Co-Curricular
Express yourself creatively through Co-Curricular at NPGHS.
Open to all year levels, there are countless opportunities to pursue from joining Groups and Clubs to exploring your artistic, creative and leadership passions.
Groups
Committees
Clubs
Extra-curricular Music Opportunities
NPGHS has an outstanding and vibrant music programme both as a subject and through our extra-curricular activities. There are opportunities for soloists, small ensembles and large groups to perform in the school and wider community in a variety of contexts.
Jazz Bands
A combination of big bands and jazz combos exist both exclusively at NPGHS and in conjunction with New Plymouth Boys’ High School performing at local jazz festivals and the Waikato Bands and Orchestra Festival often gaining Gold Awards.
Rock Bands
NPGHS has many students participating in the annual Smokefree Rockquest as soloists, duos or bands. There are facilities to rehearse and opportunities for song writing workshops leading up to this event as well as opportunities to perform in other concerts and events throughout the year.
Chamber Music
The pursuit of excellence can be seen in the high number of NPGHS groups that enter this contest and go on to win a variety of awards often winning the Taranaki District Contest and competing in Auckland. This is for small ensembles of all sorts of instruments usually classical in nature.
Concert Band
This elite band is combined with New Plymouth Boys’ High School and is for woodwind, brass and percussion players. Often competing favourably at the Waikato Bands and Orchestra Festival also the National Concert Band Festival where possible.
Percussion Group
A group that plays percussion instruments of all kinds, the percussion group performs at a variety of concerts including Chamber Music and our annual showcase with New Plymouth Boys’ High School called Who’s Huia.
Choirs
NPGHS has two choirs, Harmony, a non-auditioned student-led choir largely singing pop songs and our auditioned Jubilate which competes annually at the Big Sing as well as many community concerts.
String Group
Specifically for students who play violin, viola, cello and double bass, String Group is designed to help those students with ensemble playing and often perform in school events like Open Night and Arts Week.
Other Musical Activities
the school also holds a variety of other musical activities such as the annual Who’s Huia Showcase, spring concerts, talent quests, busking, lunchtime library concerts, performances at rest homes and early learning centres.
Orchestra
Our orchestra has between 40-50 members and is open to students ranging from beginner to advanced in skill-level and experience. The main focus is rehearsing for Taranaki Orchestra Day, an inter-school massed orchestra concert. Other opportunities like attending the Waikato Bands and Orchestra Festival and performing in Prize Giving and other school events are also possible.
Itinerant Music
Itinerant music lessons are available in guitar, singing, drums, bass guitar, violin, viola, cello, double bass, saxophone, clarinet, flute and brass. Priority goes to Year 9s and then Music students and those involved in musical activities within the school.
Staff Contact: Juliet Woller
jwoller@npghs.school.nz
Ukuladies
A student-led ukulele group open to all students and staff that perform at a variety of events within the school and community.
School Productions
NPGHS offers a School Production bi-annually with NPBHS. This is an opportunity for the two schools to work together and for actors, singers and dancers and musicians to collaborate. The schools take turns to select and host this event. The production is usually held in May and auditions and rehearsals begin in the February of the production year.
Past productions have included NZ musical ’For Today’, hit Broadway show ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’, NZ stage play ‘Niu Sila’, and original musical ‘Bardicilious OR Shakespeare the Musical. WE plan to produce The Sound of Music (schools’ version) in 2021,
Staff responsible
HoD Drama: Mrs Lisa Simpson lsimpson@npghs.school.nz
HoD Music: Mrs Juliet Woller jwoller@npghs.school.nz
Drama activities
In additional to class productions The Drama department runs a number of extra-curricular activities for students from year 9-13
These include:·
Regional Shakespeare Festival (Term 1)
Waka Huia Plays (Term 2)
Open Evening performances and Orientation day performances
Student run clubs on Tuesday mornings- Musical Theatre Club
Theatre trips
Drama committee activities including wardrobe, publicity for productions, events management and stage crew, stage lighting and stage makeup.
Participation in these events earns points towards a Drama badge, awarded annually.
Staff responsible
HoD Drama: Mrs Lisa Simpson
Student Leadership Events
At NPGHS there are a multitude of events available for students with leadership aspirations. These events are often trips away to other parts of the country or world, but others are offered as day events here in New Plymouth.
Events on offer:
World Vision Conference
Y-Lead
Zeal Leadership Day
Global Youth Leadership conference
NZ Model United Nations
For more information contact: Helen Mumby
hmumby@npghs.school.nz
