WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.01 | 26 July 2024
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Principal's Message
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Key Dates
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Junior Prizegiving and Year Level Ad Alta/Excellence Assemblies
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Option Selection Afternoon Tuesday 30 July
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Junior and Senior Next Steps Tuesday 6 August - no classes running this day
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Senior School Exams (Thursday 15 August - Tuesday 20 August)
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House Basketball
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Homestay Families Required for 2025
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Community and Service Council Update
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Sport and Active Recreation News
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Arts Department News
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Cosgroves Scholarship
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Central Lakes Trust Scholarship
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Tertiary Course Planning in Term 3
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Findex Business Breakfast
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WHS Vacancy - Teacher Aide
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Discover High School Exchange Opportunities with Your Education!
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Branches Quiz Night
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WHS Foundation
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Community Notices
Principal's Message
Kia ora and welcome back to Term 3,
We have certainly hit the ground running with a busy first week back that included a strong focus on teaching and learning, our semester changeover with juniors starting their new courses and the roll-out of the 2025 Option Selection process. We also had the start of our annual House Basketball competition, with the junior Final being played today between Hay and Arthur in Pouākai, which of course was hot off the back of our Matatū assembly that brought an end to Term 2.
This week, we have been able to welcome 19 new International Students from all over the world and 11 new Domestic students. A very warm welcome to all the new students and their families, we hope that your transition to WHS and the basin has been smooth and that our new students in particular, are making new friends and feeling settled and happy. A reminder that we are always looking for homestay families to host the wonderful international students that choose to live and study in Queenstown (see flyer below for more details on how to become a host family)
Term 3 is always a busy time for students, with a combination of teaching, learning and assessment as well as extracurricular activities. Juniors need to be focused on starting their new courses well and seniors in particular need to be organised and disciplined, with school exams starting on the 15th of August and running through to Tuesday 20th. The school exam timetable and other resources to support students with their exam preparation can be found below. It should be noted, that this year, school exams are only being held for Year 12 and Year 13 classes (ie Year 11 students will have normal classes. Year 11’s will still have external exams at the end of the year). This is because, with the new NCEA, the majority of Year 11 classes will only have one external exam at the end of the year, and we deemed it more important for teaching and learning to occur, rather than them have 4 days of exam leave with very few practice exams.
Our 2025 course option selection process has commenced, which sees students choose their subjects for next year. This is a very important process for the school (in terms of staffing and the timetable) but also for each and every student. Please see below for more info on this - including Option Afternoon next Tuesday from 3:20 pm, which we invite all parents to attend . There is also a parent information session in the theatre from 3:00 pm which outlines the process and the timeline for the seclection 2025 course options.
Next Monday 29 July, we have our Junior Mid-Year Prizegivings, and Senior Excellence/Ad Alta Assemblies, which will all be held in our double gym, Pouākai. Prizewinners and their caregivers have been emailed details of these significant assemblies, but you can see general details below. Prizewinners must be wearing their correct uniform to cross the stage, which includes Blazer and Tie.
A reminder also that mid-year reports are now available on the Portal. These provide comprehensive feedback and feed-forward for students and we strongly recommend that parents/caregivers review these reports with their students to assist with making a plan for this term.
To assist with that, our Next Steps meetings are being held for all students and their parents/caregivers on Tuesday 6 August. While we have always held these for junior students, this year, we are holding these for our senior students too. Detailed information has been emailed to all students and parents/caregivers and we really want all students to attend these important meetings.
A full newsletter follows, including key upcoming dates and important information regarding scholarships, as well as a fantastic sport and arts section with a wrap-up of all the action from the holidays—be sure to check it out. Another reminder to note all the upcoming events and dates and get them into your calendars as appropriate.
Best of luck to all the sports teams this weekend, the crew competing at Theatrefest and the art portfolios that are being showcased at next Thursday’s ‘Showing off’ exhibition.
Have a great weekend!
Ngā mihi nui,
Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki
Key Dates
Junior Prizegiving and Year Level Ad Alta/Excellence Assemblies
On Monday 29 July we have our Prizegiving Assemblies to celebrate the success of students during Term 2 and Semester 1. Prizewinners and their parents have been informed by email. Please see the outline for the day below. These are formal assemblies and so all students must be in full school uniform including blazer and tie.
