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Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication
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25 October 2024 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE Kia ora e ngā whānau, I love term four. There are many opportunities to connect with whānau and celebrate our student's achievements. Next week, we start with the first of our six prizegivings and we look forward to seeing many of you there. This is also the time of year when many of our seniors have examinations. Exams offer the opportunity to build resilience and allow those students planning to attend university to develop and practice their skill set. There are many great resources to help you support your child at home. Headspace offers many strategies for students to help them cope with exams and stress. There are tips on planning, self-care and the importance of rest. There are also several ways to help students prepare, stay focused and know when to ask for help. Students need to know they are not alone during exam time and that support is never far away. Please use these resources to support your child. https://hpss.nz.schooltv.me/newsletter-external-resource/surviving-school-exams https://hpss.nz.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/year-13-exam-stress-special-report We thank you for your ongoing support of our amazing school; we could not have achieved this without your partnership. I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend and we will see all the students back on Tuesday. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
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ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION:We were notified yesterday of a Paid Union Meeting (PUM). Our branch notified the school that this meeting will occur during Block Four on Monday, 11th November. This means that school will close at 1.30 pm on Monday, 11th November, and students can go home. The branch has chosen this time to minimise disruption, and if your child cannot go home for the afternoon, please email info@hobsonvillepoint.school.nz, and we will arrange for non-union members to supervise your child. Prize-giving celebrations: This term, we are excited to host six prize-givings to celebrate our students' achievements across a range of areas, reflecting our school values and dispositions. The top prizes recognise excellence in sports, arts, culture, personal excellence, and academic excellence, with the highest accolade in each year level being awarded for Overall Excellence. Here are the dates and times for each year level: Sports Prize giving: 29 October at 6pm Year 13: 30 October at 5pm Year 12: 31 October at 4pm Year 11: 29 November at 9.30am Year 10: 13 December at 11am Year 9: 13 December at 9.30am
We look forward to celebrating our students' successes with you!
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EXCELLENCE - SCHOOL PRODUCTIONBeing part of the Midsummer Night’s Dream production was a learning experience that we are all so grateful to have been a part of. Our rehearsal process focussed on character development and understanding the play, as well as learning lines, monologues, staging, relevant techniques, costuming and cues. Being able to learn how to confidently speak and understand Shakespearean English was an achievement that many of us accomplished, but bringing it to life on stage was really the cherry on top. Having the opportunity to share our hard work with the HPSS community was an incredibly rewarding experience that many of us are proud of being involved in. Huge thank you to Nicci Reuben who directed and dealt with the overall creative design of the play, Jeni Little who directed the music, Maryann Green who recorded and photographed on both evenings, and Rāwiri Waters who directed the lighting and sound, and to everyone else who gave their time and effort to help us make this happen. Rylla Rarere
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INQUIRY - UN-ORTHODOX MODEL U.N.Over the first weekend of the school holidays, the HPSS Model United Nations club successfully hosted their first inter-school Model UN Competition. The theme for the event was "UN+Orthodox," a play on words (United Nations+Orthodox/Unorthodox), to draw attention to the changing world order we find ourselves in today. HPSS students were instrumental in organising and running the event, taking responsibility for everything from crafting marketing materials, coordinating logistics, and preparing educational resources, to moderating debates, connecting with others, and managing the event throughout the three days.
Each day was filled with various debates and negotiations on critical global issues like energy production, nuclear non-proliferation, cultural intellectual property and transnational crime, offering students a rare chance to tackle real-world problems in a diplomatic setting, taking on the perspective, ideas and opinions of the countries they represented. Delegates attended from as far as Orewa and Raglan and were blown away by the professionalism and quality of the event and the unique experience it provided. The competition allowed students to develop critical thinking, public speaking, and teamwork skills while building lasting connections based on diplomacy and international relations.
The success of HPSS UN+Orthodox has set a strong foundation for future HPSS Model UN events–they will only get more elevated and refined from now on, allowing for higher participation and a much more engaging event overall.
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INQUIRY & EXCELLENCE - DUCK SCIENCEWe’re proud to highlight the achievements of our talented students—Keira Jeavas, Bhavishka Karani, Karl Soltau, Dana Mamaieva, Oscar Hahn, Kayne Davies, and Adithya Anil Kumar—who recently participated in the F1 in Schools competition on Saturday, October 19, 2024. As the first public school to compete in this prestigious event, our students showcased their skills by building and racing their very own model F1 car at the competition, where they stood out as the only team from outside Saint Kentigern College.
After nearly a year of dedicated effort, the team unveiled their innovative design, meticulously crafted using computer-aided design and wind tunnel testing to optimize performance. This competition not only emphasises technical expertise but also fosters teamwork, as students collaborated to tackle challenges and refine their designs.
