Campion College Newsletter

KARAKIA

Loving God,

You have made each of us unique, with different gifts to share.

As St Paul reminds us, though we are many, we are one body.

Help us to recognise the gifts in ourselves and in others,

and to use them for the good of all.

Amen

A WORD FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Tēnā koutou parents, students, staff, and whānau,

There is a lot more singing than usual happening around Campion College at the moment!

On the final Friday of term, we will hold our first Campion College House Singing Competition. Each House has chosen two songs, one a hymn and the other a song of their choice. I am sure there are some students who cannot wait to perform and others who are wondering how they have found themselves singing in front of the rest of the College. That is partly what I love about the idea.

In a choir, not everyone has the strongest voice. Some will naturally sing loudly and confidently, while others will be much happier blending into the group. Yet every voice matters. The challenge is not for everyone to sound the same, but to listen to one another, find your place and contribute to something that no individual voice could create alone.

There is something in that which speaks to who we are as a Catholic community. St Paul writes about us being many parts of one body. We are not all called to be the same or to contribute in the same way. God has created each of us differently, with our own strengths, gifts and personalities. What matters is how those differences come together and the contribution each person can make.

We have had a wonderful reminder of those different strengths over these final weeks of term. Last week, students represented Campion at Secondary Schools Tournament Week. This week, our AIMS Games competitors are doing the same, some as part of a team and others competing individually. Next week, our Junior Arts Night will give another group of students the opportunity to share their talents through visual art, music, drama and kapa haka.

Individual excellence absolutely deserves to be celebrated. It takes courage, discipline and commitment to pursue something you are passionate about and test yourself against others. Yet even our individual competitors and performers carry a community with them: their whānau, coaches, teachers, friends and College.

I think there is a lovely balance in this. We want our rangatahi to discover their own voice, recognise what they are good at and have the confidence to pursue it. We also want Campion to be a place where those different voices and strengths can sit comfortably alongside one another.

So, when our four Houses stand up to sing on the final Friday of term, I will certainly be listening to see who our guest judges crown our first House Singing champions. But I will also be looking at several hundred amazing young people, with all their different personalities, abilities and interests, finding a way to contribute their voice.

Yours in Christ

Karyn Sadler

Tumuaki - Principal

TOURNAMENT WEEK

Our Senior A Netball Team represented Campion College with pride at the Upper North Island Secondary Schools Tournament in Hamilton. Competing against strong opposition and in some challenging weather conditions, the team showed determination, resilience and great teamwork throughout the week.

The girls finished 24th overall, five places higher than last year, a result that reflects the significant growth they have made both individually and as a team. Throughout the tournament, they continued to compete hard, support one another and remain composed, even when faced with some very physical opposition.

It was particularly pleasing to see the confidence and development within the team. Their commitment to one another, willingness to keep working and positive attitude were evident throughout the week. Just as importantly, they represented Campion exceptionally well both on and off the court and were a fantastic group to take away.

Tournament Week takes a significant commitment from the adults who make these opportunities possible. A very big thank you to Lara Gillies and Raquel Parsons for the time, care and support they gave our students, not only during the tournament but in preparing the team for the week.

We are very proud of what this team achieved, the progress they have made this season and the way they represented Campion College. Well done to everyone involved.

HOCKEY

Campion College Hockey travelled to Wairarapa for Winter Tournament Week, competing in the Woolaston Trophy and finishing 9th overall. The team recorded two 2–0 wins over Glenfield and an impressive 8–0 victory over Matamata. They also faced eventual tournament winners Okaihau/Northland College, who proved a strong challenge.

It has been a season that has tested the team’s depth, with injuries and player changes providing opportunities for others to step up. Our wāhine toa became the backbone of the team, while Jahnu Gouws joined the side for Tournament Week and made a valuable contribution.

Coach Matt King was particularly proud to see the players taking greater ownership on the turf, with the attack, defence and leadership groups discussing the game, making decisions and working together.

A special moment came before the final game when Lytton High School joined Campion in performing Paikea to acknowledge our three leavers, Aliyah Lardelli, Nadia Beard and Paige Brown, before their final Tournament Week game.

A huge thank you to Coach Matt King, Team Manager Cath Swann and Assistant Coach Sheree Dever, as well as the parents, whānau and supporters who made the week possible. Thanks also to SeeKa, Gisborne Auto Services and Cookie Time for their generous support. Well done to the whole team on a great week of hockey and a season to be proud of.

