Stratford High Times

Kia ora koutou,

August has been another busy and memorable month, filled with opportunities for our students to connect, compete, celebrate, and learn.

One of the highlights of the month was our School Ball, which was once again a spectacular event. The evening was a wonderful celebration for our students and a fitting reward for the effort they put into their studies and school life throughout the year. A huge thank you to the staff and student committee whose hard work, creativity, and attention to detail made the event such a success. Events like these do not happen without many hours of planning and commitment behind the scenes, and we are incredibly grateful for all those involved.

We travelled to Lower Hutt recently for our annual Taita College Exchange, a tradition that continues to be a special part of our school calendar. While the exchange result finished 7-4 in Taita's favour, the true success of the week was reflected in the way our students conducted themselves. They represented Stratford High School with pride, enthusiasm, and respect at every opportunity. In a compliment that speaks volumes about the character of our young people, the bus driver remarked at the conclusion of the exchange that our students were the best group he had ever driven. I could not be prouder of the way our students embraced the values of our school during the trip.

Another important event this month was our Careers Expo. I would like to say a big thanks to all of the businesses, training providers, tertiary institutions, and community organisations that gave their time to support the event. Our vision is to develop well-rounded young people, ready to excel in the world, and providing exposure to a wide range of career pathways is an important part of achieving that goal. Many students left the expo with new ideas, aspirations, and a better understanding of the opportunities that exist beyond school.

As we move towards the end of the term, students are also preparing for their school examinations. These exams provide an important opportunity for students to assess their progress and prepare for external NCEA assessments later in the year. Success rarely happens by chance. Good preparation involves developing regular study habits, revising consistently, and seeking support when needed. I encourage all students to begin establishing a routine now. Even a focused hour of study each evening can make a significant difference in both confidence and achievement.

We have been working with Harrison Tew on our lockdown process. This preparation stood us in good stead when we recently faced a lockdown. As always, we identified some areas for improvement, but the students managed themselves well, and we thank you for your support.

We know this can be an unsettling time, but our first priority will always be the safety of our students and staff.

Finally, thank you for your continued support of Stratford High School. The partnership between home and school plays a critical role in helping our young people develop the confidence, resilience, and skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Together, we continue to support them to become well-rounded young people who are ready to excel in the world.

Ngā mihi,

Cameron Stone

Our 2026 School Ball, Fantasy Fairytale, held last weekend, was a huge success and a truly memorable evening for everyone involved.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all the students and staff who helped make the event such a fantastic occasion. From the planning and preparation through to the final dance, your efforts ensured the night ran smoothly and created wonderful memories for all who attended.

The standard of dress was absolutely outstanding, with students embracing the theme and arriving in style. The creativity, elegance, and attention to detail on display made for a spectacular evening.

The dance floor was busy all night, with plenty of dancing, laughter, and celebration as students enjoyed spending time together in a fun and positive atmosphere.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Fantasy Fairytale such a magical and successful school ball.

My name is Azaria, and today I’m going to share my experience of attending the MERC trip in Auckland. I felt incredibly honoured to be one of the 48 students selected for this amazing opportunity. Although our trip started with a 10-hour journey due to the Gorge closure, the excitement, beautiful scenery, and plenty of laughs along the way made the long drive worthwhile.

When we arrived, we settled in and got ready for an action-packed few days. We took part in activities such as surfing, outdoor survival skills, raft building, mountain biking, climbing, and Moana Missions. We learnt new skills, stepped outside our comfort zones, and encouraged each other every step of the way. One of the highlights was seeing dolphins swimming near us while we were on the water.

The trip was also full of fun and memorable moments. We enjoyed evening games, duck nominations, snorkelling, and even a squid dissection. One particularly funny moment was when our instructor convinced many of us to rub squid on our faces to remove squid ink, only to reveal later that water would have worked just fine. It’s safe to say there was plenty of laughter throughout the trip!

What stood out most was the teamwork and friendships that developed. Whether we were paddling across the water, building shelters, or tackling challenges together, everyone supported and encouraged one another. We learnt the importance of communication, resilience, and working together to achieve our goals.

Before we knew it, our time at MERC had come to an end. We reflected on our experiences, shared our appreciation, sang a waiata, and began the journey home. The ride back was filled with singing, laughter, and one final attempt to prank Mr Farquhar, although we couldn't keep straight faces long enough to make it work!

