WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.09 | 20 September 2024

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of another really good week at WHS in which we celebrated te wiki o te reo Māori. One of the highlights was signing the School Pledge to ensure that te reo continues to thrive in Aotearoa and to ensure that WHS is free of racism (see photos below).

On Monday we heard some great speeches from our prospective 2025 Head Student candidates, who are all to be commended for putting their hand up for this very important student leadership position. The rigorous process of selecting our Head Students has nearly concluded and we’ll look to announce these prestigious positions next Monday. 

I’d also like to congratulate Molly Shuttleworth on being elected as the Student Representative on the Board of Trustees. A huge thank you to outgoing student rep, Manuella Sanches Pedrosa, for all of her mahi over the past year. Manuella has done a great job of representing the student body at the governance level of the school and I’m sure Molly will continue the legacy of great student reps. 

With senior students having just three weeks of class plus tutorial week before NCEA External exams commence, it is really important that students are planned and organised with their learning. It was great to see many parents and students in attendance at our Senior Next Steps evenings, as these are really important evenings that provide students and parents with the opportunity to hear from teachers what students could and should be doing to achieve their academic goals through both internal and external assessments. If students or parents were unable to attend or were unable to see their teacher(s) for whatever reason, be sure to check the Portal in the first instance to see the current feedback and feed-foward, and then send the teacher an email if further discussion is needed. On the evening, a drop-in session was held to support students with their studies - you can view the presentation and slides here. 

Going back to last weekend, on Friday night the Branches Trust held the annual Branches Quiz. This very well attended event raised more than $20,000 to support the Trust and the Branches Camp. A huge thanks to everyone for their contribution to this wonderful evening. A reminder to Year 10 parents that the Branches Camp consent form and workday form needs to be returned by next week. 

A wonderful and comprehensive newsletter follows, including highlights from the Arts showcase at Te Atamira as well as lots of information on how students can get involved in summer sport and make the most of WHS’ great all-round education. Be sure to have a read through. 

Kia pai tō mutunga wiki, 

Oded Nathan
Principal

Key Dates

Branches Quiz Night

Thank you to everyone who supported and attended the Branches Trust quiz night last Saturday. It was an amazing evening, and we managed to raise $20,000. The best dressed team was "The Adams Family"! A big thank you to our generous sponsors, especially the Skyline team for the fantastic food. Thanks also to Colliers and our amazing auctioneer, Jack Smillie!

Don't forget, the work day is coming up soon, and stay tuned for our next exciting fundraiser.

Science Buskers

On Wednesday Wakatipu High School Science Buskers held the first ever 'Busk Off' between two high school teams and two RPS teams, with Cromwell College observing. The Wakatipu High School team, 'Anonymous Users' took home the win. This was a great learning experience, especially for the younger students and a good opportunity for the older ones to be able to coach a team.

Science Buskers Team

Term 4 Public Bus Changes

Otago Regional Council have advised some changes to the the after school public buses for Routes 1 and 4 commencing at the start of Term 4.

From Monday 14 October the following changes will apply;

ROUTE 1: To Sunshine Bay
This bus will now depart the school at 3.20pm (currently 3.30pm). This bus will have signage in the window saying "School Service".

ROUTE 4: To Hanley's Farm and Jack's Point
This bus will now depart from the public bus stop in front of the library on Hawthorn Drive (instead of Red Oaks Drive). Departure time remains 3.30pm.

Please note that these changes will not be noted on the ORC website/timetable until additional route changes are updated in November.

Class '24 Legacy

The Graduating Class of ‘24 is excited to announce our legacy bench ‘Sensing Peace’ to the school.

As has become a tradition at WHS, the graduating class gifts a project to WHS through a medium of artwork. This year's bench has been designed by Ed Cruikshank (see photo below) and symbolises inclusivity through the five senses and values like communication, learning, connection, fellowship, and peace. The stainless steel bench, shaped like an interlocking Koru key, will feature Braille words for inclusivity and reflect our school’s mighty ‘Wakatipu Way’.

How are we funding ‘Sensing Peace’?

Join Ed for a fundraising event on 3rd October at Mora, with dinner and a silent auction. Tickets are available here, with a deadline of 28th September. Proceeds from this will fund the project, with a surplus going toward future initiatives. 

We are also on the hunt for local builders who are willing to assist in creating a concrete circle with a 2.7m diameter, and 500mm ring around the 1.7m diameter seat. Any assistance is welcome on this please contact: office@wakatipu.school.nz

Thank you for your support!  

‘24 Head Student Team

A Celebration of our Space

Welcome to Hākitekura

Our Year 9, 10 and 13 students planned and prepared a mīharo whānau evening, showcasing what we do in our Hākitekura learning space. We are a big team in this space and the students planned, prepared and produced kai to share. This was a wonderful opportunity to come together to chat and make connections with new people. The students also delivered stunning presentations about their school journey to their whānau, peers, kaiako,  including Mr Nathan and his team.  A pretty important audience! Ka Pai Team. 

