September 2015
Dear Parents/Caregivers This September newsletter will be read by you in the middle of Winter Tournament week when large numbers of our students are participating at elite level in their chosen sport, and at the end of a long season of competition at national level for our musicians (see STOP PRESS). Rising to all challenges, academic challenge or extra-curricular challenges is part of what makes the journey of our students at this college so special. Tauranga Girls’ College passion, which spans across all learning environments in a wide range of settings, is passion for ensuring that girls succeed. Passion for the learning journey that is the focus of the goals your daughter sets for herself each year, and for nurturing the skills to flourish in an increasingly competitive world. Problem solving, time management, responsibility, resilience, creativity, work ethic and participation are all essential future skills, developed as much in the
environment of sport, the arts and community service as in any classroom. Once developed these skills transfer naturally to the lifelong learning from the specialist subjects your daughter is taking here and underpin her future success. As your daughter plans for 2016, selecting her options and structuring her year, please ensure she plans to take up the wider curriculum of learning opportunities that encompasses the extra-curricular as well as the set subjects. The more that she demonstrates evidence for what she can do, and the more she learns about her talents the more likely it is that she will succeed in her (lifelong) learning journey.
Pauline Cowens
STOP PRESS World Science Championships Tauranga Girls’ College entered the World Science (WordPerfect) competitions for the first time this year with the following results: World-wide: Tauranga Girls’ College was 14th overall out of 876 schools. Nadia Snegirev was 58th overall out of more than 20 000 competitors. New Zealand-wide: Tauranga Girls’ College was 3rd overall out of 253 schools, Nadia 17th in New Zealand. BOP-wide: Tauranga Girls’ College was 1st overall (just under 110 000 questions correct) out of 7 schools.
10BTE was the best class in the BOP (out of 200 classes) with 43,375 questions correct and Nadia Snegirev, Hojeong Chang, Shari Webber and Ellie Faulkner (all year 10) were the top 4 overall students in the BOP.
Outstanding Music Successes On Friday our musicians did very well in their regional competitions, with Big Band and Symphonic Band gaining Gold Awards, first in their sections and merit awards for that. Percussion Ensemble also got gold and our Guitar Group gained a bronze award. Great results from a lot of hard work!
International and National Achievements Basketball: Congratulations to Hemoata Hill for her refereeing at the U15 National Tournament in Wellington. She refereed with distinction and as a reflection of this she was appointed to the 3rd/4th playoff game.
Smallbore Rifle Shooting: Georgi Jovner was selected to represent the Waikato province at the North Island Junior Team and the North Island Women’s team in Wanganui. At this event she was selected in the New Zealand Junior Smallbore Rifle Team to compete against England. The event was shot at the Wanganui Range, with each country competing at their own ranges.
Surf Lifesaving: Ariana Moffatt competed in the Australian Surf Life Saving Pool Championships gaining a 2nd in U19 Female Medley relay and 3rd in Open Female Obstacle Relay.
Swimming: Ruby Matthews competed at the New Zealand Short Course Swimming Championship coming away with 5 medals. Ruby won 4 silver medals for the 16 year girls - 100 Breaststroke, 100 Fly, 200 Fly and 400 Individual Medley. In the Individual Medley Ruby broke a Bay of Plenty record and swum a qualifying time for Queensland Championships Swim meet to be held in December. Ruby also gained a bronze medal for 200 Breaststroke, also achieving a new Bay of Plenty record for 100m breaststroke.
Taekwondo: Pratistha Chauhan competed in the Malaysian Open Taekwondo Championships in Kuala Lumpur, 18-28 August.
Underwater Hockey: The NZ U19 Women’s team that Kirsty Burrows and Georgia Couglan competed in finished with a silver medal at the 3rd World Age Group Championships in Castellon de la Plana in Spain. Georgia was named as the U19 Women’s grade player of the tournament.
Volleyball: Ariana Moffatt and Sophie Te Whaiti have been selected in the New Zealand U21 Volleyball team. They compete in Thailand in the September holidays.
