SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - Columba College

Model United Nations Assembly 

Sarah Paterson, Year 13, on the left 

Dear Parents and Students, 

Columba College 

SCHOOL 

NEWSLETTER 

Issue 5 2007 

The announcements made by NZQA yesterday regarding improvements to NCEA were very good 

news. 

Particularly welcome was the announcement that from this year students will be able to gain 

overall NCEA Certificates with Excellence or Merit. This will both encourage and recognise high 

attainment overall at each Level of NCEA. 

Another very good move is to introduce from next year the ability for students to gain Excellence or 

Merit overall in a particular subject. 

Other improvements are also being introduced such as increased moderation of internally 

assessed Standards to improve confidence in the judgements made. As NCEA is of interest to 

many parents, we are enclosing copies of the press release from NZQA for the parents of girls in 

Years 9 to 13 this year. 

School Mid-Year Examinations (Years 8 to 13) 

Wednesday, 13th June to Tuesday, 19th June inclusive 

The girls have all received copies of the timetable. Examinations start on Wednesday, 13th June. 

There is no study leave for girls in Years 8, 9 and 10 (they attend school as usual). 

For girls in Years 11, 12 and 13 they do not have study leave prior to the examinations, only during 

them. 

Ava Atkinson-Barclay 

Year 10 

2007 International Competitions and 

Assessments for Schools 

Computer Skills Medal Winner 

Ava Atkinson-Barclay has been awarded a Medal 

for scoring the highest mark in her Year level in 

New Zealand for the 2007 ICAS Computer Skills 

Competition – an achievement on which we 

congratulate her most warmly. 

Columba College, Private Bag 1911, 399 Highgate, Dunedin 9054 

Ph: (03) 467 5188 Fax: (03) 464 0418 e-mail: admin@columbacollege.school.nz www.columbacollege.school.nz

Dean of International Students 

Ms Bronwen Strang has been appointed to the position of Dean of International Students and will 

take up the position at the beginning of Term III (16th July). 

Ms Strang’s previous experience includes secondary school teaching, careers consultancy work 

(1994 – 2001 Manager and Career Counsellor at Careers Advisory Service, University of Otago), 

English teaching in Japan, three years as Dean of College House, Christchurch for University of 

Canterbury students (Acting Principal for a time) and currently counselling at Relationship Services 

Whakawhanaungatanga Otago. 

Ms Strang has a Master of Guidance and Counselling (Distinction) from Massey University, a 

Licentiate of Theology (Distinction) from Knox College, a Bachelor of Science Degree from Otago 

and a Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) from the Christchurch College of Education. 

We look forward to welcoming Ms Strang to her new position and to the contributions she will make 

to the College and its students as Dean of International Students. 

Alumni Database Research Position 

Ms Karin Warnaar has been appointed to this short-term contract position made possible by 

funding received from The New Zealand Enterprise Trust (Columba College is one of just a handful 

of schools selected for the Business Hall of Fame Project – the only South Island School) and a 

grant from the Columba Old Girls’ Association. 

Ms Warnaar has extensive previous experience of both alumni and research work, working from 

March 2001 – January 2007 in the University of Otago’s Alumni and Development Office and 

before that nearly ten years as a media librarian. Ms Warnaar is a graduate of the University of 

Otago (Bachelor of Arts with Honours, First Class in English). 

This project will initially involve the development of one cohesive database of former students of 

Columba College with information such as tertiary qualifications gained and career pathways. 

From the research involved for the database, for the purposes of the Business Hall of Fame, at 

least one to three Columba College former students must be selected by the Project’s Supervising 

Committee as potential Laureates for the Business Hall of Fame by the end of the year. 

Other Staff News 

Mrs Louise Stevens has been appointed to teach the Years 9 and 10 French classes taught by 

Miss Page (7 periods a week) from the 28th May to the 29th June which is the end of Term II. 

Mrs Stevens is a graduate of the University of Otago and the Dunedin College of Education, and 

taught full-time at Otago Girls’ High School in 2004 and 2005. 