Beauty Therapy Students Assessments

This week marked a significant milestone for the Level 3 Beauty Therapy students enrolled in the Otago Polytechnic Trade Academy programme; as they successfully completed their make-up assessments. The assessments are a crucial part of their practical learning journey, offering students the opportunity to showcase their skills and creativity in producing a range of professional make-up looks.

Each student was tasked with creating several different looks, demonstrating their versatility and understanding of make-up artistry. The students produced everything from a flawless natural look to sophisticated evening make-up and the timeless elegance of a mother-of-the-bride look. Beyond mere aesthetics, the students displayed a comprehensive knowledge of skin care, meticulously assessing their models’ skin to recommend suitable products and suggest improvements for healthier skin routines.

The students demonstrated professionalism, both in their demeanour and their attention to detail. Their ability to combine technical skills with a personalised approach to skin health and beauty care highlights the quality of education and training they are receiving through Otago Polytechnic’s programme.

Thanks to all the friends, family members and teachers who gave up their time to be models. A special mention and thanks is also needed for Emily Plum, the tutor. 

Sport and Active Recreation News

Summer Sports Signup

It’s not too late to join summer sports like waka ama, cricket, touch, volleyball, and more. You can join the Classroom for any activity you are interested in using the code on the Extracurricular flyer below, or visit the Sports Office for more info. 

New Zealand Junior Free Ride Tour

A number of WHS students have been competing in the NZ Junior FreeRide Tour. The tour included 3 stops at Treble Cone, the Remarkables and Mt Olympus - and also included athletes from Japan, Spain, Australia and the United Kingdom. Congratulations to Keani Wilson who won the U18 Snowboard Men! George Reddell and Alice Jeffery also finished on the podium with a 3rd in the U16 Ski Men and U14 Ski Women respectively.

U14 Ski Women

• Alice Jeffery 3rd (6th TC, 3rd Remarkables, 3rd Mt Olympus)

U18 Ski Women

• Bailey MacKay 6th (2nd TC)

U14 Snowboard Women

• Charlee Hill 5th (2nd Remarkables)

U14 Ski Men

• Moby Molgat 9th 32nd TC, 5th Remarkables, 14th Mt Olympus)
• Flynn Cutler 27th (9th TC, 12th Remarkables)
• Jasper Powell 29th (36th TC, 6th Remarkables)
• Quinn O'Donnell 39th (26th TC, 32nd Remarkables)

U16 Ski Men 

• George Reddell 3rd (5th TC, 3rd Remarkables, 2nd Mt Olympus)
• Archie Hellyer 8th (9th TC, 9th Remarkables, 7th Mt Olympus)
• Harry Niccol 9th (8th TC, 14th Remarkables, 11th Mt Olympus)

• Piper Dada-Maroni 18th (11th Remarkables)

U18 Snowboard Men

• Keani Wilson 1st (3rd TC, 1st Remarkables, 2nd Mt Olympus)
• Ryan Stewart 7th (4th TC, 5th Remarkables)

Gymnastics

Congratulations to Year 11, Rosa Dawson who was recently awarded STEP 9 South Island Champion at the South Island Gymnastics Championships after placing 1st overall, 2nd on floor, uneven bars and vault and 3rd on balance beam. Rosa has also been selected to represent Southland at the upcoming NZ Gymnastics Championships in the October holidays.

Southern Lakes Junior Interfield Series

The Southern Lakes Junior Interfield Series finished last weekend. This series of 4 ski races has been running for the last 20 years, and is the only series of Interfields left in NZ. Previous winners include former WHS student Alice Robinson, the Wells brothers and more. Medals are awarded for each race individually, with the best 5 races out of 7 used for the overall series winners. Congratulations to Jess McCaw who won the overall U16 Girls and Malachi McIndoe who took out the U16 Boys. Full results listed below - well done all!

Overall Series Results

• Jess McCaw - 1st U16 Girls
• Emily Harris - 2nd U16 Girls
• Olivia Mahoney - 3rd U16 Girls
• Malachi McIndoe - 1st U16 Boys

Cardrona Slalom (SL) races:

• Emily Harris: 1st race 1, 1st race 2
• Olivia Mahoney: 2nd race 1, 6th race 2
• Jess McCaw: 3rd race 1, 3rd race 2
• Georgia Marshall: 4th race 1, 4th race 2
• Allegra Smith: 5th race 1, 8th race 2
• Malachi McIndoe: 8th race 1
  

Treble Cone Giant Slalom (GS) races:

• Jess McCaw: 2nd race 1, 6th race 2
• Emily Harris: 4th race 1, 2nd race 2
• Olivia Mahoney: 6th race 1, 5th race 2
• Georgia Marshall: 9th race 1, 10th race 2
• Allegra Smith: 10th race 1, 12th race 2
• Malachi McIndoe: 8th race 1, 7th race 2

Remarkables Slalom (SL) races:

• Jess McCaw: 2nd race 1, 2nd race 2
• Olivia Mahoney: DSQ race 1, 3rd race 2
• Allegra Smith: 3rd race 1, 4th race 2
• Malachi McIndoe: 1st race 1, 1st race 2

Remarkables Parallel Slalom (PSL) race:

• Jess McCaw 1st 
• Malachi McIndoe 1st

Rugby

A number of WHS rugby players have been selected to represent Otago Country as part of the 2024 representative programme. Congratulations to the following students!

Otago Country U16 Girls

• Unaisi Nawai
• Kerys Duffy
• Bailey Tiananga
• Lucilla Moffat
• Tahlia Wheeler
• Aily Joll

Otago Country U14 Boys

• Seth Richens
• Tom Rannard
• Jacob O’Neill
• Quinn Samways
• Max Blackbourn

This Sunday our U15 team is excited to host the Redlands Rugby Union Club Official (from Queensland, Australia) for their New Zealand tour. Kick off is at 11am on the WHS fields. Come along to support the team for the final WHS rugby game of the season!

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/

Arts Department News

Artist of the Week:  Maddi Hutton

Both my painting and photography boards this year have been following a narrative. My painting is following the Greek mythology story of Hades and Persephone, and further exploring their story. My photography has been inspired by the song Cup Runneth Over by Kiki Rockwell and tells the story of an affair between two women, one being a queen and the other a knight. It's a quite an unconventional story which is why I decided on it as my theme.

I've enjoyed being able to explore these existing narratives and further develop them by adding my own ideas and interpretations. 

Performing Arts Showcase at Te Atamira

Last Saturday we held our inaugural WHS Showcase at Te Atamira. This was an opportunity to connect with the community and showcase the range of Performing Arts groups happening at WHS. Over a period of four hours people were able to drop in and out and share the music and drama on offer. It was a great afternoon and we look forward to developing this further next year. The afternoon featured the following groups/students:

1. Jazz Big Band and Jazz Combo
2. Solo and duo acts  (Charlotte Greer, Mala Januskiewicz, NJ Operio, Ted Coutts and Bethany Graf)
3. Senior Singing group with Dr Shawcross
4. Barbershop quartet  (McKellar Thornton, Joe Leyden, George Newhouse, Luke McKinney)
5. Rock duo (Isaac and Mia Ralph)
6. Rock bands - Paranoia (Indy Hamilton, Eve Pagan, Chelsea Wood, Kara Trounce) 
                           - 4BLU (Jan Vavera, Hugh Hodgson, Emanuel Gedrick Cardeno, Alex Scoles)
7. Theatrefest group, Director Bethany Graf (Mr Hansen)

Huge thanks to Stine Cooper and Kate Ferguson for all their work in organising this events and to Te Atamira for the use of their wonderful space. 

Performing Arts Showcase

Visit from ex student Elliott Allemand

Last Thursday we welcomed Eliott Allemand back to WHS to have a session with the Jazz Combo. Eliott has just graduated from Berkeley School of Music and has already accumulated a wealth of music experience and knowledge in the music world. Saxophone was his main instrument at school but he has since further developed his skills as a multi-instrumentalist and it was an amazing experience to have him share his skills with our students.

You can find out more about Elliot on the following links:
Youtube channel:   https://www.youtube.com/@EliottAllemand   /  Instagram eliottallemand

Below is a short snippet from his session with us.

At the Worlds Edge music festival is returning from Oct 5 - 18 which is during the holidays and into the first week of Term 4.

This is a classical music festival featuring some amazing musicians and there are a number of free events happening at Te Atamira. This year there is a focus on collaboration with folk music which should be great.  It's an amazing opportunity to have a listen to styles of music you may not be familiar with and i strongly recommend you take the opportunities available to go along and have a listen.  The event guide is attached and the free events are outlined below:

1) AWE Scholars Showcase, Sat 5 Oct, 6pm, Te Atamira (featuring last year’s Emerging artists Lorna and Madeleine, who were awarded ROSL Pettman Scholarships, and have just returned from performing trips to the UK and Europe. They will be performing with Morgan Pearse, a wonderful Baritone from Australia)

2) Folk Songs | Morgan Pearse, Mon 7 Oct, 6.30pm, Te Atamira (The same wonderful Baritone)

3) AWE Emerging Artist Showcase, Fri 11 Oct, 4.30pm, Te Atamira - featuring this year’s young artists that will also be touring schools the following week

4) Folk Songs | Deborah Wai Kapohe, Fri Oct 11, 5.30pm, Te Atamira - Deborah singing and playing assorted guitars throughout.

