Highlights of 2009
An extraordinary year of achievement is summed up below. A real highlight was the effort put in by the school to support World Vision resulting in an unexpected World Vision Scholarship award for Wellesley. Ben Carpenter represented the school at this week-long event.
Academic
• 1st Wellington Regional Mathswell Final. (4th time in 6 years)
• 1st ‘Tournament of the Minds thinking competition
• 1st DomPost NIE Current Events competition (last six years, 1st or 2nd).
• 1st Class 1 NIWA Wellington Regional Science Fair (Josh Rippin).
• 1st in New Zealand Year 5 ICAS Computer competition (Jack O’Keefe).
• 1st in New Zealand Year 8 ICAS Spelling competition (Oliver Rowe)
• 2nd in NZ Children’s Literature competition (NZ final).
Secondary School Scholarship Winners
Special congratulations to T J Va’a who won the Headmaster’s Scholarship to Scots College, and to William Johnstone, for winning an Academic Scholarship to Wanganui Collegiate.
Current Events Competition
The Wellesley teams performed brilliantly, picking up 1st and 2nd place in their division and continuing a fine tradition over the last six years. Our first team of Alex Wierzbicki, Zac Brodie, Claude Foley and Hugo Phillips scored 75 out of 80 points. Our second team of Harry Parr, Ben Freeman-Catley, Lawrence Henderson and Nick Thyne, squeezed into second place, by half a point, over St Bernard’s.
We entered four teams in this year’s ‘Tournament of Minds’ competition – a problem-solving programme in which each team is required to solve a demanding, open-ended challenge. One of our Y7 and 8 teams, comprising Harvey Henderson, Harry Parr, Freddie Tennent, Nick Welch, Matt Smith, Louis Stevens and James Walton, won the Senior Division of the competition and was invited to travel to Brisbane, in October, to represent the Wellington Region in the Australasian Finals.
Maths
Wellesley entered 215 students from Year 4 – 8 in the ICAS Maths Competition. Four students gained High Distinctions which place them in the top 1% in New Zealand. Taylor Belsham, Krishan Betty, Edward Wilson and Alex Wierzbicki received High Distinction. 28 students received Distinction (top 10%): Henry Burton-Wood, Harry Cook, Harry Davis McCort, Rob Dickson, Albert Humphries, Thomas Bramley, Jack O’Keefe, Harrison Stewart, Oliver Whyte, Sean Aitchison, Toby Bowron, Ben de Silva, Ben Dickson, Ben Wolyncewicz, Matthew Wong, Alastair Gordon, Josh Rippin, Zac Brodie, Matt Girvan, Hugo Humphries, William Johnstone, Jack
McCormack, Ryan Palmer, Oliver Powell, Andy Su, Toby Taylor, Nick Thyne and Nick Welch. 58 students received Credit certificates.
41 Year 7 and 8 boys sat the testing Westpac Maths competition in Term 3. Matt Girvan won a prize for his amazing effort (top 0.3% in NZ). Oliver Powell achieved a High Distinction (top 1%). A further eight boys achieved Distinctions (top 15%); Edward Wilson, Alex Wierzbicki, Andy Su, Taylor Belsham, Alistair Gordon, Hayden Nickel, Carlos Speirs and Willem van der Wilt. A further 23 boys achieved Credits.
The Wellesley Mathswell team of Oliver Powell, Krishan Betty, Andy Su, Edward Wilson, Ryan Palmer and Alex Wierzbicki, won this year’s Wellington Mathematics Association competition. Over the last decade or more, Wellesley has dominated this premier competition, either winning or being a place-getter.
Dunedin Problem Challenge
32,700 children from 610 schools entered. (120 of our boys)
26 Boys achieved Excellence (top 12% in NZ), 39 achieved Merit (next 24% in NZ).
Excellence to:
Matt Girvan, Oliver Powell, Ryan Palmer, Alex Wierzbicki, Toby Taylor, Edward Wilson, Sam Craig, Dominic Miller, Krishan Betty, Andy Su, Hugo Humphries, Zac Brodie, Michael Franklin, Quincy MacDonald, Taylor Belsham, Fergus Brodie, Oliver Chiaroni, Ben Freeman-Catley, Alistair Gordon, Josh Rippon, Carlos Speirs, Willem van der Wilt, Padraig Simpson, Hayden Nickel, Felix Humphries and
Sean Aitchison.
English
197 boys from Year 4 to Year 8 entered the ICAS English competition. Congratulations to Andy Dowell, Taylor Belsham and Oliver Powell who received High Distinction certificates (top 1%). 23 students received Distinction certificates, (top 10%): Alexander Plimmer, Jacob Masseurs, Joseph Plunket, Tobin Armstrong, Lee Phan, Alex Naue, Oliver Whyte, Benjamin Wolyncewicz, Ben Dickson, Sean Aitchison, John Burford, Jake Elston, Oliver Hutton, Harvey Henderson, Alexander Wierzbicki, Mike Franklin, Mitchell Barclay, Matthew Girvan, Claude Foley, Ryan Palmer, Hugo Humphries, Toby Taylor and Cambell Morris.
