WHS Newsletter | Issue 1.10 | 04 April 2025

Principal's Message

Kia ora  and welcome to the Wakatipu High School newsletter at the end of Week 10,

It has been another vibrant and exciting week at WHS with lots of action, including our annual school Musical - Mamma Mia!. With nearly 180 students involved, it is impressive to see the hard work come together so seamlessly on the night. WHS is unquestionably teeming with talented students and I also need to acknowledge the extraordinary talents of our key staff who bring it all together - Mr Jake Hansen (Director) and Mrs Alison Price (Musical Director). Congratulations to all those involved and best of luck for the final three shows, all of which are sold out!

Last week, summer tournament week was held with more than 170 student-athletes competing and representing WHS with skill and pride. WHS came away with many National, South Island and Regional championships so please be sure to read the Sports section below with all the highlights of our students’ achievements and successes in a range of sports. Of particular note was our Rowing team returning with 3 Golds, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze Medals from the prestigious Maadi Cup, which means they retained the President’s Scull for the 4th consecutive year. 

With the school holidays now just around the corner, we want to bring your attention to Term Two, which is always a busy term for teaching and learning. With that in mind, we strongly encourage senior students to create their Term Two assessment calendar to assist with planning and preparation. This can go a long way towards supporting students with their wellbeing and achievement. If your student would like assistance with their planning, encourage them to ask their Kaiārahi in the first instance. Please see below for the senior assessment calendars and other key dates associated with Term Two.

School Accounts were again sent out earlier this week, and we really appreciate the support of our families who pay the subject related fees and school donation. While this donation and the subject related fees are ultimately voluntary, it does make a huge difference to the programmes we can provide students, which support student engagement, achievement, wellbeing and holistic development. 

Last night, we were able to thank and acknowledge the WHS Foundation and all of its supporters by inviting them to the musical Mamma Mia! The Wakatipu High School Foundation is our school’s biggest supporter having given the school nearly $3 million dollars over the past 10 years. We are extremely grateful and humbled by the support we receive from the Foundation, and in turn from those individuals and businesses in the community that give to the Foundation.

We'd like to specifically acknowledge Roost Mortgage Brokers for their significant donation of $26,000 to the Wakatipu High School Foundation this week. This contribution marks the launch of the "Roost Boost for Teachers Fund," a targeted effort to address the ongoing housing challenges faced by our staff. 

A reminder to parents/caregivers that we are currently reviewing our strategic plan for the next 3 years, and we would really appreciate you taking the time to complete the online survey - click here to help shape the future of WHS.

Enjoy the extra hour of sleep as the clocks fall back out of daylight saving on Saturday night and be sure to have a read through a bumper edition of the WHS newsletter.

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

Key Dates

NCEA Level 1,2, and 3 Internal Assessment Calendars

Internal Assessment Calendar
The internal assessment calendar provides the due dates for all internal assessments being sat by students throughout the year for each course in Years 11-13. We highly recommend that students note the dates of their internal assessments on their calendars and plan their term and year accordingly to ensure their academic goals are achieved. Kaiārahi and parents are encouraged to support this.

Students should use the ​assessment and school ​calendar to identify all their assessments - particularly noting pinch​ ​points when several fall due at the same time, and then put this beside their other commitments eg sport, work, family and plan accordingly. 

​These calendars are live and will be updated regularly.
Level 1 NCEA Assessment Calendar
Level 2 NCEA Assessment Calendar
Level 3 NCEA Assessment Calendar

Update from Student Leaders

The wait is finally over - Mamma Mia! opened on Wednesday night to an absolutely packed house! The energy in the theatre was electric from the very start, and the performances were nothing short of phenomenal. A huge congratulations to the entire cast, crew, and everyone involved in bringing this incredible production to life. Your hard work and dedication are truly evident on stage, and it’s fantastic to see such a talented group of individuals come together to create something so special. Wishing the cast and crew all the best for tonight’s show and the remaining performances - break a leg!

Welcome back to everyone who participated in Summer Tournament Week! We hope you had an amazing time competing, showing school spirit, and making unforgettable memories. Whether you were on the field, court, track, or water, your hard work and sportsmanship were incredible. Be sure to take some time to rest and recover as we head into the final stretch of the term.

