HVHS Newsletter
Thursday 4 September, 2025 - Term 3, Week 8
Kia ora koutou,
Week 8 has brought us the next testing window for the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Tasks. It has been pleasing to see the Year 10 students, along with some seniors, having done their preparation with heads down, giving the tests their best shot. Tests at the best of times are a stressful experience, and the perseverance and seriousness shown to them has been really pleasing to see - all the students who have participated in them should be given a pat on the back, no matter what the outcome.
Last week saw many of our students take part in Winter Tournament sporting action. This was an event that will be remembered for years to come due to the camaraderie and mateship that develops under the pressure of living and competing together day after day. To the students who participated, thank you for showing us in our best light. Thanks for your skill, competitiveness, fair play and the fun you brought to the week. To the Coaches, Managers, Chefs and lookerafterers; thank you for the time that you donated, for the cheers you gave, for the tears you mopped up, for the lollies you dished out and just for being a massive support for the week.
It has been great to see the positive feedback from our accommodation providers on the standard of behaviour and kindness that was shown by our teams. I managed to get to watch some of the sport in Taupō and Palmerston North. It was really rewarding to see the skill, positivity, focus and positive team culture that our teams exhibited. What a neat time - thank you to those teams for making me feel welcome.
The school calendar looks to be ramping up with all sorts of events. Please keep an eye on it so that you know what is coming up. Next week, our focus is on the more artistic side of the school with the Senior School Musical, Clockwise, playing. Best of luck to the cast and crew, we are excited to see the performance that showcases the massive amount of time, sweat and energy that has been put in.
At the end of next week, we will mark a major milestone by hosting the annual Year 13 Leavers Ball. We are really looking forward to this night of glam and dancing. A huge thank you to Grace Wright (Deputy Principal) and the student leadership team who have put the evening together.
Congratulations to Myumi Peiris (12BH) and Ray Moo (13JD), who received Leadership Awards at the Emerging Ethnic Leaders Breakfast, organised by Voices of Aroha in partnership with the Ministry of Education. At the event on Monday, 25 August, they were recognised and presented with certificates alongside 29 students from 14 schools across the Wellington region.
Ngā mihi nui,
Tim Fox, Co-Principal | Tumuaki (Acting, Term 3 2025)
Image: Myumi Peiris (12BH) and Ray Moo (13JD) with Sarah Roper (Head of English Language) at the Emerging Ethnic Leaders Breakfast.
Clockwise has performances from Monday, 8 September, to Thursday, 11 September, in the HVHS Hall, starting at 7 pm. The runtime is approximately two hours. See you there!
Congratulations to Minara Dadallagei (12AL), Nadia Mulyani (12OH) and Amy Fowler (12TW), who have successfully passed the New Zealand Biology Olympiad entrance exam. This challenging two-hour exam is sat by top academic students from across the country. It assesses skills in data and resource interpretation, logic and reasoning, decision-making, and the ability to work under time pressure.
Success in this exam earned them the right to participate in an invitation-only summer tutorial programme, based on the university-level text Campbell Biology, and is supported by tutors from the New Zealand International Biology Olympiad (NZIBO)
At the end of this programme, they will sit another examination, with the chance to earn a Silver Award and secure a place at the NZIBO training camp. From there, New Zealand’s top four students will be selected to represent the country at the International Biology Olympiad in Lithuania.
After adding in the House Has Talent points, here are the latest HVHS House rankings:
- 1st Pukeatua
- 2nd Pukeariki
- 3rd Ōrongorongo
- 4th Remutaka
- 5th Tararua
- 6th Matairangi
Well done to Pukeatua House Leaders, Ruby Andrews (13GL) & Adam Kennett (13WR)!
The points behind the rankings show just how close the competition is - it's still anyone's year to win, with Attitude to Learning scores to factor in, plus the Big Day Out event in Term 4.
For our historians, here’s a look back at our House champions over the last five years: Matairangi (2020), Pukeatua (2021), Remutaka (2022), and Tararua (2023 & 2024).
Japanese
Students studying Japanese continue to develop strong connections with our sister school, Suginami High School, which is located in Tokyo. In March of this year, 31 students visited HVHS and spent a week with a homestay family in our community. They enjoyed joining our Japanese classes and sharing their language and culture while also learning about life in New Zealand. Our students are now getting excited about heading to Japan next year in September, where they will reunite with these friends and also learn more about Japanese culture and language.
French - HVHS Trip to France (July 2025)
- by Myumi Peiris (12BH)
Drinking freshly squeezed orange juice in the gardens of the Château de Versailles, visiting the Louvre and getting guided tours of cities in the French Riviera are some of my core memories from our recent trip to France. And that’s not even mentioning my favourite part: La Tour Eiffel!
In Paris, Google Maps became our best friend as we navigated the busy metro to get from one landmark to another. Over the week, we were able to visit the famous Champs-Élysées, L’Arc de Triomphe and numerous museums.
A 6 hour train ride took us to Nice. We learnt about the history of the once fortified city and swam in the dazzling Mediterranean Sea. Our adventures also led us to the famous French perfumery ‘Fragonard’, from which nearly everyone walked away with a treasure in hand.
