The DHS Dispatch - Darfield High School · Girls High School, and presented by Mr Grant Gilbert. It was a day full of inspiration and motivation, as we talked to many other students

The ISSUE 16 THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER

DHS Dispatch

2013Southpointe ExchangePage 4

Year 8 CampPage 6-7

Big Day OutPages 8

Darfi eld’s Got TalentPage 12-13

IlluminatePage 14

2 Issue 16/ DHS Dispatch2 Issue 16/ DHS Dispatch

Principal’s Comments

Bruno DeansCongratulations to Bruno Deans on being elected the new student Representative on the Board of Trustees.

Magazine 2013 Last minute ordersIf your student would like a 2013 school magazine, please make your $20 payment by the end of this month (thank you to those who have already done so). This will help to ensure the correct number of magazines is printed. If you have not paid for the Magazine by the end of this month, there is no guarantee that one will be available for you.

DARFIELD HIGH SCHOOLSENIOR PRIZEGIVING

Family and friends of the school are warmly invited to attend the

Senior Prizegiving ceremony on

Monday 4 November 2013

at 7.30pm

at the

Darfi eld Recreation Centre

At the end of last term, I travelled to China for two weeks with two students and a parent. The trip included an opportunity to continue a 16-year sister school relationship we have with Shandan Bailie school in Northern China. This relationship works alongside a relationship that the Selwyn District Council has with Shandan town. The origins of the association are a link through Rewi Alley who was born in Springfi eld. Rewi Alley is an important person in 20th Century Chinese history through his promotion and support of the ‘Gung Ho’ (work together) collective industrial factories. He also established a number of technical training schools, including the Shandan Bailie school. Rewi chose to locate the school in the town because the nearby mountains reminded him of the Torlesse Range, a similarity that was easy to see. Shandan has a population of about 80,000 and is located in Gansu Province. Local industries include coal mining and there is a strong agricultural base. Being located next to the Gobi desert, it relies on reservoirs and irrigation systems for its farming and agriculture.

We were treated as honoured guests in Shandan and were shown around the local sites, visited schools, and ate many fi ne meals. Shandan, along with much of the Gansu province, has been undergoing signifi cant change in the last few years, with very large investment in infrastructure. Many new roads, buildings, and industrial sites were apparent. We visited a newly built middle school (Years 8-10) that

has 2,300 students and a capacity for 3,000. Included in the complex are accommodation for all students and staff and a 3,000 seat stadium. The new school was built to replace eight smaller middle schools in the surrounding area. Students in Shandan do lessons from 7.30am till midday, have a three-hour break (it gets hot in summer), and then back to school till 6.00pm. With class sizes typically being about 50 students, the style of lessons is generally quite different from NZ. There are exams at the end of Year 10 which determine if a student will be able to go to High School, so there is much pressure to prepare for these exams in class.

We found China to be an interesting mix of the ancient and the modern;

the undeveloped, sometimes primitive, and the extraordinary amount of new infrastructure developments taking place. At one point, looking out of a train window, we could see

coal mines, oil wells, acres of solar panels and hundreds of massive wind turbines, passing beside long sections of the 2,000 year old Great Wall of China. Sights such as the Terracotta Army, the Great Wall at Badaling, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square, are astounding, but leave you with an impression that you have only scratched the surface of a complex and enormous country.

James Morris

B

Issue 16/ DHS Dispatch 3

SUCCESS

On Tuesday 24 September, Henry and I travelled into Addington Raceway, Christchurch, with Ms Evans to attend the 2013 ASB Community Bursary Awards Luncheon to receive an award we had won earlier this year. The award acknowledges and rewards the signifi cant involvement of Year 13 students throughout New Zealand. All students nominated were presented with a certifi cate, ASB USB Stick, and $150 to spend. The number of recipients was based on the number of Year 13 students in each school.

Firstly, we were welcomed by the MC of the Luncheon, Mr Grant Gilbert, who is the ASB General Manager at the Auckland Branch. He congratulated us and then spoke about the importance of young people in the community and their involvement. We were then invited to the Buffet table, which was fi lled with a delicious range of different meats, pastas, roast vegetables and salads. Dessert was also delightful, including a range of slices, meringues, fruit, caramel tarts and chocolate treats. While enjoying the appetising lunch put on for us, we were entertained by the incredibly talented Chisnallwood Intermediate School Band.

It was then time for the guest speaker, Mr Sam Johnson - Founder of the Student Volunteer Army, to inspire us with his encouraging and motivating speech on how important community involvement is. He told us a couple of motivating and entertaining stories of where his involvement in the community had led him and how it has got him to where he is today.

Following Sam's speech, it was time for the Formal Presentation of the Awards, which were read by Mrs Susan Hume - Principal of Avonside Girls High School, and presented by Mr Grant Gilbert.

It was a day full of inspiration and motivation, as we talked to many other students about why they were nominated and what they do within their communities. Grant and Sam both circled around the room, talking to students about what they are doing and where they hope it will lead to.

This is the fi rst year that Darfi eld High School has been able to nominate two students to receive this award. I encourage any Year 12 student who is going into Year 13 to think about how they could get involved in the community and the wider school. It is a great opportunity to get involved in leadership activities, get to know new people, and also give something back to the community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ms Evans for kindly giving up her time to take Henry and me into Christchurch to attend the Luncheon. I hope that she enjoyed the motivating speeches and activity as much as we did.