A massive congratulations to Duncan House for taking the win for the annual house spelling bee last week! The competition was fierce, with students showcasing their spelling skills under pressure, but Duncan pulled through with the win. Well done to all who participated - win or lose, it was great to see so many students getting involved and giving it their best shot.

Our Year 13 Biology students had an exciting field trip to Portobello, where they explored the rich coastal ecosystem and got hands-on with marine life, including examining crabs in their natural habitat. This experience offered a fantastic opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world ecology and marine biology.

This week, as part of our 5 Ways 5 Weeks initiative, we’re focusing on the theme of Connect. This is such a valuable opportunity for all of us to strengthen the bonds we share with our friends and families or perhaps to take the leap and meet someone new. Building these strong connections with others is vital for our wellbeing - it helps reduce stress, boosts happiness, increases resilience, and creates a strong sense of belonging and support. So take a moment this week to reach out and connect with those around you, and let’s make it a week of meaningful interactions.

Best of luck to everyone heading out on the OREC kayaking trip to Beaumont. Paddles up and adventure ahead! This trip will be an exciting challenge, combining physical endurance with stunning scenery. Enjoy the journey, stay safe on the water, and make some amazing memories along the way!

We were also excited to welcome Jazmine Mary from the NZ Music Commission this Thursday and Friday. She shared her expertise, and it was a fantastic opportunity for anyone interested in music and the industry. We’re also looking forward to next Tuesday when ex-student Eliott Allemand and a guest music producer will visit to work with our Year 12 and 13 Music classes. It’s a fantastic chance for our senior students to gain insight into the world of music production and the industry as a whole.

The finish line is in sight - just one more week until the holidays. With only a few days left of the term, hang in there! Whether you’re wrapping up assessments, finishing projects, or simply counting down the days, keep pushing through. A well-earned break is just around the corner.

Tess Vermeir
Arts and Cultural Prefect 

A Standing Ovation for Mamma Mia!

Speaking on behalf of everyone that has come to see the sold out show, the past two nights have been absolutely exceptional. This show has had an unbelievable amount of work put in by students, staff, families, and sponsors, and I’m happy to say that so far, it's been well worth the effort. 

Personally, over many years of musicals, I have never felt so much radiant energy, and loving passion from a show team before. 

As a message for the cast and crew, keep striving, keep thriving, and keep having fun, because I know very well you all deserve this opportunity, and have committed to this process.

Own the stage guys, you’re doing amazing. 

Joe Leydon
Student Director of Mamma Mia!

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Corequisite Support Evening - Save the Date

To reinforce the skills required to achieve the corequisites we have created a slide show and supporting video of how you can support at home.

A Parent information session will be held at school on the following dates:

• Tuesday, April 29, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Library
• Wednesday, April 30, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Library
  

The corequisites will take place across Weeks 4 and 5 of Term 2:

• May 23 - Writing
• May 26 - Numeracy
• May 28 - Reading

Senior Next Steps - Save the Date

Senior Next Steps conferences (teacher/parent/student) are scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm at school. Booking information for 5-minute interviews with senior (Years 11-13) subject teachers will be in next week's newsletter.

School will finish at 1:50 pm on Tuesday, May 6th, with buses running at that time.

Wellbeing Spotlight: Student Session with Aro Ha Retreat Leader, Emily Rugrok

On Wednesday, high school students had the unique opportunity to participate in an enlightening session led by Emily Ruygrok, a retreat leader from Aro Ha. With a focus on mindfulness, gratitude, and acceptance, Emily guided students through an exploration of the power of presence and positivity in everyday life.

During the session, Emily emphasised the significance of mindfulness as a tool for reducing stress and enhancing well-being. She encouraged students to take moments of stillness throughout their day, highlighting that awareness of the present moment can lead to greater clarity and emotional resilience.

Gratitude was another key theme, with Emily inviting students to reflect on the positive aspects of their lives. She explained that by shifting focus to appreciation rather than lack, individuals can cultivate a mindset of abundance and happiness. Through simple exercises, students learned to incorporate gratitude into their daily routines, fostering a more optimistic and fulfilling outlook.

