HVHS Term 2 Week 7
Newsletter 18 June 2021
PRINCIPAL"S MESSAGE
Kia ora koutou
I have always had the following whakatauki on my office wall:
'E kore te tangata e pakari i runga i te wai marino'
A person who remains in calm waters will never get strong.
Strength comes from accepting adversity as a part of life.
I think the whakatauki sums up the staff and students of HVHS. We have coped with more challenges and adversity than most people have had to cope with in their entire careers in the last two years. We have navigated cyber-hacks, Covid-19 lockdown, Ross Sinclair's passing, numerous staff 'acting up' in new positions. Students have had to adjust to remote learning, Google Classroom, Google Meet and working in the Market Grove Hub. Wow - I think we are all pretty amazing. I know that I have been challenged every day by something on a personal level - yet we are all still standing, striving and supporting each other. Kia Kaha HVHS whānau.
I am proud and excited to no longer be one of the staff acting up, as today is the end of my first week as the Principal. I've had a great week, and I thank you for all the good wishes sent to me. I have quietly found this week very sad - as my promotion puts a big full stop on Ross Sinclair's principalship. It was easy to push thoughts of him to the side while we worked hard on the many challenges. But many memories have flooded back this week.
I have excellent news for term three - super news. We are moving back to face-to-face teaching at Year 12 and Year 13 in term three.
The ministry has been working hard with our property team to bring back to safe use several classrooms closed off and isolated. These classrooms, use of the Library, the creation of four classrooms at Market Grove, clever timetable work by Lucy Chave, and a slight change to the times of the day to create walk-time means we can finish remote learning.
We will send more detailed information and revised timetables towards the end of the term. Some senior students will see H1, H2, H3, and H4 on their timetables. 'H' represents a room at the HUB. Areas of the Hub will also continue to be available for Y12 and Y13 study.
Mike Kerr from the Board of Trustees will send out a detailed update on property, including new build, and portacom progress.
Ngā manaakitanga
Denise Johnson
Principal / Tumuaki
Spotlight on a Learning Area
SNAP (Sustainable Networks and Pathways) is our programme for students based in Tautoko - Supported Learning Centre who are preparing to leave school. The students work with their Year 13 mentors from the wider school to explore potential future pathways and develop confidence in accessing the community.
Our latest SNAP initiative is our business enterprise, SNAP Frozen. The students are learning valuable vocational skills, customer service and money handling while selling real fruit ice cream to staff and students. It's great to see how confident and independent they are becoming. This week they were visited by MP Ginny Andersen who was keen to sample their product !
Learning Conversations - Friday 25 and Monday 28 June
- Have you booked yet?
Caregivers please go to https://huttvalley.schoolpoint.co.nz/
Log in using your Parent Portal username and password
Click on the ‘Book your time’ button at the top of the home page, or by clicking on the Interview/Appointment Bookings menu.
Select one appointment time on either Friday or Monday
If you need assistance please contact the school office.
Wellington Careers Expo
TSB Arena, Queens Wharf, Wellington
Friday 25 June 10am - 3pm and Saturday 26 June 10am - 3pm
Free Entry
Unfortunately, the Expo clashes with our Learning Conversations so we will not be taking a school group this year. But head along to the Expo with your family or a friend to explore some options for your future. Recommended for Senior and Junior students. Check the link to see what exhibitors will be attending and to access the Student Passport in the ‘For Schools’ resource to help you prepare so that you can make the most of the visit.
Congratulations
Chamber Music - 8 teams from HVHS have been competed at the Chamber Music NZ Wellington District Champs held at the NZ School of Music Te Koki (VUW). They all performed exceptionally well with the “Tetchy Trio” of Brianna McKenzie 13FX, Gemma Bennion 13WA and Adam Whiskin 13WA taking 1st Place in the “Original Composition Performance Award playing a piece written by Adam. Sage Petus 10TMAR was in two groups, one of which was recalled to the Final 8 taking out a Highly Commended.
Upcoming Events
- Pride Week - 21-25 June
- Board of Trustees Meeting - Wednesday 23 June at 5.30 pm
- Business Studies Market Day - 24 June
- Learning Conversations - Friday 25 and Monday 28 June
Learning Support Assistant Vacancy
Teacher Aide - Tautoko Supported Learning Centre – part-time, fixed term 2021
Our fabulous Supported Learning Centre here at Hutt Valley High School is seeking an enthusiastic teacher aide (whom we call a Learning Support Assistant - LSA) to work with our amazing students. Our teenage students have a range of learning and/or behaviour difficulties, so we require our LSAs to be patient, have good communication, build positive working relationships with students/whanau and colleagues so we can provide daily positive learning experiences. This is a part-time, fixed-term position, 28 hours per week during term time only and a full drivers licence is essential.
This role is primarily to support a female student with high health needs.
A position description and application form are on our website www.hvhs.school.nz. Applications close on 2 July 2021 at 4.00 pm.
Contact Us
Email: principal@hvhs.school.nz
Website: https://www.hvhs.school.nz
Location: Woburn Road Lower Hutt, 5010 Wellington
Phone: +64 4 560 1568
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hvhs.school.nz