WHS Newsletter | Issue 4.1 | 18 October 2024

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of a great first week back. 

Term 4 is a very important term in which we not only get to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students in the Arts, Sports and Academics, but it is also the time in which we expect students to work and study hard and to bring a real focus and determination to their learning, progress and achievement. Junior Exams commence on Wednesday 30 October and senior NCEA exams commence on Tuesday 5 November, with seniors having their tutorial week from Wed 30 to Mon 4 November. See below for more details, including ways to support students in managing their wellbeing during this high pressure period.

Yesterday, we held the annual WHS Foundation Golf Fundraiser at Millbrook. The event was a huge success, as we had a sold-out field and enjoyed impeccable weather. Our sincere gratitude goes to Millbrook for their incredible support of this worthy cause. We also extend our thanks to all the WHSF Trustees, hole sponsors, prize donations and golfers who participated in making this day both fun and successful. Together, we raised nearly $30,000!

A reminder to parents/caregivers that invoices for subject costs, including Branches Camp, and school donations have been sent out to all families. We really appreciate families paying these fees and donations as it has a significant impact on the academic and extracurricular programmes that we are able to offer and provide students.

Earlier this week, the recipients of the Term 3 Excellence and Ad Alta award were recognised in their Houses. A huge congratulations to all those who received these significant awards (see names below). 

Tomorrow night is the Spirit of the Wakatipu Awards evening being held by the Wakatipu Community Foundation (WCF) and there are many finalists from WHS across multiple categories (see below), of whom we are very proud. All the best for the evening and I look forward to seeing those in attendance on Saturday night. 

Next week we will hold a full-school assembly to announce the winners of the 2024 House Competition, to thank the 2024 Student Leaders, and to welcome and congratulate the incoming 2025 Student Leaders, including House Leaders. Additionally, we will be holding our Sport Blues awards on Tuesday and Cultural Blues awards on Thursday. We will have our final full-school assembly on Friday 25, in which we’ll announce our school Dux and this will be followed by the Year 13 Prizegiving from 1 pm in Pouākai. I look forward to seeing many parents and caregivers at the multitude of celebratory events being held in the coming week.

A great newsletter follows, including a report from the recent student trip to Japan and some photos from our final House Competition of the year - WakaMaths, so be sure to have a read. Please be sure to look at all the key dates and important information below. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

Key Dates

Junior Exams - Week 3 and 4 (Wednesday 30 October - Monday 4 November)

Junior students have important end of year exams coming up in Weeks 3 and 4 of this term.  A reminder that we schedule these to provide valuable exposure to formal exam conditions, similar to what they can expect from NCEA.  These exams also provide an opportunity to review key subject material, consolidate understanding of important concepts, calibrate the development and progress made, and develop the resilience and self-management skills needed to navigate the challenges of learning.

Year 9 students will be sitting three exams: English, Maths and Social Studies.  Their other subjects will have summative assessments built into the remaining teaching and learning programme for the year.

Year 10 students will also be sitting three exams: English, Maths, and Science. Likewise, their other subjects will have summative assessments built into the remaining teaching and learning programme for the year. 

The exam timetable can be seen below:  please note that wherever students do not have an exam scheduled they will be in their regular class (as seen on their Portal).

Subject teachers will be scheduling revision lessons in the leadup to these exams, so every student should know exactly what is going to be expected of them. We do ask that as parents/caregivers, you please support your student by encouraging them to set aside some time each evening and during the weekends to review their course work.

Students who have special assessment conditions (SACs) will be able to access these for the subject examinations.  The e-asTTle tests are not examinations.  These measure a student's ability to read and write without assistance. This allows us to gather accurate data on their individual skills, what interventions are required, and to track their progress over time.

Please note that Monday 28th October is Labour Day holiday and Tuesday 29th October is a designated home study day for all junior students to prepare for the exams.

Please encourage students to make use of the following resource as they prepare for their exams.

