The final day of last Term saw seven students and myself reach the end of our “Shave for a Cure” fundraiser for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. This charity helps the six Kiwis who are diagnosed with a blood cancer or a related condition every day. Before a loud and very enthusiastic audience of students from both the Primary and College, Parents and Staff everyone went through with their commitment to lose their head-of-hair to raise money for the charity.

We raised over three hundred dollars in a bucket collection on the day, a significant amount of that students paying to take the first cuts from Damon Lupi’s treasured hair. Our online appeal through the Funda website raised nearly $2,800 and other significant donations came in directly to the school in support of the event. This gave a total of over $8,100 raised which is a fantastic effort and reflective of the generosity of the Sunderland community and how this disease has affected so many families.

I would like to thank Landen Rewega-Smyth who was the driver for this fundraising event, Daniel O’Connor and Juliet Fernandez who donated their expertise with a pair of clippers on the day and all those from the Sunderland community who supported us. Congratulations go to Landen Rewega-Smyth, Damon Lupi, Gregor Macdonald, James Edley, Anthony Greenstreet, Dennis Hulme and Robert Burrell who all sacrificed their hair for a great cause.  Well done boys!

 Lawrence Stephens, Assistant Principal

On Tuesday 8th May, the ACG Sunderland Cross Country Team made their way to the 'NorthWest' Inter-School competition at Moire Park. The task was simple; run around in circles faster than the other guys! Despite the rain and blistering winds, everyone performed exceptionally against some tough competition from schools such as Westlake Boys and Rangitoto College. Highlights of the day from the Junior Boys was Rowan Hart (finished 22nd place) and Bond Roby (46th place), both running three kilmetres. I competed in the Intermediate Boys race, running five kilometres, and coming 55th place. Congratulations to everyone who took part and we are looking forward to next year to being more competitive than ever! Special thanks to Mrs Warden for volunteering to help us out and Mr Keen for organising the day!

 Reported by James Newland

Orienteering

On Wednesday 9th May, in the pouring rain our three students representing ACG Sunderland took on Woodhill Forest at the annual Auckland Secondary Schools Individual Races.

The results were terrific:

Jessica Sampson, Yr 7/8 girls Championship - First Place

Brennan Sampson, Yr 7/8 Boys Standard - Eighth Place

Hannah Sampson, Senior Girls Championship - Second Place

Without the help of parents we could not have attended this event, many thanks to Wally Sampson for making himself available for the day.

The week earlier, I took twelve students to Moire Park for the Auckland Secondary Schools Teams Relay event.  The weather was fantastic and the park would prove to be quite a challenge to the athletes who attended.  Schools travelled as far as Pukekohe and ACG Sunderland looked very smart amongst their peers.

Our Teams:

Year 7 & 8:  Jessica Sampson, Alayna Bradbury and Brannon Sampson.

Intermediate Boys: Jayden Chapman, James Newland and Luke Norton

Intermediate Girls: Eleanor Hyde Crofts, Lindsay Macdonald and Alisha Hart

Seniors: Hannah Sampson, Alistair Remmington and Patrick Newland

For two students, Luke Norton and Alayna Bradbury it was their first time at any kind of Orienteering event and after completing their stage, they felt triumphant and keen to do another.

Although we did not place in the top we did learn from the experience and I will be pleased to report to you in a years time on where our students placed.

Reported by Catherine Ferguson

I wish to congratulate Devon Walen and Patrick Newland and the team from Findlay House who put together a very ambitious service at Archibald Park on Sunday, 1st April 2012.  With the change in emphasis over the past two years, we now have two charities and two services promoted by the Sunderland Houses. Findlay House Leaders along with students, parents and staff from ACG Sunderland worked with the team from Auckland City Council for about three hours on a planting project on the coastal strip at the park.  I personally wish to thank Mrs Chartrand, Miss Petre, Mr Devereux plus the students and parents who selflessly gave up their personal time; that is what Sunderland is all about.

Mr Nathan Villars, Principal

 Job Done.