WAKATiPu HiGH SCHOOl - AllTeams

Wakatipu
High School
Prospectus
68 Fryer Street
Private Bag 50080
Queenstown, 9348
New Zealand
+64 3 442 7370
office@wakatipu.school.nz
www.wakatipu.school.nz

01
INTRODUCTION
Wakatipu High School provides a learning environment that
gives students the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Wakatipu High School is a unique school
in that it has the advantages of being in a
rural setting, as well as having approximately
800 multinational students, who have the
opportunity to study in the environment of a
Year 9 - 13 school.
Wakatipu High School encourages students
to develop their strengths in a broad range
of academic, cultural and sporting fields.
Queenstown’s environment also provides the
backdrop for our unique outdoor education
programmes and extra curricular activities.
Students’ pastoral needs are supported by
our Guidance Counselor, House Deans and
Tutor Teachers. Each house has seven vertical
Tutor Groups. This system has successfully
created a strong family environment.
The school’s focus is on quality learning in an
environment that enables and encourages
students to become independent learners.
Our aim is to provide opportunities for all
students to develop their full potential by
discovering their strengths and building on
these.

03
ACADEMIC
We have various programmes to support and meet the
learning needs of all students.
Academic success is a focus at Wakatipu
High School with all students encouraged to
further themselves in all learning areas.
Academic successes are strongly
acknowledged with our annual Pounamu
Awards recognising those who receive
NCEA endorsements at Levels One, Two and
Three.
The “Angelo” Programme provides
opportunities for gifted and talented
students to develop their competency
as learners by providing a wide range of
stimulating challenges across and beyond
the curriculum areas. The Learning Support
staff provide for students with specific
learning needs in Numeracy, Literacy and
the Key Competencies.
A unique aspect of Wakatipu High is that
we have the opportunities to accelerate
students who excel in certain areas with the
help of our flexible timetable structure.
All students working at Level 6 and above
of the curriculum are able to access a wide
range of learning opportunities in courses
which enable them to be successful in
NCEA. These opportunities cover a range,
such as Gateway, NCEA Levels One to Three,
Scholarship and University Papers.
A high percentage of our students gain
entrance to University along with a range
of other qualifications. To see all courses
available please see our website

SPORTING
Sporting participation and achievements are both
encouraged and recognised at Wakatipu High School
A wide range of sports are offered locally.
These usually take place after school, during
the lunchtime and at the weekend. Local
clubs offer coaching and team competitions
in sports not based solely at school. These
competitions are run within Central Otago
and the greater Otago/Southland region.
The school employs a Sports Coordinator
who organises sporting opportunities for
our school community. This involves local,
provincial and national competitions. The
Sports Coordinator is also responsible for
coordinating our major sports exchanges
of which we have two at present, James
Hargest College, Invercargill and Central
Southland College, Winton.
Our unique location also means that we
participate in several international school
visits each year with many sports being
competed in.
The Sports Coordinator also organises our
prestigious end of year Blues Night where
sporting and cultural excellence is celebrated
at a formal function that culminates in the
presentation of our school’s Blues Awards.
We offer a unique outdoor education
programme at Years 12 and 13 with students
gaining qualifications and experience in
kayaking, tramping, snow camping and
caving, and mountain biking.

07
CULTURAL / ARTS
We offer an extensive arts programme through our music and
drama departments, along with extra curricular courses.
Both drama and music are offered from Yr 9
and can be studied at all NCEA levels.
Every year we have a school production
involving a range of students from years 9-13.
This is always a huge success and provides
great entertainment for the students involved
and those who go to watch.
We also compete annually in Stage
Challenge and the Southern Jam held
in Blenheim. There are also numerous
school bands competing in the Smokefree
Rockquest Competition every year.
Our extensive art department also offers
students courses in painting, design and
photography.
The ‘Artz’ Council, comprised of senior
students holds many events throughout the
year to get students actively involved in
different areas of the arts.
We also have a large number of students
involved in extra-curricular courses offered,
many with the teachers at the school.

INTERNATIONAL
Wakatipu High School provides an excellent programme for
international students.
We currently have forty-four students over a
range of different nationalities.
We offer a safe community, full pastoral care
and support, professional study programme
for English for Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL) along with integration into NZ classes
to study for NZ qualifications.
At Wakatipu High School we place the
highest priority on the happiness and
wellbeing of our international students.
To achieve this we provide: Dedicated
support services, Quality homestay
placement 
and support.
We have two specialist teachers who provide
classes at five different levels.
They offer skills,
pathways to NCEA and international exams
IELTS, and City & Guilds.
Our Homestay Coordinator inspects
prospective accommodation, interviews
hosts and carefully matches students to
homestays.
Students are met at the air- port on arrival
and given on- going pastoral support.
Students are offered guidance and careers
counseling to ensure that their subject
selection and progress matches their tertiary
goals.
Students are provided with pathways to
study in New Zealand universities or overseas
English speaking universities, or return to their
home country

LEADERSHIP
Student leadership opportunities are fostered through many
different areas of our school.
Our school has recently undertaken
appointing a Head Boy and a Head Girl.
Each year the Year 9 – 13 students vote for
a student representative on the Board of
Trustees. This position is an important one, as
it provides the necessary link between the
student body and the Board of Trustees.
Every year there are two senior students are
elected as House Leaders for each House
(ten in total). The school has a Student
Council elected from Year 12 and 13 students.
The council and its sub-committees provide
a sense of responsibility with regard to the
running of the school. Through the Student
Council’s projects, many of our students
have interested themselves in school and
community activities.
Student leadership is also recognised by the
awarding of the ODT Class Act at Year 11
and Youth Mark Awards at Year 13
Spirit of Adventure Trust sailing opportunities,
along with Outward Bound scholarships are
available most years

13
INFRASTRUCTURE
Wakatipu High School has a range of different facilities which
help provide the best opportunities for students.
Our facilities include a heated indoor
swimming pool, a gymnasium, a specialist
gymnastics room, a rock climbing wall,
all weather outdoor tennis/netball courts,
technology rooms, a graphics suite,
computer suites, art rooms with video
editing, print centre, dark room, computer
design facilities and a comprehensive
library. Our school also has a wireless network
installed throughout, enabling students to
use personal or school laptops around the
school. All of these help us to provide the
best help to all of our students, whatever
their needs may be.
In 2012 we will be completing an extension
to our newest block, this will contain a range
of performing and practice rooms for the
music and drama departments.

Photographs Supplied by Mr Brian Gallately,Mrs Lyn Cooper, Mrs Joan Potts and Michael Bennett Copyright 2011