Wellington East Girls' College / Te Kura Kōhine o te Rāwhiti o Te Upoko o Te Ika
Welink
Rāwhiti Taukaea
Issue 2, Poutū-te-rangi / March 2023
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
It was marvellous to have so many of our students and their whānau engaged with learning conferences in 2023 in Week 8. Having learning conferences in Term 1 gives us a great platform for a strong relationship which focuses on learning.
This year we trialled something different to give whānau flexibility with a day of face to face and a day of online conferences. We would love to have your feedback on how this went. Please complete this short survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9CNFCsMKr6s7N4L7uF15UZr-FwUW_pMdmg-5fikmxm6zzPw/viewform
The National Attendance and Engagement Strategy was launched by Education Minister Jan Tinetti here at the College earlier in the term. Speaking to students and various parent groups this term, they were surprised by the following statistics:
Regular attendance = 90%+
90 % attendance = 1 day absent per fortnight = 1 week absent per term
80% attendance = 1 day absent per week = 2 weeks absent per term
60% attendance = 2 days absent per week = 4 weeks absent per term
We want our students to be regular attenders so that they can maximise their learning and opportunities for engagement and success.
I would like to ask parents and whānau to support our students and priortise their attendance at school. You can monitor attendance by logging into the KAMAR portal, which allows you to see your student's attendance to each of their classes throughout the day. Please be in touch with your young person’s Ako teacher if you have any queries about their attendance.
Sadly we have received resignations from Annabel Heenan and Tracy Tsai and we wish them well as they move into new roles outside of teaching.
As we come to the end of the Term I would like to wish you all a Happy Easter and look forward to seeing everyone refreshed and ready for Term 2 on Wednesday 26 April.
Ngā mihi nui
Gael Ashworth, Principal
Board of Trustees
Kia ora kōutou,
As we head into the end of term 1, I want to thank parents and whānau for their support in getting their students to school. As part of a wider story around attendance, participation and progress, the Education Review Office notes that parent and learner attitudes matter, as well as a set of school-based factors. It’s an interesting read and useful to put things in context, especially when it’s difficult to motivate your young one.
We welcome Annabel Markham and Fleur Howard to the board, and extend our thanks for Paresh Patel, Vito Lo Iacono, Barbara McCallum and Andrew Downes for putting their names forward.
The board’s focus this month is on:
- NCEA proposals for 2024
- Changes to physical restraint rules and guidelines
- Approving the annual accounts and adjustments to the budget
As well as our normal oversight of progress on goals, health & safety, finance, staff movements, and feedback from our Te Whanau Tutahi, Pasifika parents group, students, staff, and Parents' Association representatives. Board meetings are open to the public, apart from time to discuss sensitive staff, student or commercial issues, and we welcome any questions or feedback at board.trustees@wegc.school.nz.
Ngā mihi
Will Peet, Chair
board.trustees@wegc.school.nz
Please see the Student Calendar below for student events coming up
Inspirational Breakfast 2023
We held the first Inspirational Breakfast since 2020 , with our new Mayor, Her Worship Tory Whanau as our speaker.
This was chance to come together as a community, listen, and have breakfast together. Ms Whanau spoke about her journey to her present role as Mayor, and her school years and further education. There were questions about how she deals with burnout, racism, and also discussions about community and connection.
It was great to have her team with her as well - Tiumalu Silalava’a (Mila Silalava’a (Yr 13) Mum) and ex student Elle Metuariki. They are pictured here with our WEPA Chair Sunjna Harduth (Tiya Naidoo (Yr 12) Mum) and our Head Prefect, Niva.
All funds raised go into the WEPA fundraising to help WEGC students.
If you would like to be involved with the Parents' Association, you can contact us on parents@wegc.school.nz The meetings are held once month in term time and set for this year on Wednesdays: 26 April, 24 May, 28 June, 26 July, 30 August, 25 October and 29 November. They are all held at school between 6.00pm-7.00pm.
These dates are also on the Student Calendar on our website
WEGC Express Week : 13-17 March
Rāwhiti celebrated self-expression during a week full of music, culture, performing arts, literature & visual arts. These events were a fantastic way to connect with others across the school and discover new passions.
