JUNE 2017 OwAN EYE ON THE ST PETER’S COMMUNITYl

Students inspired by business leaders l Starlight Express a smash hit l Rowers win Presidents Scull Trophy l Alumni updates

Years 7–13 l Co-educational l Day & Boarding Proud to be supporting St Peter’s, Cambridge

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Wayne Pamment - Harcourts PROUD TO BE A GOLD SPONSOR OF ST PETER’S, CAMBRIDGE Contents Owl

Spirit week

Students inspired by 17 business leaders

10 Expedition to Ecuador 14

Ballet All aboard Exploring workshop for for Starlight St Peter’s Express the outdoors Dancers 18 20 24 2 Principal’s note 3 A fond farewell to two special House Matrons 4 Head students 5 International Baccalaureate Top Scholar Awards Swimming 5 Varun Roy achieves highest mark in New Zealand for at St Peter’s Cambridge Maths Exam 6 Academic success celebrated 29 8 New perspectives in Agribusiness 9 St Peter’s students organise fundraiser 12 Heads of Boarding attend conference 13 Top House 13 Formal dinners enjoyed by boarding staff and students 16 Our Prep Prefects 22 Outstanding achievement in music Reporting 23 Anja van Rijen selected into screen acting school the news 25 Vineyard at St Peter’s from the end 26 Our rowers end the season on a high of the Earth 30 Golf Academy highlights 31 New Zealand representation in barefoot waterskiing 45 32 BMX success Experience our school’s unique 32 The summer of cycling environment and world-class facilities. 33 Basketball roundup 34 St Peter’s cricket programme Open Days Friday, 18 August 2017 at 9.45am 35 Multisport Sunday, 12 November 2017 at 1.00pm 36 Creating a high performance culture in track and field Register at [email protected] 37 Athletics Day 38 Equestrian success Call us: +64 7 827 9899 39 International students riding in the Equestrian Academy Subscribe to our weekly newsletter InTouch: 40 Owl Farm [email protected] 42 St Peter’s Alumni at medical school together Visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/STPETERSschNZ 43 Top rugby talent signed by Brumbies Follow us on Twitter: @stpetersnz 44 From Cambridge to Yale Visit our website: www.stpeters.school.nz 46 Making a difference in Tanzania Advertise in the Owl: [email protected] 47 Swimming and studying in USA Owl Editor: Katy Ritchie

48 Alumni, Foundation and Parents’ Assocation Owl Graphic Designer: Kath Carmody Cover photo: Conrad Blind

Years 7–13 l Co-educational l Day & Boarding Principal’s note

This year has started extremely started and will be strengthened with GOAL 3. CONTINUE TO IMPROVE well. The energy levels of the better data gathering and presenting THE STUDENT PARTICIPATION school have been extra high with systems. LEVELS AND PERFORMANCE IN the addition of 26 new teaching A scholarship programme has started CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES and support staff and a record 337 and an e-learning planning framework We are very keen to increase the new students. is under investigation. numbers of our students involved in The year started with the roll at 1096 co-curricular activities. Currently it is GOAL 2. EACH TEACHER TO MEET and has continued to grow to its current about 90%. This year we have a plan THE NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT 1106. We anticipate more steady in place to make sure that 100% of WITHIN THE LEARNING growth during the year. While we will our students are involved in the co- PROGRAMME grow we do not intend to get much curricular programme. The main overriding focus of this goal bigger and certainly will make sure that The school has invested in a strength is to create a learning environment that we maintain our family friendly culture and conditioning coach and is is student centred. We expect all of our and the other personalised elements of implementing a school-wide strength teachers to know every student in their small class sizes. and conditioning programme in Years class. Know their learning needs, know NCEA and International Baccalaureate 7 to 13. This is for the benefit of all the data that supports that and know results were very strong with pass rates students, including the elite athletes, what to do next (i.e. how to teach in the high 90s placing us amongst the and is being delivered through Physical them in order to meet their needs). We very best in the country. We were also Education classes, junior sports expect our teachers to understand and pleased with the steady increase in the academies, the PEP programme and teach in a differentiated way. number of endorsements. through premier teams. The benefits Students also need to be doing This year we have developed a of this programme are already being subjects and courses that are relevant targeted annual plan with six goals. seen. to them and their needs. Additional These represent the first year of our The junior sports academies are up pathways and partnerships with 3-5 year strategic plan. We have made and running and providing core generic tertiary providers are being explored. plenty of progress to date. skills and programmes as well as One of the major obstacles to better The school is very much focused extending and developing individuals outcomes for students has been the on our founder’s vision to educate in sport in the same way that they are current student timetable. The current the whole person with a balanced in their other subjects. Both Sport and review is the third one in six years. The development of mind, body and spirit Performing Arts have designed and are lead team that has been established and this is evident in our six goals. implementing their annual plans for has made significant progress and we Academic achievement is still the this year. are confident that a new format will school’s primary focus, hence the better meet the needs of our students GOAL 4. MAINTAIN AND reason for two specific goals and other and be ready for 2018. ENHANCE ST PETER’S AS A goals which then are ably supported by POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR A major review of the courses of leadership, co-curricular, pastoral care ALL LEARNERS and our Christian special character. learning is underway to check that they continue to meet student needs. Given the nature and size of our GOAL 1. CONTINUE TO IMPROVE school, an effective pastoral care The development of Agribusiness at ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE system is critical. While we have staff our school is an exciting goal that we that genuinely care about students, We are aiming to increase the results are working towards. The Business and our systems and communication, both in both our qualifications (i.e. NCEA Entrepreneurial Centre is leading this external and internal, are areas that and International Baccalaureate) by option for students in readiness for need improvement. 5%. We are doing a wide variety of 2018. things to achieve this goal. In fact the work we are doing in Goal 2 will assist in the outcome we want for this goal as well. We have established a professional learning lead team with a professional learning plan aligned to the annual goals. There has been a significant improvement in the systems and structures involved in curriculum and assessment. Work has started on a modified student management system to better enable teachers to have access to useful data for their teaching. Academic tracking that clearly identifies students that are at risk of not achieving their potential has

2 We have also started a comprehensive GOAL 5. ESTABLISH A SCHOOL- in terms of building capacity in a school review of pastoral care in terms WIDE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME or any organisation, so while this will of its form and function. We are FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS take time we believe it’s fundamental investigating how to introduce a A staff lead team has been formed for the future of the school and in school wide wellbeing programme that with the goal of developing capacity terms of the skills that our students includes physical and mental health, amongst the group. Currently there is leave school with. social and emotional intelligence and a group of about 25 committed staff GOAL 6. ENHANCE OUR resilience building. A rethink about members that are working on this. We CHRISTIAN SPECIAL how we deliver these programmes and have also set up a training programme CHARACTER AND DEVELOP A the facilities we have is well underway. for Prefects and Year 12 students. ‘SERVICE’ CULTURE The exciting ‘Future of Boarding’ The need to build leadership capacity Since the start of the year we have will be revealed from the Boarding across the school is obvious. It’s really focused on making the school a more plan and we have already signalled important to develop leaders that will ‘prayerful’ place. We have a lovely its importance to the school with a take initiative, question the status quo school prayer and now we use it at newly created standalone position of and build leadership in others. The top every assembly and formal occasion. Director of Boarding and two Assistant down model based on compliance and We are looking at other ways to develop Directors of Boarding (boys and girls). task-orientated activities doesn’t work prayer and the importance that it has Plenty of capital reinvestment is also for the wellbeing of people. We are planned for as we look to refurbish and also seeking to establish a chapel choir grow our boarding. and develop a school-wide service The current student management learning philosophy and a school plan system that provides pastoral for service learning. information on students is also being We are delighted by our progress and reviewed in terms of its effectiveness are happy to hear feedback from the and ease of use by teachers. community on any or all of these goals. Health and safety across the school has Onwards and upwards. also been a major focus with the focus this term being on student inductions and developing effective systems. Principal Mr Dale Burden

A fond farewell to two special House Matrons We say goodbye to Dorothy Pringle and Lynn Brock.

Dorothy Pringle (fondly nicknamed Lynn Brock has had an outstanding We wish Dorothy (pictured left) and Mrs Chips) took up her position of nine years as Matron of Lippincott Lynn (right) all the very best. Matron of School House in 2004. House. Past students and parents remember Long before Lynn took on this matron’s Mrs Pringle for her tender heart and role, she had a huge involvement with professional manner in all aspects of the school, through her late husband her role. Mike, who was Head of the Prep School. Late in the evening just on bedtime They met at St Peter’s, married and would be the busiest time for Dorothy’s raised their three children here. The bell to be buzzing. She would patiently Brock Pool bears their name. listen to the girls’ worries and Lynn later worked in the front office, administer the appropriate remedy, or where hers was the first warm and just some comforting words of wisdom. friendly face to welcome visitors. Dorothy’s own family have enjoyed the With Mike’s retirement pending, and a St Peter’s journey. Her grandchildren matron’s role becoming available, Mike often came and stayed in the holidays and Lynn made the decision to move and on leave weekends. They told back onsite to their beloved St Peter’s. their friends that their Nanny lived in Sadly, Mike became unwell and passed a castle! away in that first year. Lynn was We are so very grateful to Dorothy for heartbroken, but made the decision to her loyal service to our School House carry on with her matron’s role. family and we will certainly miss her. Lynn would go above and beyond to She has given so much of herself to ensure that each girl had everything assist others on their journey, and now that she needed, including any washing it is a period for her to have time for confiscated for misuse of the Laundry! herself and her own family, and do We will always be thankful for the nine those things that are still on her bucket years of service and love that Lynn list. gave to Lippincott.

www.stpeters.school.nz 3 Head students

Charlie King Mirren Tye Head Boy Head Girl

Hello, I am Charlie King and it is my privilege to be Head Hello, my name is Mirren Tye and I am honoured to be the Boy for 2017. 2017 Head Girl. What an amazing start to the year it has been. We have With the school year well under way, I can confidently say learned and experienced so many great things and it’s that the school spirit is high. We started the year with the unbelievable yet exciting that the first term finished with annual St Peter’s Spirit Week, carefully designed by the still so much coming up in the year. student executive. From yoga in the morning to music in All year there has been an amazing atmosphere shared by the dining hall, a fun week was had by all. Improving school both the students and teachers with positivity at the core of spirit was a key goal set by the head students, and I believe the school. This has led to a strengthening of the St Peter’s 2017 Spirit Week set the bar high and will remain a highlight community. of the year. This strong spirit was shown while supporting at the Aon The pride and enthusiasm we built at Spirit Week was then Maadi Cup regatta, which was one of the highlights for me. put on display to the rest of the country when St Peter’s In busloads we travelled in our red and blue to give our students swarmed the banks of Lake Karapiro to support our rowers that extra boost in their finals and to share some of rowers for the Aon Maadi cup. Busloads of students attended their success they had achieved. I have no doubt many of to support our rowers as they dominated events, eventually us felt that immense spirit and pride for our school, whether winning the overall points trophy for sculling. they were in the boats pushing themselves to the limits Starlight Express was another exhilarating performance or on the bank cheering and waving flags for them. That and an excellent display of the students’ ability and talent. I morning at Karapiro showed just how proud we are of being know the investments every member of the cast made and part of the St Peter’s community. It also set the benchmark what better way to demonstrate this with a production as for spirit for not only sporting events but other events where challenging as one with everyone on roller-skates. our peers would immensely appreciate our support. This is One of my biggest learnings over the past couple of months something that will be encouraged leading into the rest of has been to embrace change. This year has been a year of the year. changes, not only for myself but the whole school. With the Being part of Starlight Express was a major highlight of my majority of the Senior Leadership Team being fairly new and time at St Peter’s. The quality of the shows really made the over half of the students being new or in their second year hard work and perseverance worth it. Starlight Express was at St Peter’s, it has been different to previous years, but I a true feat of ‘Body, Mind and Spirit’. believe the changes have been for the better. One thing I have learned while working with our Principal Mr This year, among many other changes, I have transitioned Burden and the Senior Leadership Team is that the students’ from day to boarding, Year 12 to Year 13 and into the role of well-being is a key basis for their decision-making. We as Head Girl, a role I never expected but am privileged to have. students have an extremely talented and hard-working Embracing change is important in order to move forward. group of teachers in charge of the school, which reassures Under the capable hands of the senior leadership team who me we are in safe hands. have been working closely with students, we have already So far the year has been full of spirit, enthusiasm and a and will continue to change as a school for the benefit of the positive environment throughout all sectors of the school. students. As we now move through a season that truly allows students I look forward to the rest of the year and seeing more to showcase the ‘Body, Mind and Spirit’ way of life that St exciting changes. Peter’s provides, these factors will continue to contribute to another amazing year in our community.

