Evergreen Ties magazine - Winter 2022 edition

Winter — 2022

Evergreen

Ties

Meet our new Trust Board Chair, Leigh Melville — PLUS

From the archives: Meet the dogs of St Pup-berts!

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Each architecturally designed home is orientated for fantastic sun and views, and has been finished to the highest of standards, with contemporary finishes and features throughout.

For more information, get in touch with our Sales Manager, Nicola Redmond on 09 951 8922 or visit summerset.co.nz/clarkcoastals Summerset at Monterey Park 1 Squadron Drive, Hobsonville

stcuthberts.school.nz

Thank You to all our 2021 Robertson Circle Donors The Robertson Circle recognises parents, Old Girls, staff and friends who have given combined gifts of over $2,000 to the school since 2002. Your generosity has provided outstanding educational experiences for our students and we are humbled by your ongoing commitment to the school.

We would like to thank our new and existing Robertson Circle members who have supported us since January 2021.

FRIEND

Anonymous x 4 Hartley and Marree Atkinson Basu Chaudhuri Family Penny Brothers and David Ware Katie Buchanan and James Brown Vincent Chen and Rachel Liang Emmeline Duncan Jennifer and Jonathan Gill Hamish Haldane and Georgina Caughey Hamilton Family Anne Hargreaves Ann Louise Jordan Mark and May Kearney James Li and May Wang Lu Family Anna and Cameron McInness David Merrilees and Amanda Dawson Cindy Merz Adarsh and Rashida Patel John and Alison Potter E Santhara and C D’Cruz Polly Sellar Sarah and David Stewart Betty Stewart Fiona Stewart and Hamish Cameron Lynn Theron Vincent Family Sandra Warren Year 13 2021 Y Zhang and H Shao Richard and Catherine Zhao

SUPPORTER

Anonymous x 5 Bradley Family Rosslyn Caughey Rosemary and Anna Harris Diana and Ian Hay Charlotte Hellaby Leigh Melville Paul Nickels and Rachel Walsh Debbie and Chris Waalkens Waller Family Sondra Wigglesworth Guy and Michelle Williams Tao Zhang

FELLOW

M and J Ballantyne Dean and Chanelle Farmer Tracy Zhang and Zhaorong Mai

GUARDIAN

Anonymous x 2 Clayton Charitable Trust Andy Coster K E Falconer Sports Fund Hawkesby Family G E and K M Jackson Anna Mowbray Old Girls’ Association Parents & Friends Akram and Humaira Qureshi Lyndy Sainsbury Ellis Situe and Nina Vasan Marie Taylor Thanksgiving Trust

241 Parnell Rd, Auckland - www.orsini.co.nz

Evergreen Ties —

In this edition we focus on the many exciting experiences our students get to experience at St Cuthbert’s, and we also meet our new Trust Board Chair, Leigh Melville.

Evergreen Ties is published two times a year by the St Cuthbert’s Communications Office.

Meet our Leaders

ADVERTISING Judy.Watt@stcuthberts.school.nz

P06 — From the Desk of Justine Mahon

OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION Kirsten McKenzie PresidentOGA@stcuthberts.school.nz PARENTS & FRIENDS parents.friends@stcuthberts.school.nz PHOTOS BWMedia photography St Cuthbert’s Communications Office NEXT ISSUE November 2022 COMMUNICATIONS TEAM communications@stcuthberts.school.nz

Making Girls Amazing

Suzanne Joyce Louise May Nina Seja Sarah Talaic Judy Watt Sarah Davies If you have an idea for a story, write to us at communications@stcuthberts.school.nz Design: Janice O’Kane Sophie Joyce

P40 — An ‘Ace’ up our Sleeve

Follow us on: StCuthbertsCollege

StCuthbertsCollege

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StCuthbertsCollege

P44 — Time to rock the boat

Featured Stories P08 — Meet our Trust Board

P18 — St Cuthbert’s Sisterhood

Contents 06 — From the Desk of Justine Mahon 08 — Meet our Trust Board 14 — Cross Country 2022 16 — Quiz Night

17 — A morning with Phil 17 — P&F afternoon tea

18 — St Cuthbert’s Sisterhood

20 — Getting to know Suzanne Winthrop

P24 — A team and leader building day

P30 — Campus Life, Po Fia Fia

22 — Exciting New Appointments

24 — A team and leader building day 26 — Meet the Faculty: English 30 — Campus Life

36 — The Study Guide Drive

37 — By Love Serve: Supporting Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal 38 — The Whispering Tree

40 — An ‘Ace’ up our Sleeve 44 — Time to rock the boat 48 — Getting Girls Active

P66 — Old Girls’ Association

50 — Spotlight on Junior School PE 51 — The Music Continues 52 — Wellbeing@StCuth’s 54 — School TV

56 — Riding the Resilience Wave

58 — The Canines of St Cuthbert’s

62 — A day in the life of the Visual Arts Faculty 66 — Old Girls’ Association

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From the Desk of Justine Mahon

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EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

Welcome to the winter edition of Evergreen Ties. Reflecting on the past two years, we realise it has been an unprecedented period in history, but as we begin to look towards a post-pandemic future there is an array of exciting activities and plans ahead.

There are so many things to celebrate this semester, but in doing so, we must reflect on the recent past to add context to the magnitude of our collective achievements.

I am so proud of the resilience and aroha shown by our girls, our staff, our parents and caregivers, during a turbulent few years. Our motto, ‘By Love Serve’ was certainly at play as we were all forced to pivot and do things differently, in order to maintain a sense of productivity and normalcy during a global health emergency.

I would like to acknowledge the fortitude and dedication of our educators as they ensured online platforms were well-resourced and our students were prepared for seamless remote learning.

And, while the official focus of lockdowns was on physical safety, our teachers also wanted to make sure each individual girl was emotionally supported.

I believe that the incredible academic results of our 2021 Senior cohort are a testament to these efforts. I am delighted to report that St Cuthbert’s students received offers of over three million dollars’ worth of scholarships from tertiary institutions in Australasia and globally – all despite the disruption.

During 2020 and 2021, at each level of our academic results, we held our place as one of the top schools in New Zealand.

Congratulations to our girls and teachers for such a tremendous effort – and, of course, the parents and caregivers at home, supporting their children as best as they possibly could, given their personal circumstances.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the teachers for their generosity to one another, filling in when colleagues fell ill, stepping up above and beyond their day-to-day roles and helping the College continue to thrive.

As you can imagine, it is with a profound sense of optimism that I look to our playgrounds, sports fields and

assemblies, and appreciate the simplicity of being back together again. And how wonderful to welcome parents back on the campus recently! It also meant we could commemorate ANZAC Day together, where the sounds of song and school spirit, once again filled the cloisters of Clouston Hall.

It was during this service that I discussed the obvious parallel of historic ANZAC reflections and the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Unfolding on our screens for months now, this issue is deeply unsettling for many of us. On a recent Mufti Day, the girls raised funds for Ukrainian women and children. Feelings were communicated openly in our classrooms, grounds and halls.

A message I shared to students which I would like to reiterate here, is for us to all live each day with more gratitude, tolerance, inclusivity and compassion.

This is the embodiment of our College motto, ‘By Love Serve.’ You may have heard about our active promotion of Global Citizenship, where part of our role as educators is to help our girls understand the world and recognise their place within it, taking on leadership roles to create communities which respect one another.

On a much lighter note, I am thrilled to see our newest code, rowing, gaining momentum with so many girls relishing the opportunity of their time on the water.

How exciting to have one of the country’s most accomplished rowing coaches, Kirsty Dunhill, with us! We profile Kirsty in this edition so you can get to know her a little better. I must also thank the generous parents who have helped us establish the new rowing programme to date.

It’s compelling to note that during the pandemic, a record number of schoolaged girls dropped out of sport globally, (which, comparatively, was not the same for boys). Yet, I’m pleased to say that participation has not dropped here at St Cuthbert’s! We are, however, looking at diversifying our sports offering, with a

focus on getting everyone moving again.

Elizabeth Howard (Co-Director of Sport) is spear-heading our ‘Getting Girls Active’ programme, which is all about supporting every girl to lead a healthy, active life.

Sports doesn’t always come easily to everyone, but it’s such an essential part of staying healthy – both mentally and physically. My personal vision is that whether it’s hockey, skateboarding, swimming or simply taking the stairs, our girls invest in our ‘fitness for life’ message.

We profile Liz and the ‘Getting Girls Active’ programme in this issue.

An honourable mention must be made of College Prefect, Brena Merz, selected as the only female to represent New Zealand, at the International Mathematical Olympiad, to be held in Norway in September. An incredible achievement Brena!

Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our Trust Board Chair Hayley Buckley, who is retiring from the Board after seven years of service. Hayley has worked tirelessly to support the College, and we thank her for her outstanding leadership and hard work. We welcome current Board member and Old Girl, Leigh Melville, who will take up the role as Trust Board Chair at the end of July. Our Trust Board members offer exemplary strategic leadership support and governance and give their time voluntarily. We have started a series here in Evergreen Ties, called ‘Meet your Board’, and in this issue, profile Leigh, and Junior School parent, and new Board member, Hamish Firth.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of Evergreen Ties.

With warmest regards, Ms Justine Mahon — Principal

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Hayley Buckley We sat down with our retiring Trust Board Chair, Hayley Buckley, to reflect on her time on the Board over the past seven years.

It has been an absolute privilege to serve our community on the Trust Board. I joined the Board in 2015 and was appointed Chair in 2017. Reflecting on this period, the College now has the highest roll in its history, and we have seen significant momentum under Justine Mahon’s leadership, including the establishment of the Year 7–13 Senior School and Year 11–13 Senior Academy, and the launch of our statement of intent, ‘Making Girls Amazing’.

Making Girls Amazing exists to ensure that we support every student who comes through our gates to fulfil their potential. It reflects the incredible focus of our teachers to prepare our young women for their futures, to unlock their dreams, and to give the girls every opportunity to discover their own personal amazing.

We are proudly an all-girls school, and will remain so. Research tells us young women learn best in an all-girls’ environment, where they have the freedom during these important developmental years to just be themselves and to really get to know who they are.

Over the past two years, the Trust Board has spent considerable time looking at international best practice in education.

We are excited to be looking forward to the next phase of our strategic planning, including the development of our campus masterplan, enhancing the use of technology and innovation in our curriculum, and ensuring we have the very 8

best wellbeing programmes in place to support our girls to confidently face the futures they choose.

During the pandemic, a key focus of the Trust Board has also been to ensure that the College was well supported to deliver our outstanding StCuths@Home educational programme. I know as a parent, I was very grateful for the consistency and connection to the school that the fantastic online learning programme provided my daughter during the lockdowns, and I would like to pay tribute to Justine and her team for all they did to support our girls during an unprecedented time in our history.

I have worked very closely with Leigh Melville since she joined the Trust Board in 2017, and I would like to welcome her as Trust Board Chair. She is a person of exceptional integrity, with a deep connection to the College. Having turned her passion into a career, Leigh runs her own commercial business, Auckland art auction house, Art and Object, and was founding Chair of the New Zealand at the Venice Biennale Patrons Trust which successfully supports New Zealand’s participation at the event. Leigh is also on the board of the Auckland Writers’ Festival.

Leigh is an Old Girl of the College, serving as Head Girl in her final year. She was President of the Old Girls Association from 2015–2016 and brings a deep understanding of the connected community that is at the heart of our College.

Leigh brings her strong commercial and business experience to the role of Board Chair, and also her communication skills and an ability to unite people to get things done.

As we plan for the future, she is uniquely placed to respect our wonderful heritage and traditions, but equally, understands the importance of progressing with momentum to ensure we continue to deliver a world class education to our students, to support them to find what makes them unique and amazing.

I would like to thank my fellow Trust Board members for the incredible support which they have given me in my role as Board Chair. Thank you also, to our Principal Justine Mahon, our staff, parents and Old Girl community for everything you do for the College and our girls; it is deeply appreciated.

With warmest regards Hayley Buckley St Cuthbert’s Trust Board Chair

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

Meet our new Trust Board Chair:

Leigh Melville Leigh Melville is a celebrated name in the New Zealand contemporary art world and thankfully for us, a familiar name that echoes in our halls, classrooms and our boardroom.

“They can’t get rid of me,” jokes Leigh, adding up the decades she has been actively involved at St Cuthbert’s as a student, Head Girl, Old Girl President, parent, volunteer, and Board member. And when you chat to stakeholders across the College community, it is fair to say we would be at a loss without her energetic, passionate advocacy.

Fusion of business and art

Leigh is the Managing Director and co-owner of Art+Object, one of Aotearoa’s leading art auction houses, offering regular catalogues of New Zealand and international historical, modern and contemporary art.

A recent achievement (and national news headline) was setting a record with New Zealand’s highest-grossing art auction of all time, with the Burr/ Tatham Collection. Michael Parekōwhai’s colossal bronze masterpiece, ‘A Peak in Darien’ sold for over $2 million dollars during the auction, eclipsing the previous record achieved by Colin McCahon’s ‘The Canoe Tainui’ (which sold for $1.58 million in 2016).

Leigh exudes passion for all-things art, yet interestingly her trajectory into the industry emerged out of pure luck when a St Cuthbert’s parent offered her a gallery job soon after she graduated. “I love what I do now, but it’s extraordinary that it all started rather by chance!”

“Making Girls Amazing exists to ensure that we support every student who comes through our gates to fulfil their potential.”

After this turn of fate, it’s clear that a strong work-ethic, business nous and an instinctive eye, propelled the business to become the success story it is today.

Whether it’s writing for art journals, speaking to Radio NZ, presenting at industry events, or sitting on peer review panels at public art institutions, Leigh’s days and nights seem to live and breathe fine art.

She is also a supporter of numerous arts organisations, including the Auckland Art Gallery Foundation and the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi and is on the board of the Auckland Writer’s Festival.

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As the current Co-Chair of the ‘New Zealand at the Venice Biennale Patrons Charitable Trust’, she relishes the opportunity to work directly with artists. “It’s lovely to be able to form a working relationship with talented artists, to complement my work at the auction house,” she says. The organisation was set up to represent artists who are working toward an exhibition at the world-renowned Venice event.

An Old Girl at heart

When asked about how patronage has defined her career, her eyes light up, “There’s real power in the act of patronage. Through giving, it opens the door to experiences that you wouldn’t ordinarily have. That’s honestly what drives me and my career.”

Leigh agrees that her voluntary work is a great example of ‘By Love Serve’ in action, something she values as a key principle from her time as a student, along with fond memories of friends. “I was so happy at school; that sense of nostalgia and history never leaves you. In fact, some of my old St Cuth’s friends and I recently celebrated 30 years since graduation. We are hugely supportive of each other and have a special bond.”

Meet your Trust Board:

Hamish Firth

Leigh is a fourth-generation Old Girl and her father was also a Trust Board member. She was President of the St Cuthbert’s Old Girls’ Association from 2014 for four years, and currently has a daughter in Year 13. “Having this longevity of relationships to the College has led to the feeling of wanting to give back,” she says.

Head Girl to the Boardroom

Leigh has been on the St Cuthbert’s Board for five years now, and is quick to promote her wider team members, “The Board is made up of a fantastic group of people lending their exceptional commercial skills. A school is such a complex organisation - there are so many stakeholders involved and two huge campuses. There are many decisions, big and small that all have consequences. As Governors, we simply help to guide.”

When asked about what she brings to the Board, she says, “In my case, I have a wealth of business experience and I work in a very competitive field. But look, I don’t profess to know it all. At the end of the day, if you bring passion and aroha to the table and a genuine sense of service, then you can add huge value.”

“Art enriches our lives. I think that through the pandemic, we’ve all reflected on the state of the world. In doing this we open ourselves up to art and what art has to say about us.”

Art for art’s sake

Although Leigh studied art history at school, she wasn’t active in creating art or design. Her appreciation really flourished after school. But she is extremely encouraging about the arts curriculum offered at St Cuthbert’s, from drama, to fine art subjects, to Art History, and what it can offer young girls.

Does she have advice for wannabe collectors?

“Buying art is a very personal, instinctive experience. The art I collect often relates to memories; or, it looks to the future, commenting on progress, or lack of it.”

“Collecting has opened doors to friendships and experiences without which I would be poorer,” she says. In many ways, it seems to be the same for her tireless work at St Cuthbert’s.

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As part of a new series to get to know our valued Board members a little better, we sat down with Hamish Firth and chatted about his vision for the school’s future – and how he balances life in between roles as a company director and busy dad.

When asked about what he brings to the boardroom, Hamish chuckles, “Well, being a dad to four very strong-minded girls helps with diplomacy!”

He is of course being modest, having built an impressive career in the property industry, where he now leads a successful team of consultants at Mt Hobson Group.

His company is all about helping clients navigate the complex resource consent and plan change approval process. He can be found appearing before the Environment Court or Valuation Tribunal one day, and a council hearing the next, representing a wide and diverse range of clients.

When digging into Hamish’s career highlights, there is an array of accomplishments in this industry, but he’s quick to point out that his career pathway was never clear-cut.

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

He believes that the knowledge and mana of the teaching community at St Cuthbert’s is one of the College’s greatest assets.

He also talks passionately about the Kahunui programme, and the array of sporting opportunities available.

His third daughter started school during lockdown, which Hamish describes as brave, considering her first day had to be in front of a device. As with all new starters throughout New Zealand, it was not the ideal introduction to school life, but Hamish is quick to emphasise how impressed he was with how it all went.

“The College’s staff and operations had an exemplar plan in place for online learning.

None of my girls’ learning suffered, it was quite remarkable.”

So, with four children, does he have any parenting tips to share?

To this, he laughs, emphasising that his daughters are all very different. He hasn't yet discovered any concise rules that work for all (but when he does, we’ll make sure he shares them with Evergreen Ties).

