Otumoetai College
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Otumoetai College is a high school in Tauranga, New Zealand, situated in the Bay of Plenty province. Otumoetai College is a co-ed school revered for its strength in the sports of Volleyball, Hockey, Rugby and Rowing. Otumoetai College was first opened and established in 1965 and had a student roll number of 206 students ranging from year 9 to year 13. Today the school roll is counted at approximately 1,970 students. “Otumoetai College is predominantly European with a significant Maori student population. Asians and others comprise 5% of the total student population.” (AA Education Network, 2008). The current Principal is Dave Randell who has been with Otumoetai College since 2001. Otumoetai College is the largest co-ed Secondary School in the Bay of Plenty district, other surrounding Secondary Schools in the Tauranga area include; Tauranga Girls College, Tauranga Boys College, Mount College, Aquianis College and Bethlehem College. Otumoetai is claimed to stand for “peaceful waters” implied by the peaceful surroundings and estuary within the Otumoetai area (Farthing, 2005 p1). Otumoetai College can be found on Windsor Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga, within a 500 meter radius of both Otumoetai Intermediate and Bellevue Primary School. At present the staffing numbers within Otumoetai College include 196 teachers, administration workers and caretakers. Senior Leadership within Otumoetai College is currently lead by the Principal Dave Randell and the Deputy Principals, Bruce Farthing, Ricky Feutz, Mihi Moloney and Robyn Pettigrew (Otumoetai College, 2008a).
[edit] Mission Statement and Vision Statement
Otumoetai College has many aims and visions for the present as well as the future, in the way of education, its staff as well as students. Otumoetai College’s mission statement is to “provide a quality broad-based, education that encourages high achievement, respects cultures and leads all students to experience personal and academic success” (Otumoetai College, 2008b, p3). The vision statement at Otumoetai College is to have an “environment where students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own independent learning and are motivated to be learners for life” (Otumoetai College, 2008b, p2).
[edit] History
Over the past 45 years Otumoetai College has seen many faces through its doors, including staff, past students and even their children today as the new era of students at Otumoetai College. Many things have changed at Otumoetai College within the past 45 years including the infrastructure, buildings, rules, teachers, styles and ways of teaching, classes and behaviors. Many rules or guidelines of the earlier days that have now changed include the idea that in previous years, as a sign of respect, “pupils are to stand when any staff member or visitor enters a room” (Farthing, 2005, p18). Other rules that have been changed over the years include the idea that no students are to arrive or be dropped off at the school before 8:15 every school morning also the rule that “lunch is to be eaten in specified lunch areas only” (Farthing, 2005, p18). The change in these and other rules has been brought about over the years due to the constant changing atmosphere and dynamics of not only the school but the staff members’ and students’ attitudes.
The history of the land that Otumoetai College resides on goes back many years to the turn of the 20th century, where the land was farmed by a young Englishman named Mr Tollemache (Farthing, 2005). From that day on Otumoetai College has under gone many changes in appearance, including the “opening of the swimming pool complex, which was a joint venture with the Tauranga City Council” in 1968 (Farthing, 2005, p26) as well as the long awaited completion of the library block in September 1968. 1977 was seen as a stressful year for Otumoetai College and especially Harold Webber who was apprehensive about the growing number of students at Otumoetai and the fact that the number of temporary on-site classrooms had risen to a deplorable twelve (Farthing, 2005).
Like numerous other schools around New Zealand 2002 was a big year in the way of changes to the educational standards. NCEA or National Certificate in Educational Achievement replaced School Certificate which lead to a major disturbance with students, teachers and the unfamiliarity of the new concepts.
Today, Otumoetai College can be seen to prosper from the changes it has had in the past to become one of the top leading schools within New Zealand. Over the years it has seen its student roll increase to a colossal number, but has still managed to come out on top and continues to promote an environment in which “learning enlightens life” (Otumoetai College, 2008b, p1)
[edit] Otumoetai College Motto
The Otumoetai school motto is detailed within the school emblem which can be found not only on the uniform but within numerous places around the school. “It was designed by Mr F Graham and embodies three concepts” (Farthing, 2005, p1). The aphorism ‘Doctrina Vitam Illuminet’ means ‘let learning enlighten life’ and symbolises the idea that education is not only a process of gaining qualifications and going through your paces day by day in the effort to gain a job or career but “one which should bring us wisdom and so improve the quality of our lives and of the world in which we live” (Farthing, 2005, p1). The emblem entails three concepts or symbols; the torch with its red flame, the star beneath the torch and the silver waves on the dark blue background, each symbolising and holding its own meaning.
