WHS Newsletter | Issue 2.07 | 25 June 2021

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the Wakatipu High School newsletter as Week 8 draws to a close.

It has been another big week at WHS, with Open Evening on Tuesday a high point. We had a lot of excited Year 8 students and their parents come to tour the school and learn more about WHS. My thanks to all of our tour guides who did a fantastic job, as well as to staff who made the evening informative and successful. Just to note that following Open Evening we are offering parents of incoming Year 9 students the opportunity to see the school in action - see our WHS website for more.

In terms of our all-round education there has also been plenty happening. Last weekend our students had great success at the regional Rockquest competition in Wanaka - see below for more details and photos. You may have also seen the Facebook post on Rod Drury’s visit and session with some of our students. I sat in on the session and it was an awesome opportunity for an intimate audience with a very successful NZ businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist, and was thought-provoking and inspiring for our students.

In terms of visitors to the school, one of our strategic goals is to engage effectively with the community to support our all-round education for our students and we recently did a stocktake of the various individuals and organisations that we work with in so many ways and there were well over 250!! We are very grateful to all of the community members and organisations who work with us and support our students to have a great all-round education, we really appreciate it.

The 40 Hour Famine is the big thing this weekend. While the planned skiathon is unfortunately not happening, many other things are including the mufti day today, and two of our students are spending 40 hours in a Skyline gondola! (and they are going to be on Seven Sharp on TV One tonight, don't miss it). See below for details of what's going on and how you can support this worthy cause.

A huge thanks to the many parents who have completed our online strategic plan review. Our strategic plans are very important and enable us to progress and achieve strategic priorities and goals. We are keen to get parent input, by either:

1. Online Form - with just a few key questions, please click here (closes Thurs 1st July).
2. Evening meeting - Wednesday 30 June, 7pm at school, please click here to register to attend.

Thanks again to those who have already completed the online Form, and thanks in anticipation to everyone else who does - please do take this opportunity to input into the future of WHS.

As per my piece several newsletters ago, a current focus with students is our value of responsibility and ‘owning our actions’. There have been some interesting discussions with students re this, including the part that parents play in this and stories of when parents do not support students to take responsibility and own their actions. This aligns with our experience at times and, while we know that parents want the best for their tamariki, we encourage parents to consider if their actions are ultimately supporting their students to develop their responsibility - a very important attribute for young adults heading out into the world.

Preparations for our Matatu (House Haka Waiata) assembly got underway in earnest this week for the big event on the last day of term - a very important event on the WHS calendar.

Given the other all-round things going on I’m going to finish by following Mr Nathan's words last week with a reminder about students finishing the term well academically. Juniors have a range of mid-year exams and most seniors will have internal assessments due at the end of term (see Internal assessment calendars included again below).

Level One Assessment Calendar 2021
Level Two Assessment Calendar 2021
Level Three Assessment Calendar 2021

Another mixed weekend of weather ahead - and do note that with snow currently in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday to make sure you’ve got the WHS App installed so you get any urgent info from us. It has been a good term here thus far, and with only two weeks to go we are keen that students stay focused and finish well - we look forward to your support in this. Have a great weekend, fingers crossed for some snow :).

Steve Hall
Principal

Spelling Bee Success!

A group of orthography aficionados have made it through to the semi-finals of the New Zealand Spelling Bee and will represent the school in Dunedin on Monday 9 August.

The Year 9 and 10 students had to learn 100 extremely challenging words, such as nebulous, avarice and quotidian, and then spell at least 80 correctly to advance. Only 280 students around the country achieved this and we are pleased to report that 21 of them are from WHS. Congratulations to the following students (scores in brackets):

Valentina Balzarini (96), Logan Bramwell (94), Anthony Hollyer (92), Maggie Watts (91), Ben Jordan (89), Daniel Wright (89), Lexi Laverty (89), Maya Stiven (89), Abby Fookes (88), Daphne Ricketts (88), Nethumdi Galla Palliya Guruge (88), Louenne Allemand (87), Taylah Cooney (86), Georgia Chinn (84), Jack Smillie (84), Baylee Fish (83), Mia Pagan (82), Milky Tam (82), Mace Korani (81), Olivia Bisset (81), Toby Tregidga (80)

Congratulations to you all!

