COVER

Rangi NewsOCTOBER 2013

The Cultural Concert Samoa | Cycling

Cover info:Dance Company, directed by Hannah Clarkson performing Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend at the Cultural Concert. More pictures on back cover.

3 Leadership

3 News from the Principal

6 Chaplain’s Column

7 Year 13 Samoa Trip

8 Project Blue Sky

9 Around Rangi

9 Boarding House News

10 GATE Coordinators Desk

13 News from Year 7 & 8

16 Outward Bound 18 From the Director of Theatre Arts

20 From the Director of Music

24 Sport

24 Cycling 26 Equestrian 28 Orienteering

29 Community

29 From the Community Relations Coordinator

30 Celebrating Past Students

32 Early Childhood College

32 Preschool News

33 Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association

36 The Cultural Concert

CONTENTS

3

16 20

28 36

COVER

Rangi NewsOCTOBER 2013

The Cultural Concert Samoa | Cycling

Lesley Anderson 1918 - 2013Headmistress, 1969-72

We were sad to learn of the death of past Principal Lesley

Anderson on 16 September 2013 in Taupo. She was in her

95th year.

Miss Anderson headed Rangi Ruru from 1969 to 1972,

at which time she left to care for her ailing father. She was

a small woman with a no-nonsense manner, who set in

motion a great deal of change at the school. This included

dropping the word ‘Presbyterian’ from the school’s name,

rearranging the curriculum, instituting the Founders’ Day service, introducing meet

the teacher evenings, opening a canteen and adding a great emphasis on joining

clubs to broaden the girls’ education. Miss Anderson was also an accomplished

musician and foundation member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

www.rangiruru.school.nz

7

3www.rangiruru.school.nz

News from the PrincipalEducation goes through phases and

suddenly certain terms or ideas become

‘flavour of the month’, some to the degree

of becoming clichéd, some fading into

oblivion after an initial hiss and a roar

and others proving to have substance

and becoming part of what we do. Some

of these have their genesis in overseas

ideas, some are political, some are

financial and some come about as a

result of good New Zealand educational

research.

Some of the ideas that have faded

have been bulk funding, open plan

classrooms, liberal studies. Some that

have proved themselves and have

morphed into standard policy or

procedures are tomorrow’s schools,

achievement based assessment and

inquiry learning. And of course now

we have the ubiquitous ‘21st century

learning’.

In his book ‘Our Secondary Schools

Don’t Work Anymore”, published in

1998, David Hood looked at what would

be required for schools in the then

next century and wrote “Schools must

become learner centred, not timetable or

teacher or class centred, but centred on

each individual’s learning needs, talents

and aspirations for the future. ….. shifting

traditional concepts of ownership and

dependency away from the system, the

school and teachers to the learner”.

This is something I have touched on

before, but when I go back to Hood’s

book, now 15 years on, I am always

impressed at the relevance and foresight

he showed but also slightly depressed

that it has taken New Zealand so long to

move in the direction he outlines. The

New Zealand Curriculum, which came

into being in 2007, reflects strongly

Hood’s beliefs and is very much centred

on the needs of young people. If you

haven’t read it I urge you to have a look at

nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz.

Student centred learning is a huge

concept and at the very heart of it is

something much more specific, and

which you will increasingly be hearing

about – personalised learning. Actually I

prefer the idea of personalising learning

as the use of a verb, and thus action,

seems more appropriate. The idea of

personalising learning is at the heart

of our philosophy at Rangi Ruru and is

reflected in our strategic framework.

Impressive sounding words are all

very well but they have to be translated

into something tangible, so what does

personalising learning look like?

Maybe I need to start with what

personalising learning is not. It is not

about every girl being able to do what

she wants when she wants. A school is

still a community and it still has to have a

framework in order to operate effectively

for everyone. It does not mean that you

can tailor a course that in the end will be

of no transferable value to you. It is not

about tailoring every lesson to always suit

the individual learning needs of everyone

in the class. It’s not about changing

the rules of deadlines, assignment

requirements, and course attendance.

What it is about is knowing every girl

and what her strengths are. It is about

4 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

having classes small enough for teachers

to engage one to one on a regular

basis. It’s about offering options within

a course; it’s about, where appropriate,

arranging a course that might include

multi levelling or using outside providers;

it’s about creating a learning environment

where, within the existing framework

there is sufficient flexibility for girls to

have choice. Above all it is about girls

feeling they are involved in determining

their own learning, in having the

opportunity to be part of the design of

their course.

This requires change. It is a different

way of working, it requires different

planning and operating, it requires a shift

in emphasis. It requires staff to guide, to

facilitate, to teach, but also to stand back

a little.

One of the things that greatly

facilitates a move away from the

‘mass market’ approach is technology.

Technology saves us time (most of

the time!), it is not bound by time and

space, by the walls of a classroom, and

thus it allows girls to learn, to explore

and to collaborate anytime, anywhere

– provided they have the framework.

Technology also allows girls to take

greater responsibility for their own

learning, which is an integral part of

personalising learning.

This year our teaching staff have

spent time on Tuesday mornings

specifically looking at the use of

technology to enhance their ability to

personalise learning for the

girls. This has been known

as ICE time, from our Inspire,

Challenge and Empower

vision, and while staff were

learning there was a very

valuable time for girls to work

with form seniors and in clans.

We are under no illusions

that we have a long way to

go in really personalising the

teaching and learning for our

students, and we are always

mindful that change should

enhance the learning and the

learning outcomes. Down

the track we do need to look

at the timetable, which is a

barrier to some of the things

we would like to achieve, but

we feel people have had to

deal with a lot change over the

last two years, and with new

spaces coming into being next

year, timetable changes might

just be a bit much. Within our

existing structures, however,

some exciting things have

been happening which enable girls to

take more responsibility for their courses

and their learning.

Some staff have been creating

instructional videos on YouTube

and specifically targeted learning

programmes for Scholarship students.

Some give these out through QR codes

for easy accessibility on smartphones.

Some courses, such as Media

and English, are offering a ‘menu’ of

achievement standards within one class

from which girls can choose and design

their own course, depending on strengths,

interests and future plans. In Year 13

Physics students choose to do Medical

Imaging (Internal) or Electricity (External).

Across year levels students are

increasingly able to track their own

FROM THE PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP

2626 RANGI RURU GIRLS’ SCHOOL GIBSON CENTRE CONCEPT SEPTEMBER 20123

VIEW OF GIBSON CENTREFROM TE KORAHA

| Annual Appeal 2013

Support Rangi Ruru’s scholarships and 125th celebrations by completing and returning the enclosed 2013 Annual Appeal Brochure

Where learning happens: A Year 13 Economics class building a giant jigsaw.

5www.rangiruru.school.nz

FROM THE PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP

progress, including using visual records

such as photos and movie clips of their

learning.

In some areas students can choose

how they present something – the day

of the essay is far from over but there are

other ways to show learning, just as there

are ways to learn other than sitting at a

desk in a classroom.

In the end it’s about knowing the

learner and her needs and endeavouring

to maximise her experience – and not

only in the classroom but beyond.

Personalising is about all aspects of a

student, all her activities. Schools need to

have a ‘whole view’ of a student, pulling

together the understanding all those

who are involved with a girl may have

of her. Thus we are able to see the big

picture and this is vital if we are to really

personalise the Rangi experience for

her. This is a tall order and one in which

tutors and deans are important. This is

also where PDPs are vital.

This will continue to be a focus for us,

from both a curricula and a co-curricular

point of view. I have seen it operating

well in the past few weeks in the intense

conversations staff have been having

with girls about subject choice, and as we

attempt to create courses that are tailored

to the individual. This is one of the real

benefits of NCEA in that it is so flexible

we can do a ‘mix and match’ for girls for

whom the choices aren’t clear or easy.

Personalising learning isn’t a fad, it

isn’t something that will come and go. It

is research based; it has been around as

a concept for a long time and there are

schools, particularly overseas, that have

done a lot of work in this area. At Rangi

we will build on the strengths we have,

ensuring we don’t throw the baby out

with the bathwater, but at the same time

work to ‘recognise, value and develop the

capabilities of each girl’, to quote the first

of our strategic goals.

Julie MoorPrincipal

I am always humbled by the way Rangi

Ruru embraces its past and recognises

its achievements. Reflecting on the

important role that Te Ao Maori (the

Maori world) plays in the school’s

history it is only fitting that it has its own

korowai.

‘Korowai’ (feathered cloak) is a

highly prized traditional Maori garment,

regarded as a family heirloom, and is an

enduring gift to the school and staff of

Rangi Ruru.

This korowai was commissioned

for the school to be worn at significant

ceremonial occasions such as the

opening of new buildings, the end of year

prizegiving or other celebratory events.

Though traditionally worn by the leader

(in our case, the Principal), it is a gift to

the school and as such it may be worn

by all staff. If a staff member, for example,

graduates with a new tohu (a Master’s

degree, PhD etc) they would be welcome

to wear the korowai at their capping.

The design of the korowai speaks to

the Rangi Ruru papakainga (home base).

The connection to the surrounding

hills, rivers and the sea is significant

as it cements the school’s place in the

community and Canterbury. Maori

legend says that the Maori Chief Tamatea

Pokai-Whenua went to the top of the

surrounding hills and prayed that Ngā

Atua (the Gods) would grant his people

fire as they were constantly ill from the

freezing temperatures and it is from here

that the korowai design begins.

The individual green feathers which

line the top of the korowai recognise

Ngā Kohatu Whakatekateka o Tamatea

Pokai Whenua (the smouldering boulders

of Tamatea Pokai-Whenua) and Ngā

Ngahere (the bush or forest areas) which

sporadically appear.

The brown feathers then start to

descend from the top representing

the tussock covered hills around

Christchurch including Horomaka (the

Port Hills) which eventually meet Te

Patiki Whakatekateka o Waitaha (the

Canterbury Plains) and the lower areas.

Mixed in amongst the shimmering

green feathers are blue feathers which

remind us of the food resources Ngai

Tahu depended on from the rivers, the

sea and bush. We are reminded of the

importance of these resources in a

whakatauaki (Maori proverb) often used

at Rangi Ruru “Ki te manu e kai ana i te

miro nōna te ngahere. Ki te manu e kai

ana i te matauraka, nona te Āo” (To the

bird who feeds off the miro berry, the

forest is hers. To the bird who feeds off

education, the world is hers).

Rangi Ruru Tū Tonu

Maaka KahukuranuiKaiako Maori (Maori Teacher)

Principal Julie Moor wearing Te Korowai o Rangi Ruru

Te Korowai o Rangi Ruru

Te Korowai o Rangi Ruru

6 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Iona

A sojourn on the Isle of Iona in Scotland

working as a volunteer for the Iona

Community sounded like a good way to

spend a sabbatical. It was....every single

moment. Sadly, it has been shortened by

family illness, which recently called me

home. Iona weaves its way around the

heart however, and calls people back.

Containing some of the oldest geological

rock formations on the planet it has an

ancient spirit which has no doubt inspired

many groups of people who washed

up on its shores over the aeons of time.