Junior Exams content information

Junior Exams - 'Study Like a Boss'

Exam tips and tricks backed by science

Year 11 to 13 - NCEA Exams and Tutorial Week

Tutorial Week begins on Wednesday 30th October and runs through until Monday 4th November. Tutorial Week provides an opportunity for senior students to attend revision sessions with their respective subject teachers as they turn their attention to preparation for NCEA External Examinations.  The external exams begin on Tuesday 5th November and the NZQA exam timetable can be found via the link below.

NCEA exam timetable : NZQA

Students have been advised that our expectation is that they are either in timetabled classes for tutorials, or offsite doing independent revision during tutorial week.  Students do not need to come to school in uniform.  Teachers will have indicated what topics or activities have been scheduled for each lesson so students can plan their revision schedule.

Most students will be enrolled in, and expected to attend multiple external NCEA exams.  Students will receive a copy of their exam admission slip next week and this will detail each exam they are entered in and when these exams take place.   At any time, students are able to log into their NZQA portal and view their exam admission slip to see exactly what exams they are doing and when. 

For a number of our students, performance in these upcoming examinations will determine whether or not they achieve a significant qualification. To that end, we strongly encourage students to use the resources below to prepare a comprehensive revision programme that covers the relevant course content for each subject.

NCEA Exam prep planner

NCEA help sheet info

Preparing for digital assessment as a student: NZQA

Study Like a Boss

NZQA Information and Preparation for Digital Exams

Students will be using the NZQA exam platform for their Digital exams. This will be the first time for the Year 11 students, they are strongly encouraged to familiarise themselves with the platform by utilising the practice activities and digital past papers. It is essential to ensure that students' devices are 'exam ready.'  For a helpful guide, refer to the Digital Exams Student Checklist below and click here to explore the NZQA page which provides a tutorial on navigating the digital exam platform.

Excellence and Ad Alta Awards

Earlier this week, the recipients of the Term 3 Excellence and Ad Alta awards had the opportunity to celebrate their achievements among their peers within their AKO groups and Houses. Exemplifying the Wakatipu Way is at the core of what we do here at the school, and these awards are given to students who have demonstrated what it means to strive for excellence. Whakamihi - congratulations to all the recipients of these prestigious awards. Your hard work and dedication deserve recognition, and we are proud to celebrate your success. Below, you will find the list of award recipients.

WHS Foundation Annual Golf Day Raises Funds for WHS Youth

Yesterday the Wakatipu High School Foundation held their Annual Golf Charity Golf Tournament at Millbrook Resort. We were blessed with a stunning day and a sold-out field of 28 teams made up of 112 players.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and players we raised $28,000 which will go directly towards initiatives that support the students at Wakatipu High School.

Congratulations to the winners on the day:
First Place: 'Sip It n Rip It' from Alta Plumbing (Mitch Davies,  Liam Corfield, Mike Bonn, Tony Burnside)
Second Place: Jerry's Wild One's from Wild One (Ben Farrell, David Crossan, Richard Timpany, Tim Coughlan)
Third Pace: Future Hospitality Group (Bert Haines, James Ace, Paddy Klutz, Matt Carter)
Nearest to the Pin Competition #2
Stephen McAteer
Carolyn McIssac
Nearest to the Pin Competition #6
Marcus Kirk
Sian Chilton
Longest Drive Competition #10
Hayden Joblin
Marti Groves

We would also like to acknowledge the assistance of our volunteers on the day: Fran Packer, Euni Borrie, Myrna Shan Sei Fan, Sue Dennis, Carolyn Rooney and Jo Brown, and Trustees Hinano Bagnis, and Sarah Dennis.

Our Annual Golf Tournament would not be possible without the support and generosity of all involved and we look forward to seeing you next year!

