School News

Building Connections at Our Kura  

What an incredible start to the year! On Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th February, our Year 7 students kicked off their intermediate journey with a fantastic overnight camp held right here at our kura.

The core focus of this camp was to foster a deep sense of belonging and to build stronger connections—not just with each other and their teachers, but also with the local environment.

Throughout the two days, students were challenged to step outside their comfort zones. By working alongside peers they wouldn't usually interact with, they strengthened their team-building skills and developed new friendships.

A major highlight was the action-packed sessions provided by Blue Light Services. The students thoroughly enjoyed testing their focus and precision with shooting and archery activities.

It was wonderful to see our senior Prefects stepping up into their roles as tuakana (mentors). They took amazing care of our Year 7s, modeling leadership and providing guidance throughout the camp.

Ngā Mihi Nui
A special thank you must go to Teresa Brown, Jared Mallowes, and Taira Phillips. We are incredibly grateful that they volunteered their own time to support our staff and students, ensuring the camp was a safe, fun, and well-fed place. It was a fantastic experience for all.

Kiwi Tag Success for OHS!  

Kiwi Tag year 9 and 10 Girls Tournament - Tuesday 24th February
Eight Otamatea High School girls travelled to Otaika Park to participate in the Northland Secondary School South Zone Tournament.
It was a beautiful sunny day. Our girls played fantastically placing 2nd in their pool losing to Whangarei by only 1 try. They played Bream Bay College, beating them and placing 3rd overall. Super proud of them. Eden Kidd got outstanding player of the day.

A Taste of Beijing at Otamatea High School

Over the past three weeks, Otamatea High School has had the pleasure of hosting a group of international students from Beijing.

To thank our kura for their warm hospitality, the students held a vibrant cultural afternoon last Friday. It was a wonderful opportunity to gain insight into Chinese culture, with the students preparing a range of activities for us to participate in, including traditional stamping, fan painting, jewelry making, arrow throwing, and paper craft.

The afternoon also featured spectacular cultural performances, including traditional dance, singing, and instrumental music. It was a truly special event, and we are confident that the friendships forged over these three weeks will last a lifetime.

Year 13s Lead the Charge for Relay for Life!  

For years, our Year 13 students have proudly championed the Relay for Life, and this year is no exception. Our senior leaders are currently hard at work raising vital funds for the Cancer Society, Northland, leading up to the main relay event on Saturday, March 21st.

Chasing Last Year’s Incredible Milestone
Last year, our dedicated school team raised an astonishing $21,000, and this year's cohort is eager to make just as big of an impact. They have already kicked off their fundraising campaign with a fantastic bake sale, a school-wide mufti day, and a delicious donut sale. However, the biggest fundraising push is still to come!

You're Invited: The Relay for Life Evening Concert!
To help reach their fundraising goals, the Year 13s are hosting an incredible evening concert, and the whole community is invited to join the fun. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful event to be part of, all while giving back to an incredibly worthy charity.

Event Details:
When: Wednesday, March 11th at 6:00 PM
Where: The School Hall
What to Expect: Live music, awesome entertainment, delicious food, and amazing raffles!
Tickets: $5 for students, $10 for adults
Get Your Tickets Today! Tickets are available right now from the front office. Grab yours early, bring your friends and whānau, and come support our Year 13s as they raise money for the Cancer Society.

A thank you to Brogan Builders for all their support

Grant Eager and Brogan Builders, have over the years supported, Ōtamatea High School in numerous ways. The latest has been the sponsorship of the new pole covers on the outdoor courts. These are vital to have to reduce the risk of injury when accidently running or tripping into the pole , and yes this happens.  When asked Grant quickly said yes. The courts are in constant use before school and during breaks and can be used for either basketball or netball. Students were over heard remarking on how nice the look. 

Haere Ra to our international students

They were nervous strangers when they arrived, but by the time their bus pulled away on their last day, the group of 12 students from Beijing had hearts full of emotion.
In the three weeks they spent here at the school, many friendships blossomed and a meaningful cultural exchange was underway for our school.
Our international guests contributed to the school in many ways; they put on an exciting cultural fair, which included a wonderful performance, and displayed numerous traditional Chinese
crafts which some lucky students could enjoy. They even showed some students how to make fresh dumplings, they brought a real international buzz to the school that day!
Some of our students were their dedicated class buddies during their time here at OHS, these student buddies were sincerely valued for the caring guidance and support they showed our
guests. This role will continue to be one of the most important ways we can support our international student guests.
Their homestay families were absolutely wonderful, welcoming these young adventures into their homes and giving them a taster of kiwi lifestyles they will never forget.
We are all looking forward to the next group of international visitors we have coming later in the year.
Here are the thoughtful words said at the end of their farewell performance:
Learn and share
Heart to heart
Friendship blooms
Right from the start