Head Boy, Charlie King Head Girl, Mirren Tye

4 International Baccalaureate Top Scholar Awards Four of our International Baccalaureate (IB) students have been honoured for their outstanding results at the Top Scholar Awards. Our IB students Rebecca Goodman, Emily Hughes, Simran Saini and Kevin Liu were honoured for their outstanding results at the Top Scholar Awards at Government House.

To achieve the title of an IB Top Scholar, graduates must achieve a score of at least 40 points out of a possible 45. This is a feat achieved by just 7% of the world’s IB students.

But there is more to it than just the achievement of academic excellence on a world stage. Part of the reason that the Diploma is so highly regarded around the world is that to attain it, young people must also embrace a Kevin Liu and his mother Helen Huang with Dale Burden and Tessa Fraser shared global philosophy. These young people are ambassadors for St Peter’s, through intercultural understanding and their achievement. They have for IB and for a more positive future. and respect. worked really hard and now have a full They represent the IB’s vision which is toolbox of life skills. I have no doubt Head of the International Baccalaureate to create enquiring, knowledgeable and that they will do great things with their Programme at St Peter’s, Tessa Fraser caring young people who help to create lives and will contribute strongly to our says, “I’m very proud of these students a better and more peaceful world world.” Best in the country Varun Roy achieves highest mark in New Zealand for Cambridge Maths exam. Varun Roy was honoured at an Last year students sat Cambridge Overall, St Peter’s students Awards Ceremony and dinner examinations in over 10,000 schools achieved superbly in the Cambridge for New Zealand high achievers in countries including the United International Examinations, gaining a in the Cambridge International Kingdom, United States, China, India 100% pass rate. Examinations. and Singapore, as well as countries throughout Europe, South America Varun achieved the highest mark and the Middle East. in New Zealand in the IGCSE Cambridge International Mathematics examination, which he sat in November. What makes this especially impressive is that this examination is usually taken by students in Year 11, yet Varun was only Year 10 last year when he wrote the examination. Cambridge Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, has developed and promoted qualifications around the world for over 150 years. During this time it has seen the need for internationally recognised qualifications continue to grow. Over eight million candidates in more than 150 countries now take Cambridge Assessment’s examinations and tests Varun Roy pictured with his mother Dr Mitali Roy, Lauris Crook and his father each year. Dr Partho Roy

www.stpeters.school.nz 5 Academic success celebrated

St Peter’s students achieved In addition, for the students who outstanding academic results right achieved an average Grade Point across the board in 2016. Our pass Average mark of 90 plus in five subjects rates exceed most decile 10 schools, for NCEA or an equivalent standard placing us as one of the top achieving in an international examination schools in New Zealand. system, an Academic Honours Badge In the annual Scholars’ Awards is awarded. The badge has a Year Ceremony our high achieving students 11 bar, a Year 12 bar and a Year 13 from 2016 were recognised. bar to recognise those students who consistently achieve at this very high From NCEA 2016, Cambridge standard. IGCSE Maths and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, those students The Kane O’Donnell award, a trophy who have achieved an average made and donated by a former student, Grade Point Average mark of 75 recognises the Year 13 student who plus in five subjects for NCEA or an gains the highest results overall, equivalent standard in an international including internally and externally examination system, are awarded with assessed papers and the New Zealand either a Scholar’s Tie (for the first time Scholarship examinations. This year it this standard has been reached), the was awarded to Gabrielle Dumble, Silver Owl (for the second time the pictured with her parents following the standard is reached) or a Founders presentation of the trophy. Scholarship for the third year that the standard is reached.

Gabrielle Dumble with her parents Dr John and Dr Felicity Dumble

6 Year 11 Scholar’s Tie Briana Perry Year 12 Scholar’s Tie Caitlin Meister Year 13 Silver Owl Sophie Anderson Bianca Rayner Lily Butler Josie O’Donoghue and Academic Anika Bajaj YiFang (Artoria) Ren Callum Caughey Benjamin Prince Honours Badge Katie Ball Georgia Robinson-Kearns Hannah Grainger Tiffany Rich Rebecca Goodman Lorelei Boyd Riya Roy Emily Johnson Anna Robertson Year 13 Founders Morgan Brown Annalise Scott Lisa Mather Paris Scott Scholarship Medal Kirsty Browne Alicia Scott Patrick Soulier Harriet Storey Ella Batley Olivia Bryce Charlotte Siermans Megan Thomas James Thompson Holly Blakely Caitlin Burns Samuel Smith Samuel Williams Year 12 Scholar’s Tie Paige Boggiss Ruby Butler Maia Spear Hannah Yee and Academic Samuel Chen Anna Cairns Elise Stables Honours Badge Year 12 Silver Owl Claudia Clark Simon Cheng Sara Steffert Yiu Chun (Ed) Ding and Academic Janvhi Clark Joachim Christensen Brianna Tucker Thomas Verberne Honours Badge Abigail Denton Edward Clarkson Sophie Unsworth Zoe Webb-Sagarin Joseph Frengley Gabrielle Dumble Grace Clarkson Kate Vadanathorn Tyla Grafas Rhys Duncan Sophie Daly Elizabeth Verberne Year 12 Silver Owl Sydney Johnson Braedon Epps Rob Dickson Sophie Walton Hasan Adheem Neysa Kosasih Sophie Forsyth Georgie Edgecombe Yucy Wang Nicole Allen Leah Meyer Benjamin Hos Lindsay Everton Paige Watkins Rhiannon Barlow Varun Modi Mollie Martin Aidan Fitzgerald Hannah Williams Charles Black Melina Mundy Hermann Breanna McPherson Emma Frengley Katelyn Williamson Campbell Child Isla Neil Grace Mitchell Sarah Geange Paaras Zhangmo Zachary Clarke Nina Paripovich Georgia O’Sullivan Alexia Gray Phoebe Clements Year 11 Scholar’s Tie Amy Sadler Seri Park Maysen Greenwood Madison Dearlove and Academic Jamie Smith Paige Penny Shiane Hamilton Isabella Douglas Honours Badge Jessica Strick Nivedita Singh Rebecka Herbert Jack Fleming Katie Bell Brydie Trenwith Constantyn TenCate Jodie Hines Georgia Gapes Morgan Blind Luke Van Gog Samuel Timmings Keelee Hoskin Megan Grayling Eve Boister Ciara White Sarina Towers Tiger Houston Nicola Hammond Amy Butler Jeffrey Wise Caleb Ion Isaac Hine Year 13 Scholar’s Tie Holly Christison Katherine Wright Ruonan Jin Jordan Hitchcock George Tate Abigail Cook Arsh Khakh Anna Hocking Year 13 Founders Jack Douglas Year 13 Silver Owl William Leigh Sara Ibrahim Scholarship Medal and Cassidy Faber Matthew Butler Sarah Mann Nicole Kelly Academic Honours Keruma Gibson Charlotte Dargaville Peta McGiven Charles King Badge Victoria Hos Tien-Wei Lo Chloe McMillan Kate Manunui Emilie Hughes Elizabeth Liu Nicole Stott Trent Morris Laura Marston Kevin Liu Ally Wollaston Kira Morrison Guy McDonald Simran Saini Kaylin Wren Cormac O’Keeffe Neeve McKenzie Jethro Wright

www.stpeters.school.nz 7 New perspectives in Agribusiness Students attend Agribusiness Leadership Programme

Five senior St Peter’s students have attended the Rabobank Agri- Leadership Programme held at the University of Waikato. The four-day course gave students a well-rounded perspective of the future careers in agri-leadership. Only 30 students from the Waikato region were selected to participate. St Peter’s was represented by Katie Ball, Abby Cook, Katlyn Fitzgerald, Jodie Hines and James Thompson. The course included visits to various primary industries such as dairy farming, kiwifruit growing, packing and exporting, mushroom farming, goat farming, LIC, AgResearch, Silver Fern Farms and Yashili NZ Dairy Co Ltd. Abby Cook in Year 12 said, “A few Year 12 student Jodie Hines said “I Various speakers from around New highlights of the programme were had fun visiting the Dairy NZ farm and Zealand shared their wealth of going to Silver Fern Farms, visiting learning about ways to reduce pollution knowledge, experience and words of Oraka Deer Park and experiencing in our waterways. I really enjoyed my wisdom. university first hand. We got to meet time, learned heaps and was glad I had so many new people, it got me excited this experience.” for my own university studies.” Fellow

8 St Peter’s students organise fundraiser for Zimbabwean school children

St Peter's students Shefali and Shivani Sinha organised a fun run which raised more than $1500 towards a $10k target for rural school libraries in Zimbabwe.

A group of 39 runners participated in the fun run, among them Mayor of Hamilton Andrew King, Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher, Hamilton City Council’s Community Services Committee Chair councillor Paula Southgate, Councillor Philip Yeung, and Member of Parliament Tim Macindoe. The event raised $1500. “Each dollar will bring a smile to the face of a Zimbabwe rural school child,” said Chairman of the Zimbabwe Rural Schools Library Trust New Zealand, Driden Kunaka. An initiative of Indian-born twin sisters Shefali and Shivani, the event is now in its third year and held in connection Mayor of Hamilton Andrew King joined the runners with International Book Giving Day. Previous events have contributed “Getting books is the easier part. But are inviting anyone interested to help towards the shipping of a container of getting the money to send books over us plan next year’s event. We want the books to Zimbabwe, and the purchase to Zimbabwe is not as easy,” she said. event to grow bigger and better each of books from local Zimbabwean Her sister Shefali says, “After the first year.” publishers. two events, we thought we should In another fundraising initiative, Addressing participants before the involve others, because teamwork Shefali and Shivani have been selling run, Shivani expressed the need for brings in more hands and more ideas. homemade goods including bath salts proactive fundraising to ensure books For the fun run, we invited other and decorative plates. can find their way to Zimbabwe. children to be part of the team. We

www.stpeters.school.nz 9 BUSINESS AND ENTREPR Students inspired by business leaders Our students continue to build their business and enterprise skills in our Business and Entrepreneurial Centre (BEC), inspired by guest speakers from industry.

Gaining hands-on experience with investment The students have been given some amazing opportunities to gain hands- on experience with investment through our partnership with Milford Asset Management. Authorised financial adviser (also St Peter’s alumnus) Mike Cruickshank and senior analyst Frances Sweetman paid a visit to talk to staff, students and parents on trends in the local and global investment markets as well as all things KiwiSaver. The students enthusiastically launched into a quest to increase their share portfolio value through the Milford Asset Management Sharemarket competition using an online virtual sharemarket programme. Milford will be back later in the year, so keep an eye out for them. Thanks Milford for your continuing support in improving our students’ financial capabilities.

