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WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.8 - 11 September 2020

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the new-look Wakatipu High School newsletter - we hope you like it! This is part of us using some clever technology to support our communications. The new platform, Schoolzine, has some great features - including that it automatically adapts and optimises whatever device you are on, and that you can choose one of multiple languages to read it in! Below is information on Schoolzine’s App ‘SZapp’ - please do get it onto your devices as it has a bunch of great features and options and will be the way to stay connected with us. Please note that we will run this in parallel with our existing WHS App for a few weeks.

The big news this week has been the musical, All Shook Up. As I noted last week, Covid has really impacted the season for the show but we are thankful that we actually have a show. The ‘WHS bubble’ opening night was a huge success - with some old hands saying it was the best show they’ve seen, and while last night’s ‘family gathering’ experienced some technical issues (!) it was still a fantastic show where families got to enjoy and admire the talent and the results of all the hard work we knew had gone into it. My huge congratulations and thanks to everyone involved from students to staff to parents and other helpers - I was very proud of you all last night.
If you’re reading this before 7.30pm you have one final chance to watch the show, with everything good to go via Livestream for tonight. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.

Speaking of things musical, two of the stars of last night’s show, Ryan Connaghan and Harrison Maguire as Haven, have done it again and made the national finals of Rockquest - the only South Island band to do so, an incredible achievement! Big congrats to these two wonderful musicians, see the Arts section below for more.

Another reminder that Senior Next Steps are coming on Wednesday 16th - see below for details, including how they are being run in Covid times. Please note that school will finish and buses run from 1.50pm that day.

Sticking with Covid, the decision on the Formal has been delayed until Monday when Cabinet are set to make a decision on Alert Levels. Once again, the Formal can only run if we are in Level 1.

As you know we have been trialing a shortened Break 3 and an earlier finish to the school day, and we have just surveyed students and staff as part of the process. While all groups surveyed were in favour of the shorter break (students were 68% in favour, 23% against, 9% didn't mind) the Senior Leadership team considered the feedback and seven week trial and we have made the decision to continue with the shortened Break 3 and earlier finish. We will now work with the MoE on the buses that are still running at the old times (NB as flagged, they have said this will take at least a term of consultation so this will likely not change until next year).

Branches Camp Parent Information evening is at 7pm on Tuesday 22nd. This is an important evening for Branches, see below for more and please put it in your calendar if you are a Year 10 parent.

Uniform - August is long gone so puffer jackets are no longer part of the uniform until next winter.

You may have noticed the fences and earthworks that signal the beginning of the site works for our Phase 2 expansion (and if you are curious, the fencing on the NE corner is for our temporary classrooms area). It is great to see this significant and substantial project underway. We’ll keep you up to date with information and progress.

Only two weeks to go in the term now, and they will be busy for seniors with assessment in particular. Please ensure your student is focused and finishes the term strongly.

A pretty reasonable weekend of weather ahead, with tomorrow looking like a cracker - enjoy :)

Steve Hall
Principal

How to download the SchoolZine App on your device

Click here to download on an Apple decive

Click here to download on an Android device

Senior Next Steps

Senior Next Steps are on Wednesday 16 September. School will finish at 1:50pm. This event is being
conducted with subject teachers remotely by either Google Meets or phone calls. Conducting Next Steps remotely limits the number of appointments we are able to offer. Unfortunately we would need to know that we are going to be at Level 1 to offer face-to-face appointments.

Teachers have identified the students for whom they believe an appointment would be beneficial to support their learning and academic progress. These parents will be emailed today and given earlier access to book appointments. Next week bookings will open to all parents (details will be emailed at the time).

Senior Exam Reports will be available later next week. These summarise students’ results for recent practice exams. Learning Engagement, along with Progress and Achievement results continue to be available on the portal and give a good summary of student progress. We ask you to please look at these first before deciding to book an appointment due to the limited number we are able to offer.

If you have any specific questions around your child’s learning please email their Kaiarahi or subject teacher.

Lee Hiestand
Assistant Principal

Year 10 Branches Camp - Parent & Student Information Evening

Despite current uncertainty around Covid-19, planning for Year 10 Branches Camp in Term 4 is well underway. As in previous years, there is a Parent and Student Information Evening on Tuesday 22nd September 7.00pm - 8.30pm in the school Theatre.

