HVHS Newsletter

Pathways Prizegiving

It was a special privilege to honour our students during the recent Learning Pathways Prizegiving, an event showcasing the dedication of those engaged in practical vocational pathways and hands-on work placements. Throughout the Hutt region, our young people have represented HVHS with absolute distinction across diverse local workplaces, earning glowing feedback from employers. Complementing their practical experience were wonderful community endeavours that gave time and financial support to local groups—such as crafting care bundles for hospital patients and mentoring pupils at a nearby primary school. Generosity lies at the core of our values, and it was deeply gratifying to see our students gain as much joy from giving as those receiving their help.

Looking Ahead: The Final Stretch for Year 13

As we look toward Term 4, we acknowledge that our Year 13s have very little formal schooling remaining. Before they step into their next chapters, they have a busy final stretch ahead, including:

• Derived Grade Exams

• NCEA External Examinations

• Graduation Prizegiving

We encourage all our Year 13 students to stay focused, support one another, and give these final assessments their absolute best effort.

Our 2026 Student Leaders

To our outgoing 2026 Student Leaders, led by Head Students Myumi Peiris (13JDPN) and Sam Worsley (13JDPN) - a massive thank you. You have left a truly positive, friendly, and lasting mark on HVHS. Your leadership, enthusiasm, and dedication to fostering a supportive culture across all year groups have been an inspiration to us all.

Welcoming Our 2027 Student Leaders

As our Year 13s prepare to graduate, the time comes to hand over the reins of leading HVHS.

Congratulations to our newly appointed 2027 Student Leaders, and a special congratulations to our 2027 Head Students, Oxie Taylor (12NI) and Blake Smith (12FY) and our Deputy Head Students, Patrick Bradley (12PC) and Nia Jobanputra (12NB). To view the complete list of 2027 Student Leaders please click here.

I am looking forward to meeting with our incoming student leadership team very soon to discuss their vision for the year ahead and support them as they step up into these important roles.

Summative Reports - Coming Out

Our senior students will soon be issued a comprehensive summary detailing their progress toward NCEA, outlining both earned credits and those remaining. For our Years 11, 12, and 13 students, derived grade assessments and external NCEA exams are fast approaching, making it vital to maintain focus, keep up momentum, and strive toward their academic aspirations.

The dedication shown over the upcoming weeks—including the holiday break—will play a crucial role in securing positive end-of-year outcomes. Let’s aim to Finish Strong. As shared during a recent assembly, the whakataukī reminds us: "He manako te kōura i kore ai" (wishing for crayfish will not secure them). Simply hoping for accomplishment will not yield the outcomes you desire—true achievement demands action, perseverance, and genuine effort right through to the end.

Wishing all our students and staff a restful, safe, and enjoyable holiday break. We look forward to seeing everyone back for an exciting and focused Term 4!

Ngā mihi nui,

Denise Johnson (Principal)

At the Wellington Regional Awards for the 48HOURS filmmaking competition, the HVHS for the wings team took home top honors, winning Best School Team from a competitive field of 48 entrants. This fantastic victory marks back-to-back titles for HVHS - a testament to the creativity, mahi and talent within our school's Media Studies department.

Congratulations to the HVHS the wings team: Avrora Kovaleva (13BH), Nicole Urquhart (13BR), Sophia Kerr (13MO), Emily Diederich (13TW), Nate Haste (13BR), Charlie Bristow (13BR), Matty Miller (13KT), Kārena Coffey (13JDPN), Harrison Carr (13LE), Ollie Coppard (13MO), and Oscar Young (13TW) with support from teachers, Ioanna Koroniadis and Liv Woodmass.

HVHS for the wings film, titled Presidents and Assholes, which they wrote, shot and edited over two days, also won the Audience Choice award for its heat and is now available to watch by clicking here.

Shave for a Cure raises vital funds for Blood Cancer NZ, and two of our students, Henry Smith (13RB) and Oscar Young (13TW), have stepped up in a big way. So far, Henry has raised $1,017 and Oscar has raised $1,234 to support New Zealanders living with blood cancer.

Last Monday in the hall, Henry and Oscar officially said goodbye to their locks, and in a great show of solidarity, Jeremy Keane ( Year 13 Dean) also shaved off his beard, too! Thank you to Aston Banks (Maths Teacher), for helping with the event in the hall. Unlike last year, Aston left with all the hair he came in with! There is still time to support their amazing efforts. You can donate to their fundraisers via the links below:

• Henry Smith's Shave for a Cure Fundraising Page

• Oscar Young's Shave for a Cure Fundraising Page

The premiere of Ghosted took place last week and was a blast. It is rare for a high school to produce a feature-length film, making this a huge achievement.

