May 7, 2021
During the autumn break a talented trio of WC students entered the NZ Young Scientists' tournament - the first time Coll has entered a team into a tournament like this. Over three gruelling days students were challenged by other school's teams in 'Science Fights' to present, and defend in debate, solutions to open-ended science problems. Seven problems had been published in advance, so Aston Varga, Sumner Handcock and captain Krishin Cox had already put in many, many hours of hard work to get their presentations up to scratch...or so they hoped!
A good showing in the first two rounds followed by a brilliant presentation and defence in round three put us into the grand final. The presentations were strong, the debates were tough, but in the end our boys showed their superior understanding of key science ideas, debating skills. An exemplary presentation (explaining the buzzing sound you get if you roll a coin around the inside of a balloon) won Wellington College the trophy and won our scientific trio places in the New Zealand squad, hoping to represent NZ at the international tournament by Zoom later this year.
May 5, 2021
Along with other Wellington schools, we will be having a Staff-Only Day on Tuesday 11 May to prepare for changes to the NCEA.
These have been organised by the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, NZEI Te Riu Roa, and PPTA Te Wehengarua, Click here for further details about the focus of these days.
May 3, 2021
The College raised well over $10,000 from the tournament - money which will go directly to all extra curricular sports and arts programmes at the College. This is a simply amazing result.
This was the first Golf Day the College has run for a number of years, and with over 140 golfers in the field, we were delighted with how it all came together. So much so, we are already making plans to run the event again in 2022.
Thank you to those who participated and we look forward to seeing you next year!
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It was a remarkably close field, where handicaps and the format delivered incredibly close results!
The longest drive for men went to Jay Maaka and for women went to Laura Humphreys. The most notable 'Closest to the Pin Drive' was by Mike Brodie, who was only 7 inches from winning the MGSZ on the Gazley sponsored Hole in One. So close Mike!
In the teams, congratulations to the team from Tommy's Real Estate who won 1st Place.
Congratulations to all winners!
April 15, 2021
The Ministry of Education has developed a help sheet concerning the seismic status of the Tower Block. This is available here.
April 14, 2021
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Term 1 attitudinal reports are now available through the parent portal. To see your student’s attitudinal report you will need to login to the parent portal.
Choose the drop down menu ‘results’ and then select ‘current year results’. You will see reports for each subject under the following three categories:
We would also like to invite you to attend the parent teacher interviews with subject teachers early in Term Two. There will be three evenings running on the 4th May, 13th May and 19th May for you to choose from
To accommodate the interviews, school will finish at 2:20pm on those days and the interviews will run from 3pm to 6:30pm
This year the interviews will be held in the Tower block, M block and the Library instead of the AGC. (Please see the plan for rooming at the end of this document or at this link to help you book interviews). Our suggestion is to have a 5 minute break between interviews to ensure you can get to the next room in time.
There are no specific nights for year groups. Please just choose the evening that suits you best.
1. Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz
2. Click on 'Make a Booking'
3. Use this code: 8fp38 - Click Go
4. Fill out the form - make sure you enter how many students you have at Wellington College and then enter their names - Click Go
5. Choose all your son's teachers at once - your son will inform you of his teachers' names, but you can also find this information on the Parent Portal under attendance - Click Go
6. Make sure you choose the correct dates - there are 3 dates on offer, all in the first 3 weeks of next term
7. After making your bookings Click Go - You can print the final screen with all your bookings, but you will receive an email with the same list of bookings.
Please make sure you refer to the room plan for the evening when making you bookings
Interview bookings will close at 5pm on Monday 3rd May for 4th May, and at 5pm on Monday 10th for interviews on 13th and 19th.
April 12, 2021
On the 7th May all Year 12 students will be participating in a Healthy Relationship Workshop called “Loves Me Not”. This is a ‘whole-school approach’ to help prevent abusive behaviour in relationships. It is based on a student inquiry learning process, where students take action (personal action, effective bystander action and community action) to prevent harm from relationship abuse. It encourages teenagers to engage in conversations with whanau about navigating relationships and avoiding relationship abuse.
The Loves-Me-Not workshop is built around six focus areas. It will be delivered as a one-day workshop in which students will:
• explore qualities of good relationships
• recognise early signs of relationship abuse
• understand sexual consent, what it means, and why they need it
• apply critical thinking about who is advantaged by societal myths, and how these myths may perpetuate relationship abuse and acts of sexual abuse
• explore if, when and how to be an active bystander
• are encouraged to 'take action for change' for themselves, their friends and family, and the wider community to have safer communities together.
Each workshop will have up to 25 students and facilitators.
The team of three trained facilitators will be made up of a nominated school staff member, a member of police, and a non-government organisation representative. At least one of the facilitators will be a male. This interagency model of facilitation is key to Loves-Me-Not, as it provides:
• community support for the school and the teachers to promote positive relationships.
• a range of agencies that young people are able to access if affected by relationship abuse.
The day will begin at 9:30am instead of the normal 10.20am Friday start. The day will conclude around 3pm.
It is expected that all students will attend, however the workshop does contain some confronting and challenging content. if you would prefer that a student in your care doesn't take part, please email one of the Year 12 Deans Jenna Vreeburg j.vreeburg@wc.school.nz or Anine Korb a.korb@wc.school.nz.
April 8, 2021
Wellington College Football (WCF) is thrilled to announce that they have signed an MOU with the Wellington Phoenix Academy to run the Wellington College Football Player Development Centre.
The Phoenix Academy will bring its football coaching and training methodology to WCF by providing a football development programme, run by qualified coaches, for Wellington College footballers.
This exciting initiative has been led by WCF committee member Mr Alen Juran, who says the program will bring a wealth of skill and experience from the Phoenix Academy into the College.
“We also want to provide high quality coaching to those boys who wish to play for Wellington College, and who desire the best coaching available,” says Juran.
“What sold us on the Phoenix as a partner, was their commitment to growing not only the skills of our more talented players, but also the skills of those boys who simply love playing, or being involved in football”.
Paul Temple, Academy Director of the Wellington Phoenix, says that the Academy is not only about the top end players, but also about helping develop young footballers around the region.
“In the past 12 months the Academy has launched a number of development programmes across the Wellington Community - this new development centre based at Wellington College will be a great opportunity to help students who love football and want to improve”.
The Coaching Programme will be overseen by Phoenix Youth Development Coach, Callum Holmes and the Academy’s team of qualified Youth Development Coaches.
Holmes says he is excited by the opportunity to work with Wellington College and their students.
“I think this opportunity to provide our support to the College is very exciting; we have a group of talented coaches who are looking forward to working with the boys at Wellington College across a range of levels.”
Blair Mainwaring, WC Football President says that Wellington College is focussed on the role football can play in helping develop their boys into men.
“The Wellington College values of ‘Community, Oranga, Leadership and Learning Together’ are integral to how football operates at Wellington College - I am encouraged that the Phoenix are committed to working with us in our values-driven approach”.
Wellington College is committed to growing the game at all levels, with boys of any ability invited to apply.
Boys who wish to participate in the 2021 Wellington College Player Development Centre are invited to register their interest as soon as possible. Due to pitch availability constraints, numbers will unfortunately be limited.
The PDC will run initially for two mornings a week before school, from 7am to 8.15am.
The Academy intends to start the Player Development Centre at the beginning of Term Two (early May).
The cost of attending the PDC is $199 + GST per term, with funding available to assist students who would face a financial challenge to attend.
April 8, 2021
Metlink have informed us of changes to the Houghton Bay bus route
From 7am Monday 19th April until June 2021, buses that normally drive along Hungerford Road and View Road will detour via Houghton Bay Road. This is due to roadworks.
Passengers who would normally get on the bus on either of the these streets will need to go to Houghton Bay Road to catch their bus.
April 7, 2021
This photo of old boy and then Major General, Bernard Freyberg has been reproduced many times. But did you know that the man looking at the camera is also an old boy of Wellington College?
Jack Lester Griffiths was Freyberg’s aide-de-camp(ADC). He was also an All Black captain.
Born in Wellington in 1912 Jack lived in Khandallah. He came to Wellington College in 1926 and stayed for three years. “Like all boys, I wanted to become a footballer.” In 1928 Jack made the 1st XV.
“We were under the heading of a territorial force at Wellington College. Every Friday afternoon there was drill. We had tutors from the permanent staff or directors I should say. And some of our Masters who were commissioned officers held responsible posts.” This was before compulsory military training, but it was common at boys’ schools.
About to enter his fourth year Jack was accepted as an employee of the Bank of New Zealand in 1929. Rugby Football was his passion. He made his debut for the Wellington representative side as an 18 year old in 1931 and continued to represent the province until 1938. 1934 saw Griffiths move into the big time, with an All Black trial, North Island representation, an All Black tour to Australia and his test debut in the second of the internationals.
He toured with the All Blacks again in 1935/6 to the British Isles, where he appeared in 16 matches - 10 at first five eight, five at second and one as centre - and in three of the four tests. Back in New Zealand he captained the All Blacks in both tests against the 1936 Australians, was not required for the 1937 series against South Africa, but toured Australia again the following season, playing in the third test.
Source: http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=343
Jack Griffiths (1926-1928) on how he came to meet Bernard Freyberg (1898-1904):
“I was fortunate enough to be selected in playing rugby in 1935 for the New Zealand All Blacks who were touring the British Isles. During that period of our stay in London, General Freyberg, who was a very ardent rugby supporter, invited to his London flat six members of our team. He requested that at least one of whom should be a Wellington College old boy if it were possible. Well, there were two of us in the team who were Wellington College old boys. Joe Sadler and myself. We tossed and I won. It was a tremendous evening with personalities well known in earlier days of World War, and in history. When I mention names like Lord Jellico, Lady Bicester and people of that standing. It was an education to we young fellows on a rugby tour.”
In 1939, at the age of 27, Jack Griffiths, then stationed in Tokomaru Bay signed up for the New Zealand Army. “I think it was a matter of being loyal to the Crown… When war was declared there were quite a number, maybe six, of we bank clerks. As a bulk we went and offered our services. We volunteered for service in the army or whatever corps was thought suitable”.
“I left New Zealand as a private soldier with a first echelon to the Middle East. We took part in a lot of activities and trained to become soldiers.” Jack went through the battles in Greece, Crete and the Western Desert, finishing in Italy.
When General Freyberg first appointed Jack Griffiths to his staff he said it would be for three months as was his policy. “But I’m afraid that my three months developed into just on four years.”
The only break Jack had was when he came home on furlough. Otherwise he was with the General through all the battles.
