STUDENT LEADERS

I am both excited and proud to be elected as Dannevirke High School’s Head Boy for 2026. In this role I will strive to be a role model who leads by example, who lifts people up to make Dannevirke High School a stronger school and part of our wider community. Being Head Boy involves working closely with other head students and all prefects on events around the school, working with both students and teachers to make sure everyone has a voice at D.H.S. from the oldest to the youngest students. 

My goal for this year is to build a stronger community and continue to strengthen relationships between our teachers and students. I have a passion for sports, particularly rugby and Ki o Rahi, and I want to continue to play and achieve at the highest levels I can. Throughout this year I will continue to be someone who other students look up to, come to, and I will strive to lead with the school’s values of respect, responsibility and resilience. I want to continue to develop my self-management and organization skills within my role to be the best leader I can be.  

Having the privilege to represent Dannevirke High School as Head Girl is an experience I am incredibly grateful for.

To me, this position means being someone others can rely on not just as a leader, but as a role model, supporter and friend. It involves representing our school with pride, listening to student voices, working alongside staff and helping create opportunities that help everyone feel included and valued.

I have had so many opportunities available to me at D.H.S, and all of them have allowed me to grow and flourish as just a leader as well as as a person. My biggest goal within my new position is to encourage students to say yes to new experiences and step outside their comfort zones whether that’s joining the Student Council, putting themselves forward for interhouse events, or even just speaking up when something doesn’t seem right to them. I want our school to be a place where people feel confident to push themselves and aim high without fear of failure.

Beyond DHS, I’m passionate about continuing to challenge myself academically and personally, especially in areas like leadership and public speaking. I want to grow further into someone who makes a positive difference in the path I choose, whatever it is. I hope to lead by example by showing our key D.H.S Way values Respect, Responsibility and Resilience in everything I do. Leadership to me is about uplifting others and creating an environment where everyone feels capable of being  and doing their best. Over the past two years I have represented the DHS Student Council as Chairman which has been incredible for building my confidence both in public speaking and in general.

I’m excited to combine that with the speaking opportunities that come with being Head Girl, so I can continue developing my communication skills and become a more confident leader. Most of all, I hope that under my and our brilliant 2026 Prefect Team's leadership, students feel encouraged to take opportunities and challenge themselves, and leave school at the end of this year proud of how much they’ve grown.

I am very honoured to get the role of Deputy Head Boy at a school that I am so proud to represent. I am privileged to be seen as a role model for the younger students at our school. I am committed to encouraging our student body to be proud members of Dannevirke High School and encourage students to step out of their comfort zone and make the most of all opportunities offered. 

The role of Deputy Head Boy involves helping to lead school events, supporting the rest of the student leadership team and being someone that others can come to for support or ideas. I will work closely with the Head Students, prefects, staff and lots of students across the school to make Dannevirke High School an even better place to learn and grow. 

I have already had so much support from my peers and the amazing staff, and I am excited to give this same support back to my peers, staff and fellow students. I am looking forward to continuing my year as a leader at Dannevirke High School and making a meaningful difference.  

I am honoured and privileged to have this role as the Deputy Head Girl of Dannevirke High School for 2026. Serving in a leadership role has been a dream of mine since I started in Year 9. To me, being a leader is about being someone others can rely on. It means representing the school with pride, showing the DHS way, supporting students across all year levels, and helping to create a positive and inclusive school environment. I would love to help foster a culture of upstanding in our school community, to make DHS a place where students and staff do not stand by when something is wrong, but stand up for what is right.

My goal for 2026 is to grow as a confident leader, especially in communication and decision-making. Working as a swim school teacher is helping me to develop these skills by leading younger students. These experiences are shaping my confidence and supporting me to grow as a leader.

For the students, I want to help create a school where everyone feels that they belong and to encourage them to get involved. I believe school should be a positive and welcoming place, and I want to contribute to a strong sense of school spirit and pride at DHS.

Beyond DHS, I hope to become a primary school teacher. I love learning about children with additional needs and eventually want to work in this area.

I am incredibly proud to be a student at Dannevirke High School, and I am determined to make 2026 my best year yet, both as a leader and as a member of this school community.

