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Newsletter 9: November, 2014
Otamatea High School
Te Kura Tuarua o Otamatea
ASB Northland Secondary School Sports Awards
Principal’s Comment
The senior prizegiving was a wonderful celebration of student success; the increased
student participation in terms of musical items was certainly well received.
Congratulations to all the prizewinners and to the newly appointed prefect leadership
team for 2015. The seniors are now busy preparing and sitting their external exams;
some are also meeting with teachers for last minute study advice.
Over the next month there are a number of trips and activities on offer for all junior
students. Year 10s are off to Kai Iwi Lakes for Girls’ Camp and Boys’ Camp (Sunday 7th
December – Wednesday 10th December). This is often cited by senior students as one
of the most memorable times of their schooling so I would encourage all Year 10
students to get involved. The Year 9 students have planned activities to Waipu Cove
and Langs Beach (Monday 8th December), Whangarei Museum, Heritage Park and
Aquatic Centre (Tuesday 9th December) and Adventure Forest Ropes Course
(Wednesday 10th December - numbers are limited to 40 for this trip so it is important to
get money and permission slips in early). Year 8s are off to Waiwera Hot Pools (Monday
8th December) and Matakana Military Arts Academy (Tuesday 9th December) and the
Year 7s have the opportunity to go to Ruakaka Beach (Monday 8th December) and
Kensington Stadium for an ‘All Stars’ day (Tuesday 9th December). Please ensure that
the money and permission slips for these activities is brought to the school by the due
date as this enables the trip to go ahead smoothly. Please also indicate if you would
like to be involved as a helper. On Tuesday 25th November we welcome the Year 6s from
the local primary schools to Otamatea High School for The OTA Fun Day. Some selected
Year 7s will be ambassadors for the day and selected Year 8s will be helpers will be
helping to run this day.
This is the final newsletter for 2014. As we are coming to the conclusion of the first
year of our new communication format (newsletters and Te Panui weekly e mail
updates) I encourage you to contact the school with any feedback that you have. All
families will be receiving a complimentary copy of the school magazine; this has been
sponsored for this year and next by Fuji Xerox, who supply our photocopiers at the
school. These will be distributed to junior
students and any senior students or family
members can collect their family copy at the
school office. I hope that you enjoy reading this
exciting publication which is a celebration of
Otamatea High School student success
throughout the year.
Rachel Clothier-Simmonds, Principal
Senior Prizegiving 2014
Otamatea High School's senior prize-giving took place on Tuesday November 4th at
1.30pm. The students were very well presented in their school uniforms and the Year 13
students demonstrated sartorial elegance with their attire. Congratulations to all of the
prize-winners and to those who have the honour of representing the school next year as
student leaders. Particular recognition goes to Ruby-Rose Hallamore and Nina Linnell who
were the top academic achievers in Year 11 and Year 12 respectively. The highest
accolades go to Jordan Hyland who was Dux Ludorum after being promoted to Level 3
from Level 2 earlier in the year and well done to James Finlay who was Proxime Accesit.
The afternoon ran very smoothly. We listened to the students comments from previous
years and as a result there were more items and shorter speeches. Thanks also to the
performers Monica Jaques, Jasmine Sampson, and Elizabeth Harris. Particular mention
goes to James Finlay who accompanied Elizabeth and Jasmine as well as singing the lead
for the Vybes. Matt McRae and Elias Giles are the other members of the Vybes trio.
I was very impressed with our guest speaker, Phillip Tana, who shared some of his life
experiences and some of his wisdom about coaching. It was not hard to see why he has
coached some very successful teams. He had magnificent blend of humour and inspiration
which helped to add to the enjoyment of the afternoon tea.
Thanks also to the PTCA who are all great supporters of the school and they provided the
afternoon.
Events like these involve the actions of lots of people behind the scenes so a final huge
thank you to all of the staff, the Principal, the Board of Trustees, parents, whanau and
most of all the students whose endeavours throughout the year are honoured at prizegiving.
