TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Message from the Principal Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa/ warm greetings to you all. Welcome to our first panui/ newsletter for 2019. This newsletter can also be found on our website and on a link to our FB page, both of which I encourage you to visit www.tgc.school.nz., https://www.facebook.com/ taurangagirls/ Now in my second year as Principal, I have much to be thankful for, having reflected on from year one. To have the opportunity to make a difference at Tauranga Girls’ College is an exciting challenge that I have cherished. There are many talented young women in this school and the depth of colleagues who give up endless hours to support them is simply incredible. I believe leadership cannot sit with one person. My leadership journey has reflected the breadth of experiences that I have gained from others. As the whakatauki says - Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini - My strength is not mine alone, it comes from many. I also
know that I am seeking continuous improvements and I look forward to sharing this with you and welcome your input. The school of choice for Girls in the Bay Welcome to the 15 new colleagues (teaching staff and learning assistants) that have joined our College and to the 400 students that are new to TGC this year. This has been an outstanding beginning of the year for TGC with enrolment numbers the highest in years. It is the school’s aspiration to journey towards being the school of choice for girls in the Bay. I continue to use a broad range of community voices to inform change and to ensure that we offer opportunities for all to succeed. A new leadership structure Congratulations to Mrs Valentine and Mrs Cade who, along with Mrs Ferguson, Ms Rowlands and Mrs Bird, join the Deputy Principal team this year. This makes five Deputies to support curricu-
lum innovation and pastoral needs of our learners. We have had four in recent years. Our student leadership team consists of seven formal roles. Our Head Girl, Maioha, leads six Deputies. This is an exciting team focussed on service and leadership for all. A large team of prefects have also been appointed. Our head students will be contributing to the newsletter this year, so we look forward to hearing from them next time. An academic focus The College offers a broad, competitive curriculum and for those who have been on an NCEA journey, our results are again impressive. We are always reflecting on our deliberate learning and teaching strategies that make a difference in the classroom. Congratulations to all those students who contributed to our NCEA results. Our NCEA results at Level 1 continue to be excellent and this supports a very positive foundation for future years at the senior school.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
Whanaungatanga Constructing positive relationships is pivotal to all that we do and is underpinned by our school’s values of manākitanga/ respect, mahi tahi/participation and mana motuhake/pride. We all have the opportunity to model these both in and out of the College. In 2019, we have made a deliberate choice to focus on whanaungatanga and developing a stronger sense of self and belonging. Developing a sense of belonging and feeling safe where we stand (in our Turangawaewae) is crucial if effective learning is to take place. I want every young woman attending TGC to feel cared for and valued but in order to do that, I need your daughter to play her part in ensuring she demonstrates her commitment to the school and all that it offers.
8 February 2019
I encourage your daughter to be involved, to make a difference not only in her world, but also to that of others. On 13 February we have our school wide participation expo. This allows your daughter whether new or not, to gain a sense of what clubs, sports, arts, culture or committees are available to join. EVERY student must belong to something more than their subject classes. Riding on the Buses It will be fair to say, bus services have been less than ideal. As a College we have been communicating regularly with the various bus companies. As you will have read in the paper, the bus issue is not isolated to TGC but clearly impacts on our girls who use the bus service. Mrs Bird is the Deputy Principal in charge of buses. I too have been out on bus duty
to gauge what the issues are. As we have no control over the bus schedules, let me assure you, we have made our concerns known and will continue to work with each company to ensure that effective services can be returned asap. I look forward to meeting you and your daughter during the course of the year. Together, we can achieve anything!
Tara Kanji Principal
Board of Trustees The Board of Trustees had their first meeting of the 2019 year and it is a pleasure to announce that the Board has elected Mark Pakes as the new chairperson. Megan Cleverley will continue in the role of Deputy Chair to support Mark with the transition over the next few months.
