Clubs
The clubs at Wellington College are a great way for students to spend time doing things they enjoy, meet fellow students with similar interests, and learn new skills.
Most clubs meet at lunchtime on a day and in a classroom that will be advertised in the Daily Notices. Registration fees are kept to a minimum. Some clubs are run by staff while others are dependent on student leadership. If students have ideas for a new club we are always interested in hearing from them – email t.smith@wc.school.nz
At the start of each school year we hold a Clubs Day so students can learn about them and sign up.
We look forward to wide student participation in our 2023 clubs.
List of Clubs at Wellington College
Aeronautics Club combines aviation and rocketry into a fun place where anybody with a passion for flight can hang out. Join the Aeronautics Club to meet other like-minded people, and learn more about the history of aviation, rocketry, and the physics of flight. We can learn about upcoming developments in the world of aviation, or watch any recent rocket launches. Later in the year we might try and get some aviation professionals to come in and talk about their aeronautics experiences. Who knows, we might even go on a field trip later in the year if there is enough interest. I want everybody who comes into the Aeronautics Club to come out having learnt something new that they didn’t already know, even if it’s just a tiny little thing.
Amnesty International Wellington College is open to all students, of all years, who are interested in advocating human rights. We fundraise for charities and causes, such as Wellington City Mission and “Welcoming Communities NZ” and raise awareness for just causes or breaches of civil liberties. It’s a great way to get engaged with the Wellington Community and meet lots of new people. Watch Daily notices for updates. Amnesty takes place every other Thursday at lunch in 201, across the whole year.
CONVENOR: Ms Brooklyn Leota b.leota@wc.school.nz
COST: Will be added to the portal if a cost is incurred – an email would be sent home first
TO REGISTER: Click here
CAM Club is where students can use the laser cutter or 3D printer for personal projects. Payment will be as required for materials.
WHERE: T10/T2
WHEN: one lunchtime TBC
CONTACT: Ms. Holly Browne at h.browne@wc.school.nz
TO REGISTER: Click here.
Can you spot a Ferrari faster than Jeremy Clarkson? Argue that not all Porsche 911s are the same? And believe that Elon Musk will change the face of transportation forever?
Car Club is open to all year groups as a lunchtime meet-up to discuss all things cars and motorsport. Car Club will be up and running during Term Two and Three in 305, check the daily notices for more details to come.
Activities will include:
– Watching old Top Gear and Grand Tour episodes,
– Car quizzes,
– Car debates,
– Our version of the Top Gear Cool Wall,
– Practical stuff: Buying your first car, budgeting running costs, changing a tyre, etc.
CONVENOR: Mr. Luke Williams l.williams@wc.school.nz
TO REGISTER: Click here
The Chess Club is a friendly relaxed club that welcomes players of all ability levels. Students who wish to may compete for the titles of Junior Champion, Senior Champion, and overall Wellington College Chess Champion. The school team, which comprises our top four students, competes in the regional competition. Wellington College School Team has performed strongly in these competitions, winning the regional title for the last three years. The 2017 team was placed 5th in the national competition and in 2018, 7th. Watch Daily Notices for venue and days. Chess takes place twice a week, during lunchtime, throughout the school year.
CONVENOR: Mr David Calder
CONTACT: d.calder@wc.school.nz
COST: A cost will be incurred by those entering inter-school competitions and will be charged to the portal
TO REGISTER: Click here
Code Club is a coding club that provides a competitive environment to senior students. Juniors that have previous knowledge are also welcome but should expect to find it challenging. If there is interest a Junior Code Club will run alongside the more senior group so no matter your level of expertise – come along and check it out. It will start in Term 2 and run through Term 4.
WHERE: TBC: keep an eye on the Daily Notices
There is no charge but please register your interest here.
For more information about Junior Drama, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
For more information about Senior Drama, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
For more information about Major Production, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
For more information about Sheilah Winn, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
For more information about Theatre Sports, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
For more information about Show Quest, visit the Drama Department Website.
Contact: Jessie Cooper
j.cooper@wc.school.nz
Debating teams are entered at all levels in the Wellington Regional Interschool Competition. A number of teams always reach the semi-finals and finals. In 2016 our Senior Certificate 1 team won their grade and the Senior Premier A Team won the Russell McVeagh Regional Champs. In 2017 our Prem A won the Wellington Championships and in 2018 Prem B won their grade and junior and senior teams won the regional Impromptu Champs. In 2019 Senior Certificate 1 won their grade and the Prem A team was the regional champion with 2 students selected for the Wellington team. In 2020 Prem B, Senior Cert 1, and Junior Cert 2 all won their grade 2021 saw many teams in finals with Prem B winning their grade.
