Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
At the time of writing, 8 students have been awarded their Award at Bronze Level this year, with another 8 with only a few more hours to complete.
Visit this articlePrincipal's Message — Yearbook 2019
Just a few instructions on how to negotiate your way through this yearbook. Once you have chosen an article go back to the top left hand corner and click-on the school's crest. This will take you back to the main menu and you will be able to choose again. ENJOY.
Dear Students and Staff
Welcome to our 2019 online Yearbook.
This Yearbook is a snapshot, and a very impressive snapshot of the highlights and more memorable events that have occurred during the year, and a record of the students and staff members who collectively formed the school community in 2019. I hope it will prompt memories and remind you of some of the things that made you happy — times with friends, meeting new people, different cultures, sports, cultural events, performing arts, writing, socialising, learning and striving to be better in all that you do.
From the school’s point of view, 2019 has been another very successful year indeed. You, our students have participated in a very wide range of activities: in academic work, in cultural activities, in the arts, in sport, in leadership, and in service. Many of you have achieved outstanding results; hopefully all of you have reached standards higher than you have before, tested yourself in areas that were new to you and approached things with the determination to be the best you can be or do!
To those who have, directly or indirectly enriched the lives of our students this year; the teaching and support staff, the Board of Trustees and PTA members, the sports coaches and other community volunteers and to parents and caregivers, I extend my sincere thanks and best wishes.
To those returning next year I look forward to seeing you back in February, refreshed and ready to tackle another year of opportunities and challenges.
I pay special tribute to those who are leaving school. Our school motto — Recte sic dirige cursum — Kōwhiria te huanui tika. Along this path direct your journey correctly — reinforces the historical significance of the cabbage trees. They are a landmark in the local landscape and have been used for centuries as a guiding point. I hope you feel you have been guided through Burnside High School — that you have attained the qualifications you were capable of and that you needed, and that you developed the personal qualities and confidence to choose the right pathways in life. I hope you will remember with pride and affection the security, support, shelter, and strength of your ‘cabbage tree’ years. To you all, I extend my very best wishes for the future.
To all who are committed to the Burnside High School community, and who have made 2019 such a successful year, thank you.
I am honoured to serve as Principal.
Phil Holstein
Principal
At the time of writing, 8 students have been awarded their Award at Bronze Level this year, with another 8 with only a few more hours to complete.
Visit this articleOn December 3, our Te Kura o Waimairi-iri whānau came together to share kai, kōrero and acknowledge the achievements of our students.
Visit this articleWe had 86 junior players compete in three tournaments during Term 4.
Visit this articleWe held our annual Burnside High School Fia Fia Night on Thursday November 28.
Visit this articleA couple weeks ago, the Prince Charles of Wales and the Duchess Camilla of Cornwall visited New Zealand together for the first time in four years.
Visit this articleBack Row: Alohalani Tuisuga, Nakisha Kingi, Bella Timo-Walker, Misitana Fili 3rd Row: Mr M White (Senior Leadership), Mele Aranui-Tuitupou Kutu, Alysia Ono, Dante Kalotapu, Catherine Porter, Banuve Dretiverata, Eleana Siwatibau, Lanita Singh 2nd Row: Mahina Kanavatoa, Waimarie Seagar, Rosa Samuelu, Levi Davis Nevin, Matthew Seinafo, Melody Ripley, Sosefina Baice, Mrs J Kleinpaste (TIC) Front Row: Andrea Maro, Sila Morris, Ofa Puleiku, Rosebud Fifita, Laiman Tuilagi, Nitimai Cakaunitavuki, Seruwaia Qalivutu
Visit this articleThe winner of the Peter Rowe Cup for Musicianship is Felix Backhouse Felix is an outstanding all-round musician who has contributed at the highest level to every facet of the music department in his five years at Burnside High School.
Visit this articleThis year has been one for long dry spells and then multiple events within the same week.