Otamatea High School is enrollng now for 2015
Please contact the school office to secure
your enrolment interview
Senior Prizegiving Special Prizes and 2015 Student Leaders
Kia Maia – Be Brave in Learning
Jessie Vaughan Trophy for Senior
Citizenship
Exceptional School Supporter
Fair Play & Sportsmanship Trophy
Outstanding Sporting
Achievement
Peer Support Award
Senior Victrix Ludorum
Senior Victor Ludorum
First in Year 11
Student exhibiting School Spirit
First in Year 12
Excellence in Year 12 English &
Science
Most Promising Student
Returning to School
Best Aggregate of Science
Subjects in Year 13
(Te Uri o Hau Development Ltd)
(Ferguson and Oldham Trophy)
General Excellence by a Senior
Student
Best All Round Maori Pupil
Proxime Accessit
(D A Finlayson Cup)
DUX OF THE SCHOOL
(Mr & Mrs L Mitchell Trophy)
Head Boy
Head Girl
Deputy Head Boy
Deputy Head Girl
BoT Representative
Manukura Tane
Manukura Wahine
Arts
Environmental
Teaching and Learning
Sports
Senior Welfare
Community Service
Whatua House Captain
Ngapuhi House Captain
Arawa House Captain
Maniapoto House Captain
Cameron Gill
Jasmine Sampson
Dylan Sims
Tayla Perkinson
Samantha Allen
Te Whakakotahitanga Jenkins
Tashae Paikea
Anna-Marie Southern
Murphy Linehan
Nina Linnell
Kalem Tana
Michelle Schimanski
Ayla Wehi
Jamie Manuell
Bianca Slimo
Haydn Dyer
Emma Garnett
(K & N Trophy)
(Engraving Systems)
(Haydn & Mary Hutching Cup)
Sophia Butler
Shelby Ata/
Briahna Dawson
Jacob Webster
Bayley Coates
Cullen Curtis
(Kaipara District Council)
Celia Bailey
(Karen McNay Cup)
Michelle Schimanski
(Webster Brothers Cup)
Dylan Sims
(OHS Board of Trustees Cup) Ruby-Rose Hallamore
(Te Jay Cup)
Ashton Coates
(Neil McKay Trophy)
Nina Linnell
(R & F Tornquist Trophy)
Nina Linnell
(Thompson Trophy)
(Fonterra Cup and Scholar
(Rennie Trophy)
(J Morrison Cup)
Dylan Sims
Jordan Hyland
James Finlay
Shelby Ata
James Finlay
Jordan Hyland
OTA Arts – Visual Arts News
Yes it is the end of the senior working year
for Visual Arts. All internal and external
standards are done during the course of
the year. The great thing is that.. at this
stage of the year we have a whole lot of
fabulous work to look at and to show you.
Here are some of the level 3 folios made
with blood, sweat and tears. Students
would lead me to believe that. A huge
effort made by painting students Izzie
Porter, Ly Sang Kim. Also Krystal Reyland
who was proficient enough as a year 12
student to undertake level 3 photography
a year early.
In other news, Anna-Marie Southern was
announced Arts Prefect for 2015 at our
recent senior prize giving. Her first task
next year will be forming a committee to
work with her and help divvy up the tasks
on the ‘to do’ list for next year. Our Arts
prefect was a recent innovation and we
think a worthwhile compliment to the
student body. Jim Bokma held that
position this year and will be known in OTA history as the first! The
team promotes the arts in school assemblies, through writing articles
in the newsletter and attending and working behind the scenes in
various arts events. We think it is very important that the Arts
department (Art, Music, Drama, Maori Performing Arts) get to hear
the student voice, and we want to cultivate that as much as possible.
To end this little snippet… I will leave you with a print that year 9 art
student Anthony Kim has made in the last week. As you know the
juniors are trucking on and a lot of project completion is about to
happen.
Unfortunately not all of our wearable
arts supreme award winners were
reported accurately in previous
publications. There were four girls
involved in the winning group.
The winners were Laurinda Bokma,
Holly Brunt, Rebecca Robertson
and Tyler Porteous. Many apologies for
making that error.
Rebecca Clist
Imaginative designs in Textile Technology
Eri Kojima is an international student from Japan who is
attending our school for the year. She has not done any sewing
before. Starting at the beginning of the year she made herself a
complete costume to wear when playing in an all-girl band. She
used a basic pattern to make the pink dress and then the
jacket, but as she went along, she changed the pattern to the
vision she had in mind for her creation. The panelled skirt was
all made up from a picture she had seen.
Eri also designed more ideas of what the costumes could look
like. The first set shows a variety of concepts and in the second
set the chosen concept is developed into various possibilities.
Northland Badminton Association Tournament
On Tuesday 11th November Otamatea High School Year 9 girls’ and boys’ teams took
part in the Northland tournament in Whangarei and competed with spirit and
determination, the boys’ team eventually coming 3rd against very strong opposition.
