FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK .. 2 DEAR PARENTS AND FRIENDS ...... 2 STAFF ...... 4 STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2018 ...... 5 PROPERTY ...... 5 LOOKING AHEAD ...... 6 TERM IV HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS ...... 6 ACADEMIC ...... 8 ADMINISTRATION ...... 8 FROM THE CHAPLAIN ...... 9 SCHOOL COMMUNITY ...... 9 FRIENDS OF RATHKEALE ...... 9 BOARD OF TRUSTEES ...... 9 RATHKEALE OLD BOYS ASSN ...... 10 TSTB BOARD VACANCY ...... 10 ODYSSEY 2017 ...... 10 VIVA CAMERATA & WCO ...... 12 STAFF PROFILE ...... 12 2018 DAY ONE ARRANGEMENTS ...... 13

from the Principal’s Desk DEAR PARENTS AND FRIENDS teaching staff and senior management team to start the year well. I returned from Odyssey in a somewhat bedraggled state, but was pleased to have COMMENT – WHAT MY KIDS SAID given myself the privilege of spending time (Excerpt from my 2017 Rathkeale College with a committed group of young people. Prizegiving speech) Individually and collectively they did really On seeking advice on what enduring well in testing conditions; probably the message I might leave this morning Ali was hottest ever. An article from Liz Evans, or at quick to point out that whatever I had to say least photos may be included in this needed to be brief and to the point. While newsletter. All credit is due to her for the there would not be a person in this opportunity she makes available to the Year auditorium that wouldn’t think this was good 12 students. What they gain from the advice, it wasn’t the answer I was looking for. experience will, I am sure, be long-lasting So, I turned to our children and sent them a and remain fondly in their memories for a group email informing them of my plight and long time. asked them what I might say that could have Term IV is now well and truly over, and it some meaning for you. Our son Simon is would be fair to suggest it ended well. The currently working in Australia and from him I Christmas Carol Service was well attended by might have expected the response we have school families and the succession of often heard on the Mitre 10 television readings, familiar hymns and boys acting out advertisement when the Kiwi boy asked his scenes of the Nativity made for another Australian friend “Hey Jonsey, give us a hand enjoyable and meaningful evening. A strong with a job Sadderday” who replies “Maaate, parent presence accompanying the boys at ya dreamin”. But, what ensued was quite the Saturday Leavers’ Service was a great remarkable. Without reservation, he and his touch and I expect the message of building sisters all thought it was a good idea and one’s future on firm foundations had some were quick to have a say. And what was poignance. Shortly after, during our interesting, was the coincidence of their prizegiving, it was a pleasure to reflect briefly thinking. on the successes of 2017 and to Before I try to thread together their thoughts acknowledge our high achieving students. I and add some of my own, can I preface this thank all the leavers for their contributions to by acknowledging that I had picked up on the life and times of the college and wish Vicky Robertson’s idea of asking her kids them all the best for the future. Hopefully what they thought before she spoke at the their time at Rathkeale has allowed them to Senior College prizegiving. She actually be exposed to options for the future and be didn’t say much at all about what they well placed to pursue their goals and thought, but she did share some advice that aspirations. resonated with me and worth sharing. Very I trust our families are facing the prospect of candidly, she said that she expects three a happy Christmas and some peaceful things from people who she works with: holiday time. Soon enough the boys will Always get to work on time return and there is much to look forward to - Be good at what you do and in 2018. We will commence with a full - Contribute to promoting good school roll, for the first time since the school - relationships became integrated 25 years ago and this in itself will add to the buoyancy we currently Just think about it – be on time, do your best enjoy. and be kind to others. What more do we need in and outside our classrooms? I expect the Board will announce the new principal sometime this week and all eyes will She went on to say that it was really be fixed on that person. In the meantime, I important to do what you value and while it look forward to working with a strong may take a time to get there, reflecting on her own career pathway, she implored Hannah, our eldest daughter, as she is people to think about what is important to inclined to do, took a more academic them. This really struck a chord with me approach and after saying that you don’t because this is exactly what Simon is on have to rush to advance your career and that about. After spending four years working in trying different things is good she went Melbourne and two in London he has down a different path. She described the decided to go teaching. He has chosen a concept of “Imposter Syndrome”, something career change because even though he is she wished she heard of when she was a good at what he does, or at least he thinks student. Individuals with impostor syndrome he is, it is not cutting the mustard in terms of have an inability to recognise their what he really values. So, he is leaving the accomplishments for what they are. They feel corporate world, sacrificing a considerable they are inadequate and incompetent. And, income and returning to New Zealand to despite considerable external evidence to the start his teacher education. I asked him to contrary, they constantly worry about being tell me in one sentence why? He managed it exposed as a fraud. She first heard about it in three, saying: at a conference sitting in a room full of people many of whom were leaders in their Different jobs reward different people in respective fields. As the guest speaker different ways, but few reward you long after outlined impostor syndrome, she said it the work has been put in. Teaching gives resonated with many people and for her it you the opportunity to help shape the way was a definite lightbulb moment. Although young people view the world and, after the she would say this is a syndrome is hard to teaching finishes, you can view how they, in fix, knowing that she is not alone has helped turn, shape the world. That continuing and her view her achievements differently. So, evolving impact is the reason I hope teaching while parents and teachers sometimes lament will be rewarding. lack of effort students are making, we need to hear the cry of some of our young people Conversely, his sister Claire, who has been who are putting