The last 2 days of our trip were spent in a Paris hostel. This was a nice change and meant we could stay together instead of in separate homestays around the city. Whether it was buying baguette sandwiches or tasting authentic croissants and pastries, we all had a wonderful time trying out the local boulangeries (bakeries) and cafés.
Les Ateliers FL also ran language classes for our group. After two weeks of speaking French at the school and during daily interactions, all of us were able to improve our skills. Bisous France!
Te Reo Māori
Senior Te Reo Māori students are regularly immersed in authentic opportunities to use their language in meaningful, real-life contexts. They have participated, supported and represented Hutt Valley High School proudly in pōwhiri, whakatau, the handing over of Nick Larkin (former HVHS Deputy Principal), corporate events, Matariki/Hautapu ceremonies, as well as a range of other cultural events and activities.
They are developing the ability to communicate and respond in real-time, building confidence and fluency through authentic interaction, strengthening connections with whānau, hapū, and iwi by valuing oral traditions, they are experiencing the mana and wairua of the language in its spoken form, and honouring te reo as a taonga tuku iho that lives through kōrero.
Spanish
We have welcomed a new Spanish teacher to the Department. Señor Leonardo Bermudez, a Colombian citizen, has joined our languages community after teaching for twelve years in China. As a result, in addition to his Spanish skills, he brings an ability to communicate in Mandarin and has already made an appearance at the Wednesday lunchtime Mahjong club.
One of our Year 9 Spanish classes is preparing for their very first Spanish language presentations as they build towards their end-of-term receptive test. Students have been working diligently to master the Spanish alphabet, use numbers to tell the time and dates, and practise speaking Spanish at every opportunity. Their commitment is helping them grow in both skill and confidence. We are working towards developing the ability to communicate more naturally and accurately in everyday situations, and gaining confidence to use the language aloud to support stronger listening and comprehension skills.
English Language
Many of our English language learning students, from a wide variety of backgrounds and countries, have participated in various class experiences to increase their understanding of our local community and its facilities, which also deepens their language and sense of belonging. Our two Year 10 classes learned how to take the local bus to visit the beautiful Korokoro Dam. We learned about the history of the dam, about the birds, fish, insects and plant life, and how this as one of many parks and reserves are easily accessible for free and are maintained as a local facility for everyone to enjoy.
Classes 10ELIT and 13ELAN have been learning about governance and citizenship, which highlighted the role of our local council to provide and maintain facilities for their enjoyment, and how, as youth citizens, they can participate and 'have a say' in their community. Most recently, class 13ELAN was privileged to meet Mayor Campbell Barry and Councillors Chris Parkin, Naomi Shaw, and Josh Briggs in the Council chamber for a Q&A session, with questions generated from previous class discussions.
The students each took a chair around the table (pictured) as though they were councillors and using the microphone introduced themselves and asked questions. There was a relaxed mix-and-mingle with photos at the end. We had visited the War Memorial Library on the way as an example of a council-provided facility where students browsed through all the sections of the library, with one joining as a member.
Another experience 13ELAN has enjoyed was gathering and working with harakeke with Richard Edwards (Year 9 Dean/Teacher in Charge - Horticulture). After gathering harakeke at the river near school, they learned how to weave stars. Initial struggles to twist, fold and turn the harakeke were finally rewarded with woven stars which was part of our learning about Māori New Year and Matariki. This led to some beautiful recounts for their writing assessment.
These experiences are examples of the activities we design for our English language learners to use and improve their English while nurturing their new life here in New Zealand.
For any questions about the Language Learning Area, please get in touch with Monique Anderson (Head of Languages Learning Area) at monique.anderson@hvhs.school.nz
Thinking about your next steps after school? Come along to our Enrolment Information Event and explore your study options. The event will be held on Tuesday 16 September, from 12.30 pm – 3.15 pm in the HVHS Library.
Students can chat with local polytechnics, get help with enrolments, student loan applications, and IRD numbers (if not known), as well as have official documents verified.
At the Tertiary Enrolment Event, the following tertiary providers and organisations will be available to help:
- WelTec
- Whitireia
- New Zealand School of Tourism
- New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS)
- Yoobee (College of Creative Innovation)
- Learning Connexion
- NZMA
- ETCO (leading provider of electrical apprenticeships and training)
- Premier Hairdressing
- Inland Revenue (IRD)
- StudyLink (information on eligibility and how to apply for student allowances & loans)
- Justice of the Peace (help with certifying documents, checklist of what to bring - click here)
This event is ideal for students interested in trades, health, early childhood education, and more.
All of our violins are currently being hired by students, and we already have a waiting list for lessons starting in 2026. Do you have a violin at home that needs to be played? We welcome all violins, even those needing repair or restringing.
Donated violins can be dropped off at the School Office, open 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. For any questions, please email Jhan Lindsay (Itinerant Music Programme / Performing Arts Coordinator / Music Teacher) at music@hvhs.school.nz.
Lost property is overflowing with unnamed items we’d like to return to their student owners. These include glasses, hoodies/sweatshirts, lunchboxes, jackets, jewellery, shoes, t-shirts, and water bottles.