Spirit of Wakatipu

The Gibbston Valley 2024 Spirit of the Wakatipu Awards celebrate the remarkable individuals, organisations, groups, and businesses that generously contribute to our Wakatipu community and embody the values that make our home unique. We are proud to recognise our outstanding students who have been nominated as finalists. Harry Seeto is a finalist in the Youth Impact category. The Rising Star category includes Jess Hudson, Mikaela Patterson, and the dedicated team of Ellie Kerr, Lucy Boniface, Lucy Thompson, and Manuella Sanches Pedrosa for their exceptional work with Girls Who Grow. Additionally, Daniel Gibbons from Wakatipu High School Foundation (WHSF) is a finalist in the Education category. Congratulations to all nominees! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you the best of luck on the big night!

WakaMaths

This week marked the culmination of the annual House competition, WakaMaths. This fast-paced and exciting event sees junior and senior teams competing under pressure to solve a series of challenging mathematical tasks. The team runner collects the questions and delivers their team’s answers to the judges in a race against time to solve the most problems within 20 minutes. The anticipation is building for the announcement of the overall winner of the 2024 House champions at next week's full school assembly!

Road Safety on Red Oaks Drive

Some bus changes after school have meant that an increased number of students need to cross Red Oaks Drive after school. Whilst we encourage the students to use the pedestrian crossing and/or crossing at the lights, it is increasingly difficult to enforce this given the volume of students crossing.

We request that parents have discussions with their students about road safety as students have been spotted stepping out onto the road without looking for oncoming traffic. Parents coming into school for after school pick ups - please be extra vigilant and slow down along the stretch of Red Oaks directly in front of the school.

How to Adult: Navigating Life’s Next Steps

Year 13 students had the incredible opportunity to attend the "How to Adult" assembly, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for life beyond school. The session tackled key topics such as housing and tenancy rights, tax and income management, student loans and budgeting, and employment rights, offering students the practical tools they need for a smooth transition to adulthood.

The session featured insights from industry experts:

• Hayley Stevenson from Housemart Queenstown shared advice on navigating rental agreements and tenancy rights.
• Nathan Keil from BDO Accountants explained tax obligations, student loans, and kiwi saver.
• Julia Bentley from MTF Finance offered practical tips on budgeting and managing loans.
• Matthew Edwards from Berry & Co. discussed employment contracts, workplace rights, and legal responsibilities.

A huge thank you to these local professionals and their companies for generously donating their time and expertise. Their support plays a vital role in helping students prepare for the challenges of adulthood with confidence.

Stars Graduation

Today, we celebrated the accomplishments of our 75 Peer Mentors who completed the Stars programme this year. A huge thank you to each of you for your admirable and significant voluntary contributions in supporting our Year 9 students' transition into high school.

Stars is a vital initiative designed in conjunction with the Graham Dingle Foundation, providing Year 9 students the opportunity to be supported and mentored by Year 12 and 13 students. This programme also allows the peer mentors to develop their leadership, communication and team-building skills, promoting a culture that enhances our school environment and beyond.
Thanks to all the teaching staff involved in integrating Stars into the Year 9 curriculum, as well as to our Stars programme sponsors for their ongoing support. Contact pdenton@wakatipu.school.nz to sign up as a Peer Mentor for 2025, here's to another successful year of Stars!

Paula Denton
Stars Coordinator

Japan Trip 2024

At the end of term 3 and for the first week of the school holidays, 22 students and 3 teachers visited the Land of the Rising Sun. Penny Hearn, Michael Jefferson, and Juliette Cooke organised the trip of a lifetime for our year 11 and 12 students taking Japanese this year.  In attendance were (in no particular order) Anahera Cooper, Aubrey Kurniawan, Harper Fa'amalepe, Heaven Santos, Jacob McRae, Nate Grant, Zak Blackbourn, Oscar Childs, Taimu Hirokawa-Berry, Rocky Hirokawa-Berry, Brooklyn Campbell, Keira Sinclair, Zac Smith, Kai Waller, Harry Niccol, Kaito Lamond, Dom Crowther, Jed McLean, Cooper Jones, Dylan Dyson, Alisha Messingham and Simone Rider. 

