Dance
A large number of students showed a great interest in Dance this year. We were able to take a
talented junior dance team to the HBSS Dance
Festival this year. Their hard work and dedication over several months resulted in them
achieving 1st place in the junior division Hannah Coutts took on the role of main choreographer
for the team and the judges commended the team on their technical skills and choreography. At
the Dance festival it was inspiring to see so many talented young HNI dancers competing and
we look forward to them joining our other dancers next year.
As the magazine goes to print we have a small group of dancers preparing items for the senior
citizen concert to be held later in term four, Flo Mills, Nicole Brebner and Issie Mills. This a
great opportunity for our students to put their talents to use and at the same time support our
local community.
Debating
The organisers of inter-school debating changed the hosting format to major events taking place
in one or two venues once per term, instead of schools arranging debates independently. This
has resulted in some clashes with other activities students have been involved in, but in most
cases we were able to field teams. As well, the junior debating was stopped at inter-school level.
This meant that inter-core class debates were held and some very capable debaters emerged
to continue in years 10 and 11 next year. The core class 904 (Mr.Coombes’class) won in an
exciting final against 906 (Mrs Keown’s class). The adjudicator was Mr. Murfitt. The moot was
“That school are obsolete”.
The usual programme for the seniors was a prepared debate followed by a limited preparation
debate. The most difficult and challenging moot this year was a senior one about how “MMP
should be reformed”. Results were mixed although the Yr 13 team seemed to accumulate some
wins. The Russell McVeigh coaching weekend was attended by three of our students who
felt that the time was very well spent. We hosted many teams for two lots of debates on two
consecutive days at one stage, and it was all a lot of fun for the ver y attentive audiences and
the debaters.