REACH FOR THEIR HEIGHTS.
WHS Foundation is passionate about supporting WHS to foster a culture of excellence in learning, culture, sports and the arts. The WHS commitment to delivering a great all-round education is reflected in the success of its students which we are proud to share and celebrate.
2019 ACHIEVEMENTS
#2 in NZ
co-ed state schools for University Entrance in 2019
92%
of our WHS students achieved NCEA Level 2 in 2019 vs the national average of 78%
80%
of our WHS students achieved University Entrance in 2019 vs the national average of 49%
22
Academic Scholarships were awarded to WHS students in 2019
$500,000+
worth of academic, leadership and
all-round tertiary scholarships awarded to WHS students
RECENT STUDENT SUCCESS
From world-class skiers, winter Olympic athletes, NZ mountain bike champions to student representatives at the World Science Forum, youth philanthropy group founders, award-winning musicians and passionate artists, WHS enables and supports all students to reach for their heights in their chosen interests. Here's a small snapshot of recent successes our students have had on a National and International level. Due to student privacy these are provided anonymously.
Arts
Arts Highlights of 2019 (MPA)
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Senior Art Exhibitions at the Lakes District Museum and Queenstown Contemporary Gallery
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Haven won 2nd place Nationally in the Rockquest Final
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Two students reached the top 10 overall of Rockquest Soloists
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Trainsurfers were Regional winners at Rockquest
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Murphys Law receive Best Song at Regionals
- Jazz Ensemble - winners of the Ensemble Category and received a Gold Grading at the Blenheim Jazz Festival
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Jazz Combo received a Gold Grading at the Blenheim Jazz Festival
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One student received Best Sax Soloist at the Blenheim Jazz Festival
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One student received Most Outstanding Drummer at the Blenheim Jazz Festival
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One student received a Drama Award at Showquest
Arts Highlights, so far, for 2020 (MPA)
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Bandemic Album released featuring various students
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One student received automatic entry to audition for the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Globe Theatre in London.
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One student gained an entry of the World Championships of Performing Arts
Community
WHS students are proud and active members of the Wakatipu community. The below are just two of many ways that WHS students give back to their communities.
Youth Philanthropy New Zealand Group
Generation Give programme developed and ran at WHS by three past students who facilitated a comprehensive 20 week curriculum, delivered by the students themselves as well as a range of amazing speakers from our local community. The curriculum was specifically designed to assist students to be current, and future, philanthropists. 2019 concluded with the students distributing $35,000 to deserving charities in the Queenstown community.
Give Time
A website created by WHS students to quickly connect Wakatipu youth with opportunities to volunteer their time and skills with charities and organisations that require assistance.
Sports
WHS has a legacy of athletes representing New Zealand and the Otago Region at a National and International level. These students accomplishments include the below
Winter Sports
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Alice Robinson - New Zealand's youngest-ever Winter Olympian in Pyeonchgan and Wolrd Junior Champion in GS.
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1st NZ and Oceania U19 Women’s Downhill Mountain Biking 2019
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Three students on the NZ U18 Men’s Ice Hockey Team 2019
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One student on the NZ U18 Women’s Ice Hockey Team 2019
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One student on the NZ U20 Men’s Ice Hockey Team 2019
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One student was a NZ U18 Women’s and NZ Ice Fernz
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One student was on the NZ Snowsports National Development Team (Freeski)
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One student was a member of the NZ Youth Alpine Ski Racing
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Two students represented NZ in the Ice Hockey Team at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
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Youth Winter Olympic Games - one student won a bronze medal in ice hockey in Switzerland.
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Two students represented NZ in Freeski at the Winter Youth Olympic Games
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New Zealand Junior Freeride Tour Under 16 title
Cross Country 2020
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One student came 1st U16 girls Southland Cross Country 2020
Coast to Coast
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A team of three students came 1st in the school's mixed category with a total time for the 243km journey from West Coast to East Coast of 12.23:49 hours.
Cricket
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Four Otago Age group cricketers
Golf
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Top secondary school golf team in Otago, qualified for the 2020 national secondary school champs.
Touch
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Four Southland touch reps; with one student also named in the U20 NZ wider training squad for the Youth World Cup in 2022 (delayed).
Rowing
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A team of four students won Bronze in the Quad at NZ Club Men’s Champs
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3 golds, 4 silvers, 1 bronze at the SISS Rowing Champs 2020
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Four students selected to represent Southland in the Under 19 grade at the Interprovincial Champs
