WHS Newsletter | Issue 2.04 | 19 May | 2023

Principals Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of another great, yet disruptive, week at WHS, in which the school’s all-round education was on full display. 

Last weekend was the Year 13 Formal, which was an extravagant affair held at the Millennium Hotel. The students looked marvellous and had a wonderful time, and it was great to see the Year 13’s come together for this important event. 

On Monday, the Hugo Charitable Trust through the WHS Foundation gifted WHS a brand new 4WD van. We are very grateful for their generous support as the van will ensure that we are able to keep the cost as low as possible for students participating in extracurricular activities. Students staying engaged with extracurricular activities has a positive impact on students' wellbeing and learning, and this new van will assist in reducing barriers to participation. Again, a huge thanks to Hugo Charitable Trust. 

Tuesday and Wednesday incurred the rostering home of Year 9 and Year 10 students, respectively. It looks like PPTA industrial action will be continuing into the foreseeable future with Year 11’s being rostered home next week on Thursday 25 May (see below for future dates). As previously mentioned, it is really important that students maximise these days to catch-up or stay ahead of their learning. With the rostering home plus covid and the flu impacting both students and teachers, it is important that students try their best to keep continuity with their classes and their learning. Please get in touch with your students' subject teacher, Kaiārahi or Dean if you have any questions or concerns or simply want extra support for your student. A reminder for junior students that exams are being held in Week 7 (6 - 9 June) in most subjects, and Year 10’s will have the additional corequisite exams in literacy and numeracy in Week 8. More information will be sent out to parents and students next week. 

In terms of keeping up to date with how your student is going, the WHS Portal is a key place for parents to see attendance, engagement and achievement data. Teachers regularly give feedback and feed-forward to students through the Portal and it is important that parents are going to the Portal to see how their students are going. Parents are encouraged to look at the Portal on a weekly basis but at the very minimum should be looking on the Portal every three weeks when the Learning Engagement reports are published. Once there, be sure to go to the attendance, reports and results tabs to see what academic data has been published and what feedback has been given.  A reminder that parents need to change their Portal password - see below for more details, and at this point more than ⅓ of parents have not yet viewed the Portal this term, which is of great concern. 

Today was Pink Shirt Day at WHS  which saw many students adding pink accessories to their uniform to encourage students to ‘Speak Up, Stand Together to Stop Bullying’. This is a challenging but important area for schools, and as a school we are working hard to continue to make progress in this area so that WHS is a safe and inclusive place for all. Kōrero Mai, Kōrero Atu, Mauri Tū, Mauri Ora! Speak Up, Stand Together, Stop Bullying!

Today was also the first of our senior Business Studies students’ Market Days - with some great products and a big turnout of student and staff customers, see below for more photos. Also today was the annual Showquest and Toi Wearable Arts showcase down in Invercargill for which we will publish more details of next week.

A massive congratulations to the WHS students, staff and coaches who prominently featured at the Central Otago Sports Awards last Friday. Marley King Smith won the Junior Sportsman of the Year, Siena Mackley won the Spirit of Central award, rowing coach John Morrison won the Coach of the Year and staff member Sasha McLeod won the Official of the Year. Mackenzie Jackson and Kai Milburn were also finalists at these awards. Congratulations to all the athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers for their hard work and dedication. We look forward to acknowledging these achievements and much more at next Monday’s summer sports assembly.

On Thursday 8 June the WHS Foundation, in conjunction with Jarden and Flame Bar & Grill are hosting the annual Winter Gala. This is a very important fundraiser and event for the Foundation and the School and it would be great to see the last remaining seats sold, click here to book your seat now.

Lastly, a great newsletter follows including our Ākonga Passport Prize winners, and an article from Eoin McGlynn who was awarded a BLAKE inspire leadership opportunity, and much much more.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal

PPTA Industrial Action - Rostering Home

The following is the rostering home plan by year level which means there will be no school and no classes for that year level on that day. All other year levels are expected to attend school on that day.