Notably it is a pilgrimage site because of

Columba, who sailed from Ireland and

set up a community of Christian monks

on the island in 563AD. The large abbey

complex fell into ruin after the monks

were killed by Vikings in the 8th Century,

then was rebuilt in the 12th Century by

Benedictine monks. With the dissolution

of the monasteries in Britain under Henry

VIII, the abbey once more fell into ruin

until the Duke of Argyll bequeathed the

isle to the people of Scotland. In 1938,

the Rev George MacLeod developed a

vision of rebuilding the abbey, as a sign

of hope and rebuilding of community in

urban Scotland. This project became part

of the training of ministers in building

community. Thus was born the Iona

Community. In its modern form it is a

dispersed community of members and

associates reflecting and praying for peace

and justice.

The abbey is now under the care of

Historic Scotland but the Iona community

leases the kitchen and guest rooms,

maintains abbey worship, as well as

owning the McLeod Centre, another

guest house. Each year a residential group

plus a rotating volunteer group live and

work on the island providing a ministry

of hospitality to guests who arrive every

Saturday afternoon and leave each Friday

morning. Daily 9am and 9pm abbey

services provide a structure around which

key note speakers, activities and children’s

programmes are organised. There is also

an outdoor centre called Camas on the

island of Mull, where volunteers work

for the whole season with a range of

young people, schools and people from

disadvantaged backgrounds. As a volunteer

it is richly rewarding to mix with a large

variety of people from all over the world

who come to Iona for rest, refreshment,

renewal or simply for family time.

My particular role was to work in the

community gift and book shop. Not only

was I dealing with guests but with the

thousands of day trippers to the island,

again from all over the world. At times

extremely busy, it was always fun and I

gained the big picture of life on Iona during

the season.

In the small amounts of recreational

time I walked the island, shared in the

community life of the volunteers and

residents and enjoyed making new

friendships. Whilst there were a number

of older volunteers, many young UK and

European people volunteer during their

college vacation or post degrees. They

work very hard and shoulder responsibility

by supporting one another warmly and

honestly. It reminds me of the World

Challenge process some of our students

at Rangi Ruru go through and the way

in which the process and experience

empowers them to exercise leadership and

shoulder responsibility beyond what we

might ever expect. The world is in good

hands.

The experience of living in a

community is a reminder of “the ways in

which we learn by so much more than

cognitive and verbal reasoning” (Alison

Phipps). It is a reminder to us all in the

school community of how academic work

is only part of the experience of educating

citizens of the world. The strength of a

community experience such as is gained

at Iona, is that one mixes with a wide range

of people, again something to encourage

in education and school community

experiences.

Life on Iona was a very sensory

experience. Yes, full of people, a welcome

outward looking Christian ethos,

stimulating conversations but also full

of wind, rain, sun, sea, cloud, stones and

beaches, ferns and heather which made up

the ever-changing vistas of an isle seeped

in time. I am grateful for the opportunity I

have had to work there.

Extract from the Act of Prayer

- Iona Abbey Prayer BookI bring the faith that is in me and the doubtI bring the joy that is within me and the

sorrowI bring the hope that is in me and the

despair I bring the hurts that I carry and the hurts I

have caused.To join these faiths and doubts,Joys and sorrows, hopes and despairs,Hurts carried, hurts causedTo the faiths and doubts, joys, sorrowsHopes, despairs and hurts of my sisters and

brothers.

“...restore in me the joy of your liberationAnd sustain in me a willing spirit ....”

Yvonne Smith (Rev)Chaplain

CHAPLAIN’S COLUMN LEADERSHIP

Cloisters, Iona Abbey

7www.rangiruru.school.nz

YEAR 13 GLOBAL LIVING LEADERSHIP

On 4 July, nine nervous but excited

Year 13 girls set off for Samoa where we

were about to embark on a life changing

experience.

Brimming with anticipation for what

this trip had in store, we landed in Apia

and began our ten day adventure. To

indulge ourselves in a bit of the culture

before we fully immersed ourselves in

the villages of Savaii later on, we took

tours around a culture village and went

around the Robert Louis Stevenson

Museum. Slapping on the sunscreen and

learning to master the tying of sarongs,

we enjoyed learning the basics about

life in Samoa and prepared ourselves for

what the other island had waiting for us.

When we arrived in Savaii we

stayed in Tanu Beach Fales, beautiful

accommodation run by a beautiful

family where we watched culture shows

and were first introduced to breadfruit.

Different and interesting, we all liked to

try the different Samoan foods, from Taro

to Poulsami!

By now we had all adjusted to the

heat and were ready to take on the next

step of our adventure; the homestays. In

pairs we were placed in different Samoan

homes for four days where we ate, slept

and lived with our new Samoan families.

English was limited, but the learning was

vast. We learnt about the importance

of family and many of us realised that

our sheltered and privileged lives were

quite a contrast to those just four short

plane hours away; and we learnt that

everything in Samoa is done for a

purpose. It is wonderful to see a family

all work together and support each other,

from helping with the dishes to learning

a new card game, Samoans share and

encourage each other in a way that many

of us admired. We quickly learnt that it

was normal to be sleeping on a mat, and

luckily we had our mosquito repellent

with us, but we didn’t have anything for

the crowing roosters! Visiting church

with our families was also a huge

highlight, as it was inspiring to see

such a great congregation of people so

enthused and filled with love for God.

During the day we visited the

workplace of Women In Business

Development’s coconut oil. We tried

(our hardest!) to cut open coconuts and

dry them out before we squeezed their

oils out to be sold at the markets. It was

a great experience for us to learn about

work that was done by local Samoans,

and it was quite a contrast to our

supermarket jobs back at home.

Leaving behind cold water bucket

showers and an abundance of volcanic

rocks, we knew we were never going to

forget our new families and there were

many tears when we left. Although we

may be in a different time zone, country

and climate, we will never forget our

time in Samoa as we all learnt to look

outside ourselves and our lives and

immerse ourselves in another life that

has plenty to teach us.

Sarita Christensen Year 13

Making coconut oil for Women in Business Development

Samoa Trip

8 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Project Blue Sky

August and early September has seen a lot of activity on the site with three buildings now in various stages of construction as well as a site being prepared for a fourth.

The Science Centre on Hewitts Road

can be clearly seen with the panels for

the two storey structure erected. The

next stages will be craning the roof

into position and making the building

waterproof.

The Gibson Centre now has the roof

on and all the glass installed with work

proceeding towards the internal fit out.

The foundations for the General

Academic South together with the bridge

which links this building with Science

have all been poured and floor slab

construction is due to start.

The new Music and Performing Arts

Centre which will be situated on Merivale

Lane, is in the final stages of design.

The site has been cleared and work will

commence once final plans are agreed.

The furniture and fittings for these

buildings take a lot of planning and the

school has been heavily engaged in

ensuring the right outcome is achieved.

To view our live feed of the build go

to: building.rangiruru.school.nz

The Gibson Centre taking shape with its roof on and glass installed.

Stewart BarnettProject Manager

PROJECT BLUE SKY

9www.rangiruru.school.nz

Westfield Riccarton, Northlands, The Hub Hornby & The Palms www.silvermoon.co.nz

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Simply beautiful

Around Rangi

Boarding House NewsDuring this term Mrs Cherryn Inteman

has retired. After nine years at Rangi

Ruru she will be missed, especially by

those girls who remain in the House

for most weekends. Weekends will

not be the same without her. Senior

girls in particular have appreciated her

willingness to share the skill of walking

in heels! Along with the contribution

she made to boarding at Rangi Ruru,

for quite a number of years her work

as Conference Liaison Officer helped

to make the holiday hiring run very

smoothly.

Mrs Inteman has decided to move

north to Foxton Beach, where along with

the opportunity to spend time walking

along the beach, she will be near to one

of her sisters. We wish her well.

Term 3 is concert time and this

year’s concert provided us with the

usual showcase of hidden talents. With

22 items, including the annual staff

contribution, the audience was treated

to an evening of fun and enjoyment. The

gold coin entry has enabled us to make

a donation of over $220 to our chosen

charity, Cholmondeley Children’s Home.

The practice exams have given our

girls an insight into what to expect for

the NCEA externals in November and

reminded them just what they need to

work on. It is great to see them working

so hard at their study while keeping

a balance to their lives over the exam

period.

Jude ConnochieDirector of

Boarding

10 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Scholarship Winners2014 Entrance Scholarships

YEAR 7

Academic

Madison Cooper Paparoa Street School

Kareena Singh Elmwood Normal School

Lauren Smith Cashmere Primary School

Rangi Ruru Old Girls’ Association

Years 7 & 8 Academic Scholarship

Emma Faulkner The Cathedral Grammar School

YEAR 9

Academic

Emilie Aitken Heaton Normal Intermediate

Ruby Blake-Manson Cashmere Primary School

Abby Croot Selwyn House School

Emma Cushing The Cathedral Grammar School

Hannah Davies Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

Vera Goesmann St Andrew’s College

Eleanor Lester Westburn School

Clementine Rose The Cathedral Grammar School

Danielle Rutter Casebrook Intermediate

Karishma Singh Heaton Normal Intermediate

Juliette Ward Selwyn House School

Yang Kun Xiang Cobham Intermediate

Music

Yuna Chon St Margaret’s College

Rebecca Harris The Cathedral Grammar School

Eugene In St Margaret’s College

Rangi Ruru All Round Boarding Scholarship

and an Academic Scholarship

Suzanna Davis Selwyn House School

Nancy S.B. McMillan Boarding Scholarship

and an Academic Scholarship

Samantha Ensor Selwyn House School

Rangi Ruru All Round Boarding Scholarship

Jemima Bell Rangi Ruru Girls’ School

Rangi Ruru All Round

Gabby Dodd-Terrell Cobham Intermediate

Maddy Finch The Cathedral Grammar School

Kasey McGrath Heaton Normal Intermediate

Abby Spencer Cobham Intermediate

Across the GATE Coordinator’s DeskThe school GATE community has been busy this term

and involved in a number of exciting activities which the

students have reported on below. The Philosophy Club

have been to a café style conversation evening to discuss

aspects of power in the world and Jay Sloss also ran a film

evening to promote debate and analysis.

For the first time we had students attend a forensic

camp which proved to be a great success and we had

success at New Zealand Model United Nations with one of

our students being selected to the The Hague International

Model United Nations in December.

It is wonderful to see students involve themselves fully

in a variety of activities and I am pleased to see the degree

of risk taking which goes on as this can sometimes be an

area of difficulty for highly able students.

‘Perfectionism’ can be a problem for students and I have

experienced this myself over the years when I have taught

high ability English classes. Many highly able students go

several years without the experience of making a mistake.

Being perfect, right and smart easily becomes part of their

persona - who they are expected to be and sometimes,

their fear of a less than perfect performance can prevent

them from performing at all.

Classroom teachers, family and friends can help to

moderate this behaviour by praising good thinking and

risk taking as well as a final product which represents these

qualities. You can discuss successful people who have

made mistakes and experienced failure. You may discuss

how failure

affected these

people – was it

their inspiration?

It is also useful

to model the

ability to laugh at

yourself and your

own mistakes.