ICAS Spelling Competition. Special congratulations to Oliver Powell who scored 100% in this test and was top in NZ. Oliver will be presented with a medal at the NZ ICAS awards along with Jack O’Keefe, for his top NZ mark in Computer Studies. Alexander Bryan, Ben Dickson and Oliver Powell received High Distinction certificates, (top 1%). 7 students received Distinction certificates, (top 10%); Luke Evison, Alexander Naue, Samuel Mendes, Andy Dowell, Andrew Moore, William Cho and Hugo Humphries.
Over 150 boys from Year 3—6 took part in the New Zealand Speech Board’s Oral Assessment Programme. 52 boys gained Distinction, 84 boys gained Highly Commended awards and 14 gained Commended certificates.
Congratulations to our own school speech competition winners: Curtis Mills, Tim
Hornabrook, Jake Elston, Matthew Bloomfield.
Our Children’s Literature team of four boys: Harvey Henderson, Hugo Humphreys, Oliver Powell and Ben Stewart, travelled to Auckland to compete in the New Zealand Final. Fifteen teams were competing for a place in the team to compete in the World Finals in Johannesburg, South Africa. The boys fought hard all the way and achieved a very creditable second place.
Science
All teachers are responsible for science teaching at Wellesley,
but having a specialist teacher, (Mr Stan Swan), this year, has boosted our science programmes and has provided excellent professional development for our staff.
ICAS Science Competition
This year has once again produced very
positive results for the 157 Year 4 - 8 students who sat this exam. Five boys scored exceptionally well by gaining a High Distinction, with another 16 receiving
Distinction. High Distinctions, (top 2% and above nationally), were awarded to: Tom
Mackenzie, Matthew Wong, Taylor Belsham, Ryan Palmer and Oliver Powell. Distinctions (above the top 10% nationally), were awarded to: Sandy McLachlan, Nick Thyne, Ben Humphries, Matthew Girvan, Alexander Wierzbicki, Toby Taylor, Alistair Gordon, Saeran Maniparathy, Ben Carpenter, Ben Dickson, Benjamin Wolyncewicz, Sean Aitchison, Jack O’Keefe, Jacob Masseurs, Oliver Whyte and Campbell.Benseman.
Another 46 students received Credit awards, (top 30% nationally).
NIWA Wellington Regional Science and Technology Fair: Special congratulations to Josh Rippin ‘Children as Eye Witnesses’ who received 1st prize in Class 1 of this competition, and was one of thirty Y7-13 students selected for the national ‘Realise the Dream’ competition. Congratulations also to William Mercer who won the Australasian Corrosion Association’s prize for his study on ‘Fruit Battery Power’.
127 Wellesley boys sat the 2009 International ICAS Computer Skills Competition.
Special congratulations to Jack O’Keefe, Joseph Plunkett, Sean Aitchison, Claude Foley, Kamrin Hira and Nick Thyne, who scored High Distinction, (top 2%). Jack O’Keefe scored a remarkable 30 out of 30 and has won an ICAS medal. 9 boys achieved Distinction, (top 10%): Swapnil Bhagat, Thomas Snaddon, Matthew Wong, Saeran Maniparathy, Ben Stewart, Lachlan McGuinness, Oliver Powell, Toby Taylor, and Alexander Wierzbicki. 38 achieved Credit.
The Wellesley Chess Club continues to grow and enjoy excellent chess. Oliver Rowe swept all before him to secure the official title of School Champion, by winning every game. This has never happened before in the Taylor-Hall Cup and was thoroughly deserved. Since Andy Su joined the chess club in Year Four, he has consistently been the best player in the school. Although Andy had won everything else, the Taylor-Hall Cup eluded him and he came second. Benjamin Wolyncewicz who has established his credentials as a champion in waiting, came third.
2009 Year Chess Champions are: Ben Carpenter (Y7), Ben Wolyncewicz (Y6) Champion, Jacob Masseurs (Y5) Campbell Benseman (Y4).
SPORT
This year we have appreciated the the support of our GAP tutors Damien, Tom and Jack and parents Karl Belsham (rugby), Tom McCormack (rugby), Aussie McLean (rugby), Dallas Paotonu (rugby), Glen Tapara (softball) and Sharon Rippin (Underwater Hockey). Thank you to the large numbers of parents who have helped out in many different ways and competitions.
The 1st XI Cricket team once again made it to the semi-final of the Wellington division of the Milo Cup. The Colts rugby and hockey teams were unbeaten
throughout the winter season.
James Fletcher and Jack Barlow represented the Wellington region in Nelson at the Inter-Provincial Cross Country Championships.
The Softball team remained undefeated.
Hugo Humphries and Dominic Miller led the Table Tennis team that won the Wellington regional event.
Wellesley Tennis was undefeated this year. Dominic Miller won the Hutt Valley Open Tennis Championship, beating Hugo Humphries in the Final. Nick Welch also made the semi-finals and Christian Davey won the Intermediate Final. Wellesley contributed three of the four players who represented Hutt Valley at the Central Age Group Tournament. Dominic Miller stayed on for the North Island Age Group tournament and made the Central Region team.