“Every day I wake up with no idea what the day will bring. I love spontaneity and the excitement of the new.”

After a science degree, he completed a master's in urban planning – but this was after representing New Zealand in Rugby Under 19s. He candidly mentions entrepreneurial activities he’s been involved with in various sectors, along with a raft of engaging and surprising twists and turns of life.

This growth mindset to leap into the unknown with gusto, is likely what took him to the New York Marathon a few years ago. And it’s clear that his range of experiences, ambition and skills are very transferable toa boardroom table.

“I’m passionate about strategy as well as the doing. The planning is extremely important, and of course that’s a set of skills I can bring to the team, but in a way that’s just paper. My real passion is seeing things through to fruition.”

Having three (and shortly four) daughters attend St Cuthbert’s from Junior right through to Senior School, offers the longevity required to help plan and deliver on one of the College’s most exciting endeavours, the ‘Campus Plan’.

The plan is looking at the College’s current facilities, land and buildings, and will outline a development blueprint for

the future. Hamish is excited to be leading this part of the project as Chair of the Board’s Campus Development Sub-Committee.

Once we have a draft blueprint the Board will be sharing the proposals with our College community, including our staff, parents and Old Girls.

“We want to engage with all stakeholders with an open mind. Communicating clearly why we’ve made decisions is key, and we’ll consider all the feedback.”

When asked about his own schooling experiences in Northland, Hamish is quick off the mark with a reply, “Water.

Land. Rugby!” He credits some inspiring teachers as his greatest influencers in those days.

"I wasn’t always the top student. But having a teacher who can recognise the gold in every individual, that’s what’s important.

Because of them, I ended up loving learning, whether it was PE, English or Maths”

But on a serious note, he reflects on how he and his wife of 14 years, Donna, looked openly for advice from others when the girls were babies.

“Although it’s always helpful to draw on other people’s expertise, different techniques work for different children”. He believes that it’s the same as they grow up, “With love and patience... we’re always learning”.

Hamish wants his girls to know that it’s OK, if not important,to fail and that growth, resilience and compassion flourish from that.

The focus on building more emotional life skills as well as academic excellence, is another one of the key reasons he chose St Cuthbert’s for his children, “It’s not just about turning up to learn a curriculum.

It’s also about the other incredible opportunities available, the diversity, and interpersonal skills they gain”, he says.

At the end of the day, Hamish says that his involvement on the Board is about giving back after seeing his own girls learn, thrive, have fun, and grow into caring, selfassured individuals. He looks forward to helping the Board drive a legacy that lasts into the future, long after his children have graduated.

Mermaids spotted at St Cuthbert’s!

It seems we have some real mermaids at St Cuth’s! It was so much fun to hold the Year 7 and 8 Swimming Sports event on 20 May, in such a supportive atmosphere. House spirit was evident and it was wonderful to see the House colours represented in the bleachers. Our ears are still recovering from the support being chanted down to the swimmers. Well done to all our Year 7 and 8 girls – be they mermaids or cheerleaders.

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EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

On 8 June, we held the Swimming Sports event for our Years 9 – 13 girls. There were some very impressive results and great competitive spirit achieved with raucous support from their friends in the bleachers. A highlight was the Prefects’ dance and the staff v Prefects’ swim races.

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Cross Country 2022 On 6 May, the sun was shining and faces were smiling for the annual cross country run. It was such a delight to be able to welcome parents back to cheer on their daughters this year and it was lovely to see such support from the crowd. The day begun with our Junior girls taking part in Jump Jam to warm up. They were led to the fields by our Year 13 Games Committee (dressed in onesies) and Junior School Committee (dressed as fairies). The Seniors not only motivated them, but also ran alongside anyone who was finding

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the course a little too much – wonderful to see our Big Sister, Little Sister care in action! After the Juniors, came our competitive runners from across Years 7 – 13, followed by the much-anticipated House run.

Girls tackled their course in bright colours and whilst not everyone was lapping the course, they were clearly lapping up the sunshine and good fun. A huge congratulations to our Sports and PE teams for their organisation, and to our girls for bringing so much energy to the day.

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

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‘Around The World’ P&F Quiz Night We’ve got to hand it to the P&F Committee, the Around the World Fundraiser Quiz Night held in Clouston Hall on Thursday 16 June, could have been re-named ‘Out Of This World’!

Everyone agreed it was magical to be back with one another after the two-year Covidgathering pause, in a very celebratorylooking Hall. Parents purchased tables with friends and visited during the day to theme them, with the interpretations not only varied but very fun. We saw plenty of countries represented, a considerate ‘save the earth’ theme and several Covid reflections. It was hilarious to see the juxtaposition of two neighbouring tables: one hosting Aliens who had just

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circumnavigated the globe, the other home to adamant Flat Earthers who refused to acknowledge the earth was round, let alone admit it was possible to travel ‘Around The World’.

Guests arrived dressed in their table’s theme and were welcomed by staff with a glass of bubbles. The hall entrance was brilliantly decorated and many parents stopped by the commemorative photo booth before going in to join their team

mates for a fiercely competitive quiz.

Raffle Ticket sales, Silent Auction pledges and Live Auction bids made the night a successful fundraiser, with the money raised going to our dedicated playground and outdoor spaces fund.

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the wonderful P&F Committee and staff who helped out on the evening and made it so special for the community. Enjoy a few (pre-dancing!) moments below…

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

P&F afternoon tea

A morning with Phil Sitting across the table happily chatting and smiling is Phil McDonald, our Chair of Parents & Friends (P&F). Unassuming, relaxed and ever cheerful, Phil is the perfect calm against the upheaval we have had in the last two years. He took on the role of Chair for P&F in the middle of last year, during the uncertainty and upheaval of the pandemic. When asked why he assumed the role, his answer was, laughingly, “no one else wanted it!”

Born in Malawi, growing up in Zimbabwe, Phil has spent most of his adult life in the UK and in Australia, working as an investment banker. He now runs his own business and aims to lead a less stressful life. His daughters, Madeleine and Lilah, are fourth generation St Cuthbert’s students. His wife, Kate, Kate’s mother and great-aunt are all Old Girls. Three years ago, not long after Madeleine and Lilah joined the school, Phil saw an opportunity to get involved with P&F and joined as a committee member. He says he’s always helped in the children’s schools, and never saw a reason to not help in any way he can.

The P&F committee works to connect the community by organising events and gatherings, supports new parents, and decides on fundraising initiatives which benefit the students and the College community. Phil feels being a part of P&F is a great way to build community, connect parents, especially with new parents, and help the College meet its objectives through fundraising. The last few years have seen the Asian Friendship Group (AFG), a subgroup of the P&F, flourishing to become an active

and vibrant subcommittee showcasing their culture and diversity. More recently with the restrictions lifting, Phil’s desire is to bring parents back for some exciting events and rebuild the community spirit that has been sorely missed with Covid.

He finds it extremely rewarding to see parents being, and feeling, connected.

What would Phil like to see happen with P&F going forward? His wish is for more parents to get involved, doing “as little or as much as they want. It doesn’t need to feel cumbersome; we are grateful to them for any time and anything they can help with or participate in.” All parents are already a part of P&F and there are lots of different ways and opportunities to get involved, be it volunteering at a one-off event, becoming a class coordinator for a year, or joining as a committee member. Traditionally, the roles between mums and dads who volunteer have been more defined to Dads doing sports and camps and Mums doing the other volunteering. Phil would like to see parents breaking out of that mould and just coming to help when the College needs a hand, to join in for the fun of it all, and most of all, to show our students that giving back is important and rewarding.

If you would like to find out more about the P&F, Phil would love to hear from you: chairpf@stcuthberts.school.nz And now that the campus is open to visitors, if you spot Phil around, stop to say hello and have a chat, and before you know it, you may be happily getting involved in the next College event and wondering why you didn’t do this earlier!

It was lovely to be able to welcome parents into classrooms at the start of Term 2. The girls just loved being able to share some of their work! Our sincere appreciation goes to the Parents & Friends’ volunteers who helped make this lovely afternoon tea happen. Here are just a few moments captured.

P&F Committee Members 2022 Phil McDonald (Chair) Rachel Taylor (Deputy Chair) Jessica Yang (Treasurer) Anna Burt (Secretary) Nancy Zhang (Chair of AFG) Lauren Milne Liz Fraser Coco Chan Alice Yoon Rosie Piper Anna Perry Harriet Booth Shirley Sequeira Maria Cubi 17

St Cuthbert’s Sisterhood Meet our inspirational 2022 Student Leadership team; Ishannita Chaudhuri, Head Girl, Maia Subritzky, Deputy Head Girl, Sofia Toes, Deputy Head Girl, Tingmeng Wang, Deputy Head Girl and Sarah Lock, Head Boarder. Together, the girls have over 40 years of St Cuthbert’s experience, with Ishannita and Sofia at the College since the start of their school journey aged 5, Maia and Tingmeng starting in Year 7 and Sarah as a Boarder in Year 9.

What kind of leader are you looking to be this year?

Ishannita: A good leader can take many forms. The most notable leaders are those who stand in front of the crowd and are prepared to shoulder the brunt of responsibility for the group. However, some of the best leaders are those who lead from behind; those who make sure that everyone is included and involved.

I hope to embody all these aspects of a leader, so that I can become someone whom others feel comfortable talking to about any issue.

Maia: I want to be a leader who is approachable to all students around the 18

College. I want to be there supporting my peers, watching them strive, and I want to take every opportunity the College has to offer.

Sarah: I hope that I will be a leader not only in the Boarding house, but also in day school, sports and general St Cuthbert’s life. I aspire to be someone who is approachable, reliable, and who leads with compassion in both my words and actions, making sure every voice is heard.

Sofia: I am looking to be a kind, friendly and approachable leader, so anyone can talk to me or our team if they have any problems, questions or think that there is something we can improve on.

Tingmeng: Often, it is easier to talk to other students rather than adults. I hope to be an approachable leader, allowing everyone to feel comfortable talking to me and asking questions. I want to get to know more people this year and I hope to support others to help them flourish in their own way.

I look to the amazing leaders we have had, such as Carmel, as role models, who have also shaped my leadership journey so far.

What areas will you be focussing on in your role?

Ishannita: As someone who loves to meet new people and create a cheerful environment wherever I go, I intend to reach out and connect with younger

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

LEFT TO RIGHT: Tingmeng, Maia, Ishannita, Sophia, Sarah.

strengthen the foundations of the College, allowing room for support, inclusiveness and friendships to form.

Sofia: My key focus is students’ wellbeing, especially in these difficult times, and making sure that everyone here feels involved and connected with the College.

Tingmeng: Connection and community are key focusses this year.

Due to Covid disruptions over the previous years, we have not been able to spend time together to encourage one another as often as we would have liked. Therefore, this year, I hope that we can strengthen the community and sense of belonging at St Cuthbert’s.

Why do you believe it is so important to be a role model for your peers, especially in the current climate with Covid disruptions?

“To serve with love is to show kindness and empathy without reservations or rewards.” students and encourage them to speak up about issues that they face and would like to change.

Maia: My key focus this year is to encourage inclusiveness among the St Cuthbert’s College community, allowing students to feel supported and heard, by reassuring them that everyone deserves to be valued.

Sarah: This year we are aiming to not only keep the traditions of the College alive but also create new initiatives and be openminded to all opinions, suggestions and ideas. One of the main goals I would like to focus on is developing the ‘sisterhood’ of the College. I feel this idea will help

Ishannita: The past two years have been very difficult and being in isolation is not easy. As a leadership team we know that there is a lot of rebuilding and reconnecting that we have to do as a community. I believe that being a role model and someone who others can trust and confide in is imperative in making a strong system of support within the College.

Maia: I believe it is important to be a role model for our peers because we as Year 13s strive to be the role models younger generations look up to and admire. Online learning has shown both strengths and weaknesses for students, but as leaders of the College we want to inspire and lead with positivity to tackle this “new normal”.

Sarah: To me, being a good role model is leading by example and joining together with other leaders in the College to create a solid and united front. It is extremely important in these uncertain times to strengthen our community and keep people connected. By being approachable, we can put people at ease. Being able to empathise with others helps encourage them to speak up and not to deal with stresses, such as Covid, alone. I want everyone to feel part of the St Cuthbert’s family.

Sofia: It is important so that if others are struggling, they can feel like they are able to ask for help or advice. It’s so difficult to stay motivated and connected, especially during periods of isolation so I would love to be able to help motivate my peers throughout this year and make sure that they don’t feel alone.

Tingmeng: Covid has placed a lot of stress — academic, emotional, and social — on everyone. Therefore, I believe that it is even more important for us to show solidarity.

In this way, we can spread hope and confidence in these unpredictable times.

What does ‘By Love Serve’ mean to you?

Ishannita: The words, ‘By Love Serve’ have been instilled in me from the first day I came to school and my understanding of these three words has developed throughout my time here. To serve with love is to show kindness and empathy without reservations or rewards. The love and service that we show to those around us must come from a place of genuine compassion and benevolence. Even the simplest acts of holding a door open for another, is an example of serving with love.

Maia: ‘By Love Serve’ means to me leading by example, furthermore, representing our College with attributes like integrity, honesty, enthusiasm, generosity, kindness, and optimism. And using these values not only in school but beyond.

Sarah: To me, ‘By Love Serve’, goes beyond just a College motto, it is a mantra to live by.

This sentiment is applicable anywhere you are in life - teaching us that the acts we do must come out of love, and to put others before ourselves, with the expectation of receiving nothing in return. It is not about our greatest or best achievements, but focuses on the acts we do for others.

Sofia: ‘By Love Serve’ means giving and helping others without expecting anything in return.

Tingmeng: To me, ‘By Love Serve’ means helping others with humility and kindness.

It is the willingness to put others’ needs before your own. I think the College motto ‘By Love Serve’ can be seen in those who do the right thing and are there for others even when no one is watching.

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Getting to know Suzanne Winthrop

Suzanne Winthrop is used to managing transformative change in her accomplished teaching career, so when it came to starting a new role with St Cuthbert’s in the middle of a pandemic, she was well-equipped to support the team to face the ongoing challenges.

Now we have the College community back together, we thought it would be the ideal time to get to know Suzanne and gather her thoughts on the period ahead.

vast number of committees girls can join, opportunities within each House, and the Peer Support programme.

Suzanne is no stranger to leading staff, parents and most importantly students through significant change. Her previous role was at St Kentigern College as Head of Senior School (Yr 11–13), where she created a legacy over 18 years, and delivered many large-scale projects including introducing the IB Diploma programme.

Mother Teresa famously said, “Do ordinary things with extraordinary love,” which reminds us of our College motto, ‘By Love Serve’. This is clearly something Suzanne exemplifies in her management roles and is, no doubt, an inspiration to our future leaders.

On leadership

Like all school leaders, Suzanne Winthrop (Head of Senior School (Yr 7–13) and Deputy Principal (Yr 0–13) ) and the senior team, led by Justine Mahon, had to prepare for an unpredictable period during the global pandemic.

“I started my role at St Cuthbert’s at the beginning of 2021, and I was just so impressed with the fantastic StCuths@ Home programme that had been developed. The challenges were ongoing, and late last year, we faced our longest period of lockdown and online learning during the pandemic, right before senior examinations.

“That period last year was tough for our students; they lost valuable time on the sports field, the stage, socially, and of course the important face to face learning in the classroom. I was so proud to be part of the team that supported our students to continue to achieve their potential during this time. My Senior School staff were amazing, and really went above and beyond to support our students, and our exemplary results speak for themselves.

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For Suzanne, effective leadership is all about continuous improvement through listening, learning and never being set in your ways. She points out that she has learned as much from role models making mistakes as she has their successes.

“I’ve always observed leaders closely. The best are empathetic, use the strengths of their leadership team and are prepared to adjust how they do things if they need to.

There’s also tremendous skill involved with taking people on a journey with you”.

Suzanne is also passionate about seeing colleagues build their teaching careers, “I get a huge thrill from seeing staff grow and develop - many in leadership roles. I just feel so proud of them. That side of my job is extremely satisfying.”

When asked about leaders in history that have impacted her, without hesitation, Suzanne turns to Mother Teresa, “She walked the talk, and truly lived her values.”

Suzanne talks passionately about many leadership development opportunities at St Cuthbert’s for students, such as the

“I also love the concept of the Big Sister, Little Sister programme, and the values and communication skills it teaches,” she says.

Post-Covid plans

Suzanne lights up when asked about upcoming plans for the Senior School, now we’re able to move on from the constraints of online learning.

She is thrilled to have the new Senior School leaders on board (profiled in this edition) and is also poised to support many existing opportunities and get new initiatives underway.

Keen to see more emphasis on service, Suzanne mentions that an existing programme (led by Rev. Chaplain, Francois Joubert), and each of the Houses, drives a lot of great fundraising events and awareness of causes. But, along with the Chaplain, Suzanne wants to see this grow even more.

“I love to see service in action. I’ve seen first-hand including on service trips abroad how this has changed young people’s lives. Part of our responsibility is for the girls to understand how privileged they are, and how important it is they make a difference in the world, at school and when they leave”, she says.

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Mrs Winthrop and the 2022 student leaders

“I’ve always observed leaders closely. The best are empathetic, use the strengths of their leadership team and are prepared to adjust how they do things if they need to.”

Reflections to date

Having been in this role at St Cuthbert’s now for 15 months, Suzanne has been able to cast an experienced eye over things, despite the pandemic disruption.

“We have outstanding teachers at this College. The best in the country.

And I think we attract such an array of impressive young women who are allrounders… their confidence is way beyond any school I’ve seen.”

Suzanne is also delighted that pastoral care is so well resourced, and wellbeing and careers a central priority, “No other school has a careers department like ours,” she says.