Genevieve Jebson

ASB Community Bursary Awards

Run by the Otago University Mathematics Department, this challenge is designed for capable Maths students in Years 7 and 8. This year, around 25,000 students from 600 schools in NZ participated. Merit Certifi cates are awarded to the top 25%, with Excellence going to the top 10%. Students in the top 1% qualify for the Ultimate Challenge, an hour’s test of considerable diffi culty. This year, DHS have three Year 8 boys who have qualifi ed in this 1% category - Simon Seelen, Joshua Dillon and Jack McConnell. Congratulations to you all.

Otago University Problem Challenge - Mathematics

Congratulations, Sarah Baker, on achieving Grade 4 Violin in music.

Katie Sharp’s written work was published in the latest edition of Upstart magazine. Congratulations, Katie!

Merit and Excellence Students

DHS Ex-Students

Congratulations to the following ex-students who have graduated from Otago University:

Richard Draper PhDLivia Hardy DPHKelly Henderson BComSamantha Martin BScJennifer McKay BComAdaire Nicholls BScMiriam Pieper BAShaun Ridgen BANatasha van Leeuwen PGCertHealSc (Endorsed)Gwyneth Steenson MHealSc (End)James Walker BA, BCom

PRINCIPAL’S AWARDCongratulations to

Adriana Cornelissen 8GF


INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

On Wednesday 3 April, we arrived in Vancouver not sure of what awaited us for the following eight weeks. Mr Griffi oen met us and took us directly to our new school, Southpointe Academy - a four storey building housing 530 students from Grade 1 through to Grade 12. We

met Mr Croy - Principal, Mrs Virji – International Exchange teacher, and Mr Lum, our homeroom teacher for the duration of our stay. We found out immediately that school in Canda is slightly different to here. They started at 8.10am and had six classes a day, fi nishing at 3.15. Until Grade 10, subjects like English, Maths, Science and PE are compulsory for all students. We spent much of our time at school in lessons doing work set by our teachers back home but also contributing to English and PE classes and volunteering to help the Grade 1 students. Our fi rst week was mainly spent getting to know our new classmates and settling into our new homestays.

Weekends were spent exploring this wonderful new country; we spent many hours shopping in the biggest mall we had ever experienced – four fl oors of retail therapy - there were too many shops to do it justice! We visited Science World, Granville Island and downtown Vancouver. We

overnighted in a cabin in Whistler and visited the Olympic Park. We crossed the border into the USA and visited Seattle for the weekend. It was amazing to experience all these new cultures and new places.

Back at school, we joined in with two other exchanges from Spain and France that were visiting Southpointe whilst we were there. We visited Deep Cove and Lynn Cannon Suspension Bridge with the Spanish group, and Stanley Park and the Aquarium with the French group.

Our last day was hectic – a gas leak meant the school had to be evacuated for an hour! After that, our grade surprised us with a goodbye pizza party. Then came the tears and the hugs and the promise of staying in touch with our new friends and host families. Then off to the airport… This is an opportunity we would both repeat in a heartbeat and heartily recommend to anyone keen on adventure!

Emma Brook and Amy Musson

Southpointe Exchange

Amy Musson and Emma Brook

Welcome Home Shania and Kerey from Yubetsu and Welcome Takato to DHS.

French Department

Cultural ProjectsThe Year 9 French class recently worked on a French Cultural Research assignment. This led to a large variety of presentations on topics ranging from makes of cars, French music and croissants to, of course, the “oh so famous” Eiffel Tower!

Pictured above are Iva Vukovic and Caitlin Fraser; Iva is in the dress they created for the occasion! Could we have the latest fashion designer amongst us? Watch this space…

French Exchange

Congratulations to Lois Freemantle, Thomas Rowlands and Kathryn Barnhill.

Three Darfi eld High School students have just been selected for the French exchange programme in 2014. The lucky group will be fl ying to France mid-March next year and, after a few days in Paris, will join their host families in Lannion (Brittany). They will attend school and immerse themselves in the French way of life for eight weeks. They will fl y back with their French buddies who will in turn spend two months with us here in Darfi eld. Thanks to the New Zealand France Friendship Fund which supports this exchange and provides $500 per student to go towards the cost of this programme.


Our visiting group of UCE students arrived at Darfi eld High School on Wednesday, 9 October. We were delighted to welcome Miss Rungsima Amornsukon, Teacher from Thailand, who accompanied the seven girls and seven boys in this group. While they have been here, the students have been learning English and visited Fudge Cottage, Riccarton Mall and Rubicon Farm, where they enjoyed a horse trek, farm show and BBQ lunch. Everyone enjoyed the Thai Exhibition Day and Mr Kelvin Coe, Mayor of Selwyn, joined the students on this day for morning tea and participating in the activities.

The students have been well looked after by their buddies and have settled into school very well. They still have some places to visit and lots of activities to do before they return to Thailand this Sunday.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATE

Thai Group of UCE students with teacher Miss Rungsima Amornsukon and DHS staff Mrs Judy Lindsay and Ms Sarah Rawson

Congratulations to Shimon Narita, Year 13 student at Darfi eld High School, who passed his university entrance examinations in Japan.

