Tawa College
Encyclopedia
Tawa College is a coeducational school (year 9 - year 13) situated in Tawa, New Zealand
, and its principal is Murray Lucas. The Tawa College magazine is called Tawahi . There are currently around 80 teaching staff and 20 support staff. Tawa College was officially opened in July 1961 and has always maintained a close involvement with the life of the local community, particularly through music and sport.
made of Duncan tartan
. The college has special permission from the Scottish clan, to whom the tartan belongs, to use the tartan in its uniform.
Notable groups include:
Tawa College also has many successful sporting groups, debating groups, and other extracurricular activities.
, including several national and international barbershop
quartet and chorus champions, such as the Musical Island Boys (2004).
They also have a big reputation due to their very successful wrestling team, TCW. They are two times National champions.
In 2009, Mr Lucas (principal) and approximately 38 year 13 chemistry students beat the Guinness world record for the most hours of consecutive teaching with their 28 hour chemistry teach-a-thon. This was put together as a fund-raiser for World Vision
, and through it they raised over $3,000.
Tawa, New Zealand
Tawa is the northernmost suburb of Wellington located between Churton Park and Porirua in the North Island of New Zealand. It takes its name from the broadleaf tree, which was once prolific throughout the area, although its most famous tree is the Bucket Tree, a group of large macrocarpa with the...
, and its principal is Murray Lucas. The Tawa College magazine is called Tawahi . There are currently around 80 teaching staff and 20 support staff. Tawa College was officially opened in July 1961 and has always maintained a close involvement with the life of the local community, particularly through music and sport.
Principals
Tawa College has had five principals since its establishment in 1961:- 1961-1966 Alan Mackie
- 1966-1981 Eric Flaws
- 1981-1989 Brian Walker
- 1989-2002 Bruce MurrayBruce Murray (cricketer)Bruce Alexander Grenfell Murray played 13 Tests for New Zealand. He is one of just three players to have taken a Test wicket without conceding a run, giving him a bowling average of 0.00, having bowled 6 balls during a match against India in 1968.- Post-Sports Activities :Following his cricketing...
- 2002–present Murray Lucas
Uniform
The traditional colours of Tawa College are blue, red and yellow, as seen in the school uniform, sports strips and crest. The uniform skirt for the girls is actually a kiltKilt
The kilt is a knee-length garment with pleats at the rear, originating in the traditional dress of men and boys in the Scottish Highlands of the 16th century. Since the 19th century it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland in general, or with Celtic heritage even more broadly...
made of Duncan tartan
Tartan
Tartan is a pattern consisting of criss-crossed horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in many other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Scotland. Scottish kilts almost always have tartan patterns...
. The college has special permission from the Scottish clan, to whom the tartan belongs, to use the tartan in its uniform.
Tawa Recreation Centre
The Tawa Recreation Centre is a joint venture between Tawa College and the Wellington City Council. The facility contains two gymnasiums, two sets of male and female changing rooms, a large foyer area, P.E equipment sheds, a Wellington City Council Office and reception area, P.E department offices, and a classroom.Extracurricular activities
Tawa College provides a wide range of extracurricular actives, especially musical ones.Notable groups include:
- The Dawn chorus- A 200 strong all comers choir, nationally known for their high standard of performance.
- Acafellas- An auditioned male barbershop chorus. Have been given the pleasure of competing at a national level every year since their first entrance into the National Barbershop Competition.
- Maiden Tawa- An auditioned girls chorus, with about 70 members. They were national barbershop champions for 6 consecutive years, up until the 2008 National Barbershop competition, in which they were awarded fourth overall. Despite this, they, and the male barbershop choir, are not disheartened, as their main reason for entering is to have fun and enjoy the experience of competing.
- Amplify- Tawa colleges student run church, with its roughly 90 members meeting once a week
- Astronomy Club- Meets every Thursday and every second Wednesday. The school has its own telescope.
- Jazz Band- This notable band, currently led by Ze'ev Dikvert, has a number of members who enjoy their weekly practices, including Chris Wratt.
Tawa College also has many successful sporting groups, debating groups, and other extracurricular activities.
Success
The school is well known for its achievements in the arts, notably singingSinging
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, including several national and international barbershop
Barbershop music
Barbershop vocal harmony, as codified during the barbershop revival era , is a style of a cappella, or unaccompanied vocal music characterized by consonant four-part chords for every melody note in a predominantly homophonic texture...
quartet and chorus champions, such as the Musical Island Boys (2004).
They also have a big reputation due to their very successful wrestling team, TCW. They are two times National champions.
In 2009, Mr Lucas (principal) and approximately 38 year 13 chemistry students beat the Guinness world record for the most hours of consecutive teaching with their 28 hour chemistry teach-a-thon. This was put together as a fund-raiser for World Vision
World Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
, and through it they raised over $3,000.
Notable alumni
Notable alumni include:- Jerry CollinsJerry CollinsJerry Collins is a New Zealand rugby union footballer who formerly played for the national team, the All Blacks in which he was capped 48 times. He now plays for Yamaha Jubilo, in Japanese Top league rugby.-Early career:...
- All BlacksAll BlacksThe New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
captain - Sophie DevineSophie DevineSophie Frances Monique Devine is a member of the New Zealand women's cricket team.-External links:*...
- Women's Black Cap - Taito Phillip FieldTaito Phillip FieldTaito Phillip Hans Field is a Samoan New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament for south Auckland electorates from 1993 to 2008. Field was a minister outside Cabinet in a Labour-led government from 2003 to 2005. Following charges of bribery and perverting the course of justice, he was...
- former Member of Parliament - Mark GillespieMark Gillespie (cricketer)Mark Raymond Gillespie is a member of the New Zealand cricket team. He came to the selectors attention in the 2005-06 season with 43 wickets at 23.16 for Wellington...
- Black Cap - Blair Hilton, Black Sticks Men, national field hockey representative and 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist
- Emma-Jane Kortegast - Team New Zealand World Championship All Star Cheerleader, winning a bronze medal at the 2010 ICU World Championships in the USA
- Nick LeggettNick LeggettNick Leggett is the current Mayor of Porirua. He was the youngest mayor in New Zealand at the time of his election in October 2010.-Early life:...
- 4th Mayor of PoriruaMayor of PoriruaThe Mayor of Porirua is the head of the municipal government of Porirua, New Zealand, and presides over the Porirua City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a single transferable vote electoral system. As of 2010, there have been four mayors since the establishment of the borough council... - Murray MextedMurray MextedMurray Graham Mexted is a New Zealand rugby union player who played 34 tests for the All Blacks from 1979 to 1983. He also played 38 non-test game including 7 as captain. During his time with the All Blacks, he wore the Number eight jersey and was considered an excellent ball winner and an...
- rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
commentator, former All Black - Kerry PrendergastKerry PrendergastKerry Leigh Prendergast, CNZM was the 33rd Mayor of Wellington . She was the second woman to serve as Mayor of Wellington, succeeding Mark Blumsky.-Before politics:...
- former Mayor of Wellington - Rob Suisted - photographer
- Lee TamahoriLee TamahoriLee Tamahori is a New Zealand filmmaker best known for directing the 1994 film Once Were Warriors and the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day.-Upbringing and early career:...
- film director - Arlene Thomas - former national aerobic champion and former World Aerobic Champion