FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
2
Dear Parents and Friends ............ 2
Staff ............................................. 2
Comment – Special Character ..... 2
NCEA and NZQA Scholarship Results
................................................. 3
Looking Ahead ............................. 4
Upcoming Events ........................ 5
Achievements.............................. 5
COMMUNITY
7
Friends’ Association .................... 7
Board of Trustees. ....................... 7
Old Boys’ Association .................. 7
FROM THE CHAPLAIN
8
ADMINISTRATION
9
ACADEMIC
10
NCEA Information ..................... 10
Effort Grade Reports ................. 10
Term One Calendar of Internal
Assessments ........................... 10
STAFF PROFILES
11
Coadette Low ............................ 11
Anne Pritchard .......................... 11
MEET THE STUDENTS
12
Craig Bebbington ....................... 12
Tom McKay ............................... 12
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
13
Trip to McGregor Falls, Mount
Holdsworth. ........................... 13
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
13
Ag News .................................... 13
Biology ...................................... 13
VIVA CAMP REPORT
14
OPEN DAY 2016
15
from the principal’s desk
DEAR PARENTS AND FRIENDS
The year has started well and the school is in
very good heart. The place feels vibrant and
strong with considerable goodwill permeating
the campus. The Year 9 boys appear happy, the
Senior College students are enjoying the co-ed
classroom environment and we are receiving
some nice feedback from many parents. Sadly,
we also receive the occasional negative
comment about the presentation of our boys in
and about the town, and incidents of the
inappropriate use of social media have also been
brought to our notice. Boys can be assured that
these will be followed up and, where necessary,
investigated. However, the norm is for us to
receive positive affirmations of boys’ behaviour
and presentation and they are to be
commended. As I have said before, the
expectations we have are, increasingly, the
expectations the boys have of themselves.
Grant Harper brings to your notice so much of
what is happening in his weekly news and the
students genuinely appreciate what is on offer.
Amidst the plethora of events in and beyond the
school that permeate Rathkeale College life we
can see boys working well, as indeed are the
girls in the Senior College. On the return from
the Y13 Geography trip, Mr Bouton reported
that after a demanding day on the mountains,
after a bit to eat students attacked the books of
other subjects and completed two hours’ work.
This he said, was something he has never seen
before. The academic scene is settled and I
hope all students will enjoy a fulfilling and
successful year.
Sport abounds and we have completed the
annual Athletics and Swimming Championships,
the full summer exchange with Wanganui
Collegiate School and the junior exchange with
Hutt International Boys’ School. Congratulations
are due to a number of individuals and teams
that participate in local, regional and national
competitions. At the midpoint of the term and
as the summer sports season draws to a close,
my thanks are extended to all parents who
attend matches, billet visiting students,
transport their own sons and, in a variety of
other ways, support Rathkeale College activities.
Rehearsals are underway for Sheilah Winn
Shakespeare and auditions all but complete for
the 2016 major production, A Mid-summer
Night’s Dream. Practices for the Annual Interhouse Haka Competition are in full swing and
that competition comes about at 2.15pm on
Thursday 24th March.
STAFF
We are fortunate to have a full complement of
committed teachers and to have new staff
comment about how pleased they are to be in
the Rathkeale environment. It is pleasing to
report that no changes are imminent.
COMMENT – SPECIAL CHARACTER
It is becoming increasingly apparent from the
Ministry of Education that there is an increasing
need for Integrated Schools to promote and live
their Special Character. We have been told the
government will be seeking a greater
discernment between what Anglican and
Presbyterian schools in particular offer that is
different to state schools. While we can claim
that reduced class sizes, our wider school
offering bringing day boys and boarders
together and the spiritual dimension are all part
of the Special Character of Rathkeale, it is how
we live our Special Character that will actually
define us. We have a Chaplain and we offer a
Religious Education programme, but it will not
be acceptable to simply default to the Chaplain
and claim that through him we can tick that box.
We will all have an increasing part to play in
living out, role modelling and promoting those
special features which actually (legally) define
the school we need to be.
The Bishop of Wellington finds considerable
favour with the schools in his diocese. He has a
strong view that students within and as they
emerge from the Trinity schools have the
potential to enrich and make a difference in the
lives of others. Of course we know he is not
referring to material wealth. He has a clear view
on the difference between Christianity and living
a virtuous life. He claims that many schools
promote virtues, even Christian virtues, but it
his vision is for Anglican schools to put
Christianity first and for all of us to consider how
we can connect with Jesus and through that
relationship live and promote the values we are
seeking our young people top aspire to.
