MĀTOU - 2022 49 This year was an exciting opportunity to bring on board experienced volleyball players alongside brand new ones. There was a lot of passion and enthusiasm within the team which meant that although the season was disrupted because of Covid-19, the team continuously was excited to train and take the court. The first game of the season was a success against Michael Park School winning the set 3-0. The toughest competitor that Edgewater faced was Glendowie College which tested Edgewater’s communication skills and unity, unfortunately losing to them 2-1. The team worked hard throughout the season to improve their individual skill set and their teamwork. For the final week, the team faced Saint Kentigern's College winning 2-0, and Glendowie College losing 2-1 in a tightly fought game. Under the leadership of Vili Havili, the team utilised his volleyball skills and experience to create a brotherhood within a short period of time, thank you Vili for your service. It is clear we have a group of really talented boys who are passionate and hungry for the next season. We would like to acknowledge those who were in Year 13 and played their final volleyball tournament for the school - Anton Ameke and Kiti Liuono. We will be able to build on the foundations that we have created this year and I look forward to the 2023 season. - The team members: • Hunter Foster • Ruben Rae • Xyril Millado • Tonu Lavata'i • Paepaega Tofilau • Vili Havili • Anton Ameke • Kiti Liuono Senior Boys Volleyball
50 MĀTOU - 2022 Volleyball 2022 for the Senior Girls Volleyball team was a year to remember. Saint Kentigern College hosted most of this year’s games, giving us plenty of time to arrive and spend quality time warming up for the game. Opposition schools consisted of Saint Kentigern, Howick, Pakuranga, Macleans and Glendowie College. The teams' strengths and abilities were vastly mixed, and this created games that varied in intensity and skill levels. Despite some close contests, the girls tenacity and enthusiasm lead to weeks without any losses resulting in increased confidence and smiling faces. Covid played its part in the continuity of the season and had an impact on who played each week, as well as creating new hygiene routines for travel and games. Elisa Rubena captained the team throughout the season, leading with humility, manaakitanga and insight. She knew the right things to say to help everyone lift their game whenever it was needed. Stand out performances came from Emily Tofilau who always bought her best game when it mattered most, Nike Tofilau who helped us across the line with ferocious serves and Mercy Semi who set the ball with so much control. The team's biggest asset, however, was how well they worked together. The students, from year 11 to 13, supported one another and created a positive culture at the courts by supporting the other teams too. This combination of teamwork, talent, and determination lead to an unbeaten season with Edgewater College finishing at the top of the table and some great memories. A special thanks to: Mrs Booker for her positive impact on the team as well as her superb management skills; to Mr McGregor for his calm presence as coach and umpire on the side lines; and to Ms Benjamin for doing all the organising behind the scenes. Senior Girls
MĀTOU - 2022 51 Whānau & Community
52 MĀTOU - 2022 Whānau Leaders 2022! It was so good to see you! The whānau programme may have been condensed a little thanks to Covid’s lingering impact, but it was great to be back competing, and Cooper stormed into the whānau activities with gusto! We kicked off the short season with an epic and, we are told, somewhat frustrating, chess tournament. We followed this with an impressive performance on the volleyball court, securing a second place for game play. But we all know that’s not where Cooper shines; we had the most players participating on the court! Earning bonus points for our spirited participation. In fact, Cooper saw plenty of victories in all the short season’s tournaments except, to manager and media nerd Ms. Minahan’s shame, in the E-sport tournament! Though Ms. Dawson put in an impressive (if not counted) performance on Tekken. We’re proud of our performance this year, and eagerly await the results. Better yet, we can’t wait for next year’s return to normality! Cooper Alakoka Veatufunga Cooper Leader It's good to see the back end of 2022, just like 2020 & 2021. This year saw a reduced whānau program due to covid restrictions in term 1. Unfortunately, this negatively impacted the Sheppard whānau as we are more suited to the sporting competitions and with the sports day and touch not included this year our whānau didn’t gain valuable points. We started with the chess competition, not a strong point for the whānau, where limited participation and inexperienced players meant that Sheppard was less than successful. We continued strongly in the Tekken esports domain, where our competitive vibe allowed us to annihilate the opposition winning the event, 1st in game wins and participation. This was followed up with volleyball, where Sheppard maintained a strong sporting mantra coming second overall. The last event was the library reading challenge, which is very challenging for the Sheppard whānau, finishing last in this event. We are pleased with our sporting performance in 2022, and can’t wait for a full range of whānau competitions (including more sporting events) in 2023. Bring it on. Sheppard Emily Tofilau Sheppard Leader Another disruptive year caused havoc with the Whānau competition this year. Ngata ended up being the 3rd place specialists with 3rd placings in Chess, Volleyball and the Reading challenge. Thank you to all the students who participated and flew the flag proudly for Ngata Whānau and a big shout out to our awesome Whānau Leader, Josh Nicol. Let’s hope (after two years of disruption) next year will be the resurgence and revitalization of the Whānau programme, starting off with our awesome Sports day which will help set the tone for the rest of the year. Bring it on 2023! Ngata is ready! Ngata Joshua Nicol Ngata Leader 2022 looked promising for Hillary whānau and we were set to claim back the whānau cup after a few years of coming close, but ultimately missing out by a small margin. We started off with a bang and made sure the other whānau were aware we meant business. In the first few activities we did well with participation as we all rallied to get behind the whānau programme. The comradery was unreal with students from Years 9 -13 all coming together to support one another regardless of experience or skill in the events. Having such diversity in the range of activities such as the bake off, chess, E-sport and the reading competition meant that everyone had a chance to shine, get involved and give it a go. It was always our goal to focus on participation and create a whānau base of support for the Year 9’s, and new students joining our school. It was more than just getting them to join an activity, it was about the connections and support. Our goal was to build on our relationships so everyone feels valued, and there is support and a friendly face looking out for you.. That is why we enjoy having the whānau programme and think that it is an important part of the high school journey. Bring on 2023. Hillary Evelina McArthur Hillary Leader
