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clicking here2011 Dux of St Cuthbert´s College, Jade Leung
In 2011 Jade was also a prefect, received the International Chemistry Olympiad Bronze award in Turkey in July, has been awarded a University of Auckland Scholarship, an ASB Community Bursary Award and won the Y13 prizes for Biology, English, Painting, Physics, and Statistics. Along the way she won the New Zealand Institute of Physics Physics Prize.
PHOTO: Jade after presentation of her award as Dux with her parents Dr Vivian Leung and Dr Thomas Leung
The Ribbon is Cut on the New Performing Arts Centre
The Performing Arts Centre was officially opened on 5 October by the Minister of Education, the Honourable Anne Tolley and Mayor Len Brown with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. Both spoke of the importance of the arts in schooling, life and in creating a well-rounded person and also touched on their own singing abilities.
The College has had an explosion of interest in drama, music and dance over many years and this state of the art centre has been intricately designed to foster this strong level of interest and talent. It is fitted with multiple performance studios, individual tuition suites, seminar rooms and spacious flexible classrooms. There are sound proofed rooms with laminated glass, a dance studio with a sprung floor, specifically designed roofs for the bouncing acoustics, hard floors for the choir, the green screen for filming and acting and so much more.
The opening celebration featured a magnificent performance of, “Hey Days”, with over 200 Y1-13 choir, dance/drama and music students. It was written to reflect the College’s values, character and excellence while capturing the enormous creative potential that lies within the College community. “Something Great” by Catherine Zheng, Y10, and “Hey Days” by Maria Ji, Y12, (2011 NZPS International Poetry Competition winner) were chosen and combined for the lyrics. Stewart Allan and Amelia Giles (two of the College’s highly qualified and widely experienced musicians and music teachers) co-composed the accompanying music.
The building was blessed by Reverend Carolin Telford, the College Chaplain, preceding the ribbon cutting, allowing the guests to then explore the Centre for the first time. .
St Cuthbert’s Girls Chosen for International Chemistry and Biology Olympiads
Two St Cuthbert’s College students are the only girls chosen for the NZ teams which will compete in the international Biology and Chemistry Olympiads this year. Vicky Tai will attend the Biology Olympiad in Taiwan and Jade Leung will attend the Chemistry Olympiad in Turkey.
“I have never known it to happen to have two girls in the College selected for international Olympiads in two science fields at the same time,” Head of the St Cuthbert’s College Science Department Dr Jan Giffney said.
Jade and Vicky were also selected by the Royal Society of New Zealand to attend science events in Australia – Jade the Harry Messels International Science Camp in Sydney and Vicky the BioFutures Forum in Brisbane.
These selections are a real honour as they are based on academic achievement as well as involvement in extra-curricular activities and commitment to the sciences.
Unfortunately these events clashed with their Olympiads and both girls have chosen to attend the international events instead.
The girls passed a series of exams and attended separate camps in their respective science disciplines over the past six months which whittled down the number of entrants and decided those who would attend the Olympiads. Jade will join Andy Chen from Macleans College, Kailun Wang from Auckland Grammar School and Thomas Fellows from Christ’s College (via Skype) for tutorials before the Olympiad.
Jade will also complete a lot of individual study and attend practical sessions at Auckland University to build her lab skills.
Vicky’s team includes Jack Zhou from Auckland International College along with Benjamin Bai and Richard Chou both from Macleans College.
Dr Jan Giffney says the work required for the Olympiads is at stage one or two university level. They include lengthy exams and an equally challenging practical session.
Both Olympiad competitions will bring the girls into contact with highly talented students from around the world. They will be competing for medals, as in any Olympic competition, which means they will be working on a demanding training programme during Term 2.
PHOTO:St Cuthbert’s College Head of Science Dr Jan Giffney (L), Jade Leung, Vicky Tai, and biology teachers Mrs Fiona Gillies and Mrs Margaret Olsen.
The Christchurch Earthquake-An Update to Parents
The response of the College family to the terrible events in Christchurch has been so immediate and heartfelt.
Students
We have welcomed 21 girls from Christchurch as our guests, with 8 joining the boarding community.