During the fi rst week of the term holidays, Sarah took Siggy, Lilly, Lukas and David on a trip to Queenstown where they did a canyon swing, archery, shooting, had fun on the Luge and Gondola and were able to visit lots of places of interest on their way to and from Queenstown.

We were delighted to see Marie-Therese Schmidt who visited us recently. Marie -Therese, who is from Germany, studied at Darfi eld High School from August 2011

until July 2013. She particularly enjoyed Maori Studies while she was here and the fi rst part of her farewell speech was spoken in Maori. We love the fact that so many of our ex-students stay in touch and come back to visit us.

King (in blue) from Thailand visited Darfi eld High School also. King was a student here in 2011 before he shifted to Southland. King has been staying with his Darfi eld host family and called in to school to catch up with his friends.


Mount Hutt Retreat Year 8 Camp

What an awesome time was had by all!

Monday morning everyone was bouncing with excitement as we lined up for the buses. As everyone gathered on board, voices raised with joy and delight.

The trip took one hour to Mt Hutt Lodge, but seemed like forever. As we arrived, we collected our belongings and strode to our bunk rooms to unpack as well as put dibs on our beds.

On day one we started our activities for the rotation. One Year 12 student and one parent/teacher took us around each station. There were activities such as: Abseiling, Archery, Frisbee Golf, Initiative Games, Nature Sculpturing, Mountain Biking, plus the night game – the Animal Game.

Everyone thought these games were surperb and all begged for a second turn. Lights were out at 10pm.

On day two, the rotation was the same as usual for each group, but one of the worst was the Mountain Biking. Going downhill was as easy as anything but, to be honest, going back uphill was dreadful!

Getting taught new skills was the best part of it. As the day came to an end the teachers set up a night game called the Animal Game. We were sent out in pairs to collect cards and fi nd the mysterious animals hidden in the dark. Everyone enjoyed it.

During day three, there was a big day planned for us. First we had to clean and pack everything we could possibly fi nd and do our duties. Then we packed our gear for the massive tramp ahead.

We were put into three groups: the fast group, the mediums and the putt putt group

The tramp was led uphill and took two to two and a half hours. There were amazing sights to be seen along the way: mountains, lakes etc, but best of all we stopped for lunch at the very top!!! MMMM Yum! Sadly the day had come to an end when we all settled in our buses ready to go home. But what an amazing experience we had!

Ella Reeves


On Wednesday 18 September, Year 8 students from 8AM and 8JR had the privilege of attending a two-night camp at Mount Hutt Retreat. Excited students had to undergo a 50 minute trip, before settling into their new surroundings.

We were divided into activity groups, shortly before being introduced to our fi rst exercise. Activities included: Abseiling, Archery, Frisbee Golf, Initiative games, Nature Sculptures, and a tramp that took place on the last day. Each of the activities tested us in different ways, both physically and mentally. After the day’s exhausting procedure, we dug into a dinner of spaghetti bolognese, and a dessert of apple pie.

Our night’s entertainment consisted of Night Games, a makeshift America’s Cup Race, and auctions that we bid in, using money we had earned from the ‘’Camp Dollar System’’.

Mount Hutt Retreat Year 8 Camp

The next morning, we were up and ready by 7:30, chowing down on a smorgasbord breakfast, of toast, cornfl akes, spaghetti, and fruit salad, before venturing outside to begin our day’s events. Time was fl ying, and before we knew it night had set in. We knew we had a big day ahead of us, so we were all asleep within minutes.

When we woke the next morning, we were told to pack (much to our dismay) and after a fi nal clean-up, we set off for what was to be one of the most challenging hikes that we had ever experienced.

We arrived back at school on Friday just in time to catch the school buses. We were all worn out, and were looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend, but it’s fair to say that we would do it again in a heartbeat.

Lucy Learned and Elyse Kerr


Young Achievers Big Day Out!The day started with a frantic run to the bus bay where our delicious snacks were waiting. We loaded onto the bus ecstatic to see what this lovely sunny day would bring.

Time passed as we drove through Christchurch and fi nally arrived at our destination. The Christchurch Gondola! We separated into groups and boarded. Fog was starting to creep down the hill. At the top, there was a fantastic view of the city and shoreline. Then we travelled back in time on a small ride which showed us New Zealand’s history. After this we had a short break for a yummy morning tea and then we loaded back on to the Gondola and descended the hill. The bus was now on course to a new destination, AMF Garden City Bowl!

When we arrived there, our teams names were displayed above our lane. We got straight into it. It was a new experience for some but it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Part way through pizza was appearing on our tables for lunch. After everyone

Thank you to the Malvern Lions whose Fries Days help to make this day possible. Our last Fries Day raised $607. Thank you!

On 26 September, the Big Day Out participants left for the Gondola on two Torlesse Travel buses.

When we got there we had to sort ourselves into groups of fi ve because in each gondola you were allowed to have only fi ve people. When we were on the gondola, the weather changed and it was so foggy that you couldn’t see anything but luckily this improved a little while later. When

had fi nished their games, we headed for home.

We drove through the remains of the red-zoned city centre. It was mind-blowing to see the wreckage that the earthquakes had caused. We took a short stop where some people bought McDonald’s ice cream.