MĀTOU - 2022 53 The 2022 Academic Committee consists of the following students: Tu’ifua Paunga (Leader), Yalda Ahmadi (Deputy Leader), Julius Korey, Hehea Tuimoala, Viliami Paonga, Aastha Maharaj and Gavin Panapa. The big project in 2022 was the establishment of Taiwhanga Wānanga (Study Point). Taiwhanga Wānanga is based in B block and consists of 3 rooms where students can go after school to complete homework and assessment tasks. The committee set up the spaces to ensure they were welcoming and resourced with materials students can use. Students are able to get some afternoon tea (toast and hot drinks) and get help from student leaders and teachers with their learning. The committee members and other school leaders were rostered on to set up the spaces and pack up the spaces each afternoon. Taiwhanga Wānanga will continue in 2023 and the committee has done a great job establishing this as a supportive learning environment for students. Academic Committee Student Committees
54 MĀTOU - 2022 This year’s Community Committee consisted of Elisa Rubena, Lemoto Veatufunga, Tahryn Toki, Evelina McArthur, Emily Tofilau, Joshua Nicol and Alakoka Veatufunga. With only a few things on the calendar, the team didn’t really kick into action until term three. However a number of the team were also part of the Ball Committee and assisted with running some of the language weeks during the year. The main event for the Community Committee is the running of the Give It A Go week. With te wiki o te reo Māori, Tongan Language week and assessment week all in a row, this didn’t take place until week one of term 4. However, even though it was late in the year, it was a really great week with activities on offer nearly every single break time. The committee was enthusiastic and encouraged participation really well. There was a large variety of activities on offer and the assistance from staff was appreciated. Knitting was the surprise activity with students giving it a go and although finding it quite tricky, they really enjoyed it. Ms Quigley, Ms Haigh and Mrs Thompson were really patient and kind and the students all managed to knit a few rows. Origami was good fun, music was entertaining, and the events in the gym were so popular, the committee ended up running more activities the following week. The most competitive was the boys versus girls netball game. Unfortunately no one kept the score so we couldn’t possibly say who won that. A really great group of students who did a great job at encouraging students to join in school life. Community Committee Student Committees
MĀTOU - 2022 55 Pastoral Committee 2022 was an eventful year for the Pastoral team. The team consisted of Hannah King, Blake Howell, Caleb Samaseia and Yasameen Ali who all brought strengths to the table. Some examples of these strengths are; experienced leadership skills, organisation and operation skills, phenomenal communication abilities, and personalities that made this team destined to pull off the required events. Manakitanga week was the team's primary focus for the year where the team dedicated an event to each day of the week to show kindness and aroha to the school community. Some of the events undertaken were Pink Shirt Day to raise awareness for anti-bullying, as well as a day where the students have the chance to send positive messages out to fellow students and to learn about how negative messages can impact different cultures and communities through an anti-slur awareness campaign. City Mission received a large package of food items to add to their quota, kindly donated by students and staff, then delivered to the City Mission front door. As a pastoral committee we also decided to celebrate EID week and get celebratory messages out to our muslim community in recognition of this special week. Our team grew in confidence through this committee, we believe we had a positive impact on our school, and the surrounding community. Student Committees
56 MĀTOU - 2022 The Enviro Club had a pretty amazing year and achieved a lot despite Covid and the lockdowns. We started the year by entering a Moth Plant collection competition run by the Howick Local Board in conjunction with Pest Free Auckland. There was prize money up for grabs so the team hit the streets and started collecting. We managed to get well over 1000 pods which gave us prize money of $150 to spend!! The money was used to add to the orchard at school so the orchard is getting to be quite large now. As a result of coming third in the competition, we were offered places on the trip to Rotoroa Island, a DOC-run conservation island in the Hauraki Gulf. It was a beautifully sunny Sunday when we went on this guided trip and we all learnt a lot. The island is stunning and is pest free, with loads of native trees and birds. Finally the team was involved in supporting the correct disposal of the lunch rubbish into bins and worked hard on an educational programme for this. We received funding for this and although still a work in progress, we managed to do a waste audit and made some progress with this. It was a great year with some very enthusiastic students working hard to improve our environment. Thanks! Enviro Club
MĀTOU - 2022 57 Hauora Hub We have had a super busy year in the Hauora Hub. In term one we welcomed two new youth workers to the team. George and Lucas quickly got so busy running our super popular youth groups with year nine and ten boys we wondered how we had coped without them! George’s card tricks, and Lucas’s maths genius and both of their chess skills became world famous in the Hauora Hub. In term two, our second counsellor, Erika, joined us for half of each week, and was able to immediately knock off all the Year 9 (now year 10) heath assessments that were disrupted by COVID last year, and then move on to working with lots of people who benefit from regular sessions but keep getting bumped from Helen’s list every time there is an emergency. This has been awesome for everyone involved, and we are so grateful to Ms Addison for making it happen! We had some great additions to our physical space too, with the amazing Sarah upgrading the student counsellor room with sandtray resources and providing excellent counselling on her MIT placement days, when she wasn’t providing excellent mentoring on her Youth Work days. We also introduced our painting room (aka the Dean’s meeting room - shhh), where people enjoy everything from chilling out with stamps and playdoh to creating spectacular art works. Jules and Anna have tirelessly provided us with caring, patient and confidential medical care, as well as a few thousand bandaids and referrals to Dr Lavamai when she comes in once a week. Free period and contraception products have always been available in the Hauora Hub, but our new dispenser (and the big brown box under Helen’s desk) made these even easier to access. We also were overjoyed to welcome 2 new physiotherapists during term 3, after waiting ages to get those winter sport injuries seen to! At the time of writing, we are looking forward to running a Travellers group in term 4, as well as a Tapu-Noa group, with a focus on mental health and wellbeing, run for us by Matt and Christian from Te Kaha o te Rangatahi. Whether you are struggling with something really big and want to talk, need a bit of support with a friendship issue, have a stomach ache or feel like a fruit cup or 20 (JUST KIDDING - those are moving to B Block), don’t be a stranger to the Hauora Hub. We are here to be a kind and comfortable place to be, when the world seems like the opposite. Arohanui.
