WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.08 | 05 September 2025

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of Week 8, another great week at WHS. 

It was great to see parents and students attending our Senior Next Steps evening on Tuesday, off the back of last week’s exam reports and academic tracking letter. If you weren’t able to attend, but have questions, comments or concerns, please get in touch with your child’s subject teacher directly. 

Seniors will have lots of internal assessments in these last two weeks (see below for the internal assessment calendar). Additionally, next week, the second round of the literacy and numeracy corequisites are being held and Year 11 students will have a couple more practice external examinations. Scholarship practice exams are also being held. The end of year examinations are not far away now, and you can see the external exam schedule - click here.

On Wednesday evening, we held our Year 10 Branches Parent Information Evening. It was great to have so many parents (and students) in attendance for this important evening. As you would have heard Mr Mac say, “It is the wish of the school that every Year 10 student attends Branches Camp in some form - to build relationships, develop resilience and self-management; to experience the unique environment that is Branches". If you missed the evening, click here for a copy of the presentation. All parents of Year 10 students have been emailed the very important Medical and Permission form by Mr Andrew Regan. Please be sure to have this form completed by next Friday, 12th September.

Yesterday, along with a small group of Principals, I had the opportunity to have lunch with Hon Erica Stanford (MIN) to hear a bit more about the impending changes to the New Zealand Curriculum and the proposed changes to NCEA. While I am broadly supportive of the concepts in the proposal (e.g. increased focus on literacy and numeracy, more external assessment and less opportunity for students to ‘opt out’ of standards), much of which aligns with WHS’ strategic goals, I am wary of the timeline for the changes, and I expressed my concerns around that. 

I was also interested in the Minister’s comments earlier in the week about ‘contestable funds’ to address aspects of the more open learning spaces. While you have heard me say that I believe that we’re optimising our learning spaces, and that our learning environment is quite settled, I also appreciate that some of the spaces are not optimal for all learners. The Board and I have been discussing some internal modifications to our spaces and we will look to apply for these contestable funds to add more sliders and flexibility to our spaces so that we can try to ensure that the needs of each and every student are being met. 

Speaking of MoE, we have recently been notified that the Ministry is intending to remove Ministry funded buses. See below for more information including a parent feedback from.

Unfortunately, negotiations between the PPTA and the MoE regarding pay and conditions are not progressing well, and the PPTA has signalled further industrial action from the 15 - 19 September with the rostering home of year groups as follows:

• Monday, 15 Sept - Year 12 and Year 13 students are rostered home
• Tuesday, 16 Sept - Year 11 students are rostered home
• Wednesday, 17 Sept - Year 10 students are rostered home
• Thursday, 18 Sept - Year 9 students are rostered home.

When year levels are ‘rostered home’, classes for that year level will not be run. Buses will still operate as normal, and timetabled classes will continue for all other year levels. We do hope that negotiations between the PPTA and MoE improve soon.

There have been many highlights this week, but one of the most enjoyable and humbling things I get to do at this time of the year is to read through all of the applications for our prestigious Head Student and Lead Prefect positions for 2026. While they take quite a few hours to read, it is remarkable to see how much our students can accomplish in just four years of high school. Once again, we had a large quantity and a high quality of applications and I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the students who have put their hand up for a leadership role in 2026. We are working through the Head Student process at the moment, and we’re looking forward to hearing the shortlisted candidates speeches on Monday. Later in the term we’ll begin the Lead Prefect selection process which will be followed by the House Leader and Deputy House Leader appointments. 

Today we held our Stars Community Workshop in support of the Salvation Army - it is great to see our Year 9’s developing their active citizenship under the guidance of our Stars Peer Mentors. Today was also the second day of our annual Lip Sync competition, an event that is always well attended by students. See the full newsletter for photos and for all the action from the week, including this weekend’s Music Showcase, the upcoming Junior Musical - ‘Into the Woods’, and a full wrap up of Winter Tournament Week. 