Time | Prizegiving Assemblies |
9:00 | Year 12/13 Ad Alta/Excellence Assembly begins in Pouākai (new gym) |
10:15 | Year 9 Prizegiving in Pouākai |
12:25 | Year 10 Prizegiving in Pouākai |
2:10 | Year 11 Ad Alta/Excellence Assembly in Pouākai |
Option Selection Afternoon Tuesday 30 July
The process for selecting course options for 2025 has begun, with Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 students having had assemblies on Monday this week explaining the process.
This very important process is supported by our annual Option Afternoon which is being held from 3:20 - 5:00pm next Tuesday, 30 July.
The Option Afternoon provides students and parents the opportunity to discuss and learn more from key teaching staff about the range of course options available for 2025, and supports students to make well informed option choices that support their individual pathways and passions, while also leaving as many doors open as possible for their future.
There will be an optional 20 minute presentation in the theatre for parents outlining the principles and process for option selection beginning at 3.00 pm.
Information regarding the 2025 option selection process, including detailed information on the range of course options on offer, is now available through our website. The instructions on how to log in and submit the option selections can be found here.
Option selection needs to be completed and submitted by 10.00 am Monday 12 August. If you know your Year 9 - 12 student is not returning in 2025 please complete the leaving form here: Leaving Form (Year 13 students do not need to complete this).
Junior and Senior Next Steps Tuesday 6 August - no classes running this day
This day is an important opportunity for you and your student to meet with their Kaiārahi to gain a clear, shared understanding of how students are progressing towards their goals and their next steps towards achieving their best qualification possible The conversation is with your student's Kaiārahi (Ako group teacher) who has a broad picture of how students are progressing across all aspects of school life (this is not with individual subject teachers).
There are no classes running on this day to enable these important meetings to take place. Students will study at home and come in with their parents for their meeting. If your student requires supervision for this day please email cmorrison@wakatipu.school.nz. Students are not required to wear uniform to these meetings.
You are able to book your 15-minute interview time using this link https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/zzha6.
For senior students, this is particularly important to ensure there is a clear understanding of what is required to ensure that they gain their best possible qualification. Alongside the student, Kaiārahi will identify any ‘must pass’ assessments and exams to gain qualifications including endorsements. Kaiārahi will also review the students 2025 course option selection, including prerequisites for Year 11 and 12 students. Pulling the overall picture together so we can work together to support the student is an important step and why we have initiated this day. We require all students and parents to attend this very important meeting.
Senior School Exams (Thursday 15 August - Tuesday 20 August)
The Year 12 and 13 School Exams are coming up in weeks 4 and 5 of this term. While they don't directly contribute to NCEA credits, they are a very important opportunity for students to revise and then test their understanding of course work covered to date. Additionally, in the event of a student missing any of their final NCEA external examinations, the school exams are used to determine derived grades.
Here is the link to the Term 3 Senior School Exam Timetable, as well as a presentation on achieving "High Performance" in examinations that could be discussed at home.
Students will also be provided with access to further information around how to study effectively during Ako Time over the coming weeks.
Also, a reminder that on Monday 19 August there are no classes running that day and students will be studying at home. The only students requried at school on this day are those Year 12 and 13 students who have exams. If your student does require supervision on this day, please email cmorrison@wakatipu.school.nz.
Year 11 students do not have exams at this time, and any practice exams that they have will be conducted during normal class time. Their teachers will provide them with ample preparation time for these.
House Basketball
This week, we kicked off another favourite event in the House competition calendar - House basketball! Junior students took to the court this week
After today's epic junior basketball final, congratulations are in order for Arthur House, who took out the win against Hay House! The action doesn't stop here - the basketball showdowns continue into next week, with the girls taking the court in the girls only competition. Overall, the points are close at the top. Can Duncan maintain the lead or will the Hay girls bring them down a notch with a win next week?
Homestay Families Required for 2025
Homestay families receive $450 per week (from January 2025) to go towards the expenses of having another person in their family. Families who approach the experience of hosting an international student with enthusiasm and an open mind find the experience very rewarding and begin relationships that can last a lifetime.
If you are interested in becoming a host family or have any other questions, please click here to visit our website or contact international@wakatipu.school.nz
Community and Service Council Update
SHAVE FOR A CURE!
