School News

On the 2nd and 3rd of April Daniel Krippner (Yr 13) travelled down to Wanaka to compete in the first round of the Climbing New Zealand National Cup. Daniel took out the under 20 and Opens Speed Climbing categories and placed second in the under 20 Lead Climbing category. He also entered the Opens Lead Climbing category and went on to win the Opens category, which he considers to be his greatest achievement to date. Daniel is looking forward to Round 2, which will be on in Rotorua on the 7th and 8th of May, where he will be joined by Zach Schuster (Yr 11) and Duncan Barnard (Yr 13).

After winning over New Zealand with his fresh brand of folk music, HBHS Old Boy and Wintec graduate  Dave Baxter is going global. His band Avalanche City recently signed an international record deal with Warner Music Group which will see their debut album, Our New Life Above Ground, released across the United States, Europe and Japan.  In less than a year Avalanche City has risen from obscurity to become one of the most talked-about New Zealand bands in the world. 

Baxter began as an independent artist, recording the band's debut album himself and releasing it online for free.   But he said the record deal would help the band achieve their goals and allow them to focus more on the music.  'If you're independent it's harder to break overseas.  Whereas if you've got a team of people working for you, then you can accomplish so much more,' he said.

Year 9 student David Lee has gained the highest mark in New Zealand in the recent Australasian ICAS Mathematics Competition.  Over one million student entries for ICAS are accepted from over 6,300 schools in Australia and New Zealand annually. In addition, students from over 20 countries including Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and the USA participate in ICAS each year. 

David will be presented with medal during a ceremony in Auckland in November.

David prepared for the competition by reviewing past papers, and by applying himself to his classroom studies.  He particularly enjoys calculus and algebra, and says the key to his success is consistent study.

We congratulate David on his excellent result.

HBHS had the honour of hosting boxer David Tua today, ahead of his title fight in Hamilton at Claudelands Arena on August 31. David (seen right, being welcomed to the school by Headmaster Mrs Susan Hassall), spent nearly two hours at our school, taking questions from students, and giving some pointers to lucky HBHS boxers. When asked what he felt was his most satisfying moment in his career, David told the packed gym that it was winning the fight that allowed him to pay off his parents home. He was then welcomed into the small gym by the Pasifika Tutor Group, who sang him a traditional Samoan song, before getting to spend some time with the boxer as he was interviewed by Television New Zealand and The Crowd Goes Wild's James McOnie. For a special report on this visit, check out the Term Two edition of the High Achiever.  We will feature more photos of this visit in upcoming posts and publications.

Up for breakfast at 8.00 and we're all pleased to have a rest day today. Free time before team meeting. Jojo turns up with the van and we're off to a nearby mall and games centre. Chance to pick up a few cheap presents (sorry mum) before we meet with the parents for lunch at a traditional Japanese restaurant. It’s Yaki Niku styles which means a kind of fire and grill in the middle of your table to cook the meat they bring you. Great feed and soon we’re all eating, laughing and singing to some old school songs the coaches are playing on the guitar. In groups, we then have to present an item, before we launch into our team songs, much to the surprise of the other Japanese restaurant patrons. Te Weehi, Josh, Ted and Russ are in their element and entertain us with some sweet harmonies. The parents present Jojo with a present for all his help and Jojo replies by shouting the team ice-creams. All except the ‘skinfold boys’ of course, who have to stay back with Mr Hotham and try to explain the midnight ice-cream runs.

Good nights sleep and up to a rainy day and breakfast at 7.00am. Fushimi H.S. arrive for breakfast shortly after us and we stand and clap them in. Both team`s players and coaches are very close now and we look forward to supporting them through the tournament. Yesterday we stood and clapped in Dax Landes from France as reigning world schools champs and are keen for them to take on the favourites label. The Australian team also arrived at breakfast and the stories of how big they are, is definitely true. One monster was over 2m tall and weighed 143 kgs. Hugh Blake and Bruce Jones are doing a great job as sheriffs although it has cost me a small fortune in Yen. Each day they update us on how much we owe and we have until the next day to pay up. Some of the boys are definitely missing their mums to remind, pick up after, and dress properly. Training inside gym at 9.00 and we work hard on the deficiencies noted in our last game. Lunch at noon and a visit by the parents who are here supporting including the Wisnewskis,  the McNaughtens and Mr Smith.