Waitaki Boys' High School

Story

Waitaki Boys' High School is a secondary school for boys located in the northern part of the town of Oamaru, Otago, New Zealand, with day and boarding facilities, and was founded in 1883., it has a school roll of just under 500.The school has a house system with four houses, Don, Forrester, Lee and Sutherland. It organises some cultural activities together with its nearby sister school, Waitaki Girls' High School.The school is notable for its British colonial architecture, encompassing such historic buildings such as the Hall of Memories, an assembly hall, built to honour its former pupils who died in various wars.In keeping with its unisex colonial past (echoes of the British class system and single-sex schools) the achievements of Waitaki's school leavers were the usual mixed bag. Some were exceptional old boys (ex-pupils) with meritorious achievements who moved on to achieve greatness, while others left and faded into obscurity.Most of the blocks of classrooms at Waitaki Boys High School are named after famous past students, also known as Waitakians or Old Boys. (i.e. The main, and oldest block of the school is named after Denis Blundell.) But they are often referred to as the first letter of the title. (I.e. B-Block.)Founding the SchoolThe idea of establishing a Waitaki Boy's High School originated with Mr. S. E. Shrimski, who was one of the two members of parliament representing the Waitaki electorate.RectorsThe following is a complete list of the rectors of Waitaki Boys' High School: