Wellington East Girls' College / Te Kura Kōhine o te Rāwhiti o Te Upoko o Te Ika
Welink
Issue 5, Mahuru / September 2020
Welink is a newsletter produced as a link between Wellington East Girls' College and our community, and is emailed to parents and students. It contains essential information as well as news for caregivers. It is also on our website – www.wegc.school.nz. Please advise the school if you have changed your contact details, or would like to add an email address: wegc@wegc.school.nz
Principal's Message
Tēnā koutou kātoa,
As we are reaching the end of Term 3 students have begun to look ahead and are planning their courses for next year. Course Selection Evening was an important event in initiating that process and for whānau and students to engage in these important discussions about future pathways.
This has been a difficult year for all of our students, particularly those who are taking part in NCEA. I want to acknowledge that there is a level of anxiety amongst our young people about achieving their qualifications that is very real, and I would like to share with you some of the steps that we are taking to try and alleviate this stress.
Reassure your student that if they do not attain their qualification at the end of this year, they have the option to achieve both levels the following year. It is not uncommon for students to achieve Level 1 and 2 in the same academic year.
We are removing pre-requisites for courses next year so that students should still be able to access their course of study even if they have not attained the qualifications they expected to.
NZQA have also introduced Learning Recognition credits for the 2020 year. For every 5 credits a student achieves towards their NCEA either through internal or external assessment, they are entitled to an additional 1 credit. Students at NCEA Level 1 are eligible for up to a maximum of 10 additional credits while those at Levels 2 and 3 are eligible for up to a maximum of 8 additional credits.
For Yr 13 students who are looking to go onto University next year:
NZQA have introduced changes to University Entrance (UE). Current UE requirements have been reduced from 14 to 12 credits in three UE approved subjects. Students still need to attain NCEA Level 3 and meet literacy and numeracy requirements to be awarded UE.
Some individual Universities are reviewing their entry processes for 2021
Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu offer Summer School for students to take part in extra assessments to achieve the credits they need for UE.
Many Universities offer bridging courses or discretionary entrance for students who have not gained UE.
The remainder of the year continues to be uncertain, with the chance of changing alert levels, which is why it is so important that students continue to engage fully with Formative Assessments. This will enable teachers to provide the necessary evidence for Unexpected Event Grades should they be required.
If you have any concerns about your students' progress with NCEA or UE please make contact with their Ako teacher or Dean in the first instance. If you have queries related to specific courses or Universities then please feel free to contact our Careers Adviser Cathy Matthews: cathy.matthews@wegc.school.nz
Ngā mihi nui
Gael Ashworth, Principal
Board of Trustees
Kia ora kōutou
Since our last Welink, the country has experienced the most recent outbreak of COVID-19 in Auckland, and I know that this has caused new anxiety for many in our school community - students, staff and whānau. While the disruption to us at Wellington East Girls' College has been minimal at level 2, it was a good opportunity to ensure that all our systems and processes are ready to kick into action should Wellington also experience a community outbreak leading to escalating alert levels. This was discussed at our September Board of Trustee meeting and we have full confidence in Gael and her team to support students to access their learning online with their teachers, with minimal interruption, should this be necessary. We recognise this is particularly important for our senior students - please be assured that whatever alert level we are at during NCEA season, our students will be supported to achieve to the best of their ability during these unpredictable times.
This year, perhaps more than ever, we have experienced the value of having a student representative on the Board of Trustees. Lesieli Katoa has been exceptional in this role, providing the Board with direct access to the voice of our students, and sharing with us their concerns, disappointments and worries, from the juniors to the seniors. This kōrero has been invaluable to our understanding of "what's on top" in our student community, and how the school is responding to these needs. It is wonderful to see the school providing opportunities for students to overcome some of these disappointments by organising internal events to showcase the amazing talents at WEGC.
It has been a long year (already), and I hope all students and staff will enjoy some well-earned rest during the upcoming break.
Ngā mihi nui
Jo Lambert, Chair
Wellington East Parents' Association (WEPA)
Tenā koutou kātoa,
It is hard to believe that the Parents' Association is starting to consider how some of the events that signal the end of the school year are going to happen.
It always creeps up on us quickly and even with the disruptions of this unusual year the time seems to have flown by.
Unfortunately the Inspirational Breakfast featuring Sinead Boucher that we had planned to host on 18 September has had to be postponed due to Alert level 2 restrictions. We are hoping to hold it at a later date when Covid 19 has more definitely loosened its grip on community events. Watch this space for the new date when we can welcome a crowd to enjoy the morning.
