WHS Newsletter | Issue 4.08 | 01 December | 2023

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to another stellar week at WHS. The 57th Branches Camp commenced on Tuesday morning, with 4 groups departing at 7 am as part of the ‘early Loch’ group, followed by the remaining 12 groups departing at 9:30 am. I had the opportunity to pop into camp on Wednesday, and it was great to see the students really engaged and making the most of this extraordinary opportunity. See below for more photos. 

The ‘in-school’ programme has also been running smoothly with high levels of engagement from those who have attended. On Tuesday, Year 10 students learned some important First Aid skills and yesterday, they had the opportunity to give back to the community as part of their ‘environmental awareness’ day. 

A huge thanks to everyone who has been able to pay the $395 camp fee, which is but a portion of the actual cost per student to run Branches Camp. A reminder has been sent to all parents of Year 10 students who have not yet paid. 

Also, a reminder to parents/caregivers that the ‘in-school’ programme is part of our curriculum and it is expected that all students are in attendance for these important days. 

Preparation for the 2024 school-year is well underway, and that includes the naming of the cast for the 2024 Musical - Hairspray. Filled with catchy songs, lively dances, and themes of acceptance, "Hairspray" celebrates diversity, friendship, and the power of standing up for what is right. We have extraordinarily talented students, and I’m sure the 2024 Musical will be another great show. A huge congratulations to all the students who were successfully cast. 

Earlier this year, we ran the ICAS competitions and once again, WHS had an overall winner for Oceania. Congratulations to Isla McGlynn on her Gold Medal for winning the ICAS Writing competition and to all the students who participated and performed well in the ICAS competitions (see full list below). 

If you haven’t yet done so, be sure to provide your thoughts and feedback on the ‘Weekly Summary Report’ trial we have been running with junior parents. Feedback closes on Monday, 4 December, see below for more details. 

This morning we had a practice drill looking at our Lockdown and evacuation procedures, which went well. 
Lots of important dates ahead (as below), so be sure to note them on your calendar. 

Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal

Key Dates

Branches Camp 1

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Branches In-School programme

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This year's Year 10 Branches In-School Programme has focused on personal growth and developing social connections. During the 4-day programme, students have participated in a range of activities including wellbeing and resilience workshops, first aid basics, a scavenger hunt, group challenges, and a team quiz. Within these activities, students have gained practical knowledge and skills associated with the 5-ways to well-being, DRSABCs, effective communication and cooperation, and reflected on what they've learnt during their time in the junior school. A special shout out to Wakatipu Youth Trust who came in to deliver one of the wellbeing workshops. 

Additionally, students have participated in four 'choice' sessions, where they had the opportunity to develop new skills in a variety of activities including pickleball, golf, flax weaving and other te ao māori kemu, knitting, making bliss balls, pest control on the Kawarau river trail, origami, yoga, cricket, football, marking cards for Happiness House, hip hop dance, and chess, cards, and other board games. A special thanks to Kerrie from Queenstown Pickleball Club, Byron from Golf New Zealand, and Meronea from Mana Tāhuna for coming in to facilitate some of these sessions.

For one day of the programme, we focused on Environmental Service. Students had five different activities on offer this year and were lucky enough to work with some awesome organisations to undertake meaningful work in our local community. This included clearing wilding pines on Coronet Peak with Wakatipu Control Group, working in the reserve with Friends of Tuckers Beach, planting at Jardine Park with Whakatipu Reforestation Trust, and also doing beach/trail clean-ups between Kelvin Heights, Queenstown, and Frankton. A huge thank you to all these organisations, AJ Hacket Bungee for helping with transport to and from Tuckers beach, and to Volunteer South who made these connections possible.

None of this is possible without student involvement and support for many dedicated WHS staff who go above and beyond. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this year's programme.

Mrs Frances Cross
Teacher Health and PE

Weekly Summary Report - Trial

Over the last three weeks we have been trialling a change to our Reporting structure with junior students. 
Drivers for this trial include increasing student engagement with the "Wakatipu Way", getting information to students, parents / caregivers and staff in a more timely fashion and allowing for earlier provision of support for students and/or intervention, if required.
Key changes include:

• Moving from a 3-weekly reporting cycle to a weekly one
• Moving from 4 Learning Engagement Report grades (Classwork, Homework, Organisation, Behaviour) to 1 grade (Living the "Wakatipu Way")
• Mode of delivery: embedded in the email, rather than requiring navigation to the portal
• Addition of the previous week's attendance and subject grades

With the final one of these reports sent out on Monday, we are now inviting all of our key stakeholders (parents, students, teachers) to provide us with feedback. This will be taken into consideration when the Reporting Review Team meet to discuss what changes, if any, we might make for 2024. Please note, that all information currently accessible via the Portal will remain irrespective of whether we move to an email-based reporting system or not.
We will be accepting responses until next Monday, 4th December 5pm.

ICAS Sucess!