If you missed out on tickets, click here or the image below to watch the film on YouTube. Ghosted is a romantic comedy about the restorative power of rejection. This film is a sweet, happy piece for everyone to enjoy. Please feel free to share it far and wide.

Our student actors in Ghosted are superb and deserve to be seen. The Ghosted cast includes Vinuki Abeyrathna (13WNDO), Eliza Bloodworth (13TW), Bella Broadway (13OG), Harrison Carr (13LE), Hannah Gibbs (12FY), Riley Green (13SHDM), Nate Haste (13BR), Tristan Hotter (13JDPN), Sanne Kiddle (13OH), Chiara Kitson (12FY), Ethan Masters (10BESD), Ryan Parks (13WL), Siân Roberts (13TOBZ), Nathan Rodwell (13BR), Tane Smith-Xavier (13NTTH), Mia Tuapawa-Spooner (12NI), Josh Whitehead, Arabella Young (12DA), Oscar Young (13TW) and alumni, Ella McNeillage and Josh Whitehead. Ghosted also features music by Wildflower and Alexander Knighton.

Our school has dedicated Maths and Science Help Rooms to support students in all year groups. For both Help Rooms, students are welcome to drop in, no bookings are necessary. These Help Rooms will continue through the Derived Grade exam period and the NCEA and Scholarship exams starting in early November. See the timings and room locations below.

Maths Help Room

The Maths Help Room runs from 3:30pm-4:30pm every Wednesday after school in P6. Students receive individualised help from Hutt Valley High School’s fantastic Maths teachers. Students can bring their own work, or our Maths teachers can help them find work. Maths Help is open to all year levels and abilities. Additional Maths Help Room sessions will be run during the NCEA exam period (days to be confirmed in Term 4).

Science Help Room

The Science Help Room runs every Thursday after school from 3.30pm-4.30pm and every Friday at lunchtime from 1:30pm-2:15pm in B11. Additional subject-specific help rooms may be advertised to senior students via their Science Google Classrooms.

A big thank you to all of the students who sent in submissions for the HVHS Haiku Competition this term - it was wonderful to see the creativity and love for language from so many entries across the school. Three winners were selected for each year group. Congratulations to our winners of this year's haiku competition!

• Year 9: Harper Johnstone (9GUSP), Sayuri Okamura (9GUSP) & Emily Sue (9MAHI)
• Year 10: Isla Clyde (10ASKO), Khushi Raturi (10GFDI) & Jesiah Acheampong (10WSLW)
• Year 11: Amelie Sternegard (11CV), Ash McLeod (11SLC) & Lucy Costelloe (11HD)
• Year 12: Jesse Want (12NB), Keziya Shibu (12NS) & Aurel Gautam (12NI)
• Year 13: Siân Roberts (13TOBZ), Mio Hoffman (13BH) & Anthony O'Donnell-Espinosa (13WD)

The winning haiku can be found displayed outside the English Office (V16) for everyone to enjoy!

In New Zealand, the most difficult math high school mathematics competition is the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers (NZAMT) Senior Mathematics Competition. The following students earned a Merit award for placing in the top 50% (competing against very high performing students nationwide): Cameron Johns (12BB), Nitesh Tappeta (13OAPH), Tanush Arra (13TOBZ), and Michael Li (13BR).

Congratulations also to the following students who received a Distinction in the University of Otago Junior Mathematics Competition for placing in the top 15% nationwide for their year groups: Xavier Potaka-Knox (9SHDM), Laura Ryan (9CWMH), Isaac Lyu (10GFDI), Rajan Subramaniam (11SR), Hanmars Zhang (11CN) and Cameron Johns (12BB).

Congratulations to the following students on successfully completing their Bronze Award this term:

• Senuka Amarasinghe (10STSF)

• Max Bird (SLC)
• Isla Torrie (12NI)
• Platon Sipkin (former student, transferred to a school in Auckland)

Achieving this milestone requires significant commitment across volunteering, physical activity, skills development, and an adventurous journey. Outstanding effort and well-deserved recognition to all four of them!

If you're interested in starting your Duke of Edinburgh Award, you can begin at any time during the school year. Sarah Coales, the Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator at HVHS, brings a wealth of experience coordinating the Award across a range of schools, and her role is to support students as they register and work their way through the Award levels. For more information, please click here.

For students sitting digital exams in the upcoming Derived Grade Exams they must download Chrome browser to their Windows, Chromebook or Mac laptop. This is a new requirement as Hutt Valley High School is using Exam.net for online assessments.