"He was a very humane man”, Jack said of Fryberg. “His record of war… people get the impression he was rather severe. Brutal perhaps. But no, he had a very soft heart and his one thought was for his troops, for their comfort, for their everyday wants. He was responsible for establishing a mobile bath unit in the desert. This was wonderful. Soldiers only had a bottle of water to live on per day. But the bath unit would come along and all the troops would have a shower and that sort of thing.” Jack said Freyberg ensured his troops got food as good as anybody else. "He also established forward casualty clearing stations. This meant in battle the wounded soldier would be within easy range of care and assistance. There would be blood and all sorts of things available and the medical staff were highly qualified."
A tremendous boost for Jack Griffiths and all the soldiers in the Western Desert were the visits of the British Prime Minister.
“Mr Churchill took the salute of the whole division when we paraded for him after the North Africa battles were ended. We were in Tripoli at the time. I was in the fortunate position of being in close proximity [and I] overheard him say to our General – Bernard thank goodness you’re here.”
“Mr Churchill’s appreciation for General Freyberg was absolutely outstanding and he of course was responsible for appointing General Freyberg to his naval division in the First World War. So they had a very long and close association together”, says Jack.
After the war Jack Griffiths returned to the Bank of New Zealand. He and his wife Jean were frequent visitors to Government House when Freyberg served as Governor-General (1946-1952). “Sometimes officially, others just the four of us… and for a chat and a meal and that was really delightful. And I did stay the odd weekend at Government House with the General and we’d go and see a rugby match at Athletic Park and that sort of thing.”
“I do not hesitate to say, and I say this quite strongly, that New Zealand and its families were very, very, very lucky to have such as able General at their command. He was a man respected throughout the world for his ability… in all due respects [with] other commanders, our casualties would have been greater. Much greater.”
Jack Griffiths (1926-1928), seen here with JC White passed, away in 2001.
We’re very grateful to old boy David Heather(1959-1963), Jack’s daughters Marilyn Tweedie and Rhonda Heather, and Jack’s grand-daughter Kirsty for sharing their family papers. Special thanks to Kirsty who interviewed Jack in the 1990’s and from that interview the quotes were lifted
April 6, 2021
You can order your summer sports photos directly from the LC Scott website. Click here.
April 4, 2021
The 1921 edition of the annual Wellingtonian contains epic stories from World War 1 that had only just finished 3 years earlier. One that stands out just a little, is of Bernard Freyberg swimming several kilometres, from one of the troop ships to the shore on the Gallipoli peninsula at midnight on 25th April 1915. He set up flares on a beach some distance from the landing site as a decoy to divert Turkish troops from where the landings would actually take place. Much of his swim was done under enemy fire. An extraordinary and almost unbelievable story of bravery and commitment.
The 1921 Wellingtonian also has a short article covering the founding of the tramping club. One of the ‘vice presidents’ was Mr. Gifford after whom the observatory up behind the college was later named. Here is a quote from the article. ‘Commencing on Nov 5th a series of short tramps over the hills near Wellington will, it is hoped, train our members for more ambitious expeditions into the bush country east of Wainuiomata and at the head of the Hutt Valley.’ Later the article continues ‘we do not wish to rob cricket and other summer pastimes of their enthusiasts, but we earnestly ask all those who are not engaged in other activities to give the Wellington College Tramping Club a trial… subs 1s per annum’
In the following years Wellington College groups successfully completed the ‘Southern Crossing’ of the Tararua Ranges on a number of occasions. This was no mean feat, in an era when clothing and equipment, transport, lack of accurate weather forecasts and the condition of the tracks made such trips extremely challenging.
In 2021 we are fortunate to have polypropylene, Gore-Tex and merino wool clothing, comfortable backpacks and easy access, not just to the Tararuas ranges but many other backcountry locations throughout the lower north and upper South Islands. Some of the tracks are still just as muddy, however! Several staff members at Wellington College have significant experience in the outdoors and it is on the back of this expertise and enthusiasm that we are able to run 3 – 4 weekend trips each year into our awesome National and Forest Parks. Many of the students who come on these trips are also working towards the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.
Earlier this term, 24 students, 3 staff members and a a sprinkling of former staff members and parents completed a crossing of the Ruahine ranges, which form a spine along the lower – mid North Island, to the north of Palmerston North. This is the 3rd time in the last decade that Wellington College students have successfully completed this crossing, experiencing a combination of stunning bush, open tops and river travel that has included sightings of whio or blue ducks, in the Oroua river.
In Term 2, on the weekend of 15th – 16th May, weather permitting, a year 10 group will tramp in to Tutuwai hut in the Tauherenikau river in the Southern Tararua ranges. Students will fly-camp on the river flats below the hut. This trip will re-trace part of the route covered by the first Wellington College party to complete a Southern Crossing, 99 years ago.
Later in the year the tramping club will visit the North Island’s central plateau and the Lewis Pass area of the upper South Island.
Phil Kendon
WC Tramping Club Convenor
April 3, 2021
At Wellington College, we strive to provide an outstanding educational experience for all our students. This includes the provision of a highly resourced curriculum, excellent teaching, quality pastoral care, careers guidance and an extensive range of sporting, artistic, service and leadership opportunities.
You may be aware that the decile-based funding that Wellington College receives from the Government provides only for core activities as determined by the Ministry of Education. In fact, if we were to exclude their provision for teacher salaries, property and land-use, only about 50 percent of the funds required to operate Wellington College come from the Government each year. Generous financial support from parents over many decades has been instrumental in developing Wellington College's programmes, approaches and facilities.
We ask that you make your annual donation to Wellington College. Donations are tax deductible and you may chose to pay them through the parent portal, direct credit, automatic payment, or at the Finance Office by cash or eftpos. You could make your donation in one lump sum or spread your payments throughout the rest of the year.
Thank you for your support of Wellington College in this way.
The Wellington College Bank account number is 06-0561-0137023-000. Please use your son's name or student number as a reference when making an online payment.
Thank you for your support of Wellington College in this way.
Paul Retimanu (Board Chair) and Gregor Fountain (Principal)
March 13, 2021
The Examination Centre Manager (ECM) is responsible to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) for the conduct of the NZQA examinations held at examination centres in November and December 2021.
The ECM is responsible for the management of all processes relating to the conduct of secondary examinations at Wellington College according to NZQA procedures. They are also responsible for employing sufficient supervisors to ensure reliable supervision.
Secondary examinations are held for both the NCEA (Levels 1-3) and New Zealand Scholarship.
If you are interested in finding out more about this position, please email Deputy Principal Andrew Savage - a.savage@wc.school.nz.
March 13, 2021
We are delighted to be able to offer you the Entertainment Membership for 2021/2022. This year there are no booklets as all the memberships are digital.
All the funds raised through the sale of Entertainment Memberships support Wellington College's Extra-Curricular Arts programme.
To order your membership securely online please click here.
Thanks for your support.
March 12, 2021
A terrific century from Oscar Jackson set the 1st XI up for a 110 run victory over HIBS in the final of the Premier Youth Grade. They have therefore won the Bruce Murray Cup & qualified for the Gillette Cup National Tournament for the 4th consecutive year.
(Photo credit: Paddy Martin)
March 12, 2021
Please note: Kapiti Youth Support (KYS) are offering an opportunity for students to have their MMR catch up vaccination at a clinic at Wellington College. Please email our school nurse at r.peeterson.school.nz if you wish to register for this service.
March 9, 2021
12 months of border closure means it’s one-way traffic only for international fee paying students. This year the school will miss out on over half a million dollars from income sourced from international student education.
"At the beginning of 2020 we had 72 international fee paying students and we were well on track to finish the year with the equivalent of 100 students", says International Director, Mike Ellett. "By year's end we finished with 69.”
Towards the end of term two 2020, the International Team started to approach off-shore families to see if they wanted to keep their sons in New Zealand over the summer. They then spoke with the Wellington College homestay community to ensure the boys could continue to stay with them. This presented new challenges. It required extra pastoral care and staff to work through the summer break ensuring 24/7 support was available, should it be required. "It also meant the students would be away from home for a solid two years. We have a great responsibility for their care but I'm confident we're managing this well", says Ellett.
The effort to retain students through summer has prevented the collapse of Wellington College’s international student programme. “We have retained 45students for the 2021 year, with all the Year 9-12 2020 cohort returning for a further year”, says Ellett. “There was the natural attrition of Year 13graduates at the end 2020, many to tertiary study within New Zealand".
Incidentally, he International Student graduating class of 2020 achieved 100% in Level 3NCEA and University Entrance. A remarkable result considering the disruptions throughout the year. "These results reflect the extraordinary teaching and learning opportunities at our school and the quality of our international student programme", says Wellington College Principal, Gregor Fountain. "International education is an important source of income for us, but at Wellington College we put the student and their experience first.”
In atypical year the attrition of graduating students would be offset by new arrivals. The closed border negates this. More boys will finish this year and the window for 2022 recruitment is closing every day. Ellett says, "We continue to market digitally and collaboratively and interest in attending Wellington College is huge. But, it’s the grim reality that there’s little we can do. The fact is that student safety comes first and we have no wish to introduce international high school students back into New Zealand until it can be done safely. This would be in line with the Code for the Pastoral Care of International Students legislation.”
If there’s little that can be done then it’s not like Mike Ellett and his sector colleagues haven’t tried. New Zealand state or state-integrated schools cannot sell an online learning programme which is something that was tested and found to have a very solid market. They’ve also considered joint submissions to bring international students through Managed Isolation Quarantine which could involve using other schools' hostels. However, a MIQ system for high school students would need to meet very strict legislative guidelines. The Government has made clear that the priority is tertiary students who are already invested in their New Zealand university pathway. Realistically the sector is treading water and Ellett believes it may be sometime into 2022 for a change in settings.
“The global success of vaccination programmes and free and open border travel are the greatest hopes for the international student sector", says Gregor Fountain.
Wellington College has had to cut its cloth in the face of the reality of this new financial environment. This has led to the restructuring of some roles and funding cuts for students’ extra-curricular activities. In response, various appeals to parents and old boys are being made and a Team WC parent committee is fundraising to make sure the Wellington College sports and arts programmes remain sustainable.
February 20, 2021
There will be temporary changes to the Island Bay School Bus route between March & June as a result of waterworks on Severn Street. Click here or more information. Click here for maps of the temporary route.
February 9, 2021
Cameron Harland has been co-opted on to the Wellington College Board of Trustees. Here is Cam's statement about his desire to join the Board.
Kia ora
My name is Cameron Harland. I am the proud father of two sons currently navigating their way through the amazing school that is Wellington College. I am a born and bred Wellingtonian that is passionate about the city and sees Coll as a fundamental part of its fabric. As a CEO myself I feel that I can support Gregor and his team, with an affinity and understanding of the challenges of the day to day running of an organisation; balanced with solid governance experience. I am passionate about culture and an holistic view of success that embraces – intellect, endeavour and resilience. I am truly excited about contributing to the school and hope I can, in some small way, contribute to its legacy and influence on our young men.