too much pressure on teaching for six years has just resigned to themselves. We need to ask, why is it that pursue what she values more at this time of this self-imposed condition exists in the her life. She is a pretty decent sports woman minds of some, perhaps more so in girls than and has decided to do everything she can to boys, but certainly boys as well? And, how play netball at the highest level. She has can we help them deal with it? Hannah realised that continuing to teach may reduce suggests that sometimes people spend too her chances of attaining what few do and for much time comparing their blooper reel with the immediate future she is going to the highlights of others; that is, when people concentrate on that. Like Simon, Claire is are comparing what they are least good at now more focussed on what she really with what others are best at. This is certainly values, and both can tell you how they have not a fair comparison and you spend too got to this point. Simon would urge you to much time thinking that what you are doing explore what you are looking for and is not good enough because it isn’t as good suggests if you have an itch, then scratch it. as someone else. Accepting that you don’t Even if you don’t make the best choice the have to be the best at everything may help sky will not come crashing down. As a sports ease the pressure and cause less stress. And person, Claire hears a lot about setting goals, she says talking about it certainly does. but for her, she thinks some of what is said is And finally, Jayne our youngest, younger than quite unrealistic – expressions like “if you can Mr Watson, who did attend Senior College dream it you can achieve it” make her when we first came to Rathkeale. Jayne somewhat queasy. I can tell you the things takes a view from a different perspective, she dreams of require sheer hard work and perspectives being something very much sometimes there is only a very small window aligned to her work! She says not to worry of opportunity. Malcolm Gladwell’s theory of about what others think you should be doing taking 10,000 hours to perfect something is or where you should be in your life. She says probably more realistic. “should” is boring and only describes a milestone of expectation. She says mix it up, Tutors Tom Scott and Kenneth Sprowson, but do not compromise your values. In fact, who leave for University and overseas travel. she lived this out in her first six months of Lucy Hepburn takes Maternity Leave until the work when she found herself conflicted end of Term III 2018. Her baby is due at the between the reputation of the organisation end of January and we wish her well. she worked for and what she valued. What Tyler Watson moves to teach at Rangi Ruru people could see on the outside was Girls’ School in Christchurch. He will become different to what she experienced on the a new dad in February. inside, so after not being successful in resolving the issues she found a new job and Linda Wells the school Librarian has retired. then resigned. She is now very happy and However, she will return on a needs basis to stimulated by her work and those she works undertake archives work. with. Joanne Simpson leaves to pursue her So, there we have it, something that has interests in writing. Joanne was a most come from the minds of those more in touch deserving recipient of the EJ Norman medal with the world you will be moving into. Ali for her service to Rathkeale. and I are proud of the fact that our kids have Shirley Clarke is looking forward to always got to work on time, tried to do a retirement with her husband Tim who has good job wherever they are and have sought also retired from St Matthew’s. Shirley to promote good relationships, but above all received the Bishop’s Medal for service to aligned themselves to doing what they value. Rathkeale, for her commitment to Special I would like to think that what they have Character and support for the Chaplains (five talked about doesn’t appear classically in total) over a 17 year period. millennial – that is about wanting more or New Staff commencing in 2018: being ungrateful. The reality is, I think young Alix Bushnell comes from Upper Hutt College people have greater freedom to express what to teach English and Drama. they value and greater confidence to align Georgia McKellar-Wallace will take Lucy themselves with what is important to them. I Hepburn’s position for three terms. hope I have fairly represented their thoughts. While some of these may resonate with you, Patrick Gluck will commence his teaching they certainly don’t have all the answers – career in the Social Science Dept teaching our children are work in progress, just like History and Social Science. we all are. Chloe Renshaw will teach junior Science, We have a fridge magnet that says, we take Mathematics and Digital Technology. our kids everywhere, but they keep finding Previously she taught in England. their way back. Well, they take themselves Colin Green comes from Wellington College these days, and they will make their way to be head of the Mathematics department. back for Christmas and Ali and I will treasure Patricia (Pat) Lyons will be our new Librarian. having all our family together. I hope you She leaves that role at Mahurangi College, can all enjoy the same privilege. but she is also an experienced teacher. All the best and have a safe and happy Other staff movements: Christmas and New Year. Noho ora mai (all Stephanie Hunt currently part-time becomes the best) permanent fulltime English and PE. STAFF Tash Kyle will step down as HOD We farewell the following staff and thank Mathematics and assume a fulltime teaching them for their loyal service to Rathkeale and role. the Senior College and wish them all the Sue McKeown is reducing her hours to a half best. time position, almost entirely focussed on Career education, advice and guidance.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP 2018 At the end of the year there is always considerable interest, discussion, some debate and deliberation regarding student leadership for the following year. We congratulate the following on their appointments and thank all those who applied: SCHOOL PREFECTS: Mitch Cockburn Head Boy & Head of Student Forum George Hargood Deputy Head Boy Alexander Baker Cameron Tyson Harry McKay Matthew Vollebregt Oliver Donaldson Scott Morris Thomas Ralls William Tanner Wynter McCook-Weir BOARDING HOUSE PREFECTS Alex Baker Head of Cranleigh Wynter McCook-Weir DH of Cranleigh Cooper Jamieson Cranleigh Prefect (s) Harry McKay Head of Repton Scott Morris DH of Repton Jake Hewitt Repton Prefect(s) James McKenna Zac Patterson Head of Rugby Cameron Tyson Deputy Head Rugby Joshua Juniper Rugby Prefect(s)

