, type = State, Co-educational, Secondary (Year 9-13) , established = 1926 , motto_translation = (By Faith and Fortitude) , address = Frances Street,
Rosebank,
Balclutha,
New Zealand , coordinates = , principal = Mike Wright , roll = () , decile = 6N , MOE = 393 , homepage
sohs.school.nz
South Otago High School is situated in Balclutha, Otago, in the South Island of

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. It is the largest school in the South Otago region. The country's second longest river, the

Clutha River The Clutha River (, officially gazetted as Clutha River / ) is the second longest river in New Zealand and the longest in the South Island. It flows south-southeast through Central and South Otago from Lake Wānaka in the Southern Alps to the P ...

, marks the northeastern boundary of the School's grounds. The school has a strong rivalry with the smaller but older Tokomairiro High School in the neighbouring town of Milton. Links with the past at the school include a stand of

oak An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...

trees, which dominate the school's grounds. These were already several decades old at the time of the school's founding. One of these oaks is commemorated on the school's arms, along with the

Southern Cross Crux () is a constellation of the southern sky that is centred on four bright stars in a cross-shaped asterism commonly known as the Southern Cross. It lies on the southern end of the Milky Way's visible band. The name ''Crux'' is Latin for ...

. These two symbols also represent strength and a striving for higher ideals, also reflected in the school's motto of ''Fide et Fortitudine''.

History

Founded in 1926, the school is one of the South Island's oldest non-urban full secondary schools. At its opening, the school roll was 135, and the school initially shared classrooms with other nearby schools until the completion of its own building - now the school's main block - on 5 hectares of land in 1927. The school's first rector was John Reid, who held the post until 1931. From the following year, J. Garfield Anderson became rector, a post he held until 1954, during which time the school grew greatly in both size and scope.

The school today

South Otago High School is a co-educational high school with a roll of 580 students, of whom some 15% are

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

. Facilities include several computer rooms, two gymnasia - one with squash courts and fitness room, art, music, and technology suites, and science laboratories. The school also boasts 17 hectares of superb sporting fields and courts. In 2002 there was a small outbreak of group C

meningococcal disease Meningococcal disease describes infections caused by the bacterium ''Neisseria meningitidis'' (also termed meningococcus). It has a high mortality rate if untreated but is vaccine-preventable. While best known as a cause of meningitis, it can a ...

in Balclutha, and students at this school and at Rosebank Primary School were vaccinated against the disease. In April 2006, South Otago High School became the first New Zealand school to run a

Jeans for Genes Jeans for Genes Day is a national fundraiser held in Australia and the United Kingdom.The two fundraisers are not associated with one another and raise money for different organisations. Jeans for Genes (Australia) In Australia, Jeans for Genes ...

day in aid of the

Haemophilia Haemophilia, or hemophilia (), is a mostly inherited genetic disorder that impairs the body's ability to make blood clots, a process needed to stop bleeding. This results in people bleeding for a longer time after an injury, easy bruising, ...

Foundation of New Zealand. Jeans for Genes, a charitable event originating in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, sees schools raising funds to help children with genetic disorders through sponsored events on a day on which school uniform is temporarily replaced by the wearing of denim jeans. In September 2008 new principal Nick Simpson reopened plans to establish an area computing facility.

Notable alumni

* Sir

Ronald Algie Sir Ronald Macmillan Algie (22 October 1888 – 23 July 1978) was a New Zealand politician who served as Speaker of the House of Representatives for six years in the 1960s. He described himself as "a Tory in the old tradition". Early life Alg ...

- politician * Lee Allan - Otago rugby player * Tony Brown -

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

rugby player *

Kelvin Deaker Kelvin Deaker (born 19 October 1965) is a former New Zealand rugby union international referee and member of the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union, who has now retired from all refereeing. Deaker took up refereeing in 1991, and refereed his first represen ...

- international rugby referee * Tony Ensor - Otago rugby player, NZ sevens rugby player, Highlanders *

Matt Faddes Matt Faddes (born 6 November 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a centre, wing or fullback for Otago. Early career Born in the town of Balclutha, located halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on New Zealand's ...

- Otago rugby player, NZ sevens rugby player, Highlanders * Paul Grant - Otago rugby player, All Blacks Sevens player *

Bill Manhire William Manhire (born 27 December 1946) is a New Zealand poet, short story writer, emeritus professor, and New Zealand's inaugural Poet Laureate (1997–1998). He founded New Zealand's first creative writing course at Victoria University of Well ...

- writer * Rachel Pullar - cricketer *

Sarah Tsukigawa Sarah Jane Tsukigawa (born 16 January 1982) is a New Zealand former cricketer who played as an all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling right-arm medium. She appeared in 42 One Day Internationals and 19 Twenty20 Internationals for New Zeal ...

- cricketer * Robert Webster - virologist and global influenza expert * Charles Willocks -

rugby player

Notes

External links

School web site

School's former website

Meningococcal outbreak news

History

The school today

Notable alumni

Notes

External links

Further reading