Latest News & Events
Columba College Fair 2010

Saturday, 27th March, 11:30am. 399 Highgate.

2009 Carol Service - First Church of Otago

December 2009

Click to see the 2009 Carol Service photo gallery.

 

Winners of the South Island Junior Waterpolo Championships

December 2009

Columba College Junior Waterpolo Team
Left to right: Hannah Ker, Megan Summers, Sarah McDonald, Jamie Boyce, Heather Thompson, Vienna Sutherland, Charlotte Boyce, Holly Cadzow, Cindy van Leeuwen, Fern Grant, Tineke Jannink and Kimberley Martyn (absent: Charlotte Williams)

 

Emerging Leaders’ Scholarship

December 2009

We were delighted to hear that another Year 13 student has been awarded a prestigious University Scholarship.

Jessica Napper is the recipient of a University of Canterbury Emerging Leaders’ Scholarship for 2010 under Category A, valued up to $5,000 towards the tuition fees of her first year of study.

In addition, Jessica will be given the opportunity to take part in a Leadership Development Programme, valued at $4,000. Through residential workshops, seminars, volunteer work and personal study over an 11 month period, she will be exposed to opportunities to develop her personal leadership style and skills, network with like-minded people, demonstrate leadership capacity and be prepared to challenge and be challenged.

We extend our warm congratulations to Jessica on this fine achievement.

New Activboards

December 2009

Mrs Marion Hogg with Isabella Johansson and Daizy Thompson-Fawcett with a new Activboard (one of twelve purchased for each of the Years 0-8 classrooms thanks to the Otago Community Trust of Otago and our Parents’ Association).

We express our sincere appreciation also to the Junior School family for generously making the installation of the seven Activboards for the Junior School classrooms possible (three this year and the other four to be done for the start of the new school year).

The five in the Intermediate Department will also be installed over the Christmas holidays thanks to the generosity of an Intermediate Department family.

Book Published

December 2009

Did anyone else read 320 books in one year when they were nine years of age? Well, that is what Dayna Tan of Year 9 set out to do when she was nine years old and a pupil at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) in Singapore.

The book Dayna wrote about her year of reading 320 books (“I read 320 books at 9 – so can you!”) has been published in English and she has recently signed an agreement with an Indonesian publisher to translate her book into Bahasa Indonesia language for the Indonesian market. The Straits Times also published a feature on Dayna and her book in late October.

She wrote the book when she was just 10 years old to share her reading experiences and to encourage children (7 to 12 years old) to read. For more information, please visit www.daynatan.com.

Columba College Business Hall of Fame

November 2009

The third Columba Business Hall of Fame function was a fantastic success. With Old Girls, students and parents present there was a real buzz at the event.

The induction of the Laureates is the highlight of the evening, and their identity remains a closely guarded secret until the night. Choosing who to induct each year is no easy task for the organising committee comprising Jennie Hughes, Margie Stevely, Amy Collins, Janet Marquet, Leigh Duncan, Vivienne Eason from COGA and Suzanne Bishop and Cecylia Klobukowska from the Commerce Department .

Columba students have done very well over the years and any Laureate has to meet strict criteria so that the standard of Laureate is guaranteed to be high.

The committee looked forward to the event as it was also the unveiling of the cabinets generously donated by Natalie Ellis-Wilson. These cabinets will house the memorabilia of the Laureates so that there will be a lasting reminder to the present students of the Laureates’ achievements. A slight hiccup with the cabinets meant that they were not all there for the night but they are all in place now.

Margie Stevely launched the Columba Business Hall of Fame Charitable Trust at the function. It is hoped that people will donate to the Trust so that the income will assist the funding of future events.

Three students were also honoured for their achievements in gaining Commerce Scholarships. It is hoped that in the future other school Departments will use the function as an opportunity to honour their students.

The response from the Laureates is amazing as their induction to the Hall of Fame has clearly been seen by all of them as a major achievement. There are now seven Laureates across a range of disciplines. There are photo displays around the school and their stories are being used by many Departments to provide inspiration to current students.

Suzanne Bishop, HOD Commerce

Columba College Business Hall of Fame Laureates 2009
Helen Anderson

Columba Years:1968 – 1973

Current Role: Chief Executive, Ministry of Research, Science and Technology

Helen Anderson is one of New Zealand’s best scientific minds. She is setting the agenda for science and research in this country.

She has achieved significant academic success in her career, graduating from the University of Auckland with a First Class Honours degree and completing a PhD from the University of Cambridge. In 1990 Helen was awarded a Fulbright Senior Research Scholarship for study at the University of California.

Helen has a particular interest in seismology and was selected as the Director of the Earth and Ocean Sciences in Dunedin, a collaboration between the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and the University of Otago.

In 1997 Helen began working for the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology as its Chief Scientific Adviser. After six years in this position she was appointed Chief Executive of the Ministry. In this rôle Helen provides leadership and direction to staff within the Ministry and co-ordinates Ministry projects with a clear focus on the returns that investment in science will deliver to New Zealand businesses operating on the world stage, which simultaneously increases the wealth of the entire country.

Ann Kennedy Perkins

Columba Years:1973-1976

Current Role: Founder and Director of AKP Communications Limited – Public Relations Consultancy

Ann Kennedy Perkins did not know what public relations were when she left school; she has, however, always been interested in communication. She graduated with a first class honours degree in English from the University of Otago and worked at both Radio New Zealand and TVNZ, before beginning her career in public relations.

In 1994 Ann established AKP Communications Limited, a public relations consultancy firm which develops and implements communication strategies to help companies achieve their business objectives. Ann believes that through communication she can make human connections, not just provide information.

The small company structure enables Ann to be hands-on and flexible. She enjoys working in partnership with her clients and seeing a brief from start to finish.

Ann possesses a particular skill-set as she is intelligent, creative and an effective communicator. She has achieved many career successes and in 2009 Ann was awarded a Gold Quill Award for Excellence in Communication, presented by the International Association of Business Communications for her “On the Way to the Agency” campaign, a communications project to support the establishment of the NZ Transport Agency. It was her third Gold Quill award.

Sports Awards Evening 2010

November 2009

The annual Columba College Sports Awards Evening was held on Thursday, 22nd October. The guest speaker this year was organised by Sports Prefect, Samantha Edgar. Samantha approached SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) about the possibility of Barbara Kendall speaking at our annual Sports Awards Evening. Months of planning later and Barbara Kendall, Olympic Boardsailing gold medallist, was the guest speaker. She entertained the 200 strong crowd with tales of her sporting past and present and left everyone feeling inspired to “get out of the box” and to “get into life”.

During the evening a special presentation was made to Mrs S. Bishop for her contribution to Columba College Badminton. Other awards presented were: Year 13 Contribution to Sport, Coaching awards, Otago A Representative badges, Promising Junior Athlete Medals, Team of the Year, Sports Blues and Sports Personality of the Year award. The Team of the Year award was won by the Senior A Waterpolo Team which won the South Island Title this year. Sports Personality of the Year was won jointly by Samantha Edgar and Stephanie Lee.

Thank you to all the parents, students, coaches, teachers, supporters who attended the evening and made it such a special occasion. Also, a special “thank you” to Mr Cartwright for the fantastic photo clips he put together, to Mrs Margaret Edgar for supplying and organising the flowers, to Mrs Rhonda Skerten for all of her organisation on the day and to the sports staff for organising another great event. Congratulations to everyone who received awards and we anticipate celebrating another successful sporting year in 2010.

Christie Sinclair
HOD Physical Education

Year 10 German Success

November 2009

This year the Year 10 German class decided to enter the ShortFilmFest Competition organised annually by the Goethe Institut in Wellington. With the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall being celebrated in November 2009 it was not surprising that this year’s theme for the contest was “Die Mauer” (“The Wall”). We wanted to produce a DVD that would involve the whole class of 24 girls, although some were away on exchanges when we came to filming. After much brain-storming we decided to use the plot of one of Roald Dahl’s short stories, “Mrs Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”, but having the main character as Bärbel Schmidt travelling from West Berlin to visit her Aunt Tanja in East Berlin, crossing the Berlin Wall through the Underground station at Friedrichstraße. The back of Bishopscourt made a very useful setting for the Berlin Wall and the various sitting-rooms and Mr Madden’s BMW provided the other backdrops. We were fortunate to have Mr Baddock to film the work and were lucky to manage to squeeze this into three periods in the last week of Term 3, just in time to meet the deadline on Saturday, 26th September.

We were surprised and thrilled to learn at the start of Term 4 that our DVD, “Roald Dahl an der Mauer: Couscous”, had won First Prize in the Years 7 – 10 section of the competition and that we were invited to collect the prize and see the film on the large screen at the National Film Archive in Wellington on 6th November. Unfortunately, the airfares by this stage were too costly for more than a few to be able to attend so the group was represented by Charlotte Boyce, Holly Cadzow, Rebecca Doré, Paige Gale and Alexandra McKenzie, accompanied by Mrs Doré and Ms Riethmaier. Our second surprise was to find that we had won a cheque for $500.00 which was presented by the German Ambassador and which will be used for purchases for the Languages Department.

Despite the tight time constraint, we had a lot of fun filming the skit and it was pleasing to see the whole class involved one way or another. The three students who had the main parts, Annabel Drummond, Jacinta Dunn and Chloë Anson, need a special commendation for learning their lines so quickly and we also thank Mr Evan Baddock for his patience, skill and willingness to give his time so generously.

