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Hobsonville Point Secondary School Communication14 August 2026 PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGEKia ora e ngā whānau, It has been another positive and busy two weeks at Hobsonville Point Secondary School. As we move through the term, it is always encouraging to see the many different ways our students are engaging in school life — through their learning, sporting opportunities, cultural activities and the relationships they build with one another. There is a real sense of momentum across the school, and I continue to be proud of the way our students are embracing opportunities and challenging themselves to do their best. It was fantastic to see our Girls’ Football team finish their season with a hard-fought victory over Kelston Girls’ College. It was a close and competitive game, with our students showing tremendous heart, determination and resilience to secure the win. Finishing third for the season is a fantastic achievement and one that reflects the commitment and effort of our players and coaches. It is also wonderful to see sport continuing to grow and develop at Hobsonville Point Secondary School as our school continues to grow. The increasing opportunities for students to participate, compete and perform are an important part of building a strong culture of sport across our school. With Winter Tournament Week approaching, the girls’ performance is a great example of the determination, teamwork and commitment we want to see across all of our sporting teams. Next week we also celebrate Tonga Language Week (Uike Kātoanga'i 'o e Lea Faka-Tonga). The 2026 theme is “Ko 'etau hiva, ko e fe'unu mahu'inga ia ki he mo'ui 'a e Tonga”, which translates as “Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan culture.” Music is such an important part of culture and identity, providing a way to share stories, connect generations and celebrate who we are. I look forward to seeing our students and staff embrace the week and celebrate lea faka-Tonga and the rich cultural contribution of our Tongan students, whānau and community. It is these opportunities to celebrate achievement, culture and belonging that make our school community such a special place to be. Ngā mihi Kirsty Dowding Tumuaki Principal
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KEY DATES FOR TERM 3Progress Reports sent to all whānau - 14 August. Winter 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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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE - ANNUAL INTER-COMMUNITY SPELLING BEEOver the past few weeks, we have run our annual inter-community spelling bee competition with two rounds: the prelims, where anyone could come sit a 50-word spelling test, and the finals, where the top 4 spellers from each community were selected to battle it out for top spot! It was amazing to see so many people participating and earning points for their community. In prelims, we had 200 students taking part. Finals were very exciting: each finalist took a 10-word spelling test, and then the top 2 from each community had to spell words aloud, being eliminated if they were wrong. Under pressure, Gloria Ou Yang (Waiarohia) performed at the top level, taking out the competition. Also, congratulations to 2nd-place Ronald Wang (Tiriwa) and 3rd-place Sanna Haiko (Tiriwa) for their incredible performances. Thank you to everyone involved in marking and setting up, and to Ros for helping make the competition possible. In overall points going towards the Community Shield: 1st - Waiarohia 2nd - Tiriwa 3rd - Tāhere tikitiki 4th - Onekiritea
Megan Wiggill (Academic Leader) A special congratulations to our top 9 spellers in Year 9 & 10 who are among the top 350 spellers in the whole country and have progressed to the regional semifinal of the NZ Spelling Bee to be held at the start of September: Bridgette Geerken, Amelia Graham, Sanna Haiko, Casey Mackay, Eman Naveed, Fae Osborne, Victor Ou Yang, Abigail Tamihere, Justin Zhao.
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COLLABORATION: PATHWAYS - CELEBRATING OUR STUDENTS IN INTERNSHIPS AND OFFSITE COURSESOn Monday, our Year 12 and 13 students who participate in the Internship Programme or attend offsite courses on Wednesdays, came together to celebrate their achievements to date. For many of our students, their internship has been their first opportunity to experience a professional workplace, and for those in a course, stepping into a tertiary environment. Across a wide range of industries and workplaces, they have been developing their confidence, communication, independence and understanding of what it means to take on new responsibilities and be part of a team outside of the school environment. We were also fortunate to welcome William Pike as our special guest. William spoke openly with students about his own experiences, the challenges he has faced, and the importance of making the most of opportunities, pushing beyond your comfort zone and continuing to learn from the experiences that come your way. A big thank you to William for sharing his time, stories and insights with our students. And thank you to these students for the commitment shown so far. We're looking forward to seeing what you do with the rest of the year and how these experiences help shape your next steps.
