In an annual celebration of both the traditional and modern aspects of Chinese culture. Over 80 of Rangitoto’s Chinese students were involved with every stage of production from the early stages of organisation, as part of the tech crew, and of course with the many performances.
Our students captivated the audience with a variety of performances including the lion dance, diablo, sleeve dance, light dance (W.I.M) and even magic tricks. Four MCs entertained the audience between acts and hosted interactive games, with tongue twisters in both Chinese and English a challenging and hilarious highlight. The College grounds were transformed into a night market, with a range of food trucks and stalls set up for the audience during intermission.
Joyce Yang, one of our dedicated Chinese Night leaders, reflected on the importance of Chinese Night, saying “The College has a large percentage of Chinese international students and students of Chinese descent, and the evening is a fantastic way for these students to share their culture with the wider school community. It is important for our Chinese students to showcase their culture in an exciting and encouraging environment. Chinese Night gives many students a chance to experience performing on a stage, with an enthusiastic crowd.”
International Baccalaureate
Rangitoto College is proud to offer International Baccalaureate (IB) as a qualification pathway alongside NCEA. With our IB Information Evening coming up on Wednesday 7th August, in this issue of Channel magazine, we bring you student perspectives on the IB to provide an insight into this fantastic qualification. One of our Year 13 IB students says “I chose IB because of the amazing opportunities it offers, as the diploma is recognized worldwide. I was intrigued by the subtopics offered and the course has pushed me to develop valuable independent learning skills in preparation for university. I plan to study overseas in either Sydney or Canada once I graduate”.
IB incorporates a holistic approach to education, with students engaging in a range of learning activities both inside and outside of the classroom. Community, Service and Action (CAS) projects widen our students’ horizons as they participate in activities like Model United Nations and Relay for Life. For many students, CAS is the most memorable and meaningful part of the course, with one saying their project “has and will continue to inspire me on how I decide to contribute to the world." Classroom learning is also complemented with field trips to extend our students’ knowledge, and 2019 has already seen English Literature students attend the Pop-Up Globe, while others travelled to Waihi as part of the Economics course.
Kāhui Ako Music Festival
Our annual Kāhui Ako Festival is a performing arts collaboration on a massive scale, with hundreds of students and staff from our community coming together to learn, workshop and perform earlier in Term 2. Students from Rangitoto College, Murrays Bay Intermediate, Murrays Bay School, Campbells Bay School, Mairangi Bay School, Pinehill School and Browns Bay School convened at the College, with the festival culminating in a performance showcase at the end of the week. The range of performances spanned everything from ukulele, wind, string and symphony orchestras, to choirs, rock and jazz bands, dance and musical theatre. The showcase was a complete extravaganza, demonstrating the high calibre of students and staff at our schools.
