Stratford High Times

Kia ora koutou,

As we move through September, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what has been another busy and successful period for Stratford High School.

This month has seen many of our students representing the school with pride on regional and national sporting stages. We have celebrated some outstanding achievements, most notably our Senior A Netball team, who were crowned champions of their grade at the Lower North Island Tournament. This is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects the commitment, teamwork and dedication shown by the players and coaching staff throughout the season.

Our Under 15 Rugby team also enjoyed an exceptional tournament, progressing all the way to the final. After an intense contest that finished 24-all, the team was unfortunately denied the title on countback. While disappointing, this does not diminish what has been an outstanding campaign and one of which the players, coaches and supporters can be extremely proud.

As we celebrate these successes, it is important to acknowledge the many people who contribute to our winter sports programme. Thank you to our coaches, managers, officials, supporters, staff and whānau who give generously of their time to provide opportunities for our students. The experiences and successes our young people enjoy would simply not be possible without your commitment and support.

Alongside our sporting involvement, students have also been focused on important academic milestones. During September, students completed Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities, while our senior students have just concluded Senior Examination Week. These assessments provide valuable feedback as students prepare for the final stages of the academic year.

With the end-of-year examinations now fast approaching, I encourage all students to remain focused on their academic goals. Success rarely comes without sacrifice. There will be times when students need to make difficult choices, prioritising study and preparation over other activities. The rewards of this commitment will be evident when they enter examination rooms with confidence, knowing they have done everything possible to achieve their best.

We were also delighted to host the annual Lions Music Awards, which showcased the remarkable musical talent of our students. It was a wonderful evening that celebrated dedication, creativity and performance across a wide range of musical disciplines. Events such as these provide valuable opportunities for young people to share their talents and build confidence through performance. My sincere thanks go to Mr Orr and Tracey Reynolds for their leadership and organisation, as well as the Stratford Lions Club and Vineyard Church for their ongoing support in making this special event possible.

Congratulations to Cohen Jones on being elected as the Student Representative on the School Board. This year's election attracted a particularly strong field of candidates, highlighting the depth of student leadership within our school. We look forward to Cohen's contribution in representing the voice of students at Board level. I would also like to thank Lily Single for her outstanding service as Student Representative over the past 12 months. Lily has fulfilled the role with maturity, commitment and professionalism, and we are grateful for the contribution she has made to our school community.

Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce a new event in Week One of next term: our Sports, Arts and Culture Prizegiving. This celebration has been created to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding achievements, participation and contributions of students in these important areas of school life.

Importantly, this new event does not replace our traditional Senior and Junior End of Year Prizegivings. Those ceremonies will now have a stronger focus on recognising academic excellence and achievement.

We are also delighted to welcome former Stratford High School student Regan Orr as the guest speaker at our Senior Prizegiving. Regan is now the Principal of Central Normal School in Palmerston North and is doing magnificent work in education. He has been at the forefront of implementing the new curriculum within his school and is widely respected for his leadership and vision. We look forward to hearing his insights and celebrating the achievements of our senior students alongside him.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Stratford High School. Together, we continue to create opportunities for our students to strive for excellence in the classroom, on the sporting field, and across all aspects of school life.

Ngā mihi,

Cameron Stone

We are thrilled to celebrate an extraordinary achievement by one of our very own staff members, Lisa Newsome, whose creativity, determination, and talent have been recognised on the international stage at World of WearableArt (WOW) 2026.

Lisa's success is made even more remarkable by the journey that led her there. This was her third attempt at entering WOW, and the first time one of her creations has been selected for the prestigious show. Many talented artists submit entries each year, making selection a significant achievement in itself. Lisa's perseverance, passion, and belief in her creative vision have truly paid off.

Not only was Lisa's design selected to be showcased in the internationally acclaimed WOW 2026 Show, but she has also received a special honour, winning the ALL ACCOR First-time Entrant Award: Platinum.

This award recognises the outstanding achievement of a newcomer whose work demonstrates exceptional creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship. To have a piece chosen for the show is an incredible accomplishment; to then be recognised with a special award is extraordinary.

Lisa's achievement is a wonderful reminder of the value of persistence. After three years of entering, her dedication has resulted in a level of success that many aspiring wearable art designers dream of. Her story is an inspiration to our students and wider community, showing that resilience, hard work, and a willingness to keep trying can lead to amazing outcomes.

We are immensely proud of Lisa and delighted to celebrate this well-deserved recognition. Her success highlights the wealth of talent within our Stratford High School community and reflects the creativity and excellence we strive to encourage every day.