On a more positive note, in association with generous sponsors - The Lion Foundation, Naylor Love, Craigs Investment Partners, Forté Recruitment, and A & D Murdoch - WEPA are delighted to present a brand new trailer for the college to use to transport large items and sporting equipment to camps, tournaments or whatever else it is needed for. We are excited to see it be put to good use.
WEPA - The Parents' Association of Wellington East Girls' College, continue to meet every month at the school. As always we welcome new members to join us. Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday 15 October, if you are interested in attending please email : parents@wegc.school.nz
Nga mihi nui,
Rochelle Kirby, on behalf of WEPA
Readers and Writers Week Author visit
Fleur Beale, ONZM, the award-winning author of the very popular I Am Not Esther trilogy held a lunchtime session during our Readers and Writers week.
I Am Not Esther (1998), Beale’s tale of a girl struggling to adjust to life with her fundamentalist Christian family, received an Honour Award at the 1999 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards. Fleur is a former teacher who drew her inspiration for I Am Not Esther from a student's experience of being expelled from a strictly religious family. Most have come across this popular book - whether it was through recommendation from the school librarians, studied in English or avid readers found by themselves.
Fleur talked in detail about real-life stories which influenced some of her work and writing style, including an undercover visit to Gloriavale! Her thoughtful answers to our questions left some of us inspired and awestruck. Most excitingly, she showed us the draft copy of her upcoming novel. Fleur Beale's visit was an exciting experience for us at East.
Reading is a team sport!
The East of Readen team represented Wellington East Girls' College at the first ever Readers Cup for the Wellington Region.
It was a very close finish, with East of Readen taking FIRST place by half a point. Congratulations to Lily Davies, Lulu Davies, Emma Hoshino, Helena Reddell and Cammie Sanson who will represent Wellington at the national competition.
Spirit Week
This week is Spirit Week, where we celebrate the blue and gold. The prefects have arranged events at lunchtime to celebrate, and have decorated the school in balloons and streamers. We have had a Dodgeball game in the sports centre, trivia quiz session, a games arcade involving board games and computer games, a carnival in the quad, and the Friday finale of a Talent Show. The Ignite QR code scanning has been running all through the week, along with a colouring competition and warm fuzzies (colouring sheets and boxes in the library)
What is Ignite ?
Ignite is the biggest and longest run school scavenger hunt game launched in 2016 by the Technology Prefects Amelia Cordwell and Lana Cleverley. QR Codes are placed all around the school, with the total nearing approximately 250 points. Each code is assigned to a house and there is the same amount of codes for each house, so it's all fair play. Codes are worth 1 point, but if you scan one in the same house you're in, you get double points.
Arcade Day Board games
Arcade Day video games
WEGC Trivia Quiz at lunchtime
Windfarm visit, Makara
Back in July, Sophie Lemon and Faith Hewitson, Environmental Prefects, and their committee visited Makara wind farm .
The Committee and a Year 10 Science class (10GGG) were involved in the Forever Forests Planting Program hosted by Meridian Energy at the Makara Wind Farm.
This day involved the planting of multiple native plant species (to offset the carbon emissions of the company) and a tour of the wind farm including opportunities for students to talk with those who work in this field about career opportunities. There was also a Hangi for the event which was a novel experience for many students.
The Meridian energy Forever Forests video below shows students talking to camera and planting, and information about the initiative .
Students watching a STEAM Day presentation.
Visual artist Emily Hartley Skudder presenting.
The amazing team from SSS - IT Security Specialists rewarding students during an interactive activity.
Technology prefects Naomi and Jasmine with the SSS - IT Security Specialists team.
STEAM Day at East
To finish both Purple Power Week and a wild Term 2, we Technology prefects decided to host the annual Wellington East Girls’ College STEAM Day. STEAM (formerly also referred to as STEM) is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. STEAM fields are essential for society to function efficiently and consist of a wide variety of jobs that require numerous different skills.
STEAM fields are industries that men are often more encouraged to join (relative to women and non-binary people) and are male-dominated. The output of STEAM industries is utilised globally by all, not only men, and for this reason, we find it inappropriate for workplaces to fail to reflect the diversity of their consumer base. In an effort to reveal the range of interesting and required roles in these fields, and to encourage their pursuit by our students, we collaborated with the Peer-Tutor and Art Prefects to create STEAM Day.