A reminder that voting for the election of 6 Parent Representatives for the WHS Board will close at 4pm, Wednesday 10 September.

Have a fantastic weekend. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

NCEA Level 1,2, and 3 Internal Assessment Calendars and WHS Term Calendar

Internal Assessment Calendar
The internal assessment calendar provides the due dates for all internal assessments being sat by students throughout the year for each course in Years 11-13. We highly recommend that students note the dates of their internal assessments on their calendars and plan their term and year accordingly to ensure their academic goals are achieved. Kaiārahi and parents are encouraged to support this.

Students should use the ​assessment and school ​calendar to identify all their assessments - particularly noting pinch​ ​points when several fall due at the same time, and then put this beside their other commitments eg sport, work, family and plan accordingly. 

​These calendars are live and will be updated regularly.
Level 1 NCEA Internal Assessment Calendar
Level 2 NCEA Internal Assessment Calendar
Level 3 NCEA Internal Assessment Calendar

WHS School Calendar

The WHS School calendar is always jam-packed and is a feature of WHS' great all-round education. As such, we want students to be looking at the calendar and understanding when they are going to be away for any school related activity. The calendar linked below can be used with the NCEA Internal Assessment Calendar (above) to assist with planning for the term.

WHS School Calendar

Senior Subject Next Steps: Follow Up

It was great to see so many of you at Tuesday’s Senior Next Steps Evening. These interviews were an important opportunity for students and parents to connect with subject teachers—to discuss student progress, and to clarify learning next steps to ensure that students achieve their best possible qualification. As a follow-up to this event, we encourage families to continue engaging in conversations at home, for example, around questions such as:

• Am I on track to achieve my academic goals? Am I clear on what is required to achieve Level 1/2/3, merit endorsement, excellence endorsement, university entrance?
• What assessments are still coming up (re-assessments, co-requisites, internal assessments, external assessments, NCEA exams)? 
• Do I have a clear preparation/study plan for the remaining weeks of school, including any tutorials that are available? 
• How am I managing my time (class time, study time, rest, extra-curricular activities), physical and mental well being? 
• Who can I reach out to for support? (subject teachers, kaiārahi, Dean, friends, peers, study group, whānau). How can I actively use these resources?

Click here for a useful Study Planner document for senior students, which was sent to students last month. This document includes a: 

• study calendar
• handy credit checker
• links to assessment calendars, NCEA exam timetable, 2026 prerequisites, NCEA past papers, and study tips. 

Students and/or whānau are encouraged to follow up any questions with their subject teacher/s, kaiārahi and/or Dean.

Literacy and Numeracy Corequisites

The next corequisite round, for those still requiring credits to complete their literacy and/or numeracy corequisite will be held on the following dates:
Monday, 8 September - Writing corequisite
Wednesday, 10 September - Numeracy corequisite
Friday, 12 September - Reading corequisite

ALL students start the Corequisite exams at 9 am in the Theatre. There is only one sitting for each exam. Both Senior and Junior students will all start the assessments at 9 am and are to be in the foyer 10 minutes prior to this.

Parents/caregivers and students have already received an email if they will be enrolled in any of these corequisite exams detailing exactly which ones they should be sitting.

Our literacy and numeracy teachers have put in place a number of supports to help students prepare for these.

• Supported Study is offered every Thursday in the Maths department from 3:20 - 4:20 pm for numeracy
• After-school Literacy Tutorials for all students take place on a Wednesday from 3:15 - 4:00 pm. In-school Literacy Tutorials for seniors take place during AKO on Monday and Friday.

Other numeracy support and interventions for those who didn’t achieve the numeracy corequisite include:

• In-class learning focused on the Numeracy, Reading and Writing assessment will continue.

• Quizzes have been assigned on Google Classrooms for students to complete during Ako time or at home. The quizzes are intended only to take around 15 minutes or so to complete. When finished the students must "View their results" to see how they went - the intent is that they learn from mistakes made. Please encourage your students to do them and help them if necessary.

