Kristin Kaleidoscope 2023

Kaleidoscope

ISSUE 72 • JUNE 2023

Executive Principal

Kristin’s 50th Jubilee in March of this year was a great success and highlighted the strength of the aspirational vision of our founding families. It is this vision and its underlying values that attracted me to come and work here, and what I’m sure attracted so many others into the Kristin community.

We continue to build upon our founders’ legacy and vision to create an environment that will enable our young people to reach their full potential and be able to confidently go forth and make a real and positive difference in our wider world.

Our founding parents and staff were pioneers and innovators. This spirit of innovation is very much a part of our school’s history, from introducing the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme to ensure a student-centred and globally focused curriculum to our strong commitment to academic rigour and excellence, as is evident in both our ongoing outstanding IB Diploma Programme and NCEA qualification outcomes. Kristin has always been a school that has recognised the importance of developing the whole child through the wide range of opportunities and experiences on offer including sports and performing arts.

Old photographs of school uniforms, buildings and equipment clearly illustrate that the Kristin of 50 years ago is a very different place to that of today. The world we are preparing our young people for is a far more global, diverse, complex and connected place.

As we seek to preserve the fundamental offerings of what is Kristin, the vision and purpose of our school will continue to evolve and expand into the future. This includes how we better foster the social and emotional wellbeing of our people, design our campus, utilise the potential of digital technologies and create wider community partnerships, as well as how we embrace diversity, equity, and a sense of belonging for all students. These are all highly complex and interconnected and will require further innovative approaches.

Yet the overall purpose of Kristin remains simple – to help grow and develop great young people ready for their future. This must be underpinned with strong and clear values that continue to guide us, as we progress as a community in a complicated and challenging world.

The 50th Jubilee events reinforced the value of community, as people enjoyed the simple pleasure of coming together to socialise, share stories, eat and drink, dance and reconnect. This illustrates the critical importance of schools as physical and social places, where we come to learn and live with each other and enjoy life together.

Thank you to everyone who was part of Kristin’s 50th Jubilee celebrations and who has contributed to making Kristin the great school that it is today. We confidently look forward to its continued great progress for the next 50 years and beyond.

Mark Wilson EXECUTIVE PRINCIPAL

From the Board

There is much to celebrate as we approach the halfway point in this year. 2023 began with a sense of hope, with reduced mandates and restrictions around the COVID-19 pandemic and expectations around the return to the wider opportunities that we all enjoy.

However, as the extreme weather events and the resulting national state of emergency shows, new events and difficulties will always challenge us.

It is also important for our young people to learn that there will always be ‘bad stuff’ that can happen in life, and what truly defines us is how we choose to respond to such setbacks and challenges.

The cancellation of many of our student camps during Camp Week due to the extreme weather impacts resulted in a huge and positive response from our staff around rescheduling these throughout the school year. The scale of such reorganisation was challenging with so many variables and issues to resolve, but these have been brilliantly managed to ensure our young people benefit from the great experiences and opportunities these outdoor educational camps provide.

Looking back over the last few years of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social anxiety, restrictions and government mandates; once again our Kristin community responded positively to ensure we delivered quality remote learning and working as well as supporting and protecting our students and staff.

Kristin’s response to this pandemic has been recognised by being short-listed in the global Duty of Care Awards for 2023, in the COVID-19 Agility & Response category. The International SOS Foundation, who organises these annual awards, said the shortlisted organisations “represents an unparalleled level of excellence across our seven award categories”. This global recognition is an endorsement of the wonderful professional and positive responses of our community in a time of a historic global crisis.

In March we celebrated our remarkable first 50 years as a community. Beginning with the incredible foundation story that is Kristin – of families gathering together to create a high-quality independent school for families out of the closure of St Anne’s School. There were many developments throughout these first 50 years, all of which have enabled Kristin to progress with vision, integrity, and love. It is these founding values and character that must continue to guide us into the future.

Gus Gilmore BOARD CHAIR

Board member Matt Bellingham and Tarryn Bellingham at the 50th Jubilee Gala Dinner

Board Chair Gus Gilmore

Board member Mayurie Goodwin and Scott Goodwin at the 50th Jubilee Gala Dinner

Board Deputy Chair Wendy Chen raises a toast at the 50th Jubilee Alumni Cocktails event

Kristin Family and Friends (KFF) Update

In a technology led society that can often feel fast paced and disconnected, the importance of community cannot be overstated. It is in our connections with others that we find meaning, support, and a sense of aroha. One of our strategic pillars at Kristin is leading an engaged community, Kristin Family and Friends (KFF) volunteer their time, enthusiasm and expertise to support our school to deliver the best for our families.

The Kristin School community has always been known for its strong spirit, and our 50th Jubilee celebrations were no exception. It was a time to come together and celebrate the school's rich history and the many students, teachers, and parents who have contributed to its success over the years. KFF enjoyed supporting these celebrations over the week and welcomed the opportunity to meet current families and alumni to reminisce about shared fond memories.

It was also a time to remember the school's founding principles and to reflect on how they have shaped the school's culture and values. What started as a parent group “Friend-raising initiative” in 2005, this has progressed to become Kristin Family and Friends who play a pivotal role in giving every family an immediate connection and sense of belonging.

To commemorate Kristin's first 50 years, KFF gifted 50 exquisitely-crafted metal native birds which have been sourced locally from a highly ethical New Zealand company. These stunning artworks have found their homes throughout the school grounds, adding a touch of natural beauty to the campus. Each bird is a timeless piece of art, expertly crafted with meticulous attention to detail. From the iconic kiwi to the striking tūī, these metal birds capture the essence of New Zealand's unique avian species. The gift from KFF is a symbol of the community's enduring support for Kristin School, and these beautiful artworks will be cherished for generations to come.

Now in its fourth year, KFF’s second-hand uniform sales continue to generate money to support various initiatives within the school such as funds to support student-led community enrichment projects and sustainability initiatives around the school campus.

In Term 1 KFF partnered with the Middle School House Captains to hold a Sausage Sizzle and Bake Sale fundraising event following Cyclone Gabrielle for the Red Cross Disaster Fund. 2023 has had a strong start with parent events which provide opportunities for Kristin families to connect with each other and continue to build relationships within the community, especially for those new to the school.

Megan Richardson & Justine Rowe KFF CO-CHAIRS

Family and friends are the anchor that holds us steady in a world that sometimes seems to be drifting away from traditional values.

KFF Wednesday Walkers

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

HELEN KELLER

Metal bird, donated by KFF

KFF members Justine Rowe, Dee Bailey and Christina Hoseason supporting Kristin's 50th Jubilee Sports Games

Exciting Additions to Kristin’s Campus

This year Kristin will have two exciting new additions to our campus – music studios and a bus bay.

Construction of our new music studios officially started with a dawn blessing in April, where a Mauri stone was laid to represent the life force and vitality of the foundation the building will stand on.

The stone was selected by Year 12 students and Head of Visual and Performing Arts Nick Duirs during a kayaking trip near Great Barrier Island earlier this year.

Staff and students were involved in the design of the new building that features six spacious music studios, each with pianos and mirrors. The building will have a light-filled atrium in the centre with seating for students to wait for their lessons along with storage for musical instruments.

The music studios will contain a number of sustainability features including a green roof to slow water run-off, energy efficient lighting, low impact concrete, responsibly sourced certified timber and insulation made from 11,984 2L plastic bottles.

The music studios are due to be completed and ready for our students to use in early 2024.

The bus bay, which opened in May, is now at the front of our campus near Gate 1. This dedicated bus-only bay has been relocated from behind the Main Administration building to improve safety. Buses will not be travelling further into campus and the continuous loop means buses will no longer have to reverse. We also expect that keeping bus traffic at the front of the school will reduce congestion further into our campus.

Completed over five months, the bay has room for 24 buses. Over the next few months, we’ll be adding further access points and landscaping.

The new Kristin School bus bay

Artist impression of the new music studios

Head of Visual and Performing Arts Nick Duirs and kaumātua Kereama Nathan (Te Herenga Waka O Orewa) whakareri manaaki (prepare and bless) the Mauri stone at the music studio dawn blessing

Artist impression of the inside of the new music studios

Kristin's 50th Jubilee Celebrations

With Tūrama reimagined as a dazzling event space, Kristin’s 50th Jubilee celebrations kicked off with our Alumni Cocktails.

This well-attended event included past students, staff and families from Kristin’s 50 year history, who enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and reminisce as well as browse our archival collection and gather together for photos.

Our attendees heard from guest speakers Kim Morton (Foundation student from the Class of 1982) and Finn Blackwell (Class of 2018), and enjoyed live music from our talented Kristin student Jazz Combos. A rousing rendition of ‘Sing Kristin’ was performed with enthusiastic audience participation in the presence of the song’s composer, Anne Tindall.

It was a fun, entertaining evening and a wonderful celebration of our talented, supportive alumni community, who have helped to shape Kristin throughout its first 50 years.

During our 50th Jubilee we held an Executive Principal’s Breakfast event to celebrate some special members of our community. Guests included past and present school principals, board chairs, and head prefects.

It was a milestone occasion, gathering people who have given many years of service and dedication to Kristin. Along with an address from Executive Principal Mark Wilson, our guests heard from former Board Chair Barry Stevens, former Executive Principal Marge Scott, and Head Prefect from the Class of 2008 Houston Murray.

It was a pleasure to honour these special people who have played significant roles in shaping Kristin’s remarkable 50-year heritage.

We enjoyed welcoming Kristin grandparents to Tūrama for a special 50th Jubilee High Tea. Together with the opportunity to meet other Kristin grandparents, our guests heard from Ted Berry, Kauri Club and founding Middle School Principal, and Hamish Mouat, Alumni and Kristin's Artistic Director of Major Productions.

Our grandparents were thoroughly entertained by Kristin’s Junior School Marimbas led by Hayley Hunter, the Treble Clefs led by Edith Poon and Year 13 student Olivia Sewell with a spell-binding rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Harold Arlen. Our guests were also treated to a special video created by Year 10 student Aston Ding as a gift to Kristin on its 50th birthday.

New friendships were formed over a wonderful high tea and shared memories of Kristin, with many staying on to visit their grandchildren in classrooms or join the festivities of our Summer Carnival.

With the sounds of Kristin student performers floating across the Auditorium Field, mixed in with the squeals of delight from children enjoying the amusement rides, the Summer Carnival offered a wonderful atmosphere for Kristin's community. Students enjoyed time with their friends, while parents and grandparents were able to mix and mingle and taste the array of different cuisines on offer. It was lovely to see families from Little Doves through to Senior School enjoying the carnival. We had a record-breaking 45 stalls this year, offering a huge variety of food, drinks, games, treats and fun for all ages. Collectively the stalls raised close to $20,000 for a number of different causes. This is the only event during the year when students can fundraise for their own charity, trip, team or group on campus; and all those who participated were well-rewarded for their efforts.

