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News / Notices Weekly Wrap Up

Weekly Wrap-Up (Term 1 – Week 3)

This week you can read out about our first ever Aroha Day, find out about our Papa Taiaio trip to Matiu/Somes Island and much more.

Important Dates

NOTE: You can access the school calendar on our website: WHS School Calendar

  • 18 February: Te Whānau a Taraika hui at Hineakau 6pm
  • 26-28 February: 9Riley Noho Marae
  • 1 March: Athletics Day
  • 4-6 March: 9Royal Noho Marae
  • 6-8 March:  9Howell Noho Marae
  • 26 March: FRIDAY timetable runs today
  • 29 March: Learning Conversations all day (with rōpū teachers)
  • 12 April: End of Term 1

Important Information

Te Whānau a Taraika Hui – Monday 18 February

Nau mai, haere mai ki te hui; Te Whānau a Taraika.

We would like to invite everyone to our first meeting for Te Whānau a Taraika for 2019. Monday 18 February, 6pm, at Hineakau, Wellington High School. If you would like to, please feel free to bring a plate to share. Everyone welcome!

Agenda:

  • Introductions
  • Recap of 2018
  • Main events/diary for 2019
  • Any other business

Ngā mihi nui

Ariel Metekingi, Chair

Read more about Te Whānau a Taraika here: https://www.whs.school.nz/te-whanau-a-taraika/

 

Athletics Day — Friday 1 March      

On Friday 1 March we are holding our annual WHS Athletics Carnival Day at Newtown Park. 

This year we are expecting all year 9 and 10 students to be competing. At years 11 to 13 the event will be for competitors only. Other students in years 11 to 13 will have a Home Learning Day and I encourage students to make good use of their time on that day if they are not going to attend the athletics. Teachers will talk to senior students about their expectations for this day. We encourage year 11 to 13 students to come along and support their peers and the junior students. Senior students who have committed to running a stall on the day are also expected to attend.

Students need to make their way to Newtown Park and have their name marked on the roll by 8.45am.  The athletics programme will start at 8.45am with the 1500 metres, these athletes will need to be at the track at 8.30am to warm-up and get ready, the day should conclude by 3.30pm. Entries for all events are taken on the day and students are encouraged to actively participate and to support their whānau group by wearing their colours, Riley – red, Kelly – yellow, Howell – green, Royal – blue.

We look forward to seeing who our top athletes will be as they may go onto represent WHS at regional athletics championships.

Please note that although bikes, skateboards and scooters might be used as transport to arrive at the park, they must not be ridden at all inside Newtown Park. Shoes and appropriate attire must be worn whilst competing.

Students should bring water, wear a hat and have sunscreen. Food should also be brought for the day and students may like to bring cash to purchase food from the stalls run by senior students.

 

 

What’s happening?

Aroha Day – 14 February

For many 14 February immediately conjures up images of hearts and flowers, but at WHS it is a special day of engagement and opportunity. Yesterday was WHS’s first Aroha Day. The hall filled with stalls from over 40 different activities and sports and students from all year groups took the opportunity to find out about the activities on offer and sign up.

For new students it was an inviting opportunity to find out about the life of the school. As one Year 9 reported, the event gave him the confidence to join clubs that he might otherwise have not felt confident enough to approach. For older students it was the chance to showcase their passion for the activities they are already engaged in. Groups put together inviting displays to tell others about their activities. Students enjoyed the outreach and opportunity to talk with and encourage their peers to sign up and get involved.

As a result over 160 students have signed up for Relay for Life and the High School musical group is expecting more than 80 to its first meeting. Many other activities and sports are experiencing record levels of interest.

Overall, Aroha Day was a day of collaboration, outreach and engagement and is a day that will certainly become an annual highlight in WHS’s calendar.

Year 9 & 10 Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs)

Year 9 and 10 students are taking four Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs) during Weeks 4—5 (beginning 18 February) in their core classes. Letters have been sent home. All Year 9 and 10 students must ensure they have a laptop with them as the tests are completed online. You can view the schedules for the tests here.  

For more information on PATs, go to: Understanding PATs – Community and Parents (NZCER)

Papa Taiao Camp 2019

Students taking Papa Taiao at Level 3 explore sustainability, environmental dynamics, conservation and related issues. In such a course, hands on experience is essential. This week the Papa Taiaio students visited Matiu / Somes Island, snorkelling off the coast and investigating the island’s ecology.

