WHS Newsletter | Issue 3.06 | 22 August 2025

Principal's Message

Kia ora and welcome to the end of Week 6, 

A feature of the past week has been the range and diversity of events that have been held at school. Last Friday evening, we hosted our first ‘Fia Fia’ Pasifika evening at school, which was a true celebration of Pacific song and dance (and kai) in anticipation of Polyfest down in Murihuku this week. We have an increasingly diverse student population and it was really special to see our growing Pasifika community come together for this celebratory evening. See below for photos from last Friday’s evening. 

Last night, we hosted the latest of our ‘Parenting in the Basin’ evenings, in which Holly Jean Brooker from Smartphone Free Childhood NZ, shared valuable insights on parenting in the digital age. It was great to have so many parents (and students) in attendance and if you missed the evening, you can find more information below. 

On Tuesday, a literacy corequisite support evening was held for parents and students. A reminder that the second round of literacy and numeracy corequisites are just around the corner in Week 9, from 8 - 12 September. Weekly after-school support for students is available on Wednesdays for literacy and Thursdays for numeracy.

Opportunities for 2026 Student Leadership, including Head Students, Student Representative for the Board, Lead Prefects and House Leaders, have recently been made available. Click here for more information, including an application form and timeline. Students are encouraged to apply for these important and prestigious positions and a reminder to them that applications close next Friday, 29 August at 4 pm. 

At the Year 12 assembly this week, we discussed these leadership opportunities and the importance of active citizenship, a key aspect of our Ākonga Profile. And with just 7 weeks of school before senior prizegiving and exam leave for externals, we also discussed our key values of Responsibility and Excellence. Students need to be organised and planned for the many internal assessments that always round out the term and carry into Term 4 (see below for the Assessment Calendars) and should also be implementing a study programme in preparation for their externals, as they strive to achieve their academic goals. 

Results from senior exams will be published and available on the Portal next week, and Senior Next Steps with subject teachers are being held on Tuesday, 2 September. Please see below for more details on how to sign up for this important opportunity for senior students to hear what they need to focus on and study for in the lead up to the end of year examinations, as they strive to achieve their best qualification possible. 

Earlier this week, we brought a Drug Detection Dog through the school to ensure we are doing what we can to keep the school free from drugs. While every situation is dealt with on a case-by-case basis, any students who are under the influence of drugs (or alcohol) and/or bring drugs or drug paraphernalia to school at any time put themselves (and possibly others) at risk of not being able to attend Wakatipu High School. We take these matters very seriously, including engaging with the Police if required, so please make sure that you have a conversation with your student to ensure they understand the potential implications of their actions.

Preparation for the iconic Year 10 Branches Camp has begun, and we are holding our Branches Parent Evening on Wednesday, 3 September at 7 pm in the WHS theatre. We look forward to seeing all parents of Year 10 students at this important evening. The cost of running Branches Camp is not insignificant and thanks to the Branches Trust and other community support, the charge we put on parents' accounts only covers a portion of the associated cost. We really appreciate your financial contribution towards the running of this camp, and this year we are providing people the opportunity to support families who may not be able to afford the camp. Please click the link here if you’d like to provide further support for Branches Camp this year. 

The first of our student-athletes set out yesterday for the start of Winter Tournament Week which is the pinnacle of the winter sporting season. This year we have more than 180 students representing WHS in 14 teams across the country. We wish all the teams and student-athletes the best with their sporting endeavours.

A great and informative newsletter follows, including photos and info from yesterday’s Year 10 Health Expo, today’s Ākonga Passport award assembly, and much more, so be sure to have a read. 

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.

Ngā mihi,

Ngā mihi,
Oded Nathan
Principal/Tumuaki

Senior Subject Next Steps Interviews Tuesday 2 September

Senior Next Steps will take place on Tuesday, 2 September, from 2:15 pm - 7:30 pm. 

With school exams behind us and the academic year fast coming to a close, Senior Next Steps are an important opportunity for parents and students to connect with individual subject teachers to discuss student progress to date, and next learning steps. In some cases, the conversations may relate to current projects / internal assessments. In other cases, the conversations may be more targeted to preparation for external examinations. In either case, Next Steps provides a final chance to clarify what a student needs to do in each subject to ensure they achieve their full potential.

