This archive contains the following articles
Tyla returns from Touch World Cup
15 July 2011
Tyla Nathan-Wong, Year 12, reflects on her experience, in Edinburgh, as a member of the New Zealand Womens Touch Team competing in the Touch World Cup:
The Touch Blacks – Women’s team made the Grand Final against Australia. In our team warm up before the game I was extremely nervous. I scored the very first touch down of the game, this helped settle my nerves but only slightly. The half time score was 3 – 2 to Australia. Losing 5 -3 to Australia at the final whistle was heart breaking but coming home with a Silver Medal at a World Cup is still a huge achievement.
Going to the Touch World Cup was the best experience ever. I was able to compete against the best players in the world at the highest level. I also made a lot of new friends from different parts of the globe creating memories that I will cherish for ever. The scenery in Scotland was amazing, it was like you were looking at a picture. All though we didn’t win the 2011 World Cup we will definitely have a good chance at beating Australia once and for all and bringing home gold in 2015.
Pink Ribbon Breakfast
14 July 2011
The idea for this occasion came from our inspirational Technology Faculty leader, Yvonne Townsend. Our Year 13 Advanced Hospitality classes plan, prepare and present two special occasions, focusing on the creative aspect of food preparation and presentation. With the supporting planning, budgeting and evaluation, these 2 units are worth a total of 10 level 3 credits.
In past years the event has been a final graduation dinner for 40 guests, but this year with the change in term dates and with Breast Cancer being close to all of us, it was decided to participate in the Pink Ribbon Breakfast Campaign.
The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) is a not-for-profit, non- government funded charitable trust and is totally reliant on grants and donations. It is one of the charities the student council supports with other fund raising events during the year. So our breakfast was another way Lynfield College could support this foundation.
Who could have thought a school corridor could be turned into a restaurant. After the students had finished setting it with pink balloons, flowers, and brightly coloured table settings, it certainly didn’t look like D block. It meant students had to be committed, by working late and starting early in the morning, but all of them were incredibly proud of what they achieved and learnt about event planning and management while guests enjoyed good company, good food and great coffee.
Enrolment Process Underway for 2012
8 July 2011
 Keith Fletcher from the Student Executive with some of the Year 12 ambassadors who have proudly shown visitors around our school. |
This week Lynfield College has held 4 highly successful tours of the school, during class time. These gave prospective students and their parents a chance to look around the school during a normal school day.
Over 40 Year12 ambassadors showed over 220 visitors around the school. Visitors were able to ask to see specific areas of the school. These tours during school time are unique to Lynfield College and illustrate our openness and confidence in our students when visitors are in the school.
Further opportunities will be available to see the school at the Information evening on Monday 11 July in the school hall at 7pm. This will involve visits to Technology, Science, Art and Learning Support areas. |
We have also decided to offer tours of the school at 4pm each Thursday during Term 3. (August 4,11,18,25, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, October 6) No appointment is necessary, just turn up at the school reception area. Each tour will take 40-50 minutes.
Brain Bees Buzzing
6 July 2011
Lynfield students have again participated in the Brain Bee Championship and with significant success.
Launched in 2007, the Brain Bee Championship attracts some of New Zealand's brightest Year 11 students, challenging them in subjects about the human brain and neuroscience. The first round of this year's North Island competition involved almost 1200 students from Whangarei to Wellington.
Akash Charles, Tim Hight, Kevin Yu, Lydia Choo, Holly Sun and Bryan Chong of 11ME excelled in the first round and attended the North Island finals on Tuesday 27th June at The University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. There were 150 students from 44 schools participating in person at the North Island finals.
Teams and individuals were tested on topics such as intelligence, memory, emotions, sensations, movement, stress, ageing, sleep, addiction, Alzheimer's and stroke. It was a very exciting day, with the pressure of the competition off set by opportunities for teachers and students to talk to scientists at the University and take part in laboratory visits.
All students did an excellent job of representing Lynfield College, Tim and Lydia got through to the individual finals, with Tim coming 5th and Lydia 8th overall.
Enrolments For 2012
Over the next two weeks enrolment activities will give all interested students and their families plenty of opportunity to learn about life at Lynfield College.
Our Ambassador Coordinators on Student Executive have been ensuring that the Year 12 Ambassadors are well-prepared to assist the Student Executive in showing families around our school.
Tuesday 5 July: Guided tours of the College at 11.00am and 4.00pm
Wednesday 6 July: Guided tours of the College at 11.00am and 1.30pm
Monday 11 July: Information Evening in the College Hall, 7pm
Enrolling for 2012:
Tuesday 12 July to Friday 15 July: Daily enrolment sessions (for Home Zone students and Out of Zone students categories 2,3,4and 5) 9.30am to 11.00am and 3.15pm to 4.30pm
Evening enrolment sessions on Tuesday 12 and Thursday 14 July, 7.00pm to 8.00pm
Saturday 6 August: enrolment session 9.00am to 12 noon
Successful Category 6 Out of Zone Year 9 enrolments will be taken in September following the ballot date. Details will be mailed to successful applicants.