Cameron Harland
February 9, 2021
You can visit the Office Max MySchool website to order stationery for 2021 online.
Buying through Office Max MySchool earns rewards for our school which we can redeem for educational supplies and equipment for our classrooms or for students in need.
February 6, 2021
We are looking for someone who is self-motivated, has good interpersonal and organisational skills, and can multi-task. This is primarily an administrative position but there will be opportunities to have a “hands on role” with the sports.
This permanent, part-time position is for 25 hours per week – term time only - working alongside the Sports Director to assist in the provision of the comprehensive extra-curricular sports programme at Wellington College.
All enquiries to Dave Keat, Sports Director, d.keat@wc.school.nz.
Applications close Monday 1 March 2021. Please note, applications will only be considered if they are received via the School Jobs website.
February 6, 2021
Snapper are discontinuing the 'MySnapper' application which the school uses to offer students Snapper top ups.
From 15th February 2021 the school will no longer be in a position to offer students this facility.
Please click here for alternative ways of topping up Snapper cards.
February 6, 2021
The remarkable success of Wellington College students in the New Zealand Scholarship Awards has continued, with the 2020 awards announced on Thursday 4th February. Scholarships are reserved for the top 3% of Year 13 students across New Zealand in each subject area. ‘Outstanding’ awards are given to the top 0.3% of Year 13 students in each subject area.
Wellington College’s students gained a total of 102 awards in 18 different subjects. 7 awards were gained at ‘Outstanding’ level. The subjects in which scholarships were secured were: Accounting, Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Classical Studies, Design, Economics, English, French, Geography, Health and Physical Education, History, Media Studies, Music, Physics, Religious Studies, Statistics and Technology. Outstanding scholarships were gained in Calculus, Design, English, Health and Physical Education, Physics and Statistics. Successful students are rewarded by receiving financial remuneration towards their tertiary studies.
Wellington College has always been at the forefront of top success among the NZ Scholarship awards since the inception of this examination. Worthy recognition and high commendation are given to both staff and students for their dedication and commitment to attain such high achievements.
February 5, 2021
At Alert Level 2 COVID-19 is contained but there is a risk of community transmission. It is safe for students and staff to attend school as there will be appropriate measures in place, including for students and staff vulnerable to severe illness.
Physical distancing is a good precaution to prevent the spread of disease. However, the Government has acknowledged that this can be difficult to maintain in schools but where possible, children, young people and staff should be far enough away from each other, so that they are not breathing on, or touching each other.
Regular cleaning and good personal hygiene practices are more important than ever. This includes staff and students coughing into their elbows, regular hand-washing with soap, and the regular cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.
It is crucial that all students and staff stay at home if they are sick. We will send anyone home immediately if they have any symptoms.
The detailed information below is designed to help everyone to have a clear understanding of what to expect during Alert Level 2 on the Wellington College campus.
If any member of the Wellington College community has further suggestions about enhancing health and safety at Wellington College during Alert Level 2, please email us at healthandsafety@wc.school.nz.
Under Alert Level 2 Metlink’s school services will run to the usual timetable and routes. Students may sit together and all seats can be filled. Standing, however, is not permitted. With no standing allowed, there will be a reduction in capacity on the bus so students should have a Plan B in place for their school travel.
Please note that all students travelling on public transport (other than specific Wellington College school buses) legally must wear a face-mask at all times.
During Alert Level 2 some additional Health & Safety practices are implemented at Wellington College. These include:
Accurate class are more important than ever under Alert Level 2. Should there be a COVID-19 case in our school community, we would be required to pass this information onto the Ministry of Health for their contact tracing process.
We are aware that there may be a small group of students who may not be able to attend school on some days during Alert Level Two. With this in mind, we will be asking teachers to continue to post notes and other class materials that are being used in class onto their Google Classrooms so that those students who are not at school can still be included in the learning.
Wellington College staff members and students are permitted to facilitate activities on our campus which are solely for Wellington College students. While there is a need to maintain our hygiene and contact tracing procedures, as everyone involved is part of the wider school bubble there is no limit to the number of Wellington College students who can participate in these sessions. If people from outside the student and staff body of Wellington College are involved in these events, the events become 'mass gatherings' and therefore the 100 person limit applies.
We are asking all those involved with extra-curricular activities, who are not Wellington College students or staff, to follow our contact tracing procedures using the Ministry of Health COVID-19 QR codes that are posted around the school.
February 4, 2021
As you will be aware, the return of Alert Level 2 conditions in Wellington comes at a particularly busy time of year for the secondary school sporting calendar. In addition to our weekly summer competitions, several major events and tournaments are scheduled to take place over the next fortnight. The requirements of Alert Level 2 mean that we need to evaluate these events in terms of gathering sizes, plus contact tracing and the other hygiene considerations. With this in mind, please find below a summary of our decisions for this week, and with a view to contingency plans for the following week also.
Athletics – Zone and Regional Meetings
The Zone Athletics meetings scheduled for this week (2, 3 and 4 March) are postponed, as is the Regional event scheduled for 11 March. Postponement dates will be advised shortly, by the CSW Sport Managers responsible for each Zone event. The Regionals are postponed until the week starting 29 March.
Senior Volleyball Tournament
The Senior Volleyball Tournament scheduled for 5 and 6 March will proceed, under Alert Level 2 requirements. This will necessitate a reduction in the number of teams competing and the CSW Sport Manager responsible for Volleyball will advise schools shortly on the process for this.
Dragon Boating
This event has been postponed until the following weekend (13 and 14 March).
Weekly Competitions Proceeding (No Spectator Policy)
The majority of CSW’s regular weekly competitions will proceed under Alert Level 2 requirements and these will be communicated to schools by the relevant CSW Sport Manager. In terms of managing gathering limits of 100 people, College Sport Wellington has assessed each sport and made the following determination:
Indoor Sports – no spectators are to be present
Outdoor Sports
Outdoor Sports – where social distancing can be reasonably expected/supervised, spectators are allowed. On review of our COVID-19 plans, this means that spectators are allowed at cricket, golf and ultimate, but not Touch Rugby or Ki o Rahi.
Clearly this is a slight relaxation of the blanket “no spectator” policy used previously. We have based this decision on the likely numbers present and their ability to keep within the 100 person gathering limits. This decision will be reviewed next week upon feedback by the schools. Regardless, we urge all people present to exercise caution and adhere to the Government’s guidelines on social distancing.
Weekly Competitions Not Proceeding
Floorball - At this stage, we can confirm that the weekly Floorball competition (4 March) has been cancelled, and that the games will carry over until next week.
We thank you in advance for your support of these decisions and we will communicate any updates to you in a timely manner. Looking ahead to next week, College Sport Wellington is building further contingency plans into its events, in case Wellington remains at Alert Level 2 beyond Saturday.
We wish you all the best for the week and, like you, hope for a speedy return to Alert Level 1.
Kind Regards
Bryan Dickinson (College Sport Wellington Executive Director)
February 2, 2021
Wellington College Rowing crews racing for the Star Rowing Club have had an excellent North Island Club regatta at Karapiro, with five crews qualifying for A finals 5 making A and twenty crews qualifying for B finals. Congratulations, in particular, to the Under 17 Quad who won a bronze medal and the Under 15 Quad who won the gold medal. Best wishes for the rest of the season to the rowing team and their many supporters.
February 1, 2021
Huge congratulations to Joshua (from Year 11) who won the NZ Junior Chess championship over 11 days in Palmerston North in January. His wins included: NZ Junior Champion, NZ School pupil Champion & Under 16 Champion. He also won the Under 1700 rating class in the NZ Major open. Amazing work, Josh.
January 31, 2021
New Zealand’s training squad for the 2021 International Mathematical Olympiad was announced during the Squad Selection Ceremony on Friday 15 January. The final team of six to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia in July 2021 will be decided in April. Congratulations to all the students selected but especially to Hamish Baguley and Ning Chin - two amazing Wellington College mathematicians. Click here for further information.
January 30, 2021
With over 30 different sports available, there are sporting opportunities at Wellington College for everyone. We have the traditional sports such as Football, Rugby, Basketball, Hockey, Rowing, Athletics, through to Ultimate, Futsal, Golf, Ice Hockey, Sailing, Waka Ama, Water Polo and much more. We have social teams as well as competitive & elite programmes. Click here for the full list of sports
Summer sports registrations will close on Friday 5 February and winter sports registrations close on Friday 19 February 2020. Click here to register now!
All enquiries to Dave Keat, WC Sports Director on d.keat@wc.school.nz or (04) 802 2547.
January 30, 2021
Are you buying school shoes for 2021? Let us settle the arguments about which shoes are permitted. Wellington College uniform requires black leather, polish-able shoes. These can be either slip on or lace-up. In Terms 1 and 4, students are permitted to wear brown and black Roman Sandals. Sandals must have a back strap. See below for what's acceptable and what's not.
January 29, 2021
At Alert Level One Wellington College is safe to attend, including for any staff and students who are considered vulnerable to COVID-19. We have good cleaning routines in place, people who are sick are staying at home and we continue to encourage good hygiene practices. We are supporting contact tracing by having COVID-19 Ministry of Health QR scan code posters at our entrances. Inter-school and community sport, cultural events, performances and parent meetings can take place and we welcome all of our school community on site for these activities.
In summary, at Wellington College we continue to have a large amount of control over how we can prevent the spread of COVID. At Wellington College we are:
January 17, 2021
The team at Skylight specialises in supporting people through loss and trauma. They provide counselling and resource packs to help with anxiety and stress in both children/teens and adults. Click here for further information and to access Skylight's resources
The Telehealth Counselling Line is available 24/7 to support people of all ages. Free call or text 1737 any time, 24 hours a day. You’ll get to talk to (or text with) a trained counsellor or talk to a peer support worker. More details here.
Alcohol & Drug helpline: 0800 787 797 & www.alcoholdrughelp.org.nz
NZ Drug Foundation: www.drugfoundation.org.nz
Netsafe encourages parents to proactively discuss with young people what they should do if they come across distressing content online. Further information is available here.
If you have any questions relating to distressing online content you can contact Netsafe for free and confidential advice at netsafe.org.nz or call 0508 NETSAFE.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text free to 4357
Youthline: 0800 376 633, free text 234
Samaritans: (anytime – 24 hours) 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Line: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Kidsline: 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline)
What’s Up: 0800 942 8787
Anxiety New Zealand: 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
Please note that if you are dealing with an urgent mental health issue or crisis then it is best to call Te Haika (CCDHB) on 0800 745 477.
January 3, 2021
This service is available to students and staff of Wellington College.
Appointments can be booked:
The prices are the same for both students and staff.
