Glendowie Yearbook-Proof as on 2019-11-12

1 ADMINISTRATION

1: Contents
2/3: Principals Report – (depending on space – SLT photo at bottom of sec-
ond page).
4: BOT
5: Parents Association
6: Head Prefects
7: Prefects Photo w text
8: Staff 2019 photo
9: Staff List
10: Staff Photos (grouped with captions/headings)
11: Support Staff Photos – please use all photos provided
12/13: Staff Teacher conferences – Wolf Fischer 1 page, other 2 on 2nd page

Yet to design. Will do this
last

Glendowie College 2019

ADMINISTRATION2 Principal’s Report

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Kura Tuarua o Taurere / Glendowie.

Through 2019 Glendowie has shone as one of the top schools in Tamaki
Makaurau and Aotearoa, serving its students and community, and
continuing to evolve for future growth and improvement.

Change has been a constant this year – both externally and 2020. It’s exciting to see the work going into the MYP
internally. implementation, as we see more inquiry learning and
other benefits from the programme such as greater global
Inside the college, the most obvious face of change has awareness and service learning through the community
been the many capital works programmes completed and projects.
initiated this year. At the start of the year, we installed a
new artificial turf behind the Moore Gym, and new tennis Our two other annual goals in 2019 were student wellbeing
and netball courts. In September we began construction and lifting the number of students gaining a New Zealand
of a new weights room attached to the north wall of the Scholarship and NCEA endorsed with merit or excellence.
Moore Gym, new garages and storage behind the old We have brought in a number of initiatives to raise
gym, and the new Science Block. It’s wonderful to see awareness of positive mental health among students and
these projects being realised. staff, which have already had a positive impact on our
school.
This physical development mirrors the ongoing roll growth
at Glendowie College. This year our roll hit 1,250 pupils We also made the decision this year to go cellphone-
and is expected to rise further over the years ahead. free and to drop Level 1 NCEA. The former decision
Glendowie College has gone from a small to big school reflects growing concerns about the negative impacts of
(“big small … small big”). near constant use of phones on adolescents alongside
their benefits. Given the ubiquity of cellphone use
Our new student houses have gone well again in their among adolescents today, this policy may be difficult to
second year, and we will put further resources into those implement; but I believe it is important for our students’
in 2020. We’ve had a focus on student wellbeing and how wellbeing and development.
we proactively teach positive mental health amongst our
rangatahi. Next year we will go one step further after The decision to drop Level 1 NCEA recognises the changes
learning that we are part of the new Learning Support to our student body over the year. Well over 90% of our
programme, and will employ three Learning Support students remain at school for five years through to year 13,
Coordinators from next year. and the majority of those achieve Level 3 NCEA. NCEA
comes with a high cost in terms of compliance workload
In the classroom staff have continued to implement the which distracts our teachers from the more important work
Middle Years Programme (MYP). All year 9 units of work of planning lessons and interacting with students, and it
were MYP in 2019, and all year 10 units will be MYP in results in students losing 6-8 weeks of learning time. I
believe this decision will improve school for staff and
students, and better prepare them for the more important
Level 2 and 3 NCEA qualifications.

Beyond Glendowie College, the education sector has been
awash with reviews and changes. NCEA, junior curriculum,
school donations, Tomorrow’s Schools, quality teacher
supply crisis, learning support, and more. At one stage
this year, there were over 30 reviews in process, and I fear
this volume has mitigated against the voice of education
professionals being effectively heard. That is a shame.
This year I had the privilege to travel to Canada, USA
and the UK on a Woolf Fisher Fellowship. This allowed
me to visit a number of schools, talk with colleagues and
attend a leadership course at Harvard University, and my
main observation would be that education in New Zealand
urgently needs more trust. I’ve included my report below
rather than repeat it here.

Through all this change or talk of change, our students
have continued to excel with the support of staff and
students. Students’ academic results in the 2018 NCEA
exams were again superb across all three year levels, and
well above the national average. In Level 1, just over two

Glendowie College 2019

thirds of all students gained NCEA achieved with merit or 3
excellence – our best result at this level ever.
ADMINISTRATION
In the sports, our students again excelled. The college
continues to have one of the highest sports participation
rates in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland, and the performance
of our top teams continues to rise. Our rowers won gold at
the MAADI Cup regatta, our Girls’ 1st XI football came first
at their winter tournament, our Underwater Hockey teams
were the top school at the NZ national tournament, our
Girl’s Premier Netball placed in the top half of ‘B’ grade
at UNISS, and our Boys’ 1st XI Hockey team placed third
at their winter tournament. I believe sports is in a healthy
and growing space at the college, and I look forward to
growing this further in 2020.

The arts are equally alive. With six new staff, the Arts
team enjoyed a wide range of success including two
silver medals at the KBB Music Festival, the Whakaatu Toi
Exhibition and Showcase, and the many other events such
as dance evenings, drama performances and student-
produced movie evenings.

It is a privilege and pleasure to lead and work at such a
dynamic and collaborative school.

I thank the staff and Board for their energy and commitment
to our students. Thanks to them, our students enjoy
a fantastic breadth of opportunities and success. I also
thank our students and their whānau, who are an amazing
community to work with.

kia hiranga … give it heaps

kia kaha … keep moving

kia harikoa … stay positive

kia whānau … stay connected

Richard Dykes
Principal

Senior
Leadership
Team

Back: Mr Praveen Chand, Mr Richard Dykes, Mr
Gordon Robertson
Front: Mrs Sharon Hewetson, Mrs Lisa Davis-
Miller, Ms Trudy Gibb

Glendowie College 2019

ADMINISTRATION4 Board of Trustees

Tēnā koutou katoa.

Nau mai, haere mai, ki tenei hui, i tēnei pō.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees for 2019 Next some thanks;
At Glendowie College we are fortunate to
I have three messages for you: have a school community that is invested
we are aspirational; in helping our school and students to
we have a commitment to each other; succeed. Our thanks to the many people
and there are people who deserve our who volunteer their time – the Parents
thanks. Association for raising money for a variety
of projects and providing social occasions
Glendowie College is an aspirational place. for parents; the parent coaches and
We all have high expectations and we see managers of many of our sports teams;
continual improvements throughout the and all those who assist in making our
school. We see them in the Middle Years arts and cultural co-curricular activities happen. All these
program for our Y9 & 10 students; in our excellent NCEA people do what they do because they want to do it for
and scholarship results; in our sporting participation and our students. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thanks
achievements; and in our increasing involvement and to you all.
success in a wide range of arts and cultural activities.
Thanks also to the Board of Trustees. Moana Oh, Matt
We also have an exciting vision for our campus. The Veal, Richard Dykes, Bridget Rothbart, Laura Oh, Warwick
new science block is aspirational – yes, it has taken a Beadle and Campbell Gough. You have all been a pleasure
frustratingly long time, but we refused to settle for a cheap to work with. And special thanks to former trustees Steve
box like the Ministry told us we would get, so we have had Collier, our previous chair, Ann Van der Straaten, Cherise
to fight. But things are finally moving, and the result, along Stone and Fletcher Milne-Urlich. Your families should be
with all the associated and downstream projects, will be very proud of the contribution you have made.
worth the wait.
I want to especially acknowledge our staff because
Glendowie College is unashamedly aspirational. excellent learning only comes from having excellent
teachers and support staff. They are why Glendowie
I want to talk about commitment. The role of the Board College is performing so well academically, and it is
of Trustees is one of governance and there’s a wide range through their vision, their leadership, their expertise,
of things we are responsible for. The board makes a their efforts and their energy that we will continue to see
commitment to the school community. That commitment is success and improvements. Our sincere thanks to you all
to do our very best to ensure Glendowie College provides for your dedication to your profession, to your specialist
our students with consistently high opportunities to learn, subjects, and to the students of Glendowie College. We
to achieve and to experience. But, that commitment are grateful that you choose our school to be your school.
costs money, and generally it’s not money provided by the
Ministry. They fund the basics, but the board must pay I would suggest to our students that while you are here
for the additional people and activities that add to the at Glendowie College, there are more people teaching
richness of opportunity here at our school. We get these you, supporting you, coaching you, advocating for you,
funds mostly from the parents who choose to pay the caring for you, worrying about you, encouraging you, and
annual school donation, and from activity fees. probably getting frustrated with you, than there will be at
any other time in your life.
The government is about to announce major changes to
the education system. Some of the changes will be great, On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we wish our senior
but some will impact our ability to ask parents for payments. students the very best; we farewell our year 13 students
The government is pursuing the ideal of free education, but at the same time we welcome you back as Glendowie
which is a wonderful idea, but at Glendowie College we College’s alumni; to our staff and to the school community
are a long way past free, because we are aspirational, and thank you for your support of Glendowie College.
there is a cost to being aspirational. I would suggest that
the money our parents pay through donations and activity Hurihia tō aroaro ki te rā, tukuna tō ātārangi kia taka ki muri
fees is overall excellent value for money. The board will i a koe
only be able to continue with our commitment in the future
if more parents show us their commitment by paying the “Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows fall
donation and activity fees. Nobody wants us to lower our behind you.”
aspirations for Glendowie College. It wouldn’t reflect our
school community, and it would be a disservice to our I wish you all a fun and relaxing summer holiday.
young people.
Garry Ivill
Chairperson Board of Trustees

Glendowie College 2019

Parents Association 5

With a relatively new Chairperson at the helm, the brand and provided for our annual Teacher Dinner, our way of ADMINISTRATION
new PA Year 9 parents bought a burst of additional new showing our appreciation to the amazing staff. WIth
blood and enthusiasm into our already energised PA plenty of choice for all tastes and requirements, and even
team. Together we had a fantastic year of supporting lunch the next day with the leftovers, the teachers were
our community and fundraising in an effortless approach impressed.
through teamwork sharing the responsibilities. Movie
night started the year early, and always a laugh, especially The Annual Fun Run was on hiatus this year, in order to
the movie itself “Swimming with men” about a group of move it to its new Summer date and will be held on Sunday
bored middle-aged Englishman who form a synchronised 22 March 2020. This event is always looked forward to by
swimming team that went to the World Champs in Milan. our fitness and family community, local schools and running
The crowd of mostly women, laughed out loud at the clubs. We provide a PA cafe with loads of food on sale for
men’s antics. after the run. Get involved and book your spot today.

Our guest speaker, Nigel Latta, entertained us with stories Tickets and volunteers to all events are organised via
from his own experiences, from raising his own teenagers trybooking.co.nz, an online ticketing system, which has
to a lifetime of sharing parenting from others, and gave streamlined this process and made it easy to book and
us some things to contemplate about our own parenting communicate information for events.
styles. A large crowd of over 400 parents from the wider
community filled the hall and listen intently, laughed and Thanks to the Management and SUpport staff who make
nodded in agreement to familiar stories. our role easy, with the endless questions, and need for
building access and printing.
The Big Wine Out, the PAs first wine tasting and quiz event
supported by local businesses including Good George and We raised $16,000 this year through our events, a great
Kohimarama Liquorland and MC’d by ex staffer Cherise community achievement. Thanks to the many people who
Stone, was a success with many tasting new beers, and a gave money, attended events, and volunteered as helpers
range of NZ and International wines. The decorations were - without you all we would not have had such a successful
classy, the crowd of 200 was loud and having fun and the year of support and fundraising.
event ran smoothly.
Good luck to the leaving students. Til next year.
A range of delicious and healthy foods were baked and
cooked by our parent’s community (approx. 50 parents) Sara Haddon
PA Chairperson

Glendowie College 2019

ADMINISTRATION6 Head Prefects
Everyone says to be shortlisted for the head prefect role
is an honour in itself, but no matter how much you try to
convince yourself that everything will be the same after
you walk into that room, you can’t shake the nerves. As we
took a seat, a piece of paper was handed to us inside an
envelope, and from there we started our amazing journey
as head prefects. Initially the news was overwhelming but
the long summer break gave us time to think about our
final year of Glendowie College as head prefects, but as
we anticipated over that break for what 2019 had in store
for us, nothing turned out the way we had expected.

During the beginning of the year we started out with a fair
amount of stress, walking into school with no idea what we
had to expect for the year. Our first task was year 9 camp,
and thankfully being around a bunch of year 9’s for a few
nights wasn’t the end of the world, until they need to go
to bed. We felt confident leaving the camps thinking that if
we can control a year 9 on a sugar high from the lollies he
snuck in, how hard can this position really be.

In true Glendowie fashion we dove straight into the deep prefects. Throughout the year we were both lucky enough
end, getting the majority of the school events done; to go away on PE camps, summer and winter tournament
Swimming Sports, Athletics Day, and The Ball. We had our weeks and without the amazing commitment and efforts
part in everything that was going on in the school, from Will of Will and Eilish the year would definitely not run as
and Miss Rothbart making sure the food was up to their smoothly. Also thank you to all the 2019 prefects you have
standards for the ball, and Eilish making sure we choose made this year enjoyable and you have been amazing to
the BEST design for the leavers jumpers, however although work with.
this took up MANY (emphasis on many) lunch times and
morning teas, it meant we could see everything the school With the few weeks we have left, we are going to make the
offered and get to know everyone. Being able to have a most of it and look back on all the great times we have been
conversation with the year 9s as you walk through the quad lucky enough to have had as head prefects. We know that
is very rewarding, and see them have the confidence to the school is in safe hands next year as we move on to our
lead the Waita or lead chants during Swimming Sports, next stages in life when we are off studying at University,
leaves us proud and humbled knowing that they’ll be in working or traveling. We can’t thank the teachers, parents
charge of the school when their time comes. and students enough for the support they have given us
this year. We will be forever grateful for the experience of
As we get closer to the end of the year, we keep looking head prefects.
back at the advice Jamie and Tyler gave us. They told us
how they wish they had lived more in the moment, and not Edward Blair and Jessica Nielsen
always think about what’s next. This advice really helped us
throughout the year, taking a step back and being grateful
for everything we have been lucky to be a part of during
our year as head prefects.

