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Weekly Wrap Up

The Wrap Up (Term 4, Week 6)

This week the Wrap Up brings news of achievements for current students, staff and alumni. From Matua Shannon’s exhibition at Pātaka Arts + Musem, to an MPhil graduation from Cambridge University and our very own senior prize-winner lists for 2023, this Wrap Up is bursting with achievement in many forms. And if you are looking for something to work to of your own, why not consider joining WHS staff and students in the Aotearoa Cycle challenge for 2024?

Important Dates

  • Tuesday 21 November: NCEA Teacher Only Day – School Closed
    • Buses run for students with NCEA exams.
    • Cafeteria closed.
  • Thursday 30 November: Enrolled Year 8 experience afternoon
    • School ends for Year 9 & 10 at 12.00pm
  • Thursday 30 November: NCEA exams end
  • Monday 4 December: Normal Junior timetable resumes
  • Monday 11 December: Board meeting 6pm
  • Wednesday 13 December: Junior Prizegiving 10am
  • Wednesday 13 December: Term ends 12.00pm

Important Information

NCEA Exams – Derived Grade Applications

If you can not sit an exam and would like to apply for a derived grade, you will find information about eligibility, the application process and the application form on this NZQA website. The completed application form needs to be forwarded to Rebecca Rāpira-Davies at rsr@whs.school.nz no later than 14 days after the last affected assessment date. 

If you have cold, flu or COVID-19 symptoms, you should follow Ministry of Health guidelines. If you choose to isolate yourself for five days because you have COVID-19 and are unable to sit your examination(s) you can apply for a derived grade. In this case, the school will complete the form on your behalf as long as you provide evidence. Evidence should include a date stamped photo of yourself with your positive RAT result, and the text from the Ministry of Health acknowledging your COVID-19 result. 

Please contact Rebecca Rāpira-Davies if you have any questions or need help with this process. 

Award winners 2023

Over the past few weeks we have celebrated our Māori whānau at Whakanuia, achievement in Sports at the Sports Awards and our senior students many and varied achievements at end of year assemblies and the Senior Celebration Evening.

Photos from many events are online in our photo galleries and our prize-winner lists for 2023 are also now online.

Congratulations to all recipients.

Achievements

Programming Challenge for Girls

Congratulations to Stella Fitzpatrick and Allegra Cooling (both Year 10) who took out a silver medal at the Wellington leg of the national Programming Challenge for Girls.

What’s happening?

Ngā Pari Tai Rua – Pātaka exhibition

Toi Māori kaiako Shannon Te Rangihaeata Clamp’s exhibition can be viewed at Pātaka Art + Museum, Porirua until 3 December. Shannon’s art focuses on an exploration of pūrākau, or traditional stories, from iwi and hapu that are embedded in the waterways and land around Porirua.

This article, from The Post on 11 November, provides an in-depth account of the pūrākau of Shannon’s toi.

Life on two wheels 

Love them or hate them cycleways are a part of life in Te Whanganui-a-Tara and, in more ways than one, WHS has been making the news through our staff and students who are keen cyclists and environmentalists.

Read about our Outdoor Education students’ ride along the new cycleway from the Basin Reserve and along Cambridge Terrace as part of a WCC group cycle. And find out more about Prue Isaacs, our International Director and her experiences of cycling around Wellington.

If you are a cyclist why not get involved with the Aotearoa Bike Challenge 2024? WHS Property team member Stephen Bell is a keen cyclist who regularly cycles hundreds of kilometres each week to and from work. Over the past few years Stephen has got a team of WHS staff and students to contribute to this annual challenge and a team of more than 20 has already been formed for 2024. To join the team, visit https://www.lovetoride.net/nz and search for Wellington High School.

He Kākano

A trip to Wellington Zoo was a great way to spend the day for senior and junior ākonga. They attended a session in the Education Centre learning about animal adaptations, exploring how animals’ distinctive features and needs differ from species to species and help them survive in their unique environments. He Kākano has also hosted an instructor from the New Zealand Disability Karate Association to run weekly self defence sessions with the students. They have focused on personal safety and physical fitness, while learning techniques and having fun!

Alumni news

Eva Kakrada (class of 2017) recently graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MPhil in human evolutionary anthropology. After leaving WHS Eva completed a BSc Hons at Otago and is now going onto pick a PhD, that is likely to be in primatology. Congratulations Eva!

 

 

 

Closer to home, Daniel Nodder (class of 2016) has had a sell out run at BATS with his show ‘Only Bones’ this week. Described as a visually stunning and joyous experience, Daniel has taken Only Bones to the Melbourne Fringe festival where it received rave reviews.

This week Cadence Chung (Year 13 2021) is joining former student Lauren Jack (class of 2015) on RNZ Concert as a casual presenter. Cadence is currently studying classical voice at the New Zealand School of Music and is an accomplished poet and playright.

Picture courtesy of RNZ Concert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mt Cook mobilised archives feature

The most recent Mt Cook mobilised! newsletter features WHS archivist, Carey Clements at work in our archives. If any alumni reading the Wrap Up have questions about the school’s history or would like to join the Friends of Wellington High School alumni group, please contact Carey: csc@whs.school.nz.