It’s evident that aroha and a passion for education is central to Suzanne’s career to date, and no doubt her future footprint at St Cuthbert’s. We look forward to seeing her impact in the years ahead.

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Exciting New Appointments to Senior Academic Team Over the last 107 years, St Cuthbert’s has built a powerful legacy of excellence in education. Our goal is to continue to build on that legacy, offering a world class, all round, independent education for girls. Key to the College’s strategy going forward, is ensuring that we continue to invest in our dedicated and talented staff.

The College has recently made some exciting new leadership appointments to the senior academic team at St Cuthbert’s.

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Assistant Principal Years 0 –13, Rob Griffiths

Head of Faculty (HOF) for Languages, Rob Griffiths, has been appointed to a new role of Assistant Principal, reporting directly to Principal Justine Mahon. In his role, Rob will assume responsibility for strategically developing the curriculum across the College and work in conjunction with the other senior staff on streamlining delivery of student systems. Rob has taught across both the public and independent sectors and is an inspirational and dedicated teacher, with a formidable reputation for excellence in all he does.

Rob says: “I am really excited by the opportunities to work with staff on developing a curriculum which is unashamedly ambitious and aspirational.

We have already started planning new initiatives which will be unique to St Cuthbert’s, inside and outside the classroom, preparing our students for success not only in learning but in life.”

Deputy Heads of Senior School Years 7–13

To support our growing Senior School of over 1200 students, St Cuthbert’s has created three new Deputy Head of Senior School roles, reporting to Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School, Suzanne Winthrop.

Deputy Head of Senior School: Academic Enhancement and Tracking, Julia Fuge

ABOVE Left to Right: Tom Curtis, Julia Fuge, Rob Griffiths and Julie Hogg

Julia Fuge has an outstanding track record of excellence in education both in New Zealand and internationally. She has taught in both state and independent sectors, and in co-ed and single sex schools, holding roles in previous institutions as Head of Faculties of Mathematics, Accounting and Computer Studies, and Deputy Principal. In addition to teaching her mathematics classes, she will now be responsible for Academic Enhancement and Tracking for the Senior School.

Her strategic focus will be on ensuring that St Cuthbert’s maintains its leading academic results through academic tracking, and ensuring each child has the right support to achieve her potential.

Julia brings a wealth of experience to her new role; we are very proud of Julia’s recent achievement in supporting four of our students to be selected to the prestigious 2022 NZ Maths Olympiad Squad, with St Cuthbert’s girls making up one third of the team, and the only girls’ school represented.

Julia says: “I am really delighted to take on the role of Deputy Head Senior School. The focus on academic enhancement and tracking of all our students, to support them achieve their true academic potential, is an exciting opportunity and

challenge. I am looking forward to working with students at all levels and our incredibly capable staff throughout the college.”

Deputy Head of Senior School: Academic Reporting and Logistics, Tom Curtis

St Cuthbert’s is well known for its leading science programme, with our students continuing to achieve top results in the subject across both IB and NCEA, and in Scholarship examinations.

Tom Curtis has served the College as our Head of Faculty for Science for the past six years, and previously has worked in leadership roles at the Methodist Ladies College in Melbourne.

Tom has played a key role in the development of the science curriculum, and has led the implementation of the Junior School Science Programme from Years 5 - 6. He has had extensive experience in the operational organisation of the College for the past several years, and in addition to his responsibilities as HOF for Science, and as a Biology teacher, he will support the Senior School across all aspects of logistics, and will be leading a review of our academic reporting to parents.

Tom says: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to fulfil the role of Deputy Head of Senior School. I feel that we are going to make a great team and really place our stamp on making the Senior School a place where our students will thrive and excel.”

Deputy Head of Senior School: Student Services, Julie Hogg

Julie Hogg is our current Director of Boarding and has done an outstanding job of developing the Boarding programme at St Cuthbert’s for many years, with recognition by the Independent Schools of New Zealand, in 2019, through an Honours Award for Services to the Boarding Sector. Julie is also an extremely talented teacher, with a breadth of experience in both primary and secondary sectors, having previously taught Economics, Social Sciences, and Physical Education, and been a former Head of Geography and Careers. Julie has proven leadership experience which is reflected in her many management roles in NZ sport such as manager of the Football Ferns for the FIFA World Cups.

Julie says: “I am honoured to have been appointed to a senior leadership position after an enjoyable fourteen years leading the boarding community and teaching at the College. I feel my new role is an opportunity that will enable me to use my extensive teaching and pastoral experience to ensure the students at St Cuthbert’s are supported in all aspects of their life to enable them to achieve their personal best and fulfil their future aspirations.”

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A team and leader building day The Year 6 Leadership Day is an important event in the Junior School calendar and one the girls greatly look forward to

At the start of each school year our Year 6 teaching team is already considering the skills that would best equip our students in the Senior School the following year: confidence, team work and leadership.

Our thanks to our wonderful Junior School PE staff, Mr Knight and Mrs Curtis, who ran a brilliant, adventurous day which challenged our girls, producing many laughs and high fives!

They organised eight activities which every girl experienced. Each activity introduced the students to a new challenge that cemented friendships as well as subtly teaching a life lesson or two along the way.

About the activities:

In ‘River Crossing’, girls had to work together to ensure that each group member moved over the ‘river’ using only the bits of wood provided.

In ‘1,2,3 Turnstile’, students had to collaborate to pass from one side of the skipping rope to the other without missing a beat. It took a few goes but the penny dropped when the teams worked out that they needed to pass through the skipping rope in a particular pattern (shhh!

Here’s the secret, one person first, then two, then three, and repeat until the whole team was through).

For the ‘Sort It Out’ activity, each girl took turns to complete one of three different roles, each requiring different leadership qualities. Girls were not able to talk in some, were blindfolded in another and had to demonstrate great listening in the third. As you might imagine this one was a giggle-maker!

For ‘Trains’, students needed to move in a train-like formation which was ‘driven from the rear with non-verbal messages and driven by a blindfolded driver’….you can only imagine how many girls fell on the floor laughing for this one.

Don’t worry though – girls were great at helping one another up and getting back to the task.

‘Role-Play’ was a less-physical task which required detailed team discussion, listening to all views and culminating in a joint presentation. A range of powerful quotes from historical leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr, were given to the students and they had to spend time reflecting on the meaning of each statement. Students shared to the wider group their rationale for why they had decided to choose a particular ‘card’ as a group. In their teams, students discussed what they believe the qualities of a good leader are, and how the quotes brought these qualities to life. The teams picked a person to share their ideas with the wider group and they created a short role-play of the situation, demonstrating what a good leader might do if she was in a similar situation.

The ‘Build a ?’ activity would have had many a parent amused as girls had to work without assistance from their teacher to pitch a tent from scratch. The Year 6 teachers were so impressed by the students’ collaboration and success that they think parents can book next year’s camping trip with more confidence!

Now, how to get the students to do the dreaded camp washing up????

‘Flag it’ is a wonderful group activity for building House spirit and encouraging girls to consider the leadership qualities which are important to the House. It reinforced the history of St Cuthbert’s and allowed girls to make more friends from across the three classes.

Welcome to the ‘Circle of Trust’, where students work in small groups, as catchers, supporters and helpers. The group forms a small circle standing shoulder to shoulder, each with one foot forward, hips dropped, knees bent and hands up, and one trusting soul volunteers to be the ‘faller’ – communication is key here so the teachers were sure to lead several dress rehearsals in advance!

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Meet the Faculty: English Our English Faculty is well-known and its achievements are some of the most substantial within St Cuthbert’s.

In the Senior School, English is taught by our team of dedicated teachers across Years 7–13 who work closely with our Library and Writing specialist teams for a well-rounded outcome.

We caught up with Head of Faculty, Amber Lloyd, to get to know the faculty a little better.

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Amber had an unexpected entrance into English, via Biology! She shared with us, “When I did my OE, I happened to get a job teaching Biology at an outdoor education centre in Magaliesburg, South Africa. I loved teaching so much that when I returned to New Zealand I applied to teachers’ college to qualify. My degree is in English, I actually have no Biology in my degree, so to me it was natural to follow my passion and combine it with my new-found love of teaching, and I trained as an English teacher.”

Amber first taught at St Cuthbert’s between 1994 and 2000 when she moved to Hong Kong and several other NZ schools to continue her teaching of English. Given her broad experience, we were curious as to why she thought the English programme at St Cuthbert’s is so special. Amber said,

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“English teaches our students not only critical thinking and the skills of analysis, but importantly the study of English literature teaches empathy.”

Craig Howe English Teacher, (Years 7–13)

ABOVE Left to right: Rachel Renner, Briar Lawry, Jane Atterbury-Leaf, Audrey Young, Leon Birt, Amber Lloyd, Naomi Saxton, Sue Tee, Ros Ali, Shona Trash and Desiree Albuquerque

“At senior levels students are lucky enough to have a wide range of choices in terms of the English courses offered. St Cuthbert’s is one of the only schools in the country to offer specialist writing programmes, something we are passionate about and very proud of as a wider team.”

Amber also heads up the Debating team which is increasingly popular at St Cuthbert’s.

Amber believes its attraction is that our students recognise how valuable the skills of debating can be in terms of having the ability to deliver a fluent and persuasive argument – great skills for the workplace and for home.

“Some students,” noted Amber, “admit that they’ve joined debating because they’re keen to be able to win debates against parents or siblings! I think our Head Girl this year has done a fantastic job of promoting debating.

Most importantly, debating is fun!”

Strategically, the English Faculty is highly committed to the College goals of Knowledge School and Global Citizenship.

Some of the faculty have been involved in the Knowledge School project since its inception and are continuing to work on developing a cohesive, coherent, Knowledge-Rich English curriculum right across the school from Years 0 – 13. The faculty also aspires to include aspects of Global Citizenship in everything taught and is constantly working to ensure that the students are studying literature from a wide range of diverse authors and exploring the most urgent issues of our day.

Amber is well-known for being a supportive and inclusive faculty leader and she asked her team to offer their insights:

The Year 11 English course aims to provide a rich literary experience for the students, in line with the NZ curriculum and encompassing written, visual and oral language. As this is seen as the first step into more senior English, there is a strong focus on literature, ranging from contemporary Maori writers through to the lauded WWI poets of Great Britain.

The course delves into a range of themes, such as cultural identity in NZ, the AIDs crisis in the 1980s, and the breakdown of the American dream. The programme also provides opportunity for the students to develop their understanding of current issues concerning the world we live in, and to learn how to express their views on these issues through the writing of journalistic opinion pieces and through the timeless art of public speaking. The students also begin to learn to position themselves as literary critics, developing skills to analyse how writers use language to convey ideas. All in all, the Year 11 English course looks to inspire our students to learn through literature what it means to live in our world.

Audrey Young English Teacher (Years 7–13) At junior levels, we aim to provide a fun and challenging programme that exposes students to all the different aspects of English and learn the foundational skills required to succeed further up in the school. At Years 7 and 8, students are exposed to lots of different content and 27

learn many skills. At Year 9, we focus on reading and the enjoyment of it. At Year 10, the emphasis is on writing skills.

Some aspects of our programme which students enjoy, or that are unique are spoken word poetry unit at Year 10, graphic novel studies at Years 7 and 8, Spelling Bee at Year 9 to name but a few.

In summary, Amber conveyed that not only does English teach our students critical thinking and the skills of analysis, but also importantly she stressed that the study of English literature teaches empathy. It sounds clichéd but it puts you in another person’s shoes. You can gain an insight into what it’s like to be a different gender, ethnicity, class and, even what it was like to live in a different time.

The annual Writers’ Night is the English Department’s celebration of our writers.

It’s always a splendid, and moving evening, all about creativity, vision, fun and sharing our stories.

Ros Ali Head of Libraries and Writing (Years 9–13) English Literature with Writing, at all three senior levels, is particularly suited to students who strive to have a voice, who love to write and explore ideas, express strong viewpoints and learn the craft of writing and publishing. As well as completing a fully assessed English literature and language programme, English Writing students are encouraged to experiment with words, to read as a writer and to research thoroughly. There are special assessment standards which focus on this. Experimentation and creative confidence are encouraged as students work to publish stories, poems, personal essays, commentaries and reviews in their writing portfolios and beyond. This year, the Writing Programme has expanded more than ever with six senior classes and three staff involved.

The student magazine, ‘Margin’, largely run by writing class students and supported by students across the Senior School, provides a ready platform for College students to collaborate, publish and share. It also gives opportunities to learn wider editing and publishing skills, and encourages collaboration with other students and staff.

Junior and Senior Writing Clubs, regular writing workshops and writing competitions also offer extension, and help to develop and promote the student voice.

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ABOVE: Amber Lloyd, Head of English

Last year’s long lockdown saw an unprecedented number of submissions in the Writing Awards and Speak Out competitions across the senior school. Let’s hope this trend continues. St Cuth’s voices are strong and very keen to be heard.

Sue Tee Senior English Literature (Years 12 and 13) Our senior English classes have some similarities to what many remember of their English classes back in their school days – reading Shakespeare and a range of literary greats, as well as writing essays.

But there the similarities stop, our students are not only exposed to the classics, but also to a fantastic range of contemporary writers and film makers. As English teachers and lovers of literature, we are constantly reading new texts and thinking ahead. Could we teach this text?

This means that we are always seeking answers to questions about the world

we live in and by extension, exposing our students to new issues, ideas, and our lives through literature and film.

So, text choice is crucial. We believe our students perform so well in examinations, often because the texts we choose are controversial, current and challenging.

Our teachers love their subject with a passion – they claim it is like having the best book club in the world, in your classroom.

With the discussion and dissemination of ideas, students end up writing really well about the texts they’ve studied in English.

They are also confronted with new ways to “read” texts, that is, through literary theory. This means a classic novel such as Jane Eyre may be studied through various lenses or viewpoints, for example, feminism, Marxism, post-colonialism or psychoanalytical theories.

We’re so lucky to be able to teach the texts we love. We keep the old and challenge with the new, although one might argue that the old is never really old. Shakespeare, in the words of Harold Bloom, teaches us what it means to be human.

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Naomi Saxton Media Studies (Years 9–13) Media Studies at St Cuthbert’s is lucky to work alongside the English Faculty and extends and develops our students in their analytical and creative skills in the visual medium. This programme allows us to foster and support student film making and content creation ambitions and to see the world in new ways.

Critical and media literacy are absolutely essential in our times and developing these skills is instrumental to creating active and conscious global citizens through creative exploration and innovation.

Students of Media Studies:

• learn to explore the evolution of film across time, space and culture.

• examine film as an art form, studying a broad range of film texts from a variety of cultural contexts and analysing how film elements combine to convey meaning.

• acquire, develop and apply skills through filmmaking exercises, experiments and completed films.

• are challenged to understand alternative views, to respect and appreciate the diverse cultures that exist within film, and to have open and critical minds.

• will examine film as an art form, studying a broad range of film texts from a variety of cultural contexts and analysing how film elements combine to convey meaning.

Our Visual English courses allow students to explore aspects of humanity through a film lens. Film Society allows students to explore film with a global and historical focus and explore social history through the arts - this runs every Monday evening in Terms 2 and 3 and encourages young people to think critically about the world, share ideas and insight and deepen their understanding of society, culture, politics and representation. This co-curricular option develops students’ critical abilities and their appreciation of artistic, cultural, historical and global perspectives in film. Students examine film concepts, theories, practices and ideas from multiple perspectives, challenging their own viewpoints and biases in order to understand and value those of others.

St Cuthbert’s College – a Knowledge Rich School St Cuthbert’s has been involved in the Knowledge Rich School project for the past four years. This is a multi-school research project set up by Dr Elizabeth Rata from The University of Auckland. Together with several North Island schools, St Cuthbert’s has been refining and testing a new model for curriculum design. The project has involved us scrutinising how we teach English at St Cuthbert’s. It has been an engaging, challenging, and philosophical exercise that has resulted in the mapping of a comprehensive and sequenced pathway for the study of English from Years 0 – 13, one the faculty is very excited about.

Dr Rata illuminated a global trend in outcome-based curriculum design, with the onus shifting to teachers to decide which core concepts to teach, how to teach them, and what content to use. St Cuthbert’s became involved as we were aware that with no prescribed content (texts one must read or view), teachers are able to teach a great range of texts across different years. This has created disparities, as well as gaps in students’ subject knowledge.

Many teachers favour texts which connect to their students’ experiences, and this approach has real merits. However, if we do this exclusively, we run the risk of denying the students access to what they don’t know. By taking students beyond the world they know, we can challenge their thinking and deepen their understanding and knowledge. This is even more important as we see our students fall away from personal reading due to the time spent consuming media content.

Amber says, “As a result of the Knowledge Rich School project, we have been challenged to scrutinise the texts we teach. We want to be certain our students are learning the core concepts they need to know through content (literature, films) that is the best fit for each purpose. This has caused some healthy and lively debate in the English Faculty which I’ve encouraged! The Knowledge Rich School project demands that teachers do not shy away from harder texts, and we all agree on that. We can confidently claim that Shakespeare will be taught in the English Faculty of St Cuthbert’s College, along side other tried and tested, quality texts selected from a wide range of genres, periods, and cultures. We look forward to challenging our students with these texts, ensuring they are supported and have the opportunity to ask questions in a safe trusted environment as they go”.

“St Cuthbert’s is one of the only schools in the country to offer specialist writing programmes, something we are passionate about and very proud of as a wider team.”

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Campus life St Cuthbert’s had to be agile yet again this year with the spread of Covid-19. Here we share just a few of our favourite Term 1 moments from our Junior School, Senior School and Kahunui Campuses. Our guiding

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principle was that girls benefit best from a face-to-face environment and so our campuses were still very much active, albeit slightly adapted from previous years to operate within the guidelines.

