HVHS Newsletter

Dear Parents, Whānau, and Caregivers,

Our 100th-anniversary celebration was a phenomenal two-day success, filled with warmth, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for our history. The weekend offered a wonderful, relaxed vibe and a true sense of community. Looking back, this milestone was more than just a commemoration of the past; it was a powerful affirmation of our enduring identity and the shared values that have united generations of our school community for a century. Our school wings, encouraging us to aim high, have truly stood the test of time. It was a joy to see so many former students, whether wearing their blazers or proudly pinning their wing badges to their chests.

We have received many wonderful emails from attendees praising the seamless coordination of the weekend. Many highlighted the perfect balance between structured formal events, such as the Welcome and Mihi Whakatau, which was a unique experience for many, and the time allowed to wander, relax, and mingle. Our two student comperes did a superb job expertly guiding the proceedings and maintaining a wonderful energy throughout. We also extend our gratitude to Pam Davis for representing our alumni during the ceremonial cake cutting, a special moment of celebration led by our Head Student, Myumi Petris (13JDPN).

Our staff loved hearing your stories and recollections as you explored the reunion rooms. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write to us; it has been a true pleasure sharing your kind messages with our team and current students.

The weekend was packed with highlights, from beautiful choir performances, especially the singing of Gaudeamus Igitur, the old school song, which many in the audience were able to sing along to – to the official speeches, which Susan Dunne (Board Chair) and I were delighted to see so well-received.

I was personally struck by how warmly our guests embraced the nostalgic uniform and special-topic displays. A major centrepiece was the extraordinary work of Judith Gardiner and the archiving team. Their years of dedication culminated in wonderful historical exhibits across the decade rooms and B Block corridors, truly bringing a century of school history to life. These displays sparked wonderful reflections, and it was deeply moving to watch our current students engage with the countless stories shared by visiting alumni, some of whom had connections reaching back to our earliest years or had attended over 70 years ago.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire staff, board, and organising committee including our office team, grounds crew, and caterers, whose tireless efforts ensured the weekend ran seamlessly. Our students also deserve immense credit; from the friendly meet-and-greeters, to dancers and actors, to the coffee servers, guests were consistently impressed by the manners and pride they showed in carrying the school spirit forward.

Finally, thank you to our alumni, especially those who hosted functions and events, families, and the local community, whose presence and shared histories made the weekend exceptionally rich.

Ngā mihi nui,

Denise Johnson (Principal)

After two and half terms of rehearsing, filming and editing, our feature length movie Ghosted (run time 90 minutes) is almost ready. We're excited to be able to announce details of the premiere: Lighthouse Cinema Petone, Monday, 14 September at 6pm.

Tickets are $20 and will be available from the Resource Centre from Monday, 24 August. Numbers are limited so get in quickly if you're keen. This movie is family friendly (some mild swearing, no violence, sexual references or talk of politics). Here is the trailer which will give you a good sense of the tone of the movie.

It’s been a busy start to Term 3, with our senior Pathways students actively planning their next steps beyond HVHS. With Wellington Tertiary Open Day approaching on Friday, 21 August, many of our seniors are taking the initiative to independently explore future study, training, and vocational opportunities across the region.

As part of the Gateway course, one of our student groups (pictured) fundraised for the Wellington Hospitals Foundation raising over $900 at a recent quiz night, which they used to purchase toys, puzzles and craft activities for 'Care Capsules' for children in Wellington hospitals. The capsules have been shared across Te Wao Nui Children's Hospital, Mental Health and Emergency Department services, ready to provide some fun and distraction for many young patients. Megan (Play Specialist at Te Wao Nui) said the donations were exactly what was needed: “Our thanks and appreciation for all the fantastic resources and activities. You could tell the students really thought about our age ranges and appropriate toys for use in hospital.”

A real highlight for us this term has been our Work Experience programme. The range of opportunities available to our students continues to grow – just last week, one of our students gained hands-on experience in dog hydrotherapy! Student engagement has been fantastic, and we have now exceeded the number of funded work experience placements allocated to us for the year.

