• Our teachers developing innovative programs to support our young people and help bring learning to life. The recent Waka building project ran with the Marumaru class and developed by our A.P Renay Jones in conjunction with support from local artists and carvers was truly a great project to see from an idea to execution. Our students loved it and the Waka will be a project that generations of students will be able to use.

• The recent careers expo organised by Mrs Jo-Anne Stuart and Mrs Ball enabled all of our senior students to develop their vocational imagination and get clearer on their pathways beyond school. Whether that be from the agricultural sector, Police force, Army or University. We are thankful that we were able to engage local businesses and industries in showing what is on offer locally, regionally and nationally.

• The dedication our teachers show in their own professional learning. We are thankful for the leadership our English Department are showing nationally to pilot the new NCEA standards. They will help pave the way for all schools in New Zealand in the next year as they get on board with the new NCEA standards. Check out Whakatane High School's HOD of English, Ms Shae McLean, talking about the English pilot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOvcA4I-0mU

Teacher Only Day

The recent teacher only day was part of the National NCEA Teacher Only Days ran across New Zealand. Our school ran a number of sessions on the day the morning focussed on mana orite mo te matauranga Maori and Maori students succeeding as Maori. We were supported by Pouroto Ngaropo, staff, students and parents who helped unpack this important lens on learning that all schools will need to develop for all students across New Zealand and embed through the new NCEA standards. We will share more with you as we develop this framework in consultation with the school and wider community.

In the afternoon we focussed on Literacy and Numeracy requirements expected at NCEA across the New Zealand and our teachers worked collaboratively in planning for how this may look in their subject area. Thanks to Mrs McKane for co-ordinating the day. Thankyou also to Ms Alexis Teepa, Ms Te Aorere Walker and Mrs Tammy Rika for being brave enough to share their stories with us as a team.

Heoi anō tāku mō nāianei

That is all for now

Kia Pai to ra

Have a great day

Martyn Knapton

Last Friday, a waka built by local artist Jamie Boynton and 18 year 9 Whakatāne High School students was launched at the Ōhope boat ramp.

Whakatāne Assistant Principal, Renay Jones said she had noticed there were Māori students coming into the school struggling with transition into year 9. As a response, the year 9 Marumaru class was developed which has an integrated approach to learning that focuses on kaupapa Māori.

After applying for funding, Mrs Jones was able to put together a project of building a waka with Mr Boynton and the students as a learning experience. The students designed, built and painted the waka.

Several supporters showed up on the day of the launch and Atea-a-Rangi Educational Trust founders, Piripi Smith and Michelle Smith travelled from the Hawkes Bay, bringing their own waka, sailing skills and expertise to the event.

Following the launch, the students were lucky enough to experience a workshop of traditional navigation, sailing and Pacific migrations in a specialist dome, facilitated by Piripi Smith.

Last week from 19-21 May, the Te Aka Matua students held their annual noho. This year's noho was at Kokohinau Marae in Te Teko.

Te Aka Matua is a whānau-based programme that has been going for 20+ years within Whakatane High School. It encourages the caring and sharing values and teachings of our tipuna and we have seen generations of rangatahi come through.

The noho is spread out over a few days where students learn whakawhanaungatanga, to strengthen their friendships within their peers, tikanga maori and the history of which marae the noho is held. They practise haka, waiata and much more.

Participation in Sport

Despite Covid having a big impact on the whole community in 2020 we managed to get through most of the sports competitions over the second half of the year. We are very proud to share our 2020 Sport NZ Census results, which really standout when looking at the BOP and NZ averages.

We would especially like to thank our teaching staff who give up many hours outside of school to help coach and manage sports teams and ensure our students are given the opportunity to represent our school in their chosen sport.

• Overall Student Sport Participation - WHS 54% (BOP 44%, NZ 48%)
• Female Student Sport Participation - WHS 54% (BOP 42%, NZ 45%)
• Male Student Sport Participation - WHS 55% (BOP 46%, NZ 51%)
• Teaching Staff Sport Participation- WHS 58% (BOP 27%, NZ 27%)

Sports Funding

Whakatane High School is consistently looking at funding opportunities to help make sport and physical activity more accessible to all of our students. We would like to acknowledge and thank the following organizations for their financial support.