2019 Triennial Board of Trustees Elections
Every three years state and state integrated school communities elect their parent and staff trustees to help govern their schools. The next election is due this year and the Tauranga Girls’ College election date has been set as
Friday 07 June 2019 NZSTA would like to encourage parent and whanau participation on school boards and will be rolling out the Korari Programme for anyone interested in finding out about standing for the school board elections. More details can be downloaded from our website under Board of Trustees and the NZSTA website.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Welcome To Our New Staff Alice Cade
Nicky Ellis
Tiana Offner
Deputy Principal
Health and PE Teacher
Drama Teacher
Kia ora koutou, my name is Alice Cade. I am the new Deputy Principal at Tauranga Girls’ College. I have recently moved up from Wyndham (at the bottom of the South Island) with my husband and two children. I have been teaching for 11 years with experience being a Classroom Teacher, Head of Department, Dean and Acting Deputy Principal. My main subject areas are Outdoor Education, Physical Education and Health. I feel very privileged to be working at this kura and I look forward to working with and empowering our young ladies.
I am excited to be a part of Tauranga Girls’ College working in the PE & Health Department. I am originally from Bay of Plenty where I grew up in Mount Maunganui, Whakatane and Rotorua. My co-curricular interests are hockey, golf, cricket and tennis. I have recently moved back from London after teaching there for 6 years. I also love travelling and learning about different cultures. I look forward to making a positive contribution to Tauranga Girls’ College.
"Kia ora koutou, my name is Tiana and I am joining the Performing Arts Department this year. I am from Tauranga moana and am very happy to be back in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. I am taking up the position of a drama teacher, I am also a passionate dancer, hiker, and yoga enthusiast. I look forward to a great 2019 working with the students of Tauranga Girls’ College. "
Tim Rout Science Teacher I grew up on Waiheke Island and where my family still live. I studied Physics and Mathematics at University in Christchurch as well as my teaching degree. I have worked in Auckland for the last 7 years teaching Mathematics and Physics. I enjoy photography, fishing and skiing and coaching football. I moved to Tauranga with my wife at the end of January and am looking forward to teaching at Tauranga Girls' College.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Claire Richardson
Adi Sutherland
Emma Talbot
Health and PE Teacher
ORS Teacher
I am excited to be joining the Physical Education and Health Dept this year. I have made the move from Auckland having taught at Epsom Girls’ Grammar School for 6 years. Originally from Wairoa in northern Hawkes Bay, I am happy to be now a little closer to home. I hope to be involved in co-curricular activities with a particular interest in Rugby and cultural activities.
Kia Ora Koutou, My name is Adi Sutherland and I have joined the Learning Centre at Tauranga Girls’ College this year. My role is to coordinate programmes with the classroom teachers to ensure that our girls are successfully accessing the NZC and are well supported in all areas of school life. I have previously taught at Papamoa College, in Auckland and my home town of Wellington. I have 4 children (14-24) and am a lover of good food, the beach and the Hurricanes! Nga mihi mahana
Leader of Learning Social Science It’s a privilege to be joining the staff of Tauranga Girls’ College as Leader of Learning Social Science. I moved to Tauranga 10 years ago, and most recently have been teaching at Aquinas College. I have a passion for History and enjoy sharing the incredible stories of the past with my students. I have three gorgeous children who attend a local primary school, and in my ‘spare time’ I enjoy keeping active, running and mountain biking. I look forward to been involved in many different aspects of school life.
May Tran Mathematics Teacher Tena Koutou. My name is May Tran and I’m a new teacher in the Mathematics Department at Tauranga Girls’ College. I have always loved Mathematics and, as a primary trained teacher, am embarking on my next learning challenge, which is to teach Maths at a secondary level. Many, many years ago, I too attended Tauranga Girls’ College as a student. Now, I look forward to being part of the TGC learning community and assisting other girls to achieve their learning goals at TGC.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Anh Wong
Mathematics Teacher Néih hóu ma, my name is Anh Wong and I’m thrilled to be back at Tauranga Girls’ College teaching Mathematics. I am very passionate about this subject and take a special interest in developing my students understanding. I truly believe everyone can do well in this subject, but yes it totally requires effort. But nothing good comes without hard work! I look forward to meeting many of you around the school.
Laura Hardy
Julz Marriner
Sports Assistant
Sports Administrator
'I am a Sports Assistant for the Sports Department as well as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the College. I will be running before and after school training sessions as well as gym based training which will be available to all students as well as helping out in the Sports Dept office and Sports Teams
With 16 years experience in Sports and Education I am excited to bring a fresh approach to the school Sports Department. Working with our local youth is of particular interest. I am heavily involved with both girls’ Rugby and Athletics in the Bay, having coached across a number of codes and being a past athlete I am keen to promote participation in sport to stay healthy while also helping to facilitate competitive opportunities at an elite level. A huge supporter of women in sport I look forward to working alongside you and your families in the Sports Department.
