September newsletter

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Tauranga Girls’ College Pauline Cowens, Principal

Message from the Principal Dear Parents, This September newsletter will be read by you in the middle of the term as we look forward to Winter Tournament week in week seven, when large numbers of our students are participating at elite level in their chosen sport.

Straight after that week of challenges there will be Benchmark Examinations for our senior students in week eight. 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.

As a school we have recently been looking to 2018 and the changes to learning that will be occurring then, facilitated by our move to BYOD (bring your own device) and other technology upgrades currently under way. Changes that include the development of new skills, problem solving, time management, responsibility, resilience, creativity, work ethic and participation, 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

will transfer naturally to the lifelong learning from the specialist subjects your daughter is taking here and underpin her future success.

On the last day of term, September 29, we will be involving our whole staff in professional learning for next year at a Teacher Only Day. To prepare for that day school will finish on Thursday 28, after our whole school celebration of our sporting successes for the year. This celebration is necessary because the number of students who have earned recognition this year well outstrips our ability to fit them all into Sports Prizegiving at the start of term four, an event now reserved for the most elite sports performers!

Tauranga Girls’ College point of difference is passion for learning and for development and nurturing of talent, which spans across all learning environments in a wide range of settings, 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.

As your daughter plans for 2018, 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 Principal

Head Girls Left to Right, Mikeely Ivil: Deputy Head Girl, Jerushah Keightley: Co Arts Director, Madison Randall: Head Girl, Caitie Farley: Co Arts Director, Caitlin McGeorge: Sports Captain

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Music Department The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Bands and Orchestra’s Festival draws in competitors from as far away as New Plymouth, Coromandel and Taumaranui.

The competition is held in the WEL Gallagher Auditorium at Waikato University and six adjudicators located in three venues listen to competing bands and orchestras of different instrumental combinations, sizes and experience levels playing twenty minute programmes of music that they have been preparing over the past year. At the end of the Festival awards are given out that acknowledge the skill of the groups.

This year Tauranga Girls’ College entered five ensembles and returned home with seven awards.

Symphonic band – Gold Award, Big Band – Gold Award, Percussion Ensemble – Gold Award and a Merit Award, Guitar Ensemble – a Silver Award and String Ensemble – a Silver Award and a Merit award for the best developmental group of the competition.

This achievement is particularly significant as so many of the students in these groups are inexperienced and through sheer hard work and dedication to their art form and to each other have excelled.. As the Music Department motto says…..team work makes the dream work!

Congratulations to everyone involved.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Dance NZ Made Dance NZ Made is a national competition for schools. Regional heats are held around the country prior to the National Finals taking place in Palmerston North in October.

The Tauranga competition brought together teams from 10 local schools. Tauranga Girls' College had 5 team entries and 2 solo entries.

All the entries were NCEA dance pieces created in school time.

The team entries involved collaborative processes between fellow class mates and the teacher to bring the pieces to fruition.

The competition also served as a live assessment for our students.

Our NCEA Level One class piece

won the Open division as well as an award for excellence in chore-

ography, our NCEA Level Two class was placed 3rd, and our Dance Troupe piece which was choreographed by NCEA Level 3 Dance student Teagan Wilson received 2nd place in the open division. Year 10 Soloist Olive Pearce won the Year 10 division

and Year 12 soloist Kaitlyn Bengston won the Year 12 division.

Kaitlyn was also nominated by

the adjudicator as one of three regional representatives to compete at Nationals.

Congratulations to these students and to all the others involved who participated on the day in workshops or performed on the evening.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Sport INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL Rowing

Kaitlyn was also a member of the Bay of Plenty U23 team that competed at NZ National Championships, placing 2nd .

Kelly Taylor and Avril Mathers was placed 1st in the Doubles Novice grade, and Kelly Taylor was placed 1st in the Individual Novice grade.