Bookings are now live for everyone to access via the link below. This link will remain open until 3 pm on Monday, 1 September.

Ākonga Passport Awards

Today, we proudly celebrated 175 year 9 and 10 students who reached either their Bronze or Silver level in their Ākonga Passport journey. Points are earned by living our school values, showing strong engagement in learning, participating in extra and co curricular activities, and setting and achieving personal goals aligned with the Ākonga Profile.

Whakamihi, congratulations to all our award recipients.

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

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. 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 the 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.

Students Leaders Message

Preparing for Winter Tournament Week

Next week, our student-athletes will be scattering around the country for the annual Winter Tournament Week. It was incredible to see a number of our winter sports teams in action at last week’s MAC exchange, and we look forward to seeing them, alongside our individual athletes, representing our school with pride throughout the next week! This is the pinnacle event of the winter sporting calendar, so look out for updates during the week and in next Friday’s newsletter. 

Polyfest + Tongan Language Week

Mālō e lelei, we hope you had a great Tongan Language Week. This week was incredibly special as it acknowledges all of our Tongan students and their beautiful language and culture.

We started the week with our inaugural ‘Fia Fia’ Pasifika evening at school last Friday, which was a beautiful display of culture through song and dance. On Mōnite, Monday with some Tongan words and prayers over the speakers. On Tūsite, Tuesday the Pasifika Dance group performed for the school in the foyer in preparation for the Polyfest performance.

It has been a busy week for the WHS Pasifika Dance Group, and we are incredibly proud of how hard they have worked and what they have accomplished. Last year, the group had their first performance at the Central Otago Polyfest with 19 students. Now, this number has almost doubled and the group consists of 35 students who performed for the first time at the Murihiku Polyfest on Tu’apuluelulu, Thursday. They have been training very hard throughout the year to work towards this goal, and it is so inspiring to see it being brought to life. If you weren’t able to catch their performances this month, they will be performing here in Tāhuna in October, and you don’t want to miss it. 

Kia pai tō mutunga wiki!

Jentie Newell and Lani Thomas
Māori and Pasifika Student Council Prefects

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

Parenting in the Basin: Navigating Screen Time and Digital Safety

On Thursday evening, we hosted our Term 3 Parenting in the Basin event, Left to Their Own Devices – Parenting in the Digital Era. Holly Jean Brooker, in collaboration with Makes Sense Media and Tricky Chats, led a thoughtful and practical session on managing children’s screen time and navigating digital safety both at home and in schools. Her candid, real-world advice offered valuable insights for parents and whānau.

To further support families, we have shared some of the important resources discussed during the session in the links below.

Year 10 Health Expo

This year's Youth Expo provided our Year 10 students with a vital link to the web of support services available right here in the Wakatipu. As a key part of our Health and Physical Education programme at WHS, the day was designed to equip students with the tools they need to thrive.

Through dynamic, interactive sessions, students connected directly with community partners on essential topics. The focus was on promoting positive physical and mental health, providing up-to-date information, and reinforcing pathways for seeking help and staying safe. The core mission is to normalise ‘help-seeking behaviour’ for themselves and others and it was clear our students left feeling more confident and informed.

This valuable event is a true community effort. We owe huge thanks to the Whakatipu Youth Trust for co-piloting the programme with us. Thanks to all the participating agencies, including the NZ Police, Public Health Nurse, Salvation Army, Oranga Tamariki, ASB, Youthline, Pivotal Point, Thrive, Central Lakes Family Services, WHS SASH group and our WHS School Counsellors, for investing their expertise in our rangatahi.

It was fantastic to see students so engaged in their conversations with providers, making it an impactful day of connection and learning for everyone involved.

BOT Election Update

Parent Representative Voting Election

Voting is open for the election of 6 Parent Representatives to the Wakatipu High School Board. Schooled Election Pilot have advised that all eligible voters have been sent a voting pack by email, or post if you have not provided an email address, on Wednesday 13 August. Voting closes at 4pm on Wednesday 10 September.