There were plenty of rides to keep us entertained, as well as a special treat from the Pegasus Riding Academy who brought along one of their ponies. The Little Doves and Kindergarten area was a huge hit with those families, and the volunteers on the candy floss machine have to be congratulated for their effort in keeping up with demand! The popular Middle School Spooky House and Junior Cake Stall once again saw record queues.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to a very successful event. There is little doubt that the Summer Carnival is one of the highlights of the school year.

It was a pleasure to welcome our Kristin Alumni back into the sporting arena to take on Kristin's top sports teams and celebrate our 50th Jubilee. Sports games for football, hockey, basketball, touch rugby, netball and cricket were played with huge enthusiasm by our alumni and students. Warm-ups for old (ish!) bones and muscles were essential, with our alumni sports teams providing valiant, vocal and fierce competition for our Kristin students! Some special moments included alumni playing alongside their children who are current Kristin students, and some Kristin Alumni New Zealand representative players who showcased some impressive talent and taught our students a few sporting lessons!

Special mention to Chris Baff (Alumni, Class of 1995) who flew all the way from South Africa to relive the glory days of Kristin hockey on the turf.

The sun shone on Kristin’s fabulous sporting venues all weekend, and our sports teams enjoyed post-match banter along with a cold drink and sausage sizzle kindly hosted by the KFF.

Kristin Sport was the winner on the day! Thank you to everyone who played and supported these events, it was a fabulous showcase of Kristin sporting spirit.

Dressed in their finest, the Kristin community came together for a memorable night at the 50th Jubilee Gala Dinner.

Guests were entertained by Year 12 students Tova Maddock and Chloe Mackay-Booth, and then treated to a special performance by father and daughter Geoff and Olivia Sewell as they worked their magic, readying guests for the live auction. Raising funds for Kristin's Dove Scholarships, auctioneer Andrew North of Harcourts Cooper & Co helped us raise over $45,000 from our seven live auction items. We’re immensely grateful to the Kristin community and sponsors who donated these experiences.

The highlight of the evening, without a doubt, was the ‘ProKristinators’, Kristin's staff band. Nick Duirs, Giancarlo Lisi, Janelle Pitout, Sarah Backhouse-Smith, Steve Dymock and Al Ferris had everyone up dancing with a performance that will be remembered for the next fifty years!

The Gala Dinner blended Kristin's past and present, and over a wonderful evening our Kristin community were able to reconnect and reminisce and dance the night away.

On a beautiful Sunday morning during our 50th Jubilee weekend, we gathered at the Chapel for a special service to commemorate, and give thanks for 50 years of dedication and commitment to education and service at Kristin School.

Our service started with the lighting of the Foundational Candle by Head Prefects Una Dennehy and Caspar McGavin with Leo Ingram and Xanthe Todd, representing two of Kristin's youngest students. The lighting of the Foundational Candle allows us to pause and reflect on our past, to remember where we have come from and ensure we are future ready for the pathways ahead.

We were grateful to have Reverend Ramsay return to Kristin to lead the 50th Jubilee Chapel Service. We were privileged to have readings and prayers from special members of Kristin's community – Gus Gilmore, Ted Berry, Lynn Williams, Liz Darlow and Iain Gow.

The congregation were treated to performances from Imogen Harwood (Class of 2018) and Year 12 students

Tova Maddock, Chloe Mackay-Booth, India Skinner and Lily Richardson. These performances were made even more special with Nick Richardson accompanying them on the organ, and Nick Duirs on the piano.

This wonderful service concluded with morning tea hosted by Kristin Family and Friends (KFF).

Stars of Gold was a dazzling celebration of Kristin’s 50-year performing arts legacy. Combining past stars of the Kristin stage with talent from our current student body, Stars of Gold celebrated our internationally renowned Performing Arts department, and 50 years of high quality choral, classical and musical theatre programmes.

A highlight for many was seeing Hamish Mouat, Kristin’s Artistic Director of Major Productions and alumni from the Class of 2011, take to the stage as a performer, a rare treat for our Kristin community!

There were very few dry eyes in the Kristin auditorium following the encore performance of ‘One Day More’ from Les Misérables. We’re immensely grateful for the talented performers and backstage team who crafted this incredible display of Kristin’s performing arts talent, and to everyone who came along to support our performers.

The final occasion in our 50th Jubilee celebrations, Kristin's Foundation Day was observed on Monday 27 March. We marked the occasion with a whole school Foundation Day Assembly held in Tūrama, with the Kristin Kauri Club as our special guests.

Our Foundation Day service celebrated Kristin's 50-year history and its origins. During the service we reflected on Kristin's unique foundation story, a school that was established by families for families, seeking the very best educational experience and opportunities for their children.

Founding Middle School Principal Ted Berry gave a memorable address to our community, sharing his reflections on Kristin's pioneering heritage.

To commemorate this milestone, following the assembly a whole school ‘50’ photo was taken on the Auditorium Fields to represent 50 years of Progress with Vision, Integrity and Love.

Thank you to our Sponsors & Donors

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

No Place Like Home

After more than 16 years at Kristin, Kate left in 2021 to take up the role of Principal at Chilton Saint James School in Wellington. Now she has come back to the school she loves but in a new role and in a new office.

“It was so surreal coming here in the holidays and seeing my name on the door. There really is no place like Kristin,” she says. So what made Kate keen to return?

“I think Kristin has the best of both worlds. I love that we are a school founded by families for families and that we have stayed true to that. Kristin has such a strong sense of community.

“At the same time, we are an innovative school and we have such wonderful staff who are at the cutting edge of education. That’s one of the great things about the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum – it has a lot of rigour but there is also scope for teachers to be creative and adapt it to each student’s strengths.

“The opportunity to be Principal at a school that is leading the way in education and work with an amazing team was one I couldn’t refuse,” Kate says.

Her time at Chilton Saint James was an incredibly rewarding opportunity.

“I learnt so much in that time and I’m proud of what was achieved. I led the introduction of dual pathways and increased the wellbeing support available for students and staff.

“After Covid, I was pleased to have the opportunity to bring back events so our families could get together once again and connect,” Kate says.

Born and bred in Te Awamutu, Kate first made the move north to study at the University of Auckland. She started teaching at Glenfield Intermediate before joining Kristin in 2005.

Moving back to Auckland this time around was made easier by the fact that the Pollard family, including husband Scott and son Sutton, had kept their home and were able to move back into a familiar space.

The family have settled well, with Sutton starting at the Junior School in Term 2.

In her spare time Kate enjoys travelling, getting away cycling and spending time with family and friends. She’s an avid reader who is never without a book or a good cup of tea. Over the last few years, Kate has also been busy finishing her Masters in Educational Leadership.

Now that she has started her new role, Kate is keen to make a difference.

“We have an incredible foundation with amazing students. Middle School is a time when young people are growing and finding out who they are. We are here to support each student on their journey and make sure this is an exciting and engaging place for them to be.

“While Kristin is familiar to me, a lot has changed in the last 18 months so I will be taking time to talk to students, staff and our families; which will help shape how we continue to move forward. My door will always be open."

Just like coming home. That’s how new Middle School Principal Kate Pollard describes her first day back.

“I feel lucky to be here as Principal and I’m truly excited with the possibility of what lies ahead for the Middle School and for our students.”

MEET OUR TEAM

New Chaplain joins Kristin

This term Kristin welcomed Reverend Andrew McGeorge-Hill to our community in the role of Chaplain. A former Youth Pastor, secondary school youth worker and community support worker, Andrew is already settling in and getting to know students and the community.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be at Kristin. I’m incredibly impressed with the students, especially with how intelligent and capable they are,” he says.

As Chaplain, Andrew runs the Chapel services and he is also involved in working with leadership teams, as well as supporting community projects and Base Days across the whole school.

The role of Chaplain is an important one in the Kristin community and Andrew is looking forward to being available to the students for their pastoral needs.

“I am here to support our young people through the ups and downs of their journey as they grow and reach their potential. We are lucky to be part of a community where there are many different beliefs and the role of Chaplain is a unique opportunity to talk about spirituality in a way that is inclusive for everyone,” he says.

An Aucklander who was raised on the North Shore, Andrew is thrilled to be back in his old neighbourhood.

“I love the Shore. The Albany area is home to me. I went to local schools including Pinehurst and Rangitoto College and, growing up, I had friends and family who went to Kristin,” he explains.

After studying theology, Andrew began his working life as a Youth Pastor before moving to Dunedin, where he completed his Honours Degree in Theology. Andrew is passionate about supporting people and it was in Dunedin that he began working with CCS Disability Action to support people who are neurodiverse.

After serving as an Associate Pastor in Hamilton, Andrew moved back to Auckland in 2018 and completed his Master of Theology from Laidlaw College, while continuing to support people with disabilities. Andrew has also just finished writing a novel and hopes to have it published in the near future.

This year has been a big one for Andrew. As well as a new job, he got married earlier this year to Emma, an editor and communications consultant.

In his spare time, he loves snowboarding, swimming (nothing beats Castor Bay Beach on a summer’s day) as well as strategy board games and card games. He also enjoys writing, is an avid reader and is a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings.

Wellbeing Framework

With the development of our Wellbeing Framework complete, 2023 has meant we have moved towards introducing some exciting initiatives that will move us towards a more proactive model of wellbeing across our community.

The beginning of 2023 has seen us focus on providing our students, staff, and community with a skills-based approach to overcome life challenges in positive ways. To empower them to succeed even during times of stress, anxiety and overwhelm.

One of the new initiatives introduced is the Friends Resilience Programme. This programme is endorsed by the World Health Organization and was chosen by Kristin due to its community approach that fits within our Wellbeing Framework. The programme focuses on teaching students, parents, and staff the skills to empower us to deal with stressful situations, develop self-confidence, and problem-solving skills. The staff and parenting programmes are particularly important to assist in increasing our own resilience and parenting skills.

The first half of 2023 has focused on:

• Delivery of this programme with our Year 1, 4 and 9 students. This programme will extend to Year 7 and 11 in the second half of the year.

• Training all staff on the Friends Resilience Programme and how they can begin to use this across our school, as well as participating in the Adults Resilience Programme to enhance their own wellbeing.

• Launch of the first parent programme with our Year 9 families. With our Year 1, 4 and 11 parents being invited to start their parent programmes in Term 3 and 4.

The expected long-term benefits of the programme include:

• Improvement in students’ positive behaviour and social and emotional skills.

• Improvement of attitudes about self, others and our school.

• Improve students’ academic performance and attitude towards school.

• As our young people prepare for success in adulthood, the programme will assist them in becoming good communicators, cooperative members of a team, effective leaders, and caring, concerned members of their community.