Football Waterpolo

Grace Holland, as a member of the New Zealand Junior Rowing Team, was placed 11th in the world for Junior Women Pairs at the Junior Rowing Championships in Lithuania.

Basketball The Tauranga Girls’ College Junior A Basketball team won Division 2 at the Bay of Plenty Championships.

Rachel Collins has been selected as a member of the New Zealand Crosswhites Football team, which will compete in the Australian Nationals Football Tournament. This is the second time that Rachel has been part of this team, as a Year 10 student - this is a remarkable achievement.

Gym Sports/Aerobics At the NZSS Aerobics competition Catrin Pearce placed 3rd in the International section.

Kaitlyn Morrell has been selected for the U18 Girls’ New Zealand Koru Development Team, They will be competing in the Australian Junior Country Cup Basketball Championships to be held in Albury-Wodonga, Australia.

Lucy Paterson has been selected into the U16 A representative Water polo team.

Squash At the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team Squash Championships the Tauranga Girls’ College Squash team placed 10th. Taylor Clarke was selected in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team to travel to Australia where the New Zealand team won the series.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

NORTH ISLAND/BAY OF PLENTY Basketball

Blue Team was placed 1st.

The Tauranga Girls’ College Senior Development Basketball Team was placed 3rd in Division 2 at the Bay of Plenty Basketball Championships.

Rugby

Football In the Western Bay of Plenty Football Championships, Tauranga Girls’ College 1st X1 was placed 3rd in Division 1, 2nd X1 was placed 1st in Division 2 and in Division 3 Tauranga Girls’ College

The Tauranga Girls’ College Rugby team won the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Competition beating Rotorua Girls’ High School in the final.

Netball At the Harbourside netball competition the following teams won their divisions on Friday night, Junior A, Spag Bol and Royal T with Senior A runner up in their

division. On Saturday Year 9 Red and Year 10 Red, both winners of their grades , with Year 9A and 10 A, both runners up.

Skiing Bay of Plenty Skiing and Snowboarding Championships: Junior Skiing - Giant Slalom Tess Esterman was placed 2nd and Nikita Borrie 3rd. In the Snowboarding – Giant Slalom Junior Zoe Booth was 1st with Natasha Davies 2nd.

In the seniors Rebecca Rickard was placed 1st.

Badminton At the Bay of Plenty Junior Badminton Championships Team Orange was placed 3 rd and Team Yellow was placed 5th in Division Two. At the Senior Team Badminton Competition Tauranga Girls’ College had 4 teams competing. The Division 1 team of Kalais Going, Bethany Millar, Arleah Tippins and yoo was placed 3rd. In Division 2 Tauranga Girls’ Colleges teams were placed 1st , 2nd and 7th.

TGC Yellow: Ro Yoo, Inderpreet Kaur, Judith Beaudesson, Preeti Singh.

Team Orange: Area Dongon, Alisha Hedley, Divya Negri, Mannat Dogra.

Division 2 7th place Lily Alton, Kiana Gear, Rebecca Kneale, Abigail Mortimer.

Div 2 2nd Parinyamas Mahem, Zoe Walden, Ariya Hongcherdchai, Nattareeya Moonsin

Senior Division 1 Crystal Aranui, Arleah Tippins, Kalais Going, Bethany Millar

Division 2 winners: Thanyaporn Hengroong, Paris Heslop, Nicola Davis, Caitlin McGeorge

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

SECONDARY SCHOOLS SQUASH NATIONALS 2017

Table Tennis

well as a few things we need to work on in preparation for our 2018 campaign.

Team members representing the school were: Taylor Clarke, Anika Russell, Olivia Philpot, Ashlee Linn, Emily Chamberlain and Alyssa Lewitt.

