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Riccarton High School

September 2018 Newsletter

Principal's comment

Kia ora Koutou,

As we head towards the end of September we reflect on another very busy and successful term:

 In mid August, we hosted the four-person team from the Education Review Office who last visited the school in 2014. Although we are still to receive the written report from ERO, we were very pleased with the verbal report given to our Board of Trustees at the end of the visit. 

Among the highlights were comments around our strong performance in terms of academic results, the responsiveness of our curriculum to meet student need, our deliberate focus on well being at both the student and staff level and of course the Riccarton Way as a vehicle for promoting values education within the school. 

Also pleasing was the fact that the few areas ERO has recommended we continue to develop brought us no surprises. 

Going forward we envisage a stronger focus on tracking the progress of our junior students and continued analysis of statistical data to inform teaching and learning at this level. 

On numerous occasions during the five-day visit, ERO commented on our students being wonderful ambassadors for the school (even allowing the adults to the front of the queue at the canteen!) - an aspect of the school that I am continually proud of.

During this term there has been some fantastic things taking place both inside and outside the classroom including some impressive efforts by some of our sports teams in the recent Winter Tournament, a record number of students (over 80) taking part in the dance recital and over 40 students involved in the musical soiree at Lyttelton last Saturday evening. 

Such fantastic displays of talent come about by having a combination of committed individuals, inspiring teachers and coaches and supportive whanau - to all of you I say thank you. You really do make a difference.

I wish you all a restful break and look forward to catching up in term 4.

Neil Haywood
Principal

Contents

Ultralife Dancers

2018 Dance Recital.

by Aiden Ireland

On Thursday the 13th of September, Riccarton High School's Dance Department hosted a vibrant display of talent, featuring a variety of dance styles ranging from hip-hop, musical theatre, contemporary, cha-cha, jazz, K-Pop and more from solos, duets, trios, small groups and large groups.

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Book Club with Author, Raewyn Dawson. Plus scary cupcakes to celebrate Stephen King's birthday.

Library News

by Sally Blake

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Following the Technology Design Process

by Tanya Bennett

This term Kohanga Ako students have been using the technology design process to improve their school garden. The design brief was to create a he kari Rangimarie – a relaxing environment where any Riccarton High student could unwind.

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Work Experience at Riccarton High School

by Tanya Bennett

Here at Riccarton we strive to create opportunities for our young people to be an active part of their community and learn skills needed for their lives beyond the school gate. Two Kohanga Ako students have been participating in work experience at their local cafes, in Rolleston and Templeton.

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Duke of Edinburgh Award

by Tanya Bennett

The Duke of Edinburgh Award creates opportunities for our young people to learn new skills and activities, and encourage them to be active in their community.

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Student Achievement Interview Day (SAID) - Wednesday 12 September

by Carole Lake

Thank you to the many senior students and their families who attended the recent Student Achievement Interview Day. The feedback from both parents/caregivers and staff was positive and all found the day very worthwhile.

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We farewell Yvonne Andrews

by Tanya Bennett

Yvonne is leaving after 19 years of dedicated work at Riccarton High School and will be greatly missed by both students and staff.

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Senior Folio Exhibition - Tuesday 30 October, 5-7pm, in the school hall.

by Amie Blackwell

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Social Media at RHS

by Paddy Scott

In week five of this term, Riccarton High School decided to unblock Facebook and Instagram on the school network during breaktimes. In doing this, we also revised the availability of Snapchat, and limited it to only being available during break times.

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Whare ako

School hours for term 4

by RHS

We will be returning to one-hour lunchtimes on Mondays and Fridays during term 4. School will finish at 3:15pm on those days.

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Riccarton High School's Music Soiree 2018.

by Aiden Ireland

On Saturday the 22nd of September, Riccarton High Schools annual Music Soiree took place in Lyttelton.

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Congratulations

by RHS

Dr Adele Scott from NZALT recently visited RHS to award Anne Jacques with a certificate recognising excellence in teaching in the learning languages. This national award is only given every two years to outstanding teachers.

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Peerswick Scholars 2019

by RHS

Congratulations to our scholarship winners.....

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Queens Guide Award

by Georgina Fee (12SN)

Rachel Anderson (12GN) and Georgina Fee (12SN) were awarded the Queens Guide Award, which is the highest award in Girl Guiding and one of the highest Youth awards in New Zealand.

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Quiz Night 2018

Quiz Night

by Anne Jacques

It was all happening at the Quiz Night, when at least eighty quizzlers turned up at the school hall to compete for their team.

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Level 3 Tourism Field Trip to Hanmer Springs

by Cerys Roberts

During the start of week 8, the Year 13 Tourism students visited the popular alpine resort Hanmer Springs, as part of their Level 3 Tourism studies course.

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Aerial photo of RHS

Riccarton High School's 60th Jubilee

by RHS

This year marks sixty years since Riccarton High School opened.

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Jordan Worrall and Nigel Owens.

Rippa Rugby Tournament

by Rick Harlow

Jordan Worrall (11WS) was selected to referee the national Rippa Rugby Tournament in Wellington during September.

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Good Bye Kokiri - Photo Gallery.

by Aiden Ireland

Riccarton High School's camp of many years, Kokiri Lodge, is no longer going to be used for school camps. To remember our long history at Kokiri, we would like to share photographs from our first trip to the campsite.

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Tournament Week - Girls' Hockey

by Emma Trott

The girls' Hockey team played six games over the five-day tournament and were awarded seventh place in the competition.

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Video: Ka Pai Jake Dalton

Jake Dalton Ka Pai

by Courtney Watson

Good job on your Ka Pai Jake!

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Video: Ka Pai Toby McMillan

Toby McMillan Ka Pai

by Courtney Watson

Good job on your Ka Pai Toby!

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Senior Speakers of Ngā Manu Kōrero 2018

Raffle prizewinners

by Sharyn Varcoe

Congratulations to our grocery raffle winners and a huge thank you to all who helped get Thomas and the Kapa Haka to Gisborne for the Ngā Manu Kōrero national competition.

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Students pitch in at Plunket

by RHS

Two Christchurch Plunket clinics have been given a spring clean thanks to the help from some of our Year 10 students: Matteo Zhang (10BU), Debbie Dunn (10EA), Cailin McVicar (10EA) and Callum Wakefield (10BU), and the University of Canterbury (UC) Student Volunteer Army (SVA).

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Winter Sports Tournament 2018 final results.

by Aiden Ireland

With the end of the 2018 Winter Sports season, here are the final results.

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Carmen Holdaway with an exchange student from New Caledonia

New Caledonian students visit Riccarton!

by Courtney Watson

A group of French students have arrived in New Zealand and will be attending Riccarton High School for just under a week.

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Social Media unblocked at Riccarton High School

by Aiden Ireland

With the unblocking of Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat during lunchtimes, it is up to you to use them responsibly.

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Cricket award

by Paul Bridgman

Congratulations to David Biddick, our former Sports Coordinator and long-time cricket coach and manager - pictured with the silver platter awarded by Christchurch Metro cricket for decades of service to youth cricket. This special trophy, presented at their awards evening, acknowledges the outstanding time and effort that David has put into the sport.

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Student Volunteer Army

Riccarton High School Year 10's SVA Experience.

by Courtney Watson

Each year the University of Canterbury SVA focuses on mobilizing students to assist in their community.

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Geraldine High School 2019 Sports Exchange

by Orion Chau & Grace Ward

On Thursday the 29th of August Geraldine came up to verse us in the annual exchange.

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