Year 11 Textiles Technology are beginning the year with a Creative Slow Stitch project. Working outside the students have a access to a variety of fabrics and embellishments to experiment with to create their first product.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Festival of Athletics Monday 18 February 2019 New Look Format All Set for 2019!
Welcome back to school everyone, get excited for our first school wide event of the year! ATHLETICS is a great sport and this year we see the introduction of a new look format for our school event. We are excited to be able to introduce the FESTIVAL OF ATHLETICS, a one day whole school event. This year we will all head down to the Track at the Domain and smash out a day of fun, crazy activities as well as the traditional events. The intention is to harness House Spirit, pump up the fun volume and embrace the school spirit by getting active. Your House Spirit Leaders will be facilitating fun pre-event activities, such as the Banner Competition. Each house is encouraged to continue the fabulous dress up theme and to get really innovative for extra house points. Students can choose to participate in the Festival Events (a variety of fun, challenging, crazy modified games) to earn house points. This is also the opportunity to compete in traditional Athletic events (important for those wanting to compete at NZSSS level and for school awards). Girls can do a combination of both Festival and Competitive Events. The day will see two programmes running alongside each other, enabling students to choose a range of activities. This is a counted as a school day and all students are expected to attend the event . Buses depart from TGC at 8.40am. House Spirit prefects will be rallying all girls together and sharing lots of information about the Festival. House Points for participation will be awarded in Festival Events, Traditional Events, Banner Competition, Best Chant, Outstanding Sportsmanship. The Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cups for athletics will be awarded based on overall points gained in the traditional athletic events.
Athletics success over the summmer Congratulations to Kayli Tuiraviravi who achieved a 3rd Place in the Under 18 Long Jump and a 2nd place in the Under 18 Shot Put . Kaydi was awarded 2nd place in the North Island Under 18 Hepthalon Championships.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
School Wide Particiaption Expo Students are encouraged to participate in one or more activites which are offered to them at Tauranga Girls’ College. Students can join up at the School Wide Participation Expo which takes place on Wednesday 12 February. Activities and groups include:
“Yarn Bombers are us!” - Knitting Club Sports Committee Hockey Rugby Basketball Music International Underwater Hockey Gymnastics Festival of Athletics Theatresports, Shakespeare Festival, Skiing and Snowboarding Badminton and Tennis
Touch Sailing Table tennis Futsal/Football Writing Club Squash Golf Pasifika Club Dance World Vision TGC Youth Group Chess Committtees
Welcome to our Year 9s Our Year 9 students have begun the year by building connections with people, place and community here at Tauranga Girls’ College. There’s been opportunity to learn about our school, Pukehinahina and Tauranga Moana, to meet many students and staff members, to build connections with students in other year levels and to have fun in the many special spaces and places we have here. It has been a delight watching the learning and laughing that has resulted from this.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
NCEA Information Evening
Year 13 Camp
for Year 11-13 Parents & Students Tauranga Girls’ College Staffroom 5.00 to 6.00pm Monday 18 February 2019 If your daughter is the first in your family to sit NCEA you will find this meeting informative and valuable. Assessment Guidelines will be issued and you will have the opportunity to meet with Senior Staff.