58 MĀTOU - 2022 School Ball The theme for the school ball this year was LA Nights and the Ball Committee of Hannah Cook, Elisa Rubena, Evelina McArthur, Yasameen Ali, Pupuke Pahulu, Josh Nicol and Hannah King worked hard to make this an amazing night to remember. Coordinating the decorations, menu, music and overall ‘vibe’ of the event took a lot of time and effort, and the team did a great job attending meetings, going to the venue and planning things. The night was fantastic. With the new format of having the event bi-annually, there was a great turn out of students (and staff!) to make this an unforgettable night. The music was great and the dance floor was full all night, the food was awesome and everyone looked amazing. A huge thanks to Adrian Cruz for an amazing poster and ticket design.
MĀTOU - 2022 59
60 MĀTOU - 2022 Junior Days Junior Creative Design Day
MĀTOU - 2022 61 Junior Days Junior Sports Day
62 MĀTOU - 2022 Year 13 Camp When year 13 camp first came to light many were excited about it, but because of covid many feared it would be cancelled, luckily we were able to go to Ponui Island with around 45 students, at first some were in doubt but that was cast aside as we begun our activities, we were placed into six teams that were each colour coded and in that time we got to know our team and had fun working together towards our goal of being first throughout the activities. When we weren’t doing the activities we had the chance to converse with other teams and laugh at how we approached different ways based on the activity at hand, through this it also helped build friendships with not just our team but others that are hopefully still strong today. The second day we were given the chance to hike to another part of the island and witness how amazing the landscape was and at night we had a game of jenga and a sing-off on the last day we had a food eating competition and other activities. Personally It was fun for me to see that even though we didn't win everything I could still see the smiles and laughs of not only my team but other teams participating, it was good to see that everyone was having fun! - Caleb Samaseia
MĀTOU - 2022 63 What a year 2021 had been! Due to Covid we were unsure if Year 13 camp was going to happen the following year but honestly so glad it went ahead and that I got to be a part of it. To be honest I wasn’t too sure if I was going to go in the first place because my friends weren’t going, but in the end we all went. Ponui Island was where we had camped for 3 days. Not knowing what to bring or pack as it had been my first time camping, I think I’d packed for a week's stay which was kind of a waste of space! The atmosphere was amazing, minus the little raisin sized sheep poo being everywhere. Not only did we have a beach right in front of us and get to see different animals at our footsteps, but later on we got to bond and build connections with each other over heaps of fun activities. Some activities were less fun than others, like walking to the other beach which felt like it stood on the other side of the country(UGHHHH:( ). But if we didn’t go on that walk then we wouldn’t have seen the Donkeys and seen some of my friends slip and land in a pile of dung. The other activities consisted of building a fire, seeing who could create the highest human pyramid on a kayak, paddle boarding, sponge fights, food races, and so many more other fun activities. It was so amazing to see some people step out of their comfort zone and try new things. To me, most of the activities had a lesson to teach such as teamwork and great communication which are some things I can take with me into the bigger world! Overall I personally loved Year 13 camp because we got to bond more with each other and that's honestly what made camp even more fun and memorable. Being able to talk to each other and joke around, seeing everyone have a great time. For those who are contemplating on whether they should go or not, you should consider it as a MUST! Get all your friends and encourage them to go because trust me this one will be memorable! Lastly big ups to all the staff members that organised and prepared everything, from food, to accommodation, to activities and all sorts. If it weren’t for them then it wouldn’t have been possible, so thank you to all the amazing staff members! - Hehea Tuimoala Year 13 Camp
64 MĀTOU - 2022 Camp this year was very interesting to say the least. I’ve never been to a school camp that used tents so I was panicked at first that I wouldn’t be able to put up my tent, or it would blow away in the night. However I think the tents added to the experience, especially waking up to the beautiful beach front view of Ponui island. The first day was extremely hot, the sunburns some people got were so funny. But the water was so clear and beautiful the swims we got to take were amazing. (I did not enjoy getting pushed in the water 3 times) Straight away on the first day there we got put into teams with a mix of people in our year, so we got to see how we would work with others we don’t know so well. Which was something that made camp better, as most of the activities you could only complete by working together. We did a range of wacky activities everyday, there was always something to do. From playing jenga at night to belting songs that fit a certain category to having swimming races, there were certainly a lot of laughs. I would have to say that my favourite was the night time activities which were different small games to earn points for your team. I can honestly say I have never laughed that hard with people falling, screaming and working together. It was honestly so fun. For me going to camp, and doing everything in a team taught me more about working together and letting others lead. As a very competitive person, finding that winning isn’t everything and just enjoying the moment and having fun was something I took away from camp. Overall Year 13 camp is a memorable experience that I won’t ever forget, because of the laughs and memories with my cohort. I would recommend every Year 13 to go on camp, if you're worried about the tents or anything else everyone is always so willing to help each other. It's just such a good way to start off your Year 13 that nobody should just put it off. Lastly, thank you to all the teachers and staff that organised everything and came with us. Also big thanks to Miss Benjamin who is the greatest for booking and organising the whole camp. We wouldn’t have been able to have this amazing experience with them which I know everyone enjoyed. - Hannah King Year 13 Camp
MĀTOU - 2022 65 Having never been to a school camp, this by far exceeded what I was expecting, all the fun and games we played were a blast, and it was most definitely a time to remember, the dried sheep dung everywhere, the sand flies constantly buzzing around, the hills we had to climb, and the tents we slept in, all memorable to say the least, what made camp so special wasn't the games, or the island, or the scenery but the people themselves, big thank you to the teachers who helped set up the wonderful 3 days, there were so many fun activities and so many team bonding activities that made the three days feel like a week, those 3 days were filled with so much that you have to be there to fully understand what we are talking about, big thank you to all the teachers once again because without them this camp would've never been possible let alone as memorable as it was. - Julius Korey Year 13 Camp
