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Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication12 June 2026 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEKia ora e ngā whānau, As we move through another busy and successful term, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the strength of our school community. This week, we were delighted to host our Pacific Fono. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together our Pacific families, students, and staff to connect, share aspirations, and celebrate the rich cultures that contribute so much to the identity of Hobsonville Point Secondary School. We thank everyone who attended and contributed to such a positive and meaningful evening. Partnerships between home and school are vital to student success, and it was fantastic to see so many families engaging in conversations about learning, achievement, and future pathways. We are now beginning preparations for our 2027 enrolment process and we have been visiting our local primary schools to meet prospective students and their whānau. These visits are always a highlight as we share what makes HPSS such a unique place to learn and grow. If you have friends, family members, or neighbours with children who will be enrolling in 2027, we encourage you to share your experiences and help spread the word about the outstanding opportunities available at our school. From innovative learning programmes and strong academic pathways to extensive sporting, cultural, arts, leadership, and co-curricular opportunities, HPSS continues to provide a learning environment where every student can thrive. We have noticed an increase in student phone use during morning tea and lunch breaks. While we understand that phones are an important part of modern life, we remain committed to encouraging students to engage with one another, participate in activities, and enjoy a break from screens during the school day. We ask for your support in reinforcing this message at home and encouraging students to follow the expectation of keeping their phones away throughout the day. As a reminder, if parents or caregivers need to contact their child during school hours, please do so through our reception team or via email rather than directly through the student's mobile phone. This helps minimise disruptions and supports students to remain focused on their learning and wellbeing throughout the school day. Thank you for your continued support of our school. Together, we can ensure HPSS remains a connected, inclusive, and thriving learning community for all students. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
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KEY NOTIFICATIONS:Upcoming School Wi-Fi & Network Upgrade: N4L Secure Access Our school will soon be moving to N4L’s Secure Access network standard as part of the Ministry of Education's Te Mana Tūhono programme. The network migration will happen in week 10 of this term. This upgrade replaces older equipment and installs a new, advanced firewall to significantly boost our school's cybersecurity. What does this mean for our school community? Better Cybersecurity: The upgrade reduces the risk of cyberattacks, malware, and unauthorised network access. Tailored Access: The network will be safely split into distinct zones, ensuring that staff, senior students, and junior students each have optimised access levels appropriate to their age group. Improved Online Safety: School administrators will gain access to improved web filtering and a MyN4L self-service platform to better monitor online activity and keep ākonga safe. Easier Guest Wi-Fi: We will soon have dedicated, secure access pathways for school visitors and guests.
In week 10, we have scheduled the migration for all users, staff & students, to enrol laptops and Chromebooks. All students will be guided through the steps to download the certificate onto their device so they can successfully access the new school Network. We are working closely with N4L to minimise internet downtime during the switchover and are looking forward to updating the online environment, which is an essential tool supporting teaching and learning at HPSS.
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EXCELLENCE: NGĀ MANU KŌREROOn Friday last week, Ethan Pritchard, Year 13, took part in the prestigious Waitematā North and West Auckland regional finals of the Ngā Manu Kōrero speech contest. Competing against some of the region's most talented rangatahi, Ethan delivered an outstanding prepared speech titled "Home – The Place the Soul Bookmarks", followed by a challenging round of impromptu speeches. We are incredibly proud to announce that Ethan was awarded Best Male Speaker and placed second overall for his prepared speech. We are also proud of our HPSS students who travelled to support Ethan and honoured him with a haka tautoko Ethan’s powerful words drew from his personal experience of moving to Auckland just seven weeks ago, exploring the themes of stepping into the unknown while carrying your roots with you; a timely reminder for our senior students preparing for life after school. Before joining us, Ethan was head boy at his previous kura, and his characteristic humour, charisma, and authenticity truly shone on stage. Achievements like this don't happen in isolation. We want to acknowledge both Ethan's whānau and Te Kura o Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, his former school community, whose years of aroha, guidance, support, teaching, and cultural grounding gave Ethan the confidence to excel.
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CONNECTEDNESS: PACIFIC FONOOn June 10, we had our first Pasifika Fono of the year. It was a great night of connection and fun where our Pasifika culture was highlighted. Our Ama Takiloa Jade led the event with our emcee Taia. We had a number of performances, including a Tuvaluan Siva, a Kapa Rima, and a Samoan Sasa, along with a quick flag activity and a speech from our Pathways team. We also recognised Pacific Island Success over the past year, recognising sport, extracurricular, and academic achievement. Food was a big part of the night, with lots of delicious Pacific dishes to try, such as palusami, ota ika, chop suey, Cook Island doughnuts, and a whole pig on a spit. Fono night was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate who we are, appreciate our traditions, and bring our community together. It was great to see the culture celebrated, and we look forward to the next one. Mālō ‘Aupito
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COLLABORATION: HUARAHI AKO - PATHWAYS EVENTSAs part of this term’s Huarahi Ako focus, the Pathways team has been running a series of Monday morning events designed to help students explore the many opportunities available to them beyond school. Over the past few weeks, students have had the chance to attend two mini career expos featuring representatives from a range of tertiary training providers and industry organisations. Our Services and Creative Industries Expo introduced students to pathways in areas such as health, hospitality, tourism, design, media, IT and creative fields, while the Trades Expo highlighted opportunities in apprenticeships, construction, engineering, automotive trades, and other vocational pathways. We also hosted a Scholarships How-To session, delivered jointly by the University of Canterbury and the Pathways team. This practical workshop helped students understand the scholarship application process, identify opportunities available to them, and gain tips for preparing strong applications. The programme continues next week with an Experiences & Exchanges session, featuring presentations from AFS Intercultural Programmes and Spirit of Adventure. The following week, our senior students will attend an Alumni Panel featuring former HPSS students. This session will provide valuable insights into the many different pathways people take after school and the skills and experiences that help them navigate change and make informed decisions about their future. We are grateful to all of the organisations, providers, and alumni who have contributed their time and expertise to support our students as they explore and plan their future pathways.
