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Lytton High School
Newsletter · Term 1 2026
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Principal's Message
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Term 1 has been a strong and purposeful start to the year. Across the school, positive engagement has been evident in learning, co-curricular activities, and the wider life of the school. Students have taken up opportunities in the classroom, on Outdoor Education excursions, in sport and through Pathway experiences, showing increased confidence. This collective intent sets a great platform for the months ahead. As Maya Angelou reminds us, “Nothing will work unless you do” and this term reflects exactly that effort, commitment and a shared drive to make progress.
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Thank you. A consistent focus throughout the term has been attendance. It remains our strongest predictor of student success. We are seeing encouraging shifts with more students maintaining Regular Attendance (greater than 90%) and a growing number achieving 100% attendance. This progress reflects the collective effort of whānau, students and staff, working together. Once again, thank you.
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As we move into Term 2, our priorities remain unchanged: strengthen attendance, lift achievement, and maintain high levels of engagement. Progress will continue to be monitored closely, with deliberate action taken where needed. While the pace of progress matters, the direction of our journey matters more; when adjustments are required, they will be made early, recognising that a change in direction is still a form of forward movement. Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring every student is in class and learning.
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Te Whare Tikanga-a-Iwi / Humanities are getting out and about..
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Year 10 Social Studies classes have been visiting the Waerenga-a-Hika Houhou te Rongo exhibition at Tairāwhiti Museum to supplement their Aotearoa NZ Histories learning. It has been great to see our rangatahi engaging with the many precious artefacts and their rich kōrero as they learn about the history of our rohe and compare it with other events in the NZ Wars. We were also proud to see mahi toi on display from artists with an affiliation to Rītana such as Johnny Poi & Taiawhio Kerekere Snr. Ngā mihi ki a Matua Cam and Kōkā Carla for giving us a ride. Mīharo!
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Year 12 and 13 Business Studies students have attended a couple of events this term. The first was the Chartered Accountants NZ Hīkoi. We hopped around various accounting offices in Tūranga, including BDO, Mangatū Blocks, Eastland Port and EIT. Students learned more about the profession of accounting while networking with some inspiring Gisborne professionals. Year 12 Student Cameron Larsen even won himself some new earbuds!
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Next was the Young Enterprise Scheme Spark Tank event, the first regional hui for students interested in entering the YES business competition this year. Our group of Year 13s who are developing an event planning business received invaluable feedback and advice for their idea and are raring to get going with support from YES!
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Year 12 Business students headed down to the Gisborne Fire Station. We have been covering a topic called Motivation Theory and this visit gave students a chance to hear from a couple of local firefighters (Robson Timbs and ex-Rītana Carl Shaw) about how they are motivated to do their job. We got valuable insight into their day-to-day tasks, management and shift structure. At the end they showed us their tools, trucks and a few of their processes. Mīharo!
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Pathways & Careers Faculty
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Term 1 has been a busy and productive start to the year for our senior students in the Pathways and Careers faculty. We are pleased to share some of the valuable opportunities and experiences students have been involved in as they begin to explore and prepare for their future pathways.
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A key focus this term has been equipping students with practical, real-world skills that will support both employment and further education. Many students participated in a Workplace Health and Safety course, where they developed an understanding of safe practices, hazard identification, and their responsibilities in a workplace setting. These skills are essential for any future employment and help build confidence when entering new environments.
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Students had the opportunity to complete a First Aid course, gaining important life-saving knowledge and practical skills. This qualification is highly regarded by employers and empowers students to respond effectively in emergency situations.
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We were also pleased to offer Learner Driver Licence courses, supporting students in working towards gaining their licence. Achieving a driver licence is a significant milestone that increases independence and greatly enhances employment opportunities, particularly in areas where transport can be a barrier.
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Another highlight this term was the Low-Level Scaffolding course, where students gained hands-on experience and industry-relevant skills. This course provided insight into construction-related careers and allowed students to achieve unit standards that contribute toward future employment in trades.