He does not hold the view that the teaching of
comparative religion is correct for an Anglican
school. Instead he makes the claim that we need
to clearly put Christianity first and that even
those in some ways connected with other
religions will still favour an association with
Christianity rather than having nothing at all.
As we plan for the future, the Special Character
of Rathkeale will come more to the fore. Our
Strategic Plan is intended to have a new goal
and in 2016 I intend that we review what Special
Character means to us, determine if we can
measure character and therefore find out to
what extent we can identify with it. This is
important for a number of reasons apart from
the fact that we need to justify our existence.
We have been identified as a National School of
Character. We need to be able to substantiate
this claim and having some quantifiable
parameters will provide increasing credibility.
We have a community that is seeking to enroll
their sons at Rathkeale and we have a Local
Government keen to see regional growth. Part
of their plan is to make our schools more
accessible to potential families. If we are to ever
make any traction with the Ministry, we will
have to make our point of difference very
obvious.
NCEA AND NZQA SCHOLARSHIP RESULTS
Our students continue to maintain a generally high level of achievement and by national
comparisons.
Year 11 gaining NCEA Level 1 2015
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
Rathkeale
Decile 8 -10 Boys All Schools Boys
Level 1 All
Level 1 with Merit
Single Sex Boys
Level 1 with Excellence
National
Year 12 Gaining NCEA Level 2 2015
100.00%
80.00%
60.00%
40.00%
20.00%
0.00%
Rathkeale
Single Sex
All Schools
National
Boys
Boys
Level 2 with Merit
Level 2 with Excellence
Decile
8-10 Boys
Level 2 All
Year 13 Gaining NCEA Level 3 and UE 2015
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Level 3 All
University Entrance
Level 3 with Merit
Level 3 with Excellence
Rathkeale
Decile 8-10
Boys
All Schools
Boys
Single Sex
Boys
National
In Year 11 62% of the boys gained a Merit or Excellence NCEA Level 1 endorsement, in Year 12, 52%
gained a Level 2 endorsement and in Level 3 Year 13 students 21%. While the lack of Level 3
endorsements was disappointing, 81% of the Rathkeale boys gained their University Entrance.
To gain a NZQA Scholarship in any subject is an outstanding achievement and again, several Year 13
students in the Senior College have performed well. Rathkeale College and St Matthew’s Collegiate
extend congratulations to Campbell Allen-Jones (English) and William Warren (Visual Arts – Painting)
as well as four Year 12 boys, Jack Hopman (Physics), Gabriel Jacobs-Corban (Physics), Reinhard
Schwanecke (Biology), Robert Spite Physics). Their efforts are impressive. We commend Claudia
Green (Biology), Sarah Heberley (English), Victoria Leggett (Geography), Emily Watt (English) and
especially Lauren Taylor for her Outstanding Scholarship in Visual Arts – Painting. We thank these
students for setting the benchmark for our 2016 students to aspire to.
LOOKING AHEAD
To keep in touch with upcoming events, please check out our website www.rathkeale.school.nz and
to see what has taken place, https://trinitycommunity.shutterfly.com/rathkealecollege continues to
keep our community very well informed. However, for your notice:
W J Kersten (Principal)
UPCOMING EVENTS
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
∴
Tuesday March 22 Summer Sports Team Photos
Wednesday 23 March Intercollegiate Swimming
Thursday 24 March House Haka
25/26/27/28/29 March EASTER EXEAT (return to school Wednesday)
2/3/April NI SS Athletics
Friday 1/3 April Yr 12 Camp
Wednesday 6 April Yr 11 Social with St Matthew’s
8/9/10 April Rugby Camp
Sunday 10 April Rugby v St Pats Town
Monday 11 April Football Tour Group depart for Europe
Thursday 14 April Rugby v Nelson College
Friday 15 April Term I ends
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Will McMaster selected as one of 40 participants world-wide to attend International Boys’
School Coalition Student Forum in Vancouver in July.
• School Sports Champions
Category
Under 14
Under 15
Under 16
Senior
House
Athletics
Jayden Webb-Milner
Oliver Donaldson
Max Spencer and Mitchell Cockburn
Anthony Sprowson
Hillary
Swimming
Oliver Hammond
Ryan Irving
Mitchell Cockburn
Sam Hammond
Halberg
It should be noted that two top swimmers were not available for the School championships. Oliver
Donaldson and Tom Parker were competing at the National Division II Championships in Invercargill.
