new friends. When first arriving we felt a little left out because of the language barrier. But, as time flew by, our listening, comprehension and speaking skills improved enormously. ELENA HERGESHEIMER

WEEK 4 - PARIS TO AUCKLAND The last four weeks have flown by. It feels like it was only yesterday that Imogen, Nick, Ellie and I stepped off the plane into a different culture and way of life. And now, here I am, four weeks later, sitting in Charles de Gaulle airport waiting for the boarding call to head back home. Over this last week I felt like I was winding back down, saying goodbye to the new friends I had only just met, and I’m sure the others felt the same. During our last week we continued with school, practicing our French, which has improved in the short space of time we had been there. The highlight of the week was the opportunity to travel to Musée d’Orsay, a museum of art, with one of the French teachers, David. He showed us beautiful paintings and gorgeous sculptures created by famous artists. It was simply inspiring.

Among the winners are Amelia Vincent and Gen Woods, who have each been offered The University of Auckland Scholarship – the University’s premier award – valued at up to $50,000. Marko Garlick, Yezen Kubba and Thomas Trengrove have each been offered the University of Otago Academic Excellence Scholarship, valued at $45,000, for academic excellence, all-round ability and leadership. Jack Ramsey won the AUT University Significant Student Scholarship for academic excellence, leadership and community contribution, valued at $18,000, and Gina Boniolo won the AUT University Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, valued at $15,000. The Senior School Prize-giving culminated in Brendan Kelly presenting the Prestige Awards including the Achievement Trophy, IB and NCEA Dux of School and the Foundation Cup. This year the Achievement Trophy was awarded to Gen Woods. The Claudia Wysocki Memorial Trophy for the IB Dux of School went to Ji Won Jung. The Stevens Award for NCEA Dux of School was awarded to Matthew Sinclair. The Foundation Cup, awarded to the student who shows the true Kristin example, was presented to Declan Weir.

Sitting here reflecting on my time in Paris, I can honestly say it was a truly amazing experience. I realise I have been fortunate to be given this opportunity by my family and the school. You learn a lot about yourself travelling to the other side of the world on your own and living within another culture. It was a big learning curve in the beginning, but the opportunity is certainly something I would recommend to other students. TAYLOR DUNN 11.2015

PLUGGED/UNPLUGGED Earlier this year, two performance events were held over a two-week period to celebrate music and sound across all year levels. They began with Plugged, a vibrant show that featured a wide range of genres including rock, jazz, funk and pop, to name a few. The many headlining bands and groups were given the opportunity to express their love for music in a big, loud and exciting environment, and in front of a passionate and music-loving audience of friends and family. It was an entertaining night that gave the students a great experience and helped them to improve their musicianship.

DEBATING CHAMPIONS In the last week of Term 3 our top debating team of Conrad Edwards, Yezen Kubba and Amelia Vincent won the Auckland Advanced Premier debating competition. This competition is the top division in the Auckland region and most secondary schools enter teams to compete in it. We debated against a very capable St Cuthbert’s team in the final. Debating challenges the individual to ‘think on their feet’, to articulate complex arguments in convincing ways. In the Advanced Premier division, speakers have one hour to prepare and then, when they are called on, they have to speak for 8 minutes to advance their team’s case. Conrad, Yezen and Amelia showed wonderful composure and intelligence as they worked together in the debate. They spoke eloquently, handling the pressure of the moment with great confidence. Not only did they win, but Amelia was also awarded “best speaker” in the final. As much as debating is about the abilities of the individual, the secret of success lies in the strength of teamwork and the collaboration that goes on behind closed doors in what’s called the ‘prep room’. Having worked with Kristin teams for a number of years, I see this as one of the reasons why we are so successful in debating. Over the course of the season, Conrad, Yezen and Amelia developed very effective ways of sharing ideas and designing successful arguments together. We also won this competition in 2012. In fact, Kristin has won this competition four times since 2003. The captain of the 2012 team, Mitchell Smitheram, helped coach our current students and his assistance has been invaluable. This is another reason why we do so well in debating. People like Mitchell gladly give their time and expertise to help their school. All of our debaters learn their skills much earlier on. Middle School debating teams perform at a very high standard too, and the coaching they receive from older students, like Conrad, and from teachers like Mrs Casey and Mrs Mansfield, prepares them for the demands of Advanced Premier debating. It’s no accident, when all is considered, that we do pretty well. It’s a team effort, really. DAVID SHAW HEAD OF FACULTY, ENGLISH 28

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The following week provided an opportunity to step back and enjoy a more acoustic experience with Unplugged. Choirs, orchestras and talented performers from the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools delivered emotive and engaging musical performances that enthralled all those watching in the Dove. The event was a fantastic opportunity for the many groups to refine their on-stage performances in preparation for their respective recitals and competitions held throughout the year. This is the second year that the Plugged/Unplugged shows have been held and the new format is proving a hit with our Kristin musicians. Music has always featured strongly in life at Kristin and these concerts are evidence of the value it brings to our students’ learning and development. The exceptional and diverse performances across the two events shows that music, in all its forms, has the power to capture the imagination and provide creative avenues for student expression.

BOX OF BIRDS It was Voltaire who said, “Writing is the painting of the voice.” In Term 4, every student in the Junior School has the opportunity to explore this wisdom through Box of Birds – a literary and visual arts collaborative exhibition. The work on display at Box of Birds showcased the creations of every student in the Junior School and represented the finished product of a rich writing and creative arts partnership process. Over the course of Term 3, older students were buddied with younger ones with each sharing a special piece of original writing. Together the students talked about important words and ideas in their unique pieces and then swapped written texts and set about illustrating their partner’s piece. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to share their creative writing and visualise how someone else might imagine their own story.

DANCE IN THE DOVE

These eloquent and expressive pieces of writing and art were then put on display for the Kristin community to view. The students also blogged about their journey of collaboration and how this process enhanced their communication, visual art and literacy skills.

This year, once again, Kristin Performing Arts celebrated students of Dance in the staging of Dance in the Dove. Through three separate shows and performance programmes, the event embraced the passion of almost 120 Kristin dancers, from Kindergarten to Year 13. Our youngest dancers from the Kindergarten performed a highly entertaining piece set to music from The Lion King, led by their talented and creative tutors, Year 13 students Sinead Seo and Sophia Weissenstein. Senior highlights included the presentation of student-choreographed works that pushed the boundaries of compositional construction. Notable performances included a solo piece choreographed by Hannah Bourke to a spoken-word poem. Performed by Georgia Zheng, this work articulated a powerful message about appreciating the human body and the beauty it possesses. Hannah Sillick presented a sensitive ensemble piece, fusing the use of projections, lighting and costume with lyrical contemporary choreography. Other Senior works included a powerful duet using a stand-alone door (Georgia Zheng and Sinead Seo), IB Year 1 solo works that showcased strong contemporary dance technique (Imogen Williams and Merle Davis) and NCEA ensemble pieces that displayed exceptional manipulations of movements to communicate imaginative choreographic intentions (Grace Dibble, Sophia Doak and Issy Pasley). Across all the groups involved in this year’s Dance in the Dove – from the Kindergarten to the Junior and Middle Schools, through to our most senior performers – each and every dancer contributed exceptional effort in bringing a colourful and moving spectacle to the Dove stage. As a result, the audiences were taken on a powerful and energised journey of beauty and universal expression. LORNA ROOD DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS 11.2015