• Thursday 25 May - Year 11
• Tuesday 30 May - Year 13
• Thursday 1 June - Year 12
• Tuesday 6 June - Year 10
• Thursday 8 June - Year 9

Web Portal Updates

The vendor of our portal software has introduced some changes to the password complexity rules for added security. This update forces caregivers to change their passwords on first logon. On first logon you will be taken to the "Change Password" screen and asked to enter a new password of your choosing.

There is only one password per caregiver household.  When you change the password please share it with other caregivers in your household so that they are not locked out of the Portal. If you continue to have difficulty accessing the portal please email help@wakatipu.school.nz.

Ākonga Passport Prize Draw

A special prize draw was held for Year 9 and 10 students in assembly at the start of the week. Those students who had achieved their Ākonga Passport Bronze badges recently had their names go in the draw for some amazing prizes from AJ Hackett Bungy. Thank you to AJ Hackett Bungy for continuing to support our recognition of those students who are demonstrating all round achievement as part of our Ākonga Passport system.

The lucky winners were: Thomasin Wright and Mollie Burgess (bungy jump vouchers), Jade Cummins and Brian Yang (swing vouchers) and Audrey Austin (zip ride voucher)

A reminder that points are awarded for a range of activities both in and outside of school. If there are out of school activities such as sports, service or leadership please ensure that students either complete the online form or pick the paper version up from student services to complete and hand in.

Unite For Climate Change

“When I’m taking action, I don’t feel like I am helpless and that things are hopeless, because then I feel like I’m doing everything I can,” she said. “And that gives me very much hope, especially to see all the other people all around the world, the activists, who are taking action and who are fighting for their present and for their future.” - Greta Thunberg

These words were true when climate activist Greta Thunberg said them to NBC reporter Al Roker in a 2021 interview. Their sentiment has been true of every activist fighting for every environmental issue in history, and they are true now. Our planet has been balancing at the edge of a precipice for years, and it is the responsibility of every country to do its part. This is why Fridays for Future Aotearoa and School Strike 4 Climate NZ are working to organise a series of student-led climate strikes in an effort to raise awareness for climate issues and to demonstrate to observers that these are issues that matter to young people today. We will be hosting a Climate Strike here in Queenstown in a week's time, on Friday, May 26, from 2:00-3:00 PM. We are not alone in our strike, as there will be similar events held on the same day all across New Zealand, from Whangarei to Dunedin and many places in between. It is vital that we, as residents of one of the country’s most naturally beautiful places, give our voice to the movement and do our part for climate justice. Our strike will be a march, meeting out in front of WHS at 2:00 pm and will have us back at school by 3:00 pm so that participants can catch the bus home if need be. There is more information in the Google form linked below, along with the sign-up sheet to ensure a safe and respectful event. I look forward to seeing you all there!

If students plan to attend, please ensure the sign-up form is completed here by Wednesday May 24, with parental consent.

Eoin McGlynn
Environmental Lead Prefect

Sailing Towards Leadership and Environmental Awareness

Last week, I had the amazing opportunity to take part in the 2023 BLAKE Inspire for Sailors program, which focuses on developing leadership skills and environmental awareness through practical experience and face-to-face discussions with experts in their various fields. This program caught my eye over a year ago, and while I was unfortunately unable to attend then, this time I was able to participate in all the wonderful experiences on offer in the program. BLAKE, which is an organisation founded to continue the late Sir Peter Blake’s work in environmental conservation through education, was partnered with Yachting New Zealand, with the two groups involved reflecting the foci of the program.