COMPETITION HOUSE LEADERS Jack Eschenbach Head of Blake Quinn Childs (DH) Leader Jack McLeod Head of Halberg Charles Beijen (DH) Leader Ollie Donaldson Head of Hillary Willis Guild Leader

PROPERTY Our Year 9 and Year 10 boys, ably assisted by many staff, have done magnificent work in clearing further areas of bush on our Eco Trail. We thank them for their outstanding efforts. Their work allows us to expose further the superb campus we live and work in. Programmed Property Services are making very good progress with the central school repaint and along with the minor maintenance work that is well attended to, the school remains attractive and functional. Holiday work will include further upgrades of data projector equipment, installation of electronic notice and publicity boards, replacement of carpet in the Lecture Theatre and the upgrade of drainage and roading outside the Technology Centre (start of Burma Road). The TSTB has completed its financial forecasting and significant capital works will be occurring at Rathkeale within the next five years. These include the completion of the Repton House upgrade, some refurbishment to Rugby House and the construction of a new gymnasium (subject to a successful fundraising campaign). A great deal of preparatory work has been undertaken and work in earnest will commence early next year. The challenge is huge, but a feasibility study has indicated that it will be possible to raise the funds required. Details to follow. A number of holiday facility hire bookings are underway or already complete. In January we will host the NZ Girl Guides Assn summer camp, the NZ Suzuki Music School and NZ Football coaching. These groups will all take up residence on the campus and use our facilities, each over a five day period.

LOOKING AHEAD I will write to all families in the week commencing 15th January, to confirm the beginning of year arrangements and advise you of other matters. In the meantime, please be aware of the arrangements set for the beginning of the 2018 school year shown in this newsletter, particularly Sunday January 29th. The online calendar will show all the Term I events and activities.