Ms Jennifer Smart and the Year 9/10 English teachers

40 Hour Famine

A mufti day and bake sale was held today to raise money for the 40 Hour Famine which kicks off today and runs until Sunday. This year we have seen an outstanding number of students get involved, doing quirky challenges such as 40 hours outside, 40 hours no thumbs, and 40 hours no furniture, eating or screens! Thanks to the outstanding fundraising efforts of various participants, we have already raised $5,084 dollars, taking us over half way to our goal of $10,000! This year all funds raised by the 40 Hour Famine are going toward sub-Saharan Africa where many people are suffering from food insecurity and a food crisis as a result of COVID-19. This is severely affecting childrens’ access to education and affecting their growth. Donations may be made to the WHS 40 hour famine online fundraising page below. Every cent counts with only $6 buying fast growing seeds and $41 providing life-saving food for a child for one month. 

Whilst we were unable to go ahead with the Skiathon event up Coronet Peak due to the lack of snow, we have two WHS students, Rohil Prasad and Jack McBeth, spending 40 hours in a Skyline Gondola. Jack and Rohil will be going without any form of entertainment, and will have to stand up to the cold winter nights and live in a challenging position for the entire 40 hours during which time they will not be able to leave, except to use the toilet. At night when the gondola is not operational, Skyline staff will wheel the gondola around to the front of the base building where the public can come and say hello.

A friendly team of volunteers will be present during the day at one of two fundraising desks located on the Steamer Wharf and at the base building. Thanks to Skyline Queenstown for their generous support during this challenge.

Kapa Haka - 40 Hour Famine Wānanga

Kia ora koutou,

Te iti o Tāhuna - the school's Kapa haka rōpū, are helping raise money for the 40 hour famine fundraiser. They will be practicing/performing from 4 PM Friday 25 June to 6 PM 27 June. Stopping only to sleep and eat for small durations. 
We will be based out in the Temporary classrooms, so please feel free to come and support the rōpū or join in with learning some waiata. 
If you would like to donate to the 40 Hour Famine cause (see above) then please follow this link:

https://my.worldvision.org.nz/d/ss/aLSkpb/kapa-haka

Ngā mihi nui,
Kyle Jackson

Deputy Head Girl Message

The start of the week saw the beginning of training for our Haka Waiata competition - one of the biggest house competitions of the year. 

Many from the Stars Peer Mentoring group also got involved with the schools Open Evening for next years new entrants and volunteered their time to take groups of prospective students and their parents around on tours of the school. It was great to see that sense of pride these students hold for the school and help to make the first steps in the transition from primary to high school just that little bit more easier 

A number of 40 Hour Famine events kick off this weekend as well so I encourage you to get involved in any way you can whether it be donating or getting creative about what you could sacrifice for 40 hours.

As we head towards the end of the term, the workload is getting pretty heavy for many. It is important to stay organised, be strategic about the way you manage your time in relation to school work while continuing to squeeze in those things that keep you happy and motivated. 

Have a good weekend! 

Kate Edmonds
Deputy Head Girl

National Volunteer Week

Today celebrates the end of National Volunteer Week Te Wiki Tūao ā-Motu, honouring the collective energies and mana of all volunteers in Aotearoa. This year’s theme was “Recognise, Connect, Reimagine.” More than 1 million people across Aotearoa volunteer, growing our people, creating joy and opening our minds and hearts. Volunteering alone contributes $4 billion per annum to the economy. The landscape of volunteering is changing, in some cases exacerbating the changes; we were already seeing in others creating another shift entirely. Change presents different challenges across the sector and highlights unique opportunities for reshaping and improving the practice of volunteering. Volunteering New Zealand continues to develop its expertise in acting as the champion of Mahi Aroha.

Research has consistently shown that communities in which people volunteer are happier, safer, stronger and more connected. People and students that volunteer have numerous benefits including making new connections, gaining valuable skills, boosting their CV and university applications, as well as increasing self-awareness. Not to mention improving your health and wellbeing, as well as getting a release of oxytocin from giving back and helping others within the community. Volunteering is a way of giving back to the community in need, especially after being hit hard by COVID-19. 

