Waitaki Girls' High School


Waitaki Girls' High School is a state high school for girls situated in Oamaru, on the East coast of New Zealand. It was founded in 1887 on the initiative of local parliamentarians, Samuel Shrimski and Thomas William Hislop, and presently has a roll of just over 400 girls from the ages of 13 to 18. It also has a boarding hostel which houses approximately 50 girls, including international students and tutors.
The school uses a house system with four houses and accompanying colours: Burn, Ferguson, Gibson and Wilson. These houses were named after the first four principals of the school: Margaret Burn, Catherine Ferguson, Mary Gibson and Jessie Wilson. Competitions between the houses, such as athletics, swimming, choir and drama, are held annually.
The school motto is Dulcius Ex Arduis, which in Latin means "satisfaction from hard work".
WWW waitakigirlshigh.school.n...

Enrolment

As of, the school has roll of students, of which identify as Māori.
As of, the school has an Equity Index of, placing it amongst schools whose students have socioeconomic barriers to achievement.

Curriculum

Waitaki Girls' High School uses National Certificate of Educational Achievement based assessments. A strong emphasis is placed on gaining good marks, with "Excellence Awards" being awarded annually to girls who achieve high marks in their internal and external assessments.
Subjects taught include English, mathematics, sciences, languages, classics, computer studies, Geography, History, Physical Education and Art.

Principals

Since its establishment in 1887, Waitaki Girls' High School has had 10 principals. The following is a complete list:
NameTerm
1Margaret Gordon Burn1887–1892
2Catherine Mary Ferguson1892–1919
3Jessie Banks Wilson1920–1949
4Mary Kathleen Dunning1950–1963
5Joyce Jarrold1963–1979
6Joyce Mayhew1979–1986
7Jeanette Aker1986–1994
8Linda Cowan1994–2007
9Lynlee Smith2007–2012
10Tracey Walker2012–2019
11Elizabeth Koni2019–2022
12Sarah Hay2023-present

Notable alumnae