October 21, 2020
A number of students are informing the school that they are unable to tag on and off using their Snapper cards/Student ID cards. We have contacted Snapper about this issue and they have provided the following information:
"Students who find their Snapper card is not working need to visit the Service Centre at the i-Site by the Michael Fowler Centre. The cards can then be checked to see if they are damaged or faulty. The Service Centre is open 7 days per week, 9am-5pm.
If damaged in any way, the child will need to pay for a new Snapper. If this is a Student ID card, then they will need to take it to the school office for replacement.
If the Service Centre finds the card faulty, they will replace it free of charge and transfer balance to a new free card. If this is a faulty Student ID, they will transfer the balance to a new green card and order a new Student ID for the child. They will need to either provide a home address for the new card to be sent to or it can be sent direct to school.
For further information on this issue, please contact Snapper Services directly on 0800 555 345."
October 19, 2020
Following the re-appointment of JONNIE TE-RUKI CHAMBERS as 1st XV Coach, Wellington College Rugby is now calling for a 1st XV forwards coach and coaches and managers for our other grades (Under 18 Open (2nd XV-Colts XV), Under 15 Open weight, Under 65kg, Under55kg) to become part of the overall WC Rugby coaching team for the 2021 season. WC Rugby would like to especially invite Wellington College Old Boys to coach a team.
Any coaching experience would be desirable, but all applicants must be able to demonstrate leadership and excellent communication and also have a dedication to work cooperatively with the Club Convenor and the College to ensure a positive and collaborative culture within the WC Rugby coaching team. Applicants should be proficient in coaching backs or forwards and most importantly bring enthusiasm to the role.
Managers are also required for all teams. The major responsibility of these roles is to relieve the team coaches of off-field organisational matters.
Applications, outlining relevant experience and credentials for the respective role, should be addressed to the Rugby Convenor: Pete Maitland email: p.maitland@wc.school.nz.
October 15, 2020
Wellington College continues to be 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 QR code posters at our entrances.
Inter-school and community sport, cultural events, performances and parent meetings can now commence and we look forward to welcoming all of our school community on site for these activities.
The key points at Alert Level 1 are:
Students that are involved in events outside the classroom (eg EOTC overnight trips, tournaments, camps, regattas) that are overnight or longer need to adhere to strict COVID-19 Alert Level guidelines. If they become sick any time prior to (including the day of) leaving for the event, they need to inform the school and teacher in charge. If they become unwell during the event, they need to inform the school, and staff/parent present and follow the guidelines for that alert level.
If the Alert Level is higher than 2, then it is likely that the event is cancelled. If the Alert Level is 2 or lower, then depending on the size and discretion of the school as to whether it will go ahead. Always check with the school if you are uncertain of an event going ahead.
October 14, 2020
Friday 23rd October, 7:30pm-11:30pm
Te Papa Wellington Foyer
Arrival and Entry to the Ball
Conduct during the Ball
Normal school rules apply during the Ball. This is strictly an alcohol and drug free event. Any attendees whose conduct is inappropriate will be removed from the venue by Te Papa’s security and their parents contacted to collect them.
Photographs taken on the night may be posted on the College website or used in the school magazine. Any student who objects to this should not have their photograph taken.
Departure from the Ball
The Ball finishes at 11.30pm. Students will be permitted to leave the venue from 11pm. No pass-outs will be issued during the evening.
Pre and Post-Ball Events
The College does not support any pre-ball or post-ball events. Our expectation is that parents will drop their sons and their partners at the venue at the start of the Ball and collect them at the end of the event. Please ensure that you are actively aware of your son’s movements and actions before and after the Ball.
October 13, 2020
Please join us for this special celebration of the Wellington College community in 2020. This event will combine all of the Year 12 and 13 academic, arts, sports and service awards that in previous years have been presented at either the Senior Prizegiving or the Black & Gold Awards Evening.
All Year 12 & 13 students will be attending and we invite parents, whānau and friends to also be part of this important end-of-year event.
Te Rā Whakanui will include recognition of all of our Year 13 graduating students as they join the Wellington College Old Boys' community.
Morning Tea will be provided at the end of the ceremony for all Year 13 students, their parents and staff. IWe would be delighted if you could stay to be part of this with us.
Please save the time and date and join us if you can.
Please note that there will be no classes for Years 9, 10 or 11 students on this day.
October 12, 2020
Win and you can choose to travel to one of six amazing destinations*.
