Nau mai haere mai ki te wiki tuaiwa. Nau mai ki te hui ahurei o Matariki 2024. Ka mahuta a Matariki i te pae, ka mahuta ō tātou tūmanako ki te tau. Welcome to week 9. Welcome to the distinguished event of Matariki 2024. When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead.

It has been a busy few weeks at Orewa College.  We have celebrated students in assemblies for their most recent successes, have hosted the Citizenship Ceremony for our local council and facilitated whānau hui.  Additionally, Mrs Croad, our Director of International and Mr Coetzee, Deputy Principal, recently travelled to Vietnam to connect and establish new relationships with agents from South East Asia, with the ambition of including more international students from this part of the world. 

A big part of our kaupapa (process) at school remains, which is focusing on the key fundamentals for our students to be successful at school.  One of my favourite quotes states,  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.”  As we come towards the end of the term, we will be doing our absolute best to encourage students to not lower their standards in regard to their learning, behaviour, uniform and attendance.  Your support from home regarding these areas are greatly appreciated. 

As we approach the final two weeks of the term, we enter into Matariki celebrations.  There are many elements of Matariki that can resonate with us all.  It is a time for celebration, reflection and planning for the year ahead.  One star of Matariki I will be reflecting upon this year is Pōhutakawa. 

Pōhutakawa provides the space for us to reflect on those who have passed away, within the Māori calendar year.  In October 2023, my grandmother passed away at 93 years of age.  She had a passion for sport, loved tennis and watching the Olympic games, and would attend as many sporting fixtures of all her mokopuna (grandchildren) as she could, many being Orewa College 1st XV.  Nan was considered the kuīni (queen) or matriarch for our whānau (family) and was a strong leader for our iwi, Ngāti Whātua.  She was a caring and loving lady, who delivered ‘tough love’ when appropriate, and demanded accountability from people when necessary.  Nan naturally espoused the leadership values of service and kaitiakitanga (guardianship), to people and the community.  I aspire to one day, hold the same mana as my grandmother did with her people.  I miss you Nan. 

Nōreira, ko ā mātou whaea, ā mātou rangatira, ā mātou kuīni o te whānau, moe mai rā, moe mai rā, moe mai rā. 
Therefore, to our Nana, our leader, our queen of the family, rest now, rest now, rest now.

Nāku noa, nā,


Wiri Warriner
Tumuaki | Principal
Orewa College

Events / Information

June 2024

Wednesday 26 June - Year 7 Boostrix Vaccinations
Wednesday 26 June - Year 7 Disco
Friday 28 June - Matariki (no students attend school)

July 2024

Monday 8 July to Friday 19 July - Term 2 School Holidays
Monday 22 July to Thursday 1 August - ARDS Dental Van (Years 7-8)
Thursday 25 July - Year 7 Boostrix Vaccination (Catch Ups)

Sustained Reading Initiative

At the beginning of the year, we introduced an initiative of sustained reading at all year levels.

This involves dedicating fifteen minutes at the start of every English lesson for students to engage in reading.  We strongly believe that reading plays a crucial role in developing students' literacy skills, critical thinking abilities, and overall academic performance.

To foster a love for reading and enhance the reading experience, we have made a conscious decision to focus on physical books rather than online reading materials.  Holding a book and flipping through its pages provides a unique sensory experience that cannot be replicated by digital platforms.  Moreover, physical books encourage students to disconnect from screens and immerse themselves in the world of literature.

We are pleased to share that our sustained reading initiative has been met with great enthusiasm by both students and teachers.  Anecdotally, we have witnessed a significant increase in students' engagement with reading.

To support and further encourage reading, we have purchased a wide range of new books, covering various genres and topics, to cater to the diverse interests and reading levels of our students.  Our aim is to provide a rich and diverse collection that will inspire and captivate our students.

Free Concert - Thursday 4 July, 7.00pm OAEC

Join us for an evening of music featuring the Hibiscus Coast Concert Band and Orewa College Concert and Jazz Bands.

Art Quiz Night Fundraiser: A Total Success!

A group of 22 Orewa College students are heading to New York City in October to experience its unique art and culture.

To support this exciting trip, they organized a Quiz Night fundraiser, which was a huge success, raising over $5,000!

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed. Your support has made a significant impact. Special thanks to Glen at the Northern Union Gastro Pub who hosted and entertained everyone on the night.

Also a huge thank you to the local businesses that sponsored by giving vouchers and gifts for our amazing raffles. Your generosity was invaluable.

We look forward to sharing more updates about the New York Art Trip soon!
Miss Friis, Miss White and the NYC art students.

Progress and Curriculum Reports

Progress reports are now available to view on the web portal.  Emails will be sent later in the week when Curriculum Level Reports are available.