On this day, we invited six inspirational organisations representing a component of STEAM to give us presentations for our students regarding their lives, their roles, and what female empowerment truly means to them. We had three Victoria University of Wellington’s Women in Tech (VUWWIT) club representatives (Angitha, Lavanya and Heenal) talk about their university experiences; Emily Hartley-Skudder presenting her political and expressive visual art, Sue Rotto discussing her work as a geologist and the prejudice she faced as a woman in science, Kelsey Forman educating our students on radiation therapy, SSS IT Security and Optimal Workshop informing us on their careers whilst giving many goodies to attentive students, and Tijana Selak providing us with a motivating account of her life learnings as the Hero Dance Company founder and director.
Simultaneously with the event, we ran a day-long Instagram competition where students who posted a photo using the hashtag #EaSTEAM2020 would earn 1 house point and an entry into a draw to win a $10 canteen voucher. This competition was created as an incentive for students to come to STEAM Day speaker sessions and create social media connections between prefects and younger students. Things went even better than expected, with one student alone posting the hashtag a whopping 105 times!
Naomi, a talented digital artist and one of the two Technology prefects, drew beautiful sticker designs based on inspirational women in STEAM. At the event, we ended up handing out approximately 400 stickers to our attendees.
This was the first large event that we, as a prefect pair, had organised together and we learned a lot from it. We had one or two minor technical difficulties (ironic, right?) but the overwhelming support and commendation from students, teachers and our speakers throughout the planning and execution process of STEAM Day made these all worthwhile. We happily deem our event as a huge success and we hope that everyone in that hall - full of the rich history of successful women and non-binary people breaking the patriarchal standards - left feeling as liberated and empowered as we did.
By Naomi Parte and Jasmine Amohia, Technology Prefects 2020
Pride Week at East 10-14 August
This year's Pride Week highlight activity were the two drag shows in the Hall on Monday and Tuesday presented by a professional drag artist collective. We also offered bracelet making and the annual staff photo in rainbow shades. Covid restrictions hit mid-week and the cupcake decorating event was cancelled. Overall, however, a colourful successful week.
Samoan Language Speech Competition winners at WEGC
Talofa lava
FAGASA is a Organisation that supports and promotes the Teaching and Learning of the Samoan Language in Aotearoa. The Wellington Branch hosted the Regional Primary & Secondary School Samoan Language Speech Competition on 16 July.
We had 3 representatives from WEGC, representing their year levels were Grace Baker Y10, Cathy Aiono Y11 and Demaris Fau Year 12.
We are proud to announce that Grace won 1st Prize, Cathy won 1st Prize and Demaris 3rd Prize. The girls then went onto the National Competition competing against students from Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington. Again, the girls did extremely well. Both Grace and Cathy won 2nd prize in their Year levels.
Congratulations to you all, you have made your parents as well as our college community very proud. Malo le tapena, malo le totoa. The importance of this competition was not about winning but about sharing their Gagana Samoa (Language) and to embrace le aganu'u Samoa (the Samoan culture) by giving the students the experience of presenting a Samoan lauga (speech).
We would like to thank the parents for their support and the time and effort they put into preparing their girls.
Fa'afetai lava mo le tapenaina o outou alo. Malo lava le lagolago sua aua le fa'amoemoe o le fanau, malo fo'i le tapua'i.
SOIFUA!
Dawn Ceremony Matariki at East
The dawn ceremony was held at the beginning of Term 3 to celebrate the rising of Matariki. We congregated at the top field and processed to the tree planting area at the easterly point to welcome the rising sun with waiata and karakia. Our Head Students, Sophie and Lorna planted a Tōtara tree and Kapa Haka leaders planted a Kowhai tree to celebrate the new year. Thank you to Kapa Haka students who supported us, our Te Reo Head Whaea Keta Kawai-Herbert, and Te Reo Maori teacher Hemi Akuhata, along with all our community who were involved and attended.
Matariki hunga, Matariki ahunga nui - Matariki has many admirers,
Matariki brings us together.
Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award
Tena Koutou,
It is a pleasure to say that Term 3 started with a very positive vibe. There was a noticeable upsurge in students setting up and participating in their Award activities, certificates and badges have been able to be presented at whole school assemblies and tramps are once more back on the school calendar. Yay!