Visit this articleBright and early on Wednesday 24th of September, we assembled at school to set up for the Ki o Rahi tournament which the Year 12 and Year 13 Sports Leadership and Performance organise for the Year 8 Cobham Intermediate students.
Visit this articleOver the course of term one to four, it’s safe to say that all students taking German have experienced some aspects of German culture!
Visit this articleBurnside is very proud of the three year 9 students who qualified for and competed in the World Scholars Cup Tournament of Champions at Yale University .
Visit this articleThe Basketball programme saw over 120 boys and 50 girls competing week in and week out across Terms 2 and 3.
Visit this articleDuring my three years involved in the Burnside High School 1st XI Football team, I can ensure you it was one of my highlights for each of these years.
Visit this articleParis Chin, in Year 10, continues to impress on the international stage representing New Zealand in Rhythmic Gymnastics.
Visit this articleFrom peer tutors to Dungeons and dragons Club, Student Council meetings to filming interviews, finding a book for English essays to creating house plans for DCT. You name it - you'll probably find it in the Library.
Visit this articleWith not only coursework, but various Dramatic endeavours around Canterbury and beyond.
Visit this articleCongratulations to E Wen Wong (12 WTAW) for being selected as part of a four-person team to represent New Zealand at the 17th International Geography Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey from 11 - 17 August, 2020.
Visit this articleThere have been lots of great things happening across the Science Faculty this year, with students succeeding well, both in school and out of school. Some highlights are:
Visit this articleMalestrom is an un-auditioned male choir which has members ranging from year 9 to year 13.
Visit this articleBel Canto is an auditioned treble choir made up of students from year 10 and up
Visit this articleAurora Voices is Burnside High School's auditioned junior treble voice choir, consisting of about 40 students from years 9 and 10.
Visit this articleBurnside High School's Junior Concert Band is comprised of around 50 of the year 9 and 10 performance music courses brass and wind and percussion players.
Visit this articleThe Burnside High School Junior Strings is an un-auditioned ensemble consisting of around forty classically-trained string students under the baton of Carlo Ballara and Anne Clarke.
Visit this articleThe Burnside High School Orchestra, consists of over 80 auditioned members of all year levels.
Visit this articleBig Band is the jewel in the crown of the Burnside High School music department.
Visit this articleThis year, I have had the great pleasure of conducting and being the student leader of the Burnside High School Symphonic Band.
Visit this articleVoices Rechoired is Burnside High Schools senior unauditioned SATB contemporary choir made up of around 40 students.
Visit this article2019 has nearly drawn to an end, and it all happened oh so very fast!
Visit this articleKorfball at Burnside High is continuing to grow in popularity. It is a fun, fast-paced mixed gender ball sport.
Visit this articleWhat a year for the BHS girls Football! Nominated as a team of the year and top South Island team again at Nationals!
Visit this articleGraduation is an opportunity to recognise the satisfactory completion of five years of secondary school education for many of our students.
Visit this articleThis year’s theme of the event was 'Musique'.
Visit this article2019 - the year of the best ski trip that 12PED has ever seen
Visit this article2019 has been a development year for Water Polo at Burnside High School.
Visit this articleThis year's school Swimming Sports were held on Tuesday 12 February at the school pool. Thanks to the PE Dept, along with the Sports Council, who helped organise and run this event.
Visit this articleThe Burnside volleyball girls have enjoyed lots of action-packed fun while playing throughout the year.
Visit this articleAfter focusing on our fitness for most of Term four, with a few Monday games and training sessions, we were prepared for an awesome Term one of Volleyball for 2019.
Visit this articleSquash this year saw the season begin with nearly all players being new, and with an impressive number of juniors joining us.
Visit this articleRowing has continued to build on the previous season with our team of 24 being the largest squad we’ve had for a good number of years.
Visit this articleThis year started off on a sad note following the farewell of 4 senior players last year, however we welcomed new comers Lexi Cummings, Hannah Currie, Alex Dore and Emily Jackson who had recovered from her injury.