TERTIARY FUTURES DESTINATION MELBOURNE Our 2014 Graduate Survey showed that 27% of respondents embarked on first-year tertiary study overseas; 17% have undertaken their university studies in Australia. In recent years we have seen growing numbers of Kristin graduates heading overseas for tertiary study. While the UK and USA remain major targets, Australian universities are increasingly becoming among the favoured international destinations. Our 2014 Graduate Survey showed that 27% of respondents embarked on first-year tertiary study overseas; 17% have undertaken their university studies in Australia. With two leading universities within close range of the central city, Melbourne features strongly on the radar for Kristin graduates, attracting 10% of last year’s cohort.* A recent Melbourne Alumni Reunion was evidence of the growing Melbourne-based network (see page 47). In speaking to the guests, it was clear that everyone has their own reason for choosing Melbourne, but the innovative and high-quality courses (at both Melbourne and Monash Universities), warm and welcoming communities, strong career opportunities and a vibrant city culture have combined to make Melbourne a hive of activity and learning. The Melbourne University Open Day, held the day after the reunion, provided a valuable opportunity for families to see first-hand what is attracting students from across the Tasman – an opportunity taken up by Michelle Steele and her daughter Grace (Year 13). “It was important for us to visit the Open Days. The Tertiary Futures Evening at Kristin gives an opportunity to ‘get your feet wet’, but we wanted to get a feel for what it is really like, particularly as Grace will be in first year. It is a huge step into the unknown, and Melbourne is a long way from home, so we were keen to see where she would be living and what support would be available if she were to decide to go there next year. “It is a big wide world out there. Open Days like the one in Melbourne gave us a chance to get a taste of what options are available. It was so helpful for Grace to be able to sit in on lectures and really get a sense of this new experience. It helped her decide what it is she wants to do.” * according to the 2014 Graduate Survey from 84 respondents. 30

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FAMILIAR FACES AT MEDLEY HALL Anna Wingham (2014) and Lucy Bayliss (2013) are both residents at the University of Melbourne’s residential college, Medley Hall. Both in their first year of study in Melbourne, the girls have discovered new opportunities while enjoying a few familiar faces and Kristin connections. In February 2015, we both took the trip across the ditch to continue our tertiary education at the University of Melbourne: Lucy as a second-year Bachelor of Commerce student, and Anna, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student. It was scary. Melbourne is four times the size of Auckland, so it took a lot of exploring and an O’ Week scavenger hunt to familiarise ourselves with the city. However, we adjusted with ease. The ‘Melbourne Model’ is different from that of universities in New Zealand. There are no double degrees or undergraduate law, engineering or architecture degrees. The idea is to develop a deep understanding of a particular study area from first to the third year. However, this doesn’t restrict you in any way. Melbourne degrees allow you to choose subjects from outside your core study area in what’s called the ‘breadth’ component of the degree. With breadth, you can pursue a subject you’re interested in while broadening your knowledge and interests. Moreover, you can study concurrent diplomas like Lucy, who’s doing one in Informatics. Luckily, we both were accepted into the same residential college: Medley Hall. It is the University’s smallest residential college with only 60 students, and is a Baroque-style mansion that in the past was tied to the Italian Mafia (the bullet hole in our stained-glass window serving as a constant reminder). Medley Hall is environmentally and socially conscious and rejects many traditional notions of what ‘college life’ entails. For example, we eat vegetarian meals five days a week

Lewis Tai

Anna Wingham

Lucy Bayliss

with food that is produced locally. We do maintain some traditions, however, such as formal dinners that are held four or five times a semester, college tutorials and we participate in intercollegiate events. Our experience at Medley Hall has been fantastic; we’ve met lifelong friends and it has allowed us to comfortably make the transition into Melbourne life.

you must do Design Environments and Constructing Environments; to do Construction you must do Constructing Environments and Structural Environments. The advantage of this model is that you can try different fields under the Environments Course, and choose your second-year major accordingly.

We both catch up with our Kristin friends a lot over here. We’re always surrounded by Aussies so reminiscing about our school days is a luxury and we both find it important to maintain our Kristin friendships. Kristin students are everywhere; especially, it seems, in first-year History, which felt more like Mr Darrow’s History class with four ex-Kristin students!

For me, this process helped me discover that Architecture was not the right fit. For all the challenges I faced in the Design Environments course, I discovered new opportunities in Owned Environments. I found that I enjoyed the mixture between law, design, financials and construction. I realised that within Property I can still explore my creativity through design, but I can also gain a wide range of other skills.

Kristin has given us the best-possible foundation and has prepared us for all aspects of university life. If you’re considering Melbourne and Unimelb, DO IT. You’ll be embraced by the Kiwi-loving Melbournians and trust us, you will not regret it.

This led me to choose Property for my second-year major and I am so pleased I did. There are so many opportunities out there for me and it really suits my personality. Property is all about making connections – as a developer you need a good architect, construction manager, quantity surveyor etc. I tend to thrive in an environment where I’m working with people and communicating with them. The industry is full of very large and high-risk projects, so these skills are essential. The more brains working, the more mitigation of risk and profits generated.

ANNA WINGHAM AND LUCY BAYLISS

DISCOVERING THE RIGHT PATH Lewis Tai (2012) is in his third year of a Bachelor of Environments at the University of Melbourne where he is majoring in Property (Property Development, Valuation and Management). Lewis has discovered a passion for property development and is excited about the road ahead – however, he is quick to admit it wasn’t what he thought he would be doing when he left New Zealand. Initially, I went to the University of Melbourne to pursue an Architecture career. The Melbourne Uni model is unique. You first enter the Bachelor of Environments course and are required to complete three core subjects to pass first year – what subjects you choose depends on what you wish to specialise in in second year. For example, to do Architecture

To anyone who is trying to decide on their next step, my advice is to choose what you are passionate about. Make a list. Personally, I love to communicate with people and utilise my design skills. Property gives me these opportunities and is the perfect fit for me. However, be careful to choose your Bachelor wisely. The structure of the courses at Melbourne gives you the flexibility to explore before deciding on your major, but switching between Bachelors can be a more difficult process. Melbourne is a great place, and there are a lot of opportunities here for New Zealanders. There are a LOT of Kristin alumni here in Melbourne. You can always come talk to us if you need any help. Feel free to contact me particularly – I’d love to help you settle in. LEWIS TAI 11.2015

NZCT AIMS GAMES A team of 75 Kristin students was privileged to be amongst the 8,000 competitors in Tauranga at the NZCT AIMS Games. Now in its 12th year, the exceptional event attracts Years 7 and 8 students from more than 240 schools across New Zealand and Australia. The weeklong tournament saw our students compete to the best of their abilities as they entered each match with an admirable competitive spirit. Their support, encouragement and motivation of each other were particularly impressive. Overall, our students’ determined character, excellent sportsmanship and wonderful team spirit meant they gained a huge amount from this amazing experience, both on and off the sports arena. Yachting was a new event in this year’s tournament and our two sailors achieved some great performances in tricky 32