Learning about marketing and Milford Asset Management senior analyst Frances Sweetman addresses the group business practice Our Business and Management students visited our school sponsor Ebbett Volkswagen in their new offices in Hamilton East. They learned about the history of the business and their current marketing strategies, which are centred around customer experience. Marketing Manager Jamie Russell and Principal Owner Richard van den Engel gave insightful presentations to the group. The students were able to question them at length about marketing and business practice. Thanks to the team at Ebbett Volkswagen for being so accommodating with us.

Field trip to Ebbett Volkswagen 10 ENEURIAL CENTRE Building business skills Several business experts have popped in to share their practical knowledge in different areas of the curriculum. Coffee Culture director and brand manager Sacha Coburn gave some practical advice to the students on managing inventory. Mike Livingstone, director of Livingstone Building, spoke about the construction industry. And Diana Harrington of Emerald Group, a New Zealand Entrepreneur of the Year, shared some of the lessons she’s learned on the road to creating a successful business.

Sacha Coburn of Coffee Culture with students in the Business and Entrepreneurial Centre Increasing financial Getting close to Making wise choices capability primary industry for better outcomes Westpac presented a special seminar Economics students had a field trip Talent and leadership coaches Sharee series to our Year 13 students on to the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Nielsen and Karen Fraser from SN financial capability. Over six sessions, Company factory near Morrinsville. The Consulting spoke to the students the students covered a range of topics students gathered information for an about making wise choices for better relating to banking and finances. assignment they are completing on the outcomes. The students focused on This was a great opportunity for the interdependence of different sectors their values, interests and strengths - students to start to think about the in the economy. It was a great insight all vitally important when deciding on a decisions they will need to make when into the types of opportunities that career path. The students gained useful they leave school. Thank you Westpac exist in the dairy sector. Our thanks to insights into the way our thinking can business manager Shirley Reynolds, Tatua Chairman Stephen Allen and his fuel our personal and work success. bank manager Toni Mills and customer team for a great day. banking consultant Shane Morton for supporting our students in preparation for their financial future.

Westpac Bank Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company SN Consulting www.stpeters.school.nz 11 Heads of Boarding attend conference

In March, the students who are Activities included an “amazing race” Heads of our Boarding Houses around the city of Christchurch, which departed to Christchurch for a allowed everyone to interact with weekend with students from other people from different schools and to schools across the country at the do a bit of sightseeing. A high ropes From the conference I New Zealand Boarding Schools’ course allowed everyone to push learned that house spirit Association Conference. themselves and further interact with and tradition is a huge Numerous inspirational speakers spoke other schools. to the student heads and gave them Our students made valuable part of building culture their views on leadership, pathways to connections with other schools and within boarding houses success, and how boarding has shaped brought back many ideas that they and that it is what some of them to become the leaders will incorporate in their own boarding they are. houses. makes boarding life Nicole Kelly of Lippincott House Riddet House’s Sam Williams said, what it is. said, “Listening to the feedback from “From the conference I learned that - Sam Williams other schools, it was a real revelation house spirit and tradition is a huge Riddet House Prefect how lucky we are at St Peter’s with part of building culture within boarding our facilities. The conference was houses and that it is what makes challenging and it allowed us to aspire boarding life what it is.” to have different methods of leadership and apply them when necessary in the school environment.”

12 Lippincott House

Broadhurst House

Top House Once again Top House was keenly contested by the Boarders! The Boarders started the year with an boarding calendar, it was a great way Riddett House action-packed weekend of activities to get to know our new students. For and competition with the annual Top the record, Lippincott House won the House event. Competition was fierce entry and chant, while Broadhurst and house spirit was on display from House were overall winners of Top each House. Always a highlight on the House 2017!

Formal dinners enjoyed by boarding staff and students Each St Peter’s Boarding House has been enjoying the opportunity to have a formal dinner. School House

At a formal dinner there is a focus on improving manners and etiquette. It is also an opportunity for all house staff members to dine with the students. House Directors can choose to invite guest speakers to address any matter they want highlighted.

These meals are served in our dining hall, but tables are dressed and a special meal is provided for the students. In the next cycle of formal dinners, houses will combine to allow brother-sister houses to share a meal together. Photos: Christel Yardley

www.stpeters.school.nz 13 Expedition to Ecuador A group of St Peter’s students and staff had the adventure of a lifetime when they visited Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands over the summer break. The tour was a cross-curricular some English. The children took a leadership development and service real liking to their foreign visitors and trip for NCEA and IB students. there were lots of smiles and hugs. The students were on a mission to The group immersed themselves in assist with construction work and the local culture, explored colourful community development for a school markets and went trekking in the in a rural area outside Cayambe. stunning Andean mountains. Waking Their tasks involved shovelling and up to a magnificent view of the wheelbarrowing materials such as Cotopaxi volcano was one of the many sand and rocks to the building site, highlights. cutting steel and building structural Every member of the group returned pillars for a classroom. with wonderful memories of a very The group also got to spend time with special adventure. the local children, even teaching them

14 The Project in Cayambe Madeline Jackson, Paloma Mitchell, Olivia Houchen and Anna Hocking with a local at the Otavalo markets

Caroline Inglis and Grace Mitchell at the community nursery

Lewis Pearce, Luke van Gog and Jack Newhouse helping to build a classroom

Oscar Moore, Charlie Black and Jack Newhouse teaching English A Galapagos giant tortoise

www.stpeters.school.nz 15 Our Prep Prefects

At St Peter’s we have a long standing a highlight for Preppies and Prefects tradition where Year 13 Prep Prefects alike as they all get the chance to have are involved in mentoring and fun and be kids. supporting our “Prep” students (Years The Prep Prefects are selected based 7 and 8). on their ability to interact with younger The Prep Prefects are available in the students, commitment to spending Junior Block every afternoon after time after school, ability to support the school plus Friday lunchtimes to hang younger students with homework and out, help with homework and organise suitability for being an older friend and games and activities for the younger mentor. They are often the go-between students. for staff on duty and students. On the last Friday of Term 1, the “I certainly appreciate the willingness Prefects organised tug of war and and dedication of the Prep Prefects and slippery slide activities for the Prep all they contribute to the wonderful students. A lot of fun was had by all. atmosphere of the Prep School,” says In Term 2 we had our traditional Flag Debbie Ussher, Head of the Prep Day which the Prep students and School. Prefects participated in. This is always Prep Prefect Anna Robertson with Year 7 student Stellie Lepper We like having Prep Prefects because they organise games and activities for us. They play board games and play on the adventure playground. They help us with homework if we are stuck and they love to talk to us. - Alice Duncan and Grace Wisnewski, Year 8

Prep Prefect Thomas Duncan with Year 7 student Cameron O’Leary

16 Spirit WEEK Spirit Week is a whole week where we aim to really build our school spirit and start the year off with a bang.

Each morning during Spirit Week end of the morning they were energised 2017 the whole school gathered and laughing after leaving it all out on in the Robb Sports Centre to the dance floor. hear what was in store for the TUNEFUL TUESDAY day. A group of senior students dressed up in aerobic costumes to The next day was ‘Tuneful Tuesday’ - lighten the mood and the different another day for the students to grab activities each day were embraced their dancing shoes and sing their by the school. hearts out. We started the day with an inter-house competition with categories MOTIVATING MONDAY covering who could sing the loudest, Spirit Week kicked off with ‘Motivating proudest, and the best in tune. Thornton Monday’. The idea for the day was to came through with that win. The day launch into the year with a “go get it” continued with a few different activities attitude and positive mind-set. The day such as music in the dining hall. began with the students participating in WACKY WEDNESDAY a few jump jams which many of them remembered from their primary school For the traditional ‘Wacky Wednesday’ days! Some of the students may have all the students donated a gold coin been sleepy as they entered, but by the to dress up in the theme ‘Favourite Character’. With the costume theme of ‘Favourite Character’ the students dived right into the day with a wide variety from Superheroes, Disney princesses to video game icons to name just a few of the different costumes and creations that were on display. Wacky Wednesday brought a chance for every student as well as the teaching staff to bring out their creative side and celebrate the positivity that individuality provides in our school community. The donations went to All Saints School, our sister school in Fiji, to help pay for equipment such as sewing machines.

THANKFUL THURSDAY On ‘Thankful Thursday’ we concentrated on gratitude for the little things in life, such as the food on our tables. We began the day with yoga and organised donations of tinned goods to our local food bank.

ATHLETICS DAY To finish the week off we dressed in House colours and had an enormously successful Athletics Day. This year’s Spirit Week was a huge highlight for our students. The House walk was a great way to get into the spirit of things and earn points for our Houses. It was daring, dazzling and ground-breaking. St Peter’s had a phenomenally successful season of Starlight Express to sell-out audiences.

No secondary school in New Zealand the show’s musical director – her 13th The underdog, Rusty (Harry Roberts) had ever attempted the highly technical production at the school. the steam train, has little chance Andrew Lloyd Webber smash hit. That “Starlight Express is quite possibly the until he is inspired by the legend of was until now. most ambitious show that St Peter’s the ‘Starlight Express’ and ultimately “Who would have thought I’d ever be has ever staged”. defeats his arch-rivals Greaseball (Devin Gregory) and Electra (Jessica directing this musical extravaganza?” Victoria said it was “a visually and Strick) before going on to win the said director David Sidwell, such was aurally spectacular rock-and-roll hand of the the sweet first class coach, the enormity of the project. show.” Pearl (Misty Henderson). “The staff and students worked There was a live ten-piece band, as well Devin, a Waiuku local who boards at St tirelessly to bring audiences an as backing singers and special effect Peter’s, said “I had never roller skated amazing theatrical spectacle.” tracks linked with multiple specialised before, which was quite a challenge; Cast members spent months learning computers, and extensive lighting and however, by putting in many hours on and practising skating at the Hamilton sound rigs. the skates I’ve managed to step it up Roller Skating Club. And the hard work “Congratulations is extended to all the quite considerably.” paid off as they mesmerised audiences students, staff and parent helpers, Fitting in drama with his school work in the school auditorium with thrilling who have worked tirelessly and given and his rugby commitments (he’s also high speed circuits around a contoured up so much time to make this a truly a member of the St Peter’s 1st XV), stage. memorable show. It is a pleasure to Devin has been acting for most of his There was flamboyant acting, singing, work with you all to create something schooling life. dancing and skating topped off with magical year after year” said Victoria. In July, Devin will perform on the outrageous costuming. Starlight Express tells the story of a global stage for the Shakespeare The show was choreographed by Jenna young boy’s (played by Jack Dams) Globe Centre New Zealand Young Bagshaw, our Head of Dance. train set that magically comes to life Shakespeare Company in London – and the various engines that compete St Peter’s Director of Music and one of only 23 students selected from to become the “Fastest Engine in the Performing Arts, Victoria Trenwith, was around New Zealand. World”. www.stpeters.school.nz 18 Building THAT stage

The stage was constructed using

79 sheets of plywood

150 metres of framing timber

4000 screws

20 litres of black paint

1 litre PVA wood glue

3.5 litres builders fill.

