HVHS Newsletter

Kia ora koutou,

This is our final newsletter for 2024. Thank you for being there and listening throughout the year! A warm welcome, nau mai haere mai, to our new students and families starting at HVHS in 2025. We look forward to meeting you all.

We’ve now celebrated five prizegivings, each one unique and special. While we would love to fit entire year levels and their whānau into our hall, space limitations meant hosting five separate events. Our Year 9 and 10 celebrations were further limited due to being held in the school hall. In contrast, our senior school prizegivings took place at the Town Hall, adding a sense of formality and occasion to these important milestones.

One of the standout moments for me at this year’s prizegivings was the incredible performances from our talented musicians, setting a truly special tone for the events. Seeing the pride and support students showed as their peers walked across the stage to receive their awards was heartwarming.

A particularly significant award at HVHS is the Ad Alta Award, reflecting our school motto, Ad Alta or Whāia te iti kahurangi — To the Heights. This is one of our most prestigious recognitions, and I’m thrilled that so many students were recipients this year.

The path to success at school is straightforward but powerful:

1. Belonging and Connection: Students thrive when they feel connected to the school community. Our mentor teachers, Wellbeing Team, co-curricular sports, clubs and performing arts staff play a crucial role here.
2. Attendance: Being present is essential. It’s tough to keep up or catch up when you miss school — and challenging for teachers and support staff to assist if students aren’t there.
3. Effort and Motivation: Whether you call it oomph, enthusiasm, or grit — putting in effort, even when learning is tough, makes a huge difference.

These qualities are what the Ad Alta Award celebrates. My challenge to those who didn’t receive an award this year is to focus on one of these three areas and aim for a Bronze award next year. Ad Alta moves through levels — Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and finally, Pounamu. Pounamu recipients receive a special taonga, which is gifted to them by the school.

This week, we had the pleasure of hosting Minister of Education, Erica Stanford and Minister, Chris Bishop, who announced that construction on our new building will begin in March 2025 — a fantastic way to wrap up the year! I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the refreshed administration building, with its new cladding, windows, and modern design. I’m especially excited to move back into my office after months of hot-desking around the school with the rest of the Senior Leadership Team. It will be a welcome change to have a window with a view that isn’t a plastic tent!

Looking ahead, next year’s weathertightness work will focus on B-Block and the Drama room (S1). While progress brings its share of disruption, dust, and noise, I’m grateful for everyone’s patience and resilience as we work toward creating better facilities for our students and staff.

Wishing you all a wonderful summer filled with joy, relaxation, and quality time with whānau, family, and friends. We look forward to seeing you back in 2025.

Ngā mihi nui,

Denise Johnson, Principal

How to Register:

1. Parents and caregivers must complete a separate registration form for each sport their student wants to participate in.

2. Visit - https://hvhs.school.nz/sport/

3. Click on the relevant sport to access the registration form & details about the upcoming season.

Deadline:

Registrations close on Friday, 7 February 2025. Many summer sports start Week 1 of Term 1, so please register your student/s as soon as possible.

Questions/ What's Next:

Once registered, the Sports Office will contact you with further information, e.g. trial dates. For any questions, please email the Sports Office at sport@hvhs.school.nz

Registrations for free music lessons are now open for 2025. Music lessons are offered for the following instruments: bass guitar, cello, clarinet, double bass, drums, flute, french horn, guitar, percussion, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, viola, violin and voice.

Applications are accepted all year round. However, applications completed by Friday 7 February will be considered for the first group of lessons in Term 1.

To apply for free music lessons in 2025, please click here. For more information on music opportunities visit the school website's music page or email the Music Department at music@hvhs.school.nz

Please click the links below for the stationery lists for students in years 9-13.