Pride Week 2024

Last week, Orewa College proudly celebrated Schools Pride Week Aotearoa, a testament to our commitment to diversity, manaaki, and acceptance within our school community.

The events were organised by our PLUS+ group, a student-led initiative supporting LGBTQIA+ students and allies.  By promoting inclusivity and acceptance, we are helping to create a school environment where there is no room for hate or discrimination as well as a more compassionate and understanding school culture.

The festivities kicked off on Tuesday 18 June, with the Pride Picnic for Year 7 and 8 students.
The picnic was a vibrant affair filled with games, art, music, and fun activities.  Our dedicated PLUS+ group and student leaders put together an engaging event that fostered new connections and highlighted the unique qualities of each individual.

On Thursday 20 June, H Block had a glow up as it was transformed into a colourful carnival for the Pride Fair.  The highlights include a dance competition, where students and staff busted a move and got into the groove for the celebrations.

The Artist Alley stalls displayed and sold stunning arts and crafts, reflecting the creativity and dedication of our students.  The Pride Merchandise stall also attracted attention, allowing students to proudly show their school spirit.

Throughout H Block the festivities of music, games, and activities kept everyone entertained, fostering a positive atmosphere that embraced the spirit of inclusivity.  The week was more than just events; it was a celebration of our school's ethos, reinforcing values of manaaki and respect for all. 

Guest speaker, our principal, Matua Wiri Warriner emphasised the importance of kindness and respect in creating an inclusive environment.  His words resonated deeply with our community, highlighting the significance of these values in our daily interactions.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the students, teachers, staff, and volunteers who contributed to the resounding success of Pride Week.  Your passion and dedication played a pivotal role in fostering an environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and accepted.

Readers Cup Success for Orewa College Year 9 Team

On the evening of 19 June, a team of five Year 9 students participated in the Year 9 NorthWest Readers Cup Competition, held at Te Manawa Public Library.

Over ten weeks, Raina Baek, Ellie Bennett, Summer Beson, Daneigh Erasmus and Ernesto Pfeiffer were given six books to read.  During this time, they quizzed each other and spent their own time reading and revising for the competition. 

When the day came around, they put in the mahi and went up against eleven other schools, walking away with 2nd place which has been Orewa Colleges' best score yet in the competition. 

Each team member was presented with a certificate, a book each and a $25 dollar voucher for Paper Plus. The books all schools read for the competition are: 

• Between the Flags - Rachel Fenton
• Scar Town - Tristan Bancks
  
• Grace Notes - Karen Comer
  
• Finding - David Hill
  
• Slice of Heaven - Des O'Leary
  
• Dry - Jarrod Shusterman and Neil Shusterman
  

You can find these novels in the library. 

Thanks to our English Teachers and Librarians for their support.  Congratulations, Orewa College!

Uniform

Please name your child’s uniform.  We happily return named items, but we are unable to store unnamed items.

Each Term, we send all unclaimed unnamed items to charity.  Please encourage your child to check the lost property cupboard in student reception if they have lost an item.

Lost Property (not clothing)

If your child has lost valuable property (e.g. phones, jewellery, ear pods etc) please send them to main Reception to check the Register.  Any unclaimed items are donated to charity at the end of the year.

Reminder: Matariki Friday 28 June 2024

School will be closed on Friday 28 June for the celebration of Matariki.

Schools Poetry Competition - Years 12-13

Entries close Monday 8 July.  Prizes for the finalists: cash prizes, memberships to literary organisations, plus a trip for the ten finalists to Wellington for a masterclass with Joan Fleming at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. Submit your poems directly online HERE

Year 7 Boostrix Vaccinations

These will take place on Wednesday 26 June for consented students.  Students who are hydrated and have had a good breakfast tend to cope better with the vaccination.

Intermediate Schools Chess Competition

I, along with 21 Year 7 and 8 students from Orewa College attended this year's Chess Zone Day.

The Chess Zone Day was hosted at Wairau School in the hall.  Once all 21 kids had made it and sat down at their designated seats the rules were briefly explained.  This was very nerve racking for many students.

When a game was completed the two people competing would shake hands and write down the score on a score sheet, which would be handed to the team captain once everyone in that team was finished with their games.  There was no interval or lunch so kids had to eat outside between games.  There would be six games so everyone was there for 5 and a half hours.

Everyone tried their hardest but unfortunately no one from OC won 6 out of 6 games (very hard to do because two good and evenly matched players will usually get a draw) therefore no one got a medal.

Two of our players won 5 out of 6. Bon Phan (7DOY) and Sithupa Withana Gamage (7ACK).
Our best team result was Team A who came 10th.  There were 39 teams competing. I, and many others, loved this zone day and lots of year 7s want to do it again next year.
Written by Charlie Lawes, 8WIL

Community Help Needed - Food Waste Project

Orewa College is now a silver-level Enviroschool. As you can imagine we are pretty proud of this achievement, as we have been doing a lot of mahi over the past few years in the way of sustainability.