We would like to say a huge thank you Will and Eilish for
the amazing work they have put in this year as deputy head

Glendowie College 2019

Student Leaders

Glendowie College 2019 Back Row: Michaela Ivanier, Lydia Edgeworth, Nathan Philipiah, Arbel Tenembaum, Jessica McIntosh
4th Row: Thomas Hayward, Matthew Calvert, Cole Davis, Olivia Hay, Francesca Treuren, Jodie Dickins, Liam Wilson
3rd Row: Samuel Calvert, Louis Carrier, Henry Harford, Julian Santing, Michael Hope, Liam Ng, Anthony White, Oliver White, Cole Bullot
2nd Row: Bridget Barter, Sascha Moltschaniwskyj, Brianna Green, Tayla Clark, Niamh Montgomery, Nikita Horselenberg, Christina Murrell, Julia Tan
Front Row: Alison Winstanley, Eilish Wood, Ms Bridget Rothbart (Deputy Principal), Edward Blair (Head Boy), Mr Richard Dykes (Principal), Jessica Nielsen (Head Girl), Mrs Sharon Hewetson (Deputy Principal), William

Evans, Mayna Tse

ADMINISTRATION 7

8 Staff News

ADMINISTRATION

Open day 1 Open day 2

Open day 3 Mr Galt welcomed baby Mrs van Ansem’s new baby Zoe
Annabel Poppy Bowers-
Galt early this year

Wellbeing Workshop 1
Wellbeing Workshop 2

Staff Photobooth Wellbeing Workshop 2
Glendowie College 2019

Teacher Conferences Reports 9

CHEN SCHOLARSHIP 2019 have visited so we can expose our students to the global ADMINISTRATION
Pritika Harduar learning environment.

I feel privileged to have I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chen
family for providing the scholarship and the senior
been awarded the Chen management team of GDC for believing in me and
providing me with this amazing opportunity. A very special
Scholarship for 2019. This thank you to Ms Jeelie Christopher for connecting me with
the professionals in Malaysia who made my visits not only
allowed me to explore possible but also a pleasant and effective one.

teaching and learning in A big thank you to the following professionals for either
assisting me with the visits or allowing me to observe their
Singapore and Malaysia and practice:

to bring back some exciting - Ms. Mellissa Tawin: Deputy Director of Teaching and
Learning Strategies at Nanyang University of Technology,
educational considerations Singapore

such as Flipped classroom, - Mr. Young Jin-Yuan: Assistant Director of Teaching and
Learning Strategies at Nanyang University of Technology,
Maker Space and Singapore

Interdisciplinary learning to - Dr. Ho Shn Yong: Associate Dean (Academic), College of
Science at Nanyang University of Technology
name a few. I visited the
- Ms. Kannaki S. Narayasany: Head of Teaching and
Nanyang University of Technology in Singapore and was Learning at INTI International College Subang.

overwhelmed with the size of the campus, the quality of - Dr. Jane Lim See Yin: Chief Executive of INTI International
College Subang
resources and level of infrastructure that cater for students
- Assoc. Prof. Dr Angela Lee Siew Hoong: Information
learning and well-being. It indeed was inspiring meeting Systems (Business Analytics) Programme Leader at Sunway
University
and observing lecturers such as Dr. Ho, who was a recipient
- Professor Glenda Crosling from Sunway University
of the University Gold Award and was designated the NTU
- Ms. Soon Pei Shan: Lecturer at Sunway College
Educator of the Year 2018.

The institutes I visited in Malaysia included the Sunway
Education Group, INTI International College of Subang
and IGB International School. All of these institutes have
given me insight and inspiration to continue exploring
flipped classroom as an effective form of blended learning
as well as to explore opportunities for our students to
become globally connected. It is reassuring to know that
we are offering quality education at Glendowie College
and I am excited about the possibility of having global
collaboration opportunities with some of the institutes I

IB Conference Monique and Phillipa also attended a wide range of excellent
professional learning seminars and visited both the Chinese
Philippa Jones (Faculty Leader of Social Sciences) and International School and DIscovery College. This experience
Monique Carrigan (Assistant Faculty Leader of English) were has been invaluable in building a deeper understanding
selected by the International Baccalaureate Organisation to of the IB programme as well as fostering relationships with
present at the IB Global Conference in Hong Kong, March internationally renowned schools delivering the MYP. Their
2019. Over 1800 people attended this prestigious event. learning will be shared with the school and fellow MYP
Leadership team members across term four.
Philippa is the MYP (Middle Years Programme) leader for
Individuals and Societies while Monique is the leader of
MYP Language and Literature. Together they presented:
Developing International Mindedness within a New Zealand
context.

Their presentation showcased the value of developing
international mindedness in an increasingly multicultural
society. They shared our experience as the first public high
school in New Zealand to offer the MYP within an existing
national curriculum and diverse ethnic and cultural context.
This included examples of how Glendowie College students
have actively engaged with local people and utilised their
community as a learning resource and an audience. This
was an amazing opportunity to show the ways in which our
Language & Literature - Turangawaewae - the place where we
stand and Individuals & societies - Our People projects have
strengthened the connections between the College and the
community.

Glendowie College 2019

10 Woolf Fisher

ADMINISTRATION Fellowship

Report profession. For these and other reasons, I believe New
Zealand should follow Canada’s example and drop NCEA
Excellence is only that if it is or at most retain a reduced Level 3 qualification.
excellence for all.
Well-being
New Zealand has a great education system but, in the Worsening adolescent social and emotional well-being
words of a former All Blacks captain, we have a ‘game of has become a worldwide epidemic over the last few years,
two halves’. Based on my visits to systems in Canada and with schools and whole systems struggling to support
London, I believe that the structure of education in New young people. I saw many schools doing great things
Zealand can and should change to achieve excellence for to support with poor
all. social and emotional
well-being, but no
Many New Zealand students achieve as well or better examples of schools
than those of other countries. Our teachers, leaders and or systems able to
researchers are respected and sought after globally. Our define what social and
curriculum, pedagogy, leadership and physical resources emotional ‘healthy’
are world-class. Yet, we are divided between the outcomes is and how to teach
of our best and weakest students, and between schools it. NZ must work ‘up-
and the Ministry of Education. Based on my visits to stream’ of the illness,
Canada, USA and the UK, and what I saw in schools and define what social and
school districts, I believe that it’s time to rewire our system. emotional ‘healthy’ is, and develop a curriculum framework
Key to this is building trust and seeking excellence for all. to teach this to our young people.

Governance What Next?
Thirty years ago ‘Tomorrow’s Schools’ was introduced The fellowship was a valuable opportunity to step back
in New Zealand with the promise of better educational from the routine of running my school and reflect on what,
outcomes for students and their families. Having visited how and why we do what we do. It has changed my beliefs
schools through Canada and London, I believe Tomorrow’s about how our overall education system is structured
Schools is flawed. It is a low trust system that is inequitable and how we should adapt it similar to those in British
and over regulated in its design and implementation. Columbia, Alberta and Ontario which are more cohesive
I believe that we must rewire it to better tap into our and generate better outcomes for all students.
teachers’ and school leaders’ ability and experience, and
improve outcomes for all students. What transpires with regard to governance in New
Zealand will be determined at a political level. However,
As part of this, we must re-engineer the Ministry of my beliefs also impact my work at Glendowie College.
Education which lacks the sector’s trust and confidence, Our system needs more trust and this can start at school
and over the last 30 years has failed to lead the system level. Based on my school visits and attendance at the
and achieve equitable outcomes for all students. We can Harvard leadership programme, I intend to further build a
build trust across our system by modelling our system culture and design systems that trusts teachers, and gives
on those in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. This them space to deliver high quality outcomes for all our
includes making the central administration reflect the young people. Examples of this include reviewing Level 1
profession, modifying principals’ remuneration and tenure, NCEA and systems such as teacher appraisal and teacher
improving teachers’ professional autonomy, moderating recruitment, developing more targeted support for Māori
school choice, and making the ministry closer and more and Pasifika students, and further developing the college’s
responsive to schools and their communities. student wellbeing framework.

Assessment It is an exciting time to work and lead in education. The
High school assessment in the British Columbia, Alberta Woolf Fisher fellowship has inspired and energised me in
and Ontario is almost entirely school based and highly my leadership of Glendowie College and as president of
effective. In contrast, NCEA dominates NZ education with the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association.
no clear evidence that, as a system-wide intervention, it
improves students’ learning. What is supposed to be a
flexible, personalised framework to identify individual
students’ unique abilities and knowledge, has become
a complicated and competitive maze for students and
teachers to navigate. Like its counterparts in the UK
and USA, NCEA narrows curriculum and pedagogy, and
unnecessarily burdens teachers, driving them from the

Glendowie College 2019

11 ADMINISTRATION

New Zealand has the fundamentals of a world-class
education system, and I look forward to the opportunity to
enhance these for all students at Glendowie College and
across New Zealand.

Richard Dykes
July 2019

Glendowie College 2019

ADMINISTRATION 12

Glendowie College 2019
Staff 2019

Back Row: Elizabeth Wells, Nathalie Murray, Sarah Bassin, Norman Hawcroft, Andrea Curtis, Thais Nafissi, Debbie Lawn, Philippa Jones, Sandra Micallef, Fiona Smith
6th Row: Vicki Mercer, Andrew West, Sandi Dennison, Angie Winnington-Sharp, Clare Thomson, Tara King, Melissa McKay, Joanne Fraser, Nan Barton, Ginny Thomas, Ruth Richardson, Aileen Jan, Faizal Khan, Terry McBride
5th Row: Celia Finn, Bridget Rothbart, Jas Kaur, Jessica Pittwood, Asetoaua Asimotu, Sarah Conran, Kylie Jorgensen, Linda Tomlinson, Jeelie Christopher, Robin Harding, Julie Barrack, Jody Gayton, Eliza Wong, Terry Kim
4th Row: Adele Whittaker, Bernadette Hyde, Richard Thompson, Ben Lewis, Hayden So, Stephen Walker, Henry Liu, Kate Webster, Willa Henvest, Joseph Hurndell, Jackie Shi, Michelle Simpson, Amy Thomas, Dennis Reilly
3rd Row: Julia Cornthwaite, Mihai Ifrim, Stephen Galt, Oliver Humphries, Jonathan Spence, Mike Pavarno, Trevor Comber, Andrew Lile, Patrick Carrigan, Dave Storrie, Logan Reynolds, Jonny Barton, Simon Naisbitt, Aidan Wallace,

Jeremy Adams
2nd Row: Noeline Doherty, Fiona Cook, Pritika Harduar, Melisa Chase, Ena So, Kulbir Kaur, Sarrah Shapley, Jennifer Champness, Teri Shin, JP Keshav, Angela Gray, Giordana Santosuosso, Debbie Chapman, Vivienne Tubbs, Melissa

Sirimanne, Sharyn Gee
Front Row: Glenda Neilson, David James, Adrienne King, Anna Vincent, Monique Carrigan, Lisa Davis-Miller, Gordon Robertson, Richard Dykes, Sharon Hewetson, Praveen Chand, Trudy Gibb, Jonathan Eley, Lesley Walker, Robyn

Lewis, Clare Jennings
Absent: Stephanie Bretherton, Charles Champness, Margie Cooper, Jan Davison, Sheridan Hancock, Carrie Hodson, Ligi Huka, Olga Marchuk, Nicole Parish, Dananka Peiris, Tere Raveora, Wayne Ruffles, Melanie van Ansem