December 12, 2020
At the school assembly on Thursday 5th November, it was announced that the 2020 runathon raised more than $100,000 to support World Vision’s work in the Chi Kraeng District in Cambodia. This is a phenomenal achievement in this challenging year for fundraising and the most money raised by any individual runathon at Wellington College in the past 20 years. Congratulations to everyone involved!
December 2, 2020
Please follow the links below to the NZQA timetable for the 2020 NCEA examinations and the Wellington College Candidate Rooming document. At the start of the rooming document, there is an explanation of how students can find out where they are sitting their examinations.
Students must be on time. If they arrive more than 30 minutes after an examination has started, NZQA will not allow them to enter. Students must wear school uniform. Click here for NZQA’s rules and information for candidates:
If a student becomes ill or is injured and cannot study for, or sit, an examination, please contact Deputy Principal Andrew Savage immediately, because he may be eligible for a derived grade. This is also the case when a student undergoes a traumatic event or family crisis, such as a serious illness or death of a family member. NZQA requires written verification from a health professional such as a Doctor or Counsellor, and they must complete particular sections in an official derived grade application form – click here.
Rooming for students with Special Assessment Conditions (SACs) will be ready shortly and this will be emailed out to students concerned.
Key Links
Candidate information and instructions
Derived Grade application information
November 29, 2020
Each year, the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association (WCOBA) provides scholarships to assist students who wish to go on a Spirit of Adventure voyage.
If you are in Year 11 or Year 12 in 2021, and thinking about ways you can develop your leadership skills and reach your potential, visit the Spirit of Adventure website and register for one of their 2021 programmes. Once that’s completed, you can then apply to the WCOBA for financial support – the WCOBA will award a Year 11 and a Year 12 student $800 to support the cost of the voyage.
Applications are to be made to the WCOBA, supported by a letter outlining how the programme will benefit yourself and Wellington College. Email applications to: oldboys@wc.school.nz
Photo credit: Spirit of Adventure Trust
November 28, 2020
Each year, the Wellington College Old Boys’ Association (WCOBA) provides scholarships to assist students who wish to participate on the Outward Bound Programme.
If you are in Year 11 or Year 12 in 2021, and thinking about ways you can develop your leadership skills and reach your potential, visit the Outward Bound website and register for one of their 2021 programmes. Once that’s completed, you can then apply to the WCOBA for financial support – the WCOBA will award a Year 11 and a Year 12 student $500 towards the cost of the programme.
Applications are to be made to the WCOBA, supported by a letter outlining how the programme will benefit yourself and Wellington College. Email applications to: oldboys@wc.school.nz
Photo Credit: Outward Bound
October 31, 2020
Along with other Wellington schools, we will be having a Staff-Only Day on Tuesday 17 November to prepare for changes to the NCEA. These have been organised by the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, NZEI Te Riu Roa, and PPTA Te Wehengarua, Click here for further details about the focus of these days.
August 28, 2020
Wellington College's Liam Anderson was recognised as New Zealand's top student in 2019 in a short ceremony at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) held on Wednesday 26 August. Liam was joined at the ceremony by his parents and Wellington College staff members - Phil Kendon and Gregor Fountain, along with the senior staff from NZQA. At the end of the ceremony, as afternoon tea was served, Liam received a personal phone call from the Prime Minister who congratulated him on his achievements.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s Top Scholar Awards for 2019 were announced during the lockdown, with Nicholas Patel and Liam Anderson gaining their Premier Awards for being ranked in the top 12 students in New Zealand. Jesse Richardson was acknowledged as the Top Scholar in New Zealand for History with Liam Anderson named the Top Scholar for Spanish.
Liam Anderson won the Prime Minster’s Award for Excellence as New Zealand’s top student in NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship examinations.
The Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence recognises the success of the very top New Zealand Scholarship student in the country. The recipient has the most outstanding examination results and the highest overall academic excellence of all New Zealand's Premier Award winners.
Liam achieved Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, and Statistics, and Scholarship in Biology, Calculus, English, and Health and Physical Education. He was also the Top Subject Scholarship Award winner for Spanish.
Liam is currently studying for his Bachelor of Science at Victoria University of Wellington. Congratulations to Liam, his family, all of his teachers, and his classmates throughout his time at Wellington College who challenged him and stimulated his learning and achievement.
August 27, 2020
The Community Defibrillator, which was donated to Wellington College by former staff member Kerry Lloyd, is now located on the exterior of the Cricket Pavilion.
August 10, 2020
Metlionk have informed us of some changes to their service starting on Monday 24th August to the 737 and 741 bus routes. These changes have been made in response to feedback they have received relating to overcrowding on the route 741 service.
The current route 737 trips (3) have been re-scheduled to depart Karori Park- Allington Road 7 minutes later at 7.50, 7.52 & 7.54am. The route 741 will still depart at 8.05am but will start from Karori Rd opposite Karori Normal School instead of Karori Park - Allington Rd. The key message for students is that the last bus servicing the stops between Karori Park and Karori Normal School departs Karori Park (Allington Road) at 7.54am - the 8.05am bus will no longer operate along this section of the route so students on this section of the route will need to be at their stop 11 minutes earlier. Students using the route 741 service boarding after Karori Normal School
will also need to be at their stop 6 minutes earlier.
August 9, 2020
Course selection is one of the most important decisions that a student makes each year. Each year, Wellington College aims to provide excellent advice from Senior Leaders, Deans, Heads of Department, careers and guidance staff, mentors, tutors and classroom teachers, to ensure that all students make the best possible decisions.
This year, we have developed a new 'Curriculum @ WC' website which contains all of the information that we think students and whānau will need to support their 2021 course selection decisions.
If you have any questions about the course selection process, please email Deputy Principal - Curriculum, Andrew Savage a.savage@wc.school.nz and he or another member of our staff team will get back to you.
August 3, 2020
Year 11-13 students now have a written report available on the parent portal. You can go directly to the parent portal by clicking this link.
July 30, 2020
Would you consider sponsoring a Year 10 student on this year's end-of-year outdoor education programme? This programme has become a key part of the Wellington College experience, however the COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdown, and economic downturn have placed some of the trips and activities out of the reach of some families. If you would consider sponsoring a place for a student in need of support, please contact Principal Gregor Fountain and he will call you to discuss further. You can contact him by emailing the Principal's Executive Assistant - Claire Shakespeare c.shakespeare@wc.school.nz or (04) 802 2520 ext. 823.
2020 Outdoor Education Programme Costs
Tararuas & Wairarapa Trip - $340
Kāpiti Coast Journey - $290
Whanganui River - $390
Mistletoe Bay (Marlborough Sounds) - $440
Marlborough Sounds Sea Kayak & Tramping - $340
Abel Tasmal Sea Kayaking & tramping - $430
Learn to Dive in Island Bay/Tapu Te Ranga - $550
Wellington Day trips - $150
July 30, 2020
Thank you for your interest in Wellington College for Year 9 in 2021.
We have posted videos and documents on this page so that you can access all the information that you need about Wellington College, our people, our programmes, and our plans for the future.
We would be delighted it you would submit an application for your son to join our school community next year.
Please note, out-of-zone enrolments for Year 9 students in 2021 have now closed.
2021 Prospectus
You can download your own copy of the 2021 Prospectus here.
Virtual Open Day Address - Gregor Fountain, Principal
The Wellington College Experience - Current Students
2019 ERO Report
Click here to read our most recent report from the Education Review Office.
Enrolment Forms
Click here to complete your on-line enrolment application for Year 9 in 2021.
Click here to complete your on-line enrolment application for Year 10 to Year 13 in 2021.
Enrolment Procedures
In-zone Year 9 students for 2021
In-zone enrolment applications for 2021 may be made at any time during the year prior to the start of school (1 February, 2021). We request that these be submitted on-line by Monday, 27 July 2020 to allow for curriculum planning and so that we can determine out-of-zone enrolment numbers.
All applications must have a copy of the student’s birth certificate (and passport if the student was born outside New Zealand).
In-zone applications must also provide a rates notice/tenancy agreement and a utility account to confirm in-zone status.
Students should remain within the College zone for at least two years from the time the student starts at the College. The College must be immediately notified of any change of address, within the zone.
Please note: Out-of-zone applications for Year 9 students for 2021 closed on 27 August 2020.
The Out-of-zone Ballot for 2021 Year 9 students will be held on Friday, 7 August 2020 and parents will be notified in writing of the outcome on Wednesday, 12 August, 2020. The number of students accepted through the ballot depends on the number of places available. This is determined by the number of in-zone enrolments.
Induction Day for Year 9 will commence Thursday, 19 November 2020 at 9.00am. This is an opportunity for new students to meet key people and become familiar with our campus.
In-zone enrolment applications for 2021 may be made at any time during the year prior to the start of school, but should be submitted on-line by Thursday, 15 October, 2020 to allow for curriculum planning and so that we can determine any out-of-zone enrolment numbers.
All applications must have a copy of the student’s birth certificate (and passport if the student was born outside New Zealand).
In-zone applications must also provide a rates notice/tenancy agreement and a utility account to confirm in zone status.
Students should remain within the College zone for at least two years from the time the student starts at the College. The College must be immediately notified of any change of address, within the zone.
Out-of-zone Years 10 - 13 students for 2021
The Out-of-zone Ballot for Year 10 - 13 2021 will be held on Monday, 2 November 2020 and parents will be notified in writing of the outcome on Thursday, 5 November 2020. The number of students accepted through the ballot depends on the number of places available. This is determined by the number of in-zone enrolments.
Out-of-zone applications for Years 10 - 13 must be submitted on-line no later than 4.00pm on Thursday, 15 October 2020.
All applications must have a copy of the student’s birth certificate (and passport if the student was born outside New Zealand).
July 29, 2020
In April this year Hamish Baguley of Year 12 was selected as one of six students to represent New Zealand in the International Maths Olympiad. This selection was the culmination of an arduous testing process with eye-wateringly difficult mathematics problems. We are very proud of Hamish for making it into the team.
Since April, he has been training virtually with the New Zealand team for the 61st International Mathematics Olympiad, which was scheduled to be held in St Petersburg, Russia, but will now be run online.
As part of the training programme, Hamish and other members of the New Zealand team have competed in two other Olympiad competitions – the Asia Pacific Maths Olympiad, in which he scored a Silver Medal, and the Cyberspace Mathematical Olympiad, in which he scored a Bronze Medal.
Wellington College was last represented in the NZIMO team in 2017 by Yiannis Fam.
You can follow Hamish and the NZ team's progress on the IMO website below, and try some questions out for fun. by clicking here.
