Kelston Girls' College

Kelston Girls’ College
Location
Achibald Rd, Kelston, Auckland New Zealand
Information
Type	State single-sex girls secondary (Year 9-13)
Motto	To wisdom with honour
Principal	Linda Fox

Kelston Girls’ College (KGC) is a single-sex girls state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High School (formed in 1954) became too large for the site on the corner of Archibald and Great North Roads.^[1] The boys moved to a new site further down Archibald Road and the original site became the home of Kelston Girls’ High School (now Kelston Girls' College).

Name change

In 2004 Kelston Girls’ High School Board of Trustees decided to undergo a change of name. Following consultation with the community, the school was renamed Kelston Girls’ College. At the time Board chairwoman Rosemary Caldwell commented that the name change would help to attract international students.^[2]

Curriculum

Kelston Girls' College is a Te Kotahitanga school.^[3] Te Kotahitanga is an education style aimed at raising Māori student achievement. It prescribes that the student is at the centre of learning in the classroom and that culturally responsive relational trust is the focus of all teachers.

Demographics

Kelston Girls’ College prides itself on its diverse student body. As of 2014 the school’s ethnic composition was as follows:^[4]

• Māori 16%
• NZ European/Pākehā 4%
• Samoan 30%
• Tongan 11%
• Fijian 6%
• Middle Eastern 6%
• Indian 5%
• African 3%
• South East Asian 3%
• Cook Island Māori 2%
• Niue 4%
• other Pacific 8%
• other 2%

Kelston Girls' College receives a number of students who have come to New Zealand as refugees. These students are supported with an orientation programme, regular homework tutorials and career planning.

Hauora centre

Kelston Girls' College has an onsite Hauora centre. Students have access to a doctor, registered nurse, physiotherapist, guidance counsellors, youth work, social worker and family planning services. The purpose-built centre aims to support students' physical, emotional and mental health.

Notable alumni

Sport

Sally Fausett (teacher) – archery, represented NZ at the 1996 Summer Olympics^[5]

Brenda Matthews – athletics, represented NZ at the 1972 Summer Olympics, 1996 & 1974 Commonwealth Games^[6]

Lisa-Marie Codling – rugby, Black Ferns

Linda Itunu - rugby, Black Ferns^[7]

Aldora Itunu - rugby, Black Ferns^[7]

Beverly Weigel – Athletics, represented NZ at the 1956 & 1960 Summer Olympics, 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games^[8][9]

Haidee Tiffen (teacher) - cricket, White Ferns ^[10]

Politics

Jacqui Church – Waikato District councillor for Awaroa ki Tuakau

Ruby Manukia-Schaumkel - Auckland councillor for Whau Local Board^[11]

References

1. Cox, Charlotte (15 April 2004). "Schools combine for 50th jubilee". Western Leader. p. 5.
2. Earnes, David (1 March 2005). "School eyes name change 'bait'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
3. Ministry of Education
4. Kelston Girls’ College Education Review Report 2014
5. "Untitled". Auckland City Harbour News. 8 June 1994. p. 19.
6. "Kelston at half century". Aucklander (West ed.). 20 October 2004. p. 14.
7. Burnes, Campbell (23 June 2015). "Rugby: Meet the Black Ferns hard-nosed sisters". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
8. "Beverly Weigel". SR/Olympic Sports. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
9. Williams, Roy (18 December 2011). "Athletics: Rule's wacko for Jacko". The New Zealand Herald.
10. "Student profile: Haidee Tiffen". University of Canterbury. Retrieved 20 March 2016.
11. "Whau candidate profiles" (PDF). Auckland Council. Retrieved 20 March 2016.

External links

Kelston Girls’ College website