Acceptance of emotions, the final pillar of her talk, provided a powerful message on embracing one's feelings without judgment. Emily discussed how acknowledging and accepting emotions—whether positive or challenging—can lead to greater emotional intelligence and inner peace. She encouraged students to sit with their feelings rather than suppress them, reinforcing the idea that true strength comes from understanding and working through emotions rather than avoiding them.

Students left the session feeling empowered and inspired, with many expressing appreciation for the practical strategies Emily shared. Her visit served as a valuable reminder that mindfulness, gratitude, and acceptance are not just concepts but transformative practices that can enrich everyday life.

As the pressures of academic and personal life continue to mount, sessions like these provide students with essential tools to navigate their journeys with greater balance and confidence. Emily’s message resonated deeply as students look to navigate the final week of a busy term. See below for a suggested morning routine that will help you start the day in a positive and intentional mental state. 

We are incredibly grateful to Aro Ha for providing educating to our students in this space. Their generous support, from bringing this inspiring session to our students to providing teacher retreat scholarships, is much appreciated by students and staff alike. 

Duke of Edinburgh Tramp to Greenstone Hut

On Friday a group of determined students went tramping to Greenstone hut. We drove to Greenstone station, past Glenorchy, and walked along the river through some beech forest to stay the night at Greenstone hut. We saw some amazing views with the river being a beautiful clear green and the sun rising over the mountains. It was a really fun trip and I loved playing games with everyone in the evening.

Hazel Bartlett
Year 10 Student

Earthquake Planning: Lessons from the AF8 Presentation

The presentation on earthquake preparedness along the Alpine Fault (AF8) provided valuable insights into the risks and necessary precautions for dealing with a major earthquake. One key takeaway was how energy from earthquakes can affect the entire fault line—if an earthquake occurs in the south, even the northern regions will be impacted. The fact that New Zealand experiences around 22,000 earthquakes each year highlights the constant seismic activity in the region. The model earthquake demonstration was particularly informative, illustrating the scale and energy of such events.

A significant point to consider is how to respond if we are separated from our families during a major earthquake. It’s important to have a plan in place, such as staying with a friend if necessary. My plan for the next earthquake is to follow basic safety procedures, like "Stop, Drop, and Hold" at home, and ensure I have a clear understanding of what to do if communication is lost.

LEAP and Gateway Explore Clyde Dam

Last Friday, a group of our students had the exciting opportunity to visit the Clyde Dam, hosted by the team at Contact Energy. This interactive tour allowed them to explore the inner workings of the dam and discover the diverse career pathways available in this sector. The students experienced valuable insights from Contact Energy professionals, including an Electrical Engineer, Technical Drawings Administrator, Mechanical Generation Technician, Health and Safety Advisor, and Sustainability Representative.

The students had an extensive tour within the dam, to see how it all works and how the various disciplines work together to ensure the dam operates efficiently and safely. This experience allowed them to connect health and safety standards recently studied at school. The students even gained an understanding of trading and control room operations through an informative video and real-time observation.

We are very grateful to Stephanie Phillip and her team for accommodating our visit and providing such an informative and engaging tour. It provided a fantastic opportunity for students to see the intersection of various careers within the energy sector and explore potential future pathways.

We welcome connections with organisations willing to offer similar real-world learning experiences.

Lea Lawniczak 
LEAP Facilitator & Careers

Register for the NZ Physics and Mathematics Competition

The NZPMC is an NCEA-based academic competition that tests students' abilities in Physics and Mathematics. The competition is open to any students from Year 9 to Year 13.
The competition is split into two divisions:
• Junior division (Years 9-11), and;
• Senior division (Years 12-13).
The competition is run in a two-round system. High-achieving students from the online Round 1 will be invited to Round 2: the in-person finals. Round 2 for Otago and Southland students will be at the University of Otago.
For further information about the competition, please check out their website.

Round 1 Registration
The competition will be held online on the 31st of May and the registration will close on the 19th of May. Registration is $9.99 per student for Round 1. 

