Opihi College provides a diverse array of opportunities for students throughout the year, extending beyond sports to encompass outdoor education, cultural experiences, performing arts, and academic competitions. Regardless of age or ability, we encourage all students to engage actively in opportunities.
We maintain robust connections with local sports clubs, fostering a sense of community, and participate in exchanges with other schools in the area.
A new feature of the school calendar is our cultural competition which promotes student performance and encourages House and School pride.
Opihi College also has opportunities for senior students to travel to Japan every second year to study and learn about the Japanese culture. This is a great opportunity for our students to gain experience beyond New Zealand.
Senior students are also encouraged to participate in exchange programmes such as AFS.
Another strength of the school is our Outdoor Education programme. In the senior school there is a timetabled class. Younger students are encouraged to attend camps at each year level. Students have the opportunity to try a range of activities such as:
As well as sport, we offer a range of performing arts. We put on a major production every second year and a minor production of a cabaret type nature called Starlight Spectacular in alternate years. We also host Opihi LIVE - a talent quest to showcase student and community talents.
Our kapa haka group, Te Umu Kaha, plays a ceremonial role in the school as well as performing in public. The group helps with Powhiri and is well known in the region for high quality performances.
The performance opportunities for our artists are also valued for the extra learning dimension they bring to the school with many key competencies being demonstrated by the performers.
Our students love performing in many co-curricular academic competitions. We have regular participants in the Konichiwa competition in Christchurch and the various ICAS (formerly Australasian) Science, Maths and English competitions. Student teams represent us year after year in regional competitions such as Cantamaths, Spelling and Social Studies quizzes. Some perform with distinction in the annual Central South Island Science Fair and in formal debates. There are many opportunities available.
Senior students studying Japanese have the opportunity to participate in our biennial Japanese Language Study Trip. Students live with host families in our sister city, Eniwa, Hokkaido for two weeks and then travel around the rest of Japan by train for one more week.
The value of studying and using the language at its source together with complete cultural immersion is immeasurable.
There is no better way to learn about another country, its customs and the way of life of its people than by experiencing it first-hand as a homestay student. Though its only three weeks in Japan, students grow in maturity, self-confidence, communicative ability, and learn to become global citizens.