Of note and special congratulaL-R Taylor Clarke, Ashlee Linn, Olivia tions go out to Taylor Clarke who Philpot, Alyssa Lewitt, Emily Cham- was selected into the New Zeaberlain, Anika Russell land Secondary Schools TransThis month Tauranga Girls’ Col- Tasman team. Taylor was one of lege competed in the NZ Second- 5 senior secondary school girls ary Schools Squash tournament selected to represent New Zeaheld in Palmerston North. Origi- land against Australian secondary nally seeded ninth the team fin- schools in Brisbane in two weeks’ ished in the top ten, which is a time. fantastic performance consider- Taylor will be playing both as an ing there were 48 teams in the individual for New Zealand and in tournament, 19 of which were in a doubles combination with Irya the girls’ draw. There were many Stewart from Te Puke College. great individual performances as

Tauranga Girls’ College Table Tennis team have won gold at the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Table Tennis Championship.

From left to right: Amy Earles, Julia Newman and Kalais Going

Hockey Tauranga Girls’ College 3rd X1 Hockey Team was awarded Joint Winners of the Division 2 second round competition, the Cameron Rowe Cup and medals along with Bethlehem College 2nd XI. The following girls have gained medals for the Division 2 second round competition, the Cameron Rowe Cup and medals: Isabel Baker, Macy Bruce, Tess Esterman, Grace Fifita, Jessica James, Jotleen Kaur, Talia Moore, Kelly Morgan, Skye Schlebusch, Olivia Seed, Tori Seed, Madeline Thompson, Holly Topp and Helena Wright.

Tauranga Girls College 2nd X1 Hockey team won the Gemma Flynn cup for Division 1 for the 3rd year in a row. The team members, Kiara Adolph, Lia Chalmers, Alexis Cowbourne, Lena Gerstenberg, Savannah Gulliver, Ashleigh Harley, Teagan Harris, Bethany Holmes, Rebecca Kneale, Miela Loveland, Alice Rowlands, Lucy Rowlands, Olivia Seed, Grace Swindells, Caitlyn Wardell and Ayla Woodhouse.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Year 10 Mini Council Project Our Year 10 mini council’s aim for this year was to become more involved within the community and on 23 August visited local retirement home, Fraser Manor. The group of 15 girls put on some performance pieces by the talented students in our mini council, interacted with the elderly and then ended their visit with a shared afternoon tea provided by our students. The goal for this visit was to give happiness to the elderly and brighten up their day and we believe that goal was accomplished. Special thanks go to Miss Gill and Mrs Jones who were the teacher chaperones for this trip, Parvi and Olive our wonderfully organised leaders and the Year 10 mini councillors for all their work.

Year 13 Physical Education Project Over the last 6 weeks our Year 13 Physical Education students have been completing an Achievement Standard on Health Promotion. For this standard, Ms Thomason's class decided to increase the physical activity of the residents at Fraser Manor Rest Home. This has been a very positive experience for everyone.

The residents have loved our girls visiting them regularly to do a variety of activities with them.

Some have said they have not had such a work out in a long time. Our TGC students have formed some lovely friendships with the residents and have expressed the desire to continue visiting even when our work there is finished. Congratulations to our girls for their professional and friendly approach to this experience.

September 2017

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Food and Nutrition Food and Nutrition is derived from the Home Economics curriculum and involves an in-depth study of what food does in our body and how this affects our Well-being.

Hospitality courses are available at Level 1 to Level 3.

The Level 1 course –Hospitality Foundations Skills - is a six month introducing basic skills required for kitchen work and gives a solid foundation to working in the hospitality industry as well as students gaining skills to gain part time work during tertiary education.

Level 2 course builds on the foundations course’s kitchen skills and covers includes the development of Front of House Skills.

Level 3 Hospitality B extends the level of practical skills and includes extensive work to create top class food and hot beverages to serve in Kaileys Training Restaurant for a variety of situations such as morning teas, lunches, degustation dinners and competition work.

All work generated through The Service IQ Institute of New Zealand and includes practical and written assessment, two major research assignments that are required as supporting evidence.

The Year 11 course focuses on food safety, the handling of foods different food choices and packaging.

