Thank you for joining us for our Pō Whakanui – Celebration of Success last Thursday 13th November. This student-led event was a wonderful demonstration of our Onslow values, showcasing academic excellence, leadership, and diversity. We were delighted to celebrate the accomplishments of our talented students and enjoy their musical performances. Please find below the comprehensive list of awards presented that evening, detailing the achievements of each recipient;
1. Onslow Spirit award
| Melina Hogg (Year 13) | Melina has been heavily involved with leadership, including sitting on the board, and the student council Kākā Tangi Haeata as well as across schools student leadership where she organised a beach clean up among other events. Melina is known as a problem-solver who is committed to supporting others and making sure that others are included in school life. She is an intelligent and thoughtful thinker who shows manaakitanga to all those around her. She fully embodied the Onslow Values in all areas that she participates in. |
2. Onslow Leadership award
| Jessica Churchman
(Year 13) |
Jessica has shown leadership in many domains throughout the kura including as part of Kākā Tangi Haeata where she worked as part of a team to set up the first Te wiki o te Kākā. She has been a Māori student representative on the school board, a peer supporter for Year 9 to guide those Year 9 students in their first year at Onslow, and even gave up morning teas and lunchtimes earlier this year to help operate our canteen when our former provider closed. She is also a leader of Te Whānau a Tarikākā, our kapa haka group. Jessica is known for being super supportive in everything she does, particularly helping boost the confidence of those around her. |
3. Innovative, Creative, & Critical Thinker Award
| Muhammad Zayan Abbasi (Year 10) | Zayan was judged first in Class 4 at the NiWA Regional Science Fair for his project “Pipe Patrol: The Robotic Saviour Below”, wherein he developed an operational pipe inspection robot so that industrial workers wouldn’t need to be exposed to lethal chemicals and gases. He got first in Year 10 across all Wellington schools, an ikeGPS award which recognised excellence and innovation in precise measurement, and an Engineering NZ Award. |
| 4. Academic Group of the Year
Mathswell Team – Year 9 |
The Mathswell teams, consisting of a Year 9 team, a Year 10 team, a Year 11 team, and a combined Year 12 and 13 team, exemplified the Onslow College values at the Wellington Mathematics Association competition held at Victoria University of Wellington this year. The Year 9 team placed highly this year, coming in second place. | ||
| 5. Community Contribution Award
Jacob Hemsley (Year 13) |
Jacob generously donates his technical expertise to the Onslow College tech team that puts on our assemblies, musical and theatrical performances, Matariki celebrations, special celebrations such as Pink Shirt Day, the talent show during Te Wiki o te Kākā, Onslow Festival, and, of course, Pō Whakanui. Not only that, Jacob has been training younger students to support our performances after he graduates this year. Without Jacob as a major part of the team, many of our performances for the past five years wouldn’t be close to what they are now. | ||
| 6. Cultural Individual of the Year
Scott Picard (Year 11) |
Scott represented te Kāreti o Tarikākā, our kura Onslow College, at regionals and nationals for Ngā Manu Kōrero. He came first place in Korimaki and received Best Prepared Speech and Best Male Speaker for his passionate defence of pride in his Māori culture. | ||
| 7. Cultural Group of the Year –
Te Whānau a Tarikākā |
Te Whānau a Tarikākā deserves to win Cultural Group of the Year for their powerful representation of our school at key events both locally, regionally and nationally. Standing proudly on their own for the first time at the regional kapa haka competition, they showed courage, unity, and excellence. Their unwavering commitment to upholding and celebrating Māori culture inclusive of all cultures and diverse student community has enriched our kura, embodied our schools values and inspired our wider community |
| 8. Te Amokura – Cultural Excellence at Onslow College | Tuia Reedy (Year 12) | Maia Thompson (year 13) |
| 9. Te Aupikitanga o te Reo Māori – Excellence in Te Reo Māori | Ted Henderson (Year 13) | Maia Thompson (year 13) |
| 10. Vocational Pathways Awards | Kobi Harrington – Year 12 (Automotives) | Cherike Du Plessis – Year 13 (Health & Animal Health) |