This trip created memories that I will never forget. I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend and for all the experiences we shared. A huge thank you to Mr Farquhar, Mr V, Ms Smith, Miss Kay, Mrs Thomas, and Miss Caskey for making the trip possible. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and commitment to giving us such an incredible experience.

We are proud to congratulate Lily Single and Hunta Ngatai-Northcott, who were recognised with Youth Citizen Awards at a special awards ceremony for the Stratford District Council.

These awards celebrate young people who make a positive difference in their communities through leadership, service, commitment, and a willingness to help others. Lily and Hunta are both deserving recipients whose contributions reflect the values of Stratford High School and our wider community.

Well done, Lily and Hunta, on this outstanding achievement. We are incredibly proud of you both and the positive impact you make on those around you.

Recently, Stratford High School travelled to Taita College for our annual sports exchange, with students competing across six sporting codes: netball, basketball, volleyball, badminton, rugby, and football.

The exchange provided a fantastic opportunity for our students to test their skills against strong opposition, build new connections, and proudly represent our school. Throughout the day, teams displayed outstanding sportsmanship, determination, and school spirit, both on and off the field.

While Taita College claimed overall honours with a 7-4 victory, the results only tell part of the story. Our students competed with enthusiasm and resilience, celebrating successes, learning from challenges, and supporting one another throughout the day.

A huge thank you goes to the staff, coaches, managers, and supporters who helped make the exchange possible, and to Taita College for their warm hospitality and competitive spirit. We look forward to continuing this valued sporting relationship in the future.

Well done to all students involved for representing Stratford High School with pride and respect.

We were proud to acknowledge our Junior House Badge recipients for the first half of the year.

Students are nominated by their form teachers in four categories: Academic, Sporting, Cultural, and Distinction, with the Distinction award recognising achievement across all three areas. Following nominations, a staff selection process is undertaken, as only two students per house, per category can receive a badge.

Congratulations to all the students who were recognised, including those who were unable to attend due to illness. Receiving a House Badge is a significant achievement and reflects the hard work, commitment, and success demonstrated throughout Terms 1 and 2.

Well done to all recipients on this well-deserved recognition. We are incredibly proud of your efforts and achievements.

What a fabulous bunch our Year 9s we have! They have made a fantastic start to Semester 2 and have settled really well into their new timetables. I hope you are hearing lots about the things they are getting up to in their different classes, there is some great learning happening across the cohort.

With the School Ball having just been held, it has also got me thinking about how quickly these years are going to fly by. It feels like our Year 9s have only just arrived, and already they are growing, changing and becoming more independent by the day. I can't wait to watch this group experience all the wonderful milestones that high school brings: their first big events, successes, challenges, friendships, leadership opportunities and, before we know it, their own Senior Ball!

They really are a special group, and I feel very lucky to be their Dean. I’m looking forward to seeing where the next five years takes them.

The Great Year 9 Pen Check!

A tiny favour from home that makes a surprisingly BIG difference…

Could you please check that your Year 9 has a working pen in their school bag each day? One pen. Just one.

It turns out that having something to write with is still quite important at high school! A quick pen check before they head out the door will help them arrive ready to learn and save us from the daily hunt for a borrowed pen.

Parent Interviews

Our Parent Interviews are coming up, and I’d love to see you. You are very welcome to book an appointment with me if there is something you would like to discuss.

And if you happen to spot me free between meetings, please come and say hello! I am always happy to have a chat about our Year 9s. I love talking about this group and hearing how things are going from home.

Out and About with Year 9

One of my favourite parts of being Year 9 Dean is wandering around our Year 9 classes and checking in with the kids to see what they’re creating, learning and getting up to. It’s lovely to see them in their element! Here are a few snapshots from our Art and DigiTech classes this week.

Kelly Rawcliffe

Year 9 Dean 2026

The Agriculture team would like to extend a huge thank you to NZ Brush for their generous donation of a deluxe boot cleaning brush for our Agriculture class. Our students spend plenty of time out on the farm, especially during the wetter months, and this fantastic brush will help them remove mud from their gumboots before heading back into the classroom. It's a simple addition that will make a big difference - our hardworking cleaning team will certainly appreciate having a little less mud tracked through the school! We're incredibly grateful for NZ Brush Business's generosity and their support of our students and school. If you're looking for quality brush products, we encourage our school community to support businesses that support us. Ngā mihi nui, NZ Brush, for helping keep our classrooms a little cleaner!

