Sustainability and Innovation at Pukekohe High School

in General News

The inaugural Sustainability Night Market was held in the courtyard of Pukekohe High School on 12 September 2019 showcasing the products from year 12 and 13 Business Studies students.

“It seemed a natural thing to do as the students’ businesses all seemed to be focused on being innovative and sustainable”, says Carolyn Bach, Head of Business Studies. “A market was the perfect forum for the students to show their sustainable ideas.  We had the products, the food trucks and the music pumping to make the night a success. Between 200-300 people were there on the night.”

If you are keen on looking after the environment when you’re out camping and tramping, you should definitely buy some single use, environmentally friendly soap from Eco Orbs.  Their soap does not contain any micro beads that end up in the ocean, or use plastic containers that you bring home and put into the landfill.  The soap shape is innovative – a charcoal orb with its own travel bag.

What about a reusable bag containing metal straws, beeswax wraps, produce bags, containers and cups that can be used repeatedly?  – then purchasing a bag of goodies from REPEAT is a must for the environmentally conscious consumer.  The bag of contents sets up any family to try and remove the use of gladwrap, and other packaging in lunches and general shopping.

International fashion designer Trelise Cooper worked with the ‘Urban Scrunchies’ group by supplying offcut fabric for them to make stunning hair scrunchies – with top grade fabrics.  The scrunchies look stunning and have been a huge success.

And what about social sustainability with KNACK setting up workshops at school to help students get ‘work ready’ and then matching them up with possible employers for part time work? An awesome service to help students put together CV’s and trained in interview techniques.

And of course there has to be gifts for everyone… gorgeous soap, lip balm, key rings, car fresheners, starter kits for new pets, or gift boxes for boys and girls.   Pet beds infused with scents to help animals who are anxious made from upcycled t-shirts – what a fantastic idea!

Many non-for profit organisations benefit from these groups selling their products.  We need to help keep our waterways clean, our landfills empty of plastic and ensure our grandchildren have a nice place to live and work in the future. The students involved in the Sustainability Night Market help achieve this – what fantastic ambassadors of the school.

WIKI O TE REO MAAORI – WHIIKOI MOO TE REO

in Cultural, General News

On 14 September 1972 the Maori rights group, Ngaa Tamatoa, alongside Te Reo Maaori Society initiated their nation-wide petition seeking official status of Te Reo Maaori.  They would later present that petition to government on 7 December 1972 supported by 30,000 signatures.  As a direct result of their actions, the Government then introduced the teaching of Maaori in primary and secondary schools as an optional extra. It also established a one-year training course for native speakers to address the shortfall in qualified staff.  It was also on this year that the influential group played the leading role in establishing Maaori Language Day, which then extended to Maaori Language Week – Te Wiki o Te Reo Maaori in 1975.

Te Reo Maaori is a taonga and a vital part of our collective culture and national identity.  Last week, was Te Wiki o Te Reo Maaori (9 – 15 Mahuru 2019), which was celebrated with a number of events across the week at the school and by participating in te Whiikoi moo te reo Maaori in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton).

On Raamere 13 o Mahura/ Friday 13 September, Waikato-Tainui partnered with a number of other organisations to coordinate a symbolic whiikoi in central Kirikiriroa (Hamilton).  As a Waikato-Tainui kawenata kura we took nine student leaders to be a part in this whiikoi to tautoko Waikato-Tainui and join the celebration of Te Reo Maaori.  The whiikoi started at the Meteor Theatre travelling up Victoria Street through to Garden Place square in central Kirikiriroa where there was a number of reo friendly activities, and entertainment.

It was an honour to support and be a part of this nationally significant event.

FANTASTIC SWIMMING RESULTS

in General News, Sport

A great weekend of swimming for our students at the NZ National Secondary Schools Swimming Competition.

Kiana Swain – GOLD 100m Fly
– SILVER 200M Back
Abbey Swain – BRONZE 200M Back
Spencer Menzies – BRONZE 100M Fly

SILVER – MIXED 16 & OVER MEDLEY RELAY
Abbey Swain
Blake Elliot
Kiana Swain
Nathan Hickmott

Well done to everyone involved.

Supporting Success

in General News

Supporting success in your school.

If you’re a parent, staff member or member of the school community and you take out a new ASB home loan of

$250,000 or more, ASB will donate $500 to your chosen participating school.

$500

How to claim this offer.

Mention this offer when you apply for your new home loan.

Your new home loan application must be received, approved and then documented in

a facility agreement, between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020.

Visit asb.co.nz/promotions/supporting-success-in-your-school for more information

and eligibility criteria.