Step-by-step guides on the registration and payment process:  
• Registering for the NZPMC Platform
• Registering for an NZPMC Event

Mr Logan Rae
Gifted Education Coordinator

RYDA - Road Safety Education Programme for Year 12 Students

Wakatipu High School Year 12 students have the opportunity to participate in the award winning RYDA Road Safety Education Workshop early next term.  RYDA is designed for 16-17 year olds as they begin to drive or ride in cars driven by their peers.  This workshop  challenges students to change the way they think about road safety and lay the foundation for safe road use throughout their lives.  Students do not need to have their license to take part in the programme. 

It is being held at the start of Term 2 on Tuesday 29 April here at Wakatipu High School and students will spend the majority of the school day participating in this workshop. 

All students are required to attend for the full day of school including the RYDA workshop.

There is more information for caregivers here and if you have any questions then please contact Vicki Patton via vpatton@wakatipu.school.nz 

What is Earth Day and How Can We Help?

Every year, billions of people celebrate Earth Day, but what is Earth Day? Earth Day is a day dedicated to our planet. It is meant to raise awareness about environmental achievements and spread awareness regarding environmental concerns such as pollution and climate change. Through Earth Day, we can help our planet thrive and improve its current situation.

This coming April, there are several tree planting projects and eco-friendly events like the Arrowtown Beech Party or the Whakatipu Reforestation Trust community planting days. However, doing simple things like reducing electricity usage can help significantly in lowering carbon emissions. Craft-wise, you can recycle used paper to make new paper.

There are many ways you can help on Earth Day, but simply walking or biking instead of using carbon-emitting transportation can help reduce your carbon footprint. By doing so, you are also contributing to Queenstown’s plan to become the first town on Earth with an entirely carbon-zero tourist economy.

Bloom Beduya
Environmental Council member

Year 12 Future Pathways

On Friday April 11 during Ako time we are lucky enough to have a whole Year 12 presentation in the Theatre with a variety of local employers from Engineers to Lawyers. In this session, these professionals will share some of their tales of what has gotten them to where they are now, as well as key skills and the tools you need for the 21st century. 
There will be spot prizes on the day for brilliant questions and those that are willing to participate in a game of human 'Guess Who?' so make sure you arrive in time, in full school uniform and sit in your Ako group so you don't miss out.

Careers Hub

We are currently at full capacity for the Otago and Canterbury tertiary visits, and registrations are now closed. Details of the trip will be communicated over the next few weeks.

Sport and Active Recreation News

Summer Tournament Week

That’s a wrap on Summer Tournament Week! Check out the final write ups below.

Rowing 

It was another incredible Maadi Regatta for our WHS rowers. The 41-strong squad put in the mahi up at Lake Karapiro over a busy week. This saw our rowers compete in a staggering 17 A Finals and 8 B Finals, taking home 3 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronze medals. Shoutout to Charlie Manser, with two golds and a silver to his name. Wakatipu finished 5th overall in the country, and was awarded the President's Scull for the top sculling school for the fourth consecutive year. For every athlete, coach, and supporter, it has been a journey of relentless determination, unforgettable camaraderie, and moments that will be cherished for a lifetime—etched not only in record books but in the hearts of those who gave it their all on the water. Thank you to all of the coaches, parents, supporters, boat trailer drivers and the Whakatipu Rowing Club for all of their mahi. Congratulations to the following students on their A and B Final results.