Congratulations, Lisa, on being selected for WOW 2026 and on winning the ALL ACCOR First-time Entrant Award: Platinum. Your achievement is truly outstanding, and we couldn't be prouder!

Several Stratford High School staff members recently took part in the annual Te Kāhui Whetū gathering, held this year at Taranaki Diocesan School for Girls. The event brought together educators from across the region to celebrate culture, connection, and performance through waiata and kapa haka. We are incredibly proud of our staff who represented Stratford High School so well and contributed to another successful evening. We are also excited to announce that Stratford High School will be hosting Te Kāhui Whetū next year, and we look forward to welcoming schools from around Taranaki for this special event.

Stratford High School would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Maggie Cleaver, who has been selected to represent New Zealand at Miss Eco Teen International 2026 in Alexandria, Egypt.

Miss Eco Teen International is an international beauty pageant that brings together young delegates from around the world to promote environmental awareness, sustainability, and eco-tourism. The competition aims to inspire young people to become advocates for environmental conservation and sustainable practices while celebrating cultural diversity and global tourism.

The event will take place from 11-18 October 2026 in Alexandria, Egypt, where Maggie will proudly represent both New Zealand and our Stratford High School community on the international stage.

We are incredibly proud of Maggie's hard work, dedication, and achievement in reaching this exciting opportunity. Her commitment and enthusiasm have earned her the chance to participate in a truly unique global experience.

We wish Maggie all the very best for the upcoming competition and look forward to following her journey in Egypt. Congratulations, Maggie, and good luck from everyone at Stratford High School!

We had a fabulous night at the Stratford High School Lions Music Awards on Wednesday 16 September. The talent among our students is truly special. This year, we had to hold a heat for the Solo Vocal category due to the increasing number and outstanding quality of performers competing each year.

A big thank you goes to Mr Orr and Tracey Reynolds for their dedication and hard work in organising this wonderful event. We also extend our gratitude to the Stratford Lions Club for their continued involvement and support in the 49th year of the awards. Finally, thank you to the Vineyard Church for generously providing the venue.

Congratulations to the winners.

Best Solo Instrumental - Oliver Lockett

Best Solo Vocal - Indi Frazier

Best Group Performance - Arkhana (Christian Hart, Archie Hart, Aleah Ooink-Crofskey, Sam Nordstrom)

Trueman Trophy for Best Original Composition - Arkhana

Lions Award for Most Polished Performer - Josh Sullivan.

While we were in Wellington for WOW, our Senior Fabric students had the opportunity to visit Victoria University’s Te Aro Campus and tour their amazing facilities.

A real highlight was spending time with Kevin Orlando, Senior Recruitment Advisor, and Heli Salomaa from the Fashion Design programme, who introduced our students to CLO, a 3D clothing design and simulation programme used to digitally create and visualise garments.

The students then got to have a go themselves!

They designed their own outfit, selected fabrics, textures and prints, and applied these to their designs. They were then able to render their finished garments into high-resolution images, seeing their ideas come to life on a body and in the environment they had imagined.

It was such a cool opportunity for our students to see how fashion design, textiles and technology come together, and to get a glimpse of what studying Fashion Design at university could look like.

A huge thank you to Kevin and Heli for giving our students such a fantastic hands-on experience and for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We really appreciated it!

Thinking about studying at Victoria University?
If students have any questions about course planning or what their first year of study might look like, they are encouraged to book a free one-on-one course planning session with a Future Student

Advisor.

More information and bookings can be found here:
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/study/course-planning/appointments

Our school grounds were transformed into a muddy obstacle course recently as we hosted our annual Tough Guy Tough Girl Challenge. The day began with local primary school students taking on the course in the morning, before Stratford High School and TSSSA students had their turn in the afternoon.

It was a fantastically run event, with plenty of mud, water, and soap suds keeping participants entertained from start to finish. Students embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, showing determination, resilience, and plenty of smiles along the way. A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising and supporting the event, which provided a fun and memorable experience for all who took part.

Last Wednesday and Thursday, I had the absolute pleasure of taking my Senior Fabric class to Wellington for WOW – the World of Wearable Art!

We were lucky enough to be treated to the final dress rehearsal before the awards.

I’ve been going to WOW for the last 15 or so years, but going with a group of students brings a whole new level of joy. There’s something pretty special about watching them nudge their friends, point at the stage and just stare in amazement at what’s happening in front of them.