Both teams acquitted themselves very well on the day and proved to be excellent
ambassadors for the school and were a pleasure to support. Thanks to Tina Holst for
the organisation and to Pete Hames who came along in welcome support.
Teams were:
Girls’ Team
Holly Brunt
Laurinda Bokma
Zelda Sims
Stacey Walker
Boys’ Team
Simon Parker
Ryan Owens
Corey Slimo
Samuel Stephens
John Laue
Junior Prizegiving – Friday 11th December starting at 10.30pm
School Closing for tuition at 12.30pm
Silver Ferns Farms Kaipara District Sports Awards
I was incredibly proud of these talented young sports students at the Awards night in
Dargaville.
Youth Achievement Awards
Congratulations to the following students for their youth achievement awards. These
students made up three out of only seven students selected from junior nominations of
all sporting codes in the Kaipara District.
Cullen Curtis - moto-cross.
Rhys Shadbolt - rugby.
Ocean Shadbolt - multisports.
ASB Code Awards
Code awards – these students are competing in the open age category in the Kaipara
Sporting Community.
Congratulations to the following students:
Dylan Sims for swimming.
Tyler Porteous for equestrian.
Annmarie Holst for squash.
Kodi Foster for squash.
Danyon Tana for tennis.
Connor van Dalsum for tennis.
Team Club Awards
Congratulations to Otamatea Netball team 5 Year 7/8
This team was a finalist for the Noel Radd Motor’s Junior Team of the Year.
Team Members - Jayme Curtis, Portia Wehi, Tasha Perrett, Brigette Hosford, Blossom
Connelly, Emma Millard, Maddy Lemuelu, Ocean Shadbolt and Julianne Cunningham.
Subdivideit Team of the Year Open Category
Congratulations to our students Michelle Schimanski, Shawna Hawken, Bayley Coates
and Jessie Allen who were part of the Maungaturoto Squash Club E Grade Team who
won this award.
Congratulations also to the following students who were finalists in the Service Award
section. Bayley Coates for netball refereeing. Te Whakakotahitanga Jenkins for
leadership in the Special Olympics.
A well rewarded thank you to an amazing volunteer for sports at
Otamatea High School.
Thank you Robyn Bruce for the many, many hours over
many years that you have put into coaching hockey at
Otamatea. For going the extra mile and taking
students away to tournament weeks all over the
country. Thank you also for the huge amount of time
and effort you put into voluntarily running the Duke of
Edinburgh Hillary Award program in which Otamatea
currently has approximately 50 students involved in.
Robyn helps make this work in so many ways – from
organising many sausage sizzles, working bee
fundraisers to baking every week for the canteen so
that the costs can be kept down as much as possible
for our students.
ASB Northland Secondary School Sports Awards
Congratulations to our six students who travelled to the ASB Northland Secondary
Schools Sports Awards as finalists for their sporting codes.
It was a huge achievement to succeed over so many other students in Northland to
become a finalist. To top this off four of our finalists went on to be announced as the
winners for their codes. Congratulations to Jasmine Sampson – finalist in Netball, Connor
van Dalsum – finalist in Tennis.
Congratulations to Shuntel Rika – winner of girls tennis, Danyon Tana – winner of boys
tennis, Cullen Curtis – winner of motocross and Tyler Porteous – winner of showing in
equestrian.
Reports will be available for collection after junior prizegiving. Any uncollected reports
will be posted.
Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions
October 31st – 2nd November saw 18 silver/gold students travel to the Tangihua for their
training with bushcraft instructor, Stephen Orchard. The Tangihua Lions lodge became
their base and the tracks were trained along on Saturday. Bush bashing to stream
junction proved to be challenging and the river crossing and stream walking was a
highlight. Saturday night saw bivvys of various designs ‘pop up’.
These students will now complete their pre-expedition to the Tongariro Northern Circuit,
February 26th - March 1st. November 1 – 2 saw ‘my group of boys’ travel to Breamhead /
Beach cove with Miss Parkinson and Llew Smart to complete their bronze pre-expedition.
These boys will now complete their qualifying expedition to Cape Brett November 15 /
16.
November 1 - 2 saw a large group of 20 students complete their pre-expedition to the
Waterfall / Tanekaha Circuit Track, King Road and to the Mangawhai Coastal Walkway.
Lunches were cooked on cookers.