• Gold U18 Double Sculls - Harry Lightfoot & Seb Watson
• Gold U17 Double Sculls - Charlie Manser & Max Davis
• Gold U18 Coxed Quad Sculls - Charlie Manser, Harry Lightfoot, Seb Watson, Max Davis & Cameron Hall
• Silver U17 Single Sculls - Charlie Manser
• Silver U15 Coxed Quad Sculls - Reuben Davis, Phineas Thomas, Henri Monnier, Baxter Kingan & Jessie Glover
• Bronze U17 Double Sculls - Lucy Clark and Amy Paterson
• Bronze U15 Coxed Octuple Sculls - Caitlyn Julian, Keira Lightfoot, Scarlett Cavanagh, Cinnamon Williams, Liberty Hide, Annie Clark, Mimi Blundell, Jesse Bates & Bella Noton
• 4th U18 Single Sculls - Harry Lightfoot
• 4th U15 Coxed Quad Sculls - Caitlyn Julian, Keira Lightfoot, Scarlett Cavanagh, Liberty Hide & Bella Noton
• 4th U15 Coxed Octuple Sculls - Henri Monnier, Rueben Davis, Phineas Thomas, Baxter Kingan, Kaito Nakazawa, Zebbie Jarvis, Flynn Weber, Baker Schmitz & Jesse Glover
• 5th U15 Double Sculls - Rueben Davis & Phineas Thomas
• 5th U17 Coxed Quad Sculls - Lucy Clark, Amy Paterson, Zara Small, Eve Pagan & Amelie Dee
• 4th U18 Novice Coxed Quad Sculls - Liberty Hide, Cinnamon Williams, Posie Manser, Jesse Bates & Bella Noton
• 4th U18 Novice Coxed Quad Sculls - Zebbie Jarvis, Liam Feeley, Liam Major, Flynn Weber & Bella Noton
• 5th U17 Coxed Quad Sculls - Oli Watson, Max Davis, McKellar Thornton, Jasper Crawford & Cameron Hall
• 6th U16 Coxed Quad Sculls - Zara Small, Caitlyn Purdue, Cailtin Roberts, Eve Pagan & Amelie Dee
• 7th U17 Single Sculls - Lucy Clark
• 1st B Final U17 Double Sculls - McKellar Thornton & Jasper Crawford
• 1st B Final U15 Double Sculls - Caitlin Julian & Keira Lightfoot
• 3rd B Final U18 Novice Double - Liam Feeley & Liam Major 
• 3rd B Final U16 Single Sculls - Oli Watson
• 4th B Final U16 Coxed Quad Sculls - Oli Watson, Finn Henderson, Mike Perry, Louis Dela Cruz & Cameron Hall
• 5th B Final U15 Coxed Quad Sculls - Mimi Blundell, Cinnamon Williams, Posie Manser, Jesse Bates & Jessie Glover
• 5th B Final U15 Coxed Quad Sculls - Baxter Schmitz, Kaito Nakazawa, Flynn Weber, Zebbie Jarvis & Cameron Hall

Volleyball

The Senior A Volleyball team have had an extremely successful National Secondary School Champs in Palmerston North, making the final of Division 6. The tournament started with a play-in (grading) day for Divisions 3-6. It was a tough first matchup against Mount Maunganui College A to start the week, followed by a close game against Cornerstone Christian School (23-25, 21-25). This saw them move to Division 6. The team performed strongly in pool play, winning 4 of 5 games. The team took out Upper Hutt College, Waiuku College, Te Aroha College and Rolleston College 2-0, with their only loss to Onslow College 2-1 (with a close 15-13 loss in the third and final set). The semi final match up against Whakatane High School Girls B saw the team easily take the win 2-0 to face off against Onslow once again in the final. Unfortunately this again went Onslow’s way 2-0 but it was an amazing experience to play in the final and a great way for our year 13 players to finish their WHS volleyball journey. Overall it was a great tournament, with every player putting in the work for the team to finish 10 places above their seeding position against some top sides. Thank you to Steve Henderson and Sasha McLeod for their support during a busy week in Palmy.

Mountain Biking

The South Island Secondary School Mountain Biking Champs were held at Mt Hutt Bike park in Methven from Wednesday 26th till Saturday 29th March. Wakatipu High School had 17 students compete in the Downhill and Enduro categories. Conditions were variable each day of the event with the Junior downhill race proving to be a bit difficult with the increasing rain throughout the day leading to slick and challenging conditions. The conditions for the senior downhill race were slightly better but the ground was still a little slick. Congratulations to Angelo Decadi who took out 1st place in the U15 Boys Downhill, with Quinn Ravenwood coming in 3rd. Lewis Laird also placed 2nd in the U16 Boys Downhill.  Top results shared below, well done all!

