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Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication28 August 2026 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEKia ora e ngā whānau, Next week is Winter Tournament Week, an annual event in New Zealand where secondary school students have the opportunity to compete in regional and national sporting tournaments. It is an exciting time for our students, providing opportunities to represent HPSS, compete at a high level, develop their skills, demonstrate teamwork and resilience, and create memories with their teammates. I would like to acknowledge and sincerely thank our teachers, coaches and parents who give their additional time and commitment to make these opportunities possible for our students. The hours spent coaching, organising, travelling and supporting our teams are greatly appreciated and play an important part in the experiences we are able to provide at HPSS. We will finish the week with our Cultural Evening, a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our school community and the many cultures that make HPSS who we are. Celebrating diversity, inclusion and belonging is an important part of what we represent as a school, and I look forward to seeing our students and whānau come together to share and celebrate their cultures. For our senior students, this is also a particularly busy time of the year, with many assessments and deadlines approaching. Supporting students to meet deadlines, manage their workload and take responsibility for their learning are important skills that will contribute to their success not only at school, but also in life beyond secondary school. We encourage students to plan ahead, ask for support when needed and maintain a healthy balance as they work towards their goals. Thank you to our students, staff and whānau for your ongoing support. Together, we continue to provide opportunities that develop confident, capable and connected young people. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
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KEY DATES FOR TERM 3Winter Tournament Week - Week 7 (31 August - 4 September). Music Showcase - Wednesday, 2 September, 6.00pm. Cultural Evening - Friday, 4 September. Staff Only Day - Friday 11 September. NCEA Literacy and Numeracy Co-Req Exams - 7-18 September. IEMS: Yr 12-13 students - Wednesday 16 September 2pm - 8pm. Y11-13 Derived Grade Exams - Thursday 17 September to Friday 25 September. School Ball: Yr 12-13 - Friday 25 September.
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CONNECTEDNESS: YEAR 10 CAMPWe are pleased to introduce the 2026 Year 10 Camp This is a great opportunity for all Year 10 students to travel to CYC Waikato in Ngāruawāhia from Monday, 7 December to Thursday, 10 December. Camp will include a range of activities for leadership development, teamwork, adventure, and making memories.
The total cost of camp is $470 per student, and we are asking whānau to make an initial $70 non-refundable deposit to confirm camp bookings. For all students attending camp, payment can be made at your convenience, e.g. in one go or in smaller amounts to suit. We have a financial hardship fund. If cost is a concern, please indicate this on this form and a member of the senior leadership team will be in touch to discuss support options confidentially. We are committed to ensuring all students are able to attend.
Please complete the following expression of interest form for your Year 10 student, confirming with us whether they will be attending the Y10 camp or not.
You can expect to see the Itinerary and programme details published early in Term 4.
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COLLABORATION: HPSS MODEL UNITED NATIONSFrom the 14th to the 16th of August, the annual HPSSMUN event was held, with this year’s title being New Horizons. Model United Nations is a simulation of the United Nations, where countries debate resolutions, negotiate, and strike deals with other nations. This year’s resolutions were Anti-Terrorism, Natural Disasters Response, Stolen Artifacts, Regulation of Outer Space Activities, Indigenous Rights, and the Board of Peace. Nearly 70 students from across Auckland came together at Hobsonville Point Secondary School and acted as diplomats and delegates for their countries in the United Nations, striving for change and diplomacy. The event featured three days, with an interactive problem-solving segment on Day 2. This challenged delegates to make rapid decisions about their countries’ safety and autonomy, while debating and allocating large sums of money towards international stability with other countries. We were honoured to have two amazing guest speakers at our event: Olivia Kiel, who is a Crown Lawyer representing the public interest and the government in court cases, and Fatumata Bah, who interned at the United Nations and works in women’s advocacy and human rights. Both of these amazing guest speakers provided valuable insights and knowledge to our delegates, giving them a greater understanding of the real-world impact of diplomacy, law, human rights, and international cooperation. Overall, the three days were filled with diplomacy, debate, negotiation, friendship, and connection.
