Student Voice at the Ministry of Education
Digital Cross–Sector Forum
HELD AT THE PULLMAN HOTEL, AUCKLAND ON 28 JUNE 2017
A selected group of Lynfield College students were invited to showcase digital technology in a practical, hands-on format to the 200 attendees, comprising education leaders, senior MOE officials, primary and secondary school principals and leaders in digital technology.
The College was superbly represented by seven extra-curricular Robotics students who were the first speakers to address the forum, where they gave a student voice on how technology is enriching their education and how, through their involvement in the school’s VEX Robotics programme, they are being supported to be digital leaders. The aim of the forum was for people to leave with greater knowledge of digital technology and the innovation happening within education. The students were able to do this through telling their unique Lynfield College Robotics story.
The audience particularly enjoyed hearing about the different experiences of each student and the unexpected skills discovered on their individual journeys down the Vex Robotics pathway. The girls spoke about their involvement in this predominantly male dominated domain and described how this is slowly changing - at least, it has at Lynfield College Robotics. Several of the students asked why the New Zealand curriculum currently has no place for Robotics programmes and cross-curricular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) contexts, especially ones like the VEX programme which has now been adopted in several countries around the world. Each of the student’s arguments were demonstrated with many genuine examples from their own enriched learning while taking part in the College Robotics Group. They also gave examples of being part of the VEX Robotics community, working with other schools at different levels, competing against other NZ high schools and at the World Championships in America. At the conclusion of their address, the Lynfield College students received a standing ovation for the insightful reflections of their combined experiences participating in the VEX Robotics programme at Lynfield College.
This was followed by a practical, hands-on session in the forum’s ‘Tech Space’ where three Lynfield students setup and facilitated demonstrations. With six operational robots on display, many of the attendees took the opportunity to drive a robot and asked many questions of the students. Chris Hamling from Kiwibots, the NZ VEX programme partner, was also on hand to answer enquires about VEX Robotics, access in New Zealand and the benefits that schools could gain using robotics with the imminent release of the new digital technologies curriculum.
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Y11 Japanese Class Trip to Kintaro-on-Fuji Restaurant
The Year 11 Japanese class ventured into the city to sample authentic Japanese cuisine at Kintaro-on-Fuji Restaurant. A wide selection of meals was available, ranging from grilled eel to tempura udon, all well priced with more than generous portions. Students were able to put their Japanese skills to the test, not only ordering in Japanese but also by having simple conversations with the restaurant staff.
The restaurant visit served a double purpose. On their return to school the students commenced their written review in Japanese of their day out. The written text will be sent to Japan to their email buddies, while also serving as one of their two texts required for their internal assessment writing portfolio.
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Lynfield College presents Disco Inferno
Written by Justin Sepple
The show, directed by Ms Celia Nicholson with choreography by Mrs Sarah Streat and Lulu Ota, and vocal coaching from Mrs Belinda Mittermeier, is a musical set in 1976 London. The story follows the fortunes of a young guy named Jack who works in the London nightclub, Disco Inferno. One night he meets Lady Marmalade, a femme fatale and associate of the Devil. Dreaming of becoming successful, Jack makes a pact with her, trading his soul to fulfil his wildest fantasies of fame and fortune.
Jack soon becomes an international success, making appearances on radio and television shows, but he finds his success is ultimately hollow. Jack now has the fame and fortune he's always dreamed of but loses his devoted girlfriend, Jane. As his situation worsens, Jack wishes only to get his life back to the way it used to be.
Full of hits from the disco era, with large cast dance numbers performed to such classics as Celebration by Kool and the Gang, Hot Stuff by Donna Summer, Boogie Nights by Heatwave, I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor and Play That Funky Music White Boy by Wild Cherry, the show promises highly entertaining comedy, great singing and some classic disco dance moves. Disco Inferno is family friendly and suitable for all age groups.
Join the cast and boogie on down to the Lynfield College school hall for a night of full-on entertainment.
Four Evening Performances: Wednesday 28 June to Saturday 1 July
- Performance begins 7.00 pm
- Ticket sales on the door from 6.30 pm
- Doors open for audience seating 6.45 pm
- Admission: Students and senior citizens $5, Adults $10
- Refreshments will be available in the staff room at half time
Tickets are on sale at the college from 12 June
- Students can purchase tickets outside B-block at lunchtimes
- Parents can purchase tickets from Reception, eftpos available.
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| Disco Inferno Dance Troupe | Shamir Sarif as Nick, Kais Azimullah as Compere and Harry Ashley as Duke | Full cast of Disco Inferno |
Students talk about their production experience ...
Marie Dobbie: Maggie
The important message of the show I think is to appreciate what you have and don't take it for granted because money and fame come and go but the people in your life are the most important thing.
I think the dynamic of the cast and characters is something that the audience will love. We all get along really well and have fun in rehearsals with just the overall grandness of the piece. With the songs, the dancing and the quirky lines, the cast and the audience should all have a lot of fun.