• Sport NZ Tū Manawa Fund (2020) - $13,800 towards equipment for our weights room and physical activity programs.
• Pub Charity (2020) - $11,000 towards new sports uniforms that are due to arrive these holidays
• Lion Foundation (2020) - $15,000 towards equipment and tournament week travel/accommodation.
• Southern Trust - $25,000 towards equipment and tournament week travel/accommodation
• Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund - $3336 towards travel to local competitions for our winter sports teams

Physical Activity Opportunities

Outside of Sport, Whakatane High School is always looking at opportunities to allow students to be physically active. This term Mrs Jones, Ms C-C and prefect, Sadie Van Beekhuizen will be continuing to run crossfit classes on Tuesday and Thursday at lunchtimes, this is open to all students that are keen

Mrs Ball and Ms Wright have started up a weekly walking group at lunchtimes, an easy way for students to get in a quick 30 mins of exercise

Box Fit started this week and is offered as weekly sessions this term, specifically targeting non-sports participants.

We have a range of sports gear that is available to be borrowed by students from our sports office during their breaks. This is a great way for students to be active in a more relaxed environment with their friends, students just need to swap their phone for a ball and then return the ball at the end of the break.

Getting Involved in Sport

For further information around sport at Whakatane High School you can go to WHS Sport Facebook Page and/or the school website

You can find the Facebook page here, or search for Sports at Whakatane High - https://www.facebook.com/Sports-at-Whakatane-High-154371166402260

There is also information under the Sports Link on the Whakatane High School Website -

https://www.whakatanehigh.school.nz/sports-draws

All information about sports, sign ups, meetings, trainings and upcoming events go through the daily student notices at school, these can be accessed via the school app, student/parent portal and they are also read out in mentor classes at school.

If there are any adults that would like to help coach or manage a sports team then please do not hesitate to get in touch with the sports staff at school, we are always grateful to all the community members that volunteer their time to our school and our students.

benjamin.sexton@staff.whs.co.nz

susi.peterson@staff.whs.co.nz

A big congratulations to the following students who have been named in their respective BOP Representative Volleyball teams to compete in the Inter-Provincial Champs which will be held in Wellington in early June.

• Codi Laurent - BOP U19 IPC Boys Blue Volleyball Team
• Oliver Forsyth - BOP U17 IPC Boys Blue Volleyball Team
• Jamie Julian - BOP U17 IPC Boys Blue Volleyball Team
• Mia Cole - BOP U17 IPC Girls Gold Volleyball Team

Another Bay Rep!

A big Congratulations to Skye Martin who was named in the BOP 2021 Under 18 Boys Rep Hockey Team.

1st XI Girls hit off their season in the BOPSS Competition with a home game against Rotorua Lakes High 1st XI team in very wet conditions. 15-0 to our girls.

They also played their 2nd game of the Whakatane womens competition on Sunday and are undefeated in both the local woman’s competition and the BOP secondary schools comp. There is a great energy with the team and the good wins early in the season have been showing there is a good solid base to work from for the future. The senior girls are showing great leadership with our younger players who are performing well and taking up the challenge. Really looking forward to seeing what this team can achieve.

2nd XI Boys had a very dominant performance for their opening match in the BOPSS Hockey Association Division 2 competition. They defeated Taupo-nui-a-Tia, 8-0. Our boys played well as a whole team. They held their positions, drew their opponent in then passed to each other with accuracy. Our defence was solid with our opponent only having 2 shots at goal and our goalie Jack Calder (never played in goal before) saving both of them.

Goal scorers Kavya Naik-3, Oliver Good-1, Finn Jones - 2, Ranjit Singh - 1, Tom Hamil - 1. POD was Sam Smith, solid team work, great commitment in attack and defence

1st XI Boys had a great game to kick off their season in the BOPSS Hockey association Division 1 competition. This is the 1st time the young side has been in Division 1 at the start of the season and they just lost, 2-1 to Tauhara Boys College 1st XI. Goal to Aakiwa Te Aho.

6-A-SIDE

Great start to the 6 aside hockey season with both teams winning their games.

WHS 1 (Gold) verse Awakeri Girls, 20-0. Great leadership shown by Kithmini Melville.

WHS 2 (Black) verse Awakeri Mixed 15-1 great technical goals scored by Kaylee Lawlor and Mouwhia Davis.

Kids are sourcing costumes, props are starting to be collected, choreography is amazing, singing coming along - especially when they are all singing together. It's getting exciting!

Health services provided FREE in school:

• School Nurse: daily except Wednesday morning
• School Doctor: Tuesdays P2
• Nutritionist/Dietitian: Weekly on Wednesday morning

Visit the Student Office to make an appointment.