W J Kersten- Principal

TERM IV HIGHLIGHTS & ACHIEVEMENTS • Century to Jake Jonas in Year 9 Cricket match vs Wairarapa College easily won by Rathkeale and by Josh Tatham, playing for the 2nd XI vs Kuranui 1st XI. Playing for the 1st XI, Jake McIntyre took 6-29 vs Red Star in the Men’s Premier Cricket competition. • Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards presented to Callum Woodhouse and Michael Barrow. • Sam Wilkinson and Oliver Cowan have both gained places in the highly sought after New Zealand Broadcasting School. • Zach Dewhurst has gained a place in the Royal Society of NZ Technology summer mentoring camp. • Callum Woodhouse (Service), Quincey Stephens (Sport) and Hunter Jacobson (Sport) awarded School Colours. • Junior Green Cricket team won the Wairarapa Junior Cricket competition, beating Wairarapa College in the final. • Joe Quinn, Nathan Whiteman, Jayden Webb-Milner, Kosta Mills, Max Spencer and Gerard Hickey performing very well in regional athletics meets. • Joe Quinn – 3rd in the NZSS Junior Hammer Throw and Hugh O’Donoghue 4th in the 3,000m and top ten in the Road Race. • Several boys in Wairarapa Age Group Cricket teams; Quinn Childs in the CD U19 team and along with Anthony and Stephen Sprowson, John McKenzie, Quincey Stephens and Jake McIntyre have featured in the Wairarapa Men’s team.

Sports & Service Colours were presented to the following boys: Hunter Jacobson Clay Target Shooting Quincey Stephens Cricket The following boys received Principal’s Awards for Leadership in Term IV

Cooper Jamieson Head Boy of Cranleigh House Award Josh Olsen Head Boy of Cranleigh House Award Finn McKenzie Head Boy of Repton House Award Jeremy Choi Head Boy of Repton House Award Jesse McIntyre Head Boy of Rugby House Award Joe Falloon Head Boy of Rugby House Award Cameron Milner Head Boys Award Michael Barrow Head Boys Award Matt Heard Head of Dayboys Award Quinn Childs Head of Dayboys Award

The following boys received Principal’s Awards in Term IV

George Eschenbach for Tennis as a Member of Regional 3 Championship winning team Ben Kinvig for Tennis as a Member of Regional 3 Championship winning team Thomas Williams for Tennis as a Member of Regional 3 Championship winning team Quincey Stephens for Cricket Jake McIntyre for Cricket John McKenzie for Cricket Henry Borthwick for Clay Target Shooting Aiden Furkert for Croquet Jake Hewitt for Croquet Thomas Ralls for Rugby Logan Prendeville for Rugby Harry Forrester for Service to Sound & Lighting Tom Spencer for Outstanding Contribution to Music Charlie Gordon for Service to Sound & Lighting

The following boys received Principal’s Awards for Excellence in Level 1 NCEA

Oliver Clive-Griffin (2), Oliver Hammond (2), Thanaphon Tangtartharakul (2), Alexander Beach, Hong Chen, Jaymin Cooper, Archie Falloon, Carlo Haab, Jaewon Han, Aanirudh Kheterpal, Joshua Matthews, Jake McIntyre, John McKenzie, Bruno Mills, Kiyohiro Noguchi, Josh Olsen, Konrad Schwanecke, Aaron Scott, Archie Woodhouse, Jackson Woodhouse

The following Senior College boys received Principal’s Awards for Excellence in Level 2 & 3 NCEA

Reuben Dabora (2), George Hargood (2), Jonathan Kirkpatrick (2), Tom McCallum (2), James McKenna (2), Rory Thomson (2), Alexander Baker, Zak Patterson, Joshua Tatham, Jordan Thurston, Nathan Voice, Callum Woodhouse

