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Weekly Wrap Up

The Wrap Up (Week 9 & 10, Term 1 2024)

With only one week remaining before the end of Term 1, join us to congratulate our students on their impressive fundraising efforts during Relay for Life and applaud the accolades received in the National Youth Jazz Competition.  Check out the exciting and creative updates on the WHS Art and Culture social media channels. This and much more in this week’s Wrap Up.

Important Dates

  • Monday 8 April – Board meeting 6pm
  • Friday 12 April – End of Term 1

Term 2:

  • Monday 29 April – Term 2 starts
  • Thursday 2 May – Senior Parents Evening (2.00-6.00pm)
  • Monday 13 May  – Junior Parents Evening (2.00-6.00pm)
  • Monday 27 May – Thursday 30 May: Corequesite exams for Year 10
  • Friday 31 May – Teacher Only Day – school will be closed
  • Monday 3 June – Monarch’s Birthday – school will be closed
  • Tuesday 4 June – NCEA Teacher Only Day – school will be closed
  • Monday 10 June – Open Evening for 2025 – school finishes at 3pm
  • Friday 28 June – Matariki holiday – school will be closed
  • Friday 5 July – End of Term 2

What’s happening?

Relay for Life 2024

 

Opening Ceremony

A group of keen WHS students participated in the 2024 Relay For Life over the weekend of Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 March. Students spent time raising money before and during the event, with all funds going  towards the Cancer Society. Our Wellington High School students collectively raised an amazing $5,446.54! 

The event was loads of fun for all involved, and had a great atmosphere. There were activities such as the silent disco, the movie Shrek (which played at 2am) and other fun activities. 

The main objective of the event was to run/walk laps around a track, non stop, from 4pm Saturday to 8am Sunday, signifying the never ending battle that cancer survivors face. The Wellington High ākonga walked/ran a total of 286 laps, in 15 hours and 45 minutes. Safe to say that the 2024 Relay For Life was a big success, and that hopefully next year it will be just as good!

(By Willow Dearnley)

Safety Briefing

Achievements

National Youth Jazz Competition

 

For over four decades, young jazz aficionados from across New Zealand and beyond have converged at the National Youth Jazz Competition, a cornerstone event of the esteemed National Jazz Festival Tauranga. Last week, a contingent of ‘driven’ (busing over a thousand km!) and talented students from Wellington High School embarked on a journey to participate in this venerable festival.

Following three days of captivating performances by both big bands and smaller combos, Wellington High School emerged with notable accolades.

-The prestigious Ken Mitchell Trophy for Best Original Composition was awarded to Miro Holland, a testament to his exceptional creativity and talent.
-The Wellington High School Big Band clinched the Bronze, a testament to their dedication and skill.
-In the combo category, Office Max and UHHHHHHHH secured Gold, while Kantele Trio and Friend earned the Bronze, showcasing the depth of talent within our musical whanau.

These achievements underscore the commitment and artistry of our students, reaffirming Wellington High School’s place within the vibrant youth jazz community. Congratulations to all involved on a job well done.

Check out the creative changes to our Wellington High School Arts and Culture Facebook page and Instagram pages.

New Zealand Young Physicists’ Tournament 


The Wellington High School team of Aiden Scott, Marissa Burnette and Archer Page competed virtually in the 2024 NZYPT on Saturday 23 March. They had fun and learned a lot. Overall they finished 10th out of 19 teams. The podium teams were from Auckland Grammar, ACG Parnell and St. Cuthberts, so let’s see if we can return the trophy to Wellington next year.

Sport

Waka Ama

We had 5 teams competing in the Waka Ama National event in Rotorua. Day 1 our students raced in W1 and W12 Waka. Both our W12 teams made good semi finals, but unfortunately didn’t quite make finals. David Bellamy took 3rd place in Te Takere Final, Zoe Sprenger came 11th in Te Takere Final, Maaike Day came 5th in Te Takere Final and Janne Wiertsema just missed out on a Final.

David Bellamy

Tuesday was a good warm up for the teams to get out on the water. Throughout the week they raced their waka off and made good semi’s with one of our teams making it into a final. It was a very competitive week with teams giving it their all.  Our teams achieved better times than our Regional event a week earlier. Big ups to all the whānau who turned up in Rotorua to watch the kids race. Big ups also to Whaea Karen, Whaea Nicky, Whaea Char, Whaea Nat, Whaea Sarah, Whaea Maeve and Te Kuruhautoki (no.1 fan) for helping out throughout the week. 

Results of the Week

Whatonga

500m turn race 4th in Te Kei Semi

250m sprint 11th in Te Takere Semi

Taraika

500m turn race 8th in Te Ihu Semi

250m sprint 9th in Te Ihu Semi

J19 Wahine

Hineakau

500m turn race 6th in Te Ihu Semi

250m sprint 5th in Te Kei Final

If you are interested in doing Waka Ama contact the team as we are looking to do races with the club throughout the winter and summer season.

Alumni

March was a very eventful and exciting month for inductees to the Wall of Fame with not one but five inductions taking place. 

Wendy Matthews

A career diplomat with previous postings to Ha Noi as Ambassador (2016-2020) and New Delhi as Deputy High Commissioner (2011-2014) and Beijing (2005-2006), Wendy is now a Divisional Manager at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based in Wellington.  On the day of her induction Wendy initially met with Deputy Principal Rebecca Rapira-Davies to position her framed photo onto the Wall, following which she met with the Principal Dominic Killalea.  Read more about Wendy’s career representing New Zealand overseas here.

 

Josh Junior

An acclaimed New Zealand Olympic and international sailor, currently training as a helmsman with Emirates New Zealand, Josh was unfortunately unable to attend his induction.  His framed photo was placed on the Wall by the School Principal, Dominic Killalea.  Read more about Josh’s illustrious sporting career here.

 

Karen O’Leary

The multi-talented early childhood teacher, actress, and comedian was inducted on 15 March 2024.  Best known and recognised for playing Officer O’Leary on the television show, Wellington Paranormal, Karen created quite a stir in the school where she kindly posed for photographs with staff and students alike.  Read more about her impressive and eclectic acting repertoire here.

 

Clarrie Grimmett

Clarrie was born in Dunedin in 1891 and attended Wellington Technical College (then situated in Mercer Street) as an art student between 1906-7, winning a prize as the top art student.  He later went on to champion cricket, showing the first signs of his impressive talent during a match between the Wellington and Wairarapa schools during his final years at Mt Cook school.  Having passed away in Adelaide in 1980 aged 88, it was appropriate that Wellington High School’s only surviving Test cricketer, Trevor McMahon, induct Clarrie onto the Wall of Fame. Read more about Clarrie’s impressive cricketing accolades here.

Trevor McMahon

At an impressive 95 years of age, Trevor now holds the record of New Zealand’s oldest living former Test cricketer.  He was pleasantly surprised by the Principal, Dominic Killalea, when he came to Wellington High School to induct fellow cricketer Clarrie Grimmett, only to be told that he would also be inducted on the same day.  Read more about Trevor’s life and his contributions to New Zealand cricket here.

 

Careers

Check out the latest upcoming career events and opportunities for week 10. If any of these opportunities interest you, please see Chuni Bhikha, Dean/Careers Advisor located in the Year 13 Dean’s office by Student Services.  Click here to view the Career’s Newsletter.