We are already starting to see the language from the Friends Resilience Programme used regularly in our interactions with our students and each other. Parents whose children trialled the programme in 2022 are reporting a noticeable difference in the way their young people regulate their emotions and respond to challenging situations. We are very excited to see how this programme develops throughout our school and the impact for our community.

The key to the effectiveness of the programme is the whole school approach. The more our staff and parents learn about the programme and participate in the parenting workshops, the more consistent the outcomes will become for our children and young people.

Kylie Ryan DIRECTOR OF WELLBEING

Kylie Ryan and Senior School Wellbeing Committee students on Pink Shirt Day

The Long-Awaited Arrival

2023 began with the arrival of 16 new international students, marking a significant milestone in the Kristin international programme as this was the first group of new international students in three years.

These students from Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, China, and Korea have joined 23 returning students from 2022. Their arrival has added fresh perspectives, cultural diversity, and a sense of excitement to the already vibrant tapestry of the Kristin community.

For some of these students, the journey to Kristin has been a long and patient one, as they eagerly waited for up to two years to set foot on the campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, through resilience and determination, these international students have finally made it to their new school and new start.

At the end of Term 1, the new international students reflected on their initial experiences at Kristin. Chartsiri Pornpiriyaniyom shared, "I thought the time would go really slowly, but it's already the end of Term 1. There are so many new things for me to try." This sentiment encapsulates the excitement and eagerness of these students to explore and embrace the opportunities that lie ahead.

The entire school community extends a warm welcome to Albert Kalasch, Emily Arnold, Alexander Kalasch, Philomena Griem, Juliette Kalasch, Yancheng Lyu, Dokyung Yu, Jiacheng He, Chartsiri Pornpiriyaniyom, Leo Griem, Yizhi Lyu, Junyou Ma, Noe Griem, Xiaoze Han, Amanda Schmidt, and Bairan Li as they embark on a transformative journey of personal growth, academic excellence, and cross-cultural understanding. We hope that Kristin will become their second home, providing a nurturing environment for them to thrive and contribute their unique perspectives to our global community.

With this hope, we would like to share this Ma¯ori proverb with the international students: Ma¯te huruhuru ka rere te manu (Adorn the bird with feathers so it may soar).

Learning new skills, a new language and culture, gaining knowledge and experiences are some of the many 'feathers' you can wear in order to soar high. With those feathers (experiences) you may grow at Kristin, so you may soar high!

The same warm welcome also extends to Gill Bredl who joined the International Services department as our Homestay Coordinator and Administrator. Gill understands the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment for our international students.

With a background in social work and a wealth of experience supporting students and families, Gill is committed to ensuring international students are placed with homestay host families who are understanding, welcoming and provide a supportive environment.

Gill works closely with both students and host families to foster positive relationships and a sense of belonging. Gill possesses a deep understanding of the emotional and practical needs of students. She recognises the challenges they may face when adjusting to a new culture, language, in a new environment, far away from home. Her empathetic approach has allowed her to connect with students on a personal level, offering them the guidance, listening ears and warm support they require during their time at Kristin. We are fortunate to have Gill on board and we look forward to the positive impact that she will bring to the school community, ensuring Kristin will continue being a welcoming and inclusive environment for students from all corners of the globe.

Gill Bredl, Homestay Coordinator

The International Committee welcomes new students

Helen Kim MANAGER

Little Doves Turns Five!

Kristin’s Early Learning Centre, Little Doves, is celebrating its anniversary this month, marking five years since it opened its doors to children from the age of 6 months to 4 years.

In that time, hundreds of children have been enrolled at Little Doves, most continuing on to Kristin Kindergarten and into the Junior School.

Little Doves Manager Sarah Jones says the vision for Little Doves was clear from day one.

“From the start, Little Doves was conceived as a place of learning and care. We recognise the crucial importance of the first three years of a child’s life, and know that this is a time of unparalleled brain development. We aim, every day, to ensure that children feel safe, emotionally secure, loved and cared for, so that they are able to play, explore, learn and thrive as they should,” she says.

“Many people might assume that early learning revolves around teaching children how to count to 100 or learn their alphabet. In reality, these skills are much more simple to master than the social and emotional learning that goes on at this age,” she says.

"Children are developing skills such as collaboration, problemsolving, co-operation, empathy, perseverance and concentration that they will carry forward for life. They are learning how to manage big emotions, how to play and learn with and alongside other children, how to build friendships and collaborate."

"They are learning how to think, explore and research, and how to communicate and express their ideas as well as listen to others. This is so much more challenging than learning the alphabet!” Sarah says.

“We feed their curiosity, spark their interests, delve with them into projects and discoveries, and cultivate their love of learning.”

Principal of Junior School and Early Learning Jayne de la Haye says the foundations laid at Little Doves last a lifetime.

“Here's to five years of remarkable achievements, and leading the way with innovative practice that prepares our learners for the future! Happy birthday, Little Doves!”

“We recognise the crucial importance of the first three years of a child’s life, and know that this is a time of unparalleled brain development."

Going Bush...

It is wonderful to see the Kindergarten children being exposed to nature and the outdoors through a variety of exploration such as building huts, singing songs, discovering insects, collecting natural resources, picking fruit and even creating artwork down at Lucas Creek.

As they go through the bush, the children may find themselves surrounded by lush greenery, the sound of raindrops hitting the leaves and the scent of fresh rain in the air. They may spot various wildlife such as insects, perhaps the odd fantail, tūī or lorikeet.

Exploring the wider bush environment is a great way to spark conversations among the children, encouraging them to share stories of their past experiences, creating a sense of wonder and curiosity. In sharing their stories and observations with each other, children can learn from each other's perspectives and experiences, building empathy and a deeper understanding of the world around them. These conversations can also help to foster a sense of community and teamwork among the children.

Watching flowers grow and change over time can also be a great way to expose children to the living world. By observing the different stages of growth and development, they can learn about the plant life cycle and the importance of taking care of plants and the environment.

The Kindergarten children have shown great interest in the role of bees in pollination. By learning about the role of bees in producing the food we eat, they were able to develop a greater appreciation for the natural world and the importance of protecting it.

It also inspired the children to become advocates for the environment and to take action to protect pollinators like bees. Research has shown that spending time in nature can benefit children, improving physical health, cognitive development, creativity, and social skills. Nature-based activities can also help children develop a sense of respect and responsibility for the environment, which is essential for fostering a sustainable future.

Engaging in unstructured play in a natural setting can improve gross motor skills as children navigate uneven terrain and obstacles. The experience of taking risks and overcoming challenges in a safe and supportive environment can also help children develop confidence, resilience, and a sense of autonomy.

It's great to see the positive impact that this type of programme and Kristin’s unique natural environment is having on our Kindergarten children, and it highlights the importance of providing opportunities for outdoor experiences in Early Childhood education.

Kristy Gilder KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT MANAGER

KINDERGARTEN

Junior School Update

Throughout the Junior School, Kindergarten and Little Doves, we are dedicated to providing an exceptional quality of teaching. Our teachers are unwavering in their commitment to prioritising students' wellbeing as well as fostering a nurturing, inclusive environment that supports their holistic growth. This commitment is the core of their educational journey. However, creating such a culture of learning and growth does not happen by chance; it requires careful planning and a deep-rooted commitment.

Cultivating a wellbeing-focused culture includes ensuring each child feels safe, respected and valued. Through strategies such as daily check-ins, our teachers make sure they are attuned to the individual needs of each student, enabling them to provide the necessary support for optimal readiness to learn.

Our teachers also exemplify a dedication to their own professional learning. They actively engage in a wide range of opportunities for continuous growth, from attending specific workshops and conferences to participating in regular professional development programmes. This year, they have invested time in programmes that focus on teaching for deep understanding which in turn has equipped them with strategies that foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in their students. They have also further developed their digital skills, recognising the potential technology has for enriching learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Collaboration lies at the heart of Kristin's teaching culture. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, we actively

participate in collaborative year-level teaching teams. Through the sharing of best practices, innovative ideas, and insights gained from our teachers’ varied experiences, we create a supportive environment for everyone which fosters innovation, increased success, and improved communication. Our students are able to benefit from the collective wisdom of their teachers who have chosen to work within a collaborative environment to leverage the contributions of each educator.

In addition to focusing on academic excellence, our teachers actively foster personal growth and development. They recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of each child, providing ample opportunities for them to explore their own interests and talents. By encouraging goal-setting, helping students overcome challenges, and embracing new experiences, our teachers have a key role in nurturing well-rounded, enthusiastic individuals.

As I reflect on the experience of our students as they move through Little Doves, Kindergarten and Junior School at Kristin, I am grateful for the exceptional teaching and the dedication of our teachers. Their commitment to ongoing professional learning, collaboration, and the cultivation of a wellbeing-focused culture ensures that our children receive an outstanding education while experiencing personal growth within a supportive and caring community.

As Principal of the Junior School and Early Learning, it gives me great pleasure to highlight the excellence in teaching and wellbeing that define the foundation years of the Kristin School experience.

Jayne de la Haye

PRINCIPAL OF JUNIOR SCHOOL AND EARLY LEARNING

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

ANTHONY J. D’ANGELO

Our Junior School Community

It is always a special day when our families visit Kristin. The Junior School welcomes our community at many events including Grandparent’s Day and our Mother’s Day Lunch.

Auckland Writers Festival 2023

Thirty excited Year 5 and 6 students enjoyed an actionpacked day at the Aotea Centre listening to four incredible authors speak about the process of writing at the Auckland Writers Festival in May.

It was a fantastic day meeting authors and hearing some great messages about how to be a good writer.

Students had the pleasure of listening to Lev Grossman, James Russell, Kirli Saunders and Paul Adamson.

National Young Leaders Day

What an incredible day our Year 6 cohort had at National Young Leaders Day (NYLD) in May.

NYLD is the largest and longest-running leadership event for primary and intermediate school students. The aim of the day is to develop student leadership and this year’s theme was 'Leading the Self'.

We are the only school to take our full cohort, rather than just a small leadership group. We believe all our Year 6 students have leadership potential and occasions such as this empower students to lead others successfully in the future.

It is important that all our Year 6 students hear these inspirational speakers and their captivating stories.

This year’s speakers included Kristin Alumni Graci Kim (Class of 2004), who spoke about her writing journey and her ability to keep going after setbacks.

Students also heard from speakers including former pro wakeboarder and quadriplegic Brad Smeele, who spoke about resilience and how he found happiness after his life-changing injury, and musician Georgia Lines, who talked about her journey to obtain three million Spotify streams.

Some of the key takeaways from four of the authors were:

• “Writing takes time, don’t rush the process.” Tarla Davies

• “Our first draft should take 1/8 of the time, the rest should be revising and rewriting.” Ryan Gim

• “Good writers read a lot.” Georgia Ferris

• “Writers start with an outline before they start writing.” Sam Silverman

The children were captivated by the outstanding speakers and it was lovely to see a mixture of our gifted writers combined with those that have just caught the ‘reading bug’, attend this special day.