Each year students from across all year levels take part in ICAS assessments. ICAS assessments are designed to recognise and award academic achievement in Mathematics, English, Writing and Science.  Student achievement is recognised with Commendation, Merit, Distinction, or High Distinction awards in each subject. Students with the highest score in each year group and subject within New Zealand and the Pacific are also awarded a medal and a medal winner’s certificate. 

We are proud to announce that Isla McGlynn has been awarded the ICAS medal for top Year 10 Writing student this year. Well done Isla on this fantastic achievement and we're all very proud of your success!

Well done to the following students:

High Distinction and Medal:
Isla McGlynn (Writing)

Distinction:
Isla McGlynn (English)
Brian Yang (Maths)

Credit:
Kieran Leftley (Maths)
Isabelle Mahoney (Writing)
Marin McGlynn (English)
Ayuna Miyoshi (English)
Brian Yang (English)

Merit:
Isla McGlynn (Science)
Ayuna Miyoshi (Maths)
Brian Yang (Science)

Participation:
Lucy Boniface (English)
Kieran Leftley (Science)
Isla McGlynn (Maths)
Marin McGlynn (Science)
Brian Yang (Writing)

Wakatipu High School Musical Cast for 2024

We are thrilled to announce the cast of the WHS Msuical for 2024, Hairspray! Make sure to save the date: April 3 - 6, 2024.

Wakatipu High School Financial Support for 2024

As a school we are aware that the costs associated with commencing and attending secondary school can be challenging for families, and we are committed to providing financial support for students and families where possible. This document outlines the main opportunities for financial support offered by WHS or other sources.

The main contacts for financial assistance at WHS are our Guidance Counsellors - their contact information is below.  You are welcome to either contact them to discuss what support you might require or complete the forms below through the links provided.

WHS Āwhina Fund
Our Āwhina (‘support’) Fund, which is mainly funded by the Wakatipu High School Foundation, provides financial support for students and families for a range of school-related costs, including uniforms, educational assessments, or any required payments for trips and some extracurricular activities.

The level of support is usually to a maximum of 50%, but depends on what the support is for and individual circumstances. While there are several steps to approval, the process is as quick and confidential as we can make it. NB there is strictly no retrospective funding - requests must be processed and approved before any payments are made.  Here is our electronic Āwhina Application Form.

WHS Āwhina for BYOD
WHS is a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) school and all students are required to bring a device to school from the start of the year. Our school website BYOD section has more information including device specifications.

Here is our electronic BYOD Āwhina  Application Form. 

JR McKenzie
JR McKenzie Youth Education Fund is administered by the Rotary Club of Dunedin. It is specifically to assist with the cost of purchasing school uniform and footwear, for Year 9 students only.  

Applications close on 8 December 2023 for the 2024 year.  Click here for application form.  Then email the completed form back to the Guidance Counsellors, before 6 December to sign off and send to JR McKenzie.

Further information
Should you have any questions, require further information or assistance please contact a Guidance Counsellor at guidance@wakatipu.school.nz or through the school office on 442 7370.

Furoshiki Workshop

On Friday the 24th the national advisor for Japanese, Kaori Fukazawa, visited WHS to deliver a workshop on the history and uses of furoshiki to our junior students taking Japanese. Furoshiki literally means a bath mat however it is a square piece of cloth which can be used to wrap bentou boxes and carry goods, even water! Students practiced tying different combinations as can be seen below.

Swiss/New Zealand Exchange Programme

This is a fantastic opportunity to live with a homestay family in the French speaking part of Switzerland over our Summer break (their winter). In return, you will be required to reciprocate their hospitality, hosting a student in your home. This exchange is for Year 12 students doing French in 2024 - Applications can be found here.
For further details contact our Head of Languages Mr Guillaume Charton gcharton@wakatipu.school.nz

Sport and Active Recreation News

Oceania Olympic Climbing Qualifiers
The Oceania Olympic qualifiers are now over for another four years. These were held in Melbourne over the weekend with competitors from Australia, New Zealand and Guam competing in Boulder and Lead, and/or Speed. Two Australians finished strongly to represent Oceania in the Boulder and Lead discipline while two New Zealanders will represent Oceania in Speed Climbing. The competition was strong and the climbs challenging. Year 13's Azaria Briscoe and Lucy Sinclair competed in both Boulder and Lead Climbing events on the same day, which was a first for the girls. The top 8 progressed through to the finals the following day. A huge congratulations to Azaria and Lucy for representing NZ at this event and for their results below. Well done girls!
Individual disciplines: Azaria Briscoe - 7th Boulder, 10th= Lead and Lucy Sinclair - 6th Boulder, 12th= Lead
Overall (combined) results: Azaria Briscoe - 9th and Lucy Sinclair - 10th

Southland Junior Adventure Race
Last week two teams competed in the Southland Junior Adventure Race at Sandy Point in Invercargill. This year there were 67 teams of four that took part in one of two days of competition. WHS Navy finished 10th and WHS Gold finished 17th. Adventure Racing continues to grow in popularity amongst teenagers with some awesome competitions available for students to compete in. A big well done to our two teams and a massive thank you to Brandon Purdue for his efforts with the group last week!

