WHS Newsletter | Issue 1.02 | 09 February | 2024

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of a good week at school as teaching and learning has come into full swing and the first of our House Competitions, Touch, has commenced. It was nice to commemorate Waitangi Day on Tuesday and good to see many of our students and whānau involved with the Mana Tāhuna led event in the Gardens.

Wakatipu High School’s vision is to deliver Aotearoa’s best all-round education, and our motto is ‘Ad Alta’, ‘Reach for your Heights’, ‘Kā Mauka Whakatipu’, which means that we want each student to strive for their own level of personal excellence academically, personally, and in their extra and co-curriculars. 

Yesterday, the NCEA Scholarship Awards were announced with WHS students achieving 16 Scholarships, including 1 Outstanding Scholarship, across a range of subjects.  Scholarship is optional and undertaken by our top scholars - and preparing for them often includes extra time and tutorials before and/or after school, throughout the year. Achieving a scholarship is the pinnacle of academic achievement in a Year 13 subject, and we are really proud of all the students who attempted Scholarship subjects in 2023 and congratulate both the students and the teachers who supported the students to achieve these significant achievements (see below for full list of Scholarship award winners). 

A few weeks ago, the interim NCEA results were released and once again WHS students achieved very well. Nearly 70% of our Year 13’s achieved University Entrance, nearly 90% of Year 12 students achieved NCEA Level 2, including 19% with Excellence, and 86% of Year 11’s achieved NCEA Level 1. 

Also, in terms of academic achievement, something that we tend to note at this time of year is the total value of tertiary scholarships gained by our students last year - which for 2023 was $610,000, which was a school record, and doesn’t include the scholarships that some students gained for overseas universities.. This is a significant sum of money and of great assistance to students and families and needless to say, our students work extremely hard to achieve these lofty heights. 

We are looking forward to celebrating the academic achievements of students who studied NCEA in 2023 at our ‘Pounamu’ assembly, which is being held next Monday 12 February. Students who achieved a Merit or Excellence level endorsement at Level 1 or Level 2 will be awarded their badge at this assembly (parents and students have been notified earlier this week). Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of students receiving these awards, we do not have space in Pouākai to have parents and caregivers in attendance for this occasion.

We are looking forward to celebrating the academic achievements of students who studied NCEA in 2023 at our ‘Pounamu’ assembly, which is being held next Monday 12 February. Students who achieved a Merit or Excellence level endorsement at Level 1 or Level 2 will be awarded their badge at this assembly (parents and students who are recipients have been notified via email earlier this week). Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of students receiving these awards, we do not have space in Pouākai to have parents and caregivers in attendance for this occasion.

In addition to academic rigour and focus, WHS values students wellbeing and holistic development. Our wide range of extra and co-curricular activities offer students the opportunity to grow and develop into well-rounded citizens, who are connected and engaged. Next week we are holding our annual extracurricular expo, with the Sports Expo being held on Wednesday, 14 February and the Arts and Culture Expo being held on Friday 16 February. These important events showcase the wide range of extra and co-curricular opportunities that WHS has on offer, and we strongly encourage all of our students to get involved by signing up for one or more extracurricular activities (see below for more details). 

The WHS Ākonga Passport (see below for more details) is being given to all of our junior students and this exciting initiative acknowledges students who live the school values, embrace the Wakatipu Way and engage in WHS' great all-round education. All year 9 and 10 students will be given their Passports ready for Monday week 4. If you are a parent of a Year 9 or Year 10 student, be sure to have a chat with your student about what they can be doing to build up the Ākonga Passport points as they work towards the Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. 