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In addition to these practical courses, we welcomed representatives from Waikato University and the University of Otago, who visited to speak with our senior students. These sessions provided valuable information about university pathways, course options, and student life, helping students to make informed decisions about their future study options.
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Overall, it has been fantastic to see students engaging positively with these opportunities, developing confidence, and building skills that will support them beyond school. We look forward to continuing this momentum in Term 2, with further courses, employer engagement, and pathway planning.
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If you have any questions about your child’s pathway planning or would like more information about upcoming opportunities, please feel free to get in touch.
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Ngā mihi,
Pathways & Careers Faculty
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🔥 Interschool Competitions Are Coming! 🔥
Get ready -Term 2 is shaping up to be action-packed! We’re thrilled to be hosting two epic interschool showdowns right here at school:
🏫 Tamatea High School - 19 June 2026
🏫 Karamū High School - 10 June 2026
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And that’s not all-our juniors will also head into battle with Wairoa College in the final week of term!
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There’s something for everyone, with a huge lineup of activities including:
🏀 Basketball (Boys & Girls)
🏐 Netball (Girls)
🏐 Volleyball (Boys & Girls)
🏉 Rugby Sevens (Junior Girls & Boys)
⚽ Football (Boys & Girls)
🌿 Kī-o-rahi (Mixed)
♟ Chess & General Knowledge Quiz
🤖 Robotics
🎯 Pickleball, Frisbee Golf & Cornhole
🏑 Uni-hoc (Indoor Hockey)
🏓 Table Tennis
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Training is already underway, and the excitement is building fast-bring on the competition! 💥
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Senior Outdoor Education
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Term 1 has been a positive and active start for our Senior Outdoor Education students, with each year level engaging with the taiao and developing their skills through authentic, local contexts.
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Year 13 students completed an overnight hikoi to Hikurangi Maunga, challenging themselves physically and mentally to reach the hut and for some, the summit. A key highlight was witnessing sunrise at the pou, where Board Chairperson Hugh Stuart shared his mātauranga. This was a special moment that deepened students’ connection to place and kaupapa.
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Year 12 students engaged with the moana through a surfing programme at Waikanae Beach and Midway Beach, building confidence in the water and strengthening their understanding of ocean safety and kaitiakitanga.
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Year 11 undertook day hikois along the Opoutama Track, focusing on developing foundational outdoor skills such as preparation, navigation, and working collaboratively as a rōpū, while experiencing our unique local coastline.
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Year 11 begin their waka ama programme
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Year 12 overnight hikoi to Sandy Bay Hut, Lake Waikareiti
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Year 13 multi-day expedition around Lake Waikaremoana
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It has been encouraging to see students develop resilience, strengthen whanaungatanga, and deepen their connection to the taiao.
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Sports Roundup
Swimming – The whole school started this year with the Swimming ‘Fun Day’ at the Kiwa Pools. We had use of the outside pool and its environs. The students got into the day showing off their house colours. There were various water activities enjoyed. The High Diving Board with the ‘Manu Challenge" and the Hydro Slide relay was very popular along with the ‘continuous’ BBQ.
The competitive swimming attracted 20 odd competitors inside the pool complex. The swimmers were ready and able, with more numbers in the free style event, than the fly or back stroke. Peter Moffat is the Junior Boys champ. Mellissa Jade –Toi the Junior Girls Champ, Mahanga Clapperton- Nahu Intermediate Boys, Ibanez Te Pairi Intermediate Girls, Jaiya Fleming the Senior Boys and Zyanja Rudge the Senior Girls Champ. We applaud Zyanja who broke eight Lytton High School Senior Girls swimming records, in the 25M Free, Fly, Breast and Back Stroke; 50M Back and Fly, 100M Free and Individual Medley. Ka mau te wehi.
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Badminton – This is a very popular activity with our students at the lunch break. In the beginning we could not cater for the masses, so we split the Girls one day and the Boys another. Students are vying for selection to be involved in the Tairawhiti Secondary Schools Tournament in June. The Seniors are hoping to be included in selection to play in the sports exchange with Karamu College also in June, to be held at the Badminton Centre. Teacher in charge Mr Shom Narayan, has the enviable task of selecting a competitive team, not so much who to pick, but who to leave out?