Rāhina - Monday:
Student vs Teacher Debate in the hall at lunchtime with Mr Cox, Mr Atkins and Ms Flaws
Rātu - Tuesday:
Kapa Haka in the whare, Photography challenge - prizes for capturing East’s beauty, staff pics, school-wide best dressed & pictures which demonstrate our values of Aroha, Whanaungatanga and Rangatiratanga
Rāapa - Wednesday:
Cakes & Concerto - student & staff performances, along with baking to buy. Bob Ross painting at lunch in the art area
Rāmere - Friday:
Non-Uniform Day - dress as your favourite artist (singer, painter, actor etc)
And of course, the annual East Talent Show to end the week
Students visit with British High Commissioner : Iona Thomas
On Wednesday 8 March, a group of Year 13 Digital Technologies and Media students attended an event at the British High Commission to celebrate International Women's Day.
The event was a panel called "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”. The High Commissioner, Iona Thomas, hosted a panel discussion featuring leading women across the tech and journalism industries. The panel led a discussion around the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces.
The students had the opportunity to engage with the women on the panel, asking questions about their roles and the challenges they face as females in their respective careers. They also discussed how women can become leaders and achieve more equality in male dominated industries. It was a valuable experience for our students and a great way to celebrate women.
International Women's Day Breakfast - Wellington
This year the International Women's Day Parliamentary Breakfast was held on 8 March and hosted by the Hon Jan Tinetti, Minister for Women. The event brought together some great speakers focus on embracing equity, and creating a fair and equal world for all. Our Head Students Josie Aitkin and Le'Aniva So'o attended the event alongside students from other Wellington region schools. They listened to speakers Jan Tinetti, Tory Whanau, Paula Tesoriero MNZM, Chief Executive Whaikaha, Ministry of Disabled People, and Jessie Wong, Founder and Director at Yu Mei. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to meet and gain inspiration from women leaders in our community.
Online Safety Hub : access for parents/caregivers
As part of our arrangement with Linewize (Content filtering and Internet safety service), we are pleased to announce that access to their Online Safety Hub is now live. The hub provides advice and support for parents and caregivers regarding online safety. https://wegc.onlinesafetyhub.nz/
Qustodio
The online safety service includes free access to the Qustodio Parent app allowing you to create your own Qustodio account to use at home across two devices free of charge.
Key features include:
Filter and block apps and content that you don’t want your child to see
Customise what your child can access during homework hours
Balance screen time by setting time limits on devices as well as for specific apps
Protect screen-free moments such as mealtimes and bedtimes.
You can create your Qustodio account through the Online Safety Hub. https://wegc.onlinesafetyhub.nz/
For any further questions regarding Qustodio please contact them via email : myschool@qustodio.com
We look forward to continuing to provide you with the best resources for our school communities and encourage you all to utilise the Online Safety Hub.
Year 9 Creative Technology Te Papa Trip
On Monday 27 March our Year 9 Creative Technology students had a guided tour of the He Kaupapa Waka and Mana Rere Moana exhibitions at Te Papa. Ākonga learnt about migration to Aotearoa from the Pacific Islands, waka design and construction, and what types of storage were used for transporting goods on these long journeys. Ākonga also learnt how to use Tinkercad to create a 3D model of a waka hourua (double-hulled sailing waka) which had to include a double hull, platform, mast and sail.
This was an amazing opportunity and links into their current project 'Auahatanga Kete' where they are designing a creative outcome which solves a storage issue that their client is having.
BP Business Challenge 2023
The BP Business Challenge is a three-day long practical business workshop for Yr11 and Yr12 Business Studies students, run by facilitators from The Young Enterprise Trust.
The three-day course gives students the opportunity to work alongside a variety of people and gather knowledge from experienced people in the business field. This event is held every two years and helps them develop their entrepreneurial skills while at the same time gaining valuable knowledge that can be used in their business assessments.
The 2023 winner was a business proposal for Seedle, a sustainable and eco-friendly wrapping paper. What made this product unique is the seeds embedded between the layers of the recycled paper. This means that instead of disposing or recycling, you are able to plant the paper, and a few weeks later a seedling would begin to grow. The paper is non-toxic and customisable. Congratulations to our winning team and all those that participated.
Seedle comprises (from left) Gemma Smith, Hannah White, Sophie Dry, Felicity Xie, Rebecca Soi, Charlotte Dacombe-Bird, and Isabella Wallace. Pictured with the facilitators from the YES trust.
Japan Day at WEGC
Ākonga Tuawhenua / International Students
Term 1 has been a busy and productive term with a large group of short term Japanese students studying with us for around 8-10 weeks. This group threw themselves into life at Wellington East Girls' College and were welcomed by students, staff and kind homestay families.
