WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.05 | 15 August 2025

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of week 5,

This week marks the middle of term 3 and with senior students having just finished their practice external exams, now is the time for all students to take their learning into a higher gear. As exam results and feedback starts to come back to students, it is really important that students reflect on both the learning that needs to be done (content and understanding) but also on the process that they took in the lead up to the exam. Ultimately, these exams serve as a significant learning experience to better prepare students for the end of year exams which are now only 9 school weeks away. A reminder that an ‘exam report’ will be published and made available to parents and students by Friday, 29 August and this is followed by an opportunity for parents and students to meet with senior subject teachers to get feedback on the year. These senior next steps meetings, again with subject teachers, will be held on Tuesday, 2 September from 2:15 pm, so please mark that date on your calendar now and keep an eye on the newsletter and email regarding how to sign up for these meetings. A reminder that further external exams are on the horizon for Year 10’s (corequisites), Year 11, Distance Learning and Scholarship students from Week 8 (1 September). We know our students work very hard to achieve to the best of their ability and we anticipate that they’ll be ramping up their work output to finish the year strong, and achieve the academic goals that they aspire to achieve.

As you would have seen and heard in the news, negotiations between the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE) are not going well and the strike proceeds. Teachers are planning to go on strike next Wednesday, 20 August. As the vast majority of teachers will not be working, there will be no classes running on this day. The school will be open for supervision of students, if required, and buses will be running. Any students who come to school will be required to sign in at the front office and will need to be at school for the entire school day. Our teachers work exceptionally hard to support our students in and out of the classroom, but given the recent MoE offer, which actually represented a backward step in conditions, the PPTA have deemed this industrial action a necessary step in the process.  

Yesterday, we held our annual sports exchange with Te Kura Tititea/Mt Aspiring College. It was a great day of sport and camaraderie - congratulations to all the students who competed with pride and humility. See below for the results and photos.  

As is always the case, there is lots more ahead for students and parents, including an information evening on Tuesday for parents of Year 10 students who are entered for the upcoming literacy and numeracy corequisite exams, a parent evening on Thursday to support students managing their devices and much, much more. See below for more details and dates. 

You all should have received your voting form for the triennial elections for the Board of Trustees. It is wonderful to see such great engagement from our community and to have so many qaulity candidates for the Board of Trustees, including three existing board members standing for re-election. Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, and please email lbocatios@wakatipu.school.nz if you did not receive your electronic voting form. 

A jam-packed newsletter follows, including nominations for Sports and Cultural Blues, Scholarships, 2026 Student Leadership, and some outstanding achievements from students, including Issy Hudson achieving her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award - congratulations Issy!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Ngā mihi,
Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

Mt Aspiring College Sports Exchange

What a fantastic day of sportsmanship and competition for our annual Sports Exchange with Mount Aspiring College yesterday! We had over 100 of our students representing Wakatipu High School, showcasing their skills and determination across various codes.

The overall results were in favour of WHS 7 - 1 in the Battle of the Range!  Students from both schools represented their kura incredibly well and should be proud of the efforts they put in.

A massive thank you to MAC for making the trip over the hill, a big well done to all of our students and thanks to the coaches, staff, and officials who made it all happen!

Check out the results below:

Senior A Netball WHS 26-21
1st XI Girls Football MAC 1-0
Senior Girls Basketball WHS 31-29
1st XV Boys Rugby WHS 28-12
10A Netball WHS 29-18
1st XI Boys Football WHS 2-1
Senior B Netball WHS 38-15
Senior A Boys Basketball WHS 89-36

2025 WHS Board Election - Voting Open

Voting is now open for the election of 6 Parent Representatives to the WHS Board of Trustees. Schooled Election Pilot have advised that voting information has been sent to all people on the electoral roll on Wednesday 13 August.  This has been sent by email to parents who have provided an email address and by post to those who we don't have emails for. If you have received a paper voting form there are two ways that you can vote - by scanning the QR code on the voting form and voting online or by completing the paper form and returning it to reception at WHS in the secure envelope provided.

We have received 16 nominations for our Parent Representative Election, you can view their candidate statements here.

Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday 10 September 2025. If you have any questions about this election please get in touch with the elections team: election@electionpilot.nz  or email Principal's PA: lbocatios@wakatipu.school.nz.

Parenting in the Basin Invitation - Left to Their Own Devices: Parenting in the Digital Era

Spaces are limited, please click the link below to secure your spot.