This success wouldn’t be possible without the generosity of our local business partners. A huge thank you to our host employers and wider community for opening their doors, sharing your expertise, and providing our young people with such diverse and valuable real-world experiences.

Finally, please save the date for our Pathways Celebration on Thursday, 17 September (Week 9) at HVHS. This will be an opportunity to come together and celebrate the achievements, growth, and successes of our Pathways students. More details will be shared soon!

For any questions about the Learning Pathways programmes, please email Nicole Arnell (Head of Learning Pathways) at nicole.arnell@hvhs.school.nz

Hutt Valley High School achieved outstanding results at the Year 11 regional Maatangi Whenua Geography skills competition, held at Victoria University. Competing against 16 teams from across the Wellington region, HVHS entered two teams in a demanding series of team-based knowledge and skills challenges.

After a steady start, both HVHS teams made a strong comeback in the final rounds of the three-hour event to secure 1st and 3rd place. Congratulations to the following students:

• 1st Place (Regional Champions): Maia Cameron-Jones (11TU), Molly Carson (11CN) & Frances Mosen (11MR)
• 3rd Place: Ashley Bird (11SA), Cooper Gibbs (11SA) & Daniel McDonald (11MY)

Thank you to Hugh Williams (Geography & Social Sciences Teacher) for leading the lunchtime practice sessions ahead of the competition.

Last week, our Year 11 students attended the RYDA Road Safety Workshop, providing them with a fantastic and interactive introduction to staying safe on the road. Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on sessions covering practical driving strategies including how factors like music can impact focus, and stepped into the shoes of crash investigators to analyse real-world scenarios.

A highlight for many was hearing first-hand from a crash survivor, giving students a meaningful opportunity to ask questions and reflect on responsible decision-making. Overall, it was an insightful and empowering experience as our Year 11s take their first big steps into the driving world.

Feedback from students:

• "We had many courses on different ways to keep safe on the road. We also had a person who has gotten in a car crash tell us about their experience, and we were able to ask them questions too. Overall, a great first start into the driving world!"
• "The RYDA course was very interesting - I think it was because of the interactive nature of it."

• "Pretending to be a crash investigator made me feel like I was actually doing something."
• "I loved learning about the different strategies – one thing I learned was how music can impact your driving."

What a fantastic day our 100th Celebration was! The Sports Office would like to thank all past and present HVHS sports players who made the day even more special by taking part in games featuring our Basketball Senior A, Netball Premier 1, and Touch teams against alumni teams. It was wonderful to watch our HVHS community come together and give it their all.

There was a real buzz around the gym and fields throughout the day, creating an amazing atmosphere. Congratulations to our U15 Boys Rugby team and Boys Rugby 2nd XV team on their home wins at the 100th Open Day last weekend.

We would also like to thank everyone who helped with the fundraising sausage sizzle, and a huge thank you to OCS (Commercial Cleaners) for generously providing everything needed for the sausage sizzle. Your support was greatly appreciated. It was a truly memorable day, with many special moments and memories made as we celebrated 100 years of HVHS.

Cross Country

Jacob Williams (11GS) competed in the New Zealand Cross Country Club Championships last weekend in Christchurch representing Wellington and won the U16 boys championship. This is his fourth national title this year! The Wellington team won bronze.

Netball

Well done to our Netball Premier 1 team on coming 12th at the recent College Sport Wellington netball tournament. Thank you to Sarah Gwerder and Katie Robertson for coaching and managing the team.

Rugby

Elijah Faio (13WD) has been selected for the second year in a row for the Te Ūpoko o Te Ika Wellington Māori U18 Tama Rugby team which is apart of the Division A Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council games for 2026. These games provide an opportunity for selection for higher honours such as the New Zealand Māori U18 team in September 2026.

Table Tennis

At the recent College Sport Wellington Table Tennis Individual Championships, Bryon Ilott (9TOBZ) placed 3rd and Carter Kurmann (9ROSL) placed 4th in the junior division, with Jacob Andrews (13BR) placing 2nd in the senior division. Photo credit - Jacob Andrews, Courtesy of College Sport Wellington.

