WHS Newsletter | Issue 1.08 | 01 April 2022

Principal's Message

Kia ora - welcome again to the Wakatipu High School newsletter. 

It's been a great day here today with ‘Relay for Life’ the theme of the day to raise funds and awareness re cancer. As well as today being a fundraising mufti day, there has been plenty of other action too - Break 2 saw junior and senior House relays, and a staff vs students relay, and this afternoon House teams are doing the traditional Relay for Life laps. See below for more on today as well as a staff event on the Routeburn last weekend.

As I noted last week, this week has been summer tournament week and the Sports section below has reports on our students’ achievements and success in a range of sports this week, and congratulations to them. Of particular note today is the first day of finals at the NZ Secondary Schools rowing championships - the Maadi Cup, and our rowers have had a remarkable day with four golds and one bronze!! (and crews in five A Finals tomorrow). These students train very hard, and our congratulations go to these national champions. We will update next week, or click here for the latest.

As per my earlier Covid Update email, student and staff absence has decreased this week such that we are going to have everyone back at school next week. We very much hope that we will be able to finish the term in this more normal mode with more normal teaching and learning, even though there will still be some students who are not at school. 

Some quick Covid reminders:

• if your student is unwell please do not send them to school.
• follow the Covid positive and household contact isolation rules.
• let us know if your student is positive, isolating or absent via the WHS App or attendance@wakatipu.school.nz.

Thanks to all junior parents who had their ‘Next Steps’ meeting with their student’s Kaiārahi this week. Parents being informed and engaged with their child’s education is very important, and so a big thanks to everyone who had their meeting. Its not too late if you haven't done it yet - just email your student’s Kaiārahi to arrange an online meeting.

Yesterday a group of us had a tour through the new Phase 2 extensions. It is only a month now until we get the NE wing, which was looking good and on-track for opening next term. With the new SE wing and revamped performing arts area opening in Term 3, and the new double gym progressing at pace we are getting close now.  

A reminder to check out our new sports website. It really is the one stop shop for all things sport, including draws and results, registration, payments, information on various sports and how to get involved. Click here to check it out!  

Associate Principal, Mr Nathan will do the honours on this piece next week (while I’m away kayaking with senior Outdoor Rec). The weather is looking good for another great late summer weekend, as the clocks fall back out of daylight saving on Saturday night.

Steve Hall
Principal

Relay For Life

It was a great start to our inaugural "Relay For Life" House event today. Houses faced off in a juniors, seniors, and staff vs students relays, followed by everyone talking an inaugural lap around the field. Many thanks to all of our students and staff who made this a great fundraiser and donated to support this fantastic cause. We are well on our way to our goal of raising $1,500 for the Cancer Society. For anyone wishing to donate, please visit our page at the link below.

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Relay for Life: Team Wakatipu High

This year due to Covid restrictions the Cancer Society asked that all registered teams complete Relay for Life "our way". Team Wakatipu High decided to walk up to the Flats Hut on the Routeburn Track this past Saturday. We invited the wider staff community to join us and ended up with 24 keen walkers for the most amazing day up to Flats Hut and back. Some even hiked up to the Falls and back. We scored a blue sky day, enjoyed some special comradery, and yummy home baking along with raising $4,673.68 for the local Cancer Society which I must say we are very happy about.

I would like to thank my team for helping raise such a great total and for the support we have had from the  WHS staff.

Erin Tapp
Team Captain.

Postponement of Kai, Kēmu, and Kōrero

Kia ora e te whānau,
Originally we had hoped to have a more casual hui with whānau to build that sense of whakawhanaungatanga. As a result we wanted to have a kai, kēmu, and kōrero afternoon with whānau, tauira (students), and tamariki on Friday 8th April after school at the kura.

Unfortunately due to the Red Light Traffic setting and the surge of Covid cases in Tāhuna at the moment we do not think it's in everyone's best interests to go ahead with this kaupapa. Therefore we'll postpone and reschedule to Term 2.

Ngā mihi
Ryan Gilbertson
Acting Deputy Principal l Kaihāpai Māori

Lead Prefect Message

Kia ora all,

It’s been yet another eventful week of the term. People have been in and out of school, whether for sporting events, rostering home or isolation. While at home, it is vital that everyone is considering their own personal wellbeing when dealing with the challenges that they may face. I encourage all of you to stay positive as there are many things to be grateful for and look forward to, and as a reminder there are only a few weeks remaining until the holidays.

I would like to congratulate everyone who is representing WHS, whether this be training for summer tournament, taking part in extracurricular activities, or rehearsing for the musical, it's been awesome to see the ongoing achievements of these students. You are all reaping the benefits of your hard work and I hope you are proud, and will continue to strive for your own personal versions of success.

