|
WHAKATANE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Nau mai rarau mai ki te wāhanga tuatoru o te tau. Te tūmanako i pai ā koutou hararei, kua reri hoki koutou mō ngā mahi nui o tēnei wāhanga.
|
Warm greetings to you all and welcome back to Term 3! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful break and is ready to put their best foot forward for the term ahead.
|
Last Friday evening we hosted our School Ball with the theme “Rio Carnival.” It was great to see so many of our Year 12 and 13 students looking spectacular and enjoying themselves. A big mihi to all of our Prefects and senior students who dedicated so much time and energy to making the night such a success.
|
At our Junior Assembly on Tuesday, we spoke with students about starting the term strong by focusing on the fundamentals for success. We encourage all students to stay consistent with the following core expectations:
|
-
|
Regular Attendance: Being present every day.
|
-
|
Uniform: Wearing the correct school uniform with pride.
|
-
|
Punctuality & Readiness: Arriving to class on time with all required equipment.
|
-
|
Values: Respecting others and always striving to do your personal best.
|
Consistency in these areas creates a strong foundation for learning. We look forward once again to working alongside whānau to support our rangatahi on their learning journey this term.
|
|
Term 3 is a critical period for academic achievement. Our Senior students have just 11 full weeks of school remaining, making this term vital for their future goals. A key focus for us all this term is helping students gain clarity on the requirements for their chosen learning and career pathways.
|
As many of you may already be aware, significant changes are coming to education over the next few years:
|
-
|
2027: New curriculum taught across all subject areas in the Junior School.
|
-
|
2028–2030: Phased rollout for Senior School curriculum (Year 11 in 2028, Year 12 in 2029, and Year 13 in 2030).
|
-
|
Qualifications: Introduction of a new assessment and qualification framework alongside the curriculum updates.
|
As a school, we are fully committed to preparing for these transitions. While content, teaching methods, assessment, and reporting will evolve over time, our core mission remains unchanged - delivering high quality education and partnering with whānau to empower our rangatahi to reach their full potential and lead meaningful lives beyond school.
|
Finally, our winter sports teams have resumed play after a break over the holidays and now head into the business end of the season, where placings in their respective competitions will be finalised. For many of our premier teams the season culminates with Tournament Week in week 7. I encourage you all to enjoy your sport, to make a positive contribution to team culture and remember to acknowledge those that support your participation.
|
Ngā manaakitanga ki a tātau katoa
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome International Students
Nau mai, haere mai to our new international students! We were delighted to welcome 33 new international students last week with a pōwhiri.Students from Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the USA and Italy have joined our kura and are already embracing our rohe and learning programmes.
|
A special thank you to Mr Manning and Lena for supporting our newest arrivals as they settle into life at Whakatāne High School, and to our homestay families for providing such a warm and supportive environment.
|
|
We look forward to building strong connections with our international students and sharing many memorable experiences throughout their time with us.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome Sanjeevni!
|
Nau mai, Haere mai and Ni sa bula vinaka to our new English Teacher, Sanjeevni Kirti! With Amber Ingle now on maternity leave, Sanjeevni has stepped in to take over her classes and join the WHS English department whānau. Sanjeevni brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, having taught English in Fiji, and brings a calm air of authority in her room. Please join me in wishing her the very best. Starting mid-year with students you have to get to know is never easy, but she is taking it all in stride, and always with a smile. Welcome to Aotearoa, Sanjeevni, and welcome to Whakatāne!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
APPLICATIONS OPEN!
Applications for Wider Living Week opened on Tuesday and will remain open for three weeks.
|
-
|
How to apply: Log into the school portal, navigate to 'Course Selection', and submit your child’s preferences.
|
-
|
Trip details: You can view full information for each activity on our Google Site.
|
-
|
Need login details? Please contact your child’s mentor.
|
-
|
Payment options: For higher-cost trips, weekly payment plans can be arranged through the school office.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Heron Island
Across April and July, 40 of our Year 13 Marine and Land Sustainability students travelled to the University of Queensland’s Heron Island Research Station to explore and study the Southern Great Barrier Reef ecosystem.
|
Over two seven day trips, students experienced a unique hands-on learning opportunity, spending their days snorkelling, observing marine life, and investigating the complex relationships that make the reef one of the world’s most remarkable ecosystems. With up to four snorkels a day, students were fortunate to encounter sea turtles, sharks, manta rays, and an incredible variety of reef fish, while seeing first-hand the environmental concepts they have studied throughout the year.
|
|
Whakatāne High School is incredibly fortunate to be the only school in Aotearoa New Zealand invited to spend time at the Heron Island Research Station, making this an experience few students ever have the opportunity to be part of. This trip continues to be a highlight of our Marine and Land Sustainability programme, providing students with an unforgettable real-world learning experience and a fitting way to round off their studies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 2 Psychology - Research in Action!
