Thames High School prides itself on a rich and vibrant cultural life.
A wide variety of cultural activities are offered at Thames High School. These include: regular full-scale school productions, Maori culture group – Kapa Haka, a substantial instrumental tuition programme, debating teams, a Jazz Band, Guitar Ensemble and various other musical performance groups.
A school magazine, The Haurakian, is produced each year.
Students are encouraged to participate in the rich variety of cultural activities.
Facilities include: a fully-equipped dance/drama room, a music suite, digital art facilities, a specialist library, a large school hall. On occasions professional artists perform at the school and run workshops.
Kapa Haka 2018 (Te Puna o Te Pito Mata)
What a year it has been for the THS Kapa Haka rōpū (Te Puna o Te Pito Mata). Our goal was to compete at the Hauraki Cultural Festival again in 2018 as we had done in the previous year, and to improve on our performance and placing.
With the festival being brought forward meant that practices went into overdrive, from twice a week to once a week and every weekend for six weeks. Taiohi and tutors went into noho on a Friday at 6pm and were released on Sunday 3pm. This was a huge commitment for taiohi, tutors and whānau to make, one that reaped the rewards at the other end. As a result, THS Kapa rōpū placed 1st in the Hauraki Intermediate Section and 3rd in the Open Section.
These are the items and each is marked individually out of 100 points
Whakaeke (1st) 97/100 Entrance
Whaikōrero (1st) 95/100 PJs Korero
Mōteatea (1st) 98/100
Waiata-Ā-ringa (1st) 98/100 Action Song
Poi (1st) 97/100 Poi Song
Haka (1st) 95/100 Haka
Te Reo (1st) 95/100 Correct Pronunciation of the reo used throughout the bracket
Whakawatea (1st) 98/100 Exit song
Waiata Tira (1st) 97/100 Choral
Kākahu (1st) 98/100 Dress
Kaitātaki Tane (1st) 97/100 Peter Jack – Leadership
Kaitātaki Wahine (1st) 100/100 Tahjonelle Kaitamaki-Topia – Leadership
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini
My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective
-Māori Proverb
Ngā Mihi
Whaea Maria Baird
TIC Kapa Haka Rōpū
Te Puna o Te Pito Mata
Music
The Music Department offers lessons in a wide range of instruments as part of its instrumental tuition programme. Mr Clive Burnell teaches Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Alto and Tenor Saxophone and Clarinet. Mrs Leigh Fergusson is responsible for Piano and Keyboards. Mr Adrian Hayward is the Drumming teacher and Mr Duncan Bouwer teaches Voice. Mr Dylan Wade teaches not only Guitar (acoustic, electric and bass), but also Ukulele. The Performance Programme includes groups such as the Thames High Jazz Band (under the direction of Mr. Stuart du Preez) and the Thames High Guitar Ensemble (under the direction of Mr. Dylan Wade), as well as a number of informal, student led groups. Students and groups regularly perform at school and in the wider Thames and Waikato communities. Events include the annual Music Month Concert, the annual St. George’s Concert and the annual Waikato ITM Band and Orchestra Festival, as well as presentations at Open Evenings, Creativity Evenings and Junior and Senior Prizegivings.
Debating & Mooting
Thames High School has the strongest debating tradition in the area with our senior team coming fourth this year in the Bay of Plenty regional competition. These skills have also supported mooting (legal argument within a court setting) and in 2018 our mooting team reached the national semi-finals.
Video of our students Mooting:
Luci Quinn – Mooting 2019
Hamish Steadman – Mooting 2019
