Industry. Like perseverance, industry is an important criteria for a healthy man. Those who are industrious are not, in my mind, tied to drudgery, rather they are freed by the commitment to the task. Industrious people are generally very successful, and in my experience, also happier. They understand the value of a 24 hour day and the time that they put in allows them the freedom to truly relax when the task is complete.

This week we have had the pleasure of hosting the 2016 Otaki Scholar Jamie Seedhouse. Jamie tells us about the scholarship and his visit to New Zealand.

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley

The last five years between these walls have been some of the best years of my life. But one thing I have been noticing recently, is the contrast between myself as a fresh faced year nine, and now the present me, in my final year of school about to make decisions that will effect the outcome of my life.

Marking by a panel of judges has been completed and the school has been advised that Hayden McAlister's project "Friendly Fire" won 6 awards.

Year 10 student Samuel Thompson struck it big at the Regional Semi Final of the Great NZ Spelling Bee and won a trip for him and a member of his family to Auckland to compete in the National Final.

Greetings and welcome. Our last year of high school together has finally caught up with us, whisking us away from the wonderland teapot adventure of adolescence into the real world. 

Vladimir woke up to a whiff of smoke tickling his nostrils and choking his throat. He had no memory of being here, yet the moss licked walls, fractured windows cowering behind desert dunes of dust and vast emptiness surrounding him seemed all so familiar. Clambering to his feet, he realised he was standing isolated amidst a burning hell. Waves of dancing flames licked at his feet, and clung to the once tatty, torn wallpaper, now charred as black as the night.

Year 12 students learning about Experimental Design in Statistics get to design and carry out their own experiment.

With snow and ice bringing Dunedin to a standstill on Friday there was initial doubt over whether we would actually make it to the ski field. 

Year 13  student William Hume is currently attending a Building and Construction course at the Otago Polytechnic.

The Otago Boys' Ski and Snowboard team have once again proved their worth with taking second place in both disciplines at the recent Otago/Southland Ski and Snowboard Championships held at Cardrona last weekend.

Congratulations to Cam Scott, Max Chu, Kasam Ali and Louis Peyroux who were members of the Otago Under 19 Futsal team and played in the 2016 Futsal Youth Nationals in Palmerston North during the school holidays.

OBHS Student Council are selling badges of the school House crests.

The combined Otago Boys' and Otago Girls' Pasifika group, Empire are holding a fundraiser for Polyfest this evening. There will be a variety of acts, snacks and pacific food for sale, along with spot prizes for the audience. $5 entry at the door, held at the Otago Boys' High School auditorium at 6:30pm on the 12th of August. Please come and support the group. We hope to see you all there! 

Form class photos will be taken next Thursday, 18 August.  Photos are $17.00 each and orders and payment will be taken on the day.  

Students thinking about further study after they leave school have a lot of decisions to make.

Export quality ANZCO frozen legs of lamb (1.5-2kg) available to purchase for $25 each as a fundraiser for our cricket tour to India and Sri Lanka later next year.

There is only 1 more day to make payment for your sons NCEA fees. 

As much as possible, could boys and parents please make all medical, (off site) physio, dentist and driving lesson appointments for students out of school time. These one off, but sometimes frequent absences during the year can have a considerable impact on student learning. Your support is appreciated. 

Tell us about the activities and successes your son has been involved in so that as a community we can celebrate with them.