AROUND RANGI

Petra DyerGate Coordinator

11www.rangiruru.school.nz

AROUND RANGI

New Zealand Model United Nations

On 4 July, I departed from Christchurch

with Madison Hughes, Juliet Bruce and

Ms Dyer for the NZ Model United Nations

in Wellington. We were three very

excited young adults but on the plane

we stressed about the resolution and

commented on the interesting flavour

of Cassava chips. The conference was

starting the next day and we could only

distract ourselves by focusing on the

frivolous. We stayed in a hotel off Cuba

Street, which was a short commute to

Victoria University.

On the first day we all congregated

at the University, after losing our way

slightly, and then travelled all round

Wellington in the Amazing Race getting

to know some of the other delegates. We

were absolutely exhausted by the time

it came to the Opening Ceremony in

Parliament by Phil Goff. The second day

of the conference was thrilling! Juliet

represented Togo, Madison, United Arab

Emirates and I represented Lithuania. I

debated many issues including refugee

repatriation and the accessibility to

technology, representing the views and

values of Lithuania. That night we went

to our regional grouping dinners and

being in Eastern Europe, we went to

Istanbul, which served delicious Turkish

food.

During the second day of the

conference we had our last committee

session, mine being biodiversity loss;

then we had a think tank with our

regional groups. We were assigned one

of the sustainable development goals

which will succeed the millennium

development goals which end in

2015. These are primarily to focus on

quality of life, literacy rates, disease and

equality.

My group was assigned ‘how to

decrease child mortality’. We designed

oral rehydration syrups, which would

help children with extreme dehydration

who were going to die from diarrhoea

and other sicknesses. We looked at how

this was going to work on a practical

scale, how we would get funding and

other dynamics. The highlight of Sunday

was the ball where delicious food was

served.

The last day of the conference

was the plenary, which was actually

a resolution about the sustainable

development goals. Many changes were

made to the resolution to ensure the

best possible outcome for each country.

After the plenary, it was announced

whose group won the best solution to

their sustainable development goals.

My group, which consisted of students

mainly from Canterbury won, which

was absolutely fantastic. We were very

proud of each other. Another exciting

announcement of the last day was

The Hague International Model United

Nations Delegates for 2014; this is a

delegation of 22 high school students

from all over New Zealand. I was one of

the very lucky people to be chosen for

this. We travel through Europe and go

to the Netherlands for the conference,

which will be held in January. After a

long day, filled with networking and

yawns we finally left to go to the airport

and back home. We were barely awake

by the time we got home, though we

were still buzzing from the adrenaline

from the whole conference. We had a

fantastic time and I suggest everyone

should go to United Nations Youth

Events; it is a great opportunity!

Grace Collett Year 12

After a hectic and challenging day of arguing, Juliet Bruce, Grace Collett and Madison Hughes are beautifully dressed for the New Zealand Model United Nations ball

240 delegates for the New Zealand Model United Nations outside Victoria University

Kristen College Forensic Camp

One of the most frequently asked

questions when I come back to school is

“What did you do in the school holidays?”

The expected replies are, “I went away

to … and it was lots of fun!” or “nothing,

I just stayed at home.” However when

I was asked, “What did you do in the

school holidays?” I replied, “Oh nothing,

just went to Auckland to solve a brutal

murder.” Like my friends, you are likely

confused. I will explain. Every year in

Auckland Years 7-10 students are offered

the chance to paticipate in a school

forensics camp. The ‘detectives’ have

to solve cases by using reports and

information just like the police do. Even

though it was from 8:30am to 8:30pm it

wasn’t exhausting because we played

lots of games and fingerprint specialists

and lawyers came to talk to us about

their job. At the end of the week, a court

case was held and we had to either

defend or prosecute the suspect. It was

amazing and I highly recommend this

camp to anyone from Years 7-10.

Francesca Logan Year 10

The Canterbury Interschool Chess Competition 7 August

The Chess Club had an enjoyable day

out at Selwyn House, playing ten games

of chess with short breaks for morning

tea and lunch. The B team, comprised

of Clare Lin, Amy Huang, Grace Collett

and Madi Hughes won third place. The

results were close and the Rangi teams

acquitted themselves with integrity and

good sportsmanship. It was rewarding

to see the senior students take

responsibility for the junior girls and to

witness the leadership skills that our girls

so naturally display. I was a very proud

teacher in charge. Petra Dyer

12 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

AROUND RANGI

DNA Profiling Visit

On 8 August, 20 Year 11 students and

Mrs Dyer set off to the University of

Canterbury for the afternoon. We

were to participate in a one and a half

hour session about DNA profiling.

To introduce us to the idea, we first

made some models of a DNA strand.

We created the distinct ‘double helix’

using marshmallows, toothpicks and

liquorice. However, to everyone’s

disappointment, we weren’t allowed to

eat it. After that, we all watched as Mrs

Gladwyn (lecturer) created a simple

mixture from which we would extract

DNA. Mrs Gladwyn created ‘pea soup’

from peas, water and detergent. We

then put this mixture in a test tube

with meat tenderiser (an enzyme) and

alcohol. After mixing it around gently,

we were all delighted to discover

we had extracted the DNA from the

peas. After putting the pea DNA in a

container to take home we got into the

real deal of DNA profiling. We were all

taught how to correctly use the micro-

pipettes and practised moving water

from one place to another. Then, in

pairs, we were given four sets of DNA;

one from a ‘crime scene’ and three

suspects of the crime. It was our job

to work out who did it. To do this we

used the micro-pipettes to transfer the

DNA to a container, which contained

a thin layer of gel electrophoresis. We

put this container into a machine for

ten minutes. The machine ran positive

electrodes through the bottom of the

container, which attracted the strands of

DNA. However, the gel prevented some

of the DNA from reaching the other

side, causing bands to appear where

some DNA had stuck. By comparing

the crime scene DNA with the suspects’

DNA, we were able to accurately guess

who had committed the ‘crime’. It was

an incredible experience for all of us to

learn about how DNA profiling is used

in so many different careers and also a

little bit of how it’s done.

Becky Payne Year 11

Philosophy Club

Café Philosophy Evening, 27 May at UnlimitedA delightful evening of Philosophy was

held with students from St Andrew’s

College, Christ’s College, St Thomas’,

Hagley Community College and

Unlimited. The moot was “Are the rich

obliged to help the poor? Redistributing

income (taxation). Is Taxation theft (by

the Government)?”

We also discussed the Libertarian

philosopher, Robert Nozick who argues

that we have certain fundamental

rights that cannot be overridden by the

government. The groups critiqued this

proposition and discussed the right to

an individual’s own labour considering:

Who owns me? Am I owner/proprietor of

my own person? Should the Government

be entitled to (some of) the fruits of my

labour? If I don’t have the sole right to

my own labour, does it follow that the

Government is a part owner of me? If so,

am I a slave, since I do not own myself?

Pizza, Philosophy and Film Evening: 2 July

The Philosophy Club held a pizza and

film evening in early July where they had

a critical discussion of the film Bernie

(2011) starring Jack Black.

The film is based on the 1996 murder

of 81 year old millionaire Marjorie

Nugent in Carthage, Texas by her 39 year

old companion Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede.

Tiede murders Nugent after growing

weary of the emotional toll of her

possessiveness, persistent nagging and

non-stop putdowns.

The girls were presented with some

challenging and thought provoking

questions including: Is Bernie Tiede

guilty of murder? Manslaughter? Or is

he innocent? Do you think Bernie was

provoked? Can you make someone

lose control of themselves? Was this a

crime of passion? The purpose of this

discussion was to encourage the girls to

look at what motivates people and can

they truly be judged for their actions

based only on a one-sided account of the

outcome?

Jay Sloss Teacher in charge

Becky Wilson, Suyoun Jung and Geeny Moon

Future Problem Solving

The Year 7 and Year 9 Future Problem

Solving girls are frantically learning

facts about Megacities which is the

topic this term and are predicting

potential problems in the future.

The girls had their two hour ‘lock-

up’ on Monday 16 September. They

were given a future scenario and were

required to solve the problems as a

team using the six step process.

This is their first time at future

problem solving for most of the Year 7

girls and some of Year 9. The booklets

were sent away and marked to work

out the National Finalists.

Rebecca Allen Teacher in charge

Did you know you can receive Rangi News by email?If you would like to change the way you receive your copy of Rangi News contact us at office@rangiruru.school.nz

13www.rangiruru.school.nz

AROUND RANGI

News from Years 7 & 8

Years 7 and 8 Kapa Haka group take the stage at the Rangi Ruru Cultural Concert

Gyda Heidtke and Alice Newbold at Ferrymead Heritage ParkGirls taking part in a lesson at Ferrymead Heritage Park

Learning is alive and well Term 3 has gone by in a flash with the

girls involved in numerous experiences

and events. The Years 7 and 8 Kapa Haka

group were invited to perform for the first

time at the Rangi Cultural Concert. This is

an indication of the very high level of skill

they have attained. It was an impressive

performance and one which resulted in a

great sense of pride and achievement.

Our current unit in Social Science has

been around Early New Zealand history,

with a particular focus on the 1860’s and

the life of the Central Otago gold miners.

To ensure the learning is authentic, we

visited Ferrymead Heritage Park, where

the girls experienced what it was truly

like to live in that era. As with all good

inquiry units, the learners were able to

lead the learning by their natural interest

and we noted a strong interest in the

early Canterbury settlers. The girls were

praised by the Ferrymead staff for their

considered questions and reflections.

Student Curriculum CommitteeAs part of continuing Curriculum

review, a group of students have been

chosen to represent the other girls on

a Student Curriculum Committee. The

desired outcome is that the girls will

research the New Zealand achievement

objectives and establish some authentic

learning contexts that they would

connect to as learners. They will discuss

with other students, ideas and global

issues that inspire deeper learning at

this age level and connect them to the

objectives. It will be exciting to see where

this takes us in Social Science.

Marine Biology TripA number of Year 8 students left

bright and early for Portobello in

Dunedin. This is an amazing opportunity

for budding Marine Biologists to be part

of some very practical investigations.

Offered as an extension to the Science

programme in Year 8, it is a trip the girls

look forward to greatly. I await with

interest to hear the accounts of the trip.

The girls will cook their own meals… a

few ‘Junior Masterchefs’ in the making by

the sounds of all the menu planning.Chris CampbellLead Teacher of Years 7 and 8

14 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

International and Languages Week Earlier this term the International Club

and the Languages Faculty joined forces

again for a great week of international

and language-themed activities.

The week began with a lunchtime

performance from the very talented

Takumi Japanese drum group and

Tuesday saw the return of the popular

Indian henna hand-painting (rapidly

becoming a Rangi International

Week tradition). Tuesday was also an

international-themed mufti day and it

was great to see so many girls really

joining in the spirit of the week with

some fantastic costumes. Well done to

10Jb for being the best-dressed tutor

group and winning the prize of early

entry to Food Day. Other highlights of

the week were making posters to send

to Zululu School, language games and

fun activities, quizzes and, of course, the

much-anticipated International Food

Day, where we had an amazing selection

of food from all over the world.