COVID-19 has seriously affected the Wellington College budget, and we need the support of the wider WC community so we can maintain our sports programme in 2021. Any funds raised will be distributed directly to the Sports codes involved: Rugby, Cricket, Football, Rowing, Hockey and Basketball.
Three prizes to Win
First Prize – A “luxury weekend for two” at a popular NZ holiday destination, includes airfares, accommodation, some meals & tourist attractions. There are six options to choose from. Total Value $3,600
Second Prize – Dinner for two at Charley Noble Restaurant, Wellington. Total Value $300
Third Prize – Two dozen craft beer from the Fortune Favours brewery. Total Value $200.
For full details of the raffle and the six weekend options available, click here
Ticket Purchase
Purchase your tickets by paying into the Wellington College account 06-0561-0137023-00, and emailing us at accounts@wc.school.nz confirming your order and including your name, email address and phone number. We will send you a return email with a scan of your tickets bought. Alternatively you or your son can come into the finance office to purchase tickets directly.
Terms and conditions
Raffle closes 5pm, Friday 13 November, drawn 12pm Tuesday 17 Dec 2020.
1. The selling of raffle tickets commences on Friday 15th October 2020 and closes at 5pm (NZ time) on Friday 13th November 2020 (“Promotion Period”).
2. This raffle is open to New Zealand residents only.
3. Wellington College reserves the right, at any time, to verify the validity of entries and Eligible Participants (including an Eligible Participant’s identity and place of residence) and to disqualify any Eligible Participant who tampers with the entry process. Errors and omissions may be accepted at the Promoter’s discretion. Failure by the Promoter to enforce any of its rights at any stage does not constitute a waiver of those rights.
4. If there is a dispute as to the identity of an Eligible Participant, the Promoter reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to determine the identity of the Eligible Participant.
5. The draw date is 17 November 2020 and will be conducted at Wellington College, Wellington.
6. The Promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
7. The winners will be notified by telephone and email on Wednesday 18th November and prize collection arrangements will be provided to the winners.
8. If for any reason this promotion is not capable of running as planned, including due to vandalism, power failure, natural disasters, acts of God, civil unrest, strikes, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes beyond the control of the Promoter, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or integrity or proper conduct of this promotion, the Promoter may (where necessary with the approval of the relevant regulatory authority) cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the promotion and/or may disqualify at its sole discretion any individual in any way involved in interfering or tampering with the conduct of the promotion.
9. You understand and consent to the Promoter’s collection, use and transfer of your personal information in order to conduct the raffle. By entering the raffle, unless you provide notice of your choice to opt-out, you also agree that the Promoter may transfer, use and disclose your personal information for purposes other than this promotion, including commercial communications in any media for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes without any further reference, payment or other compensation. A request to access, update or correct your personal information should be directed to the Promoter.
10. Prize packages including alcohol require proof of age before redemption.
October 11, 2020
Unfortunately, due to the challenges of this year, WC will not be holding the Black and Gold Awards in their usual format. However, we will be celebrating all these nominated students, along with others who have contributed to the Arts this year, at a special Celebration of the Arts assembly on Thursday 29 October.
These students have taken opportunities, performed superbly and contributed to the Arts outstandingly during a difficult year. We applaud their efforts and their talent.
Please note, nominations for Team of the Year are yet to be confirmed.
Kirsty Hazledine
Arts Director
Arts Person of 2020:nominees
Junior (Years 9-11)
Zack Buyck - Drama, Debating
Benjamin Carter - Music
Arthur Fell - Drama, Debating
Alex Greenwood - Drama, Public Speaking
Sumner Hancock - Public Speaking, Debating, Musical Theatre
Malachy Holborow - Music, Drama
Dhruv Menon - Music, Public Speaking
Tai Renner - Public Speaking, Debating, Kapa Haka
Sefton Williamson - Drama, Musical Theatre
Senior (Years 12-13)
Will Antrobus - Drama, Musical Theatre, Music
George Baker - Music, Drama, Musical Theatre
Johanius Eteuati - Pasifika Performance, Public Speaking
Logan Forsyth - Drama, Theatre Tech
Joseph Galinski - Music
Judah Jackson - Film, Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Public Art
Josh Kemp Whimp - Drama, Musical Theatre, Music
Andew Latta - Music, Kapa Haka, Musical Theatre
Hugh O’Leary - Debating, Public Speaking
George Parker - Drama, Musical Theatre
Nishan Rasiah - Music, Drama, Musical Theatre
Roshi Sneyd - Music, Musical Theatre, Public Speaking
Archie Taylor - Music, Theatre Tech
Dugal Thomson - Music
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September 21, 2020
You can now purchase your WC Keep Cup from the Uniform Shop.
