Prizegiving season

Junior Prizegiving

Junior students will return to school on Monday 14 December after Activities Week, and Junior Prizegiving will be held on Tuesday, 15 December. The ceremony will begin at 11 am and it is hoped that parents and caregivers will join us to celebrate academic, cultural and sports prize winners, and the junior graduation programme. We ask that you are seated by 10:50 am so a prompt start can be made. Parents / caregivers will be able to take their child home after the ceremony. School buses will run as usual on this day.

Please note that it is compulsory for all junior students to attend the Junior Prizegiving. Students will receive their Peak magazine after the ceremony.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Senior Prizegiving

The senior prizegiving was a very successful end to the senior's academic year with Kody Simpson being announced the 2015 Dux. A full list of the prizewinners from the 2015 Senior Prizegiving ceremony can be accessed on this link : 2015 Senior Prizegiving and choose the file under the 2015 newsletters listing.

Junior Graduation Ceremony

Tuesday 10 December.

The junior graduation ceremony will start at 11.00 am on Tuesday 10^th December in the assembly hall. All junior students are expected to attend this final event of the year. Parents and caregivers are cordially invited to join us for this occasion where we celebrate the junior graduation programme and subject and sports prize-winners. We ask that parents are seated by 10.50 am so a prompt start can be made. After the ceremony is finished all students will be released for the summer break. The Eltham bus will run from school at 12.30 pm but all other buses will run at the usual time.

Senior Returns Day

Senior returns day is Monday 9^th December between 9.00 am and 3.15 pm in the office opposite the student office. Senior students can:

·    return textbooks, library books, sports uniforms or any other materials belonging to the school.

·    collect their end of year reports, testimonials, school magazine, certificates, etc.

·    items for the PTA secondhand uniform sale can be left at the school.

The school magazine is available to students who have paid school fees, have completed their clearance form and returned all materials, etc. belonging to the school.

Second Hand Uniform sale

There will be a second hand uniform sale run by the SHS PTA. The sale will be held Monday 13th January 2014 from 10am to 1 pm in the school assembly hall. Items for sale or donation need to be left prior to this date. The main school office has a form which needs to be completed with all items. Especially needed are the senior uniform items as well as any PE shirts in all colours. No shoes are accepted.
P H Keenan
Principal

High School Corner

Advanced School Science Academy

Shaymas Carroll and Matt Simpson have been selected to attend the Otago University Advanced School Science Academy next year. This is a fantastic opportunity for these students to be introduced to cutting edge research by means of practical projects. The academy is held over two 5 day residential camps at the University and on-line support during the year through the “Virtual Academy”. The goal of the science camps is to introduce the students to the world of research through a range of practical projects that will excite, challenge, inspire and motivate them to excel in their final year’s schooling on their way to a career in science. The Academy is fully funded including all flights, food and accommodation and the boys should enjoy a great experience attending the OUASSA during next year.
Mr Armond, HoD Science

Junior Prizegiving
The junior prizegiving will be held on Friday 2nd December commencing at 11.30 am. Parents are asked to be seated by 11.15 am so a prompt start can be made.
Junior Graduation reports will be posted to all parents during Activities Week. All final accounts should be paid by then. Students who have paid in full for their school donation will recieve a copy of the school magazine on the last day of school - 8 December for juniors and 9 December for seniors.

Activities Week

Junior students are currently organising themselves into activities for the last week of school. With over a dozen choices from movie buffs to overnight camps and fishing there is something to interest every student. All junior students are expected to attend school during this week.

High School Corner

Junior House Badges

Junior house badges were given out at assembly on Tuesday 9th August to celebrate our student’s involvement in academic, sporting, cultural and overall participation in school events.
Amess House: Academic: Cole Baker and Mitchell Best, Sports: Jack Jordan and Jacinta Frost, Cultural: Memphis Karaitiana and Chloe Lewis, Participation: Samuel Reardon and Laura Ward.
McAllister House: Academic: Monica Jones and Tayla Corbett, Sports: Katie Taylor and Liam Burnell, Cultural; Kyle Stewart and Angelica Schumacher, Participation: Joshua Hunger and Robbie Howatson.
Trimble House: Academic: Xavier Hey and Sarah Malone, Sports: Quinlin Bosson-Thompson and Misty Hagley, Cultural; Jayde Nahi and Tylah Ooink-Graham, Participation: Rachel Martin and Noeleen Venter.
Tyrer House: Academic: Sarah Kowalewski and Jack Bennett, Sports: Matthew Kowalewski and Lara Williams, Cultural; Terry Jane and Taylah Acero, Participation: Dayle Bailey and Asia Loveridge-Acero

Asiawise competition
12 students are currently working with Mr Smith to complete the Asiawise competition by Friday 19th August. Students have to research a number of topics relating to Asia and complete a question sheet.