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CONNECTEDNESS: SPORTS CAMP WINTERThis year’s Snow Camp was the highlight of the year. We spent two days snowboarding at Whakapapa, mainly in Happy Valley and Rockgarden. On the first day, we stayed in Happy Valley because of the windy conditions, but that still didn’t stop us from having an amazing time. I struggled a lot at the beginning with my toe-edge carving. It took me a couple of hours, but it finally clicked, and I ended up being rated 4/5 for my control by my teacher. Helping a mate work through the same struggles was honestly one of my favourite moments. We stayed at The Park Hotel, which kept us well fed and rested for the early starts each day. After our time on the mountain, we headed to Rotorua for some white-water rafting, which was another highlight of the trip. What made camp memorable wasn’t just the activities; it was doing them with everyone else. Struggling together, laughing, helping each other out, and getting to know people much better than we usually can at school made the experience special. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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COLLABORATION: PATHWAYS: MICHAELLA JOB - INTERNSHIP STORYAt the end of last year, I applied for my dance studio’s Neverland Dance Teaching Internship Programme. It is a highly competitive, audition-based role. As part of the audition process, I had to prepare and teach choreography for a set style and age group, teach a randomly assigned movement in an on-the-spot scenario, and complete an interview. I was successful in my audition and have been assisting at the studio since December. A typical week involves a 30-minute catch-up with my mentor, a teacher I co-teach with, where we discuss areas for improvement and plan what I will be teaching or assisting with in the following week. I also teach two classes each week: a 9-year-old Ballet class and a 6-year-old Jazz class, both of which are currently working towards their mid-year exams. In addition, I attend a one-hour meeting with our course coordinator and the other interns, where we complete assignments and practice practical teaching scenarios. What I enjoy most about the internship is the sense of purpose and community that comes from helping young dancers grow, both as performers and as individuals. It is incredibly rewarding to support and inspire the next generation of dancers, helping them develop the same passion for dance that I have. Next term, we will begin preparations for our end-of-year production, and I am excited to learn more about the choreography, costuming, and all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making the show a success. The Neverland team are welcoming, supportive, and passionate about what they do. Their dedication not only to dance, but also to the people who love it, is incredibly inspiring and creates a positive environment for everyone at the studio. If I successfully complete my internship year, I will be offered a paid teaching position from next year. This means that whether I choose to continue teaching alongside university or pursue other opportunities after school, I will always have the studio as a place to return to and continue doing something I love.
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COLLABORATION: MATHS TUTORING CLUBOver the past few weeks, our FREE Maths Tutoring Club has been running after school every Thursday, supporting Junior and Year 11 students with the help of our knowledgable Year 12 and 13 students. The club provides a fantastic opportunity for students to build confidence, strengthen their understanding and learn alongside our older students. We encourage students to take advantage of this great support.
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CONNECTEDNESS: WHĀNAU FEUDLast Friday we held the first HPSS Whānau feud, a game show style competition inspired by Family Feud held between a teacher team and Y13 team. For all the questions we used the answers to a school-wide survey we sent out so all the points were based on how common the answers were. Congratulations to the winning team: Teacher team Thank you to everyone for helping out with this event, hopefully we can make it an annual competition. Teachers: Tome, Marco, Cairan, Whaea Jess, Hannah, Rāwiri Y13's: Daryan, Eshwa, Sienna Sutherland, Sam, Missy, Evan
- Megan Wiggill (Year 13)
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INQUIRY: BECOMING MARINE BIOLOGISTS AT LONG BAY MARINE RESERVEOur Year 11 students recently took their learning outdoors and stepped into the shoes of marine biologists during an exciting trip to Long Bay Marine Reserve. Throughout the day, students explored coastal biodiversity and learned how scientists classify different marine animals. Putting their skills into action, they used quadrats to conduct a scientific survey of the rocky shore, carefully logging species using identification guides. To take their research a step further, students participated in a real citizen science project by uploading their photographic findings to iNaturalist. By contributing data to this global platform, our students are actively supporting the wider community and preparing to take part in future marine conservation initiatives. It was a fantastic day of hands-on learning, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.
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COLLABORATION: STUDENT COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING AT PARLIAMENTFrom 26–28th August, I had the privilege of attending the Student Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference at the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, representing the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka as its Prime Minister. Over the three days, I attended Question Time in the Parliamentary Debating Chamber, witnessing Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament debate live. I also had the opportunity to meet Members of Parliament and representatives from Commonwealth High Commissions, including the High Commissioner of Pakistan, the First Secretary of South Africa, and a representative from the Australian High Commission. As Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, I debated resolutions on peace, disarmament, energy, climate refugees, and Commonwealth trade alongside students from across New Zealand representing other Commonwealth nations. The conference was an incredibly eye-opening experience, providing valuable insight into diplomacy, international relations, and the importance of cooperation between Commonwealth nations. - Vani Batra (Year 12)
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MUSIC SHOWCASE - NAU MAI, HAERE MAIHPSS Music invites you to join us on Wednesday the 2nd of September, at 6 p.m in the school Auditorium. Doors will open at 5:45pm for 6pm start. Tickets available at the door from 5:30pm - $10 for adults, and $5 for students/children - you can pay by cash, bank transfer, or EFTPOS. You are invited to come and enjoy a wide variety of musical performances from the very talented musicians at Hobsonville Point Secondary School.