And let’s not forget the countless hours spent putting it together. Those were some of the statistics behind the building of the unique contoured stage for Starlight Express. Director of Performing Arts Victoria Trenwith pays tribute to those who built it: “Bruce Richards (an ex-staff member) worked with members of our workshop team over a few weeks to work with the plans and construct something that worked particularly for our auditorium, and the special nature of the show. With 34 on-stage skaters the stage needed to be made in such a way that the choreography could be executed well and still be highly functional. Bruce has had many years of dedicated service to St Peter’s in many different spheres. His love of the performing arts saw him spend many hours behind a sound desk and with hammer in hand, despite physics being his calling as a teacher.” Exploring the outdoors Our Outdoor Education students have been challenging themselves on land, in the water and up natural rock faces. In Level 2 the Outdoor Ed students had In Level 3, many of the Outdoor Ed a busy start to the year, learning to roll students are now qualified as open a kayak and experiencing the thrill of water divers, something they can take going down grade 2 white water rivers. with them and utilise out of school. The students learned how to read The students have also embarked on a the river and how to successfully and unit in rock climbing, spending plenty safely navigate through the rapids. of time practising on our indoor rock The students are now moving onto wall before heading out to Castle Rock bush craft and have been busy learning for their assessment. survival techniques and skills.

Kayak camp

Rock climbing class

Kayaking on the Mohaka River Learning diving techniques Walking into the campsite

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www.stpeters.school.nz 21 Outstanding achievement in music Elizabeth Liu Awarded an Associate of the Trinity College of London.

Elizabeth Liu, in Year 12, has been awarded a Diploma to become an Associate of the Trinity College of London (ATCL), which is an outstanding achievement for someone who is only 15 years old. Elizabeth was awarded the ATCL Level 4 Diploma in Music Performance in Piano Recital with Distinction. In 2014 Elizabeth gained the top mark in New Zealand for Grade 7 Piano. Two years later Elizabeth won several awards at the Hamilton Piano Competitions where she competed against experienced pianists, and in some cases university music students majoring in piano. Elizabeth is also a flautist, and she performs as a member of Petra Musica, the St Peter’s orchestra, on both flute and piano.

22 Anja van Rijen Selected into International School of Screen Acting.

Our Year 13 student Anja van Rijen best we can be. This environment sets has been selected to complete a us up for our futures,” says Anja. screen acting course at the prestigious The ISSA course programme has International School of Screen Acting been created to develop disciplines (ISSA) - the leading screen acting of acting and screen performance school in the United Kingdom. technique. It will conclude with a Anja travelled to London to audition graduation screening at BAFTA, shown for the two year Professional Training to an audience including casting in Acting for Television and Film directors, agents and other industry programme. Anja was successful in professionals. her audition and has been selected for We look forward to seeing Anja on the course, which begins in October stage and screen. this year. Anja came to her audition very well- prepared, having studied Drama at St Peter’s since Year 9. St Peter’s offers a great range of extra-curricular Performing Arts clubs such as Drama Club, Shakespeare Club and Theatresports as well as the yearly musical. “The culture at St Peter’s gives us the courage and belief in ourselves, no matter what our strengths or interests are. The teachers give us their time freely to help us succeed and be the Anja as ‘Flute’ in Remain in Light St Peter’s, Cambridge Year 7 and 8 Production of

Music and Lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice Additional Music and Lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi Based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor Music Adapted & Arranged and Additional Music & Lyrics and “Luau Hawaiian Treat” written by Will Van Dyke “It’s a Small World” written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia. COMING SOON! Royal New Zealand Ballet Workshop for St Peter’s dancers

Pagan Dorgan, Dance Educator with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, has visited St Peter’s once again to provide a special workshop to our Year 11, 12 and 13 NCEA and IB Dance students.

The students learned sections of the dances from one of the upcoming showcases being performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. Pieces included excerpts from the ballets Carmen and L’Arlésienne. During the workshop the dancers worked with chairs, fans and each other to produce a series of entertaining dances which will be used by the students in their NCEA internal assessments. After the workshop the Senior Dance Group travelled to the Aotea Theatre in Auckland where they were able to watch the professional cast perform Carmen with L’Arlésienne. This was an amazing opportunity for the students to see the work they had learned performed with such energy, precision and charisma. Our thanks to Pagan Dorgan and the Royal New Zealand Ballet and also to the Lion Foundation for supporting the Royal New Zealand Ballet Education programme.

24 Vineyard at St Peter’s Over the summer, our horticulture staff worked hard to establish a small vineyard here at St Peter’s.

The vineyard is located to “This vineyard will put context into This project would not have been the west of the Agriculture/ our teaching. Students will learn possible without the very generous Horticulture block on the about soils, plant pests and diseases, donation of plants from the Thorpe land near the Horton Gym. It pollination and fertilisers in a practical family in Gisborne. comprises 160 vines planted in situation. In time, as the plants mature, We thank Sam Wallace and Neil rows over 800 square metres. students will be able to measure sugar Redgrave from Mystery Creek Winery Following wide consultation, we have content and compare the various who gave advice and their time to help planted 40 plants each of Pinotage, varieties for disease resistance and plan this vineyard. vigour,” says our Head of Agricultural Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and We are also grateful to Andy McGrath and Horticultural Science, Mike Kilgour. Pinot Gris. All plants are grafted onto who donated product to this venture. rootstock that will suit our conditions. Eventually, we hope to pick the fruit The vines are supported on posts and and make a vintage at a local winery. wires and thanks to a kind donation This will be a fantastic opportunity for from the Parents’ Association we business students to plan a marketing have been able to install an irrigation campaign and our design students to system. design labels for the wine.

Photos: Brittany Stead, Year 13 www.stpeters.school.nz 25 Our rowers end the season on a high Time to reflect on yet another fantastic season.

It started with the juniors winning the Points and in the end the two schools “Muudi Cup” (so named for the muddy ended up tied for Overall Champion waters of the Waihou River in Turua) for School. The St Peter’s team won 8 the eighth time in a row, convincingly gold, 6 silver and 5 bronze medals. beating Hauraki Plains College and Then the season was capped off with Takapuna Grammar. a superb week of racing at Maadi. All The seniors then had a wonderful 57 athletes who raced at Maadi made trip to Sydney, which was highlighted it into a final, which was one of the with visits to the Blue Mountains and team’s goals. Overall, we made 24 A Bondi Beach as well as training on the Finals, 5 B Finals, 2 C Finals and 1 D very busy Parramatta River and great Final. Again, it was a battle against racing on the Sydney Olympic Course. Hamilton Boys’ High for the Overall The team had some solid performances Champion School. We won 6 gold and in the Christmas and Cambridge Town 6 silver medals and ended up 3 points Cup Regattas racing under Cambridge behind Hamilton Boys. Still coming Rowing Club Colours. runners-up in New Zealand out of 127 schools was a wonderful achievement We then hit the school racing season and we brought home the Presidents with the Mercury Junior Regatta, which Scull (Overall Champion Sculling saw the team take home the Overall School) for the seventh time in the Points Trophy ahead of Hamilton Boys’ past eight years. High. Massive thanks must go out to all the North Island Secondary Schools amazing parents who have helped was next up and the full team of 79 throughout the season with our camps, competitors (our largest team ever to fundraising, day-to-day training, compete) raced some incredible races breakfasts and transport - they play over three days. We made 31 A Finals, such a huge role. They are a vital 9 B Finals and 3 C Finals, which saw part of the team’s success, along with nearly the whole team racing in a final. the amazing coaches that we have. It As the finals day went on, there was is also great to have a new sponsor, a royal battle between St Peter’s and Wayne Pamment (Harcourts) who has Hamilton Boys’ High for the Overall come on board to help the team.

U17 Girls’ 8+ with the Fairfield Shield GOLD U17 Girls’ 4X+ L-R: Kaylin Wren, Morgan Blind, Caroline Sherratt, Caitlin Burns, Lauren Gibb (cox), coaches Norm Charlton and Ellie Dowse

SILVER U18 Boys’ 4X+ L-R: Jacob Smyth, Reuben van Dalen, Oliver Anselmi, Ben Johnson, Harry Lynch (cox) and coach Josh Wedlake

GOLD U16 Boys’ 1X Gold U16 Girls’ 4X+ Gold U15 Girls’ 2X Jason Nel L-R: Morgan Brown, Ruby Butler, Beckie Leigh, L-R: Karen Verwey (coach), Clare Milne and Brooke Houston (cox) Ella Thomson and Beckie Leigh

Photos: Conrad Blind St Peter’s Coaches L-R: Jemima Hylton, Janey Wackrow, Norm Charlton, Ellie Dowse, Josh Storey, Josh Wedlake, Jack Shuttleworth, Karen Verwey, Robin Crooks and Jordan Hitchcock www.stpeters.school.nz 27 When you need a plumber you can trust! DON’T RISK IT Call a Master Plumber!

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28 Swimming at St Peter’s Swimming Sports On a beautiful day in March we had our annual Swimming Sports. A fantastic day with great competition between the swimmers at all levels. Highlights of Swimming Sports were the two swimming records that were broken. In the open boys 200m freestyle Luke Mitchell beat Sam Perry’s time of 02:00.08 with 01:57.0, and in the under 14 girls’ 100m freestyle Francesca Pollock bettered Margaret Wises’ time of 01:06.39 with a great effort of 01:05.60. Well done to everyone involved in such a successful day, and congratulations to Hanna House, who won both the Swimming Sports Results Timmings Trophy for the House Relay Y7 Girls Burgess Cup Rivi Maling and the Challenge Cup for Champion Y7 Boys Cooper Cup Spencer Cleland House. Y8 Girls Harper Cup Jade Morrison Y8 Boys Cooper Cup Lachy Dawe U14 Girls Vosper Cup Francesca Pollock U14 Boys Blomkamp Cup Fin Conchie U16 Girls Wallace Cup Madison Fuller U16 Boys St Peter’s Bowl Tyler Tapper St Peter’s Swimming O16 Girls Wallace Cup Danielle Spreadborough O16 Boys Cooper Cup Luke Mitchell Academy House Relay Trophy Timmings Trophy Hanna House It’s been a very busy summer for the Junior Female Swimmer of the Meet St Peter’s Cup Rivi Maling St Peter’s Swimming Club with a new Junior Male Swimmer of the Meet St Peter’s Cup Fin Conchie Junior National’s format, Open Water Senior Female Swimmer of the Meet Cooper Bowl Danielle Spreadborough Nationals, Division II competition, Senior Male Swimmer of the Meet Cooper Bowl Luke Mitchell National Age Group Championships Champion House Challenge Cup Hanna House and Open Nationals/World Champs National Age Groups proved a tough The following students won their qualifying meets. challenge with St Peter’s finishing 28th categories at the Waikato Secondary We started the year off with some good out of 81 clubs. We had many first-time Schools Swimming Championships: results at the Open Water Nationals national qualifiers who are much better Luke Mitchell: Champion in the 16 in Taupo, where Tyler Tapper won a off for attending. St Peter’s had Tyler years and over boys’ 200m freestyle; silver in the 13 and 14-year-old boys’ Tapper, Madison Fuller, Chelsea Sharp, Champion in the 16 years and over 2.5km swim and a bronze in the 13 Fin Conchie and Luke Mitchell compete boys’ 100 freestyle; and Champion and 14-year-old boys’ 5km swim. Luke at this meet. in the 16 years and over boys’ 50m Mitchell picked up a bronze in the 16 Open Nationals Championships (World breaststroke. years and over boys’ 5km swim. Championships qualifying) saw former Fin Conchie: Champion in the 13 We have had some great successes St Peter’s student Sam Perry qualify for years and under boys’ 100m butterfly. in our junior ranks, with St Peter’s the World Swimming Championships as Elizabeth Gretton: Champion in winning the Central North Island well as pick up a gold and two silvers. the 16 years and over girls’ 50m (Waikato, Taranaki, HB/PB and BOP) St Peter’s also won two relay medals; backstroke; and Champion in the 16 Junior Champs. There was a stand- silver in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay years and over girls’ 100m backstroke. out performance by St Peter’s student and a bronze in the 4 x 100m medley Spencer Cleland, winning two bronze relay. St Peter’s finished sixth equal in Josephine Oosterhuis: Champion medals. the club points. in the 16 years and over girls’ 50m breaststroke. At the Division II National meet, St We finished the summer off with the Peter’s finished second in the club Waikato Secondary School Swimming St Peter’s Director of Swimming points score, with Madison Fuller, Championships, where St Peter’s was Coaching, Carl Gordon, says, “I would Chelsea Sharp, Francesca Pollock the top co-ed school, finishing fifth like to thank the coaching team of Ally and Fin Conchie all winning a number in the points score and second in the Fitch, Helen Barr and Cameron Stanley of medals - including nine golds. girls’ points score. We had several for their help and support over the swimmers finish in the top three in summer. I would also like to thank the events. St Peter’s Swimming Club committee for their help and support this season.”

www.stpeters.school.nz 29 Golf Academy highlights Individual highlights for our golfers, topped off by beating Hamilton Boys’ High School in the annual Ieremia Trophy.