Once your loan is fully drawn down, ASB will donate $500 to your chosen participating

school.

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maaori @ PHS

in Cultural, General News

Term 3, Week 8 – Monday 09 September – Friday 13 September 2018

Celebrating Maaori Language, Culture and Identity, for Te Wiki o Te Reo Maaori, at Pukekohe High School.

Students are invited to express their cultural identity by wearing formal cultural dress for the week.

ALL WEEK: House assemblies all week (with the exception of Friday) will be let by the Cultural Council

MONDAY 09/09: Movie: Mount Zion – Lunchtime, Hall.

TUESDAY 10/09: Amazing Race – Lunchtime, starting and finishing on the pae in front of Te Hikoi.

Using the ‘Amazing Race’ format teams of 2 – 4 will need to complete challenges and collect clues/ puzzle pieces. Prizes for the fastest teams.

WEDNESDAY 11/09: Movie: Mount Zion – Lunchtime, Hall.

THURSDAY 12/09: Ki-o-rahi Competition – Lunchtime, field/ gym

FRIDAY 13/09: Whiikoi moo te wiki o te reo Maaori: Kirikiriroa from 11.40am

SEEDS DONATED TO OUR YEAR TENS

in General News

Science teacher Mr Matthews, recently collected hundreds of seed packets which were kindly donated by Bunnings in Pukekohe.

Yr. 10 students are now planning their summer gardens and germinating seeds to plant out in a few weeks. Huge thank you to Bunnings for their donation.

Competition time!

in General News

It’s your chance to win big and design school-values inspired artwork!

What you must do:

Using our school values: Kotahitanga, Arahitanga, Puumautanga, Ako and Manaakitanga, create an eye-catching design to represent our school!

Closing date is Friday 25^th October. Hand in to the Student Centre. Don’t forget your name!

Kia Waimarie!

THE BLACK ROSES TAKE OUT OPEN MIKE PRIZE

in General News

Just last night, (5^th September) at Ed Street Tavern, Izzy Grace performed in the finals of a community open mic night which was held at Ed Street Tavern. This was open to all ages.

Izzy performed with her band ‘The Black Roses’ in the Semi Finals but did a performed solo for the final and took out first place.

Below you can see the prize she won for first place which includes a produced single at Black Dog Studio, $100 of Music Mania Vouchers and $50 of Ed Street Tavern vouchers.

TONGAN LANGUAGE WEEK

in Cultural, General News

Malo e lelei.  This week is Tongan language week. Some of our Tongan students have some events planned to share their culture and language with us during assemblies, lunchtimes and morning tea throughout the week. Here are three websites if you’d like to find out a little more about Tongan language week and what is important for Tongan students.

1.  https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/National-events-and-the-NZC/Tongan-Language-Week
2.  http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/NZC-Online-blog/Tongan-language-culture-and-identity
3.  https://www.thecoconet.tv/how-to/tonga/

SCIENCE STUDENTS TAKE OUT TOP AWARDS

in General News, Subject

East and South Auckland NIWA Science and Technology Fair Prize Giving

Tues 27 August

Pukekohe High School was represented by Mrs Wild and Mr McNelly

Awards:

Category 5 Years 7 to 10 Technology and Innovations.

Highly Commended: Sophie Clark 9D2

Category 7 – Years 9 and 10 Physical and Material World

Second Place: Oliver Bergquist

Category 9 – Years 9 to 13 Secondary Consumer Science

First Place: Sam Cato

Sam also won the MIT  “Best Project by a Maori Student” special awards.

Category 11 – Years 11 to 13 Senior Science

First Place: Matthew Fleming and Joseph Fleming

Second Place: Anna McCarthy and Abbie Reid

Special Awards:

The IET Innovation Award – sponsored and judged by the Institute of Engineering and Technology

Alex Coleman-Chaiman

Best Application of the Scientific Method – sponsored and judged by Otago University

(this prize includes a fully paid week long university experience at Otago University and Canon camera.

Alex Coleman-Chaiman

Congratulations to everyone who took part.

MATHEX SUCCESS AT AUCKLAND COMPETITON

in General News, Subject

The following year 9 students came second in the annual South Auckland Mathex competition. Out of 20 teams in the Y9 competition held at Strathallan. Pukekohe High initially came joint second with Strathallan but won the tie breaker to qualify for second place.

The Pukekohe High School team consisted of Rebecca Yip, Richie Hong, Samuel Donavan and Cavalera McCarthy, so congratulations to them.

The school year 10 team came fifth in their round of the competition out of 24 teams.