66 MĀTOU - 2022 Unfortunately we can’t help but sound super repetitive when we talk about most of 2022. And the Whānau programme is not an exception. Again, an amazing day was planned for our inaugural (at least in quite some time) Athletics Day at Lloyd Elsmore Park. The plans were made, the staff were prepped, the students were keen, but instead we got to learn from home. The year 9 Sports Leadership class kickstarted what we hoped would lead to an eventful year of games and competitions. Although not an official whānau competition, large numbers of year 9’s turned up to play class v class volleyball games. It was awesome to have senior students officiating the games and the sportsmanship and manaakitanga demonstrated shows what amazing students we have at Edgewater. It was a great start for the year 9’s and awesome to see the potential for future events. With no official whānau events for the first part of the year, due to all the covid restriction, things could only get better, and it was onwards and upwards from there. The first competition was the Chess Tournament held in the library. It was great to see so many students turn up to the first event and the competition was fierce. Cooper came away with the win, closely followed by Hillary, Ngata and then Sheppard. There wasn’t much in it though and it was going to be interesting to see what happened with the other events. We then tried to do as much as we could in the short time we had. We somehow managed to finish the Book Challenge, E-sport and the Volleyball tournament. As always E-sport had some very competitive yet friendly banter. Sheppard took the win and their only disappointment was that there wasn’t more opportunity to showcase their dominance. They were good. The Book Competition runs for the entirety of term three and with regular updates from our librarian Ms Mucalo, is hotly contested by both staff and students. Cooper took the win in this one, much to Ms Mucalo’s disappointment (she’s in Hillary) however, Hillary was second, followed by Ngata and then Sheppard. Our final event was Volleyball. This is always a highlight on the whānau calendar and was again hotly contested. There was a great turn out in the gym each day with a large number of students waiting their turn to sub in on each game. There was so much encouragement, laughter and banter, it was an awesome event. Cooper took out the win, followed closely by Sheppard, Ngata and Hillary. So with a limited calendar of events (but excitement for what’s instore next year) we would like to give a huge thank you to the student leaders, staff managers and organisers of the Whānau Competition. Congratulations to Cooper Whānau on taking the win for 2022. Although a smaller competition, they won 3 out of 4 events and were a deserved winner. Ngata came in second place, and very close behind was Hillary, with Sheppard in fourth. Whānau Competition
MĀTOU - 2022 67 Learning Areas
68 MĀTOU - 2022 2022 has been a big year for the Art Department. Our students have created work across a variety of mediums this year including painting, design, photography, printmaking, digital art and sculpture. This year we were able to go on two trips. A senior Art trip to our local gallery, Te Tuhi, where our students were able to see the NZQA top art exhibition. We were also very lucky to be sponsored by Wētā Workshop Unleashed to attend the Auckland exhibition which was a highlight for our Year 10 students this year. Students were able to interact with many props and sets used in the movies they see on screen. It was very inspiring and a fun filled day. We were proud to nominate Adrian Cruz to participate in the annual exhibition and showcase by the Howick Art Lounge. He was given the task to complete an A1 canvas in 3 days while the public was able to watch him in action. This was a daunting but exciting opportunity and Adrian did an excellent job representing our school. We also participated in the annual Focus showcase at Howick College, sponsored by Davis Funeral Home. We entered 12 students' work into the exhibition and two of our students won highly commended awardsAngela Cheng for her digital artwork and Rawiri Paraha for his intaglio print. They both won a $150 prezzie card. The Art department also participated in the first Creative Design day for our junior students. We ran a harakeke raranga course where students were able to weave a two corner kete. We had 12 students participate in this and they all thoroughly enjoyed making their first kete. Lastly, we nominated two of our Year 13 students for the Pat Hanly Creative Excellence awards at the Auckland Art Gallery. Johnson Hagaitoa and Angela Cheng both submitted artwork and were chosen to receive these prestigious awards. Unfortunately Angela was unable to attend the ceremony, however Johnson was accompanied by his mum and dad. We are so thankful to be able to enter our students in these opportunities again this year and we hope this continues into the future. On behalf of myself, Miss Kingston and Ms Jansen we would like to thank and congratulate all of our Edgie Artists who have put so much time and effort into creating their artworks during 2022. We look forward to seeing many of you back in the Art Department next year. We farewell our Year 13 students and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. We would also like to wish Ms Jansen all the best as she leaves us to become a RTLB specialist teacher. We will really miss her enthusiasm, Photography knowledge and her support around the Art Department. Art
MĀTOU - 2022 69 Business Studies This year there were four senior classes and two junior classes in Year 10. We welcomed a new teacher, Mrs Wee, who taught one of the Level 1 Business Studies classes. There was also a new Level 2 class, Business, Money and Finance, which focussed on learning skills around personal finance and improving financial literacy. The Level 2 & 3 Business Studies classes were combined into one class, both following the Young Enterprise Scheme. There were hopes that the Level 2 & 3 Business Studies classes would be able to operate and sell products without any covid restrictions during the year. The combined class had four Young Enterprise teams between them. After another covid disruption during term 1 and absences during term 2 of the year, all teams struggled to make consistent progress and manufacture their products. The groups all completed their market research and market plans with the Year 13 group producing prototype products later in the year. The disruptions at the start of the year had a negative impact on the ability of the groups to fully succeed to the best of their ability. The Year 11 Business Studies class was able to successfully hold a school Market Day in term 2. This was an enjoyable experience with many students attending. Several groups sold out of their products during the market, which was fantastic to see. Unfortunately, none of Edgewater College’s Young Enterprise groups qualified for the regional finals in 2022, however, they all acquired a great amount of experience, which will help in their future endeavours. We are hopeful that 2023 will bring much better times, which will allow for the senior classes being able to operate effectively, selling products to both our peers and to the wider community.
70 MĀTOU - 2022 Drama This year our Drama Department welcomed its first official Year 9 Drama class, an exciting journey with a group of vibrant and talented young performers. Our students across levels have produced some stellar work in their performances from Shakespearian interpretations to physically devised pieces depicting historical events. To all 2022 Drama students thank you! Thank you for being persistent, adaptive and for all your positive energy. You have all made it through this year, and should be proud of all you have achieved. To our Year 13 Drama leavers Kia Kaha and best wishes for your future endeavors.
