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Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication20 June 2025 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEKia ora e ngā whānau, This is our last newsletter for the term, and I want to thank all the teachers and staff for their hard work. Our students can reach their potential and be offered all the fantastic opportunities highlighted in our pānui each week because of the efforts of our staff. Next week, you will receive the reports for this term on Friday. This is a great way to end the term by having families celebrate their child's success and achievements. Matariki is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present and looking to the future. I hope that you are able to spend time with your families today. The 2025 theme of Matariki mā Puanga is all about inclusion, embracing diversity and celebrating Matariki together. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership over term two, and I look forward to welcoming all the students back next term after a well-deserved break. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
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COLLABORATION - PACIFIC FONOOn Friday, 13 June, HPSS hosted the annual Pacific Fono. The Fono night was a really special evening where everyone came together to celebrate our Pacific culture and community. There were performances, like traditional Pacific dances, songs, and speeches from our Pacific leader Lai and MC Taia. Each group performed in their own style, some danced the Siva Samoa, some performed a Tongan Tau’olunga, all wearing their traditional outfits. There were also fun activities for everyone to enjoy. The food was a big part of the Fono night, and there were lots of delicious Pacific dishes to try. We tasted things like palusami, raw fish (ota ika), chop suey, and donuts. Fono night was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate who we are, appreciate our traditions, and bring our community together in a warm and friendly way. Lai Salatielu (Year 13)
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EXCELLENCE - HPSS PERFORMING ARTSHPSS students Beatrice Li (performing as a Wickersham Brother), Nathaniel Busque (performing as Vlad Vladikoff & an Extension Dancer), Michaella Job (performing as Vlad Vladikoff and an Extension Dancer) & Hanna Reed are all in the upcoming season of SEUSSICAL. A Dr Seuss musical! Seussical brings to life the beloved Dr Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird and, of course, the Cat in the Hat. These characters and stories weave together in a whimsical and wacky musical extravaganza, played out against an uplifting score, and highlighting the show's universal messages of love and acceptance - reminding us all that "a person's a person, no matter how small." Bright, bold, and bursting with heart SEUSSICAL is a musical adventure like no other. Recommended for ages 3 to 103! Performances: at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre Friday 27 June, 7 pm Saturday 28 June, 1:30 pm and 7 pm Sunday 29 June, 1:30 pm Tickets from Ticketmaster, click here
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INQUIRY - Q1 COMMERCE MARKET DAYFriday, Week 7, June 13th, during lunchtime, Q1 students had their market day. We had seven groups, all selling different goods. From desserts to beanies and hoodies, all goods were beloved by the customers, fellow students, and staff members. We also welcomed two Q2 Business Studies groups who wanted to expand their target market. They sold study planners and keychains. The Market Day ended with great success, thanks to the dedicated mahi the students put into it and the support from other students and staff. The business that made the most revenue: Cultured Clothing, 12 hoodies sold, total revenue of $480. The business that sold out: The Scented Cafe, 18 candles sold, total revenue of $108 / Sweet Spot, 25 donuts sold, total revenue of $84.
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EXCELLENCE - HPSS READERS CUP TEAMWe are absolutely thrilled to announce that our fantastic Year 9 team — Casey, Ariana, Toby, and Kavinya — represented HPSS with distinction at the North and West Zone Readers Cup competition! In what was our school's very first entry into this nationally contested event, our team demonstrated commitment, exceptional behaviour, and a true "give it a go" attitude. Their hard work paid off, as they secured a spot in the top 10, a truly remarkable achievement for a debut performance! We couldn't be prouder of Casey, Ariana, Toby, and Kavinya for their dedication and for representing HPSS so brilliantly.
