Buller High School Newsletter
Issue 3, March 2023
From the Principal
Kia ora koutou,
It is great to see that most senior students are now on their NCEA journey for 2023. Some for the first time, and others continuing their journey towards the qualification that will provide them with the choices they want for the future. In our school we are educating future Lawyers, Doctors, Builders, Plumbers, Nurses, Teachers, Mechanics, and many other future careers, some not even yet thought of. A passion for learning and self-improvement is essential for anyone with a dream or a goal – we are excited about playing some part in making those dreams come true!
Two weeks ago, the student council ran a ‘decades’ non-uniform day to support those in the North Island affected by the devastating floods. You may have seen a photo in the local Westport News and our last newsletter. Teachers and students alike joined in this effort, with the proceeds being donated to Wairoa Primary School, one of many schools impacted by this disaster. Our school has been the recipient of this kindness in the past and was great to have the opportunity to hopefully put a smile on the faces of the students.
Now that we can once again offer many opportunities outside the school, it is timely to remind all students that representing the school in any arena is a privilege. We want to support and promote these events as much as possible. Any student can be a part of a team, club, group, to represent the school they simply have to:
- Be in our school uniform each and every day and when they travel (school pride)
- Attend their classes each and every day (high attendance rate)
- Have a clean or mostly clean pastoral record (positive attitude)
We want to support all students to be part of the wider life of the school, so it is disappointing whenever any student doesn’t meet these three criteria and misses an opportunity. We remind our students regularly and encourage them to do the right thing.
We encourage parents and whānau into the school whenever possible. If you do want to speak to a teacher or staff member I would encourage you to call first for an appointment. Our teachers, Deans and Senior Leadership Team all having teaching loads and we want to ensure that when you do come in, we can meet and give you our full attention. I know that at times you need to come in immediately and we will continue to try and meet with you when you arrive.
We have a great cleaning team here at the school. They work hard after school each day to ensure that our staff and students arrive to a clean school environment. The vast majority of our students appreciate this environment and treat it accordingly. There are a few that persist in using the toilets for a lunch and meeting venue and some that choose to vape in the toilets. We are monitoring these venues and those that are responsible for any mess, graffiti or damage will also be responsible for cleaning up or paying to repair damage. Again, I want to acknowledge the large number that respect the environment and hope the few that don’t realise the impact that they are having on their friends and fellow students.
The whakatauki below is relevant at this time.
“He aroha whakatō, he aroha puta mai”
If kindness is shown, then kindness you shall receive
I look forward to once again sharing more student and staff successes and would encourage all parents and the community to be involved in the many events scheduled this term.
Met Our 2023 Student Leaders
3v3 Basketball
BHS hosted the 3v3 Basketball West Coast Secondary Schools tournament.
This was a new addition to the WCSS calendar, it was so popular trials were held at school to qualify for the event.
Everyone had a great day and lots of fun was had. A big thank you to Maddison Crawford, Rick Shearer, Deirdre Paterson, Sheree Cargill, and all the Students for helping and playing.
Congratulations to our own WCSS 3v3 Champions!
Left to right: Trey Paterson, Ethan Nixon, Callum Warrin and Karl Yap
House Leaders 2023
Meet our House Leaders for 2023, as voted in by their House peers.
Left to right: Ashlee Forsyth, Indi Angel, Mikayla Green, Trey Paterson
Left to right: Patrick Davey-Curtain, Levi Phipps, Keana Anderson, Amber Foote
Left to right: Ethan Nixon, Cody Roche, Emma Rajasaari, Lyra Barlow-Waters
Left to right: Stella O’Dea, Allie Syron, Keir Barry, Karl Yap
Photography Win!
A BIG congratulations to Thomas Gowland-Douglas who won the youth section of the "Creative Click" photography competition held at the Left Bank Gallery (Greymouth) at the end of 2022.
He was the winner for Technical Innovation for his photograph ‘Big Camera Small World’.
Penguin Box Creations
Reuben and Amber create penguins and paint a nest box destined for Carters Beach foreshore.