The first term is always a hectic one is unbelievable. It would be for everyone at the St Peter’s Golf hard to imagine top Olympians Academy. Our new golfers are finding or professional athletes being their feet and are often trying to get better cared for. Simon returned to grips with life at St Peter’s and with some exciting new insights learning a new sport. Our established and a crystal clear picture of Zeta Syme and Focus Jonglikit golfers juggle school work with their what top college programmes Championship. It was played in very considerable practise time, coaching are looking for when recruiting. A wet conditions at the Te Awamutu time and tournament time. Our student’s attitude, character and Golf Club. The leading 16 secondary staff work to cater to the needs of academic performance are still very schools’ golfers, including six from St absolute beginners through to aspiring highly valued. Peter’s, went into a seeded knockout professional golfers and everything in Our Academy numbers are as strong draw. All four semi-finalists, including between. as ever, and through the range of Focus Jonglikit, were coached The year started with Coach Thomas programme levels we offer, we already here at our Academy. The girls went spending a week in the United States have over 6% of the school actively through to the final and played at an visiting the golf programmes at the involved in golf at the Academy. Term outstanding level. Universities of Kansas and Iowa State. 2 has seen the start of our Physical After regulation play, the match Iowa is where Alumni Sam Vincent Education based golf classes which was tied and sudden death playoff and former St Peter’s Golf Academy gives all Year 7 and 9 students a chance was needed. Focus birdied the third student Denzel Ieremia are based to sample golf over a series of five PE extra hole to claim the inaugural on golf scholarships. It was great to classes. Whilst having a go and having Championship in style. further develop our relationships with fun is the emphasis, it is also a great On the Friday of Summer Tournament these excellent golf programmes and chance to awaken the golfer in our week we played the annual Ieremia share thoughts and ideas on coaching school population to continue to bring Trophy against Hamilton Boys’ High the game and player development. new golfers into our programmes. School at the Narrows Golf Course. The level of support and resource that Summer Tournament week saw The trophy was presented in 2015 by student athletes receive in the “Big Five” Waikato Golf launch a new event, the the Ieremia family to recognise the United States College Conferences Waikato Secondary Schools Matchplay significant roles both schools played in Denzel’s golf development prior to gaining a golf scholarship to Iowa State. The playing format is the same as the New Zealand Golf Schools Championship, so a good hit out for us before we have to qualify for Nationals. For the second time in three years we managed to win the trophy by an impressive 10 shots. Our team was led brilliantly by Focus shooting a 4 under par 69. She was well supported by Oak Archvarin, Sean Bonenkamp and William Leigh. Thanks to everyone involved in making the Academy run smoothly through the first part of the year, and a special thanks to Acushnet NZ Ltd for the fantastic support we receive through their world-class brands Titleist and Footjoy.

Reon Sayer (coach), Sam Smith, William Leigh, Ben Vincent, Focus Jonglikit (with trophy), Sean Bonenkamp, Scott Donald, Scott Law, Oak Archvarin, Campbell Child and Lala Ieremia

30 New Zealand representation in Barefoot Waterskiing April Foster and William Leigh have had an outstanding season skiing on the water with bare feet. Both represented New Zealand at the Asia Oceania Championships and both won national titles.

April Foster’s 2017 competition season William Leigh also had an awesome season. started with the Asia Oceania Championships William won the title for Overall Junior Boys’ at Lake Kereta. April won silver in slalom, National Champion and placed first in tricks, fourth in tricks and bronze overall, with her slalom and junior boys’ jump. He also placed team placing second overall. In the tricks fourth overall in Open Mens’ at the 2017 event she scored a personal best. National Championships and second in tricks. Prior to this competition April was lucky William gained a third national record, this enough to train in Florida for four weeks at time for the Junior Boys’ National Tricks. His the World Barefoot Centre. international placings and medals include Leading up to the New Zealand National fifth overall at junior world championships, Championships held in Otaki at the end of bronze in junior tricks, fifth in junior jump, March, April competed in the Waikato and seventh in junior slalom and bronze as part Bay of Plenty regional competitions winning of the New Zealand Junior team. each of the events in the Junior Girls’ division. April gained Once September comes, William will start his on-water the New Zealand Junior Girls’ title. preparation towards the 2017-18 season, with the climax “Over the winter I have been working on my upper body event being the Junior and Open World Championships in strength at the gym and am travelling to Florida in the July Ontario, Canada. He’ll also train in Florida. holidays to train with the World Barefoot Centre. My goal for “I’m looking forward to a busy preparation and a bid for a 2018 is to make the New Zealand Junior team for the World place in the New Zealand Open team for the coming 2018 Championships which will be held in Canada in August 2018,” World Championships,” says William. says April.

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www.stpeters.school.nz 31 BMX success Bennett and Jack Greenough have achieved incredible successes in BMX lately. Bennett Greenough (Year 9) came but he dug deep and managed a third back from a broken wrist in February in the age 12 boys. The icing on the in time to travel to Wellington for the cake for Jack was winning the New Regional Championships, where both Zealand National Series jersey, which Bennett and brother Jack Greenough takes place nationwide over 10 rounds. (Year 7) took out their respective Bennett also raced very well, getting classes. some clean, smooth laps. Seemingly Jack Greenough The next major on the calendar was the unfazed by the conditions, he was Oceania Champs in Bathurst, Australia undefeated through his races to take - a very challenging track in extremely out NZ1 for the age 14 boys. This was a windy conditions. Bennett won his class wonderful victory for him as he has had and Jack came third, racing against the some setbacks at Nationals in previous current World Champion and other top years and until now had never won riders. the National title. In the Super Nats At the BMX National Champs in Te final a tiny error had him settling for Awamutu over Easter, the back to second in the 12-14 class. To wrap up back cyclones meant that the track the season Bennett won the National surrounds were a sea of mud. Keeping Series, dominating his class by scoring wheels and shoes clean and dry kept the maximum amount of points over 10 the pit crews busy! In six races Jack rounds Nationwide. was undefeated, making him the In June, Jack raced with his team in Mighty 11 Captain and number one Sydney and won the individual Mighty rider to represent New Zealand in 11 class earning the title of ‘Fastest 11 Sydney in June. Jack also captained Year Old’. the team to victory in New Zealand last All great preparation for the World year. It is a rare double to captain the Championships, which take place at team twice. Rock Hill in the United States in July. Racing the next day was a big challenge for Jack both mentally and physically, Bennett Greenough

The summer of Cycling As one season draws to a close another one begins. Time to reflect on how well the 2016/17 summer season of cycling went for the St Peter’s Cycling Academy cyclists. Track cycling was the main focus The Age Group Track Nationals were through the early months of the year, held on our doorstep at the world class with the Elite and Under 19 National Avantidrome. Ally Wollaston cleaned Championships held in Invercargill. up in the Under 17 Girls category Ellesse Andrews (Under 19) showed claiming glory in the 500m Time Trial her skill and talent by winning the along with the Shona Smith Memorial 2km Individual Pursuit in a new New Trophy, the 5km Scratch Race, and the Zealand record and only .01 of a second 3km Team Pursuit. She fought hard for off the World Record! Ellesse also won her second place in the 2km Individual the 500m Time Trial and was second Pursuit and helped the Waikato Team in the Team Sprint. These outstanding Sprint secure third place over the two results have earned the current Junior lap race. World Champion a place in the team for With the road season well under way the 2017 Junior World Championships now, we will soon have the opportunity being held in Montichiari, Italy in late to cheer on our riders in the Age Group August. Road Nationals, Waikato Bay of Plenty Jacob Coltman joined the Waikato Schools Road Race and the North Bay of Plenty Team Sprint team and Island Secondary Schools Competition. took out third place in a nail-biting lunge for the line. Ellesse Andrews

Ally WollastonPhoto by Sandi Scott

32 POOR

Charlisse Leger-Walker playing for the Junior Tall Ferns QUALITY PHOTO

Basketball roundup Tall Ferns recognition for Charlisse Leger-Walker and a national title in 3x3 for St Peter’s.

Ella Bradley, Charlisse Leger- Jayzelee Waihi is a member of the NZ take any opportunity to cement spots Walker, Jayzelee Waihi and Rylee U16 A team. Representing Waikato in the senior team and challenge senior Godbold put on an exceptional in a number of age group teams are players for starting spots. performance in the 2017 Secondary Charlisse, Ella and Emma Baker in The Junior Boys’ 3x3 Premier team Schools 3X3 National Slam, claiming the U17 Girls’ Waikato team, Kirsten with Adam Langlands, Justin Vela- the title for St Peter’s once again - Rawson in the U19 team, and Jayzelee Reynolds, Travis Buckley, Tuhua we have held the title since 2015. and Alana Paewai in the Waikato U15 Taikato-Litz and Tope Adegbite “The St Peter’s players did us proud teams. competed well and finished third in at these championships due to their Kirsten Rawson and Charlisse Leger- their pool, progressing to a quarter focus, commitment and disciplined Walker went on to play in the winning final. St Peter’s Junior Boys finished performances throughout the Waikato team in the U19 National finals. the tournament eighth overall out of tournament,” said coach Leanne Charlisse was top scorer with 31 points 15 teams. Walker. and was named the tournament’s Most Issa Kunda, Kata Brill and Matt The girls have a more intense training Valuable Player. She then headed into Pollock played for Waikato at the U19 schedule later in the season on the the Tall Ferns trial camp. At 15 years National Finals, with the team finishing road to defending their national back to old, she is one of the youngest players sixth in the country. back titles as New Zealand Secondary to be invited. School Girls’ Champions 2015 and In the Senior Boys’ team, Kata Brill, 2016. They’re hungry to achieve the Issa Kunda, Hugh Douglas and 2017 national title. Hayden Russell coached by Nick Players to watch and who have already Power started the 3x3 tournament in achieved success this year include a tough pool taking on Rangitoto, who Charlisse Leger-Walker, who has been went on to win, and Aotea who finished named the Basketball New Zealand in the top 10. Issa Kunda performed Junior Player of the Year. This award well leading the team in scoring. was presented to her sister Krystal A lot of hard work had gone into the Leger-Walker in 2015 and 2016, also a pre-season for the Waikato Secondary former St Peter’s student. Nice to keep School League, with extra strength it in the family! Charlisse is also in the and conditioning sessions designed NZ U17 Girls’ and NZ U18 Girls’ team by our Strength and Conditioning alongside fellow New Zealand team- Coach Shaun Paterson. This season a mate Ella. number of younger players from the Junior Premier team are looking to

Hayden Russell on defence St Peter’s cricket programme With the introduction of the Cricket Academy for Year 7 through to Year 10, committed developing players can now continue to grow with guidance and coaching from Owen Steverson and specialised resource coaches.

