Darfield High School 22 June Newsletter

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Wisdom through learning : Akona to matauranga kia mōhio

22 JUNE 2017

SCHOOL PRODUCTION: THE WIZARD OF OZ

UC MUD RUN

PE: TRAIN TO GAIN

SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE TRIP


Principal’s Comments For these newsletter comments I would like to celebrate those staff, parents and others in the community who contribute their time, energy and skills for activities for students, beyond the core subjects they take. These sporting, cultural and academic activities are an important part of the culture of the school and the learning that students do. In noting a few individuals and events, I keep in mind that this is only a small part of the picture of contributions to the school. Rather, these are examples that illustrate the value of those who can go the extra mile. The school production of The Wizard of Oz concluded its successful run last week. The production involves dozens of students involved in months of rehearsals and the excitement of performance week (along with lots of tidying up afterwards). The production will be long remembered by the students involved and provided many important learning experiences for them and a great show for the audience. The production requires a big team of adults working together with students to complete the many roles such as costumes, set, props, ticketing, lighting, sound and music. Particular thanks to Mrs Hanson who directed and Mrs Balchin, the musical director. Winter sports are well into their season now with students from all levels involved in hockey, basketball, rugby, football and netball competitions. Thank you to Mrs Armstrong, our Sports Co-ordinator, and the many coaches, managers, drivers and supporters for these teams. When I first arrived at the school eight and a half years ago, the 1st XV Rugby was struggling to get a full team and regular games. Six years ago, Mr Bell and Mr MacDonald developed a plan to rebuild our senior rugby team. They started with developing a positive team environment and systems at Years 9 and 10, and then bringing this culture through with the players to the senior

AL’S AWAR NCIP DS PRI

Congratulations to the following students who have earned five Deans Awards. They are presented with a certificate in assembly and receive a $10 voucher.

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school. The 1st XV now has a good programme of competition and have the best available players involved. This season, the team is unbeaten and have been playing positive and entertaining matches. Most players also play in Saturday teams and have the opportunity to be trialled for the Lincoln Combined team in the premier secondary competition. Congratulations to Mr Bell and Mr MacDonald for their long-term commitment to rugby at the school. We were proud of our recent success in the Stage Challenge Competition. This event gives our senior students a chance to lead, choreograph and plan a seven-minute dance and music performance. The competition takes place in the Horncastle Arena and competition is intense. We insist that our students take the lead in this event, however, it would not happen without the guidance of Ms Blakemore throughout. Ms Blakemore was also involved in selecting and organising a group of Year 10 students to take a five-day voyage on the Spirit of NZ sailing ship. Many of our students and other children are involved in gymnastics in the school gym on Fridays. This was started by Nic Kelly three years ago when she saw a need in the community. It has grown to be a big part of many families' weekly calendar with over 100 participants spread over four sessions, and includes some of our students involved as leaders. Thank you to Ms Kelly for seeing the need and doing something about it. Each year the Malvern Lions Club runs two ‘Fries Days’ at the school to raise funds for our Young Achievers reward trip. For each of these, a big team of Lions' volunteers donate their time to run the production of the food. We appreciate Lions ongoing support of our school and the students.

James Morris

Leah Hamilton-Cross Hannah King Cameron Agnew Rhiannon Alexander-Lamb Hayden de Burger Ava de Rooy

Aneliz Gardner Sarah Gerritsen Tamara MacMillan Mya Moore Kendal Moore Emma Smart== 1 JUNE 2017


board? k l a h C e h t n W hat's o

Gourmet Burgers!

Pre-School Visit On Wednesday 14 June, the lead characters of The Wizard of Oz took a trip down to Darfield Preschool and Nursery to meet the young children and perform some parts of the show for them.

Year 10 students have been creating recipes for their own gourmet burgers in Technology Food and Nutrition classes. Dean, Ms Blakemore, then judged them on presentation and taste.

The children absolutely adored the students who sang and danced for them. They then spent some time with the children, who were thrilled to show them their toys and what they like to do during their days at preschool. “I want them to come back again," one of the children told their teachers following the visit. “I liked the high-fives,” another student mentioned.

Above: the noticeboard at Preschool Below: A big thanks to Mrs Andie Hanson (below with some of her cast) for another fantastic production

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It wasn’t a fun day just for the preschool children. Maddy O’Callaghan, Jodie Rollings, Caleb Banks, Katie Sharp and Kate Morris thoroughly enjoyed their visit. They would love to have another opportunity to visit the preschool…we may need to find some more children’s theatre in the future!

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DHS PRODUCTION

The culmination of eight months of hard work from over 100 people resulted in a vibrant and playful performance that captured the hearts of the audience. Last week, The Wizard of Oz took to the stage, and pulled off what seemed like the impossible. The amount of time spent putting this show together was phenomenal (and at times, overwhelming!) and the cast, band and crew put their best foot forward and delivered a show that had children and adults alike in fits of laughter.

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There were stand-out performances from the lead characters: Maddy O’Callaghan brought a vibrant and cheeky Dorothy to life, while Jodie Rollings executed the role of the Scarecrow with phenomenal skill and a great sense of humour. Caleb Banks showed the audience the loveable side of the Tin Man and Katie Sharp was a crowd favourite with her Cowardly Lion, her weak meows got the laughs every time.

Alongside these brilliant performances, there were other memorable performances, particularly from the Good Witch (Kate Morris) and Wicked Witch (Sophie Bucknell). Kate danced and sang beautifully, while Sophie brought a sense of comedy and excellent timing to her role. Mrs Balchin formed a brilliant band full of new and old members alike. They sounded amazing, and brought all of the memorable show songs to life with vigour.

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" We’re off to see the Wizard,

the wonderful Wizard of Oz! " Ms Evans did a fantastic job leading the backstage crew. Her student leaders, Maddy Berge and Saskia Kremers, undertook their role seriously, managing the group of students who made props and orchestrated their set changes efficiently and effectively. This year, we had the good fortune to have the set construction skills of Mr David Ellena, who was the mastermind behind the beautiful house, turning bridge, and many other set pieces that wowed the audience.

