HVHS Term 1 Week 2
Newsletter 11 February 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
The school year has begun. On 5 February at 11.30 am the school site filled with 1728 energetic students. I’d like to offer a very warm welcome to our new students and staff - all 400 of you. I’m delighted that you have chosen to be a part of this amazing community. For our existing students - I hope that you had a lovely summer break. I also hope you are relaxed, recharged and ready to start a new school year. I welcome back your positive energy and dedication to school life. Thank you to the staff, including support staff who worked so hard over the last couple of weeks to get the site, learning programmes, sport and cultural activities up and running.
We are all hoping for a much less traumatic year than 2020. Thank you all for the support and good wishes you emailed and sent to our school community after the sad passing of our former principal Mr Ross Sinclair. It has been a tough time for us all but we took a lot of comfort in the feeling generated from the memorial service.
The new look senior leadership team is as follows:
Denise Johnson - Acting Principal
Tim Fox - Deputy Principal (oversees Yr 12)
Kareen Kennedy - Deputy Principal (oversees Yr 11)
Nick Larkin - Deputy Principal (oversees Yr9 and 13)
Fiona Pearson - Assistant Principal (oversees Yr 9 and 11)
Grace Davey - Assistant Principal (oversees Yr 10)
There are key events on the calendar to look out for - Year 9 Meet and Greet, Year 9 Meet and Compete and the whole school sports day (Yr 9-13). All of these events are linked to our house system and students are encouraged to support each other by dressing in house colours. They are fun events to be a part of.
Please use the school App to link to the calendar and other important information and tools.
Year level deans have asked students to wear our uniform respectfully - which means wearing it correctly. We would also like to ask you as parents and whanau to help us by ensuring your students leave home in the correct uniform. It will make the start to a teacher’s day much more positive. Here is the link to our uniform expectations. There is a lot of flexibility; we want our teenagers to have some level of choice. However there are definitely limits. Please don’t accept statements like - “the teachers don’t care”. They do. It is just that teachers get frustrated that they are asking the same students day after day to wear appropriate uniforms. It uses up a lot of valuable teaching and learning time in some instances. The other statement you may hear is “Everyone wears a grey hoody” They don’t. A small group of students arrive at school in incorrect hoody’s.I guess they think it is fashionable or rebellious. It's not okay, and again is incredibly frustrating. The only hoody that can be worn is the HVHS official hoody. Please do get in touch with your year level deans if you need assistance sourcing HVHS warm outer layers. We can help.
Support systems at HVHS
School can at times be a big and scary place for new students, and there are also times when existing students need a helping hand. Below is a list of the supports that we have here at HVHS for students.
Hotuwaipara - our school marae - Matua Darell Ngatai, Whaea Olivia Copeman oversee this space and all are welcome.
Te Korowai - our counselling team are found near the main entrance, a space above the garage on the east side of the school grounds. We have 3 fulltime and one part time counsellor. The team is led by Claire Ross. Here is a link to our school website with other people and agencies that you can contact if needed: Supports
Youth workers - found in Te Manawa (a space off the hall entrance)
Deans - year level deans are based upstairs from the east end of the school entrance. Deans can be contacted via email or by ringing the school office and leaving a message. Please note that our deans also have heavy teaching loads and are not in their office and available all day.
First Aid Officer - Jo Canton is part of our main office support staff and will assist with any medical event.
Learning and Pathways Support - our Learning Pathways Team can be found on the bottom floor of D-Block. The learning support team is led by Nicola Fletcher and Cara Penfold. The pathways team by Rob King, Jude Allen and Nicole Arnell.
If at any time a student is unsure who they should go to for support it is best that they chat with their mentor teacher first.
Ngā mihi
Denise Johnson
Welcome to new staff
We welcome the following new staff:
New Teachers:
Jordan Haig - Technology
Emily Snelgrove - Science
Eric Speakman - Social Sciences
Megan Anderson - PE
Kyle Knowles - Social Sciences
Shaun McRoberts - English
Charlotte Glucina - English
Lloyd Ward - Guidance Counsellor
Emma Gardenier - English
Rajnesh Prasad - Mathematics
Sarah Robbins - Mathematics/Science
Benjamin Allan - Technology
Support Staff:
Olivia Collins - Learning Support Assistant
Amyrose Blatchford - Foods Technician
Rawiri Kapea - Mentor
Donnelle Walker - Mentor
Year 9 Meet & Greet Evening - Tuesday 16 February
Parents and caregivers are warmly invited to our Year 9 Meet and Greet to be held on Tuesday 16 February from 6.00 pm - 7.30 pm. The purpose of the evening is for staff, parents and caregivers to meet each other, put names to faces and establish an important connection between home and school. Working together will be important in ensuring your son/daughters success at HVHS.
Mentor teachers will introduce some of the processes and systems important in the school. You will meet most of your child's core subject teachers, as some are Year 9 mentors and will be hosting their own mentor class on this evening.
This parents evening begins with a welcome from the Principal in the school hall at 6.00 pm. From there you will go with your child's mentor teacher to the room that your child's mentor class meets in.
Please note this is not an event for students.
HVHS Sports Registration for 2021 Now Open!
Don't miss out on trial information! Please make sure you are registered for HVHS Sports including Winter Sports!
All students who wish to play sports in 2021 must register through the online registration. Follow this link: https://www.hvhs.school.nz/present/sport. Scroll down to find the registration form link.
Supporting students at HVHS
Hutt Valley High School encourages students to bring their own device to school (BYOD). Well over 90% of our students choose to do this. However, for some families the cost of a device is prohibitive. We work with such families, using the support of our community and whanau to provide solutions. Over the last 5 years with the support of our community we have gifted 70 Chromebooks to our students. Chromebooks cost $400 each.
If you think that this is something you can do to help a child on their learning journey - we would love to hear from you. Please contact Denise Johnson, Acting Principal denise.johnson@hvhs.school.nz if you would like to discuss options.
Kamar Parent Portal Logon
This is a website that provides a window into our Student Management System. By accessing the KAMAR portal you will be able to view the daily notices, student contact details, student timetables and attendance, results, etc.
Emails have been sent with your username and password. If you have not received this, please email principal@hvhs.school.nz.
We will check your email is one we have on our system and then send your logon and password through.
The best way to access the portal is to go to our website: www.hvhs.school.nz and use the quick links drop down menu on the top right hand corner and select online services.
Kamar Parent Portal Payments
This is also an easy way to pay for fees and donations using a credit or debit card.
Upcoming Events
- Valentines Day - Monday 15 February
- Year 9 Meet and Greet - Tuesday 16 February, 6.00 pm
- Individual Photos - 17-18 February
- Year 9 Meet and Compete - Friday 19 February
Parking Reminder
Please note that car-parking in the school is not available for students and parents are not permitted to collect or drop-off students within the school grounds due to Health and Safety concerns.
There is plenty of parking on Woburn Road and the side roads for parents to pick up or drop off students.
We have a very busy site that includes taxis for students in the Supported Learning Centre.
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