Staff 13

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Mr R Thompson, BA (Hons), PGCE, PG Ed SUPPORT STAFF
Admin
Principal Ms K Webster, BSR, GradDipT Accounts and Payroll Ms N Murray, GEA, ADMINISTRATION
Administrator GAPMO (France)
Mr R Dykes, MEd Admin (Hons), BA (Hons)
Languages Accounts Receivable Mrs B Hyde, BEd
Deputy Principals Administrator
Ms A Vincent, BA (HOD Languages) Ms N Parish, BA,
Mr P Chand, BSC, GCE, Dip SM Ms M Chase, BEd - Primary Teaching Alumni Advancement Postgraduate Diploma -
Ms T Gibb, BA, PG DipSM Ms G Santosuosso, MA (Hons), GradDipT Coordinator Journalism
Mrs S Hewetson B.Ed Mr J Shi, BA, PGDip, MA (Hons), GradDipT, Ms D Chapman
Mr G Robertson, MA Hons, Dip SM CELTA, TESOL Arts Administrator Ms L Davis-Miller, BMS
Ms V Tubbs, BA (Hons), CA
Counsellors Business Manager Mr A Asimotu
Mathematics Ms N Barton
Ms G Neilson, MEd Hons, BA Caretaker
Mrs A Curtis, BA (psych and engl), Hons Mr J Eley, MEd (Faculty Leader) Ms O Marchuk
(psych), MA (psych) Mr J Batchelar, BE Careers and
Miss F Cook BSc, BCom Development Mrs A Lonergan,
Developmental Programmes Ms N Doherty BEd, CTD, ATCL Administrator BA(Psyc), MSocSc
Mrs J Fraser, BSc (Tane Mahuta Dean) (Hons) Orgn. Psyc.
Mr D James, BEc (Syd), Dip Ed, PG Dip SM Ms J Kaur, BSc, BEd,PG Dip Curriculum Support Mr S Davidson, BSc,
(Careers / Transition Coordinator, Director of Mr JP Keshav, Dip Ed (Ruaumoko Dean) Food Technology and GradDipT
Sport, Development Programmes Manager) Mr H Liu, BE Library Assistant Mr T Raveora
Mr T McBride, Dip PE Mrs J Cornthwaite,
Director of international Mr M Schollum, BE Gateway Co-ordinator DipPE, GradDipT
Students Ms M Sirimanne, BSc and Careers Advisor Mrs S Caiger, BSW,
Mr N Visagie, HDE, ACE GradCertCareerDev
Mrs L Walker, BA, CELTA Mr A West, BSc Groundsman
Ms J Gayton, MLIS
TEACHING STAFF Science International Students Mrs D Peiris, BAcc
Administrator
Arts Mrs A King, BSc, PGDip DigLearning Teaching Ms E Wong
(Faculty Leader) International Student
Ms C Jennings, MEd, PGDipEd, BDan (Faculty Ms J Barrack, BHort Sci (Hons) PG Dip Bus Administration and Mrs T King, BBS
Leader; HOD Drama and Dance) Admin (Tawhirimatea Dean) Pastoral Care Assistant Ms J Davison, NZRN
Ms A Whittaker, BVA, GradDipT, PG Applied Mr T Comber, BSc Mr D Reilly
Practice (HOD Art) Mrs J Grant, BScEd, MProfStuds (Education) Library Manager Mr J Geelan
Mr A Lile, BMus, BA(Mus) (HOD Music) Mr N Hawcroft, MA, DPhil, MBA Ms S Hogan
Mr P Carrigan, H.Dip Art Ed, BA Art & Design Ms A Jan, BSc Pastoral Care
Mr O Humphries, BPA(Musical Theatre), Grad Ms K Kaur, MSc, PGDEd, PGCer in Applied Interviewer International
Dip T Practice Students
Mrs S Shapley, B Art Th, Grad Dip. Ed Mr F Khan, BEd, PGDEd
Miss T Shin, BFA, Grad Dip T Mr S Naisbitt, MEng, PhD Principal’s Personal
Miss C Thomson, BA Hons Dr T Nafissi, PhD, MSc, BS Assistant
Miss J Pittwood, BSc (Tawhirimatea Assistant
Design and Technology Dean) Receptionist
Mr A Wallace BE, GradDipEd
Ms R Lewis, BA (Hons), PGCE (Faculty Leader) School Nurse
Ms J Christopher, M Computer Applications,
Grad Dip T Science Laboratory
Mrs S Gee, MEd Technicians
Mrs W Henvest, BA, BSc
Ms V Mercer, BSc, Educ, (ICT Manager) Science Laboratory
Mr M Pavarno, Grad Dip, Engineering Assistance Technician
Mr H So, BCom, BBIM
Ms E So, BA Culinary arts Social Sciences Secretary to Senior Ms D Lawn
Mr T Kim, BA Design Leadership Team
Ms P Jones, BA, PGDipEd (Faculty Leader) Sports Co-ordinators Mr J Adams
English Ms J Champness, BA Ms K Jorgensen, BBus,
Mrs C Finn, BA/BMus (Special Educational Staffroom Supervisor PGDip Sport
Mrs M van Ansem, BA, MProfStuds (Education) Needs Coordinator) Student Services
(Faculty Leader) Mr S Galt, BA, GDTSE Administrator Ms M Cooper
Mrs M Carrigan, BA, Grad Dip Arts (Assistant Ms A Gray, BA, GradDipT, Dip Film & TV Teacher Aides
Head of Faculty) Ms P Harduar, BCom (Ruamoko Assistant Dean) Mrs I Huka
Mr J Barton, BA, MTchgLn Mrs M McKay, BSocSc
Ms S Bassin, BA (Tangaroa Assistant Dean) Mrs B Rothbart, B Soc Sc (Year 13 Coordinator) Mrs S R Bretherton
Ms S Conran Ms M Simpson, BA Mrs S Dennison,
Ms A Gray, BA, GradDipT, Dip Film & TV Ms L Tomlinson, MSc (Hons) (Specialist BA(Hons),
Mrs S Hancock, BBus, Grad Dip Arts Classroom Teacher) GradDipTchg(Primary)
Ms R Harding, MA Mr R van Aswegen, BCom (Acc.), BA Hons Mrs C Hodson, BEM
Mr M Ifrim, Int Bac Modern Lang, dBA (Geo.), PGCE (Interm. & Snr.) Mrs J Konza, BSR
Mr L Reynolds, BA Ms E Wells
Mrs R Richardson, BA
Ms A Thomas Itinerant Music Teachers Technology Technician Mr P Lyon, NZCE (Prod),
Mr S Walker, MA (Hons), M.Inst.M Uniform Shop Manager CIE Tech Eng, AMI Prod
Mr Verrill Eng.
Health and Physical Education Mrs Brockelbank
Mr Nicholls Ms S Micallef, Dip PhA
Mr D Storrie, TTC, B Ed, PG Dip ELM (Faculty Ms Winter
Leader) Mr Gittins
Mr B Lewis, BPE Mr Tan
Mr A Salmon, BSR, Grad dip ed Mr Howell
Ms F Smith, BSc (Hons), PGDE, PG Ed Mr Lin
Leadership, ATQ (Tangaroa House Dean) Mr Ofamooni
Mrs G Thomas, BEd, TTC, Cert Ed UK Mr Passells
Mrs Johnston

Glendowie College 2019

ADMINISTRATION14 Support Staff

Glendowie College 2019

15 ADMINISTRATION

Glendowie College 2019

16 English

CURRICULUM In English, students learn how people use language to
communicate. You learn how to make sense of what you
read, hear and view. You learn to consider the tone, analyse Up Globe’s production of ‘Twelfth Night’ (Year 9) the Ugly
the techniques, and think critically about the creator’s Shakespeare’s adaptation of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’.
purpose. You learn to recognise when the creator of a text Our Year 12 students began the year with a study of war
manipulates your emotions, persuades you to their cause, poetry. This was enhanced by Poetry in Action’s ‘Words
or challenges your beliefs. These skills are essential to of War’ - a fast-paced, dramatic exploration of Wilfred
decoding the world around you. Owens’ poetry and life. Along with co-curricular groups,
such as creative writing, debating and slam poetry, and
In addition, they empower you to communicate your events, such as each year level’s annual Speech Cup, the
knowledge, ideas and stories. When you write, speak life of an English student at Glendowie College is full and
or present, you become the text creator who wields the exciting.
power of language purposefully in ways that have an
impact on your audience. The teaching staff experienced some changes this year. A
big thank you is due to Monique Carrigan (Acting HOF)
Language, in all its forms and complexity, is everywhere and Ruth Richardson (Acting AHOF), who led the English
around us. Part of Glendowie College’s mission is to Faculty in Terms 1 and 2 while Melanie van Ansem (HOF)
“develop and grow young men and women who are… was on maternity leave, and to Jonathan Spence who
ready to lead and serve in a dynamic and changing world.” covered her classes. We also welcomed Jonny Barton, Amy
The ability to understand and use language enables you to Thomas, Sarah Conran and Angela Gray to Glendowie
be an active citizen in society. College. We are sad to be fare welling Stephen Walker and
Sarah Conran at the end of the year but looking forward
With this in mind, this year the English Faculty fully to Sheridan Hancock’s return from maternity leave in 2020.
implemented the Language and Literature Middle
Years Programme in Year 9 and 10. Many of the learning
experiences that we designed for junior students focused
on how language is used to communicate identity and
perspectives, both in literature and in students’ own
writing. Teachers and students enjoyed the authentic
learning and connections to our world that the Language
and Literature MYP offers.

English students across the school had the opportunity to
attend performances of studied texts, including the Pop-

Glendowie College 2019

Farewell to Stephen Walker 17
We have had the privilege and joy having Stephen Walker as part of our faculty for two years.
He is truly a scholar and a gentleman. There are few books in this world that he has not read, CURRICULUM
and his hospitality is warm and welcoming. The students who have been lucky enough to be in
his class, particularly his scholarship class, all admire his wit and wisdom. Their excellent results
attest to his skill as a teacher. As Robert Burns, Mr. Walker’s countryman, said, “Shew’d him the
gentleman and scholar: / But though he was o’ high degree, / The fient a pride, nae pride had
he/ At kirk or market, mill or smiddie,/… Nae tawted tyke, tho’ e’er sae duddie,/ But he wad
stan’t, as glad to him, / An’ stroann’t on stanes an’ hillocks wi’ him.” Stephen Walker, you will
be missed.

ESOL Here in New Zealand, I feel like I really fit in with this big
family. I appreciate all the teachers and my friends. I’ve been
My name is Diandian Zhang and I arrived in New Zealand at Glendowie College for three years. These years have
in 2016. My first language is Chinese. At first I felt bored been the best years of my life.
and lonely, but then I got used to this environment and the Thank you to everyone who made this experience so
way of life here in Auckland. meaningful for me.
I have made some new friends and have seen so many
new places. My favourite new foods are Hawaiian pizza, -Diandian Zhang
chocolate muffins and fish and chips.
Speech Cup Results
All the teachers have been patient and kind. They helped
me a lot. The school day here is very different from the Year 13 Year 12
school day in China. We only have two terms in China, and 1st - Alison Winstanley 1st Dash Hunter
we have a lot of homework to do every day. We get up 2nd - Thomas Heyward 2nd Laura Oh
around 6:20 am and the first period is at 7:20 am, it is our 3rd - Toby Osbourne 3rd Andrea Eng
study period. The teacher will come to our classroom to do
some tests. We have 8 periods per day. Different grades
finish at different times and we can’t select our subjects, we
don’t have a choice. We must take Chinese, maths, English
and we start taking physics, chemistry and science when
we are in year 8. Although it’s very exhausting to study in
China, I still enjoyed my time.

Glendowie College 2019

Media Studies There are several

18 Media Studies encompasses politics, religion, culture, assignments we
history, the odd inside joke, and of course, many films. In
what other class would one be allowed to spend lessons have completed
on end watching films, and then dedicate several hours to
talking about it? While Media Studies is the only class in over the years in
which we have ever been consistently set an essay per day,
it is also one of the few classes that is worth the effort. media: creating
Whether it be reading out our essays in class or watching
CURRICULUM our films on the big screen during Media night, we always our own comic
have the chance to compare and appreciate each other’s
work. This may sound discouraging for the shy and strips and
diffident, but in Media Studies it has only improved our
work and motivation. One of the reasons Media Studies newspapers,
is worth the 2000-word essays and months of filming is
because of the support and feedback we get from others. organising,

scripting and

filming three short films following different criteria, and

more analytical essays than we can count. Everyone

enjoyed media so much that several the Year 13s are going

on to study the subject at university. Media Studies will

continue to be the highlight of many students’ schooling

careers.

-Zoe Neville-White

Film Festival and Awards Night

Spread across four nights, the Glendowie College Film students to be recognised outside of traditional NCEA
Festival is an opportunity to showcase the varying degrees requirements. Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor,
of filmmaking talent that exist within the senior Media and the highly coveted Best Film are among those
Studies cohort. The 2019 festival saw some 70 student- presented. They provide the opportunity for students who
made films played on the big screen to an ever-changing succeeded in elements of their film, but perhaps missed
audience. Whether a single film was grounded in the the mark on others to be acknowledged for their success.
genre of horror, comedy, psychological thriller, film noir, or The films and the students that stood out have their
a combination, the reception of the films was still positive, moment in the spotlight.
and it was a good chance for the directors to gauge the
extent to which their dedication paid off. In typical Media Studies fashion, several ‘special’
awards relive the funny and embarrassing moments that
The Film Festival culminated in the Glendowie College occurred throughout the year. These take the form of
version of the Academy Awards. With a mandatory formal Best Bromance, General Confusion (often nicknamed the
dress code, it was no surprise that the mundane school Blonde Award), the ACC award for the chronically injured
hall became filled with smartly dressed students and a faint and more. Overall it was an excellent celebration of all the
aroma of peach-scented perfume. hard work media students put into this year.

The unique nature of our awards allows for several -Cameron McGeorge

Glendowie College 2019

Accounting 19

This year the Year 11 students have trialled the NZX virtual Winners were: CURRICULUM
trading site as part of an internal on investment. There was
initial consternation at losing value in a chosen stock but Year 13:
other companies that were selected by students did well. “Joes Group” Luke Tyro, Yannik Boehm, Benjamin
Contrasts were made to investing in a term deposit at two France, Sam Lind
different trading banks and another option of either bonds,
currencies (Japanese Yen before the Rugby World Cup) or Year 12
Kiwi-Saver. Although the time trial, was short considerable Option 2 “Dream Team” William Macdonald, Hayden
gain was made by some investments. Crocker, Robbie Ivill, Max Wilson, Sean Gibbs

Year 12 made a magnificent effort in learning the Xero Option 6 “The Current Assets” Jordy Herbert, Ryan
Accounting software program for a four-credit internal. McKay, Robbie Ivill
Special thanks to Liam Bartlett for his work on creating a
“Yeet Sheet” which described in logical and step by step Year 11
detail how to enter the transactions on this program. “Current Liabilities” Calvin White, Ben Taylor, Blake
Povey, Anthony Pomee, Joao Tompson da Silva Konno
Year 13 spent time at Tip Top going on a factory tour as
part of their job costing internal. This gives real world Two speakers Robbie Nathan and Rebecca Clark came
experience in hearing about the direct materials that go from the Deloitte Accounting firm to talk to us about
into the ice-cream and watching those involved in direct/ career pathways in Accounting and to describe their day to
indirect labour and in envisaging the overheads of this day work. They were reassuring about the continued need
factory. for Accountants.

Congratulations to Hollie Thomlinson – a Year 13 New Furniture has arrived and been incorporated into S7
Accounting student who was awarded the Peter to facilitate Accounting discussions. Discussion continues
MacKenzie scholarship. This is a scholarship from St Johns about their placement in the room.
Rotary and Deloitte Accounting firm to the value of $2,000
for a student going on to study and major in Accounting Account-X (a prestigious event started at Glendowie
at University. It was awarded at a St John’s Rotary breakfast College) was again participated in with enthusiasm and a
after the 2019 Senior Prizegiving. highly competitive spirit. It is always started with our unique
hand signal. One student was so keen he participated
Seven Accounting students were chauffeured down to twice! Year 13 Accounting students were able judges –
Waikato University in Hamilton to attend a day seminar for unbiased and fair and they motivated their teams to keep
Scholarship Accounting on Friday 23rd August. trying their hardest.

