ISSUE 7
PTSA Quiz Night Page 4
Snow Snaps Page 6
International Week Page 12
Sir Peter Blake Award Page 15
Year 12 Interview Day Page 16
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FRIDAY 3 JULY
| 2015
These students receive a certificate and a $10 voucher
AL’S AWAR NCIP DS I R P
Alex Walker Alexia Inch Natalia Little Scott McKay Jaimee Walker Harrison Buck Annalise Selfe Georgia Walker Cameron O’Donnell 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. Colour and back copies can be ordered by emailing the above address. Please enquire for cost. Advertising: If you would like to advertise in our newsletter, please email for more information. 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
Principal’s Comments Last week, a story was shared with me about a student in one of our classes who, despite being deeply terrified of public speaking, summoned the spirit to stand up in front of his class and deliver his speech and, even better for him, being genuinely congratulated for his efforts by another student in class, a student he would not normally have expected to say anything to him. Stories like this are happening all the time but only occasionally do we get to hear about them. We often hear of the big victories, the first places, the winners and the awards. But amidst all of the big victories, are the many small victories that happen every day in and around the school. For the Young Achievers Award this year, we want to recognise and celebrate the achievements which, although seemingly small, are actually very significant for the individuals concerned. We want to celebrate students who have worked notably hard or overcome a particular challenge to achieve a significant goal. This could include academic, sporting or cultural achievements. We are looking to identify students who have made a significant achievement on their own terms. It is about how notable the achievement was for the nominee themselves, rather than how challenging others might find it. We are keen to receive nominations from all levels and from a wide range of students. See the nomination details elsewhere in this newsletter. I was pleased to note that last Friday was a reasonably uneventful one, as the three prior ones had not been. We arrived at work on Friday 5 June to find the admin block had been broken into, with
doors, drawers and cupboards broken and contents strewn on the floor. Little was stolen but much had to be spent on repairs. With the help of the school security system, we were able to help the police catch the person responsible. This does little, however, to repair the upset caused to those who had their work areas trashed. Friday 12 June began with news of an accident involving one of our school buses. The bus went off the road, sideswiped some trees, went through a fence and came to rest in a field. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, although all were shaken. We were proud to hear of the efforts of three of our students in looking after the driver, calling for emergency services, and reassuring others on the bus. At a special assembly next term, we will recognise the efforts of Akalanka Ekanayake, Marmik Patel and Kaycee Jones. School was closed on Friday 19 June due to the snow. We had needed to react promptly on Thursday afternoon to get buses away earlier than usual. The Windwhistle bus left school at 2.00 pm following reports up-country of the snow coming in. With the snow arriving heavier and settling faster than expected, we also had the rest of the buses away 25 minutes earlier than usual to provide a broader window of time to get buses out and back safely. We have reached the end of a typically busy term. I hope you have all experienced many of your own small victories this term. Wishing you a safe and refreshing term break. James Morris
“Time for work— yet take much holiday for art’s and friendship’s sake.” George James De Wilde
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3 July 2015
Authors Inspiring Students King Writers’ Centre for 2011. His book of poetry, Between the Kindling and the Blaze, was nominated in the fiction category for the Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards in 2014.
We were very excited to welcome writer and poet, Ben Brown, who ran workshops for Years 11, 12 and 13 English classes on Tuesday 30 June. Senior English classes were treated to an entertaining and inspiring visit from Ben. He regaled us with readings from his memoirs, shared his writing process, and gave us an insight into the life of a professional writer.
Thanks to the New Zealand Book Council for making Ben’s visit possible. Des Hunt is a well known and popular author at school and we are very lucky to have him visit our school on Tuesday 8 September, to speak and workshop with Years 7–9 students. His adventure books are mostly set in New Zealand and have strong nature, science and technology themes that appeal to many young people.
Ben writes children’s books, poetry, non-fiction and short stories for children and adults. Since 1992, he has been a publisher and writer, collaborating with illustrator Helen Taylor on numerous publications. Their Nga Raukura Rima Tekau ma rima, the Te Reo edition of Fifty-Five Feathers, was short-listed in the 2005 LIANZA Book Awards. The pair also won Best Picture Book at the 2006 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. Brown's other publications include: The Cat with no Tail; The Penguin who Wanted to Fly; Who is Brian Bear; Brian Bear, The Bouncing Ball; Te Tahae o nga Tae; Thief of Colours; Pukeko counts to Ten (wall frieze); Tuna Moemoea; Eel Dreaming; The
Rainmakers; and the Natural New Zealand ABC (wallchart). Ben, who is described as an exceptional performance poet, was awarded the Maori Writer’s Residency at the Michael
Des is a presenter with a difference— he uses science demonstrations and images to tell the story of how he became a writer of adventure stories. Along the way, he passes on ideas of how to structure stories to make them interesting for readers and he talks about the importance of review and editing once the writing is finished. His presentations are fun and we will learn a lot too!
Destination Queenstown Y ear 13 Geography After a long six-hour drive on Sunday 21 June, we arrived in Queenstown ready for the following two days to be packed full of hard work and study. Our first afternoon in Queenstown consisted of shopping at the supermarket, stocking up with unnecessary food items, many of which were left uneaten. We then looked at the site of the Winterfest. After some of us returned from watching “the worst movie ever made about a movie being made” as described by Tom, and recommended by Miss Petersen, the remainder of the day was spent staying up all night playing cards.
