WHS Newsletter | Issue 4.2 | 25 October 2024

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of one of the most celebratory weeks of the school year. 

On Tuesday evening, we held our annual Sports Blues celebrations. The theatre was packed with student-athletes and parents/caregivers to hear about the amazing sporting achievements of our students from 2024. WHS students excel in sport at a local, national and international level in such a wide variety of sports. A huge thanks once again to all the coaches, managers, teachers, parents and supporters that enable these opportunities for our students. We were privileged to have Dr Sarah Beable as our guest speaker who shared some profound words for the students and the guests pertaining to high performance sport. She emphasised the importance of enjoying the process, having fun,, and striving for goals through “want rather than need”. See below for the full list of recipients, including our premier award winners.

Last night, we held our annual Cultural Blues awards. Once again, the character and creativity of our students was on full display from start to finish. A massive congratulations to all the award winners (see below for the full list) and all the parents, caregivers and supporters of the Arts in the community. Our guest speaker, comedian James Mustapic spoke about being true to oneself and following your passions. Be sure to come and see the visual arts portfolios which will be on display at school on Monday, 4 November. 

Wednesday was an epic day at school as we began with a full-school assembly in Te Kirikiri in which we announced the 2025 Student Leaders, including Head Students, Lead Prefects and House Leaders. We also had an opportunity to thank all of the 2024 student leaders for all of their hard work and effort. 

At the assembly, the winners of the 2024 House Competition was announced, congratulations to Duncan House, including House Leaders Luka Bouchier, Rosa McBride, Lexi Laverty, Hugo Johnson and Ricky Webster. See below for the full results from the 2024 House Competition. 

Central Otago Polyfest was held on Wednesday and Thursday with Te Iti O Tāhuna opening up on Monday and our newly formed Pasifika dance group bringing down the house on Thursday. See below for more details.

Today we held our final full-school assembly, in which we presented the premier academic and leadership awards for Year 13 students in front of the whole school, so that all students could recognise, appreciate and celebrate the achievements of our Year 13 students. Congratulations to Harry Seeto who was named the Dux (top academic scholar) and Abby Fookes who was the Proxime Accessit. Harry gave a beautiful speech encouraging students to enjoy the process and will certainly have inspired students to achieve to the best of their ability.

This was followed by our Year 13 Prizegiving. As I noted at Prizegiving, we have an amazing community with amazing students and this year’s Class of 2024 have gained more than $850k towards their tertiary study in 2025, a testament to their hard work and dedication over their time at WHS. It was wonderful to have so many parents/caregivers in attendance, as well as the local businesses and community-minded folks there to support and acknowledge our students' achievements. Congratulations to all the Year 13 prizewinners and the premier award winners (full list below). 

Lastly, on Wednesday, the Class of 2024 revealed their legacy bench, which they developed in collaboration with Ed Cruickshank (see pictures and details below). I’d like to thank Ed for his passion in supporting the students with this legacy project. On behalf of all the staff and students of WHS, I would also like to thank and acknowledge the Class of ‘24 for this wonderful gift to the school. 

See below for a few upcoming key dates.

Again, it was an absolutely stunning week that made me very proud to be a part of such a wonderful community and school, be sure to have a read through for all of the highlights and enjoy the long weekend. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

Key Dates

Dux and Proxime Accessit Announcement

Earlier today we gathered as a school for the announcement of our top academic award - the Colliers 2024 Dux of WHS. A huge congratulations to Harry Seeto on receiving this prestigious award. 

Dux - Harry Seeto

Harry achieved NCEA Level Two with Excellence in Year 11, and Level 3 with Excellence in 2023 as a Year 12 student. In 2021, as a Year 10 student, Harry achieved Distinction in Level 3 Calculus and in 2023 as Year 12 student, he achieved Distinction in Level 3 Physics and Level 3 Statistics and Commendation in Level 3 Chemistry. This year he received a Distinction in Level 3 Economics. 