Exam.net helps ensure a fair and secure testing environment by preventing access to other websites or files during exams. For any questions, please contact Rob Everett (Deputy Principal) at rob.everett@hvhs.school.nz.

Derived grade exams provide the evidence-based marks used to award your NCEA grade if you miss an external exam due to approved, unforeseen circumstances.

Schedule & Attendance

• Dates: Exams run from Monday, 12 October (first day of Term 4) to Wednesday, 21 October, with normal timetables resuming on Thursday, 22 October. Please click here to view the exam timetable.
• Timings: Morning exams start at 9:00am and afternoon exams at 1:30 pm. Please arrive 15 minutes before the exam starts.
• Daily Routines: Senior students in Years 11-13 study from home when they don't have an exam. Year 10 students attend regular classes unless they are sitting an exam.
• For Students with Special Assessment Conditions (SAC): Please follow the instructions sent from the Learning Support team.
• Venues: Room allocations will be posted daily at reception and at various other key places around school.
• Absences: If an exam is missed, contact the subject teacher immediately to arrange a catch-up session.

Exam Requirements & Equipment

• Uniform: Full school uniform is compulsory.
• If a student needs to borrow a device to sit their exam, please use this request form by clicking here (as soon as possible).
• Digital Exams: Students must download Chrome browser to their Windows, Chromebook or Mac laptop prior to starting the exam, and bring a fully charged laptop.
• For Paper Exams: Students must use blue or black pens only. Students may also bring a clear pencil bag and a clear drink bottle.
• For Numeracy Exams: Students may also bring rulers and calculators (see the Maths Learning Area if you need one).
• For Language Exams: Students must also bring headphones.

For any questions, please email Rob Everett (Deputy Principal) at rob.everett@hvhs.school.nz

To mark Hutt Valley High School’s centenary, we proudly partnered with Alana Wines to offer a limited-edition collection of commemorative wines, featuring a Shiraz, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

We've now sold over 400 bottles of wine with funds raised going to help create opportunities, remove barriers to participation, and ensure more students can access the experiences, connections, and personal growth that come from being involved in school life.

This fundraiser will wrap up soon, with last orders by Wednesday, 30 September! Let's all raise a glass to 100 years — order your wine by clicking here.

Welcome to Rosie Kirkpatrick

We would like to introduce Rosie Kirkpatrick, our new Sports Coordinator. Many of you will have met Rosie over the last few weeks. We are excited to have Rosie on board and look forward to the expertise she brings to this role.

New Social Media Pages for the Sports Office - Like & Follow

The Sports Office has recently updated their social media pages for the Sports Office, please use the link below to follow these pages, and hear the latest HVHS sports news and reminders:

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sporthvhs/ | @sporthvhs
• Facebook - Click here | Search 'HVHS Sport'

Cricket

Congratulations to the following students from the HVHS Girls 1st XI Cricket Team for their selection to the Cricket Wellington Under 17 Women’s Squad: Isla Gellatly (11SA), Lucy Papps (11CN), April Reeves (11SA), Sophie Reeves (11MY) and Leah Turner (11KV).

Netball

Congratulations to three HVHS netball players - Daisy Johnson (12CT), Mackenzie Gwerder (11GS), and Liv Turner (12CN), who were selected for the New Zealand Secondary School Hutt Valley Zone Tournament team. Being selected for this team is the first step on the pathway to making the New Zealand Secondary School netball team. The Hutt Valley Zone team competed over the weekend, securing three wins out of three against rival teams featuring top players from Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington.

Rugby League

Harper Johnstone (9SP) represented Te Whanganui ā Tara 13s Kōtiro Team at at the Kōtiro Girls Māori Rugby League Tournament in Hāwera, Taranaki.

Skiing & Snowboarding

Three HVHS students competed in the North Island Secondary School Ski Championships this week: Flora Noergaard (9MAHI), Agnes Noergaard (9WNDO), and Beatrice Jenkins-Wilson (10ASKO). It was a beautiful bluebird day with fresh snow from the previous day. Flora and Agnes competed in the ski Giant Slalom event, while Beatrice competed in both the snowboard Slopestyle and Giant Slalom.

Pictured below: Beatrice Jenkins-Wilson (10ASKO), Flora Noergaard (9MAHI) & Agnes Noergaard (9WNDO).

Underwater Hockey

Ila Gould (13RBTS) has been selected for the Central U18 Girls B underwater hockey team for 2026. The U18 Interzone Tournament will be played over Labour Weekend at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre (WRAC).

