KNS Opportunities - Please click for the full list of opportunities.

Cultural Opportunities

Kapa Haka

Our vibrant Kapa Haka group is a dynamic ensemble of 50 students, spanning from Year 3 to Year 8. Under the guidance of our dedicated instructors, Mātua Norm and Bonnie, the group comes together for weekly practices, embracing the rich traditions of Māori culture.

Our talented Kapa Haka students proudly represent our school in various competitions across the North Canterbury and Christchurch area, showcasing their cultural prowess. With performances at events like Tūhono in Ōtautahi and Tuahiwi Kā Matakura O Ruataniwha 2023 (North Canterbury Kapa Haka Competition), our group celebrates the art of storytelling through waiata and haka, fostering a strong sense of unity and cultural appreciation among our students.

Haere Mai with lyrics

Tuahiwi Kā Matakura O Ruataniwha 2023 performances

Pasifika

Our KNS Pasifika Cultural Group is run by Tagata Mai Saute Academy, and is made up of 45 eager students from around the school. We learn dances and songs from around the Pacific Islands. There is a strong focus on Tuakana Teina, older students looking after younger students. This year we performed at the Sau Ia Festival, with 20 other schools from around Canterbury.

Performing Arts

Music

At KNS we have a variety of music opportunities for our students to take part in. We have a Ukulele group that is for all students from year 1 - 8, and we take part in the Strum, Strike, Blow festival in the Christchurch Arena each year. The Senior Rock band is for students in years 5 - 8 and the students compete in the Rockshop Bandquest competition as well as having the opportunity to work with visiting musicians to help develop their songwriting and composition skills. 

Our choir is for students in years 3 - 8 and we regularly take part in the Kids for Kids choir festival and have recently been a part of a local schools choir festival featuring all of the schools from our Katote Cluster. 

Hip Hop

Our hip hop group is made up of year 5-8 students who are into dance. They compete against other schools and are very successful.  

Showquest

Every 2nd year KNS participates in a stage production challenge called Showquest. Showquest is an opportunity for year 5-8 students to get up on stage and perform a production that gives a clear and meaningful message to the audience. It involves dance and drama and is open to anyone who is interested.

Sports

The sporting possibilities at Kaiapoi North School are endless, from team sports to individual sports, there's something for everyone.

Our school embraces a range of sporting tournaments, both in North Canterbury and wider Canterbury, providing students with diverse platforms to showcase their talents.
Our focus is on creating positive experiences that contribute to the overall growth and well-being of our tamariki.
For our Year 7/8 students, exciting opportunities await with the chance to travel to Oamaru for the Year 7/8 South Island Basketball tournament. It's not just about the competition—it's an opportunity to represent our school proudly and create lasting memories on the courts. We also attend the Koru Games in the Selwyn District which is an annual highlight.
Every syndicate holds their annual Cross Country and Athletics days which are always fun-filled events to be a part of. We also have a variety of clubs and providers come into the school to take specialised coaching in a variety of sports including golf, korfball, and tennis.

Community Opportunities

Gardening Group

The Gardening group is run on a Tuesday lunchtime. We have a food forest at our school and the students look after it. They plant, prune, harvest and taste the delicious fruit and veges. Orchards in schools visit us throughout the year and teach us about pruning, pollination and thinning of fruit.

Enviro Group

The Enviro Group is run every second Tuesday morning for a small group of senior students. They visit our school biota node at Pines beach, which is part of the Tuhaitara Coastal Park Trust. The students plant, monitor pests, trap and learn about ecosystems. They are very lucky to have Kowaro in the pond, which they monitor. 

Other Opprtunities

First Lego League (FLL)

This group of students work together to solve problems and learn how to code robots. The team is made up of two smaller groups: the project team and the robot team. Children are posed with a challenge or limitation in society and they have to come up with a solution to the problem. The project team work on solving the problem, while the robot team have to build a functioning robot and code it to complete tasks on a board. Once completed, they participate in a competition against other schools around the country where they have to present their work to a panel of judges and they get judged on their creativity, teamwork, and the impact that their solution can have on society.

Global Youth Ambassador Project

The Global Youth Ambassador Project (GYAP) offers an enriching cultural immersion for Year 5-8 students, fostering cross-cultural understanding through exchanges with schools across China. Students delve into diverse activities, including Calligraphy, Cooking, Clay Sculpting, Kung-Fu, and Tai Chi. GYAP not only imparts cultural insights but also promotes teamwork, cultural appreciation and confidence. This dynamic program transcends traditional learning, providing young ambassadors with a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow on a global scale.