HVHS Newsletter

Kia ora everyone,

Next week, we are facilitating Parent/Teacher interviews for Years 11-13. For information about how to book with individual subject teachers please click here. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet face-to-face or online with your child’s teacher and hear what is going well and needs improvement, as well as how together we can help students succeed. A team approach with whānau and families working together truly helps student achievement. Students are welcome to attend Parent/Teacher interviews.

We are well into the winter season, and colds, flu, and bugs are prevalent in the community. If your child needs to stay home, remember that there are plenty of resources and work posted on Google Classroom to help them stay up-to-date. Recent attendance data from the ministry indicates that we are very close to meeting national standards and expectations. However, we need to work on punctuality. Some local buses run 15 minutes late most days. It might be time to consider catching an earlier bus. Being late to class five days in a row means a student loses over an hour of teaching time.

Careers Day 2024 was a resounding success! Our dedicated Career Team managed a remarkable event, hosting over 40 exhibitors, including companies and institutions like Kiwi Trade Apprentices, UCOL (Universal College of Learning), the University of Otago's Radiation Therapy Department, TechStep, and the Wellington Free Ambulance.

Students were able to meet and have meaningful conversations about potential career paths. We received wonderful reviews from the exhibitors, who were impressed with our students, the Expo Team, and the respectful, helpful, and friendly demeanour of the attendees. The exhibitors said they had a great day and are looking forward to being invited to more events at HVHS.

'The Boy Boilers' and 'Dude, We're Screwed' have been selected to compete in the Rockquest regional final alongside the best high school bands from Wellington. This is a fantastic achievement for our talented musicians. Tomorrow night, from 7pm the bands will be performing their original music live at the Performing Arts Centre at Sacred Heart College.

Stay well,

Ngā manaakitanga, Denise Johnson (Principal)

Image: Careers Day 2024 in the Hall at HVHS.

This is a reminder that students will be learning from home and completing assigned work on Google Classroom on Thursday 13 June and Thursday 20 June. On these dates, teachers will be meeting with families for parent/teacher interviews for Years 11-13.

For families in Years 11-13, please check your emails for information on how to book parent/teacher interviews or for more information click here

This article highlights learning and enrichment activities in the Social Sciences Learning Area, which includes Accounting, Business Studies, Classics, Economics, Geography, History, and Tourism.

Business Studies

• Year 11 Business Studies - The Year 11 Business Studies joined forces with Deloitte and participated in the GROW Program. The students formed business groups and laid the foundations for their market day projects from which they will look to profit in Term 3.
• Year 13 Business Studies - students have been receiving valuations from locals and local businesses for their Young Enterprise products.

Classics

• Year 11 Classics - Aotearoa’s Next Top Mummy tasked students to create a media-type portrayal of a Mummy using the resources given to them. Students considered the Hollywood portrayal of mummies versus the historical reality.

Economics

• Year 11 Economics - Students visited Woodhaven Gardens in Levin to provide a rural perspective. This visit included seeing and hearing about the impacts of Woodhaven Gardens on the local economy through the same lens of the labour market and unemployment.
  

Geography

• Year 12 Geography: Students collected data on Mt Ruapehu and along the Mangatepopo Valley, as well as walked to Taranaki Falls.

History

• Year 11 History: Students visited to Te Papa, Pukeahu National War Memorial and the Wellington Cenotaph to explore sites of significance to New Zealand.
• Year 12 History: A trip to Taranaki to study the Taranaki Wars 1860 -72, visiting the battle site of Puketakauere, Te Rewa Rewa Bridge and learning about siege techniques.

For any questions about Social Sciences at HVHS please contact Hayley Knights (Head of Social Sciences Learning Area) at hayley.knights@hvhs.school.nz

The Wellington Model European Union (EU) event, for senior secondary school students in Years 10-13, presented a topic on “Navigating a Changing Europe”.

As part of the two-day event, students from across New Zealand were allocated to EU countries. As delegates of their country, they engaged in debates, negotiations and intensive committee sessions. The debates centred on the war in Ukraine, migration and climate change, requiring students to tackle complex issues head-on.

At the end of the two-day event, the organisers praised the students' enthusiasm and readiness to engage in meaningful discussions and debates about the European Union.

For students interested in participating in future Model EU or Youth United Nations (UN) events, please contact Hayley Knights (Head of Social Sciences Learning Area) at hayley.knights@hvhs.school.nz for more information.

