Waitaki Girls' High School
The school uses a house system with four houses and accompanying colours: Burn (red), Ferguson (yellow), Gibson (green) and Wilson (blue). These houses were named after the first four principals of the school: Margaret Burn, Catherine Ferguson, Mary Gibson and Jessie Wilson. Competitions between the houses, such as athletics, swimming, choir and drama, are held annually.
The school motto is Dulcius Ex Arduis, which in Latin means "satisfaction from hard work".
Curriculum
Waitaki Girls' High School uses National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) based assessments. A strong emphasis is placed on gaining good marks, with "Excellence Awards" being awarded annually to girls who achieve high marks in their internal and external assessments.
Subjects taught include English, mathematics (statistics and calculus), sciences (chemistry, biology, physics, agriculture), languages (Japanese, German, Maori), classics, computer studies, Geography, History, Physical Education and Art (Painting, Photography, Art History).
Principals
Since its establishment in 1887, Waitaki Girls' High School has had 10 principals. The following is a complete list:
Name | Term | |
---|---|---|
1 | Margaret Gordon Burn | 1887–1892 |
2 | Catherine Mary Ferguson | 1892–1919 |
3 | Jessie Banks Wilson | 1920–1949 |
4 | Mary Kathleen Dunning | 1950–1963 |
5 | Joyce Jarrold | 1963–1979 |
6 | Joyce Mayhew | 1979–1986 |
7 | Jeanette Aker | 1986–1994 |
8 | Linda Cowan | 1994–2007 |
9 | Lynlee Smith | 2007–2012 |
9 | Tracy Walker | 2012–2019 |
10 | Elizabeth Koni | 2020–present |
Notable alumnae
- Anne Taylor – former president of Netball New Zealand and World Netball.
- Isabel Clark – killed in World War I in the sinking of the British troopship SS Marquette
- Janet Frame – New Zealand author
References
- ^ "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
- ^ "History of Waitaki Girls' High School". Waitaki Girls' High School. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "Waitaki Girls' High School". Ministry of Education. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "History of Waitaki Girls' High School". Waitaki Girls' High School. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ^ "Graduate Detail". www.womeninhighereducation.eit.ac.nz. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Our history". Waitaki Girls' High School. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ "Old girls lay wreath for past student". Stuff. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Frame, Janet Paterson". Te Ara.