Otago Pre-Nats Touch Tournament
The Mixed A Team had a great day out in Cromwell on Saturday at the Otago Pre-Nationals Touch Tournament. The team won all four of their games, a great last hit out before they head to Rotorua next Thursday for the NZSS Champs. We wish the team all the very best for the National Champs.
WHS beat Taieri College 12-4
WHS beat South Otago High School 2-1
WHS beat Cromwell College 6-5
WHS beat Taieri College 10-9 in a drop off to win the tournament.

GC Summer Series: NZ Open
Congratulations to Noah White and Rory Meek for taking the win in their age category last week at the Gravity Canterbury Downhill and Free Ride Club Summer Series event. Well done boys!

Get2Go National Finals
All the best to our adventure racing team who are heading to Tongariro for the Get2Go National Finals next week. The team qualified for the event back in September and have been hard at work training and fundraising in preparation for this intensive 5-day event. WHS won the finals in 2021 and were runners up in 2022, so we are excited to follow the team’s journey this year. Go well Sydney Alva, Seb Carlson, Logan Harrison, Lexi McLeod, Caitlyn Purdue, Keira Redden, Oli Watson and James Weber!

NZSS Track, Field and Road Race Champs
4 WHS students will be competing at the National Track, Field and Road Race Champs in Christchurch next weekend. Jude Deaker, Siena Mackley, Keira Redden and James Weber will be competing in track and road race events, finishing off a hugely successful season for our middle distance runners. Keira and James will also be heading straight to Christchurch after the Get2Go final, so a huge week for them. Ka Mauka Whakatipu!

Head Injury Management Seminar Recording 
Sport Central and Sport Otago hosted a seminar on Head Injury Management at WHS on the 14th of November. This was an extremely informative session for our coaches and parents about the significant impact concussions can have on a person's life and the importance of managing head knocks appropriately. The recording of the session is available below. We strongly encourage students in particular to watch the first 19 minutes to hear some powerful words from ex-professional cricketer Shawn Hicks, as he discusses how a concussion in high school changed the course of his professional career and still affects him today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t79Ng8oKKxg

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

Arts Department News

Amazing Aotearoa Aerialists

The following girls competed in the AYAC (Aotearoa Young Aerialist Competition) in Christchurch.  All from Queenstown Aerial Studio, Silk and Circus Queenstown.

• Year 9 - Scarlett Cavanagh - Competed in Junior Silks (received Judges favourite award). 
• Year 9 - Dakota Green - Competed in Teen Silks and Teen Lyra categories. 
• Year 9 - Holly Smith - Competed in Teen Lyra category.  
• Year 9 Lilya Smith and Year 12 Jasmine Molloy - Competed in Duo category and received First Place
• Year 12 - Jasmine Molloy - Competed in Teen Silks category and received Second Place

 All competed with young aerialists from all over New Zealand. Awesome job girls.

Rakau Summer Sessions

Ted Coutts and Mala Januszkiewicz will be performing this Sunday from 2pm at the Rakau Summer Sessions 

Rakau is at 170 Arthurs Point Road, Arthurs Point. 

Head along for a great afternoon of  pizza and music!

Junior Bands

Two of the Junior Bands had amazing performances in the lunch break on Monday in Ōrau Outdoor Courtyard

Kara Trounce, Eve Pagan, Chelsea Wood, Indy Hamilton - https://youtu.be/Cc-LCEWVn5k

Mia Ralph, Isaac Ralph, Luana Kirchoff Pereira, Tyler Simpson, Luc Theron - https://youtu.be/8mD5AFM_2AM

WHS Musical 2024

A reminder for everyone to "Save the Dates"   for Hairspray  - 3rd - 6th April 2024!

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.

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

Support our fundraising and enjoy 100s of everyday savings!
Entertainment is the easy-to-use App packed with incredible savings of up to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers, so you can save on takeaway, dining, shopping, groceries, gift cards, activities and more!

And what’s even better, 20% of every membership purchased goes to support Wakatipu High School!

https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/260506v

LEARNER & INTERMEDIATE DRIVING LESSONS

Dan Gerard Driving Instruction has professional male and female driving instructors, and members of the New Zealand Institute of Driver Educators. We offer high quality friendly driver training covering a range of driving lessons.

• Learner lessons for beginners
• Assessment for Learner drivers who have been taught by family and need their skills polished before sitting their Restricted Test
• Refresher lessons to brush up before sitting the Full Test
• Street Talk defensive driving courses

http://www.drivinginstruction.co.nz/ , E: info@drivinginstruction.co.nz

Rach Gerard: 027 273 9610,  Dan Gerard: 027 349 2447