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September 20, 2020
While masks are not mandatory on school buses, many of our students travel on public trains and buses where they are required. The Uniform Shop has two options of face masks available for sale.
The black masks are a great option for students to use on public transport. Both masks come in one size only. The masks are being offered at the cost price.
We have limited stock available so they will be sold on a first come first served basis. They can be purchased from the Uniform Shop - Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11am-1.30pm.
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September 19, 2020
At the beginning of the year we held workshops to get student input into the development of a new Digital Citizenship Responsible Use Agreement. A large number of students have made recommendations and over the past term the Student Council has been working on reviewing the agreement and revising it based on student feedback. The finalised agreement can now be read here and a hard copy was provided to student at Tutor Time on Monday 5th September. We would be grateful if you could take some time to discuss this agreement at home.
Over the next few weeks we are asking everyone in our community to sign the agreement and return it to school by Friday 25th September. In signing the agreement students and parents are acknowledging that they have read and understood the framework for responsible digital use at Wellington College.
In response to student feedback, later this term the Student Council will also be providing some material to support and enhance understanding of how the school might respond in the event of any online concerns. We will also be including a ‘Digital Citizenship’ section in our Weekly Newsletter to support ongoing conversations about online the experiences of our young people.
We are grateful to the students for their input into the development of this agreement, and in particular the Student Council sub-committee, and we look forward to working together to ensure a safe and enjoyable online learning environment for all.
Remember that we have an anonymous 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.
Digital Citizenship Resources for Parents
Have a look at Netsafe's Online Safety Parent Toolkit - this covers advice and further resources about some of the key challenges our young people face online, with a particular focus on: Online bullying, Unwanted contact, Social media, Sexting and Inappropriate content.
September 12, 2020
At Wellington College we started the year by asking our students what they thought our guidelines for digital citizenship should be, as well as find out what things mattered for them.
We have learned that our students appreciate all of the exciting possibilities that the digital world offers for learning new things, socialising with others and connecting with ideas and people all over the world. We also know that our young people regularly encounter challenges online such as social exclusion, bullying, inappropriate behaviour and pornography.
As a learning community, with the help of the Student Council, we have been working together to develop our digital citizenship guidelines within the framework of our College Values and the Harmful Digital Communications Act.
We would appreciate it if families could take some time to discuss this agreement (we were planning to do this in Tutor Classes this week). It is so important that we remember that the Prime Minister’s message “We will get through this together, but only if we stick together. Be strong and be kind” also extends to our online spaces.
To support our families we have also created a Digital Citizenship Parent Help Sheet called ‘Supporting Young People Online’. This contains some helpful information, including some possible conversation starters about online safety.
We also have developed a new anonymous 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.
Let’s work together to provide a safe and enjoyable online learning environment for all. And remember that if you need help our Guidance Teams are here to support us and we can also report online harm to Netsafe.
Wellington College Digital Citizenship Responsible Use Agreement.
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 22, 2020
These have been postponed due to COVID-19.
On Monday 24th August our students will be having presentations from a group called 'Attitude'. Attitude – the youth education division of Parenting Place – is dedicated to equipping teenagers with the information and skills they need to negotiate the adolescent years and build meaningful lives. The materials, based on credible research and linked to the health curriculum, give young people strategies for solving problems, handling stress, building resilience and negotiating relationships. Wellington College has been working with this organisation for many years and our students always seem to value their presentations.
Year 9 - Hauora
This is a survival guide to looking after your entire well-being as a teenager. It is designed to introduce and complement teaching of the Hauora health model. We cover healthy decision making in areas of physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being.
Year 10 - Sex & Relationships
We discuss the emotional and social aspects of sexuality and provide a decision-making guide to relationships. The programme covers the benefits of postponing sexual involvement and how to set boundaries. It challenges teenagers to think about the options for their future. If any parent prefers that their student does not attend this session please email the Yr 10 Dean (j.coles@wc.school.nz or g.mance@wc.school.nz)
Year 11 -13 - Mental Health
We introduce some common mental health issues and normalize seeking and getting help. This is a survival kit for handling the bad times, and covers grief and depression. Students are equipped with ideas to help their mental well-being.
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.