“The silver torch with its red flame standing on a forest green background, depicts the light of learning to be kept burning and handed on from generation to generation. The star beneath the torch is the heraldic recognition of Otumoetai as the third college in the community, and the silver waves on the dark blue background represent the quiet waters of the estuary near the college” (Farthing, 2005, p1).
[edit] Current Principal
In June 2000, Dave Randell was elected as the fourth Principal of Otumoetai College. Previously, he had been Principal at Taihape College in 1988 as well Melville High School in Hamilton from 1995 (Farthing, 2005). Therefore he brought with him a wealth of knowledge and skills which, when paired with the expertise of the already existing management team at Otumoetai College, has helped to ensure that the school has flourished into the vibrant, highly successful and ambitious school that it is today.
[edit] Past Principals
Harold Webber was the first Principal appointed at Otumoetai College in 1964. At that stage Otumoetai College was merely a piece of land waiting to become a complete collection of buildings and educational blocks, for the first roll of students arriving and starting in 1965. Previously Harold Webber had “been Principal at Paeroa College which left him in good shape for the task ahead” (Farthing, 2005, p5). Harold Webber remained Principal at Otumoetai College from 1964 until 1970.
The second Principal to grace Otumoetai College was Alastair Murray who took up the position in 1971. Similar to Harold Webber, Alastair Murray had had numerous years experience as not only a Deputy Principal in a city school but also the Principal of the Bay of Islands College. “It did not take long for Alastair to prove that he was in every way capable of continuing the strong leadership that the college had enjoyed” (Farthing, 2005, p9). Alastair Murray carried on the role of Principal for twelve years, finally leaving in 1983.
In June 1983, Peter Malcom was elected as the third Principal of Otumoetai College. Peter Malcom, like the other two past Principals, came from a strong experienced background within schools. Originally from Ashburton College, he was considered a great Mathematician. He brought numerous changes and great things to Otumoetai College and sadly retired in July 2000 “leaving behind him a very balanced school which provided opportunities for students of all abilities and learning programmes based on sound educational reasoning” (Farthing, 2005, p17).
[edit] Otumoetai Musical and Drama Productions
Over the past 44 years Otumoetai College has taken great pride in presenting numerous musical and drama productions to the Tauranga community. Over the years thousands of students and teachers have dedicated many hours and been heavily involved in frequent productions staged by the school. “The first concert took place in the college hall on the evening of 18 August 1965 under the direction of Mrs Bartlett” (Farthing, 2005, p44). From that date on the school has flourished and expanded their growing ideas and passions for dance, drama and performing, leading to numerous presentations for the community at Bay Court, the local performance centre in Tauranga.
[edit] Otumoetai College Musical Productions
2007 High School Musical
2005 Fame
2004 Return to the Forbidden Planet
2002 My Fair Lady
2001 Blood Brothers
2000 The Buddy Holly Story
1999 The Sound of Music
1996 Grease
1994 Chess
1993 Fiddler on the Roof
1992 Oliver
(Farthing, 2005, p49)
[edit] Otumoetai College Drama Productions
2006 Stepping Out
2002 An Evening with Moliere
2001 Cosi
1999 The Diary of Anne Frank
1994 The Secret Diary of Adrain Mole
1993 Teachers
1992 Whose Life is it Anyway?
(Farthing, 2005, p50)
[edit] Sports Catered for by the School
Athletics, In-line Hockey, Rowing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Rugby, Touch Rugby, Triathlon, Volleyball – Indoor, Volleyball – Beach, Water Polo, White-water Kayaking, Yachting, Surfing, Squash, Softball, Soccer, Snowboarding, Skiing, Skateboarding, Rugby Union, Rock Climbing, Netball, Motocross, Lawn Bowls, Karting, Indoor Bowls, Underwater Hockey, Hockey – Field, Gymnastics, Golf, Equestrian, Cross Country, Cycling, Cricket, Canoe Polo, Basketball and Badminton.
