The Chiefs Knock Out Cup Competition

Mr Kirkham, HBHS Assistant Principal and Coach of the 1^st XV explained the current competition situation for our strongest rugby players:

There are eight teams; after each round the pool halves, so after two games we have gone from four possible opponents in the field to two.  The two local teams that contested the semi-finals were HBHS and St John’s.  We beat St John’s, so we’re in the final against Manurewa.

The Chief’s Knock Out Cup is something that was organised this year between the two top teams in Counties, the two top teams in the BOP and the four top teams in the Waikato.  It is a competition that the Chiefs have been trying to convene for the last few years, but Tauranga, Rotorua and our involvement in the Super 8 games meant that we couldn’t participate.  The Knock Out Cup has started right at the beginning of the season so that everyone’s commitments are taken into account.

We play Manurewa on May 25, which looks like it is going to be the curtain raiser of the Chiefs/Bulls game at Waikato Stadium. The televised games have been a part of the Sky broadcast schedule – this game isn’t a part of that, but it will definitely have a wide following. 

Kerr-Barlow Named in All Black Squad

Steve Hansen has named a slew of youngsters in his All Blacks training squad for the June test matches against Ireland.  The 35-man squad includes HBHS Old Boy Tawera Kerr-Barlow in the backs.  Kerr -Barlow was the youngest player to be signed to a Super 14 Rugby franchise when he was acquired by Waikato Rugby Union at the age of 17.  He boarded at Argyle House while studying at HBHS and enjoyed a stellar school boy rugby career.

A member of the New Zealand Secondary Schools team, as well as the national schools sevens side and New Zealand Under 17, Kerr-Barlow was also part of the Waikato union's pre-academy programme, followed by the WRU High Performance Academy. 

Kerr-Barlow has strong family connections with the sport, including former Waikato All Blacks Steve and Rob Gordon, as well as being nephew of former Waikato, Warrington and NZ Maori league rep, Tukere Barlow.  His mother Gail Barlow, played half-back for the Australia women's team in 1995 and 1996.  One of the reasons Kerr-Barlow stayed in New Zealand was that he has always been excited about the All Black jersey and the possibility of wearing it one day.

We congratulate Tawera on his superb achievement and look forward to seeing him go from strength to strength.

Jacob Priddey - World Class Runner

On the 27th of March Jacob Priddey, the current U16 New Zealand Cross Country Champion competed in the prestigious ISF World Cross Country Championships in Malta.  Jacob was selected to compete in the team race which was comprised of the 6 strongest runners from 10 participating countries that included North Africa, China, Australia, Israel, Morocco, Algeria and several European nations.

Jacob's selection for this event was made more notable and impressive as the New Zealand team was chosen on merit from our most successful 16 and 17 year old cross country runners. At 15, Jacob was not only the youngest of the New Zealand runners but earned his selection through his stand out performance’ at the New Zealand Cross Country Championships.

2012 Super 8 Cultural Festival Results

HBHS fielded a group of 46 students for the New Zealand Super Eight Schools’ Cultural Festival, held in Tauranga.  We enjoyed considerable success across a broad range of cultural endeavours, and maintained an engaged, focused demeanor throughout the competition.

The results are as follows:

1^st: Inaugural Junior Chess, Christopher Mayo, Tommy Liu, Christopher Symon, Daniel Ng.

1^st: Junior Oratory, Alex Kennedy

1^st: Junior Theatre Sports, Max Mitchell, Stephen Burroughs, Morgan Hopkins, Alexander Carlton-Thomas

1^st: Senior Debating, Neeraj Khatri, Thomas Simpson, Christopher Jury

2^nd: Group Music, Tanakrit Tongnopnua, Patrick Webb, Matt Clampitt, Ashley Russell

HBHS 1st XV Rugby Playing Schedule

Due to a number of enquiries and requests, the 2012 playing schedule of HBHS 1^st XV Rugby is included below: 

Term 1

12^th   March                   Senior Trials

31^st March                      Manurewa                                           Manurewa  12.00

10^th April (Tuesday)     Christchurch Boys’                            Hamilton  11.00 am

17^th-19^th April                Boot Camp                                         Waihi Beach (Holidays)

Artwork Selected for Educational Journal

Jese Rokovusoni (Year 13) has had his art work selected to be on the front cover of Te Kairaranga, an academic journal that is subscribed to by educators nationally and internationally.  The journal is published twice a year and for each, a student’s work is sourced and selected to grace the front cover, as well as a profile given about the student on the inside front cover.