If you did not receive voting information please get in touch on 0800 VOTENZ (0800 868 369) or election@electionpilot.nz. If you have any other questions relating to this election please email Board Secretary Lauren Bocatios: lbocatios@wakatipu.school.nz

Outdoor Recreation Camp

Our Year 13 Outdoor Recreation students showed fantastic resilience on their chilly adventure in the North Wye Valley this week. The frosty camp was a fantastic hands on experience, strengthening their teamwork and leadership skills in one of our amazing local environments. 

Year 10 Branches Parent Information Evening

Branches 2025 – Parent Info Evening

Parents of Year 10 students, please join us for the Branches 2025 Parent Information Evening on Wednesday, September 3rd at 7 PM in the WHS Theatre.

Over seven days at Branches, Year 10 students take part in a range of outdoor activities that support holistic development, promoting personal, social, and active growth. The camp provides the opportunity to build relationships, strengthen resilience, self-management, and teamwork, qualities at the heart of our ākonga profile.

It is the wish of the school for every Year 10 student to attend and experience the benefits of the unique environment that is Branches.

Branches Quiz Night

The annual Branches Trust Quiz Night fundraiser is just around the corner on September 13, in the school theatre and it’s a fantastic opportunity to have fun while supporting our Year 10 students.

We need your help to make it a success, here are three ways you can get involved:

• Book a Table: Gather your friends and book your spot! Tables are selling fast, so get in quick to secure yours.
  (Email jowrightzqn@gmail.com to book)

• Volunteer: We need help both before and during the event. From decorating the hall to helping on the night, any time you can give is appreciated.

• Donate a Prize: Have a product, voucher, or service to donate to our auction? Your contribution would be amazing!

For all volunteer help or prize donations, please contact Lisa Pond at lisasurlamer@yahoo.co.nz.

Explore Scholarship Opportunities for WHS Students!

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

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

Value of Scholarship: $4,000

Applications open: 1st August

Applications close: 31st August

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

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

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

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

Click here for the application Link

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

 David Geddes RSA Memorial Scholarship

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

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

Margaret Templeton Scholarship

We’re thrilled to share that the Margaret Templeton Scholarship is now open for applications! The initial value of the scholarship is $5,000 and this amount shall be reviewed annually by the trustees. The scholarship is here to support students in the Wakatipu Basin who may face financial challenges in pursuing tertiary education.

To make sure the scholarship goes to those who need it most, applicants will need to provide some details about their financial situation, including that of their parents.

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

The Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson Scholarship

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

There are two scholarships:

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

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

The scholarship was established in honour of Ray and Elizabeth Clarkson, who were amazing lifelong supporters of the museum. Both retired teachers from Invercargill, they settled in Wakatipu and were passionate about subjects such as History, English, Politics, Performing and Visual Arts. Thanks to their generous contribution to the museum, this scholarship was created to help empower the next generation of humanities students.

Don't miss this opportunity!

Applications open: 8th September 2025

Applications close: Friday 10 October at 5 pm

WHS Foundation Annual Charity Golf Tournament

9 October 2025 | Millbrook Resort
The Wakatipu High School Foundation’s Annual Charity Golf Tournament is one of Queenstown’s most anticipated fundraising events. Set against the stunning backdrop of Millbrook Resort, this premier day brings together business leaders, professionals, and community champions for golf, connection, and giving back. Enjoy a stunning day of golf, great prizes, and the chance to win $50,000 in the Hole-in-One challenge - all while supporting Wakatipu High School students to Reach for their Heights.
Register Here: https://www.whsf.nz/event-details/annual-charity-golf-tournament-2025

Sports and Recreation News

Rugby

Congratulations to Tama Kopa, Logan Harrison, Jake Wards, Finn Wallis, Tom Rannard and John Leaaetoa for their selections into the Otago Country Under 16 Squad!

Dog Training

Sarah Taylor and Jess Wilkinson trialed this weekend for the National Junior Dog Training team (under 20s).  Jess and her dog, Zoom, took out the senior position on the team, with Sarah and Marley taking the novice position.  Sarah, Jess and their team mates will take on five adult teams representing the various zones of New Zealand at the national agility championships on Labour Weekend.