With just over two weeks left in the school term, we encourage parents and caregivers to remind their students to stop by and check if they are missing any school items.
Students can check lost property at the Student Counter in the School Office between 8:45am and 3:30pm, Monday to Friday, during term time. Any unclaimed items at the end of the term will be donated to a local charity.
An online lost property form is also available for students (and parents/caregivers) to complete when an item has been misplaced. Click here to access the form, which is also available on Google Classroom for students.
- Anjali John (10SRBZ)
- Eliza Field (11NI)
- Gautham Muthukumaran (9DMST)
- Nina Ortega Wilson (11TI)
- Siena Meikle (12KG)
The Bronze Award recognises a student’s commitment to community service, developing a new skill, regular physical activity, and outdoor adventure. To learn more about the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, please click here or for any questions, please email Sarah Coales, HVHS's Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator at sarah.coales@hvhs.school.nz.
New! Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients Group Photo
As part of the Winter Team Sports photos on Thursday, 18 September, a group photo will be taken of all Duke of Edinburgh Award recipients. Students will receive an email reminder closer to the date.
Voting papers for the election of parent representatives were emailed on Wednesday, 13 August 2025. If you haven’t received an email, please first check your spam folder — the subject line is Hutt Valley High School Board Election - Voting has opened!
Parents and caregivers without an email address on file should now have received their printed voting papers by post.
A friendly reminder that all votes must be received by 4pm on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, when voting closes. Parents and caregivers with printed voting papers must ensure these are dropped off at the School Office by the deadline.
If you need your voting paper re-sent, please contact Election Pilot (the Returning Officer for the HVHS elections) on 0800 VOTE NZ (0800 868 369) or email election@electionpilot.nz
New Zealand Secondary Schools National Winter Tournament Week Results
Congratulations to the following students and teams:
- Badminton: Premier 1 Boys placed 10th, Premier 2 Boys placed 20th, Premier 1 Girls placed 6th and the Premier 2 Girls placed 11th.
- Basketball: Junior Boys placed 7th and the Senior Boys placed 17th.
- Climbing: Holly Meyer (11HR) placed 3rd in Senior Girls grade and the HVHS team came 5th place for co-ed schools.
- Football: Boys 1st XI placed 3rd and Girls 1st XI placed 16th.
- Hockey Girls 1st XI team placed 3rd.
- Netball Premier 1 team placed 15th.
- Rugby: U15 Girls placed 7th and the Boys 1st XV placed 2nd.
- Underwater Hockey: Junior Girls team placed 6th, Senior Open team placed 10th, and the Junior Open team finished 9th (by default, as they are a composite team, otherwise they would have placed higher based on results).
- Motocross: well done to Gil Hoskin (10OADS) who came 22nd, and Hailey Diack (11BB) who also competed.
Below: HVHS students competing at the New Zealand Secondary Schools National Winter Tournament Week.
Voting packs for the Student Representative election were emailed to all HVHS students on Sunday, 31 August, by Election Pilot (the Returning Officer for the HVHS elections). Voting closes on Wednesday, 10 September, at 4pm.
As students vote in the Student Representative election, they have been asked to consider the candidate who would best represent all students. The Student Representative is expected to share views at board meetings confidently and respectfully, keeping our school values and the HVHS Board Code of Conduct in mind at all times.
If a student needs their voting pack re-sent, please contact Election Pilot (the Returning Officer for the HVHS elections) on 0800 VOTE NZ (0800 868 369) or email election@electionpilot.nz.
Our Dungeons & Dragons groups have space for new players. If you know a student who is struggling to find their place here at HVHS or could use a bit of extra social growth, encourage them to come along - or to rejoin if they've been part of the D&D group previously. D&D sessions run in V8 every Thursday after school until 5:30pm. We’ll help new players find a group that suits them.
We’re also looking for student volunteers to run games, which counts as volunteer experience. Interested students can attend on a Thursday to find out more or contact Marcus Blomquist at marcus.blomquist@hvhs.school.nz.
Do you have a Year 8 student starting at HVHS in 2026? If you haven’t enrolled them yet, please do so as soon as possible. Enrolment Conversations with Year 8 students and their families begin early in Term 4.
Important reminder: Enrolment is not automatic – all Year 8 students must apply, even if they live in-zone or already have a sibling at HVHS. To enrol now, click here: https://hvhs.school.nz/how-to-enrol/
Please note that applications for out-of-zone enrolments for Year 9 in 2026 are now closed and will no longer be accepted.
A huge thank you to those of you who have supported our students by donating kai in the past to help us supplement our breakfast club we run each day from Te Korowai.During the colder months, we've seen an increase in students coming in for food, and it's been great to offer sandwiches and fruit alongside the regular breakfast programme.
We’re grateful for your ongoing support. If you’d like to contribute by donating sandwich spreads or fillings, please contact Claire Ross (Head of Wellbeing) at claire.ross@hvhs.school.nz, or drop off donations at the School Office (open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm during term time).
Contact Information
Email: office@hvhs.school.nz
Website: hvhs.school.nz
Location: Hutt Valley High School Woburn Road, Woburn, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
Phone: 04 566 4584