WHS Newsletter | Issue 4.05 | 18 November 2022

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the Wakatipu High School newsletter as we move into the second half of the term.

This week has been a big week for NCEA exams, with Thursday’s Level 1 English being the peak of the exam period for us. Some students are beginning to be finished with their exams now while others still have a few to go until exams finish two weeks today.

This morning was a really lovely Wakatipu High School Foundation Business Partnership Programme breakfast. The Foundation continues to make such a difference to WHS, and it was a great event to update as well as acknowledge and thank those who so generously support the Foundation and the school.

Preparations for Branches Camp are steadily ramping up now, with the first camp beginning in just 10 days on Tuesday 29th. Workday last week went well, many staff did their First Aid refreshers and courses this week, and as I write Year 10 students and staff are out on their Pre-Branches tramps. If you haven't already, this weekend will be a good one for looking at gear lists and checking you have essential items.

We know that Branches Camp is important to students and parents, and I do need to acknowledge those in the community who support it, including Branches Trust and Uncle Jack McPherson through the Foundation, as well as the many other business around town who support it in a range of ways large and small - thank you all so much!

Related, a reminder to Branches parents to please pay the Branches Camp donation. The camp is big and complex and very expensive to run safely and well - and $350 is only half what it actually costs per student, so please do pay the camp donation if you can.

Looking ahead, another reminder that the next two Fridays (25/11 and 2/12) are the final two national Accord (Teacher Only) Days to work on the upcoming NCEA changes. While exams will continue for seniors there will be no school for juniors on those days. That means there will be no newsletter next Friday (but we will do the penultimate one for the year the Friday after that), but the final LE Report for the year will come out next Friday so do look out for that.

A reminder also that the PPTA Paid Union Meeting is on the afternoon of Monday 28/11, with school finishing and buses running at 12.30pm that day.

Again, another smaller newsletter reflecting the time of year but still some useful and interesting pieces below. Also again, the unsettled weather continues into the weekend, with tomorrow currently looking best for getting out and about - and all the best to everyone running in the Queenstown Marathon!

Steve Hall,
Principal 

Branches Work Day

Thanks to all the year 10 students who participated in work day this year as well as those who either hosted students or donated on their behalf.

Work day is an important fundraiser for Branches and is a great way for our students to get involved in their community as well as helping contribute towards camp costs. Students worked all over the Whakatipu in restaurants, building sites, offices and farms and, thanks to some generous donation from local businesses, we also had 22 volunteers undertake planting work at the Tuckers Beach reserve as part of a native reforestation programme.

The first lot of campers go into Branches in less than two weeks time so, from all of us at the Trust, we hope you have an amazing time and enjoy the experience.

Stars

Kia ora,

It’s with great pleasure to introduce myself as the new STARS coordinator, taking over from the lovely Cheryl.  I'm super excited to have the opportunity to work on this at our Wakatipu High School for 2023, coordinating and facilitating this awesome Graeme Dingle Foundation programme.  Such a huge benefit for our students, both in terms of senior student leadership opportunity, whilst encouraging a positive culture for our new year 9’s transitioning into high school next year.

My understanding moving forward is for STARS to be more firmly embedded across the school, rather than viewed as external wellbeing provision.  I appreciate this programme cannot happen without the help and support of all teachers, students and support staff involved and thank you in advance for all your support to achieve the best STARS results possible!

A big thank you also to everyone who has warmly welcomed me so far, with a special thanks to Helen Jermy for assisting and supporting me.  Lots to learn! 

A BIT ABOUT ME 
Originally from the UK, I’ve been in Queenstown for 16 years, a proud NZ citizen.  Since 2018 I've been running CONNECT AND CARE wellbeing services delivering a self-designed programme to businesses and community across the Wakatipu – a result of 18 months voluntary research looking at ways to reduce isolation and vulnerability for others in our community after a few years of personal complicated loss and grief.  My strongest skill is helping people, whatever age, lead their healthiest, happiest, most authentic lives.  I have previous experience of working with youth with challenging behaviour in residential care back in the UK.   