Physio Support at Hutt Valley High School

The Sports Office have teamed up with Jo Young from Petone Physio to offer physio services here at HVHS on a Friday during the school term. The Physio service is available to all students - not just those involved in sport. Whether you’re managing an injury, experiencing aches and pains, or simply looking for advice on movement, exercise and staying active, the team at Petone Physio are here to help.

This is a great opportunity for any student to access professional support and get advice to help feel their best and stay well. Please see the information sheet about the physio service including costs by clicking here. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to get in touch with Jo Young at Petone Physio at admin@petonephysio.co.nz or email the Sports Office at sport@hvhs.school.nz

Friendly Reminders

• Please keep checking your school emails as this is our way of sending communications from the Sports Office - including updates on upcoming individual sport prizegivings.
• A friendly reminder that all outstanding sports fees need to be paid as soon as possible.
• Students need to keep their sports uniforms, as they will be collected after Winter Sports Team photos (see article below).
• For your calendars: HVHS Sport Premier Awards are scheduled for Wednesday, 28 October from 6:30pm-8:30pm in the Hall.

The marae is open for breakfast from 8am until 8.55am for students needed kai before school starts. On offer is toast, weetibix, warm milo and great company! There will always be pre-made buns (jam or peanut butter) available on a table close to the door for everyone to help themselves, as well as any fruit that is donated.

Every now and then a bonus pot of something filling might be on offer like pumpkin and bacon soup or curried sausages, especially during the colder days. For any questions or offers of help, please email Sonia Talivai (Literacy Support) at sonia.talivai@hvhs.school.nz

At HVHS we want every student to have the opportunity to learn and thrive. One of the ways we support this is by making sure students who arrive without breakfast or enough food for the day can access kai when they need it.

If you’re able to help, we are currently seeking donations of sandwich spreads, muesli bars and milo. Donations can be dropped directly to the School Office during term time, Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm. For any questions, you’re also welcome to email Lloyd Ward (Acting Head of Wellbeing) at lloyd.ward@hvhs.school.nz. Ka nui te mihi.

We would like to thank the following local organisations for supporting our Pathways students this year by offering work experience placements, hosting workplace visits, or both. Your support has been invaluable in helping them gain real-world skills, confidence, and insights. If you require any of their products or services, please consider supporting these local businesses just as they’ve supported HVHS!

A huge thank you to: Absolute Security & Electrical, Accrete Plumbing & Gas, Adam Tulloch Electrical, Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery, Alliance Fire and Security, Alternative Building Solutions, Belén Plant Bakery, Black Dog Physio, BK Patterson Builders, Boulcott Hospital, Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Club, The Farm Bar & Café, Brendan Foot Supersite, Bula Barber, CablePrice, Capital City Motors, Captain Construction, Carters Petone, Chocolate Hair Company, City Fitness - Penny Hobden Coach, CK Electrical, Community Law, Corys Electrical, Cupcake Sweeties, Dogs-R-Us, Dress for Success, Element Plumbing & Heating, Ellis Plumbing & Gasfitting, Fraser Engineering, Gabe Marenzi Barber, Gear Street Union (Restaurant & Bar), Geoff Topp Builders,, Gijima Plumbing, Harbour City Plumbing, Harcourts, Hive Cafe, Hutt Hospital, Hutt Intermediate School, IT Works, James Cook Joinery, Keith Andrews (Trucks & Commercial Vehicles), King Toyota Lower Hutt Sales, King Toyota Lower Hutt Workshop, L. B. White Ltd (Plumbers & Gasfitters), Lower Hutt City Childcare, Mark Curran Building, Maungaraki Auto Services, Maungaraki Community Library, Megastructures 2007 LTD, Moera Kindergarten, Morris Metal Products, Naylor Love (Commercial Construction), Peak Electrical, Petone Working Men's Club, Pupper Hutt Hydrotherapy Clinic, Randwick School, Red Cross Shop (Petone), Resn (Creative Digital Agency), Salem + Co (Hair & Beauty Salon), Salute Hair Skin Spa, Salvation Army Family Store (Lower Hutt), Seaview Fire Station, Sherrington Jewellers, Sharesies, SpiceBuild, Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), The Angus Hotel, The Chubby Baker, The Simply Grill Kitchen, Thompsons Horse Centre, Tilley & Patton (Design & Manufacturing), TORY & KO. Jewellers, Vivo Hair Salon (Lower Hutt), Waterloo School, Wellington Aero Club, Wellington Airport, Westpac Lower Hutt, Willie Davis Limited (Qualified Builders), Woolworths (Petone), and Woolworths (Queensgate).