I love performing in both music and acting. The rush of getting a reaction from a live audience and showing them what you have to offer brings me a lot of joy. Also, the freedom of acting and the ability to be a person completely different to yourself is just exciting and something that not a lot people get to experience.
Being in a big musical cast is amazing. You spend so much time with people you have never met or people you already know and it brings you so much closer to them. All of us are musical so there is always someone singing or dancing and it's never a dull moment in rehearsal. My favourite part, I think is just the ability to be a part of something so big and with so many people.The cast makes this experience so much fun and knowing that you are a part of something bigger is exhilarating.
Lulu Ota: Dancer and Choreographer
Production, while taking away countless lunchtimes and after school slots from the past two and a half years of my life, is an adventure that I am infinitely grateful I was brought into. Integrating into a close-knit community of fellow performers has given me the opportunity to gain valuable teamwork and leadership skills, as well as many new friends. The work required for production can honestly be tiring and frustrating at times, but it always comes together beautifully on the show nights. The experience of performing together in front of an excited audience is an unbelievable thrill that leaves everyone smiling for weeks after.
Niamh Masterson: Various roles and the Chorus
The atmosphere of working in a large cast is a fun and exciting new experience which brings together people who each have different talents but all love drama.
Brooke Gibbs: Various roles and the Chorus
Production is a really fun way to bring people who share a love for drama together. We always have lots of laughs and fun off set and it's a great way to meet new people.
James Hayes: Tom
Rehearsing the show has been a great experience; it's cool to work together as a team to make a great show that others will enjoy. I think people who go to the show will love it because of the amazing dances, amazing singing, funny characters and a great storyline. So if you’re going, I’m sure you'll love it.
Neha Khan: Dancer
This year is my first year being a part of something so huge and I am loving the experience so far! This is a great way to make new friends and create fun memories while still in college. I am really looking forward to performing on stage after all our hard work and putting on an amazing show.
Snehal Lal: Dancer
Production is a wonderful opportunity for all students to show their talents whether it be dancing, acting or singing. It's a very tiring but exciting journey and I'm so glad that I am a part of it. Show nights are always the most fun and create unforgettable memories. Once it's over, I miss the practices and the thrill I get from performing. It's a fun experience and the highlight of my year as I also get the chance to make great friends and become so close that we feel like a family.
Xinyue Zhang: Dancer
To me, production is a great opportunity to build new friendships and create unforgettable experiences. There aren’t many performance opportunities like this beyond high school so it’s definitely something worthwhile to be a part of. There may be ups and downs in the process but everything pays off in the end with four exciting and exhilarating performance nights!
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| Rachel Clarke as Jane and Joseph Peteru as Jack | Marie Dobbie as Maggie and James Hayes as Tom | Joseph Peteru as Jack | Julz Wagner and lead dancer Lulu Ota | Nathan Varney - Heathcliff and Jasmine Salamo - Kathy |
High Time for High Tea
Last week was National Youth Volunteer Week and our Year 12 and 13 Hospitality students volunteered their services by providing a serviced high tea for Age Concern members at the Glen Eden RSA. The event was able to be aligned with their Hospitality assessments.
Year 13 students prepared lemon slice, lemon and blueberry and chocolate cupcakes, mini quiches and sausage rolls as part of their Cakes, Scones, Sponges and Biscuits Assessment. Year 12 students made egg and ham club sandwiches as part of their Egg Assessment.
Entertainment was provided by three blues players and our students participated in the various activities such as line dancing. The event was a very worthwhile and enjoyable experience for both guests and students.
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New Zealand Schools Japanese Trivia Championships
The third New Zealand Schools Japanese Trivia Championships were held on Friday 16 June. The event was held at eight venues throughout New Zealand, with the Auckland event at AUT. Students from all eight regions sat the same quiz at the same time, answering questions on Japanese culture.
Lynfield College fielded a Year 9 team in the Year 9 and 10 category, finishing 9th out of 24 teams in Auckland and 19th out of 103 teams nationwide.
The evening provided students with an opportunity to use their cultural knowledge for a real purpose, mixing with other students of Japanese.
The National Project Manager of the trivia championships is Adam Burden, current Head of Japanese at Lynfield College.
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Workchoice Day 2017 Theme: Youth Employability
On Wednesday morning, 14 June, 20 senior Lynfield College students attended a programme of conference-style sessions with local employers and recruitment experts where they heard inspiring stories from employees and guest speakers. The day highlighted a variety of post-school work options and outlined a number of professions that require under-graduate degrees. It gave attendees an overview of industry training, work pathways, and highlighted the soft skills young people need to be considered employable.
In the afternoon participants ventured out for workplace experiences. One Lynfield College group visited ADT Security to see electronic communications and security systems in action within the marine sector at Westhaven Marina. A second group visited New Zealand Media and Enteretainment (NZME) where employees from three media brands, APN NZ, The Radio Network (TRN) and GrabOne work in one huge open-plan glass building. Students observed workers in radio, digital, e-commerce and print brands producing fantastic content for New Zealand audiences.
