Latest news with #CollegiateSchool
Otago Daily Times
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Mixed reaction to NCEA replacement plan
A pair of Dunedin principals say the proposed replacement for NCEA will be an improvement, but a teacher's union representative is concerned there will be a loss in flexibility for students. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and the Minister for Education Erica Stanford have announced a proposal to replace the entire NCEA programme with new national qualifications. Year 11 students would be required to sit a foundation test in numeracy and literacy and year 12 and 13 students would receive two new qualifications — the New Zealand Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of Education. Students would be required to take five subjects and pass at least four of them to receive a certificate being awarded a mark out of 100 and grades "that make sense to parents like A, B, C, D, E". Otago Secondary Principals' Association chairwoman Jackie Barron, who is a principal at St Hilda's Collegiate School, said her initial thoughts were the curriculum change would give teachers some certainty and schools some clarity around what was expected of them. Despite being positive about the changes, she said the information was new and would take time to process. There was previously some anxiety around what the NCEA was going to look like with recent changes to the qualification made in an attempt to put a stronger focus on literacy and numeracy. "This gives us a really clear timeline," Ms Barron said. There was enough time for teachers to adjust to the new curriculum as major changes to year 12 and 13 courses were not expected until 2028. Ms Barron thought it was the right call to replace NCEA if the new curriculum was inclusive and engaged all students. She said one of NCEA's strengths was its flexibility and it was important not to go back to a narrow form of assessment that only tested certain types of learning. "We need to maintain the openness to valuing all different types of learning." Otago Boys' High School rector Richard Hall said the proposed new curriculum appeared to be an improvement on NCEA. He said the existing NCEA framework faced challenges posed by an "attitude that can favour mediocrity". There were issues with it including excessive credit counting and an over-reliance on internal assessment at the expense of robust external examination opportunities. Otago Boys' had maintained a strong expectation for its students to sit exams even if they had already received all the credits they needed to pass. "We believe that a shift towards a potentially 50/50 model of internal and external assessment [exams] would represent a beneficial step forward," Mr Hall said. PPTA Otago regional chairman Kussi Hurtado-Stuart was concerned the new qualification would lose some of the flexibility NCEA had. He said the loss of flexibility would affect neurodiverse learners the most, especially if exams were heavily weighted. He was worried teachers would not be given enough resource support to transition into the new curriculum. "I think that there was a moment of solidarity and eye rolls this morning across the country both at the change that was proposed and the support they said we were going to get." Teachers' expectations were reasonably low there would be any support. Ms Stanford said the NCEA change programme was already funded and some proposals like the expansion of Vocational Education and Training pathways would require additional funding that would be considered in future budgets. The flexibility NCEA offered in externals and internals would be maintained with the new qualification and special assessment conditions would be, too.
Otago Daily Times
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
St Hilda's first with ‘Freaky Friday'
The cast of St Hilda's Collegiate School's production of Freaky Friday bust some moves during rehearsals for the musical being staged next week. PHOTO: CASS PICKERING A large cohort of St Hilda's Collegiate School students have been hard at work during the school holidays, putting the finishing touches on their musical production of Based on the novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films, the show is being performed for the first time in Dunedin and will run from next Wednesday to Friday at Mosgiel Coronation Hall. Freaky Friday follows the story of an overworked mother and her teenage daughter, played by St Hilda's students Amelia Baxter and Sylvie Harper, who magically swap bodies and have 24 hours to put things right. By spending a day in each other's shoes, the pair come to appreciate one another and strengthen their bond. Director Beth Waite said the production featured a 26-strong all-female cast, including male-presenting roles, along with a 16-strong band comprising mostly St Hilda's students, a 20-strong sets and props team, and a 10-member stage management, sound and lighting, costume, makeup and hair crew. "All up, we have about 70 students from across the school involved in bringing Freaky Friday to the stage, it has been a whole-school effort," Waite said. "We have been having a lot of fun with the weird events at the centre of the story — there are definitely a lot of high-jinks, as well as plenty of singing and dancing." The cast had worked closely with musical director Kane Welsh and choreographer Ariana Gepte to pull the "tricky" score and energetic dance sequences together and were doing a great job, she said. Alongside Baxter and Harper, principal Freaky Friday cast members include Chloe Forde, Evie Bennison, Yana Dewey, Olivia Harwood, Alex Barkman, Meisha Smith and Sophie Wagner. "Putting the show together has been a major effort for everyone, so it will be exciting to finally bring it to the stage next week," Waite said. St Hilda's production of Freaky Friday will be staged at Mosgiel Coronation Hall from Wednesday to Friday, at 7pm. Tickets via humanitix
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Behind every icon is a classroom: Can you guess where Sourav Ganguly learnt to lead?