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conditions. Zach Pickles placed an impressive 9th out of 29 Year 8 sailors, and Digby Eele placed an equally impressive 9th out of 18 Year 7 competitors. Despite some early losses, our boys’ Basketball team went on to achieve three consecutive wins to place 33rd out of 44 teams. Similarly, our Netball team had mixed results with a couple of extremely close games interspersed with some well-deserved victories thanks to their commitment on court. The girls finished in the mid range of the 96team competition and should be very proud of their achievements. The Football team enjoyed a great tournament with the boys performing admirably throughout their six group matches, finishing the initial stages ranked 4th out of seven teams. The following rounds proved to be extremely competitive and we eventually finished in the middle of the 54-team competition. Both the boys and girls’ Hockey teams gave their very best efforts, with many Year 7 students enjoying their first AIMS experience. The girls’ team, in particular, achieved some pleasing results and placed a commendable 17th out of 24 teams. Special congratulations to Ayla Hall and Oliver Eliot, both Year 8 students, who were recognised for their outstanding Hockey talent by being chosen as top players for the Tournament team.

Overall, our studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; determined character, excellent sportsmanship and wonderful team spirit meant they gained a huge amount from this amazing experience, both on and off the sports arena.

Our two Golf players, Kerry Wang and Mitch Davis, played an epic four rounds over the four days of competition. They each performed some great shots and worked hard to remain consistent. Both players accomplished a highly respectable top-20 final placing out of 55 very competent golfers, all with handicaps under 36. Finally, the Kristin Water Polo team experienced what was probably the most stressful AIMS tournament out of all our teamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts, with memorable wins and, to be fair, unexpected losses. Closely losing out on a quarter-final position by just two goals, the team earned a respectable, albeit somewhat disappointing, 7th placing out of 18 teams. Beating the eventual Gold medallists, Aquinas College, in a thrilling 4-3 match in pool play was certainly the highlight of the week for the talented team. Congratulations to Lucia Doak and Dennis Yang, both Year 8 students, for their well-deserved recognition as top players for the Tournament team. We are extraordinarily grateful to all the staff, coaches and managers for their invaluable time, hard work, support and encouragement throughout the tournament. It was a massive undertaking and without this support our students would not have been able to enjoy such a fabulous event. DEBORAH PLUMMER TEACHER-IN-CHARGE 11.2015

TOURNAMENT WEEK

NETBALL

FOOTBALL

UPPER NORTH ISLAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT

MALCOLM COWIE TOURNAMENT

Hamilton set the scene for the 2015 Upper North Island Secondary Schools’ Netball Tournament. With 112 high-calibre teams participating, this event was the perfect platform for enabling our players to finish their season with pride. The first match of the tournament was arguably the biggest. We went up against Westlake Girls in a tough game, where our Kristin girls proved they could battle it with the best. Everyone contributed to the team, taking play on-court to set the scene for the week ahead. While this game ultimately went to Westlake, the day finished on a high with a strong win against Lynfield College, 31-37. The team played with confidence and capitalised on opportunities. The next couple of days involved a series of battles in which the score sheet didn’t favour our team. However, there were many moments of brilliance from our squad members, who fought valiantly; they came close a few times but were unable to push their way into the lead before the final whistle. Regardless of the losses, the girls were happy, upbeat and continuously working towards their ultimate goal of retaining A-grade position in one of the toughest Netball competitions on offer. Their determination paid dividends when they faced Hauraki Plains College in their last match to secure a final win, 14-28. With this result the girls retain their position in the A-grade, where the calibre of Netball is outstanding. Our thanks go to Anna Harrison and Vikki McColl for their unconditional support of this team. STACEY MORGAN HEAD OF NETBALL 34

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A squad of 14 Kristin Football players from Years 9 to 13 participated in the Malcolm Cowie Tournament in Papakura against 23 other teams from across New Zealand. Despite an unlucky loss in the first game, Kristin gained a win in the second match to finish their first day in a positive mind-set. Though a similar win and loss occurred on the Tuesday, Kristin began to show more promise as the rounds progressed. Midweek, the squad really came together, defeating local rivals Rosmini College 3-1 and finishing off with its second win for the day. Overall, our players performed well to secure a top-10 finish, especially when considering the mix of ages in their ranks and the experienced teams they were up against. Leading goalscorers for the week were Eden Caudwell and Simon Driessen. Congratulations to Angus McGill (Year 10) and Timothy Hassall (Year 9), who both made their debuts for the 1st XI and performed excellently, and to Daniel Clark, who once again performed impressively throughout the week. The tournament was an amazing experience for all involved, with friendships forming both on and off the pitch. MALCOLM MCPHERSON HEAD OF FOOTBALL

HOCKEY GIRLS

HOCKEY BOYS

FEDERATION CUP – 1ST XI HOCKEY GIRLS

MAYHILL CUP – 1ST XI HOCKEY BOYS

When we began our 2015 season, things were very different from what they had been in previous years. We had lost five senior players and the tournament layout had combined the first and second tiers, making it more difficult to place than it ever had been in the past.

The 1st XI Boys’ Hockey team had a strong start to Tournament Week, winning their first three matches in the Mayhill Cup in Hamilton. A disappointing 3-1 loss to Wanganui Girls’ College in the quarter-final meant that the team were ruled out of a topfour position, but they regrouped and refocused, setting their sights on nothing less than 5th place.

Our aim for the beginning of the season was to develop and connect as a team. We had a fair amount of success early on in the Harbour competition, placing 3rd after a draw in the semi-finals with Harbour and Supercity Champions, Westlake Girls. We continued to play well, earning 5th place in the Supercity competition and taking a comfortable win against Saint Kentigern College in our final game for the season, before Tournament Week. At Tournament we exceeded our team’s expectations, winning every game in pool play without conceding a single goal. This qualified us for the Federation Cup, the premier New Zealand secondary schools’ tournament. Here, we had our revenge over Westlake, beating them 2-1 in the knockout stages of competition. This win put us into the top eight in the Federation Cup, the best result a Kristin team has ever achieved in this event. Everyone involved in the campaign was extremely excited and proud when we placed 8th in the country, especially with such a young team.

It is the nature of knockout tournaments that a midweek loss will remove any chance of the team progressing, and it was a lesson for the boys, who recognised that their opponents simply played better on the day. They did rise from the disappointment, however – making no excuses, they went on to claim two decisive wins against Western Heights School and Havelock North High School, 10-2 and 5-2 respectively, to finish in 5th place. While it wasn’t the final result they had hoped for, the boys’ game statistics showed they were playing better and more consistently that many other teams, scoring 40 goals and only conceding eight across the entire tournament. Henry Will was the top goal-scorer for the tournament with a total of 26 goals.