Trials for the interschool teams will be held early in Term 1. Interschool debates take place in the evening or after school:
- Senior Premier A and B; Tuesday evening
- Senior Certificate; Thursday after school
- Junior Premier; Tuesday late afternoon before Senior Premier A
- Junior Certificate; Wednesday after school
In addition to the interschool competition, there is an excellent In-house competition for Years 9-13 run by senior students. Previous experience is not required for In-house debating and all interested students are placed in teams. Trials are not required. Debates take place at lunchtime.
With 150 students involved, debating is a very strong and popular Arts activity at Wellington College, and one which develops excellent skills in Public Speaking, structuring an argument, and critical thinking. The Staff vs Students Debate is always a highlight of Arts Week.
LEVELS: Years 9-13
TRIALS: Trials are held at lunchtime early in Term 1. Watch for information in the Daily Notices.
COACHING: This usually takes place at lunchtime and occasionally after school. Coaching is provided by teachers and senior students and all team members are expected to attend. Coaching for junior in-house teams is carried out by senior students.
COMPETITIONS: In-House competition: lunchtime. Interschool competition: after school or in the evenings, usually 4-5 times during Terms 1, 2, and 3.
COSTS: $25 for interschool debaters; $15 for inhouse debaters. If you register for interschool and end up in an in-house team, you will get a refund.
CONVENOR: Ms. Cushla Thomson c.thomson@wc.school.nz
In-house Registration: Click here
Interschool Registration: Click here
Environmental Club is looking for those interested in managing and improving our local community. The club has three main goals; keeping Wellington predator-free, being the kaitiakitanga for our local environment, and building more sustainable systems in the WC community.
This club is a great way to get involved with your mates and help be a guardian over our land for the future. The meetings are fortnightly during Wednesday lunchtimes, with volunteering opportunities offered throughout the school year
TIC: Mr. A Burt
Would you like to represent your school in the regional e-sports tournament featuring League of Legends, NBA2k, Rocket League, and Valorant – or just get together with people who are into video games? Then the E-sports club is for you! Join the Google Classroom using the code apu5fth to find out more information. Fill out the form that’s on there to express your interests!
For people who play other games, there may be chances to play later on in the year, so join up to keep up to date.
CONTACT: Mr Cucerzan at c.cucerzan@wc.school.nz
WHERE: IC1
WHEN: Friday lunchtime (but not every week – check the Google Classroom
Google Classroom Code: apu5fth”
Notices: Read the daily notices to find out more!
Film is a vast vault of stories stretching back one hundred years, across every continent, and told in every language. It is an extraordinary cultural asset, yet New Zealand students see practically nothing of it. The theatrical releases represent a tiny and culturally skewed percentage of this archive of creative and intellectual endeavour. The WC Film Club will offer opportunities to engage with film beyond the popcorn and soda experience. Club members will reflect on the craft of film, increase their appreciation of art direction, and discuss the work as a reflection of its time. WC Film Club will commence in the second half of Term 1. Information in the Daily Notices.
Open to Year 11-13 students only
WHEN & WHERE: TBC.
FOR MEMBERSHIP: register here
The Association is open to all students. The goal of the Association is to provide opportunities and activities for students of all nationalities to share aspects of their culture and develop friendships. Kiwi students are encouraged to join as this provides significant leadership opportunities.
Activities:
- Welcome and orientation activities for new international students and other international visitors; organising a variety of activities with an international flavour, International Week, Sports Tournaments etc
- Managing the Peer Tutoring programme for international students
- Fundraising for disadvantaged groups in other countries for example The Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, Hanoi
- Representing the College at international functions
- Managing the International Week
- Promoting the Cultural diversity of Wellington College
- Running the ISA Facebook
CONVENOR: Mr. Michael Ellett – International Manager
CONTACTS: Ph +64 22 639 1046 m.ellett@wc.school.nz
LEVELS: Years 9-13
Register your interest: Click here
Te Haeata Awatea
Taiahaha! Taiahaha!
Ko te mana Māori e ngunguru nei! I au! Au! Auē hā! Hī!