Congratulations
To Beth West, Quinlin Bosson-Thompson, Quintin Bailey and Nick Merson who competed over the weekend as part of the TCB basketball teams.

To Jack Jordan who has been selected as part of the NZ Under 21 Woodchopping team. He will be going with the team to the Royal Melbourne Show in September.

To Tayla Corbett and Joshua Hunger (year 10) and Sarah Kowalewski (year 9) who all gained 100% in the Junior Graduation Report 3. It is great to see that over 70% of junior students are on target to graduate with either Merit or Excellence.

Latest news - Teacher Only Day

Teacher only day
With the recent Ministry of Education announcement for professional development days, SHS will be having a teacher only day on Monday July 11th. This means that students will not be required at school.

Year 8 Open Evening
The school will be open for Year 8 students and families to visit. The SHS Assembly hall will be open from 5.00pm with the evening to commence at 5.30 pm. Tours of the school will be followed by supper provided by the Australian Netball Touring team.
Members of the community are welcome to attend to have a look at our school.

Junior graduation excellence
The second junior graduation report has been sent to parents and two top students were found. Rachel Martin in year 10 scored 100% while closely followed by Joshua Hunger (99%) and Tayla Corbett (98%). In year 9 Sarah Kowalewski scored the top mark of 99% while Jacinta Frost and Monica Jones were close behind on 98%. Congratulations to all students who received a merit or excellence mark.

Senior reports on the way
Teachers are completing senior reports after the recent assessment week. These reports will be posted out next week and an interview evening will be held on July 13th in the assembly hall.

SHS Rockquest
The SHS Rockquest band “Peregrine” gave a good performance on Saturday afternoon but unfortunately were not selected for the final performances that evening. Well done to the band and to those who supported them on the day.


TSSSA Sports seminar for adventure racers

Four SHS senior students Sarah Rohe (Maadi Cup Rower), Laureen Cox (Flanagan Cup Ocean Swim winner and road cyclist), Matt Simpson (cross country and Triathlete) and Cameron Johnson (basketball rep) travelled to Opunake High School to join with the successful Opunake High Hillary Challenge team for a seminar with Nathan Fa’avae, World Champion Adventure Racer.
        To start the students thinking he wrote on the whiteboard, “Diminishing in Comparison”, very relative when Nathan started to tell us of his team competing in many far regions of the world. With world titles since 2002, his team competes in races of over 700 kms in length, over vast terrain, from kayaking to mountain biking. Anything that is physically man made can be added to the five day programme. In this extreme sport completing is everything, especially when only 10% of teams finish.
        During the day students looked at goal setting and motivating influences in their chosen sports, especially those designed to get them over the road blocks and walls. An amazing insight into the mental aspects of our own sports at high school level right up to coping at international level. Researchers state that it takes 10,000 hours to be an expert at anything, Nathan reckons his often six hour training runs and mountain bike events certainly cut into this time.
       For the frequent couch sitter, the adventure racer competing on the world stage seems totally crazy with how far they push the human body. But Nathan Fa’avae enjoys the challenge of not being normal and has the world titles to prove this.

TSSSA Boys Golf Championships
The SHS team of William Arnold, Kyle Cook, Stein Caskey and Jahvis Gotty completed at the Stratford Golf course on Friday 17th June. Congratulations to Stein Caskey had the best Nett score on the day with 65. A fine effort as Stein has played consistently well in the inter-school Southern competition in the first term where SHS narrowly missed the winners podium.


P H Keenan
Principal

Latest News and sporting success

Junior Graduation Reports

The first junior graduation report was posted this week to parents and caregivers of Year 9 and 10 students. There will be parent interviews on Thursday 7th April from 4.00 pm to 6.00pm by appointment only.