The next morning, we got up to listen to two informative presentations to assist in the writing of our reports. The first was by Alana, a planner from the Queenstown Lakes District Council, who spoke to us about the processes the organisers of the Queenstown Winterfest go through to gain consent from the council to run Winterfest annually. The second presentation was by Tammy, from Destination Queenstown, a nonprofit organisation who help promote Queenstown to a wider range of tourists. That afternoon, we had free time which was spent ice skating, visiting the scariest haunted house in New Zealand, the Fear Factory, or even purchasing some finely crafted Nepalese ponchos. Some members of the group took part in the Zumba event as part of Winterfest.We also collected data for our tourism class. For our last meal preceding our departure, we went to Searle Lane; this was thoroughly enjoyed by all before we had to pack up and ready to leave on Tuesday morning. Nicole Frazer
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
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PTSA Quiz Night Thank you to all our sponsors: The wonderful students and parents of Darfield High School Allure Homeopathy Darfield VetEnt Glentunnel Store Mike Pero Real Estate Val Briggs West Melton BP Prime Smoke Salmon Hirepool Discovery Jet Terrace Downs Espress Yourself Gift Shop Darfield Dairy Tom Welch Darfield 4 Square SockWorks (Amanda Crawford) Gnomes Snowsports Mason’s Drapery Darfield Swimming Club Darfield Bakery True and Daring Winery and Tasting Room Greendale Golf Club Hororata Café Hororata Golf Club Hornby Oil Changers Darfield Garden Centre & Florist Malvern Butchery Nutritiv Oils Avon Products: Julia Bell
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On Saturday 27 June, the Darfield PTSA held their famous Quiz Night. MidWinter Christmas was the theme but that didn’t stop other non-themed costumed groups stepping boldly into the hall. From Fly My Pretties in their Wizard of Oz, complete with Toto, to Dirty Sanchez, all the way from Nepal, via Queenstown, there was plenty of amusement. The PTSA could not be faulted for the fabulous night of fun, the wonderful supper and the prizes for everyone. Working hard behind the scenes, they kept scores, made sure snack bowls were filled, served at the bar, and made supper. Jan Stark was excellent in her role as MC. The only disputable statement made was
“I am always right! Do not forget that!” when the answer to a quiz question: “What is the best House?” was “Waimak”. Mmmm, we need to talk... Some rounds were challenging, especially if you weren’t familiar with those Christmas songs. Congratulations to Fly My Pretties, Scrooge You, and The Christmas Puddings—first, second and third placings; to Regan Dalley, winner of the TranzAlpine trip to Greymouth, and to Charlotte Walker, who won the wooden table and chair, donated by Gavin Chalk. Well done to the PTSA—awesome!
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3 July 2015
Chamber Music Competition On Thursday 11 June, Darfield High School took three groups to the Chamber Music Competition in Christchurch. The competition celebrated its 50th year this year and it was wonderful to have our students involved once again. The groups this year were Sassy Saxophones (Emma Grigg, Imogen Groom, Kathryn Barnhill and Isaac Proud), The Clariphones (Imogen Groom, Isaac Proud, Kieran McKay and Ellen Walters), and the Darfield String Group (Sarah Baker, Emma Grigg, Ellen Walters and Leigh Walters).
Jazz Band JAM Session The Jazz Band and Jazz Ensemble are working incredibly hard towards their upcoming competitions early next term—JazzQuest and Southern Jam. In the lead up to these, the band was lucky enough to have Gwyn Reynolds from the CPIT Jazz School come and lead a rehearsal. Above: The Clariphones
All three groups participated in a coaching day about three weeks prior to the competition, and each gained a wealth of new skills as they prepared for the big day. The judges were impressed by all groups and were particularly taken with Sarah Baker’s arrangement of the group’s favourite songs.
Above: Sassy Saxophones
Above: Sassy Saxophones
Above: Sassy Saxophones
Gwyn encouraged the students in their playing and also taught us how to improvise, or make up solos on the spot, a key jazz skill which is more complicated than it may seem!
The Parent Portal
Report Timeline 2015 Term One
Sent
Progress reports – senior and junior
6th March
Parent teacher (Thursday 19th March 3.30‐6.30pm) Term Two
Senior progress report
5th June
Full Junior report
17th June
Term Three Full senior report Junior progress report
31st August 4th September
Parent teacher (Thursday 30th July 3.30‐6.30pm) Term Four Senior transcripts Full junior reports
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
29th October 30 November th
The Parent Portal is now available for parents with Gmail or Windowslive email addresses. The Portal gives access to up-to-date information about timetables, attendance, reports and NCEA results. To access the Portal, go to parents. darfield.school.nz. You must log in with Gmail or Windowslive email address that has been registered with the school. This does not mean changing your existing email address. Email correspondence will continue to be sent to your existing address and the Gmail/Windowslive one will be used by you only to access the Portal. To register a new email address for the Portal, send a message to jane@ darfield.school.nz 5
It’s Snowing!
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Photo: Trudy McK
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Buck 7HB Kieran McKay’s Tardis
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Above: students
find their buses
Above: Jeremy, our Groundsman, works in the snow
Brogan had to help her dad try to keep water up to a lot of cattle over the weekend. Without electricity, the water sites were useless. Endless job, hour after hour of carting, emptying into a tank and with generator pumping to points on the farm. She was often doused in water herself. Photo by Annemarie Baldwin.
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Above: Lake Lynd on on the Photo: Jane Rollin Saturday gs
3 July 2015
Three-peat! Our French Students Win Again A quick summary from the reining champions of the Concours de Cuisine Française 2015. Darfield High School prides itself in its strong cultural roots and connections. On Thursday 18 June, our two teams of eager French cooks displayed just this! The annual Concours de Cuisine Française, organised by the Alliance Francaise de Christchurch, is an opportunity for local schools’ French Departments to send in teams to compete for the title of champions. Darfield has a reputation of doing very well in this competition, which may be credited to Madame Juhel who each year never falls short of keeping our French students immersed in the language and culture of the country.
(Chicken Curry) and coconut cake. Beside them, Josh, Finn, Tom and I worked away on our Carry de porc avec rougaille dakatine (Pork Curry) and Gateau de patate douce (Kumara Cake). Both teams based their menus on the French island of La Reunion, off the coast of Madagascar. Although the judges were thrown at first by the idea of a dessert made from kumara, it went down a treat and obviously worked well with Team One (Josh, Finn, Tom and I) winning the competition and keeping the title in Darfield for a third year in a row. THREEPEAT!! Both teams performed exceptionally well and I have strong belief that the title will remain with Darfield for years to come.