Glendowie College 2019

20 Mathematics and Statistics

CURRICULUM “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existence. One
cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvellous
structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery each day”

Albert Einstein

Mathematics teachers know the importance of asking We have been fortunate to welcome Ms Kaur from the
good questions and feeding curiosity. The implementation UK and Mr Visagie from South Africa to the Mathematics
of the MYP (Middle Years Programme) in the junior school department this year and they have settled in nicely
has seen us developing units, some still in progress, working hard to adjust to the different curriculum and both
that engage and motivate students to enjoy learning achieving excellent results with their classes. Mr Khan from
Mathematics. To prepare students for an unpredictable the Science department has also taken some Mathematics
future with jobs that are yet to be imagined we shift to classes this year, having taught Physics we appreciate
focussing on approaches to learning. his experience in being able to give examples of how
Mathematics can be applied to other subjects.
The tasks completed as part of the MYP both individually
and collaboratively, are more investigative and inquiry In an unpredictable future Alvin Toffler claims that the
based as we inspire ‘awe’ as students contemplate the “illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot
‘mysteries’ of Mathematics. We continue to incorporate a read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and
more global perspective to explore and use patterns and relearn.” The goal for the Mathematics department is to
relationships in quantities, space, and time to uncover ‘the continue to modify and evolve our units and delivery so
marvellous structure of reality’. that we prepare our cohorts to tackle the challenges the
future holds.
For senior students sitting NCEA, uncovering ‘a little of this
mystery each day’ has prepared them well and Glendowie “In such a world, the last thing a teacher needs to give
students, in collaboration with their enthusiastic and her pupils is more information. ... Instead, people need the
knowledgeable teachers, once again achieved consistently ability to make sense of information, to tell the difference
high NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 results in 2018. between what is important and what is unimportant, and
above all to combine many bits of information into a broad
Students gaining Scholarship in Statistics in 2018 were picture of the world.” Yuval Noah Harari
Bea Smit, Deanna Louis, Alvaro Nola Dodd and Tarun
Muralidhar while Willem Scott, Yujia Chen and Anthony Glendowie has a passionate group of Mathematics
White gained Scholarship in Calculus. In 2019 we have over teachers who strive to improve teaching and learning and
25 students sitting scholarship examinations, the increased build on our already excellent progress to ensure that
numbers as a result of specialized scholarship classes students achieve success.
trialled in both Statistics and Calculus. We have continued
to run a Year 12 Scholarship Class to get students prepared 2019 has been another brilliant year for the Mathematics
to take scholarship examinations in 2020. and Statistics department and we wish all of you a great
summer break and look forward to catching up with you
Competition Mathematics was once again very popular in 2020!
with over 145 year 9, 10 and 11 students taking part in the
Otago Mathematics Competition and 185 students taking Heaps of lollies and
part in the Australian Mathematics Competition. All Year other great prizes
9 and 10 students participated in the Glendowie Junior were handed out and
Mathex competition where 4 victorious teams were then everyone had a great
selected to represent the school and tackle ‘20 questions’ time participating.
at the Auckland inter school competition. Every day, challenging
questions put students
Unfortunately, we had to farewell two teachers at the end and teachers to the test
of 2018. Mr Schollum who moved to Sancta Maria after in the daily form class
teaching at GDC for 11 years. He was an extremely popular competition.
teacher who had successfully led the department for a
time had decided he needed a change. We were all sad
to say goodbye but fortunately he has stayed in touch and
even attended department socials.

We also said goodbye to Jono Batchelar who joined Saint
Kentigern College after teaching at GDC for 3 years. He
was an enthusiastic, extremely competent young teacher
whose presence in the classroom meant that Glendowie
students weren’t just learning Mathematics but more
importantly they were enjoying learning it.

Glendowie College 2019

Maths Week Congratulations to the following form classes that 21
came out on top of the form class competition:
In term 3, the academic prefects put on the highlight
of the year: Maths week. During this week a variety of Year 9 9GLT CURRICULUM
activities were put on for both students and teachers to Year 10 10DHY
try and work their heads around some maths problems. Year 11 11LWS and 11JON
These activities included an exciting Kahoot in the library, Year 12 12KAU
a competitive maths scavenger hunt, maths puzzles in Year 13 13WHI (Overall school wide winners
the quad, ‘Guess the number of jelly beans in the Jar’ after tie-breaker question!) and 13LIU
competition all topped off by a hyped house Mathex at
the end of the week. A Desmos drawing competition was Results of the House competition
also held, where students could show off their graphing
1st Place Ruaumoko

2nd Place Tane Mahuta

3rd Place Tawhirimatea

4th Place Tangaroa

knowledge to recreate the Glendowie College logo,
using the graphing software Desmos. Yujia Chen won this
competition with this amazing entry using 175 different
equations!

Junior Otago Mathematics Competition
2019 Results

The Junior Otago Maths Competition is a problem YEAR 10
solving competition for students in Yr 9 to Year 11, run In the Top 100 in New Zealand: Lewis Azzopardi, Mia
by the department of Mathematics and Statistics at the Horridge, Brandon Yiu
University of Otago. 145 Glendowie College students Merit Awards (in the top 10%): Albert Edmondson,
took part in the 2019 competition. Annabel Hankin, Kieran Joe, Maya McEwan

YEAR 9 YEAR 11
In the Top 200 in New Zealand: Zoe Paterson In the Top 30 in New Zealand: Evan French
Merit Awards (in the top 10%): Aidan Beauchamp, Max In the Top 200 in New Zealand: Emma Crossan, Holly
Bros, Ryan Cleland, Henry Gibson, Luke Gordon, Sofia Harding, Joshua Lay, Ethan Tizzard
Roberts, Anthony Shen

Junior Otago Mathematics Competition 2019 Results

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) is a problem solving competition
where students attempt to solve 30 problems in 75 minutes. The AMC allows students
to attempt the same task on the same day in over 30 countries around the globe. 185
students from Glendowie College took part in 2019.

Best in School Award winner: Joshua Lay (Year 11)

YEAR 9 DISTINCTION: Ryan Gin, Holly Harding
DISTINCTION: Ruohan Wang, Sofia Roberts,
Sam Somerville YEAR 12
HIGH DISTINCTION: William Beauchamp, Matthew
YEAR 10 Bilby, Ethan Qi, Irene Xue
HIGH DISTINCTION: Mia Horriddge, Sean Sun
DISTINCTION:Sage Carruthers, Daniel Clark, May Gan
DISTINCTION: Bar Avni, Lewis Azzopardi, Erica Butcher, Nina Harding, Avinaash Krishnan, Hamish Miller, Emily
Serge Carroll, Albert Edmonson, Sophie Glasgow- Zou
Palmer, Annabel Hankin, Kieran Joe, Alex Roberts,
Molly Spratling, David Yuan YEAR 13
DISTINCTION: Yujia Chen, Niamh Montgomery
YEAR 11
HIGH DISTINCTION: Evan French

Glendowie College 2019

22 MATHEX

CURRICULUM Every year, Glendowie College students grab their calcu-
lators and pencils for the Mathex competition, where two
teams of four are chosen from each class to participate in Hankin, Sean Sun and David Yuan in first place followed by
the school Mathex. After a series of intense mini Mathex Albert Edmondson, Jenna McLaren, Molly Spratling and
practice competitions in class, these teams were chosen to Brandon Yiu as well.
compete in the Glendowie College Mathex.
On Friday the 16th of August, these four teams repre-
Our teams put their brains to the test with new and inter- sented the school at the Barfoot and Thompson stadi-
esting questions, mind-boggling puzzles and lots of find- um in Kohimarama. The evening started with the Year 9s.
ing ‘x’. The atmosphere in the room was so hugely pres- Around one hundred students flooded onto the floor from
surized that many competitors felt the weight of it resting the stands and took their places in front of the named ta-
upon their shoulders. Hands scrawled unrecognisable bles. Everyone admired the special Mathex pens while the
font, trying to sort answers, people cried out as they found runners stood up to see where they had to go and walked
a solution and runners sprinted like mad to their markers. up to the markers to retrieve their first question. And then
But eventually, after a final countdown, the winners were it was on!
crowned.
By: Emma Bass, Jorja Kane, Grace Lynch, and Xixi Gates
Well done to the best Year 9 runners Akasha Schoff and (The GDC Year 9 Mathex Winners)
Hamish Cruikshank and the best Year 10 runners Eugenie
May and Josh Calvert, for putting in the extra effort to en-
sure their teams received the highest points possible and
moved ever closer to the finish line.

Congratulations to the Year 9 teams that included Emma
Bass, Grace Lynch, Jorja Kane, and Xixi Gates from 9Green
for winning the Year 9 competition, and Zoe Patterson,
Elah Aguirre Escobar, Samantha Bing and Jack Trotter
from 9Yellow for also making it through to the Auckland
wide Mathex competition. And congratulations also to the
Year 10 teams that included Lewis Azzopardi, Annabelle

Glendowie College 2019

Science with more aspects of human evolution, another external 23
topic we have. The new lecture halls were epic and well
Year 13 Biology Auckland Zoo equipped. We got to interact with their to-scale, full- CURRICULUM
trip sized skeleton replicas of an ape, H. sapiens as well as
skulls and tools of early hominins such as Homo nean-
There is no better place in Auckland for Biology students derthalensis. This workshop was beneficial as it helped
than the zoo! engage visual, audio and kinetic learners. This trip was
effective (and rather necessary) revision, as we reaffirmed
On this trip, we were able to observe animal responses our knowledge on the different traits of hominin skulls
that we had learned about earlier in the year, in real life. and how they relate to the different stages of evolution.
This trip has helped broaden our understanding of the
external biology topics such as seeing the monogamous Overall this trip was really fun because we were able to
relationship of the Gibbons and the adaptive advantage explore and interact with different parts of the biology
of tails of the spider monkeys. externals on our own. Having the freedom to explore the
zoo by ourselves or in groups let us visually interact with,
With a workshop run by one of the staff, we engaged and greatly helped the biology understanding of our top-
ics and well as spark interest in them.

Arbel Tenembaum

Rotary National Science and Technology Forum

In January this year I attended the Rotary National Science Before we arrived most of us didn’t know anyone. Howev-
and Technology forum. I was one of the 168 students from er, being surrounded by like minded people, within two
all over New Zealand who were selected to go on this weeks we had all become lifelong friends. Everyone I have
amazing experience. talked to since the forum has agreed that attending it has
been one of the most life changing experiences. I would
Attending the forum involved two weeks of science mod- also like to thank Rotary St Johns who sponsored me to
ules, activites, bus karaoke and a whole lot of amazing go to the forum and everyone else who encouraged me
people. We attended a wide range of modules and lec- to apply. The forum was an amazing experience that was
tures that gave us insight into what a tertiary degree in that well organised and the advisors were incredible, always
discipline would be like. We got to dissect a sheep’s heart, keeping us hype even during 6:00 am wake ups. There is
hold a human brain and build mini robots. All the lecturers nowhere I would have rather spent 2 weeks of my summer
were willing to provide us with as much information as we and I would encourage future students to apply for this
wanted. incredible program.

Jodie Dickens

Glendowie College 2019

24 Year 9 Stardome Observatory rest of the universe. Then it was some active learning; a
quiz in groups that involved teamwork - a skill essential
CURRICULUM “I think we are at the dawn of a new era in commercial for getting us to Mars and beyond. Our wonderful,
space exploration”, said Elon Musk. After visiting the educational learning experience ended with a short
Stardome in Auckland, the Year Nines of Glendowie animation film that tugged at many curious minds as
College are ready to front the big question: how do we watched the future of “Mars exploration” appear
we reach Mars? Our session at Stardome started with a before our very eyes. The film sparked many imaginative
bang - a very impressive and enlightening presentation solutions and questions to take away with us. Let’s just
on the Solar System that we live in and how it has been say, Year Nine is the new dawn of Space Exploration.
explored. This prompted many interesting and some
unanswerable questions about how we can explore the By Jorja Kane

Tahuna Torea Trip Year 12 Biology

On the 13th of March the year 12 students went on a trip to the students walked down to the park to spend half a day
Tahuna Torea to study the reserves plant environment. For in small groups collecting data on multiple different plants,
many students the local nature park had fond memories whilst taking notes on how the plants sustain themselves
of playing sports on the grass and of feeding the ducks, and the ecosystem surrounding them. Overall the trip was
however the year 12 biologist’s were taken to the park for successful and the year 12 students were able to walk away
a much more scientific reason. Our focus for the trip was with lots of data as well as gaining a greater understanding
less on the recreational aspect of the reserve and more so and appreciation of the amazing nature reserve just down
on its environmental features, specifically the trees. From the road.
the tallest emergent trees that looked as if they would go
on forever to the smaller ground layer plants it’s fair to say Sheida Namin, 12BAR
that all students were able to collect some data for their
upcoming internal. Sports shoes worn and tables drawn

Glendowie College 2019

Social Sciences 25

The social sciences learning area is about how societies work and how people can participate CURRICULUM
as critical, active, informed, and responsible citizens.

In her address to the United Nations earlier this year, Factory, and the Museum, and an investigation of rubbish
following the Christchurch Mosque Attacks, our Prime on three Auckland beaches.
Minister Jacinda Ardern reflected on how New Zealand has
changed as a nation, and how the world sees us has also The year has also seen a number of changes to the Social
changed. She shared how after the attacks a young boy Sciences teaching team. Ms Trudy Gibb, our long serving
at a mosque in Wellington asked her the simple question: Faculty Leader began her new role as Deputy Principal at
“Will I be safe now?” to which she answered “yes”. the college. We congratulate her and wish her all the best in
her well deserved promotion. Our Assistant Faculty Leader
New Zealand prides itself on providing a clean and green Ms Philippa Jones began her new role as Faculty Leader.
environment, and a safe and inclusive society. Both of We welcomed Mr Stephen Galt and Miss Angela Gray who
these key markers of our national identity have come have both had a very successful first year of teaching in
under attack this year. For those of us teaching in the Social History and Social Sciences. We also welcomed Mr Ruan
Sciences, the events of 2019 highlight the importance of van Aswegen part way through the year who stepped in
an education that centers around tolerance and civics and to take some junior Social Studies and Enterprise Studies
citizenship education. Local and global events make the classes.
aim of Social Studies education even more crucial and
relevant. There is no doubt that our young people are The Social Sciences team are committed, innovative,
growing up in times of change. It is our job to ensure that collaborative and most importantly put their students at
they have the knowledge and skills to critically engage the centre of everything they do. A huge thanks to them
with the events and issues happening around them. The all for the enormous amount of time and energy they
common goal through all our teaching subjects is to equip put into their students, their programmes and their own
our young people with these capabilities, and to grow in professional growth. Without their continued commitment
them the confidence to become active participants and to excellence and innovation our programmes would not
changemakers. be as relevant, engaging and dynamic.

As always our teachers and students have got outside of We wish you all a fun and relaxing summer break and look
the classroom and applied their learning in the real world. forward to seeing and working with you again in 2020.
We have had trips to China, Rotorua, the Bay of Islands,
and Tongariro and many local field trips around Auckland Ms Philippa Jones
including visits to the Chelsea Sugar Factory, the Tip Top Faculty Leader Social Sciences

Global Studies

2019 saw the introduction of this new course offered to our environment. They also embarked on a personal action
Year 13 students. The course has got off to a very positive to contribute towards a sustainable future, which saw
start and it is exciting that some of the students who have students do a wide range of actions including participating
taken Global Studies this year are going on to study Global in Plastic Free July, going vegan for a month, participating
Studies at University in 2020. in the local Songbird Project, and holding a school based
clothing swap.
Throughout the year students have critically engaged with
a range of sustainability and human rights issues. Students Ms Philippa Jones, Global Studies Teacher
explored the legal status of euthanasia around the world,
and then evaluated the campaigns of social action that
have been working to influence the proposed law changes
in New Zealand. A highlight of this inquiry was a visit from
the bill’s sponsor MP David Seymour.

