Springbank School is proud to have been awarded Top in New Zealand for the past three years since choosing to move to the highly regarded International Cambridge Examinations. In 2010 Alex Bird was Top in New Zealand for IGCSE ICT and in 2011 Patrick Deely was Top in New Zealand for AS English Language. The students’ exams are all independently marked and moderated in England alongside the 9000 schools from 160 countries. Our students also achieved a 97% pass rate for all IGSCE exams, with 37% of students achieving an A grade.

Year 13 Graduate James Richardson received academic honours (DUX) and the overall Outstanding Student Award, whilst Ruby Hull and Megan Bramley received the Outstanding Student Awards for Junior and Middle Schools respectively. Special congratulations were also given to the close-knit group of graduating students who are all progressing on to very exciting careers (Engineering, New Zealand Navy Warfare Officer, Commercial Pilot and Hospitality Management).

After over a year of meetings and negotiations, the beautiful piece of art created in memory of Liberty Templeman will no longer be displayed in Kerikeri. This has been a Kerikeri community board decision that we all respect.

Instead, the ‘O-Void’ artwork is now on display at the Whangarei Art Museum. Designed by Christine Cathie, it is accompanied with a remembrance book for Libby, and was blessed by Te Warihi Hetaraka as it was being installed.

The artwork has already been visited by notable public figures including the Hon. Phil Heatley (Member of Parliament) and the Hon. Chris Finlayson (New Zealand Attorney General and current Minister for Art, Culture & Heritage). New Zealand Prime Minister John Key also visited the display last week. He took time to learn more about Libby’s story and wrote his own message to Libby in the remembrance book.

Despite the disagreement surrounding the public display of Libby’s memorial in Kerikeri, we are very proud of our students who worked closely with the Templeman family to complete this community project. Although Libby was not a student at Springbank, some of our students felt very strongly about ensuring we can all remember Libby in such a positive light.

If you would like to see the artwork, you can visit the Whangarei Art Museum Hours daily from 10am-4pm. An official unveiling ceremony will be held on 11th December from 1:30-3pm.

The much-anticipated event attracted over 1,500 people from the local community, who were kept entertained with live bands and an impressive bonfire throughout the evening.

Special thanks go to Louise Huett as chief organizer extraordinaire and official pyrotechnic Harry Irwin, who blew us away with a fantastic professional display of colour and sound.

For ICAS Computer Skills, Taiyo Serge achieved High Distinction (top 1% in New Zealand), while Taran Kern, Jack Thurston and Luke Bramley all achieved Distinction (top 10% in New Zealand).

Special congratulations also go to Isaac Chandler who achieved High Distinction for ICAS Science. Luke Bramely, Megan Bramely, Lauren Harrell and Sam Sutcliffe all achieved Distinction certificates.

These optional exams are sat by a large number of highly capable students across both New Zealand and Australia. Springbank has a proud tradition of high achievement for ICAS competitions and Principal Sophia Warren was delighted with our students’ continued success.

Springbank has introduced a new Outdoor Adventure Course as a formal class subject for all Year 12 and 13 Senior students. The programme includes a range of outdoor activities to build personal development attributes such as leadership, confidence and resilience. Students will also have the opportunity to achieve formal certificates such as a first aid course, day skipper course and a dive certificate.

Outdoor Coordinator Mike Warren believes it is a great opportunity for all senior students. “The course will be a good chance for students to spend a few hours outside of the classroom each week in a more social setting. We know that physical exercise and spending time outdoors is a great way for students to let off steam and keep fit, which will ultimately lead to better performance in their other subjects.”

Download the course flyer for more information.

Twelve students represented Springbank School at the Northland Secondary Schools Athletics Championships recently. Congratulations to Leah Claus who came first in the Intermediate Girls 100m and Robbie Angus who came 3rd in the Senior Boys Javelin.

Robbie Angus was also the Overall Award Youth Release Winner in The Billfish Foundation’s International Tag and Release Awards for 2011. The organisation aims to conserve billfish and sustain scientific research through their programme and recognises the conservation ethics and achievements of young anglers. Robbie’s passion for marlin/ game fishing is also evident in his artwork which is a feature of our current school newsletter cover.

Meanwhile, Josh Warin won the Doubtless Bay Junior Tennis Champs, competing as a 10 year old against players 13 years and older. Congratulations guys!

Thanks to Mike and Bob Warren and John Hunt for setting up the field and for the great group of parents who assisted on the day. The Year 5/6 class also provided a sausage sizzle and they raised $108.50 for the Christchurch Earthquake appeal.

Next Wednesday Mike Warren will be taking Harry Fredericksen, James Quinn, Leah Claus, Rentaro Arima, Vincent Claus, Megan Bramley, Robbie Angus, Eamonn Joyce, Danielle Briggs, Kirsten Foster, George Anson and Abi Foster to the Northland Secondary School Athletics Champs. Good luck!

Springbank staff and students organised a special assembly recently to join in unity for victims of the Christchurch Earthquake. The school sends our heart-felt thoughts to the people of Christchurch as they rebuild their lives and their city after the devastating earthquake.