This is your opportunity to find out more details about the camp; how it is run, its organisation and structure, staffing, transport, activities, safety and food. It is also an opportunity to ask any specific questions you may have regarding the camp. All parents/caregivers and students are welcome.

All other information regarding the Branches Camp will be sent to you via emails next term. This years' camp dates are: Friday 27th November - Tuesday 8th December.

Bridget Janse
Branches Camp Coordinator

Media Studies: National Winners

Elke Koehn, Year 12, has won a national competition run by Better Public Media. Entries were required to address the question: Your media life under lockdown - was media useful or a distraction?

Elke's winning entry is a 17-minute video called 'TikTok isn't a waste of time', in which she explains the power, versatility and usefulness of TikTok during lockdown. She won the top prize of $1000, and also $500 that will go toward WHS's Media Studies department.

The judges said:
"This video was the most enlightening of all entries, as it presented new information and perspectives. We learnt a great deal about TikTok, which we had previously dismissed as being rather shallow and short-lived. Even though we still reserve doubts about the transformative possibilities of any technology, there does seem to be something in alt-TikTok."

You can view Elke's entry here.

Fineen Hingston, in Year 12, was awarded "Highly Commended" by the judges for her essay titled 'Life Uploaded'. It is well worth a read!

Congratulations to our media-savvy, critical thinkers!

Jen Smart
HoLA English and Media Studies

National Poetry Award Winner 2020

Wakatipu High School is thrilled to announce that Year 13 student, Arwyn Donnelly Cranston was one of nine finalists in the National Schools' Poetry Award for 2020. Whanganui poet, Airini Beautrais judged the entries that numbered over 200. Aside from winning $100 dollars, Arwyn will have the opportunity to attend a poetry Masterclass and membership to the New Zealand Book Council.

Blue belongs to her
All blue belongs to her, casting blue glaze.
The sky kisses good morning and goodnight.
Her magma tears roll from her cobalt gaze.
The waves of azurite will hug her tight.

Is she a dream? Or is she of a dream?
asleep beneath the dark facade of waves.
Dreaming, is she? Of blue in her bloodstream?
Into her heart, soft pain the sea engraves.

The stars drink of her tender agony,
there is no blue, obsidian obscures.
Drowns in cerulean cacophony.
Her voice it takes, the thick thunder endures.

Mercury touch leaves heavy residue.
Quietly she breaks; she belongs to blue.

Jackie Rodgers
English Teacher

ICAS English and DIT 2020

ICAS English
Congratulations to the following students who entered the ICAS English Competition.

Year 9

Georgia Chinn - AAST scored 46/55 - High Distinction Award (top 1%)
Sorcha Wilkinson - DMPR scored 44/55 - Distinction Award (top 10%)
Mia Pagan - HLKN scored 41/55 to gain Distinction Award (top 10%)
Nethumdi Galla Palliya Guruge - DCHW 39/55 to gain Credit Award (top 35%)
Abby Fookes - ADRS 35/55 to gain Credit Award (top 35%)

Year 10

Daniela Difazzio - HNKU 43/60 to gain a Distinction Award (top 10%)

Year 11

Helena Hornbacher - HJTH 50/60 to gain a High Distinction Award (top 1%)

ICAS Digital Technology

Year 10

Jack Speedy - DPQA 28/45 to gain a Credit Award (top 35%)

Dax Richards
Gifted and Talented Coordinator

NZ Alpine Skiing National Champs

A Huge success for Olivia Flight, who competed in the New Zealand National Champs last weekend. She achieved the following:

Silver - U21 Super G
Bronze - Open Category Super G
Silver - U21 GS
Bronze - U21 Slalom

This all came together to take home the women's U21 Alpine Combined National Title!! Congratulations Olivia!

Stars Community Project UPDATE

Due to the country staying at its current alert levels until Wednesday 16th September, we have had to postpone our Community Project to Monday 21st of September which will still be following the same day timeline to achieve our goal of revegetating at least 1000 natives in Jardine Park.

Huge thanks for all our supporters on this Project for being flexible with this change in these uncertain times especially Aj Hackett Bungy who are providing coaches to transport over 350 students during the day.

If your child is involved in this project but is now unable to participate on this new date or is now able to, please email me as soon as you can.

