Satisfying year for high school
Dannevirke High School has progressed well through 2019, academic, cultural and sporting excellence going hand in hand with building and curriculum development.
The year began with excellent NCEA results from 2018 in a modified form indicating DHS is above the National Average for Level One (DHS 84.4 per cent, national 73.1 per cent) and Level Two (DHS *6.7 per cent, national 79 per cent) and only fractionally below in Level Three (DHS 65.5 per cent, national 68.3 per cent) partly because of many leaving school to work.
A number of students have been awarded university or polytechnic scholarships and many others are following the Gateway Programme into employment.
Sporting teams gained some outstanding successes and Dannevirke’s Kapahaka Group did themselves proud at the Dannevirke Kapahaka Festival while the School Production of For Today gained full houses and great audience responses.
Enrolments were up for 2019 compared with 2018 and the trend continues for 2020. These included nine international students adding a cultural flavour as well as the exchange with Eitoku High School of four students and a staff member in January and August.
The school was a much warmer, drier and safer place thanks to a new gas heating system, new roofing on several blocks, a new alarm system and better lighting in the gymnasium — a total of nearly $2 million investment by the Ministry.
The Alternative Education Block on the Henderson Field moved to Hawke’s Bay, the proceeds from its sale going towards an upgrade of the pavilion.
Staffing has undergone some change especially at year end with the retirement of long-serving HOD Technology Tony Hewald (41 years) and Deputy Principal Diane Sandbrook (25 years) but new appointments for 2020.
DHS welcomed Matt Melvin as an assistant principal during the year and he becomes Deputy Principal. Two new assistant principals are Charlie Menzies, who is still Curriculum Leader of Science and Peter Hijazeen who comes from St John’s College in Hastings.
Curriculum leaders changes necessitated by retirements and promotions include Hannah Sim, Curriculum Leader of Social Science who will take senior geography, Lisa Lochead replacing Tony Hewald as Curriculum Leader of Technology, Brodie Smith covering Curriculum Leader of Mathematics while Brian and Ally MacKay are taking a year off to do some missionary work in Vanuatu and Chantelle McNaughton is stepping in for Holly MacPherson as Curriculum Leader for Physical Education who is on maternity leave for Term One.
Other staff leaving are Maurice Filer who is also retiring, Nigel Scrimshaw, heading over to Fielding High School, Tash Miller has a year’s study leave but will be at DHS for the first four weeks and the last four weeks of the year and two popular first year teachers Jenae Millan and Amber Cripps who have found employment in Palmerston North.
Charlotte Aitken will replace Tash during her study leave and Margaux Scott is back after her return from maternity leave in 2019.
“None of our successes this year would have been possible without a great staff, both teaching and support and I cannot thank them enough,” Principal Di Carter said at the annual prize-giving.
“Our staff demonstrate day after day the difference that commitment makes in the education of your sons and daughters.”