Opunake High School

Story

Opunake High School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys and girls in Opunake, New Zealand. It has a roll of 319 as of November 2015, the school crest features the Cape Egmont Lighthouse, open book and the torch of the spirit, and Mt Taranaki the motto "Ut prosim patriae" which translates to "that I may be worthy of my country". The school colours are blue and yellow. Most of the school's approximately 319 students are from Opunake and surrounding townships such as Manaia, Kaponga, and Rahotu.HousesOpunake High School currently has four houses, which they call hapu. Awhina - black Karo - green Rimu - red Totara - blueAcademicThe school offers the state run NCEA for students to undertake.BadgeWhen Opunake High School was translated to a full post-primary school, it was evident that a new badge would have to be designed to replace the Opunake District High School badge which had served the school so well for thirty years. The Committee of Management, Staff and pupils set about the task with enthusiasm and many and varied were drawings presented.Finally from the drawings and suggestions made by Mr. Gifford, the school's art master, and by Mr. J. England, a member of the staff, a preliminary draft of the badge was made and after some modifications suggested by the Committee, the final design was approved.The shield of the badge is now divided into three sections. In the lowest section appears Mt. Egmont, symbolic, of course, of the whole province of Taranaki. It is noteworthy, however, that this is the Opunake view of the mountain with Fantham's peak on the right. In the left section of the badge appears Cape Egmont Lighthouse which is symbolic of the coastal part of the province which the School serves. It may also, however, be regarded as a symbol of the shedding of the light of knowledge to all those who come within the influence of the school.