6 Issue 53 – June 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
Held at the Whangaparaoa Navy Base, the forum explored
environmental conservation with the students through
leadership and team building activities. Jessica says
since taking Environmental Systems and Societies as part of
her International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, her interest in
conservation has grown significantly.
“When I saw this opportunity I thought it would be a good way
to get involved and begin to encourage awareness and involvement
in my community,” Jessica comments.
On arrival the students were given a crash course of the lectures
the cadets in the Navy are subject to in order to move up the ranks
of leadership. Next, they were put to the test with team building and
leadership-developing exercises.
Jessica was fortunate to lead for one exercise. Her team were
asked to navigate through abandoned WWII tunnels, find a map
and then orienteer their way through bush to rescue a teammember.
As team leader, Jessica found that navigating personalities and ideas
of strangers was a difficult experience but an incredibly useful life
skill learnt.
“I learn a lot about myself as well; seeing how I reacted outside
of my comfort zone, and how I form relationships with others in
tense situations.”
A highlight for Jessica was visiting hot pools at Lake Rotoiti.
“It was great being able to see everything we had learnt about
freshwater management and land ownership in action,” Jessica
comments.
The students also visited Canopy Zipline Tours, who gave them
a tour of a native forest and explained its current plan to eradicate
Jessica Yule’s Leadership for the Planet
Environmentally conscious student Jessica Yule spent the April holidays learning about
leadership in conservation. She was one of 52 students from across the country selected to
attend a Youth Enviro Leaders’ Forum organised by the Sir Peter Blake Trust.
pests in the forest.
“Listening to a variety of speakers throughout the week I
realised how important biodiversity is in our community and what
we can do about it.”
The experience has inspired Jessica to get involved with
environmental conservation at home. Already she has initiated an
Enviro Club at school for senior students. The plan is to start small,
and make it a sustainable club. They are currently arranging a car-
free day, some volunteer work in the community including a beach
clean up and setting some animal trackers around the school to look
at our local ecosystem.
National Chinese Speech Competition
After winning third place in the Welling-
ton Chinese Bridge Speech Competition, Ha
Young Bae, Year 11 and Hayley Marsh, Year
7 were invited to participate in the national
competition in Christchurch.
The competition, held at the University of Canterbury, was
organised by the Confucius Institute.
Hayley’s speech was on My experience with studying
Chinese. She was thrilled to be given the opportunity to compete at
the National Competition in Christchurch.
“I was very nervous and excited at the same time, I thought it
was a good experience to travel somewhere else for a competition”,
explains Hayley.
Ha Young won the third prize in the Senior category at the
National Competition. She impressed the judges and delivered a
fantastic speech and singing performance.
Ha Young Bae Hayley Marsh
Jessica Yule