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Ad Summa Whitby

Issue 13, June 2015

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Transitions

Cross country

Jump rope for heart

Talking with Tuffery

Parumoana Cross Country

The Big Sing 2015

Year 11 Activities Days

Year 8 trip to Pukeahu

Year 9 Lego

Year 13 Geography Trip

Year 8 Careers

In this issue.

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Transitions.

Last holiday I was standing in an international airport, studying the departure

board, checking my gate. Unexpectedly, I found myself seduced by all of the

other destinations and thinking how—from right where I stood—anywhere in the

world was an option.

It was a little disturbing to notice that—for a moment at least—those other places all seemed somehow more interesting than where I had been quite happy to be going, not a moment before.

We’re each of us on a journey, aren’t we: our whole lives are a journey. It’s just that, sometimes, the transitions—from who we’ve been to who we are becoming—are more evident. Leaving school for university is an obvious example, but so, too, moving from year 6 to year 7, and from year 8 to year 9. At each of these points our children are crossing a threshold. And these are points on their journey when they too might look up at the departure board and consider their options.

The responsibility we share—as parents, as educators—is to teach

children how to make good choices in life. Singapore did look rather enticing, I have to admit, and so I asked myself,

“what would Martin Seligman say?” He’d advise me, I’m sure, to be wary of fleeting excitement. He’d suggest I think more carefully about my long-term goals, about who it is I want to be and what choice is most likely to take me there. In one of the Harry Potter books, Dumbledore says to Harry, “It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our attributes.”

As your child approaches life’s transitions, remember that we are here and able to help. We can help you explore not just what the next year will bring but also which choice is more likely achieve the ultimate goal of education: a life of meaning, accomplishment and genuine happiness.

Jenny Williams Principal

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Big Sing

Rose Hurst and Maxine Taylor

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After a great school cross country a few weeks before, four of

the school’s best runners were selected to compete in the CSW

Cross Country Championships.

This event is the regional championships for all Wellington Secondary Schools, and is open to students from Years 9 to 13. Runners come from as far as the Wairarapa to compete, and the calibre is extremely high.

This year Edward Couchman (Junior Boys), Sophie Scott (Junior Girls), Todd Bishop (Intermediate Boys) and Ben Eagle (Senior Boys) were chosen to represent our school.

After a few thoroughly wet days the tracks at Trentham Memorial Park were soaked and quickly deteriorated into a mud bath as more and more runners took to the course.

In tough conditions Edward Couchman (Year 9) battled hard and came 25th out of 91 competitors. A huge achievement.

Thanks to Miss Hunt for organising and supporting our team on race day and Bronte Johnston (Year 12) who braved the conditions and helped with the marshalling.

Ben Eagle (Sports Captain)

Space dress-up day.

Sophie Scott

Sophie Scott, Ben Eagle, Edward Couchman & Todd Bishop

College Sport Wellington Cross Country.

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Jump Rope for heart.

Thomas Morum-Kelly, Josiah Katene and Mawgan Bailey

Sophie Green and Sophie Paterson

Molly Rogerson, Aston Robbins, Holly Stone, Malina Momcilovic & Rose Hurst

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Callum Walker

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Talking with Tuffery.

From the end of Term 1, and throughout Term 2, two students from

each of our senior years had the opportunity to attend a printmaking

and design workshop with Pacifica artist Michel Tuffery.

The workshops had students from colleges around Porirua and a variety of art students from these schools attending. We started off by brainstorming ideas and designs based on our experience of Porirua, and the motifs ‘P-town’, ‘P50’, and a stylised heart. As long as these were incorporated somehow, we could let our imaginations run wild, drawing inspiration from the town we were raised and lived in, from Tuffery’s own test print blocks, from other designs we had seen before, and from each other.

After we finished the basic concept and design process, we started to carve wood blocks of our ideas to print out. Michel gave us a test block on which he got us to practise his cutting and carving techniques, so we could better express our ideas in the blocks we made based on our own designs.

Obviously we didn’t decide on just one design, some of us made up to eight separate wood blocks. There was a huge variance in the end products produced - wings, tentacles, rabbits, eels, tapas - the list of ideas and objects included was endless. Our finished product varied from our initial design. As we worked with the design more and more it started to change, simplifying in some places, increasing the detail in others. This was what Tuffery called

‘styling’ or ‘characterising’. He said it developed our style more and expressed us as people in our work.

After the first two or three workshops we started with the actual print making of the blocks. It was very exciting to see the methods used by Tuffery, as he is well renowned for his print making, and seeing his ink application technique and placement was a work

of art in itself. He gave us tips on how to tell when we had enough ink on the roller, how to make sure that we didn’t flood the block, and how to hold the paper so it wouldn’t bend or crease. He also showed us how he kept his hands and paper clean of excess ink.

