Kamo High School

November 2004 Newsletter

Index:

Junior speech contest
Realise the dream
Enterprise Education
Community Education Whangarei
Thank you
Library books
Subject text and resource books
Please – please – please
Rugby in 2005
Sports
Coming events
Questions and answers

"To encourage a culture of high expectations
that celebrates success and promotes pride"

Dear Parents
Kia Ora Tena Katou Katoa

We have now come to the final newsletter for 2004 – the end of another year. It has been, in so many ways, an outstandingly successful year, and there has been so much to celebrate. Our Senior Awards Assemblies and Prize Giving provided further opportunity for us to acknowledge the wonderful achievements of our students, and recognise the amazing contribution so many have made to make this year the special one it has been.

I would like to make special mention of the Head Prefects and their prefect team. We have always had senior students show wonderful leadership, and this year that has been taken to another step. At the beginning of the year, they set as their challenge "Whaka nui te wairua tanga" – "Lifting the Spirit", and they have succeeded in doing that in a wide variety of ways. To everyone who is leaving school and moving on to the next stage in their life, our very best wishes for a full and successful future.

The Top Awards presented at our Senior Prize Giving were:

Year 11: Kirsty Hansen (1st); Michael Hayes (2nd); Alicia Wright (3rd)
Year 12: Rachel Leong (1st); Yun Lee (2nd); Nikita Veaney (3rd)
Year 13: Jackson Hunter (Dux); Shan Pearson (Proxime Acessit to Dux); Neil Huang (3rd)

Sportswoman of the year: Erin McCulloch
Sportsman of the Year: Anton Wickens

Junior end of year arrangements
On Wednesday 1 December, we will be having awards assemblies for our Year 9 and Year 10 students in the morning, and then the Junior Prize Giving in the afternoon. The Awards assemblies are used to issue students with a variety of certificates they have worked hard to be eligible for in the classroom, and in the way in which they have contributed around the school. The Junior Prize Giving, which commences at 1.00pm, is the final and formal opportunity to recognise the top achievers in the Junior School, and parents and other supporters are cordially invited to attend. Parking will be available through the Kamo Road gate, and I ask that visitors be seated by 12.50pm at the latest. The ceremony will be completed by approximately 3.00pm.

All students are required to attend school on that day which will conclude with them receiving their reports and finishing school for the year.

Start of year procedure
On approximately 17 January, the caregivers of every student enrolled at our school will receive a posting. This will include some very important information, including the calendar for the year, details of assessment expectations, uniform and stationery requirements, and some introductory comments regarding our goals and objectives for the year. If you have not received the posting by the normal delivery time following that date, please contact the school. Typically we have 20 to 30 returns with "address unknown".

Finally, on behalf of the staff, I would like to thank you for the support we have received from so many of you so positively and so often throughout the year, and wish you all the compliments of the season.

Richard L Abel
Principal

Junior speech contest:

The junior speech contest attracted a quality field and was ably judged by former Deputy Principal, Rosemary Pritchard. Year 9 was represented by Shane Ball, Jessie Barrell, Eddie Monk-Fromont, Nicole Dempster and Leila Nicholson (all from 9JH). Year 10’s were represented by Cassi Crayford, Gemma Schicker and Sarah Trass.

Places: First Sarah Trass
  Second Cassi Crayford
  Third = Jessie Barrell & Eddie Monk-Fromont

Congratulations to all.

Denise Jelicich – Assistant HOD, English

Realise the dream:

Following on from her recent success in the annual Science Fair, Sarah Trass, Year 10, has been selected to attend "Realise the Dream" from 6th to 10th December in Wellington. This is an event which celebrates those students who have carried out excellence in either research or technological practice and is sponsored by the Royal Society of New Zealand. During the five days participants will give an oral presentation, attend lectures and visit scientific organisations, as well as attend social activities.

Sarah’s achievements at the Science Fair included the above nomination, the Best Technology Award, the Best Exhibit, and the Applied Science Award, all for the Year 9/10 category. We know that she will be an excellent ambassador for the school and Northland region. Congratulations, Sarah.