If you want to try something different for dessert tonight, give our Kumara Cake a try…you will be surprised!
K u mara Cake 1 kg of kumara 100 g flour 3 eggs 200 g butter (softened) 250 g sugar 1 vanilla bean Cook for one hour at 170 C. Watch this youtube video for instructions: Gateau a la patate douce de La Reunion.
Lois Freemantle
This year, after a series of delays and hurdles, the cooking competition went ahead. After what was a very rushed four days of preparation, our teams headed to Christchurch to defend the title that they had been holding for two years in a row. The teams were a mixture of old and new faces to this competition but nonetheless did exceptionally well. The Year 11 team: Akalanka, Eloise, Brogan and Alyssa made a spectacular Carry de poulet avec rougaille de tomates
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3 July 2015
UC Mud Run at Motukarara
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
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Pop Up Café Part of my work as a member of the Selwyn Youth Council is running the Pop Up Café. We have had it since the start of the year, and it has slowly evolved to become the cart that was at school last week. We added the coffee machine and storage, and it has had a glorious paint job. It is taken to different events over Selwyn, not just at events that we run as a youth council, but other events as well. Our purpose for coming to school is to find people who are willing to help out in the Café during community events. At the moment, it is only the Youth Council who works in it, but we are hoping to give other youth in the district the opportunity to volunteer and work at events. The Barista Course, run by the Hospitality Department recently, means we have many trained baristas here at school.
We will be holding our Final Famine Assembly on Tuesday 28 July. Lauren Stewart, from World Vision, will be presenting students with their certificates and prizes will be presented to our top collectors and prize draw winner.
The Pop Up Café will go to other areas of the district for the same reason, but Darfield High School was the first school to experience the Café, and we received some really positive feedback from both teachers and students.
Due to the fantastic and collective effort of those who took part, Darfield High School has raised in excess of $5,000. This is exceptional and so thank you to all those who took part, donated, or supported students in any way.
Sarah Baker And from the staff...we could not fault the fabulous coffees and service— very welcome!
Kitchen Showdown The school kitchen was abuzz with excitement with Year 10 students competing in the Maggi Kitchen Showdown. Teams of four created a healthy meal for a family for under $20, using at least one Maggi ingredient. The competition is an annual event run by Maggi to encourage students to get in the kitchen and cook. Darfield students impressed with their innovative menus. The winning team, Not So Masterchefs: Cameron Brunton, Courtney Newell, Toni Forsythe-Walton and Natasha Young, created yummy Salmon and Rice Parcels. Their entry and recipe can be seen at the following web address: https://www.maggi.co.nz/kitchenshowdown/current-competition.
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
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Oral Tapestries
Pedalmania
After an increase in suspense due to snow-related postponement, on Thursday 25 June, Darfield High School held its annual Oral Tapestries speech competition. The evening was entertaining for those involved and yet again proved that it is a great way to showcase the outstanding talent in public speaking.
On Friday 26 June, a bike company called Pedalmania visited Darfield High for three hours, bringing crazy bikes for the young people to play around on. These bikes are antiques, dismantled and then put back together again in bizarre ways: bikes that need to be pedalled backwards, or bikes that have steering wheels instead of handle bars, and many other odd combinations.
Throughout Term Two, students had been perfecting their speeches in preparation for this big event. English teachers gave their students a range of speech topics before instructing them on how to correctly structure and present their works. In order to reach Oral Tapestries, students had to endure different stages of critique and direction; meanwhile, teachers sorted through the best speeches in each year level. After fighting through class presentations and semi-finals, the best performances were polished and ready to compete in the Oral Tapestries. The finals for the competition proved entertaining as the audience was treated to many speeches on a diversity of topics. Three people from each year level (two people from Year 13) were pitted against each other in the ultimate speech-off. Every competitor was aiming to win the speechmakers trophy for their year level. Finalists spoke in front of the judges: Mrs Jebson, Mrs Morgan and Mr Tsavousis. Mixes of monologues, court defense cases,
Above: Melissa Jebson announces the winners
comedies and informative/philosophical speeches were presented. Though the spotlight was blinding and the symptoms of nervousness were present everywhere, each competitor had a great performance. Standing centre stage was no easy feat but, when everybody had finished, the warm clapping of the audience assured everyone that they had done well. Personally, we found Oral Tapestries to be an uplifting, yet nerve racking, experience. We found it surprising how memory kicks in and your subconscious does the work of performing the speech. Once we were finished, we could reflect on a job well done and with pride in the fact that we were able to overcome our nerves. This opportunity gave us a chance to push ourselves out of our comfort zone and has made us more confident to do so.
The Darfield 24–7 Youth Workers spend time hanging out with kids in school and decided that a fun event like Pedalmania would complement their presence in school. Pedalmania was used at the Waitangi Day community picnic at the Darfield Domain earlier in the year and was very successful. Their visit to the high school last week was again a great success, with dozens of kids getting a chance to jump on lots of different weird and wonderful bikes and have a bit of a laugh. Poiema Heine
Jack McConnell and Elyse Kerr
Year 7:
Jessica Bassett
Caitlin Knowles
Olivia Manning
Year 8:
Caitlin Warrington
Harriet Cottrell
Rebecca Inch
Year 9: Brooke Steele
Kate Morris
Georgia Allison
Year 10: George Steele
Elyse Kerr
Jack McConnell
Year 11: Harriet Watson
Gus Thomas
Sophie Bucknell
Year 12: Lexi Sutherland
Kathryn Barnhill
Maddie Tasker
Year 13: Tim Logan
George Watson
Overall winner: Tim Logan
Sacks Wanted Mr Gough and his English class are in need of many more sacks to finish their replica World War trench. If you can help out, or have some for collection please email go@darfield. school.nz Any feed sacks most welcome. 10
3 July 2015
Our annual Formal will be held on Saturday 1 August. This event is a highlight of the school year for senior students.