Jenness Riethmaier

Gift from the Year 13 Leavers

November 2009

Alice Marsh presented this very special and original gift from the Year 13 girls at their last assembly. Pictured are all the Year 13 girls at the beach with their Columba kilts forming part of the inner circle. A great image and don’t you love the saying? How true it is.

Thank you to all the girls in Year 13 for such an imaginative gift which we shall enjoy seeing in the Sports Centre.

Outdoor Fitness Centre

November 2009

The Parents’ Association voted this past week to accept the above proposal to build the new Outdoor Fitness Centre on the senior school campus. Monies were raised towards this project through the 2007 Columba College business directory, the 2009 School Fair and generous parent donations and grants. We look forward to breaking ground early in the new year and have the Centre ready for use in the first term of 2010.

National Success at the Young Enterprise Finals

November 2009

The Awards Ceremony for the National Finals of Young Enterprise 2009 was held at the Duxton Hotel on the 4th November in the presence of the Governor General and the British High Commissioner with several distinguished leaders of business and industry present.

Hayley Jenkins-McCaw and Elizabeth Fraser travelled to Wellington to represent their Young Enterprise Company, “Lucrative”, and to receive an Award for Excellence, namely the Ministry of Youth Development Award for Excellence in Commitment presented by the Hon. Paula Bennett, Minister of Social Development and Employment.

At the same Ceremony, Mrs S. Bishop, HOD Commerce, received the Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise from Angus Fletcher, Deputy Chair of The Fletcher Trust.

Tertiary Scholarships

November 2009

Warm congratulations to the seven Year 13 girls who have been awarded Tertiary Scholarships. Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarships from the University of Otago for 2010:

Lucy Kent, Alice Marsh and Georgina Martin each received a Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship from the University of Otago for study in 2010. Nicola Crawford has been awarded an Alumni Annual Appeal Scholarship from the University of Otago for 2010.

Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarships are worth $5,000, payable against University fees or Hall of Residence accommodation. The Alumni Annual Appeal Scholarship is to the value of first year fees, irrespective of course.

University of Auckland Undergraduate Scholarship for 2010

Amy Chu has been awarded a University of Auckland Entry Scholarship for 2010. The University of Auckland Scholarships are the University’s most prestigious undergraduate Awards. They are awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence, all-round ability and leadership. The University received 950 applications for these scholarships and 110 have been awarded throughout New Zealand.

All fees paid for the first three years of an undergraduate degree plus $1,500 per year and Academic Mentoring for one year (if parental home is in Auckland) or $5,000 per year (if home is out of Auckland) plus two return fares and Academic Mentoring.
This scholarship is worth up to $50,000.
International Week Photo Gallery

October 2009

Click to see the International Week Photo Gallery.

Otago Regional Finals of Young Enterprise

October 2009

The Otago Regional Finals of Young Enterprise were held at the Otago Museum on the 14th October. We were delighted to hear the announcement that Mrs S. Bishop, HOD Commerce. is to be the 2009 recipient of the Sir James Fletcher Award for Outstanding Contribution to Enterprise. This award is made annually to a teacher in New Zealand who has made a consistent contribution over a number of years to Enterprise, not just within the teacher’s own school but to Enterprise in New Zealand.

Our 2009 Young Enterprise Company, “Lucrative”, also did very well, gaining 1st Place for Best Financial Performance and 2nd Place for Best Marketing Plan.

It was great news to hear that “Lucrative” was one of the two Otago companies to be named to go forward to the National Young Enterprise Finals to be held in Wellington on the 4th November. “Lucrative” has been nominated for an Excellence Award at national level – the category will be announced in Wellington on the night.

Hayley Jenkins-McCaw and Elizabeth Fraser will represent “Lucrative” at the National Awards Function.

A full list of the Year 13 girls who are members of “Lucrative” follows: Hae In Choi, Leah Coghill, Elizabeth Fraser, Alisa Hasdarngkul, Alice Hunter, Sophie Hutchison, Naomi Ireland, Hayley Jenkins-McCaw, Jirachaya Kerdpanya, Alyse McDonald, Kate Manson, Courtney Morton, Libby Richards and Jessica Todd.

Southland Speech Competitions

October 2009

Elizabeth Fraser in Year 13 has performed at the Southland Speech Competitions since the age of eight years. For the past three years Elizabeth has been taught by her Speech teacher Patricia Richardson. This year the competitions were held in Invercargill on the 25th - 28th September at Repertory House.

Elizabeth was nominated to represent Southland by the Performing Arts Competitions Association of New Zealand at the nationals held on 16th - 18th October in Invercargill. She was the recipient of a National Young Performer Award. This event was last held in Invercargill 20 years ago. In the photograph she is wearing the sash presented to her at the Southland Speech Competitions by Adjudicator, Sheridan Hickey, from Palmerston North and the Convener, Mrs Cody.

Elizabeth also received the Invercargill Licensing Trust Senior Speech Scholarship and six trophies. It was a great weekend with many age groups performing poems, improvisations and impromptu speeches.

Kate Manson, Year 13
Recipient of a
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Aspire Scholarship
PricewaterhouseCoopers Aspire Scholarship

September 2009

A total of 16 Aspire Scholarships has been awarded in this the sixth year of PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholarship programme. Of the 16, two were awarded to students in the South Island with one going to Christchurch and the other to Dunedin.

Warmest congratulations to Kate Manson in Year 13 on being the recipient of an Aspire Scholarship.

Kate will receive a contribution towards her University tuition fees valued at $7,000.00 over the course of her degree as well as receiving mentoring support from PwC, the opportunity to develop valuable relationships and networks and summer holiday employment while at University.

Chinese Speech Competition

September 2009

Sarah Agyeman in Year 11 (pictured with Ms A. Chen, Chinese Teacher) is one of four students in New Zealand to have won an all-expenses-paid trip to China from the 21st October to the 1st November this year. Sarah was one of three students chosen from the South Island regional competition to compete in the national finals.

Sarah was placed 2nd in the New Zealand Chinese Speech Competition held in Auckland and in October will head to China to watch the International Chinese Speech Competition in Si Chung province. Well done, Sarah!

Ice Cream Study ‘Timely Reminder’ on Hygiene

by John Gibb - Otago Daily Times

21 August 2009

RESEARCH by Dunedin school pupil Kim Schultz about scoop-served ice cream was a “timely reminder” about the need for safe food handling practices in stores, a Tip Top senior manager, Mike Leyland, says.

Recent testing of vanilla ice creams bought from 17 Dunedin dairies and other shops showed that five of the cone ice creams were contaminated with E. coli bacteria at levels about those permitted by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

Kim (12) outlined her findings in a research project she has created as part of the 2009 Aurora Otago Science and Technology Fair, which continues at the Otago Museum today and tomorrow.

Mr Leyland is the general manager for sales and distribution at the Tip Top ice cream company, a subsidiary of the Fonterra Co-operative Group.

Food outlets, under the guidance of local authorities and the food safety authority, could “make a big difference to ensure consumers get the very best quality and safe products”, he said.

Tip Top also operated a food safety and quality programme that included an induction programme for new retailers, with demonstrations and information on how to service freezers and to serve a “safe ice cream”.

The company also held an annual training programme to ensure its sales consultants, during their weekly store visits, were always reinforcing the right way to do things.

Tip Top tested every batch of ice cream before it left the factory and could assure the safety and quality of its products at each step in the production process up to delivery to the retailers, he said.

Kim said she had been surprised and “quite happy” about the media attention she and her research had received this week – including being on the front page of the ODT, appearing on TV3 news and being interviewed on National Radio.

She said she did not want to discourage people from eating ice cream, but hoped her research would help people to “get the message” about the need to improve food hygiene practices.

Wayne Boss, a senior environmental health officer at the Dunedin City Council, said there was no cause for alarm about scoop-served ice cream, which could still be eaten safely.

However, there was also no room for complacency about food safety, Mr Boss said.

The DCC environmental health department would continue to emphasise the necessity for professional hygiene practices, including good hand-washing, at food outlets.

Since the publicity, several retail outlets had contacted the department asking if there was anything they could do to further improve their food safety practices, he said.


This project is featured in the Student Work section of the Columba College website. Click here to read more...

Ice Cream Study Scoops ‘Scary’ Results

by John Gibb - Otago Daily Times

18 August 2009

RESEARCH by 12-year-old Dunedin girl Kim Schultz is raising questions about the safety of scoop-served ice cream.

Testing of vanilla ice cream bought from 17 Dunedin dairies showed that five of the cone ice creams were contaminated with E. coli bacteria at levels far above those permitted by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

An ice cream which had by far the highest level of E. coli among the 17 samples was also found to be contaminated with the staphylococcus aureus micro-organism.

In a further twist, that particular ice cream – and another which was also found to have E. coli – came from stores which had received an “A” grading by the Dunedin City Council environmental health department.

Kim said finding bacterial contamination in nearly a third of the samples was “scary”.

Her findings are being highlighted in a research project she has created as part of the 2009 Aurora Otago Science and Technology Fair, which is being held at the Otago Museum later this week.

More than 270 science exhibits produced by pupils at 30 Dunedin and Otago schools can be viewed by the public from tomorrow until Sunday at the museum’s 1877 Gallery.

Prof John Tagg, a University of Otago microbiologist and a science fair judge, said the E. coli contamination in these cases had ultimately come from the human gut and probably reflected inadequate hand washing or other hygiene controls.

The staphylococcus contamination was likely to result from a shop staff member touching his or her nose and later touching either the scoop or the ice cream.

The E. coli infection was unlikely to kill anyone but some bacteria in the E. coli family produced toxins which could make people extremely ill.

The test results highlighted the “absolutely vital” need for good hygiene, he said.

