At SWIS, students have the chance to explore their interests and extend their passions through a wide range of extracurricular activities — sporting, academic, cultural, and arts-based. There’s something for everyone — and every student has the opportunity to get involved, give things a go, and grow their skills and confidence along the way.
Get active, have fun, and be part of a team! At SWIS, students have plenty of opportunities to stay active, develop teamwork, and represent the school with pride, in addition to core curriculum sports.
Students can join seasonal teams in water polo, netball, basketball, floorball, touch rugby, and more. Practices and games are held after school or on weekends. Registration costs are shared on HERO each season.
We are proud members of the Wellington Regional Intermediate Schools Sports Association (WRISSA), which offers a wide range of sporting opportunities, from athletics and volleyball to Ki-o-rahi and aerobics.
Students can register their interest in the sports SWIS participates in, with many teams selected following open trials. These competitions are scheduled to take place on Wednesdays throughout the year. Some may have a cost for transportation to and from the venue. Contact Dan Miller (dan.miller@swis.school.nz ) for more information.
The AIMS Games is a national competition in Tauranga for intermediate students. Past participants have competed in netball, football, swimming, mountain biking, and rock climbing. Parent support and fundraising are required to attend, with full details shared closer to the event.
At SWIS, we are proud to offer two vibrant cultural groups that meet once a week during school hours. Both groups regularly perform at community events, including the opening of the new Wakefield Hospital buildings and inter-intermediate cultural festivals.
All students are welcome to join, and we celebrate the diversity and talents of our ākonga. These groups also provide opportunities for Year 8 students to take on leadership roles. Leaders are selected by the teachers running the groups and are expected to be positive role models within PolyClub, Kapa Haka, and their classes.
For more information:
Kapa Haka – Rebecca Amos and Hannah Quince: hannah.quince@swis.school.nz and rebecca.amos@swis.school.nz
PolyClub – Eseta Uini and Stephen Moli: eseta.uini@swis.school.nz and stephen.moli@swis.school.nz
This year we will continue with our Māori Club for all students who identify as Māori to meet and celebrate their whakapapa. There are elected leaders within this group who take charge of a variety of different roles, from finance to whanaungatanga. They meet once a week with Rebecca Amos and Hannah Quince.
SWIS offers several leadership opportunities for students:
More details on these roles are shared with classes at the beginning of the year.
A highlight of our enrichment programme, our various SWIS Bands offer talented students the chance to perform and compete. Auditions are held for students who wish to join, and participants should already be capable musicians or singers, as there isn’t time to teach beginners. Bands also have the exciting opportunity to take part in Rockquest later in the year.
For more information, please contact Aaron Kling at aaron.kling@swis.school.nz.
The Wearable Arts (WOW) programme – Show Quest Toi, is an exciting opportunity for Year 8 students to showcase their creativity and design skills. Students continue developing garments they began in Year 7, working towards a stunning performance at the St James Theatre. Each year, the competition features five changing categories, encouraging students to innovate and express themselves through original designs. Garments must include at least 70% recycled materials, promoting sustainability and creative reuse.
Students take part in Term 1 Enrichment sessions every Friday afternoon, along with additional lunchtime workshops for extra support. The experience culminates in a professional photo shoot and an evening parade at the St James Theatre, where students present their creations before a live audience.
Past judges have included Dame Suzie Moncrieff and Heather Palmer, making this a truly special event in the SWIS calendar.
There is a $10 entry fee per student. Show is 24 June, 2026 tbc
For more information, contact Christine Sangster: christine.sangster@swis.school.nz.
Each school develops an original performance that weaves together the six elements of Showquest — Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Culture and Technology — exploring a theme chosen by the students themselves. From concept to curtain call, it’s entirely student-led: choreographed, designed, produced and performed by students in a celebration of creativity and community. For more information, please contact Greg Kyle: greg.kyle@swis.school.nz.
PEAK (Pride in Extending and Accessing Knowledge) is SWIS’s programme for students who want to go beyond the classroom, explore new pathways, and develop fresh skills through a wide range of activities designed to challenge and inspire.