June 4, 2020
At Alert Level 2, schools are safe environments for children, young people and staff. We will implement similar processes to those which we previously used during Alert level 2. These will enable us to ensure that we know who is at school and who our staff and students have been in close contact with. We will also be taking enhanced hygiene and cleaning measures to keep everyone safe.
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. Therefore 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.
We are yet to receive specific information about how Metlink will respond to this return to Alert Level 2. We will update staff, students & parents as soon as information is available.
During Alert Level 2 some additional Health & Safety practices are implemented. 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. Please be aware that teachers will be unable to provide the same level of online interaction as they did during the Learning @ Home period (Alert Levels 3 & 4).
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 QR codes that are posted around the school.
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
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
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.
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
Between the 24th and 27th of January the Wellington College rowers competed in the North Island Club Championships. This is a huge regatta with over 2000
competitors. The rowers and their coaches have been working hard all summer. The results speak for themselves; competing for the Star Boating Club our rowers won 2 Gold, 2 Silver & 2 Bronze medals with success in every age category. Twelve boats made A Finals & and a further eight boats made B Finals. We are looking
forward to the North Island School Championship later in the term and thank the coaches and other volunteers who are having such a positive impact on our rowing club.
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 15, 2020
Are you buying school shoes for 2020? 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 sandals. Sandals must have a back strap. See below for what's acceptable and what's not.
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 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.
October 15, 2019
He Pō Whakanui, our evening to celebrate Māori student success and the graduating class of 2019, will be held on Wednesday 30th October, 6pm at The Te Puni Room at the Wharewaka on the Wellington waterfront. Te Piringa (Wellington College Whānau Rōpū) would like to warmly invite all Māori students, Māori Language students and their whānau, Old Boys, and those who support Tikanga Māori, to join with us and the staff of Wellington College in celebrating the accomplishments our tauira.
Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Whaea Louise Carter by Friday 25th October.
Nau mai, haere mai ki te whakanui i ngā mahi o ngā rangatira nei
September 19, 2019
Year 11-13 students who are not sitting Scholarship Trial Exams are not required at school on Friday 20th September
August 4, 2019
On Wednesday 21st August, we will be holding our annual Tutor Conferences.
This is an important day for focusing on the academic achievement and pastoral needs of Wellington College students.
Wellington College reports on the progress of students in a variety of ways. Earlier in the year, parents received progress reports and at the beginning of Term Two many parents took the opportunity to meet with subject teachers at the parent/teacher evening. More recently, parents of Years 11-13 students received written reports. (These are available through the parent portal).
The Tutor Conference is an opportunity for students and parents to meet with the form tutor to discuss academic goals and progress, attendance, pastoral issues, and to develop an academic action plan for the remainder of 2019.
The day will involve parents/caregivers and their sons in a 15 minute Academic Conference session with the form tutor. Your attendance at this session is highly desirable.
There will be no timetabled classes on this day.
Students are expected to wear school uniform, escort their parents to the classroom where the conference will be held and introduce parents to the form tutor.
July 30, 2019
Course selection is one of the most important decisions that a student makes each year. We aim 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.
Two important course selection afternoons are scheduled in the Alan Gibbs Centre. The first, for students who will be in Year 10 and Year 11 in 2020 (as well as their caregivers) will be at 4.00pm on Wednesday afternoon, 31 July 2019.
The second, for students who will be in Year 12 and Year 13 in 2020 (as well as their caregivers) will be at 4.00pm on Thursday afternoon, 1 August 2019. These are opportunities to meet with Heads of Department and other staff to discuss courses for 2019.
Click here for all the information you need for 2020 course selection.
June 19, 2019
We are delighted to invite prospective students, along with their whānau and friends, to join us for one of our 2020 Open Mornings.
On Saturday 22nd June our Open Morning will begin at 10.30am in the Alan Gibbs Centre - our brand new Memorial Hall and Performing Arts Centre. You'll meet our Principal, Gregor Fountain, and hear from some current students. You will then be invited to join a student-led tour of our beautiful campus. The tour will allow you to meet with key members of staff, representing our broad curriculum and our extensive extra-curricular programmes. There will be opportunities to find out more about our enrolment procedures for both in-zone and out-of-zone students.
On Monday 24th June starting at 9.30am, we will run a slightly reduced repeat programme for those who are unable to attend on the Saturday morning.
We are really looking forward to meeting you, and discussing how we can support your son's transition to Wellington College. in the meantime, you might be interested in viewing the College's new Strategic Plan. This will give you a strong sense of our values and our exciting plans for the future.
Our enrolment documents are available here.
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