The school crest represents the storehouse of knowledge.
The pataka, the storehouse, held precious food reserves in traditional Maori settlements and nourished and enhanced the growth and strength of the community around it. In the same way, the community is part of growing, creating, collecting and sharing the knowledge with all who are part of the Aotea College community.
The school crest is worn on the school uniform today.
Nā tātou, tauira mai, kaiako mai tēnei waiata a Taku Turanga i te tau 2017. I takea mai te matū o te waiata nei i roto mai i te kitenga atu o te tauira ki āna tutohu whenua o tana taone nei a Porirua. Ka mutu, ko te taitara a Taku Turanga, he mea tipako te ingoa i te whakaaro he turangawaewae a Aotea mō te tauira mo ōna tau e rima nōna e taiohi ana. He waiata whakamana, whakahari kia whakaatu i te mana, otira te aroha o Aotea whānui ki te tangata!
Taku turanga was composed by a collective effort of students and teachers in 2017. The idea of the song came from a student’s view of the landscape that sits just beyond the harbour of our small town of Porirua from our school. The name of the song, ‘taku turanga’ was also inspired by the idea that the school is a place of grounding, of foundation for the students over their 5 years as young teens. It’s a song to embrace and rejoice to showcase the solidarity and love of the school to all people!
Manukura waiata
Hau mai ra ki taku turanga e!
Nei te reo maioha o Aotea e~!
Soloist
Welcome to my school!
Here, you are greeted by Aotea College
Kahui Katoa
Ka huri aku mata ki ngā puke
whakamaunga, ko Whitireia
Ko Rangituhi e tu mai rā!
Hoake tāua ki ngā wai o Porirua!
Koia te mahau o taku turanga e!
Taku turanga i takea mai i te rangi
Taku turangi i takea mai i a Tawhirirangi
Taku turanga ko Aotea e!
All
I turn towards the hills and the mountains
Whitireia and Rangituhi
That stand before me
Let’s make way to the waters of Porirua
The porch of our foundation, my school
My school, derived from the sky
My school, a product of the god of the clouds
My school, ko Aotea e!
Tēnei te reo whakamihi
Atu ra ki a koe
Inā te aroha, inā te hari koa
Ka tukuna ki a koutou e!
Hau mai rā ki taku turanga!
Here are my words of acknowledgment
for you
full of love, full of joy
An offering for all
Welcome to my school!
Kaea
Torona kei waho!
The students descend in many
Titiro whakarunga ki te
pae o kapua
Kei te whakaheke,
whakaheke nga tauira!
Kahui Katoa
O Aotea e!
Whakatare atu
Ki taku turanga, taku whaitua O pae hiringa!
Tukua mai nga whetu o te rangi Tukua mai te
hiriwa o kapua Kia tupato e kaiwaka ma
Tutakina taku mana,
Taku ihi, taku wehi e tu mai nei
Au, au, aue ha! Hi!
Leader
Torona kei waho!
Look up to the sky above
to the distant clouds
ALL
Of Aotea e!
Take sight of my school,
my strong hold of
excellence
Where we collect the stars of
the sky and grab hold of
every silver lining.
The dark clouds afar, be
cautious For you will meet
my mana, my ihi, my wehi
that stands before you now!
Au, au, aue ha! Hi!
Teams choose which challenges they wish to complete. Typically the more difficult challenges will be worth more points. They won’t have enough time to finish all the challenges. Teams need to be strategic about which challenges best suit their skills and abilities.
At the inter-school events, each team will be located at a workstation, which contains an impressive assortment of easy to use equipment, including gears, wheels, pulleys, joiners, nuts and bolts, tools, aluminium framing, motors and electronics.
At the start of the event, teams will be given a booklet containing four challenges. Each challenge will be split into parts which range from easy to challenging.
The challenges incorporate engineering, science, electronics, mathematics and problem-solving. They are all designed to be rewarding and visually stunning. The challenge involves the use of life-sized props and equipment.
Reading comprehension and teamwork will help your team succeed.
We aim to run a full interschool competition and training to prepare but this will be dependent on the number teams we have
The World Scholar’s Cup is an international competition that takes place in over 60 countries. Aotea College first competed in 2017 and each year our numbers increase. Students compete in teams of 3. All are welcome!
There are three rounds:
Teams can just compete in the regional round. There is no pressure on successful teams to go to Australia/Yale.
The competition has a different theme each year, and different subject areas that need to be researched. There are four assessed components:
We meet after school every Friday from 3:10-4:45 in KM08. Please contact Mr. Prasad prd@aotea.school.nz for more information.