EQUESTRIAN

Congratulations to Shannon Kanz, who represented Campion College at the North Island Secondary Schools Equestrian with her horse, Hank. Shannon had a fantastic week of competition, placing 6th and 7th in her two showjumping rounds from fields of 25 riders. She also produced a brilliant clear round in arena eventing, finishing 16th in a large field, and another beautiful clear round in Show Hunter, placing around 15th from approximately 50 riders.

Equestrian requires an enormous amount of work behind the scenes. It is not simply the few minutes spent competing, but the preparation, care and commitment involved in looking after and working with a horse every day. What makes Shannon’s achievement particularly special is that she has had Hank since he was first backed and has done the mahi to develop him herself. A great week of determination, grit and some very impressive results. Well done, Shannon and Hank!

CONGRATULATIONS, ALIA

Congratulations to Alia Sims, who has been elected as our new Student Representative on the Campion College School Board. We look forward to having Alia’s voice and perspective around the Board table.

A huge congratulations also to Charlotte Kingsford and Madeleine Poulter, who were nominated for the position. We are very fortunate to have such capable young people willing to put themselves forward and represent their fellow students.

Finally, a big thank you to Rewi Nankivell Jr for his commitment and contribution as our Student Representative over the past year. We have really valued having Rewi’s voice around the Board table and thank him for the way he has represented our students and our College.

Congratulations to you all.

JUNIOR ARTS NIGHT

Our Junior Arts Night is almost here! Join us next Tuesday and Wednesday, 15 and 16 September, for an evening celebrating the creativity, talent and hard work of our junior students.

The evening will begin at 6.25 pm in the College car park with an official welcome, before our students take you through a showcase of visual art, music, drama and kapa haka. They have been working hard to prepare a varied programme, and we are looking forward to seeing them share their learning and talents with whānau.

Tickets are $5 per person, with numbers limited to 100 each night, so make sure you secure your place. Come along, support our junior students and enjoy a great evening of entertainment as we celebrate the Arts at Campion College.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Artwork created by Holly Somerton

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN TECHNOLOGY?

This term, our Level 2 and 3 Food Technology students have been exploring the complex processes involved in dessert making, with the goal of creating a Lemon Meringue Pie entirely from scratch. The results were impressive, with students developing a range of valuable skills along the way. There are definitely some star bakers amongst us!

Our Level 1 Food Technology students have been developing their skills in cake design and making as part of their internal and external assessment work. Students identified a stakeholder, designed a cake to meet their needs, and gathered feedback to refine their designs and techniques. The past few weeks have involved plenty of creativity, problem solving, hard work and, of course, sugar, with a few baking disasters along the way!

Last week, our World of Wearable Arts students had the opportunity to put their learning about Design Principles into practice. We were fortunate to have Shay Podjursky join the class and guide students in creating their own floral art designs using the principles they have been exploring. Students were highly engaged, creative and thoroughly enjoyed this hands-on learning experience. A big thank you to Shay for sharing her time and expertise with us!

FUTURE PATHWAYS

It has been another busy week for our Future Pathways students, with plenty of opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and contribute to our wider community.

Two of our Gateway students involved in the GRIP programme at The Warehouse have been hard at work sorting books into categories, including adult fiction, adult non-fiction and children’s books.

Another group visited Gisborne Engineering, where they were able to see the finished product they have been working on, now ready to be presented to the College. It has been great to see the project come together and for our students to experience the process from planning through to a completed product.

This morning, another group of Gateway students volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, tackling the rather impressive job of sorting many, many, many boxes of donated coat hangers into colours, ready for sale!

These experiences are an important part of our Future Pathways programme, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills, experience different workplaces, contribute to our community and begin exploring where their own future pathways might take them.

TERM 4 SCHOOL EXAMS

Our Year 11–13 school examinations will take place from Monday 12 October to Thursday 15 October. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and ensure students know the day and time of each of their exams.Important information:

If you are timetabled for two exams in the same session, please see your Learning Mentor or Mrs Hyland by Thursday 10 September.
Exams can only be sat at the times stated on the examination timetable. Please check with your teachers if you are unsure of your exam dates or times.
Any application for a variation to an exam time or day must be made to Mr Deane by Thursday 10 September.
(D) indicates a digital exam and (P) indicates a paper exam.
All examinations will be held in the Gym.
Students must arrive at the Gym 15 minutes before their examination begins.
Correct school uniform must be worn.
Each examination session is three hours, and students may use the full three hours if they wish.
Students must remain in the examination for a minimum of one hour per standard.

During the examination period, Year 11–13 students are not expected to be at school unless they are sitting a timetabled examination or choosing to study onsite.

Students who choose to study at school must be in correct school uniform and must sign in and out at the school office.

We encourage all students to check their examination timetable carefully, prepare well, and speak with their teachers if they have any questions or concerns.