Whanganui High School

In February 1958 a group of 148 Third Formers gathered for the first Assembly in the present D1. There was a staff of nine.

By 1969 the roll had risen to 1100. The first Principal, Mr A.T. Gibson, emphasised 'manners, character, scholarship and human relations'. He stressed that the School was not an 'it' – the 'family' life of the school was vital. These emphases have remained.

The school developed a tradition of 'self-help' and through much fundraising has built up some very good facilities for the use of the students and staff. Facilities such as the Swimming Pool (1962), the Gymnasium (1968), the Centre Court, the extensions to the Cafeteria and Theatrette (1980's), the Shelters (1990's), The Department/Ministry of Education has added the Library (1970), The Music Block (1972), Te Atawhai (1996), Music and Drama renovations (1999), Staffroom – Te Arahi (1999), Science Block and Deans' House – Te Whare Kaiārahi (2002), and new Gymnasium facilities (2006). In 2008 the school celebrated its 50th reunion.[7]

The school's motto is 'That we might have life' and comes from the Book of John, in the New Testament (Chapter 10, Verse 10) “I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly".[8] The school interprets this to mean that through academic, cultural, sporting and socialisation opportunities the school provides, each individual will have the opportunity to live life to the full.

Stemming from this motto is Whanganui High School's LIFE values. These are; Learning, Integrity, Fellowship, Excellence. These values form the bases of daily teaching and learning at Whanganui High School[7]

Whanganui High School follows the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC).[9] In Years 11 to 13, students work towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) the main secondary school qualification in New Zealand,[10] and international qualifications such as Cambridge Assessment International Education in Mathematics.[11]

Whanganui High School Front Entrance – August 2017

Aerial View of Whanganui High School – October 2018

Opening of Whanganui High School's Confucius Classroom – 21 May 2013

Whanganui High School's Production 'Once on This Island' – June 2018

National Stage Challenge Winners – 2016

The school has had eight principals in its history:[12]

• A.T. Gibson (1958–1967)
• M.D. Fountain (1968–1978)
• P.G. Canham (1979–1985)
• L.I. Power (1985–1993)
• W.J. Maguire (1994–2009)
• N.G. Hanton (2010–2012)
• G. Olver (2012–2016)
• M.G. McAllen (2017–present)

The official Houses Opening Day for all students and staff of Whanganui High School took place on Friday 16 February 2018 at the Jubilee Stadium, Whanganui. Whanganui High School historically had a house system but it lapsed in 1972; eight Houses were introduced in 1982 just for swimming and athletics but this lapsed in 1989. During 2017 the community was consulted about possible House names and identities. The four House names chosen were Awa, Maunga, Moana and Whenua. Those names were gifted to the school, along with the iwi story of the origin of the Whanganui River[13] at the Houses Opening Day.[14]

The houses of Whanganui High School are:

• AWA
• MOANA
• WHENUA
• MAUNGA

The houses originate from a well-known whakataukī proverb[15]

E rere kau mai te awa nui, Mai i te kāhui maunga ki Tangaroa, Ko au te awa, Ko te awa ko au.

The river flows from the mountain to the sea. I am the river, the river is me.[16]

Fifty-three percent of students were male and forty-seven percent were female. Sixty-five percent of students identified as New Zealand European or Pākehā. Twenty-seven percent as Māori and eight percent as another ethnicity.[17]

In 2013 Whanganui High School was approved by the International Confucius Institute in Beijing to set up a Confucius Classroom – one of only four secondary schools in New Zealand and only 400 worldwide. Confucius Institutes are non-profit public institutions aligned with China that aim to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally and organise student cultural exchanges.[18]

• Whanganui High School were regional winners in 2018 of the DanceNZ Made Stage Art Competition.[19]
• Whanganui High School are ten[20] time winners of the New Zealand Regional Smokefree Stage Challenge competition, including 2016,[21] 2014[20][21] and 2012.[22]
• National winners of New Zealand Smokefree Stage Challenge in 2016[21] and 2004,[23] and second Nationally in 2009.[23]
• Whanganui High School are winners of the New Zealand Regional Smokefreerockquest in 2019,[24] 2018,[25][26] 2017,[27] 2016,[28] 2014,[29] 2012,[30] 2007,[31] and National winners in 2002,[32][33] and third nationally in 2005.[34]
• Whanganui High School were in the top seven bands in the 2018 New Zealand Smokefree Tangata Beats Competition.[35]

In June, 2019 Whanganui High School renamed the school's gymnasiums.[36]

• Vogel Gymnasium was named Te Ihi (excitement)
• Seddon Gymnasium became Te Wehi (awesome)
• Reeves Gymnasium became Te Mana (prestige)
• Ballance Courtyard became The Courtyard

The whakataukī ‘te ihi, te wehi, te mana’ used in its entirety, refers to the qualities which collectively spark the feeling of exhilaration. Given the purpose of the gymnasiums, these are accurate reflections of the results that are produced.[37]

• Catherine Bishop, historian
• Sam Blenkinsop, pro downhill mountain biker and medallist at the 2011 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships[38]
• Michael Fitzgerald, rugby player
• Annette Main, former Mayor of Whanganui
• Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor General of New Zealand
• Alan McIntyre, hockey player
• James Musa, soccer player
• Chris Harris, rower
• Sam Malcolm, NZ rugby union player
• Semisi Masirewa, Fijian rugby union player
• Bill Osborne, NZ rugby union player
• Sosoli Talawadua, rugby player NZ Black Ferns
• Jess Watkin, cricketer

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Whanganui High School.

• School website
• Education Review Office (ERO) reports for Whanganui High School