A few quick reminders:

• WHS App - a reminder that this is an absolutely key communication channel for us, where you can do everything from read the newsletter to notify student absence. Especially new parents, please ensure you’ve got the WHS SZ App on your device (and see below for more).
• Uniform - again, it is important that students are wearing the correct uniform correctly, including a blazer and tie to all formal assemblies (eg Pounamu assembly on Monday for Year 12 and Year 13 students). Please see Mr Morrison’s piece in last week’s newsletter or find details on our website. Thank you in anticipation of your support with the uniform.
• Āwhina Fund - again, we are aware that starting the school year can be expensive, and we are able to support families financially through our Āwhina (Support) Fund. For more information or to apply please click here or contact guidance@wakatipu.schoool.nz.
• Year 9 Greenstone - Parent Meeting is next Tuesday 13 February at 7 pm in the Theatre, and it would be great for all parents of Year 9 students to be in attendance (see below for more details). 
• Cellphones - as per our review last year and new Government policies, cellphones must be silent and in the bag during class time, unless permitted by the teacher for learning, and any cellphones that are seen in class without permission will be confiscated. 
• Our new weekly Learning Engagement (LE) Reports will be emailed directly to parents and students beginning on Monday 12 February, so keep an eye on your inbox for this report which is part of a larger reporting package that we hope will assist you in supporting your child to achieve their full potential.

Another great newsletter follows with lots of interesting and important information, including a nice piece from our Guidance Counsellor, Mrs Ford, regarding student wellbeing, so please be sure to read on! 

Ngā mihi nui

Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

2023 Scholarship Results

Congratulations to our 13 scholarship recipients who achieved an impressive 16 scholarships in total! A special mention to Charlotte Muir who received an Outstanding achievement in Photography and to Harry Seeto  who achieved scholarship whilst in Year 12. Wishing all of our scholarship recipients the best of luck in their future endeavors.

Review and Reconsideration Applications for 2023 External Exam Results

It is advisable for students to talk to their teachers prior to applying for a review or reconsideration. The closing date for Applications for Review and Reconsiderations for all NCEA externally assessed standards is 21 February (although they often extend this) and the closing date for Scholarship is 9 March. Instructions on how to do this are here  Reviews and Reconsiderations

Cut scores have been released and may be found at the relevant subject link  https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/ncea/subjects/cut-scores/ These scores may assist students in their decision about whether to request a Review or Reconsideration. 

In a Review, all sections of a booklet or portfolio are checked to make sure they have been marked and results correctly recorded and transferred. A review does not involve re-marking and there is no charge.  
A Reconsideration involves re-marking all answers in the answer booklet and checking mechanical processes (such as transferring grades). NCEA Reconsiderations cost $20.40 for each standard. The fee for Design and Visual Communication (DVC) and Technology portfolios is $20.40 for each external achievement standard, not each portfolio. The fee for Scholarship Reconsiderations is $30.70 per standard (subject). NZQA will waive the fee for students meeting income criteria who wish to apply for a reconsideration of an NCEA or Scholarship result. Where the Reconsideration leads to a grade change, the fee is refunded. 

Pounamu Assembly

On Monday next week we will be celebrating academic success of students who gained endorsements in NCEA Level 1 and NCEA Level 2 in 2023 along with Scholarship winners. Those involved will have received an email earlier this week.

The assembly begins at 9:00 am and is being held in Pouākai. Unfortunately, we do not have space to have parents and caregivers in attendance for this occasion. All students are required to be in complete uniform, including their blazers.

We look forward to acknowledging the accomplishments of students who achieved these results last year.

James Field-Mitchell
Assistant Principal

Extracurricular Expo

Sports Expo - Wednesday February 14
Arts Expo - Friday February 16

At WHS extracurricular activities form an important part of the educational experience of our students. We have an ambitious goal of having 85% of Year 9 and new students involved in some form of extracurricular activity each year.  It helps our students to build connections, a sense of whanaungatanga and belonging. 

The Extracurricular Expo is a great opportunity for students new to WHS to see what is on offer and sign up!  We encourage all students to be involved in some form of extracurricular activity at or outside of school. 

Click below to see all the clubs and activities on offer and how to sign up via Google Classroom.