As captain and a final-year player, I am proud to have watched the team develop and grow as it has and will be very excited to see how the girls continue to improve in the future. MADELEINE WILLIAMSON CAPTAIN 11.2015

TOURNAMENT WEEK

JUNIOR BASKETBALL

SENIOR BASKETBALL

NEW ZEALAND JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT

GREATER AUCKLAND SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ TOURNAMENT

Our Year 9/10 Boys’ team spent Tournament Week at the Basketball New Zealand Junior Secondary Schools’ Tournament in Rotorua where they placed 8th from 18 teams in the A grade.

Winter Tournament Week provided the opportunity for our Kristin Premier Boys’ Basketball team and their coach, Ken Coulson, to compete against the best schools from the Greater Auckland region, all vying to make the top-six teams in the zone event to qualify for Nationals.

As a result of last-minute illness, only seven players were able to make the trip to Rotorua, so the remaining players did well to win their first three games and qualify into the top eight. It was all going to be an uphill struggle from there, however, having to play against tougher opposition and battling fatigue and adversity with no chance to recover. We lost our last round-robin match against Te Aroha College, which finished at 9pm, and then had less than 12 hours to recover before participating in our 9am quarter-final against Mount Maunganui College the next morning. We fought against early foul trouble and struggled to keep up, eventually losing by 25 points. We lost the next two games, firstly against Trident by a painstaking one point and then to Sacred Heart College by five points. Kane Wang was an absolute warrior and led the team at both ends of the court, scoring more than 30 points per game. Andy Jiang, David Zhang and Oscar Eele made solid contributions in every game, scoring and taking on tough defensive match-ups. Our three big men – Shamen Kumar, Curtis Blanchard and Harry Stone – improved with every game and defended strongly and battled around the basket at both ends of the court. A special thanks goes to Xilin Wang for his assistance in managing the team. SIMON MESRITZ, SPORT MANAGER

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We had the hardest-possible start, going up against the eventual 2nd-place finishers, Westlake Boys, in game one. This was followed by a second loss against Massey High School despite a strong second-half finish from our boys. Bouncing back strongly, our team then went on to secure a good win against Waitakere College and two against St Peter’s College, to finish 13th out of 25 teams with three wins and three losses during the tournament. For Year 13 students Rory McCutcheon and Emerson Geissler, this was their final showing for Kristin and they both led the way, performing admirably throughout the tournament. Glen Xie and Leonard Takahashi stood out as top performers for Kristin too, both on attack and defence, while youngsters Dominic Chen and Kane Wang showed moments of brilliance beyond their years. SIMON MESRITZ, SPORT MANAGER

WATER POLO NZ REPS WORLD CHAMPS FOR LIANA DANCE Liana Dance has done her school and country proud, representing New Zealand at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, as a core member of the NZ Senior Women’s Water Polo team. Having debuted with the team earlier this year at the Intercontinental Tournament, Liana held her own amidst many older and more experienced players to make a significant contribution and help New Zealand to a 13th-place finish. When asked what it felt like to be competing at the height of NZ Water Polo, Liana said: “It was an experience of a lifetime – simply incredible! Nothing really beats the feeling of standing on a world stage with the silver fern on your chest, singing your national anthem. Every time I did this my emotions were cemented in the enormous pride I have in being a Kiwi!” Liana is the first person to be selected for every NZ age group in the same year – an incredible achievement for a very talented young Water Polo player.

INTERNATIONAL WATER POLO AGE-GROUP REPRESENTATIVES

NZ WOMEN’S U17 TEAM – JESSICA MARSDEN In June, Jessica Marsden (Year 12) travelled to Hungary and Germany to compete in the Margaret Island competition and 1st International Peter Linder Memorial Tournament. The Kiwi team walked away with wins against France and Germany, finishing in 3rd place. Their major goal is to compete here in Auckland in the FINA World Women’s Youth Championships in December 2016.

NZ MEN’S U16 TEAM – HENRY DICK Henry Dick (Year 12) headed over to Brisbane to represent New Zealand in the Born 1999 Boys’ Water Polo team, held during the Term 2 holidays. The team was on fire during their trans-Tasman tournament, only losing to one team, NSW, to come home Silver medal-winners. They also brought back the shield in the annual trans-Tasman test against Queensland.

In addition to Liana’s World Cup achievements, a number of other Kristin Water Polo players have been selected to wear the silver fern in age-group representative teams. With these students setting such an exceptional example for our younger players, it is no wonder that we are seeing more and more students sign up for Water Polo at Kristin.

Looking back on the trip, Henry says he learnt a lot about competing at this level. “All in all, this was a fabulous opportunity. I was able to bring home a new wealth of experience from the tournament, especially learning to deal with sunstroke having played in an outside pool.”

NZ WOMEN’S U20 TEAM – LIANA DANCE AND GRACE TOBIN

In the midwinter holidays, Claudia Mworgan (Year 9) headed over to Sydney to represent New Zealand in the Born 2000 Girls’ Water Polo team. The team’s participation in the trans-Tasman tournament held a lot of anticipation and support, and, as a result, they returned home victorious with their well-earned Gold medals.

Immediately after the World Champs were finished, Liana packed up and travelled to meet fellow Kristin team-mate and NZ U20 representative Grace Tobin (Year 13) and the rest of the NZ U20 team to prepare for the U20 World Championships, held in Volos, Greece, in August. Out of six matches, the Kiwis won two against South Africa and Mexico and never lost by more than 10 goals. They came home 10th with Liana scoring 11 goals and Grace 8 goals in total. “The experience of playing in an international tournament is amazing,” says Grace. “You learn so much, not just from your own team but from all the undeniably talented players in other teams too. We improved over the tournament, and I, for one, am happy with our 10th-place finish. ”

NZ WOMEN’S U15 TEAM – CLAUDIA MORGAN

Reporting home after her final match, Claudia said: “Seamless substitutions gave us unbreakable strength to consolidate another great performance in the pool. We have all been overwhelmed with so much happiness as we celebrate together as a squad. What an honour to be here in this moment, representing our country in a game we all love.” SIMONE SMALL TEACHER-IN-CHARGE, WATER POLO

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YACHTING 29ERS TAKING ON THE WORLD In August this year, Jackson Keon (Year 11) and Oscar Gunn (Year 12) travelled to Pwllheli, North Wales, to compete in the British 29er Nationals and the Open World 29er Championships. The boys’ first challenge was the British Nationals where both boats were serious contenders in the Gold fleet. After experiencing prime conditions with a 15 to 20-knot breeze during the qualifying rounds, Oscar was leading the pack going into finals, with Jackson close behind in 3rd position. A big shift in conditions for the final day of racing turned the leader board on its head. A brilliant day of racing by Jackson brought him home in 1st place, with Oscar finishing the regatta in 4th position. Having three Kiwi boats in the top four at this prestigious event, the New Zealand team had reason to feel confident going into the World Championships. The World Champs started with two days of big waves and breeze. Oscar and his sailing partner managed to secure six wins out of seven races to be ranked 1st after the early stages of competition. Jackson was placed 12th and one other Kiwi boat was sitting in 3rd. The last day

of qualifying was cancelled due to a lack of wind, which meant that the New Zealand team had three boats in the top 15 heading into the finals. Again, challenging conditions caused a lot of movement on the leader board in the later stages of competition. Oscar managed three top-10 finishes in the final rounds to be placed 12th, and a series of comfortable races from Jackson secured him a final ranking of 7th overall.

