NZ Books, Fiction or Non-fiction – Read Them All!
A group of ten students ventured down to Hawera one sunny Monday not so long ago. We were the two teams our school was entering into the annual Taranaki Literacy Challenge (the first entries in a number of years).
Each team of five had to read 10 books over a period of about three months. The books were finalists in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards 2012 competition. Five were fiction and five were non-fiction. Organising which book was going to who and when got very messy - especially towards the end.
When it came to the day we had to answer many different questions relating to all the books. This was a challenge to many of us and a total breeze for others. The day was filled with laughter and excitement. Unfortunately we did not get a placing, however it was loads of fun and great experience.
Written by Rebecca Poole and Alexis Marriner
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The latest school newsletter was emailed to parents today. It contains a number of articles about our students and the wide range of activities they participate in.
24 May 2012 Newsletter
24 May 2012 Newsletter
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Netball Happenings
On Saturday 28th April, five Stratford High School teams took part in a pre-season tournament in New Plymouth. 3A and Allsorts were winners of their respective grades. A, B and 4A competed well and appreciated the early chance to try new combinations and skills.
The following Stratford High School students were named in the Stratford Under 15 Representative Team: Gracyn Meredith, Beth West, Emily Short, Tamsin Burt, Rhiannon Rhodes, Tessa Smith, Christine McIvor, Tylah Graham and Emma Paton. Christine and Beth were injured before the tournament and therefore were unable to play. The others played extremely well and although they only won one game they did Stratford proud. Gracyn Meredith was selected to trial for the Taranaki Under 15 team.
On Sunday 13th May six teams travelled to New Plymouth to play in the TSSSA tournament. It was a fantastic opportunity for our teams to challenge themselves against the other secondary schools in Taranaki. Our most successful team were the Boys A team, winning two games and losing one game. This put them in second overall. Strikers were third in their grade. 3A played four games, won three and lost one. 4A recorded one win and two losses. School A and School B recorded no wins but demonstrated some fantastic skill against some tough competition.
With all the tournaments we have been attending we have relied heavily on coaches, managers, supporters, parents, caregivers and umpires. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have supported and encouraged our teams over the last few weeks. In particular the following umpires: Barb Digby, Maria Swan, Nicola Duthie, Tracey Dorne, Glenda Zimmerman, Tracy Kivell, Nadine Smith and Robyn Davey.
Finally we have made an application to the ANZ bank to purchase jackets for our volunteer managers and coaches. The success of our application is reliant on votes from our supporters. To do this you need to go online and vote for our application via the following link: http://anznetball.co.nz/gransche/gallery-application/application.html?id=17585. You are able to make one vote a day. So please get voting.
Miss D Kay, Netball Coordinator
The following Stratford High School students were named in the Stratford Under 15 Representative Team: Gracyn Meredith, Beth West, Emily Short, Tamsin Burt, Rhiannon Rhodes, Tessa Smith, Christine McIvor, Tylah Graham and Emma Paton. Christine and Beth were injured before the tournament and therefore were unable to play. The others played extremely well and although they only won one game they did Stratford proud. Gracyn Meredith was selected to trial for the Taranaki Under 15 team.
On Sunday 13th May six teams travelled to New Plymouth to play in the TSSSA tournament. It was a fantastic opportunity for our teams to challenge themselves against the other secondary schools in Taranaki. Our most successful team were the Boys A team, winning two games and losing one game. This put them in second overall. Strikers were third in their grade. 3A played four games, won three and lost one. 4A recorded one win and two losses. School A and School B recorded no wins but demonstrated some fantastic skill against some tough competition.
With all the tournaments we have been attending we have relied heavily on coaches, managers, supporters, parents, caregivers and umpires. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have supported and encouraged our teams over the last few weeks. In particular the following umpires: Barb Digby, Maria Swan, Nicola Duthie, Tracey Dorne, Glenda Zimmerman, Tracy Kivell, Nadine Smith and Robyn Davey.
Finally we have made an application to the ANZ bank to purchase jackets for our volunteer managers and coaches. The success of our application is reliant on votes from our supporters. To do this you need to go online and vote for our application via the following link: http://anznetball.co.nz/gransche/gallery-application/application.html?id=17585. You are able to make one vote a day. So please get voting.
Miss D Kay, Netball Coordinator
Friday, May 4, 2012
Latest Newsletter
The latest newsletter has been emailed to parents or given to students today. If you would like to recieve an emailed copy of the newsletter please email the school with newsletter in the subject line.
Monday, April 30, 2012
ANZAC Day
Photos from the recent ANZAC Day parade where our students ably represented the school and Head Boy Cameron Johnson and Head Girl Nicole Booker spoke at the morning service.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Relay 4 Life 2012
Well, there sure was a lot of mud. If I try and recall a picture of the Relay for Life 2012, held at the Pukekura Raceway from midday Saturday 24 to midday Sunday 25 of March, that is the first thing that I see.