For more information visit: www.wakatipu.school.nz/extracurricular

Junior Ākonga Passport

The Ākonga Passport is a system of positive acknowledgement for students in Years 9 & 10 that aligns with our Ākonga (Learner) Profile. The Ākonga Passport will acknowledge students in the following areas:

• Behaviours that exemplify the School Values (values card system)

• LE (Learning Engagement, weekly) Reports

• Participation in extra & co-curricular activities

• Service to others - both within and outside of school

• Reading (reading card system)

• Careers Certificate (Year 10)

Each section has points which students accumulate in their Passports. They strive to gain as many points as possible throughout the year, aiming for the different levels of the Passport Bronze (15 points) Silver (30 points) Gold (50 points) Students reaching the required thresholds will be presented with the relevant ‘Peak’ during the year at our Excellence/Ad Alta Assemblies and a badge to wear on their blazer. For more detailed information on the Ākonga Passport, including how each section works and allocates points, please click here. Students have all been issued a passport this week and need to carry this with them at all times.

Wellbeing Spotlight: Return to School

For some students, returning to school after the summer holidays can be a challenging time as it is a time of transition and change. Wakatipu High School aims to keep student wellbeing at the forefront of what we do, believing that students cannot learn or achieve their potential without a strong sense of wellbeing. This commitment has resulted in wellbeing and resilience being established as a strategic priority for us in recent years. As a school, we are committed to creating a school environment where everyone can enjoy good mental health and wellbeing. What does this mean? It means a school where we can all feel good and function well, most of the time. 

It doesn’t mean we don’t experience tough times – it doesn’t even mean that we don’t experience challenges or distress, but it means we have tools and supports to be resilient so that we can get through the challenges that life inevitably throws at us. At our school we use The Five Ways to Wellbeing within the framework of Te Whare Tapa Wha to teach our students about holistic wellbeing and strategies they can use to keep themselves feeling good and functioning well. We acknowledge that when you’re going through a tough time, it can feel like advice to connect with others or go for a walk belittles your experience. These things aren’t the whole picture or a quick-fix, of course, they sit alongside the need for good mental health services and the right support from our whānau, friends and community. 

Keep an eye on our newsletter over the course of the year for tips and strategies about wellbeing but in the meantime, look after yourselves as you settle into the 2024 school year:

Consider creating your own personal wellbeing plan that incorporates The Five Ways to Wellbeing. Writing it down and sharing it with someone is a powerful way to help your wellbeing become a priority. 

Be kind to yourself. Like cheese, good things take time! Settling into school might take some people a day or two, whereas other people might still be feeling stressed or uneasy well into the term. Go easy on yourself and take comfort from the fact that everyone else is in the same boat at times. He waka eke noa. 

Eat, sleep, move. Eat healthy snacks, stay hydrated, and ensure that you have a good sleep routine. Teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Maintain a regular sleep pattern by going to bed and getting up at around the same time each day, including on the weekends. Relax and unwind before bed. Try to spend the last hour you're awake doing calming activities like reading, having a shower or bath or doing mindfulness activities. Being active releases ‘happy hormones’ (dopamine) and can support better sleep. 

Make time for your hobbies, friends and whānau. It’s important to make time for your hobbies. Take breaks from your schoolwork and applications to do things that you personally enjoy, like playing a sport or spending time with friends and family.

Practice relaxation exercises. If you’re feeling stressed, try a relaxation exercise to calm your mind. A few examples include listening to music, reading a book, going on a walk and doing yoga.  Anyone at our school can sign up for free to  Down Dog with their school email address which has yoga, meditation and other practices too.

Take care of yourself. You can’t serve from an empty vessel. The act of providing support to others can sometimes leave you feeling worn out, frustrated or even angry. Taking the time to do things for yourself—like taking a walk, doing some breathing exercises or venting to an understanding friend—will help you stay healthy, happy and in a better frame of mind to care for others. 

Ask for help. Kaua e whakamā, speak up and ask for help if you need it. If you are struggling to handle the pressure of school or work, or just need someone to talk to, reach out to a teacher, your kāiarahi, a trusted adult, or a friend that you trust. If you are struggling with your mental health and/or want some proactive tips and strategies then contact one of our Guidance Counsellors. 