As part of their investigations into sustainable
organisations students conducted a waste audit of the
school. Rummaging through the schools rubbish revealed
that much of the rubbish the school sends to landfill could
be recycled. Students then investigated and developed
plans to make Glendowie College a more sustainable

Glendowie College 2019

26 Classical Studies

CURRICULUM It has been another busy year in Classical Studies. In
term one, Year 12 Classical Studies visited Auckland
War Memorial Museum as part of our inquiry into the
relationship between the classical world and other cultures.
In term two, the Year 13 Classes attended the Auckland
University Classics Schools Day, listening to informative
lectures extended their understanding of the topics
studied. A team of three Year 13 students competed at the
annual Auckland Secondary School Classics Quiz, held at
St Cuthberts. They enjoyed the experience of participating
against other schools around Auckland

Geography

Jonathon Porritt, Director of Friends of the Earth (1984-
1990), stated: “What is knowledge worth if we know nothing
about the world that sustains us, nothing about natural
processes and climate, nothing about other countries and
cultures?” Geography at Glendowie helps us to learn
more about these areas, and one of the best ways of
learning more is through our field trips. In 2019, Year 11
gained an insight into how much litter is left on Auckland
beaches by those who use them, and Year 12 experienced
the natural processes operating in the Tongariro National
Park, and analysed the patterns of pedestrians on Queen
Street. Year 13 had a day in the Piha River Drainage Basin
exploring fluvial processes and three fun-filled days in
Rotorua learning about tourism development. Thanks to
the Geography students for their awesome behaviour and
enthusiasm both on our adventures and in the classroom,
and to the teachers (Ms Gibb, Ms Jones, Mrs McKay and
Ms Tomlinson).

Glendowie College 2019

History at Glendowie 2019 27
for the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima
History at Glendowie is on the rise. This year our 74 years ago. CURRICULUM
department increased to four teachers to cover the
growing interest in History. We welcomed Angela Gray History students at all levels finish the year having improved
and Stephen Galt to our growing Empire. Mid way their ability to analyse sources of evidence, enhanced their
through the year we farewelled Joe Hurndell as he took writing skills and hopefully acquired a ‘curiosity’ for what
up a position at Wairarapa College. Mr Hurndell made a has happened in the world and how this will impact on
valuable contribution to the History department and the the future. We want our historians to develop into active,
students and staff will miss him. compassionate, lifelong learners who appreciate ‘their
own history’. In the words of Maya Angelou – “The more
Our year 13 students this year experienced education you know of your history, the more liberated you are.”
outside the classroom with our trip to the birthplace of
our nation – Waitangi. This is a voyage of discovery for Michelle Simpson
these history students as they apply their historical analysis Teacher in Charge of History
skills in the field, to present a report on our early contact
history and the varying perspectives of that history. Our
recognition of ‘our history’ is now being supported by
the Government in their drive to implement the teaching
of ‘New Zealand History’ in all schools by 2022. Year 12
students continue to learn about the Vietnam War and the
impact of that war globally including on New Zealanders.
Around 3.500 New Zealanders served in Vietnam between
1963 and 1975, but for decades

after received little support or acknowledgment for their
services. This battle for recognition and compensation is
ongoing. Year 12 students then study another event of
global significance – the rise of the Nazi Party and Hitler.
Two Holocaust survivors who live in the local area – Bob
and Freda Narev shared their stories. The students were
inspired by this amazing couple who encouraged them
to stand up against bullying and hate speech, and the
importance of tolerance in the world. At year 11 students
were introduced to the aggressive actions of European
dictators in the lead up to World War Two. They then
investigated the traditional and revisionist justifications

Year 9 and Year 10 Social Studies -
Growing Global Citizens 2019

It has been another busy year for our junior social a concept-based programme that responds to the
scientists. We have continued to introduce and improve needs of our students and is relevant, engaging and
our Middle Years Programme to ensure that we have a fun! Students have undertaken a number of inquiries
teaching programme that is future focused and builds linked to concepts such as sustainability, identity, cultural
the capabilities of collaboration, communication, diversity, partnership and protest, global citizenship and
critical thinking and creativity. We continue to develop change. Global issues continue to be a major focus of
our programme.

Our Year 9 students inquired into a sustainability issue
in our local community and planned action on the
issue to work towards a more sustainable future. This
inquiry saw our students undertaking research such
as measuring water quality in local streams, exploring
pest eradication in our local parks and tracking rubbish
on our local beaches. Our Year 10 students conducted
inquiries into a global challenges linked to the
Sustainable Development Goals, and then came closer
to home investigating the issue of child poverty and
food insecurity in New Zealand. They also had a chance
to be active citizens by voting in local council elections
through the Youth Voting programme.

Glendowie College 2019

28 Economics

CURRICULUM Senior Economics students participated in two
competitions this year namely the Reserve Bank Monetary
Challenge and the New Zealand Economics Competition Best Innovation - Lemonade Floss
run by Auckland University Business School. Members of Lila Baroumandi (CEO)
the Monetary Challenge team were Daniel Tran (CEO), Gaia Panduri (Marketing Manager)
Jodie Dickins and Fletcher Milne-Urlich They obtained a Jessica Miller (Production Manager)
Merit rating. Emma Goodall (Financial Manager)
Paris Gilbert-Staines (Administrator)
Award winners in the New Zealand Economics Competition
were High Distinction Division 2 (Year 12) – May Gan and
Cameron Todd. Distinction Division 2 – Ethan Cleland,
Hayden Crocker, Andrea Eng and Sophie Newton.
Distinction Division 1 –Jodie Dickins, Ryan Kidd, Jacob
Wanden and Daniel Tran.

The year 11’s enjoyed their trip to Tip Top as part of the
producer decision making standard and visited the newly
opened Chelsea Bay Sugar Refinery as the context for their
interdependence internal.

Year 10 Enterprise students again proved to be budding
entrepreneurs and highly competitive looking for an
edge during the “Market Fridays”. Congratulations are
extended to the following winners:

Best Product - Flurro Churro
Elsie Richardson (CEO/Administrator)

Jessie Butland (Marketing Manager)

Sarah Kayes (Production Manager)

Nate Barlett (Financial Manager)

Best Production System - Spring Roll Rice Bowl Best Stall Design - Creamium
David Yuan (CEO/Production Manager) Lisa Schubert (CEO)
Elle Bainbridge (Marketing Manager) Jenna Watt-Wyness (Marketing Manager/Administrator)
Cade McAllansmith (Financial Manager) Ivan Ko (Production Manager)
Brandon Yiu (Administrator) Micah Fitton Higgens (Financial Manager)

Best Customer Service - Boba Bros Best Packaging - Fat Dumplings
Amy Friery (CEO) Danielle McComish (CEO)
Rubi Eliahu (Marketing Manager) Demi Jonasson (Marketing Manager)
Millie Holliman (Production Manager) Albert Edmonson (Production Manager)
Luke Rous (Financial Manager) Serge Carroll (Financial Manager)

Best Overall Business (Supreme Winners) - Lemonade
Floss
Lila Baroumandi (CEO)

Gaia Panduri (Marketing Manager)

Jessica Miller (Production Manager)

Emma Goodall (Financial Manager)

Paris Gilbert-Staines (Administrator)

Best CEO - 2019 :
Lila Baroumandi

Glendowie College 2019

Business Studies 29

2019 has been an extremely successful year for the Business CURRICULUM
Studies students. For the first time in the college’s history
we have had both national and international success with opportunity to explore international cultures as they plan
our students and their businesses. and deliver international cuisines during the International
The Year 13 Business students successfully carried out their Market day. This year we enjoyed the introduction of the
first online global collaboration with students at Drammen Brizilian and Korean Cuisines. Copacabana was the proud
International School working on potential of exporting a winner of the International Market Day with the most cul-
Fonterra product into the Norwegian Market. In return turally responsive stall. Congratulations to the following
our students helped the Drammen International students members of Copacabana:
to understand the culture, education and expectations of
New Zealand education system as well as how to settle in Gabriela Almeida Preuhs (CEO)
the Kiwi lifestyle. A special thank you to May Britt Baadsto Hope Makiri-Hennings (Communications Director)
and Siri Hunstadbråten for making this collaboration Vanessa Dinh (Sales and Marketing Director)
possible. We look forward to collaborating again next year.
Kishan Maisuria (Operations Director)
Drammen International, GDC students
We would like to acknowledge Ms. Camille Venturina and Freya Jian (Financial Director)
her team from Fonterra for the ongoing support in making
learning authentic for our students in Business Studies. P. Harduar
The Year 11 Business students continue to embrace the

Glendowie College 2019

30 Physical Education

CURRICULUM ‘5 Years on – Reflections’ allowing us to complete the trail and being my personal
highlight from my whole high school experience.
The Year 13 Physical Education course at Glendowie
College has been a remarkable experience. This course Once we returned from this trip we began our health
highlights the journey we have all gone through together promotion project. The goal of this is to have a positive
from the past five years of Physical Education and has effect on the health and physical activity. This was the most
shaped us into more equipt and rounded people within rewarding internal as our research, planning and hardwork
society. The life skills as well as the understanding of the is actually having a positive impact and make a difference
impact of physical activity on a multitude of levels and towards members of our community.
the new opportunities and experiences makes this course
stand out from the rest. To conclude our course we were to complete an aquathon,
a 400 metre swim followed by a 5km run. This required
In the Level 3 Physical Education course we were involved us to partake in sport specific training to prepare us.
in numerous activities and challenges throughout the Completing the aquathon is definitely monumental
year. We began the year learning the technical skills and moment as it concludes five years of PE in Glendowie
strategic play of tennis. This was an interesting experience College and highlights the level of athletic ability which we
as there was a range of skill levels within our class based have achieved throughout the years.
off their previous tennis experience. It was enjoyable and
we learnt a lot leading up to the tennis tournament where Overall, the Year 13 Physical Education course has allowed
we were playing off for the male and female Year 13 PE us to grow in knowledge, skills, experience, literacy and
tennis trophy. physical ability that I would highly recommend to anyone.
This course allows you to take training, trips and helping
During this time we were planning our own class trip to others into your own hands to ultimately benefit yourself,
Otago with the goal of completing the Otago Rail Trail your peers and the community. Thank you to the PE
as a class. This was an incredible experience because not Department.
only did we get to choose what we were doing, we got
to plan everything and create our own itinerary. Before Andrea Ross Year 13PE Student
we embarked on this journey we made sure we did a two
night practice tramp to Te Aroha in order to allow us to
reflect and evaluate so we could be more prepared for
the 150km Otago Rail Trail. This overall experience has
allowed us to better ourselves in a multitude of life skills
and make us more well equipped as individuals. These
skills include working together, communicating with each
other, devising risk management strategies, looking out
for each other, map reading, packing efficiently, food prep,
setting up tents, cooking, time management and more. On
the Otago Rail Trail we were faced with many challenges
from muscle aches and cramps to broken bikes to extreme
injuries. As a class we managed to tackle these challenges
and create strategies to avoid them in the future, ultimately

Glendowie College 2019

Health & Physical Education Our senior courses continue to develop to cater for the 31
changing needs of today’s students. Senior students are
Intelligence and skill can only provided with the opportunity for learning experiences CURRICULUM
function at the peak of their in a diverse range of activities.
capacity when the body is healthy
Some highlights from each level include:
and strong. ... Lawn Bowls, Paddle Boarding, Surfing and Cheerleading
John F. Kennedy (Year 11PE)

The Health and Physical Education learning area is The camp in Northland, Ripper rugby and Volleyball
about taking action to enhance well-being. Throughout (Year 11OED)
this year students at all levels have had the opportunity
to enhance their own and others’ well-being through a Mountain Biking, Badminton and the Tough Guy/Gal
wide range of learning experiences. Challenge (Year 12PE)

Junior Physical Education classes have participated Kayaking, Raft Making, Scuba diving and The Pinnacles
in units of work related to, ‘Including Others’, tramp (Year 12 Outdoor Education)
‘Understanding Game’s, ‘Social Responsibility, ‘Group
Challenges’, ‘Movement Awareness’ and ‘Aerobic The ‘Timber Trail’ ride, Teaching ABL and Aussie Rules
Challenge’ to name a few. The level of positive to year 9 (Year 13 SPL)
involvement by Year 9 and Year 10 students has been
excellent. Junior Health classes have participated Tennis, the Otago Rail Trail, Health Promotion and the
in units of work related to, ‘Hauora’, ‘Mental Health’, Aquathon Challenge (Year 13PE)
‘Relationships’ and ‘Sexuality Education’.
Once again the highlights for students have been
the very enjoyable day trips and camps at each year
level. The rich learning experiences that make these
camps so successful are a direct result of the positive
attitude displayed by our students in these outdoor
environments.

On behalf of both current and past students of the
college, I would like to take this opportunity to say a very
big THANYOU to Mr Salmon who is leaving us to take
up a position at Te Puke High School. Mr Salmon has
been an integral part of the Health and PE faculty since
2011 providing rich and authentic learning experiences
to many, many students at all levels. We will miss his
gregarious nature and wish him and his family all the
very best for their new life in the Bay of Plenty.