Students are able to practice previous assessments via the NZQA website - click here.

Stars Give Back

Stars Community Project: Giving Back to Our Community

Today, our Year 9 students and senior Peer Mentors came together for the final event of the Stars Community Project with the Salvation Army. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our students, staff, and families, the donation drive was a huge success, gathering a large collection of food, hygiene products, and warm clothing to help those in need.

The event, held in the Pouākai gym, was a powerful display of teamwork. Our dedicated Peer Mentors and Year 9s worked together to sort and organise all the donations, bringing the project to a successful conclusion with incredible effort from everyone involved.

We would like to acknowledge our Year 9 students for their hard mahi and effort throughout this initiative, our Peer Mentors for their guidance and encouragement, and the Year 9 Kaiarahi for their support in organising and managing the donations every step of the way.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed and made this project so impactful. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Graeme Dingle Foundation and the Salvation Army team for joining us.

We are incredibly proud of the way our students stepped up to make a real and tangible difference in our community.

Student Leaders Message

Student Board Representative
During Ako time on Monday, we got to hear from the candidates aiming to become next year’s Student Board Representative. These 7 students exemplified the WHS values by putting themselves out there and sharing their vision for our school. A reminder to students to get your votes into the boxes at Student Services or Reception before 4pm on September 11th to have a say on who will be representing you next year on the WHS Board!

Senior Next Steps
Senior Next Steps took place on Tuesday, with parents, students, and teachers coming together to talk about academic progress and goals as we near the end of the year. This is a great checkpoint during the year to check in with teachers before internals wrap up and externals begin! It’s also helpful for parents to hear a little more about what their child has been learning throughout the year. Hopefully all of the students and parents who attended gained some valuable insight into what the remainder of the year will look like!

Onebike Bake Sale
The Environmental Council’s Tuesday bake sale was a huge success! All proceeds were donated to Onebike. With the motto of “rescue, repair, rehome”, Onebike aims to create a bike-friendly Queenstown by repairing used bikes and donating them. When more people are commuting on bikes, we get the physical and mental benefits of exercise, and the environment thrives from decreased emissions. A big thank you to all of the students who supported the bake sale and contributed to this incredible organisation!

Blues Award Nominations
A reminder that Blues Award nominations close at 5pm today. Hopefully students have already gotten their nominations in for Sporting and Cultural Blues. If not, the nomination forms can be found here:

Sporting Blues
Cultural Blues

If you haven’t already done so, get your nominations in ASAP before they close at 5pm today. All nominees should be notified of their nomination’s success before the end of Term 3.

Girls 3v3 Basketball
Finally, a reminder that Girls 3v3 Basketball begins next week! This is a great opportunity for girls of all year groups and ability levels to get involved in a fun and inclusive tournament. The games will take place at Break 2, and they will be short and sharp, with only 5 minutes to make your mark on the court! To enter your three person team, email me at 21smackley@wakatipu.school.nz

Shave for a cure

Hey! I heard you might be keen for Shave for a Cure… so here’s your friendly push.

This is your sign to just do it. You’ll be shaving for someone who can’t. Every day, six Kiwis are told they have a blood cancer, and your head shave could genuinely help fund research, support families, and save lives.

You don’t need a big reason. You just need guts, a little buzz cut confidence, and a few mates to back you up.

Event is happening on the 9th of September
Anyone can do it — students, staff, all year levels.
Our goal: $5,000 raised by WHS. Be part of the team.

We already have some awesome students signed up: Oscar Burns Anderson, Liam Tietjen, Kieran Leftley, Arya Kurniawan, Findlay Newell, Patrick Bennie, and Mathew Wright. Shout out to Oscar who has currently raised the most money ($650). 