Toi Art club is a place to work on your art projects and develop your drawing skills through use of prompts. It is also a fun space to meet and interact with other artists and other people who have similar interests. The club welcomes and celebrates everyone who is interested in connecting through art!
When: Tuesday lunchtimes
Where: VA01
Who: Anyone interested in art
Student contacts: eleanor.marshall@aotea.school.nz natasha.eastwood@aotea.school.nz
Teacher contact: ley@aotea.school.nz
The Maths Club is held every Thursday after school (2:30pm to 3:30pm) in PK08. This is a place for anyone who enjoys maths problem solving, meeting like-minded people, playing maths games, solving puzzles, finishing homework, or practicing for assessments.
Contact Mrs Zuber (ZUR), Mr Chand (CHD), Mr Prasad (PRD), or Mr Harper (HPR) for more information.
Enviro Group
Our Goals & Visions:
Some of our future projects:
For any questions email:
mia.poore@school.nz (Environmental Manu Arataki)
Leda Farrow – Technology Teacher
Philippa Thompson – Social Sciences
Syd Andrews – Science
The Aotea College Chess Club is a group for people of all skill levels. We meet on Monday lunchtimes in the library to play some casual games. We also have out of school tournaments competing against other schools to win medals. Contact Yousef Abdeljawad add@aotea.school.nz or just come along if you are interested.
The Aotea College Barbershop Chorus takes pride in welcoming all students to sing. Our long-lasting history and reputation of excellence dates back to 2000 with national wins for the boys and girls quartets and eight national wins for the girls’ chorus. There are opportunities to travel and take your singing talents around Aotearoa with the Regional and National events. Many life time memories are made at these events and we welcome you to join us in Te Manawa for the following rehearsals:
Monday lunchtime for Upper Voices Chorus
Wednesday lunchtime for Lower Voices Chorus
Please email gre@aotea.school.nz for more information
If you’re looking for adventure and roleplay, this is the club for you! Join a close knit community of friends as we travel through a world of our own creation, defeating dragons and exploring dungeons. No skill or previous experience required, just a willingness to learn.
We meet Tuesdays after school, but there is some set up required, so please email soph.abery@aotea.school.nz for more information or to get involved!
An art journal is a journal in which you combine art and words to express yourself. An art journal is your own private and personal space where you can write, draw, and create almost anything, without limits or without the pressure to have a perfect finished product.
Art Journaling Club is a place to take time out and relax during a busy school day and learn more about art journaling.
When you come to the Art Journaling club you will have the opportunity to experiment with different art techniques and materials to create an art journal page.
If you want to explore your creativity, have fun and meet new people art journaling meets on Monday lunch times in KT01.
For more information contact:
All comers choir is a junior singing group that creates a fun and inviting space for young people to sing and have fun. We meet every Friday at lunch time in TM03. We created this group to help the juniors build their confidence and skills to join Barbershop when they feel ready or to have a safe place to express themselves.
If you would like more information, please email Miss Thomas (tas@aotea.school.nz) or Miss Adams (ads@aotea.school.nz).
Rainbow Aotea
Rainbow Aotea is a support group for LGBTQIA+, MVPFAFF+, and Takatāpui students. We hold sessions twice a week and run activities to support rainbow students. We currently meet Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtime in TM02. For more information, email cv@aotea.school.nz or visit Instagram @rainbowaotea. All rainbow students and supporters are welcome, see you there!
Aiga Pasifika has been formed to give students the opportunity to come together and build connections through Pasifika languages, cultures, sports and arts. Students will meet at lunch time in TM02 every fortnight. The leaders in charge of Aiga Pasifika will take students through a range of different activities. Food will also be provided. We hope that Aiga Pasifika will allow students to embrace their cultural identity, feel a sense of belonging to a place and be proud of being Pasifika here at Aotea College.
If you have any questions about Aiga Pasifika email Ms Collins (col@aotea.school.nz)
Origami Club
The AC origami Club is a haven for paper folding enthusiasts of all skill levels, where the magic of transforming a simple sheet of paper into intricate wonders comes to life. Join us every Friday at lunch time from 1: 05 to 1:55pm in PK10.
🌸 What We Offer:
Dive into the art of origami with our friendly community of paper wizards! Whether you’re a seasoned folder or a curious beginner, our club provides a supportive space to learn, share, and create. From classic cranes to complex modular designs, explore the vast universe of origami techniques guided by our passionate members.
Come to the origami club to make new friends with fellow paper enthusiasts who share your love for this ancient art form. Swap tips, tricks, and stories during our regular meetups, and collaborate on exciting group projects that showcase the beauty of origami.