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ENRICHMENT MOVEMENT SOFTBALL: COACHING FROM A LOCAL LEGENDStudents in the Enrichment Movement Softball class have been lucky enough to have Jeremy Greco volunteering his time each week to coach them. Jeremy has been both a player and coach with East Coast Bays Softball for the last 6 years, and prior to that spent 20 years in similar roles with Pōneke Kilbirnie, New Zealand's most successful softball club, based in Wellington. He is also a HPSS parent. In just 6 weeks, students have already shown significant improvement in their softball skills. With trips to the Memorial Park batting cages and Te Kori Baseball Diamond in Scott Point, they're well on their way to even greater gains by the end of the term. Jeremy has also extended an open invitation: anyone keen to give softball a go is welcome to let him know, and he can get you involved in the next East Coast Bays "Give It a Go Day."
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EXCELLENCE: SPORTS - NRLWCongratulations to Kartier Hall (Year 11) on being selected for the wider squad SHARKS pathway. This is a fantastic achievement and a great recognition of Kartier’s hard work, commitment and talent. We are proud to see Kartier representing our school at this level and wish her all the very best for the season ahead.
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CONNECTEDNESS: PEACE WEEKDuring the HPSS Peace Week, the Peer Mediators held interviews with students about what peace meant to them. They raised awareness around why we have Peace Week and also made positive messages with chalk in the outdoor courtyard. 30 of the Peer Mediators will attend the Peace Symposium, which is run by the Peace Foundation and brings together Peer Mediators from many schools around NZ to celebrate and connect.
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COLLABORATION: PATHWAYS: MARIA HENN - INTERNSHIP STORYA typical day in Hobsonville Primary School involves helping or "simplifying the work" alongside the students with all of their subjects throughout the day, so that they are able to complete their work and understand what they are doing. It is the same routine for subjects every Wednesday, making it easy for me to follow along and also allowing me to work with different groups of students needing help with different subjects. What I enjoy the most is being able to spend time with the students. They always bring a smile to my face and have something interesting to share. It's never a boring or not-busy Wednesday. I enjoy talking to the other teachers around me, and I even interact with other students outside of my class, which is always entertaining. This internship is helping me a lot in my future; it is preparing me and giving me real-time experience of what it's like to be a primary school teacher, which is what I want to pursue as a career.
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Volleyball Coach WantedAre you passionate about volleyball and keen to support our junior teams? We are looking for members of our community who may be interested in volunteering as a coach for the upcoming season. Game days are Wednesdays or Thursdays, approximately 4–7pm, depending on the league/team, with training times negotiable. These are volunteer roles, with training, support and some coaching kit (including a polo and jacket) provided. If you’re interested in getting involved or would like to find out more, please get in touch with the school.
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KEY DATES 2026All key dates for the year can also be found on the Calendar on our SchoolBridge app, along with Attendance, Daily Notices, Reports, Results, and Payments. Term 1 (10 weeks) - Friday 30 January - Thursday 2 April Term 2 (11 weeks) - Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July Term 3 (10 weeks) - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September Staff Only Day - Friday 11 September IEMS: Yr 12-13 - Wednesday 16 September 2pm - 8pm Derived Grade Exams - Wednesday 16 September to Friday 25 September School Ball: Yr 12-13 - Friday 25 September
Term 4 (9 weeks) - Monday 12 October - Thursday 10 December Public Holidays: Labour Day – Monday 26 October Year 12 Prize giving - Wednesday 4 November 2.30pm Year 13 Graduation & Prize giving - Wednesday 4 November 5pm Staff Only Day - Friday 6 November NCEA Exams - Tuesday 10 November to Friday 4 December IEMs: Yrs 9,10,11 - Wednesday 2 December 2pm - 7.30pm and Thursday 3 December 3.30pm - 7.30pm Year 10 Camp - Monday 7 December to Thursday 10 December
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