C Waller, Principal

Term 2 Issue 1 4 May 2018

Monday 7 May is Day 5

Welcome back. I hope you all had a good holiday.

We were very proud of our Head Students who were involved with the Anzac Day celebrations at Birkenhead War Memorial. They spoke with great dignity, recognising the immense sacrifices made by our families.

Term 2 is always a very busy term with winter sports starting up and a number of NCEA internals due. It is important for students to organise their time well and know when their commitments are on and when assessments are due.

Good luck for the season for all the sports teams. To all the teams, always give your best and play fair. Could I please remind all parents and supporters to respect the opposition and the referee. Thank you to all the teachers, parents and members of the community who are helping coach or manage our teams. It is marvellous to have so many of our students playing sport.

We now have a new electronic barrier to stop the entrance of vehicles into the school. This is for the safety of our students. We would like to remind parents and caregivers to please take care when dropping off and picking up students.

Former student, Ayano Terazaki, from Japan has taken part in a project to make 196 kimonos representing countries from around the world, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Ayano wore the kimono to represent New Zealand, showing that NZ is a paradise of birds, flowers and the silver fern. Her ideas were used to create the design on the kimono made by Sawako Ochi.

A truly beautiful creation!

Ayano’s movie is up now on her Instagram! Check it out! https://www.instagram.com/ayano_taylorzaki

SCHOOL CALENDAR 2018

TERM 2

Week 3 Thur 17 May Writers’ Festival

Week 5 Mon 28 May Assessment week

Fri 1 June Mid term break (holiday)

Week 6 Mon 4 June Queen’s birthday (holiday)

Week 7 Sat 16 June School Ball

Week 10 Thur 5 July Reports sent home

Fri 6 July Last day of Term 2

Head Students at the Anzac Day ceremony. Oban did the Ode in Te Reo Maori, Hannah the Requiem and Payge the Address.

Coming up this Term...

Rockquest performances: Come support the performances by the groups competing in the annual Smokefree Rockquest competition in the BGT at lunchtime on the 4th & 10th May. Free entry.

Battle of the bands: Come rock out and watch BC's own bands put on a wicked show and battle it out for the bragging rights and pride of being crowned BC's no.1 band - 18th May.

BC Idol: Come enjoy BC's finest singers who will be showcasing their amazing voices, in hopes of being crowned BC's Idol, in the BGT at lunchtime on 30th May. Gold coin donation.

So You Think You Can Dance: Come watch BC's talented dancers go all out to show everyone why they think they can dance. BGT at lunchtime on 7th June. Gold coin donation.

BC's Got Talent: Come along to be wowed by the range of performing arts skills BC students have to offer. Although there are many talents on display, there can be only one winner. 29th June, lunchtime in the BGT. Gold coin donation.

Lip Sync: Guaranteed entertainment as students silently perform some of the greatest hits, to be named our lip sync champion. Lunchtime on the 4th July in the BGT. Gold coin donation.

Black Belt awarded to Birkenhead

College student for Shorinji

Kempo

Jarrod Moreton is one of New Zealand’s youngest black belts in Shorinji Kempo. Under the guidance of Branch Master Darren Louie, seventeen year old Birkenhead College student Jarrod recently sat his black belt grading and successfully passed.

To achieve this accomplishment Jarrod had to pass both written essays on philosophy and a physical exam which included testing of techniques, an embu, or paired combat using a set routine and randori (or sparring). For Jarrod to get to black belt he has passed 6 previous gradings.

Jarrod has been training consistently for the last five years at the North Shore branch. He started because he wanted to learn self defense. Jarrod says “You do not have to use power or strength to practise in Shorinji Kempo and the technical aspect of the technique is very interesting. Shorinji kempo is not only a way to learn to defend yourself, but the philosophy behind it has helped me to gain a better character that has been beneficial to me throughout my teenage years”

Jarrod also enjoys the camaraderie of the club. He says, “We all come from a range of backgrounds within ages from about 7 to 63 years. With the Branch Master and his wife 5th Dan and 4rd Dan black belts respectively, we also have a good mix of men and women at senior levels which makes for a lot of fun and good balanced training. My younger sister Jaymee now has her brown belt and she is enjoying the training as well”.