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AOTEAROA SCHOOL LIBRARY WEEK AND BOOK WEEKThe library has been a hive of activity this week as HPSS celebrated both Aotearoa School Library Week and Book Week. There was intense competition between communities as they vied for sought-after community points - through completing the Daily Whānau Quiz and also all the library quizzes, competitions and activities on offer. The Hobsonville Habits and Values, like collaboration and curiosity, have been evident throughout the week. The Banned Books display sparked much conversation and debate, with students in disbelief that some books were not allowed to be accessed in certain countries and discussing the reasons why. Students also enjoyed two presentations by guest speaker, Gareth Shute. Gareth is an author, reviewer, journalist, musician, and a big part of the music scene in Aotearoa. There has certainly been a bookish buzz around the library this week as together the library and books were celebrated - both the access HPSS has to such amazing resources and also the library as a much-loved space in the school.
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COLLABORATION: PATHWAYS: JACK TERBLANCHE - INTERNSHIP STORYEvery Wednesday morning I wake up around 5.40am to get ready to be picked up by Kelvin to go to my internship with Marshall Electrics. Kelvin is my supervisor and is the person who is teaching me so much on the job. My day-to-day with Marshall Electrics involves turning up to both Residential and Commercial worksites where I take part in a range of electrical work. I have been lucky enough to experience putting sockets on walls, heat pump services, going into roof cavities to run cables, and general apprenticeship based activities. Although I am still adjusting to the early mornings, I really enjoy getting out and about. I enjoy the practical hands-on learning and am thankful to the internship team and the team at Marshall Electrics for this opportunity. When I leave school, I want to become an electrician.
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EXCELLENCE: PERFORMING ARTS - HIP HOP DANCEWe are excited to share the amazing results from our boys at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship held in Phoenix, Arizona. These gold and silver medal results are impressive, as they are competing against the best dance crews from all around the world.
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STAND UP AND STAND OUTOver the past two weeks, HPSS students have been competing in the Stand Up and Stand Out competitions. SUSO has been running for 35 years and features several categories; it is funded and supported by the Auckland City Council. Methuki Perera represented HPSS in the Solo Vocal category and performed a powerful rendition of "No Good Deed" from Wicked - she drew high praise from the judges and huge applause from the audience. Alex Liu, CJ Dela Cruz, Luke Liu, and Nic Chiang performed as "Temporary Band" in the band category and also received very positive feedback from the judges. Madi McLellan and her band "Sidetracked" also competed in the Band category - they are off to Wellington in September to compete in the National Final of SMOKEFREE ROCKQUEST - we wish them well as they compete as one of the top 6 bands in the country.
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INQUIRY: YEAR 12 BUSINESS STUDIES EOTC TRIP TO BOUNCEOur Year 12 Business Studies students recently enjoyed an EOTC trip to BOUNCE, where they investigated what motivates employees in a real-world business environment. Students interviewed employees, learned more about how the business operates, and explored the different factors that encourage people to work there. This experience directly connects to their current assessment on employee motivation theories, allowing students to see how the concepts they are learning in class apply in an authentic business setting. Of course, the students also had a fantastic time experiencing the wide range of activities BOUNCE has to offer.
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ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND RESILIENCE: NZCETA PURSUITS COMPETITIONSOn August 13, our students proudly represented the school in the Pursuits Competitions, entering teams in both Economics and Business Studies. In the Economics team, we had Christine Phung (Y13), Beth Weeks (Y12), Devika Manoj (Y13), and Finn Brown (Y13). In the Business Studies team, we had Himari Colambage, Kristina Orog, Aditi Joshte and Loretta Gutsell (All Y13).
Faced with complex, real-world scenario challenges, both teams brought incredible enthusiasm, teamwork, and resilience to the table. They pushed through demanding problems and kept their energy high from start to finish.
Above all, it was an amazing learning experience that allowed our students to test their critical thinking and step out of their comfort zones. We are immensely proud of their hard work, competitive spirit, and school pride. Congratulations to all our participants.
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CONNECTEDNESS: MUD, GRIT AND GRINSOn Wednesday 12 August, our Year 13 PE students took on the Tough Guy and Gal Mud Run at Kumeū Showgrounds. Despite cold, wet, and muddy conditions, every student completed the challenging 6km course, tackling mud pits, walls, crawls, and obstacles along the way. The event was more than just a physical challenge; it was an opportunity for students to demonstrate resilience, teamwork, and a willingness to step outside their comfort zones. Their determination, encouragement of one another, and positive attitude embodied the Hobsonville Habits of being Resilient, Adventurous, and Contributive. The mud run also formed part of students' Year 13 PE assessment, providing an authentic opportunity to apply their learning in a real-world setting. Congratulations to all of our students on an outstanding achievement.