Know what resources are available. Know what resources are available in your school and community so you can be prepared to get help for yourself, or to offer information to someone else who needs it. Aside from our Guidance Team the below resources are also available:

• Youthline - 0800 376 633 or free text 234
• 1737 - free call or text anytime for support from a trained counsellor
• What's Up - 0800 942 8787 - for 5-18-year-olds and available 11am-11pm Monday-Sunday. There is also an online chat available 11am-10.30pm Monday-Sunday
• Skylight - specifically for grief support
• Thrive - mental health support 
• Wakatipu Community Mental Health - (03) 441 0010
• Southland Mental Health 24/7 - 0800 467 846

Buses

A reminder to all students and parents/caregivers that WHS operates a 'mixed model' of school transport. This means that while a number of students are eligible for Ministry of Education-provided free bus transportation to and from school, we have a growing number of students who must make their own way to each day. If you are unsure, please see our school website to check for eligibility.

Regarding ORC Orbus public bus services, we have been made aware of a number of instances whereby morning bus runs have been suddenly cancelled, (Fernhill, Sunshine Bay and Kelvin Heights have been affected). We are also aware of the need for additional bus runs to service students living in the Hanley’s Farm and Jack’s Point communities. Please be assured that we are in regular contact with both the QLDC and the Otago Regional Council and we are lobbying on behalf of our school community to have these concerns addressed as soon as possible, by whatever means necessary.

For concerns related to MOE buses - please contact jduncan@wakatipu.school.nz

For concerns regarding public bus services - please contact transport@orc.co.nz

Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is back, offering the opportunity to have a free breakfast to fuel up for the day. You can find Breakfast club in Mackenzie Social Space from 8:15am.

Sport and Active Recreation

Basketball - NZ U15 Trials
Earlier in the week year 10 students Isla Cox, Nina Matulino and Zara Kleindyk attended the New Zealand U16 Basketball trials in Rangiora. This was a 6 hour long trial and they will hear about callbacks in a few weeks. This was an awesome development opportunity for the players, backing onto a successful basketball season for our junior girls last year.

“We went into the trial feeling super nervous and unprepared but I personally ended up loving the whole experience. I learnt so much and was given heaps of help when needed. We met so many awesome girls and coaches and I am so grateful that we got this incredible opportunity” - Zara Kleindyk

Cricket - Junior Boys Riverbend Tour
In early January the WHS Junior cricket team played in the Riverbend Cricket Festival (Yr 10) in the Hawkes Bay. The full tour included 15 kids and was spread over 8 days flying in and out of Wellington and travelling up via Palmerston North, staying in the Napier Boys High School hostel, followed by two nights in Wellington to unwind. The four days of cricket included a 40 over game, two 50 over games and two T20 games against much older opposition, all played in beautiful Hawkes Bay sunshine. While the boys did not win any games, they pushed some quality teams very close, had many great moments in each game and made a lot of new friends both on and off the field. The sportsmanship and camaraderie that the boys showed was a credit to Wakatipu High School and the vast improvement both individually and as a team was incredible to see.

Special mention goes to the tour award recipients:

• Best batter – Liam Clarke for his outstanding innings and attitude, and also a special mention for Liam’s outstanding captaincy and leadership.
• Best bowler - Hugo Mawdsley bowled beautifully against the best batters in each game and always got key wickets when they were needed.
• Best fielder - Toby Gallie set the standard in the field and saved many runs with his ground fielding, run outs and catching.
• Most improved player - Divyam Nautiyal; incredible transformation over the week in his batting and fielding. Some of Div’s boundaries hitting provided the highlights of the week.
• Best performance – Jake McGirr for his wicket keeping heroics in 30-degree heat against the top side in the Festival
• Best Tourist (voted by the players) - Divyam Nautiyal – an outstanding tourist, a lot of fun to have along!