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Mrs Pepper led the hair and makeup team with professional skill, making our actors look outstanding on stage. I am so incredibly proud of everyone who participated in the show; their hard work and dedication made this all possible, and I couldn’t have done it without them. Congratulations to you all on an amazing Production; one that I’ll never forget. Mrs Hanson

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YEAR 8 PROJECT During th e past few months th 8's have b e Year een creati n g a garde have clea n. We red an are a, made p stacked ty lant beds, res and fill ed them w and straw ith soil berry plan ts. We hav donated ir e also been rigation, se eds and p that are re lants ady to be fitted and On behalf planted. of the Yea r 8s, we tha Oderings nk for the se eds and p communit la n ts and the y for their donations. wait to fin W e can't ish and se ll our gard to raise m en produc oney for th ts e less fort unate. Lucy Hun ter, 8CT

Making Scarecrows and Thank Yous so is going very well Our Year 8 garden on ing rk exciting wo far. Our year is very the til un it we can't wa these gardens and our all r fo ds er. The be next Year 8s take ov up ed fill e ar s . Our tyre plants are made up ed ck sta d an strawberries and planted with up to sky high! ous e to give an enorm Now we would lik g s for kindly donatin thanks to Odering eful. at we are all very gr seeds and plants— also like to give The Year 8s would at for the irrigation th enormous thanks ll be ted (our plants wi we have been dona t, las e watering). And very thankful for th to e st, we would lik but certainly not lea achers to our amazing te give a big thanks ppen. for making this ha

Recently, in our Yea r 8 garden been stra , there ha wberry pla ve nts plante tyres, whic d inside h has mad e a huge st progress. ep in Oderings have help and we th ed us hug ank them ely very muc the garde h. Cheers n! to

Emma Mil

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Kelly Rod

Recen tly, in the Ye been ar many chang 8 garden, t tyres here h es. Fo have b r star ave ee shrub s have n stacked a ters, the n been have b plante d filled and een m d. All ade a donat of the nd irr ed an bed ig d ation is read very b has be s y to b ig tha en e n k fi plants s to O t . That dering ted. Also, a 's s it an eye for se from u eds an out fo s this d r mor time, e but ke updat Charl ep es! otte M oana

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Wubet Ahmedin Visits Year 9 Students The Year 9 students have been learning about refugees in Social Studies, so Mrs Duckworth thought it might be valuable for them to speak to someone with some experience. They were lucky to have a visit from Denise Huisman, a social worker, who gave an overview of refugee settlement in New Zealand. Wubet Ahmedin accompanied her; she is originally from Ethiopia but spent some time in Kenya as a refugee. She spoke about her life and her experience settling into New Zealand life. Students were then able to ask her questions. Refugee stories are very powerful and painful to them and so it was incredibly generous of her to come and share with the students.

World Vision Famine Money and Books Well done to all students who took part in the 40 Hour Famine this year. It is now time to return your sponsor books and money to the office. If you didn't take part, you still need to return your book for accounting purposes. They all need to be returned to World Vision. If there is a problem with returning your books and money, please see Mrs Watson next week.

Mufti Day Friday 30 June To raise funds to pay for our World Vision Sponsor Child, Immanuel

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Immanuel Justin lives in Tanzania with his parents in the Magugu community. With your help, the community will reach its long-term development goals.

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SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE

Trophy Voyage

Recently, after a lot of fundraising selling cheese rolls, a raffle, and sausage sizzles, a team of students set off on a special voyage on the Spirit of Adventure sailing ship. The first day, they sailed all the way to Great Barrier Island, anchored there for the night, then continued on to Mercury Island. This leg of the journey was the roughest, with many students experiencing sea sickness. Originally, the trip was destined for Mt Maunganui to attend the marathon, but weather prevented them from this and the decision was made to turn back and instead settle near Waiheke Island. There the students learnt about our wildlife and fauna and helped plant over 100 Kaka Beak trees. The last night they anchored up in Station Bay, Motatapu, before the trip back to Auckland Harbour. The students, from various schools around New Zealand, had loads of fun even if there were many daily duties to attend to, eg cleaning, food preparation, dishes and serving food. There was time for lots of games and activities; leadership skills were learnt as well as having to work together as a team. Being on a sailing ship was a unique experience too and they all came away with a good knowledge of sailing terms and how it all worked. The Darfield students are really grateful to the local groups that helped them achieve their goal by sponsoring them: Malvern Lions, Selwyn Council, Malvern Community Board, Eurogari and Farmlands. Below, some of the students , and Ms Blakemore, tell of their experiences: Jenny Walter: Hello, as most of you will know, 11 of us, including our Dean, Ms Blakemore, were lucky enough to take part in the Spirit of New Zealand Voyage 740a. As it was a trophy voyage, the Darfield Dolphins took on three other schools from all around New Zealand. We competed by doing super-fun activities that helped improve our leadership skills and our teamwork. Darfield Dolphins came home with a solid third placing. I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to take part in this amazing experience as, not only did I have a huge amount of fun and learnt a lot, but I also met many new people and made some life-long friends. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who sponsored, fundraised, or donated towards our trip. Emily White My experience on the Spirit of New Zealand was well worth all the hard work we put into fundraising to just get up there and participate. Not only did I learn from being on the boat with the awesome fellow competitors, but also from the fundraising we did to get there. My favourite part of the voyage was being able to hoist the sails in the morning and lower them once we were at our destination. From my time on the boat I learnt some important life skills, such as working well and helping to make decisions as a team. If you ever have an opportunity like this, I would very strongly suggest you take it as it will help you for the rest of your life and is well worth it.