The girls come from a range of schools throughout Christchurch. Many schools hope to re-open on 14 March while others are still working to estimate a date for school resuming. We have assured the girls and their families that they can be here at St Cuthbert's for as long as is needed. The girls are really appreciative of how warmly they have been welcomed by their fellow students.
Earthquake Relief
I want to thank you all for the depth of generosity shown last week for the Red and Black mufti day. Over $30,000 was raised and donations are still coming in. Many families have also given directly to the Red Cross appeal. The girls and staff have responded so positively to the year level challenge with every year level working on a plan for fundraising and support of the earthquake appeal. The girls have been very creative in determining how they will show support over the longer term with projects from cake stalls and coin trails to charity cinema evenings, quilts being stitched and a NE & Y1 photo exhibition.
Offers of holidays
We have had many offers of holiday accommodation to be shared with families at our sister schools. If you do have room in your own home or a holiday house which you would like offered to Rangi Ruru and St Andrew's families, please contact
virginia.burns@stcuthberts.school.nz or complete the form available
here and either post, fax or drop it in to reception. We will liaise with the two schools.
Thank you once again for the warmth, compassion and support you have shown.
Lynda Reid
Principal The Christchurch Earthquake-A Message to Parents
We are all deeply saddened by the impact of the devastating earthquake in Christchurch and I know that all of us are thinking about the beleaguered people of Christchurch as they face the scale of their loss. I wanted to update you on what we are doing as a community as we all come to terms with what has happened.
Like many of you, I grew up in Christchurch and I am stunned by the extent of the devastation and loss.
Students
Some families have contacted us to alert us to the fact that their daughters are worried about family members or friends in Christchurch. Please contact your daughter's dean so that we can support her. All staff have been asked to monitor their students and to be aware of anyone who appears anxious or distressed.
The guidance team is available for any student or any parent who would like to seek advice.
Staff have given the girls opportunities to talk about what has happened at a level appropriate for the girls' age and stage. In Y1-4 as an example Mrs Porter says "the girls gathered quietly in the foyer to peaceful music. The Y3 and 4 Values representatives read prayers for our Christchurch 'family' and we sang the hymn we have been learning in our JAM lessons -
Song of Friendship. This held very special meaning as together we held the 'Christ-light' for those in need."
Friday's assembly will be a time of reflection and prayer for us all.
We have established that recent Old Girls studying at Canterbury University are safe and well and that the university is coping as well as can be expected. Thank you to everyone who helped with that network of contacts.
Support for Christchurch
Since Tuesday I have tried to contact the schools we supported last year after the first earthquake; I haven't been able to make direct contact yet but the websites of Rangi Ruru and St Andrew's indicate that students and staff are safe but that there is significant damage to both schools.
Aranui Primary School is in an area that has suffered serious liquefaction problems. It appears at this stage as if schools are very likely to be closed for a minimum of two weeks.
We will use that time to prepare, with your support, care packages for the students of all three schools. Students and staff are setting up mufti days and fundraising events to raise money for earthquake relief; it is important for the girls to do something active and practical and we are encouraging them fully.
College Emergency Procedures
A few parents have asked about the College emergency procedures and in particular whether we keep students at school in an emergency. In an emergency situation we keep students at school in the care of staff until a parent or a caregiver is able to collect them.
In events at the milder end of the emergency spectrum eg a major power outage, we would ascertain if it were safe to allow Y11, Y12 and Y13 students to make their own way home.
AT NO TIME at any point on the emergency spectrum would Y1-10 be released to make their own way home. They will be kept at school under the care of staff.
In an emergency situation we have set up emergency contact systems using mobiles, telephone trees, emails and the website.
Our back up power systems mean that in many situations we would be able to communicate in the first two hours to get critical information out.
We have an emergency practice every term, covering fire, earthquake and intruder.
Lynda Reid
Principal St Cuth’s Responds to the Christchurch Quake
The St Cuthbert’s College community of parents, students and staff has responded rapidly and generously to the Christchurch earthquake in a number of practical ways.
One school that was identified as needing help was Aranui Primary School, and Principal Mr Chris Nord liked the idea of cheerful packages for his 200+ students.