Recent achievements of our swimmers and athletes include:
 Max Spencer – Selected for the NZ team to attend the Oceania Youth Track and Field
Championships in Tahiti in April. Personal bests in the 800m and 1500 m events. Three
school records in the 800, 1500 and 3000m events and strong showings in Wellington region
and National Track and Field Championships
 Gerard Hickey – Selected for the NZ team to attend the Oceania Youth Track and Field
Championships in Tahiti in April. Personal best in the 800m, a school record in the High
Jump and 2nd in the National Track and Field Championships.
 Mitchell Cockburn performing in outstanding fashion on the athletics track and in the pool.
He recently posted a PB in the 50m Freestyle and placed 3rd in a Wellington Zonal swim
meet. On the track he has broken a long-standing (1970) school record bettering the
previous time of 11.80 sec by 041 in the U16 100m and taking out a first placing on the track
in the Wellington Regional athletics event.
 Oliver Donaldson gained two gold, a silver and a bronze placing at the National Div. II
Swimming Championships and two Silvers swimming as a member of the Wellington Region
Relay Team.
 Cameron Clatworthy, Joe Quinn and Blair Stirling-Walker (all Y11) and Hugh O’Donoghue
and Nathan Whiteman (Y12) are also performing well in athletics. Cameron is ranked 5th
nationally in the Hammer Throw, Blair placed 3rd in the Shot Put in the Wellington Junior
Champs and Joe has been selected into the Wellington Inter-provincial Athletics team to
compete in Dunedin.
• Vincent Capes and Harrison Pollard continue to make their mark in the NZ Power Lifting scene.
Harrison has recently equalled Vinnie’s NZ record in the squat. Both are eyeing the World
Champs in Texas.
• Michael Barrow and Ollie Lewis received their Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards
• Kelsey Fahey and Quinn Childs are Central District’s U18 Cricket representatives. Kelsey has
taken a six wicket bag and scored a century for the 1st XI in the Wairarapa Premier grade.
• Wins to Cricket and Tennis teams in the Hutt International Boys’ School Junior Exchange
• Win to the Junior Tennis team against Wanganui Collegiate School
• Matt Galyer gained second place in the Single Rise at the National Clay Target B Grade
Championships & second equal in NZ in the Junior Down the Line Competition.
• Tom McCallum, Gerard Hickey, Vincent Capes and ex-student Liam Burling all awarded Prime
Community Trust Sports scholarships.
Outstanding Principal’s Awards were presented to the following students for achieving an
Excellence grade in NCEA Level 1
George Hargood, Oscar Lau Young, Scott Morris, Max Spencer, Alexander Baker, Zachary Dewhurst,
Jack Eschenbach, Matthew Heard, Cooper Jamieson, Harry McKay, James McKenna, Jack McLeod,
William Tanner.
Outstanding Principal’s Awards were presented to the following students for achieving an
Excellence grade in NCEA Level 2 & Level 3
Stacey Allan, Cara Amy, Millie Cudmore, Mirhan Donovan, Finola O'Boyle, Ella Parkinson, Charlotte
Ross, Sarah Saunders, Emma Schdroski, Cara Sheehan, Emma Sims, Sarah Whitehead-Kai, William
Bowler, Callan Elliot, Will McMaster, Joshua Tatham, Benjamin Williams.
Academic Colours were presented to the following for NCEA Level 1 2015
Anthony Sprowson
Henry Gooding
Stephen Sprowson
Jamie Gordon
Josh Tatham
Liam Heard
Nathan Whiteman
Will McMaster
Benjamin Williams
Hugh O'Donoghue
Callum Woodhouse
Sean Percy
Angus Yeats
Callum Riach
Pranay Singh
Academic Colours were presented to the following Senior College students for NCEA Level 2 2015
Bryer Oden
Harrison Bolt
Beatrice Pearce
Troy Etherington
Caitlinn Perry
Claudia Field
Matthew Pledger
Callum Finn Reason
Tulsi Raman
Lucy Gaskin
Benjamin Renton
Maddison Green
Reinhard Schwanecke
Lucy Hewitt
Robert Spite
Jack Hopman
Lauren Tonkin
Gabe Jacobs Corban
Angus Tylee
Heejoo Jin
Abbey Wakefield
Benjamin McCook-Weir
Jacinta Ward
Bridget Milne
John Weidling
Hannah Murdoch
community
FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION
The Friends’ Association is
thrilled with the developments
that have taken place with the
bush trail and is keen to see
the work continue. Proposals
for fitness stations along the
trail are being considered as
well as the construction of
further bridges to complete
the first stage of the project.