Our Level 2 Psychology students are officially stepping into the shoes of social scientists! They are currently conducting hands-on research for their internal standards, exploring fascinating aspects of human behaviour.
|
|
Thank you to our Year 9 students who kindly stepped up to participate in these experiments and surveys! Your support and enthusiasm gave our researchers excellent data to work with. Our Psychology students are now moving into the analysis phase, where they will evaluate their findings and draw conclusions. We are incredibly proud of the ethical design and critical thinking they have shown throughout this project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Youth Art Awards Finalist
The Art Department warmly congratulates Nanami Hayter on becoming a finalist in the 2026 National Youth Art Awards. Out of an impressive 514 entries across Aotearoa, Nanami is one of just 64 artists selected to have their work showcased.
|
|
Her artwork will be on display at the ArtsPost Gallery in Hamilton from August 8 to August 29, 2026, following the opening and awards night on August 7. If you're visiting Hamilton in August, be sure to pop in and see Nanami's piece on display. We wish you the best of luck for the final judging, Nanami!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Career News
The Canvas Career Expo will be held at Mercury BayPark Arena on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August. All Year 10 students will attend on Friday. Other students and whanau are encouraged to attend on Thursday from 4.00 - 8.00 pm. Please visit the website for further details including the exhibitor list. Canvas Careers Expo
|
Hands On Otago - Year 11 and 12 students are encouraged to apply for Hands On Otago for an on campus experience in January, 2027. Students who attend are able to experience living in a residential college, take part in subject based projects and meet other students from throughout the country. 400 students are chosen to attend. Applications close Thursday 6 August. For all details, please visit the website - Hands on Otago Application
|
Women in Engineering at University of Canterbury (WiE CAN) is an opportunity for Year 12 girls who are taking Level 2 or 3 Physics and Calculus. WiE CAN is an annual 5 day/4 night Women in Engineering residential programme that features interactive workshops, inspiring presentations, and fun social activities. You will be immersed in student life and experience the range of engineering subjects on offer at UC. Applications close Friday 28 August. For all details, please visit the website - WiE CAN Application
|
The Leaving School magazine has arrived in school and will be distributed to senior mentor classes. The magazine covers various careers and has tips for school leavers. For the online version, please visit the website - Leaving School Issue 36
|
Those Year 13 students going to university in 2027 should be applying for scholarships now with due dates approaching. Accommodation applications will open on August 1.
|
Course planning will happen from week 2 until the end of term:
|
|
|
|
Auckland University of Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Victoria University of Wellington
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gold Coast Sports Tour 2026
During the holidays, 59 students and 7 adults travelled to the Gold Coast for the 2026 Whakatāne High School Sports Tour, representing rugby, football, netball, and basketball.This was the school’s second sports tour to Australia, following the successful 2024 trip that saw 88 students and 11 staff make the journey.
|
This trip is one of the most unique sporting trips offered by a NZ school due to the scale of this tour and the number of teams that travel together, and one that Whakatāne High School is proud to offer.
|
The group stayed at the Gold Coast Performance Centre in Runaway Bay, an amazing facility that caters to athletes, sports teams and the wider community. During their stay, students had the opportunity to interact with athletes from around the world, including USA Track and Field competitors, a UK netball team, and a Brisbane school rugby team.
|
Over the course of the tour, the Whakatāne High School sports teams engaged in a comprehensive development program at the performance centre, featuring high-intensity interval training (HIIT), speed and sprint mechanics, baseline fitness testing, performance metrics, Zumba, hot and cold pool contrast therapy, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu session covering grappling and self-defence.
|
Away from sport, students enjoyed a range of memorable experiences, including shopping at Harbour Town, a day at Dreamworld, a visit to the SkyPoint Observation Deck, watching the Gold Coast Suns take on Collingwood in the AFL, and an evening at the Australian Outback Spectacular.
|
One of the highlights of the tour was attending the State of Origin clash at Suncorp Stadium alongside more than 52,000 fans. The electric atmosphere made for an unforgettable experience, regardless of which team students were supporting.The tour featured numerous competitive fixtures across all sports. All games were played in a friendly manner and gathered good support on the sideline as WHS students had many family members and some local Whakatane ex-pats come and provide support.
|
|
Whakatāne High would like to acknowledge all the schools and clubs for hosting our teams and making us feel welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chainsaw course
Our students have been lucky enough to engage in two separate Basic Chainsaw Use and Maintenance courses during Terms 2 and 3. Delivered by Silvipath, these programmes are designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, helping students see forestry as a dynamic career choice with diverse roles like silviculture operations.
|
The boys gained vital industry-relevant skills including safe chainsaw handling, operation, and maintenance, alongside critical health and safety awareness for forestry environments. The course structure involves a theory component to build a basic understanding of safe operation, followed by hands-on practical training in chainsaw sharpening and cutting. This term, the group was privileged to visit the Hanlan homestead on Pahou Pa Road in Poroporo. They spent the day cutting down 50+ year-old willows for Mr Hanlen’s father and prepping wood for next year’s winter season.
|
|
It was an awesome way for the boys to give back to our school community while considering future careers as arborists, in forestry, or running a small business. These programmes provide core skills that can lead to immediate employment or further training within the industry. A massive thank-you to Patrick Aislabie from Silvipath for another successful course!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any Year 11 and 12 students interested in experiencing university life are encouraged to apply for Hands On Otago in January 2027.
|
This programme gives students the opportunity to stay in a residential college, attend lectures, meet students from across New Zealand, and take part in a subject-specific project. Around 400 senior students from throughout the country attend each year.
|
|
Scholarships are available, and all information can be found on the website:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
HEALTH CORNER
|
Going to school every day is important for all school aged children. It helps build their confidence and social skills, and to achieve their education and life ambitions. This information helps you decide when it is okay to send your child to school, when you should keep your child at home and when you should contact a health professional for advice. See the link below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
