Important Dates
- Monday 9th November: Senior Prizegiving, Riley Centre, 6pm
- Monday 16th November: NCEA Exams begin; access the timetable here.
- Tuesday 17th November: Teacher-Only Day — school closed except for students sitting external exams.
Important Information
Seniors: Exams and Study Leave
We are now into the final hours before study Leave and NCEA exams begins. Students are working hard and doing their best, given the upheaval that this year has brought.
- Here is a summary of important information related to the coming weeks for Years 11-13. This was emailed to all senior families and students last week.
Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s rōpū teacher, or their subject teacher, if you have any questions. We wish all our seniors the best of luck for the coming weeks.
Thank you to the Thomas George Macarthy Trust
Wellington High School has received $8,500 from the Thomas George Macarthy Trust. The grant will be used for the purchase of books or ICT equipment to be used in the Library. We are deeply appreciative of the Trust’s continued support.
Friends of Wellington High School AGM notice
In accordance with the Friends of Wellington High School constitution, the association formally advises that its Annual General Meeting will be held as follows:
Date: Wednesday November 18, 7.30pm
Venue: Staff room, Level 5, Main Block, Wellington High School, 249 Taranaki St
Agenda:
- Opening
- Apologies
- Obituaries
- Previous minutes
- Matters Arising
- Adoption of Financial Report
- Chairman’s Report
- Election of Office Bearers
- General Business
- Closure
If any former support staff, student or teacher wishes to attend, but cannot be present in person, they can attend the meeting via Zoom. For details contact the WHS Archivist, Carey Clements either on 04 385 8911 extension 935 or 021 073 4133. Alternatively email carey.clements@whs.school.nz
2020 magazine…. last chance to order
The 2020 school magazine will be published in December, celebrating this unprecedented year. Contrary to what one might imagine, it’s shaping up to be a bumper issue! If you would like a copy, please ensure that you have paid $20 by 11 November. Payments can be made by Eftpos at Student Services, or online.
What’s happening?
Year 13 Art Exhibition
You are invited to the Year 13 Portfolio Exhibition. This takes place in the Art Department (Level 2 D block), on Monday 9 November from 12 pm until 5.45pm (closes before Prizegiving at 6pm). The exhibition will also be open all day Tuesday 10 November.
The Year 13 students have made a huge effort to complete a large body of work in photography, printmaking painting, design and sculpture. The exhibition will only be on this short time. Please bring friends and family to celebrate this completion of work before the folios are sent way for marking.
Year 12 Physics Aurecon visit
Last week a group of Year 12 Physics students spent a day visiting Aurecon to learn about professional careers. The 17 budding engineers had an active day that included a virtual reality walk through the new Wellington hospital and several practical challenges. Some of the group are shown building and testing bridges made from pasta. Each year EngineeringNZ runs wonder projects for students to discover more about Engineering.
Junior Halloween Dance
On Friday the 30th of October the school held a Halloween dance for year 9 and 10 students in the Riley centre. 235 students purchased tickets, and the dance floor was packed! SnowQueen, a band composed of year 10 students from WHS, played a set, in amongst songs chosen by the students. There were many fabulous costumes, and prizes were given out to Prisha, Kahleigh and Felix for best group costume, Alex Black for best DIY costume, Niamh Boucher for best makeup, Gaby Zajac for spookiest costume, and Bessie Martin won best overall costume.
The dance was a fundraising idea, brought to staff by year 10 student Ashley McCloy, to support the people of Yemen through the current famine. Over $1000 was raised, and the evening was a great success all round!
Achievements
e-SGCNZ Award
Earlier in the year the Wrap Up featured WHS students Sophie Lee, Brooke McCloy and Ursula Palmer Steeds who participated in the Shakespeare Globe Centre NZ’s online Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival during lockdown. The talented trio worked with the Wellington Home Education Network to perform scenes from Richard II.
This week SGCNZ CEO Dawn Saunders, came on site to present Sophie, Brooke and Ursula with their ‘Most Thought-Provoking Award’ this week said, “Although the concept of the treatment of the chosen scenes from the play had been devised prior to Lockdown, Level 4 rent those asunder, resulting in the superbly created performance, entirely on ZOOM, with all in their own homes. The movement of the White Harts, three of whom were Sophie Lee (Year 10), Brooke McCloy and Ursula Palmer Steeds (Year 12), all from Wellington High School, was superbly created to the haunting violin music composed and performed by WHEN’s Jacynta Scurfield.” Congratulations!
Year 13 Toi Whakaari success
Huge congratulations to the following WHS students who have all been accepted into Toi Whakaari, The NZ Drama School three-year acting course:
- Ian Blackburn
- Nova Moala Knox
- Zoe Crane
- Reuben Tyrie (Year 13 in 2018)
Toi Whakaari is the most prestigious Drama course in NZ. Each year only 20 applicants are accepted from the hundreds who apply. This means that 20% of the 2021 class are WHS graduates. We are very proud of these students and wish them every success in their careers. Mīharo! Pai te mahi!
Manawatu Jazz Festival
The Manawatu Jazz Festival was reinstated in November after Covid postponements. Students from the Big band and the Jazz band entered into the secondary school competition part of the Festival. It was great to see this very young group of students excel in their music making. Duvan Coetzee won best drummer, Louis Holland best Trombone player, Miro Holland best trumpet player, Nico Buhne best piano player. We are very proud of these students.
Sports
Basketball 3X3 success
Congratulations to our 3X3 basketballers who came third in their competition this week. Thank you to Jason Reddish for coaching the team to this success.
He Kākano compete in AWD Swimming Sports
A group of our students enjoyed the AWD Swimming Sports on Friday 30th November. Rohan Lane-Turnbull placed 1st in the 50 metre freestyle event, and Dominique Gilling placed 3rd. Dylan Belke placed 1st in the kickboard race. Hamdiya Yusef participated in the free swim race and walk. It was great to see other students from schools around Wellington participate in such a popular AWD event.
Obituary – Trevor Malloch
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of former Wellington Technical College student Trevor Malloch, who died peacefully in his sleep on Monday at a rest home in Feilding.