The main goal of Shorinji Kempo is to develop a well balanced human being with the self discipline to look after themselves and be productive to society as a whole.

Shorinji Kempo is a martial art that is possible for anybody to learn. Shorinji Kempo welcomes you to come and try this martial art. Training nights are Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30pm – 8:30pm and there are children’s classes (from age 7) on Tuesdays from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Birkdale Intermediate School, 200 Birkdale Road, Birkdale. For further information please contact Darren Louie, Branch Master on 021868272 or email him on darrenandrachel@xtra.co.nz.

Something a little different... Art Club - in C12 every Friday after school.

Ditch the Device - Drop in for a game or two: Cattan, Uno, Chess, Scrabble and much more. Every Wednesday after school in the library.

Theatresports every Wednesday lunch time.

Soul - every Thursday after school in the Drama room.

Craftivism - crafternoons@BC library , every Thursday after school in the library.

Kapa Haka - Thursday after school in D7.

Sports Fees

Winter sports fees are now due. Payments can be made at the school office or online. Automatic payment option is available. Please contact the school office to arrange.

Netball

Year 9: Tuesdays, starting 8th May Year 10-13: Saturdays, starting 5th May

We need parent help and support throughout the season. If you are able to support our coaches on game day or manage your daughter’s team please contact sport@birkenheadcollege.school.nz

Massey University

If you are thinking of attending University next year Massey University is holding an information evening on the 9th May at the Albany Campus from 5.30 – 8pm. It will cover an overview of Massey University and also cover the following:

Massey Business School College of Science College of Health College of Creative Arts College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Please see Ms White in R2 if you would like more information.

Gateway – Construction

Some of you will have noticed the new decking and seating outside T-block. Have a thought for our Gateway student, Connor Dudley, (and the BC Property Team) when you are enjoying this lovely sunny and sheltered spot in your breaks.

During the holidays Connor was hard at work under the guidance of our builder property manager, Cliff Tait. Connor was able to take part in the whole job from beginning to end learning about correct building practice as well as safety procedures. This included helping with hard physical labour; first chopping up the area and

removing the dirt, then mixing concrete and filling the foundation, one spade at a time. Then the fun began with setting up the framing and the base before the final top decking was cut and positioned.

Connor is to be applauded for giving up his school break, volunteering for this work with no financial reward and helping to enhance the school property. As a result of his work, Cliff is happy to highly recommend Connor to other builders and he will get some further experience with a builder outside of school.

Thanks must go to Cliff for his time and patience in sharing his skills and knowledge.

BC Breakfast Club - it’s free!

On the menu this week we have a choice of smoothies: Plum, Banana or Peach. We also have toast & jam, weetbix & milk, and on Wednesday, scrambled egg! All free! Bring a friend.

A great place to come and finish your homework or to keep dry before school starts and at morning interval, in the Foods room (C10). Look out for some menu changes later this Term!

Squash

If you enjoyed the school squash programme last Term, you may already have signed up for a college squash team but if not then the Shepherds Park Squash club would love to see you. They offer a range of activities including a free junior club night from 6pm on Thursdays with the adult club night following at 7pm and a range of membership and coaching options.

More info from president@shepherdsparksquash.org,nz or www.shepherdparksquash.org.nz

Sports Fixtures

Fairplay Charter

We love our sport here and have a large number of teams competing this Term. It is timely to remind everyone that we are signatories to the Fairplay Charter, which states that we:

Enjoy ourselves. * Respect the referees and umpires.

Respect the opposition and their supporters. * Are gracious winners and dignified losers.

Play hard, but play fair. * Play within the rules.