Waitakere College News

Newsletter Issue 9

Joy

The celebration that is Polyfest, also in its 50th Jubilee year, is at its peak this week. This is the biggest school cultural festival in New Zealand and starts off the student learning engagement with Term 1 in such a positive climate. We encourage our students to take part in as many positive opportunities as possible during their time at Waitākere College.
Be it sports, cultural activities such as polyfest, the College school production - Mama Mia this year, or school outdoor education or overseas trips.
All the evidence shows that students who engage in these positive opportunities we offer, stay at school longer, achieve better, and have a more confident self image and manawanui when times get challenging for them.

Our Fiafia Celebration night on Monday 31st was a joyful celebration and culmination of about 9 weeks of work and practice that 270+ students and 45+ staff and tutors have put in after school and on the weekends. We shared the joy and pride with our own family and whānau this evening.

Our performers celebrating their culture were;

Kapa Haka
Indian
Agsūbay Filipino
Kiribati
Roma
Kuki ‘Airani
Sāmoan

We wish them all well in their public performances at Polyfest and also on Saturday here at the College as part of our Reunion Celebration.
With one week to go, staff and students should now be completing assessments and tests in at least 1 standard in each of their subjects. Ask the question of how they are going and whether it has been completed.

Ngā mihi
Mark P Shanahan

PS: Happy 50th Birthday Waitākere College!! We look forward to hosting past pupils and staff on Friday and Saturday events.