AROUND RANGI

Christchurch Cultural Festival Our Years 7 and 8 Kapa Haka group

performed at the Christchurch Cultural

Festival at CBS Arena on Thursday

29 August. Rangi Ruru was the only

independent school to be involved with

this Festival that involved primary and

intermediate schools in the celebration

of multi-cultural Christchurch.

Due to other commitments, the girls

only had a small window of time to

prepare for the Festival with only seven

Wednesdays to learn and rehearse a set

of items.

The biggest challenge was the waiata

tangi ki Te Atairangikahu - a lament to

the Māori Queen whom we lost in 2006.

This was a challenge for the girls simply

because all Māori loved her. This waiata

was performed by her own Waikato

Kapa Haka Group so holds a great deal of

emotion for many Māori.

As the girls were leaving the stage,

there were many Māori who were

very quick to acknowledge the Years

7 and 8 rendition of this waiata. One

in particular was an elderly Māori

woman who had tears in her eyes as

she was thanking me for the incredible

performance she had just viewed about

her Queen. For many of our young girls

this was just another day at the office

but I suspect that when they look back

in 10-20-30 years’ time and they will

come to realise just what they achieved

in the CBS Arena that night.

The performance warrants special

thanks to the variety of tutors and

helpers whose commitment inspired

aroha and passion for performing in the

girls; to Rebekah Boyce, Josie Whelan

and Natalie Elms for their commitment

and the time invested in the girls and this

performance.Maaka Kahukuranui

Lucy McSweeney, Liv Rule, Jennifer Kim, Jenny Park and Zaiwen Zhang ready their stalls

Years 7 and 8 perform at Christchurch Cultural Festival

15www.rangiruru.school.nz

AROUND RANGI

SADD ManifestoThe 2013 Health Council created a

manifesto as part of SADD’s (Students

Against Driving Drunk) ‘Manifesto

campaign.’ The campaign is all about

setting the tone and determining the

attitudes and behaviours regarding drink

driving and safety on our roads – our

manifesto is made up of positive and

powerful statements of intent that aim to

reduce harm by creating the right ‘mind-

set’ before we even face risks or difficult

situations.Evelyn SpiersHead of Health

Cantamath 2013Cantamath results from last month’s

hotly contested competitions at the

CBS Canterbury Arena:

Congratulations to our Year 9A

team (Marisol Hunter, Fran Beaton,

Ashleigh Goh, Victoria Dodge) who

finished in third place just one

question behind the winners.

Also the Year 10A team (Kimberley

Gee, Harmony Zhou, Amy Huang,

Sujin Jung) were just one question

off another third place for Rangi

while the other Year 9 and Year 10

teams and the Year 7 and Year 8

teams all performed well finishing

in the middle of their respective

competitions.

Congratulations also to the prize

winners for posters:

Excellence Award – Jessie

Anderson

Highly Commended – Xiling Liu,

Ophelia Pearson Craig BradleyTeacher in charge

International and Languages Week

once again raised over $2,000, which

we will send to Zululu School in Kenya.

This primary school is also supported

by a Rangi Old Girl, Pop Gunson, and

her husband, who live in Kenya and it

is great to have this personal link with

Zululu. The money we raise helps pay the

salaries of two young Kenyan teachers

so that class sizes can be reduced. Only

those primary school children who pass

the national examination are able to

go to high school in Kenya, so a good

primary education is highly valued and

very important. It is exciting to know that

Zululu School will also benefit this year

from the fundraising efforts of another

Rangi Old Girl, Jina Kim. Jina was part

of our International Club several years

ago before she and her family returned

to Korea to live, and she has been very

busy this year fundraising at her Korean

school to send money to Zululu as well –

a truly international effort!

Thank you to everyone who took part

in International and Languages Week

2013, especially those who donated food

and time to make it such a successful

week. We are, as always, very grateful

to Jason and the kitchen staff for being

so supportive and accommodating

throughout the week and special thanks

to the Heads of the International Club,

Jennifer Kim and Olivia Rule, and the

Head of Languages, Greta Diaz Moreau,

for their leadership, organisational skills

and enthusiasm. Thanks to everyone

who came along to the activities and got

involved – it was lots of fun!Helen ScottInternational Dean

Mia Townshend (Year 7) and Masako Aoki (Year 11)

16 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

AROUND RANGI

In September 2012 a group of 14 girls

from Year 11 went on a ten day Outward

Bound course. The girls had a great time

and one of the girls, Claudia Sullivan,

wrote the following article on her return.

Another group of Year 11 girls will be

experiencing Outward Bound this year

and leave on 29 September for their ten

day course. They are very excited.Keith MachinTeacher in Charge

We began our Outward Bound

experience by catching the Coastal

Pacific train at 7.00am. We were all very

excited about the ten days of unknown

challenges ahead of us. The start of

our course came quicker than we all

expected; we met Kristy and Alfie our

coaches in Picton and had a quick name

game. We then were told we had five

minutes to get clothes that could get wet;

one thing we had all been expecting were

short amounts of time to get ready!

Our first activity involved us getting

very dirty and by putting mud masks

on our faces. We learned that everyone

seems to live their lives with masks on,

not showing their true selves. By washing

these mud masks off in the sea, we could

be ourselves in the upcoming ten days.

That night we sat around a camp fire and

learned about our watch name; all groups

at Outward Bound have a name, we were

called ‘Hillary Watch’.

With an early and very chilly start,

we were up at 6.00am for P.T. which the

instructors like to call ‘Party Time’, but

we thought it was more like ‘Personal

Torture’! Everyone’s watch has a different

version of P.T. and ours were sets made

up of press ups, sit ups and lunges. This

warmed us up for the full day of kayaking

ahead. We learned how to spot a river

for hazards and how to find good places

to stand where there was easy access to

jump-save a capsized kayak. Some of us

definitely learned how to capsize!

Day three was all about high ropes,

which was a huge challenge for some,

but other girls who were confident were

pushed in alternative ways on the course.

This meant everyone was challenged.

Day four was the tramp. We all started

off in fantastic spirits but the girls at the

front raced ahead and we soon learnt

that we needed to go at a pace which

suited us all. It was a cold and wet day

Outward BoundPTA Father Daughter Barn DanceFriday 20 September

The annual PTA Barn Dance proved very

popular again with fathers and daughters

dressing up in their best barn dance

attire and filling the school gym for a

wonderfully fun night.

17www.rangiruru.school.nz

AROUND RANGI

our cutter. The wind picked up as we

sailed to Double Bay where we slept that

night. We had a rocky sleep on the boat

and the next morning we attempted

to set sail in two knot winds! When we

didn’t sail, we had to row. After a certain

amount of time we became delusional

and started thinking that we were

zooming along!

The next day was our ‘solo’. Solo

but we all got to the top of Mt Dukeshead,

980m above sea level. At the top of the

mountain we cooked some well-deserved

tomato pasta that we all ate incredibly

fast! Leaving Mt Dukeshead the following

day two hours late didn’t help us reach

our goal at the end of the day very easily,

but our team bonded the most this day.

Day six we were at sea! It was a

fantastic change for us all as we boarded

was different for everybody; scary for

some, exciting for others. Through all our

different experiences, we all got the same

thing out if it which was reflecting on our

experience and finding our true selves.

Before we knew it the day we had to

run the dreaded 12 kilometres had finally

come. We set off from the starting point at

7.00am and all ran to the finish line feeling

so satisfied that we had run 12kms. We

had never really enjoyed jumping in

the water, but after the run it was all we

were thinking about, and some of us

even jumped in twice! Once we packed

everything up, and had our leaving

ceremony, it was onto the train and back

to Christchurch. We were all very tired

and ready to have a long shower and

sleep in our own beds!

Outward Bound had been a rewarding

and life changing experience that none

of us will forget. We have all formed great

friendships and have been through some

fantastic experiences together. Outward

Bound has showed us how, when we

think there is nothing left in us, we can

always go that little bit further.

Our group was Madeline Newman,

Hannah Browne, Sinead Foyle, Stella

Stretton, Kate Willis, Megan MacKenzie,

Madison Tait, Alice Butterick, Claudia

Sullivan, Philippa Macfarlane, Georgie

Andrews, Clare Macleod, Olivia Westley

and Sasha Cran.

We would like to thank Kristy and

Alfie our instructors, Ms Moor and Mrs

Brouwer for coming and visiting us, and

Mr Machin who has been an inspiration,

giving us helpful tips on the lead up to

our Outward Bound experience.

Claudia Sullivan Year 12

18 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

From the Director of Theatre Arts

Reflecting on the achievements to date

for Theatre Arts this year, one wonders

how we manage to fit it all in. Things

didn’t start off too well, with two girls

who had lead roles in our Sheilah Winn

entry falling seriously ill only a fortnight

before the festival. Unfortunately they

were not well enough in time for us to

enter this year. Thankfully, both girls

are now back to full health. However,

it wasn’t long before we experienced Into The Woods Jr, Stage Challenge, a

trip to the UK, and Romeo and Juliet. More recently the Year 13 evening of

monologues, yet again, demonstrated

the depth of talent our girls have and

their ability to astonish us with their

insightfulness. We look forward to

the upcoming Year 11 production of Passengers by Fiona Farrell.

The Cultural Concert showcased our

dancers in the best possible light, and

The Evening of Dance reinforced just

what extraordinary skills and exceptional

dexterity our troupes have. Our best

dancers will be competing at dance

competition later in the year. For the

first time at The Cultural Concert, we

presented the best of our Speech and

Drama students. What a treat is was to

have these fine, articulate and gutsy

young women perform such thought-

provoking pieces. Congratulations Sylvia

Barnett, Alice Norton, India Alexander

and Evelyn Spiers who all performed with

style and distinction.

Earlier this year, a group of senior

Drama and English students travelled

to London to immerse themselves in

British theatre, literature and history.

Highlights of the trip included an

excursion to Stratford Upon Avon to visit

the birthplace of William Shakespeare

and take in a performance and workshop

at The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Workshops at The Globe Theatre and

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts

further inspired our girls, as did the

AROUND RANGI

Alice Norton’s monologue ‘The Country Wife’

Elite Dance perform ‘Rich Man’s Frug’

19www.rangiruru.school.nz

many performances they attended. One

special workshop was that run by the

National Theatre. There, students learnt

the skills and techniques developed by

the Handspring Puppet Company for the

National Theatre’s production of War Horse. Of course, seeing the production

of War Horse put the workshop into

context. However, the goal was always to

bring that learning back home to share it,

and apply it to our own work. At the time

of writing, the Year 12 Drama class have

taken those skills and applied them to a

production of Bottom’s Tale - excerpts

from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They will perform this piece at

the International Theatre Festival on

Norfolk Island during the school break,

where they will compete against some of

the best adult theatre groups from New

Zealand, Australia and Norfolk Island. We

owe our sincere thanks to the PTA for

assistance with travel expenses.

Next production: Andrew Lloyd

Webber’s Cats. Information evening for

singers, dancers, musicians and stage

crew will be on Monday 14 October.

Auditions for Cats - 6 February 2014.