At Year 12 students examine Performance Enhancing Nutrition, in relation to Sports Nutrition; Food Security, Health and Food Choices. The course involves more research and report writing.

In Year 13 students work towards NCEA Level 3 and topics include over consumption of the wrong food, the influence of multinational food corporations on patterns of eating and food advertising.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Textiles Technology As a technology subject students are required to research, communicate and problem solve as well as developing practical and design skills. Students learn to “think outside the square.” In Year 9 students learn how to use a sewing machine and have the opportunity to make items such as a drawstring bag and soft toys (“Puglies”). The students are taught the essential skills such as darting, invisible zip, hem and under stitching.

The Year 10 course covers further use of a sewing machine and how to use a commercial pattern while students in Year 11 are encouraged to adapt patterns, and develop an understanding of

Pin’d Presented by Global Connexions, the Pin’d Creative Showcase is a fashion design competition open to garments and textile art designed by intermediate and secondary school textile students.

Congratulations to the following students who were placed in this year’s competition: Sports influence: Kirsten Tanner, 3rd place Cuts folds and pleats : Jerushah Keightley, 3rd place Harahuku: Yuriko Kanaoka, Highly commended Harahuku: Zoe Beck, Highly commended Lenzing Colours: Alana Laurie, 1st place Pretty Pastels: Jessica James, 3rd place On the Board Walk: Hannah Rose, Highly commended

September 2017

how the elements and principals of design can be used.

“Textiles is a fun and interesting subject to take that allows you to think outside the box and design new outfits creatively”.

Jordan Year 11.

Year 12 students are able to make a start on Fashion or Art school portfolios so that they are prepared for tertiary study in Fashion and Textiles and by the end of Year 13 students are prepared for a variety of workplaces, Fashion School, Art School or other another degree course.

Early Childhood Education The Year 11 course is made up of a number of introductory units.

Topics include time management, health and safety and personal and family wellness. Students also learn about the basic needs of pre-school children.

Skills the students learn in Textile Technology can be transferred to other subjects and reflect real world situations.

In Year 12 students gain further knowledge and skills around parenting and working with young children including attachment behaviour, children’s health and wellbeing and life skills for parenting.

Year 13 offers further ECE study which will improve students chances of gaining a place in the competitive tertiary ECE programmes. Topics include effective communication, providing a safe environment for young children, observation of a child in a centre and life skills for parenting.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Te Haka a Toi 2017 Congratulations to the combined Tauranga Girls’ College/Tauranga Boys’ College Kapa Haka group who competed in the Te Haka a Toi 2017. The group had spent many months rehearsing and planning. The hard work paid off and the Kapa Haka team, with an overall 3rd placing secured a trip to Nationals next year!

Their achievements are: In the aggregate sections - 3rd equal te reo and whakaeke, 2nd equal moteatea, 2nd equal waiataringa and 2nd haka, giving them an overall 3rd place.

And in the non-aggregate sections we were 1st in Kakahu, 1st equal in the rest of the nonaggregate and first in Whakaeke.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Arts Festival Tauranga Girls’ College annual Art Festival opened on Thursday 31 August. This event has been running for over 10 years, and is always a highlight for the Art Department. This year the event was held at the People's Art Gallery in the Historic Village.

Artsfest gives all Tauranga Girls’ College students the opportunity to participate in the well known event, and display a piece of their own work in a public setting, which for a lot of students is a new experience. Students are able to present their work in their own unique style, with no boundaries restricting what they can do. There is always a variety of works produced, including drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture and digital artwork, all reflecting how talented the girls of our school are.

Molly Pender

Artwork by Tina Jeong

Artwork by Cindel Vlietman

Trustpower Youth Community Spirit Award.

Congratulations to Hunta Davies who was awarded Youth Spirit Joint Runner Up at the recent Trustpower Awards. This award is held alongside each of the regional Community Awards and is open to all Year 13 students, to recognise and reward service to their school and community.