Later in the year, a limestone
track will be constructed along
the western side of the school boundary.
The Friends have made a small contribution to an outdoor clock that will be
placed at the cricket oval and are sponsoring ten students to attend a weeklong Outdoor Pursuits Centre course in the April holidays.
The Association’s Annual General meeting has been postponed until
Tuesday 12th April. All who wish to find out more or to hear of what has
been achieved in the past 12 months are invited to attend and consider
joining a proactive group of people who are there to support the school and
have fun in the process. New members are eagerly sought and anyone
interested should feel free to contact, via the school or directly, any
member of the committee before the meeting if they wish.
Justine Seymour-Wilson - Chairperson
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
The board has completed the Ministry of Education’s requirements for
annual school reporting on student achievement and, subject to final
approval, is about to send to the Ministry the 2016 Charter containing
the its three-year Strategic Plan, a completed review on the 2015
Annual Plan (Analysis of Variance) and the 2016 Annual Plan. Please
contact the school office if you wish to have a hard or soft copy of all
or any of these sent to you.
The triennial board of trustee elections take place this year. A number
of current members will be resigning and new people will be sought.
The board views succession planning as vitally important and is
pleased to have been able to second new members in 2016. I am
pleased to advise that these people will be available for election as
parent representatives for the next three years. However, further
expertise is still sought and we will be interested in speaking to any
person interested in putting their
name forward, particularly anyone
with experience or interest in
accounting / finance, boarding,
strategic planning and marketing. A
timeline for the process will be
brought to your notice and the
elections are due to be completed
by early June.
The year has commenced well and
on behalf of the Board, I wish all
boys and their families the best for
2016.
Andrew Pottinger - Chairman
OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION
At the end of 2015 Andrew Sutherland retired as
President of the College Old Boys’ Association. He
was succeeded by Grant Harper as President with
Edward Cox (Secretary), Tim Martin (Treasurer), and
Michael Clinton-Baker, Scott Andrew, Blair Ewington
on the Committee.
Since then several meetings have been held, The
Rock Runner has been published and a number of
other initiatives embarked upon.
2016 with games in the future against other social
clubs, Old Boys’ Associations and the College.
Also on the action list is the establishment of ten
years on and thirty years on reunions. It is
anticipated that these will become automatic events
which will be held at the same time each year and
which will become a highly anticipated aspect of an
Old Boys’ life.
There is a desire for regional ROBA groups to be
established in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington and
Canterbury and also in London, Melbourne and
Sydney. This process is currently underway.
At this stage there is a desire for the Association’s
data base to be as active and up to date as possible.
Any changes may be notified via the Rathkeale
Website, Rathkeale Office or the Old Boys’ Facebook
currently managed by Blair Ewington.
In addition, under Shay O’Gorman’s focus, ROBA is
working towards the establishment of an Old Boys’
Social Cricket Club. At this stage it is hoped that the
first match for the new club will be held at the end of
The next gathering on the horizon is hopefully a
coming together in England of past tutors and of Old
Boys’ resident in Britain to coincide with the Football
tour to Europe in mid-April. Wouldn’t that be great.
Grant Harper - Chairman
from the chaplain
As I have settled into my role over the past term I
have become aware of the unique opportunity I
have been given. The students and faculty have
been very welcoming to my entire family. I can
proudly say that my children have become
adopted cousins, siblings and playmates of the
entire community. We are looking forward to
further integrating ourselves into the community
when we move into Titoki Cottage over the term
holiday. Despite the busyness of integrating into a
new school, I have been able to snatch a few
moments of contemplation.
I am frequently intrigued by the idea of wealth
and how it is perceived by society. One of the
things that has regularly interested me is the study
of how it has changed and evolved with time. At
one point in our history the person with the
sharpest stick and most effective club would have
been considered quite wealthy. He could defend
his home from attack and efficiently find food.
This leads into wealth coming from a regular
supply of food, which then evolves into the family
or group of people with the largest, most
productive tracts of land. Defence of this land
then implies that wealth could come from the
largest army and from here we get the ideas of
power. If we trickle this down through the ages
we are now examining things such as net worth,
earning potential and access to liquid assets.