Robert GilbertDirector of Theatre Arts

AROUND RANGI

www.catsthemusical.school.nzMusic by Andrew LLoyd webber • bAsed on “oLd PossuM’s book of PrActicAL cAts” by t.s. eLiot

BY aRRanGement with oRiGin ™ tHeAtricAL on beHALf of tHe reALLy usefuL GrouP LiMitedcats loGo tm © 1981 tHe reALLy usefuL GrouP LiMited

c o m i n G i n 2 0 1 4 ! c h r i s t ’ s c o l l e g e & r a n g i r u r u G i r l s ’ s c h o o l

P r e s e n t

India Alexander’s monologue ‘Verbatim’ Concordia performing Titanium

Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.20

AROUND RANGI

From the Director of Music

Life in the Music Department during

Term 3 continued at its usual frenetic

pace. Some girls have been involved

in almost every event, somehow

managing to keep a sense of humour and

perspective despite sickness and some

very long days.

The Jazz Band and Combo had

a busy start to the term. After some

intensive rehearsals during the Term 2

break the band gained a Silver award

and the Combo a Bronze at the CPIT

JazzQuest competition. Four days later

the groups travelled to Blenheim for the

annual Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival

where they gained Bronze awards. The

most valuable learning at this festival

happened during the masterclass and

many gigs that the bands had at various

restaurants, clubs and cafés in the

Marlborough region. For a few days the

girls experienced life as professional

musicians, an experience that is very

valuable not only in terms of their

playing, but also in their personal and

social development. Huge thanks and

congratulations must go to the band

Director Michael Lawrence, and combo

Director Nanako Sato for their dedication

and inspirational work with the girls.

The newly formed Show Choir,

‘Concordia’, participated in the Voices of

Canterbury Show Choir festival at the La

Vida Centre. This was a day of workshops

and performances, where the girls

learnt much about the art of singing and

dancing. The event was well supported

by a range of choirs from Christchurch

Secondary Schools – thank you to

Nanako Sato for supporting this group in

their work towards the festival.

The Cultural Concert, held in August,

once again was a highly successful

evening featuring a wide range of

performing artists – Dance Companies,

Jazz Band, Resolutions, Barbershop,

Rangi Sinfonia, Chamber Music,

Concordia and a new and successful

initiative, four Drama monologues. We

also heard a live performance of Siyu

Sun’s evocative musical response to the

movie Clip ‘The Exchange’, see www.

youtube.com/watch?v=74VSbkvt-zE.

Congratulations to all the performers,

but also to the Head of Culture, India

Alexander and her very efficient and

capable team, for the superb organisation

behind the scenes.

Resolutions continued to put in many

long hours of evening and weekend

rehearsals towards their preparation

for the BIG SING Finals, held this year

in Dunedin. As part of the preparation

the girls performed some of their

programme in the Transitional Cathedral

in a concert featuring four Christchurch

choirs and two of the Auckland choirs

the night before travelling. This was

a wonderful occasion and was one

of the first performances, to a packed

house, in this stunning new building.

It was an honour for the girls and their

director Helen Charlton to be selected

to attend the prestigious National

Finale, which showcased the very best

18 secondary school choirs in New

Zealand. Resolutions came away with

a Bronze award, giving performances

that showed a total commitment to, and

understanding of, the text. The girls learnt

much through the opportunity to be

involved in this event, and were excellent

ambassadors for Rangi in every respect.

Their performances may be viewed at

www.r2.co.nz/20130829/ - there are

two recitals (total of six performances),

scroll down the page to Rangi Ruru Girls’

School - Resolutions.

Our percussion ensembles have been

very busy rehearsing this term under

Resolutions performing at the Cultural Concert

21www.rangiruru.school.nz

AROUND RANGI

the expert guidance of percussion tutors

Rachel Thomas and Roanna Funcke.

In order to provide a performance

opportunity there was an evening of

‘Rhythm and Song’ early in September.

This was a highly successful and well-

attended occasion, where our junior

percussion ensembles, along with

the Junior Chorale and Junior Jazz

Ensemble, performed with much panache

and style. It was great to hear such talent

amongst our junior students, and we look

forward to hearing them develop as they

move through the senior school.

The Rangi Sinfonia participated in

the 2013 Secondary Schools’ Orchestra

Festival on 16 September. This festival is

an annual non-competitive event, with

the aims to raise the standards and profile

of orchestral playing in Christchurch

secondary schools, and to give students

a positive performance experience

without the pressure of competition. The

Rangi Sinfonia performed a challenging

programme with distinction and

enjoyed hearing and supporting the

other orchestras who participated in

the festival. It was wonderful this year

for Year 12 student Amy Lee to have the

opportunity to conduct the orchestra.

A new initiative for Christchurch was

the ‘Strum, Strike and Blow’ Festival –

an event featuring ukuleles, marimbas

and recorders. Over 800 primary school

children took part in this event at CBS

Arena on 18 September, with our recorder

ensemble being asked to be present

as leaders and mentors. The girls were

featured in the evening Gala Concert

performing a specially written piece for

them by Christchurch composer Richard

Oswin. Congratulations and thanks to

their tutor, Genny Long, for her amazing

support of recorder playing at Rangi and

in other Christchurch schools.

Our Barbershop Quartet, Fourtissimo

(India Alexander, Sophie Copplestone,

Greta Diaz-Moreau and Alice Norton),

attended the National Barbershop Finals

in Hamilton and achieved 7th place. The

girls were excellent ambassadors for

Rangi and gave stunning and engaging

performances. My thanks to Amelia Davis

for so ably mentoring these girls.

The Rangi Players and Bellbirds, along

with the Years 7 and 8 Dance Company,

enjoyed a lovely outing to perform at Kids

in Town, this year held at the Museum

in Rolleston Avenue. It is great that this

performance initiative has returned to

Christchurch after a break following the

earthquakes. Our girls really enjoyed

the opportunity to show their talents to

the supportive audience who attended

- thank you to Marg Buchanan, Genny

Long and Hannah Clarkson for their work

with the girls.

As well during this term there

has been the usual Itinerant Music

performance evening, Primary Schools’

Music Festival area rehearsals, and

performances at Chapel services, in

addition to senior examinations. Plenty to

keep everyone very busy.

CongratulationsAll girls are to be congratulated for

some stunning performances this term. I

know that many are currently preparing

for or sitting music examinations, with

some girls working towards Grade 8 level

or higher – I look forward to hearing the

results as they arrive.

The following girls deserve special

mention:

Congratulations to Lucy Anderson and

Isabella Pickering in 7Fs, and Lydia Fay in

8Al who have successfully auditioned for

the Senior Choir in the 2013 Christchurch

Schools’ Music Festival. The girls attended

intensive rehearsal sessions during this

term in preparation for performances on

every night of the three-night festival held

in CBS Arena late in October.

Congratulations to Year 9 music

scholars Isabella Gregory, Grace

McKenzie, Anna Bruce (also Year 9) and

Pauline Ward (Year 11), who successfully

auditioned for a role in the children’s

chorus of the New Zealand Opera

Company’s performance of Benjamin

Britten’s Noye’s Fludde (Noah’s Flood).

In addition Year 10 music scholar Sarah

Pride, along with India Borelli and Lily

Li (both Year 9) were recorder players in

the orchestra. This one act opera was

performed on Saturday 21 September as

part of the Christchurch Arts Festival in

the Transitional Cathedral.

Further congratulations to Alice

Norton, Year 12, who has been accepted

for a place in the Christchurch Youth

Choir. And also again to Grace McKenzie,

Year 9, who won the Christchurch Branch

of the Registered Music Teachers’ of

New Zealand Young Musician of the

Year contest recently. The contest was

adjudicated by one of the visiting Trinity

College examiners from London. Grace

performed two works on the piano and

was awarded first prize of $400.

My ongoing thanks to the Music

Department staff and dedicated team of

Itinerant Music tutors who work so hard

with all the various co-curricular groups.

Without your help and support we would

not be able to offer such an extensive

and enriching music programme to

our girls. My best wishes to you all for

a well-deserved Term 3 break – time to

recharge in hopefully some lovely spring

weather in preparation for a busy Term 4.

Janet KingsburyDirector of MusicAmy Lee conducting the Sinfonia at the Cultural Concert

22 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Speech and Drama

English Speaking Union (Canterbury) Scholarship In the English Speaking Union

(Canterbury) Scholarship, Rangi Ruru

old girl Harriet Wise came 1st, India

Alexander came 2nd and Poppy Stowell

(another Rangi old girl), Sylvia Barnett

and Emma Strack all received Very

Highly Commended. Harriet Wise will

be representing Christchurch in the

Young Performer of the Year Contest in

Invercargill in October.

Millie Osborne won many awards. They

are:

Comedy Cup and 1st in the Open

Comedy Class

Winner of the Open Solo Improvisation

Best Female Performer over 14 years

Most Points overall in the 16 -19 class

(shared the Yates Family Trophy)

2nd in Prepared Bible Reading

2nd in Dramatic Extract

2nd in Test Poem

2nd in NZ Poetry and Prose

2nd Reading at Sight

Livvy Pride entered and won the Own

Selection Poem in her age group and

came 2nd in the Prepared Prose Reading.

All the girls who entered the Speech

and Drama Competitions achieved

highly.

ATCL results:Annabelle Williamson, Gemma Davidson

and Emily Reid sat ATCL Communication

Skills and India Alexander, Evelyn Spiers

and Timmie Cameron sat ATCL in

Speech and Drama. We will not know

their results for a while yet as they are

moderated in London.

Ten girls sat grade exams. Out of the

ten, eight achieved Distinction.

They were:

Brittany O’Rourke, Rebecca Gooby

and Rosalie Wilkinson all in Grade 6

Speech and Drama.

Kiera Horton-King achieved

Distinction in Grade 7 Communication

Skills.

Millie Osborne, Emma Strack and

Sylvia Barnett gained Distinction in

Grade 7 Speech and Drama.

Alice Norton received Distinction in

Grade 8 Speech and Drama.

Sylvia Barnett gained 97%, Brittany

O’Rourke achieved 95% and Alice Norton

got 93%.

Lynn WilliamsSpeech and Drama teacher

2012 Speech and Drama resultsAn apology is extended to the students

of Mrs Helen Fraser for the accidental

omission of their results from the

school magazine. Congratulations to

the following students, they deservedly

achieved at the highest standard

in the senior Speech New Zealand

examinations in 2012.

Students who achieved Honours or

above in 2012 Speech and Drama exams:

Grade 5:

Meelha Lesinski Mod. 1 Honours;

Maddison Berquist Mod 1 Honours.

Grade 6:

Lucy McLeod Mod 1 Hons Plus; Mod 2

Honours; Mod. 3 Hons Plus. Sophie Allan

Mod 1 Honours.

Grade 7:

Madison Tait Mod 1 Honours; Mod.3

Honours. Emily Tasker Mod. 1 Honours.

Grade 8:

Rosie Sloan Mod 2 Honours; Mod. 3

Honours. Maisie O’Donnell Mod. 1 Hons

Plus; Mod 2 Honours; Mod. 3 Hons Plus.

Lucy McLeod and Maisie O’Donnell

were both nominated for a scholarship

for Excellence in the use of Language

and Communication.

AROUND RANGI

life & disability

23www.rangiruru.school.nz

Strong Interest in 2014 Equestrian Programme

Enquiries continue to come in as we

prepare to accept students into the

new academically linked Equestrian

Programme for 2014.