The Trust picked Hunta for her involvement in a number of school activities - in the school executive council, her role as coach, participation in the Te Ara Poutama and Tuakana Teina whanau and her work outside the school. She volunteers at the SPCA and at the North Island basketball tournaments. She also helps in class learning at Greerton Village School during exam leave.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Revision Ideas for students Bradley Busch Psychologict @Inner_drive

The weeks and months leading up to exams can be challenging for you. So how can you revise better ? Which techniques really work, and which don’t? What can you do to improve your memory, mood and concentration?

Before you do any revision Eat breakfast It is estimated that around 39% of girls skip breakfast some or all of the time. It’s not called the most important meal of the day for nothing: research has found that skipping this meal significantly reduces students’ attention and their ability to recall information.

Simply having a bowl of cereal will give students the concentration and memory boost they need.

During revision sessions Start early and spread it out Actors don’t leave their rehearsals until the day before opening night. Athletes don’t only train the day before a match. To commit something to memory takes time.

Spreading out your revision sessions on a particular topic (eg one-hour sessions over 10 days) is more effective than spending the same amount of time in one go (ie 10 hours in one day). This effect, known as “spacing”, helps because it allows time in between revision sessions to forget and relearn the material.

Test yourself Leading researchers in the field of memory consider testing yourself as one of the most effective ways to improve your ability to recall information. Testing yourself also helps you check for any gaps in your knowledge. Practice papers provide a good starting point, as well as quizzing yourself at the end of your revision session. Look at previous NCEA exam papers online as well as your previous test papers.

Teach someone After you have tested yourself, teach the material to someone else. This has been found to help aid memory and recall: it is known as “the Protégé Effect”.

Teaching someone else requires you to learn and organise your knowledge in a clear and structured manner.

Think twice about using highlighters Despite being the favourite

weapon of many students tackling revision, research suggests they don’t work very well. People learn and recall information better if they connect it to other pieces of information. Highlighters don’t do this, they isolate single pieces of information.

Quite often, students end up highlighting whole chunks and passages of text, which can give the appearance of having worked hard, but is of little value.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

Don’t listen to music Students who study in a quiet environment can recall more than those who revise while listening to music. Extroverts, and those with an exceptional ability to control their attention, are not negatively affected as much: but it doesn’t help. At best, for these students, it just doesn’t hinder them as much as everyone else.

Don’t fool yourself by thinking you work better with music.

Get some fresh air and exercise You cannot work all day, every day. Nor should you. Revision has to be about quality, as well as quantity. Going outside and getting some fresh air helps peo-

September 2017

ple feel refreshed and better able to focus afterwards. Doing a little bit of exercise will also help you to deal better with stressful situations: it reduces anxiety and increases self-esteem. This MUST be good when preparing for exams.

Sleep Students are encouraged to work hard and revise a lot before their exams. However, there comes a time when they need to stop and go to sleep. Knowing when can be tricky. There is a link between being a perfectionist and struggling to sleep. If you are falling asleep within five minutes of their head hitting the pillow,

Model United Nations: Nakeisha Jarvis, Kayli Tuiraviravi, Paris Allum, Bijou Johnson (representing the European Union) and Tianke Li, Ashleigh Tanner, Olivia Banfield and Lola Vahey Bourne (representing Saudi Arabia) took part in the Junior Model United Nations completion on Saturday 26 August at Mount Maunganui College. The girls were involved in the debate and participated well. They experienced first-hand how the United Nations functions and the challenges it faces. They debated the issues of climate change and the environment and debated two resolutions. A great day was had by all.

they should probably be going to bed earlier. Other sleep tips include having regular bedtimes, not being on your mobile phone in bed, but if you are, you should turn down the backlight.

As research into psychology continues to develop, we learn more and more about how best to help students learn. Revision time can be challenging as it often requires students to monitor their own behaviour when working independently at home. Hopefully, by teaching them about what helps improve their memory, mood and concentration, we can better equip them to meet the challenges head on.

