Wakatipu High School Participation Day

Wakatipu High School pupils in Arthur House chanted ''A-R-T-H-U-R - Arthur is the best by far'' during their Participation Day parade. Photos by James Beech.

Hay House pupils chanted ''Where do we come from, where, where, where - Hay House, Hay House, yeah, yeah yeah.''

Mackenzie House pupils adopted an acrobatic circus theme for their march and formed the word ''Mack'' with their bodies.

Fox House took on a ''Where's Wally'' theme and finished with a burst of I See Red by Split Enz.

Duncan House pupils combined clerical garb with kung fu fighting.

Wakatipu High School pupils started their new term of study in a blaze of colours for hotly contested points on Participation Day on Friday.

The day of parade marches and sport began with all 750 pupils plus staff in their five houses performing their well-rehearsed routines of steps, moves and chants in unison.

Principal Steve Hall, also one of the judges, said Participation Day was essentially a sports day with house culture incorporated. All pupils were encouraged to join in.

''The day builds house spirit and camaraderie among students at the beginning of the year,'' Mr Hall said.

''House leaders prepared quite some time ago and the students put in a lot of hard work.''

Points awarded by the judges made a ''substantial contribution'' to the points needed to win the overall house competition at the end of the year, he said.