Issue 1 - 3 February 2023
WHAKATANE HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
E ngā reo, e ngā mana, rau rangatira mā, ngā matā waka, tēnei te mihi nui atu ki ā koutou katoa. Ko te wawata me te tumanako ka noho ora mai koutou katoa.
Dear parents, whānau and community,
Welcome back to all students and staff for the 2023 school year. We started the year with our pōwhiri which welcomed year 9 students and their Whānau to the school. It was great to see so much support for our new students and we are excited to share your child’s secondary school journey, in partnership with them. In addition to our new year 9s, we welcomed new students at other year levels including 40 new international students. They were supported by the Deans and the Director of International, Mr Manning.
Our new year 9s were supported with a great orientation program which will enable them to develop connections with their teachers, peers and our prefects, and also feel safe and secure so they are ready to learn for the exciting year ahead.
Year 10-13 students arrived for their first day at school on 2nd February, despite the weather, our school feels energetic as students catch up with friends. I want to acknowledge the significant amount of work that the staff have put in behind-the-scenes to make sure the school year started as smoothly as possible for everyone involved. I am proud of their hard work and professionalism.
Powerful Partnerships
Our young people thrive at WHS when they are supported and connected by strong relationships. Our school has invested heavily on ensuring students are cared for and looked after. Every child has a Mentor, they meet during Mentor time before interval every day. The mentor is your child's advocate at school and every parent's point of connection at the Kura. Our aim is that Mentors will follow their students through the school. They are there to make sure:
Your child is happy and settled. Working with you through any issues.
Your child sets and reviews learning goals during the year.
You and your child know how they are achieving and progressing at school.
Your child has the right learning program and course selection.
By now, you should have received an email with your child's Mentor Class and their Mentor Teacher, along with your portal login details. If you haven't received this, please email admin@whakatanehigh.school.nz
In addition, all Mentors are supported by Deans, there are Deans at every year level. The Deans co-ordinate the work of the Mentors at each year level, developing programs that support well-being, goal setting, career guidance, cybersafety and any other specific need for that year level. They will also be advocates for their year level and the young people in that year. Our aim is that the Deans follow their year group through school. This year our school has selected some great Deans. You can find all the Deans here.
We have a large group of new staff starting at Whakatane High and I welcome them to our school and being part of the team in 2023, we will introduce the staff in our next newsletter.
QUALITY LEADERSHIP: STUDENT LEADERS
Our students today are the leaders of tomorrow, the qualities and skills of our Head Students and Prefects will help strengthen our school. Our student leaders attended the excellent Prefects Camp organised by Mrs McKane at Hokowhitu-a-tu Marae. The three day camp helped our prefects work collaboratively and hone their leadership skills in anticipation for their work in 2023. Below are our student leaders for 2023, they were recognised by the whole school at a whole school assembly and presented with their badges:
Head Girl: Londie Rika
Head Boy: Te Rangimoaho Piper-iti
Deputy Head Girls: Grace Iremonger and Daemiza Marks
Deputy Head Boys: Jamie Julian and Jonghyun Yun
PREFECT AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
House and Sport:
- Teigan Nolan and Kiera Dooley (Rimu)
- Mia Cole and Anna Isaac (Kauri)
- Sophie Peat and Eva Sexton (Matai)
- Jamie Julian and Ryan Calder (Totara)
Publicity:
- Hera Eruera
- Chloe Moore
- Charlie Waters
Te Aka Matua:
- Ihaka Hau
- Evanda Savage
Hauora/Wellbeing:
- Kobe Shilton
- Joshua Broadmore
- Callum Giles
- Olivia Nolan
Academic:
- Jonghyun Yun
- Hawk Bendikson
- Grace Iremonger
- Sam Bennett
- Daemiza Marks
- Ashley Giles
- Rhys Robertson
We look forward to better weather and further events this term which bring the community into the school and help strengthen connections for the benefit of our young people.
Martyn Knapton
Principal
PPTA Strike Action
Here are our Healthy Lunches menus for Term 1
If your student has not let us know that they have a dietary requirement, there will not be a lunch available for them, and they may take someone else's lunch.
Please either email office@whakatanehigh.school.nz with your student's requirement, or tell your child to come to the Student Office, and we'll add them to our list.
If you are an existing student, you will need to add your name to the list again for our new providers.
Artwork on display
The show is on now, check it out!
Sports
We value sports at WHS. It is another important way to build partnerships with the community.
Sport strengthens our school culture and helps students develop in a variety of ways. We look forward to great participation and success in 2023. Two people who really enable that to happen are Ben Sexton the Director of Sport and the Sports Co-ordinator Renske Forsyth. They will communicate upcoming practices, events, competitions and successes through the school Social Media platforms - Sports at Whakatane High on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sportswhakatanehigh/) and Whakatane High School on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whakatanehighschool/?hl=en). Students are also encouraged to regularly check and read school notices each day as sport meetings/training and games are regularly published here.
Senior Volleyball - both Indoor and Beach, Waka Ama, Ultimate Frisbee, 3x3 Basketball, Rowing and Futsal are just a few sports that take place in term 1.