Join us at the Origami Club and let the magic of origami bring a new dimension to your creativity. Unleash the power of paper, one fold at a time! 🌟✨📜
Contact: Ms Sun: sun@aotea.school.nz
WELLBEING TEAM
The Wellbeing Team works to promote the wellbeing of the Aotea school community. We organise or participate in the organisation of events that promote inclusion, healthy relationships, manaakitanga and anti-bullying work, such as Pink Shirt Day, Kindness Week and Gumboot Friday. We are also open to ideas that members bring.
In 2023 we are planning to have a gender equality week in collaboration with Rainbow Aotea. We will invite guest speakers on topics such as managing exam stress and strategies that can improve wellbeing.
We meet every Tuesday in KRMEZZ during lunchtime.
Come and join us! Casual members are also welcome.
Email: Grace Williams, Isabelle Lauder or Maria Kecskemeti
grace.williams@aotea.school.nz
Library Activities
Meet in the Library Wednesdays at Interval
Come along and talk about books. Share your fav reads and get recommendations of what to read next. Each meeting we focus on a different genre.
Meet in the Library last Thursday of the month at Interval. Check Student Notices for reminders. Riveted by Simon teen releases a new book each month to read online. Each month we pick a title and at the end of the month, come together to discuss thoughts and whether the school library should order it in or not.
If you have any questions about any of the activities above and/or would like to participate email Ms Wilson (win@aotea.school.nz) for more information (unless otherwise stated. E.g. for Dungeons and Dragons email Ryan Pugh).
The Student Volunteer Army is a New Zealand student movement born from a Facebook page started following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. The network has no military affiliation and is focused on facilitating community action through youth engagement, preparing for disasters, and service.
SVA is a national framework for secondary school volunteering. SVA enables people to volunteer, giving them the opportunity to learn, network and make an impact.
Find volunteering opportunities that interest and mean something to you. Log volunteering hours through the SVA App.
The application automatically builds a Summary of Service that you can use when applying for scholarships, apprenticeships, and employment all while earning volunteering pins.If you are interested in joining go to https://sva.org.nz/, select join and create an account.
Aotea Theatre Makers is a drama group who aim to devise original drama pieces led by student ideas. Our first piece, Radio Road, followed a family as they moved their lives across the country and left the loss of one of their own behind. Along their journey they encountered lots of fascinating characters and situations. Come along and enjoy jumping into the process of making drama from scratch and populating the world with lively performances. In 2023 we look forward to jumping off the strong foundations we have made in 2022 with some exciting pieces.
Aotea Theatre Makers is: Mckenzie Holbrook, Josh Verhoeven, Geneve Brodey, Max Wallace, Epiny Rowsell, Anika Verhoeven, Megan Cook, Lenaia Nore-Grace, Alana Chapman-Walsh, Hamish Brown, Sofia Castro, Leah Crosland and Madeline Griffiths.
Te Kahui Kuratea (Kapa Haka o Aotea). Our purpose is to enable holistic achievement and prepare young people as life-long learners, to thrive in diverse, local, national and global communities. Our vision as Learners and learning at the centre of a culture of respect and manaakitanga. We work collaboratively to achieve excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. We grow learning partnerships with whānau and the wider community to support strong learning pathways. Potential for the growth, learning and development of all students is understood to be fundamental in achieving success across the curriculum in qualifications and Te Ao Maori. Te Kahui Kuratea Kapa Haka will Practise Thursday after school, Sundays and Three Day Noho Marae locally. Tamariki of all backgrounds are welcome and embraced.
Expand your knowledge of the world, discover new friends and celebrate Aotea College’s student diversity through cultural activities and presentations such as mini-language lessons, cuisine, and presentations about different customs and traditions.
Contact Ms Cox (Cox) for more information.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award equips rangatahi for promising futures by challenging young people to develop skills and tools to improve themselves – and their communities.
Our participants set their own challenge. With guidance from Award Leaders, each young person is encouraged to examine themselves – their interests, their ambitions, and set challenges for our four Award sections; Voluntary Service, Physical Recreation, Skills and Adventurous Journey (along with Gold Residential – at Gold level only).
There are three levels to Bronze, Silver and Gold and each level has four specific sections that participants need to complete activities in (plus a fifth at Gold level).
Adventurous Journey – Developing a sense of adventure and discovery while undertaking a team journey.
Physical Recreation – Engaging in physical recreation for the improvement of health, fitness and wellbeing.
Skills – Developing personal interests, creativity or practical skills.
Voluntary Service – Volunteering over a set period of time.
Gold Residential Project – Sharing a purposeful experience who are not your usual companions.