Student comments:
“I learnt about new jobs that I didn’t know existed. It is making me feel more open about jobs for the future.”
“NZME visit was really informative and I could see myself working there one day. I would suggest students definitely attend Workchoice Day next year.”
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Auckland Regional Robotics Kiwi Challenge 2017
On Saturday 10 June, the Kiwi Challenge Robotics Competition: Auckland Regional Finals were held at Lynfield College Sixteen secondary school teams competed in the three stages of this year’s Chassis Challenge.
Teams were scored points on each of the three stages:
- the speed circuit
- the bungie pull, and
- the sloped climb.
The Chassis Challenge concept was to create a robot able to participate in all three stages but also to consider the compromises that would have to be made to achieve all stages reasonably well.
Winners were announced for each stage, with a tie for the speed and bungie pull stages, and a clear winner in the climb stage. When all the points were totalled, the overall winner had failed to win any of the single stages BUT had a very good all-round robot.
The Bungie Pull section was a tie between Lynfield College Team 2915B and an independent team.
Overall winner of the 2017 Auckland Regional Kiwi Challenge was Lynfield College Team 2915A.
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| Bungie Pull Team 2915B Winners | Kiwi Challenge Team 2915A Winners |
Hitting the Hillary Trail
Our Level 2 Outdoor Education Students completed tramping and navigation assessments in the Waitakere Ranges during week 6.
Although tracks were a bit muddy, weather conditions generally were excellent and allowed stunning views all along the Hillary trail. The students navigated successfully, maintained a sustainable camp at Whatipu and prepared nutritious food.
The students are looking forward to the next steps in this assessment in August … at Piha!
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A year ago, 14-year-old Miree decided to jump completely out of her comfort zone and broaden her horizons by moving from her home in South Korea to New Zealand. She and her brother now live with relatives in the heart of Blockhouse Bay and are really enjoying the friendly atmosphere our community is so well known for. It also has the benefit of having three golf courses within a very small area – a definite bonus for someone who has been playing golf for five years and has her sights firmly set on becoming a golf pro! Miree has now completed one full school year at Lynfield College and has loved every minute of it. She finds the NZ education system provides much more freedom and flexibility even though she must attend for five full school days each week. This still leaves her plenty of time to pursue her passion to become a pro golfer, meet her school requirements and just enjoy being a teenager! At home in Korea, Miree attended school for only three days each week, spending the other two days on the golf course or driving range with her coach.She believes her golf has improved considerably since she has been able to spend three hours practicing each day after school – frequent, regular, focussed training being the key to powering along the pathway to achieving her dream of winning a Grand Slam by the time she is 25. With so many golf courses in Auckland, Miree is in the perfect place to get plenty of tournament experience in the weekends. Golf in NZ is more affordable than in Korea and always played on grass which, she says, makes it a much more enjoyable experience. Miree is a member of Titirangi Golf Club and currently has two coaches based at different golf venues. |
Youth Ambassador Delegation to Belgium
Two Lynfield College students have been selected by the Ministry of Youth Development and Veterans Affairs as Youth Ambassadors to attend the Battle of Passchendaele Centenary in Belgium on 12 October this year.
Congratulations to Brecon Dobbie and Shard Hubbard, who are both very excited to be the lucky recipients!
The delegation departs in late September and will be away for approximately three weeks, accompanied by representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force. The students will take part in a two-day team building workshop in June, where they will learn more about the trip and how they may contribute as Youth Ambassadors.
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| Brecon Dobbie | Shard Hubbard | Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres, Ypres Salient, Belgium Photo Credit: Mat McLachlan Battlefield Tours |
Trio Con Fuoco success at the Auckland Finals
Stefenie Pickston: Clarinet | Emily Liston: Clarinet | Nancy Sun: Piano
After superb performances by these three very talented students, they were awarded Highly Commended at the Auckland Finals of the NZ Community Trust Chamber Music Competition.
This award places them in the top five of 113 entries. They are now eligible for selection for the Regional Finals. It is a huge achievement for the group and their director Mr Donald Nicholls.
You can watch the Trio Con Fuoco performance at the District Round by following this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHIT2bxc3NU
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Play it Strange - Who Loves Who Competition 2017
Three Lynfield College entries were finalists in this competition which is an opportunity for Year 9 – 13 students to celebrate New Zealand music by recording their own unique and evocative interpretation of a New Zealand song. The tracks are professionally mastered at Kog Studio and put on the Play it Strange website.
Congratulations to:
Andrew Isdale and Jia Dua: 'Maybe'
Irisha Inamke and Rachel Clarke: 'Dirty Love'
Thailesha Tamapolu, Rose Faautaga, Karen Polamalu, Chantelle D'Souza and Kalolaine Latu: 'Kings and Queens'
Language Perfect World Championships 2017
Congratulations to Lynfield College, the winners of the Language Perfect World Championships NZCLTA Award for the Top School for Chinese in the NZCLTA network for 2017!
This is the fourth consecutive year that our Languages Department has achieved this outstanding result.