The event you've all been waiting for... Here it is - the chance to sign up to get a haircut or shave your head for Shave for a Cure! Wakatipu High School is holding Shave for a Cure from August 5 to 9 (Term Three, Week Three). Did you know that eight Kiwis are diagnosed with blood cancer daily? Many will likely lose their hair during chemotherapy. Show your solidarity by shaving your head and/or fundraising. Why not get a friend or even your teacher to sign up with you? Whoever raises the most money for leukaemia will receive a gondola pass for four people, plus three luge rides each! Start growing your hair out, click here for the signup form and join our team. Or show your support and click here to donate to our team.
STUDENT VOLUNTEER ARMY!
The SVA Service Award is a prestigious, nationally recognised framework that formally acknowledges the volunteering efforts of secondary school students. Use the link below to log your volunteer hours!
By joining, you can earn up to six badges, with the first badge requiring just five hours of volunteering. This recognition can significantly enhance your job applications, university applications, and CV, making you stand out to future employers and educational institutions. You can log a wide range of activities, including council meetings, event planning, umpiring, and any other volunteer work you participate in. It’s a fantastic way to be recognized for your dedication and service to the community!
A big Ka pai to the following students!
Congratulations to Katherine Read, Lila McIntyre, Miko Agnew, Sarah-Louise Gutschlag-Wyber, Mason Clarke, Jess Hudson, Jack Smilie, Stella Mitchell, Zara Martin, Jude Deaker, Sophie Mead, Jess Corbett, Roy Greer, Tara Rooney, Jessica Fitzgerald, Sophie Bulling, Alice Davis, Ava Weston, Bailey McChlery, Louis Denney, and Pippa McAtamney for receiving their membership badge for 5 hours of service.
And a big congratulations to Zara Martin, Sarah-Louise Gutschlag-Wyber, Jude Deaker, Sophie Mead, Jess Corbett, Tara Rooney, and Sophie Bulling for receiving their BRONZE badge for 32 hours of service.
We deeply appreciate the tremendous effort of each volunteer involved. It’s a remarkable achievement for our school to have awarded 28 badges before the halfway mark of the year.
Mikaela Patterson
Community and Service Lead Prefect
Sport and Active Recreation News
Netball - Junior South Island Champs
During the first week of the school holidays our Year 9A and 10A teams headed to Christchurch for the Junior South Island Secondary School Netball Championships. With the move to the indoor Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, the tournament increased to a 4 day format for a big week of netball. The 10As had a number of strong wins to finish in the top 8 (7th), with a close loss to St Hilda’s just knocking them out of semi-final contention. The 9As made top 16, but had a tough crossover round. The team went into the last day with determination, beating St Hilda’s by 10 goals (who they lost to by 4 in the semi-finals at the Otago Champs) as well as Cashmere in their final game to finish 13th. Thank you to coaches Jess O’Connell, Kay O'Connell, Fi Ryall and Jules Matulino for their support of the teams during this massive week. A shout out also to the parents and caregivers who made the trip up to cheer on our girls. Full results below.
Year 10
- Won 30-11 to James Hargest College
- Won 26-25 to Christchurch Girls' High School
- Won 52-10 to Logan Park High School
- Won 45-17 to Kaiapoi High School
- Won 26-18 to Craighead Diocesan School
- Lost 38-32 to St Hilda's College
- Lost 46-19 to Ashburton College
- Won by default to Nelson Girls' College
- Finished 7th / 32
Year 9
- Won 29-16 to Avonside Girl's High School
- Lost 31-21 to Columba College
- Won 30-11 to Timaru Girls' High School
- Lost 34-18 to Southland Girls' High School
- Lost 25-15 to Christchurch Girls' High School
- Lost 28-18 to James Hargest College
- Won 24-17 to St Hilda’s College
- Won 33-23 to Cashmere High School
- Finished 13th / 32
Orienteering - NZSS Champs
Year 10 student Audrey Austin participated in the New Zealand Secondary School Orienteering Championships, which took place north of Wellington over the last weekend of the school holidays. Audrey competed in the Intermediate Girls Category (years 10-11), participating in both the Sprint and Long events. On the first day, Audrey achieved 8th place out of 37 competitors in the Sprint. The second day, held in a rainy and muddy forest near Waitarere Beach, saw Audrey finish 7th out of 29 participants in the Long event. Great job!