Volunteer South Central Lakes seeks to celebrate, support and promote volunteering in the Central Otago Lakes District and help make volunteering a positive and rewarding experience for all involved. They encourage more people to take an active role within their communities and link prospective volunteers and organisations that involve volunteers. One of their key goals is for the volunteers to have the best experience possible, in doing this creating sustainable, long term, happy volunteering. By visiting as many organisations as possible, Volunteer South is able to help individuals narrow down their interests and find roles in their area that suits their experience, motivation and passions. 

In the past, they have helped individuals to volunteer who are experiencing low self-esteem or confidence and those with a range of physical and mental disabilities. They are very passionate about everyone having the opportunity to volunteer regardless of their background and aim to help people find a role for anyone.

If you are interested in volunteering, there are a range of ways to connect to organisations in the community as a volunteer. You can find roles through browsing on the Volunteer South website (www.volunteersouth.org.nz) and sign up directly to organisations, join their Facebook Connections Group, view roles on The Central App, The Wanaka App and The Queenstown App or read roles in their monthly column in The News. 

Another great place to find volunteering opportunities is the Give Time website. Created by three Wakatipu high school students, Charlotte Muir, Neve Short and Lily Adams, it is a student-focused volunteer website that helps students find appropriate volunteer opportunities. You can find their website here: https://givetime.nz/. 

Kia pai tō koutou rā, 

Hannah Battrick
Community and Service Council Lead Prefect 

Gifted Education - CAM assessments

Kia ora koutou,

In week 10 students who have signed up to do any of the CAM assessments will be sitting their tests. 

The dates and times for the assessments are:

Science - Monday 5 July, during Ako time in the Library
English - Monday 5 July, Period 2 (10:15 - 11:45 AM) in TC7/8
Maths - Tuesday 6 July, Period 1 (9:00- 10:00 AM) in TC 7

All students will need their laptop, fully charged and their laptop charger just in case. 
Any questions please email me ASAP at kylejackson@wakatipu.school.nz
Ngā mihi nui,
Kyle Jackson

Matariki celebration - 4 July

Kia ora koutou,

This year Te iti o Tāhuna will be joining many other Kapa Haka groups from around the Basin to celebrate Matariki, organised by the Arrowtown Preschool. Please see the flyer below for details of the event.

Ngā mihi nui,

Kyle Jackson 

Languages News

Karawhuia with the Wakatipu Languages Challenge!

This new Wakatipu basin event is off to a great start. Last week four different primary schools around Queestown and Wakatipu High School competed in this first of its kind event: answering as many questions in different languages as possible within two days.
Primary and secondary school students have been so engaged in this inaugural competition that it has been truly impressive! Numbers speak for themselves: over 1200 students took part in this competition!
The aim of this new event is to have primary school students discovering other languages and their cultures.
Remarkables Primary School comfortably took the lead this year, followed by Queenstown Primary School in second place, Shotover Primary School with a bronze medal, then Wakatipu High School in 4th place  and lucky last Arrowtown Primary School. 

Bringing Argentina to the classroom
The senior Spanish students were extremely fortunate last week to receive a visit from Luciana (a Queenstown community member originally from Argentina).
The students were able to learn more about the food, music, culture of the beautiful country of Argentina.
Luciana also led the students through some conversation activities and allowed the students to practice their Spanish while tuning their ear into the Argentinian accent and picking up some new words. Muchisimas gracias Luciana por tu visita!

Languages Community Champion
Claire Colebatch - Human Resource and ​Admin Assistant. 

• Tell us a bit about you? (maybe one basic sentence in Spanish to start)
  Hola, soy Claire, soy australiana y hablo español. 
  I studied Spanish as a major of my International Relations degree at University. I lived in Spain with a family for a summer and then went on a 1-year university exchange to Santiago, Chile. 
  After finishing my Bachelor in Australia, I returned to Chile to live for about 4 more years. I worked at the Australian Embassy in Santiago and helped set-up another office for the Australian Aid agency at the time in the Embassy in Lima, Peru.  I loved experiencing a different culture and meeting a variety of people from different backgrounds. 
  