MĀTOU - 2022 71 Edge The Edge Innovation Programme is into its 4th year with classes continuing at years 9 to 11 and a new year 12 class (2 EDGE). There has been a diverse range of topics for the year 9 to 11 classes as listed below: • Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse with students developing personal survival plans which included everything from hijacking a farm to grow cabbage to shooting zombies in the face with toy water pistols loaded with hand-sanitisers. • Fast Fashion Research - Using textile waste as our inspiration to create an artistic response to our fast fashion research project. • Plant Power - growing our own plants and creating meals using them as ingredients • H2NO - Detecting chemicals in our water • Upcycling - turning trash to treasure • Civil Rights - Creating digital stories to highlight civil rights issues around the world • Packaging Solutions - working with local companies to design effective packaging for their products. Students learnt about the important decisions that go into packaging and transporting the end product that we see on the shelves. Thank you to Target Furniture, Karen Symons Art, Hygeine House, Celebration Box, Hello & Cookie and Jolli Candy for your support of this project. We appreciate your generosity in sharing your time, knowledge and product information with us. In the year 12 course students continued to develop their capabilities to be leaders in our community. We started the year looking at the upcoming busway from Pakuranga to Botany Town Centre which will have a big impact on our local community and school commute. In the second half of the year, students developed their project management and collaboration skills, developing a project to enhance their community. These include developing a junior mentor class volleyball tournament, preparing and presenting a LGBTQ+ Resource for staff, mentoring younger students through a Sisters United programme and providing personal training programmes for peers.
72 MĀTOU - 2022 2 EDGE Citizenship and Communication This year was our inaugural year of a Level 2 course. Students continued to develop their capabilities to be leaders in our community. We started the year looking at the upcoming busway from Pakuranga to Botany Town Centre which will have abiog impact on our local community and school commute. In the second half of the year, students developed their project management and collaboration skills, developing a project to enhance their community. Below are some snapshots of these projects. LGBTQ+ Resource and presentation for staff Junior Mentor Class Volleyball Tournament Sisters United Peer Mentoring Programme Peer Personal Training and Fitness Programme
MĀTOU - 2022 73 Employment Skills ‘2022 has been the best year out of the sixteen years I’ve lived. And Employment Skills is one of the reasons why’. ‘I’ve learnt a lot in Employment Skills about money, the working industry, business and so much more. It will all be super helpful for me when I finish school’. ‘Being in a small class like Employment Skills is good because you know everybody and are comfortable with everyone’. ‘Work experience is a good way to gain confidence and to be able to work as part of a team. It can also help you communicate better because you’re put in a social place’. ‘I’ve gained a lot of confidence this year and I think I’m way more mature thanks to Employment Skills’. ‘Being in this class taught me a lot of things in the big world which I thought I was ready for, but now I know I am’. ‘I am really glad I chose this class this year as it’s helped me so much. Learning in a real world context, and understanding what people are talking about is incredible’. ‘I really enjoy work because what motivates me is family and money!’ ‘What I like doing at The Warehouse is ‘drop and fill’ which is restocking items’.
74 MĀTOU - 2022 English Each of our courses aim to open students up to the range of literature written in English; exploring Māori, Pasifika, and Pākehā writers while providing a grasp of the concepts and techniques for analysing texts; and improving communication skills of every kind. Year 9’s have explored their culture and how they can express it through poetry and prose, developing their understanding that creators of literature are influenced by their culture, values, beliefs, and sense of identity. The library has become a place of wonder built into their College routine where reading is valued and encouraged. Year 10s have enjoyed the dynamics of our course shaped by their personal experiences and interests. At this level, a strong emphasis is placed on how literature helps us understand the lives of others. Year 11s first experience of NCEA offers a rich understanding of the nature of effective communication for study and how best to present themselves across various forms of correspondence. Year 12s had the option of selecting a level 2 English Skills course that helps develop writing skills for communication, whether for creative pleasure or for their next steps in learning or employment. Reading and writing are the foundations for success in which students find their perceptions sharpened, their understanding deepened and their enjoyment enhanced - for life. Above all, this course helps to equip ākonga for a career in almost any sector of society. Alternatively, students with a passion for literature selected 12 English Literature, a course strongly recommended for those who intend to study English at Level 3 or humanity subjects at university level. Here they learn to analyse more complex texts and develop their critical thinking skills. Students also develop greater sophistication in using language (verbal and written) for purpose and effect. Year 13s study of English literature and language further develops key skills in critical thinking, cultural awareness, and communication, which are essential in all workplaces, and are increasingly sought after by employers. Whether students are considering a vocational pathway or a university path we prepare them for the crucial written and oral communication skills needed to succeed. Our school was chosen to participate in the Writers Festival ‘Sponsored Schools Project’. Through this, transport and half-price tickets were offered for 50 students to attend the Schools Programme at the Aotea Centre in central Auckland. Students from our English Literature course across years 12 and 13 had the opportunity to enrich their exploration of language and literature through this wonderful event. Inspirational speakers, such as Cairo-born poet, journalist, and non-fiction writer Mohamed Hassan (Egypt/NZ) pictured above, moved some of our rangitahi to tears as his message resonated with their own journey. Students were enthralled by quantum physicist and sci-fi YA novelist Femi Fadugba (UK/Nigeria) who zoomed in from London to share his perspective on writing. Femi Fadugba debuted his novel ‘The Upper World’ after completing his Masters at Oxford University, where he published in Quantum Physics, and going on to be a Thouron Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. Students were excited by the news that ‘The Upper World’ is being developed into a Netflix series.
MĀTOU - 2022 75 ONZM and award-winning playwright Victor Rodger (NZ) had everyone laughing when he read aloud his dialogue poem ‘Sole to Sole’’ from ‘Skinny dip poetry’ edited by Susan Paris & Kate De Goldi. Student work: Tu’ifua bravely critiqued junior storyteller and YA novelist Anne Kayes (NZ) about her acclaimed novel ‘In Our Own Back Yard’.
76 MĀTOU - 2022 ESOL This year Ms. Tankard joined the school to teach ESOL. There are now a lot more students in all the ESOL classes, because we get new people starting school all the time! Everyone in the ESOL classes have been fabulous at making new students feel welcome and safe when they are studying, and the ESOL classes are a really fun place to learn. The Y9, 10 and 11 students learnt a lot of basic grammar and vocabulary this year. They also studied and practiced writing different types of sentences, different types of writing, and they are very good at writing by themselves with no help from computers. Many of the students had never written a lot of things in English before, so it was really challenging, and they did a great job. The Y12 students studied for NCEA Level 2 and Level 3 assessments this year. They also studied advanced grammar. The Y13 students studied for NCEA Level 4! It was an incredibly challenging class, because they had to write a university-level research essay (as well as other Level 3 and 4 assessments). They did a fantastic job supporting each other to learn and improve their English and improve their study skills. The ESOL Department was really blessed in Term 4 to receive two new staff members: Ms. Fernandez is teaching our Beginner English students, so that they can start 2023 with strong English. Ms. Nazari is our Farsi-speaking Teacher Aide, and she is helping our refugee students with their studies. So, what is ESOL? ESOL is: ESOL is feeling strong in using English by yourself. ESOL is learning how to write great sentences in English with no computer. Just you. ESOL is being good at fixing your mistakes by yourself and helping other people to fix their mistakes too. ESOL is understanding how English works. ESOL is feeling safe to make mistakes. If you understand things in ESOL, you can do more things in your other classes.
