Rotorua Boys' High School

Rotorua Boys' High School
Latin: Ad Astra Per Aspera
(To the stars through hard work)
Maori: Whaia Te Iti Kahurangi
(Search for great things)[1]
Location
Pukuatua Street,
Rotorua,
New Zealand

Information
Type State single-sex secondary, years 9-13
Established 1927.
Ministry of Education Institution no. 152
Principal A C Grinter
School roll 961
Socio-economic decile 4[2]
Website

Rotorua Boys' High School is a state school educating boys from Year 9 to Year 13. It is situated just outside of the Rotorua CBD at the intersection of Old Taupo Road and Pukuatua Street in Rotorua, New Zealand.

It is notable for considerable sporting success, having won on several occasions the New Zealand and World secondary school championships in rugby and the world secondary school golf championship in consecutive years. The school has also produced national rowing champions in the under 15 quadruple sculls (2003, 2004), under 16 quadruple sculls (2004) and under 17 eights (2007). In 2008 a new centre for leadership was opened, headed by Clayton MacMillan, former representative rugby player for New Zealand Maori and the Bay of Plenty Steamers.

The Ministry of Education appointed a limited statutory manager late in 2009 to investigate alleged mismanagement, inappropriate drug-testing and financial issues regarding the school hostel.[3][4] In June 2010 the limited statutory manager reported that, following his investigation, he had found that the school had no case to answer.

Contents

History

Rotorua Boys' High School had its beginnings as the Rotorua High and Grammar School, founded in 1927. By 1956 it had a roll in excess of 1200 students. The Intermediate Department was closed when Rotorua Intermediate School was established in 1957. The Rotorua High School was further split to make room for a growing population of the district and its educational needs when, in 1959 Rotorua Girls' High School was opened. Rotorua High School was then established as Rotorua Boys' High School and commenced to function as a state secondary school for boys with a roll of 640 pupils in February 1959.[5]

Principals

A book about Rotorua Boys' High School's history was published in 2007 and can be bought in bookstores around Rotorua.

Houses

Rotorua Boys' High School's four houses are named after British heroes:

Hostel

Rotorua Boys' High School officially opened the Tai Mitchell Hostel, a new onsite boarding facility, in 2005 at a cost of $3.5 million. The facility is designed to accommodate 104 students which represents over 10 percent of the school roll.

Families whose children have been excluded from the school's Tai Mitchell Hostel complained about unfair treatment. They believed their sons were targeted for inappropriate drug test procedures and inappropriate action taken after drug tests were performed.[3] The statutory manager appointed by the Ministry of Education to look into the school's procedures, Dennis Finn, last week told The Daily Post he has cleared Mr Grinter and Mr Whata and had full confidence in them. Mr Finn said the report and its findings were only a small part of the bigger picture. The real issue was the serious breach by students of the rules of the school or hostels, he said. "Drugs; whether use of, in possession of, or supply of, will not be tolerated or accepted." Mr Finn told The Daily Post he held a meeting between the mother and Mr Grinter and believed the issue had been resolved. The boys had since been reinstated at the school.[6]

Notable alumni

The Arts

Broadcasting

Sport

Notes

  1. ^ School newsletter, September 2006
  2. ^ Decile change 2007 to 2008 for state & state integrated schools
  3. ^ a b Grunwell, Rachel (28 February 2010). "School's drug test 'torture'". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10628987&pnum=0. Retrieved 5 November 2011. 
  4. ^ Daily Post. "Manager appointed to Rotorua Boys' High".Daily Post Rotorua, 4 February 2010. Retrieved on 2010-07-07.
  5. ^ Rotorua High and Grammar School, Rotorua Boys' High School History and Register of Pupils by Kevin J Lyall
  6. ^ Taipari, Greg (2 July 2010). "Mother wants 'heads to roll' over drug probe". Rotorua Daily Post. http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/mother-wants-heads-to-roll-over-drug-probe/3916732/. 

External links