Any questions or concerns please feel to contact me at any time.

Ngā Mihi Maioha,

Divesh Singh
Stars Programme Coordinator

Head Student Address

This week has been a much awaited one for many of us. The school’s production of All Shook Up is making its debut.

For many of us the school musical has been an annual event, with some of us being involved for our fourth or fifth years in 2020. However this year has been very different. Due to the circumstances that we have been put under, the musical was something that was never guaranteed to happen this year.

Despite this the leaders, crew and cast pushed on with their rehearsals back in March. Only to be told that the show would be postponed due to Covid-19. For the team that had been working so hard this news was absolutely gutting. Especially for the year 13’s who knew this would be their last school musical.

Friday 8th of May our worries were somewhat relieved when Jake Hansen (our incredibly supportive director, teacher and friend) let us know we had a new date for our opening night. September the 9th.

For the month leading up to this week the cast, crew, dancers, band and the lot were working many hours weekly to reproduce the show. Wednesday this week was our opening night at which we performed to our school bubble. The performance went down very well and the audience was not able to stop laughing.

We now look forward to our performance to our families and a one off live stream performance which tickets are still available for. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to watch our performance from the comfort of your own home!

The difficulties we had to go through to get to this point make the show just that much more rewarding. I am so proud of the people who have been along this journey and what we have achieved.

Greta Balfour
Head Girl

Arts Department

Rockquest 2020

Huge congratulations to Haven who have made it through to the national Rockquest final for the second year in a row. This year, Ryan Connaghan and Harrison Maguire were a two-piece group aiming for the top 8 bands nationally. Having two groups in the top 20 was already a significant achievement for WHS but as the only band from the South Island to progress to the final, Haven has, once again, shown just how strong they are. Next week, Rockquest flies them to Auckland for a video/recording session and the finals will be live-streamed on Sept 24.

Alison Price
HoLA Arts

Sports News and Results

WHS Sports Vision

This year we have been developing a vision for sport at WHS which will provide focus and direction for sport and physical activity opportunities for our students. The WHS Sports Steering Committee made up of members of Senior Leadership, Sports Department, Board of Trustees, Student Sports Council and our external community have developed a draft vision. We are currently in the process of consultation with students, staff, parents and coaches/community clubs. It is important for us to have input from all of our stakeholders. Feedback is open until Monday 21st September.
WHS Sports Vision Feedback - https://forms.gle/yWUJoCdtRD9KEXsUA

South Island Mixed Hockey

The WHS Mixed A Hockey team competed at the South Island Mixed Hockey Champs in Invercargill last week from Wednesday to Friday. The team finished fifth out of seven schools and performed well over the second half of the tournament. This is a young team against sides filled with seniors so it bodes well for the future. Congratulations to Year 13 Erin McDonald who was named as the MVP for the team and has finished up her time representing WHS on the hockey turf. Well done to Oliver Battrick who finished as the second highest goal scorer at the tournament. Thank you to coach Will Daughtry for the awesome work he has done with teh team in 2020.

Results:
Beat Northern Southland College 7-1
Lost to Kavanagh College 3-2
Lost to Southland Girls/Boys High 3-0
Beat St Peters College 7-0

NZ Alpine Ski Champs

The National Alpine Ski Champs were held at Coronet Peak over the weekend and featured a few of WHS's best alpine ski racers. Congratulations to Olivia Flight, Albie O'Connell and Ester Vile for the results they have achieved below.

Olivia Flight:
1st Junior Women's Combined Discipline
3rd Senior Women's Combine Discipline
3rd Senior Women's Super G
2nd Junior Women's Super G
4th Senior Women's Giant Slalom
2nd Junior Women's Giant Slalom
5th Senior Women's Slalom
3rd Junior Women's Slalom

Ester Vile:
5th Junior Women's Combined Discipline
7th Senior Women's Combine Discipline
6th Junior Women's Super G
8th Senior Women's Giant Slalom
6th Junior Women's Giant Slalom
8th Senior Women's Slalom
6th Junior Women's Slalom

Albie O'Connell:
4th Junior Men's Combined Discipline
7th Senior Men's Combine Discipline
3rd Junior Men's Super G
6th Senior Men's Slalom
4th Junior Men's Slalom

Southland Badminton Champs

WHS competed in the Southland Secondary School Badminton Champs last week and both our top boys and girls teams finished 3rd in Division 1, which is an awesome achievement!
Congratulations to Max Vang, Eliott Allemand, Louis Conway and Aidan Gordon for the boys and Nadia Burns, Kavya Chauhan, Mikayla Evans and Carly Sherriff for the girls,

Otago Southland Road Cycling Champs

WHS had three students compete in the Otago/Southland Road cycling Champs in Invercargill last week. The competition was very strong and the boys pushed hard but finished off the podium in the Under 17 grade.