They’re doing something incredible, so if you’d like to donate or even join them in shaving then just click this link:
https://www.shaveforacure.co.nz/fundraisers/wakatipuhighschool/shave-for-a-cure

Alice Davis and Joe Leyden
Community and Service Council Prefects | SVA Ambassadors

Australian Maths Trust AMC

The Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) has been running since 1978 and is recognised as the largest and longest-standing maths competition in Australasia. Each year it offers students the chance to tackle creative and challenging problem-solving questions written by leading educators and academics.

This year, several of our students took part in the AMC and achieved excellent results. Distinction Awards went to Hector Tanner, Manny Phoon, Lily Smith, and Brian Yang, placing them among the top 20% of students in their year and region. Oscar Childs and Kieran Morphett earned Credit Awards, while Franco Li and Henry Huse received Proficiency Awards.

Congratulations to all our students on their hard work and achievement in this competitive challenge!

Lip Sync Battle

And that's a wrap on another incredible Lip Sync Battle! The energy this week was fantastic, with so many legendary acts up on that stage, the judges have a seriously tough job ahead of them picking the winners!

A massive thank you to every single person who was brave enough to get up there and perform. And to everyone who came out to watch and cheer. Of course, none of this would have happened without the Arts & Cultural Council, who worked so hard behind the scenes to pull it all together. Thank you for another brilliant event!

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Withdrawal of Ministry of Education School Bus services

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has notified us that school bus services in Queenstown will be withdrawn, with the exception of routes to Glenorchy, Gibbston, Kingston, and a new service for Dalefield, which will be retained. This change is proposed to take effect at the start of the 2026 school year.

Students may only be eligible for MoE provided bus services if they meet specific criteria. Students must meet all three criteria as follows;

-  Students must be attending their closest state or state-integrated school
-  Secondary students must be living more than  4.8 km from their school 
-  There is no public transport

More information about School Transport and eligibility is available on the MoE website here, including a video.  The MoE has advised us that no changes will be made to the existing policy at this time.

The MoE has given us a very brief window for feedback, but only Schools can submit responses—parent feedback will not be accepted directly. If you would like to provide your input, please complete the linked form so we can include your comments in the school's official submission. The form will close for entries on Monday, 15 September at 10 am. Please note that the Otago Regional Council has confirmed no changes will be made to public bus timetables before the proposed 2026 implementation date, so you can reference the existing service in your feedback. We encourage all contributions to be constructive to give us the best opportunity to influence change.

Environmental Council Bake Sale Success!

This week, the Environmental Council hosted a bake sale in support of OneBike, a local charity dedicated to rescuing, repairing, and rehoming bikes within the basin. Their mission is simple but powerful: to get more people cycling, keep the community moving, and reduce emissions. 

Based in Frankton, OneBike accepts bike donations, runs free bike maintenance courses, and has already rehomed over 460 bikes into the community! Earlier this term, the Council had the opportunity to visit OneBike and see first-hand the fantastic work they do. This made it especially fitting that this was the charity chosen for our fundraiser.

The bake sale was a wonderful success, featuring an array of treats including cookies decorated with earth-inspired designs, colourful cupcakes, and even traditional Scandinavian Kringla.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who supported the event - whether by baking, buying, or simply stopping by. Your generosity helps keep both people and bikes moving! Keep an eye out for what the Council has next! 

Lucy Boniface
Lead Prefect of the Environmental Council

Year 12 Outdoor Education Adventures

What a session! Our Year 12 Outdoor Ed students were learning the craft of climbing at Base Camp this week. Experiences like this develop communication, trust, and resilience, building confidence and forging skills for life. So much respect for this crew for embracing the challenge!

Sport and Recreation News

Winter Tournament Week Wrap Up

171 of our student-athletes competed in 14 teams across the country last week, representing WHS with immense pride during Winter Tournament Week. A huge thank you to our teachers, coaches, and managers for making it all possible.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights:

Team Successes

• Basketball: Both the Senior A and Junior A boys' teams secured impressive third-place finishes.