To date girls from around the South

Island including Blenheim, Invercargill

and the West Coast, have pre-enrolled in

the new programme

Director of Equestrian, Pippa Young

says that she has been overwhelmed by

the response.

“There has been a tremendous

amount of enthusiasm and support

for the programme – not only from

prospective families but from current

girls interested in learning to ride or

develop their riding skills,” says Pippa.

The opportunity to link equestrian

skills and interest in animals with

academic achievement has been a strong

draw card.

“For those keen to pursue a career in

the equine industry, enjoy their riding or

compete at any level, this programme is

providing girls with a real advantage in a

hugely competitive field,” says Pippa.

Our current eventing squad of

developing riders have also impressed

at the recent Canterbury Interschools

horse trials at McLean’s Island with three

quarters of the team jumping double

clear rounds in cross-country and

showjumping.

International students have also

been very keen to get involved with the

programme and take advantage of the

opportunity to learn to ride. It has been

an exciting time for two new girls from

Thailand who jumped into the saddle for

the first time recently.

Farsai Powthong says that when

she was young she loved watching

people ride horses but there were no

opportunities to learn to ride in Thailand.

“I tried once but I had a very busy life

in Thailand. I have to study for tests and

homework so I don’t have time for horse

riding,” Farsai said.

Farsai added “On holidays I would

see lots of people riding horses along the

beach and it looked very cool. But I have

the problem that I cannot ride a horse.

I don’t know how to. So when I came to

Rangi, I decided to do what I really want

to do and I found that it is very fun.”

Fellow student, Tinting

Alongkornwuttichai shares Farsai’s

enthusiasm, adding “Horse riding’s very

good, I enjoy it very much. It is very

exciting being given the chance to learn

to ride and I have already had my first

lesson.”

If you are keen to learn more about the Equestrian Programme contact Pippa Young on 03 983 3700 or p.young@rangiruru.school.nz for more information.

AROUND RANGI

Maddy Tait (Year 12) competing at the Canterbury Interschools’ Horse Trials on her horse, Island Road

24 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Term 3 is the business end of the

winter sports season, with all teams

vying for semi-final and final spots, and

tournament teams gearing up for their

chances on the national stage.

A huge congratulations to all girls in

all teams and all representatives over the

winter. We are so proud of you and the

contribution you make to Rangi sport

and the Rangi profile. Congratulations

on your successes and your efforts. At

Rangi, we cover such a wide spectrum

of different sports and we always

perform well. Also, a huge thanks and

acknowledgement to our coaches and

managers who give up many many hours

of their time to work with, guide and

support our girls. As the saying goes.....

we couldn’t do it without you!!

Here are the round-ups of various

sporting competitions and Tournament

week:

BadmintonBadminton has kept a fairly low profile at

Rangi in recent years. With the exception

of a few experienced badminton players,

it’s been a sport that girls have signed up

to socially and formed their own teams.

This year has been no different with

eight teams entered in the Wednesday

competition in both the Senior and

Junior grades. However, that may all

change with the support of staff member

and ex-New Zealand player, Chris

Campbell.

Starting with some lunchtime

coaching this year, the intention is to

build on this next season. The A team

will also be trialled for next year and this

approach, combined with some expert

coaching, might see an increase in the

uptake of badminton by our girls.

BasketballTwenty-one basketball teams are not

easy to co-ordinate, but it did happen

week after week for the 18 week winter

season. Well done to all teams who

never defaulted over the season, who

made finals, and who always walked

off the court with a smile! Basketball’s a

great game and a wonderful way to be

competitive while having fun with your

mates.

Senior A and Junior AOur top two basketball teams

competed very well in the A grade

competitions in the Friday night

competitions.

The Senior A’s finished the season in

5th place with a comprehensive win over

Burnside High School in their last game.

Unfortunately, after being undefeated

all season, the Intermediate A team went

down in a tough encounter to Rangiora

High School in the Intermediate A final.

The Years 7 and 8 team played in

their Friday night final and went down

after a big fightback in the second half of

their game against a Merrin school team

which was mostly made up of boys. Our

girls played extremely well in a game that

resembled a rugby match more than a

basketball match at times!

In Tournament Week the Senior

A team continued their development

and after three wins and three losses

finished a very respectable 7th in the

South Island Championships. They are

a team that has improved all season

and with considerable depth, all players

contributed very well. They now head to

the National finals in Palmerston North

in the term break and we wish them all

the best.

South Island AIMs Basketball Tournament

On 21 August, the Years 7 and 8

Basketball team went to Cowles Stadium

for the South Island AIMs Basketball

Tournament. We were all very nervous

when we got there because we knew that

we were playing Heaton - possibly one of

the strongest teams. Heaton scored the

first goals but we came back in the last

few minutes to end in a draw. We were all

so happy because we weren’t expecting

that outcome. Our team played five more

games that day, which seemed to be a

lot easier, and won them. The next day

we returned to Cowles Stadium for finals

day. We won the first two games, but

then we had to play Ashburton A. We

were very nervous because they had not

lost any games at that stage. When we

started the game they were scoring lay

up after lay up and we were down by ten

with four minutes to go. We persevered

and just kept on getting steals and ended

up tying with them. We were so excited,

but then realised we had to play Heaton

again. It was a very close game but this

time we lost by two points. We came

third overall, but we were very happy

with this result. We really enjoyed this

experience and thought we improved

over the tournament.

Jessica MillerYear 8

Congratulations to the following girls

chosen for:

Canterbury Basketball U15:

Jess Miller and Annie Doig

Allstars Basketball:

Jess Miller and Lydia Fay

Cross Country Results of CPSSA Cross Country:Isabella Carter – Year 8 Independent

Schools’ Team = 1st

Isabella Inkson – Year 7 Independent

Schools’ Team = 1st

Millie Macalister – Year 7 Independent

Schools’ Team = 1st

Congratulations to Isabella Carter

who was selected for the Canterbury

Intermediate and Primary Schools’ Cross

Country team to race at an inter-regional

cross country race in Nelson on 26

September.

CyclingAs we come close to rounding up the

season, we reflect on some fantastic

results from our Cycling team as they are

preparing for the upcoming New Zealand

National Secondary Schools’ Road Race.

We have had a successful year of

inter-secondary competition at Tai

Tapu. We had ten very keen girls biking

out there each week to race in the time

trials, hill climbs and scratch races.

All the girls have worked hard in their

respective grades and have had regular

and consistent placings in the top five.

Currently our small team of ten sit 4th

in the overall standings, 2nd in the Girls’

Schools’ standings. This is an amazing

result given the huge numbers of 30

riders in the leading team.

The girls recently returned from yet

another great tour in the Cuddon Two

Day Cycling Tour, scratching names

onto the cups for the 3rd year in a row.

Ava Morrow won every race in her U13

Sport

25www.rangiruru.school.nz

SPORT

Girls grade including the TT, Hill Climb,

Criterium and the road race. This was a

repeat of her efforts at the South Islands

earlier in the year. She will definitely

be one to watch out for. Chloe Jenkins

rode hard in her U15 group, placing in

the top half of her field in every event.

Rose Marshall-Lee fought hard in her U17

group, placing 2nd in her TT and in the

top ten in all other events. In the U20 Girls

grade Maddy Long and Eloise McIntyre

rode hard in their events, with Tessa

Jenkins and Charlotte Hand placing in

the various races. Tessa placed 3rd in her

TT and 1st in the Crit, giving her a placing

of Second in the Tour. Charlotte placed

1st in the TT, 3rd in the Crit, and 2nd in

the Hill Climb to be the overall winner of

the U20. It was awesome seeing both our

girls on the podium.

All the girls have fought and trained

hard, had fun and completed another

strong season that the team can be

proud of. The Cycling team is going from

strength to strength and will be looking

to finish the season on a high at the

Nationals.

Anton MogridgeCycling Manager

South Island Secondary Schools’ Road Cycling Championships

On 13 and 14 June while most

other people were off relaxing on their

holidays, the Rangi Ruru Cycling team of

nine girls, a small but very select group,

threw on their layers of thermals and

jackets and brought out the umbrellas

to race at the South Island Secondary

Schools’ Road Cycling Championships.

The weather wasn’t on our side on the

first day of the 3.3km Individual Time

Trial with a frost and light rain but this

didn’t stop the girls. Two especially

outstanding results from the Individual

Time Trial were Ava Morrow, a new

member of our cycling team taking Gold

in U13 Girls’ and Rose Marshall-Lee also

taking Gold in U16 Girls’. The weather

cleared slightly for the Team Time Trials

in the afternoon in which we entered

three teams, our Junior team gaining

bronze and one of our senior teams

consisting of Charlotte Hand, Tessa

Jenkins and Gabby Gray taking Gold for

the second year running by 36 seconds.

Unfortunately the weather the following

day for the Road Races deteriorated and

the girls had a new experience of racing

in rain and hail! Ava Morrow won another

Gold medal in the U13 Girls’ after a gutsy

effort riding away from the bunch in the

terrible conditions. Chloe Jenkins and

Rose Marshall-Lee also topped off their

performances with a Bronze medal each.

In the Open Girls’ Race Tessa Jenkins had

an impressive race where she rode away

from the bunch with a fellow competitor

and gained a well deserved Silver medal.

Gabby Gray also had a great ride in

the competitive Open Girls’ Road Race

throwing many aggressive attacks. It was

a very successful weekend for the Rangi

Ruru cycling team which put us 2nd in

overall points out of all the schools which

was a great achievement considering we

have one of the smallest teams!

Charlotte HandYear 13

26 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

SPORT

EquestrianThe Canterbury Interschools’ One Day

Horse Trial was held recently at the

National Equestrian Centre at McLean’s

Island (fortunately before the gales

closed most facilities in that area!) Rangi

Ruru eventing squad is in development

phase at present with riders on new and

young mounts establishing themselves.

The team of Anna Robertson, Maddy

Tait, Christy Harris and Stefanie Nicholas

acquitted themselves well with all riders

at the top height going double clear in

the cross-country and showjumping

phases, and although two had time

faults, the team was still well placed and

can be proud of their achievements.

Pippa YoungDirector of Equestrian

FootballCongratulations to the 1st XI Football

team who travelled to Dunedin to

compete in the Southern satellite

tournament during Tournament

week; sixteen teams compete in this

tournament over four days.

The first two days saw our team

with easy wins against Southland girls

(4-0), St Hilda’s (8-0) and Taieri College

(7-0). Wednesday is always the business

end of the tournament with crossovers

and semi-finals and it was during our

semi-final match that the wheels fell.

After disposing of Mountain View College

(6-0) in the morning, the team went

into the semi against Avonside Girls’,

the tournament number one seeds

and our nemesis. We have a history of

close games against this team and this

match was no different. In the hail (no

excuses) and with our heads full of the

NZ women’s player in the opposition, the

team went down 4-3. The girls always

played well but in this game Avonside

just played better. It would be untrue

to say that the girls were not absolutely

gutted to lose this game, especially

after having just won the prestigious

Christchurch U18 Club grade competiton

the Saturday prior. They really had hoped

to win in Dunedin and playing the other

top team in the semi final did seem a bit

daft. However, they eventually moved on

from the defeat and went on to finish in

3rd place with a 5-0 win over Craighead.