The international students organised and ran a 'Japan Day' at school. Students celebrated different aspects of Japanese culture - food, origami, handwriting, tea ceremony and clothing. It was a huge success and we saw students really enjoy interacting and learning from our international students.
Term 2 and 3 will see the arrival of new students to our school, from Japan, China and Thailand. In addition to these longer term arrivals we have a group of Japanese students coming for 12 nights in August. If you have ever considered hosting an international student, or would like to find out more about hosting we would love to hear from you. All hosting is paid. Our email address is international@wegc.school.nz
Technology News
You can read about Nan Walden, our design and technology teacher, and her contribution to the 100th Centenary of her own school, Wairarapa College, here : Wairarapa Times Age
She gifted one of her korowai cloaks, which she designed and made in Wairarapa College’s signature colours of blue and gold, and is intended to be worn by the tumuaki as a symbol of leadership.
You can also spot our students' work on korowai cloaks, displayed in the window at Wellington Sewing Centre, in Kilbirnie. This is our Kapa Haka Kakahu and features work from our Creative Technology students.
Baby Rock and Rhyme at He Huarahi Tamariki
HHT provides education for students unable to complete their studies through pregnancy or the birth of a child. They offer a range of subjects in partnership with the New Zealand Correspondence School, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Wellington East Girls’ College, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and other providers. The complex in Linden also provides onsite child care through Kids Count, a licensed and registered ECE.
Here at He Huarahi Tamariki, we love reconnecting with Graduates and hearing about what they are up to now. We love it even more when their work brings them back to He Huarahi Tamariki to support us and our current students.
Petra Halicioupolis attended school here from 2007 to 2010 and is now part of the team at Wellington City Libraries. Petra and her colleagues, Stephen and Tessa, are working with us this year to bring Baby Rock and Rhyme sessions to our students and their children here on site as these sessions are not always accessible for our students. They are also running literacy workshops with our students focusing on the benefits of different activities you can do with your children.
We kicked all of this off with a very enjoyable Baby Rock and Rhyme session this term. Tables and chairs were packed away and replaced with mats and cushions for the floor. The children all came through from Kids Count, the Librarians arrived, and the fun began! There was singing, music making, dancing and stories about rabbits and dinosaurs to name just a few.
Thanks to Stephen, Petra and Tessa. We are all looking forward to your next visit so much and appreciate your support in bringing this to He Huarahi Tamariki.
WEGC with NZSO
On Friday 31 March, Year 11 student Lydia Fagan (Choristers - Wellington Cathedral of St Paul) & Mrs Isaac (Voices NZ) performed Mahler's 3rd Symphony with the NZSO at the Michael Fowler Centre, conducted by NZSO Artistic Advisor and Principal Conductor, Gemma New.
Mahler’s Third Symphony is a colossal monument in the orchestral repertoire, requiring a giant orchestra, a women’s choir, a children’s choir, and a mezzo-soprano soloist. This event was sold out and finished with a standing ovation.
2023 Payment of School Fees/Donations
You can view and pay your school account from the Kamar portal: https://kamarweb.wegc.school.nz/index.php
Direct credit payments can be made using the following details:
WEGC Bank Account Details:
ANZ Bank Wellington
06 0501 0908375 000
Reference: Please use student ID (on invoice)
Particulars: payment details (example: ID Card, GE200 Trip)
Payment in person @ School: Payments are accepted at reception from 8:15 am until 3.30 pm Monday to Friday. The School is closed during public holidays and school term breaks. Payments by cash or EFTPOS are available.
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 www.facebook.com/wegcsport
Ways to help WEGC - Fundraising :
Please support Wellington East as we sell Entertainment memberships. We are fundraising to ensure that all East girls are able to access the same opportunities. 20% of your Membership purchase comes directly to us!
Receive fantastic savings while you eat, play and shop with Entertainment. Memberships are convenient and easy to use for you and your family over any 12 month period from activation.
There are three different types of memberships:-
· Single City Membership
· Multi City Membership – unlocks 21 cities in New Zealand and Australia
· Multi Plus Membership – double the savings of a multi city membership for two years
Get yours today online by clicking the link below!
https://www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/105u644
Thank you for your support
Welink Newsletter : Wellington East Girls' College, Austin Street, Mt Victoria 6011, Ph 385 8514, www.wegc.school.nz