We set sail from a berth in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbor, deflating and stowing the fenders and dock lines belowdecks as the pedestrian bridge opened above us. Our vessel was Lions New Zealand and 80 ft. Single-hulled sailboat upon which Sir Peter Blake won the 1984 Sydney to Hobart Race and came in second in the Whitbread Round the World Race that same year, though our aspirations were nowhere near as global. Instead, we sailed for a few hours to Rotoroa Island, where we anchored and observed the differences in phytoplankton density from samples collected throughout the passage. The next day, we set sail for Tiritiri Matangi Island to hike on its predator-free shores to learn about coastal biodiversity and threats of invasive species. Unfortunately, the wind which at this point had risen to 35 knots gusting 40 conspired with heavy rain, which flooded Auckland (again) as we sailed through the storm and its two metre swell. After trying and failing to reach Tiritiri twice, we abandoned the attempt and dropped anchor, sitting belowdecks and playing cards and otherwise bonding for the rest of the night. The following day, we had a perfect day of sailing as we flew back to Auckland on a single point of sail, experiencing the changeability of New Zealand’s outdoors as the weather shifted between heavy rain and perfect sunshine. As we sat in a line along the windward gunwale, telling stories from our past experiences with sailing and with nature, it was clear how deeply interconnected sport and the environment are, and how increased emphasis should be placed on this connection.

The Wednesday evening after returning to harbour, we piled into a bus and drove an hour north of Auckland to a rocky beach covered with tide pools at various heights, with all three tidal ranges represented. We spent nearly three hours on that one peninsula, clambering around rocks and aquatic life finding and identifying species of all shapes and sizes. Some highlights include the Lemon Nudibranch, the Sea Hare, the Ambush Star, and countless others. Our exploration was self-led, but Blake’s team of Geologists, Oceanographers, and Marine Biologists were on hand to answer any and all questions related to our findings, as well as explain the incredibly complex ecosystem found in just a single square metre of intertidal shore. Thursday was a day of excursions ranging from sailing to engineering to conservation and was quite full on. First, we visited North Sails’ Auckland factory to learn how they made the incredibly high-performing sails used in competitive and recreational sailing. Then, we went to the Emirates Team New Zealand headquarters, where we were incredibly fortunate to have their engineers explain the science behind their land-speed record, America’s Cup winning boat, and the development of fully hydrogen zero-emissions chase boats alongside how hydrogen power is already being used in New Zealand. I must say, the experience of sitting in the cockpit of the AC75 that New Zealand won the 2020 Americas Cup with while Blair Tuke and Peter Burling explained how the foiling worked was quite surreal. We then learned about beach pollution from Sustainable Coastlines, involving a practical rubbish sorting to determine the origins of waste. Seeing just how much rubbish came from individual waste sources such as food packaging underlined the importance of trying to live as sustainably as possible. Next, we went to Macmillan & Wing, a boatbuilder collaborating with EV Maritime to replace Auckland’s ferries with full electric, where we learned about the major inroads being made by electric vehicles in public transportation, and the dramatically reduced emissions produced by public transportation. Finally, we had a leadership panel where veteran sailor Alistair Moore, environmental artist and sailor Sarah Jane Blake, and Olympic sailors Erica Dawson and George Gautrey offered stories of their leadership journeys.

All in all, the experience of participating in the BLAKE Inspire Program for Sailors was incredibly rewarding and I am glad that I had the opportunity to attend. Through the sailing experience, I furthered my skills, especially in collaboration with others in high-stress situations. The adversity of sailing against rough and stormy weather, and our nature-enforced isolation belowdecks led to myself and other delegates forming lasting connections. Our environmental and leadership educational experiences helped further my practical knowledge of marine science, and I returned with renewed motivation and ideas for how to enhance sustainability in my local community. I highly recommend it to anyone who can go, and the only requirements are environmental involvement in your local community, leadership experience, and sailing involvement at your local yacht club.

Eoin McGlynn
Environmental Lead Prefect

Carbon Friendly Commuters

Reducing our carbon footprint is an important step towards building a sustainable future. As students, we can make a significant impact by making small changes in our daily lives, particularly when it comes to transportation.

One of the easiest ways to reduce our carbon footprint is by thinking about how we travel to and from school. Many of us rely on cars, but there are greener alternatives that can make a big difference. Walking or biking to school is not only good for the environment, but it also promotes physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.