Winter Sport Finals

Good luck to all our sports teams who are competing in the winter sport finals. Thank you to all our coaches and managers for all the time and effort you have put into our HVHS teams. Thank you to our parents for your support and being the Uber drivers!

Summer Sports

In week 8 we will start preparing for summer sports for Term 4. These sports will include cricket, futsal, golf, volleyball and water polo. If a student wants to organise a choice (social) team for futsal and volleyball, please visit the Sports Office and a collect the choice team sheet.

Upcoming Events

• Sunday, 30 August to Friday, 4 September: New Zealand Secondary Schools' Winter Sports Tournament Week for our top teams
• Wednesday, 16 September: Winter sport photos, please keep your sports uniforms until then as we will collect them after your team photo. The photo schedule will be out soon.
• Wednesday, 28 October: HVHS Sport Premier Awards
• Information on individual sports prizegivings events will be emailed out soon

Friendly Reminders

Please keep checking your School emails as this is our way of sending communications from the Sports Office. A friendly reminder that all outstanding sports fees need to be paid as soon as possible.

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.

ALA Filipino Club is excited to celebrate Filipino Language Week from 17–21 August (Week 5)!

Our official theme this year is:

“Paglinang sa Wikang Filipino at Kulturang Pilipino: TALA ng Pagkakaisa at Pagkakakilanlan”

This theme celebrates Filipino language and culture as important parts of our identity, while bringing our community together through cultural appreciation and unity.

During next week’s Mentor Time, students will take part in a Philippine-themed Blooket quiz featuring fun questions about Filipino language, food, traditions, culture, and national symbols.

We hope everyone enjoys the activity and joins us in celebrating Filipino culture!

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.

Our Year 12 and 13 students have been learning about the importance of blood donation at this week's assemblies. On Tuesday, 1 September from 9:00am - 2:00pm the team from New Zealand Blood Service will be at HVHS running a Mobile Blood Drive. Students aged 16 and over who meet the criteria are able to donate. Students can book a time to donate at the Student Reception.

Parents, guardians and whānau are also welcome to drop in on the day and donate blood. Simply sign in via reception and come over to the Hall.

Please note: The Care of Children Act 2004 allows people 16 years and over to make their own decisions about whether or not they wish to give blood. Students may choose to donate blood at this session. The New Zealand Blood Service recommends that students discuss becoming a blood donor with their families. Learn more about donating blood at https://www.nzblood.co.nz/

For our parents, who are also alumni the decade group photos taken at the 100th Open Day last Saturday are now available! These photos from the team at InPhotography are ready to view, download, and purchase. To view the photos online:

1. Visit inphotography.store/hvhscentennial2026
2. Enter access code – 100!HVHS2026

Please note: The InPhotography website contains decade group photos only. Photos taken at alumni-hosted dinners and catch-ups will be shared separately by the event organisers.

At Hutt Valley High School, our School Board adheres to a three-year policy review schedule to ensure our policies remain current and effective. This term, we are reviewing the following policies:

• School Community Engagement Policy
• Inclusive School Culture
• Enrolment
• Student Attendance
• Student Uniform / Student Dress Expectations
• Concerns and Complaints Policy

The School Board welcomes feedback and input from the school community on these policies. To read the policies click here and search for 'Hutt Valley High School', and enter username 'HVHS' and the password 'Adalta'. The close off date for feedback is Sunday, 23 August.

A friendly reminder for all senior students considering applying for a scholarship for future study to please follow the steps listed below. This process applies to all scholarships (e.g. university and corporate).

HVHS Scholarship Step by Step Process for 2026

1. Please read this helpful summary of the HVHS Scholarship Process.

2. Start researching early: Identify the scholarship/s you wish to apply for and take note of application and closing dates.

3. Read the information carefully: Ensure that you know what information is required in your application.

4. Give plenty of notice: As early as possible ideally three weeks ahead of your scholarship deadline, fill in the HVHS Scholarship Application Form.

