 |
|
The habits established now and in the first term of the year, perseverance, organisation, and sustained effort, make a real difference to learning outcomes across the year. Alongside classroom learning, this term has also included a wide range of sporting, cultural, and co‑curricular opportunities, many of which are highlighted later in this newsletter. These activities play an important role in supporting student wellbeing, connection, and personal growth, and I thank the staff and whānau who continue to support students to engage so positively. Adrian Fastier  |
In this newsletter:
|
Summer Sport Wrap-Up & Winter Sport Preparations |
As we move into the final week of our summer sports season, it is a great time to reflect on what has been a positive and successful term for Lincoln High School Sport. Across a wide range of codes, our teams have represented Lincoln High School with pride, commitment, and determination. It has been fantastic to see so many students involved, competing hard, and supporting one another throughout the season, with several strong performances and results along the way.
|
 |
One of the highlights of the term was Lincoln High School Athletics Day, which proved to be a huge success. The event showcased outstanding participation, enthusiasm, and house spirit from students across the school. A strong group of athletes have also gone on to represent Lincoln High School at the Canterbury Secondary Schools Athletics Championships, held on Tuesday 16 March and Friday 20 March. This year Lincoln High School is proud to be the host school for the Canterbury Championships, and we would like to extend a sincere thank you to the many staff and students who have stepped up to assist with the organisation and running of the event. Hosting a competition of this size takes a significant team effort, and the support from our school community has been outstanding. |
|
Looking ahead, preparations for the winter sports season are already well underway, with trials taking place across many codes. It has been fantastic to see such strong interest and turnout from students eager to represent Lincoln High School this winter. Trials are currently being held for the following sports:
We encourage all students involved in trials to continue demonstrating commitment, teamwork, and a positive attitude as teams are finalised over the coming weeks. If your student didn't get a chance to sign up at the Winter Sport Expo they can go and see Karen and Millie at the Sports Office. They will be able to let them know what sports are still open for registrations. |
 |
Another exciting event on the horizon is our annual exchange with Rolleston College, taking place on 1 April. This fixture is always a highlight on the Lincoln High School sporting calendar and continues to build a strong and spirited rivalry between the two schools. Preparations are already in full swing, and we look forward to a fantastic day of competition and school pride. As we wrap up our summer season and move into winter sport, we would like to thank all students, coaches, managers, staff, and supporters who contribute so much time and energy to Lincoln High School Sport. Your support plays a vital role in creating the positive sporting culture we are proud of at LHS. |
Sporting Success |
|
Selwyn Sounds Carparking Fundraiser |
Recently the Lincoln township hosted the annual Selwyn Sounds music festival where over 8000 people attended. For the nine years the festival has been running, Lincoln High School has supported the event by offering caravan and car parking due to our close proximity (with the exception of a cancelled event in 2020 due to covid). In 2026 we were able to host 250 caravans, most of which chose to stay for 2 nights. We also hosted almost 500 cars. This car parking is one of the school’s biggest fundraising opportunities. Students and their whānau sign up for 2-hour shifts to help set up, guide caravans and cars to parks, monitor cars and caravans with the proceeds to go directly to supporting them in extra-curricular activities. In 2026 students have been supported with costs associated with overseas travel to Nepal, Poland/Germany/Italy and China. Some students have raised funds for sports events (Ki-o-Rahi, Hockey, Clay Target Shooting, Rugby and Touch), while other students have raised money for the National Tournaments of Mind trip. We are so appreciative of the number of people who choose to support our school in this way. We acknowledge that heading away to trips can be expensive and value this opportunity to support our students financially. |
 |
Shotoku Gakuen Scholarship to Japan |