Equestrian
A huge congratulations to Cara Quinn who has been officially selected for the New Zealand Talent Identification Squad, as part of the Equestrian Sports New Zealand Jumping High Performance Programme. This recognition comes as a testament to Cara's dedication, talent, and achievements in equestrian sports. As part of the squad, Cara will have access to world-class support, coaching, funding, camps/clinics and HPSNZ resources as offered up by the ESNZ Jumping High Performance Programme. This support will be instrumental in helping her reach new heights in her equestrian career. Cara Quinn's selection for the NZ High Performance Talent Identification Squad marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for her.
Speed Skating
Year 13 student Daphne Ricketts raced in the South Island Speed Skating Champs held in Dunedin this past weekend. Skaters from Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland, Queenstown and Australia attended. Due to a number of injuries in her division Daphne raced against the grade above in the Senior Women 500m, 777m, 1000m and 1500m. Daphne placed second in her races, achieving gold in her Junior A Women Division. Well done Daphne!
Volleyball Coaching
Congratulations to Roy Greer and Scarlette Henderson who recently completed their level 1 and level 2 Te Tipu (grow) Volleyball Coaching Course!
Karate - NZSS and Open Champs
The 2024 New Zealand Open and NZ National Secondary Schools Karate Competitions were held in Christchurch from the 6th - 7th July. Wakatipu High School students Max Washbooke and Nicole Carey competed in both events, representing Shukokai Karate in the NZ Open Club event. Congratulations to year 9 Max Washbrooke who earned a silver in the NZSS U14 Male Kata and a bronze in the NZ Open Male Team Kata. Nicole Carey also earned a bronze in the NZ Open in the Female Kata, and performed well in her other fights.
Golf NZ Survey
Golf NZ are keen to hear from students in the Wakatipu Area who are not currently engaged with golf. Please complete the survey below - it will only take a couple of minutes.
Rugby Uniform Items
Rugby uniform items are now available for purchase from the NZ Uniforms Queenstown store located at Remarkables Park Town Centre (next to Nood).
- Standard rugby socks
- 1st XV rugby socks
- Standard rugby shorts
1st XV rugby shorts are to be purchased through the Sports Department. Please email Kate at kferguson@wakatipu.school.nz for the order form.
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
Showing Off - Senior Art Exhibition
Please join us to celebrate a wonderful collection of artworks created by our students at the opening of Showing Off - Senior Art Exhibition. It will be held Thursday, 1st August beginning at 6pm at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown.
Showing Off is an exhibition that features a collection of Paintings, Designs and Photographic work. The work has been selected based on last year’s external folio exam grades and all the students in this exhibition received Excellence for their final submissions in 2023. The exhibition will run from 2 August until 25 August at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown, so please tell all your family and friends to come and enjoy the work on display.
All artworks will be eligible for prizes with one for each discipline. These are “People’s Choice” awards so the winners will be contacted after the exhibition ends. Trinity Construction has been generously sponsoring the prizes for this event for many years and we thank them for their support.
The Lakes District Museum also continues to support us with providing a professional space for our students to exhibit their work. We thank them for the curation of this event and their continued appreciation for the arts at Wakatipu High School.
Theatrefest 2024
The Theatrefest group are all ready for their performance in Dunedin on the 27th of July. This year they are performing Touched With Fire.
The Team this year are: Bethany Graf, Baxter Bamford, Bloom Beduya, Indy Hamilton, Halia Lampson, Kieran Leftley, Joe Leyden, Isabelle Mahoney, Josie Mitchell, Isabella Newell, George Newhouse, Iman Shahbaz, Lucy Singleton and Jack Smillie.
Good luck to everyone; break a leg.
Mini Arts Expo Friday 2nd August - Music Department Area
Are you looking for an extracurricular activity involved with Visual Arts and Performing Arts? Well, we have something special for you! Next Friday there will be a Mini Arts Expo that will showcase opportunities at WHS. All students are encouraged to come to the Music Department (the top floor above the cafe) to meet the teachers in charge, join the classroom group and ask any questions you may have.
Advance Notice - Jazz Band at Te Atamira
See them before they are famous!
