School News

 

Expressions of Interest – Homestay International students

Otamatea High School are looking for suitable Homestay families for next year (2026) short term and long term.

What is the expectation of a host?

·        A host is expected to provide a clean and comfortable bedroom with a bed, wardrobe (built-in or free-standing), drawers, linen and towels, desk and lamp,
         heating in the room, meals and laundry.

·        We are looking for families within the Otamatea High School zone (proximity to the school) who are inclusive and friendly.

If you would like to express an interest in hosting an international student in your family life, we want to hear from you.  

Please email: international@otamatea.school.nz

 

Alt Ed Trip

On a beautiful Monday 3rd of November the Alt Ed class and Mr Troost’s trapping class went to Tutukaka to take Dive Tutukaka’s Perfect Day cruise to the Poor Knights. On setting off the captain told us to keep our eyes open for whales…. ‘Yeah right!’ we all thought. To our amazement within 20 minutes we spotted 2 minke whales and spent 15 or so minutes following them at a respectful distance. We were lucky enough to also see them on the return journey.

After arriving at the Poor Knights we quickly got into our wetsuits and snorkeling gear to explore the waters and the amazing array of fish. While the water was pretty cool (despite the wetsuits), Mr Jarvis didn’t seem to have any problems saying that he’d had plenty of colder baths back in England. After a couple of hours we began the journey back to Tutukaka first going into the  Rikoriko Cave. Next we went past the Pinnacles islands spotting the gannet colony and fur seals. It was a great experience, the kids were great and had a great time. Thanks to Mike Jarvis and Robyn Baker for coming along and enabling the event to happen.
Also a big thank you to Sam Phillips for organising the whole trip.
M Troost

Future Otamatea Stars Shine Bright!

What a privilege it was to host the Year 6 students from our surrounding primary schools on November 21st! Our current Year 7 and 8 students truly shone as they rolled out the welcome mat for their future schoolmates.

The day was a huge success, packed with engaging activities and fantastic student leadership:

Year 7 Ambassadors were outstanding! They stepped up as amazing buddies, offering support and friendship to the visiting Year 6 students throughout the day.
Year 8 Leaders took charge, running a great lineup of activities, including a thrilling school scavenger hunt and challenging obstacle courses.
We were thrilled to have the Otamatea Netball Club join us, sharing their expertise and running fun, skill-based activities!
We wrapped up the exciting day with a much-needed dip in the pool and a classic sausage sizzle—the perfect way to end a successful event!

A huge thank you to:

Our outstanding Year 7 and 8 students—you made us incredibly proud by stepping up to the plate and showing true leadership.
The Otamatea Netball Club for your valuable support.
All the dedicated staff who worked hard to ensure the whole day was a success.

Career Quest: Year 7 Explores Maungaturoto's Best!

Last Wednesday, November 26th, our Year 7 students took learning outside the classroom and ventured into the heart of the Maungaturoto township for an insightful careers trip!

The goal was simple: to connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities and highlight the fantastic career paths available right here in our local community.

The students had a hands-on experience visiting a wide variety of businesses, where they gained an inside look at different roles, the skills required, and the pathways for development.

The businesses that generously opened their doors to our students included:

Real Time Pies (Yum!)
The Maungaturoto Op Shop
The Vet Centre
The Local Art Gallery
The Fire and Ambulance Service (Essential community heroes!)
Four Square
Ollies Cafe
Our Year 7s were actively engaged, learning about everything from customer service and animal care to emergency response and food production. A huge thank you to all the local businesses for hosting our students and providing such valuable, first-hand career insights!

Splashing Success: Water Safety for Years 7 & 8!

What an amazing couple of weeks it's been for our Year 7 and 8 students! They had the absolute privilege of diving into essential water safety skills, thanks to the fantastic team from Swim Safe.

The sessions were a huge hit—totally hands-on, packed with fun, and guaranteed to get our tamariki ready and safe when they are near or in the water. We believe these skills are crucial for ensuring our students are prepared to enjoy the water responsibly!

A massive thank you to the entire Swim Safe team for coming to our school and supporting our students in developing these life-saving skills. We truly appreciate your time and expertise!

Year 8 Adrenaline Park Trip

On Monday 1st December, the Year 8 cohort ventured off to Adrenaline Park for their end-of-year activity day. They were met with stunning weather and warm water. Students spent the day jumping, climbing, pulling manus, and their shouts of excitement echoed across the lake.

The new slides were a major highlight too -  as you can see in the photos below! Everyone had a fantastic day, and the quiet bus ride home suggested they were well and truly knackered (in the best way).

Year 10 End-of-Year Camp Success at Kai Iwi Lakes

Last week, the Year 10 cohort successfully completed their annual end-of-year camp at Kai Iwi Lakes. Students spent the week camping in tents and engaging in a wide variety of activities, including biscuiting, kayaking, Waka Ama, mountain biking, and stand-up paddleboarding, alongside swimming and other land and water-based adventures. For many students and staff, this was their first opportunity to try these activities, and they were met with enthusiasm. Despite some challenging weather on Wednesday night, the camp was a resounding success, with all participants fully engaging and enjoying the experience. This proved to be a valuable experience, highly recommended even for those who do not typically enjoy camping or swimming.
Sincere thanks are extended to all staff members, adults, and helpers who generously volunteered their time to support the camp. We also greatly appreciate those who supplied boats - Sam Hartles, Robert Cato, Errol Feeny and equipment for the activities and assisted with student transportation. Your dedication was invaluable.

Zoe Prinsloo

Years 10-13 are expected to bring a Chromebook

All students in years 10-13 are expected to bring a Chromebook to school each day to support their learning. The Chromebook should be charged and in a protective case. While at school, students should use only their school account and are responsible for keeping it safe.
Devices other than Chromebooks, e.g., laptops or MacBooks, are allowed; however, tablets are not suitable.
We recommend an 11” Chromebook, carried in a suitable hard shell case or well-padded sleeve. Also, we recommend you buy warranties and insurance. Unlike a laptop, which has software, Chromebooks work online with Google Drive storage, so they don’t have any particular requirements.
We are not able to repair student Chromebooks for any reason.
Follow this link to see suggestions to help you choose a device: https://www.otamatea.school.nz/our-school/student-chromebooks
If you have questions or need further support, please contact  Alison Cadman alison.cadman@otamatea.school.nz