Today we began a new House Competition, the Relay For Life to raise funds for the Cancer Society. The relay was a way of showing support to this worthy cause and it was great to see so many students out there at break. Everyone participating in the event, whether that be screaming their House chants, having a gold coin donation for mufti day or showing support for those doing laps is to be commended. If anyone is wanting to show further support, please look to donate on the Wakatipu High School’s Relay For Life page.

Wednesday morning marked the beginning of the Breakfast Club, an event run by the Community & Service and Whanaungatanga Councils. The Breakfast Club is an opportunity for WHS students to come along and enjoy a school provided breakfast of weetbix, milo, fresh bread & spreads as well as fresh produce. It is for anyone who may not be able to access breakfast, are too busy or just forgot to eat breakfast before they leave the house. It’s also another way of encouraging students to get to know their peers in a casual and friendly environment. Be sure to check it out, it’s on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Te Kirikiri, and runs until the end of the year.

Finally, the Head Students have re-established the Instagram page (@wakatipustudents). This is the Student Leadership Team’s way of reaching out to all the students and providing the information on events that you need to know about. I encourage all students to follow the page to keep up to date with what's happening around the school - we share information regarding events and House competitions here as they arise. 

I hope you all have an amazing weekend, and hope you take the time to relax and prepare for the last few weeks of term. Good luck to the rowers who are in finals at Maadi this weekend.

Rachel Scobie
Community and Service Lead Prefect

Ex-student Success: Sian Davis

It was great to see one of our 2019 graduates featured in a "Stuff" article earlier in the year. Sian studied Food Technology for all of her five years at Wakatipu High School, and in Years 12 and 13 she also participated in the Otago Polytechnic Hospitality and Cookery programmes run in Cromwell. We are so proud to see her continuing on with her passion for cooking, and extend our congratulations for her 8th placing in the illustrious "Young Chef Olympiad" competition! 

Receptionist - Part-time Position Available

We are looking for a part-time receptionist with customer service and administration experience to join our team.  This is a job share role with the hours being 11.45am - 4pm Monday to Friday during school term only.

For more details on the position, please see our advertisement on SEEK: www.seek.co.nz/job/56405419

Applicants should send a CV and covering letter to apply@wakatipu.school.nz by 12.00pm on Monday 11 April.

Sport and Active Recreation News

South Island Satellite Volleyball Champs
The Senior A and B Girls Volleyball teams enjoyed three full days of games at the South Island Satellite Volleyball Champs in Christchurch this week. This was a fantastic opportunity to play a variety of teams and develop significantly over a short period of time. Both teams experienced some wins and losses and finished up in the middle of their divisions with the teams looking really good for next year. A huge thank you to Volleyball superstar Steve Henderson who has been coaching five mornings a week and has had countless days away from home this term as well as Mrs Panapa for her incredible commitment to developing volleyball at WHS. Thank you also to Joe Panapa and Miss Needham for helping out with the trip, very much appreciated! Below are the results for each team, well done girls! 
Senior A Girls Volleyball finished 6th in Division 2
Beat Avonside Girls
Beat Hornby High School
Lost to Craighead A
Lost to St Andrews B
Beat St Margarets B
Lost to Craighead A
Senior B Girls Volleyball finished 5th in Division 3
Lost to Burnside C
Beat Rolleston College B
Lost to St Andrews C
Beat Rangiruru B
Lost to Craighead B
Lost to Rolleston A

Maadi Cup Action
30 of our students have been amongst the action this week at the New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Champs, also known as Maadi Cup. The squad have put together a series of fantastic performances with a large number qualifying through to the semi finals and on to finals that are taking place on Friday and Saturday. Congratulations to all of those that qualified for the semi finals, an awesome achievement in itself! Results of the semis are below.
Marley King Smith - 1st U17 boys single - A final 
Kate Woods and Pippa McAtamney - 8th U18 girls double - B Final 
Toby Rorrison, Marley King-Smith, Ashton White, Xavier Small + Emily Howick - 1st U16 boys coxed quad - A final
Keely Erskine, Neve Bates, Olivia Key, Phoebe Cavanagh + Emily Howick - 1st U17 girls coxed quad - A Final
Sam McAtamney and Marley King Smith - 2nd U17 boys double - A Final 
Will Donovan and Tiwai Saxton - 7th U17 boys double - B Final  
Xavier Small and Ashton White - 2nd U16 boys double - A Final
Ben Hogan and Logan Noton - 4th U16 boys double - A Final
Keely Erskine, Neve Bates, Olivia Key, Phoebe Cavanagh + Emily Howick - 1st U18 girls coxed quad - A Final 
Neve Bates and Olivia Key - 1st U17 girls double - A Final
Keely Erskine and Phoebe Canavangh - 5th U17 girls double - B Final 
Toby Rorrison, Marley King-Smith, Sam McAtamney, Will Donovan + Emily Howick  - 1st U17 boys coxed quad - A Final 
Pippa McAtamney and Olivia Bisset - 7th U16 girls double - B Final 
Ashton White - 6th U16 boys single - B Final
Xavier Small and Keegan Green - 1st in heat of U18 boys novice double - A Final 