Through A Child’s Eyes

Rebecca Kneale and Akira McTavish-Huriwai have had international success with their map entitled: “Through A Child’s Eyes”.

They won Second Place Best Drawing in the 13-15 age category at the Barbara Petchenik Children's World Map Competition run by the International Cartographic Association. It is a notable achievement and their work has been displayed at the International Cartographic Conference in Washington D.C. and was projected on a large screen at the award ceremony to a wide international audience. On Monday 11 August we were visited by the chairman and secretary of the NZ Cartographic Society, Igor Drecki and Lesley Murphy, where they presented the certificate and prizes.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Special Assessment Conditions for the NCEA Exams 2018 You can apply for Special Assessment Conditions for the NCEA exams if your daughter has a sensory, physical, medical and or learning difficulty that affects the assessment of their classroom learning, and might be able to overcome or reduced with appropriate assistance. New applications open 1 October for the 2018 school year. The deadline for new applications closes for Special Assessment Conditions for 2018 in mid-February.

What are Special Assessment Conditions?

Special Assessment Conditions (SAC) provide extra help for approved students when they are being assessed for their NCEA so that barriers to achievement can be removed and they can have a fair opportunity to achieve credits. The support is used for inter-

From the Mathematics Department

The WINNER of the “Guess the number of Chocolate fish in the Jar” for OPEN NIGHT was GEORGIA MURRAY. Congratulations, she gets to eat them all !!

Thank you to everyone who participated the winning number was 77.

nal standards and external standards (exams).

Examples of SAC are use of a writer or a computer, extra time, braille or enlarged papers, or a reader.

How is an applications made for Special Assessment Conditions?

Your daughter will need to complete a student application for entitlement to SAC form. These are available from the Deputy Principal in charge of NCEA, Ms Rowlands, or from the NZQA website. The application will need to be supported by a report written by a registered professional, certifying the medical condition and/or learning disability and making recommendations for the assessment of learning (SAC). The report must have been completed within the last three years.

STUDENT TO STUDENT TUTORING AVAILABLE Year 13 students are available for tutoring in a range of subjects at Level 1 and 2. If you think your daughter would benefit from some extra tuition please contact: Chantal Stopford ext 724 or Ann Marie Wilson ext 725 to arrange.

A fee of $10/hour is payable directly to the student tutor.

What happens then?

The school applies online through a very secure portal providing data and other information showing the need for the SAC requested.

Applications close in mid-February 2018.

NZQA assessors may approve or amend or decline all or any of the SACs requested for your child on the basis of the information provided. Approval means that they are entitled to use the SCA for internal and external assessment (exams) for that year.

Who to contact at school If you think your daughter may be eligible for SACs contact one of the following people;  Glenda Rowlands, Deputy Principal in charge of NZQA  The year level Dean  Mrs Mordue, SENCO

Tauranga Performing Arts Competition Katie Oliver, 12PTD, participated in the Speech and Drama Section of the Tauranga Performing Arts competitions in July where she was placed 1st in the Shakespeare Class and 1st in the Young Performer Improvisation Scholarship Class.

Katie was placed 2nd in the Federation of Lyceum Clubs Major Award and National Young Performer of the Year Nomination.

She performed a character role, a poem and a prose. She was nominated to go through to the National Finals to be held in October.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

There is always something going on in the school library…

Environmental Classroom/

Container Design Competition

Votes for Women!