• Netball: Our Senior A team finished 23rd in the top pool of the South Island Secondary Schools tournament—a truly impressive result.

• Ice Hockey: It was an all-WHS final in Dunedin, with Waka Gold taking the title over Waka Blue in a great match.

• Football: The 1st XI boys were a tournament surprise, finishing an outstanding 6th overall, while the 1st XI girls fought hard to place 15th.

• Hockey: Our 1st XI girls' team won their division in Invercargill, and the 1st XI boys took home a great third-place finish.

• Rugby: Our U15 boys battled through a tough tournament, gaining valuable experience and finishing third in their division.

Individual and Small Team Highlights

• Equestrian: The team placed an incredible 8th overall out of 54 teams. Special congratulations to Jess Downer, who won a showjumping event, and Zara Hazeldine, who placed second.

• Golf: Our golfers performed well against a strong field, finishing 11th overall.

• Climbing: One of our teams, featuring Dylan Leleave, Leo Devlin, Sofia Sharpe, and Tommy Carlson, placed an impressive 4th overall.

Well done to all our students for their incredible effort and sportsmanship and for representing WHS with pride.

Ice Hockey

What a great winter tournament week our 3 WHS Ice Hockey Teams had, fun times spent with friends on and off the ice.  The kids played hard but fair to get some outstanding results again this year.  Our Junior Development Team had a draw, three wins and only lost their Gold Medal match in a shootout 4-3 after playing so hard in a game that went all the way!  We are very proud of how well this team played together with stronger players mentoring the newer players to the sport.  

Our two senior Gold and Blue Teams had to play well in the A Grade to get the opportunity to play each other in the final.  Both teams won all their games in the round robin and only drew 3-3 when they played each other on the first day! The final game was played with skill and passion but I am happy to report only a penalty shot in the tight game. Gold won the tournament 4-2 over Blue.  Wakatipu High School gets their name on the trophy again.  Harrison Coe gets a special shout out as he was goalie for the MacKenzie College Team who could not have played in the tournament without him.

This would not have been possible without the support of Greg Lockhart as staff, Kimberley Dixon, Rachel Exell, Mike, Sam and Rachel Thurston as parent helpers. Thank you all so much for coaching the teams, providing amazing food and driving us to Dunedin and back.

Gigi Hollyer
TIC Hockey

Equestrian

What a week it has been for our Wakatipu High School riders at the South Island Secondary Schools competition. With 6 riders representing WHS - Neve Cruikshank, Jess Downer, Libby Smith, Zara Hazledine, Verity O’Donnell, and Vivienne Erasmus. The team not only achieved outstanding results but also showcased fantastic sportsmanship, camaraderie, and resilience throughout.

 Final Team Results

•  4th in Dressage
•  2nd in Show Jumping
•  8th Overall out of 54 teams – an incredible achievement
  

Individual Highlights

• Dressage: Neve 4th L2 2B; Libby 5th L2 2C & 8th 1B;  Jess 6th 1C & 6th 1B
• CTR: Neve 4th.
• Arena Eventing: Neve 4th (90–1.0m horse).
• Show Jumping: Jess 1st & 2nd (80–90cm horse); Zara 2nd & 3rd (1.05–1.15m horse; Vivienne 9th (70–80cm pony 2-phase).
• Show Hunter: Jess 5th (80–90cm horse); Neve 7th (90–1.0m horse); Zara 5th (1.05 horse).

Highlights of the Week

• Exceptional horsemanship across the board, with riders stepping up to help each other every day.
• Verity doing a superb job piloting her 4-year-old on his first big outing.
• Vivienne earning the Team Manager’s Horsemanship Award (and even an ice cream voucher!) for making the wise call to withdraw when her pony wasn’t feeling 100%.
• Celebrating Zara’s birthday as a team added to the fun atmosphere.
• Jackets in the morning, sunscreen in the afternoon, and plenty of catch-ups with Otago Southland friends.