They are exploring conservation of our local Little Blue Penguin. Dogs, feral and domestic cats and loss of nesting habitat are serious threats to the Carters Beach penguins.
A nest box provides a safe quiet home for the smallest penguins in the world to raise their chicks.
West Coast Secondary Schools Athletics Champs
A big congratulations to all students who competed in the WCSS Athletics held in Greymouth on the 7th of March. Special mention to the following students for their placings!
Ciara Pugh: Under 15 Girls 1500m - 3rd
Cherrish Williams: Under 14 Girls 200m - 3rd
Christie Cumming-Power:
Under 15 Girls High Jump -1st
Under 15 Girls Long Jump - 2nd
Under 15 Girls Discus - 3rd
Under 15 Girls 100m - 1st
Under 15 Girls 200m - 2nd
Under 15 Girls 400m - 2nd
Sophie O'Toole: Under 14 Girls Shot Put - 2nd
Katie Bill:
Under 15 Girls 100m - 3rd
Under 15 Girls 200m - 3rd
Under 15 Girls 400m - 3rd
Ashlee Forsyth:
Under 19 Girls 100m - 1st
Under 19 Girls 200m - 1st
Under 19 Girls 400m - 1st
Under 19 Girls Long Jump - 3rd
Jack Anderson:
Under 15 Boys 800m - 1st
Under 15 Boys 1500m - 2nd
Kade Anderson:
Under 14 Boys 100m - 3rd
Under 14 Boys High Jump - 3rd
Under 14 Boys Long Jump - 2nd
Chase McManaway:
Under 15 Boys 100m - 1st
Under 15 Boys High Jump - 1st
Under 15 Boys Long Jump - 1st
Under 15 Boys Shot Put - 1st
Under 15 Boys Discus - 2nd
Ben Shierny:
Under 19 Boys High Jump - 3rd
Under 19 Boys Long Jump - 1st
Under 19 Boys Triple Jump - 1st
Under 19 Boys Discus - 1st
Under 19 Boys 100m - 3rd
Volleyball
The senior boys and girls Volleyball teams, traveled to Nelson, Friday 17 March, to play in the Tasman Volleyball Division 2 Tournament at Saxton Sports.
Both teams were very competitive with wins, draws and close losses.
Science Roadshow (Tūhura Tuarangi)
Buller High School students and the community had a chance to explore a visiting science roadshow (Tūhura Tuarangi) with an outer space theme.
Students had a chance to build a satellite, launch a rocket, and see how you can create energy out of water. Get up close with ion thrusters, a four-billion-year-old meteor, and a part of a secret Russian space craft. They also got to try out the flight simulator based on New Zealand’s own space plane that started operating this year.
Even the sky is not the limit at Buller High School.
Note from Buller Netball
Kia Ora, the 2023 Netball season is just around the corner if you are keen on playing Netball this year feel free to register your child by clicking on one of the below buttons, which will open the Buller High School team registration form.
Student Services Corner
Having our needs met
Last newsletter we started a journey, looking at the powerful emotion of anger. This week I want to explore the concept of having our needs met. When our basic, psychological and self-fulfilment needs are met, we have self-esteem, resilience, and less anger.
Abraham Marslow (Humanistic Psychologist) developed….
Relating to this model:
- When was the last time you were hungry? (So hungry, you were getting angry) - Physiological / Basic needs.
- When was the last time you felt belittled? – Esteem/psychological needs.
- When was the last time you were crabby because of a lack of sleep? – Physiological / Basic needs.
- When was the last time you didn’t feel like you didn’t fit in? - belongingness/psychological needs.
If all layers of the pyramid are full this represents the ideal situation. Imagine that!
Of course – ‘Life is a journey’, you are going to have highs and lows, there will be times this pyramid will be looking good for an individual and times it won’t.
But if we can think about the above model and ask questions around, where do I fit on this model? What are my needs and are they being met and if not, how can I meet them. Some good questions to reflect on.
Food for thought. Take care and go well!
Ainslie Duncan – School Counsellor.