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INNOVATION - PROJECT SHOWCASEOn Wednesday, June 18th, we held our Project Showtime. This event provided a valuable opportunity to observe the innovative project-based learning undertaken by our students and to showcase their achievements. Below are some highlights, including photos and descriptions, of some of the student projects. Game Game Project In this Game making project a stand-out student was Cheston Leung. His focus was creating a working computer able to run Minesweeper inside of Minecraft. He utilised Minecraft redstone technology which can send data between Minecraft blocks, creating transistors, logic gates, all the way to full sized stuff like a functioning CPU. Over these two terms he learned about computer science from Youtube tutorials, learned the mechanics of redstone, and what needs to be done to play Minesweeper in Minecraft. His computer is complete with ALU, register files, instruction memory, program counter and call stacks, data memory and RNG, and display! Cheston says, “Everything was going well with the Minecraft Minesweeper, until I found one problem. It takes three hours to render a frame. A single frame. To counteract this problem, I made a simulation in Desmos Graphing Calculator to show what the computer can do with Minesweeper. It may not be the real thing, but at least players can get an idea about how it works.” Amazing work Cheston! Art Point Project Students partnered with Massey University to present their artwork to the public at the Auckland Photography Festival. Using the PechaKucha presentation style, they showcased the creative process behind their artworks and photography. They also toured the Massey University Campus, experiencing the vibrant art environment within. The students involved in this project found the presentation to be a nerve-wracking experience, requiring resilience and an adventurous spirit. We are very proud of them STEM Project: Through the STEM Project, students developed their skills and sharpened their strategic thinking across a wide array of STEM disciplines. They didn't just learn about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; they immersed themselves in hands-on projects, tackled collaborative problem-solving, and explored cutting-edge innovations firsthand. ROBOTS Project The world of robotics offered an exciting glimpse into the future of intelligent machines! In this project, students learned the invention process, allowing them to experiment and tinker with robotics. They explored next-generation robotics, including the cutting-edge field of soft robotics, discovering how these flexible, adaptive machines are shaping the future.
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Q1 OUTDOOR EDUCATION - FAIRY FALLS WALKYear 11 students in the outdoor education program recently completed the stunning and, at times, challenging Fairy Falls Walk as part of their course. Following heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning, the track was wet underfoot but still manageable, adding a sense of adventure without making the walk too difficult. The highlight of the day was the waterfall itself, spectacularly raging and more powerful than usual, creating a dramatic and unforgettable scene. The experience tested students’ perseverance and teamwork while also offering plenty of fun, connection, and appreciation for the natural environment. It was a rewarding journey that encouraged both personal growth and shared accomplishment. Q2 OUTDOOR EDUCATION - VERTICAL ADVENTURESYear 12 students in the outdoor education program are taking on a series of four rock climbing trips as part of their NCEA Level 2 performance assessment, held at Vertical Adventures in Glen Eden. These sessions challenge them to push their limits physically and mentally, as they work on climbing techniques, problem-solving, and goal setting in a real-world environment. With each climb, they are not only scaling the walls but also striving to reach new heights in their academic performance. The program encourages resilience, focus, and personal growth, with students supporting one another while stepping outside their comfort zones.