• How have you used Spanish in your life (how has it been useful for you to know more than one language)?I maintained close friendships from my time overseas and keep in touch with friends and family in Chile. My son is bilingual as well and many of our friends here in Queenstown are spanish speaking. Having lived overseas for a number of years, I can relate to those who have migrated here to Queenstown. It is a humbling but amazing experience being surrounded by people speaking a foreign language.
  
  
• Any advice you would like to give to WHS students about learning languages?
  Just jump right in and be brave. We all make mistakes. I make plenty but the only way to learn is to practice and just try your best to communicate. I think it helped me to fully immerse myself in the language. With overseas travel obviously very limited right now, there are plenty of other ways to do this - have a chat with some of our bilingual staff and students, volunteer to teach english in exchange for some conversational practice in another language, read, read, read and study the vocabulary as much as you can. Also for those who like to relax with Netflix - there are plenty of shows that you can watch in a different language with subtitles :)

Learning French outside of the classroom - Voyage to Ma Boulangerie
Year 10 students took their French outside of the classroom on Thursday morning through a near authentic experience and one that involves ordering and eating some 'delicieux' French pastry by going to Ma Boulangerie at Remarkables Park.
The 27 students were welcomed by Mélanie, a French barista, and ordered their pastry in French while using a range of language  which was learnt during this first semester.
Needless to say that putting learning in real-life contexts makes a lot more sense and has a greater sense of purpose especially when ordering croissants :-) and this is what students realise after this small trip.
During this excursion students worked in teams and and were busy completing a questionaire to develop their learning.
Members of the community appreciated students polite manners and enthusiasm to further develop their French and this was really pleasing to witness.
'Un grand merci beaucoup' to David (owner of Ma Boulangerie) and Mélanie for their help and support through this opportunity.

Sports News and Information

NZSS Cross Country Champs
Four WHS studenys competed in appalling and treacherous conditions at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Champs in Hawera last weekend. Mud and constant rain made the course greasy and very cold. These events are very well supported and had over 100 competitors in each of them. Our athletes did incredibly well across the board, particularly Year 9 student Siena Mackley finishing 8th in her race. Siena and Sammy Fookes also competed for the Southland XC relay team (five runners) which won the silver medal, an awesome achievement against all other provinces in the country! Congratulations to all of these students. Results are below:
Siena Mackley - 8th Year 9 Girls
Abby Fookes - 55th Junior Girls
Jude Deaker - 24th Junior Boys
Sammy Fookes - 28th Senior Girls

Ice Figure Skating
The competitive skating season is underway and Year 10 student Georgia Chinn finished second in the Intermediate Novice grade at the Dunedin competition with a score high enough to qualify her for the Nationals that will be held in October. Georgia was also recently selected for the New Zealand International B team based on her performance at this competition. Congratulations Georgia!

Speed Skating
Four WHS students; Georgia Chinn, Eva Hemingway, Daphne Ricketts and Poppy Wearing attended a three day short track speed skating camp in Christchurch earlier in June before going on to compete in the Dunedin Speed Skating Championships last weekend. Students raced both as individuals and for the first time as a team in the women’s sub junior event. The four skaters formed New Zealand’s only all female relay team. It was a great start to the competitive season with all athletes achieving personal best times and Georgia Chinn placing third overall in the sub junior women category. 

Southland Rowing Awards
Sam McAtamney, Marley King Smith and Charlotte Muir all received acknowledgements at the Southland Rowing Awards on Sunday. Sam and Marley were presented with the Unlimited Potential award and Charlotte recieved Coxswain of the Year - 2021 . Congratulations!

Central Otago U18 Women’s Hockey Team
Congratulations to Ally Wilkinson, Alex Thomson and Sammy Fookes who have been selected to represent Central Otago at the National U18 tournament in the July holidays. 

Overseas Universities Information Session
An student information session will be run on Tuesday 29th June at Break 2 in the board room for any students interested in learning more about studying at an overseas university. This session will cover aspects like the SAT's, subject choices in the senior school and sporting scholarships and opportunities available for WHS students. 