His son, Andrew Tagg, an Otago graduate, and also a judge at the fair, said the practice in some shops of allowing ice cream scoops to sit in warm, “dirty” water for much of the day could result in micro-organisms growing in the water and on the scoop.

Kim’s research showed that scientific methods, even when applied by a young scientist, could produce important results, Mr Tagg said.

He noted that an earlier high school science experiment conducted by two 14-year-old girls at Pakuranga College, Auckland, in 2004, had detected unexpectedly low levels of vitamin C in the juice drink Ribena.

The giant multinational company GlaxoSmithKline was subsequently fined $217,500 in the Auckland District Court in March 2007 after it admitted having made claims about vitamin C in Ribena that were on some occasions false and on other occasions misleading.

Dunedin City Council team leader for environmental health, Ros MacGill, said the department would check the methodology used in the tests but emphasised the “unfortunate” findings were not being taken lightly.

The hygiene issues, which had long been emphasised by the department, were likely to be highlighted again in the next issue of a regular newsletter which would soon be sent to food operators, Ms MacGill said.

* Dr Michael Schultz, an award-winning senior lecturer in the Otago University department of medical and surgical sciences and a consultant gastroenterologist at Dunedin Hospital, said the ice cream research had been undertaken by his daughter, Kim. However, advice on some matters had first been gained from the university microbiology and immunology department, the bacterial cultures had been grown in his laboratory and Kim’s identification of E. coli colonies had been confirmed by a university microbiologist.


This project is featured in the Student Work section of the Columba College website. Click here to read more...

Open Day 2009

Friday 24th July. 9.00am ~ 1.00pm.

 

Scenes from Bishopscourt

June 2009

The original Bishopscourt was designed by William Mason and built for Bishop Nevill in 1871/72. Bishop Nevill was the first Anglican Bishop of Otago and Southland and he resided in Bishopscourt until he sold it in 1878. The Columba College Board of Governors purchased Bishopscourt in 1914 for £5,200.

The downstairs corridor has recently been painted a warm cream colour by Mr B. McLachlan of our staff and with the addition of some paintings from the College’s collection, it looks much more inviting.

The imported tiles from Staffordshire potteries in the vestibule and main hall were laid so as to form the Nevill coat of arms (three golden bustards on a blue ground), and the Dunedin Diocesan coat of arms.

Otago Chamber Music Contest

June 2009

For the third year running a Chamber Group with Columba students has won the Otago Secondary Schools’ Chamber Music Competition. This is an outstanding achievement as 60 ensembles took part.

The winning group was Trio Martinu consisting of Nichakorn Tuchinda, violin from Columba College, Joyce Tang, piano from Bayfield High School and Juno Pyun, violin from Otago Boys’ High School. They played Sonata for Two Violins and Piano by Bohuslav Martinu.

Venice Ensemble with Annabel Drummond, violin, Nichakorn Tuchinda, violin, Maple Goh, violin, Laura Barton, violin, Sophie Bang, piano from Columba College and Lorenz Morper, cello from John McGlashan College were Highly Commended. The Venice Ensemble performed Concerto for Four Violins in B minor by Vivaldi.

Balancing Act with Maple Goh, violin, Natasha Kumar, violin both from Columba College, Dominic Shogimen, cello from Otago Boys’ High School and Anne-Sophie Shogimen, violin from Otago Girls’ High School were also Highly Commended. Balancing Act performed Launch, Lullaby, Balancing Act by Geoffrey Hudson.

In all, four groups were Highly Commended, so with a student in the overall winning group and students in two of the Highly Commended groups, Columba College music students did extremely well.

Junior School Production: “Scrooge – A Ghost of a Chance”

June 2009

On Tuesday, 9th June, the Junior School children put on the production of “Scrooge – A Ghost of a Chance”, a musical based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, with the play and lyrics by Colin Baker and music by Sheila Wilson. This is the fourth musical production for the children and it was evident their excitement has not waned. From the lead characters to the little snowflakes everyone played her or his part with enthusiasm. Once again Mrs Borick and the children are to be congratulated on such a wonderful effort. To manage a cast of 155 children is no easy task and together with the help of the teaching staff as stage managers everything managed to go without a hitch.

We performed “Scrooge” twice on the Thursday, once at 8.30 a.m. for the Years 7 to 13 students at assembly, who were a very appreciative audience, and again at 10.00 a.m. for Kaikorai and Maori Hill Primary schools. Also invited were the residents from Redroofs and members of the Highgate Presbyterian Church. As usual with a production there are always behind the scene activities which must take place to ensure its success. Many thanks go to Murray Ross for assisting with the lighting, Paula Good for the Rock ‘n’ Roll choreography, Charlotte Sutherland who was our guest drummer, the Parents’ Association for purchasing the new sound system in Constance Hall and Kyla and David Jasperse, who once again designed and made the props.

Our sincere thanks must also go to Mr Richard Warnock, who always manages to bring our musicals “alive” with his superb piano accompaniment, Miss Alison Bowcott who so ably teaches and conducts the Junior School Orchestra and of course to our wonderful Musical Director, Mrs Judith Borick, who put so many hours into perfecting and bringing “Scrooge” to life.

Finally, a very big “thank you” must go to all the Junior School children. They managed to showcase their superb talents in a most successful 2009 Musical Production.

Marion Hogg - Dean of the Junior School

Gold Heartbeat Award

May 2009

Columba College is the first secondary school in Otago to be the recipient of a Gold Heartbeat Award. It was presented in assembly on the 19th May by Mrs Jo Arthur, National Heart Foundation Health Promotion Co-ordinator, who spoke of recent research that shows students who were well nourished performed better academically, took fewer sick days, behaved better in class and achieved better results in sporting pursuits.

“Prevention is better than cure. Therefore, a healthy school environment sets the scene for a long, heart-healthy life”, she said.

A Gold Heartbeat Award indicates that a school has reached the highest standard in all aspects of nutrition and recognises its commitment to providing students with consistent messages about healthy eating through the school food service, the school environment, classroom education programmes and community initiatives.

Gold Awards are valid for only one year. It is our intention to maintain our focus on promoting healthy nutrition and through our Health Promotion Committee of staff and students to explore new initiatives and ways of continuing to raise awareness in the school community of the importance of healthy eating.

NCEA 2008

May 2009

For those who may have missed reading the Sunday Star Times on the 17th May, below is the list of schools that were in the Top 10 in New Zealand for their NCEA 2008 pass-rates.

It is very pleasing indeed to see Columba College in this list.

We acknowledge that such lists have their critics, but are also aware that there is considerable public interest in such information.

For the record, Columba students again gained the highest number of Scholarship grades (21) in Otago and Southland for 2008 – a record that has been maintained by the College since the inception of Scholarship in 2004.


Sunday Star Times 17th May, 2009

www.nzqa.govt.nz compares NCEA results between schools or groups of schools of the same region, decile or type. Results are also broken down by gender and ethnicity, and compared against national averages. This data is much more accurate than in the past –aspects of it were used to compile The Sunday Star Times league tables (which are not published by NZQA), which are at www.sstlive.co.nz

University of Canterbury Emerging Leaders’ Scholarship

May 2009

The University of Canterbury congratulates Anna Fields from Columba College (Year 13, 2008) pictured here with Dr Rod Carr, Vice-Chancellor, receiving her certificate in recognition of achieving a UC Emerging Leaders’ Scholarship sponsored by Colleges and Departments, Women in Engineering Award, 2009.

Russell McVeagh Regional Debating Competition for Otago and Southland Secondary Schools

May 2009

Columba College was host for the 2009 Competition which attracted 14 school teams from Otago and Southland.

The Columba Senior Debating Team of Alice Waterman, Alice Marsh (Year 13) and Ava Atkinson- Barclay (Year 12) had a very successful weekend, winning five of their six debates. They won the semi-final against St. Kevin’s College, making it to the final which was won by Otago Boys’ High School.

The Otago/Southland team to contest the national finals in Wellington was announced after the regional finals with two of the three team members coming from Columba: Alice Waterman and Alice Marsh.

Congratulations to the Senior Debating Team on a very successful weekend and to Mrs C. Carrell and Mrs M. Harris who run our Debating Club and supported the girls throughout the weekend.

Stage Challenge

May 2009

All of the students involved in Columba's entry in Stage Challenge 2009 are to be congratulated on a fine performance. The opening scene which combined a classroom, Moses and the Burning Bush and the entry of the Egyptians was especially stunning. The girls put so many hours into their practices and preparations and thoroughly deserve the nine Awards of Excellence they received. Thank you very much to the student leaders of this year's entry in Stage Challenge and to everyone who assisted the girls with the making of costumes and supported and encouraged them in other ways.

Nine Awards of Excellence for “Exodus”:

Concept
Costuming Character
Drama
Health, Lifestyle Skills and Creative
Thinking
Performance Skill
Set, Design and Function
Soundtrack
Stage Use
Visual Enhancement

Sargood House

May 2009

Art classes started operating in Sargood House this week with Ms Field delighted to be able to move in following DCC consent coming through last week.

Converting a domestic dwelling to school use was quite an involved project that took us a little longer than envisaged, however, the outcome looks good and we are confident the Visual Art Department will benefit from the new teaching spaces and the proximity of Sargood House to the Braemar Art Room.

One large classroom has been created out of the former main bedroom, dining-room and front hall, while the front sitting-room will provide a smaller classroom. The former kitchen has been largely gutted to make a large wet area with direct access from the new main classroom. The former laundry has also been gutted to create a second wet area off the kitchen.