Downhill Mountain Biking

A massive congratulations to Lewis Laird who recently competed in Canada.  His results are:

1st - Canadian Nationals U17 Downhill event
1st - Crankworx Whistler U17 Canadian Open Downhill Event

Crankworx Whistler is one of the biggest events in the world - there is no world championships for his age group but this event is as significant as a world championship and to win the under 17’s age group at 14 years old is a huge achievement.

Winter Tournament Week

The end of week 6 marks the beginning of Winter Tournament Week. This year 171 WHS students will be competing in 12 events across the country. It is a massive week of secondary school sport, and a highlight of the sporting calendar. For many teams their seasons have been building up to these pinnacle South Island or National Events, and we wish them all the best! Thank you to the Aotearoa Gaming Trust who have provided funding to support the cost of accommodation for most of our teams, ensuring that these opportunities are accessible for all students involved. Thank you also to the Wakatipu High School Foundation for their support through the Āwhina Fund. See the full lists of teams and locations below and keep an eye out on the WHS Sports Facebook Page for results and updates. 

1st XI Boys Football - Jim Wishart Tournament - Christchurch
1st XI Girls Football - NZSS Lotto Sportswear Tournament - Timaru
Golf  Team - New Zealand Champs - Lower Hutt
Ice Hockey x3 - South Island Secondary School Champs - Dunedin
1st XI Girls Hockey - NZSS Jenny MacDonald Cup - Invercargill
1st XI Boys Hockey - NZSS South Island Boys Coaches Cup - Cromwell
Junior A Boys Basketball - South Island Secondary Schools - Nelson
Senior A Boys Basketball - Southern Cup - Invercargill
Senior A Girls Netball - South Island Secondary School Champs - Dunedin
U15 Rugby - SISS Rural Livestock Junior Tournament - Oamaru
Equestrian - South Island Secondary School Champs - Christchurch
Climbing - South Island Secondary School Climbing Event - Christchurch

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

Save the Date: WHS Showcase 

On September 6 WHS has its annual Performing Arts Showcase at Te Atamira.  This year we are featuring students from the music and dance disciplines with the afternoon running from 1.30 until 5.30. We warmly invite everyone to come for some or all of the afternoon and enjoy the afternoon's entertainment.

More details to come

Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition

Congratulations to Sasha Winter whose song "Convince You To Stay" has been named as one of the finalists for the Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition for 2025.

This is a fantastic achievement and enables Sasha to have her song recorded for free at a studio of her choice. Well done Sasha.

LIP SYNC BATTLE

The annual WHS lip sync battle is coming back for 2025! Gather your friends and get rehearsing because this year will be one for the books. It will be a fun packed 2 days on the 3rd and 4th of September with prizes available for our top crews. Come along to watch or try your luck on stage by signing up below!

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.

Showing Off - Senior Art Exhibition - Only one week left!

This is the last week that the exhibition is open, grab the chance to visit and before it closes.  The exhibition features a stunning collection of Photography, Design, and Painting panels, all of which have achieved an Excellence grade. It's a fantastic opportunity to see the incredible talent and hard work of our students on display.

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

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

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

 Extracurricular Groups 

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

Wednesday Morning Arts Time - hang out with the Arts

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

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

We invite you to share your skills in the arts

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

Upcoming in Term 3

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

Te Atamira - is a multi-purpose arts and cultural space at Remarkables Park Town Centre - check out what is happening at Te Atamira here

Te Wahi Toi - Nau mai, haere mai, Te Wāhi Toi is the meeting place and online directory for Queenstown and Wānaka’s creative community.  Find them here

Let us Know
The Arts department would like to know about any artistic achievements that students have attained outside of school be it in Drama, Dance, Music or Visual Arts. Please send details and photos to scooper@wakatipu.school.nz

Support the Arts
We are always looking for local professional performing and visual artists to visit our school and run workshops for our students. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Mrs Cooper the Arts Coordinator at scooper@wakatipu.school.nz

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

WHS Foundation

Community Notices

Wakatipu High School students are collaborating with Catalyst Trust for the September 4 Mayoral Candidate Forum in the WHS auditorium. Catalyst is also workshopping with MC David Williams and students, who are researching candidates, formulating questions and will be joining David on the question panel.

👉Support us today: https://subscribe.entertainmentnz.com/fundraiser/260506v

*Terms & Conditions Apply. Please visit www.entertainmentnz.com/promotions to view