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Po Fiafia, held in Clouston Hall on 22 March 2022

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Junior School Campus

Wow, what variety we had in Term 1 in our Junior School! We’re so proud of our youngest girls for continuing to learn in these Covid times; they didn’t let a little mask get in the way of funfilled opportunities. From our St Cuthbert’s Day service in Clouston Hall, to working on GEM (Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness) as part of the Resilience Project, and so much in between, Term 1 flew by!

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It’s been wonderful to welcome a new committee of Year 13 girls who love working with our Juniors. The Easter Bonnet parade and service were adorable and it’s lovely seeing our girls look up to their Big Sister role models. The role of the Senior School was also evident through the teaching of Science in Senior School labs. The Junior girls loved taking

their lessons with Senior School Science teachers and the talk of dissecting rats and frogs is still part of playground chatter!

Finally it’s brilliant to see and hear our youngest musicians back in the Performing Arts Centre. Thank you to Andrew Stewart for all you do to help our budding stars shine!

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Senior School Campus

House Flowers The House Flowers theme of 2022 was ‘Global Environments’. It was incredible to see our Year 13 girls shape, mould, weave and generally sprinkle magic onto flowers to create impressive arrangements. Their creations not only met the theme of Global Environments, but they also brought House Spirit to life, evident through the colours of which they are so proud.

We’re very grateful to our parent judges Rachel Taylor, Fiona Geary and Jo Mann

who together with Principal, Justine Mahon determined the winners as follows:

• Melrose First overall and Winner Most Original Display for their ‘Firebird’

• Lindisfarne Second overall and

Winner Most Visually Stunning, Wow Factor for their ‘Melting Monument’

• Elgin Third overall and Winner Form,

Balance and Proportion for their ‘Goddess of Life, Te Fiti’

• Dunblane Winner Best Team Presentation for their ‘Tiger’s Head’

• Iona Winner Most Effective Use of Colour for their depiction of ‘Unpredictability in our Environment’ • Kelso Winner Most Successful

Response To Theme for their whale tale depicting ‘Overfishing’

• York Winner Best Use of Texture for their ‘Volcano’

• Durham Winner Skilful and Innovative Use of Materials for their ‘Flamingo’

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Kahunui, our unique Bay of Plenty Campus Kahunui has been busy over the summer break. Evergreen 1 & 2, which are made up of the 2021 intakes unable to attend during lockdown last year, have enjoyed the first part of their journey and are looking forward to returning during the October school holidays to complete their Kahunui experience.

The Kahunui staff were excited about welcoming Intake 1 2022, onsite before school started in February, and the opportunity to enjoy their outdoor experience technology and mask free, has

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been appreciated. The wharf jump, Kohi Point walk from Whakatane to Ohope, kayaking, tramping and sleeping out in the beautiful Kahunui bush continue to be highlights for the programme. Leaving home after so much time in house-bound lockdown, has proved challenging for all. However it is heart-warming to see the students relax and enjoy the freedom from the current restrictions.

Thirty Year 13 students descended on the camp over the mid-term break and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the team

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building opportunity. The Year 13 cohort enjoyed welcoming Intake 2 onsite at the end of their programme. The Big Sister, Little Sister bonds were evident and the loyalty of the Year 13 cohort to their houses, the P&F, Wairaka and Old Girls was integral to settling Intake 2 into their respective houses.

The Kahunui instructor team, ably led by Head of Campus Lauren Moyes, is a young and vibrant one. They have adapted and

introduced many new programmes and initiatives to Kahunui from beach art, to bush first aid, to K-Challenge in the bush, to double overnights. An excellent pastoral support programme has been cemented to provide a safe and connected journey for all students and has direct links to the Epsom campus with Head of Kahunui, Gail Morrison, having oversight.

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The Study Guide Drive – an initiative to help other students Mia Vanderkolk from Year 12 has an amazing heart: she’s on a mission to help other schools to have what they need so students can study, especially when they don’t have the resources to provide for the necessary materials themselves.

Mia is coy about where her generous spirit comes from but she says she is often thinking about how items might be reused or recycled.

“Studying is hard and my textbooks have been really helpful tools for me,” Mia says. “We are so lucky at St Cuth’s that we get new resources all the time but it occurred to me that my old text books had a lot of use left in them, and I didn’t want them to go to waste.”

In Term 1, Mia asked Senior School girls from Years 9 - 13 to bring in any study guides, pull-out notes, textbooks and lightly-used workbooks that were no longer needed so they could be donated.

In April, Mia was able to deliver a donation of 244 text and workbooks to Tangaroa College in Manukau.

Kirk Jennings, from Tangaroa College wrote a lovely email regarding the donation.

He expressed his gratitude when he wrote “We wish to thank Mia (and St Cuth’s) for this generous donation. The books were snapped up on the same day by our Science teachers. One teacher in particular claimed a good number of the Biology books to send up to Samoa. So, once again thank you very much, the books are really appreciated.”

Mia, we applaud your generosity and thoughtfulness and we know you will go far in the world with such a giving nature. This is a true act of ‘By Love Serve’.

Cook in Style in our Limited Edition Apron The chefs in your household will love this limited edition, Black Watch tartan apron!

It features an embroidered St Cuthbert’s crest and is sure to add a sprinkle of ‘By Love Serve’ to all your dishes.

Child size (4-9 years old) $45 Adult size (10 years old plus) $60

To purchase or find out more, email blackwatch@stcuthberts.school.nz

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‘By Love Serve’: Supporting Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal The conflict in Ukraine has caused the fastest and largest displacement of people in Europe since World War II. A child from Ukraine has become a refugee almost every single second of the war. Senior students at St Cuthbert’s have been moved by this distressing situation, as have we all. Looking to implement something practical to help, the prefects organised a school wide ‘yellow and blue clothing’ day to support Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal.

Students came dressed in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, and were asked to make a donation to help the children of Ukraine.

All funds raised went directly to Save the Children – Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, which is helping Ukrainian families meet their basic needs such as food, medicine and shelter.

The College was awash with blue and yellow in support. We were able to raise $5375 to go directly to Save the Children’s Ukraine Appeal.

This was a lovely act of ‘By Love Serve’.

“It is very important for St Cuthbert’s students to engage in the current issues affecting other parts of the world. With the news of the Ukraine war, the Prefect team wanted to help in any way we could. We are so proud to see that the students engaged strongly in our Mufti Day and other activities. It was so special to see everyone supporting the children of the war and keeping the people of Ukraine in our minds.”

—Layla Al-Abid, Year 13 Prefect

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The Whispering Tree When students and teachers strolled in between the magnificent magnolia trees outside Clouston Hall during the week of ANZAC commemorations, they brushed past delicate tags hanging from the branches, featuring poignant reflections of our collective thoughts and wishes.

This striking and thought-provoking artwork was created by gifted Year 12 IB Art students, Debbie Hang and Wendy Ding, who were extremely moved by ANZAC Day reflections, and motivated to create a space that commemorated those who offered their services and their lives, and also to give students an outlet for how they are feeling today.

The pair were influenced by Japanese artist Yoko Ono’s famous installation series, the ‘Wish Tree’, which they studied in art class.

Students were able to write a message of hope, share a wish, or reflect on their feelings by writing on plywood tags which were then intricately hung from the trees. The small tags have light bells on them, which Debbie and Wendy wanted to whisper gently in the breeze.

In term one, the girls had obtained large wooden boards from our Technology department which they then trimmed down using school machinery. Over the holidays, each tag was crafted by the girls. A painstaking process, they hand-sanded every one, affixed a small bell to each, and hung the tags on long lengths of white and red satin ribbon (ANZAC colours).

To coincide with the school’s ANZAC service, Debbie and Wendy were there to oversee the writing of messages, from girls across Years 7 to 13.

Wendy enjoyed watching how everyone interacted with the installation, “I loved seeing what everyone chose to write and how the different year levels came together,” she says. “Seeing people engage with the tree brought me so much happiness! It was also a relief, as at one point, we were nervous that no-one would interact with the tree!”

They needed not have worried as quite the opposite occurred, with a steady stream of girls excited about taking part.

Messages were shared anonymously, and varied from hopes of peace and an end to war, to remembrance of lost great-grandparents, as well as more personal wishes.

Debbie describes how they wanted to give students an opportunity to speak their minds and share their thoughts on the world, “I feel that all our hard work over the holidays paid off. We hope students will get lots of benefit from it too,” she says.

Head of Art, Deb Culliane, said the beautiful installation coincided well with the Year 13 Communications Committee, who hung poppies in the Atrium. She says, “This all helped students reflect and take note of why they are there.”

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“I loved seeing what everyone chose to write and how the different year levels came together,”

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An ‘Ace’ up our sleeve Acelin James, warmly known to all as ‘Ace’, has been with St Cuthbert’s as a key member of the Fitness Centre team since 2017. Ace first joined us from AUT as a volunteer during his internship year whilst completing a Bachelor in Sport and Exercise Science.

Since then, Ace has not only gone on to complete his undergraduate degree, but also has his post-graduate certification.

Ace is thrilled to be with St Cuthbert’s, as are we to have him, as this role allows him to put his studies into practice and follow his real passion, youth athlete development. We spoke to Ace about his role. Ace says, “What I love about youth athlete development is that you can see a real change. Students are developing when they start off; they all have their own talents but not the full range of skills. With adult athletes it’s about micromanaging and tiny percentage improvements.

However, with youth development, we are privileged to play a role in facilitating huge improvements in fine and gross motor skills and physical performance qualities, in addition to seeing our athletes develop mentally and mature into amazing young women. I’ve found it’s important to work alongside our students, at a pace that is appropriate for their age and growing stages. To not only help them achieve their sporting and fitness goals, but critically, to prevent potential injuries that are common during developmental stages, by teaching them when to push and when to hold back.

“Conversations, not work-outs, are the starting point. I ask the girls to reflect on

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how they are doing, before teaching them the right ‘dosage’ of each exercise; I also teach them how to consider the bigger picture in terms of their goals and give them techniques to ‘listen’ to their bodies.

We have a saying here at the Fitness Centre, “no one will care how much you know, until they know how much you care”.

Getting to know the girls as individuals, and putting their wellness first, is integral.

We can give the students the best programme in the world but athletes need to believe in the plan and the coach to get the full benefit.

“One of my key teaching principles is ensuring girls do not overtrain. Often, we find some students are a little too keen whereas, in fact, they need to rest and listen to their bodies, to learn to consider the ‘long run’. I love to help youth athletes come to a realisation of when to push, and when to hold back and recover. This comes from an understanding of yourself, your training ability, and your loads (both mental and physical). As I work with the students, it’s incredible to see these young athletes become more self-aware and to observe their maturity develop, as well as their capabilities. To see them turn into mature athletes and to be part of this growth is really fulfilling.

“My goal in this role is to get as many people fit, healthy and enjoying exercise across the College as possible. If someone is keen to learn, then I am there for them.”

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The Fitness Centre and our Premier Sports Teams One aspect of Ace’s role is to provide support for premier teams including water polo, netball, football and hockey. This is an incredible complementary resource as Ace works with the coaches from each code specifically to support their training timetables, as well as their academic commitments, which ensures students receive the maximum benefit. After all, no one wants to see our youth athletes to end up tired. The secret?

Ace shared that it is to take the time to find what’s right for each student, and to deliver the minimal effective dose for maximum benefit so they retain a passion for their sport, be the best they can be, but, critically, don’t overdo it, or become injured.

But Ace was keen to stress that the Fitness Centre is for all students, across Years 8 – 13, not just those who are already in a sports team or keen on workouts, “My goal in this role is to get as many people fit, healthy and enjoying exercise across the College as possible. If someone is keen to learn, then I am there for them.

We have really great coaches in this gym and we want the gym to be a hub not only of performance but also exercise, fun and enjoyment.”

So, what are you waiting for, girls? Get to our wonderful Fitness Centre and ‘Ace’ those goals!

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The Fitness Centre – now open and free for Years 8 –13 The Fitness Centre is now available before and after school, for no additional cost, for Years 8 –13.

Come along and meet our great coaches who can offer you general gym assistance and even a bespoke training programme.

The gym is an incredible facility with state-of-the-art equipment which our highly trained instructors can guide girls through so there’s no need to suffer from ‘gym fear’!

Fitness Centre Years 8 –13 Opening Times 6.30am -8.00am After School – 6.00pm

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Time to rock the boat What do the names Mahe Drysdale, Emma Twigg and Kirsty Dunhill have in common? They’re all local heroes of rowing, and we’re very excited about welcoming Kirsty to coach our girls this year, as she establishes a bold new rowing programme for us, from scratch.

Kirsty Dunhill is a remarkable advocate for New Zealand sport. For over 18 years, she has travelled New Zealand, working and volunteering at various institutions and schools, where sporting success has followed with each new turn.

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In 2020, we announced to the girls that we were starting a rowing programme and we are now lucky enough to have one of the country’s most experienced coaches on board to take the reins (or in this case, the oars), “When I first put out the call for more rowers, I expected about 20 girls to show interest, but there was nearly 40!”

Kirsty exclaimed, and since then she says interest has flourished even more.

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As we kick off with a ‘learn to row’ programme in winter and rowing season in October, we wanted to introduce Kirsty to the wider school community and see how the programme was going.

An illustrious career

Names like Mahe Drysdale, Dudley Storey and Emma Twigg roll off the tongue as Kirsty reflects on an incredible coaching career to date.

Most recently, Kirsty was Head of Rowing at Otago Boys’ High, where she had to acclimatise quickly to the picturesque south and adjust to managing boats in unfamiliar conditions out on the Otago Harbour.

She led a high-performance programme at the school and is proud to share she had three boys represent New Zealand at the World Junior Rowing Champs, (with the most recent being Henry Kirk, who will travel to Italy in July 2022).

At the same time, she also put her hand up to coach the Otago interprovincial team and the winter development team. It was no surprise to discover that she was a recipient of the ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award for the region – which says a lot about her values and energy.

So how did a self-described ‘small-instature’ interschool swimmer and water polo competitor, end up on this trajectory?

Like many Kiwi rowers, Kirsty’s coaching journey began at school, in the North Island. Ruth Aitken (former New Zealand Ferns netball coach) was her teacher at Takapuna Grammar in Auckland and suggested that she might enjoy yet another ‘early-bird sport.’ A love for rowing

was born, as was a lasting bond with her teammates and the school.

At age 18, she started as a coxswain (colloquially known as the ‘cox’ or ‘coxie’, and pronounced ‘kox-in’) at North Shore Rowing Club, for their men’s eight team.

“As coxswain you’re basically the coaches’ voice”, she explains. “They are the eyes, the motivators, the leaders of the boat really”. She believes this experience gave her a great insight into coaching.

Before carving out a career path in rowing she took a short UK OE, where she enjoyed watching illustrious Cambridge versus Oxford races, then returned to join Team New Zealand’s campaign of 2000, as the Team NZ Receptionist.

She talks fondly about this formative time and is forever grateful to have worked closely with of New Zealand’s most revered leaders and sporting icons, the late Sir Peter Blake.

“Sir Peter taught us about what ‘team’ means. He made sure we understood that every single person was important and should be respected. And although he expected high standards, he wanted us to have fun too”.

A turning point perhaps, because she then went on to take the role of Head of Rowing at Takapuna Grammar, for three successful seasons.

Kirsty then moved to another ‘big rowing school’, Auckland Grammar, for a further three years as Director of Rowing. She found success on the water and in love, meeting her husband Matt here – a Geography and History teacher.

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Kirsty had a career break when she had her two children, Nathan and Sam, but still got her rowing fix by volunteering on some school programmes.

When they moved down to the Waikato soon after, Kirsty was able to pick up a part time role as Waikato Rowing Development Officer, which included strategic development to help build up club programmes and to upskill coaches in the region.

“Waikato region is certainly still the hub for Kiwi rowing, for those training at club and professional level” she says.

Kirsty then led a successful season with St Peter’s School in Cambridge, coaching the girl’s under-18 eight to win a gold medal at the Aon Maadi Cup — the ultimate school level national competition, held annually.

She has also worked extensively with Rowing New Zealand over the years and can be heard commentating at the big national events.

Kirsty is delighted to have made the big move back to the North Island and now lives in Cambridge, commuting weekly to Auckland to coach and visit the St Cuthbert’s Sports Office. She has embraced the familiar warmer weather and of course, spending precious time with family.

But, thankfully for us, one of the biggest motivations for the move was to take this new role, as Head of Rowing.

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Here to make rowing amazing “When St Cuthbert’s called me, I jumped at the opportunity” says Kirsty, “and having a school commit to build a school sport from scratch, is almost unheard of these days”.

She explains that paperwork, expense of boats, as well as politics within certain clubs to access the water, is often a hurdle for many schools.

“I’m also excited about the opportunity to make a mark specifically for women in rowing,” she says. “I’ve only coached girls twice and seeing what girls can get out of it at school level, is so inspiring.”

Lockdown gave Kirsty a great amount of time to sort essential administrative tasks such as protocols, safety policies, and training plans, as well as recruiting more coaching support and fundraising for equipment.

Rowing boats may look narrow on TV, but they are scientifically purpose-built, speed machines. Boats for ‘eights’ can reach up to 60 feet in length and weigh around 96kg.

The team now has an ‘eight’, a ‘four’, as well as rowing machines for training. Kirsty is quick to say a huge thanks to the generous, enthusiastic parents who have invested in the vision and helped to make the programme more of a reality for the girls.

So, now we’ve got the right gear and the right coach, what can our girls expect?

“I personally think we push our youngsters a little too hard in New Zealand. If you go

too hard, too soon, you end up rowing to one side, which is ‘sweeping’, and you can get back issues” says Kirsty. “Instead, I prefer to do a lot of ‘sculling’, so as teens develop, there’s a more natural process of muscle strengthening. At senior level, they can then choose a side.”

Kirsty is clear about her approach of building skills, strength, technique and routine … “but also making sure we have a lot of fun!”.

