BULLER HIGH SCHOOL Te Kura Tuarua-o-Kawatiri 33 Derby Street, Telephone: (03) 789 7299, Fax: (03) 789 6790, Email: [email protected], Website: www.buller.ac.nz, PO Box 87, WESTPORT 7866 Issue 10 August 2018 FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL [email protected]Kia ora koutou Firstly, a huge thank you to the staff and students who contributed to our recent Open Night. The decision to postpone the previous week was a good one with all enjoying a calm fine evening. It was a fantastic turnout of parents who came along to get a snapshot of life at Buller High School, with feedback being really positive about what is on offer here. Just remember you can always contact the school at any time if you want to know more. We presently have our robotics team returning from Mexico where they represented New Zealand at the “First Global Robotics Tournament”. It has been a fantastic achievement for these students, firstly, to not only get there, but to compete on the world stage. Winning four out of eight challenges, they finished 96 th out of 161 teams, surpassing their original goal. It was really exciting to watch a video of the group marching out in the opening ceremony with the New Zealand flag. A special thanks must go to Jessica Wilkes for her hard work and passion and also to those in the community who generously supported this group. Recently, the Trinity Music practical exams were held. Twelve students sat the exam which was examined by Dr Jonathan Drennan from the Trinity College in London. Students were examined in piano, guitar and singing from grade two to grade six. Again, the results were fantastic with all students passing and Bayleh Jenkins-Kirkwood gained the highest grade on the whole Coast. Well done to all of these students and especially to Music teacher Rona Halsall. On the sporting front, it has been the girls flying the flag recently, with our girls rugby gaining a hard fought win over Nayland College, and of course our netball girls just going down in what was an epic club premiership final. Just a reminder of the big events ahead for the term. Coming up in week seven is tournament week where we have six teams competing in various parts of the country ,including girls basketball at home in Westport. Week nine is senior exam week where our seniors will be on exam leave and undertaking their school exams in conditions that will replicate NCEA exams. Students are expected to attend exams if they are timetabled in a subject that they take at school. A timetable for these will be out in two weeks. Study starts NOW!! For Year 10,11,12 students, we are now leading into our course counselling round. This will begin in week seven as students prepare to select courses for 2019. Changes: Please note, there are some changes to our original report round that has been on the calendar. See the separate article in the newsletter. As advised earlier, the school is proposing changes to our house structure for 2019. We going to move from a horizontal house structure to a vertical structure. This will mean that your child’s house class will be made up of students from all levels, as opposed to just one as at present. The ultimate goal is to enhance the pastoral care process that we provide at present. Again there is a separate article in this newsletter. Finally, this is my last newsletter as Acting Principal with the return of Andrew Basher from Monday 27 August. It has been an interesting time for me and for the Senior Leadership team with all of us stepping up into new roles. I would like to thank my team of Corrina Batt, Karen Wells, Rebecca Miller and Miriam Comeskey for their support and hard work over the past 12 weeks. On Saturday 18 August, nine students from the Buller High School Robotics Team travelled to Christchurch for the Robocup Junior Regionals, with five of the primary school Westport Tech Club students also attending. The students competed in Robocup Theatre and Robocup Rescue. The Theatre teams were the only school using the more sophisticated Arduino microcontrollers and self-built robots. The teams worked very hard and it was a great experience for students and teachers alike. The following day the students visited Ara Institute of Canterbury to see their new, state of the art engineering faculty, and learn of exciting pathways for students with skills in coding, designing and computer science. Photo from left: Regan Mayo and David Hartigan. Robocup Junior
Kia ora koutou Firstly, a huge thank you to the staff and students who contributed to our recent Open Night. The decision to postpone the previous week was a good one with all enjoying a calm fine evening. It was a fantastic turnout of parents who came along to get a snapshot of life at Buller High School, with feedback being really positive about what is on offer here. Just remember you can always contact the school at any time if you want to know more. We presently have our robotics team returning from Mexico where they represented New Zealand at the “First Global Robotics Tournament”. It has been a fantastic achievement for these students, firstly, to not
only get there, but to compete on the world stage. Winning four out of eight challenges, they finished 96th out of 161
teams, surpassing their original goal. It was really exciting to watch a video of the group marching out in the opening ceremony with the New Zealand flag. A special thanks must go to Jessica Wilkes for her hard work and passion and also to those in the community who generously supported this group. Recently, the Trinity Music practical exams were held. Twelve students sat the exam which was examined by Dr Jonathan Drennan from the Trinity College in London. Students were examined in piano, guitar and singing from grade two to grade six. Again, the results were fantastic with all students passing and Bayleh Jenkins-Kirkwood gained the highest grade on the whole Coast. Well done to all of these students and especially to Music teacher Rona Halsall. On the sporting front, it has been the girls flying the flag recently, with our girls rugby gaining a hard fought win over Nayland College, and of course our netball girls just going down in what was an epic club premiership final. Just a reminder of the big events ahead for the term.