North Island / Bay of Plenty / Local Achievements Badminton: At the Junior Bay of Plenty Secondary School Badminton Teams Championship, in Division 1 the team of Rebecca Kneale, Ariya Hongcherdchai, Nattareeya Moonsin and Chrystal Aranui placed 3rd. In Division 2 the team of Felila Simanu, Wirinia Tapsell, Sharnae Smith and Devon Bannister placed 1st. Also in Division 2 the team of Georgia McDermott, Hope Garner, Gurleen Kaur and Isabel Baker placed 4th . At the Senior Bay of Plenty Secondary School Badminton Teams Championship, in Division 1 the team of Nano Hata, Erika Kusano, Jordan Ross and Naomi Stewart placed 3rd. In Division 2 the team of Taylah Stack, Nicola Davis, Maddison Mason and Caitlin McGeorge placed 1st. Also in Division 2 the team of Yvonne Ryan, Jessica Smith, Annaliese Boyd and Hannah Park placed 2nd.
Basketball: At the Junior Baywide Basketball Tournament the Tauranga Girls’ College Junior A team placed 2nd At the Senior Baywide Basketball Tournament the Tauranga Girls’ College Senior A team placed 2nd.
Duathlon: Kaylee Mudgway competed in the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Duathlon Individual Championships in the U16 Age group placing 1st. It was a 3.5km Run, then a 16km Road Bike finishing with a 2.5km Run.
GymSports: At the New Zealand Secondary Schools GymSports Championships held in Auckland Catrin Pearce placed 1st in the Tumbling, 2nd in the Trampoline and 4th in Aerobics. Phoebe Edwardes placed 4th in the U15 and over Age group for Aerobics and combined with Chloe Smith in the Aerobics Pairs to place 4th . In Rhythmic Gymnastics Kelsey Duff placed 4th in Club A . Kelsey Duff competed at the Xtreme Championships in the Rhythmic Gymnastics gaining a 7th in the individual section and 2nd in Grade 5 group. Netball: Junior A and League 1 attended the Waikato/BOP Championships on Sunday in Rotorua, both teams won their Pool play but unfortunately lost their next game which knocked them out of the tournament. Minardi Daniels was selected in the Year 10 Zone Netball Tournament team.
The Harbourside Netball competition has finished for the year with a very exciting final in the Premier Division 1 between Tauranga Girls’ College League 1 and Mount Maunganui College. With a draw at full time extra time was played with Tauranga Girls’ College League 1 coming out the winners 36 -34. Other results: Tauranga Girls’ College Junior A runners up in Premier Division 2 Tauranga Girls’ College Harriers winners Reserve Division 1 Tauranga Girls’ College Herberts winners Reserve Division 2 Tauranga Girls’ College 10A winners Collegiate Year 10 Division Tauranga Girls’ College 9A runners up Collegiate Year 9 A Division Tauranga Girls’ College 9 Crusaders runners up Collegiate Year 9 B Division Tauranga Girls’ College 9 Deltas winners Collegiate Year 9 C Division Tauranga Girls’ College 9 Energies runners up Collegiate Year 9 C Division
Hockey: the 2nd XI Hockey team won their final 3-2 against Mt Maunganui 1st XI last night being awarded the Gemma Flynn Cup for the first time since its inception.
School Exchanges: Cranbrook School from the England played hockey against Tauranga Girls’ College winning against the 1st X1, 2-1 with Tauranga Girls’ College 2nd X1 winning 3-0. Rotorua Girls’ High School annual exchange was held in Rotorua this year, with Football 1st X1, Hockey Junior A and League 2 Netball having wins, and loses to Basketball and Netball League 1 and Junior A. We retain the trophy due to our summer sports results.
Smallbore Rifle Shooting: At the Waikato Inter Secondary Schools Smallbore Rifle Shooting Competition the Tauranga Girls’ College Team of Georgi Jovner, Jessie Wingrove-Moore and Bella Taylor placed 2nd with Georgi placing 2nd overall and Jessie placing 5th. Georgi was selected in the North Island Secondary Schools team and Women’s team to compete next weekend in Wanganui.