Because of lockdown, competing in races last season was out of the question. But Kirsty said that didn’t matter too much, as there was so much to organise and she wanted get the basics right in establishing a team and culture.

“First and foremost, I wanted the girls to get to know me, and each other…. It’s about creating an identity as a team”.

She’s keen for the girls to experience the thrill of a regatta soon, as well.

Liz Howard, our Co-Director of Sport, is thrilled with what rowing will add to the current sport offering at St Cuthbert’s, “There are so many professional role models the girls can look up to in New Zealand,” she says. “But it’s also great for the girls who just want to give something new a go.”

The team is currently based in the flat waters of Mercer, and the senior girls will train up to 5-6 times a week in the season.

The seniors will also train with the Year 9s at times, which is a great opportunity for integration across age groups.

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What makes a good rower?

Here’s a fun check list from Kirsty for any of our girls considering getting out on the water this season and giving it a go: Q. Do you get on with others?

Rowing is a really social sport. So if you are a team player, that’s a great start.

Q. Are you prepared to get fit?

A school rower doesn’t have to be an athletic superstar to begin with, or six foot tall. There’s a place for everyone on the boat.

There’s also a suggestion that in future, primary-aged girls could ‘get their feet wet’ and give rowing a go, learn more about the sport and garner their interest in their early years.

Kirsty wants to emphasise that wellness and in particular emotional support, will always be a central part of her programme, “You’ve got to get that balance right, not just with the professionals but right back to school aged children,” she says. “Frankly I’ve seen some children train so hard at school, they’re too tired to do anything else. And that’s just not healthy.”

When asked what school rowers take into the adult world, Kirsty beams, listing skills like resilience, determination, leadership, time management, and inter-age communication.

But most of all she emphasises the joyous sense of comradery gained, and has a great saying, “You want to fit in, you don’t want to stand out on a rowing boat.”

We look forward to the season ahead and to seeing the ground-breaking new chapter of the College’s history evolve, both in and out of the water.

Q. Have you done your homework yet?

You have to put your academic work first. If you’ve done your study, you can come to training.

Q. Are you a morning person?

Discipline and time management is a key central part of training. If you’re not an early riser, don’t worry.

You will soon get used to it.

Q. Can you tread water?

This is a bonus. But if you’re not a confident swimmer that’s still OK.

Head Girl Recites at the Auckland ANZAC Ceremony During the last school holidays our Head Girl, Ishannita Chaudhuri, performed an important role.

Ishannita was invited by the Auckland Council event’s division to recite Binyon’s Ode at the Auckland Dawn Service on ANZAC Day. She read beautifully and we received much correspondence from Old Girls who were clearly proud of Isha’s beautiful rendition.

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Getting Girls Active

Recent research from Sport New Zealand tells us that 96% of young Kiwi women know why physical activity is good for them, and nine out of ten of them want to be active. This sounds like great new at first.

Liz Howard, our passionate Co-Director of Sport, introduces the department’s latest vision to get every girl at school moving – for life.

However, it turns out that in New Zealand and around the globe, young women are spending less and less time being physically active compared to young men. In fact, there is a 17% gap at age 16, between boys and girls, and a 28% gap at age 17.

Sport New Zealand has had an in-depth look at what is getting in the way for many girls. Their findings are assisting our own sports management team to redefine and diversify offerings here at St Cuthbert’s*.

Kiwi girls in sport Participating in organised sport, and particularly highly competitive traditional sports, is a celebrated part of the New Zealand school experience. Role models in sport, especially females, are no doubt inspirational (if not essential for our girls on a trajectory in competitive sport.

But what about our young women who are not interested in traditional sport

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pathways as life changes? And what causes such profound drop off rates of engagement at a certain age?

Researchers have called this the ‘motivation gap’, and through in depth interviews, uncovered some key insights into what is standing in the way of many of our young girls in New Zealand (you can read more detail at itsmymove.org.nz/.

Liz Howard was compelled by the local findings which reflect international trends.

“This makes us change the way we think and talk about physical activity,” she says.

Here are some key outtakes from the research and more about the new programme she is spearheading, called ‘Getting Girls Active’.

High expectations There was a clear pattern in the research which found that many girls find the expectation to perform off-putting, and are more afraid of failure.

“In most high performance sport, we can see the power of failure – in many ways it’s what makes a competitive athlete thrive,” says Liz, “But without that mindset, many girls opt out.”

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Also, it was found that many parents and caregivers are unsure how to best support girls when they start to have negative experiences in sport, and might not necessarily see more social activities (such as surfing, going to the gym or skateboarding) as having the same merit or value.

Given this insight, how do adults and educators support our girls to stay involved in sport, or at least, still active in some way, shape or form?

Wellbeing – not just competing The research outcomes suggest that it is key to see physical activity through the lens of wellbeing, instead of achieving medals.

At St Cuthbert’s, we continue to reward and encourage our high performing sportswomen. It’s about understanding how best to support our girls. Particularly those who may feel the pressure to perform and have considered dropping out. Our students’ wellbeing will always be the priority.

Researchers stated that taking part in sport and active recreation should result in young women feeling safe and free to express themselves, without pressure and judgement.

Any physical activity is better than none Life pressures for teenagers begin to mount due to academic deadlines and work, social or family commitments in the weekend. It is therefore natural for young women to swap competitive sport for

other activities where less commitment is required. This could be as simple as walking, running or going to the gym with friends, or social sports such as touch rugby or social netball.

The key message is “movement doesn’t need to be competitive to be beneficial.”

Co-design approach Ask young girls what they enjoy physically, what they want to do more of, and offer them opportunities. For example, if your children love the water – maybe they might like to try surfing or kayaking? Chances are that if it’s enjoyable, they will want do it more, so keeping things fun is important.

Getting girls active at St Cuthbert’s Our sporting heads are devising a new plan to be rolled out soon, to support all our girls to encourage participation while at school. This is aimed at establishing behaviours and routines they carry well into adulthood.

Liz and the wider team are concentrating on offering new sports that are fun, and require minimal time and training commitment compared to more traditional competitive sports (that will continue to be important to the school as well).

“The idea is to offer alternative activities that are new to the school, such as St Cuthbert’s social badminton competition, volleyball and fencing, as well as activities that are more socially-orientated,” she says.

Many options have been a hit so far, thanks to the efforts of staff, senior students and parents, “Surfing is a great example, with

students participating in surf lessons once a week in Term 1 and 4, thanks to fabulous staff support,” says Liz. Skateboarding is another activity which students will have the opportunity to participate in later this year. Additionally, self-defence, dance, yoga and Pilates classes have been considered.

New badminton and, volleyball teams are training once a week, and at this stage, it’s an in-house, round robin style competition.

Liz emphasises that for these sports we still have matches, but it’s more social, “We want to help to change the narrative from always striving for excellence, to encouraging connections with friends, and enjoying the skill learning process.

It is also important to consider that issues such as anxiety, pressure and our overall hauroa (wellbeing) have become a growing concern, particularly for women, as a result of Covid-19. “Throughout the Covid pandemic, mental health issues impacted a significant number of women across New Zealand.” Liz hopes this programme will begin to help combat such issues. Furthermore, she acknowledges that statistically, lockdowns were counterproductive to an active lifestyle, “During lockdown, even my own step count was way down! I feel that Getting Girls Active will help kick-start everyone’s routines.”

We look forward to seeing the new opportunities flourish at all levels, so all our girls can recognise the tremendous power of moving and being active. * You can read more detail about the Sport NZ research, at “itsmymove.org.nz”.

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Spotlight on Junior School PE Mr Des Knight and Mrs Rachael Curtis

What attracted you to teaching as your chosen career?

Rachael: PE was always my favourite subject at school. Throughout high school, in my spare time, I coached junior tennis in the summer and umpired primary school netball, in the winter. Training to be a Physical Education teacher was a natural progression for me and one I’ve loved.

Can you tell me about some of your PE teaching roles before you came to St Cuthbert’s?

Des: I was Head of Junior School Physical Education at the Australian International School in Singapore, for five years. That was a great role developing an International PE curriculum with an Australian focus. I was also in charge of the Junior School Athletics and Swim carnivals. Before that I worked as a PE teacher at the Western Academy of Beijing. It was much colder there in winter but we were lucky enough to have a 25m indoor heated swimming pool so we could swim all year round!

What is your favourite PE activity to hold on a rainy day?

Rachael: We are lucky to be able to use Junior School gym if it’s wet. We have some exciting plans in store for the girls for 50

their PE lessons, including the introduction of the fast-growing sport ‘Speed Stacking’.

We’ve invested in the equipment, will be training the girls on how to take part and will hold a Speed Stacking competition once we can see they’ve mastered the concept…should be fun!

Have you always worked with Junior-aged children? OR what do you love about teaching Junioraged children?

Des: I have taught all ages of Primary school students from Year 1 through to Year 8. Each level is slightly different but rewarding in its own way. It is brilliant how much the Junior School students love PE. They always bring so much enthusiasm and joy to the subject.

Rachael: I started out teaching Senior School level PE in NZ, until I moved to Hong Kong. Here I taught PE at the Chinese International and Singapore International schools. I absolutely love teaching PE to Junior School students as PE is often their favourite subject and they always come out to PE with a big smile, excited about what activities and sport we are going to play.

Have you worked in any other fields before you became a teacher?

Des: I have worked at Harbour Sport as an Active Schools facilitator. My role there was to enhance physical activity and make it an integral part of school life. I have also worked for the First Tee Organisation delivering their value programme in primary schools.

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The Music Continues There is nothing quite like the emotional pull of organ music, how it brings instant reverence and calm. We are happy to report that after the successful Clouston Hall Organ Appeal last year, the sound of the organ is renewed and restored in Clouston Hall.

Earlier this year, with the help of Ralph Cullen, Keyboard Specialist, a new organ was identified and purchased. The new instrument is a hybrid organ which means that it’s a digital, electronic instrument that can still be connected to the original pipes. The original organ was donated in 1991 and, despite serving the College well for a number of years, a number of deficiencies had emerged. The new organ provides us with a more sympathetic accompaniment to College singing, as well as the ceremonial music for processionals at formal assemblies.

Old Girl Delwynne Winter, whose grandfather Andrew Campbell McCarthy was the donor of the old organ, visited the College when the new organ was being installed. She remembered the old organ well and appreciated seeing the replacement put in.

The donor plaque on the old organ is now displayed next to the original pipes on the wall. The beautiful wooden panels from the old organ are also kept and the Performing Arts Faculty has plans to display them creatively as a remembrance of the old organ and its generous origin.

A huge thank you to the enormous generosity of our community which enabled us to purchase this new hybrid organ. Our new organist, Nicholas Forbes, loves playing the new instrument and is excited about planning organ lessons for our students. A recital is planned in August when renowned organists will be invited to come and showcase organ music to our students. The best way to experience the emotional power of the organ is to listen to it live and be immersed in it. We have really enjoyed having parents and Old Girls back to events in the Hall to enjoy beautiful organ music and your generosity made this possible!

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“We make it normal and healthy for a student to ask for help, no matter what is worrying her. St Cuthbert’s students quickly learn that it’s ok, in fact it’s encouraged, to reach out to others.”

Today’s world is not an easy one. Young people are facing many complexities and pressures as they journey from childhood to adulthood and, the years in which they are students, are critical to shaping the adult they will become in the future. While our academic results are exceptional, a St Cuthbert’s education is much more than just top grades; the care of every girl is at the very centre of what we do.

St Cuthbert’s has a dedicated Wellbeing Centre where the team of four includes a registered child and adolescent psychotherapist, a clinical psychologist, a Mental Health practitioner and counsellor. The team emanates from a person-centred approach and brings a variety of different modalities to their work with students. The team works collaboratively, utilizes peer supervision, as well as drawing on each other’s skills and experiences to employ evidence-based practices.

The Wellbeing Faculty is headed up by Jill Morrison who encourages girls to come along, sharing, “Counselling offers support and the opportunity to explore any issues or difficulties girls may be experiencing in a safe non-judgemental environment where their confidences will be treated with the utmost respect.

Our counsellors can work with girls to help them develop selfunderstanding, supporting them to recognise their personal strengths and provide resources that will assist girls in their decision making. Girls seek counselling for a wide range of issues:

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some relatively minor, others a lot more significant; all are welcome.”

The Wellbeing Faculty has recently overseen the introduction of and expanded rollout of ‘The Resilience Project’ as well as ‘School TV’. ‘The Resilience Project’, founded in Australia, is now included in the girls’ curriculum across Years 1 – 10 and gives girls ageappropriate resources for practicing Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness, or GEM as it is known.

The team recognises that there is a notable increase in mental health themes this last few years and clearly Covid and lockdowns play a part in this. The team is keeping up with key ideas through university and leading thinking in this critical area.

Based in the Beattie Centre, opposite the Tennis Courts, The Wellbeing Centre

offers girls a space they can think of as a retreat or a place for emotional regulation and self-care, where they can re-group to take care of themselves, or just receive a little ‘lift’ if they need some support.

The Beattie Centre houses our deans, career staff and counsellors and is both welcoming and discreet. Girls can attend counselling without being called out in class or facing any stigma for getting the help they need. Jill says, “The Beattie Centre is a place to support every girl.

She is welcome here anytime. We’ll often see our rooms filled with girls who may have popped along to do a mindfulness exercise, or to come and have a chat with their Deans if they are feeling stressed about a class, friendship issue or a project they are working on, or indeed to sit with one of our counsellors. The Beattie Centre is a space for girls to come and take part in Self-Care; it’s a positive sensory space

with music playing, welcoming scents, visually calming imagery and physical places where girls can just ‘be’.”

Ms Morrison shares, “We make it normal and healthy for a student to ask for help, no matter what is worrying her. St Cuthbert’s students quickly learn that it’s ok, in fact it’s encouraged, to reach out to others; our students will swiftly learn what it means to care and be cared for in a school environment. There is a lot of evidence supporting a strong link between a sense of belonging and links to academic success”.

To any parents reading this: if you think your daughter could benefit from an empathetic ear, please encourage her to reach out to us. Every discussion is confidential and what seems like an insurmountable problem can be worked on together for a strong outcome.

Visit stcuthberts.nz/wellbeing to get in touch with our team.

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A youth wellbeing resource empowering parents

As parents we are constantly facing new issues we haven’t dealt with before or they seem to take a different direction with each child. SchoolTV is an incredible resource to which all St Cuthbert’s parents have access.

It is a tool that is used by many of the Australasian independent schools and one that our Trust Board and Principal believed was essential to invest in.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, a well renowned Melbourne Child and Adolescent Psychologist set up SchoolTV and has spoken at St Cuthbert’s in the past. He now shares his experiences and knowledge through this wonderful online platform.

I encourage parents to read this article and, if you have not already done so, go onto the tile on the front page of myCollege and have a look at what is available to you.

— Suzanne Winthrop Head of Senior School and Deputy Principal

Because parenting doesn’t come with instructions, modern-day parenting can be challenging. SchoolTV is a digital mental health and wellbeing resource created to support parents and their children using clear, credible information and practical, fact-based strategies and gudiance from trusted sources.

It is a well-known fact that parents are the greatest influencer on a child’s ongoing mental health and wellbeing. On the journey through childhood and adolescence, students experience a multitude of events which have an overall impact on this.

Research shows that academically successful students, experience high levels of parental and community engagement particularly around health and wellbeing issues. When schools and families work together to ensure young people are supported across all areas of wellbeing, they’re given every opportunity to not only succeed, but thrive! SchoolTV plays an important role in strengthening the school-family partnership for the long-term, helping stimulate discussion, understanding and action, across all dimensions of wellbeing.

The importance and influence of good parenting is needed now more than ever.

Studies being conducted on the impact the pandemic is having on youth mental health, are finding that many families are experiencing high levels of stress and uncertainty.

According to a report published by The University of Auckland in September 2020, there are major concerns relating to the growing mental health pandemic. It states that global statistics over the last decade have seen a rapid and concerning rise in youth psychological distress and suicide rates. There is a silent, or what is now being called a “shadow pandemic”, of mental health issues amongst the youth

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population that is expected to have adverse long-term consequences which are likely to be extensive and enduring.

On 5 October 2021, UNICEF Aotearoa New Zealand highlighted the urgent need to support mental health and wellbeing in children and youth following the release of its flagship report, ‘The State of the World’s Children 2021’. The report takes a comprehensive look at the state of youth mental health in the 21st century – even before Covid-19. It estimates that globally more than one in seven, 10-19 year-olds live with a diagnosed mental disorder.

Currently in Aotearoa, that figure is around 21% of 10-19 year-old adolescents, and as a result, UNICEF predicts that the cost to society will be significant. The impact of Covid-19 on children’s lives may be incalculable, but a recent analysis by the London School of Economics indicates that world economies stand to lose an estimated NZD$560 billion a year due to the mental disorders of young people.

Unfortunately, the situation in New Zealand is particularly concerning, with the national teenage suicide rates being amongst the highest in the OECD and mental health disorders have more than doubled over the last two decades, for both males and females. Since the pandemic, the number of young people presenting with eating disorders in New Zealand have also significantly increased.

While these statistics may be sobering, mental health is unequivocally a human right. SchoolTV was developed as a resource with this in mind. It aims to

BELOW: Dr Emma Woodward

educate and empower every parent with mental health and wellbeing knowledge, so they can recognise the early signs before a problem develops. There needs to be a paradigm shift within families and communities towards emphasising the importance of mental wellbeing and the prevention of mental illness. It is a vital key strategy regarding identifying issues and providing suitable early interventions.

SchoolTV is a unique digital platform that provides fundamental information and guidance as a foundation of understanding on youth mental health and wellbeing.

Whilst there is already a vast amount of information available, this can often be fragmented, confusing and overwhelming for those looking for guidance. It can leave many caregivers feeling information saturated, but still knowledge poor.