Harry currently has 122 Excellence credits at Level 3 and is predicted to gain another 29 Excellence credits in external examinations which would see him finish with more than 150 Excellence credits at Level 3. Having already gained a Scholarship in Statistics, he aims to get further scholarships in Calculus and Economics. 

Harry could reasonably be considered a “Maths buff” given that he achieved NCEA Level 2 Maths with Excellence as a Year 9 student, and followed this up with NCEA Level 3 Calculus with Excellence as a Year 10 student. Harry has been studying Mathematics extramurally through the University of Canterbury and Auckland since Year 10 and throughout this time he has yet to score a grade of less than A. Harry has also participated in A-Level papers (UK) for Pure Maths and Statistics with grades of A+ and A, respectively. 

In 2023, he received the Hamish Attenborough Award for Superlative Talent in Calculus. Harry was also the recipient of The Crombie Lockwood Future Pathways Trophy which represents an all seeing eye of knowledge, wisdom and perception.
This young man has a very strong work ethic to match his natural ability and this has enabled him to achieve these extraordinary academic achievements whilst also engaging in WHS great all-round education. Harry played for WHS 1st XV rugby team, is lead prefect of the academic council, and last year he initiated Mathematics tutoring at Wakatipu High School for Māori and Pasifika students 

Harry has recently been awarded the Central Lakes Trust scholarship and has been longlisted for the Douglas Myers and Girdlers scholarships to Cambridge University, which depending on the result, may alter plans for 2026. His current plans for 2025 are to attend the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, to study a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences and pair this a flexible double degree in either Computer Science, Economics, or Finance. 

Harry is the well-deserving Dux for 2024 at WHS, congratulations Harry!

Proxime Accessit - Abby Fookes

Abby has achieved NCEA Levels One, Two and Three all with an Excellence endorsement.  She entered the year with 44 Level 3 Excellence credits and now has 80 excellence credits with a number more to come in the end of year examinations. She has  been awarded Distinction in both Physical Education and English and a Commendation in Physics and last year gained a Distinction award in Level 3 French. Abby has already gained some University credits in Maths through the University of Canterbury and to top things off, she is gearing up to do up to 3 Scholarships in French, English and Health & Physical Education. 

Abby has recently been awarded a Central Lakes Trust Scholarship and has received Scholarship offers from Victoria University, Auckland University and Otago University, but has her heart set on Otago where she is planning to play cricket and do a combined degree in Law and Global Studies, with the aim of doing international law focused on areas such as diplomacy or intelligence analysis. 

At Tuesday’s Sports Blues, Abby received Achievement Blues for Cricket and Hockey, and was given the Year 13 Impact on Sport Award for her contribution to sport at WHS. 

She was also awarded the Rotary Club of Queenstown Tertiary Scholarship for Diligence and Commitment in Year 13. Abby is one of our Deputy Head Students and as such, has been involved in many student lead activities throughout the year. 

The very well deserving recipient of the Proxime Accessit is Abby Fookes, congratulations Abby!

Year 13 Prizegiving

We had a wonderful ceremony today celebrating the success of our Year 13 students at our annual prizegiving. A huge congratulations to all of our students on their academic, leadership, service and other achievements.

Congratulations to all recipients of awards - a full list of prizewinners is included in the link below.

Celebrating Success at our Annual Sports Blues Awards

The Wakatipu High School Sports Blues awards were held on Tuesday night for our annual celebration of sporting excellence and service. This year we awarded 10 Service Blues, 105 Achievement Blues and 9 Outstanding Blues across 30 different sports. We are incredibly proud of these students for their achievements and contributions over the last 12 months, across such a diverse range of sports.

We were privileged to hear from Guest Speaker Dr Sarah Beable, who shared some valuable insights into her experiences working in the high performance space. Thank you to Craig ‘Ferg’ Ferguson for MCing the interview, and for presenting the Bruce Grant Memorial Scholarships on behalf of the Bruce Grant Youth Trust. We would sincerely like to thank all of the coaches, managers, referees, van drivers, sponsors, and parents for their support of our student-athletes - sport and these successes simply could not happen without you.