Basketball – The Senior Boys have started their campaign in preparation for the season, under new coach Adrian Peachey. The boys look enthusiastic and are aware of the challenges that other High Schools will impose. They are looking forward to the match up with Karamu College during the Sports Exchange in June. The Basketball Girls have a new coach in Teacher, Mr Zack Lin. He could do with more players. Their preparation is two fold, to get themselves ready for the Term 2 GBA tip off and Sports Exchanges. Their practice days are after school on Fridays. The Junior Boys have had their first muster, hopefully they will not take long to get themselves into gear.
Hockey – Practice/Trainings has begun each Wednesday after school. We have a healthy 20 odd on paper. Choosing 16 players for game day could be problematic for returning coach Anthony Boyder. Their season starts Monday evenings next term and they too, look forward to their clash with Karamu College, a Mixed Hockey Tournament in Carterton and all going well, will host, Taikura Rudolf Steiner School, later in the year.
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Athletics – The Lytton High School Athletics was held earlier this month. There was a lead up to the ‘Big Day’ with some mini lunch time events; High Jump, 1500M, Javelin and 800M. The budding athletes from here went forward and added their talents to the ‘Big Day’. Everyone looked happy and joyful and joined into the spirit of the occasion. The music was entrancing captivating the listener into a hypnotic dance. BBQ aroma wafted in the air, the whiff luring the crowds. At the end of the day were Levi Grant Junior Boys Athletic Champ, Liv Peach Junior Girls, Tom Paul Intermediate Boys, Makuini Wyllie Intermediate Girls, Victor Barnard Senior Boys and Zyanja Rudge Senior Girls Champion.
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All of the Grade winners were invited to take part in the East Coast North Island Athletic Track and Field Championship in Hastings. Not all could make it, due to other obligations like preparing for the Waka Ama Nationals. However, Zyanja – Senior Girls Shot Put and Tom – Intermediate Boys Long Jump, made finals of their event. Tom placed seventh. On the other hand, however, Zyanja won second place in the shot, by default, in which she qualified to represent the East Coast North Island (ECNI) at the NZ Secondary Schools Athletic Track and Field Championship, later in the year. Tino pai ou mahi.
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It would be remiss of me not to sincerely thank the Prefects and Staff for their help and support of the ‘Swimming Fun Day’ and ‘Athletics Day’. For their inspiration and good cheer. To those that oversaw and supervised the various activities, BBQ managers, Mr Music, the time keepers and recorders, setting up and putting away of things. It was reassuring to hear the joy and to see the success of the days reflected on the faces of the students.
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Sports Calendar Term 2 2026
30 March – 1 April – Ki o Rahi, Wellington
28 April – Ngata 7's, Ruatoria
12 May – Tairawhiti Secondary School Golf
3 June – East Coast North Island Cross Country
10 June – Sports Exchange Karamu College
12 June Tairawhiti Secondary Schools Girls Badminton Tournament
19 June – Sports Exchange Tamatea High School
19 June – Tairawhiti Secondary Schools Boys Badminton
24 – 26 July – North Island Secondary Schools Indoor Bowls, Mount Maunganui
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2 July - Sports Exchange Wairoa College
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For Term One we bid farewell to -
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Jade Hinaki - Teacher Aide
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Anita Wharepapa - Teacher Aide
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For Term Two we welcome -
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Wiremu Kaa - Assistant Principal
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Jessica Mienie - Teacher Aide
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Upcoming Events
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15 - 26 April - Osaka Japan visit
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23 April - Foundation students visit
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27 April - Anzac Day holiday
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4 - 10 May - New Zealand Sign Language week
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5 May - Board of Trustees meeting
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28 May - Ngā Manu Kōrero regionals
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1 June - Kings Birthday holiday
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3 June - Meet the Teacher Whānau evening
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10 June - Karamū High School Interschool fixture
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19 June - Tamatea High School Interschool fixture
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23 June - Board of Trustees meeting
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2 July - Wairoa College Interschool fixture
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