Visit this articleThe loss of crucial players going into the season was evident, yet the boys always showed spirit when facing strong opposition throughout the year.
Visit this articleThe company threw a fantastic workshop back in Term 1 for our Burnside students.
Visit this articleIt has been a fantastic year for the Dance department with many successful stories worth mentioning.
Visit this articleMadison Garrett raced for New Zealand at the Asia Pacific Championships, held at Lake Karapiro from 10-12 May. Next year the event will be in Japan.
Visit this articleBurnside High's Girls Cricket team played in the annual regional tournament in late October this year - The Gillette Venus Cup.
Visit this articleThe Dance showcase took place in Term 3. Over the course of two nights all Dance students from Year 10 to Year 13 showcased their incredible skills on stage.
Visit this articleWe have had a successful year for our group of air pistol shooters, even though we had a late start to the year due to the unfortunate event at the mosques. Our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and to the injured.
Visit this articleThe Drama department is super proud of the nine Year 9 and 10 students who participated in this year's competition
Visit this articleThe Burnside Boys 1st XI team (made up of mainly North West Cricket Club players) play in the Secondary School Boys' 1st XI Cup Preliminary Tournament each year, to try and qualify each year for the main draw of this competition.
Visit this articleThis year we had Sport Climbing offered as a lunchtime club in Terms 1 and 3, with expert coaching offered by ex-student, Cirrus Tan. Also, two teams competed in the South Island Secondary Schools' Climbing competition at the YMCA Adventure Centre, Christchurch (photos below).
Visit this articleOver the course of Terms 2, 3 and 4, a group of around 20 students have met every Tuesday in the Dance Hall to learn and practice the sport of Fencing.
Visit this articleThe Girls Senior Touch team had a very successful year for the 2019 season and should be very proud of all their achievements.
Visit this articleThis is the first year Burnside High have competed in this event. On Sunday 26 May, a team of 8 boys travelled to Geraldine and had an awesome day!
Visit this articleA small group of Burnside High students tested their wits in the Canterbury Secondary Schools' Triathlon at Scarborough Beach, Sumner, on Friday 8th March.
Visit this articleThis year we had 10 students who were picked as finalists in the particular category they were nominated in, and the Awards Dinner at the Hornby Workingmens' Club was a great night to celebrate all the Canterbury Secondary Schools' top sport achievers for 2019.
Visit this articleOur Mixed Team is again the Canterbury Secondary Schools' Teams Champion for 2019, and they also achieved an amazing 2nd place finish at the NZ Secondary Schools' Teams Final in Cromwell during Winter Tournament Week.
Visit this articleFor the third year in a row, our 'A' Team are the NZ Secondary Schools' Teams Boys A Grade Champions. Notably this year our 'A' team were a Mixed team!
Visit this articleArchery at Burnside High School has again been popular, with the lunchtime and after school sessions on the lower fields provided by outside coach, Maria Tucker.
Visit this articleThe Burnside Bears Ice Hockey team took out the Canterbury Secondary Schools' title for the first year in a very long time!
Visit this articlePETER BRYANT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to the Dux of the school Ethan Ng
Visit this articleTwo teams played in the weekly Canoe Polo league, held at Lake Roto Kohatu on Wednesday afternoons in Term 1 & 4.
Visit this articleThe New York Academy of Sciences Junior Academy, is a global talent identification and cultivation network with more than 300 partners in over 100 countries. Its' purpose is to prepare the next generation of innovators through three key program areas: mentorship, innovation challenges, and career and university readiness.
Visit this articleNetball a crazy sport that is played in skirts in the middle of winter and where you run as fast as you can only to stop suddenly BUT there that does not stop over 140 students getting involved in the Burnside High School Netball Programme.
Visit this articleOn the 19th October we had a team of Year 11 Science students participate in the annual ARA Year 11 Chemistry Competition.
Visit this article2019 has been a very successful year for Mathematics at Burnside High School, with a number of outstanding results.