The upcoming New Zealand General Election has stirred the librarians into looking into New Zealand’s illustrious past. We felt the need to remind everyone that in 1893, New Zealand women were the first in the world to gain the vote. Quite an achievement for a little country at the far end of the world. To celebrate, we contacted former Tauranga Girls’ College history teacher, Fiona Kean, who heads Tauranga’s Heritage Collection and borrowed some interesting items from her. Here are some images:

The school library is delighted to be promoting awareness of our natural environment. The competition to design some beautiful images for the outside of two shipping containers has been active for some weeks and has attracted some imaginative entries. Come and have a look before we move on to promoting the New Zealand General Election.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT Visiting Author We were very excited to host Carrie Rudzinski recently as our visiting author this term. She was ranked 4th in the World at the 2014 Women of the World Poetry Slam and was named Best Female Poet in 2008 at her first national poetry competition. Featured in Bustle, the Huffington Post, and Teen Vogue, she has performed her work over the past 12 years in 5 countries and in almost all 50 of the United States. A published author, Carrie is currently a lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology’s Faculty of Creative Arts teaching performing arts and creative writing. Our girls were very engaged by her readings and comments about writing poetry.

WINNERS of the Year Level Speech Competition Year 9 Hannah Power Year 10 Elena Broadfoot

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Careers Department The value of tertiary liaison visits to Tauranga Girls’ College An interview with Phil Greig from Massey University, by Ayla Carey Phil Greig is from Massey University and studied a Bachelor of Communication for 3 years in Palmerston North. After finishing his qualification Phil applied for a role in the student recruitment team, where he has been working for the past year and a half. This has involved him with secondary schools and working with high school students hoping to potentially attend university.

Phil says the sequence of transitioning secondary students into university is broken down into various events during the school year:

different campuses. This is also a great opportunity for all students to ask questions about any degree programmes, majors/minors they may be interested in.

At Tauranga Girls’ College senior students are encouraged to attend these liaison meetings from each of the different universities and many polytechnics from around New Zealand.

Next comes information evenings, careers evenings and expos (for example the Tauranga Careers Expo). These events are great opportunities for students and their parents to speak to the university representatives and enquire into the financial side of things. Students can further increase their knowledge into specific aspects.

Course planning normally involves a small group of students who are interested in the same area of study and they are able to personally speak to a university staff member. The meeting covers the enrolment process, accommodation, provides the chance to ask any questions and details on scholarships. In the words of Phil, “Apply, apply and apply for scholarships!”

First comes the initial liaison meeting with the school. This is a general overview of the university itself and the basics of applying.

The visit covers what the university specialises in, what it offers, accommodation options and the

Grace Son on her course planning experience, “That was so helpful and I am so glad that I attended!

Everything is so clear now and I don’t have to stress anymore.”

According to Sandalika Illangamudalige “It is very important talking to someone face

Jerushah with Phil (from Massey university), going over course planning options. to face rather than online and getting the rundown on what’s happening is better in person. It is way less intimidating and less problematic than trying to sort it out on your own via internet.”

Phil shared one piece of advice, “Look at all your options, look at all unis, find a place that suits your lifestyle and DO YOUR RESEARCH.”

Kitiona Pasene from Otago University talking to students

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

SENIOR ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS NOTICE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS All Year 11, 12 and 13 students are on exam leave from Wednesday 13 September – Tuesday 19 September Exam Locations: A Block

J Block

M Block

Starting Times: Students are required to read the exam timetable carefully and ensure they know when their assessments occur.

Please note:  times you must attend assessments  the starting time of your exams  the duration of you exams, please note that the times the assessments start may vary  If you have an examination clash you must see Mrs Umbers via the student reception

Absence: If a student is legitimately unable to attend an assessment (eg due to illness or family bereavement), then please notify Mrs Umbers through the School Office 578-8114, on the day of the exam, to organise for the exam to be re-scheduled. Please follow this in writing with a Medical Certificate or a letter from home.

The school follows NZQA examination regulations for the Benchmark examinations and assessment is not rescheduled for any circumstances other than illness or a family crisis.

This is a week that is focused on learning and the school does not organise co-curricular activity for senior students during this week.

Examination Rules:          

No talking or any other communication between students.

Do not do anything to disturb other students during the exam.

If a student has a cell phone or iPod, it must be turned off and left in their bag.