Hello, Dannevirke High School. I am honoured to be your Academic Prefect for 2026.

Being an Academic Prefect means a great deal to me, as it gives me the opportunity to support other students and make a meaningful difference in their learning. It is a valuable opportunity to encourage a positive study culture within our school. The role allows me to lead by example, demonstrating responsibility, motivation, and eagerness to learn. Most importantly, being an Academic Prefect enables me to be a voice for students, helping to improve our school’s academic environment and to celebrate everyone’s achievements.

As an Academic Prefect, I will support every student’s learning and promote a positive academic culture within our school. My role is to encourage students to do their best, share helpful study tips, and make academic support accessible for everyone.

One of my main goals for students and our wider school community is to encourage confidence and motivation in learning. I want to help students feel capable of reaching their full potential by sharing effective study habits, organising tutoring sessions, and providing peer support when needed. I also hope to celebrate effort and achievement by recognising individual progress, supporting students in achieving their best in NCEA, and helping them reach Achieved, Merit, or Excellence levels across their subjects. Beyond DHS, I would love to take the skills I have developed as an Academic Prefect, such as leadership, organisation, and supporting others, into a career in the medical field.

I will lead by example by demonstrating commitment to my own learning, staying organised, and aiming for Excellence endorsements in NCEA, showing other students what dedication and focus look like. I aim to demonstrate respect by valuing the efforts of all students, listening to their perspectives, and fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. By taking responsibility, I will show reliability and accountability in supporting both my peers and the school community. I will also model resilience by remaining motivated in the face of challenges and encouraging others to persist and overcome difficulties in their learning.

I hope to inspire every student to believe in their potential, embrace challenges, and strive for Excellence, so that together we can build a school culture where learning, achievement, and growth are celebrated.

I am Kayla, the Technology Prefect, and I am extremely proud to be a part of your 2026 group of Student Leaders. To me, being a Prefect means being an example for others and being there for them when they need me. It means assisting the teachers and staff in any way I can and helping around the school where it is possible.

My role as Technology Prefect involves ensuring that assembly runs smoothly. This includes making sure the microphones are working and that any slides or videos Prefects and staff need are ready to go on the projector at the right time. I also call regular Tech Crew meetings and encourage other students to join the team and learn how to run assemblies. In addition, I make rosters for all members to make sure everyone has a fair chance of learning the equipment and has a turn to run the assembly.

One of my main goals this year is to gain my University Entrance so I can study Biochemistry at university. I also hope to train younger students who are interested in technology to run the Tech Crew and take over my role when I leave school. I hope to encourage other students to step out of their comfort zones and set an example for others, even if they are not Prefects.

To us, holding the role of DHS Way Prefects is a great privilege, not only because it allows us to show and role model the values of respect, responsibility, and resilience, but also because it allows us to be someone our juniors can look up to.

Being DHS Way Prefects means we must take on responsibilities, such as being ready to present at assembly every week, promoting the DHS Way, and ensuring students are filling out their cards. Every week, one senior and one junior receive a $20 voucher, and at the end of each term, we acknowledge both seniors and juniors who have handed in the most DHS Way cards for that term; they receive a $50 voucher. By having these prizes, we hope to encourage more valued behaviour that the students at Dannevirke High School can practise both in and outside of school.

Some goals we both share for this role are to grow as leaders and gain more confidence speaking in front of our peers every week. We also aim, with the help of our new DHS Way Committee, to continue increasing the number of DHS Way cards handed in each week.

We will lead by example by consistently using the DHS Way values to ensure we are the best role models for the DHS Way we can be. Using respect, we will treat everyone—students, teachers, and staff—with kindness and fairness. To represent responsibility, we will follow through on commitments, manage our time effectively, and uphold school expectations. By remaining positive in challenging situations, learning from setbacks, and encouraging others not to give up when things feel difficult, we will exemplify the final value of resilience.

We are very honoured to be named your 2026 DHS Way Prefects, and we are excited to share our journey with you.

Thank you,Amber Mitchell and Maddie Boulter

Tēnā tātou katoa,

Ko Zoe tōku ingoa. I am proud to be your Cultural Prefect at Dannevirke High School for 2026.