Mr Dave Storrie
Faculty Manager Health & Physical Education

Glendowie College 2019

32 Languages

CURRICULUM It’s been another action packed year in the growing We celebrated both
Languages Department. We’ve again had growth in both Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori
the number of students learning a language with us and and International
our staff. 2019 saw us welcome two new teachers into Language Week again
the faculty, Melisa Chase as teacher of Te Reo Māori, and this year. Some of the
Sarrah Shapley who taught junior German. We were also old favourite activities
very fortunate to have Sabrina Koenig join us as a language were back again for
assistant once a week in German classes. International Languages
Week such as the
Co-Curricular Opportunities chopstick competition
This year we were able to offer our language students a and new form class
range of opportunities to use their language skills outside challenges which saw
the classroom and to broaden their cultural understanding. prizes going to the form class who could count to ten and
Some of these activities included: say ‘I love you’ in the most languages. During Te Wiki o Te
Reo Māori we had a few pronunciation sessions for staff
Year 10 German students attending the German Film and the whole school was focussed on preparing for the
Festival and a trip to a local cafe to try apple strudel and inter-house Haka competition at the end of the week.
practice their food ordering skills.
The Education Perfect World Championships was a week
Year 12 Chinese students explored yum cha delicacies. of furious typing and vocabulary learning. This year we
collectively answered 240,000 questions over the week.
Spanish students practiced their language on an immersion Highlights include 6th place in Aotearoa/New Zealand in
day which included music, dancing, and of course some our category, 4th for German in Aotearoa/New Zealand,
delicious food. 2 Emerald awards (5,000 points), 3 Gold awards (3,000
points), 3 Silver awards (2,000 points) and 13 Bronze awards
Te Reo Māori students attended a film festival and went to (1,000 points). Congratulations to all those who took part.
Rangiriri, the site of the decisive battle for Waikato.

German Exchange I was up to my waist in
snow, so naturally I went
In the summer of 2018/19, six students from Glendowie ice skating, had snowball
College, along with other students from New Zealand, fights and built my first
travelled to North-Rhine Westphalia in Germany to stay real snowman.
with host families for two months. This opportunity gave
us the chance to use our language skills in a real life A standard part of the
setting and experience the German culture. exchange is the week
spent in Berlin, this
We had to go to school with our exchange partners during is where all the New
the first few weeks, once we got over going to school in Zealand students meet
our summer holidays it is a great learning experience and up and have the chance
our eyes were opened to how schooling differs around the to explore Berlin in
world. I expected it to be really hard to understand but to small groups, as well as
my surprise I managed to follow lessons in chemistry and being taken to some
maths as we do the same topics at school in New Zealand well known attractions
like the underground bunkers and the Neues Palais by our
During the Christmas holidays our host families took own tour guide. This was a really cool cultural experience
us sightseeing around Germany and the surrounding and we were told about the history in English so our brains
countries, the Christmas markets were a favourite of could have a break from speaking German. By the end of
everyone on the exchange. The markets are held all over the exchange we had all made some really good friends,
the country and at night the trees are lit up by Christmas both kiwi and German, and many of us are still in contact
lights, it looks like it is straight out of a fairy tale. I was with our partners today.
also lucky enough to spend New Years in Bavaria where

Glendowie College 2019

Mau Rākau mau rākau was an exciting new way of learning about not 33
only māori culture but also the art of mau rākau”. We are
This year a small group of our students were lucky enough all hoping that mau rākau will be able to continue at GDC CURRICULUM
to be given the opportunity to learn an aspect of māori next year so that more people will discover a new and
culture, Mau Rākau. Everyone in this group has really exciting way to learn and experience the māori culture.
enjoyed being able to learn the skill in this way as it is
completely different than anything we’d ever done before. - Kahu (Year 12)
One student involved has said “many students found that

Rangiriri The trip had taught us about the struggles Māori men
and women experienced while fighting for their own land
In 2019, Glendowie College during the year of 1863.
welcomed our new Te Reo
Māori teacher, Whaea - Emily (Year 12)
Melisa. Although she had
only been teaching at
Glendowie College for
a few months she had
planned a day trip to
Rangiriri for year 11, 12 and
13 Te Reo Māori students. It was a way to learn about
not only the history of Aotearoa but also ourselves. We
had the opportunity to visit the trenches where the Māori
fought but also saw the guns and bullets that were used
during the fight, this left many of us with an eerie feeling
of sadness and respect.

Spanish Immersion day and that inspired us to give it a go. Making the taco shells
was the hardest part. We used a special press to flatten
The purpose of the day was to speak in Spanish as much as the dough, and it took several attempts to achieve the
possible, which was also a challenge for the senior students! perfect shape and thickness. Fillings included fried beans,
It was a great opportunity to improve our confidence with avocado, salsa, cheese, all enveloped in a fresh warm
the language, as well as get to know students from other tortilla shell……and not long after, everyone was sitting
year levels. With the help of Mr Humphries, we started the down to enjoy a delicious lunch. Fabian Navarro, the guest
day by learning the lyrics and steps of the Spanish pop speaker from Mexico, taught us some Spanish sayings,
song ‘El Mismo Sol’. We were not the best dancers, but we which have greatly enhanced our vocabulary. We really
did our best and had a laugh! After interval, we grouped enjoyed meeting and talking to a native speaker. Overall,
into teams and completed a Spanish themed ‘Escape it was an unforgettable day of laughs and learning. We are
Room’. We were given different tasks and obstacles and very grateful to Ms Santosuosso (Señora Santo) who made
had to solve them all in Spanish. My team won! After that, the day possible.
it was time for what we had all been waiting for – Taco
making! We had watched a video earlier in the week Holly Harding (11JON)
showing us how to make taco shells the traditional way,

Glendowie College 2019

34 Design and Technology

CURRICULUM It has been another busy year in the Faculty of Design and Technology. Our students have continued to demonstrate
creativity, ingenuity, courage and collaboration. The introduction of the MYP at year 9 means that students have used their
own inquiries to solve and address a series of design problems. Year 10 have developed a range of skills in a variety of
materials areas that will allow them to progress far within their chosen fields. Our seniors have continued to amaze us and
prove that they are the Engineers, Designers, Architects, Nutritionist, Chefs, Coders, Builders, Entrepreneurs and leaders
of their generation.

Competitions team were working towards Bronze and were awarded it at
the beginning of this year. Sean Gibbs is continuing with
BCITO Photo competition the award scheme and has spent most of 2019 working
towards Silver. Well done boys!
Building and Construction Apprenticeships’ (BCITO)
Inaugural Building, Construction, and Allied Trades Skills Design and Visual
(BCATS) Photo Competition Communications

Congratulations to the Glendowie College team of Paige “Year 12 DVC really helped me develop my design skills
Sturgess (13SOH), Tom Sullivan (13JAN) and Matthew in a way that I wouldn’t be able to in any other subject
Brewer (13JAN), who won the BCATS ‘Project in a as it isn’t about just creating something pretty. It involves
Workshop/Indoor School Environment Category’ with thinking outside the box, critically analysing and taking
their weatherboard letter boxes. Although there were other people’s opinions into consideration. Therefore,
many incredible entries which showcased New Zealand’s it helped my thinking and communication skills. Even
school talent and skill, their entry was the one that stood though it isn’t always the easiest, DVC is enjoyable and I
out to beat all the other BCITO entries in NZ. look forward to every lesson” Kelly Fernandes Yr12 DVC

Well done Paige, Tom and Matthew! “I think that DVC is a subject that really pushes you to
explore your creative side. It has helped me improve in
E Pro 8 Challenge 2019 terms of designing, exploring, and drawing. Although I
do find this subject challenging, it always feels incredibly
The EPro8 Challenge is an engineering and problem- rewarding after you finish your projects.”Tyler Cheng Yr12
solving competition and every year over 10,000 students DVC
from 900 schools from throughout New Zealand take
part in this competition. The teams compete to construct Digital Technologies
basic electronic circuits, build large sized structures, solve Computing
practical problems, engineer using pulleys, motors, gears,
wheels and axles, invent machines that can complete In Digital Technologies Computing, we focused on a range
simple tasks, undertake unusual and fun experiments and of projects that gave us the opportunity to develop our
solve interesting problems. website design and development skills. We learnt how to
use planning tools such as Trello to manage our projects.
There were five teams from Glendowie College that This gave us a deeper understanding of the design
participated in the heats this year, four teams in senior process, and how important it is to use this in our projects
level and one team in the junior level out of which two to create the best outcome possible.
teams from the senior level are qualified for the regional
grand final. They are the Glendowie College 4 (Mathias We started off by learning how to code basic functioning
Svensson, Evan French, William Beauchamp and Cameron websites using HTML and some simple CSS. This allowed
Todd) and the Dropouts (Benjamin Hunt, Sujaanan us to create our final websites which utilised both basic
Jeyaseelan, Christopher Tims and Joshua Lay). These and more advanced coding skills, such as JavaScript. We
teams will participate in the finals that is scheduled to also made a digital presentation as part of our inquiry for
happen on the 30th April 2019. our final website. This gave us an idea of the knowledge
and information that was needed to be included in our
Bronze CREST Award own websites. For example, we focused on issues such
as the awareness of Chinese medicine and online child
In 2018, four of our senior students; Sean Gibbs, Daniel abuse, where we had to do extensive research in order to
Clark, Zachary Vowles and Jack Manning participated understand our topics completely. Most of us are taking
in the CREST award scheme. The scheme encourages DTC again next year and we look forward to further
Creativity in Science and Technology and is aimed at years develop our design and coding skills.
eleven through thirteen. Throughout the year the boys had
to develop a greenhouse control system and explain their
rationale for each decision in the development. CREST
offers three levels of awards, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Our

Glendowie College 2019

Digital Technologies - … sometimes if you are lucky, you get to do canapes, the 35
Programming most fun internal - learning how to cater for a big crowd.
CURRICULUM
“This year in 11 Programming we have done lots of coding … see if it is a career you are interested in doing when
in class which has been enjoyable and a way to learn you leave school.
programming by actually doing it yourself rather than
reading or watching others. Programming teaches you to The best part I like about hospitality is cooking and
problem solve which is not only useful in programming but learning with my classmates and it made the whole
a useful skill in life. The program development process experience worthwhile doing at school.
taught me how to manage my time and workload when
completing a project.” Tate King (13HOS)

Kiwa Brown, Year 11 Programming Food Technology

“Taking Programming in Year 13 has helped me greatly with This year, 13 Food Technology students had to design an
my project management skills as I had to set all my own action plan to address a nutritional issue affecting young
deadlines and adjust them as my project work progressed. New Zealanders. We realised that high sugar intake was
I have learnt how to critically analyse different tools and the root cause for many of the most common preventable
resources needed for software development. This year our diseases like obesity and tooth decay. It became clear that
clients played a larger part in our development process. to help future generations live fit and healthy lives, more
The interaction between myself and the clients made my education was needed around sugar intake.
work more enjoyable.”
In groups we set out designing interactive activities to
Sebastian Simpson, Year 13 Programming teach year nines about sugar. We came up with games
such as “guess which snack has the most sugar” and “how
“In Year 13 Programming we had the opportunity to choose to make your favourite treats healthier.” On the day, the
the coding language we wanted to work with for the year. year nines rotated around our activity stations, sampling
Developing software promotes creativity, problem solving food and winning prizes, all while learning how to eat less
and time management skills. Programming is a valuable sugar. We hope our information about sugar intake will
course for students to improve these skills that will be have set the year nines up for healthy futures.
sought after by any employer, not just occupations related
to programming.” Isabella Clague 13SOH

Avneet Sharma, Year 13 Programming BCATS

Hospitality We have been making weatherboard letter boxes for our
Level 3 BCATS project, with limited supervision from our
Why Hospitality is cool! teacher, Mr Pavarno. A broad range of tools, equipment,
machinery and materials were used, like what would be
You can learn about the different types of food out there used on a building site.
that make food dishes what they are composed of.
All the letterboxes have building wrap to protect them
Hospitality can teach you how to cook fancy food and from moisture, and a cavity system in place. There are also
present it. rodent strips along the bottom of the framing.

It can teach you how to use food effectively. The best part about the project was that we could use
our own design, so no two boxes look alike. Some boxes
Food is the most interesting culture out there. have corners, so we had to mark out and hand cut scribers
to fit, others have soakers on the corners. We made our
Gryffen King (13HOS) decisions on the design, such as the height of the shelf, the
letter slot and the roof of the letter box.
Hospitality is fantastic!
We knew exactly how much material to order as all the
It teaches you all kinds of interesting things about food boxes had the same dimensions, so this made it very cost
and cooking. One of the best subjects in the whole effective, leaving as little waste as possible.
school. You get to make the most delicious and amazing
foods. Three of us entered the BCITO photo competition as a
group. To enter, we had to include 5 photos, one of which
William Spratling (13HOS) had to show us with our letter boxes together with a brief
description of what we had been doing during the year.
Notes on Hospitality: There was an opportunity for us to win 1 out of 6 Level 3
categories across the whole of New Zealand.
… I found that hospitality has taught me many skills like
how to cook steak. Paige Sturgess (13SOH)

… to see if you like working in a communal kitchen
environment.

Glendowie College 2019

36 Dance

CURRICULUM Arts Faculty

2019 has brought exciting change for the Arts Faculty students and staff in the pages to come.
at GDC. It has been a time for us to welcome new staff, Ms C Jennings, Arts Faculty Leader
build relationships with the fantastic GDC students, and
celebrate student engagement and successes in the four
learning areas. Mr Andrew Lile has joined the school as
Head of Music, and Mrs Adele Whittaker has joined the
college as Head of Art. Both departments are thriving
under their leadership. Miss Teri Shin and Miss Sarrah
Shapley joined the Art Department this year, and Mr Oliver
Humphries has joined the Dance and Drama departments.
Miss Clare Thomson, Mr Patrick Carrigan, Miss Debbie
Chapman and Mrs Celia Finn have welcomed the new
staff and have continued the traditions of the faculty
and engaged in the new initiatives of 2019. Our courses
of learning have flourished this year, with innovative and
creative work from all. Our co-curricular programmes have
moved from strength to strength, and we are excited to
have started work on our first musical production as a
faculty (Hairspray, May 2020).

I trust you will enjoy browsing through the work of our

Dance

This year the Dance Department has flourished. With their hard work towards/on the evening. Congratulations
new programmes of learning and exciting performance to everyone involved, and particularly our Year 12 and
opportunities, the students and teachers have enjoyed 13 Dance students - who performed 10 dances between
getting to know each other and presenting their passion them!
for performance to the GDC community. I would like
to thank Miss Clare Thomson and Mr Oliver Humphries
for their outstanding work with our students across both
learning areas. We are looking forward to 2020!

Ms C Jennings, HOD Drama & Dance

Dance Showcase 2019

On August 26 89 students took to the stage to showcase
their work from curricular and co-curricular dance this
year in a new production for GDC: The Dance Showcase!
The students were greeted by a large and enthusiastic
audience and rose to the challenge impressively.
Performances included pieces from the YouDance
Festival and Scholarship Dance submissions, and lots of
fun works in Jazz, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Hip-
Hop, and Samoan Sasa.