[edit] Past Achieving Students
Throughout the years Otumoetai College has seen many students pass through its doors and go on to prosper and develop into either great athletes or achievers within their given fields. Ex-Otumoetai students who have made a mark in society include Jason Lochhead who paired with Kirk Pitmann to represent New Zealand in the World Beach Volleyball Championships. Currently Jason Lochhead and Kirk Pitman “are ranked 26th in the Olympic Rankings, and need to make it in the top 23 to have any chance of qualifying for Beijing” (Volleyball New Zealand, 2007). Others include Georgina Matthews, 2004 New Zealand's top female street skateboarder, Glen Jackson, who was part of the 2004 Bay of Plenty Steamers team when they won the Ranfurly Shied and New Zealand NPC player. Vanessa Quinn, “New Zealands’ Downhill Mountain Bike World Champion in 2004” (NZ Girl online, 2007) is also an ex-Otumoetai student, also Natalie Hamilton who represented New Zealand at the World Rockclimbing Championships in 2004, Moss Burmester, who is a New Zealand Olympic Games representative and is a “Gold Medal winner in 200m Butterfly and a Bronze Medal winner in 100m Butterfly in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006” (Pinnacle, 2007). Others who have walked through the College doors include Peter Stafford who won a Sliver Medal for New Zealand in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Hockey, Gary Braid who played in the All Blacks for two years, and Sheryl Dawson who has been involved with the Bay of Plenty Magic netball team since 2002 and who earlier was the president of New Zealand Netball Association. Jeni Pearce is also another past student of Otumoetai College who today “is one of New Zealand’s leading nutritionists and dietitians” (Raupo Publishing, 2007), she has also written seven books; Eat To Compete, Eat to Compete Cookbook, Healthy Muffin Cookbook, New Healthy Muffins, Eat Your Stress Away, Healthy Pasta Cookbook, New Healthy Pasta, and is currently working on three new titles. She was also the “Winner of a prestigious Watties food writers award” (Raupo Publishing, 2007).
In 2005 Sarah Viggiano and Joanne Taylor gained a New Zealand Scholarship Award by gaining three single Scholarship awards each. Sonja Farthing, Richard Higgins and Kate Johnston gained two single Scholarship awards each while eleven other students gained a single Scholarship pass. Four of these Scholarships were gained as Outstanding Scholarships by Megan de Luca, Kate Johnston, Rosanna Keam and Richard Higgins placing them in the top 40 students in their respective subjects in New Zealand. These 23 Scholarships gained by eight boys and eight girls earned Otumoetai College more Scholarships than any other Bay of Plenty secondary school.
[edit] Past Head Students
2008 Anthony Jeffares, Sam Gouk, Jennfier Fellows and Sarah Munn
2007 Christiaan Drost, Liam Boyle, Hannah Croad and Alex Edge
2006 Paul Tietjens, Aric Thorn, Ash Davies and Anna McRae
2005 Richard Higgins, Robert Burley, Helen Mountfort and Monique Woods
2004 Fletcher Cranfield and Erika Henderson
2003 Andrew Tarr and Nicole Yardley
2002 David Ralph and Kelly Pratt
2001 Jonathan Robinson and Janine Speedy
2000 David Burley and Lexi Thorn
1999 Daniel O’Shea and Amy Coppen
1998 Jason Smith and Rachel Hart
1997 David Uren and Tracey Lochhead
1996 Peter Stafford and Jacqueline Byloo
1995 Titus Rahiri and Vicki Holmes
1994 Micheal Wallmannsberger and Melinka Berridge
1993 Rangi Tunui and Jennifer Malcom
1992 Simon Wheatley and Sharlene Atkins
1991 Colin MacKenzie and Maria Lawry
1990 David Cullen and Katie Busch
(Farthing, 2005, p94)
[edit] References
AA Education Network. (2008). Otumoetai college (Tauranga). Retrieved March 21, 2008, from http://www.aa-education.com/otumoetai-college-tauranga/
Farthing, B. (2005). Life Enlightened by Learning; The First 40 Years. Otumoetai College Board of Trustees: New Zealand.
NZ Girl Online. (2007). Sport Spotlight: Vanessa Quinn. Retrieved April 8, 2007, From http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/articles/6763
Otumoetai College. (2008A). Our School. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from http://www.otumoetaicollege.co.nz/our-school.html
Otumoetai College. (2008B). Otumoetai College Prospectus 2008. Otumoetai College Board of Trustees: New Zealand.
Pearce, J.(2004) Eat to Compete, For Young Athletes. Reed Books: New Zealand.
Pinnacle. (2007). Moss Burmester. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.mossburmester.com/
Raupo Publishing. (2007). Author Profiles: Jeni Pearce. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.reed.co.nz/profiled.cfm?viewauthor=133
Volleyball New Zealand. (2007). New Zealand Beach Volleyball Team Kirk Pitman and Jason Lochhead. Retrieved April 8, 2007, from http://www.volleyballnz.org.nz/index.php?id=93&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=100&cHash=07b26456fa
[edit] External Links
http://www.otumoetaicollege.co.nz/our-school.html
http://www.aa-education.com/otumoetai-college-tauranga/
http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=120
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/details.do?providerId=101108001
http://www.volleyballnz.org.nz/inde