RED BULL FOILING GENERATION, WAKAYAMA, JAPAN In April, Leonard Takahashi (Year 12) was invited to attend The Red Bull Foiling Generation – a new extreme sailing series in which four teams race in identical two-man Flying Phantom vessels, similar in design to the iconic America’s Cup boats. The multihull boats measure 5.5 metres in length and 3 metres in width. Built for speed, they

1ST XI GIRLS’ FOOTBALL NORTH HARBOUR SENIOR A CHAMPIONS It is often said that ambition is the pathway to success and persistence the vehicle you arrive in. And so it was for the 1st XI Girls’ team as they sought to attain something no other Kristin team had achieved in more than a decade - the North Harbour Senior A Championship title. Comprising no fewer than nine newly promoted players, a new captain and a new team coach, early trials and warmup games gave little indication of the success that was to come. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long before the squad’s true ability became clear. Four wins and two draws from their first seven games was enough to propel the team to the top of the table in the early part of the season. Ultimately, 38

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it was the team’s ability to demonstrate a level of resolve rarely seen in a team so young that saw them eventually qualify for the North Harbour Championship round. And it was there the team’s perseverance and determination really came to the fore. In the end, it was a tight finish. Under the guidance and encouragement of their coach and the gentle determination of their captain, Anastasia Ross, the Kristin team went on to beat higher-ranked Kaipara and Carmel colleges in the final rounds and were declared 2015 North Harbour Champions. Through persistence, the seed planted early in the season had grown to fruition. JUSTIN PEAT TEAM MANAGER

are equipped with a J-shaped daggerboard and can hit speeds of up to 35 knots. Owing to an untimely high-speed capsize, Leonard and his Japanese team-mate lost their semi-final race and had to settle for 3rd place overall. However, Leonard did come away from the event with the regatta speed record of a whopping 29.6 knots, attained just before they capsized!

NORTH AMERICAN OPTIMIST CHAMPIONSHIPS, ANTIGUA Josh Berry (Year 9) was selected to sail for the New Zealand team in the North American Championships, held on the Caribbean island of Antigua from 5 to 13 July. The Optimist-class fleet from 18 countries enjoyed warm temperatures, steady breeze and a large sea swell. Josh performed extremely consistently over the 10 races, finishing 27th out of 162 sailors. NIGEL MESSERVY, CLUBS MANAGER

SOUTHWELL EXCHANGE VICTORY It was a clear victory to Kristin this year at the Southwell Winter Exchange. After three years of challenging for the Wyatt Cup through summer and winter matches, success was finally ours! Our Football, Netball and two Hockey teams demonstrated terrific teamwork throughout the tournament. Passing, communication and team strategies made all the difference and our athletes were able to work together against their tough and proven opponents. From the glowing faces it was clear that every student was giving it their all, and the smiles gave clues to the enjoyment that was taking place in all of the games. Our results included a win for our Football and Netball teams, 7-1 and 9-4 respectively. We also had a win from our Hockey B team, 7-1, and a 4-4 draw from Hockey A. Thank you to the Senior students who showed leadership in stepping up to umpire and coach on the day, alongside our Sports Managers, and to Christian and Simone May for their organisation and the time they have dedicated to these groups. FIONA ACKROYD JUNIOR SCHOOL PE SPECIALIST / SPORTS CO-ORDINATOR

NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ FENCING CHAMPS Our Kristin fencers delivered a series of outstanding performances on the piste at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Fencing Nationals, held at Massey High School in September. Nicholas Miehlbradt brought home the National Silver medal in the Boys’ Foil event, the first time this has been accomplished in the history of Kristin. Nicholas was joined by Rhys Davies and Cameron Grimwade for the team competition where the three went on to win Silver in the Boys’ Foil and Epee events. The girls’ team, consisting of Lena Jacob, Chantelle May, Anriena Zen and Sally Zhang, won Bronze after a narrow loss to Diocesan School (45-44) in the late stages of the competition. Anriena placed 3rd in the Girls’ Epee event. The schools’ event was a precursor to the U20 Nationals, held over the same weekend. The success of our team continued with a number of individuals achieving top-10 rankings within the challenging age group. In addition, our fencers went on to compete in the North (Regional) U23 Fencing competition the following week, where Year 6 student Chantelle May took out the Women’s U23 Foil event and Rhys Davies and Nicholas Miehlbradt placed 3rd-equal in the Men’s Foil. NIGEL MESSERVY CLUBS MANAGER 11.2015

JOHN O’CONNOR 35 YEARS SERVICE TO KRISTIN SPORT Without a doubt, John O’Connor’s greatest contribution to the Kristin community is that of a teacher, having started his teaching career here in 1981 in the Science and Chemistry labs. Throughout this time, however, John has also made a magnificent contribution to the holistic development of Kristin students through sport. A passionate sportsman, John played firstclass cricket for Auckland. He was also responsible for establishing the sport here at Kristin when he joined the staff in 1981. Since that time he has spent thousands of hours coaching, managing, officiating, administering and supporting Kristin Sport and nurturing Kristin students in their holistic development.

35. He has spent eight years coaching and managing basketball, and 13 years as an umpire. Five years were spent coaching and managing teams in football, and in this sport, too, he spent 18 years as referee. John was the Chairman of North Harbour secondary schools’ cricket from 1985 to 1995, and has had two Black Caps, Matt Horne and Andy McKay, come under his tutelage. John’s extraordinary dedication and devotion to student athletes have made him a pillar for sport here at Kristin, and countless students – past and current – are indebted to him for this service. John has been a tireless member of our Sport team and we are exceptionally grateful to him for sharing his passion for sport and development. ROB TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF SPORT

John has been a coach and manager of Kristin cricket teams for 30 years, and an umpire for

SPORTS AWARDS DINNER Over 450 people attended the Sports Awards Dinner at QBE Stadium on Thursday 22 October to celebrate the sporting achievements of 2015. Guest speaker Kyle Mills gave an inspiring talk in which he stressed the need for all athletes to make the most of their opportunities and to work hard. He linked this to his 15year career spanning more than 200 games for the Black Caps. Liana Dance took out the Firth Cup for the top Sportsperson for 2015. She was also awarded the Female Sportsperson of the Year. Liana has had an outstanding year in Water Polo, representing New Zealand in the Senior Women’s team. Henry Will took out the Male Sportsperson of the Year award for his successes in Hockey and Rugby. The Middle School Sportsperson of the Year Award winners were: Ayla Hall Dennis Yang Claudia Morgan Macsen Sisam

Year 7/8 Female Year 7/8 Male Year 9/10 Female Year 9/10 Male

The Premier Girls’ Water Polo team took out the Tournament Trophy for finishing 2nd at the New Zealand Secondary School Nationals. Harrison Stone was awarded the Marge Scott Cup for his outstanding leadership of the Boys’ 1st XI Hockey team. Congratulations to all the award-winners. We look forward to continued success in 2016. ROB TAYLOR DIRECTOR OF SPORT 40

06.2015 11.2015

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 2ND XI HOCKEY BOYS 10TH-GRADE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT The 10th-grade Hammers entered into a 9-a-side Football tournament at Forrest Hill in August. The well-organised event gave the Hammers five hard-out games against teams like Onehunga Phoenix, North Shore United, Waitakere and East Coast Bays. A seriously fun day, well supported by parents and a good oldfashioned sausage sizzle, saw the mighty Hammers make it all the way to the semifinals of the bowl, missing out on the final by just one goal. A brilliant effort from the team.