We fi nally arrived back at school. A massive thank you to the Malvern Lions Club for fundraising with the Fries Day Fridays to reward us with this amazing Big Day Out and I know we all enjoyed it!

By Katie Sharp and Niamh Rayne 8JR

we got to the top there was a really cold wind but we had all remembered our warm jackets. We stayed at the top of the gondola for about an hour and a half before coming back down and jumping on the bus to head to ten pin bowling.

When we got to the ten pin bowling we were taken inside. After we got inside we found what group we were in and started bowling. While we were bowling people were handing out pizza which was really good. Once we fi nished our round of bowling we were allowed to go into Time Zone: lots of people won prizes.

Once we had fi nished there we jumped on the buses once more and headed back to school. On the way back, we got ice-creams from McDonalds and got to have a look at all the buildings that had fallen down in the earthquakes.

I would like to say a big thanks to all of the teachers and the Malvern Lions for making this day possible.

Mya Reid. 7SJ


Another win for Darfi eldMt Hutt batted fi rst and scored 119 for 6 in their 20 overs. Smith was top scorer with 39 runs not out and Ree scored 35 before being caught off the bowling of Jesse. Jesse fi nished his four overs with fi gures of 2 for 29. Toby G was very economical fi nishing his four overs with fi gures of 1 for 7.

Darfi eld’s opening pair batted well, scoring 95 before Toby K was out for 53 runs. Jesse continued and was not out at the end on 39.

The match had a nail-biting fi nish. Darfi eld were on 110 for 2, needing 10 more runs when they lost four wickets in quick succession. The game came down to the fi nal over, Darfi eld needing two runs to win. Turpie took a wicket fi rst ball followed by three dot balls before Mitchell hit the winning four.

The boys are playing in the Northern South Island Cup and Shield Finals this week; a good result will see them qualify for Nationals in November in Palmerston North. Good luck boys! Watch this space!

SPORT

South Island Secondary Schools Motocross Championship

On Saturday 21 September, James Doherty and Harrison de Rooy represented Darfi eld High School in the South Island Secondary Schools Motocross Championships held at Pleasant Point. The fi rst practice and qualifying laps saw a very greasy and muddy track take its toll on a couple of riders with a number of spills, one resulting in the delay of race start by about an hour as the Otago Rescue Helicopter was fl own in to take a rider with a suspected punctured lung to hospital.

Once the racing fi nally got underway, however, James quickly set himself up as one of the faster contenders in the 12-16 years, 125cc MX class, on his KTM 125, eventually fi nishing third in his fi rst race. This was followed by a fi fth placing in race two and, with third place up for grabs during his fi nal race, James pushed his bike and body hard to try and secure third place for the race, which would have also given him a third place overall fi nish for the Championship.

Pushing himself a little too hard saw him, unfortunately, crash out on one corner, just as he was to gain that third place. James quickly recovered, however, fi nishing a credible fourth for the race and securing fourth place overall for the day in an extremely competitive class.

Meanwhile, Harrison de Rooy struggled to keep up with the frontrunners in his 11-13 years, Farmbike class, running his KLX 110 against bigger and more powerful Honda 150s. He kept improving throughout the day though, dropping his laptimes by six seconds

between races one, two and three. Consistency and determination saw Harrison fi nish with three third places during his races, earning him an overall third place in the Championship for the day and securing a medal for his efforts.

Given James’s and Harrison’s high placings, it was a real shame Darfi eld was unable to fi eld a third rider to enable them to enter as a team, as the points gathered by James and Harrison would have put them well up in the team event as well.

A special thank you to James and his parents, who took a rather nervous fi rst timer in Harrison under their wing and showed him the ropes of racing, while offering great encouragement throughout the day. Great teamwork from the Darfi eld camp!

In the meantime, Harrison’s dad has already resigned himself to the fact that he needs to start looking out for the next motorbike for his son in order to try and even up the stakes for any future races!

Brie Gullery recently competed at the GymSports Nationals Championships and came fourth overall in New Zealand. She also attained a Profi ciency Pin for passing a mark, set by Gymsports NZ, which must be gained only at the National Championships. This mark is set quite high and she did well to pass the mark, and her scores were the best she has achieved in New Zealand, this season.

She also was selected out of over 400 other athletes from Aerobic, Trampolining and Rhythmic Gymnastics codes to read out the Athletes' Oath, at the Opening Ceremony. She did this in front of all

Motocross

Milo Cricket

GymSports Nationals

the competitors, coaches, judges and dignitaries from GymSports NZ and the Napier City Council.

She did this beautifully and made all the Canterbury athletes, coaches, parents and supporters, very proud. She also turned 16 while there so it was a very special National Championships competition for her.

She is now resting, while mending from a hopefully minor back injury, before preparing for next year and Level 10, the last competitive level in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

James Doherty fl ying high above the track.

Harrison de Rooy fi nishing in third place.


Food For Thought

Year 9's research unit "Food for Thought" was launched by two visiting speakers from Fonterra and SAFE. Mike Hennessy from Fonterra usually addresses farmers, but he was happy to challenge our Year 9 students to think about the issues facing the dairy industry and New Zealand, now and in the future. Nichola Kriek, from SAFE, an animal rights advocacy group, shared with students her journey to becoming vegan and also presented an informative slide show on factory

AROUND SCHOOL

Nichola Kriek and Mike Hennessy

The Darfi eld Jazz Band played the fi nale at the Spring Serenade Music evening at the Trinity Church at the end of last term. This evening showcased the talent of local musicians and students from the University of Canterbury.