Wakatipu High School Jazz Band Best Served Chilled
What: Big Band and Combo performances
Where: Te Atamira
When: Sunday, August 4, Doors Open 3.30pm, Performance 4-5pm
Entry: gold coin donation
Play It Strange: Lion Foundation Competition
Entries for Play It Strange Lion Foundation Competition close on 31 July
Please see Mrs Price for information and come along to the Songwriting Group that meet each Wednesday morning at 8.15 am with Solomon Crook.
Play it Strange: Te Reo Māori Songwriting Competition - Te Rourou One Aotearoa Foundation
Entries for Play It Strange - Te Reo Māori Songwriting Competition close on 31 July
Please see Mrs Price for information and come along to the Songwriting Group that meet each Wednesday morning at 8.15 am with Solomon Crook.
Out and About
There are a number of Musicians in the school who are keen to play out and about in the Community, koha would be appreciated. Please contact Alison Price for more information at aprice@wakatipu.school.nz
Extracurricular groups - Groups have restarted for the term and some have been adjusted, but students should be up to date with all updates as they are posted on the Performing Arts Classroom Group.
- Jazz Combo - Monday 8 am / Wednesday 8 am
- Guitar - Monday Break 2
- Songwriting - Wednesday 8.15 am
- Digital Music Production - Wednesday Break 2
- Junior Jazz - Wednesday Break 2
- Jazz Full Band - Wednesday 3.20 pm
- Senior Singing - Thursday Break 2
- Chamber Music Group - Thursday Break 2
Keep checking each of the Classroom Groups for more details and updates
Term 3 already shaping up to be a very busy time in the Art and performing arts departments, here is a quick look at what is happening in Term 3
27-28 July - Theatrefest Local Competition
31 July - Entries for Play It Strange Lion Foundation & Te Reo Maori Competitions close
1-25 August - Showing Off Student Art Exhibition
2 August - Mini Arts Expo
4 August - Wakatipu High School Jazz Band Best Served Chilled at Te Atamira
6-10 August - Southern Jam Youth Jazz Festival
31 August - Entries for Strange Art (album cover art) Competition close
Te Atamira - is a multi-purpose arts and cultural space at Remarkables Park Town Centre - check out what is happening at Te Atamira here
Te Wahi Toi - Nau mai, haere mai, Te Wāhi Toi is the meeting place and online directory for Queenstown and Wānaka’s creative community. Find them here
Let us Know
The Arts department would like to know about any artistic achievements that students have attained outside of school be it in Drama, Dance, Music or Visual Arts. Please send details and photos to 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 Mrs Cooper 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.
Cosgroves Scholarship
We are thrilled to announce that Cosgroves is now accepting applications from Year 13 students at Wakatipu High School for their incredible scholarship programme. This scholarship, valued at $2,500, is specifically designed to support students planning to pursue a degree in Civil, Electrical, Fire or Mechanical Design Engineering at a university in New Zealand.
This is a fantastic opportunity to receive financial assistance and support as you embark on your academic journey.
Applications open: Friday 26 July
Applications close: Friday 16 August
Please email your completed handwritten application to Careers@cosgroves.com by Friday 16th August. In addition, a hard copy needs to be posted. We will be sending a courier to Cosgroves on Friday 16th August so if you want your application included, please ensure it is at the Careers desk by 12:00 noon.
Central Lakes Trust Scholarship
Applications for the Central Lakes Trust scholarships worth $2,500 are now open. These scholarships are open to students planning to commence their first year of full-time tertiary study or full-time apprenticeship/vocational training following Year 13 either in NZ or overseas in 2025 (or 2026 after a GAP year). Applications close Wednesday 31 July 2024. The application form, guidelines and eligibility requirements can be found here: https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/690
Tertiary Course Planning in Term 3
University Liaison Officers visit Wakatipu High School during Term 3 for course planning and to assist students with the transition from school to university.
These sessions are designed to explore your individual interests and put together your first-year course. These sessions are a great time to ask questions, seek advice, and get a better understanding of what each university has to offer. Whether you have a clear plan in mind or are still exploring your options, these visits will provide valuable guidance and support.