Basketball Refereeing: Hemoata Hill From the U15 National Tournament in Wellington, with 20 boys & 20 girl’s teams from around the country, attending comes this feedback on Hemoata Hill, one of 36 referees selected from the various NZ Associations. Cliff Horne reports: “Hemoata has shown a rapid rise through the refereeing ranks locally, justifying her selection & officiating over the four days of these Nationals. She refereed with distinction & as a reflection of this, she was appointed to the 3rd/4th girl’s playoff game, AUCKLAND-COUNTIES v TARANAKI. She was clearly the best female referee at the tournament & with it being her 1st Nationals, she should be justifiably proud of her officiating. Hemoata also refereed at the BBALL PACIFIC EASTER TOURNAMENT held in Tauranga, with distinction. Her 1st major tournament and she drew favourable comments from coaches & tournament officials. 135 teams attended this tournament along with a roster of some 60 referees. Also in attendance, were many referee trainers from around NZ & AUSTRALIA whom evaluated games & discussed with the junior referees, post-game. Just a sample of comments from Hemoata’s EASTER evaluations: 1) Nice quiet presence, poker face, straight back, beautiful gliding walk around the court - huge potential 2) Her playing ability reflects how she calls a game, very rare understanding what to call, what not to call 3) A very good referee with wonderful potential, can't wait to see her at a National tourney. These comments, came from arguably NZ's best referee trainer, a NZ woman who was the World's 1st ever woman FIBA registered referee, (the highest level of officiating). High praise indeed. Hemoata will be officiating at the Secondary School qualifying tourney in Rotorua at the end of August & probably at the National Secondary School tourney in Palmerston North, late Sept during the 3rd term school holidays. She has a very pleasant on/off court demeanour & a rare appetite for post-game discussions which bodes well for her future refereeing ambitions. “
Congratulations: OLIVIA ELTON from Tauranga Intermediate school Who won the scientific calculator for having the closest estimate the number of chocolate fish in the jar at our year 8 OPEN NIGHT last week. She estimated 93 fish and there were 94 fish in the jar.
Congratulations: Taylor Asher-Law Tauranga Girls’ Student Wins Prize at Careers Expo Congratulations Taylor Asher-Law for winning a prize at the recent Western Bay @ Work Careers and Business Expo. Taylor took part in a quiz at the Ready, Set, Grow #GameGround stand organised by horticultural industries, including New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers, Zespri, NZ Avocados and Pipfruit NZ. An exclusive package of Whittaker Artisan Collection chocolate is on its way to Taylor!
Maatangi Whenua is a national competition for Year 11 Geography students run as regional rounds and organised by the New Zealand Board of Geography Teachers. This year, 115 teams competed in the competition including 16 from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region. Students work in teams of 3 and are tested on a variety of geographic skills and knowledge in a round robin format. Tauranga Girls’ College hosted our regional round. Tayla Fraser-Brown, Amy Gutteridge and Eden Faulkner placed 4th. Congratulations to Leah Godkin, Mackenzie Groos and Holly Pendred for winning the BOP/Waikato Maatangi Whenua competition.
Science Term 3 has been full of opportunities for our Science students. In Week 1, 10 promising students from Year 10 and 11 stayed at Maungatapu Marae for 2 nights with teachers Shirley Keno and Treena Blythe and students from Te Kura o Mauao, Tauranga Boys’ College and Katikati College. Ngaiterangi Iwi and staff and students from Otago University collaborated to run a programme incorporating hands on Science activities which related to the local environment. These included surveying to figure out the height of Mauao, checking out the water quality in the estuary, assessing each other’s health with the assistance of St John, making liquid nitrogen ice cream and watching an amazing magic show. This inspired our students to consider a career in the science area, as well as making new friends and having heaps of fun. Eight of our top budding engineers entered “NZ’s Next Top Engineering Competition” run by the University of Auckland. The 2 teams (one comprising Year 12 and one of Year 13 students) were tasked with researching, mathematically modelling and presenting a written report on the topic “ If a New Zealand student uploading a video which went viral, how long would it take for 1% of the world to see the video?”. After 10 hours of estimating including a myriad of permutations, restrictions and scenarios, answers of 16 days and 29 days were obtained by the 2 groups. The submissions will be judged early in Term 4. Massey University visited 150 of our business and science students to give a presentation on working in the Primary Industries, our largest export earner. This is definitely something to consider when choosing subjects! Auckland University Whakapike Ake team will arrive in Week 5 to make a presentation to Year 10 and 11 Maori students encouraging more students into the Health Sciences as a career. Students and their whanau are also invited to Hui a Rohe at Mt Maunganui College on September 3 for a Hui regarding career options at Auckland University in the Health Sciences. As well as this, our Year 9 students are integrating technology with their learning to produce short stop-motion or traditional movies to show some of the bad science used in movies and how to improve it. They are also investigating science in news media to relate what they are learning to what happens in the wider community.
