Important Dates
- Monday 12 February – Board meeting 6pm
- Thursday 15 and Friday 16 February – School photos
- Friday 23 February – Athletics Carnival
- Monday 11 March – Board meeting 6pm
- Wednesday 27 March – Learning Conversations
- Thursday 28 March – Kāhui Āko – Teacher only day (school closed)
- Friday 29 March – Good Friday (school closed)
- Monday 1 April – Easter Monday (school closed)
- Tuesday 2 April – MoE stipulated holiday (school closed)
- Monday 8 April – Board meeting 6pm
- Friday 12 April – End of Term 1
Important Information
School photos
Details have been sent to parents and caregivers today regarding school photos (individual photos for years 9, 11 and 13, and rōpū photos for all year groups) which will take place on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 February. Later in the term, all students will receive information regarding ordering photos.
Senior subject changes
Please note the following timeline for senior students wanting to change subjects:
- Week 3 – changes may be made following discussion with the subject teacher
- Week 4 – changes may be made following discussion with the Head of Faculty and subject teacher
- Week 5 – no further changes to be made
Counselling team welcome
Kia ora from the 2024 counselling team!
Gavin and Nikki are back and this year we are joined by Tina who is full-time and Sarah who will be part-time. Nikki has some study leave over the year and Gavin is on sabbatical for Term 2. Please feel free to contact us if needed – counselling@whs.school.nz. We are here to help!
Art packs for senior classes
If you are enrolled in any senior Art classes this year you will need to order an art kit for each course you are enrolled in from the National Art Supplies website: link to National Art Supplies. Carefully check the course code then add to cart, follow the prompts for payment. All kits will be delivered to the Art Department with your name on it. Please contact Rachel Clark: ckr@whs.school.nz if you have any questions or if you require financial support for purchasing art kits.
Ngāi mihi nui,
The Art Team.
What’s happening?
Pōwhiri 2024
This term we have welcomed 400 new students and 25 new staff to our kura and, in addition to pōwhiri for new staff and students have, with Te Whānau a Taraika, hosted pōwhiri for whānau Māori.
Visit our Photo Galleries for photos from the Year 9 pōwhiri held on 30 January.
Scholarship results
Scholarship results for 2023 were released on 8 February with WHS students gaining a total of 17 scholarships. We are proud of all our students achievements at this level and congratulate them all.
Scholarships awarded include Top Scholar in Painting for Paul Austin (see below) who also achieved scholarship in Sculpture. Five scholarships were awarded in Design and Visual Communication, and current Year 13 students Marissa Burnette, Logan Barrett and Vita Lawson achieved scholarship in Calculus and DVC respectively.
Top scholar in Painting
For the third year running, a WHS student has been recognised as an NZQA top scholar.
Congratulations to Paul Austin on this phenomenal achievement. Head of Arts, Rachel Clark applauds Paul’s skill and talent, commenting “Paul’s critical thinking and ability to push boundaries as well as being able to articulate the meaning of each work, analyse artist models and the application of their processes have secured his position at the top.”
Previous WHS top scholars include:
- 2022 – Jonathan Dransfield (Printmaking)
- 2021 – Julia Randerson (Religious Studies), Zoe Crane (Drama)
Wall of Fame
Over the coming term a number of WHS alumni will be added to the Wall of Fame. On Friday 9 February, we welcomed Harvey Hayman, son of Noel Hayman to inaugurate his father into the Wall of Fame.
Noel was the first captain of New Zealand’s men’s representative Basketball team. He held a PhD and was an aurora physicist based at Hallett Station in Antarctica in the early 1960s. His work in this area resulted in the naming of the Hayman Nunataks in his honour.
Click here to read the full citation.
Sport and cultural photos
If you missed out on downloading our Sport and Cultural photos at the end of last year, it is not too late to do so. Click on the link here and enter the PIN4537 to download images. Photos will be available until the end of February 2024.
Junior prize giving
Before the summer we celebrated our Junior students at two end of term assemblies.
Photos from both events can be found in our Photo Galleries.
Congratulations to all!
Aotearoa cycle challenge
It is time for the annual Aotearoa cycle challenge and WHS’s team is currently sitting top of the leaderboard. Whether you want to cycle as part of the team or for yourself, why not sign up and get some kms under your wheels this February.
Sport
Summer Sports
Want to follow WHS’s teams as they compete around the Wellington region? The weekly sports draw is published on College Sport Wellington’s website. Visit http://www.collegesport.org.nz for more details.
Underwater Hockey try-outs
Wellington High School’s junior underwater hockey teams and coaches are running sessions at WRAC (Kilbirnie pool) for new students keen to give the sport a try. For players keen to continue there will be ongoing lessons and training in Term 1 before the league starts in Term 2. We will have teams in the junior (U15) girls,junior open (boys/mixed), senior girls and senior open grades.
Where: Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre
When: Sunday 11th February 4 pm – 6 pm, Sunday 18th February 4 pm – 6 pm
Contact: Murray Chisholm (CMM)
Careers
Gateway work experience – applications open
Gateway is a government funded work experience programme for senior students in Years 12 and 13 who are looking at career options with the view of leaving school to join the work force and it is a great way to get a taste of the industry they are considering.
Work experience is for one day a week for up to 10 weeks or over a school holiday period. On Gateway you will achieve a minimum of 10 to 20 credits on a Health and Safety course and a Work Ready course or Industry-based unit standards.
Gateway is not a timetabled class and successful students will have to catch up on the school work they miss due to the work placement. You can choose a day that works best for you and that least impacts your school timetable.
You must have good attendance. Places are limited and some courses and work placements will start this term so get your application forms in to Paula now or drop your form off at Student Services.
Want to find out more about Gateway? View the presentation here.