A huge thank you to everyone (parents especially) who supported the riders and the team throughout the week – this is such a special event, and WHS Equestrian Team has done the school proud!

Golf

The WHS Golf team teed it up against some of the best young golfing talent from across New Zealand at the Shandon GC in Wellington.

Day one greeted the team of  Noah Novacek, Josh Harris, and Toby Gallie with slightly chilly but ideal conditions for good scoring on the tight treelined course layout. The team began strongly and with a bit of luck on the closing stages could have been sitting in medal contention after day one of the two day competition. Josh lead the first round scores for WHS with a score of three over par 73 and was joined by Toby's 75 as the two counting team scores.

Day two was a mirror image of the first day weather wise but unfortunately, the team didn't capitalise on the conditions starting slowly in their quest to put scoreboard pressure on the rest of the field. Josh improved his first round score carding a 2 over 72, and was followed in by Toby 74 and Noah 75 for a final team score of 294, finishing in 11th place. 

Auckland Schools dominated the event with  Pinehurst School, Kristin School and Kings College taking out the top three places also being the only teams to finish with under par rounds during the competition.

A big thank you to all those who supported this team in getting to the National Finals in 2025.

Netball

Netball went really well this year at SISS, with the team finishing 23rd in A grade — an improvement of four places from last year. Throughout the week, the girls played hard, kept every game close, and never once dropped their heads. Spirits stayed high, and it was clear they were enjoying their netball. We were lucky to have fantastic parent support with us in Dunedin, which made the week even more special. Many tears were shed as our Year 13s played their final game in the pinstripe dresses. A huge thank you to the players, coaches, parents, umpires, and everyone else who supported us during the week.  

Results for the week:

Game 1 vs. Cashmere - Loss (29 -20) 
Game 2 vs. Kaiapoi - Loss (29-34) 
Game 3 vs. Craighead - Loss (32 - 25) 
Game 4 vs. James Hargest - Loss (28-27)
Game 5 vs. Mt Aspiring - Win (33- 19)
Game 6 vs. Waimea - Win (30-25)
Game 7 vs. Ashburton - Loss (31-35)
Game 8 vs. St Kevins - Win (29-27)

Climbing

Wakatipu High School’s climbing team recently participated in the South Island Secondary Schools Climbing Event in Christchurch. Students were each challenged with 48 top rope climbing challenges over two days.  They climbed with teams from Christchurch and surrounds, as well as from Dunedin.

Our climbers showed dedication, skill, and teamwork and had some incredible results:

-WHSM2 (Leo, Sofia, Tommy, Dylan) 1st mixed, 4th overall 
-WHSM1 (Caelan, India, Louis, Max) 3rd mixed, 8th overall 
-WHSF (Emily, Laura, Tianyou, Adele) 7th female, 23rd overall 

Congratulations to all team members for their efforts—we look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in future competitions, including the upcoming Southland Climbing Event in Te Anau in October.

Girls Football

The Wakatipu first XI girls were in Timaru at the Blue Dolphin Resort and Spa wedged strategically between the North and South Bound lanes of SH1. A depleted squad through illness and unavailability finished with the 3^rd best defensive record of the 17 teams apart from the two finalists, conceding just one goal in all games apart from a 4-0 loss to the eventual tournament winners. With a win, draw and a loss in the pool games we were unlucky not to make the top 8 on goal difference only. This team play with a passion far outweighing any opposition with Violet spitting blood literally, with the referee ordering her off the field and Cleo  (our Tournament MVP) refusing to leave the field with an eye swelling up like Popeye on Spinach and in the following match taping her eyelid up to try and see something. These girls truly reflect the spirit of “Go hard or Go Home”. We finished with 2 wins, a draw and 2 losses…..but a heap of good memories of hard fought battles.