YEAR 5/6 FLIPPA BALL This year our Flippa Ball teams have joined forces with Sunnynook School to field stronger squads. The move has been a positive one as our players have grown in confidence and done very well for themselves in the Term 3 competition. The best result came from our Year 5/6 Kingfishers, who finished 5th out of 14 teams in the highest grade of the competition.

The 2nd XI boys’ Hockey team enjoyed a very successful season. Placed in Grade 3 for the first semester, the team won all of their pool games and the semi-final, only to be pipped in the final by a goal in the last minute of play. Then promoted to Grade 2A, the boys were determined to maintain their momentum and, again, won through to the play-offs before claiming a nail-biting semi-final victory on penalty strokes. They were unable to win the final but finishing runners-up twice in leagues containing several 1st XI teams was a superb effort, which reflected the excellent personal and tactical progress made by the boys.

RIPPA RUGBY This year we had three teams entered into the East Coast Bays Rippa Rugby tournaments: a Year 3/4 mixed team, a Year 5/6 boys and a Year 5/6 girls’ team. Everyone one of our players put in a great deal of effort and demonstrated all of the characteristics we expect from Kristin athletes: determination, hard work and fair play. Our boys and girls’ teams finished 3rd and 5th respectively, winning 10 games between them. Overall places weren’t given in the Year 3/4 competition but our team played well to clock up five wins from the tournament.

1ST XV RUGBY The Kristin 1st XV has enjoyed a great 2015 season. Having won the 3rd-grade final last year, the boys were determined to build on their success and dominate in the Harbour Rugby 2nd grade. The boys made it through to the final where they faced Hato Petera College’s 1st XV. Unfortunately, they were not able to take out the title, but the team’s season stats are testament to their success: nine wins from 14 matches and 2nd place in the Harbour Rugby 2nd grade.

NORTH HARBOUR RUGBY REPS Three Kristin Rugby players have made the North Harbour U16 Representative team. Jamie McInnes (Kristin 1st XV), Taine de Alwis and Rory Sutherland (Kristin 4th-grade team) were each selected following strong seasons in their respective Kristin teams.

11.2015

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS LIFTING FOR GOLD Cameron McTaggart successfully defended his 2014 title to once again claim the Best Overall Lifter trophy at the 2015 National Secondary Schools’ Weightlifting Championships. In his body-weight division (under 77kg), Cameron snatched 118kg and clean and jerked 142kg, giving him a total of 260kg and the division title – a massive 63kg ahead of his nearest rival. Cameron also won the prestigious Jack Cullen trophy for being the Best North Island lifter, the first schoolboy lifter ever to win this trophy three times (2012, 2014 and 2015 – he didn’t compete in 2013 due to injury).

15B NORTH HARBOUR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS Our 14/15A Football team members have been crowned league champions. Playing in the Harbour competition, the boys delivered consistent performances throughout the season, defeating Albany High School, Rosmini College and Long Bay College on their way to the finals. It all came down to one final game against Long Bay. They played with heart, spirit and an excellent attitude to take the match and the season title. Under the tutelage of former Auckland City player Greg Uhlmann, the team members showed great dedication to their training and were deserving season winners.

ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONS Tegan Knightbridge, Georgina Dibble and Megan Bruce dominated the podium at both the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ (NZSS) Orienteering Championships and the NZSS Rogaine Championships. The girls claimed Gold in the Intermediate Girls’ Relay at Nationals before taking the Junior Girls’ title at the Rogaine championships a few weeks later. Individual Bronze medals were also collected by Tegan in the Intermediate Girls’ Long Course and Georgina Dibble in the Sprint Course Championship races at Nationals.

11.2015

KRISTIN MAKES MAGIC! It was an exciting season for Junior School Netball this year, particularly for the Year 3/4 Kristin Magic team who fought hard to win their grade, yielding only two losses throughout the season. The girls trained hard and gave consistent performances on the court, a strategy that paid dividends, helping them achieve their 1st-place finish.

SNOWSPORTS GOLD The Kristin Snowsports team brought home seven championship titles from the North Island Ski and Snowboard Championships. Luke and Gia Hughes each claimed Gold in their respective Senior Slopestyle events before teaming up with Lachlan Paterson to claim Gold in the Freestyle Ski Team event. Snowboarder Liam Whiley claimed dual titles in the Boys’ Giant Slalom and Boys’ Slopestyles; meanwhile Year 10 student Juliette Perera took out both the Junior and Senior Girls’ Overall titles. A number of Silver and Bronze medals were also awarded to Kristin athletes over the course of the two championship events.

BLUE WINGS: B GRADE WINNERS With fighting spirit and great teamwork the Year 5/6 Blue Wings boys’ Hockey team had a very successful season, winning the Advanced B-grade competition. The final game of the season was a challenge but they pulled through to take the win 5–4 over Pinehill School. The team scored a staggering 27 goals throughout the season, suffering only one loss following qualification rounds. This result is a credit to the team and their fantastic coach, Nathaniel Joy.

COMMUNITY NEWS REVIEWING IB Cathy Cameron recently travelled to The Hague, Netherlands, where she took part in the review of the IB Dance curriculum. Cathy has been working alongside five other IB examiners and teachers from Argentina, Venezuela, USA, Canada and Taipei to develop a new IB Diploma Dance curriculum to be released globally in 2019. Cathy is the first IB graduate to write an IB curriculum review.

STAFF FAREWELLS

BASKETBALL MASTERS

It is the end of an era at Kristin as we farewell some long-serving members of staff who will be retiring after 96 collective years at Kristin. They are Hock Gan (Director of Business Services, 18 years), John Winn (Archivist, 21 years), Helen Miller (Junior School Chapel and Well-being, 22 years) and John O’Connor (Chemistry Teacher, 35 years). It is not goodbye, however, as they will each become members of our Kauri Club in recognition of their long service. Hock and Helen will also still be visible around the school as they will be continuing to contribute on a more casual basis. We wish them well on their next steps.

Arts and Technology teacher Ken Coulson has been chosen by FIBA to be the Technical Commissioner for Basketball at the 2017 World Masters Games, which are being held in New Zealand. This is an enormous responsibility and demonstrates the high esteem in which Ken is held within the international basketball community.