Mrs J. Anstey, the recently appointed new HOD Languages, will take over these two French 

classes when she begins in Term III (16th July on). 

St. John National Youth Competitions June 2007 

Congratulations to Tracy Lambeth in Year 13 on her selection to 

represent the Southern Region at the St. John National Youth 

Competitions in Nelson. 

Tracy will participate in six training weekends prior to the Nationals 

and has been recognised as one of the top twelve cadets in the 

Southern Region. Tracy Lambeth 



Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) 

Two Columba College teams took part in this event over the past weekend, supported by Mrs D. 

Thornton, HOD Religious Studies. 

Over 100 students debated, lobbied and voted as countries of the United Nations. Issues debated 

were: 

� aid for tsunami victims in remote areas 

� carbon emissions 

� Guantanamo Bay 

� the Civil War in Sri Lanka 

The Columba teams were: 

The USA 

Surangna Chansrichavala 

Chammika Navaratne 

Danita Rajiah 

Kari Schmidt 

Brazil 

Yani Hung 

Holly Martin 

Sarah Paterson 

Ashleigh Rudd 

Sarah Paterson was awarded one of the two “Best Speaker” awards – a trip to Wellington to take 

part in the National MUNA and we extend our warm congratulations to Sarah on her selection. 

All the girls did well and made an impression on the spectators. Well done! 

Lobbying – Sarah Paterson, Ashleigh Rudd and 

Yani Hung 

Speaking – Danita Rajiah 



German Exchange Students 

The partners of the six girls who participated in the German Exchange over the summer holidays 

spent almost all of Term 1 with their partners at Columba. They were a particularly nice group and 

made a real effort to join in all aspects of life at Columba, including wearing the uniform. The girls 

and their partners are listed below, together with the town in Nordrhein-Westfalien that each of our 

girls stayed in for their part of the exchange: 

Sina Asselmann – Yani Hung (Cologne) 

Sabine Baumgarten – Zeena Gunn (Aachen) 

Sarah Biella – Robyn Wheatley (Issum) 

Jördis Bunse – Emma Turner (Bottrop) 

Laura Gasseling – Victoria Paul (Xanten) 

Yana Ziob – Emily Peng (Düsseldorf) 

Welcome to our French Exchange Students 

We have been pleased to welcome seven French 

secondary school students to Columba from the 25th 

May to the 20th July. 

They are being hosted by Columba College students 

and their families. These summer holidays, the 

Columba students will be hosted in France by the 

visiting students and their families, and also attend 

school in France for part of our long summer holiday. 

Year 12: 

Lucile Bel – Marea Colombo 

Clémence Bornet – Rachel Blair 

Laurie Dzierbinski – Philippa Cleave 

Pauline Lloret – Anna Fields 

Violine Quevillard – Jessica Waterworth 

Charlotte Vignon – Alison Conroy 

Year 11: 

Clotilde Peyrou – Annelise Haddon 

Back row: Clotilde Peyrou, Violine 

Quevillard, Laurie Dzierbinski 

Front row: Lucile Bel, Clémence 

Bornet, Charlotte Vignon, Pauline 

Lloret 



Ms J. Riethmaier, Jessica Waterworth and her host 

student, Violine Quevillard 

SUPRÉ 2007 STAGE CHALLENGE 

JUMANJI 

Comments from the judging sheets of the three judges: 

The Rev. Fyfe and Mrs Blair with their daughters, 

Anna and Rachel, and Rachel’s host student, 

Clémence Bornet 

Set Design and Function: Great set and establishment of stage space. Exciting visual 

display. Great sense of space and believable engagement with narrative. 

Costuming – Character: Wonderful costumes – alive and brilliant characterisation. Detail to 

water effect – wonderful storytelling. Lighting design spectacular. 

Visual – Enhancement: Vibrant, well thought-out and visually splendid. All elements well 

thought-out. Enormous drama and scope. Brilliant feel for short sequence narrative. All 

colour and sound schemes well thought-out. 