When they pulled a performer up by her hair, and then the next group came out and lit their skirts on fire, we knew we were in for a great show!

Seeing WOW through their eyes reminded me all over again why I love taking students on this trip.

I already can’t wait to take another group back next year.

Option selection is now open for all students entering Year 9 in 2027.

We encourage students to discuss their options with their whānau before submitting their selections.

Please watch the video below which explains how our year 9 programme works, what choices students need to make, and how to submit those choices. By the end, students should feel confident about completing the selection process.

The process is simple:

1. Read through the Year 9 Options Booklet (access a copy here: https://stratfordhigh.school.nz/option-selection/ ), paying particular attention to:

- Page 8: Timetable and module structure

- Pages 10 and 11: Option preference planning pages

- Page 14: Link and QR code for the online selection form

- Pages 15 to 31: Subject and module descriptions

2. Use pages 10 and 11 to record and discuss preferred options before completing the online form.

3. Complete the online Year 9 Options Selection Form using the QR code or link provided in the booklet. Students will be asked to rank their options in order of preference. While every effort is made to place students in their preferred subjects, this cannot always be guaranteed due to timetabling and class size constraints.

4. Students who are unable to complete the form online can request a paper copy, which should be returned to the Student Hub once completed.

All option selections must be submitted by Week 2 of Term 4.

If you have any questions or need support with the process, please contact the school office or email Sam Harris (Deputy Principal - Curriculum) sam.harris@stratfordhigh.school.nz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I92ChbC7nDE

At Stratford High School, the Mana Awards recognise students who consistently demonstrate our HEART values through their actions, attitude, and commitment to others. This term's recipients have been acknowledged for qualities such as excellence, respect, resilience, kindness, leadership, and service to our school community. We are proud to celebrate these students and the positive difference they make each day through their contributions, both inside and outside the classroom. Congratulations to all of our Term 3 Mana Award recipients.

We have been incredibly lucky to have a visit from 26 students and six staff from Koumac Collège in the northwest of New Caledonia.

Our Under 15 Rugby team had a game against them on Monday, and they have also played FDMC and Inglewood High School. They have enjoyed sightseeing around Taranaki and experiencing what our region has to offer.

It has been a successful few weeks for Stratford High School Netball.

We took two teams to the Junior Manawatu Tournament in Palmerston North. Both teams competed in the development grade, each in separate sections. SHS 4A finished an impressive second in their section, while SHS 3A were crowned winners of their section. Congratulations to both teams on these outstanding results. Thank you to Fiona Jansma, Sheridan Standen, Stacey Clough, Loegan Peita, Nicole Stevenson, and Sandra McLeod for accompanying and supporting the teams throughout the weekend.

Our annual rivalry with Taita continues to provide exciting netball, and in 2026 both SHS A and SHS B came away with victories. Both matches were highly competitive and showcased the talent and determination of our players.

Tournament Week was another highlight for our SHS A team. Over five days, the team played ten matches and remained unbeaten, winning all ten games to secure the B Grade title. This is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the players' dedication and teamwork. Thank you to Nic McClung, Tracey Oakes, Sarah Austin, and Nicole Stevenson for travelling with and supporting the team. We were also fortunate to have fantastic support in Wellington. Thank you to everyone who travelled to support the team, as well as those cheering from afar.

Our success continued in the Stratford Satellite Saturday Competition, with three Stratford High School teams winning their respective sections. SHS A were champions of section one and will now compete at the Taranaki Championships, to be held indoors in Stratford on Saturday 19th September. SHS 4A won section two, with SHS 3A finishing as runners-up. SHS Kērangi were crowned champions of section three.

We also had four teams attending the Closing Tournament in New Plymouth. We wish SHS 3A, SHS 4A, SHS Kererū, and SHS Kērangi the very best of luck.

Finally, thank you to everyone who has supported Stratford High School Netball throughout 2026. A special acknowledgement must go to our coaches, managers, and umpires. Your commitment, time, and dedication have been invaluable, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.

Netball Prizegiving will be held in term four. Please keep an eye on our Netball Facebook page for further details and updates.

Congratulations to McKenzie Reed, who recently claimed 1st place in the 2026 ASB NZ 10km Road Championships. This outstanding achievement is a testament to McKenzie's dedication, perseverance, and athletic talent. Well done, McKenzie!

Congratulations to Madison Asi, Gaby Haami, Stella Taingahue and Eliza Agent on their selection in the Taranaki Under-18 Girls’ Representative Team. A great effort, girls!