• Angelo Decadi - 1st U15 Boys Downhill
• Quinn Ravenwood - 3rd U15 Boys Downhill
• Ted Ceci - 9th U15 Boys Downhill
• Katie Bank - 4th U15 Girls Downhill
• Lewis Laird - 2nd U16 Boys Downhill
• Connor Dobb - 18th U16 Boys Downhill
• Wilem Wikstrom - 6th U17 Boys Downhill
• Harry Monk - 10th U17 Boys Downhill
• Finn Almog - 8th U20 Boys Downhill

Waka Ama

It was an amazing week at the NZSS Waka Ama Champs up at Lake Tikitapu, Rotorua with 3 WHS crews (Mako, Whai and Matariki) and a singles paddler competing against the country's best. Congratulations to the Wakatipu Girls team who achieved a podium finish in the Double Hull W12 250m Te Ihu (A) Final. Alisha Messingam also achieved a bronze medal in the U19 Girls 250m Te Takere (B) Final. An amazing result after only 2 months training in a single! In the W6 500m events all 3 crews made it through to the Te Ihu semi finals. Team Mako finished 3rd and Whai 2nd in their semi’s, but unfortunately this was not quite enough to get to the Finals in some competitive races. Overall these times placed team Mako 11th and Whai 12th out of 104 crews, an incredible result. A special moment from the event was our junior Matariki crew standing up to sing their waiata to celebrate the Double Hull crew on the podium - you could have heard a pin drop despite the 2200 paddlers and another 200 supporters beside the lake. Thank you to all of the parent supporters at the event and the Whakatipu Waka Ama Club for all of their mahi.

Basketball 3x3

Wakatipu High School entered a Senior Boys team into the 3x3 Regional Basketball tournament in Dunedin. They ended up playing for 5&6th against St Kevin's College, only losing by one point in overtime to place 6th. Well done boys.

Egg and Spoon Race

On Wednesday, April 9 we will be holding an egg and spoon race at break 2 out on the fields. All years are welcome to attend. All you need to do on Wednesday is get a group of 4 together and come register with the Sports Department and Sports Council who will be out on the field at break 2. There will be prizes for the winning team.

Rugby - Preseason + 2nd XV Coach Needed

Preseason games are underway this weekend. If you are Invercargill or Wanaka way head along to support our teams in their first match ups of the season!

• WHS 1st XV Boys v Southland Boys High School 2nd XV - 12.30pm at SBHS
• WHS U14 Teams v Mt Aspiring College - 11am at MAC
• WHS U15 v Mt Aspiring College - 12.45pm at MAC

Wakatipu High School is also looking for a coach and manager for our 2nd XV team. If you are interested in helping out please contact Sian at directorofsport@wakatipu.school.nz. In 2024 the team took home the Otaru Cup, winning the Senior Grade of the Otago Secondary Schools Comp, so are excited for another great season!

Capoeira

Try Capoeira – A Martial Art Like No Other
Looking for something new? Capoeira blends acrobatics, rhythm, and self-expression in an exciting way. Come give it a try at the Event Centre (First Floor) on Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM and see why Capoeira is more than just a sport—it's a way of life! Wear comfortable clothing for exercise and get ready to move!

Keep Us Informed

The Sports Department would love to hear from you if you know of any awesome sporting achievements from our students! Please send through details/results and photos to Sian at shorn@wakatipu.school.nz so we can share and celebrate these as a school.

Support Sport at WHS

Support the team by liking the Wakatipu High School Sports Facebook page. This is the best way to stay up to date with the successes of our athletes and teams and celebrate their great achievements!

https://www.facebook.com/WakatipuHighSchoolSports/ 

Sian Horn
Director of Sport

Arts Department News

Get Ready for Mamma Mia! 

Here we go, Mamma Mia! 2025! The final touch ups for the shows are done and after two months of intense rehearsals, we can't wait to share it with you all. Looking forward to seeing you there.

Mr Hansen & Mrs Price

Jazmine Mary Visit to WHS

Jazmine Mary came to classes Thursday/Friday and running sessions on composition and performance. We applied to the NZ Music Commission to have a practicing artist assigned to WHS and we are really lucky to have her with us this week. She has been helping the students to develop their songwriting skills, working with them on lyrics and writing melodies. We are very grateful to the NZ Music Commission for their support of our ākonga. 

You can see more of her work here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDTFEH-zsMc 

Toi Wearable Arts Update

We have had a busy few weeks with TOI on a Wednesday afternoon in the Visual Art space. The designs are beginning to come alive, and our students are fully immersed in the making process. With 5 weeks to go - it's exciting to see where these designs will end up.  