Coming up in week seven is tournament week where we have six teams competing in various parts of the country ,including girls basketball at home in Westport.
Week nine is senior exam week where our seniors will be on exam leave and undertaking their school exams in conditions that will replicate NCEA exams. Students are expected to attend exams if they are timetabled in a
subject that they take at school. A timetable for these will be out in two weeks. Study starts NOW!!
For Year 10,11,12 students, we are now leading into our course counselling round. This will begin in week seven as students prepare to select courses for 2019.
Changes: Please note, there are some changes to our original report round that has been on the calendar. See the separate article in the newsletter.
As advised earlier, the school is proposing changes to our house structure for 2019. We going to move from a horizontal house structure to a vertical structure. This will mean that your child’s house class will be made up of students from all levels, as opposed to just one as at present. The ultimate goal is to enhance the pastoral care process that we provide at present. Again there is a separate article in this newsletter. Finally, this is my last newsletter as Acting Principal with the return of Andrew Basher from Monday 27 August. It has been an interesting time for me and for the Senior Leadership team with all of us stepping up into new roles. I would like to thank my team of Corrina Batt, Karen Wells, Rebecca Miller and Miriam Comeskey for their support and hard work over the past 12 weeks.
On Saturday 18 August, nine students from the Buller High School Robotics Team travelled to Christchurch for the Robocup Junior Regionals, with five of the primary school Westport Tech Club students also attending. The students competed in Robocup Theatre and Robocup Rescue. The Theatre teams were the only school using the more sophisticated Arduino microcontrollers and self-built robots. The teams worked
very hard and it was a great experience for students and teachers alike. The following day the students visited Ara Institute of Canterbury to see their new, state of the art engineering faculty, and learn of exciting pathways for students with skills in coding, designing and computer science. Photo from left: Regan Mayo and David Hartigan.
Robocup Junior
Hon. Damien O’Connor came to Buller High School to talk with the Year 13 Biology students about the situation with Mycoplasma bovis. He covered the analysis that has been completed to identify the source of Mycoplasma bovis, the relative volume and cost of the cull (both economic and societal) and how the situation will be dealt with in the near and long-term future. Students were able to ask any question and they came to the party with a variety of questions, including those that would cause a politician to wriggle in their seat. The class found the discussion very informative and Mr O’Connor answered all questions to the best of his ability and knowledge. Photo as follows clockwise from Mr O’Connor, Gemma Thomas, Ella Neill, Jamie Irons, Madison Cumming-Power, Amarni Noble, Brock Johnson, Erica Jar, Huiyu Liang, James Manera and Jet Tighe. Photo supplied by Becky Manawatu (Westport News).
Year 13 Biology
TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON PRACTICAL EXAMINATION RESULTS The following successful candidates were recently examined in Westport by Dr Jonathan Drennan Bmus (hons) PhD, professional pianist, organist, musicologist, and choral director from Ireland, representing Trinity College London. Teacher Tina Taylor: Grade 2 Scarlett Hamilton Guitar Distinction Grade 3 Isabella White Singing Merit Grade 4 Jessica Roche Guitar Pass Jazmine Jones Singing Merit Grade 5 Emily Page Singing Merit Grade 6 Karlia Holland Singing Merit
We are Changing Vertical Form Classes for 2019 at Buller High School What does this mean? At present house classes are made up of students all from the same year level i.e. year 9 or year 10 etc.
