Extra Curricular Activities

By Mark Hooper | Posted: Friday October 19, 2018

It is fun and rewarding to improve in things, whether they be sports, music or cultural experiences.

Improvement will be fast-tracked by attending all scheduled practices and games/productions. Results will follow.

Because of the value we place on students’ involvement in activities outside the classroom, ie sports teams, music and cultural activities, it is important they are reminded of the requirements to ensure they have a worthwhile and enjoyable experience and their coaches and teachers do also.

It is crucial students fulfill their attendance requirements. If a student signs up for an activity, it is for the whole activity, not just part of it. Planned team or individual practice times become a priority. Please try, wherever possible, to plan appointment times around practices and encourage students not to work on days when their activity falls. This can be difficult, I know, but the coaches and teachers have organised their time around the activity. Only an unforeseeable urgent matter should prevent fulfillment of attendance responsibility, in which case a prior personal explanation to the teacher/coach concerned is an expected courtesy. Messages should not be sent through other students. We encourage self-responsibility - an invaluable life-long skill.

Please remind your child that extra-curricular activities are offered to them by teachers/coaches in their own time, for no additional payment, to provide students with further opportunities. We hope students will respect that and fulfill their responsibilities.

Students are invited to take part in the following extra-curricular activities:

Chamber Music
Chess is a popular lunchtime activity with the School Championships being played in Term 1. Our teams compete in regional competitions and our top team are the current South Island Secondary School champions.
Choir
Darts are a regular lunchtime activity with annual Junior and Senior trophies awarded.
Duke of Edinburgh is an opportunity for boys to participate in the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award scheme. There are four core components: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. Students aged 14 can start on the bronze award, with direct entry to silver and gold awards possible at 15 to 16 years respectively.
Jazz Band
Kapa Haka- Wairua Pūhou is our combined Otago Girls’ and Otago Boys’ kapa haka and is open to any students in Years 9 – 13, Māori and non-Māori. We do a range of different performances throughout the year often competing in competitions. Wairua Pūhou gives students the opportunity to learn and practice te reo me ngā tikānga Māori (the Māori language and culture).
Orchestra
Theatre Sports an increased number of our boys are taking part in a local Secondary Schools Theatre Sports group which meets regularly at different schools.
School Production
- Performance
- Lighting
- Sound
- Set design
- Backstage and front of house
Pacific Island Cultural Group
Rockquest
- Band performances
- Local and national competitions
Debating/Public Speaking
- Training/interschool and national competitions