Following returning from tournament a full squad backed up for the Central Otago competition final against MAC. Having conceded a soft goal in the first 15 minutes of 3 previous encounters, the girls took getting behind the ball to a whole new level. On the stroke of half-time we won a penalty and in a rare sight (maybe never seen), Imogen Olliver (from goals) stepped up and slotted it home to give us a lead at the break. We don’t like to lead as going behind on the scoreboard is normally when the fireworks start. The second half was the best performance of football by our team all season and it was fitting that so many parents were there to watch and support. We threatened to go two up with a lovely breakaway from Kerys, MAC got one back, the arm wrestle continued and just as the coach was foolishly thinking who would be taking penalties MAC got a winner past us.

This team has a wonderful spirit of camaraderie and positivity, well lead by example from Cybella Briscoe and Jess Hodge.

Cross Country

Siena Mackley and James Weber head to Australia on Saturday as part of the NZSS team for the Australian All Schools Cross Country Champs held on the Gold Coast. They race individually on Monday and relays are on Wednesday. Good luck!

James also ran in the New Zealand 10km Road Race Championships in Cambridge on Saturday 31st August and ran a time of 33.39 and came 5th in U20 men. 

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:  Ivy McKenzie

This week we celebrate Ivy McKenzie, who is stepping into the glass slippers as Cinderella in our upcoming production of Into the Woods Jr.

Ivy has brought real elegance and warmth to the role. Her rehearsal work has been focused, and she has found a great voice for Cindy. What makes Ivy’s contribution even more special as she has created the beautiful dress you will see Cinderella wear. She has shaped a costume that reflects the character’s grace and inner strength. It is a perfect match for her performance and a brilliant example of student artistry in action.

Ivy’s dedication, kindness, and craftsmanship embody what school theatre is all about. We are proud to showcase her talent and cannot wait for audiences to meet her as Cinderella.

Come and cheer her on at Into the Woods Jr. Our first Jr Musical Production

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.

WHS Performing Arts Showcase 

Last Saturday afternoon we held our annual Performing Arts Showcase at Te Atamira.

This was an opportunity for parents and the community to enjoy the wide range of music on offer at WHS. It also enabled students to showcase their skills in front of an appreciative audience. The event lasted four and a half hours with people coming and going throughout the afternoon and enjoying the different genres on offer, ranging from classical piano, solo/duo, rock bands and jazz bands. Huge thanks to Hunter Cotterill and Leo Phillips for their tech help and also Emanuel Cardeno for once again taking on the MC role.

Travelling Art Show

This week our Pop Up Art Exhibition has been on display at Shotover Primary School, showcasing impressive work in Photography,  Design and Painting from both junior and senior students. We hope the exhibition will spark creativity and inspire primary students to continue their artistic journeys into high school.  

Alexandra Musical Society Voice and Instrumental Competitions

The Alexandra Musical Society's Voice and Instrumental Competitions are now open for entries. These competitions are being held on Saturday, 1 November at Dunstan High School in Alexandra. These competitions intend to encourage your students to share their talents, build confidence, connect with other young musicians and perform in what will be a supportive and encouraging environment. 

Click here for the entry form. You can also enter via a link on the Alexandra Musical Society Competitions Section Facebook page. 

Sister Act JR

StageAntics—the company that brought SIX the Musical to Wakatipu High School—is back in Queenstown with their Show in a Week programme. This year, students from Wakatipu High School are participating in the programme to stage the NZ Premiere of Sister Act JR.

Three shows only - Friday, 26th September (7pm) & Saturday, 27th September (2pm & 6pm).

Click here to book now!

Central Lakes Trust Art Competition

Central Lakes Trust is turning 25 this year and would like our rangatahi to share their creativity to help us celebrate.

We’re inviting students in Years 7–13 to design a one-of-a-kind artwork on the theme Giving – reflecting generosity, community, and impact. The winning design will feature on our 2026 Annual Report cover and will be printed on a commemorative tea towel. All entries will also be displayed at our Scholarships Award Ceremony on 3 November 2025.