Every form class in the College willingly set about assembling packages of small gifts that could be easily freighted – Air New Zealand generously transported the packages for the College free of charge.
Each class supplied four or more “Thinking of you” packages, labelled and split equally for boys and girls. There were so many packages in total that prior to despatch, they almost filled a side room of the chapel.
As well as the gifts, the packages included colourful handmade cards bearing supportive greetings.
Girls in the Junior School and Y9-Y10 classes also created cards to send to our sister schools in Christchurch – Rangi Ruru Girls’ School and St Andrew’s College.
While the staff at our sister schools were on the premises cleaning up after the earthquake, our staff arranged to have morning tea sent in for them in order to help keep their spirits high.
Meanwhile, students in Sandie MacLeod-Smith’s food technology class are baking 70 dozen Anzac biscuits to send to Aranui Primary School before the holidays – that’s 840 biscuits.
Shortly we will be announcing details of a collection among students, staff and parents for the Mayor’s Fund in Christchurch.
Photo: Collecting the packages are (left to right) Georgia Proctor, Olivia Bennett, Monique Pitt and Tiffany Chee from class 6LS with their teacher, Mrs Chris Lees, and Reverend Carolin Telford, who assisted in the despatching
Sporting Siblings
Sport has always been a big part of the lives of the three Gregan sisters and their dedication is propelling them to the top of their fields.
Audrey Gregan, 13, won the year 9 division of the annual New Zealand Secondary School Cross Country Championships held in Waikanae last month.
The Remuera resident completed the 3km run in 10 minutes and 35 seconds – a new personal best.
Participating in her school cross-country is something she has been doing since she was five.
"Then I kept on winning, so I started training."
Audrey, who also does athletics and plays representative football for Auckland, is not the only Gregan doing well on the sports scene.
Her younger sister Veronica, 11, is a year 7 National Secondary Schools Team Triathlon champion and also plays netball and tennis.
Older sister Eleanor, 16, plays tennis and is a member of the St Cuthbert's first 11 football team.
Proud mother Robyn McGregor says training for the St Cuthbert's College students makes life very busy between 3pm and 8pm.
"They have to be organised," she says.
Mrs McGregor believes it is important for children to play a team sport while they are young, so they got the girls into football when they were about six.
"Sport teaches children a great deal."
The sisters may be used to fierce competition on the field but at home it's a different story. "There's no rivalry whatsoever," Mrs Mc-Gregor says.
Kahu Miller: East And Bays Courier
Photograph: Fiona Goodall
Gymnast Briana Mitchell Heads for Delhi
St Cuthbert’s College student Briana Mitchell heard today that she has been selected to represent New Zealand as a gymnast at the next Commonwealth Games. “I am very excited,” says Briana, “I can’t really believe that after all the training it’s finally going to happen.”
The rigorous selection process involved Briana and four other girls attending three trials at which there were set qualifying marks both for individual and team competitors. “The first trial was at the South Africa Cup International in November last year where I qualified individually and we also qualified as a team,” explains Briana. “I won two silver medals there, for beam and for uneven bars.”
The other trials were in New Zealand in January and the Pacific Rim Championships in Melbourne in April.
She is one of a team of four girls selected to represent her country at the 19th Commonwealth Games in Delhi this October.
Briana, who lives in Howick, was the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Artistic Gymnastics Champion last year. She has won numerous accolades at St Cuthbert’s including Sports Colours with Distinction for the past three years.
Briana, a year 12 student, received a Bronze Service Award in 2008 and a Silver Service Award last year for coaching younger gymnasts at the St Cuthbert’s College Sports Centre.
Her favourite gymnastic activity of the four she pursues – vault, uneven bars, beam and floor – is the beam. “I find beams easier so I tend to enjoy that more.”
St Cuthbert´s Scholars Top New Zealand
Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, was at St Cuthbert’s College on Monday [10 May] to present awards to a record number of scholars.
One hundred and fifteen students and former students stepped up to collect their awards at the College’s Scholars’ Assembly.
Seventy-six students who were in years 11, 12 and 13 in 2009 qualified for a scholar’s badge for achieving a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 80 or more in each of five or six NCEA subjects.