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Ben Sharp The Spirit of New Zealand has given me many great memories to look back on. On the voyage, I experienced many awesome things, like trying new and exciting things to do with the boat, like bringing up the sail, meeting lots of cool people and learning teamwork skills. Overall, I had an amazing time and really enjoyed it. The whole team who went away did really well in our fundraising; a big thanks to Ms Blakemore for helping and supporting us all the way. I definitely recommend it, so if you get the opportunity, put your name down. Hayley Murray Hi everyone. Where to start! This trip has been so amazing and one of the best experiences of my life. Going into it at the start, not really knowing what to expect, I am so happy now that I did it. All the hard work and effort we put in fundraising for the trip were definitely well worth it, and I couldn't have asked for a better trip. I found the new experiences challenging but it was fun to overcome my fears and nervousness and step out of my comfort zone into something new. Like when we had just arrived on the boat, finished packing our gear away and Ms Blakemore told us to go introduce ourselves to the other schools, it was quite daunting! But soon we found it fun going around meeting all the different people. My favourite time on the ship was when it got the roughest. I feel really bad for all those who got seasick, but I and some others were having the time of our lives, singing our heads off to any songs we could think of. A huge thank you to Ms Blakemore for making it all possible, and joining us on our great adventure. Thank you also to all friends and family for supporting our fundraising efforts, and to all the people who have made donations and sponsored us. Spirit Of Adventure was so amazing and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested, and are willing to put in the hard yards to get the end reward. I can’t wait to try and get back to go on a tenday voyage myself! PS I promise you, the 6.45 am swims aren’t that bad. Sam Cunningham I feel incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to experience going on the Spirit of New Zealand voyage. I was surprised the first time I had to jump off the boat for the morning swim and didn't hesitate; there was no fear; I loved it. I enjoyed meeting people from around New Zealand, including the crew and the leading hands and it's been great on returning home to keep in contact. Everyone got on really well, even when competing against one another; it was great to be around people who were enjoying everything and getting along. Matt Cooper Hi there. The Spirit of New Zealand Voyage 740a was an experience and a half. Throughout this voyage had many opportunities to try new things that I would never usually try in my normal everyday life. We also all got the chance to take on some great leadership opportunities. I highly recommend that anyone puts their name down and tries to get a spot on one of the next voyages because it was truly amazing.

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Ms Blakemore I was lucky enough to spend my Queen’s Birthday weekend with ten fantastic Year 10 students. After a term and a half of fundraising by making cheese rolls, selling raffle tickets, and lollies, having a regular stall at the Darfield Farmers Market, writing letters and filling in forms to apply for sponsorship, we had finally raised the $12,000 to head up to Auckland. It was great to see different students stepping up and taking responsibility for organising different aspects of the trip. Once on board the Spirit of New Zealand, we set sail pretty much straight away (which is unusual for a Trophy Voyage). The plan was to head from Auckland down to Tauranga to be part of the festivities/ marathon over the long weekend. There was little chance to get settled into being on a ship before we were out in open ocean. Although the first few days were a little rough while we made our way down as far as Great Mercury Island (before the crew decided to change to PlanB—which was to not go as far as Tauranga and risk everyone feeling sea sick), it was exhilarating to be out at sea. We had dolphins swimming alongside the boat and experienced getting the sails up and down in some pretty rough weather. Highlights for me were the 6.45 am swim (although cold, it was invigorating, and watching the sun come up over calm seas was beautiful), getting to go aloft (climbing up the mast and out across the ship to help let the sails down), being part of, and watching, all the activities, especially the rope swing and mini Olympics, and watching the students make some awesome new friends and really be there to help support each other. Highlights for me of the students: • • • • •

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Ben F: being fearless and putting himself out there at all times Hayley: showing amazing leadership skills and patience when helping others learn some knot skills Brie: really coming into her own and loving ship life, especially helping out with the sails Matt: always being prepared to jump in and help out when things needed doing Sam: being part of the full experience by giving everything a go and developing friendships with students in the team and from other schools Caileigh: putting herself out there even when she was a little afraid on the rope swing, and being amazing at limbo!! Jenny: being supportive of the whole team and showing good leadership in group activities Caleb: stepping up his leadership and taking the initiative, especially with playing the wild card Ben S: being prepared to get stuck in when needed Emily: Being a calming influence and a voice of reason in group discussions

Overall I had an amazing experience and want to thank the students who went for being awesome!!! Go Darfield Dolphins!!!

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ONLINE SAFETY FOR PARENTS Online safety for parents is more important than ever. As young people begin to spend more time online, it's important that parents start to teach them how to play safe. So, how do you get started?

SET EXPECTATIONS

Talk to your child about the type of behaviours you'd like them to adopt. For example, how long they should spend online, what apps and social media sites you'd like them to use ad what is appropriate content to view. This will be different depending on the age of your child and what you feel comfortable with. Technological options like parental controls can help, but it

TEACH THEM THE BASICS

Once your knowledge is up to scratch, teach them the basics of online safety—here's the four ideas of what to start with: 1. Strong passwords. A strong password helps protect the information in your online profiles or accounts 2. Information to protect online:

needs to be teamed with online safety education.

• • • • • •

UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY DO ONLINE

Talk to your kids about what they're using the internet for. What's involved? Who's in their network? What information do they share? Are they using the internet to learn? To communicate and create friendships with others? To create music or videos? Really listen to what they have to say—what might seem like 'just a game to you, could in fact be a way for them to connect with people who have similar interests. Showing an interest in the things they do helps build your understanding of what their online world looks like and creates an environment that makes it easier to have more difficult conversations about it in the future.

IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, TRY IT

You need to understand the technology to better understand the challenges that young people face online. Explore the websites and apps your child uses to improve your knowledge and take the time to read the terms and conditions. You could even ask them to show you how it works, as a way to start conversation around online safely.

SET A GOOD EXAMPLE

How often do you use your laptop or smartphone at the dinner table? How many angry posts have you published? Take a look at the way you use technology while young people are around. If you see something that troubles you, change it. How good is your knowledge around online safety, privacy settings and even online shopping?