Certainly, that’s not all that comes to mind, though. The smiles, the camaraderie, the sense of a team spirit. The rubbish-bag-manufactured clothing, duct-taped tarpaulins and cable ties. The heartache of hearing bagpipes while standing in the soft candlelight of the remembrance ceremony. The rain-filled socks (soaks?) and shoes, warm water squelching around feet as we walked on the tar-sealed car park, after the mud became ankle deep in places by 10:30 at night, and so was deemed too dangerous. Finding myself walking through the rain in time to Sacha Baron-Coen singing, ‘I like to move-it-move-it,’ as Madagascar played on the big screen during the wee-small hours of Sundays morning. Cheering for Beth-el, Jessica, Kyle, Mr Fergusson and the others from the Stratty team who took it to the Relay Idol stage at different points over the weekend.
And aside from these few snapshots from my memory, there are all the others of the fundraising and preparation and lead up to the event, on top of the fine form that the event itself was carried out in. But really, you’d expect nothing less from such a dedicated crew from one of New Zealand’s top high school communities (at around 300 metres above sea-level – or 1,010 feet at the old railway station, as Mr. Caldwell informs me).
With fundraising and Easter-egg raffle tickets still coming in, we don’t have a final figure for the funds raised yet, but prior to the Relay itself, a little over $3,500 was banked with the Taranaki Cancer Society. This money will go to support those who have to deal with cancer in their lives, and in the lives of those they love. While not yet complete, this nevertheless is a substantial effort, and everyone who has contributed can be proud of the part they have played this year.
My thanks to all in the team, those who have participated, and who helped us out. This group of people includes the Alexander and O’Carroll families, who along with Mr. Smith loaned us the tents which were essential to the success of the weekend. There are the parents who braved the weather to stay with us, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs Duthie. Also the student leaders Cameron, Laura, Leah, Nicole, Nikayla and Andrew, who helped out and gained invaluable experience of working together in adverse conditions. And to the staff involved, whether it was helping with meetings at school, dropping it to say hi at the Raceway, helping us put up (and later modify) the tents, assist with management and supervision overnight, or help with the vital pack-up. My especial thanks to four staff for their indefatigable support both prior to and at the event: Mrs. Broadmore for your sanity with paperwork; Ms Rawlinson for your willingness to step in and make things work where it was needed; Miss Kay for your positivity and pragmatic organising; and Mr. Walker for your practical nous and ability to make things happen. You guys are awesome!
Mr D Woodd, TiC Relay for Life 2012
Certainly, that’s not all that comes to mind, though. The smiles, the camaraderie, the sense of a team spirit. The rubbish-bag-manufactured clothing, duct-taped tarpaulins and cable ties. The heartache of hearing bagpipes while standing in the soft candlelight of the remembrance ceremony. The rain-filled socks (soaks?) and shoes, warm water squelching around feet as we walked on the tar-sealed car park, after the mud became ankle deep in places by 10:30 at night, and so was deemed too dangerous. Finding myself walking through the rain in time to Sacha Baron-Coen singing, ‘I like to move-it-move-it,’ as Madagascar played on the big screen during the wee-small hours of Sundays morning. Cheering for Beth-el, Jessica, Kyle, Mr Fergusson and the others from the Stratty team who took it to the Relay Idol stage at different points over the weekend.
And aside from these few snapshots from my memory, there are all the others of the fundraising and preparation and lead up to the event, on top of the fine form that the event itself was carried out in. But really, you’d expect nothing less from such a dedicated crew from one of New Zealand’s top high school communities (at around 300 metres above sea-level – or 1,010 feet at the old railway station, as Mr. Caldwell informs me).
With fundraising and Easter-egg raffle tickets still coming in, we don’t have a final figure for the funds raised yet, but prior to the Relay itself, a little over $3,500 was banked with the Taranaki Cancer Society. This money will go to support those who have to deal with cancer in their lives, and in the lives of those they love. While not yet complete, this nevertheless is a substantial effort, and everyone who has contributed can be proud of the part they have played this year.
My thanks to all in the team, those who have participated, and who helped us out. This group of people includes the Alexander and O’Carroll families, who along with Mr. Smith loaned us the tents which were essential to the success of the weekend. There are the parents who braved the weather to stay with us, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs Duthie. Also the student leaders Cameron, Laura, Leah, Nicole, Nikayla and Andrew, who helped out and gained invaluable experience of working together in adverse conditions. And to the staff involved, whether it was helping with meetings at school, dropping it to say hi at the Raceway, helping us put up (and later modify) the tents, assist with management and supervision overnight, or help with the vital pack-up. My especial thanks to four staff for their indefatigable support both prior to and at the event: Mrs. Broadmore for your sanity with paperwork; Ms Rawlinson for your willingness to step in and make things work where it was needed; Miss Kay for your positivity and pragmatic organising; and Mr. Walker for your practical nous and ability to make things happen. You guys are awesome!
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