September 2024

Germany Exchange 2024

On Friday 20 September, 21 students from across all year levels accompanied by three teachers embarked on a three week journey to Germany. For the first time since the pandemic we were able to visit the Ernst Haeckel Gymnasium and continue our exchange programme that has been going for 20 years.

In the first week we joined our hosts in their classes, experiencing the German High School life, participating in workshops about history, music and sport. We explored Potsdam and Berlin, learning about former emperors, the second world war and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

The second week was spent travelling to Dresden and Prague, visiting some great architectural places like the Frauenkirche, the Opera house, the castle in Prague and the concentration camp in Terezin. While in Dresden we were joined by Ms Knell for a few days, before traveling to Prague.

In our last week we returned to our hosts, continuing with more projects, for example a Claude Monet exhibition, Cold War Spy Museum and Allied museum.

A big thank you to Frau Wradatsch, Mr Winn and Ms Hunt for all the work they put in to make it happen. We had a fantastic time and experience.

NEXT TRIP 2026!

Congratulations to Kevin Zhang On Sunday 15 September, Kevin competed in the College Sport Swimming Individual Championships held at the West Wave Pool in Henderson. He was entered in the 100m and 200m Freestyle as well as the 200m Individual Medley. Kevin came away with a gold medal in each of the events he entered.

NZSS Winter Tournament Week 2024

The winter sports season wrapped up with NZSS Tournament Week (1 - 6 September). This year seven Lynfield teams competed in various tournaments, playing schools from all over New Zealand. 

The experience for the players is far greater than just the time actually playing the games. It is a unique and invaluable opportunity for many of our best sportspeople to be part of the intensity of a top-level competition, day in, day out for a week and also to share the highs, lows and fun with other like-minded players and school mates. There were several Year 9 and Year 10 students in our teams which sets us up well for the future. 

Every one of our players represented our school with pride and determination to give their best 100% of the time they were on the field/court/turf/ice. Every one of our teams learned so much - about their skill sets, game play and themselves. Very special thanks to all the coaches and other adults involved. Without these dedicated people our teams would never have had this experience. Then there were the supporters who travelled to watch and support from the sideline ... thank you so much. The players and coaches really appreciated it. 

This year’s tournament results were: 

Premier 1 Netball: 6th in Upper North Island Secondary Schools B grade (116 teams from 116 schools competed at Waitakere) 

Curling Blizzards: 9th in North Island Secondary Schools champs
Curling Frosties: 10th in North Island Secondary Schools champs 

1st XI Girls Football: 13th in Maurice Hulme Tournament (32 teams competed at Rotorua) 

1st XI Boys Football: 27th in Malcolm Cowie Tournament (32 teams competed in Whangarei) 

1st XI Boys Hockey: 10th in Olympic Stick Tournament in North Harbour 

1st XI Girls Hockey: 26th in Mary Clinton Tournament in North Harbour

Year 11 Visual Arts Painting Students 

Year 11 Visual Arts Painting students are working on the Level 2 Achievement Standard. The students have researched cultural patterns related to their heritage and are now working to paint these on a panel into a composition of their design.

University of Auckland Economics Competition Congratulations to Evan Huang, Year 13, who achieved Distinction in the University of Auckland Economics competition. And HUGE congratulations to Rocco Gough and Neil Sarma, Year 12, who both achieved High Distinction. Neil came 15th out of around 1500 competitors!

Evan Huang 13 PHP

Rocco Gough 12RST

Neil Sarma 12JCS

9IL Beekeeper visit 

We were very lucky to have a visit from Ken Brown from the Auckland Bee Society to discuss with the students the importance of Bees in relation to our current topic of sustainability. Ken was all geared up in his Beekeeper suit and the students got to see a real-life Beehive, minus the bees. Ken shared his knowledge about the importance of bees, how they work and some humorous characteristics: https://aucklandbeekeepersclub.org.nz/ 

Youth Vaping Awareness Week 

On Wednesday 4 September, we visited the Ficklings Convention Centre in Mount Albert to participate as student voices on a panel advocating for a vape-free New Zealand. The event was organised by our local MP for the Puketapapa district, Dr Carlos Cheung. We were allocated 10 to 15 minutes to share our perspectives on youth vaping, during which we presented anecdotes, observations, and personal opinions. 

Following our segment, Dr Kelly Burrowes, an Associate Professor at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute, delivered a presentation on respiratory health and the studies she does. Vape-Free NZ also had two speakers who shared insights on offering practical advice and strategies to help our youth make informed choices and avoid the potential harms of vaping. 

After the presentations, the room was opened to questions from the audience. We addressed relevant questions directed towards us, contributing to the discussion on the impacts of vaping among youth while also addressing the need for support for students who were directly affected by this issue or were looking to quit. We were kindly supported by Ms Knell and were pleased to attend. 