Corequisite Information Evening

On Tuesday, August 19 we will host an information evening for parents around how you can support learning at home in preparation for these assessments being held from September 8-12.
7 pm
WHS Library 
All Welcome

Senior Subject Next Steps Interviews - Tuesday 2nd September

Mock exams for seniors were completed this week.  As teachers finalise grading over the next few weeks, you'll see your students' results and feedback go live on the school portal. A full report summarising their exam performance will also be emailed to you on Friday, August 29th.

Parent/Teacher/Student Meetings

Mark your calendars for our final parent/teacher/student meetings for Year 11-13 students on Tuesday, September 2nd, from 2:15 to 7:30 p.m. An email with details and a link to book appointments will be sent on Friday, August 22nd.

This is a great chance to discuss your student's progress and next steps, especially regarding upcoming external exams and current projects. 

Student Leaders Message

Stars Community Project – Giving Back to Our Community

The Stars programme is excited to announce the launch of our Community Project, dedicated to giving back and supporting those in need. This year, all donations collected will be given to The Salvation Army, an organisation that works tirelessly to assist individuals and families facing hardship.

We are seeking contributions of

• Canned goods – such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and beans
• Dried foods – including rice, pasta, beans, lentils, and dried fruits.
• Other non-perishables – such as powdered milk, instant coffee, honey, crackers, and nuts.
• Toiletries – essential personal care items.
• Warm items – blankets, jackets, and other clothing you no longer need.

These items will go directly towards helping members of our community who are experiencing difficult times. Every contribution, big or small, will make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

Further details about collection dates and drop-off locations will be provided soon. We encourage everyone to participate and join us in showing compassion, kindness, and solidarity within our community. Together, we can help make a real impact.

Upcoming Opportunities - Stars Peer Mentor Applications 

We are excited to announce that applications to become a Stars Peer Mentor will be opening soon. 

Information will be held to explain the role in detail, including what it's like to be a Star Peer Mentor, the expectations and the responsibilities, and the valuable opportunities this position can create for Year 11 students moving into Year 12. 

Being a Stars Peer Mentor is more than just a role. It’s a chance to develop essential leadership qualities, build confidence and stop outside your comfort zone. It offers the opportunity to form strong connections with younger students, act as a positive role model, and contribute to creating a supportive school environment. 

This experience can be a valuable stepping stone for future leadership positions, scholarships, and other opportunities both within school and outside of school. You’ll gain skills in communications, teamwork, and problem-solving. All of which are highly regarded in any future study or career path. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via email. Further details about the application process will be shared during the assembly which will take place later this term or early next term. 

Get Up and Go!

Over the past three weeks, our Year 12 P.E. classes have been busy creating, allocating roles, promoting, and running fun activities for everyone to enjoy during Break 2 on Wednesday and Friday this week.

The purpose of Get Up and Go is to try and influence young people that sport and physical activity doesn't always have to be competitive and structured. Sometimes the social and fun element of physical activity can be really influential on continued participation in physical activity into later years.

Students have taken part in a three-point shootout, bench press competition, and a scavenger hunt, with plenty of friendly rivalry and crowds getting involved. This week’s challenges, the crossbar challenge, tug of war, and a classic sack race brought even more laughs, teamwork, and school spirit to the courtyard.

A huge thank you to all the Year 12s who planned and ran these events, and our P.E teachers, Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Lowe for making all of it possible! And lastly, thank you to those who participated and brought their friends along.

Rae Joseph and Luca Mitchell
Stars Lead Prefect and Deputy Lead Prefect

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

A huge congratulations to Issy Hudson on her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. A fantastic achievement reflecting years of hard work and commitment. Issy completed this milestone by completing five sections : 

• Skills: Jewellery Making (Bronze & Silver), Driving (Gold)

• Physical Recreation: Rowing (Bronze), Netball (Silver & Gold), Hiking (Gold)

• Voluntary Service: Queenstown Community Cats (Bronze), Conservation Projects (Silver), School Council / STARS Peer Mentor (Silver & Gold), Salvation Army (Gold)

• Adventurous Journey: Tramping (Bronze), Sea Kayaking in Auckland (Silver), Canoeing the Whanganui River (Gold)

• Gold Residential Project: Attended the Women in Engineering programme at Canterbury University.

Issy had this to say about her DOE journey:

"Over the past four years I have been undertaking Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Hillary’s Award. It was both challenging and rewarding and pushed me out of my comfort zone. I gained lifelong values through the weekly commitment to skills, physical recreation and voluntary service. There are so many different opportunities and pathways that you can take and tailor the award to suit your personal interests. I especially enjoyed the sea kayaking and canoeing over the typical tramping option for the Adventurous Journey. Having completed all three levels, I have built strong friendships with many different people across New Zealand. It is so rewarding to be able to give back to the community and I am proud to be able to include all aspects of it on a CV and uni applications. I highly encourage everyone to give it a go!"