SchoolTV removes the confusion and helps streamline information relating to youth wellbeing. It provides the best fact-based information on a single topic with easy-to-understand video interviews of leading specialists supported by a host of aggregated resources from key organisations.

Founded in 2016, in partnership with Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, SchoolTV was developed as a fresh and sustainable solution, based on research and feedback from schools and parents. Dr Carr-Gregg is one of Australia’s highest profile child and adolescent psychologists. He is also a broadcaster and authored many books.

After successfully establishing itself as a leading wellbeing platform in Australia,

SchoolTV launched in New Zealand in 2018. Since then, it has enlisted the help of Dr Emma Woodward, Clinical Director at the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing and Resilience to advise on relevant and suitable content for New Zealand whānau.

Both Dr Carr-Gregg and Dr Woodward are instrumental in the content development of each edition of SchoolTV. SchoolTV provides subscribed schools with 10 new topics every year, and access to a growing archive of editions and special reports. Each edition includes a video quiz, video Q&A with leading specialists, fact sheets, articles and a host of other aggregated resources such as apps, books, websites, podcasts and additional videos - all on one single topic!

There is an urgent need to identify youthspecific risk and protective factors to execute effective prevention strategies from early childhood. As we live in times of unprecedented uncertainty and disruption, such targeted efforts will promote greater wellbeing and brighter futures for vulnerable children and their whānau.

SchoolTV can help support families as they navigate the journey from childhood, adolescence through to adulthood.

We encourage you to spend some time exploring the SchoolTV resource, discover how it can support you and your family in raising happy, confident and resilient young people.

To access SchoolTV, click on the icon located on the homepage of your parent portal, myCollege.

BELOW: Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

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Riding the Resilience Wave

Surfing is humbling.

It takes tenacity to keep trying, again and again, to be catching waves more often than not.

Each wave caught, no matter how small, is a private victory against mother nature… and for our St Cuthbert’s surf club girls each wave caught is a very noisy and fun shared victory.

On Wednesdays in Term 1 and Term 4 our band of 26 Moanas head out to Piha or Orewa in the school van to do just that, rack up victories over the waves and share in one another’s accomplishments. The whoops, cheers and cries of “awesome” say it all.

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Science teacher and accomplished ocean swimmer Michele McMahon, leads our band of surfing sisters and says she’s always so impressed to see the girls’ journey of empowerment. Michele says, “Surfing is a great equaliser; it’s amazing to see girls becoming physically fitter and emotionally stronger. Most importantly though, it’s wonderful to see this incredible group of girls keep on trying, celebrating their incremental improvements as a group and having an absolute blast in the fresh air and powerful waves…it’s a very uplifting experience for us all and I’m very proud of them”.

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Much to the delight of this band of surfing sisters, Michele brings along her dog Zola each week….quite the lifeguard and you can read more about her on page 59.

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Puppy Love: The Canines of St Cuthbert’s Millions of pets, particularly dogs, have been adopted worldwide since the advent of Covid, and New Zealand is no exception to this.

‘Puppy Love’ has long been contagious at St Cuthbert’s College, and here we share our favourite canine-caper stories from present day and the archives.

The current ‘top dog’ at St Cuthbert’s is naturally Gilbert the therapy dog who adorns our front cover. Gilbert is also known in the Junior School as the ‘By Love Serve’ dog.

Gilbert belongs to long-time supporters of St Cuthbert’s, the Peebles family, who raise Mobility Dogs. Gilbert is weekly visitor to the Junior School and can often be found snuggling up to girls to help them settle in for reading time, and playing with girls in break times. So entrenched in the school is Gilbert, that our staff know never to wear black trousers on a Tuesday or you’re certain to go home with some golden strands of Gilbert on one’s legs. All joking aside, the Junior Girls are to be commended for their impressive fundraising efforts by undertaking simple jobs to help around the home, with the funds going to a charity the girls chose themselves….

Mobility Dogs of NZ. Dogs are simply adored across the school and they bring such ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhhs’ from the students. Several years ago Trust Board Chair, Hayley Buckley, kindly joined a group of Year 7 girls to be interviewed for the Junior School’s ‘Little Sister’ magazine.

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Meet Gilbert, pictured above. He is the Junior School’s ‘By Love Serve’ dog and adored by our Year 0–6 girls when he visits each week

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Knowing that the girls may be a little nervous, Ms Buckley brought along her faithful assistant, ‘George’, her own dog Yorkshire terrier who sported in his hair a Black Watch tartan bow. The girls were instantly at ease and the questions to Mrs Buckley then came thick and fast.

creature comforts, and our girls particularly,

During the lockdowns, we all needed

made full St Cuthbert’s College uniform.

as they attended their StCuths@home

lessons remotely through Zoom. It’s no

wonder with all of the hours of separation

that ‘George’ became a celebratory in his/ her own right when Year 12 student (and

owner) Sophie Robb dressed him in a tailor-

Cuth’s Canines are also taken on trips to make girls feel at ease. Science teacher Michele McMahon‘s dog, Zola, is the unofficial first Cuthbert’s totally unqualified surf life rescue dog. Zola accompanies Ms McMahon and her weekly surf team to Piha Beach on Wednesday nights travelling from school to the coast on the school bus and back.

BELOW: “Trust Board Chair, Hayley Buckley

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Yes, Zola is approximately the size of a postage stamp, but don’t let that fool you.

Zola takes her responsibilities patrolling the beach very seriously while they surf, greeting the girls as they come out of the water, and barking at them to give them a bit of a ‘hurry along’ when they are in the changing rooms and the van is about to leave. You can see Zola in action on page 57.

But the final word must go to previous Principal, Ms Frances Compton and her beloved black lab, Maggie. In Ms Compton’s final assembly in 1995, a significant portion of her leaver’s speech was dedicated to Maggie. Ms Compton said in her farewell assembly, “Do you remember the day that I expelled Maggie?

And you all thought that I was really going to haul a girl up onto the stage and publicly expel her, I enjoyed that joke. You could have heard a pin drop in the hall as I talked about theft, about public humiliation

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now being necessary, and your relief was palpable when it turned out to be the dog (Maggie)”.

“I have told Maggie that she can’t stay at school forever, I’ve had to be quite firm with her because she likes school. but in human years she’s now 49 and its time she left. She asked if she could be on the stage today, as you know she likes to be on the stage. But she has made a special request, she says that she has never received a certificate, in all her years here, so (we’ve) organised for one for her today.

It says “For Maggie, for being the best girl in the school”.

At this point Maggie is brought forward and she truly does receive her very own certificate and a cheeky treat!

You may like to watch the video of this adorable moment which you can find at stcuthberts.school.nz/news. The two sections on Maggie are at the 18- and 20-minute marks.

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pton’s Frances Com Maggie ABOVE: “Maggie, as featured in the 1994 St Cuthbert’s College Chronicle”

We’d love to know more about your St Cuthbert’s canine.

Please send us a photo of your dog (Black Watch tartan adornment is optional) and a little story about what makes your dog special to you and we’ll celebrate this on our social stories. You can write to us at communications@stcuthberts. school.nz

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A day in the life of the Visual Arts Faculty In 2022, we are celebrating being back in the classroom with students and staff together. The Arts are important to the growth of self-knowledge and self-worth. They encourage students to investigate their own values and those of others, and to recognise the aesthetic and spiritual dimensions of their lives. They enable students, as individuals and as members of a group, to understand, express and communicate present and past experiences. We took a peak into the Visual Arts Faculty, one day, to see what was happening in this creative part of the campus.

YEAR 13 IB DESIGN

YEAR 13 PAINTING In her NCEA Year 13 Painting class, Chelsea Middendorf was reflecting on how her new painting study grew from her initial research of other artists’ work.

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YEAR 12 IB STUDENTS

Year 12 IB students were collating their visual research about the College environment as part of a work based on the concept of Tūrangawaewae.

Using clay moulds and plaster-of-paris, Year 13 Design student Jennifer Wang was exploring ways to illustrate her design brief. She is promoting an exhibition at the Auckland Museum about Evolution.

YEAR 13 DESIGN

Caroline Reopoamo, a Year 12 Photography student, was directing a photoshoot of her model, Vei Maka, using the photography studio lights and a backdrop. Vei Maka was wearing a traditional Tongan costume made by her mother.

YEAR 12 PHOTOGRAPHY 63

Year 11 students were using drawing methods and skills for recording information from plants found in their local environment. The students explored both wet and dry media.

YEAR 11

I loved learning to use the water colours in the workshop we had after school. The workshop gave us time to work with our teacher oneon-one.

— Year 11 student, Manali

The Year 9 course was focussing on the fundamentals of drawing: outlines, tonal modelling and perspective.

These drawings were developed towards paintings, in a unit that explored a party theme.

So cool to learn how to sketch and tone using a pencil. I’ve learnt how to draw in the shadows.

— Year 11 student, Reyven

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YEAR 9

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YEAR 7

Year 7 was making a study of tapa cloth. They each designed and painted their own tapa pattern that will soon be used in a Pacifika inspired painting.

I am part Tongan so lots of my ancestors have made tapa art. We have a giant one in our attic. This term we learnt about tapa in class and we painted our own tapa.

— Year 7 student, Ava

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CONNECTING WOMEN WORLDWIDE

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“It is our friendships, and our belief in ourselves which defines us, not one event or moment in time.”

As I write these first sentences as the new president of the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ Association, I can feel my former Headmistresses, Miss Holland and Mrs Compton, encouraging me, and holding me firmly on track some thirty years since my graduation. On a side note, now that I’m visiting the school more often, I still check that Ms Gott isn’t nearby to admonish me as I skitter up the Robertson steps. Me, a grown woman with two daughters at the school, still too nervous to walk up the front steps!

Two years ago, when I joined the Old Girls’ Association Committee, the world was running pretty much the same way it had since I left school in December 1992. My first duty as a committee member was to help host our second ladies lunch at Non Solo Pizza (NSP), sponsored by Orsini and Collinson & Co. And as you all know, immediately after that, the world stopped.

And it hasn’t really found its stride since.

Talk about a baptism by fire.

When I was first asked to take on the role of President, I joked with Georgina Gilbert Robertson, our amazingly resilient Past President, that there was no way I could possibly lead our incredible committee and the Old Girls’ Association during the third year of a pandemic, and under the threat of escalating conflict in Europe.

So it is with the deepest gratitude that I thank Georgina for her unwavering encouragement. I also want to thank

Georgina’s predecessor, Penelope Peebles, for her sterling support. Thanks also to Gretchen Hawkesby, who first suggested that I join the committee. What an incredible feeling it is to have so much faith behind me.

Our amazing group of committee members kept operating through lockdowns and Zoom meetings, event postponements and rescheduled dates, and the absolute heartbreak of finally cancelling the 2021 Graduation Ball.

Together with the College, we moved heaven and earth to try and make the Grad Ball happen, and we know it was a crushing disappointment for all of our 2021 graduates.

I cannot wish away the disappointment of cancelling so many events for our community, but I can draw on the words of the 2007 St Cuthbert’s College Head Girl, Ashleigh Low, who says, “I am forever grateful for the lifelong friends that I made during my time at St Cuthbert’s.

Only recently have I come to realise the true ‘superpower’ the College embodies its students; it is the belief in one’s own abilities and moral self, it is knowing that women can achieve anything.”

Ashleigh’s words made me realise that it is our friendships, and our belief in ourselves which defines us, not one event or moment in time.

As we move further into 2022, we find ourselves playing with event dates and trying to predict the level of risk for our Old Girls. For this, we are guided by the advice of Principal Justine Mahon, her leadership

team, and by the feedback from our members. We want to hear from you. Our door, virtual and real, is always open.

Pandemic permitting, we are running our second annual St Cuthbert’s Old Girl Literary Evening on the night of 17th August, in the Joan Holland Auditorium, featuring a number of Old Girl authors.

Tickets will be available next term. Dates for additional events will be out shortly, including the revival of the successful Old Girls’ Professional Networking Drinks, and more industry specific events, as well as the incredibly special Club 50 gathering.

I want to welcome Phil McDonald as the new Chair of the Parents and Friends Association, and it is with much excitement that we look forward to the return of their Quiz Night.

Together with the support of our patron, Principal Justine Mahon, the St Cuthbert’s College Trust Board, the Parents and Friends Association and the Asian Friendship Group, I hope to carry on the wonderful legacy of the fifty-five former Old Girls’ Association Presidents.

They have left behind a remarkable organisation.

One of our goals is to keep Old Girls in touch with, and maintain their interest in, one another and the College. And with that guiding directive, I’m excited to begin my tenure by growing our alumnae relationships and community engagement. I’m looking forward to taking this journey with you all.

Kirsten McKenzie — President, Old Girls’ Association

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Beyond the self “For me, ‘By Love Serve’ always acted as an ethos and, from a young age, I learned the power of embracing the values of love and respect. More significant was the potential to lead through service to others, – a leadership philosophy that has coloured everything I have done and achieved, since leaving St Cuthbert’s.”

Social justice and human rights advocate Georgia Zacest (2015) knows how the law can positively change people’s lives. Dedication to the community can also make a difference.

Through law and community, service and support, Georgia is helping to remake the world in a positive light. Georgia reflects, “In seeing how an individual vision can contribute positively to community development, I have come to understand leadership as excellence, passion, and a desire to contribute beyond the self.”

Georgia’s decision to move from New Zealand to Boise State University in Idaho in the United States was due to her being awarded an academic and athletic scholarship. There, she majored in History and English, was a member of the Honours College, and graduated as one of the university’s Top 10 scholars. While at the university, Georgia continued with her dedication to serving others for the betterment of all. Georgia shares, “My time was not about me. Rather, it was about using my education as a vehicle to pursue a legal career devoted to expanding social justice at the local and international levels.” The incredible mentors and support systems helped make Georgia’s goals a reality.

Giving back to the community was an integral part of her Idaho experience. She spent much time writing about human rights issues in the classroom. Outside the classroom, she put this keen interest in justice into practice, and spent time working at Idaho Legal Aid Services, a firm dedicated to providing equal access to justice for low-income individuals. This experience was meaningful for Georgia – “It 68

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022

allowed me to learn to engage effectively with attorneys, prosecutors, and clients to achieve a common goal.” The many different areas that Georgia encountered included indigenous, family, elder, housing, and criminal law.

As a member of the Boise State Swimming team, Georgia had the opportunity to lead through service. She supported refugee children through swimming lessons and mentorship. This experience was particularly moving for Georgia. “As the daughter of a refugee, I had some awareness of the challenges that refugees face when coming to a new country and, therefore, this opportunity allowed me to give back and continue developing a sense of community in Boise.”

The athletic community continued to be a place to inspire. As a representative of female student-athletes, Georgia worked with community leaders in the Boise area to develop a mentorship programme between business leaders and female-student athletes. “Through these opportunities offered and afforded to me, I began to see the power of such platforms to contribute positively to people’s lives,” Georgia reflects.

“Boise’s certification as a ‘Welcoming City’ (a reflection of the city’s commitment to be a place of refuge) allowed me to become involved in diversity and inclusion development efforts, particularly for the growing refugee population.”

Georgia’s mentors recognised her growing interest in community and human rights development and encouraged her to apply for a competitive 2019 human rights summer programme at the University of Geneva. The richness of the experience included working alongside professors, international lawyers, judges, diplomats,

and representatives of the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation. “There, I researched contemporary human rights challenges and the crisis of the international legal system,” Georgia says. Ultimately, her time in Switzerland affirmed her commitment to using the law to effect change. “Combined with my local experiences, my time in Geneva solidified my zeal for human rights law and the pursuit of a legal career to expand social justice at the local or international level.”

Back in Idaho, the palette broadened with Georgia pursuing a human rights certificate and working closely with several organisations to promote social change.

This included a stint with the Boise Metro Chamber, as a research and development intern promoting diversity and inclusion.

She also contributed her research skills at the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, which culminated in Georgia’s development of the “Refugee Voices Series,” an initiative that elevates refugee community voices.

After completing her studies at Boise State, she continued to further her dreams with a law degree at the University of Oregon School of Law. Though Georgia had potential opportunities to attend more prestigious schools, like Georgetown University, Georgia’s heart was set on the University of Oregon, which is known for its focus on public interest law and its motto to “drive change.” These values resonated with those of Georgia: “I knew that I needed to attend a law school that was dedicated to building lawyers who would open the door to justice, and use community lawyering to dismantle and re-establish structures that serve equality and justice.”

Education continues outside the classroom, where Georgia is co-director for Oregon Law’s National Lawyers Guild (NLG) chapter. NLG, established in 1937, is

the nation’s oldest and largest progressive bar association, which emphasises using the law for the people. “In this role, I develop educational and pro-bono initiatives and advocate for the UO Law student body,” Georgia says. Another responsibility is as executive editor of the Oregon Review of International Law. She researches and writes about policy issues facing the international legal community, among other activities. “Both of these roles satisfy my desire to use the law to shape policy while further developing my advocacy, analytical, and communication skills.”

“My experiences in Boise and Oregon have shown me the value of creating change at the community level – and viewing the direct impact you are having on your community.”

Looking back on her formative time at St Cuthbert’s, Georgia says that some high points include her French Exchange and the lifelong friends she made. She says, “I have several friends whom I’ve known since age four, and despite living in different countries, it is still the same every time I see them or speak to them – that’s something truly special.”

Georgia warmly shares, “Put simply, St Cuthbert’s is my entire childhood. From New Entrants to Year 13, St Cuth’s was the place that truly fostered my growth and pushed me to be the best version of myself that I could be. By instilling values of ‘By Love Serve’, encouraging independent thinking, and creating a learning space that asked me to challenge the world, I left feeling confident in myself, my abilities, and my future.” And what does being an Old Girl mean? “It means to continue personally developing the values that St Cuth’s instilled in me.”