TSSSA Swimming 2011

         A small but dedicated TSS swimming team under the expert guidance of Sports Captain Sarah Cooper, had a quite successful meet in 2011.
         Team: Curtis Boyde, Nadege Coates, Ryan Cooper, Sarah Cooper, Laureen Cox, Mhirron French, Brittany Kivell, Sarah Malone, Claire O’Neill, Beth West
        Beth West managed a 3rd placing in the Junior Girls 50m Breaststroke and the Junior Girls team of Beth, Nadege, Sarah and Mhirron gained 2nd placings in both the 4 x 1 Medley and Freestyle relays. Ryan Cooper swam into 3rd place in the Intermediate Boys 100m freestyle and had 2nd placings in the 50m backstroke and 5om butterfly. Sarah Cooper excelled on the night, however, by winning the Senior Girls 100m freestyle and 50m backstroke and was placed 2nd in the 50m breaststroke. A very good effort from all swimmers who must be congratulated for their performance.

TSSSA Orienteering
On Wednesday March 23rd 2011 a 23 enthusiastic students went to TOPEC to compete in the annual Orienteering Taranaki Secondary school championship. This event has grown so much in popularity and this year our Junior team excelled in all categories.

First up Kody Simpson and Liam Burnell went out over the Junior Boys course and came in to win easily a minute ahead of Xavier Hay and Nick Hornby also SHS Juniors with a NPBHS team in 3rd.

In the Intermediate Boys, Cameron Cox and Herbert Van Veen breezed around the complicated TOPEC course to come in 2 minutes faster than yet another SHS team of Reece Saywell and Robbie Howatson, in a time of 19.12 minutes. The rest of the field were at least three minutes behind these teams. Students reported back to say how challenging it was and how much fun they had during the event. It was great to see all teams finishing in the clear daylight.

Many thanks to the back up team, Willie Burnell and Jackie Kofoed who managed and transported the team. We look forward to some exciting times in the year ahead when there will be opportunities for students to take these skills and compete in the Taranaki Get2 Go and Hillary Challenges.

Latest Newsletter

Latest Newsletter
The latest newsletter went home with students on Monday afternoon. The full newsletter is on the school website.
http://www.stratfordhigh.school.nz/


Greetings to you and your family.
THANK YOU!
         As this is our last newsletter of the year, the school would like to extend sincere thanks to all parents, community supporters and sponsors who have given so much to our school and our students over the year. Your support has made it possible for our students to achieve highly in academic, sporting and cultural dimensions of the school. Thank you very much.
         Over the last two weeks we have celebrated with our seniors as we acknowledged their academic, sporting and cultural successes at the senior prizegiving. The ceremony showcased the real heart of our school with the community coming together to recognise the success of our senior students this year.
         One could not help but be impressed by the breadth of talent on display—students succeeding in all dimensions that make SHS so special. We congratulate the prizewinners and those who supported them on the day. The day was also made special by the contributions of our Kapa Haka group, school choir and our guest speaker, Sarah Mako, whose speech was very timely for those leaving us.
         Junior prizegiving will be held at 11.30 am on Friday 3rd December. I extend an invitation to all parents, family and friends to join us for this occasion. I would like to remind students and parents / caregivers that school does not finish until Thursday 9th December, which is at the conclusion of our activities days. Normal school expectations re absences are expected.
        In 2011 we will be modifying our absence system so that when a student is absent from school we will send a text message to the parent or caregiver. At the beginning of 2011 we will be asking for all details to be updated or checked by parents and caregivers.
        At the senior prizegiving I made mention of the schools Charter and Strategic Plan needing updating. This will mean the school community will have an opportunity to have input into the schools direction over the next 3 to 5 years.
         Finally my thanks to the staff and BoT at SHS for their hard work this year. It is a joy to lead such a willing, highly skilled and dedicated group of people. Best wishes for a safe, relaxing and happy Christmas and I look forward to 2011.
Philip Keenan, Principal

Hockey Finals this week

SHS Hockey

Tuesday night 17th August, the Boys B Hockey Team are playing for 5th & 6th position in the B grade competition at Stratford at the T.E.T at 6.05pm against Hawera High. These boys have achieved a lot this year and have done extremely well.

SHS Boys A Hockey Team have made the finals. This game will be played on Thursday 19th August at the TET ground in Stratford, starting at 8.15pm against Francis Douglas Memorial College. All support is welcome.