Students keen to get involved can read more here or contact our teacher in charge of the Duke of Ed programme, Harriet Hone via hhone@wakatipu.school.nz 

Ngā Reo Languages Newsletter

2025  Languages Championship

This year’s competition was a nail-biting, brain-busting, language-loving race to the very last second!

With over 30,000 questions answered, our students turbocharged their knowledge and skills in more than a dozen languages – from kia ora to konnichiwa and everything in between.  A huge round of applause to our Top 5 language legends who made our school beam with pride:

Milly Monk (1st Place | Year 11 French )
Charlotte Galavazi (2nd Place | Year 9 French ) 
Millie Stringer (3rd Place | Year 9  French)
Shanaya Kumar (4th Place | Year 9 Japanese)
Alisa Pekhtereva (5th Place | Year 11 French)

Extracurricular School Photos

Extracurricular school photos are now available to order via the PhotoLife website.

Students who were in at least one of these photos would have received a set of instructions, including how to order online and their own unique code for ordering. 

To view and purchase the 2025 Extracurricular School Photographs please follow these steps:

1. Click on this link: https://photolifeonline.co.nz/ordering/access
2. Enter your unique Access Key Code provided in the email you received
3. Click on the Teams tab to view the options available to purchase

Order before midnight on Sunday, 24 August 2025, to qualify for free delivery of your photos to WHS.

Any queries can be directed to Photolife:
Email: enquiries@photolife.co.nz
Phone: (09) 262 1040 or 0800 50 10 40 

Explore Scholarship Opportunities for WHS Students!

We are excited to let you know that there are some fantastic local scholarship opportunities available to WHS students.

Unlock Your Engineering Future with the Meyer Cruden Scholarship
The Meyer Cruden Engineering Scholarship is an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic Year 13 students who aspire to build a career in Structural or Civil Engineering. They offer a one-year scholarship worth $4,000 to students planning to study Civil Engineering at the University of Canterbury, with the possibility of extending the scholarship to subsequent years based on certain criteria. Meyer Cruden Engineering Limited, a dynamic consultancy with offices in Cromwell and Wanaka, specializes in a wide range of engineering services, including structural design for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, overhead line design, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, and pavement design. If you are passionate about this region and eager to dive into the structural, civil, or geotechnical engineering fields, this scholarship is perfect for you.

Value of Scholarship: $4,000

Applications open: 1st August

Applications close: 31st August

Kate Moetaua was a much loved drama and arts teacher, and Dean of Mackenzie house at Wakatipu High School who sadly passed away in 2018 when she was only 45. Kate was passionate about arts, drama and sports. She directed the school musicals and set up the drama academy known as the Kate Moetaua Collective in Queenstown.

Kate inspired so many people and one of her final wishes was for a foundation that supported young talented people in the sporting, arts, cultural, and education arenas, especially where families may be experiencing financial hardship. Now in its sixth year, over 30 students have received funding from the foundation to help them pursue their dreams.

Kate's family are the trustees of the Kate Moetaua Foundation, assisted by the 45South Community Foundation, who work together to realise Kate's legacy. Up to $3,500 will be granted in scholarships to students currently in years 9-13 in 2025 by the Kate Moetaua Foundation. 

To find out more about the Kate Moetaua Foundation, read about the past recipients or to apply for the 2025 scholarship, visit www.katemoetauafoundation.org

Click here for the application Link

Applications are now open and will close at 5 pm September 5, 2025.

 David Geddes RSA Memorial Scholarship

We are pleased to announce that the David Geddes Memorial Scholarship is now open for applications! This scholarship, is now valued at $1,500, was established by David’s family and the Queenstown RSA to honor his commitment to community service. It’s a lasting tribute to the impact he made in our community. We encourage students who share his passion for service to apply.

Please email your completed application to oallington@wakatipu.school.nz by 1:00 pm on Friday 26 September 2025.

Margaret Templeton Scholarship

We’re thrilled to share that the Margaret Templeton Scholarship is now open for applications! The initial value of the scholarship is $5,000 and this amount shall be reviewed annually by the trustees. The scholarship 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.