KRISTIN JUNIOR SCHOOL

Harvest Festival

Junior School students rallied together during Term 1 to donate food to families in need as part of the annual Harvest Festival.

Students from Kindergarten through to Year 6 brought in fresh produce and non-perishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army and De Paul House on the North Shore.

Harvest Festivals have taken place in many cultures throughout history. People would celebrate in different ways after harvesting their crops, knowing that they had grown enough food to keep themselves fed throughout the winter ahead.

This festival is a highlight of the Junior School calendar, reinforcing the importance of service learning and giving back to communities.

Year 6 student Chloe Ma, who was one of the students helping to organise donations for Harvest Festival, says: “I like Harvest Festival because we can help people in need.”

Wheels Day

Bikes, scooters, skateboards and more filled the Junior School during Wheels Day.

Each term Junior School students bring along their choice of wheels for the day. It is always a fun event as students get the chance to test out their wheels in areas of the school normally reserved for walking or driving.

The latest Wheels Day was held during Road Safety Week in May. This was also a great opportunity for students to practice wearing their helmets correctly as well as learn more about the road rules and sharing the footpath.

KRISTIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School Update

What a start to the 2023 school year we have had. Two quite unexpected school closures due to weather events and the rescheduling of the 2023 school camps.

The staff here at Kristin have very much admired the way our Middle School students have demonstrated a calm and resilient response to all that has happened. It has not been easy, however, they have taken events in their stride. 2023, our school’s 50th year, is going to be fantastic!

What can our Middle School students do to make 2023 even more successful?

First and foremost, I want to remind students to always be kind to one another. Middle School can sometimes be tough, but being kind to your peers can go a long way in making the experience a little bit easier. Be inclusive and open to making new friends. And don’t forget to be kind to the people who you live with as well.

Secondly, I want to encourage students to stay curious and engaged in their education. Middle School is a time when you can explore new topics and interests, so I encourage everyone to take

advantage of the opportunities presented to them. Don't be afraid to ask questions and challenge yourself to learn more.

Thirdly, a reminder to students to always strive for your best. This doesn't mean being perfect, but it means putting in some effort and taking pride in your work. Whether it's a school project, a leadership opportunity or a simple task, doing your best will help students to feel accomplished and confident.

Lastly, I want to remind our students to have fun! Middle School is a time when you can discover your passions and enjoy new experiences. We encourage all students to make this the year to get involved in all that Kristin can offer. Whether it be service to others, sports, performing arts or the many after school activities. Middle School is the perfect time to make the most of all the opportunities available – don't take them for granted and make sure to enjoy the journey.

For students, being kind, curious, hardworking and having fun are key to a successful Middle School experience.

Jason Gurney ACTING MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL, TERM 1 2023

Fundraising for Cyclone

Gabrielle

Kristin's spirit of service kicked into action following the devastating impact of Cyclone Gabrielle in February.

Our Year 10 House Captains supported the KFF to host a Sausage Sizzle and Bake Sale for the Red Cross Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund.

The Middle School community embraced this fundraising initiative, with fresh baking piling into school the morning of the sale, and our fabulous KFF setting up the BBQ in anticipation of the lunchtime rush.

And they did rush in – thank you to all the Middle and Senior school students and staff who purchased sausages, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, brownies and the like, all for a fantastic cause! And thanks to our in-house Year 10 DJs for helping to create such a positive atmosphere on a sunny afternoon. A fantastic $2,350.50 was raised for the Red Cross Cyclone Gabrielle Relief Fund. Huge thanks to everyone involved for their generous support!

Holocaust Survivor Visits

Kristin

Bob and Freda Narev are World War II Holocaust survivors whom we have been very fortunate to host here at Kristin for more than 15 years.

They willingly give up their time to share their stories with the Year 10 cohort to support their Humanities studies: Abuse of Power. This unit enables the students to gain valuable insight into Fascism in Germany during the 1920s -1940s, the rise of Hitler and how leaders gain and abuse political powers.

Freda has been unable to personally share her stories in recent years due to ill heath, but Bob has stepped in and shared her journey. Both being captured as very young children, their stories and challenges during this time have captivated our staff and students alike.

Our students always appreciate this visit immensely, and in the words of Connor Donovan, a Year 10 student: “Bob was captured along with his family when he was only young; six years old, he and his family were transported to Terezin, the ghetto-camp in the now Czech Republic. Unfortunately, while held in Terezin, his elderly grandmothers and father, passed away. After two years in the camp Bob and his mother were released into Switzerland as part of a deal between the German government and a group of Jewish people in New York City. Bob and his mother then waited out the rest of the war in Switzerland, before being taken in by family in New Zealand. Once in New Zealand Bob met his now wife, Freda. In all, Bob’s story serves as a valuable resource for students, providing a primary source for the Year 10 Humanities unit; Abuse of Power, as well as helping to humanise the victims of the Holocaust, and impart its severe impact upon students.”

As a small way of recognising their time and efforts, the Year 10 students contribute yearly to the charitable fund: Senior Outreach Service, that Bob and Freda set up in 2003 to help elderly Jewish-New Zealanders in need. On his last visit this year, Bob, as gracious as ever, said that he would continue to share their stories as long as he is able. Thank you, Bob.

The Joy of Giving

It started out as a Year 6 Primary Years Programme (PYP) Exhibition Project. Now five years later, the Foster Care Present Drive is an annual act of service that has morphed into something bigger and better each year.

The brainchild of Year 10 student Klara Collett, the present drive encourages Kristin students to make Christmas memorable by donating a gift to a child in foster care.

“This is my passion project. My two brothers were adopted and I know what their experience was like. The whole goal of this project is to make the children’s time in care as joyful as possible, especially at Christmas,” Klara says.

“A foster home is just like any other home, only the foster parents are providing those children a safe place. I think that is really special.”

While the initiative is Klara’s, she is grateful for the support of staff and students and their families from across the whole school in helping out with the organisation of the drive and donations.

The goal is to increase donations yearon-year and in 2022 Klara aimed to receive more than 450 presents and 900 individual items that are packaged to make gift packs including sporting equipment, lego and books. The drive finished with more than 800 presents, more than 1,600 items and nearly $9,000 was raised in donations from the community and local businesses. Klara was also able to donate more than 50 Christmas hampers for foster home caregivers.

Last year was the first time intervention homes were included as part of the drive.

“These are families that have high needs and they often struggle financially so the children go without. Being able to provide some assistance was really special,” Klara says.

This year the target is higher again so Klara will be starting the drive earlier.

“I want to reach more people so we will be aiming for 1,000 presents and 2,000 items. We’ll also be encouraging more donations of gifts for older kids, as teenagers are often the ones who are forgotten about in foster care,” she says.

Klara works with Oranga Tamariki in Takapuna, Orewa and Homai (Manurewa) to ensure the donations are distributed to families in need around the Auckland region.

As well as the present drive, Klara works on a number of service-based initiatives at Kristin. For her Community Service Project, she is currently developing self-care packs for teenagers that include a mix of items including perfume, cologne, hairbrushes, deodorants, shaving cream, makeup, mascara, soap and shampoo.

At the end of last year Klara was invited to visit the Takapuna office of Oranga Tamariki to meet staff and Peter Whitcombe, Oranga Tamariki Chief Social Worker, who expressed their gratitude.

“It was a privilege to visit. When I hear the stories of how the donations have impacted other people, I know that our hard work has paid off and that drives me to continue.”

“A foster home is just like any other home, only the foster parents are providing those children a safe place. I think that is really special.”

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES

Dovetail Exchanges 2023

After a few years of disruption, the Kristin School Dovetail Exchange Programme was able to relaunch this year with two of our partner schools.

In Term 1, we welcomed eight students in Year 9 from Redlands School, Sydney, and Scotch College, Adelaide. Our Kristin students then went to Australia at the end of the term for their reciprocal three-week exchange. Special mention to the students Lucia Amos, Zoe Cleland, Joel Gibb, Harry McLeod, Phoebe Dando, Frankie Harper, Hamish Duggal and William Henshall, and thanks to their families for their generosity in hosting the exchange students. We look forward to continuing our exchange programme in 2024.

I took the chance to sign up for an exchange to Redlands School in Sydney for three weeks. It sounded a bit daunting at first but I went for it and ended up making some of the best memories and new friends."

My exchange partner Chloe was such a great host, and Kristin and Redlands definitely did a good job pairing us together. I also grew closer with the other Kristin students on the exchange and it was great to support each other when we were over in Sydney."

We also got the amazing opportunity to experience the Redlands camp. We went up to Yarrahapinni National Park and went hiking, surfing, and mountain biking to name a few. I would really recommend signing up for this exchange because it is an unforgettable experience and you will make lifelong friends."

If I had the chance again, I would definitely take it, so put yourselves out there and sign up for the exchange. You won’t regret it."

It was great seeing the differences and similarities when comparing Scotch College to Kristin. Scotch, like Kristin, is a private school but it is so much bigger and also had a boarding school which was cool."

I was over there and having the time of my life, meeting all of my exchange friends and exploring Adelaide. While there I got to do the Adelaide Oval roof climb and held a koala."

I had an amazing time living with my buddy and his family, I learned so much about them and their lifestyle that some of my lifestyle could change because of them. In Adelaide, we went to AFL games which 50,000 people were at, school camp, Victor Harbour and explored Adelaide."

I have learned so much and have become so much more independent. I definitely do recommend this programme because it is an amazing opportunity and you learn so many new life skills. I really enjoyed meeting new people and I hope that the connections last so that when I'm older I can go visit."

Kathryn Hitchings DOVETAIL EXCHANGE COORDINATOR

Student Reflections on Redlands School Exchange:

Student Reflections on Scotch College Exchange:

Senior School Update

This year was off to an excellent start, even before students returned to the campus, with our examination results from 2022.

While Kristin was in the unusual position of having no closures due to COVID in the academic year, it was not a year without challenge. Staff and students often had to isolate, with isolating students making use of our Connected Plus support plan and ability to connect with their teachers and peers online.

Keeping this in mind the examination results once again placed us as one of the top achieving schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. The fact that Kristin is not an academically selective school makes our NCEA and International Baccalaureate (IB) results even more impressive. There were some amazing individual results across NCEA at Levels 2 and 3, along with in the IB Diploma, firmly placing these students at the very top levels within New Zealand. A number of our students also received offers to top universities, both internationally and domestically, including University of Cambridge, Imperial College London and several colleges at the University of California.