With player numbers continuing to grow Scott Law has been the the 1st XI’s in cricket at Prep and Colts level, there leading run scorer as well as Waikato is real competition among players to Valley Senior Secondary Schools represent the school at the top level. Representative (the team’s leading Quality coaching in each team and the run scorer at the Northern Districts introduction of the Cricket Academy Secondary Schools Tournament) offers a maximised pathway to higher and Waikato Valley Senior Men’s honours to committed and passionate Development team representative. players. Our next highest run scorer for the 1st The 1st XI this year challenged XI has been Campbell Child, also the themselves in the Waikato Men’s fourth highest wicket taker, Waikato Valley Premier Cricket Competition. A Valley Senior Men’s Development competition that offers tougher weekly team representative, and Waikato opposition on grass wickets throughout Valley Senior Secondary Schools the region inspired the players to work Representative (Captain). harder during the week in the nets Our Year 9 team won their competition and on the grass. Developing mental and took home the Puna Shield. toughness and resilience will put what Congratulations boys. is a young team in good stead for the Term 4 season.

Scott Law defends on the front foot

Baxter Kane attacks with the new ball in our annual fixture against Mount Albert Grammar

34 Holly Williams about to start her swim at the Multisport NZSS Aquathlon Our athletes have been challenging themselves in new ways by achieving in Multisport. Luke Mitchell’s James Corbett exceptional first winner of Two titles at Waikato swim leg at the U16 WBOPSS NZSS U19 Team Triathlon Bay of Plenty Secondary Triathlon Schools Triathlon St Peter’s triathlon junior students and Mrs Patrick’s Elite Athlete Class (EAC) took part in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools triathlon event in March at Karapiro. Training during the term had prepared them to challenge themselves mentally and physically. It was the first time for some students doing a triathlon and they all responded exceptionally well. They all coped with being outside their comfort zone and learning to deal with challenges.

New Zealand Secondary Schools Triathlon Holly Williams winner of the A small team of St Peter’s students U14 WBOPSS travelled to Whanganui for the New Triathlon Zealand Secondary Schools Triathlon and Aquathlon on 30-31 March. Standout performances were Holly Williams, who finished third in the U14 girls’ aquathlon after a strong finish the day before in the triathlon where she finished seventh. Charli Miller showed her running strength in both of the U16 events, finishing fourth in the triathlon and only 16 seconds off a medal, and seventh in the aquathlon.

CAMBRIDGE’S NEWEST LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

1 KELLY ROAD, CAMBRIDGE Located less than 2km from St Peter’s School

Sam Montgomerie www.kellyrd.co.nz completing Jacob Coltman cornering the run at the bike leg at the NZSS the NZSS U19 U19 Team Triathlon Team Triathlon

www.stpeters.school.nz 35 Creating a high performance culture in Track and Field

Back in 2014, on one of their training runs, coaches Ange Russek and Jess Patrick discussed how they could grow the sport of track and field at St Peter’s. Creating a high performance culture and inspiring athletes to be the best they could be was just the warm up.

Taking a ‘pathway to podium’ approach, the pride and support that we possess the athletes in the squad committed compared to any other school - always themselves to a full year training have the most support and team programme. Coaches Russek and Patrick members at events,” says athlete Sam encouraged each athlete to believe they Montgomerie. could achieve finals and podium finishes Facilitating a robust programme and at a national level. an environment that creates balanced “The St Peter’s Track and Field team athletes has enabled opportunities caters for all abilities, from newbies including New Zealand team through to international representatives. selections, international medals, New There is always someone to learn from Zealand records and United States and look up to and these role models are scholarships. Touring overseas with St eager to support,” says St Peter’s athlete Peter’s Track and Field has inspired our Jemima Antoniazzi. athletes and given them life skills and Training squads for sprints, relays, a belief in themselves. middle distance and throws, jumps and hurdles were implemented with quality coaching. While athletes were learning to become part of our High Performance environment, coaches Russek and Patrick were also extending their coaching strengths. High Performance Sport NZ coach accreditation, P2P, World Junior Team, New Zealand Olympic Committee Youth Commonwealth Games, Oceania’s Coaching, Management and workshops enabled them to guide athletes to outstanding results. Athlete Conor McGiven says, “We have specific training programmes which are “Our coaches are outstanding at what catered to take into account our event, they do as they really care about our other sport commitments and their athletes and everybody gets merged with other things that go on. The along in the team as we all pursue our coaches get to know how you train, what similar goals. The St Peter’s athletics you love and what you need to work on, programme runs like a well oiled and they create specific plans to help us machine” says Sam Montgomerie. achieve our goals.” Conor Mcgiven says, “All team “The St Peter’s Track and Field environments are different… athletics programme is unique for many reasons. is funky – it’s quirky. We have fun; The resources that we have available, athletes and coaches. But we know the exceptional coaching, the ability to when to get in the zone.” train at and straight after school and 36 FAST FACTS 2016-2017 New Zealand Track and Field, New Zealand Cross Country and New Zealand Road Race Athletics Day 18 medals Records 1 x New Zealand 7 x WBOP & NISS broken North Island Secondary Schools 4 gold, 10 silver, 3 bronze medals North Island Secondary Schools 20 Qualifiers Waikato Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools 48 Qualifiers Waikato Bay of Plenty Club Champs 45 Qualifiers Zone Top Secondary School in Waikato Secondary School Porritt Classic Middle Distance Trophy 3 x Athletes Selected for New Zealand team to compete at Oceania Champs

Conor McGiven, Athletics Captain

Charli Miller, Sophie Waddell, Ella Bradley and Maddie Brown at NZSS

Athletics Day Results Y7 Girls’ Champion Drew Cup Rivi Maling Y7 Boys’ Champion Hay Cup Tom Empson Y8 Girls’ Champion Craig Cup Georgia Cutler Y8 Boys’ Champion Larner Challenge Cup Nathan Feyter U14 Girls’ Champion Sutton Memorial Cup Annalies Kalma U14 Boys’ Champion St Peter’s School Cup Dawson Smith U16 Girls’ Champion Falconer Family Cup Charli Miller U16 Boys’ Champion St Peter’s School Cup Lochie Montgomerie Development at a junior level provides Senior Girls’ Champion Vosper Cup Lauren Henry sustainability in the squad - Danielle Senior Boys’ Champion St Peter’s School Cup Kaea Hongara Joblin, sprinter Junior Female Athlete of the Meet Lord Cup Georgia Cutler Junior Male Athlete of the Meet Ewing Cup Tom Empson Senior Female Athlete of the Meet Tasman Cup Lauren Henry Senior Male Athlete of the Meet Crerar Cup Kaea Hongara House Relay House Relay Trophy Chandler House

Lochie Montgomerie, talented middle distance runner ranked fourth at NZSS 1500m Chandler 1st Hanna 2nd Thornton 3rd Swears 4th Equestrian success

Nicola Hammond

Lindsay Everton Outstanding results for St Peter’s Equestrian Academy Riders.

The first 2017 Inter-Schools Equestrian under 12 years and her team was Best Event was the Waikato Secondary Performed Youngest Team competing Schools Show Jumping competition. in the U17 section. Shayla Shaw won The St Peter’s Red and Gold Teams the U17 National Pairs Championship Maddie Smith did well to finish second and sixth Title and Madie Smith won the New respectively in the secondary schools Zealand Pony Show Hunter Equitation. section, while our Prep (Year 7 and 8) At the Equestrian Sports NZ Series ‘Stars of the Future’ team was second Final Michaelee Head was the NRM in their section. In the hotly contested Pony Equitation National Show Hunter senior jigsaw, St Peter’s riders took Series winner and placed third in the the trifecta placing first, second and Aniwell High Points Series. In show third in this event. A big thank you to jumping, Nicola Hammond won the our coaches and parents who helped 1.30m Horse Welcome Stakes then on this day. finished third in the Young Rider Series In Summer Tournament week, St Grand Final. Nicola also qualified for Peter’s again hosted the North Island the long list to represent Singapore Dressage Championships for 180 at the South East Asian Games (SEA riders. While it was not our year to Games) in Kuala Lumpur this August Nikita Howl take home the trophies, several of our and had the qualifying scores to make riders achieved personal bests, with the short list. 21 top ten placings and the Red Team Meanwhile, across the Tasman in finishing fifth in the Development Sydney, Lindsay Everton was Section. Reserve Champion Youth Hack at Our riders have achieved some Equifest and was a team member of outstanding results in open the New Zealand Show Horse Council competitions. At the Horse of the Year at the Sydney Royal Show. Show, Nicola Hammond performed With several more inter-school well in the Lady Rider of the Year show equestrian events coming up we are jumping event. In Mounted Games, looking forward to building on these Nikita Howl was Reserve Champion results.

38 International students riding in the Equestrian Academy The Equestrian Academy has three international students riding at present, two of whom have purchased their own horses. Learning to look after their own horses is a very new experience for them! Jeff Cao Jiu Kimura Kiiro Nagatsuma Zhengzhou, China Fukuoka, Japan Tokyo, Japan Jeff Cao is from Zhengzhou, China. Jeff Jiu Kimura is from Fukuoka, Kyushu Kiiro Nagatsuma is from Tokyo, Japan. learnt to ride at 11 years of age at a in Japan. Jiu rode at the Nakamoto Kiiro first rode at a riding camp and riding club about 40 minutes from his Riding Club for 11 years and has then progressed to more serious home. Riders did not have to look after twice spent two to three months at training about six years ago, when the horses, as that was done by staff. Jill Carenza Equestrian Limited in the she had to travel more than an hour Jeff has also ridden at a training centre UK. Jiu’s passion is show jumping and in order to ride. She too hadn’t looked in San Francisco. He is passionate his ambitions are to ride at the New after her own horse until she came to about show jumping and wants to Zealand Horse of the Year Show and New Zealand. Kiiro has purchased a progress from 1.20m to 1.50m jumps jump in 1.30m competitions. Jiu has Hanoverian called Lord Frederic (a.k.a. eventually. Jeff likes being at St Peter’s purchased his own horse ‘Envious’ Freddie). Kiiro is working on developing but has found out that looking after a (a.k.a. Billy) and likes having his horse a stronger relationship with Freddie in horse is a lot of hard work and very so close to his boarding house at St order to improve her riding - and it’s time-consuming, but he is learning Peter’s. Jiu is an early riser and most working. At the North Island Dressage lots! mornings is tending to Billy before Championships, Kiiro achieved a first most of us are awake. placing in one of her classes and she jumped very well in all three rounds at the Waikato Inter-Schools Show Jumping.

Jeff Cao, Jiu Kimura and Kiiro Nagatsuma

www.stpeters.school.nz 39 Owl Farm

Providing knowledge St Peter’s School/Lincoln University Demonstration Dairy Farm

Owl Farm is a joint venture between St Peter’s School and Lincoln University which has been developed to apply proven research, utilising good on-farm practice and scientific monitoring for the farm to become an exemplar in dairy production, economic performance and environmental footprint.