One of the things I love about the potential of this STARS role is the opportunity to weave some of my skills, knowledge and experience into this experiential learning.  A responsible role, guiding peer mentors to best build our year 9’s first year experience - including reducing fear, worry and anxiety that may arise in their everyday lives.  Empathy is key all around.

Please come and say hi if we haven’t met yet.  Please bear with me getting my head around everyone’s names!  Eek.

With kindness, excitement and thanks in advance,

Melisse Haarer (Mel)
STARS COORDINATOR

Arts News And Information

Showquest Student Captains
Showquest is back for 2023 and better than ever! Fill out the below form if you are keen to be one of our two student captains. Performer forms will be out early next year.

Applications close November 30th.

Jazz on the Green
The jazz bands had their final outing for the year with a performance on the Village Green in Arrowtown last Sunday. It was a great way to round off the year for this group who have consistently performed to a very high standard. Huge thanks to Rockformation for enabling this to happen and for providing the gear and tech assistance. 

5ART1 Still Life Sculptures
The junior still life classes have recently completed a cake sculpting unit based on artist Claus Oldenberg. They can be found on display in the Kawarau Visual Arts area. Most of these amazing cakes were completed in just a few weeks. The creativity and originality of some of the cakes are quite impressive. 

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

Sports and Active Recreation News

Southland Junior Volleyball Champs
It was a big day out for our junior volleyballers at the Southland Champs in Invercargill last Sunday with WHS entering five teams into the tournament. The 10A's won the girls division, 10B placed 3rd with 9A finishing 5th and 9B 6th. The junior boys had a tough day but learned a lot and we were pleased to enter a team in this grade. Well done to all of these players and teams and a huge thank you to coaches Steve Henderson, Mrs Panapa, Paul Kirkland and our student coaches Mary Navasca and Allyx Palacio as well as all round top supporter Rachel Vermeir. The 9A and 10A girls head away to the South Island Champs this coming Sunday with the 10A girls competing in division 1. All the very best for South Islands girls!

Southland Athletic Champs
A handful of WHS students competed at the Southland Athletic Champs in Invercargill last Saturday. This event was postponed from Term 1 and served as a good lead up to the NZSS Athletic Champs in Taranaki in December. Congratulations to the following students on their results!
James Weber -  1st U14 Boys 3000m, 2nd 1500m
Siena Mackley - 1st U15 Girls 3000m, 1st 1500m
Sienna Watson - 1st U16 & Senior Girls Triple Jump, Long Jump, High Jump
Jude Deaker - 1st U15 Boys 800m, 1500m 

Junior Boys Cricket Kings Exchange
Our Junior Boys Cricket team enjoyed an awesome win over Kings High School in the annual inter-school match to win the Cushen-Mawhinney trophy for the second year running. The team had a dominant 99 run win in the 110 over, two day declaration match. There were stand out performances from Angus O’Neill with 158 runs total as well as Hugo Bogue with 70 runs total and some fantastic leadership as captain. With the ball, Toby Gallie took 10 wickets total for the match and Harry Walker-Leach 5 wickets total. A huge thank you to Kings High School for being wonderful hosts and to the families for billeting our players. Thank you also to our coaches Mr Overton and Ben Gallie for their efforts over the two day match. 

NZ U18 Ice Hockey Travelling Team Named
It is great to see that all seven WHS students named in the initial U18 Women’s Ice Hockey squad have been selected for the traveling team to compete at the IIHF Division 3, Group B tournament to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from 26th January - 1st February 2023. Congratulations to Polly Bennetts, Jessie Strain, Inge Kemp, Aoife Orr, Caitlin Hollyer, Lucy Boniface and Manuella Sanches Pedrosa. We also wish Caitlin Hollyer all the very best as she heads off to the Toronto Leaside Women’s Hockey Club on a NZ Ice Hockey Federation training and playing exchange for 5 months on Friday. Go well Caitlin!