• Year 9 Stationery List
• Year 10 Stationery List
• Year 11 Stationery List
• Year 12 Stationery List
• Year 13 Stationery List

For students attending Tautoko, our Supported Learning Centre (SLC) please find the stationery lists for NZQA and non-NZQA:

• Supported Learning Centre (SLC) Non-NZQA Stationery List
• Supported Learning Centre (SLC) NZQA Stationery List

All stationery lists are also available on our school's website - https://hvhs.school.nz/stationery-lists/

The Resource Centre is located upstairs in the Library area. To visit it, please enter via the School Office in the Main Admin Building and follow the signs to the Library. The Resource Centre is now closed and will reopen ahead of the 2025 school year. Please see the opening hours listed below.

Opening Hours for the Start of 2025:

• Thursday, 23 January & Friday, 24 January - Uniform order pick-ups only from the Library from 9:30am to 3:30pm (no appointment bookings or drop-in visits available)

• Monday 27 January to Friday 31 January - Open for appointment bookings (for new students) and drop-ins from 9:00am to 4:00pm

• Monday 3 February 2025 - Open for appointments (new students) and drop-ins from 9:00am to 4:00pm
• Tuesday 4 February & Wednesday 5 February - Open for drop-in visits only from 9:00am to 4:00pm
• Thursday 6 February - Closed for Te Rā o Waitangi | Waitangi Day (public holiday)
• Friday 7 February 2025 - Open for drop-in visits only from 9:00am to 4:00pm
• Monday 10 February 2025 and onwards - Term 1 hours start with the Resource Centre open from Monday to Thursday from 9:00am to 2:30pm (during term time only).
  

How to Book an Appointment for a Uniform Fitting

To make a booking for a uniform fitting, login the SchoolPoint website and select the 'Bookings' button and follow the instructions. For any questions, please email the Resource Centre at resource.centre@hvhs.school.nz

The School Office reopens on Thursday 23 January, please see the hours below:

• Thursday 23 January & Friday 24 January - open from 9:30am to 3:30pm.
• Monday 27 January onwards - returns to normal School Office hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday during term time only excludes public holidays.

Year 9 Students

• Tuesday, 4 February: Start at 9:00am. Please meet on the lawn between B Block and the Hall (pictured below) for the pōwhiri. The school day will finish at 3:15pm.
• Wednesday, 5 February: Start at 9:30am for Day Two and head to your Spell 1 class. Please note - on Wednesdays, the school day starts at 9:30am.

New Students Starting in Years 10–13

• Tuesday, 4 February: Start at 9:00am. Please meet on the lawn between B Block and the Hall (pictured below) for the pōwhiri. Afterwards, students will go to the Library for their orientation, including a tour of the school.
• Wednesday, 5 February: Start at 11:30am. Please go to your Spell 3 class.

Tautoko (Supported Learning Centre)

• Tuesday, 4 February: New and returning students start at 9:00am. Please go directly to the Supported Learning Centre.

Returning Students in Years 10–13

• Wednesday, 5 February: your first day starts at 11:30am. Please go to your Spell 3 class.

Hutt Valley High School uses the SchoolBridge school app. It is recommended that parents, caregivers and students download the SchoolBridge app to keep informed with HVHS alerts and notifications, and it is especially important to have on your mobile during an emergency, e.g. school lockdown. Parents and caregivers can also report a student’s absence using the app (remember to select the correct student's name if you have two or more children at HVHS).

Year 9 students (and new students starting in Years 10-13) will receive their login and password for the SchoolBridge app in the first week of Term 1. This information will allow them to log into the app. If your student requires parental permission to download an app to their mobile, consider approving the download of the SchoolBridge app to their mobile before their first day at school.

The SchoolBridge app gives students access to their digital Student ID card and school timetable. If you need more information on signing in for the first time, please click here

If your student is unable to attend school due to illness or personal reasons, parents or caregivers

must notify the school. When reporting an absence, please provide the following details:

• Your first and last name
• Your mentor class
• The reason for your absence.