Asia Wise
is an annual competition held throughout Australia
and New Zealand, based on an Asia focus of the Australian history and geography curriculum in secondary school. There are 2 competitions, lower secondary school which we enter our Year 9 Social Studies students, and upper secondary school which we enter our Year 10 Social Studies students. News received from Australia is that there have been over 5,000 entries and in the competition involving our Year 9 students, 98% as the highest result by 3 students including 2 from Tauranga Girls’ College - Amy Earles and Abigail Mortimer. In the competition involving our Year 10 students the top result was 96% attained by 4 students including 3 from Tauranga Girls’ College - Olivia Donaldson, Madeline Thompson, and Claudia Lamberton. Madeline indicates how this competition ‘has taught me how to take an openended question, pick it apart and work the answer out, step by step.’ Olivia comments ‘I now understand how important knowledge about Asia is for our future, as Asia looks to be the economic powerhouse of the future’. Abbie comments ‘I learnt lots about Asian culture and the geography of Asia’, while Amy says, ‘I learnt more about countries, such as India and China, and about their cultures and some of their main political and economic structures. I can’t wait to do it all again next year!’
PTA A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped with our amazing Fashion Parade, with special mention to Jean Morris for co-ordinating the whole show. Such a highlight in the year for our girls! Next year is the 30th anniversary of this iconic event, and we want to ‘up size’, develop, spice it up and generally raise even more
money! To do this, we need more people to design and execute the ‘new’ format of the event. If you have some ideas and a bit of spare time, please get in touch, or come along to the next PTA meeting on Wednesday 16 September, 7.30pm. Also, we are looking for a few helpers to serve finger food at the Sports Prize Giving on Thursday 15 October, drinks and nibbles served 6-6.50pm. Carol Jenkin, Secretary 548 0161
Positive Behaviour for Learning Sometimes, we need those around us to support our children. Here are some names of those at Tauranga Girls’ College who may be of assistance: Health Co-ordinator: Lisa Ferris Health Nurse: Janice Hardy Doctor: Traci Ball Physiotherapist: Claire Baker Counsellors: Judy Burr Chantal Stopford The school contact number is 578 8114. Please ask for the person you wish to speak to; the office will direct you to the appropriate person. There are also times when we need the support from our local community to assist our teenagers. Here are some support networks available: What’s Up Teen Phone Counselling 0800 942 8787 Youthline Free - TXT 234 or free call 0800 376 633 Child and Adolescent Mental Health 579 8380 Tauranga Sexual Health 579 8157 Healthline 0800 611 116 Relationship Aotearoa 576 8392 Dealing with parents’ separation Family Works 575 9709 Family Violence Info Line 0800 456 450 GetSmart 571 3712 Alcohol and drug issues Rainbow Youth 09 376 4155 Sexuality S.A.D.D www.sadd.org.nz - helping others with their drink driving problems Te Aranui Youth Trust 577 8072 Police Youth Aid 577 4300 - having trouble with youth gangs and need help Youth Law www.youthlaw.co.nz or 07-571 6812advice on the law Depression Help 0800 111 757 Te Manu Toroa 5774811 or on hingengaro@temanutoroa.org.nz Te Manu Toroa - Youth Drop in Clinic 11 Garden Place Gate Pa - Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 36pm To find out about more services, call the “It’s not OK” – 0800 456 450 or search www.areyouok.org.nz
Together Can Make a Difference
Prizegivings The following events are taking place in Term 4, please note them on your calendar
Wednesday 04 November Friday 13 November Thursday 22 October Thursday 15 October 5.30pm 6pm 7pm 7pm Tauranga Girls’ College Hall Holy Trinity Church Tauranga Girls’ College Hall Tauranga Girls’ College Hall
Performing Arts Week: 21-25 September Year 13 Drama present
Year 11 Drama present
Top Girls by Caryl Churchill Monday and Tuesday, 21-22 September Tauranga Girls’ College Hall Gold coin donation
Grimm Tales by Carol Ann Duffy and Tim Supple Tuesday, 22 September Purple Drama Room - DRA 1 Gold coin donation 5 magical tales from the Brothers Grimm like you
Career driven Marlene hosts a dinner party for famous women from history. Then we learn of the old life and child she has left behind in order to tread the path to 'success'. The play examines the role of women in society and what being a successful woman means.
