Nga Tawa Inter School Show Jumping Event

Last Thursday 10 March we decided to send a small but very competitive School team down to Nga Tawa, Marton. This event is the week before the Horse of the Year Show in Hastings and as a result has huge entries. This year Stratford High was the only team from Taranaki in the competition which had teams from Wanganui, Wellington and the Wairarapa.

Our team placed highly in the teams event. Lara Williams had the highest individual points, winning the first event in her section and placing in the others against around 60 other competitors. Shannon Coull, a newcomer to show jumping, had a placing to help the team points. Our Captain, Aimee Schumacher, went very close to pulling of a major win in her last event, with just one rail down in a fast jump off round.
Congratulations to this team and we look forward to more promising results in other TSSSA events.
Our team of Lara Williams, Aimee Schumacher (Capt) and Shannon Coull at the Nga Tawa Equestrian event last week.

Aimee showing her expertise in the fast round jump off.

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

News of the Week

Student diary
All SHS students have been issued with a school diary. This must be brought to school each day as part of the students’ essential materials for learning along with exercise books/folders/paper and pens and other writing equipment. All should be carried in a sturdy, good-sized bag. Handbags and flimsy cloth bags are not acceptable. They only need books for the five subjects they are doing each day. The school diary contains valuable information about the school’s expectations of students, the organisation of SHS (school rules and uniform requirements). For students in NCEA subjects there is a page where they can keep a record of their internal NCEA credits gained each term. The diary will help students to meet one of the new curriculum’s key competencies – managing self. By using the diary each day, students will be well organised for their learning and other school commitments.

SHS Sports results
The results for SHS swimming, triathlon and athletics events will be posted on the school website as they come to hand. These days have been very successful with great participation by athletes and spectators combined. Look for colourful photos on the school website.

Congratulations
• To Alexandra Merson, Jessica Short and Shayna Heal who were selected to represent Taranaki in an under 15 girls cricket tournament in Wanganui over the holidays. We will watch your progress with interest.
• To Anna Adlam (2002 graduate) who gained the 2nd highest mark in the 2009 NZ Institute of Chartered Accountant’s Professional Accounting School/Professional Competence Exam 2 (PAS/PCE2) programme. Over 900 students sat this paper and is the final step in her seven year process to become an accountant.

Newsletter
A newsletter was given to students on Monday and posted on the school website this week. Also check out the school blog on www.shsinfo-centa.blogspot.com for weekly happenings.
P H Keenan
Acting Principal

News of the Week

Athletics sports
Athletics sports will be run on Tuesday 2nd March on the school athletics track. Prelims have been held in a number of track and field events so parents come along for an exciting day of competition. students support your house – bring your colours along.

Beach volleyball success
Congratulations to the Junior Boys pair of Alec Tolland and Ryk Ferguson who won this section on Sunday 21st February. This is one of the biggest events in the TSSSA calendar and is held at Ngamotu beach each year.

Poutama – stairway to success
Once again this year, all students and staff will be involved in Poutama, “Stairway to Success”. The purpose of Poutama is to encourage all students to set realistic, manageable and attainable goals in their academic and personal lives. A major focus for SHS in 2010 is raising student achievement. The program involves all members of the SHS community: students, parents/caregivers and staff. Together, goals will be set and ways of reaching these goals will be explored.

On Thursday March 18 the day will be devoted to this program. Interviews will take place from 8.45 am to 3.30 pm. This week your student will be bringing a form home for you to complete and return detailing your preferred time for the interview. We look forward to meeting with you and working with you in supporting your child’s success and development at our school.

Newsletter
A newsletter will be given out to students and posted on the school website later this week. Also check out the school blog on www.shsinfo-centa.blogspot.com for weekly happenings.

SHS Triathlon
The school triathlon was run on Tuesday this week. The results will be on the school website next week and certificates presented at assembly later this term.

P H Keenan
Acting Principal

High School Corner

Newsletter
A newsletter went home to all junior students on Tuesday 9th February. It is available on the school website for viewing as it has a calendar of events for this term.

Kapa Haka
Nau mai, haere mai e te Whanau. Our school Kapa Haka group are having their first practice during a weekend live-inn on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th February. Whanau are welcome to attend and participate in the learning of Waiata. Please contact Whaea Tina at the school if you are wanting to come along.

Swimming and athletics sports
The annual swimming sports will be held on Wednesday 24th February at the school pool. Parents are welcome to attend from 9.30 am in the morning, to participate in this very colourful and entertaining day of competition at school.
Athletics heats are being held at the moment during lunchtimes. The finals day for athletics will be on Tuesday 2nd March on the school track. Parents are welcome to attend with competition starting at 9am in the morning.
On both days the Year 13 students will be running a sausage sizzle to raise funds for World Vision sponsorship.

P H Keenan
Acting Principal

School Peak magazine

The school magazine Peak will not be avialable for students to collect until the week of 25th January 2010. The students; Sarah Cooper, Sarah Robertson and Rachel Weren have worked extremely hard over the past ten days and many design aspects of the magazine are completed. Over the next week, the colour pages and text will be placed and the magazine should be at the printers by the end of next week.

Any students who wish to submit work for next year will need to have it into the committee by the end of term three for general articles so the magazine may be ready before the end of the school year.

The covers will be sent to the printers on Monday for test printing.