We began the term by celebrating success at our whole school assembly. Thank you Ms Ashworth for doing a great job of presenting Awards to the following students:
Bronze:
Renee Bayliss, Fleur Buckrell, Ileshaa Dias, Cathryn Downes, Elizabeth Fa’afoi, Abbey Farrell, Seanie Fields, Divya Ghandi, Renee Gibson, Hera de Groot, Yasmin Kesry, Therese Lee, Hope McDermott, Holly McSweeney, Holly Minchin, Amelia Nelson, Olivia St Just, Emma Southam, Sophie Van Rooyen, Azarah Verner.
Silver:
Millie Bamford, Rebecca Hutt, Rebecca Grice, Anastasia Reid, Jaymie Tervoort.
Continuing the celebration theme, on Thursday evening (6 August) Te Aka students and their families celebrated their DOE journey so far with an information evening and shared meal (with ice cream!) hosted by Sue Perry and Leonie King. Karen Ross, National Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Aotearoa also attended and congratulated each of the students on their progress so far. The students are justifiably proud of their achievements, excited about their journeys and very much looking forward to their Silver Award camp at the Blue Mountain Adventure Centre later this year. We hear river rafting might be on the agenda so watch this space!
Deb Remacha, Co-ordinator, deb.remacha@wegc.school.nz
Dance and Drama
The Metamorphosis Trail - A collaboration with Java Dance Theatre and Wellington's Music and Dance talent
This term we celebrated a dynamic community partnership with local performing arts talent. Concurrent to the evolving creative process that will result in a performance we can all enjoy, artists will hold workshops for our students to enrich their creative practice
Twently four musicians and dancers joined together for The Metamorphosis Trail. During Lockdown Java Dance Theatre played match-maker and organised 101 duets between professional musicians and dancers from all over the world, bringing all the Wellingtonians together in real life as so many talented people came home to Wellington because of the Pandemic. Now with the support of Creative NZ, Wellington City Council and Wellington East Girls we can dance and make music all in the same space.
Java Dance Theatre had a Friday afternoon residency at WEGC to create a series of short works and explore how dancers and musicians can work together. Java worked with Nancy and the dance students earlier in the year, opera singer Barbara Paterson and Taonga Puoro/cello player Ruby Solly both work at WEGC. Three quarters of Java are women and it's an incredibly diverse group. We are looking forward to finding ways to engage with students and teachers here. We have our final showing on 11 September 6-7pm.
Music Department Extravaganza
The Prize Giving event for Music was held last night in the hall. The performers and prize winners were present at the event, while parents/caregivers were able to watch via livestream, so that we would not break Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings over 100 people.
The Annual Dame Malvina Major Waikato Aria Competition - won by Lemau Sio
Lemau, a previous student of Wellington East, competed at the Aria Competition on 1 August 2020, held in Hamilton, and adjudicated by Simon O’Neill, ONZM. Lemau was competing against students ranging from second year to post graduate.
Entertainment Book 2021
Connecting Communities - There has never been a more important time to support us with our fundraising and local business at the same time.
20% of each Membership sales goes directly to supporting Wellington East Girls' College to help us ensure that all East girls have access to the same opportunities.
Entertainment memberships are now completely digital, with three new digital memberships: Single City, Multi City and 2 year Multi City. All new Entertainment Memberships run for 12 months from activation and do not expire in June 2021. If you want to wait a little while, you have 3 months to activate your new membership after you renew. Once you activate, you will have a full 12 (or 24) months to use your Entertainment Membership.
Entertain yourself and save from the comfort of your own home, shop in your favourite online stores and enjoy movies, TV shows, games and much more for less with Entertainment.
You can purchase your WEGC Membership here https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/105u644
School traffic
Please do not drive on to the site, unless the student has been given permission to be collected directly from the school. If you are on the school site, please follow the usual traffic laws and parking regulations. The best practice is for parents to park in the nearby streets, away from bus stops, and avoiding blocking access ways. Thank you for your co-operation and keeping our students safe.
Sports at East
You can find information on all sports offered at East, as well as our latest achievements - the link is here and is also on our school website. You can also check out Instagram and Facebook pages for WEGC Sport at @wegcsport
Ways to help - Fundraising for WEGC:
When you are shopping at Wellington City New World:
- Have your docket stamped at the time of purchase by a checkout Supervisor
- Deposit your docket in the East drop box provided in the main entrance of New World.
- Duplicate receipts can be requested, at time of purchase, if the original is required.
Welink Newsletter : Wellington East Girls' College, Austin Street, Mt Victoria 6011, Ph 385 8514, www.wegc.school.nz
