3
NEWSLETTER FOR VILLA MARIA COLLEGE
PTA REPORT
From you r PTA
It has been another busy term for our
small dedicated team of Villa PTA
members.
The Sophie Elliott
Story
We hosted a wonderful
evening with Sophie Elliott’s mother,
Leslie, who courageously spoke of her
daughter and the tragedy that unfolded
in 2008. Leslie established the Sophie
Elliott Foundation with the aim of
educating young women and men about
the devastating effects of abusive rela-
tionships. Our College Auditorium was
full as we listened to the practical ways
we can identify concerning behaviours in
relationships that we, or the ones we love
get themselves into.
Leslie’s presentation was practical and
powerful and we know that lives will truly
be changed by those who attended.
Father/Daughter Breakfast
We held a very successful Father/
Daughter Breakfast on September 10.
The heavenly smell of bacon, eggs
and hash browns, including fresh fruit,
yoghurt, muesli and fresh rolls put smiles
all around. Fathers, grand-dads, uncles,
brothers and friends joined the girls and
loved their delicious breakfast.
This was a great start to the day and we
sincerely thank Miss Heenan from the
staff, the PTA helpers and our amazing
Masterchef, Maarten Loeffen.
Annual Raffle
The Villa girls have also been selling
tickets for our annual raffle. The proceeds
from this raffle are being directly
channelled into the upgrade of the
College swimming pool. It will be great
for the girls and families to see the
tangible outcome of their efforts.
Please Join Us
We meet on the first Tuesday of the
month at 7.30pm in the Main Office
block. Our meetings only take an hour
and finish up with a cuppa and dessert.
We’d love to see new members!
Feel free to contact me anytime.
Regards
Maarten Loeffen, PTA Chair
03 360 3939
or
021 1589324
Big Si ng 2014
By Niamh Espiner
Choirs have long been an integral part
of Villa Maria’s cultural sphere, and over
the years have recorded a proud history
of success both regionally and nationally.
This year, Villa Choral Director Mr Ravil
Atlas established a choir programme
which offers all students the chance to
sing in a proficient choir and work their
way up to a new elite choir, Vivace.
In June this year, Vivace competed in
the Canterbury regional NZCF Big Sing
competition, along with two of Villa’s
other choirs, Prima Voce and Con Brio.
Vivace’s performance received the award
for the Most Outstanding Girls’ Choir in
Canterbury and, a month later, the choir
was selected along with 23 other choirs
from across New Zealand to compete
in the National NZCF Big Sing event in
Auckland. A huge honour!
On Wednesday 20 August, a group
of 17 very excited girls - along with
Mr McCabe, Mrs Macquet (a.k.a.
Choir Mum), Mr Geeves and choir
director Ravil Atlas - boarded the plane to
Auckland with a mixture of nervousness,
excitement and far too much luggage for
a five-day trip!
The trip included a visit to Dilworth Boys’
School for a rehearsal and a generously
hosted dinner for Vivace, along with a
combined concert with Dilworth’s sister
school, Diocesan School for Girls. We
also visited our fellow Mercy School, St
Mary’s College. This was an important
pilgrimage for Villa girls to make, as St
Mary’s, established by the Sisters of
Mercy in 1850, and was the first Mercy
School in New Zealand.
It was a real thrill for the girls to be
surrounded by so many other talented
singers and musicians. At the end of the
final concert, just before the combined
choral item, the awards were announced.
Eventually the presenter announced that
Vivace would receive a Gold award – an
announcement that was immediately
followed by the loudest scream of glee,
surprise and pride to grace Auckland’s
Town Hall stage that evening.
Vivace in the St Mary’s Cathedral,
Auckland:
Back Row L to R:
Rosemary Dorsey, Bridgette Thwaites, Ffion
Davies, Lauren Parnell, Niamh Espiner
Middle Row L to R:
Sarah Warner, Julia Thwaites, Sophie
Holt, Lauren Bannister, Agatha Lee,
Brittany Geeves
Front Row L to R:
Jane Oorschot, Mica-Paris Lolohea,
Samantha Crews, Laura Burtenshaw, Liz
McGeorge, Bridie Sisson, Nao Kokaji
(exchange student)