All applications must be returned to the Careers Hub no later than midday on 9th October, so that we can deliver to the trustees by 10th October. Please ensure the Household Income Questionnaire is placed in a sealed envelope, as this information is for the scholarship trustees only. See the following forms below:

The Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson Scholarship

This combined grant, of $4,000 is available to students who will be studying at least one Humanities subject at any university in New Zealand in 2026.

There are two scholarships:

The Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson Scholarship is $3,000 towards your expenses in 2026.

The Ray & Elizabeth Clarkson Distinction Award is $1,000 towards your expenses in 2026.

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.

Don't miss this opportunity!

Applications open: 8th September 2025

Applications close: Friday 10 October at 5 pm

Sport and Recreation News

Hockey

Despite the odds being stacked against them the 2nd XI boys hockey team came through with a thrilling win against Dunstan High School.  They played their hearts out with much needed intensity and hunger for the win. The first loss of the season for DHS!

Despite conceding a goal in the first 30 seconds of the game and another in the first quarter they came back with a goal to Luke Burer early in the 2nd quarter.  Going into the second half 2-1 down they returned to the field with energy and intent and evened things up through a goal to Mitch Smith 3 minutes in. The last quarter started with another quick goal to Mitch Smith in the first minute.  They then successfully held off multiple attacks from an increasingly desperate DHS during the remainder of the game to secure the win 3-2.  A great effort from the whole team with standout performances from Leon Coudret in the mid-field and Jack Barlow in goal.

Netball

The Year 13 Māwhero netball team celebrated a farewell victory against their parents on Tuesday in one last game before they head off to university next year! You can support them in the Senior B final at 11:00 AM and the WHS C team in the Senior A final at 12:30 PM, both taking place this Saturday, August 16, inside at the Events Centre. 

Rodeo

Zoe Johnston recently returned back from the International Rodeo Finals in America where she made the Finals and is now 16th in the world! She has been travelling and competing for the last 5 weeks and after a successful campaign Zoe is now pursuing a scholarship at an American University.

Rugby

Congratulations to Angus O'Neill, Lucius Lockhart and Harry Walker-Leach for their selections into the Otago Country Under 18 Squad!

Thursday saw our 2025 rugby season being brought to a close in spectacular fashion. First up, the 1st XV wrestled back the 'Battle of the Crown Range' shield from Mount Aspiring College with a hard earned 28-12 victory with a number of debutants on show during our annual sports exchange with our neighbours across the hill. Then in what has to be a WHS first, our two Under 14 teams (Junior Blue and Junior Gold) duked it out in a cracking final of their Otago Rugby division. It was hard to separate the two, which speaks to the hard work put in by the coaches as well as the players but eventually Junior Blue went on to win 36-29. Thanks for all the support on the sidelines from our rugby whānau and we'll look to build again for 2026. Good luck to our student-athletes who have been selected for representative pathways such as Otago Country and Otago Māori - karawhiua!

Swimming

Great Results at Otago Short Course Champs – Congrats Billie, Finn & Mark!

Over the weekend Billie Druett, Finn Henderson and Mark Lauko competed at the Otago Short Course Swimming Championships in Dunedin, joining 175 other age group swimmers from across the region.

All three swimmers put in strong performances:

• Mark (14-year-old boys): 3 x 1st, 1 x 2nd, 1 x 3rd, and a 5th place.

• Finn (16 & over males): 2 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, plus a 4th, 5th, and 10th placing.

• Billie (15-year-old girls): 1 x 1st, 2 x 4th, and placed 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th in other events.

A great effort from all three swimmers, showing commitment and determination against strong competition.

Well done, team – your hard work and results are paying off!

Ice Hockey

U18 Ice Hockey Returns to Queenstown for the First Time Since 2019!

Queenstown, New Zealand – 30th & 31st August – The New Zealand Under 18 Ice Hockey League, established in 2010, is the nation’s premier competition for players under the age of 18. Running annually from June to October, the league features four competitive teams representing Auckland, Canterbury, Queenstown, and Dunedin.

This month marks a special milestone for local ice hockey fans – the first home game in Queenstown since 2019. The U18 Junior Stampede will face off against the U18 Junior Thunder from Dunedin in two exciting matches:

 Saturday 30th August – 6:00 PM Puck Drop
 Sunday 31st August – 2:15 PM Puck Drop
 Queenstown Ice Arena, Queenstown Gardens

The U18 Junior Stampede, featuring talented players from Queenstown, Cromwell, Tekapo, and Wellington, are currently leading the league by an impressive 10 points. The team is determined to extend their winning streak in front of a home crowd.

Entry is by gold coin koha, with all proceeds going towards team costs, helping to support the development of these young athletes.