The itinerary was busy and the weather incredibly hot for autumn, but students had a blast and became more confident users in Japanese and communicating with others. Day one, Wednesday the 25th of September,  saw us fly up to Auckland and stay overnight.  We had a pizza party generously sponsored by X-Travel.  We took an 11 hour flight to Narita, Japan, the following day and arrived at around 6.30pm local time. An hour long shuttle took us to our first accommodation in Japan and slept well after a long flight. 

Day three was our first exploration day. Students were divided into three groups and tried to complete a scavenger hunt around Tokyo which included visiting Asakusa, Harajuku, Tokyo Station, Akihabara, and the Shibuya Crossing. Students had to navigate the subway and train system, and take photos of the different locations we visited. A group dinner was held at Kura Sushi Train in Asakusa, where you have the chance to win a prize for every 5 plates of sushi you ate. 

Day four was, for most, our first time on the bullet train, the shinkansen, down to Hiroshima. We left hot and muggy Tokyo for an even hotter Hiroshima, arriving at our hotel around 3 pm. We rushed to the Peace Memorial Museum where we listened to a legacy successor talk about Chieko Kiriake, a 94 year old woman who survived the atomic bomb.  Her experience was a difficult and sombre one, but ultimately led to the message that  peace should always prevail. Dinner was held at a famous Okonomiyaki restaurant called Hassei. Hiroshima okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake layered with egg, pancake batter, noodles, cabbage, pork and covered in famous okonomiyaki sauce. 

On day five we checked out and visited Miyajima island, a quick 10 minute ferry from Miyajimaguchi station. We walked through Itsukushima Shrine, took photos of the famous Torii gate in the sea, and ate momijimanjuu, maple-leaf shaped cakes with red bean filling. Later that day we travelled to Kyoto, having dinner at Mos Burger. 

Day six was a slow start as the heat and exhaustion from travelling was catching up with everyone. We visited Nishiki Market, which is over 400 years old, and tried some of the local fare. We travelled to Kiyomizudera Temple followed by some shopping. The next day we visited Fushimi Inari Taisha, the thousands of Torii gates shrine, where a few of the students raced to the top of the hill. Some of us purchased ekiben, bentou boxes for the train on the way to Hamamatsu that evening.

Day seven and eight, we visited Hamamatsu Kaiseikan Junior and Senior High School who were very excited to see us. The students joined the Global Course classes and took some classes such as maths, history, Japanese, and English of course. We also had a calligraphy class and experienced tea ceremony. After school, club activities started and we viewed the karate club, gymnastics, and brass band club. Students from both schools had an amazing time and lots of new friends were made. The rain was torrential when leaving the school, so we took taxis to the station and headed back up to Tokyo for the last leg of the trip.

Day nine, two thirds of the group went to Disneyland, and the remainder to Disney Sea, for some fun on rides such as Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, and the Pirates of the Caribbean. Day 10 we had a booked shuttle to Hakone to see Mt Fuji but unfortunately the weather was working against us. Instead we enjoyed visiting a shrine, riding a pirate ship, having a traditional tempura and udon lunch, and riding the ropeway up Mt Owakudani.

Our final full day in Tokyo was spent shopping in Shibuya, Harajuku, and Akihabara, before us heading back to Narita airport for a red eye flight home. 

I am hoping that everyone had a chance to recover from the whirlwind trip we had, and that they have made lasting memories and are keen to travel again. 

Branches Camp Update

Branches Camp Workday 15 November
Towards the end of last Term, students were sent a form regarding their participation in the Branches camp Work Day fundraiser that has been running for over 15 years. It is a crucial initiative to help bridge the funding gap for Branches Camp. All students, whether going to Branches or not are expected to use this day to raise between $70 - $120 in exchange for doing meaningful work in the community. Students can use an existing job to generate these funds, they can also seek out other jobs that may be of interest to them for future vocation. In the event that students are unable to secure a job, the Branches Camp Trust is able to provide work for the day. It is very important that they fill out the form asap - click here.