On Tuesday 4 August a group of Te Rangimārie students joined students from other Taranaki Secondary Schools at the TSSSA All Ability Gymnastics in Waitara. Waitara Gymnastics is an amazing place. There is something to interest every student. Diego loved the long trampoline; he bounced and bounced up and down. Everyone had a great time.

Here are some of student comments:

Renee P “It was interesting, I’ve never seen a foam pit before. I got stuck in it. It was fun.”

Isaac M: “I liked the foam pit the most.”

Cearne, “There were trampolines, bars and beams. It was lots of fun.”

Is it just sewing?

No! But sewing is definitely the best bit.

Fabric Technology is about much more than learning how to use a sewing machine. You’ll identify a need or opportunity, come up with ideas, design solutions, make prototypes, solve problems, test your ideas and work out what could be improved. In other words – you get to think, design, make and create.

What if I don’t want a career in fashion?

Perfectly fine! Fabric Technology isn’t a fashion course.

Technology is about identifying needs and opportunities, designing solutions and testing them in their intended environment. Your solution might be a bag, clothing, storage, something for your room, something useful for another person, or something completely different.

And along the way, you learn how to actually make cool things.

But I’m not very creative…

You might surprise yourself!

Creativity isn’t about being amazing at drawing or magically having brilliant ideas. It’s about looking at a problem and thinking, “How could I make this work?” We learn the skills as we go, and you don’t need to arrive knowing how to sew.

Is sewing actually a useful skill?

Very!

Being able to hem something, repair a ripped seam, sew on a button, alter clothing or make something instead of buying it is a genuinely useful life skill.

It can also become a fantastic hobby. Sewing gives you the satisfaction of saying “I made that!” – which never really gets old.

Why Fabric Technology when I could be on a device?

That might actually be one of the best reasons to choose it.

We spend a huge amount of our lives looking at screens. Fabric Technology gives you time to unplug, work with your hands and make something real.

In our room, devices are tools, not toys. We might use them to research, design, photograph or document our work – then we put them down and get back to creating.

What if I make mistakes?

Oh, you will.

So will everyone else.

Things get sewn backwards. Seams get unpicked. Ideas don't always work the first time. Occasionally we stare at something and wonder what on earth happened.

That’s Technology.

You problem-solve, change your plan, try again and learn how to make it better.

So… why should I choose Fabric Technology?

Because you get to design things, solve problems, learn practical skills, use some very cool equipment and turn your own ideas into something you can actually hold in your hands.

And at the end of it all, you get to say:

“Yep. I made that.”

And that’s a pretty great feeling. 🧵✂️

Kelly Rawcliffe

Year 9 Dean
Fabric Technology Teacher

Service is an important value for young people to learn, and recently a group of our students demonstrated this in the best possible way. Braving the wind and rain, they gave their time to support the Women's Refuge Annual Appeal Collection.

Their willingness to help others, despite the challenging weather, is a wonderful example of compassion, generosity, and community spirit in action. We are incredibly proud of these students for making a difference and supporting such an important cause.

Stratford High School raised an amazing $1,005 for the appeal, our highest total ever and the second-highest school contribution for 2026.

Thank you for representing Stratford High School so positively and for showing what service to others truly looks like.

Congratulations to Kylen Booker on his selection to the U14 Taranaki Sharks Boys Rugby League Team. To top off this outstanding achievement, Kylen has also been named team captain, a testament to his leadership, commitment, and ability both on and off the field.

A huge congratulations to Taurus Gerrard on his selection for the Taranaki Sharks Under 18 team to compete at the NZRL Youth Nationals in Auckland this September.

We wish you all the very best for the tournament and look forward to following your journey in Auckland.

Congratulations to Madison Asi on her selection in the Taranaki Whio Rugby team. Being chosen for a representative team is a wonderful achievement and recognition of the commitment and effort Madison has shown throughout the season. Good luck, Madi, for the season ahead. We are extremely proud of you and your success.

