January 2023

Ben Way wins Gold and Bronze

Ben Way (Year 13) competed in the target events at the Archery New Zealand Outdoor National Championship held from 1-7 January 2023 over the summer holidays, and did superbly well. He won Gold in the U21 Men's Barebow and Bronze in the Open Barebow where he was competing against adults! This was in particularly challenging conditions due to strong winds, heavy rain and an earthquake to wake everyone up at 5.30 am on the second day!

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New Staff Profiles for 2023

 
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Jeremy Downing

Tēnā koutou katoa, I am joining Lynfield College as an English and Media Studies teacher. I have eight years teaching experience, including teaching teachers, and worked in the graphic design and advertising industry. Outside of the classroom, I act in musical theatre productions (most recently in Chess at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre) and record a monthly podcast discussing film.

Melanie
Williams-Taylor

I grew up in South Africa and came to Aotearoa many years ago. I have taught ESOL and English for over 10 years to students from all over the world, from ages 7-70, and of every level of ability. I love teaching. I’m really interested in how the brain works when we learn and I like learning how to teach to meet the needs of all my learners.

Tony Kang

Greetings, my name is Tony Kang. I am a social studies and history teacher new to Lynfield College. I look forward to meeting your dedicated sons and daughters in my classroom and around the college campus.



 

 
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Miranda Lovis

Kia ora, my name is Miranda Lovis and I’m joining Lynfield College as a Health and PE teacher. I love working with young people and before becoming a teacher I worked in youth mental health. In my free time I play softball, spend time with my cat, and enjoy watching TV and movies.

Min Milosavljevic

I was born in Serbia and came to Aotearoa with my family in 1994. I attained a Bachelor and Master degree in design from AUT, and have taught University students about design theory and culture. Alongside my interests in design and art, I also have a passion for sport, martial arts, and the classical guitar, and I enjoy dancing.

Camryn Ison

Kia ora, I am Camryn Ison, a first year PE and Health teacher. I am passionate about promoting an inclusive, high-quality Health and PE curriculum and pushing students to do their best. Outside of school I play hockey and love a good book. I am excited to be kick starting my teaching career at Lynfield and look forward to developing positive relationships with ākonga, Kaiako, and Whānau


Mihi Whakatau for New Staff in 2023

We were delighted to welcome new staff with a Mihi whakatau on Tuesday 31 January.

A Mihi whakatau is a Māori welcome or settling process as the meaning “tau” is to settle. The purpose of the Mihi whakatau is to remove the tapu of the Manuhiri (visitors) to make them one with the Tangata Whenua (Home people). It is a gradual process of the Manuhiri and the Tangata Whenua coming together.

The Mihi whakatau began with a karanga and haka performed by our Kapa Haka group and student leaders. Richard Winn, Deputy Principal, spoke for the Tangata Whenua and Jeremy Downing, new teacher of English and Media Studies, spoke on behalf of the Manuhiri.

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Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit

PHAM, Mr Khoa Dang (Mitchell)

Congratulations to past pupil Mitchell Pham has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years Honour List for 2023 for his services to the technology sector and New Zealand-Asia relations

Mr Mitchell Pham has been contributing to the technology sector in New Zealand for 30 years and building New Zealand-Asia relationships for 20 years.

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Mr Pham is a business and social entrepreneur in the technology industry. He serves as Director of CodeHQ in New Zealand and Vietnam, through which he has been innovating and leading in building New Zealand’s international capability and resource capacity for scalability and speed-to-market in the technology sector.

He is a co-founder of the Kiwi Connection Tech Hub, a platform for technology businesses to accelerate presence and engagement in Southeast Asia. He chaired NZTech and co-founded and launched several industry networks and collaborations including New Zealand Digital Health Association (formerly New Zealand Health IT Cluster), various TechNZ collaborations across education, agriculture and insurance, and the New Zealand ASEAN Business Alliance.

He champions the technology industry’s roles in Digital Inclusion and Environment-Social-Governance. As Chair of the Digital Council, he contributed to the government’s Digital Strategy for New Zealand. He is an honorary advisor to the Asia New Zealand Foundation and an Entrepreneur-In-Residence with the University of Auckland. Mr Pham is recognised internationally as a World Class New Zealander by KEA, a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, an Asia 21 Fellow and Global Council Member of the Asia Society.


Auckland Schools Closed

The following is a message from the Directors of Education for Auckland

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) asked us to take action to help minimise traffic movement on Auckland roads while vital infrastructure is urgently repaired.

With the possibility of further weather damage leading to more disruption, the Secretary for Education has directed that schools, kura, early learning services and Tertiary institutions in the Auckland region (Wellsford to Pukekohe) must close for physical attendance and instruction until 7 February.

Schools and kura can open or remain open for onsite instruction but need to provide distance learning.

Early Learning Services may allow the physical attendance of any child whose parent needs them to do so, in the same that we did for COVID, but must otherwise be closed.

Principals and education leaders have done a fantastic job of readying their schools for opening, and I know that this decision will be upsetting for some of them and for some parents.

NEMA will be announcing this decision formally. More information can be found at Radio New Zealand: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/483340/auckland-weather-all-schools-early-childhood-centres-and-tertiaries-to-shut-for-a-week 

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