Southland Golf Champs
While it was a foggy start for the Southland Secondary School Golf Champs held in Winton on Monday this didn’t hold back our WHS golfers, who took out the top eight placings in the individual competition and the top three in the teams! The competition was played in great spirit and it was fantastic to see everyone enjoying themselves and embracing the team atmosphere. A huge thank you to Mr Harding for leading the team on their successful day!
Full results:
Individuals
1st= Yoonae Jeong 71
1st= Sumin Kang 71
3rd - Jan Ebbinge 73
4th - Noah Novacek 74
5th - Josh Harris 75
6th - Ricky Kang 77
7th - Jack Harman 79
8th - Nico Cheifetz 81
Teams
1st - Sumin Kang, Noah Novacek, Jack Harman
2nd - Yoonae Jeong, Josh Harris, Ricky Kang
3rd - Nico Cheifetz, Jan Ebbinge, Oliver Battrick

Southland Lawn Bowls Champs
Congratulations to our lawn bowlers who competed at the Southland Secondary School Lawn Bowls Champs on Monday. It was a great day down in Invercargill with Ollie Denney and Rohil Prasad placing 2nd and Tom Cerecke and Hamish Early placing 3rd in the Boys Pairs. Well done all, and thanks to Mrs Richards for taking the team down!

Otago Touch Champs
The Mixed A Touch team competed at the Otago Champs in Dunedin on Sunday and enjoyed a great series of games against other co-ed schools in the region. There were a few tough battles to make it through to the final where the team went down to Taieri College to finish runners up. A huge thanks to Steve McIsaac for coaching the team on the day and parent helps, Jock Jeffery, Angela Spackman and Carolyn McIsaac.

Secondary School MTB Action
Last week was action packed for our mountain bikers competing in both the Mt Aspiring College Downhill Champs on Thursday at Cardrona and the Otago/Southland Schools event at Coronet Peak across the weekend. It was so good to see these extra opportunities become available for our riders to race in. A huge thank you to the organisers of both events and our parent marshals on the day! There were some great competitor numbers and the results at both events.
MAC DH Champs Results:
Senior Boys:
1st - Rory Meek
3rd - Ben Blewitt
7th - James Spicer
10th - Flynn Dawson
Intermediate Boys:
1st - Malik Boatwright
4th - Noah Miller
5th - Finn Almog
7th - Max Barlow
9th - Casey Sheehan
16th -  Jordie Shaw 
18th - Ollie Browne
21st - Finn McCaw
Intermediate Girls:
1st - Kerys Duffy
Otago/Southland Secondary Schools
Open Boys DH:
1st - Ben Blewitt
2nd - Josh Bonnar
5th - Flynn Dawson
U16 Boys DH:
1st - Rory Meek
3rd - Reon Fernandez
4th - Malik Boatwright
9th - Dylan Collins
13th - Max Barlow
15th - Finn McCaw
Open Girls XC:
1st - Zara Mackley

Toby Meek - MTB World Cup
Former student Toby Meek has officially begun his professional mountain biking career with Mondraker this season. Toby had a great start to his first World Cup final finishing in 6th place overall in the Junior Elite Men's event in Lourdes, France. Toby is on his way home for four weeks before heading back to Scotland for Round 2. All the best Toby, we watch your progress with great interest.

1st XI Boys Cricket Season Wrap
The 1st XI Boys Cricket team finished their season on a high last weekend with two wins from two games. The team played a local Senior Reserve Men’s team in Arrowtown on Saturday before a mammoth day to Oamaru to play Waitaki Boys High School on Sunday and securing one last victory for the year. It has been a very successful 2021/22 season for our top cricket side winning the McCullum Cup for the first time, we are looking forward to the Gillette Cup getting underway in Term 4. 