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CONNECTEDNESS: SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE NEW ZEALANDRecently, Luca South and I had the privilege of being part of voyage #944 on Spirit of Adventure New Zealand. This trip was ten days long and full of fun. This experience was one we will both never forget, from the people that we met, the activities we did and the cold, cold feeling of jumping off the side of the boat every morning at 6am. Every day was different, and we never had time to be bored. Highlights of the trip were the night swim on training day, seeing the bioluminescence glow as we pushed through the water, and climbing to the very top of the mast and seeing the beautiful view of Great Barrier Island. A voyage on the Spirit of Adventure is truly an experience that we would encourage others to do. Imogen Clark, Year 12
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COLLABORATION: INTERNSHIP STORY CALEB MENDOZA - HOBSONVILLE PHYSIOTHERAPYMy typical day at the Physio starts at 8am, when I set my stuff down and take a few minutes to prepare for the day. The first client usually arrives at 8:15 am, and I start observing as the physiotherapist starts working with the client. Typically, I observe 4 to 6 clients during my stay. My favourite part of the whole internship so far has been meeting new people, both clients and staff, at the clinic. I really enjoy making those new connections and seeing what a Physiotherapist's job entails. I am keen to learn about the various fields within the physiotherapy industry. All the staff members I have met are extremely welcoming and make me feel like I am part of the team. Their patience with me being around the clinic lets me observe and ask questions freely. This allows me to get the most out of my internship with them. My experience at the clinic and with everyone I have met has grown my interest in Physiotherapy. As a result, I have decided to go to university and pursue a Physiotherapy course.
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EXCELLENCE: ROCKQUESTHuge congratulations to Madi McLellan and her band Sidetracked, who proudly represented HPSS and Rutherford College at the Smokefreerockquest Auckland Final last Friday night. Competing against 11 other outstanding bands that had all won their regional heats, each band performed two original songs. Sidetracked delivered an incredible performance and took home the Best Song Award. The band also achieved an outstanding 2nd Place overall, earning one of only two coveted spots to create a three-song video submission for national judging. They will use our performance studio to make their very own music video and will then be assessed alongside the top regional finalists from across New Zealand for a chance to progress to the Rockquest National Final. We are incredibly proud of Madi and Sidetracked for their creativity, hard work, and success on the regional stage.
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COLLABORATION: INTERNSHIP STORY ATHIRA PAROL - EDUPLAYMy typical day involves engaging with children through play, assisting teachers with classroom organisation, and supporting children with daily tasks such as getting dressed. I particularly enjoy interacting, playing, and communicating with the children throughout the day, as it allows me to build positive relationships with them. The teachers are extremely supportive, friendly, and always willing to offer guidance when needed. Their positive attitudes create a welcoming and encouraging environment for both staff and children. Through this experience, I have developed valuable skills in managing situations where children may feel upset or emotional. It has also strengthened my ability to care for, comfort, and support children during challenging moments.
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EXCELLENCE: GIRLBOSS NZ - WE THE WOMAN HACKFESTMegan Wiggill (Year 13) has received a full scholarship for the two-day Hackfest hosted by GirlBoss NZ. The Hackfest is designed for young women who are passionate about: Gender Equality, Technology, Innovation, Finance, Business, Entrepreneurship, Design, Leadership, Science, Engineering, or Mathematics. Congratulations Megan! We look forward to hearing about your experience at Hackfest.
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INNOVATION: AUCKLAND BUSINESS CENTREJake Kilkenny (Year 10) recently attended an event adjacent to TechWeek NZ focused on using AI Tools to solve business problems. AI experts came together in the room with a selection of businesses, ranging from one-person startups to Deloitte and 2degrees. During the event, Jake presented an idea, one-third of the room voted for him, and he won the best pitch prize of $1000. The mentor at Jake’s table provided the following feedback: "Jake was genuinely one of the most impressive young people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. He absorbed everything, and the way he articulated both the problem he was solving and the impact he wanted to make was beyond his years." Congratulations Jake! We look forward to seeing what you do next in the innovation space.
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EXCELLENCE: OUTSTANDING SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTSNominations for Wings Awards are open If your child has been selected for a national or representative team, or has achieved a placing at a national-level tournament/competition so far this year, they may be eligible for an HPSS Wings Award. These awards are presented at our Sports Celebration Evening in Term 4 and recognise outstanding sporting achievements from November 2025 through to October 2026.
If this applies to your child, please follow the link below, read the eligibility criteria, and submit an application if they qualify. We look forward to celebrating their success. HPSS Sports Wings Award Nomination 2026
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EXCELLENCE: AUCKLAND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHAMP OF CHAMPSHuge congrats to Year 13 William Blair, who swam a PB to secure a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke at the Auckland Secondary Schools Champ of Champs swimming meet over the weekend.
William has been flying the swimming flag for HPSS for 5 years now, and we are so proud of his efforts. Ka pai, William.
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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 HPSS Open Evening for 2027 new students - Monday 27 July 5.30pm - 7.30pm Staff Only Day (Board) - Friday 4 September IEMS: Yr 12-13 - Wednesday 16 September 2pm - 8pm Derived Grade Exams - Thursday 17 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 (MoE: Curriculum) - 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
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