Thanks to the coaches and managers (Craig Mawdsley, Dean Dolan, Jason McGirr, Mark O’Neil, Walter Clarke and Kath Melville) for their time in organising and taking the tour. Finally, a massive thank you from everyone to our main sponsor Fowler Homes, and all the other generous sponsors that made the tour possible.

Forward Foundation Ambassadors
Congratulations to Siena Mackley and Imogen Olliver who have been selected as 2024 Forward Foundation Ambassadors. The Forward Foundation strives to assist young female athletes by creating development and leadership opportunities in a sporting environment, empowering and inspiring girls to lead active and healthy lifestyles. From a large applicant base nationwide, only 25 Ambassadors were selected to represent the programme. Well done Siena and Imogen!

Netball - National Development Camp
During the holidays year 13 student Bridget O’Malley was one of 30 South Islanders to attend the New Zealand National Development Camp in Ashburton. This was an incredible opportunity to be amongst some of the top netballers and coaches in the South Island. During the camp Bridget completed a series of fitness tests, developed skills on and off the court, and learnt a better understanding of her position. She has come away with a lot of knowledge that she is excited to share with netball at Wakatipu High.

Snowsports - Alice Robinson
Former WHS student Alice Robinson has had an incredible season on the slopes, with a third place finish at the Giant Slalom World Cup in Jasna, followed by a silver at the FIS Giant Slalom World Cup in Kronplatz, Italy last month. This brings the 22 year old’s World Cup podium count to 8. It is awesome following the successes of our alumni on the world stage! Check out the article below to hear about her journey, including a mention of her physiotherapist Alex Hull, another ex-WHS student.

https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/02/03/alice-can-be-number-one-in-the-world/

Softball - Join the Team!
We have reignited softball at WHS over the last 2 seasons. We have a core group of players from year 11 but we are looking for other new players to keep our numbers up.  The team practises on Thursday at school from 3.30-5pm and plays weekly in Alexandra on a Tuesday.  We leave for Alexandra straight after school on a Tuesday in a school van. The games are 5.15-6.15pm. We get back to town about 7.15-7.30pm. 

The season only has 5 more games starting next Tuesday until March 12. It’s a really fun and inclusive sport. We will teach you all you need to know. We have all the gear and uniform. 

Please reach out if you are keen to take part to Mrs Hollyer by email at: gigihollyer@wakatipu.school.nz

Tennis - Kai Milburn's ITF Success
Check out the awesome article below detailing Kai Milburn's tennis success!

https://www.itftennis.com/en/news-and-media/articles/unbeaten-in-2024-five-things-to-know-about-new-zealands-kai-milburn/?fbclid=IwAR3b2lQFGflngD2zZ2SfnGWWVHp7ir7lv7IZxy1fRwqnMxoTIFGCubnHOnM

Touch - National Youth Champs
Congratulations to Charlie Rule and the Southland U16 Mixed Touch team who finished with a Bronze at the National Youth Touch Championships in Auckland last weekend. Mia Manderson and Cooper Deaker were both a part of the U18 team who finished up 6th,with some close one-point losses.

https://southlandtribune.substack.com/p/southland-touch-teams-fly-provinces?fbclid=IwAR3knjuX_0ccTXOgFe-hS--7XVGiwWL02Ud16-RWUJ9sM0d05GQZWz-Fnvk

Opportunities to Get Involved

WHS Sports Expo - Weds 14th Feb
The annual WHS Sports Expo will be held this coming Wednesday 14th February at Break 2 (11.45am) in Pouakai. This is a key opportunity to see what sports and physical activities are on offer through WHS and in the basin and sign up for any activity students may be interested in. Stalls will be spread around the gym with sign up sheets. You can also sign up directly to an activity’s Google Classroom using the relevant code. These can be found on the Sports Website. We encourage all students at WHS to be involved in some form of extracurricular activity at or outside of school, as these are a key way for students to connect with peers, staff and the community and have significant benefits to students wellbeing and holistic development.