Senior Formal
We expect that all students and their partners will behave responsibly before, during and after the Formal. Use of Alcohol In recognition of past practice, where parents of some students have hosted pre-Formal functions, normally the Principal and Board of Trustees have granted an exemption to the clause in the school’s Alcohol Policy which states that “Students are not to consume alcohol prior to attending a school function”. It must be noted, however, that the exception is granted only under the following circumstances: •
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The pre-formal meal must be hosted and supervised by a student’s parent/caregiver. Liquor may only be served to minors (ie children under the age of 18 years) by their own parents.
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Only one normal-sized glass of wine or beer may be drunk by any one student and must be served by that student’s parents or legal guardian, for under 18 year olds.
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We expect that most young people will not drink alcohol, in which case their hosts should serve nonalcoholic beverages to them.
Responsibility for Student Behaviour and Welfare The school’s expectation is that all students will behave responsibly before, during and after the Formal. The school accepts responsibility for students’ behaviour and welfare on their arrival at the Formal venue.
Our annual Formal will be held on Saturday 1 August. This event is a highlight of the school year for senior students. We expect that all students and their partners will behave responsibly before, during and after the Formal.
Responsible supervision and security will be exercised for the duration of the Formal. On leaving the venue, caregivers assume responsibility for their children’s behaviour and welfare. Since the lowering of the drinking age, there has been much media attention on binge drinking by young people.
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The designated driver of a vehicle taking students to and/ or from the Formal must have no alcohol at all.
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A pre-formal function should include substantial food.
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Attendees may be breath tested on entry to the Formal. In the past some hosts have encountered difficulties with students arriving at functions with additional alcohol. It is preferable therefore that parents/ caregivers hosting pre-Formal functions supply the food, juice and one normal-sized glass of wine or beer that students are permitted.
Our community is not exempt from this. Often after the Formal, students wish to get together. Small get-togethers in parents’ homes of groups of friends are the safest and most enjoyable way for students to host such events. This needs to be discussed by families before the evening itself. Outside partners for the Formal must be approved by the school. We hope this guidance will be received in the spirit in which it is given—to ensure a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening that the school and families can be proud of.
Remember the ‘good host’ responsibility—provide plenty of food! Other students’ parents enjoy attending events such as this as well.
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Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
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International Maths is FUN! Years 7 and 8 Maths classes ended the term on a high note, with their own version of Cantamaths in the hall. Buzzing with noise and lots of excitement, teams of four raced to answer each question and get it to the scorers before receiving the next.
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Mid-Winter Party On Friday 26 July, the International Students and staff attended their annual Mid-Winter Dinner and Dance event in the school hall. The evening entailed a fully catered dinner, with dessert by a local professional caterer; a photo booth with a polaroid camera, which was a big hit; lucky number prizes and best dressed prizes; as well as two hours of fun and dancing with our very own DJ Singhstar!
3 July 2015
Japanese Field Trip On Friday 26 June, Mrs Hayakawa-Buist escorted her Year 10 Japanese class to a cultural Japanese exhibition at Villa Maria College. The afternoon was filled with numerous cultural activities and was enlightening for all of the students. Many schools were in attendance, such as Villa Maria, St Andrew's College and Lincoln High School. Every school was to come together to share and participate in their mutual love for all that is Japanese. Activities ranged from Kendo performances, traditional calligraphy, cartoon creating and a cultural quiz, as well as the opportunity to dress up in traditional Japanese attire—Yukata. When asked about their favourite activities, my classmate Julia said “Kendo wa omoshirokatta desu” (the kendo was interesting), while my other classmate, Gary, stated that “Shodo wa tanoshikatta desu” ( the calligraphy was fun).
Another highlight for us all was the sampling of different Japanese lollies and snacks, eg green tea flavoured biscuits and Japanese Pocky. To conclude the afternoon festivities, everybody participated in a ‘Youkai Taisou Daiichi’ dance, a popular dance routine that is currently sweeping Japan. I found the trip extremely informative. It gave me a new perspective on the Japanese culture and gave me the opportunity to interact with people who share my interest. It was exciting to use our skills of speaking Japanese outside of the classroom, as it allowed us to compare our adeptness with that of other schools. It was fair to say that a great afternoon was had by all. Elyse Kerr
UC NCEA Japanese Workshop On Thursday 11 June, the senior Japanese classes went on a trip to the University of Canterbury’s Japanese workshop. Over 15 schools from around the Canterbury region attended the workshop as an opportunity to develop their Japanese skills and prepare for the NCEA exams in November. After arriving at the University, we registered and went to the lecture hall, where we heard speeches from guest speakers and university lecturers. The CEO of Shuttle Rock came to speak to us about his experience learning Japanese and working and setting up a business in a foreign country. This gave great insight into where we could apply our studies of Japanese after school. After this, in groups, we went with university students to Kirkwood Village and had classes with many different Japanese teachers. In these classes, we learnt how to use new sentence structures and talk about activities we do at the weekend. We also did some revision of subjects we had learnt earlier in the year; this helped us to reinforce our learning and understanding for exams. After two classes, we had a break for morning tea; we were lucky to be able to try traditional Japanese breads which the University had kindly supplied. These breads were very sweet, but delicious. Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
We had more classes before breaking for lunch where we were able to meet other people on the trip and talk about how the day was going. The final part of the day was returning to the lecture hall where the entire group of schools performed the yokkaitaisou dance that we had been practising. University students filmed the dance and are making a video about all the schools and students teaching and learning Japanese in Canterbury. Prizes for the day were given out and a few Darfield students were lucky to receive them— they consisted of small Japanese items that are very popular. Before heading home on the bus, we had the chance to say goodbye to new friends and thank you to all the people who had made the day possible, especially the University staff and students and the Japanese teachers from the attending schools. Being able to attend the lectures and classes helped us in our learning and allowed us to develop connections with others students learning Japanese. The opportunity to do this helped us to develop our Japanese conversational skills and benefitted us greatly. We really look forward to attending next year and recommend it to students who study Japanese in the future. Rachael Phillipson and Abbie Cider
Welcome:
Suzanne McFerran I am really excited to be joining the team at Darfield High School and providing a hands-on role in the Learning Centre at the start of Term Three. I have held teaching, leadership and management positions in special schools as well as mainstream schools in my area of professional practice— special education. I have completed postgraduate studies at Griffith University in the fields of psychology and disability studies and have furthered my studies in New Zealand, gaining my teaching qualifications and, most recently, a postgraduate qualification in Specialist Teaching with an endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorder. I am passionate about enabling students with specialist needs to achieve multiple successes. I look forward to meeting and working in collaboration with everyone in the Darfield High School learning community. 13
International Week 2015 Despite the weather disruption at the end of the week, we managed to have International Day in the hall the following Wednesday. Classes visited the hall throughout the morning and had the opportunity to try various foods, games and even listen to a wonderful performance by our Japanese rock band! Students and staff got involved in the various activities. There were wonderful displays in the hall of the various countries represented in our International Department: Thailand, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Japan, Korea, France, China (and New Zealand!). Students also got the opportunity to play various fun and games, listen to music, dance, and enjoy food from these countries. The International Languages Department would like to thank all the staff and students for their enthusiastic support. And last but not least, a big thank you to Mrs Hayakawa-Buist, Miss Hely, Mrs Staddon, Miss Rawson, Miss Shahbaz, and Ms Williams for all their hard work and effort in making International Languages Week a success. P Tsavousis HOD International Languages
Above from top: Yusaki hosts games for students; Mr Tsavousis watches in amusement as Gary tries blue cheese; Momo, Praew, and Minori; Ryo and Koharu; Gary writes students names in Japanese; Loona, Lora, Marine, and Nolwenn.