MĀTOU - 2022 77 Pave Your Path workshop In September 2022, six of our Y13 Pasifika students had the opportunity to go to Tupu Toa’s Pave Your Path workshop in the city. Theresa Gatting (former CEO of Telecom/Spark) and her sister Angela Gatting sponsored young Māori and Pasifika wahine from schools across Auckland to attend these workshops. The students talked with industry leaders and interns, and had inspirational workshops on who they are, and what their future pathways could look like. They all left buzzing with ideas, and with more confidence in themselves and their futures. Our Japanese international students Our two Y13 Japanese International students Masa and Nozomi are graduating Edgewater College this year. They have been at EC for many years now, far away from their families during Covid. They have both had different experiences at EC, and they will take away so much more than information from the classroom. They will also take away memories of a New Zealand life, New Zealand friends, and our EC culture. They arrived at EC as Japanese students, and they will leave EC as Kiwis.
78 MĀTOU - 2022 Gateway and Industry Pathways Through the Gateway and Industry Pathways Programmes, students have gained valuable insights with work placements in places such as AirNZ, The Warehouse, McDonalds and various small businesses. Some of these businesses hire thousands of people and some just a few; but there is something out there for everyone! Students were out there loading cargo, cleaning boats, making fries, taking photos, planting flax and changing nappies. Edgewater College students have learnt skills that will lead to employment, and perhaps future careers. Industry Pathways have also worked in tandem with Gateway to help students learn about household finance, employment contracts and Health and Safety requirements. We hope the students are well-prepared for the world of work when they leave Edgewater College. Lyric making the world a little more beautiful with Ventia Tupou driving like a pro at RTS Forklifts Sara getting a box ready for an AirNZ flight Hailey and Monica at Noel Leemings, Sylvia Park
MĀTOU - 2022 79 Japanese No trips abroad. No visiting students from Japanese high schools. No exciting food from Japan in thee classroom. Covid dealt us quite the blow! Didn’t bother the E.C. Japanese department though! Instead, we welcomed the wonderful Ms. Cheng, who taught year 9 Japanese this year, from language, to how to use chopsticks! Year ten took over their own character learning this year, progressing through resources they chose, at a pace that suited them. Which meant, at the time of writing, six students were already learning year eleven characters (kanji) and one is up to level two characters! Another hightlight – year 10 took on a passion project -diving into aspects of Japanese culture like J-pop, mochi, graffiti art, gaming and true crime podcasts! Meanwhile, senior Japanese went on a retro trip – becoming enchanted by the immensely popular Japanese show “Hajimete no Otsukai” – little children’s first errands alone. A fitting metaphor for us, tasting our first real Japanese exams since covid!
80 MĀTOU - 2022 We got off to a great start in 2022 with students eager to learn and teachers happy to be back on site. Towards the end of Term 1, we were put back into the world of online learning and our fabulous team transitioned into this seamlessly, highlighting their incredible ability and commitment to all our students' learning. Term 2 onwards, we had a change in timetable to accommodate the changing environment. We had the opportunity to have Friday off timetable where we could run a senior workshop for students. This was a welcome change for senior students as they had the opportunity to come into school and work on subjects that needed that extra time. We had a steady stream of students visit us in Mathematics. For the first time this year, Year 9 and Year 10 students participated in Mathex. Three teachers and 9 students made their way to Barfoot and Thompson stadium on the 24th of August. This is an annual event. The students really enjoyed their time competing and are looking forward to going back in 2023. Thank you, Ms Unger, for organising and training students for this event. During the Term 3 break, Ms Ghuman and I attended the National Mathematics Conference which was held in Taranaki. We spent three days learning ways to make Mathematics more engaging and relevant to our students. It was an amazing experience and we have come back with a full kete. We are looking forward to implementing what we have learnt at the conference. I will be on study leave in 2023 and Ms Dudding will be stepping in as Head of Department. I would once again like to extend a massive thank you to all the dedicated staff who create such a great team to work in for our students to learn within. The depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is the solid foundation from which we enable all our students to experience success within Mathematics. To the 2022 Year 13 cohort, we wish you all the very best for the upcoming exams and the future. To everyone else, good luck with exams and let’s see what 2023 has in store for us! In other news, our school took part in Maths week in a small capacity where we organised puzzles for students to attempt. Ms Dudding did an awesome job with the puzzles. This was well received by the mentor classes and was another way for students to engage with Maths. Maths Week was established by the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers (NZAMT) in 1998. It is a premier mathematics event in the New Zealand school calendar, gaining the attention of an estimated audience of more than 250,000 students, teachers and parents from around New Zealand in August each year. Mathematics
MĀTOU - 2022 81 Media Studies 2022 has been an awesome year for media studies. Once again we set to answering the big questions; what is media for? What is it doing to us? Whose voices are heard? Whose are silenced? How do you have a successful confrontation with your mother? Level one media kicked off the year exploring media use, while the level two’s made a throwback music video to an old Miley Cyrus classic; Party in the USA. In June the department visited the Weta Unleashed exhibition in the Sky City convention centre, exploring creative Technologies in film and TV and having a go and modelling and ideating with the best. Not to mention the selfie opportunities were top notch! Level two media studies took on film trailers and short films, with one ambitious group shooting a creepy Slasher over three nights at school. Only made slightly less scary by the appearance of local celebrity cat Socks. Level ones got serious, creating instructional videos on topics like the helpful “surviving an earthquake” or the incredibly useful “how to have a successful confrontation with your mother”! The year was rounded off with a deep dive into genre, with Level two tackling not one but two genres, the Slasher genre and Romantic comedies. While level one explored the Superhero genre, making a special trip out to Howick’s Monterey cinema for a sneaky screening of Thor: Love and Thunder! Gotta Support local!