The Girls A are playing in the Semi finals on Monday 23rd August in New Plymouth at the Devon Hotel Park at 7.00pm. This game will be against New Plymouth Girls High. If the girls win they will play on Thursday night at Stratford at the T.E.T. ground for the. All support for our semi welcome.
Desiree Alexander, Hockey Manager

Junior House Badges
Junior students were awarded house badges for their involvement in the school in four areas this week at assembly. A maximum of 8 badges per house are awarded; two in each category of academic, sport, culture and participation.
Winners for July 2010 are:
Amess House: Hamish Booker (Academic), Kathleen Robertson (Academic), Curtis Boyde (Sport), Erin Rowe (Sport), Angela Frost (Culture), Daisy Higgs (Participation), Cameron Luckhurst (Participation)

McAllister House: Josh Hunger (academic), Jessica Short (Academic), Simon Terry (Sport), Rua Walker (sport), Robbie Howatson (culture), Malissa Alexander (culture), Grace Hunger (participation), Emily Howatson (participation).

Trimble House: Misty Hagley (academic), Sam Wyss (academic), Tatiana Rhodes (sport) Joshua Robins (sport), Rachel Martin (participation) Jarvis Gotty (participation)

Tyrer House: Jack Bennett (academic), Ila Earney (academic), Emma Campbell (sport), Ryan Cooper (sport) Alexandra Merson (culture), cameron Cox (participation), Shayna Heal (participation).

Congratulations to our students

It has been an exciting start to Term three with a number of our students being honoured in various forms.
• Tracy Kivell has been honoured by the Stratford Lions Club for their 2010 Youth Award.
• Josh Robins for his silver placing in the International Western Riding Championships during the holidays.
• Ashlee O'Hanlon for her 2009 design which has been used as the Methanex Maths Spectacular poster.
• Alex Patterson and Kieran Watt at the recent TSSSA Badminton competition. Alex won the senior boys title. As a pair they won the senior boys doubles title.
• Dylan Honeyfield who gained the highest score at the TSSSA Small-Bore Rifle Shooting competition.
• The Girls 10 pin bowling team who came second in the TSSSA 10 Pin Bowling competition.
• Get 2 Go team who were placed 5th after a fun filled day of competition which is the best score for our school.
• To the 3A and 4A Netball teams who participated in the Western Junior Development tournament at the weekend.
There will be more congratulations in the next newsletter as junior students were honoured with house badges at a recent assembly, the Fonterra Science Fair and Methanex Maths Spectacular have both occurred.

MoE Recognises Language Student
Melissa Watts has gained a Ministry of Education Language Immersion Award. Melissa was one of 15 students from all over NZ over all languages to be honoured. The award has a value of $11250 which will pay for her costs for spending six months overseas in a French speaking country (her chosen language). Melissa has chosen France, Belgium or Canada as her preferred destination for the six months of the award. The application process was online with Melissa having to supply 4 references, NCEA results and her personal writing. She was then selected for an interview in New Plymouth by representatives from the MoE. After a month she received a letter to say that she was one of the 15 recipients for 2011.

Junior graduation reports
These reports will be posted this week with an interview evening to be held on Thursday 19th August from 7.00 to 9.00 pm.

High School Corner for Wednesday 14th April.


Junior Graduation Stars
The first graduation report for junior students was sent prior to the holiday break in preparation for the interview evening on Thursday 22nd April from 7pm to 9 pm in Assembly hall. Parents of Year 9 and 10 students are reminded to make interview appointments with their students teachers for the interview report evening. If you have lost the interview sheet more are available from the student office.

Congratulations to the following students who received the top marks at year 9: Hamish Booker (99%), Matthew Rine and Cory Keift (98%) and year 10; Anjela Frost (99%) and Kathleen Robertson (98%).

School Holiday Rugby
Welcome to teams from Central Hawkes Bay, Tararua and Waiopehu Colleges to the Jack Porter Quadrangular Rugby tournament for 2010. Games on Thursday 15th start at 1.30 pm with Friday games starting at 10.00 am. Come and cheer for the SHS 1st XV.

Thanks to all
The SHS Old Pupils Association had a small but successful reunion at the school over the Easter break. Thanks to all staff and students who participated in making this a memorable occasion.
P H Keenan
Principal