For those who live too far from school to walk or bike, carpooling is another option. By sharing a ride with friends or neighbours, we can reduce the number of cars on the road and lower our carbon emissions. Additionally, public transportation, such as public or school buses, is a great way to get to school without adding to our carbon footprint.

Small changes in our daily transportation habits can have a big impact on the environment. As we think about how we travel to and from school, let's consider the impact our choices have on the planet and make conscious decisions to reduce our carbon footprint. Together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for all.

Wakatipu High School Enviromental Council

It’s Business Time! 7BUS First Sales Cycle Completed

The Level 2 and Level 3 Business Studies classes have commenced sales of their products. Today was the first round of our three scheduled Market Days. Students have been busy undertaking market research for their products, investigating suppliers, writing their business plans and planning for their sales. 

Level 2 business students are required students to carry out their business within a community context. The business groups have identified a community based charity and are supporting the charity by donating to them. 

Some of our Level 3 students have taken the opportunity to join in on the upcoming market day and also are using order forms and local markets as their method of sales - so do keep an eye out for their innovative and sustainable products.

Next Friday will be our second sales cycle - so if you missed out today students and staff make sure you bring some cash for another round of sales on Friday 26 May.

Year 11 Hauora/Wellbeing Programme

On Monday this week all Year 11 students took part in a Hauora/Wellbeing Workshop. The aim of this programme was to support students in developing an understanding of their own hauora and be able to identify some strategies or tools they could have in their kete to support their wellbeing.

We looked at this through the lens of the school Wellbeing model which is founded on a combination of Sir Mason Durie's Te Whare Tapa Whā model and the Mental Health Foundation's Five Ways to Wellbeing.

One example of a skill that all students learnt and practiced was in the 'Take Notice' session. Students were guided in learning about and putting in to practice the box breathing technique.

Reflections on this workshop will be followed up in conversations with Kaiārahi to reinforce and enhance this learning. There is also an optional extra internal assessment available to students who may want to develop a plan around taking action on enhancing one aspect of their wellbeing.

STARS Wellbeing Session

This session aimed to help cement the current WHS wellbeing curriculum.  We invited our awesome Lucy Ford, WHS wellbeing coordinator, to share her valuable content around this critical topic.   

Focusing on the Five Ways to Wellbeing model, a key element to this peer mentor training included a box breathing exercise - reinforcing this simple technique to help calm our central nervous system and manage daily response to stress.  

I was super impressed with the engagement from our peer mentors during this box breathing exercise.  Some peer mentor groups showed courage trying this out with their Year 9 groups the following week - well done. 

If there is one wellbeing tool for students to take away from this, it's breath work! Take a minute to practice box breathing with the video below.  #preventionisbetterthancure

Melisse Haarer
STARS Coordinator

Arts Department News

Term 2 Events

• 19 May - Toi Wearable Arts & Showquest Southland
• 27-28 May - Jazz Workshops
• June - NCEA Music Nights 
• 01 June - Opening of Showing Off Art Exhibition
• 11 June - Big Break 
• 16 June - Play It Strange Songwriting Peace Song Competition
• 17 June - Rockquest Regional Final
• Term 2 Holidays - Jazz Practices

Arts Student of the Week - Eva Hemingway

Eva is a Year 12 Design student who is working at Excellence for her year level. She has made a collection of posters based on several artists’ styles. The design models are Jack Forrest, Daniel Ramires Perez and Mateusz Napieralski. 

“The concept of the posters is the promotion of New Zealand Outdoor Week. It's an initiative hoping to prompt New Zealanders to explore the mountains and wonders that live in our backyard. The style is simple with bold colours that are meant to show that New Zealand has many different colours of adventures to be had from the backyard to the backcountry. Although it's promoted as a specific week, it can inspire Kiwis to explore summer or winter, day or night.” - Eva Hemingway

Showquest and Toi Wearable Arts in Invercargill

Today 40 students and three teachers travelled down to Invercargill to participate in the annual Showquest and Toi Wearable Arts competitions. The students have been working tirelessly with their teachers to create fabulous works of art through dance, drama, tech and clothing design. Good luck to all involved. 