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Here are some comments from our international students about the day: “After the monster dance, when I saw the Kiwi students’ smiles, I got a great sense of achievement.” “All the students joined the French students’ dance and enjoyed the happiness and nice feeling inside.” “The Japanese students were very happy! We saw big smiles on their faces!” “I really liked this event. We learnt a dance that doesn’t exist in my country.” “It’s very amazing to show our culture in a different country, and I know, I’m very lucky.” “The soft voices of the Japanese girls’ singing was very emotional—even if we didn’t understand the lyrics.” “This is why International Day is useful. We can learn about other cultures and ways of life. Therefore, we get more aware of the world and this, for me, is how we can grow.” “The Kiwi students seemed to enjoy the dance and it was good to know that they were interested in our culture, and we laughed a lot!” “It’s great that the International students and the Kiwi students could enjoy these things together.” “It was a popular attraction because many Kiwi students tried it and they said it was fun.”
3 July 2015
Sir Peter Blake Trust
Year 11 PE
2015 Young Leader Award
Currently the Year 11 PE class are looking at Achievement Standard 1.4 which is to do with Generation 'Z' activities. Generation 'Z' is babies born from the mid 1990s to the present. As part of this standard, the students have to experience three typical Gen 'Z' activities. This has included two skate sessions, two multi-fitness gym classes and Fast Five Netball (which is netball's answer to Rugby 7s).
Above: Rob Hunt, Westpac, Rozlyn Doherty, and Ashleigh Collier
“Leaders should be bold, take risks, and move groups forward. That’s the difference between fitting in and standing out.” Sir Peter Blake was a legendary New Zealand leader, explorer, and environmentalist who continues to inspire us all. The Trust aims to help New Zealanders make a positive difference to the planet by encouraging environmental awareness and leadership development.
Above: Isaac Proud testing out one of the many weight machines in the Lincoln uni gym.
After learning how to roller-blade in the first session, the students got to hone their skills on the skateboards and longboards in the second session. Overall it was a fun experience and, apart from a few minor falls, no-one got seriously injured. A big thank you must go to our awesome instructor, Scotty, from Cheapskates Skate School.
The Young Leader Award recognises young people who have shown promising leadership in their schools and communities. Presentations are made to nominated students by Westpac employees during Leadership Week. Year 8 student, Rozlyn Doherty, was the well-deserved recipient of the above award. Rob Hunt and Ashleigh Collier, from Westpac, presented her with a prize pack and certificate this week. Mrs Seaward said: “Rozlyn is a leader in class, as well as the wider school. She is looked up to by other students, who often seek her out for her patient nature and positive outlook. She motivates others to achieve to their best potential by setting a great example with her own behaviour and attitude.”
School Photos Orders for class and cultural photos are now closed. Photos will be delivered early in Term Three. If you missed out, you may still order—please contact the photographers: Fotographix School Photography 205a Thames St Oamaru 9400 Ph 03 433 0015 schoolphotos@fotographix.co.nz Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
Basketball
This week, the Years 7 and 8 mixed Basketball team had another win: 32–8 against Lincoln. “They were awesome,” said their Manager, Stephanie Buck. Each week they improve and they all show fantastic teamwork and are a great bunch of kids. They have played six games this term— lost the first two and won the next four, and are hoping for the good results again next term. The Team: Annabel Jones, Scarlett Banks, Cameron O'Donnell, Harrison Buck, Caitlin Knowles, Jordy Frew, Hannah King. Ben Francis (absent). Photo: S Buck
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Year 12 Interview Day Nerves were running high as the extremely well-dressed Year 12s approached school on Tuesday 23 June. It was Interview Day and I, along with all the other Year 12s, felt a little like I had been pushed into the deep end, having two daunting interviews planned for us over the day. Our interviewers had already received a copy of our CVs and were a wide range of local employers, with many familiar faces among them. Although many of us were nervous and did not know what to expect from these mock job interviews, as soon as we sat down and conversed for a bit, we realised it was not nearly as scary as we anticipated. The employers talked to us about our CVs as well as our goals and ambitions for the future and we had the opportunity to ask them questions at the end. It was great practice for us all to be able to experience an interview and receive advice from people who are knowledgeable in the field of employing. Everyone learnt a lot from the interviews and we are very thankful to Ms Kidd for giving us this opportunity. Alexis Sutherland Students were “well prepared”, “confident”, and “well attired”. In general, Melissa said, “Students had very good communication skills, were open with where they were at the present time”. All students will receive feedback from their interviewers, so they will be well prepared and that first real interview may not be so daunting after all.