haven’t seen them before. Gruesome, funny and poignant - definitely not Disney.
Year 11 Drama present Wheeler’s Luck by Nigel Collins Thursday, 24 September Purple Drama Room - DRA 1 Gold coin donation
Year 12 Drama present Juvie by Jerome McDonough Wednesday 23 September Tauranga Girls’ College Hall Gold coin donation Over a night in the female juvenile delinquent cells, girls tell their stories of how they came to be there and explore the consequences of their actions.
A topical comedy about the future of our farmland: keep it as a Nature reserve for everyone to enjoy or sell it to the Auckland developers for profit.
SHOWCASE Showcasing curricular and extra curricular dance
Thursday 24 September 6:00pm TGC School Hall
ENTRY: $5.00
Mardi Gras 23 September This annual event, the biggest fundraiser for the year. All funds raised will be used to support charities as well as school sports, arts and cultural teams. The theme is World Cup Rugby.
Reminder: Mid Term Break The college will be closed for tuition on Friday
04 September
Calendar Day
Date
Event
Mon-Fri
31 Aug-04 Sept
Winter Tournament Week
Thurs
03 Sept
TTY field trip: Hamilton Parents Inc: Staffroom, 7.30pm
Fri
04 Sept
Mid Term Break
Sat
05 Sept
Junior Model UN: Papamoa College
ThursWed
10-16 Sept
Benchmark Exams
Thurs
10 Sept
TGC Film Fest: Art Gallery
Fri-Sun
11-13 Sept
Kapahaka Live In
Sat
12 Sept
Redwoods Relay
Sun-Wed
13-16 Sept
Ski Team: Ruapehu
Wed
16 Sept
PTA: Staffroom, 7.30pm
Thurs-Fri
17-18 Sept
13BIO field trip Symphonic Band finals
Fri
18 Sept
11ACT zoo field trip
Mon-Fri
21-15 Sept
Performing Arts Week
Tues
22 Sept
SPR field trip: Periods 3-5
Wed
23 Sept
Mardi Gras
Thurs
24 Sept
13TRM field trip
Fri
25 Sept
11 Mini Council field trip TAP/Tuakana Teina field trip: Fraser Cove
End of Term 3 Mon
12 Oct
Beginning Term 4
Contacting the College for 2015 We encourage parents to contact the College (578 8114) for support at any time during the year. The Pastoral Team includes: Year 9 Senior Leader: Mrs Bird Deans: Mr Andrew Chapman & Mrs Kylie Valentine Ext 769 Year 10 Senior Leader: Mrs Summerville Deans: Mrs Audrey Keightley & Ms Margot Glaser-Brown Ext 770 Year 11 Senior Leader: Mrs Ferguson Deans: Mrs Jackie Gould & Mrs Robyn Mankelow Ext 767 Year 12 Senior Leader: Ms Rowlands Deans: Ms Caroline Gill & Mr Don Wallis Ext 768 Year 13 Senior Leader: Ms Rowlands Deans: Mrs Carolyn Nemeth & Mrs Judith Somerville Ext 766 Guidance Counsellors Ms Judy Burr Ext 728 & Ms Chantal Stopford Ext 724 If any matter remains unresolved, or is taking too long, please contact the Principal, Mrs Cowens.
930 Cameron Road, Tauranga 3112 Ph: (07) 578-8114 Fax: (07) 578-8447 info@tgc.school.nz www.tgc.school.nz