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Weekly Wrap-Up (Term 4, Week 1)

Welcome back to Term 4! Read about student successes in Literature and Physics, Music Evening fundraising success and details of next week’s Sports Prizegiving.

Important Dates

  • 21 October: Board of Trustees meeting 6pm
  • 22 October: Sports prizegiving (12.00 – please note change of time)
  • 28 October: Labour Day (school closed)
  • 29 October: Whānau hui
  • 31 October: Whakanuia
  • 1 November: Last day for senior students
  • 4 November: Senior Prizegiving
  • 7 November: Parents notified of outcome of out of zone ballot (Years 10-13 in 2020)
  • 8 November: NCEA exams start
  • 25 November: Board of Trustees meeting
  • 3 December: NCEA exams end
  • 6 December: Junior Prizegiving
  • 6 December: End of Term 4

Important Information

WHS Magazine 2019

If you would like a copy of our 2019 magazine, please ensure that you have paid $10 by 1 November.  Payments can be made directly at Student Services or online.

What’s happening

He Kākano at RNZB

Students and staff from He Kākano will be going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s schools’ performance of Hansel and Gretel in November. As preparation 10 students and staff went to the RNZB headquarters to watch dancers during morning dance classes. We also went into the costume and props department and got a sneak preview of the costumes for the ballet.

              

Music Evening fundraising success for ReliefAid

The Term 3 Music Evening raised $1342.50. This will contribute to life saving shelter kits for up to 54 families displaced from their homes in Syria. The contents of the kits include tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses and warm children’s clothing to help families get through the harsh winter months ahead. It is anticipated that the kits will be in place by mid November.

Thank you to all who donated the valuable koha that will help save lives in Syria.

Achievements

Inaugural Sargeson Prize awarded to WHS student

Celebrating literary talent, the inaugural Sargeson Prize was awarded to Elijah Neilson (Year 13). In a ceremony at the University of Waikato, Elijah received the award for his story ‘Stray Dog’. The prize was awarded jointly to Elijah and a student from Westlake Girls High School. Awarding the prize, judge Catherine Chidgey said that both stories were exceptional and said that Elijah’s name is one to watch in the future. In addition to prize money, Elijah will also receive a week long residency at the University of Waikato to help him develop his skills further. Congratulations Elijah on your incredible achievement.

 

 

 

Junior Young Physicists’ Tournament success

On the 3rd of October a team consisting of Alex Buyck, Atom Gush, Otis Brown, Theo Melville and Sevan Dalzell went to the Junior Young Physicists’ tournament. Over the past two months, we had chosen a physics-related problem and had been experimenting and researching it. The task was to present our findings and to research our problems so we could successfully oppose someone else’s presentation. When the tournament first started we were given the order we would be presenting in and after that, the first science fight began. Firstly Otis delivered his presentation and was opposed, he did a great job. After he presented I was opposing and I also think that I did very well as, after the first round we were tied in second place. We continued this way by opposing and then reporting for the next few rounds until we reached the final round. Theo did a great job reporting and Atom did an amazing job opposing. Then they read out who would make it into the finals, coming in first and making it into the finals was Onslow College. Sadly we were coming third by 0.2 points (which was a really small amount for this tournament) so therefore didn’t make it into the finals. We still had a great 3rd-4th-5th place playoff and came 4th overall. A huge part of what allowed us to achieve all of this were our great team leaders Sophie and Morgan. They helped us out a lot along the way and even came to watch us in the competition. Overall this was an amazing experience and everyone on the team had tons of fun. We all look forward to doing more Science competitions in the future!

Sports

Sports Prizegiving

Our annual WHS Sports Prizegiving is on Tuesday 22 October at 12pm in the Riley Centre.  All students who have played sport for the school are expected to be present. Parents are welcome to attend. Please include this in your diary, and we look forward to seeing you all.

Summer Sports

Next week will be see the start of all the Summer sports: Volleyball, Futsal, Waterpolo, and Floorball. Cricket will follow on 2 November.  Please ensure all sports fees are paid before your student starts the Term 4 season.

Careers Desk

The NZ School leavers Toolkit was “introduced” in last week’s Newsletter. Now the website is live and contains a whole heap of useful information for secondary school students of all ages BUT more relevant for students looking to leave school. You can see a summary of the information, resources , advice and guidance that this site offers here. 

Wellington Trades Academy reminder

  • Mon – Wed at WHS (3 subjects only) … and … Thurs/Fri at WTA
  • 40 Credits for each course
  • Applications close Mon 21 Oct – contact Chuni.bhikha@whs.school.nz for more info

Courses for 2020 will be:

Level 2 (Weltec)  – Petone

  • Construction Trades – 2 classes – Thurs/Fri
  • Auto Engineering – 1 class – Thurs/Fri
  • Salon Environment – 1 class – Thurs/Fri

 Level 3 – Weltec   

  • Cookery – Level 3 (N Z Certificate in Cookery L3)  1 class – Cuba St – Thursday/Friday

Courses for 2020 will be: Level 2 (Whitireia) – Porirua

  • Salon Environment –  1 class – Thurs/Fri
  • Introductory Animal Care – 1 class – Thursday / Friday  (note this programme has had significant content changes and will include a significant proportion of Level 3 units so students will need to be capable of study at this level
  • Construction Trades – 2 classes – Thurs/Fri
  • Engines –  1 class – Thurs/ Fri
  • Hospitality – (focus on Cookery / Food and Beverage)  1 class – Thurs/Fri
  • Hospitality Services – (focus on Front of House / Barista / Tourism)  1 class Thursday / Friday
  • Health Science – 1 class – (1 day per week – Thursday)

 Whitireia – Cuba Street

  • Introduction to Creative Technology (L2) – Te Auaha x 1 class – Cuba St – Thurs/ Fri

 Victoria University Information Evening for students and parents

Victoria University of Wellington will be holding an information evening on Thurs 28 November. This evening is for parents and whānau who would like to be prepared for 2020, learn about the transition to university studies, course planning and applying to enrol.

Time: 6.00 – 8.00pm Date: Thurs 28 Nov

Venue: VUW, Te Toki a Rata Building, Kelburn Campus, Gate 7, Kelburn Parade

  • 6.00 – 6.40 – Transition and student experience – info and Q&A with current students
  • 6.45 – 7.00pm – Student Finances – tips and tricks
  • 7.30 onwards – Course planning session – with student advisers

NOTE: You can also get help applying throughout the evening

To find out more, call 0800 842 867 or email course-advice@victoria.ac.nz