Junior Athletic Development Programme
The Junior Athletic Development Program will be up and running in Term 3 this year. The program will be facilitated by Karla Dawson and supported by our Sports Coordinator, Matua Brad. Karla has a wealth of experience in the fitness world and brings a passion for fundamental movement and technique. The sessions will be run on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:15am in the school's fitness centre and will begin in Week 2 of Term 3. The main focus for the program is to develop movement competencies based around safety and progresses to lifting movements with modified equipment and minimal resistance. Correct technique is constantly reinforced and each student athlete is progressed through developmentally appropriate drills for their age and competence. To find out more and register an expression of interest, please contact the sports department via bfleming@wakatipu.school.nz

Girls Only Fitness Opportunity
After the success of the Term 2 girls only boxing classes we have the opportunity for a girls only fitness group to join Snap fitness under the guidance of one of their wonderful trainers, Tammy. The programme is two sessions a week for eight weeks and full access to the Snap Fitness gym for $200. Group classes will be held at the functional centre at Remarkables Park Centre on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:15am.
Session 1: Strength based session focussing on mind/body connectivity and a strong base. This will also endeavour to give the girls confidence to train independently in a gym environment.
Session 2: High intensity interval training (HIIT) style class working on Cardiovascular fitness, agility and hand eye coordination.
To find out more contact the sports department via bfleming@wakatipu.school.nz.

Weekly Results
Hockey 
WHS Blue lost to DHS Defenders: 3-0
Player of the day: Abbie Rooney
WHS Gold beat Cromwell Blue: 3-0
Player of the day: Tom Martin
WHS 1st XI lost to DHS 1st XI: 6-1
Player of the day: Lucy Viggers

Rugby
U14 Cup lost to Cromwell: 44-21
Player of the Day: Seb Watson 
U15 Cup beat Mt Aspiring College: 60-10
Player of the Day: Isaac Turoa
U15 Carnival lost to John McGlashan Carnival B: 70-5
Player of the Day: Luke Domett
1st XV lost to Otago Boys High School 2nd XV: 38-33
Player of the Day: George Reedy
1st XV Girls beat Mt Aspiring College: 47-17

Weekly Draw
Basketball - Stadium Southland 
Friday
Senior A Boys vs James Hargest 1st V - 5:30pm
Senior A Boys vs Southland Boys Senior Development - 7pm

Hockey - Cromwell Turf
Friday
WHS 1st XI vs DHS 2nd XI - 7:30pm

Netball
Draw: https://www.sporty.co.nz/wakatipunetball/Draws-Results

Rugby
Saturday
U14 vs Dunstan Combined - WHS 11am
U15 Cup vs Otago Boys HS Blue - Bishopcourt 12:45pm
U15 Carnival vs West Otago - Tapanui 12:45pm
1st XV Boys vs Combined Co-ed Schools - WHS 12:45pm
Wednesday
1st XV Girls vs Cromwell College - Cromwell 6pm

Maori Wellbeing Funding Opportunity
Te Kīwai is a new fund developed in partnership between Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu and Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa, designed to support Māori wellbeing through play, active recreation and sport. For more information please click this link.

Keep Us Informed
The sports department would love to hear from you if you know of any awesome achievements from our students so that we can celebrate these as a school. Please send through details and photos to lnathan@wakatipu.school.nz. 

Support Sport at WHS
Jump on board and support the team by liking or following the Wakatipu High School Sports Facebook page (@WakatipuHighSchoolSports). This is the best way to stay informed and up to date with the successes of our athletes and teams and help celebrate their great achievements. 

Laura Nathan
Director of Sport

Arts News and Information

Regional Rockquest Finals
Congratulations to everyone who performed in the Rockquest Regional finals last night.  Well done to the following:

Solo/Duo category:
Winner - Billie Comer

Band Category: 
Winners -  No Man's Land (Hannah White, Lucy Glover, Kira Almquist, Paige Loggenberg)   
Third Place -  Good Days (Toby Hart, Harry Thomas, Timo Souness)
Best Song - Trainsurfers (Ollie McLean, Dillon Bouchier, Cameron Kennedy-Brown)
Best Lyrics - Billie Comer
Musicianship Award - Ted Coutts

Billie and No Man's Land now work towards the next round which is the National Top 30 bands, Top 10 solo/duo acts. Well done to everyone who entered and performed to an extremely high level.