3. Not everything is as it seems. It can seem like common knowledge to adults, but sometimes young people don't understand that people are not always who they say they are online. Talk to them about friending or communicating with people they don't know offline. For young children especially, they shouldn't friend someone online they don't know personally offline. 4. Digital Footprint. Teach your child that they need to think about what they post online, and that what they post online leaves a 'digital footprint' about them.

SETTING UP SOCIAL MEDIA

How old should children be before they get social media accounts? The minimum sign-up age for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and YouTube is 13. Of course, if they're under the age minimum, it is better they are honest with you about using an app or site, rather than behind your back. Thsi way, you can help them to stay safe online. Tips for setting up social media accounts: • • • • • •

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Login details and passwords Bank account details Home address Phone numbers Birthdate Personal information that could be used to guess security questions for online accounts

Make sure you've taught them the online safety basics above Help your child to set up the account Depending on their age, use your email address to sign up Enter their actual birth year so they're less likely to see inappropriate content Become their friend, or follow them Teach them about the safety tools available

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GIVE THEM THE TOOLS THEY NEED

WHAT IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN?

Most social media organisations have a safety centre with tools for staying safe online. Take a look at the safety centres of the apps or websites your child uses and teach them how to use the tools available. Start with how to block people, how to report content and how to use the privacy settings.

Let them know the options that are available to them: talking to a trusted adult, someone they trust in school, or Netsafe. Netsafe have a team of friendly people offering free and confidential advice for everyone in New Zealand. We can help young people with online bullying, abuse, harrassment and other challenges they might face online. Let them know we can help.

ONLINE BULLYING

If they come to you for help, count to ten before you react. When young people ask for help from adults, it’s important to understand this was a big decision. If you overreact or take away the technology, then you’re less likely to be the first port of call next time something happens. Focus on fixing the issue, not on punishing or confiscating their devices.

One in five young people in New Zealand have been the target of online bullying. Teach your child what to do if they are targeted online so they have the tools to deal with it if it happens. Ask them what advice they'd give a friend who was experiencing online bullying. This is a good way to understand how they would deal with these kinds of situations if they were to experience it themselves. Make sure you also talk to them about how you expect them to behave towards others online.

If you would like any more information please contact me at ma@darfield.school.nz

Jayne Mallinder, School Counsellor

Let them know that if it's not acceptable offline, it's not acceptable online Ask your children to think about the person on the other side of the screen. Lead by example—think about how you're behaving toward others online

WHAT ABOUT SEXTING?

When it's appropriate, you should talk to your children about the risks of sharing personal information and sexual images and what can happen to those photos or videos once created and shared.

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Useful Websites https://www.netsafe.org.nz https://www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/articles/internet-safety/ https://www.spark.co.nz/help/internet-data/.../how-can-ikeep-my-kids-safe-online/ http://www.vodafone.co.nz/help/mobile-safety/advice-forparents/ http://www.theparentingplace.com/

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My team, Nathan, Paul and I, were Super Heroes and my costume was Catwoman. The circuit was very, very long and it took us 40 minutes to get around. We ran and crossed very cold rivers, crawled in the mud. Juliette Lyot (France)

Sunday 18 June was the Mud Run. Teams of four dressed up in themed costumes and the purpose was to run together and cross a lot of different muddy obstacles. Bridget, Imogen, Elyse and I dressed up and made our faces up to look like cats. At the end we showered and had a hot chocolate and a sausage. It was a very good day—cold—but so much fun! Heloise Daniel

I had a lot of fun with my team in the Mud Run. That was the first time that I have ever run in the mud. It was so cold but I laughed a lot! I will remember this all of my life. My favourite moment was the long crawl in a river of mud. Prune Plevert

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On 18 June, I went to the Mud Run with my Japanese friends, Aiko, Kanon and Momo. We wore long red sleeves, painted the Japanese flag on our faces, and used red hairspray in our hair. When I arrived, I was really surprised at everyone else's costumes—they were so good! I liked the pole the best for getting down from a high point; it was really scary and reminded me of when I did a bungee jump. I really didn't like the deep, muddy pond—that was the worst! It was so cold and I could hardly move or feel my feet. At first, I didn't want to get muddy, but during the run I wanted to look even muddier so I put mud on myself. I also accidentally ate some mud! It was a unique experience for me and I really enjoyed it. Naho Shiraishi

During the weekend, I went to the Mud Run and there were so many people there wearing such a variety of awesome costumes. At first, I was worried because I was not sure if I could walk five kilometres but in the end, it was easy because my friend and I walked together and had so many laughs. I didn't think about it being a run or a race and really enjoyed it—it was a great New Zealand experience. Aiko Sakura

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Year 12 PE

Train to Gain! The Year 12 PE class has come in all guns blazing with our new unit, Train to Gain. As part of this unit, we had to get into teams and then each team had to come up with a training programme in relation to netball. Each team had to prepare and facilitate a training session. We were assigned continuous training which, to everyone's disgust, is usually continuously running around a field. Not this year! We changed it up and ran an hour-long Zumba/Jump Jam session with a whole block of chocolate for the winner! This took place in the hall up on the stage, and we were lucky enough to have Mr Dickens' Year 8 PE class come along and join us! We put in some of the old classics, such as Witch Doctor and Footloose and, from the get-go, we had everyone jumping round and copying our dance moves. The energy was pumping and in the end it was Sam Francis who had the strongest moves and won the chocolate. Some of the other methods of training included circuits, fartlek training, plyometrics and a good old stretch session run by Jeroen, Isaac and Joe. This included various yoga poses and stretching of the muscles, which was perfect after the hardcore training sessions we've had. The final part of the Train to Gain unit involves us writing a report evaluating how and why biophysical principles are applied to training, and how they relate to the sport of netball which this unit is based around. So far, Year 12 PE has been a highlight to many, with us all participating in other awesome events like Triathlon and Cross Country! We strongly suggest taking this subject next year!! Zara and Adriana