5. Complete a separate form for every scholarship you are applying for. In this form students provide details for the school to write a reference and/or to provide any documentation your application requires.

6. School Referee: If your scholarship application requires you to provide a school referee’s name, please use our school’s Scholarship Writer, Shaun McRoberts (Year 13 Dean) at shaun.mcroberts@hvhs.school.nz.

7. Submit early: Submit your scholarship application to the university or polytechnic at least least three days before the closing date to allow them time if they need to request additional information.

A range of scholarships, grants and internships are offered every year from universities, polytechnics, tertiary providers, organisations and businesses throughout New Zealand and overseas. The New Zealand Scholarship Directories listed below are a good starting point for senior students and their families researching options in New Zealand.

• MoneyHub’s Scholarships Directory page
• StudySpy’s Scholarships Database page
• CareersNZ’s Scholarships for Māori Students page
• CareersNZ’s Scholarships for Pasifika Students page

To mark Hutt Valley High School’s centenary, we are proud to offer this limited-edition collection of commemorative wines, featuring a Shiraz, Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Created as a lasting memento of this significant milestone, each bottle celebrates the people, memories, achievements, and connections that have shaped our school community over the past 100 years. More than a keepsake, every purchase helps invest in the young people who are part of our school community today. Funds raised will 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.

Whether you’re a former student, staff member, whānau member, supporter, or friend of Hutt Valley High School, your purchase helps honour our past while investing in the next generation. Raise a glass to 100 years, order your wine by clicking here.

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.

Warmer Uniform Options for Winter

As the weather gets colder, the Resource Centre has a range of warmer items for students, including jackets with hoods ($75), scarves ($40), beanies ($20), pair of merino socks ($16), black tights ($8) and pom-pom beanies ($30). All items are in stock and available to purchase.

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. 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. All enrolments are completed online. Please note that out-of-zone applications for Year 9 are now closed.

We encourage families to enrol their child early. This helps us to plan for your student’s learning needs and ensures that your student will be in the first group to receive the email with subject selections (many subjects have limited spaces). For information on how to enrol and key enrolment deadlines please click here.

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 Up & Go breakfast drinks. 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 Claire Ross (Head of Wellbeing) at claire.ross@hvhs.school.nz. Ka nui te mihi.

Monday 17 August

• House Has Talent, Runs until Friday 21 August, HVHS Hall

Friday 21 August

• Wellington Tertiary Open Day

• Coaches & Managers Meeting for Winter Tournament Week, HVHS Staffroom, 6:00pm-7:00pm

• SNAP Garage Sale, School Hall, 9:00am-3:00pm

• New Zealand Secondary Schools Winter Tournament Week Starts, Runs until Friday 4 September

• HVHS Blood Drive, School Hall, 9:00am-2:00pm

• Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) for Level 1 Literacy & Numeracy Testing, Runs until Friday 11 September

Tuesday 8 September

• Hockey Prizegiving, HVHS Staffroom, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Thursday 10 September

• Whānau Hui, 6:00pm-8:00pm (UPDATED DATE)

• Acoustic Concert, Room S1 (S Block), 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Year 13 Production, Runs till Thursday 17 September, Week 1 of 2

Tuesday 15 September

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

• Winter Sports Team & Duke of Edinburgh Photos, HVHS Hall
• Football Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Pathway Function, HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-7:30pm
• Piano Showcase, Room C4 in C Block, 6:30pm-7:30pm

• Year 13 Ball, Lower Hutt Event Centre, 7:00pm-11:00pm

Monday 21 September

• Basketball Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 5:30pm-7:30pm
• Year 13 Production Continues, Runs until Thursday 24 September, Week 2 of 2

• Netball Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-8:00pm

• Rugby Prizegiving, HVHS Hall, 6:00pm-8:00pm

Friday 25 September

• Last Day of Term 3

Monday 12 October

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

Monday 19 October

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

Monday 26 October

• Labour Day (public holiday, school closed)

• Dance Benefit, School Hall, 6:30pm-8:00pm

• 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

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

• Last Day for Students in Year 11

• 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

• 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

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