All in all a brilliant season for a talented

young group of footballers.

Congratulations to Phoebe Murray,

Rebecca Wilson, Lucy Graham, Una

Foyle and Laura Grigg who have all

been selected for age-group Canterbury

sides. This bodes well for our team in the

future.

Jo FogartyDirector of Sports

Gabby Gray

27www.rangiruru.school.nz

SPORT

Gymnastics Congratulations to Mia Townshend (1st)

and Molly McGurk (5th) for their results

in the CPSSA Rhythmic Gymnastics

competition in the Year 7 novice grade.

Also in competitive Rhythmic

gymnastics, at the Otago Champs,

Annaliese Graham came 3rd overall

in the junior international grade. Her

apparatus placings were, 1st in ribbon,

1st in hoop, 2nd in ball and 3rd in clubs.

Hockey The 1st and 2nd XI competed in the

new secondary school competition run

by the Canterbury Hockey Association.

Throughout the season, players

developed new skills and improved as

teams. The 2nd XI lost a hard fought final

2-0.

Three teams participated in the

Canterbury Secondary Schools’

sport competition on Monday and

Wednesday. This provided a good level of

competition for a wide range of players.

The 1st XI finished in 8th place at

Federation Cup. They lost a hard fought

quarter final against St Cuthberts, losing

on a penalty stroke competition.

The 2nd XI finished in 7th place at the

2nd XI national tournament. They had

many close games against other top 2nd

XIs.

Again in 2013 many players gain

representative honours.

Canterbury U21 Kirsty Nation

Canterbury Regional U18 Kirsty Nation, Anna Radovonich, Evelyn

Spiers

Canterbury Association U18 Kate Willis

Canterbury U18 Development Alex Clark, Sophie Radovonich

Canterbury U15A Jess Gunn

Canterbury U15B

Danielle Ackland, Phoebe Spiers, Margot

Willis, Annabelle Wilson

Girls chosen for Canterbury Primary HockeyCanterbury Development Isabella Inkson

Canterbury Development non travelling Reserve

Kate Edwards

Canterburys B’s

Emma Stephens, Lucy Simpson

Canterbury A (Collier Trophy team)

Hilary Royds, Claudia Reid

NetballThe second half of the netball season

has been a busy time for our netballers.

From South Island Tournaments, to the

Craighead Junior Sports Exchange for

our Years 7-10 teams, a skills session with

the Tactix players and representative

duties, let alone regular Wednesday and

Saturday netball competitions, there has

been a lot of netball.

The Senior South Island Secondary

Schools’ Tournament was held in

Christchurch this year. Played at Hagley

Park, the tournament is the highlight

of the netball calendar for the Senior

A team. After two days of play the

girls were playing beautiful netball

and looking for a strong finish to the

tournament. Unfortunately, play didn’t

go their way on Wednesday and the

girls finished the tournament in 9th

place. As disappointed as the team

and management were at this finish,

the season has had several positives

with success in both the Supernet and

Saturday competitions.

The 9A and 10A teams competed in

the South Island Junior Tournament in

the July holidays. Played in some great

conditions, the girls played some tough

games, with the 9As finishing 8th in

Division 2 and the 10As finishing 7th in

Division 2. This tournament continues to

be an opportunity for the junior players

to experience top level netball and all

that goes with competing in a multi-day

tournament.

Following on from the junior skills

sessions with Maree Bowden earlier in

the season, the Years 7 & 8 and Senior

A-C netballers had the opportunity to

develop their skills with two sessions

led by Tactix players. This opportunity

was well received, particularly for

the younger players who relished

the opportunity to meet some local

netballing stars.

Congratulations to the Rangi Ruru

A, B, C, D, E, I, J, K, O and T teams

who made quarter and semi-finals in

the Saturday club competition. It was

excellent to see the strength of our senior

netballers, reflected in the representation

of Rangi teams in the U19 Div. 1 and Div.

2 finals, as well as the U17 Div. 1 and 2

grades. Particular congratulations go out

to the Rangi B, D and I teams on their

successes, winning the U19 Div. 1, U19

Div. 2 and U17 Div. 1 grades respectively.

At this time of the season it is also

important to thank the people who help

Rangi netball function. Special thanks to

our Club Umpires – Alice Williams, Caitlin

Rains, Nicola Blue, Maddy Richards,

Georgia Thomson and Georgie Staples

– without whose help, we wouldn’t

be able to enter teams in the Saturday

competition. Congratulations also to

those girls who increased their umpiring

knowledge through taking part in the

Whistling programme, and in particular

to our Year 10 netballers, Jaimee Millar,

Gabi Newman, Nicole Smith and

Giovanna McLaughlin for achieving their

Gold umpiring badge. Special mention

should also be made of Georgia and

Maddy for achieving Level 1 qualification.

It is great to see so many girls getting

involved in netball.

Throughout the season Pauline

Shannon has been offering support

to our student coaches and has been

impressed with the enthusiasm and

28 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

SPORT

desire to learn which the students have

shown. It’s not easy to put your hand up

as a student coach so our sincere thanks

to those who have taken on this task.

Importantly, a huge thank you to all our

coaches – it’s impossible to offer netball

at Rangi Ruru without you.

And so the 2013 season comes to

a close. For some teams it has been a

tough season, for others there have been

lots of successes. Whatever camp your

team sits in, we look forward to seeing

you back next year. With plans already

underway to identify and recruit coaches

and develop off-season training, 2014

promises to be another exciting year of

netball at Rangi Ruru.

OrienteeringThe recent Spring storm closed Karaiki

Forest so the long distance event at

the Canterbury Schools’ Orienteering

Festival has been postponed until Show

Weekend. Fortunately the sprint event

still went ahead on 14 September at

Ferrymead Historic Park.

Our Junior Girls’ Championship

team consisted of Siena Rapley, Marisol

Hunter and Kathryn Ford. Kathryn is

new to orienteering and only had time

for a couple of training sessions before

the event so did amazingly well to get

around the course on her own and in

great time.

Results for the championship sprint

course:

Marisol Hunter 1st

Siena Rapley 4th

Kathryn Ford 6th

Rangi Ruru is currently sitting in 2nd

place just five points behind the leaders.

Final placings will be known after the

long distance event in November.

Additional congratulations:A huge congratulations to Gabrielle

Gray who has been extremely busy

over the past month competing for the

school and for New Zealand, in three

different sports. Gabby placed 3rd in the

U19 Women’s section at the the National

Lucy Gordon receiving one of her Gold medals at the South Island Secondary Schools’ Champs.

Siena Rapley at Canterbury Schools’ Orienteering Festival

Marisol Hunter 1st place for Champion sprint course

Secondary Schools’ Duathlon champs

in Taupo. She then went on to represent

New Zealand at the Australian Secondary

Schools’ Cross Country champs in

Tasmania, finishing a very creditable 30th

AND she flew home from this to join the

1st XI Football team in Dunedin for the

South Island Football tournament, where

the team finished 3rd. Not to finish there,

she is off to Palmerston North at the end

of the term for the Nationals Secondary

Schools’ Cycling Champs. Outstanding!

Well done to Chloe Jenkins, who

also competed at the national Secondary

Schools’ Duathlon Champs. In the U14

section Chloe finished in 9th place. Chloe

followed this up with a 3rd placing at

the National Road Cycling Champs in

Auckland in the Time trial.

A huge congratulations to Hanna Malloch who has made the ‘Long List’ for

the upcoming Commonwealth games for

Gymnastics.

Lauren Stapylton-Smith came 2nd

recently in the CPSSA Competitive

Gymnastics Step 6 competition.

Awesome results by Lucy Gordon who

had two 1sts and a 2nd at the South Island

Secondary Schools’ Swimming Champs in

Blenheim during the July holidays.

Isabella Carter was named in the

Canterbury Country U48kg Rugby team.

Congratulations Isabella.

Catherine Marshall went to Australia

in the July holidays and came 15th

in the Individual foil at the Australian

championships. She was also a member

of the Women’s Epee and Foil teams that

came 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Recently, the Rangi team of Catherine Marshall, Sophie Kelly and Francesca Logan attended the Canterbury

Secondary Schools’ Championships

and came 1st. Catherine was first in the

Individual Women’s Foil at this event and

Sophie was 3rd.

Congratulations to Mari-Clare McLaughlin for making the Canterbury

Primary Netball team, and Breanna Hodges for making the Independent

Primary Schools’ Netball team.

Congratulations to the Years 7 and 8 Waterpolo team who placed 6th

from 12 teams in the weekly waterpolo

competition. For a team of very new

players, this is a fantastic result.

Year 8 team: Isabella Carter, Ava Morrow,

Pieta Hansen, Jess Miller, Ella Neale,

Claudia Reid

Year 7 team: Millie Macalister, Isabella

Inkson, Lauren Stapylton-Smith, Kate

Edwards, Jemima Porter, Isabel Newman.

29www.rangiruru.school.nz

COmmUNITY

Community Relations Coordinator

Amelia DavisCommunity

Relations

Coordinator

This issue of Rangi News contains the 2013 Annual Appeal

brochure. This year we are asking our community to support

just two things – an increase in funding for scholarships, and

the 125th celebrations.

By giving to the Annual Appeal scholarship fund you will

be directly supporting a girl who would not otherwise have the

benefit of a Rangi education. As a member of our community

– whether as a student, parent, or staff - you know first hand

the impact of a Rangi education. Many girls of limited financial

means would love to have that chance too. The scholarship

fund will ensure this can happen for girls with academic and

all-round ability.

The 125th celebrations are well into the planning stages.

There are many exciting events planned including a gala

concert, building openings, a market day and fun student

activities throughout the year. Giving to this appeal would

provide funds to be used, at the Principal’s discretion, to

support these celebratory events.

Please do take the time to read the appeal information.

On another development

note, the new-look Legacy

brochure has been

completed. Some people

call this the bequest

brochure; and often

a gift to Rangi Ruru is

made on the settlement

of an estate. However,

anyone at any age, can

think about their legacy.

I would encourage you

to do so at earlier life

milestones – even the

very first time you make a

will. The Legacy brochure

will be at future Rangi

gatherings for you to

peruse, and take a copy if you wish. If you would like

the brochure sent to you directly, please contact me on

03 983 3744.

The +3 Leavers event held in July in the Boardroom of Te

Koraha was a lovely evening. Attended by well over half the

year group, and a smattering of their parents, this was a chance

for our recent past students to catch up before embarking on

their next adventure. Many thanks to Georgina Craigie, 2010

Head of House and Phoebe Clay, 2010 Head of School, for

inviting their classmates. Leavers of 2011, it is your turn next

year – start spreading the word.

I note with interest that Georgina is now working as

the pastry chef at the award winning Riverstone Kitchen.

Apparently she gets a number of Rangi visitors, most recently

Ms Moor en route to the Big Sing in Dunedin and Mrs Barnett.

Assorted students also pass her way, many returning from

‘checking out’ the University of Otago. Be sure to say hello to

Georgina on your next jaunt to Oamaru – just not on a Tuesday

or Wednesday when they are closed!