The scheduled visits are as follows:
- Otago Polytechnic: Friday 9 August https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/746
- University of Canterbury: Monday 26 August https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/747
- Victoria University of Wellington: Monday 9 September https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/213
- Lincoln University: Tuesday 27 August https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/745
- Massey University: Monday 16 September https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/52
- University of Otago: Friday 20 September https://wakatipu.careerwise.school/post/217
- University of Auckland: TBC
- Auckland University of Technology: TBC
If you are interested in coming attending any of these sessions please sign up using the links provided.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please contact the Careers Team.
Findex Business Breakfast
Attention Year 12 and 13 students,
An amazing opportunity is coming your way to explore the world of accounting at the Findex Business Breakfast.
Event: Findex Business Breakfast
Date: Friday 9 August
Time: 7:00 am
Location: 13 Camp Street
Findex, a leading company in financial advisory and accounting services, is hosting a special breakfast event. This is an excellent chance for students interested in a career in accounting/financial advising, to network, ask questions, and gain valuable insights into the industry.
We will have a lineup of speakers from Findex who will share their experiences and knowledge, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to engage with them directly. Plus, breakfast will be provided!
If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, please come and see the Careers Team as soon as possible. Spaces are limited, so be sure to secure your spot early.
WHS Vacancy - Teacher Aide
We are seeking a a teacher aide for a fixed-term parental leave position starting as soon as possible until the end of the 2024 teaching year. The position is 08:45 to 15:30, Monday to Friday, term-time only and requires an outgoing, caring individual who is happy to work with students (in one-to-one situation or in small groups) under teacher supervision.
The ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work with students of all high school ages calmly and efficiently, especially those with behavioural and/or learning difficulties.
If you've been looking for an opportunity to join the Wakatipu High School staff team this might be the opportunity for you!
For more information regarding this role and to submit your application please see the vacancies page of our website: https://wakatipuhs.schooljobs.nz/Job
Discover High School Exchange Opportunities with Your Education!
Your Education - High School Exchanges - will be visiting us on Monday 5 August at 11:45 am to provide information about oversea exchange opportunities.
This is your chance to learn more about studying abroad, immersing yourself in a new culture, and gaining unforgettable experiences. All interested Y10 - Y13 students welcome. Register here.
Branches Quiz Night
WHS Foundation
Community Notices
Purchase a Single City Entertainment Membership from us today and not only will 20% of your purchase go back towards raising funds for our cause, but you’ll also get a FREE upgrade to a Multi City Membership and a $30 Woolworths eGift card with your purchase. How good is that?! The Multi City Memberships sell for $120, but you’ll get yours for $70, along with a $30 gift card back to you. It’s a win win! Entertainment Memberships are jam packed with great offers from some of the area’s bests restaurants, cafes, takeaways, activities and more. You only need to use it twice and you’ll make back what you spend on it.
HURRY, this offer is only valid until 1.59pm NZST Tuesday 30th July.
So order yours today: https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/260506v
The complex Middle East context of the Gaza war
After more than nine months and 38,000 deaths, there is very real scope for expansion of the Israel – Palestine conflict across the Middle East and even greater humanitarian catastrophe, University of Otago's Dr Leon Goldsmith says.He will outline the complex political and historic context that provides the drivers of the war in Gaza at our August 18 Catalyst Kōrero. Israeli fighter jets targeted Yemen's Houdeidah port yesterday – more than 1700 km from Israel – in retaliation for Houthi strikes on Israel in support of Palestine. Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon exchange fire daily. Goldsmith says both Middle East camps – the 'resistance axis' and the 'moderate' pro-Western Arab states - have used the conflict as a "political hand grenade" to damage each other over recent decades.
Date: Sunday, August 18
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: The Rees Hotel Queenstown, Ruma Wai Kahu (5th floor)
Registration: Secure your seat here
Donation: Please bring cash for your koha (donation)
Reprogramming our immune system to treat disease
Global research looking at how to supercharge our immune systems has transformed the potential for treatment of blood cancers.And use of these therapies for other types of cancer and conditions such as autoimmune diseases and serious infections is on the horizon.Our August 5 Catalyst Kōrero will explore the scientific approaches behind different immune therapies, their successes and their challenges, with Associate Professor Emily Blyth and Dr Alicia Didsbury, who will be in town for the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy conference.
Date: Monday, August 5
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: Liger Leadership Academy, 34 Grant Road, Five Mile shopping area.
Registration: Secure your seat here
Donation: Please bring cash for your koha (donation)