Other Information
Later next week students will find out whether they are allocated to Camp 1 (26 November - 2 December) or Camp 2 (3 - 9 December), this information will be posted for students in Google Classroom (code 54vhioh). Mr Regan and Mr Mac will be following up with students who are not intending to attend Branches next week and will provide some options that may assist in their attendance at the camp.

A gearlist and information about gear for camp including tents has been posted on the Branches camp Google Classroom. It is important that students and their families are looking into this to see what their needs are. The school can provide/assist with items that are difficult for families to access.

As a reminder, a donation for the camp has been added to student accounts, but it is only a portion of the actual cost. Any contribution, even a partial one, is appreciated. If you would like to pay an additional student’s donation, you can do so by clicking on the following link.  https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/254041

Sport and Active Recreation News

The term 3 school holidays saw plenty of sporting action across the country. Congratulations to all students on their achievements. The summer sporting season is now underway and we are excited for term 4 competitions and events!

Snowsports

NZ Junior Freestyle Nationals

The 2024 NZ Junior Freestyle Nationals were held at Cardrona from the 30th September to the 2nd of October. The event included cross, halfpipe and slopestyle categories. Congratulations to the following students on their results!

Charlee Hill 

• 1st Snowboard Halfpipe U14 Girls
• 2nd Snowboard Slopestyle U14 Girls 
• 2nd U14 Snowboard Girls Overall

Alice Jeffery

• 2nd Freeski Slopestyle U16 Girls 
• 2nd Freeski Halfpipe U16 Girls 
• 3rd Ski Cross U16 Girls
• 2nd U16 Ski Girls Overall

Bailey MacKay

• 2nd Ski Cross U16 Girls
• 3rd U16 Ski Girls Overall 

Quinn O’Donnell 

• 1st Ski Cross U16 Boys
• 5th U16 Ski Boys Overall

Flynn Cutler

• 2nd Ski Cross U16 Boys
• 6th U16 Ski Boys Overall

Piper Dada-Maroni

• 8th Ski Cross U16 Boys
• 10th U16 Ski Boys Overall

NZ Squad Selection

Four WHS students have been selected into Snowsports NZ Alpine Squads based on their performance and results throughout the season. Congratulations to the following students!

• Finn McCaw - Junior FIS Alpine Squad 
• Jessica McCaw - NZ Alpine Youth Squad (U16 Women)
• Emily Harris - NZ Alpine Youth Squad (U16 Women)
• Olivia Mahoney - NZ Alpine Youth Squad (U16 Women)

NZ Cardrona Alpine Youth Champs

The National Youth Champs were held on the 19th and 20th of September at Cardrona Alpine Resort. The Champs included 2 races in both Slalom (SL) and Giant Slalom (GS) events. Racers were required to finish both runs for a result - with only 6 girls completing SL. Congratulations to Liv Mahoney who achieved 3rd overall and a podium in the U16 Women SL. Full results for NZ competitors below.

• Jess McCaw - 4th U16 Women GS
• Liv Mahoney - 3rd U16 Women S; 8th U16 Women GS
• Georgia Marshall - 6th U16 Women SL; 11th U16 Women GS
• Allegra Smith - 12th U16 Women GS
• Malachi Mcindoe - 9th U16 Men GS

National Points Series

The 2024 National Points Series also concluded over the holidays. The series involved Slalom (SL), Giant Slalom (GS) and Super G (SG) races across the Remarkables, Cardrona and Mt Hutt ski fields. It was a long season for our skiers, with limited snow at the start of the season and a number of cancelled races due to weather. Congratulations to Jess McCaw who finished 4th overall in the U16 Female GS (and also achieved a 3rd overall in the SL at the Mt Hutt National Points Event). Overall NPS top 12 finishes are listed below. Well done to all on a successful season!

