Tēnā koutou katoa, As the last bell of the year rings on what has been…
A big CONGRATULATIONS and THANK YOU to all those involved with our end-of-year 2025 Prize-Givings, which we held across Weeks 3-9 of Term 4. We celebrated Sports Prize-Giving (October 21st), Pasifika Prize-Giving (October 22nd), Year 13 Leavers’ Event and joint Year 12 & 13 Special Awards Prize-Giving (October 30th), the Year 11 Prize-Giving (November 6th), and the NPoW Prize-Giving (December 4th).
The Top Special Prizes awarded to Year 13 students, whose names will go onto our Honours Boards in the school Hall (Te Hōro) are:
- Our Top Academic Award – The Hicks Prize for Dux of Western Springs College – was presented to Jacob Schaffer
- The O’Keefe Scholarship for Year 13 Overall Merit & Runner-Up to Dux was presented to Kaya Locke
- The Grant Mackie Caring Award was jointly presented to Coco Barnes and Vi Poutukua Rua
- The Mission Statement Award for All Round Excellence was presented to Finlay Trelease-Hughes
- The Year 13 Sportsman of the Year & The Ivan Davis Te Whai Tihi Cup was jointly presented to Jacob Schaffer and Rehutai Appleyard
- The Year 13 Sportswoman of the Year was presented to Hannah Murphy
- The Ngā Oho Award for Contribution to Ngā Puna O Waiōrea was jointly presented to Waimarama Kaka-Nesbit and Nikau Gardiner
- Valedictorians for 2025 were Finlay Trelease-Hughes (WSC) and Ryan Hutchinson (NPoW).
We would like to make special mention of Jacob Schaffer, who as well as attaining Dux has jointly received the East Scholarship, which is awarded to a student who has displayed a worthy mix of academic ability, aptitude and application, and who has demonstrated a propensity to diligently apply themselves to their studies. Jacob, also jointly awarded Sportsman of the Year is a Champion Archer at an international level. You can read about his latest sporting achievements here.
We wish all our departing students all the very best for their exams and life outside of Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea!
Special Board Award
At the Year 12 & 13 Special awards prize-giving The Board of Trustees Award was presented to Sue Poupouare (Head of Counselling) for Outstanding contribution to Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea.
On its 25th anniversary, the award went to our dearest Sue who has worked both tirelessly and inspirationally in the most challenging of fields since beginning here in the year 2000 – a total of 26 years of service to the students and staff of Springs/Waiōrea.
From completing a University degree while working here, to taking on and completing advanced qualifications and extensive training in a highly specialised role, and rising to a Head of Department position, Sue has established a reputation of the highest professional standing as the unwavering guardian of our collective wellbeing.
Sue has an amazing ability to work under pressure; being a strong team player, an excellent communicator, a highly organised goal setter and an all-around amazing supporter of the young people in this community.
Our anchor, our confidante and supporter, Sue gives generously, but carries with a quiet resolve and total confidentiality the anxieties, struggles and burdens of so many in our Springs/Waiōrea community.
On the one hand absorbing so much of our community’s stress and on the other offering resilience, perspective and unwavering support, this generosity of spirit and resolve is a gift of compassion, patience and kindness and comes with a remarkable capacity for humour and despite the myriad skills and strengths, Sue remains ever humble. Congratulations Sue!
Poem from a grateful WSCW parent of a Y13 student
Keepsakes
Thank you for the memories
The Keepsakes of knowledge
Gifted as a Year 9 student
to WSC Nga Puna o Waiorea
And presented as a Year 13 graduate
Gratitude to Teachers and Staff of
Atea, Kapura, Moana, Oranga and Whenua
My Heart Is Full
Year 12 & 13 Special Awards Prize-Giving
Year 12 Top Academic Award recipients
Ivan had the pleasure to present the Y12 Top Academic Award recipients – Tara Milkop-Kerr, Jojo Lewis and Olive Faville – with their certificates and trophies for their perfect score of Excellence credits across all standards attempted in both Year 11 and 12 in their two-year journey to a Quality Level 2 qualification. Congratulations to Tara, Jojo and Olive!
Pasifika Prize-Giving
Sports Prize-Giving
Year 11 Prize-Giving
NPoW Prize-Giving
Thank you to all who attended the end-of-year Ngā Puna O Waīorea (NPoW) Prize-Giving held in Te Rehu on Thursday 4th December. It was a wonderful occasion that celebrated the achievements of our NPoW ākonga across all year levels, and a moving farewell to our Y13 ākonga as well as two kaiako (Whaea Sharene Horn and HOD Sports Academy/Outdoor Education Greg Uhlmann) who have played a huge role for NPoW ākonga.
** More photos to come **
Junior Prize-Giving
To be held on Tuesday 9th December. This article will be updated thereafter, so please check back again.
A full list of prize-winners and photos will appear on our school website later in the year under our Yearbook Companion Website [https://wscyearbook.co.nz/].
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