One of the initiatives we introduced was to collect our food waste and send it to a farm in Waitoki as part of the City to Farm programme. This has been free to the school up until now. Shortly, we will need to pay for this service, which is not in our school budget. 

So, we would like to know if any of our school whānau have a need for a consistent flow of food waste? Perhaps for pig food or for composting on a farm? We have daily checks in our place to ensure there is no contamination. 

We would hate to go backwards and start putting it in the landfill again. If you think you have a solution, we would love to have a korero with you. 

Please contact Sarah O'Donnell our Enviroschools Leader ([email protected])

Sports News - "Off the Bench"

Please CLICK HERE for all upcoming sports events, registrations, draws, results and zone day information.

Careers Hub

Survivor Orewa 2024

Survivor Orewa Season 16 has just wrapped up in Level 3 Outdoor Education.

A huge congratulations to our winners from each class: Ryan Lawrence, Isla Gleeson, and Summer Johnson. Whether you were voted out first or made it to the end, Survivor Orewa has something for everyone.  It is one of the biggest projects the Outdoor Education team undertakes, but it is all worth it in the end.

Thank you to all the players who fully immersed themselves and lived the game of Survivor.
Your dedication and enthusiasm are what make this experience so special.  We look forward to seeing how next year's participants rise to the challenge and continue the legacy of Survivor Orewa.

Click on the links to view the enthralling action videos - VIDEO 1 and VIDEO2

Uniform Group - Term 3 Hours

Thursday 4 July 2024 is our last day of trading for Term 2, 2024

Please note that the shop is open for two days in the second week of the school holidays: 
Thursday 18 July: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Saturday  20 July: 10:00am – 2:00pm

Stand Up Course - Year 10 Boys

We are running a healthy relationships course called 'Stand Up' next term for boys in Year 10.  The course can take up to 25 students.

The programme was run successfully for our Year 10 girls this term with excellent feedback from this cohort. The programme will be facilitated by experienced social workers and is organised by Te Rito Rodney Family Violence Prevention Project. The programme is interactive and focuses on learning to identify the signs of a healthy relationship through engaging activities.

The focus of Stand Up is on healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, exploring positive communication and safety.  Please email [email protected] if interested. 

Women in Space Aotearoa New Zealand (WISANZ) - Space Up! Essay

Space Up! is a FREE club for high school students who are passionate about space, or keen to learn more about space.  The primary focus of the club is to encourage and support girls and young women who are interested in space to engage with each other as well as with WISANZ mentors. 

It’s 2054 and you’ve been selected to live in the new civilisation on Mars. Your job is to send communications about Life on Mars back to those who remained on Earth. What would you like to tell them about? 

The physical geography of Mars, how the settlement has been made self-sufficient, law and politics on Mars, how you travel around the planet, or something else?

We’d like to read about your ideas in a 500 - 1000 word essay, however we will also accept highly creative alternatives! Perhaps you’d like to produce a map of the Mars base, complete with detailed labels, or a poster/brochure advertising a job or unique aspect of life on Mars or video. The non-essay alternatives should be equally as detailed as the essays and to have used the resources provided.

This competition closes on July 31 at 11:59pm.

The prize pack includes Sony Wireless Headphones, a Mars Lego set, The Martian and other treats!

Sign up FREE for resources and to access the submission details!  WEBSITE

Parking - School Drop Off & Pick Up

Please help keep our students safe and be respectful of residents by abiding with the below restrictions.

Hatton Road
NO STOPPING on the western side of Hatton Road even to just drop students off during
7- 9:30am so that this route is clear for the buses. The same applies for the afternoons
between 3 - 4pm.

Centreway Nexus Business Park (Previous Council premises parking) and Centrestage
Theatre. Please note this is now private property and vehicles will be towed.

Community Notices

Adams Driving School - Upcoming Courses

The following courses will be held at Orewa College:

• Evening course on 2, 4, 9, 11 July, [Tuesday and Thursday] 6.00pm start.
  
• School holiday course on 8, 10, 15, 17 July [Monday and Wednesday] 9.30am start.
  

Contact Dave Inglis:  0800 LPLATE [575 283] or 021 510 887, [email protected]

Iron Up Sport - School Holiday Programme

Four day sports camp - Silverdale Rugby Club - 8-11 July 2024 For children 9-15 years old. To register, click HERE.

SUSO Electronic - Welcome to Stand Up Stand Out Electronic 2024!

Calling all beatmakers, songwriters and electronic music producers. We invite you to enter Stand Up Stand Out Electronic, a platform to support and showcase talent from across Auckland. Applications close Saturday 31 August 2024. Outstanding opportunities and prizes to be won.

Click HERE for full details.

Our Sponsors - Proud Supporters of Orewa College