Experienced and shared by Amelia McGill - Year 11 The high school exchange I went on was such an amazing and unforgettable experience. I think my favourite part about this trip was going to school, meeting so many kind people, and making new friends. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming and although there was a language barrier, they still tried their best to include me and make me feel comfortable. The high school in Japan was very different compared to schooling here in New Zealand. For example, a school day in Japan consists of 6 periods and only one lunch break, whereas in New Zealand we only have 4 periods and 2 lunch breaks. The school day also felt longer and more structured. What I found interesting was that most of the time students would stay in one classroom whilst the teachers move between classes, which is different from school in New Zealand. I noticed that the students were very respectful of their teachers and at the beginning of each class the students would all stand and bow to greet the teacher, this shows how much discipline and respect they have. While on this exchange I was lucky enough to go to some really cool places around Tokyo. My host family took me to Asakusa, and I got to ride on a jinrikisha around Asakusa. I also go to visit Harajuku, and we went to watch a volleyball game. We also went to Disneyland, and it was very fun, I even managed to go on a few rides. The food in Japan was so delicious. I ate a lot of sushi and matcha flavored treats. Overall, this exchange was an incredible opportunity. It allowed me to learn so much more about the Japanese culture, meet so many new and amazing people, and step out of my comfort zone. |
|
Congratulations to Neve Hayston who has been selected as an ambassador for this year's student exchange program to Kurashiki, Japan. Travelling in September/October holidays. |
Congratulations to our Language Students |
Congratulations to the following students for receiving an NZALT (New Zealand Association of Language Teachers) Excellence Certificate Award for results from NCEA 2026. Peter Nottage - L2 Japanese Poppy Hayston - L2 Japanese Emma Hendriks -L2 French Juliette Reid -L2 French. Brianna Searle -L3 French Leo Yang - L3 French The following students also received an NCEA Excellence endorsement for Chinese at Level 2. Saga Chan -L2 Chinese Brooke Li -L2 Chinese |
Interested in an Overseas School Exchange? |
 |
School Engagement and Reporting |
By now you will have received two rounds of 3 weekly reports and we hope that these are helping with understanding your students learning and progress. The next chance to engage with teachers is at the upcoming Whānau Kaiako interviews which run on the 26th March and the 1st April. We are pleased to see so many have already booked interviews with subject teachers and hope that you find these useful. Bookings are still open and this can be done via the conference tab on the Schoolbridge app. On these afternoons we will also be running sessions about Literacy and NCEA. The Literacy session is aimed at Years 9-10 and will cover the key components of reading comprehension, what literacy data is and what it means, and what the literacy co-requisite assessment is all about. The NCEA session is aimed at Years 11-13 (but anyone welcome) and will cover how NCEA works and our school assessment procedures and is designed to help whānau understand what students need to do to achieve Level 2 and Level 3 NCEA and University Entrance. Each session will run for approximately thirty minutes If you cannot attend these due to the timing of your interviews but are interested you are welcome to attend on the alternate week. |
From The Archives - The Lincoln High School Hall |
When Lincoln High School opened in 1959, it did so without a hall. Assemblies were held on the tennis court, which was behind A-Block, and, for more important occasions, the Lincoln Community Centre Hall was used. In November 1962, and after significant negotiations with the Board of Education, our current hall was completed and then officially opened in 1963. The first formal assembly was held on Wednesday, 14th November. The School choir sung two hymns, “O Worship the King” & “Praise my Soul”, the headmaster Mr Harris read the school prayer (a variation of the Lord’s Prayer), and gave a speech defining “School Spirit”; emphasising “how the small, apparently unimportant things of everyday school life added up to make this essential attribute of a good school.” Students received “Blues” for their achievements throughout that year – just like our current “Colours” awards. |
 |
Since that time, our hall has hosted more than just assemblies, including drama productions, house events, whānau-kaiako interviews and has also been available for hire to community groups. It was notably used to house a saloon set for the “Lincoln County Incident” a feature film made by Lincoln staff & students in 1974/5 and released in 1980. At the end of 2023, an anniversary screening was held in the hall with original cast and crew including the film’s director, Tony Brittenden. While some might think our hall is outdated, it remains an important historical feature of our school that 1000s of students have met together in to celebrate school spirit for over 60 years. |
Fun Facts:
|
|
Students in the Spotlight - Introducing the New Finance Club 2026 |