Thanks go to Mr Humphries and Miss C Thomson for

Glendowie College 2019

Drama four year levels performing seven plays over the first three 37
weeks of Term Three. The festival atmosphere was stronger
MYP in Drama than ever, and it was great to see students supporting CURRICULUM
others and coming to their plays. If you haven’t been a part
Bringing in the Middle Years Programme has let us ask the of Dramafest it’s difficult to understand how many hours,
big question: what’s the point of art? laughs, and tears go into bringing a show together, and
we’re so proud of the growth we’ve seen in all our actors
In Year 9 Drama, students were asked to explore how as they stepped up to the challenge.
art can give us a way of telling others who we are. After
learning some drama techniques and stagecraft (which Year 10 Drama: From the
looks suspiciously like playing games), students had to
write their pepeha [Māori introduction] and share stories students…
based on the places and people in it. They then created a
piece of drama that followed the structure of a pepeha and Dramafest was fun to do and was an amazing experience.
theatricalised the stories of people in their group. It’s given Performing with your class feels like a safe place to test out
our new Drama practitioners a wide scope for creativity your skills. It’s cool to see different sides of people when
- from showing an ancestor sneaking into a fascist army they play different characters and get to try out being
camp to a fish narrating spearfishing in the Coromandel someone else. It really tests your resilience, because we
with a spot-on David Attenborough accent. It’s been great had to learn lines and cues, stay focussed to make sure we
to see students transferring skills and knowledge from didn’t let other people down, and there were a whole lot
other subjects and telling their stories and values with such of new surprises when you perform in front of an audience.
confidence. The energy that we felt on the night was exhilarating and
there was a big sense of satisfaction after seeing what
For Year 10, students have had to travel to many times and we’d worked towards for an entire term come alive. The
places to examine different types of acting - the broad first couple of weeks of rehearsing it felt like nothing
caricatures of the Italian Renaissance and the truthful, was coming together, but on the night it our plays were
naturalistic acting of Konstantin Stanislavski. When cohesive, and we all worked together really well. Drama
creating their own plays, they were challenged to take a is unlike any other subject because you have to work
Global Context, explore what it meant and what aspects together to achieve and you make really strong friendships
they were interested in, then use that concept as the with people not in your normal friend group.
inspiration to prove the statement: “Art can express truths,
push boundaries, and change the world.” It’s pushed Year 12 Drama: From the
students’ work into a different realm, beyond just retelling
stories to trying to communicate a point of view about students…
world issues to their audience.
Like usual, it felt like the play couldn’t possibly go well
Miss C Thomson, Teacher of Drama but the magic of theatre made it all come together on
the night. It was really great; we had a lot of fun and a
Senior Drama lot of nerves as well. When we overcame the nerves and
did the performance it was a really satisfying feeling to
The senior drama programme has continued to excite and see all the hard work pay off. We were given a choice of
challenge students to learn different theatre styles and plays and it meant we got to agree on what style and story
periods of history. This year areas of study have included we wanted to tell together. It was great to perform in a
Post-War American Realism, Victorian Melodrama, and different style that we’d never tried before, even though
Absurdist and Epic Theatre from Europe in the wake the Shakespearean language is hard. We couldn’t have
of WW2. And of course, the highlight of the year is our done it without the amazing directing skills and guidance
production standards when all classes perform for a live if our teachers, Ms Jennings and Miss Thomson.
audience of friends, parents and community.
“I thoroughly enjoyed how our class bonded together and
Dramafest overall vibed with the overall vibe. Orange Buttons was
epic and super sick.” - Nelson McKenzie and Guy Irwin
Dramafest was a massive achievement: six classes from
Year 13 Drama: From the

students…

Our last Drama production was the most important that
we’ve done. The Laramie Project is a documentary theatre
piece about the death of Matthew Sheppard and the
consequences for the city of Laramie where he lived.
It was a gruelling process of fourteen weeks. It was very
demanding because it was a different kind of drama,
a combined series of monologues and we had to play
multiple characters that were all real people in Laramie
at the time who we had to portray realistically and with
respect, but it was very rewarding to pull it off. It reminded
us of the importance of looking out for one another and
pushing to be our best for others’ not just ourselves.
Thanks to Miss Thomson who dragged us through it and
believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. We’re
going to miss our Drama family.

Glendowie College 2019

38 Music with software that
best enables their
CURRICULUM The continuing development of music performance as compositional
the foundation of the department has ensured success in style. They can use
curricular music at all levels. With Mr Andrew Lile taking their own devices
over the Head of Music position this year music remains an or school desktop
active and important component of Glendowie College’s computers to ac-
cultural fabric. cess this software
meaning compos-
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme ing may be done
has been embedded as a framework for Year 9 through- at school or home.
out the school. Its emphasis on inquiry-based learning has The resulting de-
complemented the Musical Futures practical approach mystification of
to music-making. All students electing the music option composition, and
at this level are introduced to music, or develop their mu- ease of hearing
sical skills, through instrumental performance. This might the results of stu-
be through performing their own compositions or learn- dents’ creativity,
ing guitar, bass guitar, drums and keyboard to perform in has resulted in
bands. This allows students to develop their instrumental extremely imagina-
skills as well as refining approaches to learning such as ef- tive music being created in an ever-increasing variety of
fective teamwork, evaluation of their own performances musical genres. The use of Music Technology to manipu-
and peers’ performances, and using the language of music late and create with sound is also a healthy aspect of the
in a practical context. The rock-focused music making in compositional toolbox demonstrated at all levels.
the classroom has accompanied the growth of student-led
co-curricular rock bands that have begun among Year 9 Our large co-curricular music programme includes a Choir,
students. The Middle Years Programme is beginning to be String Orchestra, Big Band, Concert Band, Wind Band,
extended into Year 10, reinforcing inquiry-based learning Rock Bands and chamber groups. They all rehearse out of
and enhancing performance-based achievement using school hours and are mentioned in more detail elsewhere
Musical Futures learning philosophies. in this magazine. Aside from their regular contributions to
college life, they represent the school in the community
High quality of playing continues to be evident at all lev- with performances of a very high calibre.
els, with the invaluable assistance of the team of skilled
itinerant tutors. This year we were pleased to welcome I would like to thank Mrs Finn for her continued and inval-
two new tutors to the team: Mr Howell (voice) and Mrs uable work with her Year 9 music classes. Ms Chapman’s
Brockelbank (oboe and bassoon). Ms Winter (flute), Mr experienced administrative support to our very busy music
Nicholls (clarinet), Mr Passells (saxophone and Big Band), department has also been very much appreciated. Both
Mr Gittins (guitar), Mr Lin (violin), Mrs Johnston (cello and have displayed adaptability and professionalism in their
String Orchestra), Mr Verrill (trumpet and French horn), Mr work, and their collaboration has been invaluable with a
Ofamooni (drums) and Mr Tan (trombone, euphonium and new Head of Music.
tuba) have continued their wonderful work. The extreme-
ly high level of senior performance is evident in students It is important to recognise the leadership displayed by
regularly preparing pieces beyond what is required at their senior students involved in music, without whose contri-
level. Every day of the school week students visit the music bution the musical culture of the college would be less
department for lessons, creating a vibrant and collegial at- successful.
mosphere of instrumental learning.

Composition, as a valuable means of creative musical
expression, is encouraged at all levels. There is a clear
progression from group composition at the junior level
through to individual compositions in senior classes. The
MusicFirst learning platform has enabled students to work

Glendowie College 2019

Visual Arts 39

Glendowie Colleges’ flair and passion for the Visual Arts CURRICULUM
was once again on show throughout this year. In term
one, we celebrated Summerfest, a week of festivities that artistry and imagination. The exhibition was also judged
encouraged students to create and appreciate art. This by an art curator who awarded certificates to the following
year, rock painting was a popular activity, as well as the students - Yuxin Xie, Yean Chit, Charlotte Lambert, Chloe
mural competition which we also enjoyed last year. The Diprose, Paun-Charn Maung, Zakk Haddon, and Zoe
mural competition is a chance for the artistically inclined Motshaniwskyj. However, the aim of the exhibition was
within the four houses - Ruaumoko, Tane Mahuta, Tangaroa, ultimately not in competition but in acknowledgement and
and Tawhirimatea - to showcase their skills and compete pride of the school’s creativity.
for house points (not to mention, bragging rights). Each
mural corresponded to the myths, as well as reinforced the
ideals and values, behind each house, while still following
the designs of our Arts Leaders. This year, Tane Mahuta
won with their striking interpretation of the brief.

In June, we held the Whakaatu Toi art exhibition. Spanning

two days, students choose their favorite pieces of artwork As the year drew to a close, painting and photography
that they had done and put them on display in the hall. seniors finally finished their folio boards to be assessed. So
Family and friends were able to come by and see students’ much planning, preparing, and emotion goes into every
achievements, as well as the achievements of other year board and the finished products are always regarded with
levels, making for a wonderful atmosphere for sharing a mixture of relief and pride. Well done to every art student
this year. Having created such beautiful art is always a
rewarding experience that you will look back on fondly.
Good luck to all the future art students. We promise you
will not regret participating in such a vibrant and fulfilling
part of school life.

Lauren Connolly

Students had the opportunity to enter the Kumeu Arts
Awards this year. We had four successful entrants, Yuxin
Xie, Lauren Blakey, Zakk Haddon, and Jonathan Khoo.
The exhibition included 100 works from students across
various schools and Jonathans ‘Self-Portrait’ was awarded
a Highly Commended. Congratulations.

Glendowie College 2019

40 Careers an employer before and this programme provides an
opportunity for them to see what working life is really like.
CURRICULUM Careers Team 2019
Students have opted to pursue and explore a wide range
Dedicated to students throughout the year of jobs this year, which has resulted in me speaking to
Ever evolving to meet their aspirations various local employers to (try!) and convince them to
Vocational, academic – we cover it all give our students a chance at their workplaces. Some of
Empowering students with knowledge and options the different work placements have included;
Lighting the imaginations of those we serve
Options turn to choices • Building & construction with Faulkner Construction
Parents are pleased • Kitchen and bathroom design with Placemakers Mt
Maybe the year will end well after all
Exam stress is eased with having decided Wellington
Navigating careers made possible by the …. • Forklifting and Logistics with On Demand & Go
Team; Mr James - Careers Manager (careers guru),
Ms Barton - Careers Administrator (extraordinaire), Mr Logistics
Davidson - Careers Advisor (no-nonsense advice) and Mrs • Sales & retail with Warehouse Stationery in Sylvia Park
Lonergan - Gateway Coordinator (anything’s possible)
and
Gateway • Landscaping with Green with Envy Landscapes
• Retail & customer service at Countdown,
Gateway = formal learning in the workplace
Meadowbank.
I started as Gateway Coordinator at the College in
March 2019 and have had the pleasure of working with The outcomes for students have been fantastic and have
24 students on the Gateway programme this year. Our included gaining apprenticeships, offers of employment,
funding for Gateway comes directly from the Tertiary earning around 500 credits amongst the group and best
Education Commission (TEC) and is focussed on creating of all, lots of increased confidence and exciting new
a vocational pathway for students when they are ready experiences.
to leave school. Some students have never worked with
Next year, we have funding for 25 students to do the
Gateway programme and I am looking forward to working
with the 2020 cohort and getting involved with their
individual career interests.

STAR (Secondary Tertiary

Glendowie College 2019

Alignment Resource) Careers Education & Guidance 41

STAR funding is given to schools by the government for Some of the highlights during the year have included; CURRICULUM
us to provide students with relevant learning experiences
aligned to vocational pathways. We have arranged • In June, we held our own Glendowie College Careers
approximately 30 courses for mostly Yr 11 and 12 students Expo where we had 30+ training providers come to
over the year. Courses have included; cooking and food the school, including private training establishments,
preparation, welding, electrical, IT and travel. Students universities and NZ Police among others.
have gone to various locations to attend these courses
including; MIT, Techtorium, Crown Institute of Studies • An estimated 600+ individual career meetings over
among others. the year, providing students with guidance on a wide
range of areas including; subject selection for NCEA,
Many of our students go on to successfully pursue this University courses, career pathways, halls of residence
and employment/apprenticeship opportunities.

• We had many of the universities visit us and give
lunchtime presentations throughout the year,
enabling students to meet representatives from the
university and ask specific questions.

The Careers Team wishes all 2019 GDC school leavers
the best in their transition to further education, training,
or employment. Furthermore, congratulations to all 2019
tertiary scholarship recipients.

By Alexandra Lonergan.

vocation after leaving school.

Another highlight of the year has been the Blue Light
course. Blue Light is a charity which works closely with
the NZ Police to deliver a wide range of youth education
programmes. Students are selected from all over the
north island for the Blue Light camps and GDC had
6 students selected to participate in this opportunity.
During the 4 days together, participants learn skills in
leadership, teamwork, self-discipline and they gain in
confidence.

Glendowie College 2019

42 Trip to China

CO-CURRICULAR 2019

The biennial China Trip continues to be a highlight
of student lives. It is a life changing experience and I
hope it will be a part of those “when I went to China
……” reminiscences in years to come. The trip has many
facets – language, cultural, networking, business and
camaraderie. Team China 2019 had the most amazing
joie de vivre and zest for life. A special thank you
to Ms Harduar and Mr Shi for giving up their time to
accompany the group.