Academic NCEA EXAMINATIONS 2017 The final data file was sent from school on 1 December. One or two results have also been NCEA examinations for Rathkeale and Senior added directly on the NZQA website since College students finished on the final full day then. Boys should check this data and refer of term, Friday 1 December. It was good to any questions about this, or any other NCEA have feedback from our exam centre manager matter, to Mr Adam Gordon. that the students had again been focused and very well behaved this year. I would have Any change of address needs to be advised been surprised and very concerned to hear to NZQA using the 0800 number above, as otherwise! marked papers will be returned to student addresses. Results are due to be released on Tuesday 16 January. Students should access their Applications for Derived Grades were all account, to see their results, by using their processed as requested by students. All NZQA Learner Login. Anyone having candidates for exams next year will be problems accessing their account can phone reminded (again) of the importance of the NZQA on 0900 697 296. All students are Derived Grade Exams that are held at school advised to download all documents available at the very beginning of Term 4. “It won’t to them and in the case of students in Years happen to me….” could not be further from 12 and 13, their Record of Achievement. the truth for those boys who for completely These can be useful documents for unforeseen reasons were not able to sit the applications for scholarship and university. NCEA Exams and so had to apply for Derived Grades. SUBJECT CONFIRMATION 2018 Boys have now confirmed their subject 9am – 11am Surnames A – K choices with Mr Summerfield. However, 11am – 1pm Surnames L – Z results could prompt further discussion or Year 12 boys should meet Mr Boyce in Room changes of mind about which subjects to 14 and Year 13 boys should meet Mr follow in the Senior College in 2018. O’Gorman in Room 8. Boys traveling from a It is therefore a requirement that all boys distance should arrange to meet their Dean confirm their 2018 course with their Dean, on Sunday 28 January in the afternoon. once results are known. Boys who are confident that their courses will Course confirmation will take place in school proceed as planned should email Mr Boyce on Thursday 25 January, when the Year 12 ([email protected]) for Year 12 and and 13 Deans will be available at the Mr O’Gorman ([email protected]) for following times: Year 13. Adam Gordon - Deputy Principal administration SCHOOL HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS LOST The Office will close on Friday 15 December. A black Kathmandu rain jacket with fleece The Principal’s Secretary & the Accounts inner was lost at school towards the end of Administrator will be available from Monday term. The rain jacket is named Pilbrow, but 15 January and the School Office from name may be obscured by the fleece lining. Tuesday 23 January 2018. Please check if your son may have brought home the wrong jacket and if so, contact the office. Thank you from the Chaplain There is something very special about the Love, Hope, and Peace. We reflected on our Kiwi Christmas. Maybe it is the fact that the call to bring these values into our world. To school year has ended, and the festivities are be the people in our families and our paired with a sense of accomplishment. It communities that bring these ideas into might be the fact that summer is here, and reality. At the heart of these virtues is a everyone’s spirits get a boost. I think that profound sense of authenticity, a thing that is authenticity is a part of it, at least compared often disregarded in the busyness of our day to my American experiences. Christmas still to day lives. Be real with one another as you seems to be about spending time with family, share time together this holiday. Be enjoying a feast of some sort, and vulnerable and open about what is really experiencing the diversity of life that comes happening in your world. Take the from getting a largish group of people opportunity to be authentic with who you together. Possibly more profoundly, are. Find joy in one another’s company. Christmas season stands at a brilliant cusp in Enjoy the peace that comes in those special the calendar. It is a time for living in the moments around the dinner table. Celebrate moment with parties and jollification. It is a the experiences you have had over the last time of reflection, remembering our pasts year, the good and the bad. Bring hope into and the people we can no longer celebrate a young person’s life. More than anything with. It is a time for looking forward to the else, love richly and deeply. next year, full of dreams and aspirations. May Christ bring all of us Peace, Hope and During the last four weeks of school we have Love. May we be the carriers of His Light in been unpacking Christmas and the advent our world. season in our Religious Studies classes. Merry Christmas, Dale Walterhouse Three virtues came out of these discussions’.

School Community FRIENDS OF RATHKEALE 2017 has been extra busy for us this year with two major fundraisers - Artful Man and the annual Christmas Fete. We are lining up for our target of achieving $200k towards the proposed Sports HQ (over two years). Lots of laughter, lots of hard work, lots of new and old friends and helpers - this has been a really rewarding year. Feel free to join our friendly group at any stage! It is a great way to step up and be useful, while getting involved with this fabulous school our boys go to. Happy Holidays to everyone. Rachel Callaghan (Secretary)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES It has been another busy year for the Board of Trustees as we have looked to advance the Sport HQ concept. It was very pleasing to report at the recent prize giving that our Proprietor the Trinity Schools Trust Board has given its support to the project which in turn gives the project committee real confidence to take it to the next stage. Our recent triennial Stakeholder Survey gave us some great insights in to how people feel about our school and will provide direction for the upcoming review of our Strategic Plan. The Boards' biggest responsibility for the year has been the appointment of a new Principal and we were very pleased to announce that Martin O'Grady from Feilding High School accepted the position earlier this week. All the best for the festive season. George Murdoch – Chairman RATHKEALE OLD BOYS ASSN Early in November, an engaging gathering of Wellington based Old Boys saw recent and not so recently departed come together to share some good times of former days and to hear of how the school is currently placed. Those present enjoyed the opportunity and were pleased to hear their alma mater is in good heart. At the recent AGM Grant Harper was re-elected to the President’s position and Ed Cox as Secretary. Both have provided considerable guidance to the committee and the ROBA strategic plan has been well advanced. Regional committees now operate and arrangements for the 1968 ….. 2008 decade reunions are in place. The association was delighted with the number of leavers who have joined the ranks. It is hoped they will find the relationships very helpful and, at least, a connection in the future. I commend the work of a small but active committee.