Opportunities to Get Involved

Friday Night Basketball Registrations are Open
Registrations are now open for the Queenstown Basketball Friday Night Social Competition. These opened this morning and spaces are limited due to facility availability. If you are keen to play in this league, please click the link to register: https://qjbc.wordpress.com/

Girls Boxing Session
This provided an opportunity for students to have a go at a new sport and a pathway to youth boxing sessions at Industrial Fitness for those keen to pursue it further for fitness or as a sport. The session for girls is taking place Feel free to also join the Boxing Google Classroom with the code: hvo3yng.
Girls Taster Session: Tuesday 5th April 3:30-4:30pm in dance studio 
Registration Form: https://forms.gle/N182NqtHRFPq7pnw9

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. 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. https://www.facebook.com/WakatipuHighSchoolSports/ 

Laura Nathan
Director of Sport

Arts News and Information

Whakatipu Music Festival
The WHS cast and band of this year’s musical, “Footloose”, have been diligently practising all term and will be performing at the Whakatipu Music Festival’s community showcase during the school holidays. The community showcase is on Saturday, 16 April at the Memorial Centre. Limited tickets are available and can be purchased using this link: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/tour/2022/whakatipu-music-festival

The Youthtown Songwriting Competition - Aotearoa
This annual competition is open and organisers are keen to receive entries from Year 9, 10 & 11 songwriting students.  There will be at least 65 finalists chosen to record their song professionally in a recording studio.  The mastered tracks will go on all platforms including Spotify and Bandcamp.  Come on board!! Here is the link with all the details there: https://www.playitstrange.org.nz/competitions-3/competition-info/youthtown-songwriting-competition-2022

ROCKQUEST
New Zealand's nationwide, live, original music, youth event giving young musicians the opportunity to perform live in a professional setting, in venues from Northland to Southland. Information is out and entries are open: https://www.smokefreerockquest.co.nz/

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 through details and photos to mparker@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 Monica Parker the Arts Coordinator at mparker@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 - Part-time Job Vacancies for Students

Weekend work in Housekeeping, one day or two. Wanting to work the school holidays?   Flexible with number of days per week. $21.50 per hour.

Send your CV to Catherine -  h5308-hr1@accor.com

Harbour Fish is looking for a senior student to work part-time at our Frankton store. The job is every Saturday. A weekday afternoon and extra work in school holidays are also available. Please touch base with a little about yourself if you’re interested via queenstown@harbourfish.co.nz or drop your CV into the Frankton store at 9 McBride St.

Holiday Employment Opportunity
Calling all Year 13 Students who are looking for holiday work over the April school holidays.
Mana Tāhuna is looking to employ additional people during the school holidays to help plant new trees at Lake Hayes. A great opportunity to be a part of a three year project to plant natives, restore wetlands and make Lakes Hayes swimmable again!
You must be:

• Able to operate effectively and respectfully within a kaupapa Māori environment.
• Committed to maintaining a high safety standard in all aspects of work.
• Interested in achieving positive environmental outcomes.
• Fit, active and able to sustain long periods working in a variety of environments and outdoor
  conditions.
• Able to provide sturdy footwear with good tread and ankle support

We are offering:

• Employment starting on Tuesday April 19, ending Friday April 29. Days are Monday to Friday.
• Hours are from 8am to 4:30 pm, with two 15-minute paid rest breaks and one 30-minute unpaid meal break.
• Pay rate is $22.75 per hour

Please email Sarah Mukai, Environmental Projects Manager - Mana Tāhuna Charitable Trust,
sarah.mukai@manatahuna.co.nz

WITCHERY Queenstown are looking to fill two casual positions for weekends. We are looking for someone fun and energetic with a passion for fashion and styling. Position available as of 3/3/22

DUTIES:

• Drive sales and profit ensuring the achievement of all KPI’s as set by the company
• Drive a customer centric culture ensuring that each customer looks and feels fabulous
• Ensures that visual merchandise is maintained in accordance to brand objectives
• Adhere to all company behavior’s policies and procedures

SKILL

• A passion for the retail industry with an ambition to progress
• A strong sense of personal style and presentation
• Ability to maintain customer relationships by delivering exceptional customer service

BENEFITS:

• Generous discounts for you on all Country Road, Trenery. Witchery and Mimco products.
• Further offers and discounts available at David Jones
• A genuine, open and high performing culture

HOW TO APPLY  Please Email: queenstown@witchery.co.nz or call us on 03-441-1391

Careers Profile of the Week - WELDING
Welding is a dynamic industry with a big future. There are a lot of different paths to great welding jobs. If you like to work with your hands and build stuff, this may be the career path for you. Happy reading! 

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

Te reo Māori lessons for whānau

Our amazing kaiako Māori, Whaea Emily Chirnside is running some te reo Māori lessons for whānau every Tuesday from 4.30 - 5.30pm at the BuzzStop Cafe on Hansen Road if you're keen to brush up on your reo. All welcome, $15 per session for adults but no charge for bringing tamariki and rangatahi. For more information please email Tracy Cameron: tracy@icanmodels.com