Extra Curricular Cultural Activities

Extra Curricular Opportunities

We pride ourselves on offering a wide range of extra curricular opportunities for our students. These opportunities typically fall within academic, cultural, leadership, and sporting areas, and vary from year to year depending on availability and student interest. There is often overlap between extra curricular and extension opportunities. Please see the Sports section for further information about sporting opportunities.

Typical extra curricular opportunities include:

Academic

• University of Canterbury Kiwi Competitions: Maths, English, Science and the Spelling Bee
• EPro8
• Speech Competitions
• Kids Lit Reading Competition
• Christchurch Word Festival
• CantaMath
• Otago Problem Solving Competition
• Science Badges
• Extension classes: Technology, English, Mathematics

Cultural

• Kapa Haka
• Orchestra
• Choir
• School Production
• Māori Rangatahi 
• Royal New Zealand Ballet performance and dance workshops
• Music lessons
• Dance workshops or showcases

Leadership

• World Vision Leadership Conference

Kapa Haka

• • At Kahikatea Kirkwood Intermediate School, we are proud of our 70-strong Kapa Haka. They are tutored weekly by Whaea Tania and Matua Willy. We privilege this group by having them practice from 2pm-2.55pm each Wednesday. This year, for the first time, our rōpu are working towards performing in the Tūhono Festival later in the year – our rangatahi are excited for this opportunity.We have four student rangatira in our rōpu. They work hard in Year 7 as part of the wider group and are then selected to lead the Kapa Haka based on their leadership, talent and commitment. These rangatira lead haka and waiata, and act as kaitiaki (guardians) of the other students in the rōpu. We rely on these students to lead in other areas of our kura as well – when we have guests, for hāngī and for whānau hui, etc. Being part of Kapa Haka connects our rangitahi māori to their whakapapa and provides all students, no matter their ethnicity, with a genuine connection to te ao Māori and allows them opportunities within the performing arts. Rangitahi gain confidence and connection to others within the group, and we encourage all students to give Kapa Haka a go. 

Extension Opportunities

We provide students with a wide range of opportunities to extend themselves both inside and outside the classroom. Teachers support extension within their classroom programmes, while additional opportunities are offered throughout the year in academic, cultural, leadership, and sporting areas. Where possible, students can sign up for these opportunities, while some require trials or selection based on merit due to limited places. Opportunities vary each year depending on availability and student interest. Please see the Sports section for information about sporting opportunities.

Typical extension opportunities include:

Achievements

 Blues Awards