From 2019, house classes will be made up of students from all levels of the school. Students from years 9,10,11,12, and 13 will be mixed as evenly as possible through each house class. There will be four house classes as there are now, with the overall house system remaining unchanged.
Why Change As a school, we want to strengthen what is already a well-established pastoral support network. As learning changes and becomes increasingly more personalized, we have to look at better ways to support our learners and their whanau. Vertical houses are not new and are well tried by many other schools.
With a vertical house system, the house teacher can work with smaller groups on each individual level.
Siblings can be in the same house, but not necessarily the same house class.
The Deans structure remains the same with House Deans.
Will assist with better communication between school and home.
Allow for easier academic tracking by a house teacher.
Provide a better platform for peer learning and peer support.
Allow leadership and mentoring to be fostered among each house group.
More individual guidance and support around course selection and planning.
Will strengthen house identity and spirit.
We as a school, see many advantages in this change. However, it is change and should you have any concerns, please contact any member of the Senior Leadership team or a Dean.
Report Timeline/Parent Evening Changes for Term Three and Four
Following a review of our timelines and report timings, we have made some changes to reporting to parents over the rest of the year.
The Junior Report cycle remains unchanged.
Junior reports posted 14 September
Junior Parent Evening 20 September
End of year reports posted 13 December
The Senior Report cycle has changed.
Senior reports will now be posted on 25 October
There will no longer be a Senior Parent evening
This now allows for better timing for a summative senior report for the year and ties in with seniors leaving. The senior report evening has not been well attended in the past, so what we are trying is a different approach.
If you have a concern in a subject around your child, especially around NCEA, please contact the teacher of that subject now. For a list of school email contacts, see below or on the school website.
Similarly, we are encouraging teachers who have a concern around a student’s NCEA achievement that involves parental support, to do so now. There is still time to address most concerns around NCEA. Bryan Forsyth, Acting Principal
Applications are invited for the following 2019 Scholarships:
Anna MacGougan Memorial Law Scholarship Noon Friday 21 September Bathurst Coal - Buller Coal Ltd Scholarship Noon Friday 21 September Buller Electricity - Scholarship 4pm Thursday 20 September Buller Electricity - Personal Development Sponsorship Thursday 20 September Buller Gorge Marathon Scholarship Friday 21 September Carters Beach Recreational Reserve Board Scholarship Friday 21 September Denniston Miners Centennial Scholarship Friday 21 September Westport Performing Arts & Competition Society Scholarship Friday 21 September Westport Returned Services Association Scholarship Friday 28 September WestReef Services Ltd Scholarship 3.30pm Friday 21 September The Holcim application forms are not available at present.
Closing Date
Science News
ALL Year 12 SCIENCE STUDENTS – OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!
Each year Buller High School has students selected to travel away in the summer holidays to one of the many science camps available in New Zealand. There are many, but these two we recommend above the others based on student feedback over the last 10 years.
QUASSA (Otago University Advanced Secondary Science Academy) in Dunedin. 2019 Summer Student Science Camp: 21 January to 27 January. 2019 Winter Student Science Camp: 8 July to 14 July. This is a fully funded opportunity. Successful applicants will be able to attend both of these camps. Applications are due in about October and require applicants to submit a short essay. This is an outstanding opportunity to take your science skills to the next level by working along like-minded students and professional tutors, including several of Otago University’s leading professors. All previous Buller High School participants have rated this opportunity 5 out of 5 stars.
Rotary Science and Technology Forum in Auckland—14 days in mid January This is a partially funded opportunity with support from our local Rotary group and the “Lend a Hand Foundation”, with parent contribution making up the balance. Applications are due to Mr Dorey by Saturday 1 September, to be then passed on to our local Rotarians who decide on the candidate that wins their financial support. This incredible opportunity involves industry and academic leaders guiding students through lectures and labs, and industry visits. This has also been rated 5 out of 5 by all previous Buller High School students who have attended. Education Perfect Science Competition Results The competition is to answer as many questions as possible on the EP website about science within the seven days. Over 90% of the questions answered for Buller High School were done outside of class time. Buller High School ranked 4
th out of 80 schools of a similar size. A great result.