Sourav Ganguly On July 8, 1972, Kolkata witnessed the birth of a boy who would one day redefine Indian cricket 's spirit. Sourav Chandidas Ganguly, affectionately called Dada, didn't just emerge as one of India's most iconic captains, he became the architect of its new cricketing identity. A fearless left-hander with elegance at the crease and steel in his spine, he scored over 11,000 runs in ODIs, captained India to historic triumphs, and ushered in an era of uncompromising leadership. But long before he became the 'Prince of Kolkata' or the 'Maharaja of Indian Cricket', his story began in chalk-dusted classrooms and quiet study halls. A maharaja in uniform Born into one of Kolkata's most affluent families, Ganguly was raised in luxury, yet his early life was not all silk and ceremony. His father, Chandidas Ganguly, ran a successful printing business, and at home, Sourav was nicknamed Maharaj, a title that hinted at grandeur, but also foreshadowed the expectations resting on his shoulders. He began his formal education at St. Xavier's Collegiate School, one of the city's most distinguished institutions. While other students balanced books and footballs, Sourav's mind quietly gravitated toward cricket, even as his mother hoped he would pursue academics over athletics. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo His passion, however, found a powerful ally in his elder brother Snehasish, a Bengal cricketer, who helped enroll him in a summer coaching camp. At the time, Sourav was still in school, studying in the tenth standard. To adapt, he did something remarkable, though right-handed by nature, he trained himself to bat left-handed just so he could use his brother's equipment. It was a subtle act of determination that would one day mirror his approach to captaincy: unconventional, unyielding, and unforgettable. Where Commerce met character After school, Ganguly stepped into St. Xavier's College, under the University of Calcutta, choosing to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Commerce. His time at college was more than an academic requirement; it was a quiet shaping of intellect, routine, and resolve. Balancing spreadsheets by day and cover drives by evening, he embodied the rare student-athlete archetype. What his education truly instilled was not just knowledge, but presence, he learnt to read the game like a textbook, respond to challenges like a strategist, and lead with the poise of someone who had studied not just cricket, but life. When academia honoured the athlete Decades later, long after he had turned stadiums into his classroom and taught a generation to never back down, the Bengal Engineering and Science University (now IIEST Shibpur) honoured him with an honorary Doctor of Letters ( in 2014. It wasn't merely a ceremonial title; it was academia acknowledging the intellect behind the innings, the leadership behind the laurels. Beyond the syllabus Ganguly's education extended far beyond lecture halls. His real curriculum involved team dynamics, boardroom negotiations, and on-field adversity. As captain, he mentored rising stars, navigated controversies, and handled press room pressure with the same calm he showed at the crease. He taught India to stare down giants, to win abroad, and to believe in itself. Whether making debut centuries at Lord's or rebuilding Indian cricket post-scandal, he applied lessons of patience, poise, and perseverance, qualities no textbook could fully teach, but which his life quietly absorbed. A legacy still unfolding Today, as Sourav Ganguly celebrates another year of an extraordinary life, we remember not just the sixes and the centuries, but the scholar within the sportsman. The boy who once adjusted his grip to borrow his brother's bat went on to grip the future of Indian cricket with unmatched vision. His journey is proof that education does not end with a degree, it evolves into how you think, how you lead, and how you rise. Happy Birthday, Dada. You didn't just rewrite the rules of Indian cricket, you redefined what it means to learn, lead, and leave a legacy. Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Watch New Zealand's 2025 Scrabble Championship Live