Painting of all the above areas, strengthening, fire-cladding of walls, disabled access, security, smoke alarms, new overhead lighting and plugs, a heat pump, new vinyl, pinboards and two whiteboards and an asphalt path for improved access are the main jobs that have been carried out.

There is further scope to create a third useful teaching space at the rear of the house. We haven't touched the back sitting-room and bathroom, and they could, in time, be made into one more useful space.

Columba Canteen - Gold Heartbeat Award

May 2009

The Health Promoting Schools' Committee was very pleased to learn at the end of the Easter holidays that it had been successful in its application to the National Heart Foundation for a Gold Heartbeat Award for the School Canteen. Columba was the first Secondary School in Otago to gain the Silver Award and is now the first to gain the Gold Award, with the only other Gold Award in the province having been awarded earlier this year to St Patrick's Primary School. We are very fortunate to have Mrs Magda Marx as our Catering Manager and it is her commitment to producing healthy, tasty items for the Canteen and responding to students' feedback that has steadily improved the quality of what is offered. Public Health South is so impressed with her work that they included an article on Mrs Marx and the Columba Canteen in their August Newsletter last year. Our decision to maintain the changes made over the past few years in the Canteen in spite of the government relaxing these requirements also helped with our Gold application. The Award is to be presented in assembly next Tuesday by Mrs Jo Arthur of the Heart Foundation.

It was very pleasing to note the Year 10 students' healthy appetites for healthy food at their recent Camp in Doubtful Sound. In accordance with the Board of Trustees' Healthy Eating Policy, we have eliminated two minute noodles and instant soups from school camps and were very grateful to those parents who sent along home-made soups. We are still concerned, however, at the number of students in the Intermediate and Secondary Schools who are bringing instant noodles for lunch. While we recognise that this is an individual choice, we urge parents and students to check the list of ingredients that go into these and to note the fat content of the noodles themselves. The Health Promoting Schools' Committee is currently preparing for Columba's first Healthy Eating Week, from the 25th to 29th May. Activities planned include speakers, cooking demonstrations, competitions and special dishes in the Canteen.

Jenness Riethmaier, Chair of Columba’s Health Promoting Schools’ Committee

Columba College - A Fair Trade School

May 2009

Alice Marsh, Head Prefect, had as one of her special projects for this year to see Columba College become a Fair Trade School recognised by the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand. Well done to Alice on this initiative and its success. Columba is now one of eight Fair Trade Schools in New Zealand.

To qualify we had to meet the following criteria:

  • Serve only Fair Trade tea and coffee in the School and Boarding House (we have included Fair Trade hot chocolate)
  • Promote and raise awareness of Fair Trade at school, for example, by displaying promotional material, teaching students about Fair Trade, running an assembly on Fair Trade.
  • What is Fairtrade?
    Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

    Fairtrade is an alternative model of international trade, which aims to share the benefits of trade more equitably between consumers, producers and the environment.

    Fairtrade guarantees a better deal for producers in the developing world through:

  • A fair and stable price for their product
  • Long term trading relations and advance payments
  • Investment in local community development
  • Support in gaining knowledge and skills needed to operate in the global economy
  • Environmentally sustainable farming methods
  • How do I know if a product is Fairtrade?
    The FAIRTRADE Label is an independent consumer label which appears on products as a guarantee that disadvantaged producers in the developing world are getting a better deal. For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Label it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO) and have been developed in consultation with farmer, consumer and industry representatives.

    Look for the FAIRTRADE Label on a growing range of products.

    www.fairtrade.org.nz

    Visit by the Chinese Ambassador

    April 2009

    Columba College has been the fortunate recipient of over 200 donated books and DVDs from Hanban, China. A special corner has been set up in the school library for the Chinese collection and on Tuesday, 7th April an opening ceremony for the collection was held. It was attended by all the girls currently learning Chinese, students who come from Chinese-speaking countries and invited guests.

    Ambassador Zhang of the People's Republic of China flew especially to Dunedin for the ceremony and was accompanied by Mr Liu Jiang, First Secretary for Education, and Dr Hannah Han, National Chinese Adviser. We were honoured by their presence and appreciated their encouragement and support of our introduction of Chinese into the curriculum.

    Gabrielle Mogil in Year 11 spoke in Chinese on behalf of the students, and we were all impressed by her delivery and intonation.

    The 2009 Columba Fair - a "FUN-tab-lous" event!

    April 2009

    It was definitely a fun, fantastic and fabulous Fair! We were blessed with another GORGEOUS day, filled with laughter and friends. This year, the "Columba Family" set up and ran fifty-three stalls, games, events, contests, raffles and activities. The tables were laden with donations of clothing, household items, toys, sweets and baking. The upper school girls and their teachers arranged marvellous games that brought beaming smiles to lots of faces. It was great to see so many of the classes really getting into the "Best Decorated Stall" contest and all the fantastic student entries in the cake competition. The judges in both contests truly had a hard time-so many wonderful choices! And WOW! The generosity of the families and businesses donating items and money to the Fair was simply overwhelming and GREATLY appreciated. We had our biggest Dutch Auction ever-three tents were needed to contain it all!

    From the Prefects greeting and welcoming our guests to the blast of "Rule Britannia" as the "Queen" graced us with her presence to open our Fair to the eager crowds waiting almost patiently outside for Constance Hall, the Books and Pre-loved Clothing stalls to open and filling the tents on the lawn to the Easter Bunny handing an egg to a delighted child to the satisfied diners at the various yummy food stalls to the eager entrants in the various contests to the fantastic items available at the Dutch Auction to the happy winners at the Tombola to the peals of laughter from the Midway - celebration and fun were in the air. A good time was definitely being had!

    Many thanks to all who worked so tirelessly before, during and after the Fair. Weeks of preparation by countless people go into making sure the logistics are ironed out; tables and tents borrowed (and returned!); equipment is ordered; menus are determined and foods are arranged; items found, sorted and priced; volunteers lined up and everything is ready to go on time. The conveners are to be commended for their excellent work (see the list over the page so you can tell them "Great job!").

    Every stall was humming with a buzz of excitement. And ALL of you wonderful people who volunteered to put those plans into action before and during the Fair as well those who volunteered to help shut it all down and return everything - you are VERY much appreciated. It takes many hands, heads and hearts to make an event of this scale happen and happen extremely well. It is also so gratifying to see the friends made at previous Fairs reuniting for a good cause. I especially loved seeing our children's names and Year levels on our name-tags and hearing many "Oh! You are so and so's Mum/Dad!" As a school that draws its students from near and far, it is events like this that knit us together as a community.

    Many thanks to all the families who donated, made things and baked or cooked- the variety of items we had for sale was astounding. Many thanks to all the businesses who donated prizes for the raffles, Dutch Auction and foods for the Columba Café . It was an impressive (and delicious) array of goods that were enjoyed on the day and the generosity of many will be long remembered.

    Through the efforts of the entire Columba community - parents, teachers, students and staff - I am pleased to report that the 2009 Fair raised $48,000. These proceeds will be used to purchase ICT/computer equipment for Years 1 to 8, a new outdoor fitness structure for the senior campus and resources for our new Visual Arts rooms in Sargood House. We can all give ourselves a much deserved pat on the back for a job VERY well done! It was a terrific day and plans are already in the works for 2010. See you at next year's Fair!

    Jennifer Anglin 2009 Fair Convener, Mandy Metzger 2009 Fair Logistics.

    Read more about the fair in the April 2009 newsletter...

    ShelterBox

    April 2009

    ShelterBox provides, on a world-wide basis, humanitarian aid and relief in the form of materials and equipment that give shelter, warmth and comfort to people displaced by natural disasters and epidemics.

    Columba College students last year donated $3,000 to fund two ShelterBoxes. They raised this money through their weekly Sponsorship donations.

    How it all began
    ShelterBox was the idea of Rotarian Tom Henderson of the Rotary Club of Helston Lizard in Cornwall, in the UK. Tom, an ex- naval search and rescue diver, came up with the idea of providing humanitarian aid in an easily transported box. In 2000 the Rotary Club of Helston Lizard adopted ShelterBox as its millennium project with the first 50 boxes being sent to Gujurat in India after a massive earthquake.

    Since then Rotary clubs all over the world have responded by supporting the project and as of October 2008 ShelterBox had responded to 76 emergencies in 45 countries, sending out over 40,000 boxes, providing shelter to over 600,000 people.

    What is a ShelterBox?
    A ShelterBox provides shelter and warmth for up to 10 people for a prolonged period. Each box is uniform in size, and normally contains a 10 person tent, 10 sleeping-bags, a multi-fuel cooker, eating bowls, etc., and ancillary equipment such as water purification tablets, a treated mosquito net, spade, small tool kit and a children's activity pack – all the essential basics a family would require after losing everything in a disaster.

    The contents can be, and are varied when requests are received from aid agencies or when the boxes are being dispatched to tropical areas. The sleeping-bags are then replaced by sleeping covers, or a second tent for an additional 10 people.

    The New Zealand authorised affiliate of The ShelterBox Trust is The Rotary Club of Mosgiel Charitable Trust in District 9980.

    All organisations and individuals who sponsor a ShelterBox have their name placed on the Roll of Honour on the website www.shelterbox.org

    The cost of a complete ShelterBox is $NZ1,500.00. The boxes and all the contents are brand new and have been selected for their quality to have a long and useful life once distributed. The boxes are delivered by specially trained volunteers to "those who need them the most" in any given disaster zone.

    Columba Fair

    Saturday 4th April 2009 starting at 11:30am

    Don't miss the Columba Fair. Saturday 4th April 2009 starting at 11:30am. Click here for more information...