These programmes aim to:
Challenge and extend students academically
Tap into individual interests and passions
Build on existing knowledge and skills
Provide opportunities to try new activities that may lead to lifelong interests
Sign-ups and meeting details are shared in the daily notices. Students can self-nominate or be invited by teachers or friends. Activities with costs (except ICAS exams) can be paid via HERO.
Future Problem Solving (FPS)
An international programme developing critical and creative thinking through future-focused challenges. Includes team and individual competitions, writing, performance, and community problem solving. The 2026 topics include Invasive Species, Space Exploration, Video Games, and Surveillance. The programme is ideal for students passionate about STEM, teamwork, and creative thinking. FPS sessions are held twice a week before school, and participation involves a registration cost.
📧 Christine Sangster
Children’s University
Students take part in a wide range of experiences — including visits to learning destinations, online activities, and extra-curricular programmes — and record their hours in a Passport to Learning. Students who complete 30 or more learning hours are recognised at an annual graduation ceremony, with higher awards available for returning participants. Expressions of interest open in March, a small cost applies, and places may be limited.
📧 Kelly Bush
Extension Maths & Extension Writing
Invitation-only groups for students identified through assessment. In the maths group, they are challenged with simple trigonometry and calculus and more advanced algebraic problems. The writing group focuses on different writing styles and enjoys playing with words.
📧 Maths: Josh Hinman
📧 Writing: Lisa Joe
World Scholars’ Cup
Teams of three compete in debates, writing, quizzes and challenges based on an annual theme. Teams participate in debates, as well as take part in the co-operative writing competition. The Scholars’ Bowl and Scholars’ Challenge quizzes usually take place on a Saturday, and for all the students the highlight of the weekend, receiving their alpaca, happens then as well! Parents are very welcome to come to the Saturday sessions, and the prizegiving at the end is an experience in itself.
📧 Christine Sangster
Kids’ Lit Quiz
Reading as a sport?? Definitely! This is a competition for really keen readers who read a wide variety of different genres. We are only allowed to register two teams of four to take part in this, but we are more than happy to have lots of potential team members coming to the practice sessions. We select the two teams closer to the competition, which will be held on May 16 at Wellesley College in Eastbourne. There is a cost involved for students who are selected for the two teams.
📧 Christine Sangster
Tournament of Minds
Tournament of Minds is a team-based competition that develops creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Students work together on both Spontaneous Challenges, which involve solving unseen problems on the spot, and a Long-Term Challenge, where teams design and present a creative solution over several weeks.
The programme emphasises inclusivity, teamwork, and peer support. Term 2 focuses on spontaneous challenges, with long-term challenge topics released six weeks before Tournament Day. A team cost applies and will be confirmed closer to the event.
📧 Christine Sangster
Spell It Out
Inter-intermediate spelling competition for selected Year 7 and 8 students.
📧 Christine Sangster
ICAS Exams
ICAS exams offer students the chance to extend themselves academically through nationally recognised online assessments. SWIS participates in six subjects: Digital Technologies, Writing, English, Spelling Bee, Science, and Maths.
Each exam has a cost and is paid for through the ICAS parent portal. Students sit the exams at school, and some coaching may be available depending on staff availability. Registration details will be shared in the SWIS newsletter closer to the time.
📧 Josh Hinman
Books Alive
Books Alive is a full-day visit to the National Library in Thorndon as part of the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Students take part in hands-on workshops and talks with finalist authors and illustrators, gaining insight into writing and illustrating processes and the chance to meet creators and have books signed. This opportunity is ideal for enthusiastic readers and aspiring writers. We will take 25 students to the event on Wednesday 19 August.
📧 Christine Sangster
Mathswell
Wellington-wide maths competition for selected Year 7 & 8 teams.
📧 Josh Hinman
EPro8
A hands-on engineering and problem-solving competition using tools, electronics and construction materials.
📧 Morgan Jamieson
Chess Competitions
Local and regional competitions for students with a basic understanding of chess.
📧 Wendy Collis