July 28, 2020
We would like to thank friends and whānau of Wellington College who attended our vaping seminar on Tuesday 28 July. It was a great opportunity for all of us to learn together about why vaping has become more prevalent among teenagers and understand the serious health risks that are associated with it. Our Health and Physical Education teachers led a presentation outlining valuable content about vaping and things for parents to look our for if they they think their son or daughter may be vaping. They outlined the vaping content is being covered in the Wellington College curriculum
One thing we are committed to at Wellington College is ensuring we are providing a safe and supportive learning environment. Wellington college's smokefree policy includes a zero tolerance towards smoking and vaping of students, staff and visitors to our school. Our ongoing message for all students is about making positive, health-enhancing decisions for themselves and their peers within school and throughout the local community.
Click here for the slides which accompanied the presentation.
July 26, 2020
Thank you to the Wellington College families who have made their 2020 annual donation. We are aware of the economic impact that COVID-19 & the lockdown has had on many families. It is also having a significant impact on the income that Wellington College annually receives from fee-paying international students and the hiring of Wellington College's facilities. If you are in a position to pay some or all of the 2020 donation that we are requesting, we would really appreciate your support at this time.
At Wellington College, we strive to provide an outstanding educational experience for all our students. This includes the provision of a highly resourced curriculum, excellent teaching, quality pastoral care, careers guidance and an extensive range of sporting, artistic, service and leadership opportunities.
You may be aware that the decile-based funding that Wellington College receives from the Government provides only for core activities as determined by the Ministry of Education. In fact, if we were to exclude their provision for teacher salaries, property and land-use, only about 50 percent of the funds required to operate Wellington College come from the Government each year. Generous financial support from parents over many decades has been instrumental in developing Wellington College's programmes, approaches and facilities.
We ask that you make your annual donation to Wellington College. The amounts requested are stated on the parent portal.
Donations are tax deductible and can be paid through the parent portal, direct credit, automatic payment, or at the Finance Office by cash or EFTPOS. You could make your donation in one lump sum or spread your payments throughout the rest of the year.
The Wellington College Bank account number is 06-0561-0137023-000. Please use your son's name or student number as a reference when making an online payment.
Thank you for your support of Wellington College in this way.
Paul Retimanu (Board Chair) and Gregor Fountain (Principal)
July 25, 2020
Download the programme for 'A Mob Mentality' here.
Listen to Episode One here.
Listen to Episode Two here.
Listen to Episode Three here.
Listen to Episode Four here.
Listen to Episode Five here.
Listen to Episode Six here.
Listen to Episode Seven here.
Listen to Episode Eight here.
Listen to Episode Nine here.
Listen to Episode Ten here.
July 21, 2020
27 July - 31 July is Arts Week!
We celebrate a week that focuses on creativity, participation and enjoyment of the Arts.
Watch out for these lunchtime events.
Also running is the WC Photo Competition (submissions Monday) and Theatresports Exchange on Thursday with Wellington Girls' College.
July 16, 2020
Team WC is partnering up with our local Peanut Butter company, Fix and Fogg, for fundraising this year.
Complete this online form to purchase your jars of crunchy or smooth peanut butter, indicating which extra-curricular group or activity you would like to support. Orders must be made by 10 July.
Please note that as several members of our school community have peanut allergies, the jars will not be distributed during school hours.
Thanks for supporting Team WC.
July 2, 2020
23 Wellington College swimmers competed in the College Sport Wellington Regional Swim Champs at Huia Pool on Friday 26 June. This was the first Regional Swim Competition in Wellington since lockdown. Numbers competing were up and everyone was very appreciative of the opportunity to have their first racing hit-out for a number of months.
Wellington College did particularly well to top the medal table with 6 gold medals and their final medal count of 14 was also the highest in competition. It was also good to see quite a number of our swimmers record significant personal best times.
9 of our Swimmers were among the medals, though a number of others went very close with 4th and 5th placings in tight finishes.
In the Junior Grade (Under 15 years), Finn Harland was in dominant form. He secured 3 gold medals (100 metre Individual Medley, 100 metre Backstroke, 200 metre Freestyle) and each of his wins were by very good margins. David Zhu was similarly impressive in the convincing way he won his 2 gold medals (50 metre & 100 metre Butterfly). Gold medals were also won by Sean O’Connor-Close (100 metre Breaststroke) and James O’Brien (50 metre Breaststroke), with each also winning a silver medal (behind each other in the events listed above).
Our Senior Swimmers (15 Years & Over) were young this year and all of them have at least another year to compete in this grade. Competition was very high and the followingdid well to secure medals – Shane Maskell (silver - 100m Breaststroke), Ryan Double (silver – 50 metre Butterfly), Eligh Ashby (silver – 50 metre Butterfly), Dillon Raimona-Pahetogia (silver – 50 metre Backstroke) and Luke Kuggeleijn (bronze – 200 metre Freestyle).
July 1, 2020
Year 11-13 students now have a written report available on the parent portal. You can go directly to the parent portal by clicking this link.
June 25, 2020
From Thursday July 1st charges for travel on Metlink buses will be applied. Please remember that at Wellington College, we are no longer taking EFTPOS or cash payments for Snapper top ups. You can use the Snapper App to top up and keep an eye on your balance or use the computer in the Finance Office with your visa or debit cards.
June 17, 2020
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) can feel confusing and difficult to navigate for many parents. To help those of you who are new to NCEA or simply want a refresher, Wellington College invites you to attend an NCEA information evening on 25 June. Curriculum Deputy Principal Andrew Savage will offer a short presentation about how NCEA works and explain the temporary changes NZQA have made for 2020 as a way to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 on our learners. We would love to have your company!
Event details:
Wellington College NCEA Information Evening
25 June 2020, 6:00-6:45 pm
Venue: The AGC Auditorium
June 16, 2020
We know some of our students - and their whānau - are worried that they might not be able to attain NCEA or UE this year, because of the disruption caused by COVID-19.
To help address this and support students, the following changes are being made to NCEA and University Entrance (UE) requirements for this year:
These changes have been designed to encourage students to continue working towards their NCEA and to ensure that the NCEA attained by our learners this school year is just as valid as those earned in previous years.
Click here for a summary of these changes which NZQA has produced for students.
May 27, 2020
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s Top Scholar Awards for 2019 were announced during the lockdown, with Nicholas Patel and Liam Anderson receiving their Premier Awards for being ranked in the top 12 students in New Zealand. Jesse Richardson was acknowledged as the Top Scholar in New Zealand for History with Liam Anderson named the Top Scholar for Spanish.
Liam Anderson won the Prime Minster’s Award for Excellence as New Zealand’s top student in NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship examinations.
The Prime Minister’s Award for Academic Excellence recognises the success of the very top New Zealand Scholarship student in the country. The recipient has the most outstanding examination results and the highest overall academic excellence of all New Zealand's Premier Award winners.
Liam achieved Outstanding Scholarships in Chemistry, Physics, Spanish, and Statistics, and Scholarship in Biology, Calculus, English, and Health and Physical Education. He was also the Top Subject Scholarship Award winner for Spanish.
Liam is currently studying for his Bachelor of Science at Victoria University of Wellington. Congratulations to Liam, his family, all of his teachers, and his classmates throughout his time at Wellington College who challenged him and stimulated his learning and achievement.
May 26, 2020
Dear students, staff, family members, partners and supporters of College Sport Wellington,
Firstly, on behalf of the Board and Staff of College Sport Wellington, I want to thank you all for your continued support and patience as we inch closer to a resumption of secondary school sport.
Following yesterday afternoon’s announcement by the Government, we are now in a position to confirm the start dates for a number of secondary school competitions and events this term. The planning by College Sport Wellington and its partners means that the appropriate risk mitigation measures will be in place before these start dates. Ongoing, these plans and measures will be updated as new guidelines are announced by the Government. Therefore, on that basis, College Sport Wellington can confirm the following:
In the coming week, the CSW Sport Managers and our partner Regional Sports Organisations will be in contact with schools to confirm the exact format for each competition. At the same time, College Sport Wellington will endeavour to confirm the remainder of competitions and events on the secondary school calendar. In particular we will be in discussions with our Regional Sport partners on the plan for Winter Tournament Week (31 August to 6 September), pending an update from School Sport NZ.
We wish you well for the season ahead and your preparations over the coming weeks.
Kind Regards,
Bryan Dickinson (Executive Director, CSW)
May 21, 2020
We are anticipating issues getting students to and from school as a result of the reduction in capacity on public and school buses, trains, and the subsequent congestion of traffic through Wellington City. While students on school buses will now be able to use all seats, there will be no standing passengers.
May 14, 2020
The primary focus of our first week back is re-establishing relationships and routines, including creating spaces to process what we've all experienced. We need a balance of normality with the acknowledgement of the fact that we are returning to school during a significant nationwide event.
With this in mind, the first week of term is a catch-up week. This means that no new content will be taught in classes. We will take the time to discuss, recap, clarify and consolidate the work undertaken in the Learning @ Home programme.
No new content does not mean no learning! This is an opportunity to reinforce what has been taught during the Learning @ Home period and to clarify and deepen understanding. Students will be arriving back in class having had a wide variety of experiences of Learning @ Home with varying degrees of success and engagement. This week will be used to extend those students who have managed well and support those students who may need to catch up.
May 14, 2020
Parking at school for Y12 and Y13! Email d.ashby@wc.school.nz ASAP.
Now that we have your attention!
CHECKLIST - IMPORTANT STUFF
WELCOME BACK
We know that some of you are really looking forward to getting back into your classes, and that some of you might be feeling a bit anxious for a variety of reasons. That is all good! We know everyone will need time to re-adjust and get back into school routine, whilst also forming new habits with the new rules and expectations. So please be considerate towards your teachers and other students as we return. We want you to know that as a community we will support you in many ways when you come back. No matter where you got up to in your studies - don’t panic, you’ll have time to catch up. We understand everyone has had different circumstances over the past 7 weeks.
CATCH-UP WEEK!
We won’t be thrown in the deep end with work right away because the first week has no new content, so you have an opportunity to reconnect with each other, go over what has been taught during the Learning @ Home period. Big clutch from the senior leadership team. We know lots of you might not have completed as much work as you wanted, or may have fallen behind in particular classes. This week is designed to give teachers a chance to recap the work that you have been set over lockdown.
WASH YOUR HANDS
School life will be a bit different for hygiene reasons: you’ll be needing to wash your hands, go straight into class instead of lining up, and use the hand sanitizer provided. As well as this, the tower block stairs are now one way, look out for the signs! Make sure to stay at home if you are feeling at all unwell.
WELL-BEING SPACES
Once we’re all back at school dedicated wellbeing spaces will open for boys to visit at any time if they are feeling overwhelmed. These spaces combined with the school counsellors, tutor teachers and class teachers will all be working together to make the transition back to ‘regular’ school as easy as possible for students.