On Friday last week Mrs Seaward took her star mathletes to Darfi eld Dairy for a reward. Well done team!

Year 11 Production EveningOn Wednesday 25 September, the Year 11 Drama class held their class Production “Niu Sila”. This is a comedy based on the challenges that a young Polynesian boy and his Palagi friend encounter as they grow up in the culturally insensitive Wellington. The class entertained family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed the experience of participating in a live production.

Mrs Morgan and Mr Adams test the skills of Preston Kerr as he interviews for Prefect positions for next year.

On 25 and 26 September, the above championships were held at the Coringa Golf Course. The team members that represented Darfi eld High School were: Hillary O’Connor (captain), Mark Weatherley, Casey O’Connor and Nicole Hamilton-Cross. We played in the B Grade division. On the fi rst morning, we played Burnside B and won 3-1 and in the afternoon, we played St Bede’s B and won 3-1. These scores do not really refl ect the strength of the opposition. In our fi nal pool game on

CANTERBURY SECONDARY SCHOOLS MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIPS 2013

farming and the chicken industry.

For this unit, Science, Social Studies and English collaborate over six weeks. The aim is to build on students' research skills and to provide them with the opportunity to investigate any food topics they are interested in. Later in Term 4, students will present their fi ndings to their classes through slide presentations.

Thursday morning, we played Lincoln A which we won 2 ½-1½. This was our hardest game.

SPORTIn the afternoon, we played in the fi nal of B Grade against Burnside B. It was during this game that we

played some of our best golf. We won 3-1.

The last time Darfi eld High School won this trophy was in 1995 so we were all delighted and excited. This is the last tournament Mark Weatherley represented Darfi eld High in and it was great to make it a winning one.

Hillary O’Connor


Short StoriesIn 7SE last term, we worked on writing a complete short story using 300 or fewer words.The stories had to include a strong hook or beginning, a complication or problem, and a solution or conclusion. Have a read and see what you think...

The OgreSo there I was, out on my morning stroll in the enchanted woods. I was picking fl owers, as my mother had told me. I was just plucking a bright yellow daffodil out of the ground when I heard a crack in the bushes.

Something was there, something big, something huge; it was watching me. I turned my head slowly to fi nd the ugly face of an ogre staring down at me. The ogre was huge and obesely overweight; the ground shook when he moved. His mouldy green skin made it easy for him to blend into his surroundings; drool splashed out of his mouth. I dropped my fl owers in fright, clutching only the yellow daffodil I had just plucked out of the ground. I made a run for it but made it only a couple of metres before I was snatched up and was in the ogre’s hand. I was metres off the ground and screamed, but it was no use; no one could hear me. I was now deep within the woods and my heart was racing. After what felt like hours, we approached a red hot bonfi re. I could feel sweat dripping off my forehead; the ogre’s face beamed with delight. I was obviously the next dinner for this mighty beast. I needed a plan. I needed to escape… fast. I remembered the fl owers and the bright daffodil that I was still clutching tight. I held it up to the ogre’s nose, my hand shaking with fear. Suddenly ‘atchoo’: the ogre sneezed. I fl ew out of his hand, fl ying at an incredible pace. I landed with a thump in a pile of green snot. I could hear the ogre impatiently bellowing. I picked myself up and scuttled to the closest tree, my eyes fi xed on the ogre. He looked angry; his last meal had just slipped through his fi ngers. I sighed with relief and started my long journey home, making sure nothing was lurking in the shadows.

Hester Trolove

In the Classroom - 7SE

Creating PostersWe also worked on creating a poster advertising the book we had studied during reading. We looked at the components of an advertisement and tried to include those that we thought were appropriate. Check out our awesome efforts.

Opposite: Hester Trolove

Below: Kate Morris

Mission ImpossibleSo there I was, running away from my mum, hoping she would never catch me for breaking her favourite glass. Suddenly, the door bursts open.

“Amelia! You. Are. Grounded!”, she yelled at me and the door slams once again.

“What am I going to do?” I thought to myself.

I heard my tummy rumble like a volcano about to erupt, and I knew I had to make a mission downstairs to get some food. Before I knew it, I was sneaking down the stairs to the fridge. But I had a problem; mum was there reading her newspaper. She turned her head around very slowly to look at the doorway where I was standing. I quickly hid back around on the other side of the wall. I heard

footsteps coming up to the door.

I knew I had to make a break for it, so I crept back up the stairs to my room, when I remembered my stash of lollies from Christmas! I opened the drawer where I was keeping them, with adrenaline pumping through my veins. Once the drawer was open, my heart sank: they were all mouldy! From that point on, I knew I wouldn’t make it out alive.

The big elephant in the room was a picture of me happily snacking on some McDonald’s when I was younger. I was sitting on my bed, my blonde hair fl opping down onto the pillow, my blue eyes staring solemnly into space. My heart pounding. My tummy rumbling louder and louder. The clock ticking by my head like a bomb.

“AMELIA, it’s dinner time,” mum shouted from the kitchen.

That sentence played through my mind like music. I was saved! I wouldn’t die from starvation after all!