After a short delay to the start of Term 1, our Year 12 and 13 students were very fortunate in being able to participate in their camps. Many of our Year 13s were part of a new experience at Lake Karapiro while Year 12 students visited Great Barrier Island and Tongariro National Park. These camps allow students to develop their passion for the New Zealand outdoors alongside leadership skills in a safe and unique environment. Feedback from all camps was both positive and grateful that the school had been able to reschedule this important part of the Kristin year.

Unfortunately, the weather has continued to delay camps for our Year 11 students so far this year.

Once again this year, we have had excellent results coming in from several different sporting codes and disciplines. Kristin students compete with the very best from across New Zealand on the field, court, water, piste and pitch; often going on to represent the country at international events. As we move into the winter season, I would like to congratulate all our sportspeople for their efforts so far this year and wish them all the best for the upcoming season.

As we get further into the year, many of our students are beginning to focus on internal assessments. This doesn’t always mean tests or assignments – the Year 13 NCEA Drama students trod the boards in the last week of Term 1 and entertained the audience with their rendition of Buckets by Adam Barnard. This witty and thought-provoking production reminded all present that Performing Arts continues to be a strong part of the Kristin experience and this is reinforced by several of our students, again, being selected to take part in national competitions later in the year. Term 2 is also a big one with our Senior School production of The Addams Family. Once again, this was a spectacular showcase of the incredible talent we have here at Kristin.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all students, staff and families all the best for the second half of the year. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve and catching up with you at one of our upcoming events.

KRISTIN SENIOR SCHOOL

David Boardman SENIOR SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

“The fact that Kristin is not an academically selective school makes our NCEA and IB results even more impressive.”

Year 12 Camp at Great Barrier Island

2022 Graduate Asher Goddard received a perfect score in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme

Congratulations Class of 2022!

We are proud of all our graduates. Most have gone on to tertiary study in New Zealand, with popular first year courses being Commerce, Science and Engineering, followed by Law, Health Science and Arts. Our next most popular study destintions are the Group of Eight top universities in Australia. Further afield, 20% of the class applied to study overseas in the UK or US, with students receiving offers to study at top universities.

Confirmed Graduate Destinations for the UK and USA

Congratulations to the following 2022 Kristin graduates who have accepted places to study in the UK and the US*:

• He (James) Xu - University of Cambridge (Mathematics)

• Max Wen - University of Manchester (Chemical Engineering)

• Ivy Yu - Imperial College London (Electrical & Electronic Engineering with Management)

• Alan Qin - Imperial College London (Physics)

• Shuhan (Linda) Wang - University of the Arts, London (Games Art)

• Emma Jiang - Durham University (Psychology)

• Joseph Townsend - Oxford Brookes University (Business and Management)

• Vito Zou - University of Southern California (Computer Science)

• Belle Li - University of California, San Diego

• Jaeyong Jung - University of California, San Diego

• Finn Burridge - Quinnipiac University

• Tyla Hockey - Christendom College (Theology)

• Selwyn Liu - Rhode Island School of Design

* All information correct as of 9 May 2023

United States

*University of California San Diego (2)

*University of Southern California

*University of Minnesota: Twin Cities

*University of Colorado Boulder

*Massachusetts Institute of Technology +

*Columbia University +

*University of California - Irvine +

*Georgia Institute of Technology +

Purdue University (2)

Emory University (2)

Case Western Reserve University

Quinnipiac University

Rhode Island School of Design

New England Conservatory of Music

Eastman School of Music

The Juilliard School

United Kingdom

*University of Cambridge

*University of Edinburgh (5)

*University of Manchester (4)

*University College London (3)

*King's College London, University of London (3)

*Imperial College London (2)

*University of Warwick (2)

*University of Glasgow (2)

*University of Bristol

Durham University (2)

Queen Mary University of London

University of St Andrews (2)

University of the Arts London

Royal College of Music

Staffordshire University

Kingston University (2)

Nottingham Trent University

Oxford Brookes University

University of Reading

University of Sussex

Bournemouth University

Australia

*University of Melbourne (11)

*University of Sydney (5)

*UNSW (1)

*Monash (1)

Canada

*The University of British Columbia

* Shows universities that are in the top 100 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 ( ) Numbers in brackets indicate the number of Kristin Class of 2022 students who received offers or are studying at in Australia + Indicates the applicant is waitlisted currently

Kristin 2022 Graduates attending universities in New Zealand, as supplied by the universities.

Overseas Universities where Kristin Students have Received Offers to Study

Gold Medal for Kristin at the National Ethics Olympiad

From Utilitarianist analysis to Deontological discussion, the Senior School Ethics Olympiad saw more than 20 schools and 100 enthusiastic pupils competing for the New Zealand National Title in May.

Among them were Kristin Teams 1 and 2, composed of students from both Year 11 and 12.

At the Ethics Olympiad, the teams meet with other schools from around the country to discuss ethical issues. Unlike traditional debating, the Ethics Olympiad prides itself on taking a solutionsbased approach, where all participants are encouraged to agree with arguments presented by the opposition and build upon these to reach the best conclusions.

Divided into various rounds, situational dilemmas or ‘cases’ acted to highlight both national and global topics, which the ‘Ethletes’ were challenged to deliberate, coming to conclusions using an aggregation of theories alongside personal judgement and rationale. A highlight of the day and group favourite topic proved to be ‘Anger in Politics’, probing our thoughts as to whether or not anger is beneficial in political spheres, and how anger can be managed ethically in order to promote benefit.

Not only encouraging critical thinking, reasoning, and the application of varying principles in real-life contexts, the Ethics Olympiad also provides an opportunity to engage with professionals currently active in the field. With guest judges from Harvard University, The Ethics Centre, The University of Cambridge, British Columbia and Australia ACT, aspirational ethicists will enjoy receiving tailored feedback throughout the proceedings.

Coming away in first place was Kristin 1, made up of Year 11 students Ryan Fan, Millie Oxley, Miriam Alshaar, Cecilia Lin and Madeleine Loughton. The team took home a Gold Medal and the national Ethics Olympiad title for Kristin. The team will now attend the online International Competition in July to further deepen their understanding, and compete against a truly global conglomerate of ethically-minded individuals.

Kristin wins National Spanish Debate Competition

Felicitaciones (congratulations) to the Kristin 1 Spanish Debate team for winning the National Spanish Debate Competition in May!

As if the win wasn’t impressive enough in itself, the teams compete in a second language and they only have up to 45 minutes to prepare for each debate. Armed with just a dictionary, debaters are also unable to use the internet to research their debate topics.

Twelve schools from around the North Island took part in the competition, with Kristin entering three teams. All Kristin teams performed well with the team made up of Eric Zhang (Year 13), Stefan Thompson (Year 12), Madeleine Loughton (Year 11) and Miriam Alshaar (Year 11) taking home the winning title for Kristin for the first time since 2016.

The competition involves at minimum two debates with the Kristin 1 team competing in four debates as they climbed their way to the final. Teams were assessed on criteria including their language skills, annunciation, gestures, eye contact as well as the content and structure of their arguments.

Year 12 student Stefan Thompson says the most challenging moment was the final, where the moot was “Should New Zealand become a republic?”

“This is a topic with so many complex factors so we had to use all of our knowledge and vocabulary to respond to the other team’s arguments,” he says.

The team agree that the secret of their success was their ability to take on board the judges’ feedback throughout each debate to hone their skills for the final.

“The feedback we got was motivating and we were able to evolve as a team throughout. We were very happy with the result and we’re looking forward to defending our title next year,” Stefan says.

Head of Languages Faculty Gabriela Maldonado says: “We are really proud of all the teams and their fantastic performance at the national championships. It takes an incredible amount of skill to be able to debate in another language and at the same time, the students are learning critical skills including developing convincing arguments, responding with precision, articulating complex ideas and working collaboratively drawing on each other’s strengths.”

As the winning team, Kristin will host the National Spanish Debate Competition in 2024.

Madeleine Loughton YEAR 11 STUDENT

An Impressive First Season on the Circuit

In his first season behind the wheel, Year 13 student Dom Pietersen has clocked up an incredible second placing in the BMW Race Driver Series E30 Class.

Not for the faint of heart, the E30 class series involves six weekends of racing at speeds of around 180km per hour at different circuits around the North Island.

After a slow start to the season, which began in August 2022, Dom picked up the pace to finish second overall. It was a pretty impressive feat, and when Dom first started competing, his expectations were not high.

“After talking with a lot of other drivers, I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be very good compared to the other people. It was really difficult at first but as the season drew on, I started to improve and surprisingly found I could be just as quick as the other drivers.”

Racing cars is in Dom’s blood – his father and brother (Sebastian, Kristin Alumni, Class of 2021) also race – and he has grown up around cars and watching his dad. It seemed only natural that he would have a go himself.

“I decided to give it a try after my dad recommended I drive the car. It had not been used for a few years and dad thought it would be good if the car got some use and the E30 series would be a great way to get into racing.”

So what is behind Dom’s need for speed?

“I love sports and I play a lot of team sports including hockey and volleyball but in the car, it’s all down to you – you are making the decisions. You are never comfortable so that’s what makes it exhilarating. There is a lot of skill and strategy involved, sometimes you have to make split second decisions about what to do next and it’s an adrenaline rush.”

It is a time-consuming pursuit, with the mechanical work, testing, qualifying and racing meaning Dom’s weekends are full.

“Managing racing with schoolwork is pretty hard but I love the sport so I make exceptions,” he says.

With the series finished, there is time for Dom to focus on getting ready for the season ahead. That means a lot of work on the car, making sure it can perform at its peak.

The BMW Race Driver Series is not continuing so Dom is looking for another class to race in this season. This year he is thinking he’ll enter into a less competitive series where he can focus on improving his driving and technical craft.

“In an ideal world, I would move into the Toyota 86 series, which is a feeder series into bigger race classes, but that will depend on my performance in the season ahead,” he says.

Next year Dom is planning on attending the University of Auckland to study aeronautical engineering. His dream is to one day be a professional driver or work in a top racing series.

After such an impressive start, the future is looking bright for Dom on the track. We’ll be watching this space!

"You are never comfortable so that’s what makes it exhilarating..."

Camps

KRISTIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

KRISTIN SENIOR SCHOOL

Camps

The Kristin Performing Arts Family

Each week sees hundreds of Kristin students participating in a wide range of Performing Arts activities across our school. These experiences provide an opportunity to explore new passions and develop skills and attributes that they will take forward with them into their tertiary studies, future workplaces and daily lives. We are very fortunate to have a large family of Performing Arts staff who are experts in their fields and passionate about sharing their experiences and knowledge with the students in our school.

In addition to the teaching staff in Kristin’s Faculty of Visual and Performing Arts, our school sees a large number of specialist teachers, tutors and directors visiting on a weekly basis to work with students in music, dance, and drama. The vast majority of these individuals are working professionally in the Arts world outside of Kristin, and are highly regarded in their fields. They become mentors, role models and inspirations for our students, in many cases motivating them to pursue Arts subjects in the Senior School and beyond school.