However, it is easy for us to observe that wealth
does not just come in the forms of money, power,
and prestige. As we look around our communities
we can see personalities that stand out from the
crowd. Some of them distinguish themselves
through their ability to empathise with their fellow
man, or through their wisdom in difficult
situations. Others set themselves apart through
their character and charisma. These people have a
wealth of sorts, a capital that can be drawn upon
to bring into actuality their aspirations. At its
source this type of wealth stems from a more
authentic life.
Authenticity, in many ways, is the new commodity
of choice. Its impact can be felt in the
supermarket when buying organic eggs or in how
we take pride in purchasing a car that has a lighter
impact on the environment. Our family holidays
have even evolved from taking a trip to Disneyland
to packing the family away for a trip to Siberia to
eat reindeer ice-cream out of earthenware vessels
with an ancient nomadic tribe.
The implications of authenticity, in our day to day
lives and in our spiritual lives, have been on my
mind and heart since the beginning of the year.
However, it is a vague and tenuous concept to
grasp. One of the analogies I have come up with is
looking at it through my experiences as a teacher
moving throughout a school year. The beginning
of a year is full of potential for both teachers and
students. The potential opportunities and
experiences that exist in a new set of classes, and
a new job, and with new students and colleagues.
When we start something we always have the
benefit of looking forward and projecting
ourselves onto our future experiences. I have
always dreamed of all of my students Achieving
with Excellence, at the start of the year most
students would share a similar aspiration. The
antithesis of this is, of course, the end of the year,
which is what we have actually accomplished with
our new opportunities. When we look at the world
retrospectively we can be filled with feelings of
regret or varying degrees of satisfaction and
contentment.
In my experiences, although somewhat limited,
authenticity can only be found right in the middle
of the potential of what an experience can
become and the actuality of what it was. Living in
the moment. Learning to understand the impact
of our relationships on those around us. Existing
in harmony with our environment. We often
overlook these ‘moments’, the here and now of
our existence. Some of us will live in the past,
basking in the glory of who we once were or
carrying shame for our past mistakes. Some
choose instead to live for what could be, always
looking forward to the next big thing. As we go
through life, let us remember that it is through
living the moments of life that we will grow to be
more authentic people. That in these moments
we will learn to have more authentic relationships.
That in these moments we will come to
understand that our lives will have the breadth of
our pasts, the potential of our futures and the
depth of the present.
.
Dale Walterhouse
administration
It is timely to remind or clarify with all parents some matters regarding the school’s expectations:
ABSENCES
The school office must be advised of any absences and requests to leave school early or for an
appointment. Advanced requests for leave for an entire day or more must be sought from Mr
Kersten in the first instance, preferably by letter or email. Additionally, for boarders, arrangements
also need to be made with the boarding house staff.
For unforeseen absences, please phone the school office as soon as possible.
Students are expected to catch up on their work any time they have been away from regular classes
because of school trips and activities.
It is very disappointing to receive so many excuses for boys to be absent from House Competition
events. The recent swimming championships caused me considerable frustration. Please note that
boys are expected to spectate and, in the case of the upcoming Haka competition, actually
participate. Both are important and the wonderful house spirit the boys enjoy can only be enhanced
through everybody contributing and supporting their house members and friends.
VEHICLES
Students who have obtained school licences to do so may bring vehicles to school. They must be
driven responsibly and may only be parked in the main school car park.
NAMING STUDENT AND SCHOOL PROPERTY
All personal property must be named so the student can be clearly identified. Failure to do this will
impose further unnecessary costs for the replacement of items lost because we are not able to
identify the owner of items found. The same applies to student books supplied by the school.
Students who repeatedly leave their own and school property around the school will receive
impositions.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
I wish to acknowledge that our teaching programmes have not had the smoothest start to the year.
It has been very disappointing to have encountered so many technical problems as we have sought
to move our storage systems to the cloud. We have done our best to cope and I can assure you our
teachers have showed remarkable composure as they have done their best to work around the
barriers put in front of them. Please accept my apologies for these even though they have been
beyond the School’s control.
TERM DATES 2016
Term I
Sunday 31 January
Friday 15 April
Term II
Monday 2 May
Friday 8 July
Term III
Monday 25 July
Friday 23 September
Term IV
Monday 10 October
Saturday 3 December
(Easter - Good Friday 25th March, Easter Sunday 27th March, back to
school Wednesday 30th March)
FLU VACCINATIONS
These will be available to all students at school on Monday 11 April (last
week of term).