No receiving or sending of texts during exams!

All notes and books are to be left in school bags.

School bags must be left at the front of the examination room.

Students taking information in any form into the examination will be treated as a breach of exam regulations and could result in a Not Achieved grade.

Correct school uniform must be worn.

No eating during the exam (including gum).

Students cannot leave the exam room within the first 45 minutes or the last 15 minutes of the exam, including using the toilet (this means for a one hour exam students must stay for the duration).

Note: Students must be ready to enter their exam room 10 minutes before the exam is due to start.

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

CALENDAR 03-10-Sept 06 Sept 08 Sept 12 Sept 13-19 Sept 15-17 Sept 17-20 Sept 20-21 Sept

Winter Tournament Week Maths Olympiad Mid Term Break Pasifika: Whakamarama Primary School Senior Benchmark Exams NZSS Swimming Championships: Hamilton NISS Ski: Ohakune National YSIH Competition: Bruce Mason Centre, Takapuna BST field trip: Tauranga Civil and District Court International Dept: Sanctuary Mountain/Hobbiton Y11 Te Whe Programme: Tauranga Ed Centre, BOPDHB & House of Science Opening of Mereira STAR Film & Media Production Course 12/13FMP NISS Snowboarding: Mt Ruapehu Y13 Production Round the Mount Relay Junior Model United Nations Mardi Gras Y12 Production BIO field trip: Kelly Tarlton & Zoo - Auckland Full School Sports Assembly

20 Sept 21 Sept

22 Sept 25-27 Sept 25-26 Sept 25 Sept 26 Sept 27-28 Sept 28 Sept 29 Sept

Teacher Only Day -End of Term 3

01-10 Oct 12-15 Oct 07 Oct

Samoa Trip NZSS Basketball ‘A’: Palmerston North Ekiden Relay: Rotorua

16 Oct

Term 4 begins

Senior Timetable Benchmark Exams 13 – 19 September 2017 WEDNESDAY 13 Sept AM 11ENG 11ENL 12CHE 13TRR 13HIS 13MAC

PM 13ENG 13ENL 13ENP 11ACC 11GER/FRE/JAP 11HTH 12GEO 12ECO 12MUS/CMS

THURSDAY 14 Sept

FRIDAY 15 Sept

MONDAY 18 Sept

TUESDAY 19 Sept

11MAE (Part 1) 11MAT 11MAP 12DNC 12ACC 12FNU 13ACC 13DNC 13PHY

11CPS (CHE) 11SCC 11SCI (+ 10FLT/10OSL) 12BYB/BYA 13BIO 13DRA

11BSC 11SPA 12HIS 12HTH 12FRE/GER/JAP/ SPA 13CHE

11MAE (Part 2 MCAT) 11MAE (Part 3) 12CLS 11/12DTS 12TRR 13ARH 23ESG/A 13MAS

11GEO 12ENG 12ENL 12ENP 13CLS 13ECO 13FNU

11BST 11DNC 11TRR 12MAT 12MAE 13BST 13FRE/GER/JAP 13MUS

11ENP 11HIS 12DRA 12PHY 13GEO 13HTH

11DRA 11/12DTS 11FNU 11MUS/11CMS 12BST

TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE

September 2017

Contacting the College for 2017 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

Dean: Ms Kylie Valentine ext 766

Year 10

Senior Leader: Mrs Millar

Dean: Ms Caroline Gill ext 768

Year 11

Senior Leader: Mrs Ferguson

Dean: Mrs Bridget Prendiville ext 769

Year 12

Senior Leader: Ms Rowlands

Deans: Mrs Audrey Keightley & Ms Margot Glaser-Brown ext 770

Year 13

Senior Leader: Ms Rowlands

Deans: Mrs Robyn Mankelow & Ms Jackie Borell ext 767

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 Senior Deputy Principal: Ms Millar ext 707 or the Principal: Mrs Cowens.