     

    2008 NCEA Results (Provisional)

    March 2009

    The 2008 NCEA results are very pleasing (finalised results will be to hand in April) with a large number of girls attaining at a very commendable level, for example, gaining Levels 1, 2 or 3 overall with Merit or Excellence.

    % of students achieving NCEA at Columba College
     
    Level 1 (Year 11)
    Level 2 (Year 12)
    Level 3 (year 13)
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    2005
    97.7
    57.0
    94.0
    61.6
    95.2
    51.6
    2006
    95.5
    59.3
    96.4
    63.3
    94.3
    51.6
    2007
    92.4
    62.7
    97.2
    66.0
    97.1
    54.5
    2008 (Provisional)
    98.5
    62.8
    94.1
    66.6
    89.4
    54.0

    2008 Overall Excellence and Merit Endorsements (Provisional)
    %
    Level 1
    Level 2
    Level 3
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    Merit
    43.9
    17.3
    32.4
    12.3
    25.8
    11.0
    Excellence
    25.8
    4.6
    19.1
    3.1
    21.2
    2.6

    2008 % of roll achieving (Provisional)
     
    Level 1
    Level 2
    Level 3
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    Columba
    National
    NCEA Level 1 Literacy requirement
    98.5
    77.3
    -
    -
    -
    -
    NCEA Level 1 Numeracy requirement
    101.5
    84.9
    -
    -
    -
    -
    80 credits
    98.5
    63.7
    95.6
    50.1
    83.3
    39.1
    University Entrance
    -
    -
    -
    -
    93.9
    49.6

     

    Win in the South Island Secondary Schools’ Waterpolo
    Tournament

    March 2009

    Warmest congratulations to our Senior A Waterpolo Team on winning the South Island Tournament.

    All the girls in the team can be very proud of this achievement, and also of their overall win in the local Dunedin competition in which they won their final games against Kavanagh College and John McGlashan College (this was a hard-fought game that Columba won 6-5). They are a young (six of the girls are in Year 10 and two in Year 11), fit and well prepared team and thoroughly deserve their South Island win.

    In the closely contested semi-final with Villa Maria, the score was 3 all at full-time and 4 all at extra time. The game was won on the penalty shoot-out with Charlotte O’Leary, Zoe Cadzow and Holly Cadzow all scoring, taking the final score to 7-4. The final was against Christchurch Girls’ High School with a win of 4-1 to Columba.

    Tori Hall - Most Valuable Player - South Island Waterpolo Tournament.

    Stephanie Lambie - Most Promising Player - South Island Waterpolo Tournament

    Wanaka A & P Show

    March 13 & 14 2009

    Columba College will again have a stand at this busy and exciting show.

    If you are in the Wanaka area, please call in to see the College tent. There will be displays, information and the opportunity to learn more about what the College has to offer young women.

    The show runs from 9am – 4.30pm on both Friday and Saturday. We look forward to seeing you in Wanaka.

    Year 6 Crossing Over Ceremony

    December 2008

    All the Junior School pupils lined up to see the Year 6 girls cross over to the Bishopscourt campus for lunch on the 4th December.

    Waterpolo Team

    December 2008

    It was great news to hear how very well our Years 9 and 10 Waterpolo Team did in the South Island Waterpolo Tournament for Years 9 and 10 teams held in Invercargill. The girls won every game they played and were placed 1st in the South Island, beating James Hargest 19-3 in the semi-final and Burnside High School 4-1 in the final. We congratulate all the girls in the team on a wonderful result.

    Special congratulations to Stephanie Lambie who was selected as the Most Valuable Player for the whole Tournament (selected from all participants).

    Thank you to Mrs N. Martyn for her unfailing support of the team as Manager and for the generous fundraising she undertook to help the girls get to Invercargill, and to everyone who bought the peonies we enjoyed seeing at the school entry each morning. We also acknowledge with appreciation Rene Theelen, Coach, and the assistance of Rhys Heatley.

    Anna Fields, Year 13 Winner of three ICAS Gold Medals

    December 2008

    (Gold Medals are awarded to the top 1% of ICAS entrants who achieve the highest score in their Year level in their own country in each ICAS subject)

    At the 2008 ICAS Gold Medal Awards Ceremony held at Te Papa, Wellington Anna received a Gold Medal for Science. In the previous year, Anna was the recipient of Gold Medals for English and Science.

    Three ICAS Gold Medals is a very special achievement on which Anna is warmly congratulated.

    Laura Bridger, Year 8
    Rutherford Science Competition 2008

    December 2008

    Laura Bridger was placed first in the Years 5 – 8 category of the University of Canterbury Rutherford Science Competition. She will receive a $500.00 cash prize. This is a fantastic effort considering the huge number of entries from all over New Zealand. Well done Laura!

    Jessica Chisholm, Year 13
    Recipient of the 2009 Otago Polytechnic Principal’s Scholarship

    December 2008

    Otago Polytechnic generously funds a Scholarship which covers the first year’s tuition fees to a nominated secondary school student from each school in the region.

    Congratulations to Jessica Chisholm on being the recipient of the Scholarship made available to a Columba College student. Jessica will be studying towards a Nursing Degree at Otago Polytechnic.

    Columba College Business Hall of Fame

    November 2008

    Julia Aspinall of Genetic Gains Ltd. and Barbara Anderson of BKA Interactive Ltd. were inducted into the Columba College Business Hall of Fame at a special function in Constance Hall on the 10th November, joining last year’s inaugural recipients, Amanda Ellis, Miranda Caird and Sue Stevely-Cole.

    Amanda Ellis had been unable to attend the function last year, and so it was a special highlight to have her in New Zealand and able to attend the function on the 10th November. Amanda also spoke at assembly in the morning about her career and work with the World Bank – an inspirational talk for the girls.

    Amanda who now lives in Washington, D.C., has been with the World Bank for five years. She heads up the World Bank group gender action plan, a four-year $US25 million programme promoting gender equality within economics, which involves spending much of her time in African countries.

    Amanda has worked for Westpac in Australia as Head of Women’s Markets and national manager for Women in Business, the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, OECD in Paris and has managed NZ aid programmes in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

    Read More...

    Scholarship Winners

    November 2008

    The success of three Year 13 girls in winning major Scholarships has been wonderful news this term. We congratulate Natasha Keillor, Laura Manson and Erin Wilson most warmly on their significant achievements. Natasha Keillor is the recipient of one of the 21 Russell McVeagh School Leavers Law Scholarships worth $7,000 and a University of Otago Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship worth $2,000. Natasha who received the only Russell McVeagh Scholarship to be awarded south of Christchurch plans to study Law at Otago and also complete a Science degree. Five of the Russell McVeagh Scholarships were awarded to South Island students. Laura Manson won the Otago PricewaterhouseCoopers Aspire Scholarship worth $7,000 – one of 16 awarded nationally. Laura is studying Law and Commerce at Otago University next year. Erin Wilson won one of the five Kelliher Economics Foundation Awards (the sole recipient south of Christchurch) given nationally worth $12,000 and a Victoria School Leavers Scholarship worth $4,000 for academic excellence. Erin plans to study Economics at Victoria University next year.

    National Bank Junior Mathematics Competition

    November 2008

    This year there were 9,168 entrants from 202 schools. Columba College students performed very strongly – a view supported by the National Bank representative who presented the girls with their certificates in assembly. She commented that Columba College students received the most certificates in Dunedin from this year’s Competition which is regarded as a particularly challenging one for Years 9 to 11 students.

    Special congratulations to Chiao Lin in Year 10 who was 4th nationally for her Year level and the top placed female student

    Paige Parslow-Boyd and
    Hazel Loughrey
    National Young Designer Awards in Christchurch

    November 2008

    Congratulations to Paige Parslow-Boyd in Year 13 who was awarded 1st Place nationally in the category Photography at the finals presentation – an outstanding achievement.

    Well done also to Hazel Loughrey in Year 12 who gained 2nd Place nationally in the category Communication Design – Book Cover.

    Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship

    November 2008

    Along with Natasha Keillor, Deborah Lambie is the recipient of a Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship from Otago University and we congratulate Deborah also on this prestigious award.

    Columba College Production 2008
    Oliver

    “Oliver” was performed at the Mayfair Theatre on the 4th, 5th and 6th of September. Click here to see the image gallery.

    What a great success “Oliver” was! We were delighted with the response and support from the school community and the general public, and very pleased that the students performed to virtually full houses at the Mayfair Theatre all three nights. Holding the musical at the Mayfair Theatre proved its worth – everyone enjoyed the authentic theatre experience, the orchestra liked performing in a proper pit and students helping front of house and backstage with lights, props, sound and make-up appreciated the opportunity to gain skills in a real theatre.

    The performers deserve full credit. From the orchestra to the singing, dancing and acting wonderful teamwork was evident and some great talent as well.

    Thank you so much to all the Columba students involved and also to the boys from John McGlashan College and Otago Boys’ High School for a very impressive and most enjoyable musical. Well done!

    A special acknowledgement also to Mr David Corballis (theatrical director), and to the following staff: Mr Richard Madden (musical director), Ms Teresa Andrew (design), Mrs Janiene Hill (choreography), Mrs Christina West (stage manager), Mrs Jan Paterson (production manager) and Mrs Pauline Dunbar (make-up).

    Poster design by Alice Marsh, Year 12.