2018 Scholarship Results Results have just been released for the NZQA Scholarship Examination. Congratulations to the students and staff on these achievements! Student
Subject
Scholarship
Danielle Welsh
Accounting
Scholarship
Catherine Van Pelt
Biology
Scholarship
Shari Webber
Biology
Scholarship
Alexis Cowbourne
Biology
Scholarship
Grace Westenberg
Biology
Scholarship
Tabitha Marshall
Biology
Scholarship
Ellie Faulkner
Biology
Scholarship
Alexis Cowbourne
Chemistry
Scholarship
Brenna ColemanSmith
Chemistry
Scholarship
Kaitlyn Bengston
Dance
Scholarship
Grace Westenberg
English
Scholarship
Shari Webber
Geography
Scholarship
Brenna ColemanSmith
Painting
Outstanding Scholarship
Brooke James
Painting
Scholarship
Grace Westenberg
Statistics
Scholarship
The Year 13 Leadership Camp at Totara Springs is an annual calendar event at Tauranga Girls’ College for Year 13 students and their Tutor Teachers. The focus of the Year 13 camp for 2019 was; to explore aspects of leadership and what that might look like for the students in Year 13 and beyond, to look at future pathways and career planning and to take part in a range of challenging physical and team building activities in order to gain a sense of whanaungataunga (belonging) to the student leadership team at our school. The two day camp was very well attended and concluded with the engaging guest speaker, Dr Rachel McNae, Director of the Centre for Educational Leadership Research at the University of Waikato in Hamilton and Co-Founder of The Good Human Project, an organisation supporting young people and their families to flourish. Rachel’s speech on leadership, was very entertaining with many real life stories and she also challenged and encouraged the students to look at how they could all play a very important role as leaders at Tauranga Girls' College in 2019.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Itinerant Music Lessons The College Music Department offers a wide range of musical activities that your daughter may like to be involved in. If she plays an instrument or enjoys singing she can sign up for these groups by going to the Music Dept and filling out an enrolment form. The groups offered in 2019 are:
Barbershop Chorus Big Band (Jazz Band) Chamber Groups Choir Guitar Ensemble Jazz Combo Junior LBD’s (Show choir with band) Orchestra Percussion Ensemble Rock bands Sax Combo Senior LBD’s (Show choir with band) String Ensemble TBC/TGC Combined Chorale Symphonic Band (Concert Band)
Lessons are also available for all of the orchestral and band instruments, singing, piano and keyboard. Most of these are free and instruments are available from the school. Enrolment forms for these are available from your daughter’s Tutor Teacher, the Music Department foyer and on the school website. Please email Miss Geor at sgeor@tgc.school.nz if you require more information about these activities.
Hannah Richardson Year 11
This paper mache head was made last year in my Y10 art class. It took almost all term and took up a lot of lunchtimes, but it was very rewarding once I’d finished. It is loosely inspired by Kristen Simmon’s book ‘The Glass Arrow’ where woman are hunted and captured by men. The finished look is meant to resemble a fierce, powerful woman who has been captured and ‘tamed’. Her face has been painted with colours, her teeth sewn shut and her head is bowed in shame. In my head I had named it ‘Wife for Sale’
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Lateness If a student is late to school they need to sign in at the school office with a note that explains the lateness - This applies to any time throughout the school day if they are late Year 13 students do not need to sign in if they have had a study Period 1 and arrive in time for class Period 2.
Uniform It is great to see so many students wearing their uniform with pride around our kura. It is great to see the girls respecting themselves and the school by wearing it correctly, to and from school and during the school day. A number of students are wearing our new white blouse with the blue trim. A reminder that this will be compulsory from the start of 2020.
Coming Up 10 February - 15 February
OPC - Hillary Outdoors
13 February
International Student Overnight Camp
18 February
School Athletics Day - Tauranga Domain
18 February
NCEA Information Evening - TGC
28 February
TGC Swimming Sports
28 February
International Family Barbeque
05 March
Bay of Plenty Athletics
14 March
BOP Regionals - Sailing
14 March
Summer Sports Photographs
25 March - 29 March
Summer Tournament Week
12 April
Last Day of Term 1
Term Dates 2019 Term 1: Term 2: Term 3: Term 4:
ends 12 April 29 April - 05 July 22 July - 27 September 14 October - to be confirmed
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE
8 February 2019
Contacting the College 2019 We encourage parents to contact the College (578 8114) for support at any time during the year. The Pastoral Team includes: Year 9
Dean: Mrs Anna Leach
ext 770
Senior Leader:
Mrs Cade
Year 10
Dean: Ms Robyn Mankelow:
ext 767
Senior Leader:
Mrs Bird
Year 11
Dean: Mrs Fiona Lochhead
ext 766
Senior Leader:
Ms Valentine
Year 12
Dean: Ms Caroline Gill
ext 768
Senior Leader:
Mrs Ferguson
Year 13
Deans Mrs Bridget Prendiville
ext 769
Senior Leader:
Ms Rowlands
ext 728
Ms Sue Ferguson
ext 724
Guidance Counsellors
Ms Judy Burr
Inclusive Learning Leader Ms Karen Gilby
ext 740
College bank account details: Name of Account Tauranga Girls' College Board of Trustees Name of Bank ANZ Branch Tauranga Account Number 01-0475-0055400-00