TEACHER’S EXCELLENCE AWARD Caden Josiah Calvert

Oscar William Loch McAulay

Archie Henry Kember

NEW ARRIVALS We are delighted to introduce some of the youngest and newest members of our Kristin community. The English faculty has two new arrivals: Torie Johns gave birth to a daughter, Nina, on 12 June, who was described by her dad as “3.02kg of pure incredibleness!” Then, on 20 August, Georgina Mitchell welcomed a son, Oscar William Loch McAulay, weighing in at a very cool 9lb 15oz (4.5kg). Junior School teacher Nathan Calvert welcomed his third son, Caden Josiah

Calvert, on 1 October. Weighing in at 8lb 2oz (3.7kg), Caden’s favourite hobbies are sleeping, drinking and watching the All Blacks. Archie Henry Kember, son of Junior School teacher Jo Kember, arrived on 29 October weighing 8lb 8oz (3.85kg). Archie is the younger brother of Kindy student Charlie Kember.

Year 1 teacher Nathan Calvert has been awarded the NEXT Foundation Teacher’s Excellence Award on being selected as the top student from the first two cohorts of the Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Practice (Digital and Collaborative Learning) – a joint qualification offered by Unitec and the The Mind Lab. Nathan is one of four Kristin teachers to have undertaken the new postgraduate programme since it was introduced in 2014.

And in most recent news, Science teacher Caleb Bridle has welcomed Noah Caleb David, born 3 November weighing 9lbs (4.1kg). 11.2015

ALUMNI

JIMI HUNT LIVE MORE AWESOME YOU have mental health - look after it and if you can’t, ask for help. Life doesn’t always go the way you expect. One person who knows this as well as anyone is Jimi Hunt (PY 1998). Today, he is an innovator, creator, adventurer and outspoken advocate for mental health awareness, but for many years Jimi struggled with depression. Unorthodox and inspiring, Jimi is now carving his own path in his mission to raise awareness of mental health and to support those who feel isolated by the disease. He has authored a best-selling book, been invited to speak at TEDxAuckland, was selected as a finalist in the 2014 New Zealander of the Year and has co-founded Live More Awesome – a charity dedicated to finding better ways to help the people of New Zealand deal with depression. We caught up with Jimi recently to hear about his journey.

I come from a good home. A home filled with love. A home where I had everything I needed. I did spend my entire secondary-school life at Kristin, which meant that we obviously had enough money to allow me certain luxuries. I was smart. Not the kind of smart where I got good grades though. Not smart enough to keep me out of trouble. Smart enough to get by without putting in any effort though - just ask my teachers. Smart enough to get a scholarship to Waikato University from Kevin Roberts for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Not smart enough to actually bother graduating though. I’m still one paper short. I’ve always worked for myself. Many different and interesting endeavours over the years. I always had just enough money and I always had a great time. Until I didn’t. I didn’t look after myself and I marched a slow and gradual decline into the abyss. I didn’t even realise where I was marching to, it just kind of happened. I didn’t even realise I HAD mental health, let alone realise

I wrote an entire best-selling book on it called “A Bit Mental”; so, to sum it up in a few words here, I will describe it as ‘loss’. Loss of energy, care, will, money, friends, wife, business and a myriad of other things. Because I was such a typical Kiwi male and thought that I should ‘harden up’ and work my way through it, it took a long time to address. It was only addressed after I hit rockbottom and realised that I had to ask for help. After four useless doctors, I found a brilliant one. He gave me things to do and taught me lessons that I could start putting to work right then. It started to work. I started to get better. During this time I had decided to do something on my own. I had decided that an adventure would help me. I decided that I was going to swim an $8 Lilo down the entire 425 kilometres of the Waikato River. It was a stupid idea. But I made it. And it attracted quite a lot of attention. Around 23,500 people followed it on a Facebook event, Inside NZ made a documentary for TV3, it generated $1.6 million worth of media value for mental health awareness and 1,500 people emailed me. I realised that the way we talked about mental health in this country and around the world was wrong. We needed brutal honesty, we needed love and understanding and we needed it to be engaging. So my friend Dan and I sat down and set up a new charity called “Live More Awesome”. That’s a long story in itself but our main goal is to increase awareness about mental health, reduce the stigma associated with it and inspire people to ask for help. We’re pretty good at it. We have 65,000 people on our Facebook page, where we only talk about mental health, and our last event and message has had over 20 million viewers worldwide. What was that? We built the World’s Biggest Waterslide. Here in Auckland. We use it to get our message across. YOU have mental health - look after it and if you can’t, ask for help. There is lots of it out there, along with a lot of people who care. View Jimi’s TEDxAuckland talk at www.tedxauckland.com/speakers/jimi-hunt

that I wasn’t looking after it. I look back and see I had a very extended period of very low mental health. Doctors like to label it depression. 44

11.2015

WWW.LIVEMOREAWESOME.COM

ALUMNI

LIKE A STORM KENT, CHRIS AND MATT BROOKS “We all had a dream of touring the world and we saw America always as a place where that could become a reality.” Three music-mad brothers from Kristin have followed their passion and realised their dream, becoming New Zealand’s most successful rock export in the process. Kent, Chris and Matt Brooks are the creative forces behind Like A Storm – a Kiwi rock band creating waves in the American music charts. With Chris on lead vocals, guitar and didgeridoo, Matt on vocals and lead guitar, Kent on bass and vocals, and all three collaborating on keys/programming, the three former Kristin prefects and ‘Kindy Kids’ have come a long way from the school music room and Smokefree Rockquest stage. Based in the US, the brothers have devoted their lives to their dream of touring the world playing rock ’n’ roll. It hasn’t been an easy road but the hard work is paying off. Their 2014 album, Awaken the Fire, debuted at 200 on the Billboard mainstream charts, with the single Love the Way You Hate Me reaching 21 on Billboard’s Rock charts and garnering over 3.5 million views on YouTube. This year they have released two singles, Wish You Hell and Become the Enemy, the first of which peaked at 17 on Billboard’s Rock charts. Become the Enemy remains on the charts at the time of publication, currently sitting at number 17 after ten weeks. In a recent interview with Rip it Up magazine, Matt said the decision to relocate to North America was motivated by their need to see what was waiting for them on the other side of the Pacific. “We all had a dream of touring the world and we saw America always as a place where that could become a reality. So many of our favourite bands came from the US, and we knew it was a mecca for hard-rock music. No matter how impossible it seemed, we were determined to give it our best shot.” Family encouragement has never been lacking for the brothers; the boys lived and breathed music throughout their years at Kristin, under the guidance of music teacher Nick Richardson. “We all had the same passion for music and we spent all our free time either writing rock songs or playing them,” Matt told Rip it Up. “Even though we all played in different bands at school, we would jam together whenever we were hanging out at home – everything from Korn and Nirvana to Michael Jackson.” “Both of our parents were big music fans, as well as playing different instruments themselves. We grew up playing piano, guitar, drums… anything we could get our hands on.