Enterprise Education:

Well yet another fabulous year in the world of enterprise at Kamo. The highlight of course was to win the Y.E.S. Northland Company of the year for the third time in succession, 02 – "Dot.com", 03 – "Incredible Edibles" and 04 – "Smart Juniors". Also "Natroheat" received the Innovation Award for attempting to turn a winning Science Fair idea into a commercial venture. This demonstrated that right across the curriculum there are just so many fantastic enterprising projects happening.

One of the goals of Enterprise Education is to actively promote an enterprising attitude and approach at all levels and aspects of the learning process. Well done also as mentioned before to the "Lowgo" team for being the top secondary school team in the Championz Business Web Challenge. Also our school’s first Young Entrepreneur Programme company "Burst Ltd" had a very successful year commercially as well as being recognised at the Whangarei Youth Awards and successfully holding their ground in the Northland Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Another Y.E.P. company is in the pipeline for next year which will enhance our relationship with Enterprise Northland and the Northland Polytechnic. Look out also next year for more students across the school to gain Enterprise Leadership Awards, more inter-curriculum Enterprises activities and further promotion of enterprise education by Northpower.

Our last word goes to "Smart Juniors"; after the "Smart Juniors" young enterprise company won Northland Company of the Year, they went to the YES Nationals in Wellington to compete with 18 other schools from around NZ. They had to give a five-minute presentation and a five-minute talk to the judges. After the presentation, they took part in a trade fair.

Smart Juniors with their presentation

Pictured are "Smart Juniors": Alick, Samantha, Shani and Kelly in Wellington. According to their teacher, Mrs Green, "The level of competition was very high, and our team competed really well".

Alan Bayly – Northpower Enterprise Co-ordinator

Everyone who knows how to read has it in their power to magnify themselves, multiple the ways in which they exist, and to make their life full, significant, and interesting.

Aldous Huxley

Community Education Whangarei:

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone who participated in our programme in 2004. We will have a full range of classes available in the New Year and look forward to your continued support. Our programme for Term 1, 2005 will be available from Kamo High School or your local library towards the end of January. Those of you who have attended our classes in the past will no doubt be familiar with our co-ordinator, Don Goodall. Don is retiring at the end of this year after running Community Education for 15 years and we wish him all the best for his retirement. Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe holiday.

Thank you

Our thanks go to Postie Plus (SchoolTex Schoolwear) for their donation of $408.00 through the SchoolTex Rewards Programme. Every time an article of uniform clothing is purchased through Postie Plus, 10% of the cost is donated back to the school. The money received will be used to cover some of the uniform costs associated with school blazers. Please consider this option next time you go uniform shopping.

Library books:

It is the time of the year for our annual stocktake and we need all books back so we can evaluate our stock. Please return any books that you may find in your household. If your son or daughter is away on camps or DOE activities we would appreciate it if you could drop any off at school.

Alyson Gates – Librarian

Subject text and resource books:

Every year we have a few students who borrow books for study purposes – with or without their teachers knowledge! Unfortunately, every year we have to replace hundreds of dollars worth of books simply because they are not returned.

Please – please – please:

PLEASE - return ALL of the Kamo High School resource and text books that you have. Check under beds, in cupboards, on shelves. Seniors can return books on clearance day. Any others can be returned to the relevant department or to the school office. Many Thanks.

Department HOD’s

Rugby in 2005:

Kamo High School is committed to the promotion of rugby. We are keen to develop and maintain a culture of rugby within the school by offering rugby at all levels and building from the base up rather than just providing rugby at 1st XV as in recent years.