If you wish for your son/daughter to receive a flu vaccination you must
complete and return the form, which is available on our website, by
Monday 4 April. $20 for under 18, $25 over. The cost will be
disbursed.
SCHOOL LIST
School List - Each year the college produces the School List. This booklet is distributed to the school
community only for their information and use. It includes rules & regulations, phone and email
contacts for staff, Board of Trustees etc. and also a complete list of all students with their contact
details and generic information. If you do not wish to have your contact details published, please let
the college office know by Friday 18 March 2016 The booklet will be distributed with the end of
term mailing.
CYBER SAFETY PRESENTATION
Please note the advertisement regarding a presentation around Cyber Safety on Monday 11 April at
Wairarapa College. Parents/caregivers who are concerned about how their child uses the internet or mobile
phone are invited to attend the presentation. More details will follow.
academic
NCEA INFORMATION
The first submission of data to NZQA will be
made in late March. As all students will be
settled in to classes by then the data should be
accurate.
However, students in years 12 and 13 are
encouraged to log on to the NZQA website to
check entry information. Students new to NCEA
will be unable to log in and check this until early
next term once the process has been
demonstrated to them.
Data containing results is sent every 15 days so
that students can keep a close eye on their own
progress. Any questions regarding the accuracy
of results should be directed to the classroom
teacher or Mr Peter Haworth.
EFFORT GRADE REPORTS
A reminder if you have not accessed the recent
Effort Grade Report. You should have received
an email advising on how to access this
document via the KAMAR parent portal.
The web address is
http://portal.rathkeale.school.nz
You will need your username and password,
which were supplied with the email. Please
contact the school office if this is proving
difficult. Hint: copy and pasting the username
and password works best.
TERM ONE CALENDAR OF INTERNAL
ASSESSMENTS
This is now available on-line at the following
link
http://www.rathkeale.school.nz/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/Calendar-ofAssessments-Term-11.pdf
Peter Haworth - Deputy Principal
staff profiles
COADETTE LOW
Position:
HOD Agriculture
Where do you come from?
Hawkes Bay
What is your favourite food.
Depends on my mood, but chocolate would be my weakness
What are your impressions about Rathkeale?
Stunning grounds, and everyone being so welcoming
Where are some places you've travelled?
Thailand, Cook Islands, Singapore & Australia
What is your favourite thing about Rathkeale?
Atmosphere and the culture of the campus
What do you like about the Wairarapa?
Location, Weather (Summer only – Winter temperatures will
take me some time to get used to), and the wineries.
What are your hobbies?
Being outdoors, sport, shopping and relaxing with friends.
What is a surprising fact that people probably didn't know
about you?
I have a fear of falling from a height.
Favourite sporting team
All Blacks, Silver Ferns and Crusaders
ANNE PRITCHARD
Position:
Teacher Aide
Where do you come from?
Scotland
What is your favourite food.
Chocolate Cake
What are your impressions about Rathkeale?
Great students and teachers
Where are some places you've travelled?
Los Angeles, Dubai, South Africa, Europe
What is your favourite thing about Rathkeale?
The drive here, the setting, the people
What do you like about the Wairarapa?
Lifestyle, beaches
What are your hobbies?
Sewing, gardening, going to the beach
What is a surprising fact that people probably didn't know
about you?
I sing to myself all the time
Favourite sporting team
Not a big sport fan
meet the students
CRAIG BEBBINGTON
I live in Masterton and started at Rathkeale this year as a Year 9 day boy. My Dad is a
volcanologist who works at Massey University, but he spends a lot of time carrying out
his work and research overseas. Mum has been a full-time teacher, but is now seeking
relief work.
I came to Rathkeale College because being at Hadlow School had given me a good idea
what Rathkeale was about. We came to the Open Days for three years to see if
anything was changing. Every year they were different and I saw different things and
the school seemed to be getting better and better. Maybe it seemed like that because I
was keen to come. The newsletters we received also kept my family informed of all the
opportunities that were available.
I strive to excel in music and this year I am studying Grade 6 Violin. The New Zealand Suzuki Music School
holds a summer camp at Rathkeale each year and I have been one of those kids riding around the campus
when I have had some free time from my lessons. I have really enjoyed the camps and they have helped
make my music enjoyable. This year I am also learning the piano and am taking lessons from Mrs Cook. Apart
from music, I also work hard at my studies; Maths and English are important.