Deborah Wai Kapohe is also running a vocal masterclass on Oct 12 from 10-12 in the morning. She is an amazing opera singer 

Rodger Fox Workshops

It has been officially announced that the Rodger Fox Workshops are continuing the legacy of Rodger Fox’s association with Summer Jazz Workshops in Wellington.

The Rodger Fox Workshops will take place December 16–19 at the New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī in Wellington, co-ordinated by Lance Philip, Daniel Hayles, Dave Wilson, Eilish Wilson, and Chris Beernink in association with the Aotearoa Jazz Education and Performance Trust.

Musicians aged 19 and under with a minimum of one year experience on an instrument or in vocal training can participate. Students can choose trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, bass, piano, guitar, drums, vibraphone, or voice.

More information and registration info can be found at the Rodger Fox Workshops registration site 

Follow the Rodger Fox Workshops on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates.

Any questions – please email rodgerfoxworkshops@gmail.com.

Exciting visits in ART

Being able to access a visiting artist is an incredible opportunity for our students to get first hand input from established artists. We hope to welcome more artists and professionals in the arts space in the future. If you would like to share your experience and knowledge please get in touch with Arts Coordinator Stine Cooper scooper@wakatipu.school.nz.

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
• Digital Music Production - Wednesday Break 2
• Junior Jazz - Thursday Break 2
• Jazz Full Band - Wednesday 3.20 pm
  
• Senior Singing - Thursday 3.15pm
  

Keep checking each of the  Classroom Groups for more details and updates

Upcoming for Term 3

Terms 3 and 4 are a busy time in the Art and performing arts departments, here is a quick look at what is coming up:

14 September - Performing Arts Showcase at Te Atamira

24 October Cultural Blues Awards

3 November - Central Sound Waves

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.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities for WHS Students!

Discover fantastic local scholarship opportunities available to WHS students.

Lakes District Museum Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson Scholarship

We’re thrilled to announce that applications are now open for the Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson Scholarship. This grant, worth $3,500 is available to students who will be studying at least one Humanities subject at any university in New Zealand in 2025.

The scholarship was established in honour of Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson, who were amazing lifelong supporters of the museum. Both retired teachers from Invercargill, they settled in Wakatipu and were passionate about subjects such as History, English, Politics, Performing and Visual Arts. Thanks to their generous contribution to the museum, this scholarship was created to help empower the next generation of humanities students. Applications close Friday 11 October.

David Geddes RSA Memorial Scholarship

Applications are now open for the David Geddes Memorial Scholarship worth $1,000. This scholarship was established by David’s family and the Queenstown RSA to honor his dedication to community service. We encourage students who share his passion for service to seize this opportunity and apply. Please email your completed application to bnewman@wakatipu.school.nz by 1:00 pm on Friday 27 September.

Margaret Templeton Scholarship

Exciting news for students in the Wakatipu Basin—The Margaret Templeton Scholarship is open! This scholarship, valued at $15,000 over three years ($5,000 per year), is here to support students in the Wakatipu Basin who may face financial challenges in pursuing tertiary education.

To make sure the scholarship goes to those who need it most, applicants will need to provide some details about their financial situation, including that of their parents.

Applications are due at the Careers Hub by midday on 26 September, so that we can submit them to Anderson Lloyd by 27 September. Please remember to place the Household Income Questionnaire in a sealed envelope—this information is confidential and will only be reviewed by the scholarship trustees.

Need Help with Your Application?

Join us for a special support session on Monday 23 September at 3:00 pm in OK7B. Our experts will offer advice on starting your application, refining your personal statement, and making your application stand out. Don’t miss this opportunity to get valuable guidance and enhance your chances of securing this scholarship.

BDO Cadetship Opportunity Plus

Attention aspiring accountants! The deadline for the BDO Southern Lakes & Central Otago Accounting Scholarship is fast approaching. This fantastic opportunity is here to support students aiming to pursue a career in accounting by studying at a New Zealand university.

The BDO Accounting Scholarship offers a generous $2,500 each year for full-time study towards a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting. Plus, you’ll have the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience through an internship with BDO during the holidays.

This scholarship not only helps ease the financial strain of university but also provides a unique chance to build your resume and network with one of the top accounting firms in the region.

Eligible students must submit their completed application by Friday 27 September 2024 at 5:00 pm.

If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Careers team.

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

Planning your School Holiday adventures just got even better! 

We're teaming up with Entertainment to give you:

• Exclusive travel deals on holiday packages & family-friendly resorts 
• Up to 25% off at your favourite family dining spots, cafes, & takeaway 
• 2-for-1 offers at selected cinemas, theme parks, museums, cruises & more  

And the best part? 20% of your Membership price supports our fundraiser! 

Make the most of your holidays while giving back. Start saving today!

Thank you for your continued support!

Order Here - https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/260506v