The Kamo High School Rugby Club is pleased to announce the following people have offered to coach or provide technical support to rugby teams in 2005:

Bertus van Burren former Super 12, Northland and Manawatu NPC player
Tim Eves former Kamo premiere captain and current Northern Advocate Chief Sports Reporter
Darryl Davies former Northland and Auckland age group, and Maoris player. Current Northland 2nd XV coach
Sheryl Poutai Current Kamo High School girls’ 1st XV coach
Greg Martin former Northland Rugby Academy Manager
Ian Smith former Kamo High School 1st XV coach – winners Northland wide U17 championship
Jason Barrell former Chiefs and Blues Super 12, and Northland and Auckland NPC player
Tim Dow current Northland NPC hooker and Northland NPC Player of the Year 2004
Bruce Hodder current Northland NPC coach
Mark Seymour current Northland NPC assistant coach
Greg Shipton current NZ U19 Manager

… plus a number of current Northland NPC players.

If you are new to the game, or used to play and want to get back into it, or simply want to represent your school on a regular basis, we will do everything possible to provide you with that opportunity.

If you have family or friends who wish to provide support in some way (e.g. coach, manage, sponsorship, etc) please contact the school. The Kamo High School Rugby Club also offers opportunities for coach development and has access to courses and information to assist local club or school rugby coaches.

Darryl Davies – Rugby Administrator

Sports:

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who received Northland Secondary School ASB Sports Awards recently:

Mark Cooper "Sportsman of the Year"
Kimberley Wong Basketball Female
Scott Wong Basketball Male
Mi Ri Joo Golf Female
Simone Ackermann Surf Lifesaving
Mark Cooper Swimming
Laura Rusk Table Tennis
Elyse Lewis Volleyball Female
Derek Carpenter Volleyball Male
Rochelle Frost Show Jumping
Sarah Dufty Indoor Bowls
Hayden Smith Bowls

These students are top in Northland in their particular sport and we applaud and congratulate them on their successes, and acknowledge their dedication and hard work in achieving their goals.

Kamo High School students were publicly thanked by Sport Northland for the assistance given at the ASB Awards evening – Sophie Phipps for beautifully singing the national anthem and an interlude song, and Natalie Ruddell, Kim Fisher, Lynda Dahlberg, James Robbie, Natasha Wynyard, Zoe Kingan, Kelsey Coster, Jenny Thompson, Jamie Tukariri, Katherine Toa and Kelsie Bickerton for setting up the tables, etc., during the day and waitressing in the evening. Your good work was much appreciated.

Our annual SPORTS DINNER & PRIZEGIVING was enjoyed by more than 150 students, coaches, sponsors and parents. The evening, MC’d by Nicci Valli and Phil Hayward, kicked off with a very entertaining performance of –Priscilla – Queen of the Desert– by Kaha ladies, Leigh Morgan (staff), Stacey Edwards, Kim Bassett and Claire Askham. Guest speaker was Blyth Tait, who told of riding experiences since his early childhood, shared his career successes and disappointments, then encouraged the students to follow their dreams and to work hard at achieving their goals.

Major sports trophies awarded for 2005:

James Morris Trophy for Outstanding Sports Performance Mark Cooper
 
Tony Clemow Team of the Year Trophy Girls 1st XI Hockey Team
 
Margaret Maxwell Shield for National Selection in Sport Mark Cooper – NZ Swimming
Ersin Buckley – NZ Splash Yachting
Nicola Howes – NZ Under 16s Hockey
 
Engraving Systems Trophy for Fairplay & Sportsmanship Marcie Michelsen (Hockey)
 
Student Coach of the Year Daniel Richards (Soccer)
 
Sportswoman of the Year Erin McCulloch (Basketball, Netball, Volleyball)
 
Sportsman of the Year Anton Wickens (League, Cross Country, Volleyball, Rugby 7’s)

School Champion Trophies and various sports codes trophies were awarded also, and we congratulate all recipients.

We appreciate very much the contribution made to our Sports Awards Evening by Green Gables Landscape, R D 1, Kamo, who loaned us plants to beautify the hall, and Tiffany’s Caterers, who served a scrumptious meal.

Once again we would like to thank the major sponsors of our sports teams for their continued support. Sponsorship goes towards uniforms and travel expenses for tournaments:

Junior Tournaments:
The NSSSA Junior Volleyball Tournaments were held recently and once again our boys’ team (under the continued guidance of former staff member, Jason Woods) are the Northland champions, and the girls’ team (coached by Lenna Milton) placed 3rd. Both these teams are presently competing at the North Island Champs in Auckland.

