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Weekly Wrap Up

The Wrap Up (Weeks 7-10, Term 4 2023)

Term may have ended but it’s not too late to reflect on the busy and successful final weeks of term. From Toi Whakaari graduations and Wellington Trades Academy awards to success in animé and our Year 9 and 10 celebrations, what better way to end the year than with a Wrap Up that is bursting with energy and achievement. We wish all our whānau a relaxing and restorative summer break and look forward to 2024.

Important Dates

2024

  • Tuesday 30 January: Year 9 pōwhiri  (Year 9 orientation day 1)
  • Wednesday 31 January: New Year 10-13 pōwhiri / Year 9 orientation day 2
  • Thursday 1 February: Year 10-13 rōpū and assembly / Year 9 normal timetable
  • Friday 2 February: all students normal timetable
  • Tuesday 6 February: Waitangi Day (school closed)

Further information regarding the start of year programme will be emailed to all whānau and caregivers on Monday 18 December.

Important Information

Youthline 

Youthline is now 24/7.

You can access free child and youth services at Atareira in Wellington.

Internationals in need of Homestay

We are hunting for welcoming and inclusive families to host our international students next year. We are particularly looking for families who can host German boys for 3 or 6 months from the start of Term 1 2024. 

The International Department provides great support and guidance to all host families and we are keen to hear from you if you fancy hosting even for just a short time. 

Open up a world for your family and be part of enriching and transforming lives.

The homestay fee is $340/week.

Please contact: Prue Isaacs, International Director – 021 303 938 or email homestay@whs.school.nz

Metlink update – Karori

Metlink have informed the school that, effective 28 January 2024, route 18 will operate a more frequent service benefiting students living in Karori.

Morning:

  • Leaving Karori at 7.46am arriving WHS at 8.22am
  • Leaving Karori at 8.00am arriving WHS at 8.36am (new service)
  • Leaving Karori at 8.15am arriving WHS at 8.49am

Afternoon

  • Leaving WHS at 3.28pm
  • Leaving WHS at 3.33pm (new service)
  • Leaving WHS at 3.53pm

Achievements

Year 9 and 10 celebrations

End of year celebratioins for students in Years 9 and 10 took place on the final day of term, Wednesday 13 December.

To view photos from each year group’s celebration visit the Photo Galleries.

Click on the links for the prizewinner lists for Year 9 and Year 10.

Wellington Trades Academy awards

Congratulations to the our students who have been recognised by the Wellington Trades Academy (WTA) for their success in 2023.

Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School graduates 2023

On 8 November, six WHS alumni graduated from Toi Whakaari: The NZ Drama School. 

Congratulations to Alex McLeod (WHS class of 2020), who has gained a NZ Diploma of Costume Construction. Alex managed costumes for the WHS Shakespeare Society and also worked with local theatre companies while she was still with us here at school. 

And congratulations to Sol Maxwell (class of 2017), Reuben Romanos (Tyrie) (2018), Nova Moala-Knox (2020), Ian Blackburn (2020), and Zoe Crane (2020) who have all gained a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting). All of these students made memorable contributions to the performing arts during their time at our kura. Not only as performers, but as leaders and supporters to others.  We are proud to celebrate your success – congratulations! 

Alex McLeod, pictured left, with her fellow Costume Construction graduates. Photo credit: Philip Merry/Toi Whakaari

Acting graduates Ian Blackburn (back row, 3rd from left), Sol Maxwell (7th from left) Zoe Crane (Middle row, 4th from left) Nova Moala-Knox (4th from R) and Reuben Romanos (seated front) with the graduating Bachelor of Acting class. Photo credit: Philip Merry/Toi Whakaari

Audition Success

We congratulate Isaac Hoskins, Emily Morse and Lara Moore (Year 13),  who all successfully auditioned for a place at Te Auaha (Whitireia/Weltec). They will start the NZ Diploma in Drama course in February, which continues over the next two years with an option for a third year of study to gain a Bachelor in Creativity (Performing Arts). 

Further congratulations go to Violet Patterson, who has gained a place at Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School in the Bachelor of Performing Arts (Acting) course. Violet was the 2023 recipient of the Michael Boyes Award for Senior Drama. Toi Whakaari only accepts 20 students each year from auditions held all across the motu. We are proud of Violet and all our theatre students and graduates! Mauri ora!

Animé success

Congratulations to Ioana Alexandrescu and Alex Kerr (Year 11) for being awarded a ‘tokubetsushou’ (special award) for their animé “Translation Mishap”, in the 2023 Japan Foundation Video Matsuri Competition. Their film is about a fox called Kichi who uses ‘Poodle Translate’ to translate a birthday cake recipe. All sorts of things end up in the cake, including toothpaste – the signature item for this year’s contest.  You can view their animé to find out what happens here.

Words from the judging team: “It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm towards Japanese and the effort that went into creating this entry.”

たいへんよくできました！

Wellington Junior Science Tournament

Two WHS teams competed in the tournament held at WHS on Friday 1 December. The teams had been working on investigations into the three tournament problems for the past month. On the day they had to present their solutions to juries of science teachers and university students. They were opposed by students from other schools who had worked on the same problems. The final scores had the Wellington High School Lab Rats in 1st place and the other WHS team 3rd.

Wellington High School 2 with team leader Kage Nesbit and Mentor Charlie Chen

Wellington High School Lab Rats with team leader Murray Chisholm and mentor Aiden Scott

What’s happening?

Year 10 – Have a go day

Year 10 students had the opportunity to engage with eight employers to hear about the range of careers in their companies. All the research into how young people/families navigate the process of Career Planning, shows that the more interactions students have, the better informed they are and the better choices they make (subjects, study, pathways)

The companies present were: NZ Police, Te Whatu Ora, Springload (IT), ETCO (Electrical Training), Microsoft, BNZ, Naylor Love, ZX Security (Cybersecurity. As well, there were two school based presentations: NCEA L1 in 2024 at WHS and Careers support and opportunities for Year 11 students at WHS.

It was a very good day and seemed to be enjoyed by students and employers. If you/your company are interested in being involved in such a day or perhaps even interested in having students for visits or offering work experience opportunities, please get in touch with me.

Chuni Bhikha (Pathways Advisor) – 021 244 5420

He Kākano

Ākonga spent the last week of term with their peers enjoying a range of classes and outings to wrap up the term. Highlights include a group visit to a whānau-owned cafe of a student who is leaving WHS to study at Weltec. It was also exciting to watch a student training at the Riding for the Disabled school, as part of the Special Olympics programme. Junior ākonga have been making bluetooth speaker boxes in workshop and using microscopes to look at onion layers in science. In news, the level one linkwell now has an updated mural piece that ākonga have painted. The He Kākano community is looking forward to a nice summer holiday. Mā te wā in 2024!