U16 Female SL

• Jess McCaw - 6th
• Emily Harris - 7th
• Liv Mahoney - 10th
  

U16 Female GS

• Jess McCaw - 4th
• Emily Harris - 7th
• Liv Mahoney - 12th

U16 Female SG

• Emily Harris - 6th
• Jess McCaw - 10th
• Liv Mahoney - 12th

U16 Male SG

• Malachi Mcindoe - 12th

Mountain Biking

The New Zealand Schools National Mountain Bike Championships kicked off in Ōtautahi Christchurch last Monday, showcasing the talent of more than 650 riders across Aotearoa. Wakatipu High School had 11 students competing across the Enduro and Downhill Events, with 3 students achieving top 10 placings. Congratulations to Indy Deavoll who finished 2nd in the U17 Girls Enduro and Downhill, Tayla Burt with a 3rd in the U15 Girls Downhill, and Lewis Laird 7th in the U15 Boys Downhill. Full wrap and results below!

• Enduro racing was the first event of the four-day championships, spanning multiple timed stages at the Christchurch Adventure Park. Day one began with damp, foggy and muddy conditions but turned to mostly sunny weather as the day progressed. WHS had 7 riders compete in the Enduro:
• Indy Deavoll - 2nd U17 Girls Enduro 
• Seth Holden - 17th U15 Enduro
• Vann Bell - 29th U15 Enduro
• Phoenix Deavoll - 51st U15 Enduro
• Connor Dobb - 64th U15 Enduro
• Wilem Wikstrom - 34th U16 Enduro
• Harry Monk - 42nd U16 Enduro

Day three of the championships was the Junior downhill race. Riders had to settle for their downhill race seeding positions as a chairlift fault resulted in the junior downhill finals, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, being called off. WHS had 8 riders compete in the Junior downhill race:

• Tayla Burt - 3rd U15 Girls Downhill
• Lewis Laird - 7th U15 Downhill
• Seth Holden - 13th U15 Downhill
• Vann Bell - 20th U15 Downhill
• Phoenix Deavoll - 43rd U15 Downhill
• Moby Molgat - 45th U15 Downhill
• Connor Dobb - 46th U15 Downhill
• Sam Stewart - 60th U15 Downhill

Rounding out day four of the championships saw the seniors get between the tape for the downhill.  WHS had 3 riders compete in the Senior downhill race.

• Indy Deavoll - 2nd U17 Girls Downhill
• Harry Monk - 17th U16 Downhill
• Wilem Wikstrom - 30th U16 Downhill

Gymnastics

The XP New Zealand Gymnastics Championships were held in Palmerston North in the second week of the October school holidays. Year 11 student Rosa Dawson was selected to represent Southland at the National event, competing in the STEP 9 category. In the All Around event Rosa placed 4th, missing out on the bronze medal by 0.3! Her results of 3rd on uneven bars, 4th on floor, 4th on vault and 6th on balance beam qualified her to compete in all apparatus in the Day 2 Apparatus Finals. The Finals saw Rosa on the podium for the vault, with a 2nd place finish! In the other apparatus Rosa placed 5th on uneven bars, 5th on floor and 7th on balance beam. An awesome achievement!

Artistic Swimming 

The National Artistic Swimming Championships were held in Hamilton from the 28th September to 1st October. The National Club Event also incorporated the New Zealand Secondary School Champs. A huge congratulations to Emily Messingham and Kuratea Huck (Liger) who formed a combined WHS team for the schools competition, where they won gold in the Junior High School (Y9-10) Free Duet! The duo also earned a silver in the Aquanaut Women Duet Finals under the Wakatipu Artistic Swimming Club. WHS students Anja Dayman, Cate Scott, Evie Tamariki, Vanya Qi and Emly Messinham also achieved a silver in the AquaCombo Finals. Well done to all!

Rugby

Sevens

Congratulations to Seci Vakacegu and Joseva Tuigunu Nawai who have been selected into the NZ Fiji Schools Sevens Training Squad! A total of 40 students across the country have been selected as part of a wider training squad for the upcoming Global Youth Sevens Tournament to be played in December at Dilworth College, Auckland.