Arts Youth Hui

Rochelle Tickle and Billie Carey were invited to be part of the Youth and Arts hui held at Te Atamira on Wednesday. This was facilitated by Dr Peter O'Connor and was a great opportunity to be involved in a process to create an integrated, sustainable model for youth.

May Music Month

The school bells continue to feature students and ex-students' music compositions and this week we had music from Jack Speedy, Ollie Bailey and the band Haven.

Performances In the Foyer

Because of May Music Month, we have visiting musicians in to perform during Break 2 in the WHS Foyer. Ex-student, David Bell performed in the foyer last Friday playing a mix of covers which was Fantastic to hear his skills. Then, Thursday saw ex-student, Alex Fraser also perform with his brand of rock guitar and vocals. 

A Teaser for Rockquest 

WHS bands were performing on Wednesday at Break 2 in the WHS Foyer to practise their original songs that will be performed at the Rockquest Regionals in Wānaka. 

Extracurricular Singing Group

This is for all the singers out there. The Singing extracurricular group is now underway in the Drama Room on Mondays at Break 2 with Mr McMenamin. All welcome.

Jazz Workshop

Jazz workshops are in two weeks' time. Details have been sent to everyone involved.

Riversdale Arts Emerging Artist Award 2023 - $1000 Prize 

• Entry is by digital image (maximum 2MB or for larger files send via wesendit.com or a similar file transferring service - entry form is due to riversdalearts@gmail.com by 1 June 2023. All artwork must be original and ready to hang or display if selected.
• The artwork that is selected is to be delivered by 1 July 2023 to Riversdale Arts, C/- Austin Bros., Newcastle Street, Riversdale.
• Commission on sold artwork is 30%; unsold work will be returned freight free.

See Monica Parker in the Visual Arts Area (Kawarau) for a registration form or contact her at mparker@wakatipu.schoolnz.

Don’t Get Sucked In Poster Challenge 2023 - USE YOUR CREATIVE TALENTS TO HIGHLIGHT THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF VAPING TO RANGATAHI!

The Don’t Get Sucked In Poster challenge is an art competition for Year 7 – 13 students organised by the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ.   They are asking young people to design a poster to highlight the risks of vaping to rangatahi.  This competition is an opportunity to learn more about vaping harm and share this information in a creative and impactful way.

Entries open Monday, 8 May and close Friday, 30 June.

Contact Monica Parker for more information at mparker@wakatipu.school.nz.

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 through details and photos to mparker@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 Monica Parker the Arts Coordinator at  mparker@wakatipu.school.nz.

Instagram Page

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

Sports and Active Recreation News

Central Otago Sports Awards
A number of current and former Wakatipu High School students were recognised for their efforts and achievements over the past 12 months at the Central Otago Sports Awards on Friday night in Wānaka. It is wonderful to see so many WHS students and volunteers recognised at this level and across such a variety of sports. A huge congratulations to Marley King Smith who was named as Junior Sportsman of the Year, Siena Mackley who took out the Junior Spirit of Central award, John Morrison who won Coach of the Year and Sasha McLeod who won Official of the Year. Well done to these folks and to all who were nominated. We are proud to have you on our waka!

Lewis Clareburt Visits WHS
Top New Zealand swimmer and double Commonwealth Games gold medalist Lewis Clareburt popped into WHS to speak with a number of our student-athletes last Friday. Lewis chatted about his journey from high school into professional sport and his learnings from the Olympic and two Commonwealth Games he has competed at. It was a great opportunity for our students to ask questions of Lewis and understand the skills, dedication and mindset required to compete at the top level in a sport like swimming. Lewis was the guest speaker at the Central Otago Sports Awards.