Abigail Tuhill

War Veteran Eddie, an elderly, grizzled maintenance man at Ruby Pier Theme Park, is killed trying to save a small girl from a falling cart. He awakens in the afterlife, which he soon learns is not a lush Garden Of Eden, but a place for five people who were in your life to ex-plain it to you. You will be hooked as Eddie is helped to understand and un-ravel some of his life’s greatest myster-ies and regrets and answer the biggest question of all—did he save the little girl?

The Five People You Meet In Heaven

$20.00 “A Timeless Tale, appealing to all” Frank McCourt


Darfield’s Got Talent

Ooh what a night! Late September back in Term 3 ...for those of you humming now .. you should have been there! It was a great night showcasing the wide variety of talent on offer here at DHS.

They came in all guises: bands, soloists, instrumentals, dance, impersonations, and then came the staff performance!

Our judges, Sam Broughton, Poema Heine and Sage Harris from 24/7, accompanied by Hannah Cossey our Youth Coach, set the bar with a performance of their own singing Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” ... followed by 16 sterling performances from the Jazz Band, Stella Daube and Cameron Brookes, Luvox (Tomokazu Kimura, Kento

RESULTS

Best VocalBrian Dalauidao

Individual DanceKatelyn Manson

Overall Dance Eastside Hip-Hop Movement

Best GroupThe Unknown

Most EntertainingKerey Leach

Rising StarKate Morris

Best Junior ActTom Wilson

Overall Winner The Unknown

Dogin and Ryohei Hayashi), Emma and Matthew Grigg, Bryan Simon Dalauidao, The Unknown (Tom Wilson, Lucy Wilson, Selina Dixon and Lilian Stott), the Eastside Movement Hip Hop (Maddie Tasker, Lexi Sutherland, Emily de Rooy and Kyla Higgins), Chevonn Walker, Alyse Verstraten, Alex McGregor, Katelyn Manson, Tim Logan and Kerey Leach.

Whilst the Judges took some time to deliberate the winners, some of the teaching staff took to the stage to show us all how it should have been done! With a montage of the evolution of dance from their school days, starting with The Twist and ending with The Harlem Shake - no trophies, but they certainly deserved one!

The Performing Staff of DHS Talent Quest Winners



WE ENTERED - WE VOTED - WE WON!

From Leafl et Drops ....

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

A strong backing from Ms Waters, our Food and Nutrition teacher, started the ball rolling as staff and students came on board and started to vote in this year’s Let’s Cook with Parmco challenge.

“The timing was perfect this year for us to win,” said Ms Waters, “with our new kitchen upgrade planned for the Christmas holidays, a brand new set of appliances is just what we needed to complete it!”

So with fl yers at the ready she set off to do a number of leafl et drops in surrounding townships, she spoke to the local newspapers to ask them

to highlight our need for votes and for the wider community to back us, which you did, and the Year 10 students took to the streets of Darfi eld in a targetted leafl et drop one Friday afternoon.

And the votes came and came and just kept coming... and 12 midday arrived on the fi nal day for votes, with a fi nal fl urry of activity... we

waited with bated breath. A cautious thumbs up as the deadline passed and we saw we were ahead on votes but needed offi cial confi rmation.

On Tuesday, the word came - with 3488 votes to us - we’d won!

Six Parmco Freestanding CookersTwo Parmco DishwashersOne Parmco FridgeTwo Parmco Microwaves

A prize package worth $22,437.70

The goodies arrived here at DHS last week and are in safe storage awaiting the new upgrade over the Christmas holidays. They will be ready and waiting for eager students in Term One 2014.

To all the members of our community and school, a huge Thank You!

The pre-formal for Years 9 and 10 was a huge success, with more than 150 students attending.

The night was fi lled with bright lights, glow sticks, good music and a great party vibe.

With the help of Sam Broughton and the Darfi eld Baptist Youth Group, the night ran smoothly without any hassle.

Tom de Rooy and Will Gross were the photographers for the night, keeping people entertained and were busy all night long. Big thanks to Mr Adams and Mr Morris for helping us organise the event. Thank you to everyone who helped us and made the night as great as it was. Also a big thanks to the students who supported the event, helping us with all the small details on the day.

Overall, this was a great experience that Bailey and I have enjoyed immensely and we encourage students to take this opportunity and carry on the tradition.

Emily de Rooy

ILLUMINATE


WHAT’S ON?TERM FOURWeek 2Thursday 24 October• Tabloid Sports pm• Newsletter # 16Friday 25 October• Fonterra Science Roadshow• 11 RUB Practical Day

Week 3Monday 28 October• Labour DayTuesday 29 October• Year 13 Outdoor Ed pmWednesday 30 October• Enterprise DayThursday 31 October• Year 12 Outdoor Ed pmFriday 1 November• Fries Day • 11 RUB Practical Day

Week 4Monday 4 November• Senior Prizegiving Darfi eld Rec Centre 7.30pmTuesday 5 November • Senior Tutorials Wednesday 6 November• Senior TutorialsThursday 7 November• Senior Tutorials• Newsletter #17Friday 8 November• Senior Tutorials

2013 Term DatesTerm 4: 14 October to 12 DecemberMonday 28 October: Labour DayThursday 14 November: Staff Only DayFriday 15 November: Canterbury Anniversary and Show Day

