Lynfield Esports teams compete live at Auckland Armageddon Expo
Over the final six weeks of Term 1, we had approximately eight teams competing online against other schools across New Zealand in Valorant, League of Legends, and Rocket League. For many of our students, this was their first time competing at this level, and they achieved some outstanding results.
In Valorant, more than 45 teams competed nationwide. Our Premier Division team (the highest competitive tier) finished an impressive 3rd overall. Team members were Yaan Leyland, Thomas Lin, Feronia Chen, Lara Boyle, and Carter Huang.
In Rocket League, we also celebrated strong podium finishes. In the Social Division, Team Nitro 3 placed 2nd, made up of Hamza Khan, Muhammed Abdullah, and Zaid Raval. In the Championship Division, Team Onion Rings also secured 2nd place, with Tristan Deer, Aaron Kannankeril, and Viyan Patel.
Following these results, our Premier Valorant team was invited to compete live at the Auckland Armageddon Expo from 25 to 27 April held at the Auckland Showgrounds as part of the New Zealand Secondary School Esports Tournament. Held over three days, the event featured 17 top teams from across the country. During the weekend, our team dedicated nearly 20 hours to practising, strategising, and competing at a high level.
The team began Saturday with a tough loss to Wellington College but bounced back strongly with wins against Waitakere College, Rangitoto College, Hornby College, and Sacred Heart Girls’ College, finishing the day with an excellent 4–1 record.
On Sunday, the team entered the playoffs. After defeating Waitakere College again, they faced Rangitoto College in a close match but were narrowly defeated, moving into the elimination bracket. There, they overcame Wellington College before advancing to the quarterfinals, where they secured a hard-fought 13–10 victory over Macleans College.
In the semi-finals, the team met Rangitoto College once more and, despite a strong effort, fell just short. This result secured an outstanding 3rd place overall finish.
The team walked away incredibly proud of their performance and achievements and are already motivated to push even further in future competitions.
NZSS Esports is New Zealand's premier secondary school esports competition, bringing together students from across Aotearoa to connect, compete and represent their schools in some of the most exciting games in the esports world. NZSS Esports offers a fun, inclusive and competitive environment for everyone.
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ANZAC Day Service 2026
On Saturday 25th April, our school had the privilege of attending the ANZAC Day service at the Mt Roskill War Memorial, a meaningful occasion to honour and remember those who served and sacrificed for our country. The service was a lovely experience, bringing students from several local schools and the wider community together.
During the service, Finau, Deputy Head Boy, represented our school by doing a reading, while Lupe and Akeelah, Head Girl and Deputy Head Girl, also had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of 黑料大事记. Both paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the ANZAC soldiers.
Attending the service was an opportunity for us to reflect on the significance of ANZAC day and to show our respect for those who have served, and continue to serve in the armed forces.
At the early dawn service Arsh Narayan (Cadet No. 3 Squadron) was part of the Cadet flag team responsible for the raising and lowering of flags during the service. Lest we forget.
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Journey to the Bays: Writing Competition Success
Throughout Term 1, classes in Year 9 Social Studies focused on understanding our local histories and their places within those histories. Students learnt about the how the land in Lynfield and the surrounding areas have been used since it was settled by iwi through to today, how Tāmaki-Makaurau has developed over time and how the make-up of the population has and will continue to develop and change.
In association with the Blockhouse House Bay Historical Society, selected students had their assessments for this topic entered into a competition run by the society which tasked entrants with recording the history and contribution of well-known members of the community or of their own families/community members.
We were pleased to have members of the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society attend our Year 9 Assembly to present our entrants with their certificates and to announce our award winners.
Congratulations to all those who were entered and to the following award winners.
1st Place Equal | Faris Alsaudi | Stephen Thorpe (short essay)
2nd Place Equal | Dhyana Solanki | My mum, Dilesha Solanki (short essay)
Highly Commended:
Aanya Reddy | Kiri Te Kanawa and her journey through Blockhouse Bay (short essay)
Arden Horsford | A family’s journey to Blockhouse Bay (short essay)
Mahi Ali | The journey to the Bays (short essay)
Riya Kumar | Zena Abbott (photographic timeline)
Anya Smith | Paul Hewson (short essay)
Thank you to the members of the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society for offering this amazing opportunity to our students. Keep an eye out for the displays of students work at Armanasco House, local libraries and online on the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society Social Media:
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From left to right: Krystene Vickers (BHBHS), Bevan Kumar, Riya Kumar, Dhyana Solanki, Yoyo Zhang, Faris Alsaudi and Anne Bell (BHBHS)
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Year 9 Shakespeare Experience
The Year 9 English programme has all students studying a Shakespeare play or sonnets this term, with the most popular being Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This is part of the new English curriculum introduced this year. While some junior classes in previous years have studied Shakespeare as one of their class texts, this depended on student and teacher interest and how well it connected to other learning.
Reading 16th century texts is challenging! Teachers have prepared engaging activities such as insult competitions and performing modernised scenarios to help students see the influence of Shakespeare on many modern novels and films. Classes have also discussed the difference in societies, such as women acting on stage (they didn’t in Shakespearian times), beliefs in the supernatural, and social hierarchies.
All Year 9 students will see the plays in action, when The Ugly Shakespeare Company perform on 18th May. A few students will have the opportunity to attend workshops with the performers!
With the Year 9 Speech competition coming up at the end of Term 2, we look forward to seeing some excellent uses of language and performance!
Year 9 Innovative Learning Theme:
TŪRANGAWAEWAE – FINDING OUR PLACE In Term 1, our 9IL students explored the theme of Tūrangawaewae—Where We Belong, beginning each day with a Karakia to establish the idea of community. Daily reading is a routine they began as well. In English and Technology, students integrated an "Around the World" theme, practising travel writing and ballads and delivering presentations on the Manga genre. They practised sewing skills through the creation of sugar skulls. Their learning also took a delicious turn as they prepared dishes from various continents.
In Humanities and Physical Education, the focus remained on identity and heritage. Students explored the history of Aotearoa through Polynesian migration and constructed Waka Hourua models from repurposed materials. This cultural exploration extended to the field, where students researched indigenous games from around the world. They took on leadership roles by teaching these games to their peers and practised giving constructive feedback using various communication models to support one another's growth.
In Science, the term started with laboratory safety and the mastery of bunsen burners before moving into ecology and biodiversity. Students explored how organisms are specialized for their environments and are currently collaborating on a project to design and justify their own imaginary organisms.
Meanwhile, Mathematics focused on strengthening numeracy foundations, covering place value, rounding, and operations with fractions and decimals. The term concluded with an introduction to algebra, focusing on variables and equations. Throughout all subjects, it has been a joy to see students grow in independence and collaboration, utilizing tools like Education Perfect and Google Classroom to enhance their learning journey.
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Rajal Sharma (Year 13)
New Zealand archers delivered a commanding performance on home soil at the in Auckland, topping the medal standings across multiple disciplines and team events.
Ten countries from the Oceania region participated in the World Archery Oceania Championships 2026 from 16-19 April at Pulman Park, Takanini.
83 Archers from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand battled strong winds and severe weather conditions during the four-day tournament.
Rajal Sharma represented New Zealand in the U21 Men Compound division and had some great results:
- Silver in the WA720 championship ranking round
- Silver in the Individual Matchplay
- Bronze in the Doubles Team Matchplay where he was teamed up with a Tahitian archer.
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