To me, this role is about celebrating our differences, respecting each other’s values, and making sure everyone feels safe, accepted, and heard. Our diversity is what makes our kura special, and I want everyone to feel like they truly belong here. I’ve started the year by leading and ending the karakia at assembly, and later on I’ll be supporting kapa haka and rōpū, as well as helping organise and take part in pōwhiri. My goal this year is to give back to DHS as much as I can, be a positive role model, and get involved in as many activities and events as possible, while leading by example through our three R’s which are Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience. After school, I plan to keep working, focus on growing both physically and emotionally, and save so I can travel the world and experience different cultures. This role has already helped grow my confidence in public speaking, and by the end of the year I hope I’ll be confident enough to speak anywhere. Thank you for the opportunity and for taking the time to read a little about me.

Ngā mihi,

Zoe

As Sports Prefects, our role involves supporting students and working closely with teachers to help organise and lead school events. This means being encouraging and being willing to listen to different perspectives. As leaders of the school, we will uphold school expectations, promote school spirit, and encourage everyone to participate in House events. This requires us both to be consistent, both in the classroom and beyond.

The goals we have set for ourselves are to grow as leaders and become more confident in speaking and representing our school. For students, we hope to encourage more participation across all year levels and create opportunities for students to share their ideas. We want everyone to feel connected to our school. For the school, we aim to help strengthen our positive culture and reinforce school values.

Beyond DHS, we are passionate about challenging ourselves academically and personally. We hope to further our education and build careers where we can make a positive impact. We want to develop skills that will contribute meaningfully to our future and community.

We will lead by example by consistently showing respect to everyone—teachers, students and all staff members. Respect means listening carefully, valuing others’ opinions, and treating everyone with kindness.

We will demonstrate responsibility by staying organised, meeting deadlines and following through on commitments. We will complete tasks to the best of our abilities.

Resilience means that we stay positive and determined, even when things are challenging. As leaders, we show resilience by learning from our mistakes, staying calm under pressure and encouraging others not to give up. We want to be someone who can motivate others to push towards their goals.

By the end of the year, we hope to further develop our public speaking skills, confidence, and ability to communicate clearly with different groups of people. We want to strengthen our teamwork skills and, most importantly, grow as leaders who listen to and support others effectively.

Thank you, Kendra and Varntay

Kia ora everyone! I’m Emma Green, your Internal Prefect for 2026 here at Dannevirke High.
I’m super excited to be taking on this role and can’t wait to get stuck into helping out around school in lots of different ways. One of the things I’m most looking forward to is helping lead the SADD committee, where we get to work on projects that really make a difference for students, by supporting Students. Against. Dangerous. Driving.
Being involved in school life is something I really value. I want to help make sure that every student feels supported, included, and like they belong at DHS. Whether it’s through organising events, helping out at school activities, or just being someone people can talk to, I hope to make a positive impact wherever I can. I also love seeing new ideas come to life.
I’m really looking forward to connecting with as many students and staff as possible this year. Working together, we can make our school feel even more welcoming, positive, and fun. 2026 is going to be a great year, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve as a school community. I hope to make a difference, have some fun along the way, and help make Dannevirke High a place where everyone feels like they belong.
Ngā Mihi - Emma Green 

I am extremely proud to have this role as Dannevirke High School’s Environmental Prefect, and I am ready to help lead our school alongside my fellow leadership team. As Environmental Prefect, I take an active role in improving and caring for our school’s environment. This includes raising awareness about environmental challenges and encouraging others to adopt more sustainable habits.

One of the main projects I plan to undertake is planting more plants in the school garden. I also plan to plant flowers around our school to attract bees and butterflies. I have been researching the best ways to grow a variety of plants in our available spaces. Through these projects, I will gain important knowledge about the planet, including ways we can help protect it.

I will be working closely with our Head Prefects and Mrs Menzies to implement my ideas. Having this role will open my eyes to our responsibility towards the planet. It will help me better understand the importance of protecting our natural surroundings and ensuring they are preserved for future generations.