https://www.sporty.co.nz/wakatipu

Coaches, Managers and Referees - We Need You!
Like many sports clubs in New Zealand, we rely solely on volunteer coaches, managers and referees. While we do have some incredible staff members involved with coaching, the majority of our teams are still coached by parents and/or community volunteers. As our school role continues to grow, so does our number of sports teams, and the number of coaches/managers we need! This is particularly the case for our junior / year 9 and 10 teams. We are on the hunt for sports coaches for the upcoming season for:

• Volleyball
• Touch
• Basketball
• Football
• Hockey
• Netball
• Rugby

If you have any knowledge, skills, and passion in these sports are keen to join the WHS sports community please reach out to me at shorn@wakatipu.school.nz for further details. We have an awesome group of passionate volunteers on board and support available. 

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

Estrogen Performance at Gibbston Valley Summer Concert

Congratulations to Estrogen who performed as the warm up act at the Gibbston Valley concert last Saturday. It was an impressive performance which showcased their abilities both as musicians and stage performers. Well done to Ruby Ross and Emily Johnston who have now left WHS and Mya Wilcox who is a Y13 student this year.

https://youtu.be/fj6hHiliSoM       https://youtu.be/Eo5-h2-hmYc    

ARTS EXPO

On Friday 16th February we have our annual Arts Expo. This will held in the Theatre during Break 2. 

We will showcase the opportunities on offer for students this year. It will be an opportunity to ask questions, find out more information and sign up for the wide range of activities the Arts and Music Departments offer.

WHS Musical 2024
Cast rehearsals have begun, please refer to the schedule to make sure you attend all rehearsals.

If you would like to be a part of the Hairspray Musical Crew please use  this form to sign up before Friday the 16th of February.

https://shorturl.at/fpGM5

The Schedule for all rehearsals and meetings is in the Hairspray 2024 WHS Musical Classroom Group (pvgr6zm).

Scholarship Results - Visual Arts Department
Congratulations to the Visual Arts dept in gaining 9 NZQA Scholarships. These recognise the top students work from around the country. 6 scholarships were gained in Photography (one Outstanding), two in Painting and one in Design. Well done to the subject teachers involved - Abbey Brown, Leslie Koehn and all the teachers in the Art dept who provide the teaching and learning for these results to occur.

Itinerant Music Lessons. 
Itinerant music lessons should be fully underway next week. We are currently placing the new Y9 students and information regarding the time and place for these will be shared with the students via email. It is the students responsibility to ensure they attend the lessons on time and let the teacher or Mrs Price know if they cannot be there. Lessons last for 30 minutes and will occur during the class Music lessons where possible but there will likely be at least one lesson time set during another class.  Any questions please contact Mrs Price.

Performing Arts Classroom Group
The Performing Arts Google Classroom code is: sijw2gw. This provides information about a range of events/activities happening within the area. 

Music Groups.
Groups will be underway in the next 2-3 weeks with information posted on the Performing Arts Classroom and at the upcoming Arts Expo.

If you are interesting in joining Jazz Band, Singing Groups, Guitar Groups, Saxophone Groups or any other Musical group make sure you are at the Expo on the 16th February.

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 artscoordinator@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 the Arts Coordinator at artscoordinator@wakatipu.school.nz

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

Tertiary liaison visits

The 2024 year is shaping up as being another busy year in the Careers Department. Our senior students have already started thinking about their future pathways through conversations held at course counselling. In a few weeks we will be starting the first of our liaison visits from various tertiary institutions. Please find below the list of visits that will take place in Term 1.  If students wish to attend, they can sign up on the Careers website.

Monday 26 February -  University of Otago Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Friday 1 March - Otago Polytechnic Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Monday 4 March - Massey University Liaison Visit  (9:00-10:00)
Monday 4 March - Lincoln University Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Friday 8 March - University of Auckland Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Monday 11 March  -  Victoria University of Wellington Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Friday 15 March - University of Canterbury Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)
Monday 8 April - University of Waikato Liaison Visit (9:00-10:00)

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

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