Winning awards for answering questions are the following students: Shoni Steiner is awarded the credit award for answering 756 questions Jade Armstrong is awarded the bronze award for answering 1306 questions Riah Murray is awarded the emerald award for answering 5199 questions Gemma Thomas is awarded the emerald award for answering 7450 questions Christy Bremner is awarded the ELITE award for answering 10483 placing her at 108
th in the world
These are outstanding results and we are very proud. Kia Kaha!
28 September: End of Term 3 15 October: Term 4 begins
Board of Trustees Student Election
PREFECTS 2019 Applications
close Friday 31 August
Nominations for the Student Trustee close at 12 noon on Thursday 30 August 2018
Anika James is the current Student Trustee
Junior Dance 2018
DATE: Friday 21 September TIME: 7.00pm – 10.00pm VENUE: School Hall DRESS: Semi Formal COST: $5.00
Tickets on sale from Monday 17 September, at lunchtimes from the foyer outside the School Hall.
Financial Assistance closes Friday 31 August
Fees for NZQA are due
to be paid to the School by
Friday 31 August
Year 12 OE Alpine Trip The Year 12 OE class travelled to Temple Basin in Arthur’s Pass to learn mountaineering skills over four days. The weather was highly variable, from long periods of sunshine to blizzard conditions, which provided the students a wide experience of alpine conditions. The students’ quotes below describe their experience.
I thought this was an amazing trip. Highlights of the trip were
sleeping outdoors in the conditions and really getting an idea of what some people can
experience. Another thing I enjoyed was making a snow
slide and learning the skills on how to self arrest with the ice axe and with your hands. The views were a really big plus as
they were amazing. My only negative was the cold, but all you can do is suck it up and
get on with it. 10/10 recommend!
This has most likely given a good pointer into what path of career I will take after school; it
has been nice to challenge myself. The skills I have
obtained give me a sense of achievement. Take this class
and you might just find something great.
It was pretty cool; as well as learning safety and
mountaineering skills, we were also having fun sliding down
In this feature of our newsletter we offer advice,
tips and suggestions about careers
and study.
www.careers.govt.nz
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR we will keep you up to date
with current thinking on Career Education and with what is happening in our Careers Department.
OUR CAREERS TEAM
UNIVERSITY COURSE PLANNING VISITS:
University of Canterbury Tuesday 28 August @ 11:20a.m.
University of Otago Tuesday 16 October @ 9:00a.m.
YEAR 13 TRANSITION PROCESS:
It’s not long until graduation, so our Year 13 students should be busy preparing to move out into the big wide world. CVs should be up to date and any tertiary institution and scholarship applications should
be in the pipeline.
ACTIVE READING
It’s all too easy to skim over an assigned reading and not know the main points of what you just read. Practise active reading by noting the main ideas and looking up unfamiliar words. Make an outline or create flow charts and diagrams that help map out the key ideas. After a period of study for a test or exam, write a summary in your own words and come up with possible test/exam questions.
As you start thinking about potential educational and career paths, we are highlighting 10 important things to remember. This time the advice is:
No matter where you are in high school, now is the time to plan the remainder of your high school years, as well as your plans after high school. Research your options for after graduation - institute of technology, polytech, university etc. Make plans, such as striving for high grades, gaining experience or doing community service.
Top 10 Questions for a Career Chat
1. What things do you like doing at school? Why?
2. What are you into at the moment?
3. What do you think you’re good at?
4. What do you want from your career and life after school?
5. How do you feel about life after leaving school?
6. If you were given unlimited money, what would you do when you leave school?
7. Who do you think has a good career? Why?
8. Do you know what you need to do to get your dream job?
9. What plans have you got for how you’ll support yourself when you leave school?
10. What do you think you need to develop and do before you can leave school?