To me, being the Arts Prefect, means to be creative and encouraging, it means supporting student’s talent. The goal I’ve set for myself includes helping other students with creative struggles whether it be tutoring or simple improvement tips. I’m focused on organising lunchtime concerts, afterschool activities and this year's production. With creation, performance and learning being my passion, I plan on studying abroad for tertiary education with an art focus, putting my language skills to use as well as studying what I love even more. Being a leader in the Arts supports my future goals. I’ll strive to be a role model for not only the students of D.H.S, but for everyone I meet. If I see people not demonstrating the school values, I’ll remind them and motivate them to follow the rules. I hope to develop my public speaking skills as well as my confidence in talking to people one on one. This role will allow plenty of opportunities for me in the future, and I hope to help others to have the chance to chase opportunities as well! I am proud to wear my badge and blazer and I’m proud to help my fellow students when they need it.  

As House Captain of Paulsen, I am proud to take on a role that allows me to encourage and involve younger students in sports and all of the different house activities offered at Dannevirke High School. My job is encouraging them to give everything a go and this is a job I am excited for.

My goals for this year are to stay focused, work hard and help to lead Paulsen to victory. I believe in leading by example and representing the D.H.S way with pride, integrity and determination, in the hope that other students will follow our shared school values.

I aim to be a positive role model who supports, motivates and brings our house together to achieve our best. Ngā mihi, Brae Pinfold.

Kia ora, our names are Willam Easton and Georgie Hogan, and we are both very proud to be Macdonald’s house leaders this year.

​​​​​​​This is an opportunity for us to give back to our school, which has given us so much. It also means we get a chance to make a difference in our community, which has made it possible to create change. Our role involves organizing chants and setting up sports days, motivating students, building strong teams, and keeping everyone focused and determined. We work closely with the students and staff off our house to make sure we are prepared and united.  

It is our goal to make everyone feel safe, building an environment where we can all feel comfortable and supported to participate. We will work to make this a place where we congratulate each other for trying rather than criticising failure so we have a good chance of succeeding.  Hopefully this inspires our house members to push themselves to the limit and join in with everything. MacDonald’s participation starts at 8.45am every day, and we will make sure that everyone is doing their best.  

We promise to lead in a way that makes everyone feel valued. We will always uphold the DHS values of respect, responsibility, and resilience in our actions and everyday life. Hopefully by doing so we build on our leadership skills to make us better people. 

We will use our place of leadership to continue the MacDonald winning streak and have another good year of participation, encouragement and dedication. Our blood runs gold, and we make the whole school turn yellow! This year isn’t about repeating last year. It’s about proving that MacDonald doesn’t win once. We build standards. We build culture. We build momentum. We will back this house every day and step up when it matters.  

We are year 12, and after four years of learning we are ready.
Ready to bring home the trophy once again!

Hello, my name is Harry Spicer-Kendrick, and I am honoured to be House Captain of Simmers for 2025.

To me, leadership is about shaping both the present and the future into a vision of success. In my case, that vision is the continued growth and achievement of our house. My role is to encourage students, communicate important information about upcoming events, and support every member of Simmers in reaching their full potential.

Looking ahead to 2026, my personal goal is to excel in all aspects of school life — in sport, leadership, and in the classroom. For our school community, my goal is to inspire students to give their absolute best in everything they do, so that together we can achieve greatness.

Outside of school, my main passion is music. I study multiple instruments, and music has taught me discipline, resilience, and the importance of consistent effort — qualities I bring into my leadership role.

At school, I aim to demonstrate our core values of respect, responsibility, and resilience by building strong relationships with my peers, whether they are younger or older than me. By fostering unity and connection within Simmers, we can create a house culture built on support, pride, and achievement.

I am incredibly proud to have been elected as House Captain, and I look forward to leading and serving my house, our school, and my peers in the year ahead.

Kia ora, we are Maia Petera and Eli Te Huki, the 2026 Grant House Captains.

We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to take on this role and represent Grant House this year. Being selected as House Captains is a privilege, and we are excited to lead our house with pride and purpose. As House Captains, one of our main goals is to strengthen whanaungatanga within Grant House by building positive relationships, encouraging teamwork and making sure everyone feels a sense of belonging. We want to motivate students to get involved, support one another at house events and feel confident representing Grant.

We are looking forward to developing our leadership skills, working closely with students and staff and leading by example throughout the year. We are proud to represent Grant House and are excited for everything 2026 has to offer.