The next Fireside Chat is in the Ohoka area on Tuesday

29 October. It is being kindly hosted by Claire and Shaun

Maloney, and their daughter Hannah (Year 12). If you know of

anyone who would like to know a little more about Rangi, and

would like to meet the Principal and current parents, please do

let me know.

Catherine Hair and Nicole Chin at the +3 Leaver’s event

Catherine Shields and her parents Brent and Julie

30 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Celebrating Our Community

Melanie Camp (1992 – 1996)

A year into the job, Melanie Camp is

revelling in her role as Associate Director

of the Court Theatre.

Melanie most recently directed

the Court production ‘The Great Art

War’ and, as part of the Christchurch

Arts Festival, the New Zealand Opera

performance of ‘Noye’s Fludde’ which

involved seven Rangi students - Pauline

Ward, Isabella Gregory, Anna Bruce,

India Borelli and Grace McKenzie in the

cast and Sarah Pride and Lily Lee in the

orchestra.

Melanie says the foundations for her

career in the theatre were laid at Rangi

Ruru under the guidance of then drama

teacher Kerry Fitzgerald. She says she

was “a bit shy” so spent most of her

time behind the stage rather than on

it. Her interest in things backstage was

fostered further when a visiting English

professional stage manager spent time

with the school drama department.

At Canterbury University, Melanie

quickly signed up with DramaSoc. “ I

even got up the courage to do some

acting and enjoyed it,” she says. But it

was the off-stage side of theatre that still

held most fascination.

She stayed in Christchurch after

completing her BA in English, working as

a Collections technician at Canterbury

Museum and pursuing her interest in

amateur theatre with the Elmwood

Players after hours. During that time

she directed numerous plays such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Dresser, The Importance Of Being Earnest, Richard III and the musical Hair.

In 2007, Melanie headed to Wellington

to take up a job as Collections Manager

at Te Papa. “But the theatre wouldn’t go

away,” she says. Any spare time was spent

involved with productions at Stagecraft

Theatre. “I thought, ‘what am I going to

do with the rest of my life?’ I really want

to make a go of this.” So she applied for

a Masters of Theatre Arts (Directing)

through Toi Whakaari (New Zealand

Drama School) and Victoria University,

was accepted and her passion became

her career.

Melanie spent her Masters internship

back in Christchurch at The Court,

working with and inspired by director

Ross Gumbley through the post-

September quakes. She flew back to

Wellington the Sunday before the

devastating one in February 2011.

She says the Court Theatre’s rapid

resurrection on its new site in Addington

was astounding. “It really got to me.

That the first public building to get up

and running was a theatre! I thought

‘people want this, people need this…this

is essential!’ I knew I wanted to work at

the Court. It was the right time and the

right place.”

Melanie moved down from

Wellington with her partner, an actor

and singer who shares her love of things

thespian, to take up the position of

Associate Director at the Court Theatre

last October.

“This is where I want to be,” she says.

“There is a real buzz.”

Melanie already has a long list of

directing credits to her name, from

the first act of David Mamet’s Boston

Marriage while still at Toi Whakaari

to a highly acclaimed production

of Hamlet. Last year she directed

the successful Wellington Summer

Shakespeare season of Twelfth Night as well as Immaculate and Gameplan, which was performed at the Young

and Hungry Festival of New Theatre.

Earlier this year, Melanie directed Groundswell: Stories from the Quake by Elizabeth O’Connor at Court

Theatre Pub Charity Studio.

She has another production

coming up at The Court’s Forge

Theatre at the end of October: a New

Zealand play, Postal, by Lucy O’Brien.

31www.rangiruru.school.nz

CELEBRATING OUR COmmUNITY

Sophia was a member

of the New Zealand

U21 netball team which

won gold at the 2013

World Youth Junior

Netball Championships

in Glasgow last month.

Sophia, who plays

goal attack but can also

cover as wing attack,

had a successful season

with the Canterbury

Tactix this year, starting

in ten of the games.

She came in as a

replacement player

for the Tactix in 2010

before heading south to

play for the Southern Steel the following season. She returned

to Canterbury and the Tactix in 2012, although she spent a lot

of that season injured.

A netball star throughout her days at Rangi Ruru, Sophia

was part of the champion New Zealand Secondary Schools’

team in 2009 and 2010 and has been a member of the

New Zealand U21 team since 2010. She also played for the

Canterbury NPC team which achieved back-to-back victories

in 2010 and 2011, and in 2011 made the tournament team.

Between her provincial and national commitments, she still

found time to coach a junior team at Rangi.

Sophia went to Glasgow confident of the team’s chances.

“We’re all on the same page, and we all want to win the World

Cup, so it’s going to be our focus,” she said before they left. The

team produced a strong finish to beat defending champions

Australia 52-47 in the final. It was the first time New Zealand

has won the title since 2005.

Sophia is not playing in this year’s national provincial

championship, instead opting to take some time out after the

world championship to travel around Europe.

U21 coach Janine Southby described Sophia as “a player for

the future”.

Ball skills run strongly in the Fenwick family. Sophia’s

sister Harriet Fenwick (2003-2008) played basketball for the

New Zealand Junior Tall Ferns at the Australian U18 National

Championships while at Rangi Ruru.

Sophia Fenwick (2006 – 2010)

Compiled and written by Sue Allison and Amelia Davis

Please contact Amelia Davis a.davis@rangiruru.school.nz if you know of a past student success that needs celebrating.

Transition Girls’ Morning Tea On Wednesday 25 September, the school dining room

opened its doors for the annual Transition Girls’ morning

tea. This year forty five attended, and after catching up

with friends and acquaintances, listened to the Business

Manager, Neil Templeton, discuss building progress around

the school site.

Marie Moncrieff (Brown), Adrienne Lambie (Anderson and Margie Perry (Free)

Ann Bell (Dysart) and Pat Manning (McKerrow)

Desley Armstrong, Erie Cusack (Monro) and June Leggett (Bradbury)

32 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

Rangi Ruru Early Childhood College We are pleased to report the outcome

of the External Evaluation and Review

visit that was undertaken by NZQA

evaluators in June, as notified in the

last Rangi News. The College received

confidence statement ratings of ‘highly

confident’ in education performance and

also in ‘capability in self-assessment.’

This outcome of the highest possible

EER rating is recognition of the team

effort in ensuring the teaching and

learning context and delivery of

study programmes meet stakeholder

requirements. The EER reports for

tertiary institutions are published on the

NZQA website for public viewing on:

www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/

external-evaluation-and-review/

Regretfully the College’s long-standing

Nanny Education qualification will not be

offered in 2014, our final year of operation

and delivery of the Diploma of Teaching

(ECE) qualification. Unfortunately there

were insufficient applications for a

viable intake for the Nanny Education

programme next year. For the College,

this marks the end of an almost 30 year

era as a key provider of nanny education

for in-home employment in New Zealand

and overseas. In the next edition of Rangi

News we will share with the community,

the historical journey of the qualification,

which was first delivered in 1985 to 20

students. The final student year group

enrolled in the Diploma of Teaching (ECE)

programme will complete their study

requirements in 2014.

Alison StevensonDirector

Rangi Ruru Preschool NewsThe Preschool offers a stimulating range of experiences

for the children, including additional programmes based

around children’s interests, such as Playball and music

sessions.

During this term, the children have had an opportunity to

participate in an age appropriate weekly music programme

with teacher and music specialist, Sandy Watson. The

sessions are aimed at integrating a variety of music and

movement ideas using activities that involve all the senses.

The sessions are fun and interactive and include listening to

music, playing and creating. The children are also learning

to write, read and play simple notation on unturned and

tuned percussion instruments. They are also learning simple

graphic notation to write down their ideas before moving

on to performing their creations. Several children are also

learning the violin, ukulele and piano in individual lessons.

The methods used for this instruction include Suzuki, Karl

Orff and Susan Paradis.

The aim of the specialist music programme is to help

develop children’s awareness of music in an enjoyable and

creative way. At the same time children are building and

developing their skills, knowledge, appreciation and love of

music.

Vanessa PauleyHead Teacher

46 Rhodes Street, Christchurch preschool.rangiruru.ac.nz

• for children aged 2 to 5 years• operating under a full day licence • quiet location • flexible hours• offering 20 hours ECE

Rangi Ruru Pre-school is a small community based centre:

03 983 3757

Music specialist Sandy Watson with several young students participating in the music programme

EARLY CHILDHOOD COLLEGE

33www.rangiruru.school.nz

RANGI RURU OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION

RROGA

A large number of Old Girls attended the

RROGA AGM this year. We celebrated 90

years of the Old Girls’ Association and

took the opportunity to thank Deborah

Errington (Teale) who stood down as

President. Deborah has done a great job

over many years. Liz Lovell (Bain) took on

the role of President.

The RROGA is working towards

establishing a website and Facebook

page to keep in touch. RROGA is hosting

the Reunions over 9 and 10 November,

the Leavers Ball on 6 December and is

looking forward to hosting a Cocktail

function early in 2014 to celebrate the

125th year of Rangi Ruru. This busy

committee is always looking for new

members or helpers for their functions.

If you wish to get involved email Liz –

globe@vodafone.co.nz

If you’d like to update your email

address or any other contact details that

we hold please contact addresschanges@

rangiruru.school.nz

Reunions for 2013 will be held 9 and 10 November20 years on (Year 9 1993) Organiser: Hilary Walton (Blackmore) E:

hilary.blackmore@gmail.com

30 years on (Form 3 1983) Organiser: Lara Vivian E: laravivian@xtra.

co.nz

40 years on (Form III 1973) Organiser: Louise Smart (Anderson)

E:andrew.louise.smart@gmail.com

50 years on (Form III 1963) Organiser: Ali McQueen E: a.mcqueen@

rangiruru.school.nz

60 years on (Form III 1953) Organiser: Jane Sullivan (Gilbert) E: jane.

sullivan@xtra.co.nz

70 years on (IVB1 or IVB2 1943) Organiser: Hilary Sutton

For any enquiries, contact Hilary

at school on (03) 983 3700 ext 828 or

h.sutton@rangiruru.school.nz

Students pictured outside Te Koraha, 1946

Liz Lovell (Bain)RROGA President

34 Inspire, challenge, empower … that’s the Rangi spirit.

It’ll take a fair bit of practice, but trust us, getting that fi rst jumbo jet off the ground will be a great feeling. And it’s just one big moment you can look forward to as an Air Traffi c Controller. It’s an exciting, rewarding career for which attitude and aptitude are important and we’ll give you the qualifi cations.

Become an Air Traffi c Controller!

Check out our website now for videos, tests and games,

and all the info on what’s involved and how to apply to become an ATC.

www.airways.co.nz/atccareers

Scan the code to see if you’ve got what it takes.

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35www.rangiruru.school.nz

The Face of Uncertainty, Photography by Anna Bruce, Year 9

All the girls decked out in their clan colours for the clan singing competition on Friday 27 September

59 Hewitts Road, Christchurch 8014Phone +64 3 983 3700

office@rangiruru.school.nzwww.rangiruru.school.nz

The Cultural Concert