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Beyond the stage, our students have also been achieving in the Education Perfect World Championships, with several placing in the top 1% of competitors globally.
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Adrian Fastier |
In this newsletter:
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Upcoming NCEA and Curriculum Changes |
On 16 May, the Government confirmed the full details of a new senior secondary qualification system to replace NCEA. The most important point for our community is this: our current Year 10, 11, 12, and 13 students will all continue with NCEA, and no student will be required to switch between systems during their time at school. Our current Year 9 students will be the first cohort to progress through the new system in full. The new qualifications are the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) at Year 12 and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) at Year 13, representing a shift from NCEA's credit-based approach to a subject-based system. Year 11 will introduce a Foundational Award in place of NCEA Level 1, with English, Mathematics, and Science all compulsory at that year level from 2028. A six-point grading scale from A+ to E will apply across all subjects, with a C grade required to pass each subject, with students being required to pass at least three subjects to gain the overall award at Year 12 and Year 13. A timeline and overview of the key changes is included below.
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Lincoln is well-placed for this transition. Over the past two years we have deliberately increased and strengthened literacy and numeracy instruction in Years 9 and 10, and we are seeing excellent achievement in these areas as a result. We are also lucky that a number of our staff are participating in the expert advisory groups designing the new curriculum structures, which gives us early insight and the opportunity to plan effectively. Last year, we also undertook a thorough review of our timetable and curriculum using feedback from staff, students, and parents, supported by an external provider. We are now working to ensure any changes we make respond to that feedback and prepare us well, so that students continuing through NCEA and those moving into the new qualifications are both set up to succeed. We will of course continue to keep you updated as any further developments are announced. |
NCEA Co-requisite Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (CAA's) |
We have recently completed our NCEA Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (CAAs), and we are pleased to report that overall they ran very smoothly. This round saw 387 students sit Numeracy, 336 sit Writing, and 85 sit Reading. A particular highlight was the dedication shown by our students, the vast majority of whom arrived prepared, focused, and ready to give their best effort. We ran 153 sessions under separate assessment conditions, and these simply could not have happened without the incredible support of our volunteer reader-writers. Many gave up hours of their own time to come in and support students through the process; their generosity and commitment made an enormous difference, and we are deeply grateful for everything they contributed. Results will be released on the following dates: Reading - 25 June Writing and Numeracy - 14 July We understand that families will be eager to hear outcomes. In the meantime, it is worth remembering that while these assessments are a co-requisite for gaining any NCEA qualification, students do progress at different rates and may take more than one attempt to meet the required standard. This is completely normal. Every student has different strengths, and performance in these assessments does not define who they are as learners or what they are capable of achieving. At Lincoln High School, we remain committed to providing excellent teaching and learning programmes, along with targeted support and alternative pathways for students who need additional assistance along the way. |
Emerging Talent - Performing Arts Department |
Logan in Technical Theatre It has been an exceptionally busy and rewarding term for Logan, who continues to build an impressive portfolio of real-world experience in technical theatre. Over the past three months, Logan has worked as part of the fly crew for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Isaac Theatre Royal, contributing 150 volunteer hours to one of the region’s largest and most technically demanding musical productions. He has also been heavily involved as a sound engineer and designer for Theatrewise in their recent production, Everywhere Eventually, contributing a further 32 volunteer hours to help deliver high-quality performances for young adults. As if that wasn't enough already, he has also been teaching lighting and rigging for St Thomas and Villa Maria's musical Rock of Ages. These professional opportunities have provided Logan with invaluable hands-on experience in live sound, problem-solving, teamwork, and working under the pressures of a fast-paced production environment. The skills and confidence he has developed are significant, and he has represented Lincoln High School with professionalism, dedication, and outstanding technical expertise. Logan hopes to pursue a career in the live sound industry. He is currently working as part of the stage technical crew for Rockquest and has recently been involved in Showquest. We are incredibly proud of all that Logan has achieved this term. He continues to inspire younger members of the technical crew through his professionalism, leadership, and expertise, and we are very fortunate to have him as our Tech Crew Lead. Sandra McLean |