Solo/Duo - Frida Rylev/Primrose Johnston, Jessa Bodle, Jack Speedy
Groups - Goose Pies (Lincoln Riddell, Harper Souness, Sam Riddle, Josh Watson, Ted Coutts) and Cherry Garden (Ollie Bailey, Luke Crichton, Connor Ravenwood)

Performing Arts Trip to Christchurch
Wakatipu Performing Art Technology students went to the Court Theatre in Christchurch this week to watch 'Once' the musical, the Court's latest production. Students were treated to a fantastic performance, and also took a backstage tour of the Court Theatre before the show. Overall, it was a great learning experience, and all students took something away from Christchurch. 

Music Nights
Year 11 - Tues 29 June
Year 11 - Wed 30 June
Year 10  - Wed 7 July

Artist of the Week - Caleb Witherford - Year 12 Photography
The artist of the week has exceptional talent in the Photography scene. Caleb Witherford is passionate about his photographic practice and is producing work that is, quite frankly, amazing.  He captures stunning landscape scenery from our local environment and is also pursuing this approach for his NCEA Level 2 Photography panel.  His images are professional and stunning, and we cannot wait to see this final photographic submission come together.

Supporting Students Into The Workforce - Local Employers Needed

At Wakatipu High School, we have begun a new initiative offered to some students who find traditional full time mainstream school is not supporting their needs or requirements. At the beginning of the year we became involved in the ‘Central Otago Youth Employment Programme’ (COYEP), an initiative that has proven to be successful in both Cromwell and Dunstan High Schools. This programme has brought the school and the community together to support students into meaningful work experiences and future career pathways, as well as supporting students to reach their academic goals.

This four minute documentary by Crux Southern Lens 'Falling Through The Cracks' gives a great insight into the programme and a real life perspective on how COYEP has changed the lives of some very capable local students in Cromwell and Dunstan.  

We’re really keen to engage with employers who may be able to offer unpaid work placements for our COYEP students. Within this programme we introduce students to jobs related to their skills and interests, so they get a taste of what the job offers and the skill set needed. Together we work out how much time is appropriate, which could be from half a day to two/three days per week.  

If you are interested in supporting our student community, and keen to have a hand in building and growing our vocational work force then we would love to engage with you further. Please get in touch, and if you have any further questions let us know.

Please contact Lea Lawniczak - COYEP Facilitator at llawniczak@wakatipu.school.nz  or  021 0245 1381

Click here for a great article on how this programme has been successful for Cromwell and Dunstan students.

Careers Department - Student Job Vacancies

The Rees Hotel is looking for students to join their team!  Please see the flyer below: 

RETAIL SALES ASSISTANT - Hallenstein Brothers
Do you love people and fashion? Do you want to be a part of an energetic and hardworking team? We are looking for a student with high energy and sales skills to join our Frankton team as a Sales Assistant. 

Our Retail Sales Assistants are the welcoming face and helping hand for our customers. They bring outstanding communication skills, amazing attitude and an authentic personality to make the shopping experience first class for all of our customers.

About You

• You will have a genuine interest in Men’s Fashion and will have stacks of enthusiasm and energy!
• Driven to provide outstanding customer service, you will be dedicated to providing an exceptional fashion experience to every customer that walks through our doors
• You will bring high energy, fashion focus and sales savvy to our fun and rewarding environment.
• You need to be available to work weekends and potentially some evenings.

To apply see below:  https://www.hallensteinglasson.co.nz/careers

Branches Art Auction

SAVE THE DATE – FRIDAY 13 AUGUST 2021
Back by popular demand the Branches Trust is proud to announce the Branches Art Auction is back!  Write the date in your diaries now and join us on Friday 13 August at the Memorial Hall for another fabulous night of art, hors d’oeuvres, Branches and mingling!  Always a great night for the whole school community please come along and support this years Branches Art Auction with us on Friday 13 August.  Tickets will go on sale soon, will update with details when they do.

Key Dates

WHS Foundation

Community Notices