National BJJ Championships
WHS students achieved some great results at the National Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships in Auckland last weekend. These students all competed in the Gi grade, well done! 
Indy Deavoll - Gold Girls Grey Belt <56kg
Tayla Ellison - Silver Boys Grey Belt <56kg
Bailee Ellison - Bronze Boys Grey belt <68kg

Year 8 Sports Expo
It was wonderful to welcome our future Year 9's to Wakatipu High School last Friday as part of orientation day. This year we ran a mini sports expo so these excited Year 8's could check out the various sports and active recreation opportunities available to them next year. We are looking forward to welcoming our newest cohort of students into the WHS Sports whanau. 

Sporting Scholarship Opportunity
Te iti Kahuraki is an exciting new athlete sponsorship programme being launched by Shotover Jet! We are now looking for our next grassroots sporting talent to support and want to hear from pupils who would benefit from the Te iti Kahuraki programme! We have three sponsorship packages available. Tamariki can also access all the information through our website – www.shotoverjet.com/athlete and apply there. Applications open Monday 14th November and close Sunday 4th December.

Opportunities to Get Active!

Cardrona Summer Pass
Cardrona plans to open for biking, carting, walking and sightseeing from 10th December 2022 through to the 2nd April 2023 and would like to offer local children the chance to purchase a biking season pass for summer 2022. The summer pass costs $149 and gives kids unlimited access to the bike trails at Cardrona. To purchase head to: https://secure.cardrona-treblecone.com/s/local-school-child-season-pass/p/local-school-child-summer-season-pass If you require anymore information please contact wanaka@cardrona-treblecone.com with any other questions.

New to WHS?
If you have just recently joined Wakatipu High School and keen to find out more information about sport and active recreation opportunities please visit our website to see what is on offer and join the google classrooms of those activities you are keen to participate in: https://www.sporty.co.nz/wakatipu

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

Branches Quiz Night

We are delighted to announce that we have raised $10,000 for this year's Branches Camp at our 'Sporting Legends' Quiz Night earlier this month.  Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way once again.  Thank you letters are coming to our sponsors and photos from the night are on their way to the teams.  We'll be back again next year, keep an eye out in the newsletter for our next one, and be in quick to get your spot, it sells out fast!

Key Dates

Careers - Job Vacancies for Students

Student Job Vacancies can be viewed at the link below. Please join the google classroom with the code: 3spycgk

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

Support Wakatipu High School
and purchase your Entertainment Membership from us today!!

BLACK FRIDAY SALE! For the first time ever, when you support our school's fundraising with a purchase of an Entertainment Membership from us between 6.00pm, Thursday 24th November and 6.00pm, Monday 28th November AEDT you will receive a second membership FOR FREE. Yep, that’s double the fun, double the dining, and double the savings!
 
This year's Entertainment Membership is packed with hundreds 25% off or 2 for 1 offers from all your favourite local restaurants, takeaways, attractions, shopping and more. Plus, for only $69.99 you only need to use your membership twice and you’ll save what you spent on it. So order now to get double the savings!
 
Most importantly, 20% of every Entertainment Membership purchased through us goes directly towards supporting our our school's fundraising !

Be the teen King or Queen of summer reading!
Win a prize fit for a royal and win a King(or Queen)PIN voucher in our inaugural Teen Summer Reading Challenge. Find out more by clicking the link below.

Partners in Turbulent Times; EU Ambassador Nina Obermaier, November 21

The global Covid 19 pandemic, tension over China’s moves in Pacific region politics, climate change impacts and policies, free trade agreements and now, overwhelmingly, the war in Ukraine – the global context has changed hugely since EU Ambassador Nina Obermaier arrived in New Zealand three years ago.

She returns to Queenstown on November 21st, two years since she spoke with Catalyst about Europe’s Green Deal, to discuss these very real global threats.  And how they have impacted on the “enduring partnership” between the EU and New Zealand.

Monday, November 21, 6 – 7.30pm in The Rees Hotel Queenstown’s conference room. More detaials on Catalyst website and Facebook. Registration required HERE as seats are limited. Please bring cash for your koha. This will be given to Way Home, an Odessa-based charity for Ukrainian refugees and disadvantaged families.