Chris Nielsen, our Head of Faculty - Health and Physical Education, was awarded the Woolf Fisher Fellowship late last year. He has recently returned from his travels and tells us of his findings...

Winter is coming, and that means that we need to wrap up warm. What better way to do this than purchase an RHS scarf from the main office? The scarves are 80% wool and will keep your necks warm on cold winter days. Your child will definitely thank you for it.

On Friday May 25th, the school’s Year 11 History students, with hundreds of others from across the city, had the privilege to walk to the nearby La Vida Centre to listen to an icon of the American black civil rights’ movement, Minnijean Brown.

We recently hosted nearly 200 Year 8 students from five of our in-zone contributing schools, as a way of giving them a taste of what it is like to be at High School.

Are you interested in learning how to coach one the fastest growing sports in NZ? We require rowing coach(es) for the 2018/19 season and would love to hear from you. An introductory session is planned for 24 June.

In the April holidays, Francesca Zhang got the opportunity to attend the Elaine P. Snowden Astronomy school - a week-long camp organised by the University of Canterbury to inspire Year 12 and 13 students who excel in science to study astronomy.

On Tuesday the 10th and Wednesday the 11th of April, three level 2 physics classes split up and attended a day trip to Rutherford’s Den and to the University of Canterbury's Science department to learn about nuclear physics.

Last week, Holly Jackson and Mia Jenkins were privileged to be a part of the CDHB Kia Ora Hauora Maori Work Placement Programme, which is a five-day programme designed for Maori students who want a future in Health Science.

It all begins with diet! Nourishing your body with the necessary nutrients. These nutrients are beneficial for the body, helping teenagers to concentrate and achieve in school.

On the 14th of April, 11 year 12 and year 13 students and two language teachers journeyed to a country very foreign to our own, Japan.

On the 19th May, the Environment Committee along with other Riccarton High students took part in their first volunteer planting day for the year at Travis Wetlands.

Kane Botherway completed over Easter weekend in the NZ Grass Karting Champs. After four years of entering, Kane had secured a fourth, second and third placing, and has finally has earned the top spot of first in NZ.

Congratulations to former student, Jade Jenkins, who has received a Volleyball scholarship to Marshalltown Community College in Iowa, and will be starting in August this year.

At a recent meeting, our Board of Trustees accepted two changes to our school uniform proposed by the junior school council.

Congratulations to Alyssa Whinham (10BU) who has been selected for the NZ Schools Under 15 Football team. The team will be travelling to Sydney from 8 - 14 July to play three games against NSW Academy age group teams.

The student council did a pink wall of positivity for pink shirt day and handed out balloons and chocolate fish. Messages of anti-bullying and positivity were posted. 188 messages went up on the wall!

Duke of Edinburgh Awards create opportunities for our young people to learn and new skill or activity and encourage them to be active in their community.

Devices are an integral part of our blended learning approach here at Riccarton High School. They offer opportunities for enhancing learning for example through access to varied media and also allow collaboration beyond the classroom.

“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play.” – Mike Singletary

Congratulations to Carmen Holdaway and Sarah Gillespie who recently competed at the St John's National Youth Festival in Nelson against cadets from throughout New Zealand in a range of first aid and communication tests and drills.

Congratulations to Francesca Zhang (13CS) who is one of only two students in the whole country to have been selected to complete a four week camp in XLAB, Germany.

With winter fast approaching students may want to consider purchasing some warmer uniform items. Please note that from 1 June 2018, uniform prices will increase on all garments except blazers.

On April 4, Miss Clarke and ten students from Year 10 attended the GRIP leadership conference.

The walkway off Catherine Street in Woolston, beside the Heathcote river, has been revitalised with help from some of our Year 12 students and the University of Canterbury (UC) Student Volunteer Army (SVA).

The student assessment handbook outlines student rights and responsibilities as regards how Riccarton High School manages assessment towards national qualifications such as the NCEA. It is an important document to refer to, especially if you are unsure of any assessment procedures or rules.

9GD and seven students from 9CN spent a fantastic day at Sumner beach last month, learning about the impacts of humans and nature on the sand dunes. They also used the opportunity to carry out scientific observations on animals and plants, and recorded ideas to contribute to their environmental poetry assignment in English.

We are quite concerned that a number of parents are driving through the school grounds to drop their young people off in the morning.