In the final workshop we were lucky enough to see Tuffery print some of his own work, on to paper and T-shirts. We also printed our own T-shirts with the designs we had created over the sessions. I myself was fortunate enough to receive a T-shirt with Tuffery’s original work on it.

Overall it was fantastic experience with a professional artist, and has had a definite impact on my personal style of art, and how I plan and craft pieces.

Hudson Connolly-Bright

Hayley Thompson proofing a wood block

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Melanie Burge printing a block

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Talking with Tuffery.

Hudson Connolly-Bright inking up a wood block

Gabrielle Embury, Hudson Connolly-Bright, Melanie Burge and Hayley Thompson with Michel Tuffery and studio assistants Jack and Zack

Michel Tuffery working with Melanie Burge

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Years 7 and 8 Parumoana Cross Country.

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It was a bitterly cold morning but the sun was shining and it looked to be a perfect day. On arrival it was clear how muddy the course would be, especially for the Year 8 boys competing last in the day.

The Year 7s completed a 2km track, whilst the Year 8s completed 3km. It was a step up from the school Cross Country, with lots of hills and dips to keep runners concentrating the entire time.

A long straight in front of a cheering crowd completed the race and it was great to see all schools supporting their representatives as they competed. All our Marsden runners did extremely well with the standout of the day being Blake Paynter (Year 8) who gained 6th place in his race, qualifying for the regional competition at Trentham.

A huge achievement! Overall, it was a fantastic day and the students who attended represented our school with pride.

Miss Hunt

On Tuesday 26 May a group of Year 7 and 8 students,

accompanied by Miss Hunt, travelled to Battle Hill Memorial

Park to compete in the annual Parumoana Cross Country event.

Parumoana Cross Country Juniors

Parumoana Cross Country Juniors

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Years 7 and 8 Parumoana Cross Country.

Maxine Taylor

Oliver Hurst and Andy Zhu

Blake Paynter

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Cassandra Mansfield and Jorja-Mae Knight

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The Big Sing 2015.

On Thursday 4 June, the Samuel Marsden Whitby Choir, Viridi

Vocem, performed in the annual Big Sing Festival.

They performed three pieces: When You Believe by Steven Schwartz from the movie The Prince of Egypt, a jazz number called Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers and Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid, by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman.

The choir also performed When You Believe at the evening Gala Concert. The choir put many hours into perfecting these three songs, each of which had their own challenges: When You Believe had a spirited bridge section sung entirely in Hebrew, Ain’t No Sunshine explored vocal percussion and featured Brianna Dickinson and Michael Jay Winton singing a short duet, and Kiss the Girl incorporated the use of effective and, at times, amusing choreography.

The choir’s hard work and dedication paid off and all three pieces were well-

received by the audience, particularly ‘Kiss the Girl’, which won a special adjudicator’s award for the song with the ‘Best Ending’.

The choir was directed by the wonderful Mrs Young and accompanied by Helena Hackner. Special thanks go to Miss Hunt and Linda Monk for coming along to assist the choir for the duration of the day, to Helena for her beautiful accompanying and, of course, Mrs Young for all the hard work and countless hours she put into getting the choir ready for this year’s Big Sing.

It was a special event that was enjoyed by all.

Bronte Page

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Big Sing group

Ms Hunt, Mrs Young and Mrs Monk

Alexis Wilson and Bronte Page

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Year 11 Activities Days.

As part of the NCEA Level 1 programme for Physical Education

students are required to participate in numerous Outdoor

Activities as part of their 1.7 standard.

The objective of the two activities days was to provide Year 11 students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate and show responsible behaviour for safety during outdoor education activities, which was later reflected on.

The first day started off by jumping in the school minivan for a trip to Fergs Kayaks on the Wellington waterfront.

Here students took part in rock climbing, inline skating and sea kayaking. Some great climbing and belaying was demonstrated as a few attempted very tricky walls in the indoor rock climbing.

There were a few spills during the inline skating as we zipped around the stunning waterfront, but thankfully no injuries, largely due to the protective gear that was being worn. After a quick lunch break students got changed and

ready for the last activity of the day, sea kayaking. It was a beautiful day and students were grateful to finish up with Mrs Morrison’s compulsory

‘Wharf Dive’ before piling back into the minivan at the end of an exhausting day.

The following day the morning was spent out on the Pauatahanui Inlet attempting stand up paddle boarding with Ocean Outfitters in Mana. It was a bit drizzly but that didn’t stop our students from jumping in and demonstrating some great skills on the paddleboards.

Some great races were had as we relayed up and down the inlet before jumping in and finishing with a water fight. Once changed and fed we headed to Adrenalin Forest for some high ropes action. Students quickly gained confidence with the smart belay system

and were off, swinging high above in the tree tops. Mrs Morrison and a couple of brave students were barely visible in the trees as they climbed their way to heights of up to 31m.