Alina Murumkar, Deevya Shah, Kirat Kaur, Sumedha Singaraju

Sascha Oldehaver: Guest Speaker
Lions Club of Blockhouse Bay – Lynfield

What a pleasure last night to have as our guest speaker Sascha Oldehaver, an inspirational student from Lynfield College, talking about her life's challenge of living with type one diabetes but not letting it define her as she actively seeks to gain leadership knowledge and be an example to others, acting as a coach in several sports and Pacific affairs. Lions Club of Blockhouse Bay - Lynfield is pleased to part sponsor Sascha to attend the Future Leaders Academy in Rarotonga. Watch out to see more of this young lady. Pictured here President Janelle Collins presents Sascha with a certificate of appreciation for her talk, which left Lions and guests overwhelmed with her ability, charm and positivity.

Subash Chandar K from InfinityPlusOne Visit

This afternoon, (5 September), I had the pleasure of visiting Lynfield College and was truly amazed by the long queue of students who stayed well after school just to get their calculators, books, robot parts, and bags signed and to take photos. It was a special surprise to see a good friend’s daughter, who I remember as a toddler some 13 years ago! I even got to FaceTime a student who was at a tournament, thanks to his mates, and endorsed Cyrus for Student Exec 2025. I'll always treasure the thoughtful sunflower a student made for me, and a big thank you to Lynfield College and the Academic leaders for the epic mug. Plus, the infinity cupcake was so good! Till the next time folks!

Infinity+1: https://youtube.com/@infinityplusone?si=JxXLWlNy9JfdO_kQ

Facebook post: https://m.facebook.com/theinfinityplusone/

Looks like this event with Subash Chandar K
from Infinity+ was enjoyed by everyone!

Subash is a former Maths teacher who did lots of innovative work using digital platforms as his main pedagogical process, ideas he generously shared with the Maths teacher community over the years which became necessary tools and resources during lockdowns. Great that he has created a successful youtube platform that the nation’s students feel is supportive to them. Well done, Rishitt and team!!

Ms Kristelle Varney | Member of the Lynfield College School Board

Fiona Siaopo Year 13 Following our Premier 1 Netball teams achievements at the UNISS Tournament, Fiona has been chosen as a part of the UNISS B Grade Tournament team! This team is a selection of the best players from all 32 teams in the B Grade section. Congratulations Fiona.

Theo Hill Year 12 Theo was selected to compete in the ITF Taekwondo Nationals which were held in Palmerston North from 31 August to 1 September. Theo competed in the Male Junior Heavy 6th-5th Group Division and came away with a Silver Medal! Congratulations on your hard work and effort Theo.

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori 2024

Te Wiki o te Reo Maori is an annual celebration for all New Zealanders to show their support for the Maori language, an official language of this country.

Under enduring pressure te reo Maori has shown it will adapt and survive. It grows with our people, our culture and our environment. Join us this Maori Language Week to celebrate. 

Lynfield College Maori Language Week Celebrations

Te Wiki O Te Reo Māori 

Tena koutou katoa, He nui nga mahi i tenei wiki ki te whakanuia te kaupapa o te wiki o Te Reo Māori! Ake, Ake, Ake! 

At Te Kaareti o Pukewiwi (Lynfield College) we have had a multitude of celebrations for Māori language week. 

From Paraoa Parai to Māorioke, whakataetae, panga, wero, kaiako and akonga quizzes, kapa haka performances, poi, rakau and many other activities using and learning Te Reo Māori. 

He mihi maioha ki nga kaiako me nga akonga I awhinatia i te wiki nei. Thank you to all kaiako, in particular the Māori focus group and Young Māori Leaders for your efforts, you are all appreciated, hei mahi tahi! 

Kia kaha Te Reo Māori!

About Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

Māori Language Week has been celebrated in Aotearoa since 1975. This special week is an opportunity for the concentrated celebration and promotion of te reo Māori, helping to secure its future as a living, dynamic, and rich language. 

In the mid-20th century, there were concerns that the Māori language was dying out. The future of te reo Māori was the subject of a Waitangi Tribunal claim in 1985. The tribunal’s recommendations led to far-reaching legislative and policy changes. Māori became an official language of New Zealand in 1987. Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori was established in the same year to promote te reo. 

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is part of a broad Māori language revival programme and raises public awareness for Māori language learning and public usage. Mahuru Māori is an initiative begun in 2017 to promote the use of te reo Māori throughout September. The campaign is an essential part of achieving the goal of one million speakers of te reo Māori in 2040.

Content credit: https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/National-events-and-the-NZC/Te-Wiki-o-te-Reo-Maori