Image: Aru Vythilingam (Teacher - Economics & Social Studies) with the students representing HVHS at the Model EU event - Racquel Premraj (11BH), Milithi NMS Hewage (12NB), Jayden Tolley-Beales (11BU), Idrees Munshi (11BU), Myumi Peiris (11BH), Mishall Umar (11BH), Minara Dadallagei (11ST) & Lily Scott (10HRKO)

This month has seen a bountiful display of hardwork and talent gush forth from our Music Department. The busiest month of the year for our department with competition and events both in and out of school.

Barbershop Quartet

On Monday 20 May, two HVHS Barbershop groups showcased their talents at the Wellington Regional Competition hosted by Young Singers in Harmony at the Lower Hutt Town Hall. Performing to a sold-out audience, Panda Perfect Barbershop Quartet and the HVHS Barbershop Chorus both performed strongly and received positive scores reflecting their practice and stagecraft, earning two third-place awards. Both groups are looking to head to the national finals in Wellington in September.

A special thank you goes to Tara Randall (13JD) for her exceptional organising efforts, which ensured that the HVHS performances ran smoothly for everyone involved. Ngā mihi nui, Tara!

Woburn Apartments Concert

Performers from all year levels entertained the residents of Woburn Apartments at an early afternoon concert. Six groups preparing for upcoming Music competitions enjoyed the opportunity to perform their pieces.

The groups and their directors were: Volante Choir (Ruth Armishaw), Toot Suite Saxophone ensemble (Chris Buckland), Guitar Quartet (Owen Moriarty), My Two Best Friends - Trio Piano Violin and Cello (Alex Vaatstra), Wu Piano Triet (Nicholas Kovacev) and Cui Trio Violins and Piano (Judith Exley also a resident of the apartments).

Rockquest and Tangata Beats

The regional heats saw a multitude of bands and solo performers from Hutt Valley High School at Rockquest and Tangata Beats. Two bands have made it through to the regional final tomorrow (Saturday 8 June) at Sacred Heart College, The Boy Boilers and Dude, We’re Screwed.

The Coding and Animating Club is open to all year levels. It is a space for students of all levels of experience to share ideas and knowledge. Students are welcome to bring their own projects or learn how to code and animate 3D games, multiplayer games, 3D models, and complex animations.

The club runs on Thursday lunchtime in B14. For any questions, please contact Katie Long (Head of Technology Learning Area) at katie.long@hvhs.school.nz

Enrolments for 2025 are now open for in-zone and out-of-zone applications. All enrolments are now completed online. Please go to the enrolment page to find the online enrolment form and key enrolment deadlines.

We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to enrol their child as early as possible. This allows us to plan for their learning needs and ensure a smooth transition to high school. An added benefit of enrolling now is that your child will be in the first group to receive the email with subject selections (many subjects have limited spaces).

If you have any questions, please email our Enrolment Coordinator, Lesley Mackay at lesley.mackay@hvhs.school.nz

Chinese Chess Club

Students can learn and play Chinese chess (Xiangqi) every Wednesday at lunchtime in G7. Known for its complexity and faster pace compared to Western chess, Chinese chess offers a stimulating challenge for players. Additionally, the Mahjong Club also runs at the same time and in the same room. All students are welcome - just drop in and join the fun!

Language Buddies Club

Language Buddies Club offers students the opportunity to use their language talent and strength. If a student can commit to one hour per week helping English Language students develop their conversational skills the Language Buddies Club would welcome your support. Please contact Yanling Guo at yanling.guo@hvhs.school.nz or Victoria Mitchell at victoria.mitchell@hvhs.school.nz to register a student to help as a Language Buddy.

The Resource Centre is running a Uniform Sale. Families can take advantage of great deals on selected uniform items:

• Tailored Black School Shorts. Now $20
• Plain Black Tailored Straight-Legged Trousers. Now $30
• HVHS Grey Pleat (with Zip Pocket) Skirts. Now $40
• HVHS Grey Unfitted/Unstructured Short Sleeved Shirts. Now $20
  
• HVHS Grey Pinstripe Fitted/Structured Short Sleeved Shirts*. Now $20.

* A fitted/structured shirt is shaped across the chest area.