Thirty-nine Y12 and Y13 students from 2009 received the honour of a scholar’s commendation for having their NCEA certificates endorsed at excellence level for two or more consecutive years.
The top individual scholars from each year level also received a Trust Board scholar’s award, which includes a study grant of $500. Jade Leung won the Y11 award, her sister Jane won the Y13 award and Athene Laws won the Y12 award.
As further evidence of the academic achievements at St Cuthbert’s College, the College topped New Zealand at scholarship level this year with 110 scholarships spread among 63 of last year’s Y13 students. Thirteen – a record number – gained three or more scholarships for Honours Board selection.
Professor Gluckman has many professional accolades. He is a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to medicine and a holder of New Zealand’s top science award, the Rutherford Medal. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of London, and the only New Zealander elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of Science in the United States and the Academy of Medical Sciences of Great Britain.
As a high achiever himself, Sir Peter spoke passionately to these high-achieving scholars about their futures.
“What we need and what you will provide is a new way of thinking,” he said. “We need well-rounded, talented people who commit both to New Zealand and the world, people comfortable with the explosion in knowledge, but highly ethical and with open minds, with the skills to think, to adapt, to interpret and with a strong sense of social responsibility. That is what the new generation of leadership will be about.
“If New Zealand is to thrive, we need a generation of leaders who can cope with the pace of new technology, of assimilating vast amounts of new knowledge, of new forms of communication. Do not underestimate the challenge that will create for you and for society as a whole. We will thrive because of people like you. I congratulate you all and I thank you in advance for what you will bring to this country – stick with it.”
The top individual scholars from each year level also received a Trust Board scholars award Jane Leung (Y13), Athene Laws (Y12) and Jade Leung (Y11) with St Cuthbert’s College Principal Lynda Reid and Associate Principal Helen Robertson
Inaugural Rotary Award for Service Gives $1000 to Charity of Choice
Y13 student Rebecca Allen received $1000 from Newmarket Rotary to donate to the charity of her choice.The inaugural award, designed to encourage involvement in community service, was presented by Roger Harvey from Newmarket Rotary.
Mr Harvey says Rotary recognises that St Cuthbert’s “By Love Serve” motto is closely aligned with the organisation’s community endeavours.
“The award is to recognise and encourage a young person who has, of their own volition, taken the lead in doing work in the community,” Mr Harvey says.
Principal Lynda Reid was invited to select a student to receive the award.
Rebecca was chosen for her leadership of a project putting together boxed gifts for children whose families may struggle to afford Christmas.Last year 400 Christmas gift boxes were given to Samaritan’s Purse to go to children in Fiji. This year children at Manurewa East Kindergarten were the recipients.
Rebecca was involved with organising a group to deliver the boxes and play games with the children.
She was surprised and excited to be named as the recipient of the Rotary award.“I really didn’t expect it. There are a lot of girls who I have worked with on this project,” she says.
Rebecca said she would need to think very hard about who would receive the money because there were so many charities that needed it.
Three Top Tennis Titles go to St Cuthbert´s
St Cuthbert's College has for the first time scooped all three top tennis titles in the Auckland Secondary Schools tennis championships.
The College’s Senior A, Intermediate A and Junior A teams all won in the A1 Championship held at Merton Road Tennis Centre in Glen Innes on October 31.
In previous years the college has had two teams win titles but not all three in one season.
Principal Lynda Reid says it is an outstanding achievement to win all three titles for the season and everyone at the college is very proud of the teams.
Senior A team:Emily Fry, Lucy Brittain, Rebecca Wood, team captain Kataraina Hunia, Ella Barclay,Claudia Williams, Samantha Williams and Norah Browne.
Intermediate A team: Isabella Hotchin, Anouska Ameratunga, Rachel Wilson, Lydia Shieff, team captain Gabriella Crozier,Lucy Campion, Ruby-Jean Clark and Samantha Davidson.
Junior A team:Gemma Scarborough, Tasha Reid, Sanjna Gangakhedkar, team captain Ariella Bok, Kate Stevens,Abigail Stuart and Lucy Macdonald.