Mum and Dad were always so encouraging and supportive of our crazy dream to play in a rock band. After a while I think they could tell that it wasn’t just some scheme to try and avoid getting a real job.” The band’s big break came in 2009 when Creed frontman Mark Tremonti invited the group to open for the nationwide Full Circle reunion tour. The overwhelming fan response to the band’s live show saw their first album, The End of the Beginning, enter Billboard’s New Artist charts at number 61 from tour sales alone. They have since headlined their own tours and performed alongside bands such as Alter Bridge, Korn, Puddle of Mudd, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman and Drowning Pool. Known for their diehard work ethic, powerful lyrics and unique sound, Like A Storm reference a wide range of influences and are not afraid to break from the norm to push themselves and their music further. Their latest album features Chris playing the didgeridoo – combining the haunting sound with progressive metal and hard-rock influences. Over the past six years, they have toured for up to 11 months a year, writing and recording in makeshift studios while on tour to create their own unique brand of rock. In reviewing Awaken the Fire, Rip it Up said: “Recording outside the constraints of the regular studio environment gave Like a Storm the freedom to realise their ambitious vision – an album where hard rock contrasts haunting acoustics, and progressive metal collides with the primal tones of the didgeridoo – all while retaining the powerful, meaningful lyrics that the band are known for.” “We push ourselves to try and write great songs,” Matt told Rip it Up; “to share new messages and meanings with our lyrics; to incorporate elements from all the different styles of music that we listen to into our own music… It’s like Thomas Edison inventing the light bulb: if we believe in an idea we will try it over and over again until it eventually works!” For Chris, it is the connection from the fans that really hits home. “Musically, we want to inspire and empower people. We write songs about the things we feel strongly about, things that really matter to us. It’s amazing that we’ve made an impact. We came from the other side of the world, and we’re living our dream. If that inspires someone, that’s incredible.”

WWW.LIKEASTORM.COM 11.2015

ALUMNI

NIGEL PARKER TECHNOLOGY IS OUR FUTURE Nigel Parker (PY 1994) spent his entire school life at Kristin before going on to study Computer Science and Psychology at The University of Auckland. In 1997 he co-founded a web hosting company called Web Drive with fellow Kristin alumni Daniel Williams, Barry Latimer, Jonathan Fowler and another university friend, Stephen Hogg. The business was a success and under the leadership of Daniel and Steve it became New Zealand’s largest and longest-running web host, with over 40,000 customers and 50 staff when it was acquired by Digiweb late last year. Nigel went on to start a number of other ventures including a web-based psychometric profiling service for the Unisys Software as a Service (SaaS) launch in June 2000. Nigel joined Microsoft New Zealand 10 years ago and since then he has held a number of technical, business development and leadership roles, including his current position as the Director of Developer Experience (DX). Nigel has dedicated much of his time over the past decade to working with early-stage technology companies, helping them transition into a global market. He has led strategic change with New Zealand developers, government agencies, start-ups, and NZ websites and media companies. Through this work it has become clear to Nigel that there aren’t enough skilled graduates to fill the growing need of the technology industry. To address this, Nigel has focused his energy on digital pathways for young people who are looking for a career in technology. His team has pioneered the Microsoft Student Accelerator (msa.ms) and the Microsoft Imagine Cup,

11.2015

Don’t just be comfortable consuming technology yet never learn how to create it.

a global student technology competition. He believes that the opportunities are there for the taking in ICT, but students need to step back from any preconceived ideas to get a true sense of the opportunities on offer and their own potential within the industry. “The concepts of problem solving and creativity that sit behind the function of learning to code are easy to learn,” says Nigel, “but too often in New Zealand these skills are seen as ‘niche’ with little relevance to other more traditional academic pursuits. “We need to stop thinking of the ICT industry as a group of stereotypical ‘geeks’ and start recognising it for what it is: an opportunity for creative and expressive Kiwis of all races and genders to be at the forefront of the transformation to a world where everything will be available as a service, and a plethora of interesting, creative jobs will emerge covering all industries. “In New Zealand, we have a rich tradition of inventors and doers who are adaptable and creative, not afraid to take on big challenges in the face of adversity. We thrive as the underdog and quietly go about changing the world. Our technology companies are at the leading edge, driving global impact and innovation, but we need more computer scientists and engineers if our industry is to continue to prosper and compete against the rest of the world. “Nobody is born with the skills to speak or to ride a bicycle, and the same goes for coding. Don’t just be comfortable consuming technology yet never learn how to create it. Take some time to look under the covers and learn about the technology that will touch every part of our lives. Be curious, take control of your own learning and prepare yourself and New Zealand for an exciting future which we can only imagine today.”

ALUMNI REUNIONS NZ AND AUS We have enjoyed a series of fantastic reunion events this year on both sides of the Tasman. Our Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin reunions are always popular with our more recent graduates and this year was no exception. Tim Oughton and Brendan Kelly hosted groups in Christchurch and Dunedin in May, and Justin Peat met up with a small but enthusiastic pack in Wellington in August. Across the ditch, almost 50 familiar faces attended the Sydney and Melbourne reunions, with peer groups ranging from the early 1990s through to our 2014 graduates. Regardless of age, there was a great sense of networking, particularly amongst the Melbourne crowd. This year’s main reunion, held in the LIC on 28 October, was for peer groups 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010, and almost 100 past students returned for the special occasion. The group enjoyed a relaxed and social cocktail party hosted by Brendan Kelly and Adam Heath, before being taken on a tour of the school by the principals and the recently appointed 2015/16 Events and Hosting Committee. For many, today’s Kristin looks a lot different to the school they remembered. However, in every instance, favourite haunts could still be recognised and colourful stories of the old school days flowed freely. In addition to this year’s formal reunions, a smaller gathering was organised by Mr Rick Stolwerk. In 1995, when Rick was a teacher at Kristin, he had his Form 1 class write letters to their future selves. These letters have remained unopened for the last 20 years, and in August he invited his class back to open them. It was great to see so many of this group come together to share their memories and revisit the wisdom of their youth.

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS IN ISRAEL A chance encounter at an international summer school in July has brought two former Kristin students together on the other side of the world. Sarah Albrecht was an International Student from Germany, who spent six weeks at Kristin last year. Petra Balbi, an International Student from Switzerland, was here during Term 4 2013. The girls never met in New Zealand but crossed paths in Israel where they both attended the International Summer Science School at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot. “It was such a coincidence and really funny when we found out that we both went to Kristin and had a wonderful time there… During our month here we have become really good friends and both hope to come back to New Zealand soon, maybe together!” The girls send their greetings to everyone at Kristin.

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The Photography and Film Competition for students.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an emerging photography or filmmaking student, make sure you enter the Canon EYEcon Photography and Film Competition*. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity to showcase your talent, gain valuable experience and be in to win some incredible prizes. To register, go to canon.co.nz/eyecon. Entries open March 2016.

2016 COMPETITION

*This competition is for tertiary students studying photography or film, assistant photographers, film assistants and year 12 and 13 high school students studying photography only. Terms and conditions apply.

PO Box 300 087, Albany 0752, Auckland, New Zealand 360 Albany Highway, Albany 0632, Auckland, New Zealand

Ph 09 415 9566 www.kristin.school.nz