The faces of these talented people will be familiar to many of our students, parents and staff but here we would like to introduce a small selection of the team.

David Squire – Director of Euphony and Itinerant Voice Tutor

The much-loved director of our Year 9 to 13 choir, Euphony, David Squire is highly-regarded both within New Zealand and internationally as an expert in choral music and music education. In addition to his work at Kristin, he is one of New Zealand’s most prominent conductors, and Music Director of the New Zealand Youth Choir and the Auckland Youth Choir. Chair of the New Zealand Association of Choral Directors, David is also a national conducting advisor and tutor, and has served as a governance board member of the New Zealand Choral Federation.

Mr Squire is at Kristin once a week on a Wednesday afternoon, teaching individual singing lessons, and working with Euphony at rehearsal after school. Since taking up the role of directing Euphony in 2012, he has led the group to numerous successes at The Big Sing national finale, and also on overseas tours to the UK, Australia, Hungary, Austria, The Czech Republic and Germany.'

Andrew Rooney – Itinerant Drum Tutor and YouTube Star

Relatively new to Kristin, Andrew joined our team of itinerant instrumental teachers at the start of 2022. With a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance, after graduating Andrew went on to play in a wide range of musical ensembles covering jazz, rock and musical theatre. The students learning drums from Andrew report that they enjoy his friendly approach and sense of humour, and also his ability to teach them drumming across a wide range of styles and bands.

Mr Rooney is also famous in international drumming circles for his YouTube channel ‘Andrew Rooney Drums’. His entertaining drum tutorials, reviews and discussion panels have attracted over 120,000 subscribers with his channel having received over 32.9 million views!

The success of the channel has led to amazing partnerships with large international companies including Sweetwater and Drumeo. Of the Kristin music department, Mr Rooney says: “I'm delighted to be teaching drums at Kristin. The whole music department is always buzzing with activity and positivity. The staff are wonderful and the students are a joy to teach. The Kristin music department provides an exceptional place for young musicians to learn their craft.”

Enrique Johns – One of Kristin’s Dancing Stars

Enrique Johns, from the North Shore Dance Centre, joined the Kristin Co-Curricular Dance team in 2022, teaching weekly classes throughout the year in Dancesport (a mixture of Latin American and Ballroom Dancing styles). His expertise and passion for teaching shines through with fun and informative lessons and students look forward to his classes each week, some of them now training under him at his studio.

Enrique also teaches Year 7 and 8 Sport students within our Health and Physical Education Faculty, preparing students for their formals with lively and upbeat lessons in Dancesport.

South African born, Enrique has been training in Salsa, Latin and Ballroom dancing for 15 years. His passion for dance has taken him all over the globe to compete in prestigious competitions, achieving incredible results such as Salsa World Champion, Asia Pacific Latin Finalist and he is the current New Zealand Amateur and Professional National Latin Champion. He is a well-known face on TV3’s Dancing with the Stars, reaching the final three times with his celebrity partners, most recently with Brodie Kane. We are extremely lucky to have someone of Enrique’s calibre tutoring our aspiring Dancesport students.

Elise Bradley (MNZM) – Director of Year 7 and 8 Choir

In 2023 our Year 7 and 8 choir, Noteworthy, is privileged to be under the direction of the newest choral conductor to join our team, Elise Bradley.

Elise comes to Kristin with significant international experience, returning to New Zealand in 2021 following 14 years in Canada as the Artistic Director of the world-renowned Toronto Children’s Chorus. In addition to her work in Canada, Ms Bradley received many invitations to conduct, adjudicate choirs, and present at conferences and highly-respected events around the globe.

In January 2018 Ms Bradley was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), an honour awarded in recognition of her services to Music. Elise continues to devote her life to music education for children and, through her local, national and international presence, to promote excellence in the art of choral music.

Here at Kristin, Elise is working with our Middle School students to develop vocal technique and musical understanding that will allow them to develop into able musicians who deliver sophisticated and entertaining performances. We’re delighted to have Elise bring her wealth of local and international experience to Kristin, and for our Year 7 and 8 Noteworthy choristers to benefit from her choral singing expertise and passion.

Nick Duirs HEAD OF FACULTY VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

Sport at Kristin

COACHES BREAKFAST

Earlier this year Kristin’s sports coaches had the opportunity to attend an early morning breakfast with guest presenter Dave Wright (Alumni, Class of 2000) who presented his story and added some super tips around coaching. His experience in football, having worked at Premier English clubs Fulham and Brentford, and Melbourne City along with Sport New Zealand, provided some invaluable 'golden nuggets' around coaching and working with teams and individuals. This was a wonderful chance to welcome our coaches to the 2023 sports year.

WORLD CUP WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

This year in August, the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup will take place in New Zealand and Australia. Already this year, Kristin has hosted the Panama team (Las Canaleras) as they sought to qualify for the tournament. Kristin will also play host to the Norway Women’s team, who will use Kristin as their base training camp in the fortnight before the tournament starts in July.

WINTER CODE PRE-SEASON

KRISTIN FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT PROGRAMME

This year a new pre-season functional movement programme has been introduced under the expert guidance of Katrina Chatfield, Dave Green and Andreas Fossum from the sports office. The programme enables our athletes to develop and improve their movement and conditioning so they can be at their best through the season and in the years ahead. These sessions involve a variety of drills and training with a focus on movement competency and conditioning development. This programme will ensure longevity in sport and enable all students who participate the opportunity to develop and improve long term. The staff involved also include this training across their specialist sports of netball, hockey and basketball.

Our winter sports have had a great start to the season with many Kristin teams in full force with pre-season training and competitions. The Kristin Premier Netball team hosted five premier teams from other schools during the Term 1 holidays. This six team pre-season mini tournament was played in a round-robin format inside Tūrama. In other netball news, Brian Keepa has been appointed as our new premier team coach. Brian has a long history of coaching netball and is also the coach of the Rangitoto Club Premier team.

Our Premier Hockey Girls team headed to Rotorua, and this time they proved too strong, winning the pre-season tournament outright. They defeated John Paul College 7-0 in the final. This initiative has ensured our Girls 1st XI are ready for the new season. Their playoff match against Baradene College in the last week of term decided their league place for 2023. The girls defeated Baradene College 2-0 and will now join the boys in the top Auckland Secondary Schools league for the 2023 season. The Boys Hockey 1st XI started off 2023 in good form. In their rescheduled match against St Peter’s College, they drew 2-2, ensuring their position in the top league for 2023.

2023 has again seen a busy sports programme underway here at Kristin School. There have been positive initiatives and results as Kristin demonstrated its sporting talent against the top schools in Auckland.

Kristin Functional Movement

Kristin Functional Movement

Kristin Functional Movement with Katrina Chatfield (Head of Netball), Dave Green (Head of Hockey) and Andreas Fossum (Sports Academy Coach)

SENIOR SCHOOL

House Sports Day

A wonderful array of colour and house spirit was on show at Kristin for the 2023 Senior School House Sports Day.

Congratulations to all the Senior School students who put their best foot forward, joined in and contributed to a spirited day of physical activity, fun and competition. There were 12 events including javelin, tug of war and house relays. There was something for everyone including a chance to unwind, stretch and recover at the yoga event. Students gained points for their house by completing each event, with wonderful engagement and opportunities for all students to shine for their house.

The relays to finish the day really captured Kristin’s brilliant house spirit and there was plenty of excitement across all three year groups as the students gave their all in the 4x100m relays.

And in the final count for points, Apollo House on 523 won the day. In a close contest, they prevailed over Jupiter on 509, followed by Mariner on 501 and Saturn on 491.

Sports Highlights

WATER POLO

The 2023 season started early for our premier players with training camps and pre-season tournaments happening before the official opening of the academic school year. The premier teams also played for promotion/relegation in the Auckland College Sport league before the season started.

Both premier teams played in Division One for the North Island and National Championships, and this year for the first time, our Senior B Boys team competed at the North Island Division 2 Championships in Hamilton. They put up a brave showing and had many close games. This team of players will be ready and firing for the next senior season.

Our premier boys placed 12th putting in brave performances against tough competition and our premier girls placed an impressive 7th.

A new 2023 initiative was to implement an individual skills session, which runs alongside swim training, land-based strength and conditioning sessions, and team training. This allows for more individual growth and flexibility with juggling other codes and is available all year round for Years 7-13 students.

TENNIS

Year 13 students Muhan Cui and Lilian Zhang formed the base of our Premier Girls Tennis team that qualified for the top eight Auckland Secondary Schools Tennis league, placing 5th overall in a highly competitive grade. As a doubles pairing, Muhan and Lilian were runners-up in the Aucklandwide Champion of Champions Tennis tournament. In a close contest, the girls went down fighting 5-7, 6-4. Muhan also performed well at the national level and was part of the Northern team that placed first at the AON National Junior Teams event. Muhan has performed at a high level throughout the 2023 season and with her busy schedule, she has found time to assist with coaching our beginner tennis programme after school.

During the local and regional Junior tournaments this year Kristin students achieved some fantastics results:

• Muhan Cui won the 15 & Under Girls Singles at the 2023 Tier 3 Auckland Autumn Junior Champs.

• Cathy Deng won the 12 & Under Girls B Grade Singles at the 2023 Tier 3 Tennis Northern Autumn Junior Champs.

• Andrew Chen was runner up in the 14 & Under Boys Singles at the 2023 Service Line Pro Autumn Junior Champs and runner up in the 14 & Under Boys Singles at the Tennis Northern Autumn Junior Champs.

• Emily Chen was runner up in the 12 & Under Girls Singles at the 2023 Service Line Pro Autumn Junior Champs 2023.

Muhan Cui and Lilian Zhang

Premier Boys team – Jayden Churches

Premier Girls team – Una Dennehy

Coach Ricky Thomson

Muhan Cui at the AON National Junior Tournament

CRICKET

The Auckland Secondary Schools 1B league has seen the Kristin Boys 1st XI dominate the opposition in Term 1, with a major highlight being the 113 scored by Ollie Birch in the game against Pakuranga College. Ollie was in fine form and blasted the bowling attack to all corners of the Kristin fields. This was his maiden century and follows his great form in being selected for the Auckland U17 team for the National Championships played earlier this year. Ollie and Year 11 student Kyle Windust form a powerful opening bowling attack. Kyle, a right-hand fast bowler, can generate good pace and accuracy and is also a talented right-hand batsman.

The Kristin Boys 1st XI also triumphed in a thrilling 3 run win over the Zac Watson-led alumni team during our 50th Jubilee sports games. The 25 over match was a competitive affair and went down to the wire.