2014 Start of Year DatesSchool Offi ce opens Monday 20 JanuaryRe-enrolment and Course Confi rmation for Senior Students Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 JanuaryNew Staff Orientation Friday 24 January

Staff Only Day Monday 27 JanuaryYear 7s attend Tuesday 28 JanuaryWhole School attends Wednesday 29 January

Chicken Toppers $2.60

Chicken Wraps $2.80

Chicken Burgers $5.00

Sheffi eld Pies $4.20

Hot Chips $3.00

Wedges $3.50

Salad Rolls $4.00

Cheesy Toasty Buns $1.80

Small Hot Dogs $2.30

Large Hot Dogs $3.10

Noodles $2.30

Muffi ns $3.00

Mini Donuts $2.00

Large Donuts $2.50

Slices $2.60

Cookie Time $1.30

Small Juices .70

Large Juices $1.20

CANTEEN SUMMER MENU

Update your contact detailsHave you changed your address recently? Changed cell phones? Place of work? Or would you like to update / change the emergency contact for your student?

It’s easy... if any changes apply, please let Jill the Student Administrator know by: - phoning 318 8411 / ext 3 - emailing jill@darfi eld.school.nz - writing it down and asking your student to deliver it to the Student Offi ce

Class photos are now available for viewing and ordering at:

www.paulscamerashop.co.nz/schoolsStudents will be receiving an order form and this will contain all the necessary details. All orders are online - Orders cannot be made through the school.

If postage is not paid at the time of ordering, the photos will be delivered to the school for the student to take home.


YOUR GROUP AND THE MALVERN COMMUNITY BUS

Does your group travel away?

Go to tournaments, exhibitions and games?

Include family in some activities?

Want a special Christmas outing?

You can book the Malvern Community Bus for any outing you

plan – business or pleasure. It seats nine comfortably, is a manual, is able to be driven without a special licence.

Costs are $15.00 per day hire/insurance, 30c a kilometre plus fuel.

Please contact: Kathy 318 7077, Denise 318 7595 or Bev 318 8881 to

arrange a booking.

IT’S YOUR BUS

Secondary Schools Open DayBook in for a tour around our SIT Hornby campus and see a class in action.

Join us for BBQ afterwards and talk to our staff about course options for 2014 including fee free options.

See your Careers Advisor for more details or contact SIT on 0800 TO STUDY (0800 867 883)

0800 TO STUDY (0800 867 883)60 Waterloo Road, Hornby

ask us about

learning hands-on skills!

Nei rā te rau tāwhiri e tuku atu ki a koutou kia haere mai ki tētahi hui whakawhitiwhiti kōrero mō ngā moemoeā mō tetahi rautaki reo Māori mō Ōtautahi whānui me tētahi rautaki whakapiki i te angitū o ngā tamariki Māori i ngā tekau tau e heke ana 2014-2024.

You are invited to a meeting by Mātauraka Mahaanui to discuss ideas for a strategy for increasing the provision of:te reo Māori;Māori medium programmes; andraising Māori achievement for schools in your area as part of a larger strategy for Greater Christchurch Education Renewal 2014-2024.

Kei hea: Hornby High School HallĀhea: Thursday 31 October 9:30am – 11:30amRSVP: Via email or phone to Ariana [email protected] 027 408 3089No later than 29 October for catering purposes please

Mātauraka MahaanuiMāori Education Advisory Board

For Greater Christchurch Education Renewal

The four week course costs $10 and is for older people who want to learn computing skills and go online. Selwyn District Council supports the classes by providing computer equipment and a venue.

To register for classes at Darfi eld contact Lisa Larkin on 021 023 391 89 or email [email protected].

Seniornet Classes in Darfi eldTuesdays at 10am-12pm and 1-3pm

22 October at the Darfi eld Library. Senior Prizegiving

Monday 4 November 7.30pmDarfi eld Recreation Centre


We are aiming to get a really high uptake of the survey as we want to hear from as many young people as we can. And we have some really great prizes to throw into the mix. There is a brand new computer, i-tunes vouchers, Vodafone vouchers, Roxx and swimming pool vouchers and so much more. Respondents could even win cheese toasties for lunch with Roger!

Go to:

http://cera.govt.nz/youth-wellbeing-survey

Nathan Mikaere-Wallis “Parenting the Teenage Brain”

This presentation will explore how the brain works and how neuroscience can inform our day to day interactions with young people

Tickets $10.00 per adult on sale at www.dashtickets.co.nz

Limited seats available – NO DOOR SALES

Monday 11 November

7pm – 9.00pm Lincoln Events

Centre


Art Competition and Exhibition 2013

Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere, Expressions of the Living Lake

Getting ‘art that makes a difference’ before environmental decision makers

Organised by Waihora Ellesmere Trust alongside its 2013 Living Lake Symposium, 7 & 8 November 2013, at Lincoln University. Theme: Waihora-Lake Ellesmere, Expressions of the Living

Lake. Connection to Te Waihora-Lake Ellesmere, and the diversity of values held for the lake and its catchment.

Categories: Painting and Printmaking Photography Sculpture and Maori Art Forms Film (Open Section plus separate School-age Section)

Awards for Best in Category and ‘People’s Choice’. Free entry.

