HVHS Newsletter

Term 2, Week 4 - FRIDAY 19 May

Principal's Welcome

Principal's Welcome

Kia ora koutou,


It has been fantastic to see so many students and staff wearing pink today to support Pink Shirt Day. Our student leaders organise the non-uniform days at HVHS, selecting the charity to fundraise for, and today it was the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.


This Tuesday (23 May) is our Open Evening from 6-8pm. We're excited to welcome current year 8 students from our local intermediates and their whānau. Families are taken on guided tours by our current students and have the opportunity to see learning areas in action. Everyone is welcome to come along. No RSVP is required for the event. The 2024 Prospectus is also a helpful read for families with students starting next year.


Earlier in the week, sixteen HVHS students competed in the Hutt Science STEMM Challenge against other Wellington schools. They had to compete in six rounds split into three practical and three theory rounds accumulating points as they went. The theory rounds covered Science, Technology and Math, and the practical sessions involved making a rocking chair out of a collection of different materials and identifying different creatures.


There is a global push to encourage girls into STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine). Our team of four girls came first out of all the Hutt Valley schools. They returned to school with an impressive piece of silverware, winning the Te Whatu Ora Cup. Well done to Nia Jobanputra (9WMHR), Amelia Ferguson (9WMHR), Nina Ongley (9FYBB) and Cora Coughlan (9NSTT). Thanks to Shelley Meehan and Tom Salway for accompanying this group.


Ngā mihi nui,

Denise Johnson, Principal


Images below: Tom Salway (Science Teacher), Nia Jobanputra (9WMHR), Amelia Ferguson (9WMHR), Nina Ongley (9FYBB), Cora Coughlan (9NSTT) and Shelley Meehan (Science Teacher) at the STEMM Challenge, and photos from today's Pink Shirt Day.

Principal's Welcome
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OPEN EVENING - TUES 23 MAY 6-8PM

Join us this Tuesday (23 May) for HVHS's Open Evening from 6-8pm. Guided tours start from the hall and give parents/caregivers, and students interested in attending in 2024 an opportunity to walk around the school, see learning areas on display and hear an introduction from our Principal. No registration is required. Everyone is welcome to attend.
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a WIN FOR MATAIRANGI IN THE HOUSE ART COMPETITION

Congratulations to Clara Maxwell Lamb (12TH) who won the recent House Art Competitionn for Matairangi with her work featuring the brilliant yellow flowers of the kōwhai is tree on a white tee.


Images below: Clara's winning entry and a selection of House Art entries from our students.

Latest News from the Sport's Office

Student Results

  • Wade Ronson (11RI) was selected for the Wellington Intermediate Boys 4 x 100m team at the North Island Athletics Championship in Palmerston North in April. Wade ran the first leg for the team.

  • A fantastic start to the season for the HVHS Boys 1st XI Football Team. The team earned a 1-1 draw against HIBS, who were last year's running-up in the Premier Youth 1 Division.

  • Congratulations to Jasmine Moore (13WR), Arabella Coleman (13EV) and Madeline Bailey (from Wa Ora School), who were selected for the Hutt Valley Under 18 Netball Representative Team.

  • A great result from Nicolas Green (13WR), Eva Green (11HG), Jess McKenzie (11SM) and Jonathan Green (12SP), holding off Whanganui Collegiate to win the open mixed grade at the College Sport Wellington Cross Country relays in Berhampore earlier in the week.

  • The Senior Mixed Waterpolo Team has been competing hard over the last few moths achieving the following results: 2nd in the Wellington Competition losing to Palmerston North Boys High in a penalty shoot-out, 9th in the North Island Championships (winning the plate final) and 10th at the Nationals in April.


Managing and Coaching Sports Teams

If you are new to coaching and managing a Sports Team at HVHS check out HVHS Sports Volunteer 2023 Brochure. It contains helpful information on HVHS's sports values, the role of the manager and coach, safety in sports, concussions, player code of conduct, van and gym bookings, trips away, fundraising, development opportunities and more.


Keeping in Touch

Please help us celebrate our students' sporting successes by emailing sport@hvhs.school.nz with any information and results. We can share any photos on our social media pages. For reminders, news and results follow HVHS Sports on Facebook and Instagram.


Image below: HVHS team at the CSW Cross Country Relay Event and photos from the Senior Mixed Water Team's season.

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Out with the old & in with the new!

The HVHS Board is raising funding for the refurbishment of the lower Gymnasium into a Fitness Centre which will be an asset for our students, staff and the wider community. Refurbishing the Lower Gym will create a significant asset for HVHS students to support their athletic aspirations, education about fitness, health and wellbeing and instil lifelong habits that will be beneficial throughout life.

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Disability access for all areas of the new facility will also ensure an inclusive approach for students and the community. The refurbishment also aligns with the goals of our school and the aims of the Hutt City Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP) of providing key infrastructure, connecting communities together and providing equitable outcomes.