     

Ecology Trip July 2020

WHS wish to take a small number of students who will be at least 16 years old in 2020 to the small island of Dominica to learn about ecology techniques both on land and in the sea.  

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact Joanne Lowe or come to the information evening with Dr Tim Coles, the founder of Operation Wallacea on Monday 25 February at 6pm in the school library. (Please note the meeting has been changed from Wednesday February 27th.)

February’s Library lunchtime lecture: Genetics 

Jim Inglis, Senior Business Manager Genetics, Pamu, is giving the February Library Lunchtime Lecture. Taking place in the Library on Thursday 21February from 1.30-2.15, Jim will focus on Genetics and who is doing what in NZ’s production systems. This is a golden opportunity for AgHort and Biology students to discover the technologies in use. Importantly they will get an insight onto the biotechnological solutions that are not in use and will be able to understand the reasons why.

 

 

School Leavers Toolkit: WHS works with the MoE to review design concepts

Over a dozen WHS senior students attended a user-testing workshop on Monday morning run by the MOE (Ministry of Education) to review the forthcoming ‘School Leavers’ Toolkit’ design concepts. They heard from a diverse group of our students with a wide range of perspectives, different aspirations and varied learning needs.

The toolkit represents a Government commitment to provide students with opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities needed to transition successfully into employment, training or further education.

The web application designs our students tested and critiqued included iconography for resources to support financial literacy, an understanding of how our political systems work (civics), and developing key workplace skills. It will be aimed at students in years 11 – 13 and beyond. Students were asked to give input on decisions about design, accessibility and function. They gave the project team honest, in-depth feedback on the design ideas for the web space.

MOE staff, impressed with the engagement of the WHS students – some of whom took part in last year’s Hackathon – invited students to share their ideas further and assist the MOE with user-testing as they develop a web space to connect students to key information needed to successfully transition out of school.

The MOE were delighted with our students’  enthusiasm and insight, and look forward to working with them in the coming year.

 

 

Base One garden 

A big thank you to Vicki and the Base One students for taking the time to set up and maintain the new herb gardens outside the foods rooms.

We are now using some of these gorgeous herbs in our dishes.

 

 

 

Notes from the Music Department

Choir started practising Thursday at lunchtime. Newcomers are welcome. Come to the main music room at 1.20pm (bring your lunch with you).

If you are play a stringed instrument, our string ensemble needs you!

Jazz band will start week commencing 18 February. If you are interested in joining the Junior Jazz Band, this will start later on in March.

To talk to Mr Wollner about any of these, you will find him in the main music room after school each day.

Achievements

Scholarship Success!

Scholarship is the highest level of achievement possible at NCEA Level 3 NCEA and awards $500 to each successful candidate.

We congratulate Gwen Palmer-Steeds on achieving three Scholarships, including an Outstanding result in English. Congratulations also go to to Sophie Dickinson-Smith, Amelia Mance, Sophie Mance, Christopher Matheson and Luke Roeven who have all achieved highly across a range of subjects.

In addition, Aroha Millar, Year 13 Sculpture student from 2018, has received a $5000 scholarship to attend the course Toioho ki Apiti — Bachelor of Māori Visual Arts College & University in Palmerston North. We are very proud of her achievements and wish her all the very best for her future studies in art.

Sports

Update

Our Sports programme has been very busy so far this year!  Thank you to all who helped get students to their games and practices.  You can see the Sports Draw on our website. Go to www.whs.school.nz, click on the Sports tab and select Sports Draws. From the drop down arrow select your sport.  Some of the mainstream sports, Netball, Hockey, and Rugby are not included here as these sporting bodies prepare their own draws.

Floorball: Thailand Floorball World Cup Qualifier.

Kristina Sundin has just returned from Thailand where she and her sister, Marie Sundin (a former WHS student) represented New Zealand, competing in the Asia World Cup Qualifier.

At 14 years old, Kristina was the youngest player selected for the team. She really proved that she deserved her spot in the team during the games. In her role as a defender made many fantastic saves.

While the NZ women team didn’t qualify, the sisters learned much and had a great experience. They are already starting to prepare themselves for team selection for U19 Women’s World Cup. This will be held in Sweden 2020.

New Zealand women’s head coach, Sven Sundin, is also the coach of Wellington High Floorball team. He invites players, old and new, to join him in the old gym on Monday evenings at 5pm, starting 18 February 2019. You can also email Sven for more information.