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Errol Barnes Darfield Dairy Margaret McPherson Sally Marchant The Toenail Lady Richard Marchant SPCA Debbie O’Connell Darfield Hotel and Restaurant Melissa Jebson Board of Trustees Rod Oliver CRT Farmlands Matt Collier CRT Real Estate Trish Kerr Brian Davidson Stu Mintrom Darfield Collision Repairs Alastair Frizzell Frizzell Agricultural Electronics Barry Harvey Darfield Motel Sally Whitwell and Clare Clatworthy Darfield Preschool and Nursery Daryl Collier Darfield Bakery Deb McKenzie Sicon Ferguson Leanne Kingi
3 July 2015
Outdoor Ed: Mountain Missions For Year 12 Outdoor Ed we have been on two day tramps. The first tramp was the Mt Richardson/ Blowhard track on Tuesday 9 June. This tramp was a 15 km hike through the scenic native bush that challenged the whole group, whether it was the intense uphill sections or trying to cook lunch with a northwest gale blowing at the summit (1047 metres). The tramp was challenging but rewarding. The group of 13 students and Dr Grant McKenzie, Dave Pitkethley and Jason Dickens enjoyed the day and its wonderful weather that it had to offer. The second tramp was at Castle Hill and this tramp was focused on navigation. The day started with the group finding our location on the map given to us.
Trying to focus and find our location was particularly hard due to the recent snowfall that had covered all tracks. After walking for a few hours, we were given the challenge of navigating as a group through dense bush. The snow covered trees transformed the area to something out of Narnia, and made for an interesting few hours. The rest of the day consisted of constant map reading and compass use. Lunch rolled around and for lunch Mr Dickens had prepared his famous “cheese and tuna poons” which I must say were surprisingly good. Bailey Campbell
We have a new look!
Check out our new website for latest news, what’s happening around school, forms you need throughout the year, Uniform information, bus information, and anything related to Darfield High School. Find your students in our new Gallery albums, and bookmark the home page for quick access to late announcements. http://darfield.school.nz/ Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
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Southern Tour 2015
SPORTS
patch
Week ending 3 July
Rugby Years 7/8 Rugby vs Cathedral Grammar: win 38–0 Years 9/10 Rugby vs Rangiora: win 48–36
Netball
On Wednesday 24 June, the DHS 1st XV Rugby team travelled down to Timaru and then to Dunedin to embark on its Southern Tour. The two-game tour consisted of matches against teams from Timaru BHS and Kings BHS and was a great opportunity for the boys to travel and experience a different rugby culture. This year’s results for the trip were mixed, with a below par performance against Timaru resulting in a 15–5 loss. However, after a frosty start, a trip to Pak’n’Save, and a short trip to Dunedin, the boys put in a spirited performance against Kings BHS that saw them come from behind and win a close one by 39–24. While there were many strong performances on the trip, it was Haigh Jebson who put
in two outstanding performances to gain five MVP points and three tries. At the Kings after-match, all of the Darfield Year 13 students were presented with a Kings HS badge and the team captain, Harry Pringle, was presented a with a Kings BHS branded match ball, which was a well-received gesture. On leaving Dunedin, the team were given a tour of the impressive Forsyth Barr Stadium, which was a great way to finish the tour. The DHS 1st XV has one more fixture this year which is a rescheduled match against Mt Hutt 1st XV after the annual senior quad was cancelled due to bad weather. This game will take place on the first Wednesday back at school.
Netball B vs Hillview A: win 33–10 Netball B vs Middleton Grange: loss13–30
Football Football A vs St Thomas’s: won 5–1 Football B vs Hornby: won 8–5
Hockey Years 7/8 Hockey vs St Martins: draw 4–4 Senior Boys vs Burnside 2nd XI: win 5–0
Basketball Basketball vs Lincoln: win 32–8 Junior Girls vs STAC: lost by 19 Basketball Senior A vs Villa: won 43–24 (moved up two divisions) Basketball Senior B vs CGHS: lost 82–2
Shooting Bobby Wright had two wins and a second, and Jackson Pitkethley placed second at the Interschool shoot at Canterbury Gun Club.