Special thanks to all those Parents, Caregivers and community members who have donated materials and mannequins to ensure we can work productively on our designs.

Special thanks to McKenzie and Willis for their contribution of materials.  

Toi Wearable Arts

The Toi Wearable Arts Group are asking for donations of

* sewing materials, old curtains etc 

* to borrow sewing mannequins / shop mannequins for our groups or if any has one they would like to sell please let Mrs Brown know .

They can be brought into the school office but please make sure they are named so we can return them

April 18-21 Whakatipu Music Festival

Lots of events and concerts are happening in this time so you should make an event to get to Te Atamira to have a look and listen

Any students interested are invited to join the big singing event that's happening. There will be no cost to you but you have to commit to the rehearsals & the performance. 

Information is here: https://www.teatamira.nz/events/whakatipu-music-festival-rejoice-community-choir

Rockquest  - Entries close May 1

New Zealand's nationwide, live, original music, youth event giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Northland to Southland.

Smokefreerockquest 2025, powered by Rockshop, aims to motivate young musicians to strive for success, to realise the opportunities available in music careers, and to encourage their peers to support original New Zealand Music.

Please see Mrs Price for all details.

Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition - Yrs 9-11

For Year 9-11 students, this competition invites songs on the theme "Threads of Who We Are," encouraging young songwriters to explore identity, connection, and the experiences that shape them.

1st place receives a 1:1 mentor session with one of our competition judges and a $1,000 gift card from the Rockshop.  All finalists will have their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day to the value of $800 plus gst) to go on the 2025 Peace Song digital album.

Entries close on 30 April, 2025

If you are interested in applying to this competition please see Mrs Price for more details.

More information can be found here: https://www.playitstrange.org.nz/competitions

Arts Time

Great to see the students at the Wednesday Arts Time before school sessions. This will continue next term where we hope to add a few more activities. This is an excellent time for anyone keen on arts-related activities to come and engage with other like minded students and focus on their area of interest.

Extracurricular groups - all updates will be posted on the All Things Arts Classroom Group.  

• Junior Jazz / Jazz Full Band / Jazz Combo  

• Digital Music Production

• Songwriting Group

• Junior / Senior Singing

• Social Art Club

• Year 9 Band Hub

• Knitting & Crochet Club

Check each of the  Classroom Groups for more details and updates

Exciting visits in ART

Being able to access a visiting artist is an incredible opportunity for our students to get first hand input from established artists. We hope to welcome more artists and professionals in the arts space in the future. If you would like to share your experience and knowledge please get in touch with Arts Coordinator Stine Cooper scooper@wakatipu.school.nz.

Upcoming for Term 1 & 2 - 

NOW - Mamma Mia! Tickets on Sale!!!!

01 April - Year 9 Band Hub
2-5 April - Mamma Mia!  WHS Musical for 2025
30 April - Entries close - Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition (Yrs 9-11)
3-4 May - YAMI - held in Wānaka
11 May - Rockquest heats (if needed)
24 May - Big Break (Bands and solo/duo)
30 May - Entries close - Play It Strange - Peace Song Competition 
09 June - Toi/Showquest
14 June - Rockquest finals
20 June  - SIX
16 July - Entries close - Play It Strange - Lion Foundation National Songwriting Competition (Yrs 9-13)
31 July - Entries close - Play It Strange - Waiata Māori Competition

Te Atamira - is a multi-purpose arts and cultural space at Remarkables Park Town Centre - check out what is happening at Te Atamira here

Te Wahi Toi - Nau mai, haere mai, Te Wāhi Toi is the meeting place and online directory for Queenstown and Wānaka’s creative community.  Find them here

Let us Know
The Arts department would like to know about any artistic achievements that students have attained outside of school be it in Drama, Dance, Music or Visual Arts. Please send details and photos to scooper@wakatipu.school.nz

Support the Arts
We are always looking for local professional performing and visual artists to visit our school and run workshops for our students. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Mrs Cooper the Arts Coordinator at scooper@wakatipu.school.nz

Instagram Page
Follow our school’s Instagram page for recent successes or news within the school’s Arts Department at whsartdepartment.

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

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