1st XI Football vs Otago Boys High School
It was another tough loss for the 1st XI Boys Football team on Monday with a 2-1 defeat after being up 1-0 at the half. The game was played in awesome conditions on the Oval at the Event Centre. Next up is an away trip to Dunedin to take on Logan Park High School and Trinity College at the beginning of June. 

1st XV’s Tough Loss
It was a heartbreaking 25-27 loss to John McGlashan College for the 1st XV rugby team on Saturday as they were hunting their first win in division 1. It was a great game played in superb conditions in front of an awesome crowd at WHS and our boys were right in it until the last play where a penalty was successfully kicked by Johnnies to secure a last minute victory. Well played by all and a valiant effort by our boys! 

1st XI Mixed Hockey’s Big Win
The Central Otago Hockey competition is well underway and our 1st XI team enjoyed a big 9-0 win over Dunstan Black last Friday night in the senior grade. This is a great result!

WHS Sport Strategic Plan Development
The WHS Sports Department is in the process of developing a strategic plan for the medium to long term future that will help to shape priorities and goals for the delivery and growth of sport. It is important to us that all of our valued stakeholders have an opportunity to provide their thoughts and feedback as part of this process. Below are opportunities for a student session and a community session in the coming weeks as well as a form in which you can provide your feedback if you are unable to attend one of the sessions below. We strongly encourage you to participate in these sessions so that we can build and shape WHS Sport together. 
Student Session: Wednesday 24 May Break 2 in Matuitui
Community Session: Wednesday 31 May 7-8 pm in Matuitui
Form: https://forms.gle/JPYxpubz4tS39UH18

Opportunities to Get Involved
Otago Swimming Champs
The Otago Secondary School Swimming Championships will be held at Moana Pool, Dunedin, on Sunday, 28 May 2023. This is open to all students, you do not need to be part of a swimming club. Please email shorn@wakatipu.school.nz if you are interested in getting involved.

Save the Date
Southland Climbing Champs - Tuesday 27 June
Southland Table Tennis Champs - Wednesday 28 June

NZSKI Passes - Secondary School Student Passes
NZSKI passes for secondary students are now available and can be purchased online up until 31st May. NZSki will manage the eligibility audit directly with our eligible local schools, this is the easiest option for you. From June 1 purchasing can only be done in town at the Snowcentre (corner Camp and Shotover St) or by phone 0800 697 547. Please purchase a secondary school pass by clicking this link: https://shop.theremarkables.co.nz/qt-secondary-schools
Any questions please reach out via info@nzski.com or call 0800 697 547

Keep Us Informed
The sports department would love to hear from you if you know of any awesome achievements from our students so that we can celebrate these as a school. Please send through details and photos to lnathan@wakatipu.school.nz.

Support Sport at WHS
Jump on board and support the team by liking or following the Wakatipu High School Sports Facebook page. This is the best way to stay informed and up to date with the successes of our athletes and teams and help celebrate their great achievements.https://www.facebook.com/WakatipuHighSchoolSports/ 

Laura Nathan
Director of Sport

Careers

Click link below to view latest job listings.

Visit from Young Workers Resource Centre (YWRC)

On Wednesday of this week, the two Year 12 Economics classes were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend a presentation on Workers’ Rights by Oliver Cull from the Young Workers Resource Centre (YWRC). I believe that Oliver Cull’s presentation was deeply informative and helpful to the classes, as many of us are entering the job market for the first time, and will perhaps not know as much as we should.

Personally, I learnt several new rules about rights for workers in the workplace, such as the importance of a contract that both employee and employer have signed. This information will undoubtedly help many students ensure that they are being treated fairly at their workplace, and if they aren’t, help from organisations such as the YWRC are available. Once again, I am grateful for Wakatipu High School and the YWRC for arranging this presentation, as it was very important for all of us.

Tristan Mason
Year 12 Student

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

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• Learner lessons for beginners
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