SWIMMING

The Kristin Swimming Championships featured some competitive swimming at the National Aquatic Centre. Another fantastic opportunity for our top swimmers to shine and prepare for the highly competitive regional and national events later in the year. Captain Matthew Zheng gained two top three placings in the Senior Boys swimming at the Harbour Zone Championships and led the Kristin Boys Relay team, which also gained two top three placings. Year 9 swimmer Grace van der Eijk placed 2nd in three events at the Harbour Zone event after winning the Kristin Junior Girls Championship.

The following Kristin swimmers attained top three placings at the Auckland Regional Championship:

• Bryan Xiong, Year 9: 2nd 100m Freestyle, Breaststroke, 200m Individual Medley.

• Sam Wilde, Year 10: 3rd 100m Backstroke and 50m Freestyle and 1st 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay.

• Oscar Greenwood, Year 13: 2nd 200m Butterfly and 400m Freestyle.

FENCING

This year we have already seen many great results from our fencers. Congratulations to Year 12 student Leo Zhou, who represented New Zealand at the 2023 Fencing Cadet and Junior World Championship.

At the Northern U15 & U17 Championship we had many students who placed for medals including Leo placing 1st in the U17 Men’s Foil. Year 12 student Angela Li also placed 1st in the U17 Women’s Foil and Year 13 student Wendy Wen placing 2nd in the same discipline.

Swimmers ready on the block

Junior Championship

Kristin Boys Relay team

Kyle Windust showing off his pace

Angela Li

Leo Zhou

Ollie Birch celebrates his century

TRAMPOLINE

Year 10 student Jake Macken was selected again into the New Zealand team to compete in the Australian Gymnastics Championships. His dedication to compete internationally in the sport he loves cannot be underestimated. In a quality display Jake placed 2nd in the individual trampoline event.

YACHTING

The New Zealand Secondary Schools Keelboat Regatta took place early this term and the Kristin team was on fire on the first day, winning four races. In a hotly contested Gold Fleet final day, they won two races but were pipped for the overall title by Auckland Grammar School. Skipper Mattias Coutts often had the boat perfectly placed on the start line, and the crew work from Sam Elworthy, Kelian Landry, Ashton Williamson and Tom Rebbeck was first class.

Mattias Coutts also placed 2nd in the New Zealand Open Moth Foiling Championships and again placed 2nd at the International Foiling Regatta in Italy.

Year 9 student Nelsen Meacham placed 2nd in the Optimist National Championships. Nelsen sailed well in a fleet of over 50 boats to be very close to the first placegetter. Also in the top 10 was another Year 9 student, Arthur Rebbeck. These two young sailors have worked hard all summer, training and honing their skills. Nelsen teamed up with his good friend William Mason to win the Feva Regatta at the Sail GP event in Christchurch earlier in the year.

The Kristin Teams racing squad consisting of Sam Elworthy, Hermione Aris, Kelian Landry, Ashton Williamson, KeDing Bao, Blake Dyer and Corban Dyer had a busy first term. They placed 6th overall in the Auckland Regional Championships. Then the New Zealand Teams Championships sailed at Algies Bay, where another shortened regatta saw the team win the Silver Fleet, sailing 20 races and winning 18. The team led by captain Kelian Landry were unbeatable in the Silver Fleet and deserved their trophy.

EQUESTRIAN

This year the Kristin Equestrian team has featured at many prestigious events, including the Pegasus Cup and the North Island Schools events. It was great to see Year 11 student Bailey Benshaw place 4th overall in the top individual event at the Pegasus Cup. Another highlight has been the performance of Year 13 student Georgia Mullins who competed in the FEI World Challenge representing New Zealand in Dressage. Georgia has a world ranking of 59 at this level.

Yachting team in action

Jake Macken mid-routine

Kristin Equestrian team members

Pegasus Cup

Georgia Mullins

Mattias Coutts with Joey Allen

Junior School Sport

It was great to get through Term 1 and 2 with minimal interruptions, enabling our sporting events to go ahead as planned.

Our first big event for the year was the Junior School Swimming Sports Day for our Year 4-6 students. This day provided a mix of fun events as well as competitive stroke races, with the main focus being on participation and house spirit. Apollo continued their winning streak from last year’s swimming event, coming in first place.

We finished the day with an exciting and entertaining relay race where student and staff teams competed alongside Dean Kent, three time New Zealand Olympic swimmer, who swam the race solo.

Our top swimmers went through to compete in the North Shore Primary Schools Swim Meet. Kristin came first overall against 24 other schools, an amazing achievement by our Junior School swim team.

Next up was tennis. Our very enthusiastic Junior School tennis players participated in the Super Cluster Tennis Tournament held at Campbells Bay Tennis Courts. Students either played in a singles or doubles tournament and were up against some tough competition. Congratulations to Lucy Chang for a very convincing win in the singles final and to Emily Chen and Lexie Link for winning their doubles final.

Our last major event was the Junior School Cross Country, which was a mix of mud and sunshine. The mud did not slow our students down, they pushed through with admirable effort and we saw some fierce battles at the finish line.

ALUMNI

Phoebe Jasper

From recording in her parent’s basement to featuring on a billboard in New York’s Times Square and writing songs for Rita Ora, pop artist Phoebe Jasper, aka 'NAVVY’, has come a long way since graduating from Kristin as Head Prefect in 2013.

After Kristin, Phoebe completed a Bachelor of Music majoring in Pop Music at the University of Auckland and has gone on to cement her place in the highly-competitive global Pop Music scene. Under her pseudonym NAVVY, Phoebe has written with some of the world's leading pop writers and artists; has released several singles including 'Till You're Ready', 'Mad At You' and 'Rock Bottom' – all of which have collectively achieved millions of spotify hits; and are frequently heard on New Zealand radio stations. NAVVY's synth-pop music is sophisticated-yetexpressive, drawing on her raw emotions as an artist and a human.

We caught up with her recently to find out more about life as the artist known as NAVVY, and carving out an identity as Phoebe too!

Tell us about what you’re currently doing? Where are you based? I currently live in London after moving here in 2020!

Tell us a little about your pathway to becoming a music artist. When you left school, was this the path you expected to be on?

When I left Kristin, I went to the University of Auckland and got a Bachelor of Music majoring in Popular Music – it was the best thing I ever did. Growing up I didn't know anything about pop music, I was in Euphony in Middle and Senior School, and always did the musicals, but I wasn't really into pop music, so I had a lot to learn. After I graduated from UoA, I started putting out music that I was making under my parents house in our make-shift studio with my best friends, and then my manager found me. A wild way to enter the industry, but four years later I am still feeling incredibly lucky.

Is there such a thing as a typical workday for you?

What does it look like?

This is such a good question, and I wish I could say yes, but it depends on so many different things. I write for myself, but also for other artists, so that changes how things work all the time.

Basically the only thing that remains steady is, musicians don't work before 12:00pm, so that is when a writing session will generally start, which works for me because I am definitely not a morning person! Usually we go in the room and someone has a concept lyrically, or a sound they are wanting to achieve, and we just sing ideas for six hours until we have a finished song!

What have been some of the highlights of your career to date, and some of the main challenges?

Well, I had two life goals that I thought were pipe dreams, or might take the majority of my life, and in 2023, both of them came true! I really wanted a song I'd written to be played on Jimmy Fallon, and I wrote a Rita Ora single that came out in January that she played on the show, which was incredibly exciting. The other dream was having a billboard in Times Square, which felt like a ridiculous thing to dream of, but that also happened in May, and it was a GIANT picture of me that Spotify put up there! The most wild experience. I also went on my first tour around New Zealand/ Australia in February, opening for one of my favourite artists and best friends Maisie Peters, who was also opening for Ed Sheeran at the time, which was one of the coolest things ever. Basically 2023 has been really wonderful so far for me.

Tell us about your ‘Navvy’ persona, is it very different to ‘Phoebe’?

To be honest, the more I do as Navvy, the more it is just completely me. When I first started the project, I was worried it might not do well, and I figured 'Phoebe Jasper' would be my name forever, so I didn't want to fail under that name. The pseudonym was really just something to hide behind, and I tried to make Navvy more of a put together version of me who brushes her hair and wears cool outfits, but that was unsustainable and I ended up going on tour and wearing t-shirts that say 'I'm A GLEEK', with no hairbrush in sight. It was a valiant effort, but it wasn't meant to last.

KRISTIN

What are some of your creative influences? And how do you find inspiration and motivation for song writing, and performing?

My biggest creative influence is definitely just whoever I am lucky enough to be writing with that day, which is sometimes an international popstar like Zara Larsson, and is sometimes one of my friends who is a full time songwriter like me! But I am also super inspired by the music I listen to, like Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers, and also just by the people I hang out with. It's just as inspiring to hear a friend's experience with their boyfriend or girlfriend as it is to listen to a song I adore.

We hear that you’ve recently collaborated on writing a song for Rita Ora, how did that opportunity come about and what was that like?

Yes!! It has been truly so exciting for me. I went to Wales for some time away with three of my best friends from London - Corey Sanders, Elle Campbell, and Rory Adams. We went away for three days and wrote a bunch of songs, and one of them was a song called 'You Only Love Me'. I sang the original demo, and through the power of friends of friends, it got to Rita Ora and she really liked it! She recorded a version and added some stuff to the lyrics, and then we didn't hear anything for a year. But then over the summer, I was at home in New Zealand, and we found out it was going to be the lead single off of her third album. It was SO exciting I still can't believe it is real. Wild.

What’s ahead for you in 2023 and beyond?

I have lots of fun things to do for the rest of 2023! I am going to Copenhagen for a writing camp, and will be going to Sweden too. It is SO fun to be flown to different cities to write music. I spent most of March in the USA writing songs in Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York, and I will probably be heading back there too! Other than that I'll be in London for most of the year, and I'm looking at doing a UK tour support slot which would be really fun. After this year I'm not entirely sure - but if I get to be writing songs with my favourite people, and coming back to New Zealand for a few months each year forever, I will be considering myself the luckiest girl in the world.

What do you look back on as the highlights of your time at Kristin?

I had a really fun time doing the musicals. I was never the lead, but I just loved creating something with a whole group of likeminded people who loved musical theatre. There’s so much to learn when you're in an ensemble, about working together and caring deeply about the end result that you'll all create together. I now go into studios with strangers most days of the week, and it's not too dissimilar, in that we have an end goal, and that's to create something we love and we're really proud of. Even when I'm writing with international popstars, somehow the stakes don't ever feel as high as they did in the shows back then, it truly was so important to us all. A very similar experience in Euphony, which in my later years was led by David Squire - an absolutely phenomenal human.

If you could give a message to students looking to pursue a similar path, what would it be?