TSTB BOARD VACANCY The Trinity Schools Trust Board (TSTB) is a registered charity dedicated to supporting Hadlow School, Rathkeale College, St Matthew’s Collegiate School and Hadlow Preschool. We have a vacancy for a new Board member and are looking for someone who is keen to make a real contribution to their community. We are specifically looking for a Board member who has legal, financial and/or commercial experience and is available to attend meetings in Masterton. Unlike school boards, there is no nomination or election process, candidates simply express an interest, are interviewed and then a decision is made by the Board to either appoint or not. You do not need to be a parent to be on the TSTB, but you should be passionate about protecting and enhancing the Trinity family of schools. As the Proprietor for three State Integrated schools and owner of Hadlow Preschool, TSTB is the custodian for a significant property portfolio. In addition, the Trinity Schools ‘Together as One’ vision means the TSTB is responsible for providing a range of centralised services to the Trinity Schools. TSTB channels its income into supporting the schools in a variety of ways including their Anglican special character, which is central to the school integration agreements. If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please e-mail [email protected] or contact Denise Beazley, Board Chair, on 027 705 2605.

Odyssey 2017 Day 1: Adaptability was the key word for the Odyssey Challenge of 2017 and we started with a bang when combining 4 teams into 3. We left Rathkeale smelling clean and having visions of a camping holiday with friends. Within 15 minutes, Scott had lost half of his team and was having to frantically race around Masterton looking for them. Meanwhile, the backroads of Carterton to Featherston were biked, the Tauherenikau river forded and our first campsite was reached just on sunset. Here some teams quickly realised that perhaps they had misjudged both size of pots and amount of gas required…something they would be reflecting on all week. Day 2: a strong headwind up to the Incline – Green team biked a few too many kilometers, but all eventually went up and over to Te Marua Lakes for lunch. Day 3: was an Urban Navigation day in Wellington. All of the teams arrived at the Worser Bay Yacht club where Mr Berry, Mrs Berry and ex-student Emma put them through their paces at sailing an Optimist. Day 4: Steph led the teams on an 11km morning jog to the East-west ferry terminal and a cunning plan or two were hatched that night by Liz and Steph to ensure that no-one finished Odyssey feeling like it was a walk in the park. Day 5: Mr. Kersten arrived early and the revised plans were shared. Teams had to strategize to enable 2-3 runners per stage and swap bikes and packs. Matt, Johann and George’s strategy was to run the entire way for their teams and they pulled out at least a 21km run in pretty hot conditions – this is a feat that will be hard to beat in the future! Day 6: was epic. Again, we added more into the day to encourage teams to really push themselves harder and to draw on some reserves of mental strength. A quick bike ride to Lake Onoke, a raft trip to Lake Ferry where the ambush from 2016 team members occurred. Fish and chips at the pub followed. The final day. Always something to look forward to. A 64km bike ride back to Henley Lake. Again, it was stinking hot on the bikes. Here, the infamous drop-offs began with 1 team member and a bike being taken out of each team at various stops on route. Lucy was the only girl to bike the whole way and she was still accelerating up hills on her way home. At Henley Lake – 6 hours after breakfast and still no lunch. The stretcher run was again the final push for the teams. Hot, demanding and hard work. Each team gave their best but again, it was team Blue, with Archie as 7th man who came over the line first. A huge thank you to all the staff who gave up time to either help prepare or come with us on this trip. Mr. Mann who spent a day biking with us and Mr. Macri – a day on the bike and a day transferring bikes. Mrs Tash Kyle – for help in planning, ordering the food and arranging the BBQ afterwards. Archie – our tutor from Scotland who really didn’t know what Jamie had signed him up for. You were great Archie and we hope you saw a bit more of NZ that many visitors never see, and made a few more friends on the way too! Scott Day – leader of Team Green. Always encouraging his team, up for anything and able to pull out some games to play and challenges to set. Steph Hunt – captain of team Blue or as they like to call themselves “Team Awesome”. Capable, caring and fun to be with, she helped make this week truly awesome. Both Steph and Scott got what Odyssey is meant to be and helped make it a reality for us all. The full article will feature in “Trinity Review 2017”

