Message from the Headmaster
Term three is concluding with a great spell of warm weather and the arrival of spring. It has certainly been a busy term for all of us at Hastings Boys' High School.
Our senior students have completed their derived grade exams, an important preview in the preparation for external exams.
Winter Tournament Week saw over 170 of our young men compete against Kura from around the country. All teams put in credible performances, with our 1st XI Hockey defeating Mount Albert Grammer School 4-3 to win The Founders Cup and gain promotion back into the Rankin Cup. As Headmaster I recognise the effort that has gone into preparing teams, not only for winter tournament week, but for any occasion, my sincere thanks for our coaches, staff and students for all your mahi.
This week has seen the start of the refurbishment of the food tech room, allowing for the modernisation of this popular and valuable learning space. Early next year we will see similar activity in our science labs.
The 10 classroom new build is progressing well thanks to a great run of weather and plenty of willing tradespeople. We are hopeful to have the opening term three next year.
Our Kura is part of the Hastings East Kāhui Ako along with Hastings Intermediate, Parkvale School, Hastings Central, Kowhai Special School, and Poukawa. We have worked together to support each other in our drive to improve student learning, particularly in literacy and numeracy. As a school we have supplemented this with our "Four Feathers" Matauranga Māori programme. Here the four concepts of Whanaungatanga (Relationship, Supporting Learning), Hononga (Connecting to Learning) Ako (active learning) and Taumata (High Expectations) form the fabric of teaching and learning.
"Up the Wahs'! is the chant heard around Aotearoa/New Zealand. Tohu Harris, the inspirational leader and captain of the Warriors is an Old Boy of our school, 2005-2009. He represented the school in touch and 1st XV rugby and was also a school prefect in his final year, a fine Akina man, we wish them well.
We are also delighted and proud to see another Old Boy Ben Tamiefuna, Captain of Tonga in the World Cup Rugby Tournament, along with Danny Toala representing Manu Samoa.
Enjoy your two weeks holiday and prepare for a busy and successful final term.
Ngā mihi nui
Headmaster
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U15 Rugby Tournament
H Jenkinson
Hawkes Bay Chess Tournament
On Friday 4th August, we took 8 students to the Hawkes' Bay teams chess tournament. Each team was composed of four players, and played against another team of four. The top player played the other team's top player, the second player played the second player, and so on. The team who won the most games won the table. There are two grades in the secondary section, an A grade and a B grade.
If you won your game you get 2 points, if you tied you would get 1 point, and if you lost you would get 0. Our A team got 7 points and came 5th in the A grade. They had decisive wins against the home school team, Te Aute College, and St John's College. They tied against Taradale High School but lost against Havelock North High School and Napier Boys' High School. Our B grade team came 7th with 4 points. They won against Havelock North High School, tied against Napier Boys' High School and Central Hawkes Bay, and lost to Taradale High School, St John's College and Te Aute College.
Dion Wilson 10BC
Grim Reaper Chess Tournament
We held the first Grim Reaper Chess Tournament for 2023 in the school library in August. We had 24 students who battled each other in over six games. Each game was 15 minutes long and many were hard fought. We had our two coaches Mr Jones and Mr McKerras running this event and providing technical knowledge as well as mediating decisions, they were ably supported by Mrs Hosokawa and Mrs Paaymans.
Thank you to our coaches and to management for supporting this event. Also, thanks to all the students who took part in this tournament.
First place went to Dion Wilson, Second place to Lincoln Mackie and third place went to Angus Logan. Congratulations to everyone!
Dion Wilson 10BC
Have you ever wondered about the origins of our badge and motto?
"When on the 17th April 1922, I took charge of the newly formed Hastings Technical High School no badge had been adopted. It seemed that we might find in the lore of our native people an emblem more forceful and appropriate than the type of heraldic devices which had been the general fashion.
I enquired for someone who could inform me of such matters and was referred to Mr Paraire Tomoana. I found him interested and helpful. He would make no suggestion at our first interview, but said he would discuss the matter with certain leading Māori. After a few days he brought me "Akina" for a motto, and I liked it. It was the word he told me which the leader in a Māori canoe called to his men when the time had come to make a supreme effort and dip their paddles fast. 'Strike hard' or 'Go hard' was the meaning. The proposal was put to the assembled pupils on 3rd May 1922, and 'Akina' (now Ākina) was adopted unanimously.
The choice of the badge was not easy; several suggestions had been made, and the assembled school were discussing them in front of the buildings when the late Mr Dan Elliason, a well-known Māori, happened to pass by.
He stopped and listened for a while and then advised us to choose the Huia. The old-time Māori esteemed the bird for its noble qualities: they believed it to be a leader among the birds, and they admired the loyalty with which a Huia would stand by a wounded mate- a brave trait which, unfortunately, contributed to the bird's extermination. The Huia feather was worn by the Māori as a badge of rank.
When we chose the Huia I believe we chose well. The bird represented on our badge is the female, because her long beak is more distinctive than the straight beak of the male. Huia hunted in pairs - the male would break away rotten wood and the female would use her long, curved beak to get the grubs. A design of the badge was prepared and sent to London to be engraved by an expert. The type was thus fixed"
W.A.G Penlington
Headmaster 1922-1949
Koji Hardgrave-Abe off to Malaysia for Cricket in the Asia Cup
After finishing as 2nd best batsman in July’s East Asia Pacific U19 men’s qualifiers, where Japan finished second behind NZ, Koji is once again heading overseas in October.
Due to the strength of the team’s recent performance, Japan has been invited to play in the U19 Men’s Asia Cup in Malaysia, playing against countries such as Singapore and Hong Kong.
Koji will be aiming to repeat his recent performances and looks forward to captaining the team once again against some strong opposition.
Make Healthy Choices
We are implementing a ban on fizzy drinks as part of our commitment to the healthy lunches in schools' programme. Fizzy drinks are laden with excessive sugar and calories, which can contribute to a range of health issues. By not allowing these beverages on the school premises, we aim to create a more conducive environment for students to make nutritious food choices, ensuring their overall well-being and fostering healthier lifestyles for the future. Please help us by speaking with your son/ward about this initiative, your support is appreciated.
Up the Wahs'
Here are a few photos, and the video link. Great work Boys'.