A huge thank you to the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) for their generous $10,000 grant in support of our student athletes competing at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Winter Tournament. Grants like these are made possible through NZCT’s partnerships with local community venues, including the Roadhouse Bar and Grill, and the Sin Bin Sports Bar. We greatly appreciate their ongoing support of our school and young athletes!

Has your child achieved something amazing? We’d love to hear about and celebrate our students’ successes outside the classroom — whether in sport, music, speech, dance, or other activities.

If your child has a sporting achievement, please email the details to Kristi Tia (Sports Director) at sport@hvhs.school.nz. For all other achievements, contact Lana Goddard (Principal’s PA) at office@hvhs.school.nz.

We're currently running low on donated uniforms, especially school skirts and black formal trousers. If your student has outgrown their uniform or no longer needs it, please consider donating it back to HVHS.

We'll ensure it is passed on to a student who needs it or loaned to a student who needs a replacement uniform item for a couple of days. Any uniform items you wish to donate can be dropped to the HVHS Office, open Monday to Friday from 8am-4pm during term time.

Need New School Trousers & Shorts?

From the start of 2027, all students will be required to wear the approved school trousers and shorts, which will only be available for purchase through the Resource Centre. If you need to purchase black trousers or shorts, we strongly recommend purchasing the correct ones from the Resource Centre now to avoid having to buy another pair at the start of next year.

Resource Centre Opening Hours

The Resource Centre's opening hours are Monday to Thursday during term time from 11:00am to 2:30pm, and it is closed on Fridays. The Resource Centre is closed during the school holidays and will re-open on Monday, 12 October. For any questions, please email resource.centre@hvhs.school.nz.

Enrolments for 2027 are now open for in-zone applications in Years 9-13, and out-of-zone applications for Years 10-13. We encourage families to enrol early to help us plan for your child's learning needs.

Early enrolment allows students to select their Year 9 subject options (many of which have limited spaces) and enables families to book a Year 9 enrolment conversation before popular time slots fill up. For information on how to enrol and key enrolment deadlines please click here.

Monday 12 October

• First Day of Term 4
• Derived Grade Exams for Years 11-13 Start, Runs until Wednesday 21 October, Click here for Exam Timetable

Monday 19 October

• Derived Grade Exams for Years 11-13 Continue, Finishing on Wednesday 21 October

• Visual Art, NCEA Level 2 Portfolios Due

• HOSCARS, Room S1, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Monday 26 October

• Labour Day (public holiday, school closed)

• Dance Benefit, School Hall, 7:00pm-8:30pm (Tickets on sale at the Resource Centre)

• HVHS Premier Sports Awards, HVHS Hall, 6:30pm-8:30pm

• Hotuwaipara Awards, HVHS Hall, 6:30pm-8:30pm

• Last Day for Students in Years 12-13

• Tutorial Week Starts
• Visual Art, NCEA Level 3 Portfolios Due

• Whānau Feast, C Block, 5:00pm-8:30pm (Evening 1/3)
• School Board Meeting, Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Whānau Feast, C Block, 5:00pm-8:30pm (Evening 2/3)

• Last Day for Students in Year 11
• Whānau Feast, C Block, 5:00pm-8:30pm (Evening 3/3)

• Enrolment Conversations Start for Enrolled Year 8 Families
• Year 10 Productions Start, Classes Scheduled Across Two Week Period, Week 1 of 2

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Start, Running until Friday 4 December

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Continue, Running until Friday 4 December
• Year 9 Camps Start, Classes Scheduled Across Two Week Period, Week 1 of 2
• Year 10 Productions Continue, Finishing on Friday 20 November, Week 2 of 2

• Teacher Only Day - Ministry of Education Curriculum Day (No classes for students)

• Year 9 Camps Continue, Finishing on Friday 27 November, Week 2 of 2

• NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams Continue, Running until Friday 4 December

• School Board Meeting, Boardroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Tautoko (Supported Learning Centre) Wizard of Oz Production, HVHS Hall, 3:30pm-4:30pm

• Big 10 Event (for Year 10 Students)
• Last Day of NCEA & NZ Scholarship Exams

• Year 11 Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 11:00am-12:00pm
• Year 12 Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 1:30pm-2:30pm
• Year 13 Graduation Prizegiving, Lower Hutt Town Hall, 6:30pm-9:00pm

• Last Day of Term 4 for Students in Years 9 & 10
• Year 9 Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 9:30am-10:30am
• Year 10 Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 11:00am-12:00pm

Thursday, 28 January

• First Day for Year 9 Students, 9:00am-3:15pm

• First Day for Students in Years 10-13, 9:00am-3:15pm

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