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Business Pitching and The Dragon’s Den

Cassie's in Yubetsu! I've been in Yubetsu for almost three weeks now and it’s been amazing. There are heaps of flowers and gardens which I love, and they even have a tulip park which is absolutely beautiful. Everyone is super nice and welcoming and it took me no time to settle in. The food here beats pretty much everything I've ever eaten in New Zealand, and my host mum is quite possibly the greatest cook to ever set foot on Earth. I've enjoyed everything I've tried, especially miso soup and traditional ramen, but I don't like natto (fermented soybeans) at all. I have also had the chance to make origami, weave a basket, and go to a tea ceremony, all of which were amazing, but I politely turned down the chance to go to traditional hot springs where everyone goes naked! Yubetsu Junior High is very different to DHS in a number of ways, the first being that the uniform is a very flattering bright blue tracksuit. There are six periods in a day, each fifty minutes long, and there’s a ten-minute break between each period. The school supplies lunch every day, and students eat inside their classrooms. At the end of the day the students clean the school themselves, and then have club till 6.30 pm. The possible clubs are baseball, basketball, volleyball, band, and track and field.

On Tuesday 6 June, Caitlin Fraser, Chris Moffat, Brett Langlands, Tane Nikora, Billguun Norjinkhand and I went into UC to give our five minute pitch for our Secret Family Recipes cookbook at Dragon's Den. We dressed up in our country clothes to match our team photo on the book and presented the Judges with brownies, business cards, and a prototype of our book (which they kept). The next day, the results came in and we had made it to the finals!! This was held at Ara on Tuesday 13 June. Out of the 70 teams in Christchurch, we made the finals and were in the top eight teams. It was an amazing and scary experience getting up on a stage and pitching our idea to a row of judges in a room filled with our competition. I was standing on stage, all eyes on me and eagerly waiting to hear my pitch. I am terrified of public speaking, as most people are, so to get up there and pitch our

idea to other people who have also created a product was very nerve-wracking. I smiled through the mistakes of my fumbled words, but remained composed and corrected myself throughout, while being able to feel my heart beating, as I spoke into the microphone. This experience was truly scary, but ultimately rewarding. The business pitch represents 30% of our overall competition mark and we are aiming to get to the National Finals in December. Our product will be available for public sale after our product launch, in early July. It will be $20 and we will be selling our cookbook at nearby markets. So check out our Facebook page Secret Family Recipes Cookbook for more details. Stephanee Lomas CEO, Secret Family Recipes

Soft Toy Making in Textiles There have been some very impressive soft toys made in Year 9 Textiles classes and students are proud to show them.

Cassie Hart

Above: Asia Machirus Right: Caleb Steele, Brodie Taylor and Lucas de Burger

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Boxing

Tim Walter Hansen

What is Matariki? Sunday 25 June marks the beginning of Matariki for 2017. Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades. It rises in mid-winter—late May or early June. For many Māori, it heralds the start of a new year. Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). According to myth, when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother, were separated by their children, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became so angry that he tore out his eyes and threw them into the heavens.

Matariki or Māori New Year celebrations were once popular, but stopped in the 1940s. In 2000, they were revived. Only a few people took part at first, but in just a few years, thousands were honouring the ‘New Zealand Thanksgiving’. A special feature of Matariki celebrations is the flying of kites—according to ancient custom they flutter close to the stars. (source: www.teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-newyear and Design Assembly)

You will remember reading about Michael Marvin and how he is enjoying his boxing and taking part in matches. Well, he has been very busy with another one at Queen's Birthday weekend, held at the Cashmere Club. In the Cadet Male Novice Class 34kg, it was a very closely fought match, and he only just lost out, coming runner-up in the the South Island Golden Gloves. Michael will be fighting again this Saturday evening against Kwahli and is expecting that will be a real challenge. Luckily, Michael has lots of support and we wish him well.

UC Japanese Workshop Day We had a great time at the UC Japanese Workshop this year! The Workshop is all about many Canterbury schools coming together and learning more about the Japanese language, with some dancing, performances and getting to eat some Japanese food sprinkled in between. This year, around 400 students from high schools across Canterbury came to the the event, with students from Rangiora High School, Cashmere High School, Christ’s College, Lincoln High School and, of course, the Japanese class students from Darfield High. The way the workshop works is the students are put into groups between the years, and you take three lectures based on your year level, helping you out for your upcoming assignments, exams and general Japanese, while also making some new friends that love Japanese just as much as you do. At the beginning of the day, we had to get ourselves administered for the Workshop, and we had to do so in Japanese, which is where we were assigned our groups. Already an authentic start to the day. We followed

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students into a lecture hall where we split up and sat in our newly created groups and the inauguration began. We were told about the Japanese language, Japan and UC, and what the workshop would do for us today. We listened to the guest speaker, Mr Tim Williams, who was the first person to have a foreign company on the Japanese stock exchange. He told us many things: what the Japanese language had done for him, how living in Japan had affected him without learning the language, and how it changed his life. Then, after hearing many people talk and cheer us on for the day, and applauding us for taking Japanese and choosing to embrace another culture, we were off to begin our first lectures. I learnt a lot throughout these lectures, things that will help me in the exams, in the internal and things that will help me socially for my Japanese. During our morning tea, the University of Canterbury supplied us with Nihonpan, or Japanese bread, which was very delicious; itwas good to taste something new that was Japanese, that we may not have tried before.

After the lectures, the day was coming to a close. We went back to the lecture hall that we began the day in, and watched the Takumi Taiko drum group perform—and what a sight it was! After the amazing performance from Takumi, we had the dance. Before we danced though, we watched the video of the dance from the previous year, to inspire everyone. The song we danced to was Koi, by Hoshino Gen, and it was quite fun. Afterwards, we had a prizegiving; then we ended the day with a traditional Japanese clapping ceremony. After a large round of applause, the day was over and, with a lot of new knowledge in our minds, we set off for home. I’d recommend anyone who takes Japanese to go next year; it’s quite an experience. I’d love to go again next year if I could. Rahul Chandra, Year 13

1 JUNE 2017


THE

SPORTSPATCH

Karen Armstrong, our Sports Co-ordinator, reports on recent events.