I am most challenged by my French studies, at the moment. I will keep trying and see how it goes. I am not
that good at sport and I enjoy participating so I guess that’s why it isn’t really a challenge for me even though I
am not a top performer.
I have been influenced greatly by music. I just enjoy it and am attracted to it, particularly classical music. I
hope to become a member of the Wellington Youth Orchestra and maybe something beyond that in the
future.
You might be surprised to know that I have a real interest in measuring. Angles and tiny distances might be
the reason why I think I would like to become a radiologist. I also have an interest in rocks which might not be
that surprising, but it is about the different shapes and colour that really interests me.
TOM MCKAY
My family lives in Alfredton where we are farming. My two brothers and I have a
great deal to do with the farm and we spend a lot of time with our parents. If it is not
out on the farm, we will probably still be outdoors going hunting or tramping or in
the sea diving. I am interested in farming, really enjoy rugby and spending time with
friends.
I came to Rathkeale College because many people from Alfredton have come and
many of them are my friends. We came to the Open Day and saw a lot that I wanted
to be part of. My Dad is an Old Boy so I guess being at Rathkeale was something our
family was hoping for. Mum is from Canterbury and like Dad, she boarded at school and it seemed likely that
we would.
I strive to excel in several areas. Sport is a passion, particularly rugby, and I have put a lot of emphasis on preseason fitness. As Deputy Head Boy I realise the importance of being a positive role model because
everything I say and do is seen and heard by others. Keeping up with my academic studies is important as I
am focused on achieving NCEA level 3 with Excellence.
I am most challenged by maintaining a balance between my work and social life. I realise this year will be
demanding and I will need to be well organised. In some ways this may be difficult but there are a number of
good reasons that give me an incentive to improve.
I have been influenced greatly by my parents. Dad says it is really important to prepare well and in sport this
means getting fit by the start of the season. They both expect me to try my hardest. I have, then whatever
happens happens and I have to decide how to respond to that.
You might be surprised to know that until the age of 8 I used to have a rag called “Waya” which I took
everywhere. I couldn’t sleep without it.
outdoor education
TRIP TO MCGREGOR FALLS, MOUNT HOLDSWORTH.
Sunday 2 February 2016
After years of talking about doing a decent tramp together with
the tramping club, Jack and I finally managed to get a date for
last Sunday. We were joined by Jack Hopman and the mercurial
Mr Nav, as well as Vicky (Mrs Nav) and a friend of hers, Emma.
This turned out to be so much more than a walk in the hills, this
was an epic struggle. After a gentle amble on the Akiwhakatu
track, we turned up onto Holdsworth Creek close to where it
joins with the Akiwhakatu River.
After about two hours of scrambling over boulders and rocks,
the route rapidly gets steeper and more challenging. The
women peeled off onto and up a spur, and headed up a rough
route onto the mountain.
The four of us and Floyd (Mr Nav’s intrepid dog) went on to
complete the climb to arrive at a rather rare place where even
the great Mr Nav had never been. It was not an easy feat to
scale several metres of rock through cascading water, at one
point requiring a rope secured by the two Jacks. Finally, we
made it to the awe-inspiring place where McGregor (whoever
he may be) must have once stood. Water cascaded fifty metres
over smooth greywacke into a magical moss-shrouded pool, in
an eerie, rarely-visited place.
This was indeed no easy trip. It was the stuff of adventure and
risk, the like of which I have not done since I was a lad. It was
great to have accompanied our Rathkeale boys on this tramp.
Marvellous.
John Gordon (Jack’s father).
science department
AG NEWS
The Agriculture Department has had a great start to the year with a $100 spot prize from PGG
Wrightsons in the Gate to Plate lamb competition in the Masterton A&P Show. Ms Low is already
thinking about growing better lambs for the 2017 competition.
BIOLOGY
The Biology Department along with support from Reinhard Schwanecke, arranged for students to
attend the Pukaha BioBlitz on Saturday the 27th. They spent a bit of time hearing about new rat
trapping technology and sampled stream invertebrates with Dr Ian Henderson from Massey
University. Jurgen found a fairly rare burrowing mayfly nymph that Dr Henderson hadn’t seen in this
stream before and there was a discussion around the naming of different species.
viva camp report
On Friday the 12th February all
30 members of Viva Camerata
were piled onto a Tranzit coach
and began the journey to the
Silverstream Retreat where we
would spend the next two nights.