We congratulate our students for securing fourth place and for embracing this incredible opportunity to learn, compete, and proudly represent HPSS!
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FEEDBACK - COMMUNITY COMMUNICATIONOver the last year we have endeavoured to ensure our communication and reporting is consistent, purposeful and relevant. We have a fortnightly community newsletter, an updated website (https://www.hpss.school.nz) and regular social media posts. We would like you to complete this short survey to ensure we meet your expectations, as this will enable us to make any required improvements or changes. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
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EXCELLENCE - BUTTA-UP YOUNG ENTERPRISEOn Monday, the prestigious Young Enterprise Regional Awards were held at the University of Auckland Owen G. Glen Building. Finalists received a spot to exhibit their business at the Regional Expo Showcase and later had five mins to pitch their business, followed by a few minutes of questions and answers from the judges. Congratulations to Butta Up for coming 2nd place for the Auckland West Region and for winning Excellence in Marketing and Communication! A special recognition is also reserved for Lara Skeen who won Deloitte Individual of the Year!
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INFORMATION - SPORTS CELEBRATION EVENINGOn Tuesday 29th October, the HPSS Sports Celebration Evening is taking place. Prize winners have been notified by email. Please sit in the section as directed by the ushers. Congratulations to all our prizewinners and thank to all the students and whānau who have supported our sportspeople throughout the year.
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EOTC EXPERIENCE - MT RUAPEHU OUTDOOR ED. TRIPThe Year 13 Outdoor Education class recently enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Mt Ruapehu, where they experienced two stunning bluebird days of snowboarding and skiing. With all upper lifts operating, students progressed from Happy Valley to the upper mountain, honing their skills on the slopes. Throughout the trip, students applied various safety protocols, an essential part of their assessment. The experience not only challenged them physically but also reinforced the importance of safety in outdoor activities. To cap off their adventure, the group went white water rafting down the thrilling Kaituna River, tackling the exhilarating 7-meter waterfall. They then zipped over the river on a zipline, adding an extra thrill to their final day. This trip was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, filled with adventure, learning, and lasting memories.
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EOTC EXPERIENCE - SWISH FACTORYThe Year 13 Physical Education class recently had an exciting opportunity to visit the Swish Factory, a cutting-edge facility dedicated to sports performance analysis. Upon arrival, students were welcomed by expert coaches who introduced them to advanced shooting analysis technology. Each player participated in the 100 Shot Challenge at the three-point line, testing their skills and endurance. This hands-on experience highlighted the importance of consistency and practice, demonstrating how professional athletes maintain their impressive performance levels. The visit was not only a valuable learning experience but also an inspiring reminder of the dedication required to excel in basketball. Students left with a deeper understanding of their abilities and a renewed commitment to improving their game.
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CONNECTIONS - INTERNSHIP STORYThis year I’ve had the amazing opportunity to be an intern at 80 Structures, allowing me to see what it means to be a structural engineer. I learnt about different steel structures, how to calculate different loads for different steel structures, how to make spreadsheets for easy calculations for braces and started learning how to use Sketch Up. I was also able to gain experience in what it’s like working in an office environment and communicating with clients. It's helped me confirm I do want to study Engineering at University and I am very glad that I got a chance to see what my future pathway may look like. Runa Tutu
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KEY DATES 2024Term 4: Monday 14 October - Friday 13 December Public Holiday: Labour Day – Monday 28 October Wednesday 30 October - Last day for Year 13s and Year 13 prize giving 5pm. Graduation picnic/Foodtrucks from 6.30pm. Thursday 31 October - Last day for Year 12s and Year 12 prize giving 4pm. Tuesday 5 November - NCEA examinations begin. Thursday 21 November - Orientation Day for Year 8s. 3pm - information session to support Year 8 & Year 9 parents with course selection for 2025. Friday 29 November - Last day for Year 11s and Year 11 prize giving 9.30am. Year 9 and 10 IEMs from 11am - 6.30pm. Book here. No classes on this day, as staff will be with whānau and students in IEM appointments. Please contact info@hobsonvillepoint.school.nz if your child needs supervision in the school library on this day. Monday 2 December to Friday 6 December - Year 9 and 10 EOTC Week. Year 11 service trip to Samoa. Friday 13 December - Last day for Year 9s and 10s and junior prize-givings. Year 10s 9.30am. Year 9s 11.00am. School finishes at 12pm.
KEY DATES 2025
Term 1 - Monday 3 February - Friday 11 April Thursday 30 January & Friday 31 January - IEMs for all Year 9s, Year 10s, and new students All Year 9s and new students to HPSS start Monday 3 February 10am All students start Tuesday 4 February 9am Public Holidays: Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February
Term 2 - Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June Term 3 - Monday 14 July - Friday 19 September Term 4 - Monday 6 October - Friday 12 December
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