Concept: Excellent concept. Everything integrated very well. Took Jumanji motifs and 

explored them highly effectively. 

Drama: Positive, dynamic performances. Focus brought through central characters. 

Excellent dramatic sense overall. 

Soundtrack: Very dynamic use of music – exciting and appropriate. 

Overall Impact: Excellent work – exciting, completely held my attention, good changes of 

pace, energy, rhythm, focus, good switches from comedy to drama. 

Choreography: Some great sequences – especially water, spiders, earthquake. 

Stage Use: Excellent stage use – levels and different shapes to create focus. 

Performance Skill: Very well executed and choreographed to the strengths of the skill base. 

Wonderful theatricality, creating drama and fun. 

Overall Impact: A fun show, packed with energy, passion and plenty of punch – fun 

ideas/characters driving the narrative. Well done! 



Year 10 Camp at Doubtful Sound 

The Year 10 Camp was held in the second 

week of this term at Deep Cove in Doubtful 

Sound, using the Deep Cove Youth Adventure 

Trust Hostel as a base for the second year in a 

row. Once again, because of the 44 person limit 

on the boat and bus which transport the 

students from Manapouri to Deep Cove, we had 

to split the three Year 10 classes into two 

groups and, luckily, each girl was able to be 

placed in the group of her choice. The first 

group, led by Ms Riethmaier, with Ms Sharma, 

Miss Page, Emma Fone and parents (Ms S. 

Aitken, Mrs A. Johnston, Mr G. McCaw, Mr M. 

Cowie, Mr A. Keen and Dr M. Furlong), left 

Columba at 6.30a.m. on Sunday, 29th April and 

returned early in the evening on Wednesday, 

2nd May, having crossed paths with the second 

group at West Arm on the far side of Lake 

Manapouri. The second group, led by Mrs 

West, with Mr Mains and Miss Kerr and parents 

(Mrs J. Alloo, Mrs L. Duckett, Mrs M. Noone, 

Mrs H. Newton and Dr D. Barker), returned to 

Columba in the evening on Saturday, 5th May. 

Two Tutors from Adventure Southland, Emily 

and Darren, attended both camps and were 

invaluable in organising and supervising the 

outdoor programme as well as the evening 

activities. John Carter, now a Nature Guide with 

“Real Journeys”, also volunteered an evening to 

give the girls at each camp an insight into the 

ecology of the area. 

We were very lucky with the weather for the 

entire week and were able to carry out all the 

activities as planned. These included a visit to 

the Manapouri underground power station, 

tramps and bush walks, a stream study 

assessment task to be banked for NCEA Level 

1, night walks, team-building activities, fishing 

and a cruise on Doubtful Sound, during which 

both groups were treated to a spectacular 

display by the pod of sixty dolphins which live in 

the Sound. Girls also made good use of their 

art packs to sketch the stunning scenery. 

Both camps were very successful and we 

commend all the Year 10 girls on their 

enthusiasm, courtesy and willingness to 

participate in all activities. They were a 

pleasure to be with and seemed to genuinely 

appreciate the opportunity to spend a few 

days in this remote, pristine area. We are 

also very grateful to the parents who gave 

their time to join us and without whose help it 

would not be possible to run such camps. 

The final word should go to Ava Atkinson- 

Barclay whose poem, written on the back 

cover of her sketch pad, captures the 

essence of the camp. 

Jenness Riethmaier 

Teacher in Charge of the Year 10 Camp 

As we drive away from here, 

This place where worlds met, 

We’ll chat and talk and laugh about 

Those things we will forget. 

Fishing, walking, playing cards; 

Tramping, even when ‘twas real hard; 

Drawing and doing stream study; 

Getting wet and dirty. 

Remember when, in the cold, we walked, 

And even when told off, we talked and talked; 

So much to say, so much to share. 

But there’ll be no urgency once we leave here. 