“This is more than just a game – it’s a chance for our top young prospects to emulate the SkyCity Stampede and Wild teams” said Stephen Reid, Head Coach of the U18 Junior Stampede. “We hope the community will come along, make some noise! Nothing beats playing in at home in Queenstown, I’d love to see these athletes get to fully experience it”

Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure a good seat and enjoy the high-energy atmosphere that only ice hockey can deliver.

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 Bruce at bhunter@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/ 

Bruce Hunter
Director of Sport

Arts Department News

Artist of the Week - Lylla O'Brien (Y10)

Our artist of the week is Lylla O'Brien, who has created a beautiful Dystopian Dream landscape of The Brown Hotel in London, set in the year 2090. This artwork is a representation of a 'soft apocalypse' where plants have reclaimed the earth, where flora and fauna flourish when humans are no longer polluting the planet.

Blenheim  Jazz Trip

The Jazz Bands had a very successful trip to Blenheim last week, culminating in the Combo's achievement as the overall festival winners. This is a first for WHS and reflects not only the students' exceptionally strong performance skills but also the considerable amount of work they have put in throughout the year. Huge thanks to Chris Mason-Battley and Alistair Monteath for preparing the students for this event. The awards included the following:

- Best Served Chilled Combo: Gold Grading, Best Combo, Overall festival winners
- Big Band: Silver Grading

Individual awards:

- Louis Buchanan: Most Outstanding Keyboard Player                                               
- Haru Kuroe: Most Outstanding Bassist  and Most Outstanding Musician
- Joel Winter: Most Accomplished Rhythm Section performer and Most Outstanding Small Group Drummer

Students in the All-Stars band - Haru, Joel, and Bethany Argyle.

Thanks also to the following people:

The parents (especially Debbie Argyle) for the fundraising efforts, Justine Duncan in managing food for 24 students (mammoth effort), Hiromi Kuroe for her help on the trip,  Alistair Monteath for conducting the band at Blenheim, Leo McMenamin for teacher support and Matt Rhodes from Pure Tours.

Showing Off - Senior Art Exhibition

The exhibition features a stunning collection of Photography, Design, and Painting panels, all of which have achieved an Excellence grade. It's a fantastic opportunity to see the incredible talent and hard work of our students on display.

The exhibition runs all through August at the Lakes District Museum & Gallery in Arrowtown. We invite you to come and see the amazing work for yourself and, most importantly, vote for your favourite panel!

Your vote counts toward the People's Choice Award, and the winners in each category will be celebrated at the end of the exhibition.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters, Trinity Construction & Projects and the Lakes District Museum & Gallery, for helping to make this event possible. Their support is invaluable in celebrating our students' success.

Into the Woods Jr: 

Our outstanding Junior Drama students bring Cinderella, the Witch, the Baker, Little Red, and more to life in this enchanting one-act fairytale mash‑up, directed by Jake Hansen with musical direction by Natasha Wilson.

 🎟️Tickets are ON SALE now!
 📆Show dates: Thursday 18 & Friday 19 September 2025 (Week 10, Term 3)
 📍WHS Theatre
🎫Book here: https://events.humanitix.com/whs-into-the-woods-jr

Come see the magic unfold with support from our Year 12–13 crew (7&8 PAT), who are working behind the scenes to bring this production to life!

Don’t miss out—grab your tickets today and help us fill the house for these special performances.

 Extracurricular Groups 

Stay on top of what's happening in the arts and sign up to All Things Arts Classroom
https://classroom.google.com/c/MTMyMjY2Mzg5NjMw?cjc=sijw2gw Sign up code is: sijw2gw

Wednesday Morning Arts Time - hang out with the Arts

Happening every Wednesday morning from 8am in the Music area. It’s a great way to get involved with different aspects of arts in a social setting. Come along and see if this might be for you.

• Songwriting
• Live sound and lighting events 
• Stage Make Up 
• The practice rooms are available at this time for any bands or solo/duos who want to practice

We invite you to share your skills in the arts

We love it when artists want to share their skills and experience with our students. If you would like to share your experience and knowledge, please get in touch with Arts Coordinator Stine Cooper scooper@wakatipu.school.nz. 

Upcoming in Term 3

1-31 August - Showing Off Senior Art Exhibition - Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown                                                                                    29-31 August - Drama Dept Court Theatre trip                                                                                                                                                                                  6 September  - Performing Arts Showcase
18-19 - September - Into The Woods Jr

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 scooper@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 scooper@wakatipu.school.nz

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

Community Notices

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