WANTED: A referee—student (parent or adult) willing to upskill and be our Senior Girls Basketball Tournament Referee during September. Please email go@darfield.school.nz
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3 July 2015
NCEA 2015 TIMETABLE 2015 Examination Timetable Day Day 1
Date/Time 9.30am Fri 6 Nov 2.00pm
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Scholarship Drama
Weekend Day 2
Mon 9 Nov
Day 3
Tues 10 Nov
Day 4 Day 5
Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10
9.30am 2.00pm
Mathematics
9.30am
Science
2.00pm 9.30am Wed 11 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Thurs 12 Nov 2.00pm
9.30am 2.00pm 9.30am Tues 17 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Wed 18 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Thurs 19 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Fri 20 Nov 2.00pm Mon 16 Nov
Te Reo Māori English Earth and Space Science
Mon 23 Nov
Day 12
Tues 24 Nov
Day 13 Day 14 Day 15
Day 16
English Japanese Media Studies French
Home Economics Te Reo Māori Economics Canterbury Anniversay Day Weekend Biology Media Studies Physics
Physics Health Dance Biology
Day 17
2.00pm
Home Economics
9.30am
Chemistry
2.00pm 9.30am Wed 25 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Thurs 26 Nov 2.00pm 9.30am Fri 27 Nov 2.00pm
History Drama Economics
Mon 30 Nov
Tues 1 Dec
German Business Studies
2.00pm 9.30am 2.00pm
Classical Studies
9.30am Day 18
Wed 2 Dec
Day 19
Thurs 3 Dec
Day 20
Fri 4 Dec
2.00pm
Spanish
9.30am 2.00pm 9.30am 2.00pm
Samoan Te Reo Rangatira Latin Art History
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
Dance Spanish Samoan French History Accounting Weekend Chemistry Agricultural and Horticultural Science Classical Studies Japanese Drama Geography Latin Art History Weekend
Agricultural and Horticultural Science Chinese Accounting
9.30am
Biology
Mathematics Music Te Reo Māori Geography Social Studies
9.30am Day 11
Making Music
Music Health Business Studies Chinese Education for Sustainability Te Reo Rangatira Social Studies German
Chemistry Home Economics English
Health Music Studies Classical Studies Drama French Economics Statistics Physics History
English Samoan Statistics
Physics
Calculus Media Studies Spanish Geography Te Reo Rangatira French
Te Reo Rangatira
Classical Studies
Biology
Accounting
Earth and Space Science
Music
Business Studies Geography Calculus Japanese Art History Media Studies Chinese
History
Agricultural and Horticultural Science Accounting German Te Reo Māori Spanish Dance Samoan Social Studies Latin
Economics Chemistry Latin Chinese Art History Japanese Earth and Space Science Agricultural and Horticultural Science German
19
School and Community Notices Term Dates Term 2: • •
Monday 20 April–Friday 3 July Monday 1 June: Queen’s Birthday
Term 3: •
Monday 20 July–Friday 25 September
Term 4: • • • •
Monday 12 October–Thursday 10 December Monday 26 October: Labour Day Thursday 12 November: Staff Only Day Friday 13 November: Canterbury Anniversary Show Day
Contact Between Home and School We have found that up-to-date information is vital in case of an emergency but also for general day to day contact. Have you changed your address recently? Changed cell phones? Place of work? Or would you like to update / change the emergency contact for your student? Also the second parent address for reports being sent. If any of the above changes apply, please advise Jill, Student Administrator, by: phoning 318 8411 / ext 3; emailing jill@darfield.school.nz or write it down and ask your student to deliver it to the Student Office
TERM THREE
WEEK ONE Monday 20 July • First Day Term Three Tuesday 21 July • BOT Meeting, 7.00 pm •
Wednesday 22 July • Canterbury University Visit to Year 12s •
NCEA Credit Cards Issued
Friday 24 July • Young Achiever Nominations Due Saturday 25 July • Keiai Gakuen Group Visit (to 14 August) WEEK TWO Tuesday 28 July • ICAS English Thursday 30 July • Parent/Teacher Interviews Friday 31 July • Jazz Quest (to 3 August) •
Out of Zone Enrolments Due
•
Year 12 Rural College Practical Day
•
Kio Rahi Tournament
Saturday 1 August • Senior Formal •
DARFIELD HIGH SCHOOL WEBSITE
PTSA Meeting, 7.45 pm
Data Upload to NZQA
WEEK THREE Tuesday 4 August • Canterbury Ski and Snowboard Champs •
Malvern Primary Schools’ Winter Tournament
Wednesday 5 August • Southern Jam (to 10th) Thursday 6 August • Canterbury SS Ski and Snowboard Reserve Day 1 • DHS DISPATCH welcomes any news or
photographs you have from events our students have attended outside of school. We love to hear and share successes and interesting stories. Please email sheryl@darfield.school.nz. 20
Level 3 Physics Practical Assessment
Friday 7 August • Newsletter # 8 •
Scholarship Applications Open
•
Year 13 Rural College Practical Day
3 July 2015
Darfield High School Young Achievers
Web Rangers, run by Netsafe, Sticks ‘n Stones, and Google NZ, is a programme to help Kiwi teens campaign for the safe use of the Internet in a creative way. The programme invites teenagers to create a campaign that will help their peers think about keeping themselves and others safe online. There will be a workshop in Christchurch on Monday 13 July, where the Web Rangers will receive training from the experts in online safety, marketing and social media. The Web Rangers will then have until Sunday 9 August to produce their campaigns, which can take any form including YouTube videos and other social media content, billboards, and in-school events. The creators of the top internet safety campaigns will win prizes and the top three will also head to Sydney to present their campaign to Google executives. This is a great opportunity for young people to gain skills and experience in an area that is sure to be of interest to many. Further information and an online entry form are available at https://www.netsafe.org.nz/webrangers/. Registrations need to be completed by Friday 10 July.
Criteria for Award • The Darfield Young Achievers Award 2015 will recognise Darfield High School students who have worked notably hard or overcome a particular challenge to achieve a significant goal. This could include academic, sporting or cultural achievements. We are looking to identify students who have made a significant achievement in their own terms. It is about how notable the achievement was for the nominee themselves, rather than how challenging others might find it. We are keen to receive nominations from all levels and from a wide range of students. • Nominators should provide a verifiable description of how the nominee has met these criteria in the last 12 months. • Nominees will be a good example to other students by having met other school expectations in the last 12 months. • Judgements on the acceptance of nominations will consider the fact that the significance of a goal or achievement will vary for different individuals. Who can nominate? • Students, parents and school staff can submit nominations. • Students can self-nominate. Timeline and Process • 6 July: Nominations open • 31 July: Nominations close • Dean and form teachers at each year level consider nominations and make recommendations for acceptance of nominations that meet criteria • Senior management confirms students whose nominations have been accepted • 28 August: Details of accepted nominations published in newsletter • 1 September: Assembly—Draw for Prize Day from accepted nominations (if required) • 16 September: Prize Day Nomination forms will be available on the school website, or from the office.
COME TO THE FOOD ROOM AT INTERVAL OR LUNCHTIMES. LIMITED SUPPLY. FUNDRAISING FOR A COFFEE MACHINE
Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
21
Remember: If your student is not at school, or arrives late, please phone the school to explain
Reader/Writers Needed
We have a small number of volunteers who willingly give an hour of their time every so often to assist students requiring a Reader/Writer while they are sitting tests and exams. We would like to have more Reader/Writers, as often there are a number of students needing assistance at one time. If you would be willing to help, please phone the school office and speak to Elaine Guy.