Please note that sizes and quantities are limited, and all sales are final - no returns or exchanges will be accepted. If you're interested in purchasing any items, email resource.centre@hvhs.school.nz with "Uniform Sale" in the subject line.

Why the Sale? HVHS is in the process of switching uniform suppliers and is selling off the remaining stock from our old supplier. Rest assured, the design of our uniform remains unchanged; only the supplier is new. Don't miss out on this opportunity to stock up on uniform essentials at reduced prices.

In term 1, our Senior Academic Leaders, Fiona Wu (13FE), Eileen Wu (13FE) and William Li (13FE) set up a peer tutoring programme where high-achieving senior students in Years 12 & 13 are available to help HVHS students with academic support. Peer Tutors provide support in school work, exams, assignments and concepts at no cost.

Peer tutoring is provided to students in 15-30 minute sessions and is offered in a variety of subjects. The plan is for students requiring support to catch up with their Peer Tutor at least once a week.

The peer tutoring programme is also looking for more Peer Tutors to help students. To register to become a new Peer Tutor or for peer tutoring support please see the links below.

• To register a student for Peer Tutoring click here.
• To register your interest in becoming a Peer Tutor, click here.
  

Registrations are open till Friday 14 June (end of week 7). Please feel free to email our Academic Leaders Fiona Wu (13FE) at 20013fw@hvhs.school.nz, Eileen Wu (13FE) at 20012ew@hvhs.school.nz and William Li (13FE) at 20168wl@hvhs.school.nz, with any questions.

Always remember that a range of learning support options are available for students at HVHS. If you'd like to know more about the options available, please contact your Mentor Teacher in the first instance.

A reminder to parents and caregivers, please don't pick up or drop off students in the staff car park. Space is very limited and parent/caregiver cars further restrict access.

We need to ensure over 2,000 students and staff can safely move around the school grounds and mobility vans transporting students with additional needs can safely use the staff car park. Construction is also underway at the front of the main administration building, reducing the available space in the staff car park. We appreciate your cooperation.

If the Office has contacted you to collect your unwell student during the school day, please continue using the visitor car parking spaces.

Summer sports photos are available online to purchase at https://inphotography.store/. Families were emailed their User ID and Password on Wednesday 15 May to login to the online store. Please check your emails.

A big thank you to the team at INphotography "IN it with you" for the fantastic photos. Need more information? If you need your User ID and Password re-sent please contact the HVHS Office at office@hvhs.school.nz

We are seeking more relief teachers to join Hutt Valley High School’s relief teacher pool. If you’re currently a registered secondary school teacher looking for casual work or an experienced sports coach interested in taking relief PE classes please contact Deputy Principal, Fiona Pearson at fiona.pearson@hvhs.school.nz to learn more and to discuss your availability.

Saturday 8 June

• Chamber Music Contest (runs till Sunday 9 June)
• Rockquest Final

Monday 10 June

• International Languages Week

Tuesday 11 June

• Whanganui Sports Exchange

Wednesday 12 June

• International Student Homestay Meeting, 7pm-8:30pm

Thursday 13 June

• Learning from home day for all year levels
  
• Parent/Teacher Meetings for Years 11-13, 8:30am-4:30pm

Monday 17 June

• Pride Week starts

Wednesday 19 June

• Canterbury University, Scholarship Presentation, G8, 1:30-2:15pm

Thursday 20 June

• Learning from home day for all year levels
• Parent/Teacher Meetings for Years 11-13, 8:30am-4:30pm

Monday 24 June

• Matariki Celebrations (all week)

Wednesday 26 June

• HVHS Board Meeting, 5:30pm-7:30pm, Boardroom, HVHS

Friday 28 June

• Matariki (public holiday, school closed)

Thursday 4 July

• New Zealand Defence Force Presentation, G8, 1:30-2:15pm

Friday 5 July

• HuttFest
  
• Last day of Term 2

Monday 22 July

• First day of Term 3

Friday 9 August

• Year 9 Disco, 7:30pm Start

Monday 12 August

• House Got Talent Competition (runs all week)

Monday 19 August

• School Musical (runs all week)

Tuesday 20 August

• HVHS Board Meeting, Boardroom, 5:30-7:30pm

Email: office@hvhs.school.nz
Website: hvhs.school.nz
Location: Hutt Valley High School Woburn Road, Woburn, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Phone: 04 566 4584