Louise Cook, Owl Farm’s Demonstration Manager, talking to Farm Manager Tom Buckley

It’s been a busy season down There have been fewer animal health This year we have been privileged to on the farm. We’ve welcomed challenges and more milk produced have the Mexican Ambassador – Jose Louise Cook as our Demonstration for every cow on the farm. We’ve Gerardo Traslosheros - visit the farm Manager, we’ve had a visit from reduced our feed inputs for the same and learn more about agricultural the Mexican Ambassador and amount of milk produced and we’ve farming systems in New Zealand. we’ve dealt with everything had a fantastic team of staff who have Mother Nature has thrown at us! continued to develop their farming If you talk to anyone in farming circles knowledge and skills throughout the about the current farming season, year. about the only word you can use to A key factor that has influenced these sum up the year is ‘unpredictable’. It improvements is a continued focus on feels as though every season has been increasing the amount of homegrown quite wet, which made winter and feed and how much of it is getting spring challenging but summer and harvested. This year we have seen a lift early autumn an absolute blessing – in homegrown feed of approximately until the two big cyclones arrived, that 5% and a decrease in cash costs of is. 8%. On top of that, Louise Cook started These are very strong signals for us Tom Buckley, Farm Manager, with Jose Gerardo Traslosheros and John Fegan, in April as the new Demonstration that our focus on homegrown feed former Chair Governance Committee Manager, handing over from Doug means we are heading in the right Dibley who has cared for Owl Farm for direction. As we finish the second year the past two years. of our pasture renovation programme, Amid all of the things that Mother Nature we know this year we will see 50% of threw at us this year, the business of the farm benefitting from increases farming went on and Owl Farm has had in yield. We are expecting a further 8% increase in homegrown feed up quite a successful year with significant Like us on Facebook to 13t/ha and a decrease in operating improvements occurring in production, facebook.com/OwlFarmNZ expenditure of 14%. productivity, animal performance and www.owlfarm.nz profit.

40 After being delayed due to rain, we had our second annual Public Open Day where 400 participants spent time learning a little more about what we do at Owl Farm for both farming and non-farming folk. This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come and have a look at life on the farm, and it’s especially exciting to see so many children attending with their parents. A new Owl Farm initiative for 2017 is to hold an open Farm Walk every week where we invite students and the public to walk part of the farm with us measuring feed. This is held every Tuesday at 11am. All welcome to join us. Owl Farm Public Open Day photo credit: DairyNZ

Owl Farm - Weekly Monitor Walk Tuesdays, 11am - 12pm Providing knowledge - Homegrown Feed

Weekly 1 hour farm walk, departing from the Owl Farm office • Monitor pasture covers on Owl Farm’s top block • Focus on homegrown feed • Bring your own measuring method to compare All Welcome!

We thank our partners for their ongoing support and commitment to the bright future of this industry.

www.stpeters.school.nz 41 ALUMNI St Peter’s Alumni at medical school together Five former St Peter’s students, all from the same year, are studying to be doctors at the University of Auckland’s medical school. The Owl caught up with one of the students, 2013 Deputy Head Girl Renee Clark.

Auckland Medical School boasts five former St Peter’s students all in the fourth year of their degree. The students are Renee Clark, Tushar Srivastava, Laura Smith, James McElligott and Evylyn Kennedy. Renee, 21, is doing a year-long placement in medicine and surgery at Waikato Hospital. “I spend my days with patients, and going to theatre and observing what the doctors are doing. I am getting the most out of the exposure and experience.” Renee grew up on a dairy farm in Waimana, a small rural area between Opotiki and Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty. “I went from a small school of about sixty people to a big boarding school in Years 9-13 and I loved it.” Renee is still deciding which area of medicine she will specialise in. “There are just so many options and I actually haven’t had anyone in my family in the medical field at all, so I’m keeping my mind very open to what is out there. I’m not sure yet.” She intends to do her next placement closer to home. “I am keen to go to Tauranga at this stage as they do a bit of rural stuff in Whakatane as well, so I am quite keen to get into that side of things and see what it’s all about. That’s where I am heading at the moment.” Dance was her main extra-curricular activity and she has been involved in choreographing and performing in the Auckland Medical School annual production. Dancing has taken a back seat this year, due to the long hours spent at the hospital, but she still goes to the gym and plays social netball. She flats in Hamilton with three girls from medical school. “As long as you work hard and are good at communicating with people they look for so many other qualities, than just being a straight-A student.” Renee got into medical school based on grades in the first year studying health sciences, and also an interview. She didn’t study physics or chemistry at school. “You can still get into the programme even if you don’t have so much of a science background, it is definitely doable. “ “If you are interested in health, and how the body works and like communicating with people it is a really cool career choice and I am enjoying it a lot.”

42 ALUMNI Top rugby talent signed by Brumbies A professional rugby career is a dream come true for former St Peter’s student Wharenui Hawera.

Wharenui, 24, secured his first Super against them has probably been the Rugby opportunity when he was signed best thing about playing them so far.” by Canberra’s Brumbies for the 2017 Wharenui, who left school in 2011, season. credits St Peter’s rugby coach Andrew It followed a successful stint with Douglas with helping him prepare for a Southland in the New Zealand professional career. provincial competition, as well as three “He was an awesome coach. He seasons for Waikato and local club coached the New Zealand Secondary Hamilton Marist. Schools team at the time and was a He was headhunted for the Brumbies’ big factor in my rugby career. He drove Number 10 position to replace high standards at the school. Australian first-five Christian Lealiifano “I was captain in the last year. I who was side-lined suddenly due to a remember him calling me into his cancer diagnosis. office and he asked if I wanted to be “I always wanted to play Super Rugby, captain of the school team. I said no and knew I was capable, so to get a as I did not want to do the after match crack has been awesome.” speeches. It was an unexpected life change “He said I am going to have to step up moving to Canberra. “It is not really and be a man about things and that is what I thought Australia would be the one thing I am going to have to do like. It is a smaller place, there are to grow as a player and as a person.” no beaches, it’s easy to get around. It “I did take the captaincy role as, as a reminds me of Hamilton. A lot of the number 10, I had to overcome those boys aren’t from here as well so it’s a sorts of things and become a leader. close knit group. Brumbies and Australian backs coach “Life is a bit different here in Canberra, Stephen Larkham said this after signing but I am really enjoying it. I didn’t Wharenui: “the one thing that was think I would end up here but rugby noticeable with Wharenui when I came takes you to some funny places and I back from my break pre-Christmas am glad I am here.” was that his communication was just Wharenui’s partner, Southern Steel at a different level to anyone else. netball player Ngawai Eyles, also from Even to the guys who have been here Hamilton, has remained in Invercargill in the past, you can see that he has for the season. clearly played at the higher level – not He looks forward to the home games in just club rugby, but the Mitre 10 Cup New Zealand, especially the Brumbies level before. The way he commanded versus Chiefs in Hamilton on July 15 in authority out on the field and the way the last round of the competition. he communicated was just top-notch.” His parents and partner attended his No question, Wharenui would like to debut Super Rugby competition game wear the silver fern one day. “Like against the Crusaders in Christchurch many Kiwi kids, I strived to play for the and he had to ask for 15 extra tickets All Blacks, growing up.” for family who live down there. For now, he is happy doing his best and “New Zealand is the benchmark at the establishing his spot in the Brumbies’ moment, and being able to test myself back line.

www.stpeters.school.nz 43 ALUMNI

From Cambridge to Yale Middle distance athlete Arianna Lord is nearing the end of her first year at Yale University and will finish with a five week language camp in Italy.

Arianna, 19, started an academic chemistry, astronomy and sustainable and sporting scholarship at the development. prestigious Ivy League university “After two semesters of classes here in Connecticut, USA, last and my experiences I am pretty well September. So far it has been an decided I am going to be a geology incredible experience, combining and geophysics major. I am excited for academic study with athletics. that. Arianna with Yale teammate Delaney FitzPatrick “Going to America is probably hands “When I came in last year I had ideas To put her achievement in perspective, down the best decision I have ever about what I wanted to study and Arianna was one of 1,972 students made. I enjoy it over here so much geology wasn’t one of them, but I offered an undergraduate place at and I am really grateful to have this took a geology class last semester and Yale last year, out of a pool of 31,455 opportunity.” absolutely fell in love with the subject.” applications. It was the largest number The days are full with lectures, library Arianna is quick to point out, “It’s not of students ever to apply to Yale. study and research before Arianna all about rocks!” She responded with this social media catches a shuttle to Yale’s huge “I am pretty science based as those post: “Officially accepted to Yale, so sporting complex for three hours of are what my interests are, but there grateful for this amazing opportunity training. is no limit to what you can decide to and looking forward to the next 4 “Every day I really love going out to do here.” years studying and running at such an practise, as obviously I really love my Arianna has met two other New incredible university, beyond excited sport but also the team atmosphere Zealanders in their Freshman year and #gobulldogs #yale2020.” is really amazing. It’s like hanging out they are both rowers. “Whenever I with your thirty best friends for a few bump into them on campus it is a nice hours every day.” Despite her young age, Arianna little reminder. That is what I sound has an impressive sporting CV. Her Weekends are spent travelling to like too.” athletics meets where she competes achievements include: Each day, Arianna is grateful to be at in the 800m and also 4 x 800m relay • Youth Olympic Festival silver and Yale. which is a new experience as it is not bronze medalist in 1500m/3000m. offered in New Zealand. “The opportunity to come to a US • Third at the 2015 New Zealand university is unparalleled, to get a National Championships in 800m. “The athletic conference at Yale is great education and compete through • Champion in the 1500m, and runner part of the Ivy League so we often your sport at such a high level. The up in 800m at the 2013 U18 Oceania race against schools in that. So last sport and academic combination Championships. weekend I was up racing at Harvard. is something the New Zealand • Five-time age group National And that was cool because the Yale- universities don’t really facilitate that Champion in 1500m (2011-15). Harvard rivalry is a very strong one.” well. • U18 Champion New Zealand U18 club Arianna chose a range of academic cross country championships. subjects including archaeology, maths, • Selected for New Zealand youth track and cross country teams five times. • Captain of St Peter’s track and field 44 team for two years (2014-15). ALUMNI

Reporting the news from the end of the Earth No two days are the same for Mediaworks’ television journalist Isobel Ewing, who started the year travelling Equipped with 30-year- old boots and her dad’s Gore-Tex jacket, here Isobel to Antarctica and will finish it covering New Zealand’s writes about the early stages of the general election. 18-hour expedition climbing Mt Scott with the Antarctic Heritage Trust. A career in journalism gave Isobel University, then journalism at Massey “The morning we arrived in the Antarctic Ewing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity University in Wellington. we sailed into an icy wasteland, with to visit Antarctica earlier this year. Her first big job opportunity came bleak skies shrouded in low cloud. It was Isobel, 27, travelled to the sub- when she was selected for the Fairfax bitterly cold. The scenery was hauntingly continent to climb Mount Scott as a Internship programme. That saw her beautiful, eerily quiet but at the same time guest of The Antarctic Heritage Trust. placed at the Taranaki Daily News in the harshest environment I’d ever seen. “I have always had a fascination with New Plymouth, where she learned All we could see of Mt Scott from the water the place, as a lot of Kiwis do.” on the job for three years covering was sheer cliffs rising into the mist. For She was selected for the two week trip, environmental issues, regional council weeks we’d been prepared for our efforts travelling via South America, despite and court. She took up a role at the to be thwarted by the wild polar weather, having little experience. “I think the then 3 News in March 2015. and this wasn’t looking good. last time I put on crampons was on “I have always just loved story-telling, Ship crew dropped us by inflatable boat at an alpine skills course at St Peter’s in how you can go to work and you just the steep, rocky shoreline under a layer of sixth form and I told them that.” don’t know what the day is going to fog. But she was selected because of bring. From the water the landing was incredibly her ability to communicate about “I love the craft of a good story and intimidating. It was a sheer ice face broken Antarctica to a large audience through how it can influence people and excite by a few rocks at the water’s edge. her role as a reporter at Newshub. people.” Kev had joked about getting a ‘nice, easy Isobel describes the unbelievable She is working in a fast-changing landing’ but the other guide Sean had gone feeling getting to the top. media environment. “Ideally you want ashore to assess it and decided we’d put “Reaching the summit was just unreal. to learn to shoot and cut and write and our boots on in the boat and immediately Nothing but cloud and huge mountain present as there are just not those rope up to ascend the slippery rocks. ranges as far as the eye could see. silos of print or radio or TV anymore. It On a tiny ledge we strapped on crampons And bright blue sky and not a breath is morphing into one.” and I surveyed the slope above. There of breeze.” This year Isobel is based in the was no easy start. For the first 200m we She immediately used a satellite phone Newshub Political Gallery, covering the were climbing a steep face that dropped to to ring Radio Live in Auckland. general election in late September. freezing water.” “I just called the newsroom and they Each day she interviews the country’s put me through. Too easy! Pretty cool politicians. “Every decision they make to go live from a mountain in the last affects somebody and to be able to great wilderness.” influence that through the stories is awesome.” Isobel grew up in Tamahere and attended St Peter’s from 2003 to 2007. Isobel returns to the Waikato to visit family in Tamahere. One of her recent She studied a Bachelor of Arts, trips was to do the Waitomo Caves Trail majoring in Classics at Canterbury run.

