C Waller, Principal

Term 1 Issue 2 14 February 2020

Monday 17 February is Day 5

Year 12 (NCEA Level 1 in 2019) 10 or more Excellence grades: Marzia Mlika(10), Daneka Churchill(12), Joseph Reid (11), Alec Williams(11), Benjamin Jeffers(12), Finlay Scouller(12),Vikrant Prasad(13), Mabel Darragh (13),Riley Cook(13), Myia Bhana(14), Ashley Harvey(15), Samuel Sale (15), Natalie Keijzer(15), Andre Sadsad (15), Rachel Samuel (15), Jefritz Espinoq(16),

Hannah Goldsworthy(16), Ruby McIntyre(16), Klara Markula(17),Rosie Randall (18), Raf Salvatierra (18),Theo Tran(19),

20 or more Excellence grades: Mary Nadong(21), Amelia Holt(22), Kate Borsboom(23), Emily Croul(23), Madeline Daun-Renner(25), Charlotte Sutton(26).

Year 13 (NCEA Level 2 in 2019) 10 or more Excellence grades: Libby Owen(10), Zoe Walker(10), Piper Swanson(10), Matthew Russell(10), Isaac Tan(11), Joan Merced (11), Yumika Yamaguchi (12), Murray Gannaway(13), Blaze Thompson(13), Marat Black(13), Madeline Pastor-Pasi(13), Dakota Kahi(14), Izzy Tobeck(14), Hannah Alcoba(14),

Thomas Hassell(14), Alex Finlay(15), Dagmara Rudolph(17), Viktor Neshikj(18). 20 or more Excellence grades: Joshua Skulve (21), Joshua Jeffers (22).

Excellence Club

We were delighted to present badges and certificates at our whole school assembly to students who joined our Excel-lence Club as a result of tremendous academic results in 2020. Students become part of our Excellence Club if they get 10 or more Excellence grades in the Achievement Standards they sit in the calendar year. This year 48 students join our Excellence Club.

Swimming Sports Our swimming sports took place this week, an afternoon of fun activities for Year 9 students run by our school council. Well done to all those who competed.

Swimming Sport Results: Junior Boys Champion - Flinn Petchell Intermediate Boys Champion - Otomar Rudolph Senior Boys Champion - Alex Finlay Intermediate Girls Champion - Aiesha Hastings Senior Girls Champion - Madeleine Pastor-Pasi

Equestrian Event

Sophia Tobeck, Katya Jonkers and I (Kate Borsboom) competed in the secondary schools equestrian cup alongside our draft rider from Glenfield College, Holly Schwalger. The event was held at Papatoetoe Pony Club, which made for a long drive and an early start for all of us and our ponies. The event had two parts, a show jumping and a show hunter. Katya and Sophia did a fantastic job in the show hunter while Holly and I did the show jumping. Both the riders and the horses performed superbly, with each of us picking up ribbons and placings. Even though we didn’t place as a team, we all picked up great results individually, and we enjoyed the opportunity to represent BC. We even had some BC girls come down to support us and help out (Piper did a fantastic job of being a gate steward) and Mrs Carr also came down to offer help and support. All in all it was a fun experience, and we are all super keen to get out there again and compete in more school equestrian events this year!

Gateway Ashley Harvey and Choisy Khairani were our first 2020 Gateway students to start their placements on Wednesday, joining ten other students from Auckland schools, at the Chorus lab in Khyber Pass. They will get an overview of what it might be like to work in the telecommunications industry through hands-on network lab activities, classroom-based learning, and well supported on-job placement. The focus will be on fibre optic systems and on career options in the industry. They both thoroughly enjoyed their first day and successfully managed the public transport system which is no mean feat in Auckland. There are many other opportunities for Gateway students. Please see Mrs Jenkin in R2 if you would like to investigate a career path. jk@birkenhead.school.nz

School Publications - if you do not wish your child’s image to be used in any school publication, newsletter, yearbook, etc, please advise the school of this in writing.

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2020

TERM 1

Week 5 Wed 26 Feb Athletics Day

Fri 28 March Photo Catch-up day

Week 7 Wed 11 March North Harbour Athletics

Week 8 Tue 17 March North Harbour Swim-ming

Week 9 Mon 23 March OPC trip

Thur 26 March Progress Reports home

Week 10 Fri 3 Apr International Day

Week 11 Tue 7 April Parent evening

Thur 9 April Last day of Term 1

TERM 2

Week 1 Tue 28 April First day of Term 2

Week 3 Thu 14 May Yr11 Geo Trip

Parents Support Group (PSG)

Join our Facebook group: Birkenhead College Parents’ Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups.514617265832847/ Or Email: birkenhead.psg@gmail.com for more information. First meeting : Tuesday 18 February 7.30—9.00pm in the school staffroom, supper provided.

Athletics Day

Athletics day will be held at the Trust Arena — Henderson, Wednesday 26th February. Busses will leave 9am and arrive back 3pm. It is a compulsory day out for Yr 9-10s, senior students will need to sign-up.