Whanganui High School - International

06/07/2024

What a fantastic, fun night. 2024WHS School Ball.

03/07/2024

Last week our Director of International Students, Natasha McKee, had the opportunity to connect with several exhibitors at the Schools International Education Business Association (SIEBA) conference in Auckland, including representatives from the University of Waikato. Collaborating with tertiary providers enables us to work towards seamless pathways for our long-term international students into higher education.

27/06/2024

🎉 Exciting news! Earlier this month, Education New Zealand (ENZ) Viet Nam proudly hosted the 2024 New Zealand Schools Scholarships (NZSS) Awards Ceremony & Pre-Departure Briefing for this year's talented NZSS winners. They were honoured to have Mr. Scott James, New Zealand Consul-General & Trade Commissioner in Viet Nam, and Mr. Ben Burrowes, Regional Director - Asia Education New Zealand (ENZ), join them to present the scholarship certificates.

A special shoutout to Nguyen Minh An Pham, our Whanganui High School NZSS Scholarship recipient, who was in attendance. We can't wait to welcome her to our school in July! 📚✨

Check out the highlights from this event in the photos and video below! 🎥📸

07/06/2024

Whanganui High School wins the regional Showquest competition 🙌

Whanganui High School take out the Regional Show Quest competition

Last week Whanganui High School won the regional Show Quest competition in Palmerston North against four secondary schools, including Whanganui Girls College and four Intermediate schools. It might sound straightforward, but not when you consider the amount of work put in by senior students in developing their theme, in the endless practises, the gathering and creation of costumes and not to forget the support of the teacher in charge of drama – Devon Adam.

Hunter Whitlock and Zoe Bullock, the Heads of Culture for the school, were the ones who came up with the theme and title – ‘The Women of Ward 5: Hear their Cries.’ It tells the sad story of what happened at Seacliff Mental Hospital, just north of Dunedin, in a fire on 8 December 1942, when 37 women patients lost their lives.
Their performance also covers some of the treatments or mistreatments meted out back then, including lobotomies. (These were surgical procedures severing the nerve pathways in the brain. They are now considered one of the most barbaric procedures in the history of modern medicine.)

Hunter and Zoe were researching natural disasters and tragedies and decided to highlight the Seacliff fire, partially because “it is not widely known. One main reason for the tragedy was that because of underfunding, the staff would lock the doors and windows of Ward 5 at night time, checking only once an hour.”

Once they had created the scenes, they had to search for songs to fit and then to choreograph the show; this is where fellow year 13 student Toby Clark, Head Boy, came in as stage manager. The Music and Dance departments were involved.
Practices for the 72 participants started in the term one school holidays and continued throughout term two, four times a week. About 180 costumes were needed and they recycled some from previous productions, borrowed some from Amdram, and some were made either by themselves or by one of the teachers. Then they all had to be ironed for the show.

On Thursday, May 30, they were at the Regent on Broadway in Palmerston North rehearsing, and then at 8.30pm, they were on – the last group to perform.
The New Zealand champion school will be selected by the judges watching the videos of all the regional winners.

There will be an opportunity for Whanganui people to watch their performance when High School has its Performing Art Concert at the Opera House, probably at the end of term 3.

20/05/2024

🌏🏠 Become a homestay family for an international student! 🌟

Are you interested in a rewarding cultural exchange experience? Whanganui High School is looking for welcoming families to host international students for both short-term and long-term stays. Hosting a student offers a unique opportunity to share your culture, make lifelong connections, and enrich your family's life.

Whether you can host for a few weeks or a full school year, your hospitality can make a world of difference! 🌟

📩 Interested? Reach out to us at [email protected] or call our school international office on 06 349 0178 extension 8756 during school hours.

12/05/2024

🌸 Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible homestay mothers in our school community! 🌸

Today, we extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to all the wonderful women who have opened their hearts and homes to our international students, shaping unforgettable experiences and fostering lifelong bonds. On this special day, we celebrate you and all that you do. Thank you for being the heart of our students' home away from home.

Wishing all our homestay mothers a fabulous day. Happy Mother's Day! 💐

01/05/2024

A big thank you to Whanganui & Partners for their ongoing support in showcasing Whanganui as a prime study destination for international students. With their support, recent tours for education delegates and agents have been a huge success, highlighting the unique blend of educational opportunities and cultural experiences Whanganui has to offer. We're excited to welcome more students from around the world to explore and learn with us.

26/04/2024

Lanterns on the Awa is happening on Saturday the 27th of April from 5:00 pm to 9:45 pm. Come on down and enjoy the festivities.

The Lanterns festival event located at Wanganui, New Zealand.

16/04/2024

Watch the recent Education New Zealand (ENZ) interview with Whanganui Mayor, Andrew Tripe, discussing International Students in the Whanganui Community.

15/04/2024

Welly night life starts😂👍

15/04/2024

Someone might become a vic uni student in future

15/04/2024

2024 whs trip to Wellington starts from an incredi"bull" day 😊👍

10/04/2024

International Students attended a Mayoral Welcome on Monday with Whanganui Mayor, Andrew Tripe. We would like to acknowledge and thank Kaumatua, Uncle John Maihi, for formally opening proceedings; Rach Hoskin from Whanganui and Partners for coordinating the event and of course, Mayor Andrew Tripe for the warm welcome. Photos courtesy of Alanah Brown Photography.

05/04/2024

Well done to our students from Brazil 🇧🇷 who participated in the volleyball league this term.

