|
$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication27 February 2026 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEKia ora e ngā whānau, We are now at the end of Week 5, and it has been wonderful to see our students well and truly settled into their learning. Classrooms are focused, routines are established, and there is a real sense of purpose across the school. This is also a great time for students to get involved beyond the classroom. I encourage all students to consider signing up for extra-curricular activities, whether that be sports teams, kapa haka, clubs, or other interest groups. Being involved in the wider life of the school helps build confidence, friendships, teamwork, and school spirit. I have particularly enjoyed getting out and supporting our sports teams. This week I had the pleasure of watching the Boys Touch team play a fantastic game against Rutherford College. It was an exciting match, played with great determination and sportsmanship. I am looking forward to supporting more of our teams throughout the year and celebrating their efforts and achievements. Thank you to our staff, coaches, and whānau who continue to support our students in so many ways. Together, we are creating a vibrant and positive school community where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
|
KEY INFORMATION - STUDENT PHOTOSStudent photos are now live and ready to view and order. Key codes have been sent via email. Please remember to check your junk, spam, or promotions folders, in case the message was filtered. Free delivery applies to orders placed before midnight on Sunday, 8 March 2026.
|
CONNECTEDNESS: LUNAR NEW YEARDuring Week 4, HPSS celebrated the Lunar New Year with games, performances, and fun activities. The Lunar New Year is typically celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean families. It’s a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the coming of the New Year. This year it is the Year of the Fire Horse. We learned and played games such as Ddakji and Jegichagi, and we made paper lanterns to decorate the school.
On Friday, we ended the week with a lively, thrilling Lion Dance performance, in which the lion paraded down the school hallways, bringing vibrant energy to our school. It was wonderful to see so many students get involved in learning about the culture and traditions of the Lunar New Year. - Dana Lee Y12
|
COLLABORATION: EXTRACURRICULAR EXPO 2026Our 2026 Extracurricular Expo will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday during morning tea and lunchtime, giving students the opportunity to explore the wide range of clubs, activities, and teams on offer this year.
|
EXCELLENCE: SCHOLARSHIPCongratulations to Aaren Isherwood for gaining a Scholarship in Design and Visual Communication. This is an amazing achievement that required a full year’s portfolio. Aaren achieved this under the guidance of our amazing teacher, Jamilah Bartholomew. For both Aaren and Jamilah, this was a reflection of her skilled teaching and the effort Aaren put into his design work for the year.
|
CONNECTEDNESS: NGĀ POU MĀREIKURAOn Wednesday this week, twenty of our female Māori students were invited to wānanga with Unitec. Our school is partnering with some lovely wāhine on a project called Ngā Pou Māreikura, which is all about helping kōhine Māori feel strong, proud, and supported in school. We visited Ōpanuku awa in Henderson on our way to spend a full day at the Arataki Visitor Centre, taking part in a range of hands-on activities that connected us to Te Taiao (nature), atua wāhine (female ancestors), and mātauranga Māori (knowledge). We were welcomed into the building with a karanga and then spent the day learning about the tīpuna of our area. We learned about rongoā Māori and went on a hīkoi through the forest, where we were taught about different rākau. We also discussed the kaupapa of this rōpū of wāhine with Unitec and played Māori games with a lecturer from AUT to help develop and deepen our understanding and connection to te ao Māori. We were also very lucky to be given hāngī for lunch! Through this wānanga, we made new connections, built confidence and leadership skills, and strengthened our cultural identity and pride.
Audrina Marsters-Singh, Yr 12
|
INNOVATION - IGNITE PROGRAMMEOn Mon 23rd Feb the year 12/13 class were visited by Nat and Finn from BIG FAN to learn more about the IGNITE mentorship program which will begin at the end of March. Ignite has a unique aim to teach rangatahi not only creativity within, but also the complimentary skills in support of the music industry, exposing them to the incredible breadth of career pathways and opportunities that exist within it. The programme offers one on one mentoring from industry professionals, upskilling opportunities, hands on experience and the opportunity to apply the skills learnt to practice. Through Ignite, we engage the wider community by producing truly authentic all ages shows – run by young people for young people, whilst creating key performance opportunities for young and emerging artists. If you have a musical young person between the ages of 15-18 - check out the details at https://www.bigfan.co.nz/community/ignite
|
INQUIRY: ARATAKIThe Year 12 Biology students started the year with a trip to Arataki in the Waitakere Ranges, to study the stratification pattern of the broadleaf podocarp forest. We gathered data on how light intensity, temperature and humidity change in the different forest layers, and observed the adaptations different plants have to survive in each layer. We also looked at the relationships between different plants, especially the vines and epiphytes that rely on host trees for survival. Our Auckland Council guides were very knowledgeable and helpful, and we all had a great day getting curious about different plants and gaining a deeper insight into the organisation of this ecological community.
|
CONNECTEDNESS: TOUCH TEAMThe Auckland Touch Champs were held on Monday this week, the team played five games, winning two, losing two and having one draw. HPSS came seventh overall in the tournament.
|
INFORMATION: WEBINARIn partnership with SchoolTV, parents, carers, grandparents, school leaders, and staff are invited to an exclusive free webinar focused on supporting youth wellbeing. WEBINAR: Understanding Anxiety and Depression to Foster Resilience (Part I)
DATE: Tuesday, 17 March 2026
TIME: 7:30 pm This presentation forms part of a broader webinar series designed to strengthen mental health literacy across school communities. Join international experts Dr Emma Woodward and Dr Joe Stammeijer as they share valuable insights into recognising early signs of concern and practical approaches to supporting the wellbeing of young people. Topics in this session will include: Participants can register by scanning the QR code
|
KEY DATES 2026
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 Term 4 (9 weeks) - Monday 12 October - Thursday 10 December
|
|
|
|