Signing out,
Andrew L, Toby C, Josh KW, James M, Hugo K, Aidan H and Joel T :)
May 14, 2020
There has been a lot of interest in our plans for the resumption of our extra-curricular arts & sports programmes. At Wellington College these will not restart until Queen’s Birthday Weekend. By then, we should have firmer guidelines from national and regional organisations to guide us in the safe resumption of these activities. The Government has said that it will review the 10 person limit for gatherings on 25 May. This will have implications for a range of community activities at schools throughout New Zealand.
May 14, 2020
The COLL Check-in system is intended to support the partnership between home and school to encourage and support positive work habits through regular tracking of engagement.
At a fundamental level, the COLL Check-in is about staying connected and being able to identify students who may need extra support or encouragement. The COLL Check-in is not a report, but rather a weekly indicator of student engagement in their subjects. The purpose is to support conversations at home about how students are feeling about their learning. We hope that the COLL Check-in will also help students to have some accountability to engage with their learning programmes and to seek support from their teachers where they need it.
We recognise that staying motivated all the time can be difficult! We are encouraging students to let their teachers know if there are things they are finding challenging so that teachers can support them. This is also a way of demonstrating engagement!
The COLL Check-in is based on a ‘best-fit’ for the week depending on the expectations of different subjects. This means that what engagement looks like from week to week may be different depending on the kind of work the students are doing.
The COLL Check-in is updated by Monday afternoon each week. We suggest that parents and students check the portal every Tuesday. It is live on the parent and student portals under the ‘Class Efforts’ tab. The technical problem from last week has been resolved by our external provider, although the graphs look a little bit different.
Parent Guide - How to check the Parent Portal for COLL Check-In
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May 7, 2020
Thank you to all the students and parents who continue to provide feedback on our Learning @ Home programme - we really appreciate your support and input! Below are some updates based on common feedback and questions:
Student Survey
Our students told us that they really enjoy the flexibility of the online learning programmes as well as the wellbeing benefits of working from home. Students have let us know that we need to continue to monitor their workload as well as continue to offer regular opportunities to ask questions via Google Meets. The short feedback form is still open, so students are welcome to fill it in so that we can continue to use information from students to develop our programmes.
A couple of reminders for Week 5
Workload: We know that Learning @ Home isn’t always easy and that sometimes it feels like there is way too much work! If you’re finding it hard, please let your teachers know so that they can make changes.
Prioritising your activities: Your wellbeing is really important to us! We really want you to make time for exercise, creativity, connecting with your friends and device-free time. No subject is more important than another, but if it isn’t possible for you to give equal time to all of your subjects - don’t! Prioritise your work and complete what is manageable. Please let your teachers know if there are things you can’t do so that they can support you.
Support: PLEASE ASK FOR HELP! We are here if you need support - teachers, Tutor Teachers, Deans and the Counsellors. We also have a new online reporting tool WC Bullying Free Helpline for you to use if there is anything happening that is potentially harmful to anyone in our community - both online and offline.
Learning Support
The Student/Learning Support team for all students is still available during this Learning @ Home period. We understand that some students will be feeling overwhelmed and may need some extra support. Our team is happy to help - please contact us at senco@wc.school.nz.
Here are some tips to help with Learning @ Home:
Connectivity
If your son, or another Wellington College student that you are aware of, is not able to access the online resources, for whatever reason, we would love to hear from you. Please email Andrew Savage - a.savage@wc.school.nz and he will follow up as soon as possible. We are working with the Ministry of Education to ensure that all our students are able to connect and learn in this new environment. For support with forgotten passwords or technical assistance please contact helpdesk@wc.school.nz.
Resources
Please click on the links below to ensure that you have the information that you will need to make the most of the online learning opportunities we are providing this term.
Learning @ Home - Student Help Sheet for Term 2
Learning @ Home - Parent Help Sheet for Term 2
Alert Level 3 - Parent Help Sheet
Wellington College Digital Responsible Use Agreement
Digital Citizenship Parent Information
May 7, 2020
As a part of our response to COVID-19, Wellington College will be utilising the flexibility of NCEA to re-plan and adapt assessment programmes to help manage the impact of the disruption we have experienced during COVID-19 Alert Levels 3-4. To assist parents, whānau and students NZQA has provided a guide that addresses key messages and some frequently asked questions. You can find it here.
It is important to remember that students only need 80 credits across all their subjects to be awarded an NCEA qualification and that the NCEA is cumulative in nature. While many students achieve an NCEA qualification in a calendar year (e.g. NCEA L1 is awarded in Year 11), the flexibility of the qualification means that some students will build a qualification over a longer period of time.
For those of you needing a refresher or wanting to gain a little more insight into how the NCEA qualification works, please check out the information below:
Watch a video explaining how NCEA works
To achieve NCEA Level 1, you need 80 credits made up of:
To achieve NCEA Level 2, you need 80 credits made up of:
To achieve NCEA Level 3, you need 80 credits made up of:
University Entrance (UE) is the minimum requirement to attend a New Zealand university. To qualify for UE, you will need all of the following:
Universities have their own requirements for admission to programmes. Check with the university you wish to attend about what the requirements for its different courses are. Our Careers and Transition Team is available to help you.
You may also find it helpful to read this brochure that is a great guide to how NCEA works:
The Te Reo Māori version of the brochure can be found here.
You can find the brochure in English here.
To help parents better understand NCEA, NZQA has developed an app designed for mobile devices,- phones and tablets. It is called NCEA Guide, and provides quick and easy access to key information about NCEA. You can find more information here.
May 6, 2020
Ka ngaro a Matariki i te pae, Ka ngaro te tangata ki te pō.
Kotahi tau kua ngaro koe,
E te pou tikanga, e te pou reo,
E koro Te Ahorangi Te Wharehuia Milroy
E moe ki te mārie o te pō
E noho ki te taha o tō makau
Ka ora tonu ana ō akoranga ki ngā kōrero tuku iho,
Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū.
Nō reira e mihia te hunga mate huri noa i te motu,
Haere ki a rātou ngā piki kōtuku
Haere ki tua o ngā wai o Pikopiko i Whiti
Ki a rātou ngā whetū pīataata i te rangi tuatini
Tākiri ko te ata pūao
Ka ngau Tāwera
Te tohu o te mate
Haere, haere, haere
Apiti hono tātai hono
Ko tātou te hunga mate i mau maharatia
Tātou anō tēnei te hunga ora e mihi nei ki a tātou
Tēnā tātou katoa.
May 6, 2020
Dear parents and caregivers of students in Years 9 & 10
Please note that at Alert Level 3, all students in Years 11-13 will continue their ‘Learning @ Home’ programme as they have for the duration of the Level 4 lockdown.
Parents and caregivers of students in Years 9 & 10 are also required to keep their children at home if possible. The Government is asking you only to send your son to school if you are unable to provide adequate supervision for him at home.
At Wellington College, we will not be providing conventional classroom programmes for Year 9 & 10 students on campus during Level 3. Our school programme for those students who are registered will consist of staff members providing students with school-based supervision of their ‘Learning @ Home’ programmes. Students will be placed in ‘school bubbles’of no more than 10 students. They will be allocated a supervising teacher, a classroom, and an outside area for their interval and lunch breaks. In line with Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education guidelines, they will not be able to mix with students from other ‘school bubbles’.
If you intend to send your son to school between April 29 and May 15 (inclusive), please email Dave Ashby (Associate Principal) d.ashby@wc.school.nz, registering him for each of the days that he will be attending. We are happy to be able to support our families providing essential and safe services in this way.
There is no need for you to email Dave if your son will not be attending.
This is a challenging and unprecedented situation for all of us. We are grateful for your ongoing support of Wellington College and your care for those in our school community during this time.
Years 9 & 10 Level 3 Online Registration Form
Alert Level 3 - Parent Help Sheet
April 30, 2020
Our Guidance Counselling team continues to be available to provide support for students, whānau & staff while we are learning and working from home.
Please email Lyndon at l.coppin@wc.school.nz or Jane at j.gray@wc.school.nz for a video or phone appointment.
Alternatively you could phone or text Lyndon on 022 015 0877 or Jane on 022 016 1774 during school hours - or leave a message.
Please note that if you are dealing with an urgent mental health issue or crisis then it is best to call Te Haika (CCDHB) on 0800 745 477.
Click here for further information about the wide range of support which is available to all students from Wellington College staff.
We also have a new online reporting tool WC Bullying Free Helpline for you to use if there is anything happening that is potentially harmful to anyone in our community - both online and offline.
The team at Skylight has produced COVID-19 resource packs to help with anxiety and stress in both children/teens and adults.The e-packs for children/teens include resources on: “how to strengthen children and teens against anxiety after news of a world trauma”, “helping children cope with fears and worries” and “coping skills for managing emotions.” The adult packs include resources on "adjusting to change" and 'job loss" as well as general anxiety management strategies. To order a COVID-19 pack click here.
Skylight is also offering Skype counselling for the first time to support Kiwis during this coronavirus crisis. Eleven of its 15 nationwide counsellors are now ready and offering online sessions for children aged 12-years and up, as well as adults. Parents with younger children have the option of counselling for parenting strategies/solutions. To find out more about Skype counselling click here or call 0800 299 100.
Click here a wide range of high quality blogs, webinars & resources from the New Zealand Institute of Wellbeing & Resilience.
The Psychology Clinic at Massey University in Wellington is offering online psychological treatment at a reduced price of $80 per session with the aim of ensuring psychological support is available to young people and adults who are struggling with low mood or anxiety, and/or are having difficulty adjusting to the uncertainty of the current climate. Please contact Carrie Wilson (Clinic Secretary) on (04) 801-0492 or at C.Wilson1@massey.ac.nz for further information or to book an appointment at a time that suits.
Lifeline 0800 543 354 or text free to 4357
Youthline 0800 376 633, free text 234
Samaritans (anytime – 24 hours) 0800 726 666
Suicide Crisis Line 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
Kidsline 0800 54 37 54 (0800 kidsline)
What’s Up 0800 942 8787
Anxiety New Zealand 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)
The Ministry of Health’s website includes Top ways to look after your mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Nathan Wallis has some helpful videos on his Facebook page for parents and whānau.
Tips on looking after mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 from the Mental Health foundation.
The Health Promotion Agency's website helps New Zealanders recognise and understand depression and anxiety.
25 Mental Health Wellness Tips during Quarantine from Eileen M Feliciano, Psy.D. – although overseas-based this is a good list and highlights some things particularly important for children. (Remember the rules of New Zealand’s level 4 lockdown still apply.)
April 30, 2020
Many students have questions and concerns about the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on their plans for 2021 and beyond. Our Head of Careers & Transition, Tia Greenstreet, continues to be available to support students throughout the lockdown. Please click here to make an online appointment & Tia will send you an invitation to a Google Hangout.