82 MĀTOU - 2022 PE / Health The PE and Health department have had a very busy but fantastic year and it’s thanks to the awesome students taking these subjects. We have had a number of new initiatives introduced and students participated in a variety of new activities especially at the start of the year when restrictions were still in place regarding social distancing. Junior students became quite skilled at kubb, petanque, and outdoor volleyball, while senior students were perfecting their tennis serve. The number of seniors taking Health as a subject has grown a lot and Whaea Kata has done some amazing things in her classes and with the health curriculum. The students are learning a lot - great life skills to utilise that will help them throughout their future. The Mental Health jars have been a great resource that students could take home to use and the tapa cloths made by juniors were a great representation of their well-being. The seniors too are loving their learning and gaining a lot of new knowledge as well as skills through her classes. A great example is Charis Prins who worked hard after school last year with whaea’s guidance and early this year was awarded a Health scholarship. She was in the top 2.4% in Aotearoa - out of 5191 students! We look forward to congratulating more recipients of this award in the future. The feedback from students has been great and we are sure Health will go from strength to strength as a result of Whaea Kata’s guidance. The PE classes are also a lot of fun with practical learning being so important for students’ well-being both now, and in the future. Senior students have been introduced to some fun new sports such as Zumba, kickboxing and F45, while others have also been learning how to improve their performances in different skills or have learnt how to make their own gym workout, and implement it with new equipment in the weights room. The seniors have worked hard to complete their assessments this year too. The junior school has been learning about net games, invasion games and different ways of staying active outside of PE classes. There is a lot of enthusiasm amongst the students and they have set themselves up for a great future in PE. It’s been a great year with amazing students and we are looking forward to another fun filled year in 2023.
MĀTOU - 2022 83 Outdoor Education Outdoor education in 2022 has been very busy. Yr 13’s Started the year with a sea kayak trip for three days. The weather conditions were fantastic and they kayaked nearly 60 km. The Yr 12’s started the year with a three day camp in the Waikaretu Valley. Here they went tramping, caving, abseiling, and were challenged with many activities. In class the students learned to identify and appreciate the risks involved in outdoor activities. Both classes learned how to rock climb in term two. In term 3 the Y12’s, focused on tramping and the skills associated with a multi day tramp, such as navigation. The Y13’s challenge themselves against nature with a solo in the bush. Both classes have had an awesome year, made new friends, learnt new skills, and spent a lot of time away from their computer screens, enjoying the great outdoors that we have in abundance in New Zealand. Some students plan next year to actually look at becoming outdoor instructors themselves. Others are looking forward to just enjoying some trips away in the outdoors with their friends, knowing they have a few skills that will help keep them safe and enjoy the experience even more.
84 MĀTOU - 2022 Science 2022 has been another challenging year but one with many highlights. The junior science course continues to explore a range of investigations and contexts such as investigating gumboot throwing, designing and testing paper roller coasters, exploring electrostatics, and investigating the role of acids and bases in cupcake making. The senior classes become more specialised with students planning for science based careers. A couple of highlights this year include the biology students not just viewing paramecium with the microscopes but capturing them undergoing mitosis (cell division) and the extreme competitive energy in physics which lead to the design of an escape room based game to enhance learning. We welcomed Ms Keri Garlick to the science department this year and her ideas and energy led to the introduction of the EC STEM academy. EC STEM academy has two pathways - health and engineering. The health pathway focussed on broadening students’ understanding of possible health based science careers with a range of guest speakers including health practitioners and researchers. The engineering pathway focussed on providing additional learning opportunities in the electrical engineering space with students investigating and making electromagnets and motors. We are looking to develop this further next year with bridge building and electronics. The final highlight of the year was the news that two of our year 12 students have received full scholarships to attend the Rotary National Science & Technology Forum in Auckland in Jan 2023. Emma Salthouse and Vaitohi Veatufunga are the deserving recipients of these scholarships and we are looking forward to hearing all about their exciting 2 week programme when we return to school in 2023. We would also like to thank Rotary for awarding these scholarships.
MĀTOU - 2022 85 Social Sciences This whakatauki has been the guiding principle of the Social Sciences Department for 2022. As we returned to full time schooling after facing the challenges of the last few years, the whakatauki reminds us of the importance of nurturing our ākonga so they will blossom into lifelong learners. Junior Social Studies has seen some big changes this year with the introduction of Aotearoa New Zealand Histories and new topics across both year levels. Ākonga have learnt about a range of local and global issues including Ko Wai Koe/Identity, Kaitiakitanga/ Sustainability, Raru/Conflict and Manukura/ Leadership. We have explored this learning in lots of new ways, including a trip to Auckland Zoo, cooking cultural foods, interactions with leaders and an end of year exhibition. Our senior students have enjoyed the wide variety of subjects on offer including Senior Social Studies, History, Humanities and Geography. Ākonga have been challenged with new and engaging topics and formats of assessments with their learning this year as we have worked to incorporate real-world contexts. As well as changes to our teaching programme, there were a number of changes to the teaching staff in the department this year. We welcomed Katarena Bisset, who joined us as the TiC of Sociology/Assistant HOD part way through 2021, and Hannah Cook who started at the beginning of this year as TiC of History. We were also lucky to have Juliette Schoeman join the Social Sciences department from the Maths department as TiC Geography. I would like to take the time to thank our wonderful teachers for all of their hard work and care for our students this year. We wish ākonga well for the end of year exams, and look forward to seeing many of them back in our classrooms next year!