Congratulations to our U15 Boys' Rugby Team on their outstanding performance at the Hurricanes Rugby Tournament in Wellington. It was an incredible tournament, with the team showcasing skill, determination, and teamwork on their way to making the final.

In a thrilling championship match, the boys finished with an incredible draw. Unfortunately, under the tournament's tie-break rules, the opposition was awarded the win after scoring the first try, meaning our team finished as runners-up.

While the result did not quite go their way, the boys should be immensely proud of their achievement and the way they represented Stratford High School throughout the tournament. Well done boys.

Congratulations to Emily Piper, Olivia Carter, and Clare Coatsworth on their outstanding performances at the NISS Equestrian Cup in Taupō.

Competing across a range of disciplines, including CTR, Dressage, Arena Eventing, Show Jumping, and Show Hunting, the girls demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and horsemanship throughout the competition. Their hard work and commitment paid off, with all three riders achieving top-12 placings in their respective events.

This is a fantastic achievement at a highly competitive event, and we are incredibly proud of the way Emily, Olivia, and Clare represented Stratford High School. Well done on your success and the countless hours of training that made it possible.

A huge congratulations to our Girls' 1st XI Hockey Team, who took out the Championship A Grade Girls Competition. It was a brilliant result against Sacred Heart Girls' College.

Well done on a brilliant season.

Congratulations to Marshall Nickel and Maia Benson-Canwell on their selection to their respective representative teams, and to Kaelen Young on his selection as a referee. The trio travelled to Palmerston North to compete at a tournament while proudly representing Basketball Taranaki.

We are incredibly proud of our Junior Girls A Basketball team, who finished as Taranaki Secondary Schools runners-up after an exciting final that went to overtime. The girls played brilliantly and were narrowly defeated by just one point. Congratulations on a fantastic season and a tremendous achievement!

Congratulations to Jahli Goss on his selection to the Taranaki U16 Sharks team. This is a fantastic achievement and recognition of Jahli's hard work, dedication, and talent. We wish him all the best as he proudly represents Taranaki.

Scan the QR code or head here - Home | Stratford High School to complete your enrolment form.

For any queries regarding your student enrolment for 2027 please email: enrolments@stratfordhigh.school.nz

Download our school app to keep up to date with school information.

Please be mindful and refrain from parking in the disability parking spaces unless you have a valid disability card. These spaces are reserved for those who need them most, ensuring accessibility for people with mobility challenges. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

The Kamar portal has been updated and can be accessed at https://stratfordhigh.school.kiwi/ This will be further developed this term and will eventually include features such as payments, course selection etc. More details will follow about this in due course.

Please inform the school office of any student achievements so that we can join in celebrating with them.

If your student has changed a subject please let Mrs Terry know via email so the statement can be adjusted to reflect the changes STerry@stratfordhigh.school.nz

Kindo Going Live Term 4

Quick, easy online payments - 24/7.

We’re excited to introduce Kindo. This user-friendly platform will allow you to purchase school items, register for sports and support fundraisers 24/7, with one convenient account for the whole family. Enjoy flexible payment options anytime, anywhere!

An email has been sent with more details on how to download the APP or to create a free account.

Why families love Kindo:

Flexible Payment Options:

• Pay in full, spread it out, or set up hassle-free automatic payments
• Prefer debit or credit cards? We've got you covered!

One Simple Account for the Whole Family:

• One account works for multiple members - even at different schools, clubs or organisations.
  
• Easily track all expenses in one place.
  

• Available 24/7 - purchase school items, manage registrations, and support fundraisers anytime, anywhere!

As we prepare to launch Kindo as our new online payment platform, we kindly ask that you cancel any automatic payments currently being made to the school bank account.

Once Kindo is live, payments will be made through a different bank account, and continuing automatic payments to the current account may result in delays or complications with processing.

We will send out further information, including instructions on setting up and using Kindo, in the coming weeks.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we transition to this new system.

Have you moved recently? Have you changed your phone number or email address recently? Please fill out the following form to advise us of your new details. Also fill out this form if you have not been receiving emails from the school. There are a number of families who we don't currently have an email address for.

It is very important we have the correct information for your child in case there is an emergency and we need to contact you immediately. If any contact details change throughout the year please let the school office know.

See below for instructions to provide feedback on the Health and Safety Management policy.