This year we are excited to announce the formation of a new club, called the Finance Club. This club has been established for students to connect with other like-minded students to share anything to do with finances, money, earning an income and spending/ saving etc. It is a group set up for events and activities for students to hear from guest speakers and participate in interactive games etc. The club is supported by the University of Canterbury, Business School. |
|
 |
House and Student Council Update |
House kī-o-rahi This week, our school fields were buzzing with energy, colour, and whakataetae (competition) as ākonga took part in an exciting round of House Kī-o-Rahi. Blending fast-paced action with rich cultural roots, the event brought out the very best in teamwork, house pride, and school spirit. Kī-o-Rahi is a taonga rather than a game as it has a pūrākau of tīpuna (ansestors) that are remembered by playing it. It is played on a circular papatākaro (field) where two teams, Kīoma and Taniwha, compete with different scoring objectives. The game involves running, passing, strategy, and communication, making it both physically demanding and mentally engaging. Throughout the week, each house took to the papatākaro (field) with determination and enthusiasm. Our very own Waihora Taniwha led the houses through the rounds, demonstrating their game and leadership skills. Whether it was a perfectly timed pass, a clever dodge, or a crucial defensive stop, every moment kept spectators on the edge of their seats. What stood out most was the level of participation and encouragement across all year levels. Senior students stepped up as leaders, guiding, organising, and motivating their teams, while younger students brought energy and excitement to every match. The sense of whanaungatanga (connection and belonging) was evident throughout the whole whakataetae (competition). It was great to see the tuakana/teina relationship in action within each team. Kī-o-Rahi is more than just a game; it reflects storytelling, culture, and teamwork. Its origins are linked to Māori stories, adding depth and meaning to the way it is played today. This made the week not only a sporting whakataetae (competition) but also a celebration of Aotearoa’s unique heritage. A huge congratulations to all houses for their effort, sportsmanship, and pride. Events like these remind us that it’s not just about winning, it’s about participation, connection, and representing your house with mana. Mako took out the top place today after a nail-biting game vs Kōtare. Kāhu defeated Kūaka for 3rd place. Overall House Kī-o-rahi results: 2nd - Kōtare 3rd - Kāhu 4th - Kūaka 5th - Īnaka 6- Pātiki Term 2 House Events House Spirit Week – Week 3 House Canta Quiz – Week 9 Student Leadership Opportunities It’s been fantastic to see so many of our students stepping forward and putting themselves forward for leadership opportunities across the school. This week, we have been busy with interviews and appointments for our Junior Impact Team leaders, alongside Student Executive applications and interviews. We are incredibly proud of the courage, initiative, and sense of responsibility shown by students who are keen to make a positive impact in our school community. These opportunities not only develop leadership skills but also help shape the culture and direction of our kura. We look forward to announcing successful applicants soon and are excited to see the energy and ideas they will bring to their roles. For those interested in getting involved, Junior Impact Team applications will be released next week, keep an eye out and consider putting your name forward! Easter Theme Week Easter week is coming up in week 10 this term! To celebrate Taha Whānau has planned a couple events throughout the week! On Monday the movie hop will be played in the Hall during interval and lunch. Tuesday interval will finish the movie, as well as a non-uniform day and a gold coin donation with proceeds going to the SPCA. Wednesday will have an easter egg scavenger hunt during lunch where students can find and use clues across the school to find prizes at the end! There will be a bake sale on Thursday, as well as the results of the winners of the easter colouring competition which can be completed throughout the week. Additionally, throughout the week there will be 10 hidden easter eggs across the school waiting to be found. Find an egg and win a prize! See you in week 10! Student Wellbeing Pulse Survey We encourage you to support your young person to take a few minutes to complete our wellbeing survey. This is an important opportunity for students to share how they are feeling about school, their learning, and their overall wellbeing. Student voice plays a key role in helping us understand what is going well and where we can improve. The insights gathered from the survey help guide decisions, shape support systems, and ensure we are creating a positive and inclusive environment for all ākonga. The survey is quick, confidential, and designed to ensure every student has the chance to be heard. We appreciate your support in encouraging your young person to participate. The survey has been posted in the year level Teams pages.
|
|
Term One Dates for Your Diary
|