Visit this articleAs part of a school wide Turangawaewae - “our people, our place, our stories” theme our Year 9 students have visited one of Ōtautahi most picturesque locations, Rāpaki Marae. Students were able to experience a formal pōwhiri as well as learn the history of our region.
Visit this articleThere are many keen poets at Burnside and one who has been amazingly successful this year is E Wen Wong.
Visit this articleA total of six teams competed for Burnside High School in the New Zealand programming competition on the 7th September. This was more teams than any other school in the whole of Canterbury and is testament to the growing strength of Burnside High School in programming.
Visit this articleTwo teams of Year 11 Geography students competed in the annual competition hosted by the University of Canterbury Geography Department during Week 3, Term 3.
Visit this articleCongratulations to Lauren Smart 12 NRSS for winning the national prize in the Year 12 category! Lauren captured this stunning image during the field trip to Aoraki Mt. Cook earlier in the year. The picture was taken during the 'Glacier Explorers' tour on Tasman Lake.
Visit this articleBurnside entered a large team this year into the Informatics Olypiad and once again had fantastic results.
Visit this articleFifteen teams traveled to nine different locations around New Zealand during winter tournament week in September. That equated to 158 students who were given the opportunity to show their skills and represent Burnside High School in major tournaments. We were very successful with highlights listed below.
Visit this articleBurnside entered its largest team to the Fair for at least 10 years, and competed against over 200 students from Year 7-Year 13. Burnside High School is again 'Best in Fair' winners 2 years in a row with Thomas James having back to back success.
Visit this articleWinter sports is an awesome opportunity for the many talented Burnside High School students to showcase their skills in a wide variety of sports. With 62 teams and 216 individual competitors, across 21 different sporting codes it is not surprising to see Burnside students dominating in many sports
Visit this articleDuring Term 3 the Year 11 Geography cohort have been studying Extreme Natural Events in preparation for the NCEA external assessment.
Visit this articleThomas James was successfully selected to represent New Zealand at the 13th Asia Science Camp in Shantou China in July 2019.
Visit this articleTalented Burnside High School junior writers had the opportunity to attend this session at the Fendalton Library this term.
Visit this articleBurnside Year 9 students were excited to be part of this conference.
Visit this articleForecasts of heavy snow and possible road closures were proven to be wrong and the Year 13 Geographers with Ms Lee, Mrs Brouwer and Mr Bond made it through to Queenstown for our five day excursion.
Visit this articleTen Burnside Students competed in the Global Round of the World Scholars Cup in Sydney in August this year.
Visit this articleOur Leaders have been busy this term working on an extra-curricular audit and helping with New Zealand's Environment Week.
Visit this articleThree teams competed this year making Burnside High School proud.
Visit this articleFor the first time this year the Dance department decided to try out a new Inter-school competition. And it was worth it!
Visit this articleThis has been a busy and successful term for the school's Environment Group
Visit this articleIf you had a million dollars to spend on online marketing, what percentage of the NZ population could you persuade to sign a petition that you wanted championed?
Visit this articleThe team from left to right: Robin Kunwar, E Wen Wong, Piper Pengelly, and Thomas James
Visit this articleShowQuest was held on the 20th and 21st of May in the Christchurch Town Hall.
Visit this articleAfter just over a month of work, students showcased their Problem Based Learning (PBL) to parents and caregivers on the 4th of July.
Visit this articleYear 13 Physics students studying Climate Science head south with an aim to determine how New Zealand scientists are involved in making climate measurements.
Visit this article16th to 21st June 2019 - Ten students, one teacher, three other schools and an awesome adventure
Visit this articleAnother busy term with so many successes to report...
Visit this articleOur group of 33 students, representing over eight different Pasifika cultures performed an entertaining and popular set at the Christchurch Polyfest festival.
Visit this articleAs part of the Level 2 Sports Leadership and Performance Course we have a unit based around communication and teamwork.