     

    Three Columba Old Girls head to Oxbridge

    September 2008

    Julia, Emma and Yani leave this month to begin their studies at Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Julia Matheson won a 2008 Rhodes Scholarship to study for a doctor of philosophy degree in medical oncology at Balliol College, Oxford University. Emma Hutton won the 2008 Girdlers’ Scholarship, regarded as the undergraduate equivalent of the Rhodes Scholarship, which will take her to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University, to study music. Yani Hung was short-listed for an undergraduate place at Oxford University and was successful at interview, and will study medicine at Pembroke College.

    We warmly wish the three of them all the very best for their studies in the UK.

    Laura Manson
    PricewaterhouseCoopers Aspire Scholarship

    September 2008

    Warm congratulations to Laura Manson in Year 13 on winning one of the 16 Scholarships awarded by PricewaterhouseCoopers for 2009. Laura was one of the two South Island recipients with the other 14 Scholarships going to North Island students.

    The Scholarship offers recipients summer internships as well as significant monetary allowances throughout the duration of their tertiary education (a package of $7,000 with a further $2,500 to complete a relevant double degree or postgraduate studies).

    Laura is the third Columba recipient of a PricewaterhouseCoopers Aspire Scholarship in four consecutive years. She joins Sophie Toomer and Stacey Offen.

    Monetary Policy Challenge

    September 2008

    Bankable . . . Pictured at the Reserve Bank, back row, from left, are Reserve Bank deputy governor Dr John McDermott, Columba College principal Elizabeth Wilson, Surangna Chansrichavala, team leader Kari Schmidt, Reserve Bank economic analysts Chris Bloor and Hamish Pepper. Front row, from left, Emma Elsom, Erin Wilson and Laura Manson.

    Columba cashes in

    By John Lewis - Otago Daily Times

    FIVE Columba College pupils proved they had the potential to control the country’s official cash rate after they finished second in the New Zealand Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Challenge in Wellington.

    Team leader Kari Schmidt, Emma Elsom, Surangna Chansrichavala, Laura Manson and Erin Wilson were put in the shoes of Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard and using the same information as Reserve Bank economists, the team assessed the economic conditions facing New Zealand to decide an appropriate setting for the official cash rate.

    Their reasoning was given in a 10-minute presentation, followed by a 20-minute question and answer session with a judging panel of Reserve Bank economists.

    Columba College principal Elizabeth Wilson said the girls coped well with the extreme pressure of the event.

    “It was a very high level of competition — it was a signific ant step up from the level of questioning at regional level. The girls handled it extremely well.”

    Scots College (Wellington) won, with Westlake Boys High School (Auckland) third.


    The Columba College Monetary Policy Challenge Team (placed second in New Zealand in the 2008 MPC finals). In the Board Room of the Reserve Bank. Left to right – Laura Manson, Erin Wilson, Kari Schmidt, Surangna Chansrichavala and Emma Elsom.

    Photo: Gregor Richardson - Otago Daily Times.

    2008 Winter Quadrangular Tournament
    Final Results
    Sport
    Placings
    Points
    Badminton
    1 Columba College
    4
    2 St. Hilda's
    3
    3 St. Margaret's College
    2
    4 Craighead Diocesan School
    1
    Debating
    1 Columba College
    4
    2 St. Hilda's
    3
    3 St. Margaret's College
    2
    4 Craighead Diocesan School
    1
    Hockey
    1 St. Margaret's College
    4
    2 St. Hilda's
    3
    3 Craighead Diocesan School
    2
    4 Columba College
    1
    Netball
    1 Craighead Diocesan School
    4
    2 Columba College
    3
    3 St. Hilda's
    2
    4 St. Margaret's College
    1

    Overall Placings
       
    Points
    1st
    Columba College
    12
    2nd
    St. Hilda's
    11
    3rd
    St. Margaret's College
    9
    4th
    Craighead Diocesan School
    8

    Most Valuable Player Award
      Hockey Netball Badminton Debating “Best Speaker”
    Columba
    Michelle Hayman
    Sophie Napper
    Emma Eckhoff
    Marea Colombo
    St. Margaret’s
    Sian Fremaux
    Bridget Rutherford
    Johanna King
    Caitlin Craigie
    St. Hilda’s
    Jess Tisdall
    Rebecca McMillan
    Jenny Horrell
    Kim Hannah
    Craighead
    Hayley Morrow
    Sophie Mulcahy
    Geraldine Prisk
    Estelle Geach

    Open Day 2008

    Thursday July 24, 9.00am - 1.00pm

    Click on an image to enlarge.



    Year 10 Camp to Deep Cove

    Click here to see the Year 10 Deep Cove Camp Movie (mpg 40.8 MB).

    Anna Fields
    ICAS Science Competition

    August 2008

    Anna Fields, Year 13 won a Gold Medal for Science in this year’s ICAS Science Competition.

    This means that Anna gained the highest mark for Year 13 in New Zealand.

    It is the second year in a row that Anna has won a Gold Medal for Science. Well done, Anna!

    Annabel Drummond
    New Zealand Youth Orchestra

    August 2008

    Annabel Drummond in Year 9 has been made a member of the New Zealand Youth Orchestra.

    This is a very high achievement for Annabel as members of the NZ Youth Orchestra can be up to 25 years of age.

    Annabel has joined the orchestra to give concerts in Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Napier from the 20th August to the 1st September.

    Otago Chamber Music Competition

    June 2008

    For the second year running a Chamber Group with Columba students has won the Otago Chamber Music Competition. This is a very significant achievement with fifty ensembles involving 167 students taking part.

    The winning group was Trio Boulanger consisting of Asayo Takada, piano, and Nanae Sato, cello, from Columba College and Natasha Dwan, flute from Logan Park High School. They played a challenging modern piece, Trio for Flute, Violoncello and Piano Mvts. 1, 3 and 4 by American Composer, Ned Rorem.

    The Dresden Trio with Annabel Drummond, violin, Anne-Sophie Shogimen, piano, from Columba College and Dominic Shogimen, cello, from Otago Boys’ High School was awarded the Adjudicator’s Award for an outstanding performance. The Dresden Trio performed Piano Trio No. 2 in F major Opus 80 3rd movement by Schumann.

    The adjudicator, Kenneth Young, gave four Highly Commended Awards with two going to groups containing Columba students: Dwalliessapyuto Quartet (Nanae Sato, cello) and KhachaKorean Trio (Sophie Bang, piano).

    It is noteworthy that Columba College students were in fourteen of the groups performing over the weekend of the 14th and 15th June at Marama Hall.

    Innovative competition

    By John Lewis, Otago Daily Times - 21st June, 2008

    Eyes for Innovation ... Columba College pupils Amy Anderson, Lee White and Anna Fields hope their idea of using “Sun Spot” miniature computers to monitor and prevent the effects of high winds or earthquakes on buildings could one day be developed into reality.
    Photo: Jane Dawber - Otago Daily Times

    There was no time for building Terminators at the Otago Secondary Schools Technology Innovation Challenge in Dunedin yesterday.

    Year 13 pupils spent their ‘time more productively, dreaming up applications for Sun Spots — miniature computers which can be used to control robots.

    A team from Columba College won their category when they came up with the innovative concept of using Sun Spots to monitor the ‘effects of high winds or earthquakes on high-rise buildings or bridges.

    Lee White (17), Anna Fields I (17) and Amy Anderson (18) said they would use the Sun Spots to control robots which could provide support for areas of bridges or buildings which were losing their structural integrity in the event of high winds or earthquakes. The technology could also be used to send safety warnings about structurally unsound buildings which were in danger of collapsing.

    The Idea was one of many creative innovations based around three topics at the University of Otago Information Science Department. Alongside Sun Spots, pupils also worked on applications for virtual world technology (three dimensional computer worlds in which buildings and friendships can be created) and developed their own online communities like Bebo and Facebook.

    The most innovative ideas in each category were given computer-related awards.

    Global Network Inter-connectivity Research Project manager Melanie Middlemiss said while the event was designed to foster links between secondary schools and the University of Otago’s Information Science Department, it was also aimed at flexing pupils’ minds and making them think outside the square.

    Dr Middlemiss said it was the second time the event had been held at the university and, because last year’s was so successful, it had been opened up to schools throughout the Otago region.

    Results: Sun Spot Category:

    Columba College (Lee White, Anna Fields and Amy Anderson); Online Community Category: Taieri College (Shane Elfield, Christina Sandford and Josiah Wood); Virtual World Category: Kings High School (Matthew Morris and Marc Gillan).

    Trip to Edogawa Girls’ High School, Tokyo, Japan

    May 2008

    On the 11th April six very excited girls and myself departed for a three week visit to Edogawa Girls’ High School.

    The girls spent one and a half weeks with each of their two homestay families. All girls stayed with the Edogawa student they had hosted in March 2008 in Dunedin, which was rather special. As one Columba mother said, “The Columba girls were treated like royalty.”

    The girls were very good at trying traditional Japanese dishes and all thought the food was delicious. The host families took the girls to many interesting places such as Akihabara, Harajuku, Asakusa, Tokyo Tower, Mt. Fuji, Yokohama, Disneyland and Disneysea. Mr Watanabe, the International Co-ordinator, had planned a very full programme for the three weeks the Columba girls attended Edogawa Girls’ High School. The programme included classes in language, computing, calligraphy, cooking, history, games, Okinawa guitar and Kendo. Time was also spent with the host sisters in their classes and at after school clubs. Visits were also made to Edo Tokyo Museum, Odaiba, Ueno Zoo, Koiwa, Kamakura, Asunaro Kindergarten, Myogonji temple and the Lalaport shopping plaza.