1. Visit the website Stratford HS Policies and Procedures (schooldocs.co.nz)
2. Enter the username (stratfordhigh) and password (swansearoad4332)
3. Click on the tab for current review and it should show you the latest policies for review.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Submit your ratings and comments.
9. If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

As we progress through the year, remember to check your son's or daughter's results on the Kamar app or portal: https://stratfordhigh.school.kiwi/ If you have any questions, please contact the subject teacher in the first instance.

- Sam Harris

Deputy Principal (Curriculum)

Our Charter is now available to view on our website. The charter sets the direction for our school and identifies our priorities as a school community.

The Stratford High School Policies and Procedures are managed online, through School Docs. To visit our School Docs, click here.

Our school username is: stratfordhigh

Our parent password is: swansearoad4332

You will find policies for review and more information about the review process under the "Current Review" tab. We welcome your feedback via this review process.

The Public Health Nurse will be at school one day every week for any health needs. Clinic is confidential and free.

• Health and hauora (wellbeing checks)
• General health concerns
• Contraception
• Condoms and pregnancy tests
• STI checks and the morning after pill

To book an appointment, see the school office reception or contact the Public Health Nurse, Anne Jonas on 027 204 1134 or email anne.jonas@tdhb.org.nz

Please see the office staff if a hearing or vision test is required.

Please find below key contacts for staff at school.

Senior Leadership Team

Principal: Mr Cameron Stone

Deputy Principal Curriculum: Mr Sam Harris

Deputy Principal Pastoral: Miss Abbey Yule

Assistant Principal/Academic Achievement: Ms Allana George

Assistant Principal/School Organisation & Culture: Mr Jamie Farquhar

Principal's Nominee: Mr Dirk Vermeulen - For all enquiries regarding NZQA or Te Kura

Principal's PA & School Board Secretary: Mrs Joe Mack

Deans for 2026

Year 9: Ms Kelly Rawcliffe

Year 10: Mrs Alison Wright

Year 11: Mrs Lucy Gibbon

Year 13: Mr Bill McGeoch

Guidance Counsellor: Ms. Tash Allerby

Learning Support Coordinator: Mrs. Lisa Dent

For all other enquires please contact the school office 06 765 6039

Email: mail@stratfordhigh.school.nz
Website: www.stratfordhigh.school.nz
Location: Stratford High School Swansea Road, Stratford, New Zealand
Phone: 06-7656039
Facebook: facebook.com/SHSTaranaki

Instagram: @shstaranaki @heart_SHS @shs_SADD_team

Monday 12 October - Term 4 begins

Wednesday 15 October - Sports/Culture/Arts Prizegiving 6.30pm

Monday 26 October - Labour Day

Thursday 5 November - Senior Prizegiving 12.30pm

Tuesday 10 November - Friday 4 December - NZQA Exams

Friday 13 November - Year 8 Orientation Day

Friday 20 November - Junior Work Day

Wednesday 2 December - End of Year Prizegiving

Monday 7 - Thursday 10 December - Activities Week

Thursday 10 December - Last day Term 4

Health, safety and wellbeing
With health services experiencing high demand, online GP care is an option for accessing care and the service is now free for all ākonga up to, and including, the age of 13.
Appointments usually take place through a video app or a phone call and the service can prescribe medicine and send prescriptions to your nearest pharmacy. It also provides another care option for rural communities.
To learn more visit Online GP care:
Online GP care – Health New Zealand
You can also find out more here:
Care options for you and your whānau [PDF, 498 KB]

Our uniquely designed sponsorship programme has provided over $2 million of resources to more than 700 rural schools in the last fifteen years.

We are pleased to advise that Stratford High School has reached Ferns' Fuel for School programme's threshold for redemption.

The current total is $1954.61.

Just a reminder of how SHS has received this donation - SHS has been nominated by a local business/farm that receives bulk fuel deliveries from Fern, meaning that for every 100 litres of bulk fuel they purchase, 50 cents is donated to SHS. We would like to take the time to mention who those members of the community are that have contributed to SHS. They are listed as follows:

• Amberhay Limited - Finnerty Road
• Western Heights Partnership
• G & M Collins Family Trust
• Makino Deer Limited
• Palmerdell Trust 91 Only
  
• Palmerdell Trust AGO only
• Palmerdell Trust
• Cornwall Park Farms Limited
• WE & JJ Craig
• GN & RL Smith Trusts Partnership
  

Rural communities and schools everywhere can enjoy the benefits of the Fuel for Schools programme. For more information about the programme, call 0800 99 99 89 or visit their website fernenergy.co.nz/community/fuel-for-schools