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PERSONAL EXCELLENCE - LEARNING HUB - TERM 2Hubs at HPSS are mixed-year-level groups of about 20 students who stay together throughout their time at HPSS, supported by our hub coach. Hubs help build relationships and a sense of belonging, develop interpersonal skills, and support students in working towards personal and academic excellence goals. Each term, we have a specific focus for our extended hub times. This term the focus has been on Huarahi Ako - future learning pathways and what our goals are for the rest of the year, the rest of high school, and as we look further into the future beyond school. Students focus on understanding themselves as learners, how they think and learn best, by exploring their interests, setting goals, developing skills like reflection and self-management, tracking their curriculum progress, and using tools such as Career Central to explore pathways through and beyond school. This has looked like junior students thinking about their interests, passions and skills, to start discovering options for varied pathways beyond school, and for senior students we start looking at tertiary study options, potential choices for gap years, and exposure to many different careers through mini expos. In Weeks 7 and 8, each year level took part in a tailored workshop designed by Community Leaders and hub coaches. Years 9–10 played The Real Game, exploring work, income, and career choices. Year 11 students engaged in two employability workshops run by Auckland Business Chamber, while Year 12s wrote testimonials identifying their strengths and aspirations. Year 13s reviewed their NCEA progress and future plans, and had the opportunity for check-ins with the Pathways team. Hub this term has been a valuable space to reflect on who we are, where we're heading, and to feel genuinely supported as we prepare for life beyond school. Portia Cliffin, Year 13 in Danielle’s hub, Onekiritea
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CONNECTEDNESS - INTERNSHIP STORIESI've been doing a carpentry internship with a family friend and his apprentice. I have enjoyed this opportunity as it shows me what it's like to work on a trade site. A typical day for me involves showing up on site at 7:30AM and being given an itinerary of what jobs the day consists of, (demolition, painting, ect) then a break at 12:00PM and continue working until 2:00PM when I head home. My favourite part of this internship is the practical learning that I do, including but not limited to learning how to safely use power tools, learning how to install doors as well as tiles, and other interior elements of a home, and learning how to work with materials such as cement, grout and timber which I wouldn't usually be around. I am very grateful for the opportunity of this internship as it has shown me what it's actually like to be a tradesman and has opened a new career pathway that I intend on pursuing. Kaleb Pope, Year 12
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EVERY DAY MATTERS - ATTENDANCE IN 2025One of our key focuses in 2025 continues to be student attendance. We know regular attendance is a shared responsibility between school and home. If your child is going to be away – for example, due to a tangi or medical reason – please do let us know. Family holidays and non-school events during term time are not considered justified absences. If you're finding it hard to get your child to school, please talk to us – we’re here to help. We’ve included a visual of our Stepped Attendance Response in this newsletter to show how we follow up on absences and work with you to get things back on track. Hobsonville Point Secondary School is committed to: Strong, caring relationships with students and whānau
A safe, welcoming environment for all
Supporting every learner to show up and thrive
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your child’s hub coach, community leader or senior leader – we’re in this together.
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SPORTING SPOTLIGHT - HPSS ROCK CLIMBING TEAMRock climbing is a growing sport at HPPS and we would to recognise our exceptional rock climbers for their outstanding performances over the weekend. In the Year 9/10 category, Darcie continues to impress, currently holding a remarkable 4th place overall after three challenging competitions. Our senior climbers also achieved significant success, with Kayne securing 1st place in the novice category on Sunday. Collectively, Hobsonville School's climbing team is proudly positioned in 14th place overall. Our climbers are demonstrating remarkable improvement and increasing strength with each competition. With the final competition set to take place at our home ground, Boulder Co., we are optimistic for another strong showing. Good luck for the final competition!
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SPORTING EXCELLENCECongratulations to Audrina Marsters-Singh for her success in the World Taekwondo New Zealand Nationals Championship. Audrina competed in two divisions for the Daehan Taekwondo club. Audrina was the only competitor to place in two divisions, winning gold in her own age division, the Female Black Belts (age 15-17), and silver in the Female Black Belts Adults (over 18 years old). This was a remarkable achievement. We also want to acknowledge Hub Coach, Logan Coleman, who won Gold in the Men’s division! Well done to Penelope Teirney who competed at the recent NZ North Island Artistic Swimming Competition held in Auckland on June 13-15th. Penelope and her team achieved 2nd in the Youth Combo, a significant achievement in one of New Zealand’s fastest growing water-sports.
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HPSS BALLThe 2025 HPSS Ball is right around the corner, and tickets are selling fast! Get in quick to be able to join us! There is an email in all Year 12 and 13's inboxes with the form to buy tickets. It is shaping up to be an amazing night, with a special guest DJ, so make sure you get your ticket and payment in by the end of the term!
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KEY DATES 2025Term 2 - Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June Term 3 - Monday 14 July - Friday 19 September Term 4 - Monday 6 October - Friday 12 December 24 October - Staff Only Day Public Holidays: Labour Day – Monday 27 October 12 December - Staff Only Day
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