Visit this articleThe Annual sports exchange was held on Tuesday 18 June.
Visit this articleBenjamin entered the Senior Samoan group and was highly commended for speaking about the importance of caring for the environment.
Visit this articleAmelia MacDonald is our BHS Head Māori leader. Her thoughts on inspiring others to pursue their dreams in leadership.
Visit this articleStudents enjoy Māori tourism educational opportunity on stunning Waiheke Island.
Visit this articleBurnside High School is proud of E Wen Wong for making the finals of this prestigious competition.
Visit this article21 keen students competed in the Christchurch round of the Scholars Cup at St Andrews College.
Visit this articleA case study on fresh water sustainability in the Canterbury region.
Visit this articleThe Burnside Environment Group has joined forces with the City Council to plant native trees along the stream in Jellie Park.
Visit this articleThis is the season the Cross Country runners love. Our school has a proud tradition of success in Cross Country
Visit this articleOfa Puleiku, Head Student, Pasifika and Māori leader and Euriel Mudu, Pasifika Leader were recognised for their cultural leadership and service. It was also a pleasure to see 2017 Head Student Isobel Prasad covering the event for Metro News.
Visit this articleSarah Burton was awarded NZQA Top Scholar in Visual Arts Sculpture for 2018 and her success was recognised in the NZQA Top Scholar awards held in Wellington recently.
Visit this articleOn Wednesday April 10th, multiple students from Year 9 to 13 who study Drama, Dance and Music attended an evening performance of the hit musical "We Will Rock You", a funny and entertaining show based on the sensational songs of the band Queen. The students had a ball! The show was excellent, and our newest generations of talented performers got the chance to watch and celebrate some past and presentBurnside High School students who starred in the show!
Visit this articleAlthough there have been few formal performances so far, all our co-curricular groups have been working hard to prepare for another busy and exciting year ahead.
Visit this articleThe Year 11 cohort of Geographers had an enjoyable and deep learning experience around the Port Hills, Lyttelton and Corsair Bay.
Visit this articleTerm one for Equestrians at Burnside High School is a busy time of year, with three competitions of different disciplines.
Visit this articleTwo records at this event, one outstanding junior swimmer award, and twenty- two competitors made a top three placing.
Visit this articleAhoy there! The Year 13 Tourism classes experienced a fabulous day out on the Blackcat vessel in Akaroa Harbour.
Visit this articleA key focus in the Year 11 Geography programme during Term One has been developing skills in the research process.
Visit this articleA much anticipated event on the Year 12 Geography calendar; a group of intrepid students set off on our annual three-day alpine adventure. The field research mission was to explore how this unique natural environment has evolved over time and to gain insight on how humans have interacted with the landscape - past, present and future.
Visit this articleThree teams entered the weekly Canoe Polo League, held at Lake Roto Kohatu each Wednesday afternoon during Term 1 & 4.
Visit this articleStudents at Burnside High School have excelled this term at Athletics
Visit this articleAlthough competing regularly in the Wednesday competition the highlight of the Term was the SISS Tournament.
Visit this articleBurnside High School leading in the New Zealand Informatics Competition 2019!
Visit this articleAfter months of preparation, nine Burnside High School students attended the Vex Robotics National competition in Auckland where they competed in the game Turning Point.
Visit this articleOver the course of the last year, four Burnside High School students have completed Spirit of Adventure voyages, and another three are schedule for the coming summer holidays.
Visit this articleBurnside Leaders have been elected for Years 9-11 and will be working with our Year 13 Student Support Prefects to make a real difference around the school.
Visit this articleSummer sport is a frantic and crazy rush first week of school to get teams and individuals registered when they have been at school for only a couple of days. It is a huge task taken on by a great team of staff and teachers who are involved in sport. Without them we could not provide so many sporting opportunities for students!
Visit this articleOnce again we have a very fine group of young leaders who are helping to improve our beautiful grounds
Visit this article