Fundraising for the new gym has begun! If you would like to make a donation which would be

greatly appreciated, then please click on the link: https://hutt-valley-high-school.webflow.io/sponsorship

Volunteering as a Reader/Writer

Reader/writers assist students with learning differences and disabilities during their exams and assessments. As a reader/writer you’ll get the satisfaction of helping support students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dysgraphia, physical disability or a sports injury to their writing hand!


We’re always looking for volunteers with clear spoken English, good reading skills, and either good handwriting or the computer skills to quickly type answers and navigate around an online exam. Training will be provided, and acceptance is subject to a satisfactory Police check.


What’s involved? Volunteers are needed at HVHS during school hours, especially in June for year 10 & 11 literacy and numeracy assessments and from October to December for end-of-year assessments. A reader/writer might help for 2-3 hours each term or up to 10 exams a year. We’ll match your availability and willingness to our student’s schedules. You can also say no if a day/date doesn’t suit you.


Contact Raewyn at (04) 566 4584 or email raewyn.kerr@hvhs.school.nz to learn more. Please note, current HVHS students aren't able to volunteer as Reader/Writers.

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Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC) Policy Reviews

As part of the School Board's policy review cycle, the following Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) policies are open for review:

  • EOTC Planning and Review
  • EOTC Risk Management
  • EOTC Coordinator
  • EOTC External Providers
  • EOTC Staff Competence
  • EOTC Event Categories
  • EOTC Communicating with Parents


The close-off date for feedback and input is Wednesday 14 June. To access the policy reviews: https://www.schooldocs.co.nz/ - search for Hutt Valley High School, and then use the username: hvhs and the password: Adalta

Donations of Kai Needed

Donations of Kai Needed

Every year we see a number of students who are coming to school who haven't had breakfast and are without kai for the day. This year is no exception. Some of the charities that have provided support for students in the past are no longer able to provide this service and we are reaching out to our school community to see if this is something you as a whānau would like to help with.


Donations of grab-and-go foods such as muesli bars, spreads for sandwiches or anything that fills a hungry tummy would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Claire Ross (claire.ross@hvhs.school.nz ) from our Wellbeing Team if you would like to help.

Donations of Kai Needed

Resource Centre (Uniforms) - Opening Hours

Our newly relocated Resource Centre is based in the Library. All uniforms and some stationery and other subject resources can be purchased here. The Resource Centre's opening hours are now 11:00am to 2.30pm Monday to Thursday.


Payments for trips, school donations and sports can also be made at the Resource Centre. Other online payment options are available via the Kamar portal on the school's website. For parents and caregivers visiting the Resource Centre please enter via the school's main reception area. Students are welcome to access the Resource Centre through the Library. For any queries, please email resource.centre@hvhs.school.nz.

PPTA's Upcoming Rostered Home Days

The PPTA industrial action continues in weeks 5- 7 of Term 2 with the rostering home of particular year levels on certain days of the week. The rostering home plan the PPTA has shared with schools is as follows:

  • Week 5 - Thursday 25 May - Year 11 students rostered home
  • Week 6 - Tuesday 30 May - Year 13 students rostered home
  • Week 6 - Thursday 1 June - Year 10 students rostered home
  • Week 7 - Tuesday 6 June - Year 10 students rostered home
  • Week 7 - Thursday 8 June - Year 9 students rostered home


There is a continuing ban on meetings outside school hours (8.30 am - 4.30 pm) in term two. This may affect events and meetings outside of ‘normal’ school hours. We will communicate any changes to our calendar as they come up.

KEY DATES & EVENTS FOR TERM 2

Thursday 1 June

  • Enrolment online opens for 2024
  • Curriculum Day (Students Learning from Home)

Friday 2 June

Teacher Only Day (No School for Students)

Monday 5 June

King's Birthday Public Holiday (School Closed)

Tuesday 6 June

  • Whanganui High School Sports Exchange
  • Year 10 Students Rostered Home (PPTA)

Thursday 8 June

Year 9 Students Rostered Home (PPTA)

Friday 9 June

Day 1 of Learning Conversations (Students Learning at Home)

Monday 12 June

  • Pride Week
  • Year 10 & 11 Numeracy and Literacy Assessments Week

Friday 16 June

  • Year 9 Disco, 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 20 June

Day 2 of Learning Conversations (Students Learning at Home)

Friday 23 June

  • Non-Uniform Day
  • Year 11 Market Day

Wednesday 28 June

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

Friday 30 June

Last Day of Term 2

Monday 17 July

First Day of Term 3

Contact Us

Contact Us

Contact Us

Hutt Valley High School Woburn Road, Woburn, Lower Hutt, New Zealand office@hvhs.school.nz 04 566 4584 hvhs.school.nz