I have two pieces of advice that I have found super helpful. The first is, make stuff that you are so proud of and so excited to show people. If you feel embarrassed or shy about the songs you're making, they probably are not really what you are going to get creative fulfilment out of. The next thing is, once you are happy with, and proud of, the things you are writing/making – PUT THEM OUT. Nothing will ever be perfect, but if you believe in it and you love it, other people will too, I promise. If I hadn't put my first few songs that I made with my best friend in the most makeshift studio setup you can imagine on the internet, I would absolutely not be doing what I am doing now, and that would be such a shame.

Is there anything else you’d like to include, or messages you’d like to send to current students, staff, parents or the wider Kristin community?

I think it is always just cool to be reminded that art is important and necessary and cool and someone has to make it, so if you have a passion for something you absolutely should chase that thing and be the person that does. I am sure people thought doing a pop music degree was not going to lead anywhere, and I may have quietly been one of those people, but I am so glad we were all wrong.

Kim Morton

Kim was a first day pupil at Kristin when it opened in 1973 and she spent three years at the Campbells Bay campus, which she says had a big impact on her life. Kim went on to study law, and to work in community law and social justice, specialising in welfare law and access to justice for beneficiaries. She is the founder and Director of Ōtautahi Creative Spaces, an innovative arts and mental health organisation in Christchurch. Kim is a strong advocate for the powerful role that art, culture and creativity can play in health and recently investigated arts on prescription with the support of a Churchill Fellowship. Kim has two adult sons and lives in the port town of Lyttelton. Kim loves immersing herself in the hills and the sea around Lyttelton and is always up for an adventure.

This is Kim’s address to our community at our 50th Jubilee Alumni Cocktails Event:

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa, My sister Hilary and I have the honour and privilege of being among the children who were at Kristin School on that first day in 1973. I was 6, my sister 8. Just ten days before the school opened, our father had spotted an ad in the local paper for the new Kristin School at Campbells Bay – my mother wrote: ‘more or less on impulse we had a look around and enrolled the girls there. It is very much in the nature of an experiment – we shall see.’

I think we can safely say, 50 years down the track, the experiment was a success.

Coming from Takapuna Primary, Kristin School felt more like a family. We were too young to understand the alternative thinking behind this fledgling school, but we were richly rewarded in the opportunities we had.

An article in the Women's Weekly in May 1973 beautifully illustrates the vision Roy and Marion Munn had for the school – small class sizes, art and music at the forefront, and nature woven throughout.

The photos show the halcyon days of Kristin in its first few months, as I remember them. There were no uniforms – children playing recorders outside, playing the xylophone, and making art. There’s a group of girls building a hut in the bush.

This is my overwhelming memory of Kristin – building magnificent huts with thatched roofs of ponga, and mats on the floor. Although my school reports show we had regular classes, my recollection is that we spent hours and hours in the bush. The sense of freedom we felt!

Our school campus extended to Campbells Bay beach at the bottom of the hill. We’d pile into Miss Stubbs’ car and head down to the beach to explore the coastline.

We had incredible adventures beyond school which truly broadened our horizons. In our second year at Kristin, Hilary and I went on a week-long trip to Napier. This took in Fantasyland, Marineland, Lilliput Railway, the Apple and Pear Marketing Board and even a tour of the Rothmans cigarette factory. Imagine the excitement of this trip for an eight year old!

Kim Morton

Kristin Foundation Students Kim Morton, Adele Print and Hilary Morton

Later that year, Hilary was part of the trip to the marae at Moerewa, in Northland. Kristin’s inclusion of Te Ao Māori in its school programme was unusual at that time – at least wasn’t part of my experience at the other schools I went to.

Kristin was distinctive in another respect: Kristin families were deeply involved in the development of the school. There were working bees, galas at the Holdaways, meetings to help shape the future of the school – alongside Kristin’s staff and governors, families were literally building the school from the ground up.

So I come to this celebration with deep gratitude because the four years I had at Kristin had a big impact on my life. I’ll touch on a couple of things I’m especially proud of.

I founded and lead an organisation in Christchurch which uses the power of creativity to respond to mental distress and trauma. Set up following the devastating earthquakes, our approach is to support people to redefine their mental health journey as practicing artists – there’s evidence this not only changes lives, it saves lives. We’re part of a movement to reimagine the mental health system, because medication and counselling are not in themselves enough for people to thrive. It’s groundbreaking work and such a joy to be involved with – and I believe the early focus on art and music at Kristin had a part to play in my passion for this mahi.

After studying law at the University of Otago I worked in areas of law that receive little attention in the profession. First consumer law and later welfare law, including a role reviewing decisions by Work and Income. The imbalance of power between people receiving benefits due to adverse life circumstances and the might of the Ministry of Social Development led me to initiate a research project investigating beneficiaries’ access to justice, and how

the community law centre movement could better focus its free legal help towards the needs of beneficiaries. Looking back, my commitment to social justice aligns strongly with Kristin’s values.

Kristin propelled me towards a life of adventure. The highlight was joining a four-month expedition to remote Raoul Island with the Department of Conservation. Raoul Island was a stopping place for Polynesian navigators travelling across the oceans to Aotearoa, and later there were settlements, and coast watching and weather stations. An active volcano, our job was to comb through the bush to spot and eliminate weed outbreaks. With just 16 people on the island, little contact with the outside world, and mail arriving by air-drop, it was an amazing experience to be immersed in this landscape steeped in history. Building those huts in the bush at Kristin sparked my love of the natural world and a desire to help preserve what is left.

What I’m most proud of – of course – is my two sons, who grew up in the port town of Lyttelton. I chose an alternative education in Christchurch for them, Hagley College, a special character school centred around diversity and life-long learning. They’ve grown up to be independent thinkers and young men who have vision, integrity and love, and they’re pursuing study they’re passionate about – journalism and criminal justice.

Kristin – the radical experiment – opened up a world of possibilities for me.

Thank you so much to everyone involved in the first four years –Mr and Mrs Munn, the Jobers, the Williams, and all the founding families who got stuck in because they believed there was a better way. Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou.

No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

Photos below from a 1974 Woman’s Weekly article: Kay Findlay with Marion Munn (left), Standard 3 and 4 students (right).

Finn Blackwell

Finn Blackwell from the Class of 2018 cut his broadcasting teeth as a star performer on KTV and in Kristin school productions. After graduating from Kristin, Finn studied at Victoria University in Wellington where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and Criminology, and a post graduate in Journalism. Since then he has returned to Auckland and is currently working as a journalist with Radio New Zealand (RNZ).

Tell us about what you’re currently doing? Where do you work and what is it like? Tell us a little about your role.

I’m a reporter with Radio New Zealand, the country’s national broadcaster. I go from place to place talking to people and telling their stories. I work across a number of mediums including web, radio, and sometimes on TV! Being a journalist is great because you’re essentially a professional storyteller and that’s something I’ve always been passionate about.

Is there such a thing as a typical work day for you? What are the parts of your job that you enjoy most? Conversely, what are some of the most challenging parts of your job or most difficult stories to cover?

In my line of work, there is no such thing as a 'typical' work day. Nine times out of ten I’m coming into the office just waiting to get sent somewhere across the city, it’s the nature of breaking news and it means every day is exciting. I think one of the things I enjoy most is getting to talk to so many different people every day, and sharing their stories with the rest of the country! There are difficult stories to tell of course, when someone’s lost a loved one, or they’re in a rough situation, but getting to work with them through that is something I never take for granted.

Tell us a little about your career pathway to become a journalist with RNZ? When you left school, was this the path you expected to be on?

I was pretty fortunate that I had this career path already in mind when I left Kristin. In my last year of high school I contacted industry professionals to find out what I needed to do to prepare myself for a career in journalism. When I got to university, the first thing I did was join up with the university magazine, that helped me get some experience in a newsroom under my belt before even finishing my degree! All the while I was making connections with other journalists and outlets, seeing what I thought would work for me. As I started my post-graduate degree all that work paid off and I was able to join Radio New Zealand.

What do you think are some of the secrets to success? Are there any life lessons you’d like to share?

I don’t think there are any secrets, pathways to success are more often than not laid bare, it’s just a matter of being able to see them and follow what you’re passionate about. Obviously there are twists and turns, challenges that come up along the way, but success, I believe, is what you make of it.

How do you feel your time at Kristin has shaped your path beyond school?

Kristin has this great ability to foster connections in its students. That’s been something of incredible value that I’ve taken with me into my career, the ability to foster those connections and develop them further. I think it’s one of the most important things when you’re telling someone's story.

What do you look back on as the highlights of your time at Kristin?

Definitely doing the school productions. They were such awesome opportunities and I was able to make some life-long friends through them.

If you could give a message to students looking to pursue a similar path, what would it be?

I’d probably give them the same advice I got, join the university newspaper, make connections with people in the industry, keep your finger on the pulse when it comes to current events, and be on the lookout for a good story.

Are there any messages you'd like to send to current students, staff, parents or the wider Kristin community?

Enjoy your time here. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent or part of the Kristin community at large, it’s a very special place.

Upcoming Reunions 2023

We’re looking forward to bringing our alumni community together at these upcoming reunion events.

You can register your attendance via the reunion event links on: www.kristinconnect.nz

If you would like to receive invitations to alumni events and reunions, simply update your details via our ‘Keep in Touch’ form at: www.kristin.school.nz/keepintouch

lumni

DUNEDIN REUNION

Tuesday 8 August

WELLINGTON REUNION

Wednesday 9 August

CHRISTCHURCH REUNION

Thursday 10 August

AUCKLAND REUNION

Friday 3 November

(For the classes of: 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 & 2018)

From The Archives

Knowledge of the past allows us to understand our present and inspire our future.

This year, in conjunction with Kristin’s 50th Jubilee, we successfully launched our new digital archive, Kristin Archives Online (kristinschool.recollect.co.nz). Featuring an interactive, user-friendly design, our online archive is a fantastic way to engage with and explore Kristin’s rich historical past.

Designed to be enjoyed by the wider Kristin community, this fantastic digital platform allows you to take a trip down memory lane. Immerse yourself in a plethora of photos, videos, yearbooks and magazines, tag yourself and your friends, and send in feedback. You can even create your own personal online collection! Kristin Archives Online is an environment where, together, we can share and preserve our unique history.

It is said that behind every picture is a story – how many stories can you uncover? Kristin Archives Online is a place to discover and celebrate our past.

It is always exciting to receive new donations, so if you have any Kristin memorabilia that would be a valuable addition to the Kristin archives, feel free to get in touch via atiedemann@kristin.school.nz.

Anna Tiedemann

ARCHIVIST

Wendy Hay in the Administration office (1991)

Deputy Principal John Burgess with a Kristin Student (1978)

Enjoying break time (1990)

Enjoying a horse ride (c1979)

Using a BBC computer (c1984)

Kindergarten Christmas party performance (1976)

Students taking a hot air balloon ride (1993)

Middle School students on campus (1991)

Imagine. Believe. Achieve.

Proud to support the youth of today with the dreams of tomorrow