Message from Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (Prime Minister's Science Advisor):
One of my terms of reference is to consider how to ensure that young New Zealanders are enthused by science and able to participate fully in a smart country where knowledge and innovation are at the heart of both economic growth and social development. Science education in primary and secondary school is an essential element. There is an international consensus that a strong science education system in the school years is a necessary prerequisite to having an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
One of my terms of reference is to consider how to ensure that young New Zealanders are enthused by science and able to participate fully in a smart country where knowledge and innovation are at the heart of both economic growth and social development. Science education in primary and secondary school is an essential element. There is an international consensus that a strong science education system in the school years is a necessary prerequisite to having an economy based on knowledge and innovation.
CURRENT EVENTS
FEBRUary 2018
- Former student Madeline Thompson has just returned from the National Youth Science Forum in Sydney, Australia where she was one of 2 representatives from New Zealand. Here is an excerpt from her email to thank Mrs Tortoiseshell for her support: "Two weeks ago I came back from the NYSF which was absolutely incredible. I am so grateful that you encouraged me to apply and followed up with a wonderful reference and ultimately that I was selected. I could not have asked for a more amazing two weeks. Talks from Nobel Prize Winner Brian Schmidt about the accelerating nature of the universe's expansion and a skype session with a leading engineer from CERN at the Large Hadron Collider (Where I got to ask a question!!!) are moments I will never forget. The other students were incredible and intelligent in many different ways. I now have couches all over Australia open to me with lots of new lifelong friends" WELL DONE MADELINE and it's lovely that she took the time to recognise that these accolades would not be possible without the support of our fantastic staff.
january 2018
- The big news for January is EXAMINATION RESULTS! Science results look FANTASTIC on the whole, many of our students gaining Merit and Excellence grades and Merit and Excellence subject endorsments
- Senior students have been coming in to see deans and HODs about their 2018 subject choices. Please feel free to continue to come and see us to discuss the best way forward if you have any uncertainty
- National statistics have become available and TGC Science results are FANTASTIC. We have achieved well above the national average in just about every standard of every level we participated in. WELL DONE GIRLS AND A FANTASTIC THANK YOU TO THE HARD-WORKING TEACHERS
SEPTEMBER 2017
- September was largely occupied in setting exams, revising for exams, sitting exams, marking exams and then using them for feedback. Congratulations to all those who set themselves goals and worked towards them!
- Thanks to Auckland University and their Whakapiki Ake team and congratulations to the 6 Year 11 Rangatahi who were chosen to spend a day at the Tauranga Hospital and House of Science looking at the realities of a career in Health Science
- Our top Science students who are studying for the NCEA Scholarship examinations have been spending their Saturdays at the House of Science getting immersed in some of the tricky aspects of this huge challenge
- Our Year 13 students are gearing up for a trip to Auckland Zoo and Kelly Tarltons, where they will sleep in the tunnel under the fish!
- Mrs Baxter and the Year 12 Science class spent 3 days at the Manawahe Eco Trust (near Kawerau) learning about monitoring the local environment for pests and protecting our native species. They were visited by the Associate Minister for the Environment Scott Simpson, and Anne Tolley (see picture below)
AUGUST 2017
- We were lucky enough to have Dr Jenny Malstrom visit us to give a talk around nanoscience and careers in science for women. She gave this talk to 4 classes of our students
- Thanks to Auckland University and their Whakapiki Ake team who spent 90 minutes with our Year 9 and 10 rangatahi, inspiring them to consider a career in the Health area
- Option night August 16: come in and see us if you need any help picking your subjects for 2018
- Well done and good luck to our three teams in NZ's next top engineering competition: this year's question is: How many rocket launches from Mahia would it take to establish a colony on the Moon?
JUNE 2017
- Congratulations to the TGC Analytical Chemistry competition at Waikato University THIRD PLACE!
January 2017
- CONGRATULATIONS to Emma Godden who has been accepted to study Physics at OXFORD UNIVERSITY!!! An outstanding achievement recognising Emma's ability, effort and potential. We are very proud of her.
- Examination results came out on January 17. TGC Science results look very strong with a large number of Excellence grades and endorsements across all levels and subjects
- Need to make subject changes? Come in to school Wednesday and Thursday January 25 and 26 to see the deans and HODs as needed
october 2016
- Congratulations to our Year 12 Chemquest team, comprising of 9 of our top place getters in Benchmark Examinations for Chemistry (Joanne Sutton, Mischa Ruegg, Sophie McConnell, Bianca Goyena, Akanksha Sharma, Geena Williams, Emma Mabbott, Anna Jenkin and Mackenzie Groos). These students represented us at the Waikato University Chemquest, a science based quiz.
JUNE 2016
- Congratulations to our Year 13 Analytical Chemistry Team - Emma Godden, Jada Mataroa, Bayley Coster and Grace Wright for taking out 2nd place at the Waikato University Competition. This is one place better than in 2015, and once again only Hamilton Boys beat us.
February 2016
- See Mr Hendra in print here at the Royal Society website - this summarises the programme he went on in 2015
- Welcome back! We look forward to meeting new and returning students on the week of February 3 (Year 13), February 4 (Year 9) and February 5 (Years 10-12)
- SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS! Congratulations to Tayla Forward, Sophie Godden, Emma Dalton, Jess Crockett and Ella Williams for attaining Science Scholarship Awards in the incredibly challenging examinations. We are very proud of these girls and their teachers
NOVEMBER 2015
- Junior examinations have been happening this week
- Rachael Leckie, Richard Hendra and Treena Blythe attended a Royal Society Science Planning workshop in Wellington, November 12
- Good luck Level 3 Chemistry students for WEDNESDAY afternoon!
- Good luck Level 1 Science students and Scholarship Biology students for TUESDAY morning!
- NCEA examinations begin on Monday November 9
- House of Science Symposium for Science Educators - our Science teachers will be attending this Symposium organised by our ex-HOD Chris Duggan to keep in touch with what's new in the world of Science
- SENIOR PRIZEGIVING (ACADEMIC) is on WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4 at 6pm at Holy Trinity Church (Devonport Rd)
- Last day for Years 12 and 13 is on THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5
- Last day for Year 13 is on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3
octoBER 2015
- School starts again Monday October 12
- Year 12 Chemistry "CHEMQUIZ" at Waikato University
SEPTEMBER 2015
- Whakapike Ake day for 8 year 10-11 students at Tauranga Hospital and House of Science
- Year 13 Biology trip to Auckland - Kelly Tarlton's and the Zoo
- BENCHMARK EXAMINATIONS - September 10-16
- 3 students attend a large animal dissection at the House of Science, aspiring to become Veterinary Scientists
- Tauranga Girls' College competes in the Education Perfect WORLD SCIENCE CHAMPS.
3rd school overall in New Zealand
1st school in Bay of Plenty
10BTE (Ms Leckie) 1st class in BOP
Nadia Snegirev (10BTE) 1st in the BOP, 14th in New Zealand
Clara Chang, Shari Webber, Ellie Faulkner - 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the BOP
AUGUST 2015
- 10 Year 10 and 11 students represent us at the combined Otago University/Nagiterangi Iwi Science Wananga
- 8 students represent us in NZ's next top engineering scientist competition, run by Auckland University where they had 10 hours to submit a report on "If a NZ student uploaded a video clip that goes viral, how long would it take for 1% of the world's population to view the video?"
JULY 2015
Year 13 students Nell Ager, Jess Crockett, Sophie Godden and Emma Dalton place 3rd (from around 25 schools) at the Waikato University Analytical Chemistry Competition