RUGBY

Basketball 9 June: Darfield Pink vs Hornby High: loss to DHS 34–39 Darfield Yellow vs Haeta Community Campus: loss to DHS 20–22 Darfield Purple vs St Margaret's: loss to DHS 24–26 Darfield Maroon vs Christ's College: win to DHS 63–41 Darfield Blue vs Lincoln High: win to DHS 34–26 Darfield White vs St Andrew's: loss to DHS 30–35

16 June Darfield Pink vs Villa Maria: loss to DHS 27–44 Darfield Yellow vs Unlimited Ao Tawhiti: loss to DHS by default Darfield Purple vs Rangi Ruru: loss to DHS 24–28 Darfield Green vs Rangi Ruru: win to DHS 40–21 Darfield Blue vs Ashburton College: loss to DHS 42–46 Darfield White vs St Thomas: loss to DHS 27–46

Netball

Hockey

24 May DHS A vs Lincoln A: loss to DHS 24–22 31 May DHS Blue: Loss to DHS 12–20 DHS Green: Loss to DHS 12–15 DHS Red: Loss to DHS 18–19 Development B Senior: win to DHS 20–19 Senior A: Loss to Darfield

11 June: Darfield First XI vs St Bede's: win to DHS 3–1

Rugby 7 June: U16 Rugby vs Greymouth High U16: win to DHS 45–42

Greymouth Report : Since our last newsletter, it’s been a busy time for the 1st XV Rugby squad. Two weeks ago, we rounded out the Brockbank Graves Trophy with a 45–42 win over Greymouth High. This game provided an opportunity for some of the younger boys in the squad to get a start and some more game time. Star players in this game were Lock, Callum Murdoch, and Number Eight, Brodie Wanhalla, who both made a number of decisive line breaks. This result left the DHS team unbeaten in the competition for the second year in a row and meant they successfully defended the title they won for the first time last year.

CONGRATULATIONS Georgia Shinn, Year 13, competed on Saturday in the National Cross Country Championships and came 38th out of 120 competitors. She posted her fastest time for the Cross Country and this 4km distance. She also competed for the Canterbury Cross Country Team (a goal she set for herself ) and they finished second. Nathan Carter competed at the NZ Secondary Schools Cross Country and placed first in his section. Well done!

ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

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QUAD TOURNAMENT

Above: Pre-game huddle Above: Darfield: winners of the Inaugural Hazlett Rural Plains

Schools' Competition

Geraldine Report: Last Wednesday saw the DHS team travel to Geraldine for the second round of the Inaugural Hazlett Rural Plains Schools Competition. This proved to be a really good day out for the DHS team with another solid 55–7 win. On the back of a good platform laid by the Forwards, the mid-field pairing of Cole Spinks and Mitchell Longdin put in a very strong performance, while Toby Kars had another very good game from Fullback. Above: Defending against Geraldine

Mt Hutt Report: After the win against Geraldine, and Mt Hutt beating Ellesmere College, it effectively meant our game against Mt Hutt was a Final. In warm conditions at Methven, the DHS team struggled in the first half to utilise the breeze behind them and went in to the break only two points up. However, after some productive half-time discussions and good injections from the bench, they stepped it up in the second half to hold on for a 32–23 victory. This was sealed with a penalty kick from Cole Spinks in the final play of the game. Star performers in this game were Caleb Longdin and Daniel Felipe in the forwards, who both put in numerous big runs and tackles. This win has meant the team has secured its second trophy for the year and remains unbeaten in full matches, which is a fine achievement. Above: Dylan Bamford on the charge against Geraldine

Above: Callum Murdoch taking the lineout against Mt Hutt

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Next week sees the 1st XV programme draw to a close with the team’s annual tour to play Timaru Boys' and King's High Schools. This is another important event for the team and provides a great opportunity to develop the depth of the squad further for next year.

Above: Scrum against Mt Hutt

1 JUNE 2017


School and Community Notices TERM TWO WEEK NINE Monday 26 June • Year 12 Physics Trip to Rutherford's Den Tuesday 27 June • Canterbury Secondary Schools Aerobics Championships •

House Singing Practice

Wednesday 28 June • 1st XV Southern Tour (to 30th) •

Parents' Ski Meeting

Thursday 29 June • House Singing Practice • Oral Tapestries Final, 7.00 pm

Term Dates 2017

Term 2: Monday 1 May to Friday 7 July

Term 3: Monday 24 July to Friday 29 September

Term 4: Monday 16 October to Thursday 14 December Monday 23 October: Labour Day Thursday 16 November: Staff Only Day Friday 17 November: Canterbury Anniversary

Friday 30 June • Mufti Day: World Vision Sponsor Child Saturday 1 July • Selwyn Dramafest

Start-up dates for 2018

WEEK TEN

Office opens:

Tuesday 4 July • House Singing Practice • Year 12 Emerging Leaders Day • Board of Trustees Meeting, 7.00 pm

Staff Only : Year 7:

Monday 22 January (skeleton staff )

Monday 29 January Tuesday 30 January

Wednesday 5 July • NZ Playhouse Visit •

Last Day of the Senior Art Exhibition

Thursday 6 July • House Singing Practice •

Newsletter

Friday 7 July • House Singing Competition, P5

Entertainment Books Entertainment Books have arrived and will be issued to those who have orders placed. If you missed ordering previously, you can still order at the school office. To view this year's Entertainment Book go to http://www.entertainmentbook.

Last Day Term 2

co.nz/about/Tell-Me-More/Christchurch-2017, or you can

South Island Secondary Schools Swimming Championships

look at the book display in the office.