A detailed description of the enrolment process, particularly in relation to applications for enrolment from outside the Home Zone is available here.
Leadership Training in Woodhill Forest
June 30 2011
Young people may have leadership potential but it is the opportunity for training during their schooling that gives them a greater chance to be effective school leaders in their senior years.
On June 14 32 students - a group of Year 9 form class representatives along with Year 11 student council representatives - spent the day in Woodhill Forest as part of the leadership programme. There were problem solving challenges to meet, and the physical and emotional demands of a high ropes course to navigate.
Teacher in charge of Junior Leadership, Rachel Bennett, was impressed with the enthusiasm of the students who rated the experience "Fantastic!"
Baristas Take Gold
This year's Secondary Schools' Barista Competition was held at Manukau Institute of Technology on Wednesday 29 June. It was an important day for Lynfield's two chosen contestants Shannon Armstrong and Soroush Dousti, who had trialled at school to enter and had spent hours ensuring they would be competition-fit.
Training involves learning not only the technical skills of the Barista, but also the ability to work under the pressure of time, and to function mentally even though your hands are shaking with nerves and a judge is looking over your shoulder! The boys prepared for this by establishing a competition routine. The highest technical skills became so familiar that under pressure they could automatically work to the routine.
It all paid off as both boys were awarded gold medals.
As another student reports:
"We were sitting nervously in the awards ceremony, watching all the other participants collect their awards, wondering if a mistake had been made, and not daring to hope for gold two years in a row. Mrs Weeks had prepared the boys by talking about the importance and focus of preparation. That is the most important reward. The personal gains were achieved by putting themselves forward to be judged, and other students who have done this realise that only courageous students enter competitions.
Then the runner-up was announced as Shannon Armstrong with a score of 94.5%, and the winner as Soroush Dousti with a score of 95.5%. We were all excited but also humbled."
Gifted Awareness Week
June 19 2011
Esther Zhuang, the student representing the Language and Languages Faculty on the Academic Council reports:
Gifted Awareness Week was held on 10-17 June, and the Academic Council found a no-brainer way to raise awareness, and maybe even raise the IQ in the school- advertising and giving out free food! The food was of course brain superfoods, with 7 of them being blended into a milkshake.
Cashews, olive oil, blueberries, bananas, spinach and yoghurt and milk were all served as a smoothie to students on Thursday lunchtime outside the D cafe, with a prize of antioxidant rich dark chocolate being offered to the students who correctly guessed the smoothie ingredients.
This idea went down smoothly with everyone, with the Council running out of milkshakes in minutes! Everyone submitted their guesses, and the event was enjoyed by all.
Year 13 Careers Day
June 19 2011
On Thursday June 9 Year 13 students participated in the annual Careers Day.
A motivational talk from a past student Darren Morton, speaking about his interesting and varied ‘Career Story’ to date, began the day. Clear messages were gained by the year group regarding the need to be a good communicator and networker these days.
The whole year group then attended the Auckland Careers Expo where major education providers and business sectors were represented.
Our students were inspired, connected and enabled in practical ways to explore, choose and plan their careers for the future.
Air New Zealand Work Experience
June 17 2011
Two senior students, Hardeep Singh and Shomal Kumar, have taken the opportunity to gain work experience through the GATEWAY programme at Air New Zealand Technical Operations. They work every Wednesday for 10 weeks and the photos below give a little insight into their working environment.
The boys are gaining knowledge and understanding of the aeronautical engineering industry. As a result they will be a good position to make an informed decision as to whether this is a realistic and attractive future career direction or not.
"Guys and Dolls" Tickets now Available
 Rehearsals are well-advanced and the students involved are looking forward to opening night of this year's musical production. Tickets can be purchased at the college. |
Culinary Fare Successes
June 15
The Technology Faculty reports on a successful Culinary Fare competition:
After weeks of honing their skills four hospitality students (Elizabeth Roud, Keith Fletcher, Hannah Schwarz & Kris Ulibas) met at Lynfield College on a misty Saturday morning. Equipment was packed and coffees were consumed then it was into a 3 car convoy off to the AUT culinary school in the city. After losing Hannah on the way and some stressing from Mrs Weeks all the students were registered and the Static (made at school) entries garnished on time. From there we watched the judges with very serious faces, weighing, measuring, tasting and consulting over the entered products.