The simple fact’s not hard to figure – 

Without the hostel, without the rigour 

We drift apart, segregate 

To only our closest friends we relate. 

But right now, we’re having fun. 

We’ll sit down and talk to anyone. 

We don’t stare ‘cos we don’t care. 

Birds and laughter all we hear. 

We’re out walking in single file 

Butter chicken could be a while 

But Ms Riethmaier’s working the stove- 

We are here, we’re in Deep Cove. 

Ava Atkinson-Barclay 



YEAR 10 CAMP 



JUMANJI 



1ST PLACE ON FRIDAY, 11TH MAY 



SCHOOL FAIR 



Fair Raffle Winners 

First Prize 

Return Airfares for two adults on 

Air New Zealand to Auckland and 

two nights’ accommodation (Value 

$1,516) - Dr L. Davis and Ms F. 

McCaffrey. 

Second Prize 

Voucher for Family Portrait Sitting 

with a framed print, courtesy of 

Kelk Photography (Value $350) - 

Ngaire Weir. 

Third Prize 

Buro Office Chair, courtesy of 

Metalon Products (Value $180) - 

Jenni Redding. 

Other Prizes won: 

� $150 vehicle grooming voucher 

from Cooke Howlison Toyota - 

Doug and Jeanine Brown. 

� $100 food hamper from Pak'n 

Save - Karen MacLeod. 

� $50 garden voucher from The 

Red Barn - Sandra Kingsbury- 

Smith 

� $30 meal voucher, Zucchini 

Brothers - Mr & Mrs J.C. Elsom. 

Many thanks to all who supported 

the School through the raffle and a 

special “thank you” to all the 

businesses that donated such 

wonderful prizes! 



SCHOOL FAIR 

Grand Final Total of $30,070.00 

Congratulations to Mrs J. Morshuis, Committee Members and all the willing helpers and supporters 

on another great result – a total profit of $30,070.00. 

For your interest, the proceeds from stalls are recorded here. 

Tombola 3,385.00 

Raffles 4,681.50 

Plants 662.50 

Pikelets 201.00 

Pony Rides 124.00 

Toys 1,381.10 

Caterpiller 88.50 

Baby Photographs 113.00 

Candy Floss 385.00 

Coin Throw 60.60 

Sand Treasure Hunt 88.60 

Sausage sizzle 300.00 

Wooden Dolls 30.00 

BBQ 544.70 

Books 1,796.60 

Cake 582.20 

Clothing 1,215.10 

Coffee Shop 1,216.80 

Dutch Auction 5,978.60 

Ethnic Food 1,535.40 

Elegant Junk 1,284.50 

Hotdogs 408.00 

Meat 2,115.00 

Msytery Bottles 358.00 

Produce 793.20 

Sweets 1,122.30 

7Hn 147.90 

Stick in Sand 110.10 

Magnetic Lily Pad 247.50 

Jelly Dip 65.50 

Lucky Counters 141.10 

Balloons 100.00 

Darts 114.20 

Face Painting 71.00 

Teenage Silent Auction 199.50 

Face Painting 51.00 

The Parents’ Association Committee has yet to decide on all the projects to which it will allocate 

the Fair proceeds of $30.070.00. It has a meeting scheduled for the 11th June so more news will 

follow this meeting. 

2007 Columba College Parents’ Association 

President Pam Timms 

Vice-President Kate McMahon 

Junior Vice-President Margaret Caldwell 

Secretary Lorinda Barson-McLean 

Treasurer Mirani Keillor 

Representative on the Board of Govenors Angela Ireland 

Committee: 

Jennifer Anglin 

Karine Baker 

Mari-Anne Coughlin 

Nigel Dunstone 

Brita Fields 

Cathy Fitzsimmons 

Marion Hughes 

Jenny Guthrie 

Leanne Kennedy 

Karen MacLeod 

Gillian McFarlane 

Kevin Mechen 

Mandy Metzger 

Jackie Reith 

Murray Ross 

Marnie Scott 

Marie Thomson 

Wendy Turner 

Principal 

House Manager 



Congratulations to … 

Sophie and Edward O’Driscoll who are Choristers in the Knox Church Choir on attaining their 

Green Badge. Sophie is in Year 4 and Edward is in Year 6. 