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LHS Student Abby Wilson stars as Wendy in Peter Pan Lincoln High School is proud to celebrate Abby Wilson, who recently performed the lead role of Wendy in Peter Pan at the Kirwee Community Hall with Kirwee Players. After dedicating approximately 62 hours to rehearsals, Abby took to the stage in this much-loved community production, entertaining local audiences and representing both herself and the school with enthusiasm and commitment. At Lincoln High School, we value the many ways our students contribute beyond the classroom. Abby’s involvement in community theatre highlights the confidence, creativity, and dedication our students bring to opportunities across the wider Selwyn community. |
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Upcoming Productions |
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Showquest 2026 |
A massive congratulations to our LHS Dance team who placed 2nd at Showquest 🎉 Our performance topic was around youth mental health in New Zealand: "E Tū Tāngata Aotearoa - stand up, New Zealand. Youth in our country are facing a silent crisis. One in five young people experience severe mental health struggles, and over half report anxiety or depression - yet many cannot access the help they need. Too often, these struggles are hidden and voices go unheard. Why does New Zealand continue to face such high rates of youth mental illness? We need to confront that reality, to break the silence, and to stand together - because change begins when we choose to speak up." |
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From The Archives - Stage Challenges |
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Following on from our 2nd place finish in the 2026 Show Quest it is a great opportunity to look back on Lincoln’s involvement in this event over the years. Stage Challenge started in 1992, and one of Lincoln High’s early involvements was in 1998. Lincoln’s crew consisted of 140 students - dancers and backstage. Our chosen theme was “Dreams Can Become Reality” with onstage performers consisting of witches, monsters, clowns and rag dolls interpreting a story of a girl who faced the pressures of a conformist society until one night her toys come alive and she is liberated. All in seven minutes. Students needed to be committed. The set had to be constructed and leading up to the performance, practices were run every lunchtime, after school and every Sunday afternoon. The day before the event a marathon 11am to 6pm session ran culminating in a final dress rehearsal in front of caregivers. Stage Challenge ’98 was held at the James Hay Theatre with an audience of 1500. Lincoln was sixth to take the stage and when the awards were handed out received Best Drama Skills, Best Hair and Make-up, Best Costume Design, Best Audio and Visual Effects and were placed 2nd overall. The claim from the team leaders at the time was for Stage Challenge to be made compulsory. |
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Fun Facts:
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Year 12 Outdoor Education Rock Climbing Trip |
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Students in the Spotlight - Winter Sports Tournament Squads |
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Word Championship Education Perfect (Languages) Competition held May 5th-12th |
We are very proud of the following students who competed in this online competition involving people from over 50 countries! Congratulations to all the certificate winners. Elite: placed in top 1% of competitors from around the world Max Davey, Charlotte Neutze, Katherine Zhai. Emerald: Top 1.5% Duo Duo Fan. Gold: Top 2% Bretta Thirawanichkarn, Olivia Tan. Silver: Top 5% Michell Liu, Romeo Li, April Yang, Yue Li, Alexander Renwick, Yujin Zhang. Bronze: Top 10% Jess Dodgshun, Amelia Magill, Hana Hancock, Dylan Tan, Ju Han Li. Credit: Top 20% Skye Whetter , Isabella Calcroft , Sofia McGregor, Jessica Hou, Riley Munro, Ambbar Kaur, Kc Comon, Eva-Grace Dunlop, Phoebe McMenamin, Isobel Huggett, Ellie Coombs, Evie Nicholls. |
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House Competition and Student Council Update |
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Upcoming House Events Week 9 – HOUSE CANTA QUIZ House Leaderboard Update |
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YEAR 13 SCHOOL COUNCIL Pink Ribbon Breakfast Hinengaro Council organised a wonderful celebration in support of the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation on the morning of 28 May. The event was a huge success, raising over $1400 for this important cause. It was fantastic to see the dedication and teamwork shown by both the Hinengaro Council and the Lincoln High School Council. Students made a significant contribution to the morning by baking, providing food, and helping to set up the room, which looked absolutely fantastic. A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work and support. |
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LHS on Socials! Want to keep up with what’s happening around the school? Make sure you follow our school Instagram page! Run by our School Council, the page shares upcoming events, student achievements, sports results, reminders, and plenty of snapshots of school life. Give it a follow and stay connected with our school community! |
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Upcoming School Council Events Week 8 – Whānau Fest Activities all week during lunchtimes Save the Date: Senior Formal – Saturday 1st August – 730-1130pm – Wigram Air Force Museum Permission Slips have been sent home this week so please check your inbox! Ongoing Activities Study Lounge – Every Monday in Wai Tūhura from 2:45-4:30pm Breakfast Club – Every Wednesday in Wai Ora from 7:45-8:30am Student Tutoring – contact tutor@lincoln.school.nz for more information |
