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

Farewell to Mrs Potter

Senior students with Mrs Maria Potter in her new office as Principal of Opunake High School.

Staff Changes

Changes at the Top!
Congratulations are in order to Mrs Maria Potter who has been appointed to the position of Principal at Opunake High School. Mrs Potter has been at SHS since January 2004 when she was appointed as Deputy Principal.
She is an avid supporter of student lead activities and has encouraged the student council to take the lead in improving student facilities. She will be missed by the community. Further information about a farewell for Mrs Potter will be via the school newsletter.

Mrs Barbara Gall has been appointed to the Deputy Principal vacancy, created when Mr Keenan was appointed as Principal. She will take up this position on 3rd May 2010. Mrs Gall was appointed HOD Mathematics at SHS in June 1999 and was appointed Assistant Principal in January 2004. She is looking forward to the challenges and changes that this appointment will bring.

 

Congratulations to the following students for their success over the past weeks;

Ryan Cooper selected by Swimming NZ for 2010 Age Development camp in Palmerston North.
To senior leaders who represented the school at the various ANZAC Day celebrations in Stratford and Eltham on Sunday. To the House leaders who devoted time to making the school wreaths on Friday. To Astyn Buckland, Melissa Watts, Alison Matthews, Brad Savage, Tim Stanners, Sian-Marie Utton for selling poppies during Friday in town.

HSC - Rugby in the holidays

Principal Celebration
Thursday afternoon the school community celebrated the inauguration of Mr Philip Keenan as the ninth Principal of Stratford High School. This occasion was attended by all students, staff and members of community as well as faculty and associates of Mr Keenan. His family were thrilled to be invited to attend this event and moved by the welcome and appreciation shown by all speakers. Thank you to all who attended and have welcomed Mr Keenan to this position.

School Holiday rugby
The school rugby 1st and 2nd XV teams are playing Thames High School at the school on Monday 5th April at 1.00 pm. Please come and support them and relive some old rugby memories.

The school is also hosting the Jack Porter Quadrangular tournament this year. The schools involved are Central Hawkes Bay College, Tararua College and Waiopehu College. This tournament has been running for many years. Come and enjoy the games, Thursday 15th April. Stratford High School plays at 2.45 pm and on Friday 16th April kick off is at 10.00am

Stratford High Rugby Trip
The boys are seeking jobs to assist us with fundraising. We have a team of boys who can tackle any job, the bigger the better. We can clear scrub, stack wood, water blast houses. In fact anything!. Please contact Jeff Walker at Stratford high school 7656039 or home 7655064. We would be grateful for your support.

Welcome to returning pupils
This weekend the SHS Old Pupils Association are hosting a reunion for ex-pupils of the school. We welcome them to our school and hope that they relive many of the exciting memories of their days at the school.
P H Keenan
Principal

New Principal Appointed

Press release
9th March 2010

The Stratford High School Board of Trustees would like to announce that after a thorough appointment process we have appointed Mr Philip Keenan to the position of Principal of Stratford High School. Board of Trustee’s Chairperson Alan Frost said that the appointment of Mr Keenan as Principal at Stratford High School is an exciting one for the school. He has been Acting Principal since the start of the year after Warren Purdy resigned to take a position in Qatar. Mr Keenan has been at Stratford High School for 17 years and brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the position. Mr Keenan will commence as Principal on Monday 15th March.

Mr Frost also stated that the school is going through some exciting times with a new principal, a new Board of Trustee’s starting shortly, upgrades of two school blocks being completed and the opening of the Teen Parent Unit and Kindergarten on the school grounds in term two. We went through a very precise process to make sure we got the right person in the job and we are confident that the appointment is the correct one.

A Frost
BoT Chairperson