Students had two fun-filled, action packed days and demonstrated excellent behaviour to ensure the safety of all those involved. For many of the students it was the first time trying a lot of the activities and it was incredibly impressive to see the energy and enthusiasm that was displayed by all.

Miss Hunt and Mrs Morrison had an amazing day taking this group of students out and were delighted by the support for one another that the students all displayed.

Miss Hunt

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Vaopua Taafaki and Harrison Walker

Year 11 students and Miss Hunt

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Year 11 Activities Days.

Stand up Paddleboarding

Wharf jump

Miss Hunt & Ms Morrison with the Year 11 PE Class

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Richard Reinders

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Year 8 trip to the Dominion Museum.

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Year 8 in front of tomb of unknown soldier

Laying a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance

Malina Momcilovic and Phoenix Mathie-Jones in front of tank

Diorama of the trenches

When we arrived a tour guide met us outside of the big, beautiful, old building. It used to house the original National Museum. It was so cool inside and I loved it! Next we went outside the Museum and went down a big staircase to The Hall of Remembrance. That was great too and we finished by laying some poppies on memorials to the dead soldiers.

By Maddie Leslie

On Wednesday May 27 the Year 8s went to the Dominion

Museum which is a new museum in Wellington City dedicated

to World War I and the soldiers who died.

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Year 9 Lego.

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Ethan Hunt, William Chun and Campbell Taylor

Ryan Wade

Olivia Pettitt, Annika Bailey and Kiriani McKennaJake McAllister and Liam Wilson

As part of their science course Year 9 students had the

opportunity to test their creative skills while making Lego

constructions. The purpose was to demonstrate an energy

chain – the transformation of energy from one form into another

form. Students embraced the challenge and spent a fun lesson

creating their little models. The winners were Brinn Robinson

and Joseph Raouf-Morton. Well done!

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On Sunday 17 May Year 13 Geographers, accompanied by Ms

Feary and Mr Hardy, drove to Rotorua for a three day field trip.

The purpose of the trip was to understand the process and impacts of tourism, and to conduct a geographic research assignment.

In between surveying Rotorua residents, Year 13 students had the chance to test out the tourist attractions including the Agrodome Sheep Show, Gondola and Luge, Polynesian Spas, Zorb and the Rotorua Museum.

They also interviewed representatives from each of the companies. On the last night we went to Mitai Maori Village to learn about Maori culture, ate a delicious hangi and even sang a waiata in front of 60 tourists!

After visiting the Lady Knox geyser at Wai-O-Tapu and walking around the amazing geo-thermal sites we headed back home to Wellington. Thank you to Ms Feary and Mr Hardy for an excellent trip!

Susannah Crysell and Lewis Munn

Space dress-up day.

Susannah Crysell, Lauren Schafer, Needhee PatelNeedhee Patel and Lewis Munn

Top row Susannah Crysell, Needhee Patel, Taylar Mallo, Aidan Drummond, Lauren Schafer, Shaun Thompson Bottom row Ms Feary, Harrison Leslie

Year 13 Geography Trip.

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The Year 8 students have been working through a unit on

Careers during Tutor Time.

The focus has been both on getting to know themselves a little better in terms of their skills, interests and strengths, as well as getting some exposure to different professions. To help us, a couple of very generous parents from the school community gave up their time to talk to the students about their careers. These included a lawyer, a General Practitioner, a nurse and a policeman. The sessions were very popular with the students.

Mrs Smith

Year 8 Careers.

Josiah Katene trying his hand at being a lawyer

With the arrival of the wet and cold weather we have some winter items to keep our students warm and dry. We also have school hoodies, which are an optional item. The hoodies are navy with the school crest screened on the back. Students can also have their sporting code or cultural activity embroidered on the front. We also have a Jacket available, this is a new item for supporters to purchase - it is Marsden blue with the school crest screened on the back.

Long sleeved polypropylene tops (to be worn under the sports uniform) Sizes 9/11 years & 12/14 years $24.00 each Sizes Adult Small, Medium & Large $30 each Scarves $39 each Gloves $10 - $16 Beanies $23 each Pull over head hoody $48 with one embroidery Zipped jacket hoody $50 with one embroidery Jacket $48

News from the Uniform Shop

We are always looking for good quality 2nd hand uniform items, especially blazers.

During term times the Uniform Shop hours are Mondays 8-9am and 12-5pm, and Wednesdays 12-5pm. We are open in the July holidays, Friday 17 July from 9am-12 at the Karori Campus. If you require anything urgently you can email me on sonja.braddock@marsden.school.nz I check my emails daily during term and holidays.

See you soon, Sonja.

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PROUDLY SUPPLYING H AND ROASTEDCOFFEE TO MARSDEN SCHOOL