86 MĀTOU - 2022 Yr 11 Social Studies Pātaka Kai The Year 11 Social Studies class worked incredibly hard to create a Pātaka Kai for our Edgewater community. We started by learning about the impact of food insecurity and then the class looked at different organisations that are doing something about this human rights issue. They came across the Pātaka Kai/ Open street pantry movement - where community members set up free pantries which are then filled organically from donations, and from which anyone can take kai. The tagline is ‘Take what you need, leave what you can’. We were inspired by the success that existing Pātaka Kai had across the motu, and wanted to create one for the Edgewater community. We had a lot of help in constructing the Pātaka from Martin and also the technology department - particularly Mr Nand, who let us both keep the Pātaka in his workshop, and use his tools! On the first day of Term 4, we installed the Pātaka at its final location at the front of the college and later that week we gathered with staff and students to bless our Pātaka and recognise the significance the Pātaka will have to address food insecurity. We also acknowledged the important relationship this Pātaka allows us to have with individuals and groups around us. Matua Hoani said karakia and we also had a blessing in Hindi from Mr Nand. We are so proud to have created our own Pātaka Kai, and look forward to seeing how it brings our community together. Be sure to take what you need and leave what you can! Ngā mihi - 1SSS
MĀTOU - 2022 87 Te Reo Māori Edgewater College places a high value on our tamariki having a knowledge of Māori Tikanga, Te Reo Māori and engaging with Kapa Haka. Our programmes are integrated with elements of tikanga everyday starting with our Whānau Mentor Class Opening karakia and closing karakia. A common practice that we continue throughout our Te Reo and Tikanga classes. Our School Pepehā, School waiata 'Whaia te Ara o Tainui' and Mihimihi are learnt by all students who choose Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Classes and/or Kapa haka. Our teaching programme includes key events in te Ao Māori, such as Matariki and Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Each new school year begins with a traditional Mihi Whakatau where we welcome our new tamariki and their whānau to our kura.
88 MĀTOU - 2022 Technology Food Technology, Hospitality and Childcare: This year saw our department offer for the first time a level 3 Hospitality course which is a combination of Hospitality, Travel and Tourism and Childcare. We had to say a sad farewell to Ms R.Ward-McCarten as she moved to take up a Principal post. We would like to thank her for all her enthusiasm and efforts she put into her classes. We are very Digital Technologies The code club combined with the e-sport group which provided entertaining activities on Tuesday afterschool during term 2. Tech22 A group of level 3, level 2 and level 1 students travelled into Wynyard Innovation Neighbourhood. The day showcased tech innovation and creativity, and provided students with an opportunity to connect with recent graduates working in the tech industry and explore tech careers. Level 1 Digital Technology students have been learning to code in Python and creating a quiz game. They have also been learning about human computer interaction and specifically Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics for interaction design. The year 10 students learned computational thinking concepts using Scratch and designing and developing websites using HTML and CSS. We finished the year with some Game design and development. Design and Visual Communication Level one DVC students have again been working on a design for a students outdoor shelter. Level 2 and 3 students have been working with Auckland Transport and Warren and Mahoney Architects to develop designs for bus stations at The Plaza and Edgewater shops. This has been a great opportunity to work with the community. Students have been learning to apply design thinking and develop design awareness through research, sketching, and using digital modes and modelling techniques. Another exciting year in the Technology department mixed with the struggle of a lengthy lockdown at the beginning of the year. We welcome Mr Blue as a dedicated technology technician this year. Due to student demand, Textiles Technology was reintroduced as a year 10 semester course. A laser cutter was purchased jointly with the Art which is providing amazing modelling opportunities. Construction Technology This three level course focused on the building, construction and furniture industries. Students were taught knowledge of safety , selecting, applying, and joining processes; safe use and care of hand and power tools; and documentation of projects. Level 1 students had the opportunity of constructing a tea tray and an ornamental wall shelving. For the first time Level 2 students had the opportunity to construct their own choice project.Students chose to build a wide range of projects like shoe racks, bedside cabinets ,TV cabinet,storage box and spice racks. Level three students also had an open choice and projects like Storage cabinet,study table,Ornamental wall shelving, Magazine rack and coffee table. Year 10 Textile Technology students started the term creating hand embroidered bookmarks with an Aotearoa theme. They then moved on to learning how to use a sewing machine and making scrunchies. happy to have Ms Frayling (DP of Edgewater) to come in and cover her 2hosp class. The L2 and L1 Hospitality classes went on a trip to Ignite College in September to experience what it is like to work in the Hospitality Industry. There we made mocktails, barista coffees and got to sample a variety of dishes. We have an amazing Catering team and as usual did a brilliant job in setting up,making food and serving at our Open Evening. This year we had Level 2 and level 3 Early Childhood Education running and thanks to the subject selections several of our students have obtained part time work in the health care sector or in the early childhood sector
MĀTOU - 2022 89 TECC Project
90 MĀTOU - 2022 Class of 2022
MĀTOU - 2022 91 Aastha Maharaj Aisha Aiyub Calvin Singh Ethan Ka Evelina McArthur Faith Caffery Gabby Leeuw Gavin Panapa Hailley Young
92 MĀTOU - 2022 Hannah King Haydn Connell Jale Miranalasekula Johnson Hagaitoa Jrizall Apelila Becka Parkinson Toakase 'Ahokava Yasameen Ali David Fatani
MĀTOU - 2022 93 Rallene Palatoni Elisa Rubena Shontaya Pereniki Vinslea Laalaai Jesica Pratt Lino Quensell 'Eusepio Finau Julius Korey Thanush Tharmalingam
94 MĀTOU - 2022 Sara Fa'alava Ummi Khalfey Jordan Lindsay Jamael Taura Jorbys Cahilig Caleb Samaseia Anton Ameke Francis Manusina Yalda Ahmadi
MĀTOU - 2022 95 Danielle Deane Monica Piamthong Jade Jones-Amai Jessica Mcdonald-Shergold Horia Vlad Sage Nolan Vili Paongo Luna McCarthy Tahryn Toki
96 MĀTOU - 2022 Lucas Galyer Leroy Grimshaw Blake Howell Jocelyn Liu Hanatia Cooper-Ngaika Mistique Korosso Fiti Olo Rawiri Paraha Nisha Dheda
MĀTOU - 2022 97 Madison Koti Alicia Toko-Mikahere Hehea Tuimoala Kamipeli Tuipulotu Sione Tuitupou Ocean Wihongi - Mahanga Leo Milne Teuila Iese William Pomana
98 MĀTOU - 2022 Losana Ta'akimoeaka Pearl Tuala Preston Tuiafiso Daniel Singh Josh Nicol Dartanian O'Keefe Angela Cheng Annasazi Chikalli Kiara Halalilo