Congratulations to our 2024 major award winners:

Bruce Grant Youth Trust Excellence Award - Cooper Breen
Bruce Grant Youth Trust Encouragement Award - Roy Greer
Impact on Sport Award - Abby Fookes
Team of the Year - U17 Boys Double Sculls
Sporting Performance of the Year - Mason Clarke
Junior Sportsman of the Year - Charlie Rule
Junior Sportswomen of the Year - Chelsea Wood
Senior Sportsman of the Year - Xavier Small
Senior Sportswoman of the Year - Siena Mackley

Cultural Blues Awards

Thursday evening was a fabulous night for the Arts Department. Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the Cultural Blues to help us celebrate our amazing students and their achievements. It was a great night celebrating the Arts by sharing fabulous performances from Te iti o Tāhuna, our bands Atomica and 4Blu, the always popular Barbershop, the Jazz Ensemble/Combo, the talented dancers Tess Vermeir and Hannah Eade and a stellar drama performance by Tara Rooney and Max Hey.

Congratulations to all the deserving Cultural Blues recipients. A special thanks to James Mustapic, our entertaining guest speaker, and to Alison Beaumont, from the Bruce Grant Trust, who presented scholarships to our winners. Also, thanks to the teachers, tutors, and the wider community for giving our students opportunities to develop their skills. 

For those recipients who were unable to attend, you can pick up your award at Student Services from Tuesday. 

Stine Cooper
Arts Coordinator

Full School Assembly

As the end of the school year is fast approaching, we gathered on Wednesday to celebrate and express our gratitude to the remarkable 2024 Student Leaders who have dedicated themselves to the betterment of our school. Thank you for your hard work, determination and service to our school Jess, Mason, Abby, Jack and Bethany.

In a special ceremony, the 2024 Head Students handed badges to the newly appointed 2025 Head Students. This meaningful act signifies the transition of leadership roles and responsibilities. Congratulations to our 2025 Student Leaders for their courage in stepping into these important positions. We also want to acknowledge all students who courageously applied for leadership roles; it truly takes a lot of bravery to put yourself forward. Well done to everyone who participated!

Our Deans had the honour of presenting badges to the 2025 House and Deputy House Leaders, who will be entrusted with the important task of leading their respective houses and fostering a sense of unity and belonging.

House Competition Winner

This week we announced the winner of our hotly contested House competition for 2024. With a wide range of events including Touch Rugby, Participation Day, Spelling Bee, Netball, Debating, Matatū, Basketball, E-sports, and Wakamaths. The hotly contested competition celebrates inclusion and excellence and is always a standout event on our school calendar. 

Well done to Fox for coming out on top Wakamaths this year! Putting their name on the House Trophy/taonga is Duncan House, our 2024 House Competition champions! 

Ka pai tō mahi and well done to all students and houses in this year's House Competition.

Class of ‘24 Legacy Project

On Wednesday we unveiled the Class of ‘24 Legacy Project: Sense of Self! Designed by Ed Cruikshank & 2024 Head Students.  This stunning five-part circular stainless steel bench carries the meaning of the five senses and the five words that express a globally inclusive concept of communication and peace. It's more than just a seat and a concrete slab, it stands as a symbol of the Class of ‘24 and its enduring legacy at WHS. Thank you to everyone who made this vision a reality! 

Special thanks to:

Ed Cruikshank along with the Ed Cruikshank Creative Scholarship Fund, Paul and Rory at Hazweld, Mora Wines and Artisan Kitchen, Concrete QT LDT, Allied Concrete Queenstown, along with the parents and students who donated to this incredible legacy project. 

If you want to contribute to the Ed Cruikshank Creative Scholarship Fund -  a fund for the Arts, focusing on creativity and design, please go here for more information. 

See below from some cool photos from the event

Jack Smillie
Deputy Head Student

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

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

Central Lakes Polyfest

Kia ora, Bula, and Warm Pacific Greetings!

