Student News
HIGH LIFE
12th December
(by Dave Murdoch)
It’s over! After a year of much change in terms of leadership, timetable, buildings and events, Dannevirke High School’s 2011 school year can be put to rest. While many staff will be around for weeks preparing for 2012, the students have departed for well-earned holidays and a calm has settled upon the school.
It seems all the more calm now because the last week was quite tumultuous with the return of the Year Tens from marvellous camps going as far afield as Nelson, Tongariro, Taupo and Akitio.
After a day of classes on Monday when the Year Nines received their examination results and Year Tens had classes plus a windup of the camps, all students on Tuesday embarked on an inter-house Amazing Race. Each curriculum area provided a one hour competition and Year Nine and Ten groups rotated around, the results of the challenges going with the year nine house events of the second last week towards a shield.
Wednesday started with a Junior Awards Ceremony which recognised Merit certificates, Honours for Attitude, Service and Sports prizes. A vast majority of students made it up on stage and the programme finished with a power point of the Year Ten Camps.
Our annual Prize-Giving ran very smoothly on Wednesday evening in the Hub. A vast number of awards culminated in the announcement of Jenna Buchanan as Dux for 2011. She was presented with the Geoffrey M Wright Memorial Cup and she became the first to wear the new korowai cloak, recently acquired by the school.
Head students for 2012 were announced and also presented with a whalebone and paua taonga to wear. These were carved by Mr Eru Riwai and presented for the first time. Head Girl is Anna Garnett and her Deputy is Saskia Alexander, Ben Galloway is Head Boy and his Deputy is Ezra McDonald.
Our First Eleven Cricket team won Sports Team of the Year.
Thursday saw farewells to some staff. Leon and Bessie van Rooyen have left us for the far north. We farewelled Felicity Ellison from the Year Seven and Eight Technology Department. Felicity has taught Fabric Technology (clothing) to the primary schoolers for fifteen years, seven of them at Dannevirke High School and has decided to retire. There are many students who have learned great skills in sewing and design in the time she has taught them and the impressive products that her students created are a testament to her teaching and patience.
In addition to Mrs van Rooyen, three other staff leave the Student Support Centre. They are Brigitte Hund, Delwyn Eriksen and Lara Arrandale. Each has had a variety of roles and have helped turn the support centre into a vital part of the school guidance system, helping students with learning difficulties, career selection and training.
Ms Jo Frieman leaves us too but she is bound to be back when roll numbers are confirmed. She is an experienced and dedicated Social Studies teacher.
To replace them five appointments have been confirmed for 2012 all of whom have had some previous connection with the school. It is welcome back to Mr John Sedcole who will work in the Technology Department. John was a member of staff four years ago. We welcome back also Mrs Charlie Menzies. She relieved for us in past years and spent 6 weeks as a student teacher this year showing us that we could not afford to be without her in Science. Mr Jeremy Bradshaw rejoins us to teach English having relieved full-time while Ms Miller was on maternity leave. Similarly Ms Danielle Farnsworth has accepted a part time position in Science, having taught Dr Mouton’s classes for two terms. And finally Mr Matt Ahern joins us as a part-time physical education teacher. He was Head Boy of our school just four years ago!
Of course we also farewelled Acting Principal Mr Steve Browne who has filled the role since Mr Tribe left mid-year. He has shown all the attributes of an excellent Principal, decisive in his actions, caring of staff and students, excellent at public speaking and with an infectious sense of humour that brought many a smile at staff briefing. He will not miss the daily ride over the Saddle Road early in the morning but we will miss him. We thank him for his temporary abandonment of retirement and we hope he will retain happy memories of us.
As Mr Browne said at Prize-Giving, a full account of the year is in the school’s Viking Magazine in spectacular style. Copies can still be obtained from the office for $20. Let us hope 2012 will be as rewarding and productive. Dannevirke High School wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
High Life
HIGHLIFE12th December(by Dave Murdoch)It’s over! After a year of much change in terms of leadership, timetable, buildings and events, Dannevirke High School’s 2011 school year can be put to rest. While many staff will be around for weeks preparing for 2012, the students have departed for well-earned holidays and a calm has settled upon the school.It seems all the more... > Read more