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Our Head Girls: Where are they now?

What is a St Cuthbert’s College Head Girl? Is she kind? A strong leader? Can she communicate effectively? Is she a team player? Does she exude enthusiasm and generate respect? Will she be a good role model for the girls she’ll stand in front of?

Written by Kirsten McKenzie, Old Girls’ President

Every girl who leaves St Cuthbert’s, leaves as the very best version of herself, but there’s one who stands out each year, the Head Girl.

Selected by her peers, she’s expected to support her fellow students, model behaviours for the junior girls to emulate, liaise unceasingly with the Principal and staff, as well as work closely with her leadership team. She becomes a cheer squad, a counsellor, a mediator, all whilst studying to pass her own exams and graduate.

What a privilege it was interviewing these extraordinary women and hearing how being Head Girl impacted their lives and how they’ve embodied the College motto, ‘By Love Serve’ in their careers, their families, and often within a lifetime of charitable work.

But what happens to those girls once they step down from the Clouston Hall stage for the last time? We sought some of them out to ask.

We could write a whole issue of Evergreen Ties to fully profile the incredible work of our Head Girls, I hope you will enjoy these few pages. Our Head Girls have shattered the glass ceilings in so many fields, and in so many different ways, that they shaped the path for St Cuthbert’s students to follow.

Deborah Thomason (1981) was one of the first female paid lifeguards in New Zealand.

Jo Cliffe (1966) set up and ran the first HIV/ AIDS testing and counselling service for

Susan Cumming (née Dickie), 1962

Caroline Ferguson, 1999

Deborah Thomason with elisabeth, 1981

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the Cheltenham Health District in England.

Susan Cumming (née Dickie) (1962) was the first woman to get a PhD in chemistry at Otago University. Joan Hanson (1963) established the first Citizens Advice Bureau in New Zealand and Anne (Challinor) Hargreaves (1958) became only the second woman admitted as a reporter to the New Zealand Herald newsroom.

We asked how being Head Girl impacted their lives. Melissa Crawford (1994) said, “Being Head Girl at St Cuthbert’s gave me confidence and instilled in me a belief that I could and should be involved in and contribute to society.” Nadia Schroeder (2014) said, “I’ve been intensely grateful for the resilience and ability to balance different priorities that the role of Head Girl

EVERGREEN TIES | JUNE 2022 Nupur Upadhyay, 2008

taught me.” Judith Trotter CNZM (1953) summed up the overwhelming replies from almost every former Head Girl, by saying, “The leadership role gave one some confidence which was helpful in later life.”

If a data analyst were to run the replies to our questions through their software, looking for repetitions, a number of phrases would be flagged: Lifelong friendships.

Confidence. Belief in one’s abilities.

Women can achieve anything. Strong leadership. Opportunities. Humbling. Greer Wiles (2006) said, “To lead a school filled with incredibly talented and aspirational young women was extremely humbling.

I was blown away to be nominated and supported by such a special year group, peers and the wonderful teaching staff who were so supportive.”

It is hard not to be intimidated by the success of our former students, especially when faced with women who have been awarded the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit - Professor Emerita Dr Ann Trotter ONZM (1949), the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and the French award Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite - Judith Trotter CNZM (1953), the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit – Lisa Bates MNZM (1983), and the Queen’s Service Medal – Penelope Hansen QSM (1965). Our Head Girls have also achieved on the world’s sporting stage, with Nicole Mirza (1996) winning a gold medal at the Oceania Games in the 100m and Caroline Ferguson (1999) competing in the Tour de France.

Our Head Girl ranks are filled with diplomats – Melissa Crawford (1994), ski field doctors – Anna Gray (2009), a director of New Zealand’s largest musical instrument wholesaler and retailer - Robyn McElroy (1951), an architect building apartment buildings in the USA - Ashleigh Low (2007),

Susan Cumming, 1962

and a number of charity trustees, including Sophie Tredget (2000) in London. As a physiotherapist, Tori Clark (1987) helped untold numbers of patients at Middlemore Hospital before completing her BHSc with a focus on public health and health promotion, as a mature student.

The concept of ‘By Love Serve’ shines through, with many working on behalf of charities and NGOs around the globe.

During England’s Covid lockdowns, Sophie Tredget (2000) volunteered with an elderly charity. Monique Pitt (2017) has continued to coach hockey at St Cuthbert’s whilst attending law school and recovering from a chronic injury. As the operations manager of software company “Figured”, Olivia Mann (2013) revisits St Cuthbert’s to give talks and run tech camps.

The list of community engagement and charity work by Joan Hanson (1963) is long and illustrious, and involves the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ Association, Girl Guides, and King’s School. Joan was involved for ten years with the Trinity Garden Festival, which raised over one million dollars for Auckland’s Trinity Cathedral.

Anne (Challinor) Hargreaves (1958) worked for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in London under the leadership of Everest’s Sir John Hunt, where she met Sherpa Tensing and attended an award ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Anne was also instrumental in the success of the Trinity Garden Festival. Maddison Phillips (née Forde) (2010) worked as a volunteer firefighter in both Taupo and Gisborne, fighting fires, running pumps, and driving a firetruck.

As Head Girl, Jane Acland (2002) shook hands with Queen Elizabeth II at a garden reception at Government House to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002. She has gone on to train as a yoga teacher in

Anna Gray, 2009

India, and now teaches yoga in Canada, donating the proceeds to various charities.

Bronwen Klippel (1977) used her Master of Law degree and her Diploma of Journalism to support the Women’s Refuge and the Grey Lynn Community Centre. She is also a member of the Human Rights Review Tribunal in Auckland. And Sally Schnauer (1980) went from being a trained pharmacist and managing New Zealand’s Pharmacy Technician Training Programme to working for the Immunisation Advisory Centre supporting education around the Covid-19 vaccination rollout as well as administering vaccinations. After leaving the University of Oxford with a Masters in Law (BCL, Distinction), Nupur Upadhyay (2008) is now a solicitor in the Disputes and Investigations team at Slaughter and May in London. Prior to attending Oxford, she ran the Auckland University Law Review and Debating Society.

The inaugural St Cuthbert’s Old Girls Literary Evening, first held in 2021, would never have been conceived if it weren’t for the path paved by Penelope Hansen QSM (1965). Penelope set up and ran the Listener Women’s Book Festival, then the Children’s Book Festival, and the Montana Book Awards (now the Ockham Book Awards). She helped establish the Auckland Writers Festival, championing dozens of New Zealand authors.

Lisa Bates (1983) was a trustee of the NZ Film Archives (Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision) and sat on the board of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. She is a Trustee of the Mackelvie Trust and sat as director on the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra board. Early in her career, she worked in London making music videos for artists like Kylie Minogue, George Michael and Freddy Mercury, but sadly sold the leather jacket George Michael gave her from his Freedom video, to fund a trip through Israel, Greece and Cyprus!

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Anna Gray, 2009

Felicity Ellis, 2011

Jane Acland, 2002

Every year, the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ Association awards the Violet Wood Advanced Studies Grant, named after Violet Wood, the St Cuthbert’s Principal from 1949-1968. Professor Emerita Dr Ann Trotter ONZM (1949) was Head Girl during Miss Wood’s first year as Principal. Ann went on to become the Head of History and Social Studies at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School. Later she was appointed to the History Department at the University of Otago where she became Professor and then Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Humanities). Upon her retirement, she was elected Professor Emerita at the University of Otago. Ann recalls her good working relationship with the newly arrived, and forthright, Miss Wood. We can imagine the pride Miss Wood would have for her former student turned teacher.

in despair as Anna attempted to lip read the School Chapter during one assembly to cover her momentary angst. Nicole Mirza (1996) remembers the pride she felt as she spoke at the inaugural Business Women’s Breakfast. Bev (Lane) Frankham (1964) has an enduring memory of thanking Sir John and Lady Allum following his speech and the presentation of prizes at the annual prize giving. “I must have rehearsed my thanks so often to quieten my nerves that I can still remember the words I said.”

chat with students along the way. I loved it when younger girls came up to me excitedly saying how well they had done on a test or in their English speech!” Olivia Mann (2013) has a similar memory, “I was visiting the Junior School one lunch time with some of the other Head Girls. The Junior girls got so excited, we essentially got swamped and chased back to the Senior School.” These memories are a recurring theme from all the Head Girls, and it proves what role models the senior leaders are to the younger students. Sarah Foley (1985) laughingly recalls, “tree-planting like a celebrity,” with the Junior School girls.

The role of the St Cuthbert’s Head Girl is varied, but one requirement is stepping confidently onto the stage as a leader to deliver speeches in assemblies, at prize givings and at a variety of formal events.

This was for some, both a source of pride, and nerves.

Leading the school in the recitation of the Thirteenth Chapter of the First Corinthians elicited nerves for Felicity Ellis (2011) and memory loss for Anna Gray (2009), who recalls her Drama teacher hanging her head

Debra Clapshaw, 1975

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Sarah Foley (1985) started her time at St Cuthbert’s in Form 1, giving her first speech in tears, and ending it as Head Girl, giving off-the-cuff thank you speeches and comfortably addressing crowds. Margaret (Willoughby) Merrilees (1963) says, “I have very fond memories of the pride I felt when I was representing the school and the support I received from my fellow pupils and the staff. Making the final speech at the end of year prize giving was very special.”

When asked what their favourite memory was of being Head Girl, many girls mentioned the special bond with the younger students. Monique Pitt (2017) said, “I spent my free periods in the New Entrants class playing monsters and fairies (I was always the monster) and making special bonds with those young girls. It would always take me so long to get between classes as I would stop and

Mackenzie Morrison, 2015

With the current unrest in Europe, our Old Girls reminded us that we’ve been here before, and that we have persevered.

In 1942, with the world at war and with thousands of New Zealand soldiers fighting overseas, fundraising for the war effort formed a major part of life at home, and at school. Margaret Brothers (1942) recalls using the St Cuthbert’s College free milk issue to make and sell cocoa during the winter months to raise money for the war. Susan Cumming (née Dickie) (1962) remembers being hustled into Clouston Hall one October morning in 1962 for an unexpected assembly. Surrounded by sombre teachers, the girls were advised of the Cuban Missile Crisis and of the very real threat of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Megan Roberts, 2004

EVERGREEN EVERGREENTIES TIES | | JUNE JUNE2022 2022 Ashleigh Low, 2007

Greer Wiles, 2006

Lisa Bates, 1983

Despite the title, being head girl is not a solo job, and most head girls mentioned the special bond they had with their team of prefects. Megan Roberts (2004) says, “I was fortunate to lead a fantastic team of prefects and the highlight of my year was working with such an amazing group of girls.” Mackenzie Morrison (2015) says of her time as Head Girl, “Something that has been incredibly important to me is the connection that comes with it to both my peer group and the wider College community.” The memories of Lauren Donnan (nee Hitching) (2005) take a more humorous slant, as she recalls the prefect team’s Jackass style video they did to introduce the prefects to the school. “I recall goat riding, a horror corn maize, and many many laughs.” Lauren has now completed her teaching PhD, specialising in disability and vulnerable children.

And some stand out memories of Nupur Upadhyay (2008), include a trip to Auckland Zoo with the prefects, dressed up as different animals to film their prefect video, and the ‘Paint a Prefect’ stall at the Parents & Friends Fun Day Out (despite the difficulty of removing the paint stains from their hair!).

checked the girls were wearing their school uniform ‘correctly’. Clean shoes, no safety pins holding the belt in place, and hats and gloves worn properly. My greatest lesson during this period, was how important it is to be inclusive and supportive of all, especially acknowledging those that ‘tried’.” Age appears not to limit the expectations of St Cuthbert’s teaching staff. When the then fifty-year-old Susan Cumming (née Dickie) (1962) visited the retired Miss Wood and Miss Beale, she was told that her skirt was too short. Margaret Brothers (1942) recalls making rosters for corridor and stairs duties and monitoring the playground and school exit and entrance behaviour.

Deborah Clapshaw (1975) sat on the Human Rights Review Tribunal and chaired the State Housing Appeal Authority, and believes that the values, humility and self worth and the friendships she took away from St Cuthbert’s shaped her and gave her purpose. She says, “Many were developed over the years but the Head Girl year undoubtedly cemented them.”

And Johanna Setefano (2019) states, “St Cuthbert’s was another home for me and where I met some of my lifelong friends, who have now become family as well.”

Greer Wiles (2006) has similar thoughts about her time, and describes the class of 2006 as a special year group who remain tight and proud to be part of the St Cuthbert’s way. Ruby Sussock (2020) said in her prize giving speech, “Today I graduate from this school, confident and prepared for life ahead, with friendships which will undoubtedly last a lifetime…I cannot wait to see what amazing women you all become.”

It wouldn’t be St Cuthbert’s without a nod to our traditions, including uniform standards.

Gate duties feature prominently in the memories of Joan Hanson (1963) who said, “I remember ‘Gate Duties’, where Prefects

In her interview, Jane Acland (2002) was one of many women who stressed the importance of family. She said, “It has been an active decision for me to pause my career to be at home with our children…

This job is the most relentless, challenging, rewarding, fulfilling one of my career to date…It makes me so proud to be amongst intelligent, educated women…active in our communities and role modelling to our children. Often underestimated, these women are unassuming in how they serve society and provide a much needed sisterhood and village that supports families through these challenging years.

Many of these women are St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls.”

Robyn McElroy, 1951

Melissa Crawford, 1994

Leigh Melville (1990), owner of auction house Art+Object and incoming St Cuthbert’s College Board Chair, makes this heartfelt statement, and one shared by all our former Head Girls, “One of the greatest gifts our College gives us is that of friendship.”

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Monique Pitt, 2017

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News of Old Girls

A special sweet delivery The pandemic didn’t stop the Old Girls’ Association from letting Club 50 members know they were being thought of. Club 50 was unfortunately postponed late last year, for the second year running. However, Club 50 members were sent delicious Remarkable Chocolate (whose founder Tracey Melville-Smith is an Old Girl!) to enjoy.

Charlotte Thomas-Kircher

Mary Tate

A highly regarded swim teacher

Mary completed her BA at Yale College and graduated from Yale School of Public Health in May with a Masters in Public Health concentrating in the epidemiology of microbial diseases.

Throughout her time at Yale, she has been involved in research at the intersection of health policy and infectious diseases, focusing on HIV and Hepatitis C prevention.

After leaving St Cuthbert’s in 2007, Charlotte completed a Bachelor of Education specialising in Physical Education and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and Learning (Secondary) at the University of Canterbury.

Her contribution to swimming field was recognised recently when she was awarded the New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association Award (NZSCTA) Swim Teacher of the Year Award for 2021. This occurred virtually, due to lockdown, following her nomination by SwimTastic.

To enhance her teaching of hundreds of infants and children, which has included a number of St Cuth’s girls, Charlotte has continued to upskill and maintain her capabilities by studying Swimming NZ and AUSTSWIM courses. In addition, she has achieved a Certificate in HR Management.

This has prepared her well for her latest project at SwimTastic where she is working closely with staff and SkillsAktive to roll out the new industry-based apprenticeship programme for swim teachers.

Public health researcher

She has also spent time in Tajikistan and Ukraine investigating the barriers to HIV treatment uptake and adherence among at-risk populations, particularly labour migrants, people experiencing incarceration, and people living with substance use disorders. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including ‘AIDS & Behavior’ and ‘BMC Public Health’. Next year, she is moving to Cambridge University to pursue an MPhil in Social Anthropology on a full scholarship from the UK Economic and Social Research Council.

Do you have news to share?

Send your news to alumnae@stcuthberts.school.nz.

We love featuring the stories of Old Girls: snapshots of overseas adventures, notable achievements, additions to your family, reminiscences of school and more!

Go online to the Old Girls’ Association website to submit your profile. We love hearing all news. oldgirls.stcuthberts.school.nz/submit-your-profile/

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Family notices Births Old Girl Katrina Lory (2000) and husband Gary Ingleton welcomed son Ted Atlas James Lory-Ingleton on 18 October 2021 (brother to Ella)

In Memorial We sadly farewell the following Old Girls Blanche Prudence Blanch (née Wallace) 1938 Rev Jennifer Anne Blood (née Cooke) 1950 Shirley Graham (née Rae) 1951 Airini Hansen 1996 Joy Hayes (née Gatman) 1961 Gail Kyle (née Mitchell) 1970 Claire Schafer (née Holland) 1947

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Brisbane Old Girls’ Reunion Brisbane Old Girls enjoyed their annual reunion at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) on Sunday 5th December 2021.

Local Coordinator Trish Cotterell reports, “We had a lovely lunch at GOMA on the riverbank in gorgeous summer weather. Everyone chatted for

a few hours, and contact details were exchanged for a catch-up later, always the intent of such reunions!”

LEFT TO RIGHT: Janet Snelgar (Perrin); Liz Considine (Perrin); Margaret Boyce (Hough); Lynley Hobart (Hobart); Trish Cotterell (Flitcroft); Margot Osborne (Jellie); Christina Sutcliffe-Thomas (Thomas); Jackie Hinderwell (Windsor); Bronwyn Anderson (Sneddon)

Join us at an upcoming event We greatly appreciate it when the Old Girls come together to support these events. Many are fundraising initiatives put on by the Committee members that enable us to fund scholarships to the School. Without your involvement, we would not be able to give the gift of a St Cuthbert’s education to so many grateful girls. (Plus you’re guaranteed to have fun as you reacquaint yourself with past pupils and the School).

Please check your Old Girls’ website: oldgirls.stcuthberts.school.nz/regular-events/ for the most up-to-date information and dates.

Thursday 24 November, 2022 Gibbs Farm Visit Details to be confirmed.