    The Asunaro Kindergarten and Myogonji Temple are owned by Mr and Mrs Hashimoto. Mr Hashimoto, a past staff member of Edogawa Girls’ High School, accompanied his students to Dunedin a few years ago and has fond memories of Columba College. Mr Watanabe was speechless when Mr Hashimoto presented the Columba girls and myself with a 200-300 year old coin each, which had been unearthed when the foundations were dug for the present temple. We felt very honoured to receive such a gift.

    The final day of our visit to the school was very busy. The Columba girls each presented a speech in Japanese entitled “Dreams of the Future.” They impressed the five judges with their level of Japanese. We then had lunch with the Principal and members of staff.

    The day ended with our girls staging a very entertaining Farewell Concert for the host sisters, their families and staff. The trip was a wonderful cultural experience. The girls were a credit to Columba College and a delight to be with. To quote Mr Watanabe, “Please be sure to come again to Edogawa and continue (if possible) your Japanese programme.”

    Anne Hancock (Mrs)
    Tour Leader

    China Trip Photos

    June 2008

    Click here to view the China Trip photo gallery.

    2008 Annual Columba College Fair

    April 2008

    Click here to see the Photo Gallery. Read more about the Fair in the April 2008 Newsletter.

    Edogawa Girls’ High School Visit to Columba College 2008

    February 2008

    Columba College has been hosting students from Edogawa Girls’ High School, Tokyo, Japan for the past eighteen years.

    The College values its long association with this school and wishes to preserve it for years to come.

    On Saturday, 23rd February thirty Edogawa students, one teacher and a J.T.B. Tour Escort arrived in Dunedin for a three week visit. The students were home stayed with Columba families and attended the Otago Polytechnic for the first two weeks and Columba classes for four days during the final week.

    The integration programme at Columba College included a welcome lunch, English language lessons, time spent with the Columba host students in their classes, sport, craft, cooking, visits to Olveston, St. Johns Anglican Church, a farm at Taieri Mouth and a farewell party and supper.

    Dr Cilla McQueen, Honorary Doctor of Literature, University of Otago

    May 2008

    The degree of Honorary Doctor of Literature was conferred upon Cilla McQueen by the University of Otago at the Graduation Ceremony held on Saturday, 17th May 2008.

    Cilla McQueen is one of New Zealand’s leading poets. She has written ten books of poetry, several of them award winners.

    She was Dux of Columba College in 1965 and went on to major in French at Otago University, graduating with an MA(Hons) in 1971. From 1985-1986 she held the Burns Fellowship at Otago University which gave her time to devote to her writing after working as a full-time teacher.

    Cilla McQueen now lives in Bluff.

    Otago Secondary Schools’ Equestrian Event

    April 2008

    Congratulations to our wonderful Equestrian team on gaining 1st Place overall in this year’s event held on Saturday, 29th March and for bringing the trophy back to Columba College for the fourth consecutive year. The girls competed superbly in the dressage and show jumping events, and deserved their overall win.

    In the team were: Laura Carruthers and Deborah Lambie (Co-Captains), Rebecca Blanchette, Pippa Lucas, Rebecca Duff, Georgina Martin, Jana Leifeld (German Exchange student), Gabrielle McFarlane, Jessica Barton, Michaela Little and Tiffany Robinson.

    Special thanks go to Mrs Pauline Carruthers who has so capably managed the team in recent years, and to all the parents for their support and encouragement of their daughters’ involvement.

    Alumni Scholarships

    April 2008

    Two of the twelve Alumni Scholarships recently awarded by the University of Otago have gone to Columba College Old Girls, Annie Manning and Anna Watson, who were in Year 13 last year.

    The Scholarships cover the first year tuition fees and are funded by donations from former Otago University students and graduates, through University alumni appeals.

    The twelve students came from Invercargill to Havelock North.

    Girdlers’ Scholarship awarded to Emma Hutton

    March 2008

    Emma Hutton has been announced as the Girdlers’ Scholar for 2008 after a rigorous selection and interview process. Emma was one of seven students (all in Year 13 last year) short-listed for the final round of interviews in Wellington.

    The Girdlers’ Scholarship is a highly prestigious award regarded as the undergraduate or high school equivalent of a Rhodes Scholarship. Only one is awarded annually to New Zealand.

    As a Girdlers’ Scholar Emma will be fully funded to study for a three to four year undergraduate degree at Cambridge University. Emma plans to study Music at Cambridge and hopes to make a career in conducting, teaching music and performance.

    The Girdlers’ Scholarship is administered by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors’ Committee and funded by the Girdlers’ Company, a British organisation, which has origins in livery, but now focuses on charitable causes and property ownership.

    Emma is the 44th Girdlers’ Scholar from New Zealand and the first from Columba College. Her success is richly deserved and has been such a joy to hear about. We wish her all the very best for her studies at Cambridge University which will begin this September.

    Inaugural inductees into Hall of Fame
    Examples... Susan Stevely-Cole (left), founder and director of Bear Park Early Childhood Centres, and Miranda Caird (nee Stringer), founder and chief executive of Roost Ltd, and (inset) Amanda Ellis, lead gender specialist with the World Bank Gender Action Plan, the three women inducted into the inaugural Business Hall of Fame at Columba College.
    Photo: Linda Robertson - Otago Daily Times

    A Business Hall of Fame has been inaugurated at Columba College, the only South Island school of eight throughout the country to introduce an annual Business Hall of Fame award.

    The eight-school pilot programme is overseen by Enterprise New Zealand, and funded by Trade and Enterprise New Zealand.

    The Columba Old Girls’ Association hosted last night’s launch in the school’s main assembly hall.

    The inaugural laureates were Miranda Caird, Amanda Ellis and Sue Stevely-Cole.

    One to three a year will be inducted in the future.

    Columba head of commerce Suzanne Bishop said the school wanted to raise awareness of the role of business in New Zealand and celebrate the success of former pupils, chosen for their exceptional contributions to community through enterprise, leadership and promotion of business.

    Mrs Caird, who is Roost chief executive, founded the Mortgage Advantage Company after 15 years in retail banking, expanding it into the Mortgage Choice New Zealand franchise. She has won the 2001 Her Business, New Zealand Business Woman of the Year award.

    Mortgage Choice was rebranded Roost, and expanded into insurance, before Mrs Caird sold the 32-franchise operation to AMP earlier this year.

    Ms Ellis joined the New Zealand diplomatic service, and worked as an economist for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and United Nations, and in management of international aid programmes to Asian countries. In the private sector, she worked for Westpac women in business unit, including educational and mentoring programmes.

    Ms Stevely-Cole, formerly a primary school teacher, founded the first Bear Park Childhood Centre in Auckland in 1986 and expanded it into a further four before designing a franchise for the centres.

    She remains owner-operator of three of 10 centres around Auckland catering for 900 children and has become the New Zealand representative for Italian-based organisation Reggio Children, plus foundation Committee member of the Early Childhood Council.

    by Simon Hartley - Otago Daily Times 15th November, 2007

    Click here to read more about the Columba College Business Hall of Fame.

    2007 Year 9 Ski Camp

    2007 marked the fifteenth year that our Year 9 students have swapped their classrooms for a week in the snow at Coronet Peak. Somehow we managed to squeeze 61 excited Year 9 girls plus the three Strathcona exchange students, two of the parents and the five accompanying staff, Ms J. Riethmaier, Mrs J. McMahon, Mrs R. Skerten, Mr S. Warburton and Emma Petersen, plus the luggage and food for a week into two buses and all in time for a 9.00 a.m. departure from school. After stopping in Alexandra for lunch we drove on to the Kawarau Bridge Bungy Centre to watch the “Secrets of Bungy” show. An added treat here was the offer of a free bungy jump for the teachers but only Mrs McMahon was brave enough to accept. We were all very impressed by her confident, stylish swoop off the bridge and her beaming smile as she came back up the steps amidst applause and cheers.

    We then continued on to Coronet Peak and unloaded luggage and food into the two lodges, the Otago Ski Club and Vincent Ski Club Huts, which were to be our bases for the rest of the week. The level of excitement made it difficult for some girls to get to sleep on the first night but the thought of having to get up at 6.30 a.m. to have breakfast and get our ski and snowboarding gear fitted in time for the 9.00 a.m. lesson eventually brought silence to the dorms.

    Every day started with a one-and-a- half hour lesson, after which we either had a break or practised what we had learnt. Teachers and parents had their lessons with members of the public and then, after a lunch break, spent the afternoons skiing around and coaxing girls onto the next level. Everyone made impressive progress over the four days but probably the most impressive was Mr Warburton, who initially had not planned to ski but after trying the magic carpet and learners’ slope, graduated very quickly to the chairlift and the “Big Easy”.

    We were lucky that the weather and snow conditions were good for most of the week, apart from strong winds on Friday which forced some of the chairlifts to shut down. By then most of us were so tired that we were glad to have to wait in line a bit longer to get onto the lift that was still operating. The good snow also meant that, apart from one dramatic fall which would have been a lot more serious if the student had not been wearing a helmet, there were no accidents which required a visit to the medical centre. We were also fortunate to have three doctors among the parents who came on the camp and who were able to attend to minor aches and pains at the end of the day.

    All too soon it was time to pack and tidy up and board the buses for the journey home, which was a lot quieter than Monday’s trip. The camp had been a great success and gave the day girls and boarders a great chance to get to know one another more closely and we all had an awesome time on the slopes. We are especially grateful to the parents, Mr Evan Baddock, Dr Graeme Johnston, Mr Gordon McDonald, Dr Matthew Strack and Dr Hamish Wilson, who came with us and helped, both on the mountain and with meal preparation, and also to Mr Judd de la Roche for joining us for two days. We record our thanks to Mr Baddock for the video record of the week.