OTHER STUDENT LEADERSHIP GROUPS IN ACTION Student Executive In week 3, the Student Executive launched a clipboard campaign to gather more student voice. Out of the 7 categories that were talked about, the category people want to change most is ground and equipment, with bathrooms being the least of people’s concerns out of all categories. Other findings show that students believe first period is too long, and that classrooms should be open before school and during break times throughout winter. Some students had critiques regarding the school uniform, such as blazers not being compulsory in terms 2 and 3. Students reported being happy with the school facilities but would like more water fountains around the school. Regarding AI, many students said they find AI helpful, but some have concerns around the environmental impact of AI, and the fairness of using it in a school setting. Overall, the clipboard campaign was a success, and it was great to hear from so many students and hear different perspectives from a variety of year groups. Written by Mack Wright-Stow Selwyn Youth Council The Selwyn Youth Council is a group of young leaders aged 12-24 who provide a voice for rangatahi around the district and provide youth focused projects and activities to strengthen the wellbeing of young people in Selwyn. Over the last week, we have been hosting barbeques at schools around the district to celebrate Youth Week and empower youth voice. The LHS barbeque took place on Monday the 25th of May and received great involvement. During this year we hope to continue amplifying youth voice and increase understanding of the issues that matter to the youth in our community. Year 12 students, Matilda Myers and Eshal Hassan, are both members of the Selwyn Youth Council this year and are part of the Kā Puna Springs Ward. Seek Winter Speaker Series Across Terms 2 and 3, we’ll be hosting eight morning sessions where you’ll hear from a diverse range of real-world speakers. These speakers will share not just their successes, but the values, challenges, and experiences that have shaped their journeys. This series is all about growing whanaungatanga and inspiring purposeful, ambitious pathways for our students. Grounded in connection, belonging, participation, and high expectations, it’s an opportunity to extend learning beyond the classroom and help you see what’s truly possible for your future. The series will run on a Thursday morning from 7.45-8.30am in weeks 9, 10, and 11 of Term 2. It will then in weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Term 3 (same day and time). The first speaker kicks off on Thursday18th June. If this is something your young person is interested in, have them complete the form The Seek Winter Speaker Series - Expression of Interest – Fill out form or message Miss Blanchard/Ms Whiting on Teams. Whāia te iti kahurangi | Seek the Highest Good |
Lincoln High School Represented at Christchurch Regional Rockquest |
Lincoln High School students took to the stage at this year’s Christchurch Rockquest regional heats, delivering energetic and confident performances. On Friday 22nd May at the Aurora Centre, two bands represented LHS: Lunacy, a Year 12 band featuring George Reilly, Rebecca Moonga, Xander Gray, Finn Leslie, and James Sullivan, and The Lost Haven, made up of Reuben Fone, Ryan Fox, and former Lincoln High School student Theo Pulley. The standard across all performances was exceptionally high, and the venue was filled with energy as bands took to the stage with a mix of nerves and excitement. Both Lunacy and The Lost Haven represented the school extremely well, demonstrating strong musicianship, commitment, and positive attitudes throughout the event. In the lead-up to Rockquest, both groups dedicated significant time to writing original songs and rehearsing for performance. It was fantastic to see the focus and passion they brought to the stage. The regional heats take place over two days, with three sessions each day, and involve a large number of entries from across the Christchurch region. It was inspiring to see so many young musicians performing at such a high level — the future of music is certainly in good hands. With such strong competition, progressing to the next round was always going to be a challenge. Congratulations to The Lost Haven, who have been selected to perform at the regional final, where they will compete for a place in the national finals. The judges praised their performance, describing them as having “great movement on stage — total rockstars.” The regional final will be held at the Ngaio Marsh Theatre on Saturday 6th June at 7:00pm. Tickets are available at the door ($25 for adults and $15 for students), and support from the LHS community would be greatly appreciated. Congratulations to both Lunacy and The Lost Haven on their outstanding efforts and performances. |
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Latest News |
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Board Policy Updates |
Kia ora whānau For your information, all our school policies can be found on SchoolDocs. Our SchoolDocs site details are: https://lincoln.schooldocs.co.nz If you would like to have input into the SchoolDocs policies, then it's time to review the Term 2, 2026 Current Review topics: · Daily School Bus · EOTC Governance Roles and Responsibilities · EOTC Risk Assessment and Management Once you are in the Lincoln High School site of SchoolDocs, click on the 'Current Review' tab, and follow the instructions / review the relevant policies and attached documents within that area. You can submit feedback on the policies and relevant attached documents within this section. NB: In addition to the policies listed above, there may other policies and topics open for review, and you are welcome to review those also if you wish. The closing date for the school community of the Term 2, 2026 review policies and topics is Friday 3 July 2026 (end of Term 2, 2026). Ngā mihi nui LHS Board |
Term Two Dates for Your Diary
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