The camp consisted of rehearsal
times where we learnt several
different pieces of this year’s
repertoire and had vocal training
by Mrs Thomson. We also
participated in planned activities
that enabled us to bond as a
group and a little free time to
rest.
When we first arrived at the
camp on Friday we put our bags
in our rooms and went straight to
dinner, as we arrived a little later
than originally planned. The food
at the camp was amazing and
catered for everyone’s needs.
We had a main meal and also a
dessert. After eating dinner we
met in the rehearsal room where
we were then split into random
groups to do a planned activity.
This activity was a musical jigsaw.
Mrs Eckford cut up a piece of
music that is in our Viva
repertoire and we had to put it
back together, in the correct
order. This was a challenge
especially for those new
members who didn’t have
experience reading music. It was
a great way to work together and
get to know each other a bit
more.
On Saturday morning we were
woken by the lovely sound of
Mrs. Vundy repeating over and
over
“morning,
morning,
morning” – it was time to get up
and dressed for our morning
yoga session with Tulsi. This was
a challenge nonetheless. She had
us doing yoga moves which put
your bodies in ways you did not
know were possible. It was a
great way to get the day started!
The schedule for the day was
very busy having 6 rehearsals
over the duration of the camp.
We all worked extremely hard
during these rehearsals and
made a lot of progress. After our
hard work during the day we
were rewarded with spare time.
On Saturday the weather was
beautiful, the sun was out and it
was very hot. This was the
perfect opportunity to put our
togs on and make the walk down
the hill to the river across the
road. During the short walk we
had music blaring off portable
speakers and there was so much
positive energy as at that stage
we all knew each other a little
better. Unfortunately, when we
arrived at the river it was so
shallow, the water only reaching
our knees and of course we were
unable to swim in it. This didn’t
stop us making the most of our
free time and we ended up
playing a game of cricket in the
river. This was a lot of fun and it
was great to see everyone
getting involved and having a
good time. After free time was
over we had dinner and then
another rehearsal before we
could finally retire to bed. Many
of us were very tired but that
didn’t stop us cheering on Mrs
Vundy as she took on Callum
with the water gun we had gifted
her at the Viva break up last year.
It’s not every day you see a
student get beaten in a water
fight so this was a memory from
the camp that we will all
remember.
Before we knew it, it was Sunday
- the last day of camp. Mrs
Vundy, armed with a whistle this
time, woke us up again. We then
had a meditation session with
James, Miller and Callum. This
was great! We had to lie on the
floor for around 15 minutes and
could have some more sleep.
Before we leave camp every year
we sing to the kitchen staff. We
do this to show our appreciation
for all of the hard work they put
in to ensure we don’t go hungry.
This is one of my favourite parts
of the camp and I always look
forward to singing to them. We
sang an African song, which was
upbeat and incorporated some
dance moves. It was great to see
the smiles we brought to all of
the kitchen staff. We had two
rehearsals and then it was time
to hop on the bus and make the
journey back across the
Rimutakas.
This camp was such a success. I
am so glad that my last ever Viva
camp was probably one of the
best I’ve attended since I joined
in Year 9 five years ago. For those
students who might be looking at
auditioning for Viva in the
coming years I really recommend
going for it! I auditioned at the
end of year 8, I still remember
the day the list went up and I
couldn’t believe I got in. Viva has
been one of the best aspects of
my school life at St Matthew’s, it
is full of fun, you develop your
skills musically and you form part
of a new family we like to call the
“Viva Family”. I would like to
thank all of the staff for their
hard work and making the camp
possible. Here is to a great year
ahead. Katie Conway (Year 13)
Open Day 2016
We warmly welcome parents and boys to attend our Open Day on Tuesday May
10. Below you will find details of the programme for the day. We hope you
enjoy the day and get an insight into what Rathkeale has to offer. Please register
your attendance at our Open Day. Follow the link on our website
www.rathkeale.school.nz/quick links.
Programme
9.30AM-3.30PM
Registration and School tours, which can be organised from the Trust House
Theatre Foyer at any time during these hours, accompanied by Rathkeale
students.
10.30AM & 1.30PM
Presentations in the Trust House Theatre from the Principal and Senior Staff
Information on the following specific subjects will be on display in the Trust
House Theatre throughout the day.
Academic
Administration
Boarding
Community
Performing Arts
Pastoral
Sport
Spiritual
Uniform
Outstanding Scholarship (Painting) Lauren Taylor