    - Jenness Riethmaier, Teacher in charge of the Ski Camp.

    Columba College Major Production 2007
    The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women,
    by Carolyn Gage (2002)

    Directed by Janice Devereux

    The play will be performed in the Caroline Freeman Theatre in Girton on Wednesday, 19th September and Thursday, 20th September at 7.30pm.

    The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women, is a contemporary American courtroom drama in two Acts by feminist actress, director and playwright, Carolyn Gage. The main story of the play centres on the character of the supposed Grand Duchess of Russia, Anastasia, whose contemporary traitorous acquaintances are put on trial for concealing her identity.

    During the Bolshevik Revolution, the family of Tsar Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra were killed at Ekaterinburg by a Bolshevik secret police firing squad. At the time it was widely believed that Anastasia somehow survived the execution and reappeared years later in Eastern Europe. Anastasia Manahan (usually known as Anna Anderson, c. 1900-84) claimed to be the Grand Duchess, Anastasia, and in 1938 she initiated a suit in the German courts to claim the Romanov inheritance.

    The Anastasia Trials revolves around the conspiracy trial of the five Russian women who betrayed Anastasia by refusing to help establish her identity. The format is a play-within-a play, where a radical feminist theatre company is created to perform a courtroom drama. The play opens as members of the Emma Goldman Theatre Brigade are about to put into practice their innovative "lottery system" aimed at ensuring equal opportunity for all the actors. They each draw from a hat the role they will play for the evening's performance, an arrangement that puts the sisterhood to the test as some of the women secretly trade characters in order to get a better part.

    Despite the seriousness of the important topic of victimization, The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women is often humorous. The Portland Phoenix newspaper (Boston, Massachusetts) describes it thus: "The play is simply a mirror of life itself; part comedy, part tragedy, part success, part failure, part righteousness, part discovery of new truths."

    Tickets on sale in the School Office (03 467 5188).

    Adults $8.00, Students $5.00, Family of four or five $20.00

    Girls Hockey

    Columba College hung on, despite a second-half comeback from Waitaki Girls High School, to win the Otago secondary schools premiere girls hockey final at the McMillan Centre.

    In the semifinals, Columba had beaten St Kevins 3-1 while Waitaki Girls defeated Otago Girls 3-1.

    The final was a fast, exciting and hard-fought encounter, with Columba winning 3-2 after leading 2-0 at half-time. For Columba, Otago under-18 representatives Jessica Shields and Phillipa Tuaine played well, while captain Sarah Aitken was an inspirational leader. The Columba team remained unbeaten during the season, scoring 49 goals for and only 6 against. Congratulations must go to coach Shona Harvey.

    This week, Columba is competing in the New Zealand Schools Tournament in Palmerston North.

    Article from The Otago Daily Times dated 29th August, 2007

    Recycling: “Columba Green and Blue All Over”

    Columba College has decided to go “green” with the purchase of some bright blue wheelie bins for the collection and recycling of its waste paper. Bins have been placed in each teaching block and the School Office for student and staff use, and are emptied each week for a collection by Envirowaste. It’s about waste minimisation; reducing waste has several benefits: saves resources, increases the life of landfills, reduces waste costs, and eliminates air emissions from incinerators.

    This initiative was started by Mr Adrian Cartwright, Head of the Visual Arts Department. “We don’t actually throw out much paper from this Department, as each piece has the potential to have great Art made on it,” was his response when asked why he started promoting more environmentally- friendly disposal of paper. “It’s the photocopier’s fault – it’s too easy to duplicate something, and as teachers, we have a responsibility to lead by example: use the paper, but dispose of it responsibly...it doesn’t have to end up as landfill when it can so easily be processed for recycling.”

    The initiative has received enthusiastic support from the whole school community, and a mufti day will be held before the end of Term II to raise money to cover the cost of the bins.

    Students are encouraged to make use of the bins, but are advised to make sure they have completed that test BEFORE disposing of those revision notes! Most teachers will have a separate bin or container in their classroom especially for paper, which will be emptied into the blue bins during the week. Please ask the teachers. (And if they haven’t, then why not?!) Come the end of the year, and the Great Locker Clear Out, Mr Cartwright is expecting students and staff to be in the habit of disposing of their paper responsibly, and for the bins to be overflowing – let’s hope so!

    The Dunedin City Council website has further information on its recycling programme and the environmentally responsible disposal of waste. See http://www.cityofdunedin.com/city/?page=Rubbish,Recycling

    Adrian Cartwright
    HOD Visual Arts

    Channel 9 News Item

    ‘Pinnacle Productions’ featured on Channel 9 Television News on Tuesday 24th July. The girls were interviewed at school about their book, ‘Everything you wanted to know but were too afraid to ask.’

    Click here to watch the video. (1.5 MB Windows Media Video file.)

    All the hot tips mum forgot to tell you

    By Karen Arnold and Leigh Van Der Stoep - Sunday Star Times - Sunday, 22 July 2007

    A new volume of household hints is hoped to earn a spot next to the Edmonds cook book on shelves.

    Everyone hates a paper cut. Just as annoying can be shrinking your favourite jumper or spilling raw egg on the kitchen floor.

    Now, thanks to a group of entrepreneurial Dunedin students, there is a book providing handy - and sometimes surprising - homegrown solutions to life's little irritations.

    To relieve a throbbing paper cut simply apply a thin layer of chapstick or glue, advises student Natasha Sharp.

    Salt on spilled egg hardens it, making it easy to remove. And just five easy steps should leave that jumper looking good as new, almost.

    Pinnacle Productions - a dozen Columba College Year 13 girls and their teacher -tomorrow will launch The Complete Book of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Too Afraid to Ask.

    "Basically it is a collection of hints from older generations about things that today's students lack the knowledge of. It includes instructions on everything from sewing a hem to fixing a fuse," Sharp said.

    The girls got the idea when they arrived at boarding school and found they had to solve household dilemmas without their parents' help.

    "There are lots of things that people did not know what or how to do," Sharp said.

    The book includes more than 300 handy household hints and recipes the girls collected, "mostly from grandparents, parents and some we just googled".

    Sharp's group hopes the book will become a New Zealand domestic must-have - earning a place on the shelf next to the Edmonds cook book.

    The 80-page book is divided into topics including cleaning and household, health and beauty, and car and DIY. It will be sold for about $19.95.

    It has already won recognition at the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise awards, a national competition for high school students.

    And the girls hope to represent Otago in the awards' finals in September.

    Mandarin Language of Future

    By John Lewis

    Breaking the language barriers... Columba College Year 9 pupils (from left) Renée Hodgkinson, Pun Chittapraneerat, Kate Waterman, Gigi Mogil, Penelope Couper and Sarah Agyeman (all 13) study Mandarin with teacher Juliana Pu.

    Photograph: Linda Robertson of The Otago Daily Times


    Dunedin’s sister city bond with Shanghai and New Zealand’s growing trade relations with China have prompted Columba College to introduce Mandarin to the school’s languages curriculum.

    Principal Elizabeth Wilson said Mandarin was offered to selected pupils last year as part of the school’s gifted and talented programme, and those who took part showed an aptitude and responded well to the challenge of learning the difficult language.

    “The success of this extension programme, along with the decision made by the school’s Japanese teacher to stay on in Hong Kong after her year’s leave of absence in 2006, presented the school with the opportunity to review the three international languages it offers and to consider introducing Chinese instead of Japanese.”

    Miss Wilson said given Dunedin’s and New Zealand’s increasing ties with China, studying Mandarin could also strengthen the bonds and provide many career opportunities for the school’s pupils.

    “It is spoken by over one billion people and in more than one country.  China is politically and economically important, and will become even more so.

    “Learning Chinese will enable students to gain an insight into Chinese history and culture and an understanding of the important developments and changes taking place in China today.”

    The school had introduced Mandarin to the Years 7, 8 and 9 curriculum and Japanese would be phased out by 2010 when the last group of students learning the subject would be in Year 13.  Plans were in place to offer Mandarin up to NCEA Level 3 and Scholarship levels, as was the case with French and German, she said.

    The Mandarin classes would be taught by University of Otago Chinese Language Courses tutor Juliana Pu.  She was appointed to the school’s teaching position following the success of her extension classes at Columba College.

    Miss Wilson said Columba College had established a sister school relationship with Datong High School in Shanghai and pupils at Columba would have the opportunity to practise their new-found language skills when 17 pupils and two teachers from Datong visited in July.

    Article from The Otago Daily Times dated 13th June, 2007

    Year 10 Science Club

    The Year 10 Science Club was privileged to have the opportunity to visit the University of Otago’s Zoology Department and meet Dr Alison Cree, a leading scientific researcher on reptile reproduction. The students learnt about New Zealand’s unique reptiles and the reproductive strategies utilised by them to survive in our diverse environment. The girls also got to handle endangered reptiles such as the tuatara, Otago skink and Otago gecko. This was a very special experience as some of these species are not found on the mainland and cannot be viewed by the average person! They also had the chance to take the temperatures of these reptiles using state-of-the-art technology - an infra red thermometer. The girls really enjoyed the experience.

    Praneeta Sharma - Science Club Co-ordinator

    NZIA Resene New Zealand Awards for Architecture 2007
    Marsh Sports Centre
    Columba College, Dunedin
    Architectural Ecology: Tim Heath

    Education (citation for the Award):

    "A no-frills, robust and functional solution with superlative use of controlled natural light and ventilation throughout. The interior spaces are integrated through a consistent selection of colour and materials. The exterior is integrated with the residential neighbourhood through the use of western red cedar cladding and local aggregate concrete panels."

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