Nicole Maley in Year 10 on being awarded a Bronze Medal at the Queensland State National 

Gymnastic Championships. It is noteworthy that this was Nicole’s first competition at the beginning 

of the New Zealand season, whereas for Australian competitors the Queensland Nationals occur at 

the end of season. 

Anna Bayley, Anna Fields, Kimberley Ohren, Sophia van der Zande and Jenna Weir on 

recently gaining St. John Certificates for Workplace First Aid. 

St. John First Aid CPR Training Certificates 

The following students are to be commended on gaining the above qualification: 

Pink Asvasirayothin 

Zoe Brook 

May Chongklonvanont 

Amy Chu 

Nicola Crawford 

Kate Edgar 

Samantha Faulks 

Tori Hall 

Christina Heye 

Naomi Ireland 

Pam Laoroekutai 

Hazel Loughrey 

Alyse McDonald 

Alice Marsh 

Charlotte O'Leary 

GuanYun Qi 

Madeleine Reith 

Georgia Smith 

Yi Ling Tran 

Alice Waterman 

Ashleigh Willis 

Jones Motoring Car Clinic 

Tuesday, 5th June from 1.00 p.m. to 1.30 p.m. 

The above car clinic will be held at Columba College, is free and will run for 

approximately 30 minutes. Each participating student will receive a gift pack 

containing ACC information and a car clinic manual. 

The clinic is open to 10 girls in Years 12 and 13. If the clinic is over-subscribed, a 

further one will be offered. 

The clinic will focus on teaching students how to change a wheel, check oil levels, tyre 

pressures and how to care for paintwork. There will be an emphasis on safety, and 

ACC hand-out material will also be addressed. 

Jones Motoring of Kaikorai Valley Road has organised the clinic. 

Girls wishing to register for the clinic are to put their names on the list in the School 

Office. 



Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal 

An acknowledgement of the Year 9 girls who collected in Roslyn Village for the Salvation 

Army’s National Appeal … 

Melissa-Jane Austen 

Anna Blair 

Sophie Borland 

Srisakun Chittapraneerat 

Penelope Couper 

Jessie de la Roche 

Shannon Edgar 

Sophie Ehlers 

Lauren Elsom 

Charlotte Foster 

Dannielle Hall 

Julia Hunt 

Lucy Hunter 

Jasmin Johnston 

Olivia Kennedy 

Helen Kent 

Aimee King 

Gigi Mogil 

Laura Nailard 

2007 Youth Environment Forum 

Sophie Napper 

Fiona Nicoll 

Laura Paul 

Melanie Redding 

Laura Schep 

Caroline Strack 

Ruth Sun 

Miranda Waterworth 

Flavia Wilson 

Nominations for this year’s Youth Environment Forum are now open to young 

people with a keen interest in the environment. 

Approximately 45 delegates aged 16-18 from around the country will attend the 

forum in Wellington from 1st – 5th July. They will spend a week participating in 

community projects, voicing their opinion on environmental issues and learning 

first hand about environmental management. 

The forum is hosted by the Ministry for the Environment in partnership with the Sir 

Peter Blake Trust. It will be a great opportunity to meet and spend time with other 

like-minded young environmentalists. Programmes on a variety of themes will 

involve workshops, field-trips and other activities. 

Students with a demonstrable interest in the environment who would like to attend 

the forum should apply in writing by 8th June to Mr Peter Taylor at the Otago 

Regional Council, Private Bag 1954, Dunedin. Telephone (03) 474 0827 or 

facsimile (03) 479 0015. 