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CONNECTEDNESS: GREASE YOUNG@PARTWe are pleased to share that two of our students Gabriella Matthews (Year 11) and Methuki Perera (Year 12) will be performing in GREASE Young@Part at the National Youth Theatre at Due Drop Events Centre Manukau between 15-16 August 2026. We wish them all the best in their performances.
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COLLABORATION: PATHWAYS: MICHELLE CHEN - INTERNSHIP STORYI have been interning at Pet Doctors West Harbour for around a term now. A typical day involves many little things, such as helping restock needles and syringes, observing surgeries, helping the other vets with the animals, and giving lots of cuddles to the animals. What I enjoy the most is working in an environment with the animals and also different cases that come in each week, ranging from common neuters/spays to more severe cases. The team working at the clinic have all been so welcoming and helpful, making my experience really enjoyable so far. I am very grateful to have such an amazing opportunity interning at a veterinary clinic, as it is a career I am considering in the future. Having this opportunity has made me see the different aspects of veterinary medicine and has given me new knowledge that can only be learned from being in a clinic. Overall, this internship has really made me more interested in this career, and I'm looking forward to deepening my understanding and everything along with it.
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EXCELLENCE: SPORTS DIVING NZ NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND HPSS UMPIRESHuge congratulations to Year 9 student Libby Fraser who competed at both the New Zealand Secondary Schools and DivingNZ National Championships in Christchurch recently.
Libby achieved some amazing results across the two competitions: 1st in the 1m springboard event 3rd in the platform, 3rd in the platform synchro and 4th in the 3m springboard
We are incredibly proud to have you representing HPSS at this level, Libby - ka rawe. Supporting local primary netball - HPSS umpires in control at North West Primary Cluster Zone Netball festivals Over the last two weeks, 12 HPSS students have been growing their umpiring skills, and supporting the development of primary-aged netball at the Year 5/6 and Year 7/8 Netball Cluster Zone days at Te Pai Netball Centre. The students did a fantastic job umpiring multiple games across both days and represented HPSS with confidence, fairness and positivity. Well done all! Umpires pictured at the Year 7/8 Cluster day: (back) Katarina Radlovacki, Emma Lunch, An Ly, Rebecca Johnson, Lily Harrison, Sophie Turley, Lucy Edwards; (front) Ruby Campbell, Olivia Jurgens, Molly Baker Not pictured by also umpired at the Y 5/6 Cluster day: Farah Stienstra, Bella Gunston and Hayley Smeal.
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EXCELLENCE: FORMER STUDENT BAILEY GAUGHAN SIGNS WITH CARDIFF METCongratulations to former student Bailey Gaughan, who has signed with Cardiff Met FC in the Cymru Premier in Wales. After making more than 87 senior appearances in New Zealand, contributing to the development of young footballers through coaching, and running the Youth Academy at West Coast Rangers, Bailey is now taking the next exciting step in his football career overseas. We are incredibly proud of Bailey's achievements and wish him every success as he begins this exciting new chapter. Congratulations, Bailey.
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MASSEY UNIVERSITY KICK START AWARDAs Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University prepares to celebrate its Centenary in 2027, students from HPSS have been offered access to the Massey Kick Start Award.
The Massey Kick Start Award is offered to support access and is applied as a contribution towards tuition fees or accommodation costs when enrolling into bachelor level study at Massey University in Semester One 2027.
The Award categories include: $3,000 award for all eligible students. $4,000 award for all eligible students enrolled into a new programme. A $5,000 award for an eligible student (one student) nominated by our school.
The Massey Kick Start Award forms part of the Centenary celebrations and reflects Massey's commitment to supporting the next generation of learners as they transition from school to university study.
If you have, or intend to, apply to Massey University for study next year, please contact the Pathways team.
Please note this is open to both domestic and international students.
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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
We are excited to confirm that the Year 10 Camp 2026 is going ahead from Monday 7 December to Thursday 10 December. Camp will be a great chance for our Year 10 students to celebrate the end of the year, spend time together, build confidence and independence, and enjoy a range of fun outdoor activities and challenges. More information will be coming to whānau shortly, including activities, costs, payments, permissions, and everything students and parents will need to know.
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