The Year 4—6 Swimming team dominated the Central Zone event and had plenty of success at the Inter-Zone. The senior boys were also dominant at their zone event with Nico van der Wilt being the stand-out, winning his three races. He joined Rory McNay and Conor Bowron at the National Age Group Championships. The Year 4 - 6 classes were involved in a wide range of Zone, Inter Zone and Regional events.
The senior boys attended Zone swimming and cross country.
The senior winter 1st Rugby, Football and Hockey teams had successful trips to
Christchurch, playing Cathedral Grammar, St Andrew’s College and Medbury. This was the first time the rugby team had not lost (drew 19-19) against Medbury since 1985, when Marc Ellis was in the team. We hosted Trinity Grammar and Hereworth School, as well as a number of other schools for day fixtures.
The Junior Black Caps basketball team won the Hutt Valley Competition.
A number of boys made Representative teams in a wide range of sports.
Senior Champions
Swimming: Sam Craig
Athletics: TJ Va’a
Cross Country: Sam Craig
Tennis Singles: Dominic Miller and
Doubles: Hugo Humphries and Dominic Miller
Table Tennis Singles: Hugo Humphries and Doubles: Dominic Miller and Hugo Humphries.
ARTS
Both the Performing and Visual arts continue to be strengths at Wellesley. We believe that Arts education enables students to generate ideas about themselves, their experiences and their environment, and to express these in a variety of artistic forms. Learning in the disciplines of the Arts impacts strongly on how students think.
The highlight of the Visual Arts programme in 2009 was the three days spent exploring the theme ‘Festivals-Celebrating Diversity’. The quality of the work reflected the motivation of the staff, parent helpers and boys.
Regular gallery visits and day trips encourage an awareness of one’s surroundings and a broader appreciation of the Arts. During art classes, the boys experience a wide range of media and are encouraged to develop their creativity.
The Performing Arts are also well represented at Wellesley. A number of year groups partcipated in Artsplash 2009.
The Year 8 boys learnt to create their own music using the software computer package, ACID. This unit began with an introduction to the software at the Soundhouse in Wellington. The boys then worked to compose their own pieces and cds.
Footnote Dance is a regular visitor to Wellesley. The company performed for us and conducted a number of workshops across the school.
Years 1 - 6 went to the Michael Fowler Centre to hear the Vector Orchestra perform both classical and contemporary pieces. The orchestra had encouraged schools to teach their students simple chords on the ukulele, prior to the concert, so that they would be able to play along.
The Auckland based company Class Act Opera visited Wellesley and performed a modern day opera ‘The Elixer of Love’ for Year 7 and 8. The Y6-8 Choir has enjoyed a successful year and continues to be an important showcase for the school.
The Rock Band made its first public performance this year and appeared in the ‘Battle of the Bands’.
The Orchestra is fortunate to have some exceptionally talented individuals this year and a wide range of instruments are represented. 80 students from Year 5 - 8 have made the most of the opportunity to learn piano, violin, keyboard, trumpet, sax, clarinet, flute, drums, guitar or recorder. The work of itinerant music teachers enriches the lives of our students.
Grandparents’ and Friends’ Day is a regular calendar highlight. It provides an opportunity for boys to perform to a most receptive audience.
The Arts, both Performing and Visual, constitute an important and enriching feature of life at Wellesley.
OUTDOORS
Outdoor Education programmes have included Yachting (Year 7 – 8), the Y7 West Coast Trip, the Y8 Castlepoint Camp, the Y6 Kaitoke Camp and the Y4-5 school-based Camp. The Junior School had a sleepover that included a fishing expedition to Days Bay Wharf. In February, the Year 7s went to Brookfield for a two day orientation camp. Supervised wharf jumping continued unabated, as per usual. A group of keen Year 8 boys headed off after school for an overnight tramp to Butterfly Creek. After dinner and a spot of eeling they slept under a tent fly. The boys were back at school the next day.
A new highlight for the Outdoor Education programme was the introduction of a voluntary early morning tramp, followed by wharf jumping and breakfast for the Year 7-8 boys.
The whole school actively participated in our Easter Service. We are very grateful to The Venerable Damon Plimmer for his continued support in both spiritual and practical ways. A continuing feature of our school’s spiritual programme is the way classes conduct a Chapel service, thus providing the boys with a “hands on” experience. A particular highlight was when the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt Rev. Dr. Tom Brown, led one of our Chapel services.
Four boys represented the school at the local ANZAC Day service. John Burford, Kieran Carter, Jules Harrey and Henry Burton-Wood sang ‘Sons of Gallipoli’ beautifully.
We continue to support Idi Archirou, our school World Vision child, through gold coin mufti collections. Other collections included: World Vision 20 Hour Famine where the school won a gold award, Amnesty International, the Solomon Island Appeal, Samoan Tsunami victims and the Cancer Society.
We were delighted to receive a World Vision scholarship in recognition for being one of the highest collecting schools in NZ. Ben Carpenter (Y7), was chosen to represent Wellesley and travelled to Auckland to learn more about the work of World Vision.
After winning a bronze award in 2008, our Enviro group continued with their good work.