Saturday 8 July • South Island Secondary Schools Road Race Championships Monday 10 July • South Island Secondary Schools Netball Tournament (to 12th) Thursday 13 July • Canterbury University Open Day

TERM THREE

Lost Property There is a large number of unclaimed items from last year. Please can you get your students to come and take a look if they know something has been misplaced. Parents: you are most welcome to come and check the clothing and items at Student Administration.

WEEK ONE Tuesday 25 July • PTSA Meeting, 6.30 pm at the Two Fat Possums, West Melton Thursday 27 July • Open Evening, 6.30 pm Friday 28 July • Year 12 Rural College Practical Day • Lions Fries Day

If you have changed addresses or phone numbers, please tell the Student Administrator, Mrs Hill. Ph 3188 411 ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

Visitors to the School If you are visiting our school during the school day please visit reception on arrival at our campus. Our friendly office staff will then assist you from there.

Payments for Activities and School Fees Bank Account: All payments to school (school fees, activity fees, NCEA fees, etc) can be made by direct credit to the following bank account. Please include the student’s name and the reason for the payment, eg Camp Fees. Darfield High School, ASB Bank Limited, Riccarton, 12-3147-0207317-00

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School Uniforms Most of our uniform supply has moved to The Warehouse in Rolleston. The Warehouse is also offering layby with a 20% deposit and three months to pay. We do, however, still have stocks of some uniform items for sale here at school and many items have been discounted. If you would like to purchase items from the Uniform Shop, please contact the Uniform Co-ordinator, on 3188 411, to make an appointment for a fitting. Note: We have no school ties in stock at the moment. You will need to purchase these from The Warehouse in Rolleston.

We no longer hold a second-hand uniform database. Please visit or ring Polkadotcom (see advert below) for second hand uniforms.

Lost Property:

Many uniform items have been found around the school. Please name all items of your student's clothing and check that they have not lost anything. Lost Property will now be stored in the Uniform Shop. Students can access it by seeing Sue at the office or by visiting the shop when it is open.

Uniform Shop Hours for Students Monday: 11.00 –11.25 am Thursday: 11.00 –11.25 am

WOMENSWEAR • MENSWEAR • CHILDRENSWEAR • HOMEWARE

Blazers: Blazers are to be worn on Tuesdays. Parents, please remind your students to bring their blazers on Tuesdays for Assemblies.

Uniform Reminders You need to know this information regarding uniform: The regulation shoes for boys and girls are black, LEATHER shoes. Boys choices are lace-up or slip-on. Girls may wear lace-up, t-bar or d-bar. 1. In terms of keeping warm, you may wear regulation DHS school jersey, DHS blazer, or a plain navy, or black, fully zipped jacket. The jacket must be shower proof. 2.

Thermals may NOT be seen at the neck or below the sleeves of school shirts. Be aware that both short sleeved and long sleeve shirts are available for purchase at The Warehouse in Rolleston

3.

School Ties: from Term 2 you will be required to wear the school tie with your uniform. If you do not have a tie, you can buy one at the school uniform shop or from the Warehouse.

4.

Students are permitted to wear a plain navy beanie or the DHS beanie with crest. This is for outdoor wear only.

5.

The only jewellery permitted is a wristwatch and one gold or silver stud in each ear. No other jewellery is to be worn.

6.

Ensure that your child is wearing the correct socks to school. For both girls and boys, knee-high black socks are required. If your student is playing a winter sport in the following codes, they will need a pair of Darfield High School socks: Rugby and Hockey. These are available from the school office only.

School Uniform If you need to buy or sell good conditioned second hand Darfield High School Uniform then let Polkadotcom make it easy for you. We can take orders and sell on behalf, taking the hassle out of school uniform. Dont hesitate to contact us.

Tae Kwon Do Gym 2 Tuesdays from 3.30 pm See Mrs Hayakawa-Buist for more information 20

1 JUNE 2017


Remember: If your student is not at school, or arrives late, please phone the school to explain the absence

PTSA MEETING Tuesday 25 July 6.30 pm

Weekly Sports Draws

The meeting this month will be held at Two Fat Possums, West Melton. Everyone welcome!

You can find your weekly game draws on the Sports website. As well as results and news . Check it out today!

Visit our website https://darfield.school.nz/

http://sport.darfield.school.nz/draws.html

School Buses: Important! In the past, students have been able to catch a different bus when they are attending sports practices. However, due to loading restrictions on buses, we can no longer assume there will be space on buses for groups of extra students. If you would like your child to travel on a different bus to attend a sports practice, please contact: Kathryn Morgan: km@darfield.school.nz DHS DISPATCH welcomes any news or photographs you have from events our students have attended outside of school. We love to hear about and share successes and interesting stories. Please email: sheryl@darfield.school.nz Black and white paper copies are available from reception or Student Administration.

for general school information, newsletters, and our photo gallery.

University Scholarships University Scholarships close in August so students should be applying now. A full list of scholarships and grants can be found on the givMe website and students can access this for free using their Selwyn library card or going into any of the Selwyn libraries.

PARKING OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL Outside the school on McLaughlins Road, is a no stopping zone. We need parents to observe the ‘No Parking or Stopping Zone’ between the School’s front gate and bus bay. To keep students safe, we need this area clear before and after school. There are signs indicating the restrictions.

Colour and back copies can be ordered by emailing the above address. Please enquire for cost.

Opposite Darfield High School on McLaughlins Road, car parks are marked out and broken yellow lines are painted outside residents' driveways. Please ensure you park within the allocated carparks and not in front of residents’ driveways. The carparks outside the school hall are reserved for staff and visitors coming into the school.

Advertising: If you would like to advertise in our newsletter, please email for more information.

Your co-operation in this matter is appreciated. There is usually plenty of space around the bend towards Bangor Road, or south-west on McLaughlins Road.

7 McLaughlins Road PO Box 5 Darfield 7541 New Zealand admin@darfield.school.nz www.darfield.school.nz Phone: +64 3 318 8411 Fax: +64 3 318 8543 Copyright: You are welcome to reproduce material from the newsletter after gaining permission from the school. All reproduced material must be appropriately acknowledged. Photos of school events can be found on our website and may be downloaded for personal use only. There is a download icon at the right of each photo.

ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

Free Health Clinic for students Public Health Nurse: Pa m Eaden Pam Eaden, our Public Health Nurse, is available every second Monday during lunchtime in the Counsellor's Office, commencing Monday 6 March. Pam is available to discuss confidentially any health concerns, physical, mental and sexual health. This is a drop-in service or you can make an appointment with Ms Mallinder or Mrs Townsend. Parents with concerns regarding their child's health are able to refer to the Public Health Nursing service on www.cdhb.health.nz/phns. 21


Win a trip to China! Competitions for all students Rewi Alley

REWI ALLEY INTERMEDIATE COMPETITION Years 7–10 students are invited to submit a tourist poster or brochure for a Rewi Alley Tour of Canterbury. First Prize: a trip to China The competition is open to schools in Canterbury. Closing date 29 September 29 2017 Entry Forms can be accessed on www.rewialley.kiwi.nz

Volunteers have been very busy knitting pure wool babies clothes and donating them to Save the Children NZ.

Booties and hats: $5 each Merino baby singlets: $20 Jerseys for babies and toddlers up to age four: $35–$50 (all pure wool, hand-knitted, and a mix of colours from white to dark)

Beanies for children up to adult size $5-10 Woollen knitted slippers from toddler to adult sizes: $5 Hot water bottle covers (sewn not knitted): $10 Covered coat-hangers: $5 Cot rugs and knee rugs, peggy-squares, and Afghans from $15–$40 depending on size

An extraordinary New Zealander's 120th Birthday Anniversary • Raised and educated in Canterbury • Veteran of the 1st World War in France • Taranaki Farmer in the 1920s • 60 years in China where he is honoured REWI ALLEY SENIOR COMPETITION

Years 11–13 Students are invited to submit a 1500 word essay: “Rewi Alley: his life as a fighter and revolutionary, change maker and risk taker, industrialist and educator.” First Prize: a trip to China The competition is open to schools in Canterbury. Closing date 29 September 29 2017 Entry Forms can be accessed on www.rewialley.kiwi.nz

Bra Drive

Have you purchased bras you never wear? Do you have bras sitting in the back of your drawer that no longer fit? WANTED: Bras in good condition for girls who need them. Please drop them off at Reception or Student Administration. They will be very much appreciated.

You can buy these from Jane Duncan: ph 021 993 584 or order by email: jane.duncan1954@gmail.com.

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1 JUNE 2017


Winter Menu at the Canteen

ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

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Fees and Financial Assistance for NZQF Qualifications Students must pay their fees to have their results recorded on their Record of Achievement, and to receive certificates. There are separate structures for domestic students and international students. Financial assistance is available for domestic students to help with the payment of entry fees. Financial assistance is not available to international fee-paying students. Entry fees are paid to the school.

Friday 28 July Lunchtime on the Quad

How do I apply for financial assistance? To get financial assistance, you need to fill in an Assistance form and give it to your school. You can get this form from Shona, in the school office, or by emailing ss@darfield.school.nz, or the NZQA website at www.nzqa.govt.nz/financialassistance. How much does it cost? Domestic student entry for all NCEA standards Domestic student entry for a Scholarship subject

$76.70 $30.00

International student entry to NCEA standards

$383.30

International student entry to a Scholarship subject

$102.20

Can I get help to pay? Financial assistance can be applied for if your family cannot afford to pay the fees.

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ato

sau

ce

tomato sauce

Who can apply for financial assistance? To be eligible to apply, you must be the fee-payer and meet at least one of the following criteria: •

be currently receiving a Work and Income or Study Link benefit, or have a current Community Services Card (benefitbased applications)

are not currently receiving a Work and Income or Study Link benefit, or do not have a current Community Services Card, but do have a joint family income that would entitle you to receive a Community Services Card (income-based application)

have two or more children who are candidates, irrespective of family income, and the total fees you would have to pay would otherwise be more than the $200 multiple candidate maximum (multiple candidate applications).

Ekea! Year 12 Pathways for Māori Friday 4 August 8.45 am–1.30 pm Venue: Undercroft, Puaka-James Hight, University of Canterbury, Ilam Campus. This event gives Year 12 Māori students the opportunity to see how their current school subjects can relate and progress into degree programmes and to hear from current UC students about their university experiences. The day will provide rangatahi Māori with: • •

• •

Information about where subjects at school can lead in terms of degrees Information about what students need to be aware of before university (entry requirements, scholarship info and course planning) An opportunity to engage in whakawhanaungatanga with Māori support teams and tuākana. The opportunity to hear experiences of ākonga Māori on campus and their journey to UC.

Please see Mrs Munroe, Careers Advisor, if you are interested in attending this day.

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1 JUNE 2017


OuR gOal

$ 5,000.00

100% 90% 80% 70% 60%

30%

WE’RE UNITING TO HELP GIVE CHILDREN LIKE YAZAN A CHANCE AT A BRIGHTER FUTURE.

20%

RETURN YOUR FUNDRAISING BY

50% 40%

10%

F ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

FRIDAY 30 JUNE

TO MAKE SURE ALL THAT HARD WORK COUNTS!

cHECK OUT WHO’S IN THE lEAD! famine.ORG.Nz 25


‘Paint is Pain and Drinking T’ 23 June – 6 July 2017 Darfield High School Art Students Years 11, 12, & 13

17 South Terrace, Darfield. P: 03 318 8702 Open 10 – 4 Tues – Sun www.selwyngallery.co.nz www.facebook.com/selwynartgallerynz

Address: 7 McLaughlins Road

PO Box 5

Email: admin@darfield.school.nz

Darfield 7541

Web: darfield.school.nz

New Zealand

ISSUE 5 / DHS DISPATCH

Phone: +64 3 318 8411 Fax: +64 3 318 8543 26


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