All the while Keith (the only one in a live cooking competition) got more and more nervous. Once Keith’s heat came up it was business time and he didn’t fail to impress. After the minor setback of reducing his sauce to a cinder(one of the major components of his meal) and a lot of stressing from Mr Davis he came back to present two amazing dishes. This was all done and dusted by 10.30am and results were not released until 3pm so as you can imagine, a nervous wait ensued.
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At the prizegiving there was mention of a 99/100 mark, a mark so rare the head judge had seen it less than half a dozen times in his 30 year judging career. The results for the Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins were given first and Elizabeth’s name was called out to receive a Gold medal. Then Keith was called to receive a silver medal for his effort and 2nd overall in points (not too bad for someone who burnt the sauce) and then it was on to the Quiches. Hannah was called up to receive a Gold for her smoked bacon, leek and Portobello mushroom quiche.
Then Kris was called up to receive his Gold with the overall mark of 99/100 for his Asparagus two ways and smoked salmon Quiche. |
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These results had the four of them bouncing off the wall with due reason. A great haul and four deservedly proud Lynfield College students.
Results:
Elizabeth Roud- Raspberry and White Chocolate Class- 91/100- Gold
Keith Fletcher-Live Salmon Dish- 86/100- Silver
Hannah Schwarz- Quiche- 94/100- Gold
Kris Ulibas- Quiche- 99/100- Gold
Tyla Nathan-Wong NZ Touch Black
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13 June 2011
Tyla Nathan-Wong heads off overseas to the Touch World Cup on Wednesday as the youngest member of the “Touch Blacks” – The New Zealand National Women’s Touch team.
The World Cup is being held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 22 – 26 June.
Tyla (age 16 years) is New Zealand’s youngest female representative to date at any Touch World Cup. During the 5 day competition, 28 countries will compete for the World Cup Gold.
We all wish Tyla the very best for this remarkable achievement. |
Two Lynfield Students Selected for New Variety of Choir
June 13
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Mele Fangaloka, Year 11, has successfully auditioned for a new youth choir called Variety Voices. This choir has been recently established by the well-known and highly effective organisation Variety - the Children's Charity.
Mele is one of 42 young people aged between 7-18 years who will come together in Variety Voices; the first rehearsal was held last week.
Zion Faletolou, Year 11, was also offered a place in the choir but unfortunately had to decline due to prior music commitments.
The Variety website explains more about the new choir :
http://www.variety.org.nz/variety-voices-xidc86669.html
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YES to Business Students
June 8 2011
A Lynfield College Young Enterprise Scheme team has gained second place in the Waitakere regional finals.
Team Esperenza was complimented for the authenticity of its product. Esp-ring is a metal earring attachment with several spikes, which once attached, gives the effect of having several earrings on at the same time (without needing several piercings). The target market is, of course, teenagers who love to wear several earrings in each ear. the product has attracted a lot of attention from potential investors and customers. One of the Waitakere judges has already met with the team and offered to be the students' business mentor and Regional Director.
Two Lynfield College teams made it to the Waitakere Region finals. The Year 12 and 13 business students particpate in the Young Enterprise Trust and Lion Foundation scheme each year; this is the experiential component of the Business Studies course.
Esperanza can look forward to exciting times ahead! The Team is pictured with teacher Mr Neil Waddington (second from right), and the judges at the Waitakere YES oral presentation finals
Katie Bowen NZ Football Fern
June 7 2011
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Year 13 student, Katie Bowen, has been selected for the New Zealand Women's Football Team to compete in the World Cup in Germany.
12 years of dedication to her chosen sport has paid off many times for Katie but this is the pinnacle thus far.
TVNZ Sports News last night featured Katie and the item can be viewed at
http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/teenagers-bolt-into-ferns-cup-squad-4211335/video
The Football Ferns leave for Germany on June 11, playing warm-up matches in Switzerland against Wales, Columbia and Denmark.
The World Cup begins on June 27.
New Zealand have been drawn in a tough pool alongside Japan (June 28), England (July 2) and Mexico (July 6) in group B. All three matches will be shown live on Sky Sport.
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Surgery Up Close for Two Students
June 4 2011
Choosing a career path in medicine is a dream for a number of students; being able to shadow surgeons and trainee doctors for several days brought the dream a little closer for two Lynfield College students.
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Through the Gateway programme students get a chance to explore potential career options. Neha Farook was one of two students who went to Middlemore Hospital and over the course of three days they observed staff at work in operating theatres. They also met a sixth year medical student who was very helpful in terms of explaining career and study paths within medicine. Neha has written a full report on her Gateway experience at Middlemore; it is clear that she now has a real appreciation of what a medical career could involve. The Middlemore staff who welcomed the girls and shared their days with them have played a crucial part in Neha's decision-making - she is now committed to making her dreams come true. |
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