As well as providing information through their usual sitessuch as the Wellington College Careers website, Careers Central & the Wellington College Careers Facebook page, the Careers team have set up a Careers Google classroom for Year 13 (the code is qtj2n3o).
Please email Tia if you need any further information for advice. Her email is t.greenstreet@wc.school.nz.
April 23, 2020
Tuesday 28 April will be a Staff Only Day at schools throughout New Zealand. At Wellington College we will be using this day to enable staff to prepare for the next phase of teaching during COVID-19. There will be no 'Learning @ Home' on this day, or on Monday 27th April which is a public holiday following on from Saturday's ANZAC Day.
April 23, 2020
War has cast a long shadow over Wellington College. Old Boys serving and dying in wars spans three centuries. The College’s Memorial Plaques are inscribed with the names of Old Boys who served and those who were killed in: The Boer War, World Wars One and Two and Afghanistan. For most, they are just names. Reading them now no longer invokes a memory or an emotion as it once did.
However, we must never forget that they too walked the corridors of the school, jostling one another and talking about upcoming events, played on the grounds at lunchtimes and on Saturdays, sat in classrooms learning French vocab, Mathematical formulae, the difference between a verb and an adverb.
Each ANZAC Day we must make time to remember them, our fellow students. To hope and pray that what they experienced will only be learnt about in books by the current and future generations of Coll Boys.
In the place of our annual ANZAC Assembly, we invite all members of the Wellington College community to watch the videos and explore the links on this page as we commemorate ANZAC Day together.
On their Wellington College Instagram page, our students have been promoting their 'virtues of the day'. In recent days these have included 'gratitude'. As a way of showing your gratitude to people, either in the past or present, we invite you to print off this Wellington College Poppy, add the name of someone you are grateful for, and place in a window at the front of your house. There is also a colouring in version that primary aged children in your bubble might like to use (or anyone else whose keen!)
Click here to read about the experience of Wellington College and the First World War.
Click here to read out about Old Boy, Hami Grace, killed during the Gallipoli campaign, & hear Wellington College students reading from his diary.
Click here to watch a short video about life and tragic death of Hami Grace, and how Wellington College remembers him.
Click here to read the 1919 Wellingtonian, which contains photos of the Wellington College Old Boys, killed in the First World War.
Click here to hear British High Commissioner, Laura Clarke, speaking with Gregor after last year's Wellington College ANZAC Assembly.
Click here to read the British High Commissioner's speech, delivered at Wellington College's 2019 ANZAC Assembly.
April 23, 2020
Talofa lava, Kia orana, Bula Vinaka, Malo e lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, Malo ni, Aloha, to all our Matua, Parents and Fanau
We hope that you and the fanau are safe, well, and are looking after each other in your respective bubbles. It is important to keep positive and encourage each other during this time of uncertainty, as we have all been impacted by Covid 19. We acknowledge and thank our family of essential workers for their service and commitment to our community.
During this time we may be feeling anxious for our families health and wellbeing, loss of income and financial responsibilities, with many of these situations beyond our control. It is times like this where we need to come together and support each other. Having that connection with family, friends, and colleagues outside our bubble, is important too. By making that phone call, or sending a text message, having a Zoom chat, FaceTime, or Google Meet can uplift our spirits and help us feel connected to each other.
With Term 2 now started, it will mean new challenges, and getting into routines for learning from home. Thank you to all the WC Staff who have been working behind the scenes during the break to ensure that they would be ready for this, when we started back. Online learning or Learning @ Home means everyone should have access to a device. If you do not have one please make contact with Andrew Savage a.savage@wc.school.nz at school as soon as possible, so that we can get you assistance. Thank you to the WC Board and Staff much needed chromebooks that have been delivered to some of our WC families!
There is a lot of information on the WC website and the Parent Portal. If you have any enquiries about your son's learning, please make contact with your son's Dean or Tutor Teacher with an email. It is important to keep communication between home and school up to date, especially during this time, where online connection is one of our only connectors.
We look forward to catching up with you all again soon!
Fa’afetai tele lava,
Deborah Tiatia (on behalf of the PPSG)
April 21, 2020
Our graduating students from 2019 can now request a testimonial using this online form.
Testimonials are not written automatically. Instead, they are prepared for specific graduating students who want to have documentation to support a job application or a reference for a landlord when applying for a flat while at university.
To obtain a Wellington College testimonial, all graduation students must:
(i) complete this online form providing the requested information
(ii) email testimonials@wc.school.nz requesting a testimonial once NCEA & NZ Scholarship results are confirmed.
(iii) provide a personal email address and a current home address.
April 17, 2020
Welcome back!
This truly has been a unique time for everyone in the WC community, with students, teachers, staff, and whānau learning to adapt to what it means to be in lockdown. Moving forward into Term 2, we should take time to grieve for lost opportunities this year, however we must continue to look for the new opportunities that present themselves. We must be innovative in the way we approach what it means to be a part of the WC whānau. As a Prefect team, we have spent a lot of time discussing what student leadership looks like in lockdown, and have created a video showing what our portfolios are doing to support students, as well as some helpful information about wellbeing, NCEA, and motivation.
I tēnei wā mokemoke, kia waiho i te toipoto ō mātou mauri, kaua i te toiroa
In this time when we cannot physically be together, may the essence of our community stand strong.
Ngā mihi,
Andrew Latta & the Prefect team
April 9, 2020
Kia ora koutou
There is no question that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our city and country. Many members of our school community are essential workers. We thank you for your commitment and service to our wider community. The Board is aware that there are also families within our school community who have been impacted through loss of income and uncertainty around jobs and businesses. Many of us are anxious about the health and well-being of friends and family members both at home and throughout the world. Our thoughts are with everyone at this difficult time.
While we do not know how long the Government imposed lock-down will last, it seems clear that Term 2 2020 will be unlike any other in the recent history of Wellington College. For the start of the term at least, students and staff will be learning and working from home. This brings challenges for everyone as we establish new routines and develop new forms of communication. We are grateful for the work which the Wellington College staff team have done in recent weeks to prepare us for this new environment. The Board believes that despite our physical distance from each other, Wellington College is very well placed to continue to be a strong and connected community focused on the learning and well-being of our students over the coming weeks.
For many students and their parents, Wellington College's extensive extra-curricular programme is the context for the highlights of any school year. We are aware of the disappointment that many are feeling as a result of the cancellation or postponement of arts and sports events. We hope that some of these will be able to resume or be rescheduled or reformatted, but we acknowledge and share the very real disappointment that you are feeling. Our thoughts are especially with our Year 13 students who have been anticipating and planning for these events for a very long time.
Many of our students and parents will also be concerned about the impact of the disruption to schools on achievement for national qualifications. While we may need to lower some of our expectations about the highest levels of achievement, we are fortunate that the NCEA is a flexible qualification. The leadership and staff are committed to doing everything they can to enable all students to gain the qualifications they need to gain entry to the programmes and courses students are working towards for 2021.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Wellington College at this time.
Ngā mihi
Paul Retimanu
(Board Chair)
March 24, 2020
Hey boys
In the midst of this stressful time, we thought it would be helpful if we passed on some information about the future of assessments, how school will operate over the next month, and how to look after your wellbeing. The school holidays have officially been moved forward, meaning that term holidays this year will be from Monday 30th March to April 14th. After that, we will have a couple weeks of Learning @ Home using a variety of different platforms - but all will be communicated and run through your Google Classrooms.
Learning @ Home Feedback
Thanks to everyone that provided feedback via the survey that was emailed out. There was a sense that we appreciated the flexibility to manage our own time, and enjoyed having breaks, early starts or sleep-ins that worked for our own wellbeing! As a result of the feedback we have recommended that staff make Google Classroom the central digital platform, so that it is easier to keep track of learning tasks. We have also asked that work be focused on learning, rather than simply keeping students busy with exercises (e.g. Education Perfect, Quizlet). Finally, we have also suggested that it is imperative for students to have opportunities for interaction throughout this period of isolation, whether that be through group activities, video chats, class discussions or any other medium. Given how quickly we’ve been thrown into this situation, and the newness of this experience for everyone involved, things won’t be perfect. However, we ask that you try your best to continue engaging with Learning @ Home, and continue to put effort into your education.
Maturity online
We ask you to remember that your teachers and peers are people as well, and are going through the same hardships as the rest of New Zealand. Due to this please be understanding if the next few days are a bit messy, everyone is trying their hardest. Please remember to uphold yourself online to the same standards you would in person, and just use your common sense. Respect is of the utmost importance in difficult times, so please give your teachers and other students the respect and support they deserve to help make this process work.
Assessment
The staff understand that students may find it difficult to prioritise school work in the midst of this uncertainty. Due to this, Wellington College is taking a flexible approach on assessment. If you're having any concerns about being able to complete school work or access resources, please reach out to your subject teacher who can sort something out with you one-on-one. The first priority for all staff and students should be their families and their wellbeing, and the school and NZQA will take this into account during the coming period of online learning. Some assessments will continue as normal under the discretion of your subject teacher, but still email them to make sure.
Further information on assessment can be found on the NZQA website. For specific information from NZQA about COVID-19 and assessment click here.
If you have any more questions or issues, please direct them to your subject teachers, or deans.
Wellbeing
The Guidance Counselors want everyone to know that they are still available in this very stressful time. You can book in an appointment by clicking here. The counselors are very flexible and are happy to reach out on a whole variety of platforms - such as zoom, Skype or Google meet.
Finally, but most importantly, take care of yourself and your families. Now could be a great time to get involved with some new activities you’ve never had time for, and use this as an opportunity for something positive! Here are some ideas:
And one quick last note, make sure to thank and treat people in essential services with respect.
Wishing you and your family well in these weird times.
Andrew Latta, Josh Kemp Whimp, William Thorpe and George Baker
(Student leaders & members of the Student Council)
March 17, 2020
Congratulations to the amazing WC Athletics team & their coaches on their victory in the 2020 McEvedy Shield. This was a record-equalling sixth consecutive victory.
Click here for all the results.
March 10, 2020
Rugby has been played at Wellington College since 1877. Wellington College competed in the first ever recorded secondary school rugby match against Nelson College and the 1st XV still compete in the oldest secondary school annual rugby tournament, the Quadrangular Tournament.
All of this makes Wellington College a very proud and traditional New Zealand rugby school. That pride and place in the fabric of Wellington College continues today with Wellington College Rugby aspiring to instill in our boys, a culture of success, belonging and growth, all the while connecting them with our past.
Recently this has become increasingly challenging. On-field and off-field performance (results and player numbers) have been variable but on the whole, below expectation. As a result a number of stakeholder groups have expressed their concern at the trajectory of Wellington College Rugby.