MRS BRIDGET ROTHBART,
SOCIAL SCIENCES FACULTY

During the April school holidays, a group of twenty senior
students from Business Studies, Economics and Chinese
travelled to China for a two-week cultural immersion. This
trip had been in planning for over a year and everyone was
extremely excited for it. We took off from New Zealand
at midnight on the second last day of term 1 to start our
adventure. We arrived in Hong Kong thirteen hours later
and waited for an hour for the connecting flight to Beijing.
After a 120km drive from Beijing Airport, we arrived at
our first location, a small oriental hotel next to one of the
Great Wall’s tourist locations. The majestic mountains are
like those we see in New Zealand countryside, the only
difference being the Great Wall in the background. On the
second day we walked a small section of the Great Wall.
After two exciting days in Beijing shopping and visiting
cultural heritage sites such as the Forbidden City and
Tiananmen Square, we headed to our next destination,
Ningbo. We stayed at local students’ houses in Ningbo
for the week and went to school with them. This was the
biggest cultural shock for the group. School begins at
7:35am and lasts until 5:15pm with ten classes per day of
40 minutes each. Many local students continue to study at
school until 9pm. We were lucky to have classes created
specifically for us, from kite making to conversational
Chinese. An eye-opening daily activity at school was the
morning run at 9:35am where the entire school would turn
up at the running track and run two laps before going
back to class. After the week at school, we farewelled
our homestays and their families and headed off to our
final destination, Shanghai. We explored many imitation
markets with lots of “genuine” high-end products costing
less than NZ$10! One highlight was visiting New Zealand
Central, where we had the opportunity to meet some New
Zealanders working in China, who shared their experiences
with us. Thank you to Ashwin Pillay (Red Fern Consulting)
and Greg Romney (Walt Disney Company) for talking to
us. On the final day in Shanghai (and China), we all went
to Disneyland for the day. Many of us enjoyed the Tron
ride, while Mr. Shi got lost in the ‘Alice in Wonderland’
maze. The trip to China was an incredible experience and
one that none of us will ever forget. Huge thanks to Mrs
Rothbart, Mrs Harduar and Mr Shi as well as everyone who
made the trip possible for us.

谢谢. SEAN GIBBS, YEAR 12 STUDENT

Glendowie College 2019

43 CO-CURRICULAR

Glendowie College 2019

CO-CURRICULAR44

Glendowie College 2019

Rūaumoko 45

We won!!! Rūaumoko has really stepped it up a notch this CO-CURRICULAR
year with both the success we have seen and the number
of people participating. The year started off in Roturoa
for year nine camp. This was an amazing opportunity for
our new year 9’s to get to know the year 13 leaders, as
well as their form teachers who they will be spending the
next 5 years with. The start of the term was busy as our
new leaders began building up our house pride as well
as our values of being proud, ambitious, loyal and strong.
We started the year off well, swimming sports was the first
major competition of the year in which we came second.
Next was athletics day. Our participation was immense
and we blanketed the field in red, leading to us coming
first! Next was cross country where we saw yet another
win! Lastly, was the haka competition. This provided an
awesome opportunity for the year 12’s to step up into
leadership roles and perform the most beautiful waiata
and a strong, united, powerful haka.

For our house charity we successfully raised just under
$2000 through donations and a mufti day for Heart Kids
New Zealand. While monetary donations are helpful we
thought it would be more meaningful to gift the charity
with kid’s toys which they can play with to help them
through difficult treatments. As well this, a couple of
students went to Ellerslie Events Centre to cook 169 meals
for the parents and family of those suffering from life-
changing heart conditions.
These students will remember this opportunity as a lasting,
meaningful impact to help those in need and making a
difference.

Rūaumoko also had a very successful year academically!
We had great participation in the two major academic
events; the maths week and reading competitions. It was
awesome to see so many students proudly supporting
Rūaumoko with thier participation. None of the success
we saw this year would have happened if it weren’t for
our deans Mr Keshav and Mrs Harduar, as well as the
prefects and all those who stepped up throughout the
year. Hopefully, they will continue to see success in years
to come.

Eilish Wood
Yr13 Rūaumoko Prefect

Glendowie College 2019

46 Tāne Mahuta

CO-CURRICULAR Tāne Mahuta has been lucky enough to have another busy
and exciting year. From the very first day of school, we
were involved with house activities. First, the peer support and a key event in our calendar.
leaders of Tāne Mahuta introduced the year nines to
Glendowie College and their fellow Tāne Mahuta students The success of our house charity was immense. We
in their form class. With our new Tāne Mahuta students, fundraised for St John led by Arbel and her service
we took on swimming sports and athletics day. It was committee as they organised the selling of key rings, a
awesome seeing everybody representing Tāne Mahuta bake sale, a CPR competition and mufti day. We were able
in their green outfits. Although we didn’t manage to win to raise over $1500 for St John, an amazing feat. Thanks to
these significant events, we definitely made up for it in everybody who supported us with fundraising!
house pride and participation with everybody swimming,
running, throwing or jumping at least once. This year Tāne Mahuta put a massive amount of effort
towards the Haka and Waiata competition. With weekly
Tāne Mahuta’s year nine camp was at Marsden Bay practices, the Haka and Waiata soon became competition
Christian Camp. The camp was the perfect environment ready. There was a lot of work put in by students throughout
for the year nines to get to know their peers and make Tāne Mahuta with everybody having to pull their weight
some great friends for the year. The activities at the camp on the completion day. We gave our best performance on
were heaps of fun not only for the students but teachers the day of competition which, in the end, really paid off.
as well with a flying fox, water slide, bubble soccer, and We won the competition and our first event of the year!
trust course. It was an excellent experience for the year We couldn’t have had such a great result without all the
nines to learn what it means to be a part of Tāne Mahuta! students in Tāne Mahuta putting in the time and energy
The peer support leaders and prefects were able to get devoted towards the event. We have been lucky enough
involved with all the students and demonstrate our house to experience Tāne Mahutas’ first two years as a house and
values of strength, growth, nurture and adaptability. Great all we have achieved and experienced together.
memories were made and shared between the year nines, We look forward to the great experiences that our house
student leaders, and teachers. It was a fantastic experience will provide for future students. Go Tāne!!!

Jessica Nielsen and Arbel Tenembaum

Glendowie College 2019

Tangaroa 47

The honour of being a Tangaroa leader was like watching CO-CURRICULAR
a foreign movie without subtitles. You don’t know what’s
going on and your kind of scared but you find yourself it was a hard fought battle and our spirit remained firm.
enjoying it. We wanted to leave a legacy of house values Athletics day was the next house competition and we
for the future in our leadership. These values were didn’t disappoint. Everyone wore blue and participated
Resilience, Inclusion, Confidence and Energy or RICE. in plentiful numbers. We showed plenty of juicy plays and
Values so simple anyone could grow them. some firm sportsmanship.

One of the new things that happened that enabled us Cross Country was another event that the school hosted.
to spread our ideas to the new generation of students We had a great time running the course with either a
was Year 9 Camp. It worked wonders teaching the year fun or competitive spirit. The Haka competition was also
9s to learn new skills, make new friends and it overall a tantalizing event this year. Every house gave it their all
helped transition them into a new stage in their lives. We in terms of power and presentation. Tangaroa was no
all had an amazing time in Mangawhai and we all made exception. We showed our strength, and spirit but due to
lasting memories on the waterslide, kayaking, Burma the skill, and flare of other the houses we did not achieve
trail and ziplining. We then shared our house values and victory. At the netball house competition we defended
an invigorating story behind the figure of our house of our championship from last year and annihilated the
Tangaroa. competition securing an easy win. They were no match for
us.
We made Glendowie College history by being the first
house to support two charities at once. We teamed up with That all being said, seeing everyone perform this year,
Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Sustainable Coastlines having a good time and dominating the other houses we
to raise awareness of environmental issues and ocean really enjoyed leading the house. It will be an experience
pollution. We had a good turnout at the beach clean-up none of us will ever forget. We want to say thank you to
at Tahuna Torea Reserve. Where we cleaned up 8 massive Ms Smith and Ms Bassin for being the hardworking and
bags of trash on the coastline, each bag weighing a supportive guides we needed to show us the way.
monumental total of 20kg. We also hosted a mufti day with
the theme being silly attire. We raised an approximately So on behalf of the Tangaroa Prefects; Liam Ng, Nathan
1.5k. All in all they were really successful events and they Philipiah, Tom Hayward, Michael Hope, Lydia Edgworth,
expressed the House spirit. Michaela Ivanier, Brianna Green, Jessie McIntosh and
Ed Blair, we thank the whole house for an amazing and
Swim Sports was the first house competition of the year memorable year. We hope that the year meant as much to
and Tangaroa showed it’s endearing pride from the get you as it did to us. Eh noho rā
go. We had very large participation from the house and
everyone gave it their all. For a large part of the day we Kawea mai te Whakaoranga o Tangaroa
held first place but relented it for the other houses to feel - Liam Ng and Nathan Philipiah, Tangaroa Academic
better. We shouted our chant, simple as it was we rallied
ourselves to keep going. In the end we came third but Prefects

Glendowie College 2019

48 Tāwhirimātea

CO-CURRICULAR God of storms and weather and purple power. Our year
began with Tāwhirimātea returning to Lake Whakamaru for
the year 9 camp. This was a great experience for our staff, As a prefect team, we chose to continue our support for
leaders and juniors to blend themselves into our house. the Mental Health Foundation by nominating them as
Over this camp, any reservations our younger students felt our house charity for the year. Just as last year, we share
over their transition into college quickly disappeared. The the same value for the “support of a cause that provides
week away created a lot of new friendships, as all members comfort and assistance to those experiencing their own
of our house got to know each other. Our success at camp internal storms.” We had great success with our house
was continued with a first-place result at swimming sports. fundraiser where we managed to raise more than $1200 for
The thunder rolled in later in the year with a fourth place the Mental Health Foundation. The tradition of ‘Positive
finish for athletics day, despite a great sense of house Postcards’ was another favourite amongst the school this
pride on display. The year held many other results for our year. It was so well received that we ran out of postcards,
house, notably second place in the Haka competition, reflecting the strong sense of family and positivity felt at
with mixed results in Cross Country and Maths Week. the college. Being only the second year of the new house
This year Tāwhirimātea re-established its reputation as a system, the prefect team are proud to have contributed to
well rounded house in both academic and athletic fields. the legacy of the house and hope to see it grow with the
help of the next wave of leaders.

Glendowie College 2019

Duke of Edinburgh 49

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award CO-CURRICULAR

Gold Duke of Edinburgh has been a great experience and at Onetahuti and tramped the rest of the coastal track for
we have had many challenges along the way from Bronze two days. We are so privileged to be able to travel to the
Duke of Edinburgh where we had no clue how to set up a South Island as previously we have travelled within the
tent or that there would be no toilets at the campsites to upper North Island and for some this was their first time
then Silver Duke of Edinburgh where we got lost tramping experiencing the South Island. If you were to ask us before
through the Kaimai ranges. To now the peak of our journey we left what we thought we would get out of this trip, we
which is the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award where we wouldn’t of been able to even touch on what we learnt,
completed five rewarding days of tramping and kayaking. experienced and did as a team.
This expedition required our group to kayak and tramp
for five days, this pushed everyone’s mental and physical Duke of Edinburgh is not only about the tramping and
limits. But the 5 days down at the Abel Tasman made our kayaking around New Zealand but giving back to the
group realise that we were stronger than we ever thought community, learning a new skill, playing a sport and a
and we actually had the ability to complete this expedition. residential project. All these factors helped us as individuals
It took teamwork, strength, motivation and perseverance. gain opportunities and life skills that we can take with us
Our small group of 10 students on the final journey to Abel forever. Although this award made each person push
Tasman was one of the most amazing groups of people. themselves to their limits, get them out of their comfort
From tramping with each other through Silver and Bronze zone and learn what the actual meaning of perseverance
we have gotten to know each other very well and formed is, I truly believe that by doing this for my years at college
a great basis for support and friendship to get us through helped shape who I am today. So to anyone who is
the final journey. wanting to give this a go I would highly recommend as the
friendships you make and the experience you gain can last
Our first challenge of this expedition was catching the a lifetime.
flight from Auckland to Nelson and making sure we had
time for the all important Krispy Kreme stop at Auckland We would love to thank Ms Smith and Ms Barrack for
Airport. Once we got to Nelson we made our way to our taking us on this once in a lifetime experience it couldn’t
campsite. The next morning we got our kayaks prepared have happened without you.
and packed for the long journey ahead. We then kayaked
for two days seeing some amazing greenery and marine Tayla Clark and Jessica Nielsen
animals such as dolphins and seals. We then left our kayaks

Glendowie College 2019

50 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh our next tramp in
November and
CO-CURRICULAR Award hope it will be
just as, if not more
During our time completing Duke of Edinburgh Bronze, enjoyable as this
we made new friends, learnt new skills and were pushed far one.
out of our comfort zones, we took wrong turns and forgot
water purification tablets, however, we wouldn’t swap our Throughout the
experience completing this award for the world. We started
off this year by putting on our (previously clean) tramping year we completed
boots and heading to Karangahake Gorge. Initially
climbing out the van, we remember looking up at the different areas
summit of the mountain and having no doubt in our minds
that there was no way we could walk to the top in just one of Community
day. Sure enough, we were proven wrong, just a few hours
later we were standing at the summit pointing out the van Service, Skills
we left behind in the carpark. We were lucky enough to
receive a beautiful sunny day, which made walking with and Physical
the weight of the supplies we needed for two days on our
back a great deal more pleasant. We believe that we speak Recreation
for everyone when we say we all made new friendships we
never thought we’d make. It was amazing to see everyone teaching us how
put their differences aside to encourage and support one
another while climbing such an insane hill. Once arriving to work with
at the campsite and building ourselves a seemingly
stable shelter for the night we were also challenged with people of all
the task of making ourselves a mediocre dinner with the
minimal ingredients we brought in our packs. This tramp ages, creating
was an experience we will never forget. Sitting in the
most beautiful gully sharing embarrassing stories with our good habits
groups and sprinting across wobbly bridges will be hard to
beat. This trip taught us to be resilient, diligent, and helped and maintaining
discover confidence in ourselves. We are all so excited for
consistency. From playing cards with elderly to running

birthday parties and coaching netball teams we learned

how to be more responsible with our actions and become

more independent. Completing the Community Service

created new connections between us and the people

we had never met. It taught us to be more outgoing and

encouraged us to show leadership. The Skill category was

really beneficial as it allowed everyone some freedom to

choose anything new we wanted to give a go. It allowed

us to be experimental and try new things. Although most

students already did some form of sport, it motivated

students who did not do such a thing to become more

active. These challenges also inspired teenagers to get off

their devices and become more involved in the community

and physical recreation.

We would 100% recommend signing up and completing
the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award because at the
end of the day completing your skill or having that much
needed shower after two days of tramping, leaves you
feeling rewarded and with a sense of completion which
will be hard to find anywhere else. Bronze is the start of a
journey of many tramps and skills to complete, where you
can grow as individuals and make friendships which last a
lifetime.

Sophie Campbell-Patston and Lisa Schubert

Glendowie College 2019