Old Girls’ Literary Evening17 August

St Cuthbert’s Old Girls’ Association is hosting a Literary Evening to fundraise for the Old Girls’ Association scholarship fund. Featuring a panel of former St Cuthbert’s students who have achieved literary success in fiction and non-fiction publishing, including Sarah Tuck (editor of Dish and cookbook author), Cassandra Grodd (social media personality and author), Lindy Davis (journalist and author), Diane Levy, Simone Nathan and others.

Finger food and cash bar (EFTPOS only) available, generously sponsored by Invivo Wines.

* All Welcome.

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The community at the heart of sport statistics “Elite sport is a beautiful but brutal environment, and you will ride the rollercoaster of extreme highs and extreme lows with your team. If you are embedded in your team, you get to build relationships with the coaches, athletes, and other management, and you really become a family.”

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Bobby Willcox has led an extraordinary career, bringing two very different areas together – sport and statistics. From her days as a St Cuthbert’s student with a love of netball, to working with the Silver Ferns, Bobby has followed her passion to create new research, new ways of approaching the sport, and a host of amazing stories.

Deciding what to do for a career was a challenge, but Bobby (peer year 1998) says, “When I left school there was only one thing I knew – with an older brother and sister already in engineering, that was the one path I was not taking! I had no idea that sport analysis was even a ‘thing’, and I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do, so when I first started out at university, I went with what I was passionate about – maths and classics.” During her mathematics journey, she branched into statistics and “fell in love with the analysis,

interpretation, and communication of data, which really form the basis of stats.”

It was, Bobby says, a happy accident to discover the connection between statistics and sports. “I was very involved in netball as a player and coach at university and, towards the end of my undergraduate degree, I had a random idea about a project I could do for a master’s degree using regression modelling to look at factors in shooting success for specific shooters,” Bobby explains. “I spoke to someone who spoke to someone else and before even I knew what was happening, I was in a meeting with the assistant coach of the Silver Ferns at the time (Leigh Gibbs) and that was the start of my Silver Ferns journey!” It was during her postgraduate studies that Bobby became a performance analyst for the Silver Ferns, a role that grew exponentially over time.

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about sport and what she could do in the field, if she had the chance.

“Inspiration struck and I came up with an idea for a PhD thesis topic and with the help of Netball New Zealand, I was able to secure a Prime Minister’s Scholarship to fund my PhD studies and offset the loss of income as I had to leave my job. It was really this project that expanded my role with the Ferns, as it required such a deep level of data collection and analysis.”

“It’s an amazing area to work in – you are often the bridge between the mathematical world and everyday life.”

During her time with the Ferns, Bobby was part of over 180 international test matches, over 130 of which were spent on the bench courtside. She went to four Commonwealth Games (Melbourne, Delhi, Glasgow, Gold Coast) and three World Cups (four if you include the most recent one where she was with the Fijian team).

“When I first started out, dedicated analysts (particularly in netball) were rare, but these days performance analysis in sport is much more prevalent and there are targeted tertiary qualifications in the field. Most professional teams in most sports now employ an analyst in some form.”

After Bobby completed her master’s degree, she spent a few years working as a research analyst in an office while doing her Silver Ferns role on the side.

She realized that office life wasn’t for her, spending most of her time daydreaming

Bobby completed her PhD in Statistics at the University of Auckland, with a focus on sports. This was a novel experience for the department – “I’m not sure they’d had many students working in sportsbased projects before! I had to have a co-supervisor based at the AUT School of Sport and Exercise Science to make sure I had covered both the Sports and Statistics requirements in my thesis.”

Bobby explains how most of those working in sports analysis tend to come to it from a coaching or biomechanical background. “I was quite unique in that I came from a pure mathematics and statistics background.”

What exactly is sports analytics for those not in the field? “When I first came to netball, the only data that was taken regularly and accurately was shooting stats, so one of my first tasks was to design a data framework and collection system that would capture everything I wanted to know about the game – which was, literally, everything! That meant linking my numerical knowledge with a deep understanding of the game, its structure, and strategies.

“But my system won’t be the same as anyone else’s system because we all have different understandings and different aims. Add to that the individual requirements and capabilities of the coaches and athletes you are working with, and the system changes again. This requirement to tweak and adapt means innovation is constantly in play and you are continuously challenged – no two days are the same.”

Bobby took her skills a step further, founding Point 9 Analytics with Dessi Broughton. Ready for a change but still loving what she did, she started the company because she saw an opportunity to continue to work in netball analysis but with a range of teams at all levels. This has included two-time champions Central Pulse and other teams like Fiji, Cook Islands, and several high-performing schools.

Bobby’s adventurous spirit is taking her in a new direction – right here to St Cuthbert’s! Bobby is training as a maths teacher, combining her love of the subject and teaching. “I have been lucky enough to be accepted to complete my qualification through the ASSP/Waikato University partnership here at St Cuthbert’s, so I am based at the school full-time while completing my university qualification remotely. It’s busy, but so fascinating and I’m very excited about continuing my maths journey in a different way.”

Looking back on her school years, Bobby says what most stands out is the “sense of community and the relationships I developed while there, which have lasted well beyond my school years. There was never any question for me that my own daughters would attend the College, and I have loved coming back into the St Cuthbert’s community as a parent, coach, and now as a training teacher.”

Bobby’s experiences at St Cuthbert’s were full of sport, musicals, and academics.

A high point was being Dux – an award shared jointly with one of her best friends – “which was really the perfect way to end my time at St Cuth’s.” Her favourite memories include school camps, balls, sports days, exams (“Yes, I enjoyed those!”) and so many more. “The laughs we had in my Year 13 Latin class where there were only three of us – including my intense and vocal dislike of Catullus and his poems, which seemed to cause a great deal of amusement to everyone else.

Film club, where I met my husband-to-be – the relationships I built with many of my 77

teachers and coaches, who have become major mentor figures in my life and helped shape the approaches I now bring to my own coaching and teaching.”

“To me, ‘By Love Serve’ means putting the needs of others at the heart of my actions, whether it’s family, friends, or community. It means giving back what I can to others, particularly as I know I have received so much support and help on my journey through life.”

Though she played multiple sports at school, it was always netball that grabbed Bobby. “It’s the ultimate team sport,” she emphasizes. “When you think about it, netball is unique – the structure of the game, due to restrictions, means no one player can completely dominate the game like they can in other sports. In essence, no one person can win the game – it takes everyone doing their job and trusting their buddies to do their jobs, which to me is

the perfect example of teamwork.” Bobby sees the sport as one where everyone is welcome.

“It’s also a game for all shapes and sizes – there is a position for everyone because the requirements of each playing position are so different.”

Bobby has given back by coaching netball at St Cuthbert’s, and it’s a role she treasures (currently studying, she’ll return to coaching next year though she’s stayed involved through managing teams). She believes that sport has many life lessons and applications that can help young people as they develop. It’s not just the physical benefits, she shares – “sport teaches us leadership, teamwork, work ethic, attitude, resilience, time management, mental skills and much, much more.”

Bobby adds, “Done right, sport, especially youth sport, embodies the concept of

whanaungatanga – connectedness and relationships developed through shared experiences, providing people with a sense of belonging. When we create the right environment in our sports teams and codes, we create a community where people feel supported, connected, and empowered.”

It’s through coaching that Bobby can provide a positive experience for her players. “I strongly believe that as coaches we have a responsibility to develop the person as well as the player.” It’s values such as commitment, attitude, respect, and confidence that she instils. Her role has been shaped by those who have led by example.

“As a coach, I try to embody the ideas of leadership, mana, empathy, and knowledge that have been modelled for me by some of the best coaches in the world through my career. Above all, I try to respect the

“To me, By Love Serve means putting the needs of others at the heart of my actions, whether it’s family, friends, or community.

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fact that even though I can have high expectations of my players, at the end of the day, they are kids and so I have an even greater responsibility to make the experience and environment positive and safe for them.” This includes getting to know those on her team and their families, and to create a sense of community and connectedness.

“Being able to watch them grow and develop not only as fantastic players, but also as amazing people, is one of the reasons I keep coming back to coaching. Coaching at St Cuthbert’s has been a wonderful opportunity to get to know many of the students, and also an opportunity for me to give back to the school that has given me so much.”

Bobby’s advice for students contemplating their future path? “While a little out of the box, I think my journey is a good reminder that you don’t always have to have everything planned out exactly – sometimes following your passion and

throwing in a bit of innovation will lead you somewhere you didn’t even know you wanted to be!” She’s also a huge advocate for taking statistics. “It’s an amazing area to work in – you are often the bridge between the mathematical world and everyday life.”

Statistics has meant incredible stories to tell – of sport, of travelling, of the support of family and friends who made it all possible.

“The opportunity to be part of these global events, to stay in the athletes’ village at the Commonwealth Games and march in the Opening Ceremonies, to be a part of a global event celebrating the sport I love, is something I will never forget.

“I’m very grateful that my maths journey provided me with a path to these kinds of opportunities. When you go to something like the Commonwealth Games or World Cup, you are part of a small group of people who will be the only ones in the world to experience that event with that team – that creates a bond that lasts forever.”

Local contacts BAY OF PLENTY Contact: Dearwyn Caulfield Phone: 0274 935 037 Email: pdcaulfield@xtra.co.nz BRISBANE Contact: Trish Cotterell Email: trish07.cotterell@gmail.com CHINA (BEIJING) Contact: Jennifer Ma Email: jenniferjinma@littleoasis.cn DALLAS Contact: Clair Robinson (Menzies) Email: clairmenzies@gmail.com LONDON Contact: Kate Turner Phone: 44 78374 57882 Email: katemacsween1@gmail.com LOS ANGELES Contact: Amanda Wong Phone: 1 310 963 3302 Email: kiwi_esq@hotmail.com NEW YORK Contact: Ashleigh Hunt Email: ashleighh@spotify.com PERTH Contact: Marg Shorter (Hartnell) Phone: 08 9388 2221 Email: margshorter@westnet.com.au SYDNEY Contact: Amy Zhang Phone: (61) 450 905 264 Email: amyzhang35@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Michael Bradley Photography

TONGA Contact: Ana Tupou Panuve Phone: (61) 450 905 264 Email: ana.tupou@panuve.com TARANAKI Contact: Elizabeth Utting (Gray) Phone: 06 927 4909 Email: johnandelizabeth150@gmail.com WAIKATO Contact: Catharine Stuart (Murray) Phone: 07 827 1766 Email: bandcstuart@gmail.com Old Girls interested in becoming Local Coordinators in other cities and countries please contact: alumnae@stcuthberts.school.nz

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Celebrating our 2022 Violet Wood Advanced Studies Grant awardees This year, we recognize not one, but two very special Old Girls doing inspiring things in their community. The grant is typically awarded to one outstanding applicant; however, two different Old Girls this round were standouts – so much so, that the selection panel decided to recognize both this year. Physiotherapist Kate McGechie (peer year 2010) and educationalist Kelcey Roberts (peer year 2018) each receive $3000 from the Old Girls’ Association to support their postgraduate studies.

Kate McGechie

Physiotherapist supporting vulnerable community members

Could you please tell us a bit about your St Cuthbert’s journey? What are some of your favourite memories?

I started St Cuthbert’s in Year 2 in 1998 (wow...that was a long time ago). I loved the Junior School and especially the assemblies. I remember looking at all the big girls sitting at the front and thinking how amazing and tall they all were.

I started getting into sports in Year 5, especially hockey. I loved PE and the sporting events held throughout the year – cross country, swimming sports, athletics.

It was such a fun social day. I was also a very proud Kelso girl and loved dressing up in house colours. I continued to play sport and did PE up until Year 13, hockey being my main sport. I was proud to represent St Cuthbert’s in the 1st XI in Years 12 and 13.

I am always grateful for the amount of amazing opportunities St Cuthbert’s gave me over my 12 years, from incredible school trips, to sporting achievements, the hardworking and supportive teachers, unique St Cuthbert’s traditions, theatre and art productions, and making lifelong friends.

What does ‘By Love Serve’ mean to you?

‘By Love Serve’ to me means treating those around you with the kindness, respect, empathy, and generosity that you would also want to be treated with.

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What has your university journey looked like? What have you studied and what postgraduate degree will you be doing?

I knew I wanted to work in a social career where I would be helping people and not be desk based. I had a few injuries playing sport and had seen physiotherapists in the past, it looked interesting and ticked the boxes, so I applied! I was fortunate to receive a scholarship through St Cuthbert’s to attend AUT, where I began my Bachelor of Health Science in Physiotherapy. It is a four-year degree, with the last year being mostly placement. I ended up having all my placements at Auckland City Hospital – I had no idea until my third year that physiotherapists even worked in hospitals! It was an amazing experience – I worked with heart and lung transplant patients, in the critical care and emergency department, provided rehabilitation to older adults...it was so exciting. I knew it was where I wanted to work.

I am currently the physiotherapist in the emergency department at Auckland City Hospital. Most of my caseload is with frail older adults trying to establish a safe plan to get them home. I spent two years working for the NHS in emergency departments in London and since returning to New Zealand, I have noticed a significant gap in how we treat those presenting with frailty to our health services. With an ageing population, the number of presentations to hospital with frailty conditions is expected to rise. Our hospitals are already under strain for beds

and now coupled with COVID-19 pressures, we are ill equipped to meet future demands.

We know that physiotherapy input in the emergency department can help reduce readmissions and functional decline, can increase patient satisfaction, and lower costs. With increasing pressure on health services in mind, I am in the process of completing my Master of Health Science specialising in older adults’ health and wellness with the aim of creating a more frailty friendly emergency department at Auckland City Hospital.

In what ways do you think education is transformative?

For me, education is transformative in healthcare because it pushes us to provide the best care for our patients.

In what ways will the Violet Wood grant help with your studies?

The money received from the Violet Wood grant will be put towards my university fees.

Who has inspired you along the way?

I am constantly inspired by the nurses, doctors, and other allied health members with whom I work with at Auckland City Hospital. The last two years during the pandemic have been extremely challenging but despite this, they continue to come to work every day to provide amazing care for our family, whānau, and friends.

Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Don’t forget to stretch!

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The Violet Wood Advanced Studies Grant is available to Old Girls in postgraduate study in any field including academic, music, sport or art. The grant is intended to help with costs and enable Old Girls to further their education through postgraduate study.

we were extremely privileged to receive such high-quality learning experiences and as a teacher, I hope to provide this to my future students.

In what ways will the Violet Wood Advanced Studies Grant help with your studies?

The Violet Wood grant will help me immensely, as it will enable me to focus my attention on my learning rather than worrying about the financial aspects of postgraduate studies. I am extremely grateful and am looking forward to seeing what I can achieve this year!

Who has inspired you along the way?

Kelcey Roberts

Educationalist taking inspiration from her St Cuthbert’s schooling Could you please tell us a bit about your St Cuthbert’s journey? What are some of your favourite memories?

I started at St Cuthbert’s College in Year 7 as an Endeavour Scholarship recipient.

Some of my favorite memories would definitely be my experiences in Kapa Haka and the drama classrooms. Every year in Kapa Haka, our rōpū (group) formed such a special bond through our practices and it was always extremely rewarding to get to share our culture with the College and wider community through Pofiafia and Polyfest. I also love reminiscing on the joy and laughter that would come from the drama classroom. I would always look forward to heading down to the PAC to create a piece of drama with my friends or to rehearse for our upcoming plays.

What does ‘By Love Serve’ mean to you?

Throughout my time at St Cuthbert’s College, I was encouraged to do ‘service’.

I’m not sure if I knew quite what that meant when I started as a Year 7 student, but through multiple opportunities, we were able to give back to our community through service. I became fully aware of what ‘By Love Serve’ really is. It is the warm fuzzy feeling you get from helping and supporting others to be the best they can be.

What has your university journey looked like? What have you studied and what postgraduate degree will you be doing?

My university journey began in 2019 at the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland’s Epsom Campus, just down the road from STCC. I completed my Bachelor of Education specializing in Primary Teaching and have now begun my Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree. Through my postgraduate studies, I’m taking courses that will support me to use the arts effectively, as well as catering for the diverse needs of students in my future classroom. The focus of my dissertation is: “How can teachers use the arts to support Māori learners in mainstream classrooms in Aotearoa?”

In what ways do you think education is transformative?

“Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro nōnā te ngahere; ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga nōnā te ao”. Literally translated, this whakataukī says, ‘the bird that eats the berry, has the forest.

The bird that eats the knowledge, has the world.’

Education is all around us, and as an educator, I see first-hand the incredible ways that education can influence and transform the lives of our tamariki in Aotearoa. At St Cuthbert’s College,

Each and every one of my teachers at St Cuthbert’s College influenced my journey towards becoming a teacher. I was able to experience many different styles of teaching through all subject areas and am extremely grateful for the level of teaching they provided me. I aspire to be the best teacher I can be for my future students and will always take inspiration from the quality education I received.

Do you have any words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Create your own pathway. I went and studied at the Faculty of Education and Social Work without any familiar faces and although it was daunting to choose a route that no one else was taking, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I was able to find an incredible group of likeminded people and would encourage anyone thinking about their future career to follow their passions – not anyone else’s. This also connects to the subject choices you make each year.

Choose a subject that brings you joy. If you love it, you will always find a way to incorporate it into your future career.

Applications close January 31 each year. To apply for 2023 please visit :

oldgirls.stcuthberts.school.nz/ violet-wood-grant/

81

Year 7–13

Open Day

Open Day

9 August 2022 9am – 11am

Register at: stcuthberts.school.nz

St Cuthbert’s Supporter’s jumper Available at Black Watch House or online at stcuthberts.school.nz/uniform

T R E N Z S E AT E R INTERIOR DESIGN

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Much like the pioneering gold miners of the Cardrona Valley, fortune favours the bold. Act fast to secure your place at Mt Cardrona Station.

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M TC A R D R O N A S TAT I O N .C O. N Z Indicative illustration image only.

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ

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