A huge congratulations to the Central First XV Girls Rugby Team on winning the Senior Girls Rugby Championship!

This outstanding achievement reflects the team's hard work, determination, and commitment throughout the season. The girls have shown incredible skill, resilience, and teamwork, representing Central with pride both on and off the field.

We are incredibly proud of your success and the way you have supported one another to achieve this well-deserved result.

What a win! Our Central U15 Open Weight Boys Rugby Team finished their season with an incredible 43–40 victory in their final game.

After finding themselves behind, the boys dug deep and produced an amazing comeback, showing outstanding determination, resilience, and, most importantly, HEART. Their commitment to one another and refusal to give up was on full display as they battled their way to a memorable win.

This result is a testament to the hard work, teamwork, and dedication the boys have shown throughout the season.

Well done, boys. A well-deserved victory and a fantastic way to finish your rugby campaign.

Congratulations to Poppy White, Arnika Warren, Lily Davis, and Sophie Bates on their selection for the Kendra Cocksedge South Team.

This is a fantastic achievement and recognition of your hard work, talent, and commitment to rugby. We are incredibly proud to see you representing your region and wish you every success in the games ahead.

Well done, girls!

A huge congratulations to Caleb on an outstanding performance at the UCI World BMX Championships 2026, finishing 39th in the world!

Competing on the world stage is an incredible achievement and reflects the dedication, determination, and countless hours of hard work Caleb has put into his sport. To place among the world's best BMX riders is something to be extremely proud of.

Well done, Caleb! We are incredibly proud of your efforts and all that you have achieved.

Congratulations to Henry Oakes, Rylee McClung, and Reid Macdonald, who proudly represented Stratford High School at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Swimming Championships.

Competing against some of the country's best young swimmers, the trio put in outstanding performances and showed great determination, commitment, and sportsmanship throughout the competition.

Congratulations to our SHS A Chess Team for securing an outstanding 3rd place, and to our SHS B Team for achieving a very respectable 10th place finish.

Congratulations to Arthur, who recently achieved an outstanding result at the West Coast Challenge Jiu Jitsu Competition, earning two silver medals.

This impressive accomplishment reflects Arthur’s dedication, discipline, and hard work in his sport. We are incredibly proud of his success and look forward to seeing what he achieves next.

Well done, Arthur. Keep up the great work.

Parent teacher interviews are scheduled to be held on Thursday 27th of August from 1.30-6pm in the Stratford High School Hall.

These interviews are intended to provide an opportunity to connect with your child's teachers and discuss their progress and engagement at school. You may also wish to use this as an opportunity to discuss 2027 option selection with staff.

To book interviews with our staff, please head to https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code and enter the code 46397.

Staff available for interviews are listed by their staff code. Please see the PDF attached for details if you are unsure what a specific teachers subject code is.

If you have any questions or need any support with the interview booking system, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Please note that school will finish at 12.30pm on this day to accommodate the interviews. School buses will run at their usual afternoon times. Supervision will be provided for any students who are unable to be collected at 12.30pm.

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

If you have any old ice cream containers to spare, please drop them off at the school office for use in the Science Lab.

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

There are a variety of ways that you can make payments to cover school costs. The main office receives cash and EFTPOS payments and you can also pay online via direct credit. Parents can also set up an automatic payment to cover schooling costs. When setting up the automatic payment, consider a minimum payment of $15.00 per week, which is sufficient to pay for all school, curriculum and sport costs for a student during the year.

Payments will be automatically applied to “required payments”. Subsequent payments will sit as a credit on the student’s account. If you would like to have payments allocated to the “voluntary payments”, please email STerry@stratfordhigh.school.nz with the details.

You can set this up by either using your bank’s online banking services or downloading the Automatic Payment Authority form and taking this to your bank. Please remember to use the students’ name for any payments.

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

August 27 - Parent/Teacher Interviews

August 28 - Mufti-Day - Daffodil Day

August 31 - 4 September - Tournament Week

August 31 - Mid Term Break - School Closed

September 8-10 - Literacy/Numeracy Exams

September 11 - Teams Photos - PhotoLife

September 16 - Lions Music Awards

September 21-25 - Practise Exams

September 25 - End of Term 3

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