Viva Camerata & WCO I cannot remember that Viva, since its inception in 2007, has ever had such a busy second half of the year. When opportunities, however, come knocking on the door, who are we to stay no! It was an idea born one day in 2016 next to Ruth Eckford’s kitchen table, about how fabulous it would be to get the Viva students to sing with the Wairarapa Community Orchestra. From there it became Choral Connections. On the evening, the orchestra performed some pieces and each choir sang 2 pieces out of their repertoire. Then came the combined performances. Cantate, the Wairarapa College Choir and Viva joined forces to perform 3 challenging, combined pieces. To see the students’ eyes light up when they heard the beautiful harmonies in the Introit to Faure’s Requiem made all the hard work and stress worthwhile. Then followed O Fortuna from Orff’s Carmina Burana and A te Tarakihi. The audience then joined the choirs in singing I Vow to thee my Country and Jerusalem. To sing with a full orchestra is not an everyday experience for our students and it definitely opened their eyes to other ways of making music, as well as the joy of the shared experience. Many students named this as their highlight of the year. Thanks to all who made this happen - from Mrs Eckford, to Mrs Cheetham and the parents who supported their children in this huge endeavour!

staff profile

TYLER WATSON Mathematics Teacher Where do you come from? -Te Puke What is your favourite food. -Lasagne Where are some places you've travelled? -Singapore, Malaysia, Rarotonga What do you like about the Wairarapa? -The weather, especially the summer and the small-town feel. Excellent outdoor opportunities. What are your hobbies? -Reading, snowboarding, tramping/hunting, playing hockey. What are your plans for life after Rathkeale -Working at Rangi Ruru Girls’ School. Raising a family in Christchurch What are you going to miss? -The grounds and atmosphere of the college. The Repton boys’ banter. The collegiality of the staff and friendliness and supportiveness of the parents. What are your impressions about Rathkeale? -It is a friendly, close community where staff and students are committed to learning and supporting one another. Any achievements that have highlighted your time at Rathkeale -Working in my first teaching position and gaining my full practising certificate.

2018 day one arrangements

PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY 28 JANUARY 2018

All New Students Year 9-13 and all Returning Students 9.00-2.00pm Peer Support Leaders’ Meeting (SCC) 9.00-3.30pm Uniform Shop open 10.00-4.00pm School Office open From 12.00noon Year 9 boarders can arrive at Rugby House 1.30pm All Year 9 Boarders and Parents to meet in Rugby House Common Room for briefing from Mr Hansen 2.00pm All new Parents & students to Auditorium 2.15-3.20pm Peer Support Activity - Yr 9’s and Peer Support Leaders 2.30-5.00pm Staff available for parent/student enquiries on courses & Year 12 & 13 Course Confirmation for students having to travel long distances. 3.00pm Afternoon Tea – Dining Hall 3.20pm Year Group Assemblies & Roll Calls: Yr 13 outside Rm 1 & 2, Yr 12 Senior College Centre, Yr 11 Lecture Theatre, Yr 10 Library, Yr 9 Gym (3.45pm paired with Yr 13’s) 4.00pm Rathkeale 2018 Opening Assembly in Auditorium. All students to attend in Formal Uniform (ties, blazers, white shirts, longs, black shoes). All parents/caregivers/whanau welcome. 5.15-6.30pm Friends’ Association function (light refreshments) for New Parents at Principal’s residence 5.15pm All year 9 boys and Peer Support Leaders to dinner followed by Peer Support activities 5.25pm Yr 13 and Yr 10 Boarders’ Dinner 5.35pm Yr 12 and Yr 11 Boarders’ Dinner 6.30pm Peer Support Activities conclude 6.30pm Parents’ farewell to Year 9 Boarders & Year 9 Dayboys’ departure 6.30-9.00pm Boarding House Programmes

TERM DATES 2018

Monday 29 January to Friday 13 April Monday 30 April to Friday 6 July Mon 23 July to Friday 28 Sept Mon 15 October to Saturday 1 December Term I Exeats - 17/18 February 10/11 March & Easter Break Friday 30 March to Tuesday 3 April (Back to school Wednesday 4 April)