Te Haeata Awatea e ngunguru nei! I au! Au! Auē hā! Hī!
Kapa Haka offers students an opportunity to be involved in Māori performing arts. They will learn a whole range of kapa haka skills, including a variety of haka & waiata, choreography, as well as mau rākau (weaponry) and taonga pūoro (musical instruments). Students will have the opportunity to perform in school-based performances and regional & national events. Wellington College combines with Wellington Girls’ College in a group called Te Haeata Awatea.
COORDINATOR: Whaea Katie Thompson
PRACTICES: The group practices throughout the year. Combined after-school practices are held weekly, Monday after school, at either Wellington College or Wellington Girls’ College. School-based practices are held before school and during lunchtime. Noho Marae will be run in the build-up to events or competitions. Participants are expected to attend all practices, rehearsals, and noho marae.
MEMBERSHIP: Open to all Wellington College students. Parents and whānau are expected to be a part of the kapa haka support group.
COSTS: $200. Participating in fundraising is required.
Kia mau ki ngā taonga a Tāne-rore!
Register your interest: Click here
Chinese Club
The Chinese Club is open to all students interested in Chinese culture and intends to offer an authentic Chinese experience to the wider community of Wellington College. Activities will include traditional calligraphy and painting, cooking, and board games such as Chinese checkers, Chinese chess, and mahjong. The club is open to all interested students.
Xiexie da jia.
CONVENOR: Mr. Feng Yu f.yu@wc.school.nz
COSTS: No Cost
Register your interest: Click here
French Club LE CLUB FRANÇAIS
Students who are interested in French and French culture across the world are welcome to this club which is run and organised by Senior students studying French. French food tasting is a regular part of the meetings – the year begins with a French feast. Other activities include watching French films, listening to French music, celebrating French festivals including Fête de la Chandeleur and Poisson d’avril, playing French scrabble and other games such as Tour de France and Pétanque, If you have any problems with your French language in class, the club is the perfect place to bring it up and solve any tricky problems you may have. The club is also a place where you can prepare for DELF Scolaire, the international French-language qualification. All ideas are welcome from students.
CONVENOR: Mr. Guy Mance
CONTACT: g.mance@wc.school.nz
LEVELS: Years 9-13 COST: Any costs incurred will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first
Register your interest: Click here
German Club
Are you interested in the German language and German-speaking countries? All students from Year 9 to Year 13 are welcome to this club. We begin the year with a German-style lunch that celebrates food from German-speaking countries. Students also watch German films, listen to German music, play German board games and online games/apps, and do German crafting work. All new ideas are welcome from students. Watch the Daily Notices for venues and dates.
ROOM: Mr. Blair Cameron b.cameron@wc.school.nz
LEVELS: Years 9 – 13
COST: If a cost is incurred it will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first
Register your interest: Click here
Hispanic Club
The Hispanic Club runs at lunchtime and is open to any student interested in learning more about Spain and Latin America. We have a range of activities, which enable students to enjoy learning about the cultural, historical, and linguistic aspects of a variety of Spanish-speaking countries. In the past, these activities have included piñata making (and breaking), film viewings, and feasting on churros and tacos.
CONVENOR: Ms. Jo Towers or contact HERE
CONTACT: j.towers@wc.school.nz
LEVELS: Years 9-13
COST: Any costs incurred will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first
To register your interest: Click here
Japanese Club
The Japanese Club is open to all students interested in Japanese culture and language. There is a range of activities from traditional to modern and from well-known to local aspects of Japanese culture. There are perfect opportunities to learn conversational Japanese language too. This is the place where we create a positive attitude and atmosphere with Japanese culture. See Daily Notices for venue and day.
CONVENOR: Mr. Shinichi Muroya s.muroya@wc.school.nz
COST: If a cost is incurred it will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first with an explanation
To register your interest: Click here
Lion Dance is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries. This will be a great cultural and sporting experience. You are going to learn lion dance skills and perform for school and community events such as opening ceremonies, Christmas parades, and Chinese New Year celebrations, etc. Join and have fun in Lion Dance Group. Everyone is welcome!
CONTACT: Mr. Feng Yu f.yu@wc.school.nz
Register your interest: here
Coll Hub was successfully re-launched in 2015 and published in hard copy and on the school website. The paper covers school events, relevant news and opinion pieces. The newspaper will be published if there are senior students prepared to take the role of editor. We also need students – Year 9 to 13 – to write articles, work on layout, etc. Open to all students interested in writing and journalism but to function the group needs 2 senior student editors. Contact Mr. Smith if you are interested in the editorial roles.