Athletics
Congratulations to these WHS athletes who competed at the North Island Colgate games recently, against the best athletes across the Island:
- Ariana Dawson - 2nd in Girls 12 yr old 200m / 5th in 100m / 5th in 400m /14th Discus.
- Kirwan Penny - 3rd in Boys 13 year old 400m / 10th in 100m / 8th 200m
- Lily Anderson - 7th Girls 14 year old 100m, 200m and 400m
- Finn Anderson - 5th in Boys 13 year old High Jump /12th Discus
Finn, Ariana and Kirwan are Year 9 students in 2023 and Lily is Year 11.
The WHS athletes then competed at the South Island Colgate games. Competing against top NZ and Australian athletes, they performed brilliantly.
- Ariana Dawson gained Silver 400m and 200m. 4th 100m and 10th Long Jump.
- Finn Anderson was 7th Discus. 8= High Jump and 6th Shot Put.
- Lily Anderson was a Finalist in the 100m, 200m and 400m.
Netball
Huge congratulations to Year 9 students Waimanawa Robinson, Asaiah Kinghazel, Maraea Brown, Vays Morris and Ariana Dawson who have been selected for the U13 Waiariki Netball Team. The team will travel to New Plymouth over Easter weekend to play in the Aotearoa Maori Netball tournament. Well done ladies
Rowing
A number of WHS rowers participated in the North Island Rowing Champs held in Karapiro over the long weekend. Results were:
- GOLD - Travis Talpos & Alex Iremonger (U16 Double Sculls)
- GOLD - Travis Talpos, Alex Iremonger, Leon Mahy, Micah Harrison Walker & cox Hamish McPherson (U16 Quad Sculls)
- GOLD - Shaun Snow & Luke Berquist (Men’s Senior Double Sculls)
- SILVER - Ash Schutz, Jonathan Hyde-Nathaniel, Leon Mahy, Luka Hewitt & cox Hamish McPherson (Mens Novice Coxed Quad Sculls)
- SILVER - Travis Talpos (Mens Intermediate Single Sculls)
- Sophie Peat - 2nd D final (Intermediate Single Sculls)
- Jack Boyde & Ryan Pryde - 2nd B final (U16 Double Sculls)
- Leon Mahy & Jonathan Hyde-Nathaniel - 5th A Final (Mens Novice Double Sculls)
- Ash Schutz & Luka Hewitt - 1st B Final (Mens Novice Double Sculls)
- Jack Boyde, Ryan Pryde, Ash Schutz, Jonathan Hyde-Nathaniel and cox Grace Iremonger - 6th A Final (Boys U16 Coxed Quad Sculls)
- Alex Iremonger - 7th A Final (Mens Intermediate Single Sculls)
- Micah Harrison-Walker - 8th C Final (Mens Intermediate Single Sculls)
Beach Volleyball
A number of WHS students were in action at Mount Maunganui playing beach volleyball in the NZ IPC age group champs. IPC - Inter Provincial Champs, attracts players from all over NZ including Otago and Canterbury from the South Island playing in 2 divisions - Under 17 and Under 19. Players have to trial to be included in their provincial teams. The tournament was played over three long days. A big congratulations to Jamie Julian who with his partner from Otumoetai College claimed the silver medal in the U19 Boys division. Results for WHS students were -
U19 BOYS
- Jamie Julian (partner from Otumoetai College) - 2nd
- Daniel Beck (partner from John Paul College) - 22nd
U19 GIRLS
- Kendall McKane (partner from Otumoetai College) - 8th
U17 BOYS
- Jai Julian (partner from Trident High School) - 7th
- Marky Robinson (partner from Otumoetai College) - 15th
- Keidan Tebbutt (partner from Trident High School) - 16th
U17 GIRLS
- Ani Doherty and Monique Prasad - 6th
- Zoe Laurent (partner from Papamoa College) - 17th
WHS has 12 teams entered in the NZSS Beach Volleyball Champs which take place over Waitangi weekend at Mount Maunganui beach. We wish all athletes the best of luck.
Welcome International Students
The International team at WHS is excited to welcome back International students in larger numbers for 2023. We have over 30 International students who have joined the nine students who stayed over summer from last year. Here are some pictures of the first arrivals with their wonderful host parents and family.
UPCOMING EVENTS
For the full calendar of events, check out this link:
https://portal.whakatanehigh.school.nz/index.php/calendar
- Production whanau hui - 8 February, 5.15pm
- Year 9 Big Day Out - 10 February
- ID Photos - 22 February
- Year 9 BBQ - 23 February
- Athletics Day - 24 February
- Swimming Sports - 10 March
- Student Mentoring Interviews - 15-16 March
(booking link advertised at a later date)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Student Health Notice
Health services provided FREE in school:
- School Nurse: daily except Wednesday morning
- School Doctor: Tuesdays P2
School bus information
Rangiatea Whakatane School For Young Parents
Contact Us
Email: admin@whakatanehigh.school.nz
Website: https://www.whakatanehigh.school.nz
Location: Whakatane High School Goulstone Rd, Whakatane 3120, New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 308 8251
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whakatanehigh/