Results:
Logan Campbell: Time trial = 7th
Road race = 9th
Overall = 8th

Sam Davis: Time trial = 11th
Road race = 11th
Overall = 10th

Eli Tregidga: Time trial = 13th
Road race = 10th
Overall = 11th

South Island Hillary Challenge

WHS had a team of keen beans compete in last weekend's South Island Hillary Challenge 6 hour event at Peel Forest, north of Geraldine. The team finished 10th out of 15 teams from all over the South Island. Well done to Jasper Cuisel, Sam Davis, Eli Tregidga, Linus Ritchie, Jess MacDonald, Zoe Crawford, Olive Ritchie and Hannah Battrick. Great to see our students taking on awesome adventures and new challenges! A huge thank you to Ms Sibsten for making it happen!

Weekly Results

Football
Girls 1st XI beat Cromwell College 11-0

Hockey
B Team lost 4-0 to DHS Dodgers. Player of the night: Lucy McNay
Development team lost 9-0 to Maniototo. Player of the night: Kate Woods

Rugby
1st XV beat Combined Co-ed Schools 59-12
U15 beat Cromwell Colts 57-32
U14 lost to South Otago HS 41-21

Weekly Draw

Basketball
Friday 11th September
Senior A Boys vs Aurora College - Stadium Southland 5:30pm
Senior A Boys vs Central Southland College Colts - Stadium Southland 7pm
Junior A Boys vs James Hargest HS A - Stadium Southland 6pm
Junior A Boys vs Central Southland College A - Stadium Southland 7pm

Football

Monday 14th September
Girls 1st XI vs Mt Aspiring College - Cromwell 5:45pm Central Otago School Girls Final

Hockey

Friday 11th September
Mixed A vs Dunstan HS Gold - Cromwell 7pm

Rugby

Saturday 12th September
1st XV vs South Otago HS 1st XV - WHS 1pm
U15 vs Kings Panthers U15 - Cromwell 11:30am
U14 vs Dunstan U14 - WHS 11:15am

Summer Sports Opportunities

Summer sports are about to start up and many clubs are beginning to go through their registration processes. Please visit the WHS sports website to see what summer sports opportunities are available for you: http://www.wakatipu.school.nz/sports.html. Also we encourage you to visit the relevant websites for club sports to find out more details.

Queenstown Athletic Club
Registrations are open for the Queenstown Athletic Club: http://queenstownathletics.co.nz/

Queenstown Cricket Cricket
QCC is about to take registrations in the coming week. For more information please keep up to date at the QCC Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/QueenstownCricket/. There will be a meeting for beginning girls cricket players this Tuesday at Break 1 for a new Central Otago School Girls Development League.

Wakatipu Junior Golf Club
Join online with the WJGC at https://www.wjgc.co.nz/

Queenstown Swimming Club
The open day due to take place this Saturday has been postponed. https://queenstown.swimming.org.nz/

Wakatipu Rowing Club
The Wakatipu Rowing Club has been running a series of open days and a selection process for Year 9 students on Sunday’s. All the best to those involved. http://wakatipurowingclub.co.nz/

Tennis
Social tennis will be on offer in Term 4 at the WHS courts after school once a week this will involve skill development and game play with a coach. For more competitive players, please see the options available at the Queenstown Tennis Club: http://www.queenstowntennisclub.co.nz/

Touch
Social touch begins next term, Monday nights at Frankton. Watch the notices and your emails for information on how and when to get your social teams together. There will be a competitive mixed touch team entered.

Volleyball
Is already underway with a massive eight junior teams getting into it, ready for the upcoming competitive season in Term 4. A huge thank you to Mrs Panapa for running the volleyball programme again for the 2020/21 season.