www.stpeters.school.nz 45 ALUMNI

Making a difference in Tanzania

Jane Whyte was a former director of e-Learning and head of computing at St Peter’s where she taught for 12 years. Jane and her husband David are now in Tanzania doing volunteer work. She writes about their experiences so far in the poor African country. “We are with the Mvumi School Trust, As a special treat, we get vegetables us just over an hour to get there a British charity set up to support once or twice a week, and three small over a very bumpy road. Creating capable, needy students in Mvumi and pieces of meat twice a week. This was relationships is an important part of surrounding areas who cannot afford the last day of term, a Thursday, so we the culture here, so the couple that to go to school. got the vegetables and meat. Here is we are taking over from took us there Mvumi School is about one hour’s my plate for lunch, the locals laugh at in the school ute. They had a special drive from Dodoma, which is in the me because I take so little rice/ugali. assembly to welcome us. A group of middle of Tanzania. It is a school that I have a spoon but many staff roll the girls sang us a very tuneful song in is owned and operated by the Anglican rice or ugali into a ball (using their right English about being blind. Then we each Diocese of Central Tanganyika. It has hand only) and dip into the beans. said a few words which were translated both day and boarding students. The During the term we took a field trip by the Headmaster. Each year we get current role is 600, of which 150 are to Buigiri School. This is an Anglican about seven visually impaired or blind sponsored students. The school also school for visually impaired and blind students, including albinos, into the has a visually impaired unit. Almost all students founded in 1950. It took Form 1 year from Buigiri school.” of these students are sponsored by the trust. I look after the Trust finances here in Tanzania, and help with the school finances which includes sitting on the School Finance Committee and attending the school board meetings. Lunch is provided for boarders and trust students. An orange bucket is brought across from the dining hall and contains rice three days a week. Twice a week it is ugali, made from boiling maize flour and water together to get the consistency of mashed potato. You serve yourself from the bucket using a plate. The next pot is boiled beans.

46 ALUMNI

support so I can really just hone in on my study and my sport.”

It is an intense six days per week swimming schedule with a 20 hour per week training limit. “We try to wiggle as much practise into the 20 hours as we can.”

While in the US, Sam has concentrated on sprint events, the 50m and 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly. He competes at college swim meets.

“The racing over here is a lot more frequent and a lot more energetic than you would find in a pool back home in New Zealand. I don’t know if it’s because they are Americans, or if it is the culture they have set up. It is super intense.”

Sam is undecided what the future holds, but whatever he does is likely to be in the US or overseas. Swimming and “I am keeping my options open.” Sam comes home 2-3 times per year studying in USA and always returns for Christmas. He is in regular contact with his parents, Marlene Julian and Simon Perry. “It is Former St Peter’s student Sam Perry (pictured at left) not so bad as Mum and Dad Snapchat me all the time and they visit me more is off to Budapest in July to represent New Zealand in than I come home.” the World Swimming Championships. He was back in April for the New When Sam Perry had just turned 16 his swimming and study for a degree in Zealand Open Swimming Meet in father suggested they go to the United Economics. He is in his third year on a Auckland, winning a gold in the 100m States to check out universities. scholarship at Stanford. butterfly, silver in the 50m butterfly, silver in the 50m freestyle and fourth It was the year the St Peter’s student “It is hard to put it into a few sentences, in the 100m freestyle. had a top year at the national swimming but I have loved it so far. Time has championships. flown by. It seems like not that long “Thankfully I qualified for the World ago that I was graduating from St Champs that will be this summer (July) “That was a really fun trip and I Peter’s. in Budapest.” liked the idea of coming over here for the schooling and for the team “The teams are just full of guys who Depending on how his year goes, Sam atmosphere.” love swimming and love swimming fast may seek qualification for the New and love pushing each other. Zealand swimming team for the 2020 He made contacts with swimming Tokyo Olympics. coaches and kept in touch when he “That was something I probably was returned to New Zealand. not going to be able to find in New Zealand, the training environment and “I narrowed it down to Stanford and trying to study as well.” Harvard. I decided on Stanford and I have been here since.” The university is well resourced for college students pursuing their Sam, now 21, moved to the top dreams. university, located in California, when he finished at St Peter’s in 2014. He has “It is amazing. They make everything been able to further his competitive so easy for me, there is so much

www.stpeters.school.nz 47 AN EYE ON ALUMNI Philip Coles, Chair

It’s been a busy few months for this year’s spectacular production, reunion in the CBD. We are looking the Alumni. Starlight Express. What a treat it was, forward to a strong turnout. In April we had our AGM. The event ran performed by very talented students Our new Alumni website is up and smoothly; we farewelled Bex McQuire and supported by very talented staff running. There is a mixture of good and welcomed new blood and now our and committed parents. literature as well as coming events Treasurer Lindy Malcolm. We enjoyed our annual Alumni winter which also can be seen on our Facebook In May we co-hosted our annual Pre- sports day, an afternoon of fierce page. Production Cocktail Party. This event competition in a mixture of sports The Committee looks forward to seeing is something we really look forward with Alumni and students competing you at these and many more events too so we can socialise with our against each other. that we are hosting in the future. invited guests. This was followed by In August we are hosting our Auckland

ST PETER’S FOUNDATIONA FIRM FOUNDATION Neil McLaughlin, Chair

We are delighted and Social Work at Auckland University. communications, leadership and to have appointed She is responsible for deepening alumni strategic planning. Sharon Roux as engagement, leading events that At St Peter’s Sharon will be based at our Director of grow donor interest and engagement, the school and will be responsible for Advancement for leading the development of collateral growing the Foundation, both in funds the St Peter’s School and various communications channels and in connections with the community. Foundation. that affect donor and alumni relations and devising and implementing a Sharon will assist in reconnecting Sharon joins us with a wealth of comprehensive donor stewardship Alumni with the school and help to experience and will be a welcome programme. organise events and reunions that will addition to our structure. Sharon grow our network of current and past comes with a solid background in not- Sharon was previously Fundraising parents, Alumni and school sponsors. for-profit organisations. Manager at the University of We will welcome Sharon in November. Waikato, where she was responsible Sharon is currently Development for fundraising, marketing and Manager in the Faculty of Education PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION Sacha Coburn, Chair

What a fabulous year it’s been Deans. Parents from every year group funds put to good use at school. This so far. The St Peter’s Parents’ were invited to meet with their Dean and event only works because so many Association has been busy with hear about the focus for the year. We volunteers step up to help – thanks to a host of events and activities were delighted with the turnout at each you all. to welcome new families and event and many parents appreciated At our recent AGM we elected a new reconnect with returning the opportunity to understand more committee and these parents are now parents. Our overarching aims about how they can partner in their gearing up for our Annual Quiz Night, are to strengthen the connection student’s learning journey at each year Speaker Series and a special event between parents and school, build level. Huge thanks to the Deans’ team to celebrate 30 years of St Peter’s community between parents, and and Associate Principal Julie Small for being co-ed. If you’d like to attend make a contribution through the their commitment to the information our committee meetings we’d love to provision of funding grants for evenings. see you there. It’s a fantastic way to special projects and equipment. Athletics Day was very successful understand how your SPPA levy is put During Term 1 we hosted a new once again with many parents helping to good use. Details are on the school parents morning tea, provided light out in the food tents. We’ve beaten website. refreshments during parent interviews, our fundraising target with extra help We’d love to hear from you if you have hosted a ‘thanks in advance’ morning from sponsors Fonterra, Pak‘nSave ideas or questions. Parents helping tea for all staff during Spirit Week and Mill St and Subway Te Awamutu, and parents is what we’re all about. piloted a new initiative involving the are looking forward to seeing those

48 Power. Play. The Volkswagen Amarok launch event captured by St Peter’s students.

Ebbett Volkswagen recently elements of the event as the Amarok relieved to be filming rather than doing hosted an exclusive drive day at dominated the steep banked slopes the wash up! St Peter’s, with 35 guests invited of the farm despite the appalling to put the new Amarok through its Within a few hours of the event finishing conditions. paces. the students had edited together a Held on one of the wettest days of They also managed to dodge the video of the day and returned it to the year, the challenging conditions worst of the weather and film the Ebbett Volkswagen for them to share ensured both the exciting new V6 and Amarok crossing deep ditches and with the guests. A load of still shots the outstanding 4 cylinder utes were hanging front and diagonally opposite followed as well, as part of the package tested to their very limits on the steep rear wheels in the air but still getting agreed with Ebbetts. This gave the banks and open paddocks of Owl farm. enough traction through the two left students a great experience of the on the ground to get out of trouble - commercial reality of being a ‘supplier’ The St Peter’s Media and Arts students, a really impressive sight, particularly to a ‘client’ and they performed under the watchful eye of Ben Mannell, when viewed through a lens from only admirably. had been invited to capture the day on a few feet away. film. They began with some fantastic Ebbett Volkswagen’s Marketing drone control to capture a convoy The rain continued to pour down as Manager, Jamie Russell, said “We were of Amaroks leaving the farm for a lunch approached, but the enjoyment hugely impressed with the input from stunning round trip through Cambridge went up a notch as the guests made the students, particularly in getting so and up the steep twisting Maungakawa the most of the conditions and the close to the detail of each event but, hill for the on-road section of the day. paddock space by spending an hour or like true professionals, being virtually so sliding the Amarok round a central anonymous to those taking part. The They moved on to capture Ebbett point. Again, this element was superbly quality of the footage, the final editing Volkswagen’s team of qualified 4WD captured by the students in a series of and the stills were all exceptional and driving instructors showing customers stills that really brought out the energy we cannot fault them. We simply would the ultimate driving experience and of the event as you can see in the not have had a better experience had allowing them to master the art of picture here. They were undoubtedly we gone with a professional firm.” driving off-road The mix of guests, invited by both Ebbett Volkswagen and St Peter’s, experienced the Amarok’s phenomenal technology, including electronic stability program, hill start, descent assist, anti-spin regulation, electronic differential lock and trailer stabilisation, and learnt to apply these capabilities at the right time and place. First up was the hill climb and despite the difficulty of the terrain the students expertly recorded the most exciting

www.stpeters.school.nz 49 Power. Play. The new Amarok V6 is here.

The new Amarok features its top of the pack 3.0L V6 TDI engine, that produces a class leading 550Nm of torque and 165kW of power with an over-boost function. Add to that, acceleration from 0-100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds, permanent 4MOTION all-wheel drive, smooth 8-speed Automatic transmission and towing capacity of up to 3,500kg. Simply there’s nothing it can’t handle.

Ebbett Volkswagen | www.ebbettvolkswagen.co.nz | 07 838 2949