CONVENOR: Mr. Smith
CONTACT: t.smith@wc.school.nz
ACTIVITIES: Editorial meetings TBA. Details in Daily Notices.
COST: none
Register your interest: here
Explore the ancient art of paper folding. Try your hand at folding ancient dragons, 9 intersecting 8-pointed stars, and the ultimate 3D paper plane. All levels are catered for with a library of over 150 books there is something for everyone be it the first time you have folded or if you are an already accomplished folder. Mr. Hurring will help guide you through the tricky bits and will from time to time teach some of his original models.
CONVENOR: Mr. James Hurring j.hurring@wc.school.nz
WHEN: Lunchtimes on Thursdays all year
VENUE: M5. See daily notices for more details
COST: If a cost is incurred a charge will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first
TO REGISTER: Click here
At Politics Club we discuss not only politics but a range of philosophical and ethical issues. Some moots have been: Violence by Black Lives Matter protestors is justified, Statues of NZ colonial figures should be removed, and NZ acted too strongly to eliminate Covid-19. Unlike debating, however, the aim of the Politics Club is not to ‘win’ the argument – instead, we listen to others, as well as express our own views, and we are willing to change our minds!
We intend to put a team into the Ethics Olympiad again in 2022.
Politics Club takes place every other Thursday at lunch in 201, across the whole year.
CONVENOR: Eliza Bartlett e.bartlett@wc.school.nz
Register your interest HERE
Public Speaking is a skill that is valued and fostered at Wellington College and we have a record of success in competitions. In 2017 Fahri Agam won the regional Race Unity Speech competition, in 2016 Nick Webster won the regional title in the United Nations Speech Competition and went on to be runner-up nationally and in 2018 the national title for this competition was won by Matthew Sutcliffe. Students are helped to prepare and deliver their speeches for a number of local and national competitions such as the United Nations Secondary Schools Speech Award, Lions Young Speechmaker Competition, and the Stockley Cup.
The Wellington College Speaking Competition takes place in Term 3. All Year 9 to Year 11 students deliver a prepared speech in their English class. For Year 12 and 13 students, entry is voluntary. Semifinalists from each class are narrowed down to three or four finalists at junior, intermediate, and senior level. Finals will take place at an evening function date TBC
The College Unprepared Speech Competition is open to all senior students and has the advantage of not requiring preparation or study.
LEVELS: years 11-13 for external competitions
CONVENOR: Mr. Smith t.smith@wc.school.nz
COST: none
To register interest: Click here
Do you enjoy solving Rubiks Cube or a myriad of other logic puzzles, or just interested in learning how then this is the perfect club for you? With hundreds of puzzles to choose from, covering Rubik’s complete range through to metal twist puzzles and wooden dissection puzzles, there is something to challenge everyone. Get key pointers from WC’s own world-class cubers or learn to master new puzzles.
CONVENOR: Mr. James Hurring j.hurring@wc.school.nz
WHEN: Lunch times on Wednesdays all year
VENUE: M5. See daily notices for more details
COST: None
TO REGISTER: Click here
What do we do?
• Sci-Fi movies/TV
• Discussion/analysis
• Teacher and student-led presentations on areas of interest (gaming, collectibles, etc).
• Sci-Fi quizzes/competitions/games.
Biases: overwhelmingly and unashamedly Star Wars, but completely open to other areas of interest and ideas as well.
Click here to view the club in action
CONVENOR: Mr. Craig Blacklock c.blacklock@wc.school.nz
WHEN: Lunchtime once a week in Term 2.
VENUE: To be confirmed. Details will be in Daily Notices.
COST: If a cost is incurred it will be added to the portal – an email will be sent home first
To register interest: Here
The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate club is open to all interested players. If you do not have a Nintendo Switch, you can use a main switch connected to the projector or share it with someone who wants to. Players will engage in tournaments and just play the game. This club will run if there is student interest and student leadership
Time and place: TBC
Watch Daily Notices for details
CONVENOR: Tama Smith t.smith@wc.school.nz
Register your interest here
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award began in the UK in the 1950s. It has grown to include countries all over the world and tens of thousands of students are involved world – wide every year. The award suits students who are already doing some extra-curricular activities. The sections include an expedition (for example a tramp), sport, skill and service.