For more information about the forum and the Sir Peter Blake Trust see: 

www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/youth 

www.sirpeterblaketrust.org 



2007 Winter Sports Captains 

Basketball 

Paula Roydhouse 

Netball and Skiing 

Lucinda McMeeken 

SPORTS NEWS 

Cross Country 

Jessica Shields 

2007 Otago/Southland Secondary Schools’ Cross Country 

Soccer 

Rebecca Walker 

Hockey 

Sarah Aitken 

Our Senior team of Deborah Lambie, Chloe Lassman, Jessica Shields and Jenna Weir was placed 

2nd in the Senior Girls’ teams’ event. 

A 6th place in the Junior Girls teams’ event was gained by our Junior team, comprising Melissa- 

Jane Austen, Hannah Cowie, Shannon Edgar and Sophie Napper. 

2007 Otago/Southland Secondary Schools’ Duathlon Championships 

Mrs J. McMahon, Teacher in Charge of Duathlon and Triathlon, took a group of girls to compete in 

the above Duathlon on the 23rd May. Pleasing results were gained. 

Junior Girls 1st Place Shannon Edgar 

3rd Place Renée Hodgkinson 

Senior Girls 7th Place Charlotte O’Leary 

Junior Teams 2nd Place Jessica Barton and Stephanie Lambie 

Intermediate Teams 2nd Place Naomi Ireland and Sophie Napper 

Senior Teams 4th Place Kate Edgar and Deborah Lambie 

5th Place Jessica Shields and Anna Wilson 

10th Place Bridget Roulston and Madeleine Reith 



2007 Otago Primary and Secondary Schools’ Swimming Championships 

Girls’ Events (Finals) 

11 Year Olds 50 LC M Freestyle 2nd Megan Summers 32.33 

Women 12 & Over 50 LC M Freestyle 3rd Emily Poon 31.49 

11 Year Olds 50 LC M Backstroke 1st Megan Summers 39.60 

2nd Olivia Dodds 39.71 

Women 12 & Over 50 LC M Backstroke 1st Emily Poon 36.56 

11 Year Olds 50 LC M Breaststroke 2nd Megan Summers 45.06 

Women 12 & Over LC M Breaststroke 2nd Emily Poon 40.43 

11 Year Olds 200 LC M Freestyle Relay 1st Columba College 2:22.42 

Olivia Dodds, Megan Summers, Mikaela Tyrrell, 

Charlotte Williams 

Mixed 200 LC M Medley Relay 2nd Columba College 2:37.07 

Olivia Dodds, Kimberley Martyn, Emily Poon, 

Megan Summers 

Mixed 200 LC M Freestyle Relay 1st Columba College 2:16.20 

Olivia Dodds, Kimberley Martyn, Emily Poon, 

Megan Summers 

Girls 200 LC M Freestyle Relay 3rd Columba College 2:14.88 

Zoe Cadzow, Renée Hodgkinson, Nicole Martyn, 

Olivia Rorison 

Girls LC M Medley Relay 3rd Columba College 2:37.26 

Zoe Cadzow, Renée Hodgkinson, Nicole Martyn, 

Olivia Rorison 

Boys’ Events (Finals) 

9 & Under 50 LC M Freestyle 1st Ronald Poon 33.16 Record 

9 & Under 50 LC M Backstroke 1st Ronald Poon 39.62 Record 

10 & Under 50 LC M Breaststroke 1st Ronald Poon 46.58 

With good wishes to you all for a relaxing Queen’s Birthday Weekend, 

Yours sincerely, 

Elizabeth Wilson 

Principal 

30th May, 2007 

Water Buffalo and Cart Project for Myanmar 

Thanks to the generosity of students (Years 1 to 13) and staff a total of 

$1,144.00 was raised to buy a pair of water buffalo and a cart (cost $800.00) for 

the special project of the Moderator of the General Assembly of the 

Presbyterian Church Aotearoa New Zealand, The Right Reverend Pamela 

Tankersley. The balance of the money raised has also been sent to Myanmar 

through the Global Mission Office to help with the purchase of another water 

buffalo, cart or basic office equipment for the Zo Synod Office.

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER - Columba College

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?