2024 Highlanders Camp

Ben Hogan and Xavier Small were 2 of 46 players selected to attend the 2024 Highlanders Schools Camp. The 5-day camp, hosted at John McGlashan College from the 9th to the 13th of October, was designed to develop young talent in the Highlanders region. During the camp players learnt tactical and technical aspects of the game and gained a comprehensive understanding of high-performance principles.

Otago Māori Rugby

A number of WHS rangatahi were selected to represented Otago Māori Rugby at the Te Waipounamu Māori Rugby Ahurei in Kaiapoi over the school holidays. Congratulations to the following students.

• U17 Kohine Ki Uta - Kora Frisby
• U17 Taiohi Ki Uta - Rihari Hollebon, Lucius Lockhart and Havyn Cooney
• U15 Taiohi Ki Uta - Tai Te Paa and Tama Kopa

Mahi tika ana!

Voice of Rangatahi Survey

Sport NZ's Voice of Rangatahi (VOR) survey is an opportunity for secondary school students to share their physical activity experiences in an anonymous online survey. The responses will help guide Wakatipu High School, Sport Otago and Sport NZ on sport and physical activity offerings. The survey is comprehensive - we appreciate any and all feedback! Students can complete the survey via the link below.

Wakatipu High School VOR: https://tinyurl.com/WHS11374

Rowing Club Champions Evening with Emma Twigg and Lucy Spoors

To help with fundraising for the Whakatipu Rowing Club’s Clubhouse Redevelopment Project, Olympic Champion rowers Emma Twigg and Lucy Spoors will be joining us for a Champions Evening at Cargo Brew Hall on 14 November! Fresh from Paris, Lucy and Emma will share their inspiring journeys, tips for success and a few good stories that will resonate with anyone who values success, community, growing strong girls. We will be sharing more about our redevelopment project and the amazing people supporting it in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can buy tickets to this one of a kind opportunity via the link below.

https://www.sporty.co.nz/.../cha.../champions-evening-2024-1

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

Musical Auditions for Mamma Mia!

Kia Ora all, Please see the link below for the 2025 Musical Auditions. The Musical is a major commitment for Term 1 and involves; Weekly Sunday rehearsals starting from the 2nd of February (possibly a full weekend workshop 1st & 2nd TBC). Break-time rehearsals throughout the first term. After school rehearsals four weeks leading up to the Musical.

Mamma Mia! performances will be April 2-5 2025. 

Express your interest in participating via this link:  https://forms.gle/MKaR1J6x1dRQFfN17

Take a behind-the-scenes look into the production of the 2024 Wakatipu High School Musical, created by Felix Nicoll below.

At the Worlds Edge School Visit

Following on from the At the Worlds Edge music festival in October we were privileged to have a visit at the School for the Senior Music classes.  This is a classical music festival featuring some amazing musicians. This year there is a focus on collaboration with folk music.  It was an amazing opportunity to have a listen to styles of music that students may not be familiar with.

Atomica at Sublime Recording

Sublime Studios was an awesome experience for our entire band. Tom and Steve were incredible, seeming just as keen as we were. They allowed us to get the sound we wanted while giving input and feedback with each take. The food and accommodation was arguably the best part of the whole trip. We were welcomed and got straight to work. Over the two and a bit days of recording, we were able to get four songs finished, which was far more than we thought. The setup was incredible and we were able to play different instruments to get the right sounds for each song. Would highly recommend for any musicians at WHS looking to get their music out there!
Ted Coutts, Alfie Cameron, Bethany Graf and Haru Kuroe

You can listen to the Sublime Studio recording  of Atomica's song "Take Me Back" here:

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 4 -  Term 4 shaping up to be very busy start for the Performing Arts 

24 October - Cultural Blues Awards

25 October - Year 13 Prizegiving

29 October - Year 11&12 Prizegiving

3 November - Central Sound Waves

TBC - Jazz on the Green

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.

Hospo Hols: Brewing New Skills and Opportunities!

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

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