How to report an absence:

• Use the HVHS App (SchoolBridge)
• Email absences.notification@hvhs.school.nz
• Call the School Absence Line at (04) 560 1568

• Provide a written note signed by a parent or caregiver.

Important: text messages from parents and caregivers are not accepted.

Leaving school during the day: If your student has an appointment or needs to leave during school

hours, a parent or caregiver must inform the school in advance. Students must also sign in and

out via the Student Reception. To let the school know about an appointment or the reason a student is leaving school early, please use any options listed above.

If your student feels unwell or is injured at school, please remind them to come to the First Aid Room (Sick Bay) in the first instance. This ensures that students are assessed and well-supported while at school.

The First Aid Officer will work with the student to assess their condition and the best course of action, e.g. returning to class, resting in sick bay and/or calling a parent or caregiver to discuss or collect their student.

Congratulations to the following students and team:

• Luca Marshall (11AD) has been selected for the U16 Lower North Island Team for The Hockey Experience Super Challenge next year.

• Jesse Leask Young (9CNMC) and Seb Bodden (9KSHD) have both been accepted into the Wellington Phoenix Academy for 2025, into the U14 Boy's Squad.
• HVHS Mixed Touch Team placed 12th overall at the Bunnings New Zealand Secondary Schools Touch Championships. A massive thank you to their coaches!

New Zealand Secondary Schools' National Championships

Our athletes produced fantastic results at the recent New Zealand Secondary Athletics Championships, including:

• Isla Hughes (12CW) competed in the Senior Division for the first time, placing 17th in Discus, throwing 28.00m and 8th in Hammer, throwing 33.75m.

• Mikayla Sola (13JD) produced a personal best to win the Hammer event with a throw of 51.82m. Mikayla also placed 5th in Shot Put, throwing 13.17m, and in Discus came 7th, throwing 40.35m. Three top-ten finishes at the NZ Champs - an amazing result!
• Toby Ireland (12CS) raced in the 2,000m Multi Class Para event, placing 2nd in 8:58. In the 1,500m Para event, Toby (pictured) placed 2nd running 6:08.68 and made a New Zealand Record for his classification!
• Finnigan Strickland (9GSSP) in the Boys 3km Road Race came 6th, running a time of 9:47, and in the 3,000m Track event, came 21st, running 9:50.43.
• Jessie McKenzie (12SM) in the 1,500m came 6th with a time of 5:03.70. Jessie races in the Senior Girls and has another year competing in this category.

The Sports Office would like to thank all those who have coached, managed, and helped with sports throughout this year. Without you we wouldn’t be able to do half the things we do. We appreciate everything you have done.

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and look forward to working with everyone next year. Have a great holiday.

- Kristi Tia (Sports Director)

Image: Toby Ireland (12CS), Mikayla Sola (13JD), Jessie McKenzie (12SM) & Isla Hughes (12CW) at the NZ Secondary Schools Athletics Championship.

Registrations for Te Kura’s Summer School are now open. Te Kura, formerly known as Correspondence School, offers a learning programme over the summer holidays for ākonga needing up to 12 NCEA credits to progress to further study, training, or employment.

Te Kura Summer School is designed to support students who:

• are concerned about meeting the 14-credit requirement in a subject for University Entrance
• need additional literacy credits to complete NCEA Level 3
• or require up to 12 NCEA credits to pursue further study, training, or employment.

For more information on enrolment dates and to see the complete list of courses and standards offered at Te Kura's Summer School, please visit their website - https://www.tekura.school.nz/learn-with-us/learning-at-te-kura/summer-school

Hosting an international student attending HVHS is a wonderful opportunity to learn about diverse traditions, cultures, and languages.

If your family:

• can provide a welcoming and supportive environment for an international student,
• has a spare bedroom available, and
• lives in-zone (preferred).

We encourage you to consider becoming a homestay family for international students arriving in January 2025. Homestay families receive a remuneration of $330 per week.

Hosting options for families range from a temporary weekend hosting a student while a homestay family is away to full-time hosting for up to one year.