School Uniforms
Oral Tapestries Thursday 18 June
7.00 pm
DHS Drama Room
Commemorative ANZ AC Sta mps The school has been offered a fundraising opportunity in the form of a set of ANZAC Commemorative Stamps (1934 and 1965). An example is attached. These will be available for sale at $10 (with $5 going to the school) at the office. Funds raised will be for our Music department.
Darfield High School uniform items are available from The Warehouse Rolleston and the Uniform Shop here at school.
Uniform Shop at Darfield High School Orders at Darfield High School are taken by appointment only, so contact Sue to arrange this. It is preferable parents refrain from coming to reception for uniform items from 8–9.30 am as this is a very busy time. If you have second hand uniform for sale and would like it to be added to the database, please email sue@ darfield.school.nz.
Uniform Shop Hours for Students Monday: 11.00 –11.25am Thursday: 11.00 –11.25am
Blazers!
Does your student have their blazers still? Please ask them and as there are a large number of unclaimed and unnamed blazers in the lost property room. Please contact Karen Armstrong, ka@darfield.school.nz
22
3 July 2015
Exciting Kidsfest Day
Lincoln Envirotown’s Kidsfest Event will take place on the morning of Friday 10 July starting at 10.30 am. The theme this year is “The Living World of Water”. We have been very lucky to have the support of the Living Water Programme. Living Water is a partnership between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Fonterra working with local communities, dairy farmers, iwi and other stakeholders to achieve leading edge biodiversity and water quality improvements within the sensitive Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere water catchment, focusing more specifically on the Ararira/LII Catchment.
We would love to see your students at one of the New Zealand Broadcasting School information Evenings. The Information evenings are an excellent opportunity to meet the tutors and current students, tour the New Zealand Broadcasting School facilities and find out useful information on how to make a successful application. There are two dates to choose from: Monday 29 June and Thursday 16 July. Please click here to register. Just a reminder that applications for the New Zealand Broadcasting School close on 30 September. Early applications are advised. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me. Further details for the New Zealand Broadcasting School can be found here. I have also attached our brochure for you to look at (page 22 onwards for the New Zealand Broadcasting School). You can also check out the New Zealand Broadcasting School on YouTube and Facebook.
The morning begins with a short story about our river. Then with the help of the students from the Environment Council of Lincoln High School, many exciting activities have been planned. Children between the ages of 3 and 12 years will have the chance to crawl through the “river tunnel” to view things that are good and bad for our water; to examine the bugs and the larger life forms that live in our water; as well as producing coloured pictures, seed gardens, mobiles and many other things to take home. It is always a thoroughly enjoyable event and this year promises to be even better than previous years because it is a joint venture. Kids need to bring a caregiver, and we would appreciate a donation of $2 per child to support the projects and activities of the Lincoln Envirotown Trust projects.
Win $10,000 worth of sports gear for your school or sports club. Behind every sports team are the unsung heroes who volunteer every week to coach, referee, drive the team bus or cut the oranges. People who are just ‘good sorts’ who get stuck in. Now is a chance for your school or sports club to recognise them and you could win $10,000 towards sports gear*.
Winners all round. All you have to do is help the kids to say ‘thanks’ by directing them to aainsurance.co.nz/thanks. They can tell us who their ‘good sort of sport’ is and why before 5pm, Friday 31 July, 2015 and $10,000 towards sporting gear could be heading your way.
Congratulations, Rawhiti! House Singing Winners Issue 7/ DHS Dispatch
Plus your ‘good sort of sport’ could win four tickets to see the Warriors vs Cowboys on Saturday 22 August, 2015 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, with flights, accommodation and corporate hospitality all included. There are also lots of instant prizes to win like $100 vouchers for BP Fuel, Rebel Sport and House of Travel. 23
Great Oxford GARAGE SALE TRAIL Sunday 2 August
9.00 am to 2.00 pm On Tuesday 4 August, CPIT is holding information sessions regarding our nursing programmes and our Certificate in PreHealth & Science programme. At the nursing information session at 5.30 pm, students can find out all they need to know about studying the Bachelor of Nursing or Diploma in Enrolled Nursing at CPIT.
In and around the
Oxford Township
An extravaganza of new, recycled, second hand, vintage, treasures, odds & ends PLUS local business sales tables
The second information session at 6.30 pm is aimed at students who wish to study a health-related subject, but don’t yet meet the entry requirements for their chosen programme. This information session discusses how our Certificate in PreHealth and Science programme prepares students to enrol for degrees in areas such as midwifery, medical imaging and human nutrition. INFORMATION SESSION TIMES Nursing: 5.30 pm–6.30 pm Certificate in Pre-Health & Science: 6.30 pm–7.30 pm
Venue maps will be available on the day from 8.30am at both ends of the Township and the Farmers Market carpark, Main Street, Oxford (near the big pine tree)
www.oxfordnewzealand.co.nz
A community initiative of
N104, CPIT Madras Street Campus, Madras Street, Christchurch To find out more, call 0800 24 24 76 or visit www.cpit.ac.nz.
Street Talk- defensive driving course-NZTA Approved course By completing this course you can reduce your driver licence by six months. Instead of waiting 18 months from when you sit your restricted licence, you can complete your full licence in 12 months. Cost$170.00 Enrol online www.fusiontrust.co.nz Email: carolyn@ fusiontrust.co.nz Text: 027 229 8018 24
July School Holidays Upper Riccarton School and Community Library: 6.00–8.00 pm Monday 6 July, Wednesday 8 July, Monday 13 July, and Wednesday 15 July. August courses held at St Bedes: Mondays 3.00–5.00 pm Christchurch Girls High: Mondays 3.15–5.15 pm St Margarets College: Tuesdays 4.00 pm Upper Riccarton Memorial Library: Monday–Wednesday: 6.00–8.00 pm. 3 July 2015
29th year
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3 July 2015