WHAT: 45th New Zealand Scrabble Championship WHERE: St Paul's Collegiate School, 77 Hukanui Road, Hamilton WHEN: All day Sat 31 May, Sun 1 June and Mon 2 June 2025 Seventy avid Scrabble players will be descending on Hamilton this coming King's Birthday weekend to decide who will be New Zealand's 45th Scrabble Champion. The premier event on NZ's Scrabble calendar is being livestreamed for the first time with expert international commentators. With the growing global interest in Scrabble, organisers are expecting over 10,000 views by the end of the long weekend. To tune in to the livestream go to The current national champion is Howard Warner of Wellington who has won the title a staggering 13 times. Howard is currently ranked #1 in the national standings. Trying to wrest the title from him are several New Zealand Scrabble Grand Masters and world ranked players including: Dylan Early (Wellington): Dylan won the 2025 NZ Masters Championship and is ranked #6 Chris Tallman (Mt Albert): Chris is currently ranked #2 in New Zealand Joanne Craig: A New Zealander resident in Sydney, Joanne is currently ranked #1 in New South Wales and #4 in NZ. Joanne has won the NZ Championship three times. Andrew Bradley (Mt Albert): Andrew won the 2023 NZ Masters and is ranked #9 Lewis Hawkins (Christchurch): At 21 Lewis is one of the youngest players in the Nationals. He came third in the 2025 Masters and is currently ranked 11th overall. Scrabble is a very popular game in New Zealand, and competition at all levels in the national championship is fierce but also lots of fun. Participants this year are from every part of New Zealand and are of all ages and occupations. The youngest participant is 12-year-old Maheu T-Pole from the Mt Albert Scrabble Club, and there are several competitors 80+ years old.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bonehead boys at fancy NYC prep school set up fake border-patrol checkpoint, ask to see students' ‘papers' — as mariachi band plays
Knucklehead preppies at Manhattan's elite Collegiate School last week pulled a senior prank by setting up a fake border checkpoint in the lobby and demanding to see classmates' 'papers' as a mariachi band played. The tone-deaf stunt at the $65,900-a-year all-boys Upper West Side prep school lit up a Facebook group of local moms at first puzzled by the musicians playing outside while surrounded by teens waving American flags — with some of the mothers thinking it was a May Day or pre-Cinco de Mayo celebration. A thread on the 'UWS Mommas' Facebook group viewed by The Post revealed the parents' growing chagrin as they learned more details about the scene. 'It was senior prank day,' a parent wrote. 'The seniors decided to set up a border patrol and made all the students go through it at arrival. I can't imagine how humiliating it felt for the Latino students.' A senior prank at Manhattan's elite College School featured a fake border checkpoint and a mariachi band. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post Another mom, alluding to President Trump's border and immigration policies, added to the thread: 'If that's a prank, it's in serious poor taste at the moment, and needs following up.' Additional shocking details about the stunt were revealed by Gothamist, which first reported on the boys' antics — and subsequent outrage from school staff and other students about the alleged anti-immigrant motives. The pranksters set up a cardboard booth May 1 wreathed in caution tape, from which they asked to see students' 'papers,' Gothamist reported. They also had an inflatable eagle riding a motorcycle in the school's lobby and adorned its entrance with American and Texas flags, according to the report. The mariachi band played outside while other students waved American flags. 'It was really bizarre seeing middle aged Latino men playing music next to white kids draped in the American flag. It looked exploitative,' a mom on the Facebook forum wrote. Leadership at Collegiate School did not return Post requests for comment. Gothamist said the head of the school, Bodie Brizendine, emailed parents and staff that officials 'regret that this 'prank' took the turn that it did.' Smirking students leaving class Tuesday all denied knowing about the prank to The Post. Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post A teacher outside the school Tuesday confirmed that an embarrassing jest went awry but didn't know specifics. 'They brought it up in our meeting but they didn't go into detail,' the teacher said. 'They were just saying how it was unacceptable. 'Now, I'm even more curious as to what actually occurred.' Scores of smirking students left class Tuesday and denied knowing what happened to The Post. Collegiate School's many illustrious alumni include John F. Kennedy Jr., 'X-Files' actor David Duchovny and former New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr. Its current board of trustees includes NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The centuries-old school last year was embroiled in controversy after its former head, David Lourie, allegedly ripped an antisemitism task force as a 'joke' and a 'power play by Jewish families' to have him ousted. Lourie resigned, and Brizendine took over.