Prizes up for grabs:
1st prize: $350 Prezzy Card
2nd prize: $250 Prezzy Card
3rd prize: $200 Prezzy Card
People’s Choice: $200 Prezzy Card

Key dates:
Entries close: 10 October 2025, 4 pm
Winners announced: 3 November 2025

More information is available on our website - click here.

 Extracurricular Groups 

Stay on top of what's happening in the arts and sign up to All Things Arts Classroom
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 & 4

• 18-19 - September - Into The Woods Jr
• 16 October - Cultural Blues Night
• 22 October - Primary Schools Music Visit
• 04 November - Senior Folio Exhibition

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.

Careers

Studylink Evening

If you are a Year 13 who is intending to study at the tertiary level, then you won't want to miss this! The Central Otago Budgeting Advice Team is hosting an evening providing practical tips on how to sign up for Studylink, how to apply for student loans and allowances, how to access 'free fees' in your final year of study, and other key financial advice for students.  To support us to cater for the event appropriately, we encourage students and parents to register. Don’t miss this chance to get your finances sorted!

Scholarship Updates

A reminder for students and parents to regularly check our Scholarship Page on the Careers website. Several scholarships are closing soon, and there are more scholarships and internships opening.  So don’t miss the opportunity to apply. 

Last Friday, a group of 11 students jetted off to Auckland on a planned tertiary trip to check out AUT and the University of Auckland.

We kicked things off with a 'smooth flight', then hopped straight on a bus to Waipāruru Hall, where we got a real taste of what it’s like to live in Auckland’s largest hall of residence. The adventure back to the hotel was less glamorous.  Think pouring rain, dark streets, and one unlucky student discovering just how deep an Auckland puddle can be!

The next morning started with a hotel breakfast, where some students went back for four or five rounds, fueling up properly for the big day ahead.

It wasn’t all about the free merch… but let’s be honest, a few students scored big time. Between campus tours, chatting with tutors, and soaking up the energy from students who had come from all over New Zealand, our crew got a real feel for the vibrant student culture.

A fantastic experience which will support the big decision of which tertiary provider and path to take next year.

Our Year 12 Hospitality students recently spent the day at our Cromwell campus, donning their chef gear and putting their skills into practice. From prepping ingredients to creating delicious dishes, students enjoyed the hands-on experience of working in a professional kitchen setting, with plenty of tasty results to show for it.

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.

Summer Technology Interns- Year 12 and 13 Students.

AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand, RealNZ and Skyline have teamed up with Technology Queenstown to offer 4-week paid technology internships this Summer for three local Year 12 or Year 13 students.

If you’re studying tech (or just really into it), this is your chance to get hands-on

experience in the real world while getting paid.

Apply now and kick-start your future in tech. Applications close 10 October 2025.

www.technologyqueenstown.com/intern

 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.

Lane Neave Community Youth Scholarship

The Lane Neave Community Youth Scholarship is a new opportunity for Wakatipu High School students who are preparing to take the next step into tertiary study in 2026.

This scholarship of $2500 is proudly supported by Lane Neave, recognises students who demonstrate a strong commitment to community volunteering. It rewards those who have contributed to the community to make the Whakatipu a better place for others. 

By easing the financial pressure of tertiary education, the Lane Neave Community Scholarship aims to help young people continue their learning journey while carrying forward their passion for service and leadership. 

“We know that tomorrow’s leaders are shaped by the values they live today,” says Michelle Needham, Queenstown based partner at Lane Neave. “This scholarship is about recognising and supporting those who have already shown a dedication to their community, and encouraging them to keep making a difference as they move into the next chapter of their lives.”

The scholarship is managed by 45South Foundation, (formerly Wakatipu Community Foundation) and will be open from 5th September, closing 30 September. Applications can be made on the 45South website  www.45south.org  under "Our Funds" 

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

WHS Foundation

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