Congratulations to WHS Team Brazil and WHS Pretty Princesses who played in the Grand Final of mixed Volleyball yesterday. The game finished as a draw. A lot of fun had by all. Thanks to all of the WHS teams for their great sportsmanship over the term and also our WHS referees for helping out each week 🙏💚💛

28/03/2024

WHANGANUI HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT CONFERENCES - BOOK NOW

When: Tuesday 9 April and Wednesday 10 April 2024
Times: 3.00pm to 8.40pm (with dinner hour 5.00pm - 6.00pm)
Where: Te Mana and Te Wehi Gymnasiums

BOOKINGS are now OPEN 😊

To book an interview click the following link:
👉 https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/
('Event Code' is needed from the Interim Report, which was emailed to you on 28 March)

Students will be released at the end of Period 4 - 1.50pm on both days.

Buses will run at their normal times and the Homework Centre will be open in the Library until 4.30pm as usual.

Students are encouraged to attend these conferences with their parents or caregivers, so that they can get feedback first hand.

BOOKINGS CLOSE at 5.00pm on Monday 8 April, the evening before the interviews.

The following teachers will NOT be available for the Conferences:

Mrs Kaye Coombs (Art)
Mr Pete Coombs (Mathematics)
Mrs Claire Libeau (Social Sciences)
Mr Andrew Lock (Physical Education & Health)

If you need to contact them, please do so via email or leave a message at school and they will contact you.

Important message to parents of students that have MS DEVI for MATHEMATICS.
There are two Ms Devi's in our Mathematics Department.
Ms Rajneeta DEVI (DR on the students timetable)
Ms Sharuna DEVI (DES on the students timetable)
Please chose the correct Ms Devi.

Any queries or difficulties in booking your appointment times please phone 349 0177.

25/02/2024

It's always wonderful to welcome past international students back to visit, which is exactly what happened last Friday when Akie Ono, our Head of International in 2019, made a special visit to our International Department. Akie has just finished her university studies in Japan so before starting her new job, she is travelling around New Zealand with her mother and father.

Mrs Su’a was delighted to see Akie and both she and her class were eager to listen as she shared some of her memories from her time at Whanganui High School.

While in Whanganui Akie’s homestay parents have enjoyed visiting all of her favourite spots such as the Bason Reserve, Kai Iwi beach, Durie Hill Tower and Saturday River Market.

24/01/2024

In celebrating the International Day of Education, NZ is proudly recognised for the following attributes:

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas to our friends around the world 🌎 🎄 🎅

06/12/2023

WHS Palmerston North City Trip. What a fantastic day :-)

30/11/2023

2023 WHS Tough Teens :-) International Santas had an awesome time :-) Well done, everyone. 👍👍👍🏃‍♀️🏃💪💪💪🤣🤣🤣

22/11/2023

Let us try some Chinese stuff today 😊😂😁👍

14/11/2023

Our Director or International Students, Natasha McKee, met NZSS scholarship student Vu Thi Bang Trang and her parents at the EDUCATION NEW ZEALAND Fair in Hà Nội last month. We look forward to welcoming Bang to Whanganui High School in July 2024. You can read more about Bang and her hopes for her time in New Zealand in the story below.

Whanganui and Hanoi share very few similarities but that’s part of the appeal for Vietnamese student Vu Thi Bang Trang, who has won a scholarship to study at Whanganui High School in 2024.

06/11/2023

Term 4 WHS trip to Wellington :-)
What a wonderful trip. Lots of fun, laughs and yummy food! 😁😂🤣

04/11/2023

Last week students from four agricultural and agri-business schools in the Tokyo 🇯🇵region visited Whanganui. Three Whanganui High School students, Saffron Crook, Danielle Taylor Moore and Allan Thongskul who are all studying the Japanese language, joined them for two days visiting various farms and agricultural sites in the Whanganui region. We are grateful to Whanganui & Partners for their ongoing support with international education. Be sure to check out the video link in the post below from Windermere Berry Farm.

03/11/2023

Congratulations to Melanie Lei from China 🇨🇳 who received Distinction in Art and Science; Merit in International English and Trigonometry & Algebra, and the WHS Graham Hall Cup for Art at our Year 11 Prize-giving yesterday. Exchange student Mona Romer from Germany 🇩🇪 received Distinction in Science and Trigonometry & Algebra. Aliyya Hazzin from Pakistan 🇵🇰 and United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪, in absentia, was awarded Distinction in English, Science, Classical Studies and Digital Technology; WHS Cup for Excellence in English; Capella Wallis Cup for Best All-Round Contribution to School Life by an International Student. We are very proud of their achievements 👏

02/11/2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Mrs Yuko (Kathy) Irving. Mrs Irving was a long-serving Japanese language teacher at Whanganui High School. She fostered close relationships with sister city schools in Nagaizumi-cho, which resulted in wonderful cultural opportunities for students from both Japan and Whanganui High School. Many of her students continued their love of Japanese language learning beyond secondary school. Mrs Irving was a generous, knowledgeable mentor to colleagues outside of Whanganui, assisting them with best practice and teaching methodologies.

Many former students and fellow teachers will remember Mrs Irving with great fondness, gratitude and respect.

お悔やみ申し上げます

01/11/2023

Congratulations to our international students who received awards today at the Year 12 Prize-giving. Uta Endo from Japan 🇯🇵 was awarded Distinction in Photography and Conservation New Zealand, and the WHS Sleyer Cup for Photography 📸. Alyssa Liu from China 🇨🇳 was awarded Merit in International English, Hospitality and Trigonometry & Algebra, along with the Kaye Clyde Memorial Cup for Most Improved in ESOL 👏👏👏

31/10/2023

SCHOOL LEAVERS
The International Department would appreciate donations of pre-loved uniform items for our short-term students