These students will now complete their qualifying tramp to Mt Pirongia, November
15/16.
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Peach Cove Trip
Last week the bronze Duke of Edinburgh group travelled to the Whangarei Heads to climb
over Mount Lion and Bream Head for their pre expedition. The students, Ms Parkinson
and Llew Smart started at Urquharts Bay and walked over to Oceans Beach for a swim.
The group then walked up the road and up to Peach Cove hut. Kharnse, Moshe, Kalani
and Rhys found some seafood and we all ate kina and crabs for afternoon tea! After a
cosy sleep in the tents the group tramped out and over Mount Lion and walked around
smugglers before a well-deserved ice cream. The bronze group would like to thank Mrs
Bruce for her organisation and Llew Smart for accompanying the group.
Lana Parkinson
Year 10 Leadership at Maungaturoto Primary School
This year the students of 10E have been
lucky enough to have Leela Hauraki from
Sport Northland to come down to
Otamatea High School to teach them
about Ki-o-Rahi. This game is native to
New Zealand which and is similar to
rippa rugby where you have to tag the
opposition before they score a try. At the
start of Term 4 the students from 10E
went down to Maungaturoto Primary
School where they taught the Year 5 and
6 students the game of Ki-o-Rahi. The
tournament was a huge success and the
10E class showcased their fantastic
leadership skills. We would like to thank
the students and teachers of the Year 5 and 6 classes at the primary school for allowing
us to come and teach Ki-o-Rahi.
Lana Parkinson
Māori Art Drawing Techniques - Kowhaiwhai
One of the courses offered in Term 4 was Māori
Art Drawing Techniques – Kowhaiwhai. This
course was delivered by Brian Mitchell from Te
Wānanga o Aotearoa and is part of the school’s
initiatives to raise Māori achievement.
The course took place one day per week over
three weeks and the 15 students not only learnt
about kowhaiwhai, they gained traditional
knowledge, representation of identity and
meaning.
Students also gained 4 Credits at Level 2 and have the
opportunity to continue into Kawai Raupapa –
Introduction to (Māori) Art Level 3 or at tertiary level
undertake Toi Paematua – Diploma in Māori Art Level 5.
Career opportunities from this course can lead to a
practising artist, cultural art educator, stage, theatre and
television work, and restoration work.
Student Voice...
“Being able to take part in this course was an experience
I'd love to give to others, the stuff I learnt in the short
time was amazing, being able to produce a piece of art
work with great meaning behind it is not an opportunity
you get often so it was great to be a part of this group”
Latina Te Awa (Y10)
“I got to learn about different designs
and patterns and their meaning.)
For example my design signifies strength and bravery. I also got
to interact in my own environment”.
Crishla Kemp (Y12)
The course proved very popular with the students and there is
already a waiting list to get on the course next year. An extension
of this course is the Whakairo which will be offered again next
year to those who completed the Kowhaiwhai course this year.
For further information please contact Fiona Kemp 021 885 863
IMPORTANT DATES FOR START OF YEAR 2015
PTCA 2ND Hand Uniform Sales Monday 12th & Tuesday 13th January
School Hall 9.00am – 3.00pm
New Uniform Sales
Paparoa Drapery stock a full range of Otamatea High School uniform
Phone 09 431 7306
Year 13 Dress Uniform is available from Bethells Uniforms,
The Strand, Whangarei. Phone 09 438 6566
Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th January
Year 13 Leadership days and Year 13 course confirmation
Thursday 29th January (Buses will be running)
School starts for Year 7, new Year 9, Year 13 and all new students to OHS.
Friday 30th January
Whole school to attend (All Years)
On the first day of school students should bring pen, paper, togs and towel.
Meet the Teachers Evening – Tuesday 17th February (TBC)
A chance to meet the Board of Trustees, the teachers and welcome new
teachers to our school.
Please phone the school office 09 4318230 or 0800 682 628 for
appointments, enrolments, senior option changes and further information.
Otamatea High School PTCA Second Hand Uniform Shop
Would you like to donate your unwanted school uniform to the PTCA. We
are looking for any size shirts, shorts, skirts, jumpers etc.
All money raised by the PTCA goes back into our school for our children.
Donations can be left at the school office or ph/txt Karen 021 128 1670
Otamatea High School
120 Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto
Office Hours: 8am – 4pm
Telephone: 09 431 8230
Freephone: 0800 682 628
Facsimile: 09 431 8229
Email: ohs@otamatea.school.nz