Our international students come from a variety of countries, including Greenland, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

For more information or to express your interest, please email our Homestay Coordinator, Anna Kingsford, at anna.kingsford@hvhs.school.nz. Include a short bio about your family and a contact phone number.

We're currently running low on donated uniforms. If your student has outgrown their uniform or no longer needs it, please consider donating it back to HVHS.

We'll ensure it is passed on to a student who needs it or loaned to a student who needs a replacement uniform item for a couple of days. Any uniform items you wish to donate can be dropped at the School Office at HVHS. The Office re-opens on Thursday, 23 January 2025 from 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Student's 2024 Art Folios will be available for collection from the Arts Department from Tuesday, 4 February 2025 onwards. Kia pai te raumati, have a great summer from the Arts Learning Area.

Hutt Valley High School has over 20 different clubs for students to join. You can check out the full list here on our website. Students can join the Chess & Card Games Club, Drawing Club, Dungeons & Dragons, Pasifika Group, Youth United Nations (UN) and more.

Term 1 (11 Week Term)

• Tuesday 4 February 2025 – First Day for Year 9 Students & New Students Starting at HVHS in Years 10-13 (9:00am start time)
• Wednesday 5 February 2025 - First day for Years 10-13 (11:30am start time)
• Thursday 6 February 2025 – Te Rā o Waitangi | Waitangi Day (public holiday, school closed)
• Friday 11 April 2025 – Last Day of Term 1

Term 2 (9 Week Term)

• Monday 28 April 2025 – First Day of Term 2
• Friday 30 May 2025 – Teacher Only Day (no classes for students)
• Monday 2 June 2025 – King’s Birthday (public holiday, school closed)
• Monday 20 June 2025 – Matariki (public holiday, school closed)
• Friday 27 June 2025 – Last Day of Term 2

Term 3 (10 Week Term)

• Monday 14 July 2025 – First Day of Term 3
• Monday 25 August 2025 – Mid Term Break
• Friday 19 September 2025 – Last Day of Term 3

Term 4 (10 Week Term)

• Friday 6 October 2025 – First Day of Term 4
• Monday 27 October 2025 – Labour Day (public holiday, school closed)
• Friday 11 December 2025 – Last Day of Term 4 for Year 9 Students

Wednesday 18 December

• Secondary Schools’ Annual Holiday Closedown - Hutt Valley High School will be closed from Wednesday, 18 December 2024, to Monday, 20 January 2025 (inclusive) for teachers’ annual holiday leave. During this period, teachers will not be working, checking emails, or available on-site.

Saturday 1 January

• Secondary Schools’ Annual Holiday Closedown continues (runs to Monday 20 January)

Tuesday 28 January & Wednesday 29 January

• Year 13 Leadership Camp

• First Day for New Staff

• Teacher Only Day (No classes for students)

• Year 13 Liaison Training Day & Pastoral Day

• First Day for Year 9 Students & New Students Starting at HVHS in Years 10-13 (9:00am start time)

• Second Day for Year 9 Students (9:00am start time)
• Second Day for New Students Starting at HVHS in Years 10-13 (11:30am start time)
• First Day for Students in Years 10-13 (11:30am start time)

• Te Rā o Waitangi | Waitangi Day (public holiday, school closed)

Tuesday 11 February

• Year 9 Meet & Greet Event (HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-7:00pm)

Thursday 14 February

• Year 9 Meet & Compete (House Colours Encouraged)

Friday 14 February

• Year 9 Meet & Compete Event

• Summer Sports Codes - Coaches & Managers Volunteer Night (6:00pm-8:00pm)

Monday 24 February

• School ID Photos (runs till Tuesday 25 February)

Wednesday 26 February

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

• Whānau Hui (6:00pm-8:00pm)

Thursday 6 March

• Athletics Day (Full School)

Tuesday 11 March

• Athletics Day (Postponement Date)

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