 Jese’s work was selected because of its high quality and distinctly Pacifica/Maori flavour.  It is sourced from a portfolio of artwork developed under the watchful eye of Mr Sutherland. We congratulate Jese on this opportunity to share his talent with the educational community.

HBHS Win Hauraki Motorcross Competition

On the 4th of May, 18 Hamilton Boys' High School students competed in the Hauraki Plains College Motocross Tournament, held at Slater Park in Huntly.

The event attracted over 200 riders, from 40 secondary schools. The event catered for beginners through to national level riders. This ensured the event was inviting, competitive and enjoyable for all riders.

After a long, hot and dusty day of close racing, the hard work of the Hamilton Boys' High School riders secured an impressive collection of trophies.

Ayden Dunn convincingly won the Pro 250cc class.

24 Hour Musicathon

Heroic amounts of coffee, good humour and superb talent buoyed along the student, staff and Old Boy performers during our recent 24 hour Musicathon.  The Music Suite was opened for 24 hours from 1 pm on Friday afternoon, with individual and group acts performing throughout the wee hours of the morning.  Members of the public were encouraged to attend, with acts ranging from rock, jazz, beat poetry, classical solos and experimental music to entertain and delight. 

The Musicathon is a key fundraising opportunity for music students travelling to Rarotonga on the 29th of June.  The boys will perform in a range of venues, including one of the premiere hotels on the island.  The Gypsy Pickers, HBHS 'Big Jazz Express', and special guests including the Messant Trio, The Ukes of Haphazard and many others provided tired but cheerful audience members with a night to remember.  Special thanks go to Mr Botting and Mr Rickards for making this event such a success.

AS Examinations Begin

Chemistry teacher Graham Billing has been working with colleagues and students over the recent study break to prepare for the approaching Cambridge examinations.  He describes what this involved in the following interview:

 How long have you been teaching Cambridge Chemistry?

Five years.  It appealed to me because of the broad scope of the course.  The subject matter has application in the real world.

 How does the Cambridge work fit in with the NCEA programmes?

We combine our NCEA and Cambridge courses: for example, in Year 12, we have just finished teaching a topic which combines a Level 2 Achievement Standard, a Level 3 Achievement Standard and Cambridge Physical Chemistry, all at the same time. We complete the Inorganic and Organic Chemistry in Term 1 of Year 13.

 I understand you have been helping the students over the holidays.

Over the break the boys had the opportunity to sit two theory and two practical practice examinations. This involved five days’ work each for both myself and Mrs Basi with six additional days of technician support. There are a lot of materials to get ready for the laboratory examinations as well as big clean-ups. The boys also helped set out and put away glassware. Each week it required two laboratories and two sessions to accommodate all the students. In the second week we also spent three hours reviewing the first week’s examinations. Because it’s a crowded course it would be difficult to schedule these practice examinations towards the end of Term One. It takes till the end of term one to complete the Cambridge course notes. 

HBHS Student Trialling for National Waterpolo Side

Tristian Houghton (Year 11) has recently been invited to participate in the Waterpolo NZ Schoolboys' Selection Trial. The first selection trial will be held July 27th - 29th 2012 in Auckland.  Those selected will progress though to the squad training on August 17th to 19th from which the team will be selected to play against Australia in December. There will be a further training camp for the team over the long weekend in October (19th - 22nd) with the team training December 13th - 17th prior to the series against Australia, December 17th & 18th 2012.

Waterpolo has developed a strong following at HBHS - we are currently winning the Waikato Regional Competition with HBHS A placed first and HBHS Junior placed second.  The finals are coming up at the end of May.    Water polo, or Water ball, is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper.  The winner of the game is the team that scores the most goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water (using a sort of kicking motion known as "eggbeater kick"), players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing the ball into a net defended by a goalie. 'Man-up' (or 'power play') situations occur frequently. Water polo, therefore, has strong similarities to the land-based game of handball.

If you would like to become involved with waterpolo this year, see Mrs Missen for details.