Te Iti o Tāhuna took to the stage this week to perform at the Central Lakes Polyfest and for the first time so did our emerging Pasifika Dance Group. Te mīharo hoki o te whakaaturanga!

Both groups outdid themselves and wowed the crowd with their performances. We're very proud of both rōpū for representing our school and their families with pride. 

Finally, a special mihi to our amazing kaiako Whaea Erin Sefo and Whaea Bailey Soper for their support of the respective groups as well as our kaiwhakaako kapa haka - Ata and Marley Maiava. 

Take a look at all the fantastic photos from the event on the Mīharo Murihiku Facebook page - click here.

Sport and Active Recreation News

Gymnastics

Congratulations to Rosa Dawson who has been selected by Gymnastics New Zealand for the New Zealand Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team travelling to the USA to compete in the WOGA Classic Competition in February 2025. This is an incredible achievement, and follows Rosa's great results at the National Champs over the holidays.

Mountain Running

Recently awarded WHS Senior Sportswoman of the Year, Siena Mackley has added another top result to her incredible sporting CV, winning the Under 20 Women’s Race at the Athletics NZ Mountain Running Championships in Christchurch last weekend - racing in the 6km Valley View event.

Multisport

Congratulations to Tom Schenk and Pete Davis who competed in the Challenge Wānaka Multi on Saturday - a gruelling event including a 25km Kayak, 43km Bike and 14km Trail Run. Tom won the Individual Schools category, with Pete coming in second place. Well done! 

Rugby

Otago Rugby held their 2024 Awards online last week. Congratulations to the following WHS students who were recognised for their representative teams.

• Tama Kopa - Ōtākou U15 Tane Ki Uta Most Valuable Player (of which he was captain) and Otago Country U16 Forward of the Year.
• Aily Jolly - Otago Country U16 Back of the Year
• Lucuis Lockhart - Ōtākou U17 Tane Ki Uta Forward of the year

Volleyball

The Volley South Junior Champs were held in Invercargill last Sunday. Wakatipu High School had nearly 40 students involved, with 3 girls and 1 boys teams entered. It was a massive day of volleyball action with all teams putting in strong performances and having a lot of fun. Congratulations to WHS Blue who made the Girls Final, facing up against Central Southland College. CSC took out the win, but it was a tight match. Wakatipu Gold also had a great day, finishing 4th. In the Boys grade our Junior A team placed 3rd, with a win over CSC in their bronze match. A huge thank you to coaches Steve Henderson, Ksena Muddle, Ayako Fukutake, and Duane Te Paa, and parent helpers Hilton Miller and Rob Wood. The teams are looking forward to the upcoming Junior South Island Secondary School Champs in November.

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

Artist of the Week:

Elsbeth Purdue has explored the preconceived notions we hold about different food groups and the implications they have on our health and lifestyle. Elsbeth is Level 2 Painting. 

Save the date and join us on Monday 4 November for an exhibition of all completed Senior Art student folios. The exhibition will run from 10am to 6.30pm in Pouākai.

We encourage teachers to come and enjoy the amazing work created by our students. If teachers have a class that would be interested and respectful of the work, they are welcome to come through during a class period. Teachers would need to supervise the students. Because artwork will be placed on the floor, the exhibition will be closed during break times unless supervised by an adult.

Entries for Central Soundwaves close Oct 30.

Event takes place at Yonder on Sunday Nov 3.

Registrations can be done via the QR code on the  Rockformation Facebook page.

This is a great performance opportunity for all bands and solo-duo acts.

Songs can be original or covers.

Performers only need to bring instruments and anything specific to their instruments. Amps, keyboards etc will be provided.

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.

Visit from SIT Music Department

We were fortunate to have a visit from SIT Music Department on Thursday morning.

They performed in one of the Y12/13 Music classes and gave an overview of the courses and facilities at SIT.

The audio engineer was from L.A.B. so the level of expertise and experience was really impressive.

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

29 November - Music Groups Primary Schools Visits

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.

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