At the NSSSA Junior Touch Tournament held at Okaihau recently, our boys’ team placed 5th and the mixed team 6th. Thanks to Elvis Reti and staff member, Todd Sandes for coaching/managing these teams.

Our Junior Cricket team competed in the Armstrong Shield tournament earlier this week but this newsletter goes to print before the tournament dates so no results, sorry.

Final WHANAU PLACINGS after "School Spirit" points were awarded:

1st Kaha 450
2nd Rangi 365
3rd Tapere 345
4th Waima 330
5th Moana 300

Looking ahead to 2005
As always, the sports calendar for Term 1 of 2005 is looking very, very full. So many sporting opportunities are available and will be offered to our students if we are able to have coaches/managers. Therefore if anyone is interested in assisting with rugby, cricket, soccer or netball teams, please let me know in writing (P O Box 4137, Kamo) or phone me on 435-1688.

The Netball Academy will run for several weeks during Terms 1 and 2 of 2005, and invitations to join will be sent to prospective Year 10 and 11 players shortly. The great results of our No.1 Netball team this year (Northland Secondary School Champs and Whangarei Premier Reserve Champs) are testament that the Academy is working as the majority of team members are former Academy members.

Reminder: All sports fees incurred by individual students need to be paid in full by the end of the school year to enable clearance and to allow the student to continue in school sports teams in 2005. Please feel free to discuss any problems or queries with me at the Sports Office by phoning 435-1688.

If you have any suggestions or ideas for improvements in the sporting opportunities at Kamo High School for 2005, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to hear from you.

"Failure is not defeat … until you stop trying."

Gloria Miller – Sports Co-ordinator

Stuck for something to do in the Holidays?

How about a trip to one of Whangarei’s magnificent Beaches?

The Whangarei District Council are operating the summertime Beach Buses again these school holidays with trips heading to:

Ocean Beach: on Tuesdays 21 & 28 December 2004 and 4, 11, 18 & 25 January 2005
Ruakaka Beach: on Thursdays 23 & 30 December 2004 and 6, 13, 20, & 27 January 2005
Waipu Cove: on Saturdays 8, 15, 22 & 29 January 2005

For enquiries please phone Whangarei Bus Services 438 6005 – bookings are essential.

Whangarei District Libraries
Free
Children’s and Young Adults
Summer Reading Programmes
Run from 6 December until 14 January
Enrol Now!

Jenna and Felix meeting with Don Brash at the Town Basin

The Head Prefects, Jenna and Felix, meet with Don Brash, Leader of the Opposition –
Mr Brash was in Whangarei to talk about NCEA and education issues

Coming events:

22/26 November Year 9 Camp Week
22/26 November Junior DOE Week
29 November Senior DOE Week
1 December NZQA Exams end
1 December Junior Merit Assemblies – morning
1 December Junior Prizegiving – 1.00pm
1 December Junior Reports and Final Day
2 December Board of Trustees Meeting, 6pm
2 December Senior Clearance and Reports
3 December Teachers only
10 December School office closed – 3pm
17 January 2005 Next Newsletter
24 January School office reopens
1 February Year 13 commence – 9.00am
3 February Year 9 and Year 13 – 8.40am
4 February Years 9, 10 and 13 – 8.40am
7 February Whole School – 8.40am

Questions and Answers:

Q. Does the school office take Eftpos and Credit Cards?
A. No. We take cash and cheque transactions only.

If there is something you would like to know with regards to the school, please get in touch with us and we will print the answers in the next newsletter. For your convenience you may e-mail sherryl.barker@kamohigh.school.nz

If you would like to be included on the list of families willing to offer homestays for visiting students, click here for the Homestay Page.

Next Newsletter: 17 January 2005

See the previous newsletters here.
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Updated 30 November 2004 by N Beauregard