Entries must be received on or before Monday 28 October. For an entry form, and terms and conditions with which all entries must comply, see: www.wet.org.nz. Artworks accepted at the discretion of the organisers.

Inquiries to: Adrienne Lomax, WET General Manager Tel: 021 052 9720 Email: [email protected] Post: PO Box 198, Tai Tapu 7645, Canterbury

WWW.CYF.GOVT.NZ

Foster carers required inCanterbury

Foster carers are ordinary people who do an extraordinary job in providing love, care and support to children and young people who can't live with their own families.

We are currently looking for people in Canterbury who can offer safe, caring, stable homes for children and young people in need of short term care, time out over weekends/holidaysand a home for life.

If you think that you may have an interest in finding out more about foster care then I would love to hear from you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME:

Adele Sherry on 029 650 1830 or 03) 961 5612 ortoll free on 0508 FAMILY (0508 326459) or email [email protected] www.cyf.govt.nz

LIFEGUARDS REQUIREDDarfi eld Community Pools require Lifeguards for the upcoming summer season. Great customer service skills, reliability, and good swimming skills are required. Training for Lifeguard qualifi cations will be offered. For further information, phone Darfi eld Pool Manager

Christina Clarkson on 318 8109.


Every Saturday

9.00 -12.30Next to CRT

TeenCoach is being held in the DHS Library on Thursday 7 November at 7pm.

A 90 minute workshop for parents/caregivers/mentors of Learner or Restricted drivers.

Cost $10. Places are limited.

To register your interest please contact Carolyn Bennison on 03 347 2944 or

email [email protected] by 5 November.

Farm Dog Puppies Two girls, black with brown and white and two boys, black and white. They are eight weeks old, born 22 Aug. Huntaway x Collie x. $50 each.

Ph Judah Broughton 027 4583242

FOR SALE

Give twice this Christmas by giving a copy of

Proudly supporting

“My Happy Place is one of the books of the year.” - author Witi Ihimaera

“Like hundreds-and-thousands on a sweet cupcake...” - Dominion Post

“I love this book . . . It deserves to become a classic.”

- Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills

ggff

Available online at http://www.smallfish.co.nz/shops/my-happy-place and at selected bookshops nationwide.

7 McLaughlins Road

Phone: +64 3 318 8411

Fax: +64 3 318 8543

PO Box 5

Darfi eld 7541

New Zealand

Email: admin@darfi eld.school.nz

Web: darfi eld.school.nz

Get entry forms and info from www.lincolnenvirotown.org.nz


Darfield High School PTSA Annual FundraiserCOURTENAY A & P SHOW

Saturday 23 November 2013 This year, we are again providing bagged lunches for the Courtenay A & P Show in Kirwee.This is our largest fundraising project for the year, which is why we are asking for your help.We appreciate that everyone’s time and resources are valuable, but as the funds raised goback into the school, we ask if each family can assist by donating home baking, groceryitems or a small donation (to cover our expenses for packaging the lunches).• All home baking is greatly appreciated.• In addition to the baking we require grocery items, as listed below.We have itemised these into the various districts where you live, to avoid receiving excessof any particular item.Whitecliffs, Glentunnel, Coalgate, Glenroy, Windwistle, Hororata, Te Pirita West Melton: Attractive fruit, eg small apples, mandarins. Carrots.Springfield, Russells Flat, Homebush, Sheffield, Waddington: Cheese (Colby or Edam).Greendale, Kirwee, Halkett, Aylesbury, Burnham, Darfield, Kimberley: Lettuce, wrapped chocolates eg, After Dinner Mints, Roses, Favourites.

Home baking from all districts please.

We also require help in the Home Economics room, making sandwiches, packaging theBaking, and filling the lunch bags.

Many hands make light work. Dads are more than welcome!

Please send your items to school on FRIDAY 22rd NOVEMBER to room E8or arrange delivery to Lynn Meder 3188712

Please fill in this slip and return it to the School Office by Friday 8th November or email your reply to [email protected] NAME:____________________________ PHONE NO:____________ DISTRICT:____________________ITEMS BEING PROVIDED (include quantity):_________________________________Circle the times you are able to help in the Home Economics Room:8.00 – 9.00am 9.00 – 10.00am 10.00 – 11. 00am 11.00am – 12.00pm


Parenting the Teenage Brain

Presented by Nathan Mikaere-Wallis

This presentation will explore how the brain works and how neuroscience can inform our day to day interactions with young people

MMonday 11th November 2013 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Lincoln Event Centre

Presented by Nathan Mikaere-Wallis a former lecturer at Canterbury University, a neuroscience presenter for the Brainwave Trust, and as a Child Protection trainer.

In addition to being a father with a history as a foster parent, his professional background is in child counseling, teaching and social service management.

He has built up a nationwide reputation as a lively and engaging speaker on the topic of brain development. Nathan uses humor to make this, sometimes, complex topic both easy to understand and easily related to day to day experiences.

Tickets $10.00 per person on sale at www.dashtickets.co.nz Limited seats available – NO DOOR SALES

www.spn.org.nz

Canterbury/Kaikoura Community Committee

Documents

The DHS Dispatch - Darfield High School · Girls High School, and presented by Mr Grant Gilbert. It was a day full of inspiration and motivation, as we talked to many other students