Members of the Board, the Senior Leadership Team and the Rugby Club have listened to the feedback. As parents, teachers and coaches themselves, they agree that the status quo is not acceptable, but what the future of Rugby at Wellington College best looks like, is equally unclear. To help achieve clarity on this, a Committee composed of members of the Board, Senior Leadership, Rugby management, parents and Old Boys was formed to investigate.
The first stage of this work commenced prior to Christmas with a call for parents to give their input. Interviews were carried out with a number of parents of past, present and future students to assess the current state of WC Rugby. These interviews, while certainly not unanimous, highlighted a number of key themes. In general, there is;
• Disquiet – Dissatisfaction and frustration with actions or decisions of others
• Under-performance – Players and teams not reaching their potential
• Disconnection – Members of the community feeling undervalued or unwanted
Alongside these stakeholder discussions, for the past four months a group of Wellington College representatives has been meeting with members of our wider rugby community and leaders of rugby programmes in high performing rugby schools across New Zealand. These meetings have yielded some surprising insights, highlighted some myths and some home truths - some of which can be addressed immediately, others will take longer to remedy.
The committee would like to update you on this work to date – the findings, some actions already in train and plans for this and the coming seasons. We are also keen to hear your thoughts and feedback and this is always best done in person. Accordingly, you are invited to join us for a “Wellington College Rugby Community Meeting” at 7.45am, Friday 20 March in Firth Hall
As a demonstration of our commitment to WC Rugby we have commenced the following initiatives:
Some structural changes have been made within the rugby club so that the 1st XV coaches’ sole responsibility within the club, will be to coach the team.
We have identified the long-term central importance of a full-time Director of Rugby role. We have started the process of raising funds for this with the aim of having this in place for 2021
In 2020, Reg Goodes will be joining the coaching team as a volunteer. Other old boys who have played rugby at professional level have agreed to be involved with the club.
Former 1st XV captain and SAS Officer, Steve Guiney, has been appointed to the position of ‘Manager – Leadership & Culture’ for the 1st XV and is available to work with players and teams throughout the club.
Filo Tiatia (All Black 2000) has agreed to help when he can from his base in Auckland. Timings are being worked out.
I understand there is interest in the grading and development structures which we have in place at Wellington College. Please click here to view this year’s plan.
Please RSVP to the breakfast meeting, by 18 March 2020. Current and past players, parents, old boys, staff and anyone interested in the future of Wellington College Rugby is welcome to join us. You can register by clicking here.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Gregor Fountain (Principal)
February 19, 2020
This year marks the 98th year of this prestigious athletics championship - an event that Dr McEvedy hoped would enable the athletes to experience striving hard as the true measure of success, and an event that would give all students the feeling of pride we experience and develop when we represent our school worthily.
Years 12 and 13 students have been given the opportunity to sign up to attend the McEvedy Shield Athletics Championship in support of the Wellington College athletes, as a part of our senior school spectator group. The arrangements for the day are as follows:
Students who are attending McEvedy should wear school uniform on the day and bring a sunhat and sunscreen. We will meet in our Tutor classes in the morning, where entry tickets will be issued, and we will walk to Newtown Park in groups.
Those students who have not registered to attend McEvedy have been granted a day’s study leave, however there will be some supervision available at the College as only Year 9 & 10 classes will be running on this day. The parents of students who have chosen not to attend will be emailed on Monday.
McEvedy is an important event on the Wellington College calendar. All students who have registered have agreed to:
We look forward to working together with our students to ensure that this year’s McEvedy is one that we can all be proud of. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
Normal classes will continue for Years 9 & 10. Click here for information for Year 11.
February 19, 2020
We are looking for a highly efficient administrator, who is digitally capable, with superior interpersonal skills to join our team as the Principal's Executive Assistant. The successful applicant will be collaborative and enjoy working in a busy and unpredictable environment. They will have to love working with young people, and build and maintain respectful professional relationships across the school. The main tasks include supporting the work of the Principal and his senior leadership colleagues through day-to-day administration, event management, human resource administration & communications. As Board Secretary, the successful applicant will also provide administrative & secretarial support to the Wellington College Board of Trustees. This is an exciting opportunity to join a values-based, fun and focused team.
More details about the position and the application process can be found here.
Applications Close 24th February 2020.
February 19, 2020
Te Piringa Whānau Rōpu warmly invite all whānau of our Māori tamatāne, as well all school whānau who support tikanga Māori at Wellington College, to join us at our hui on Tuesday 25th February, at 6pm in the whare. Further information about Te Piringa, including dates for 2020, can be found here.
February 15, 2020
Click here for the WC Parents page on the Wellington College website.
February 15, 2020
We have had a large number of students experiencing problems with faulty Snapper cards this year, including adult fares being charged at times. Please direct any concerns directly to the team at Snapper. All their contact details are here.
It is also a really good idea to register your Snapper card online. This protects it if it is lost and it gives you online access 24/7 to your Snapper balance and transaction history.
February 14, 2020
Wellington College’s joint duxes of 2019 have performed exceptionally well in the New Zealand Scholarship Awards. Liam Anderson gained a total of 8 scholarship awards, with 4 at ‘outstanding’ level and Nicholas Patel gained a total of 5 scholarship awards, with 4 of these at ‘outstanding' level. Jesse Richardson also performed brilliantly, gaining 7 'scholarship' awards, with 2 'outstanding'.
Liam & Nicholas have both been named among New Zealand's Premier Scholars. This places them in the top 12 students in Year 13 in New Zealand in 2019.
Liam was also the Top Scholar in New Zealand for Spanish and Jesse was the Top Scholar in New Zealand for History. Jesse was also identified as an 'Outstanding Scholar', placing him within the top 70 students in New Zealand.
Scholarships are reserved for the top 3% of Year 13 students across New Zealand in each subject area. ‘Outstanding’ awards are given to the top 0.3% of Year 13 students in each subject area.
Wellington College’s students gained a total of 105 awards. 53 individual students attained Scholarships in 15 different subjects. 13 awards were gained at ‘Outstanding’ level. These results continue Wellington College’s remarkable record of success in these prestigious examinations. Congratulations to all of the students and their teachers who experienced Scholarship success in 2019.
February 10, 2020
Here's the schedule for Tuesday's Tutor Group photos in the Auditorium.
January 30, 2020
Wellington College has once again teamed up with OfficeMax MySchool to make ordering stationery for 2020 simple. You can visit the Wellington College Office Max page to order stationery now..
Buying through OfficeMax MySchool also earns rewards for our school which we can redeem for much needed educational supplies, equipment for our classrooms or for students in need. However, you are welcome to buy your stationery from any provider.
January 27, 2020
The 2020 timetable is structured over five days (rather than 6). This means that rather than rotating, each day's timetable is the same from week to week. On Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, school starts at 8.50am with either a Tutor or COLL Time. On Thursdays (assembly day), students report directly to their Period One class at 8.50am. On Fridays we have a late start so that staff can take part in their professional learning and development programme. On this day Year 9 and 10 students report directly to period one at 9.25am. For most students in Years 11-13, the first class of the day will begin at 10.15am. Students will receive their personalised timetable when school starts which will include the start time and location of all classes. This is also available through the parent portal.
January 26, 2020
The 1st XV squad is heading to Argentina for a preseason tour in April. The boys have been working hard to raise funds. Can you help them?
Raffle Tickets
Tour Players are selling these at $5 or $40 for a book. These need to be sold by 16 February. If you would like to buy a book, please contact email Julie = juliecooper49@gmail.com
Bingo Beer & Bubbles - Saturday 22 February
Get your teams together for music, bingo and our live auction. Spread the word among friends, family and colleagues. There are only a few tickets left at $35 (includes platters for your table. Plwase email Anna anna@urbancottage.co.nz
Auction Items
If you could donate items for the auction, please email Dan - danandcolleen@googlemail.com
Golf Tournament – Friday 28 February
Get a team together for this Ambrose Golf Tournament at the Karori Golf Club. Tickets are $50 per person or $200 for a team. We are also looking for $100 business donations for each hole. Please email Kim Muollo with offers of sponsorship and to register to play - kimbom3@hotmail.com
January 23, 2020
With over 30 different sports available, there are sporting opportunities at Wellington College for everyone. We have the traditional sports such as Football, Rugby, Basketball, Hockey, Rowing, Athletics, through to Ultimate, Futsal, Golf, Ice Hockey, Sailing, Waka Ama, Waterpolo and much more. We have social teams as well as competitive & elite programmes. Click here for the full list of sports
Summer sports registrations will close on Wednesday 5 February (week 2 of term 1) and winter sports registrations close on Wednesday 19 February 2020 (week 4 term 1). Click here to register now! .
January 20, 2020
The 2020 school year starts for Year 9 students with a pōwhiri (welcome) at 9am on Tuesday 28th January in the Auditorium. We warmly invite family, friends and whānau to join us for this short ceremony. Everyone in our school community is welcome to be part of this event. All those being welcomed to Wellington College are invited to assemble in the courtyard outside the Alan Gibbs Centre by 8.50am. At the end of the ceremony, Year 9 students will be allocated to their tutor classes. All other guests are invited to join us in the Theatre for tea, coffee and morning tea.
December 14, 2019
We are delighted to announce that Andrew Savage will be joining our staff team in 2020 as Deputy Principal - Curriculum. Andrew is a highly creative, energetic & strategic leader who was previously Deputy Principal of Wellington High School & is currently a Lead Advisor - Innovation & Collaboration at the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. Nau mai, hoki mai! Welcome back to Wellington College, Andrew.
December 2, 2019
Year 12 student Ken Rayner has been awarded a PAD German language scholarship. The PAD Scholarship (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst) provides Ken with a 4-week trip to Germany in June/July next year, all expenses paid. Ken will stay with a host family, attend school with other top international students and tour Germany in the northern hemisphere summer.
Photo: HOD Languages and German teacher Miriam Tornquist with the award winner, Ken Rayner.
November 28, 2019
Due to the Year 9 Drama programme, there will be no staff Professional Development on Friday 29 November. School will start at the normal Monday-Thursday time of 8.50am.
November 14, 2019
All the information you need about this week's Year 10 exams is here.
November 9, 2019
Thank you to everyone who attended the Senior Prizegiving on Monday night. It was a privilege to celebrate together as a community a wide range of student academic, leadership and service contributions to Wellington College.
We would particularly like to congratulate our co-duxes - Liam Anderson and Nicholas Patel on their outstanding academic records, both this year and over the past five years. We would also like to acknowledge Nathan Turner who was the inaugural winner of the Prime Minister's Award for Vocational Excellence.
We extend to all graduating students our thanks for your contribution to the school. Our best wishes for the final examinations and all of your future endeavours.
A copy of the Principal’s Report will be available in December on the College website.
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