Freyberg High School

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Freyberg High School

Te Kura o Te Pou Hōia

Image:Freys.JPG
Motto Virtute et Honore
Type State Co-Ed Secondary (Year 9-13)
Year established 1955
Address Freyberg Street, Roslyn, Palmerston North
Coordinates 40°20′17″S 175°37′39″E / -40.3380, 175.6275
Principal M. McMenamin
School roll 1300+
Socio-economic decile (10 is highest) 6[1]
Ministry of Education Institution no. 200
Website www.freyberg.ac.nz


Freyberg High School is a State Co-Educational Secondary School in the suburb of Roslyn, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The school is located at the end of Freyberg Street, Roslyn and is bordered by Skoglund Park on the east and Ross Intermediate School on the west. To the north are the netball courts of Vautier Park. Also present is the Freyberg Community Pool, which is open to the public for leisure. It was also voted best school in the Manawatu Region (2006).

Contents

[edit] School Structure

[edit] Changes

In 2004, Freyberg High School welcomed Michael McMenamin as the new Principal, taking over from the post left by Russell Trethewey after 11 years. McMenamin was formerly from New Plymouth Boys' High School.

For the purposes of school structure and interhouse athletics and swimming competitions,the school is divided into 4 houses. This is known as "Four Schools in One". Each student belongs to one of the four houses.

Freyberg High School works along the vertical structure with whānau groups which includes Year 9 through to Year 13 along house lines. The 'teacher' of the whānau group is in the same house as his or her students.

Prior to 2002, there were the horizontal 'tutor' groups where it was for a specific year only. For example, 12LB.

Before 2001, there were a mix of houses within one tutor group, however this was changed in 2002 to make it one tutor group, one house.

[edit] Houses

Each house has a name concerning the region, and also has reference to Te Rauparaha.

House Names & their Colours
Kapiti Named for Kapiti Island.
Manawatu Named for Manawatu River.
Ruahine Named for Ruahine Ranges.
Tararua Named for Tararua Ranges.

In the recent past Kapiti and Manawatu houses have had the edge over the other two, with Kapiti winning the house cup in 2006. This however, has not always been the case. Just before the reshuffling to the present system, the House system ran along an alphabetical surname basis, for example a surname beginning with A was in Tararua, B Manawatu etc. Whilst this was the case Ruahine House was the most successful.

[edit] History

The school was founded in 1955 and named for World War II hero, Bernard Freyberg. His name is reflected not only in the name of the school, but also of the school's gymnasium, Lord Freyberg Memorial Gymnasium.

Also, the school's mascot and yearbook, which is handed to students at the end of each year, is known as the Salamander which was Freyberg's nickname during World War II. The name given to him by Māori, Te Pou Hōia, is also reflected in the Māori name for the school.

In 2005, the school celebrated its 50th Jubilee.

[edit] Facilities of the School

Freyberg High School offers a range of facilities for its students.[1]

  • Sports Academy
  • Arts Academy
  • Technics Music Academy
  • Craig Centre - Special Education block
  • Deaf Education Unit
  • Teen Parents' Unit
  • Rumaki - Māori Immersion Classes
  • Covered Heated Swimming Pool
This is the entrance to Freyberg High School
This is the entrance to Freyberg High School

[edit] Colours

The traditional colours of Freyberg High School are blue and gold. This can be seen in the sports teams uniforms, as well as in the School uniform.

School & Sports Colours
Blue
Gold
White

[edit] Sporting rivalries

Freyberg High School annually challenges in Interschool Sports Exchanges Hawera High School and Kapiti College. There is also a rivalry between Freyberg, Palmerston North Boys' High School and Awatapu College.

[edit] Notable Alumni

[edit] Politics

  • Steve Maharey, New Zealand Labour Member of Parliament, Palmerston North (1990-2008)
  • Jacqui Dean, former television and radio host, now National MP for Otago (2005- )
  • Darien Fenton, Labour List MP [2]
  • Tangi Utikere, former student and current staff member (Head of School - Ruahine), Chairperson, Palmerston North Labour Party (2007- ), Justice of the Peace (2007- )

[edit] Sport

  • Mark Ranby, former All Black
  • Selica Winiata, Ezibuy Manawatu Women's rugby player
  • Danielle Calnan, Otago Rebel, National Bank Cup (netball)

[edit] Entertainment

  • Jon Bridges, TV Personality

[edit] Notable staff (former and current)

  • Kent Mori, former Tall Black and Manawatu Jets basketball player
  • Moira Senior, Black Stick
  • Peter Ingram, Central Districts cricketer
  • Chanel Haggart, Western Flyer, National Bank Cup (Netball)
  • Craig Steed, Recipient of a Woolf Fisher Fellowship (educational excellence in teaching)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Freyberg High School Website. [3]