HVHS Term 4 Week 3
Newsletter 5 November 2021
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
We are in the middle of derived grade exams and are looking forward to spending the last few days with our wonderful Year 13s. It has been such a tough time for this year group. Those significant milestones that are looked forward to having had to be cancelled - the graduation ball, Hotuwaipara awards and sports tournament week especially. Staff have been creative in finding ways for some events to continue. Year 13 drama students have performed small shows with masked audiences, all Year 13s enjoyed the VW combi van photo booth last week, and we will have student prizewinner only sports and awards evenings. Is it not the same, though, is it? These events are about celebrating with family and whānau - we will endeavour to take as many pictures as we can to share with you.
Recently, the rest of my time has been spent navigating the Covid world and ensuring we take sensible steps to keep our community safe. As of today, 99% of our staff are vaccinated against Covid. This includes our cleaners, contractors, sports coaches, reader-writers, youth workers and canteen staff. We are thankful for the action they have taken to keep us safe.
Our board has decided that all adults coming on to the HVHS site need to be vaccinated.
Message from Board Chair re COVID vaccinations:
In order to promote safety for HVHS staff, teachers and their families we have decided as a board to where possible avoid contact with those who are yet to get vaccinated. Our intention is not to exclude those who have not been vaccinated, but where possible we will encourage the use of alternative methods of meeting and connecting with staff and teachers. As an example for parents of new year 9 students who are unvaccinated, we will do the initial interviews via zoom rather than in person. We really hope this will help keep our HVHS community safe.
Hamish Bowen
Our 200 staff are effectively front line workers, and our jobs have meant that most of us have been exposed to every cough, cold, tummy bug and flu since we began teaching. Most teachers use a lot of sick leave in the first few years of their service, but old hands like me are rarely sick nowadays - I assume because we have built up so much immunity. Delta is different - it is not discerning who it attacks. Our staff are in small stuffy rooms, sometimes with 30 students or in small pokey offices meeting with caregivers. Our windows can be opened when the northerly or southerly isn’t blowing, so it can be challenging to ensure good ventilation. These conditions mean that the transmission of Delta will be relatively easy - as has been the case in schools in the UK, Sydney, USA and Europe. We want to do all we can to keep our school functioning in a face to face way if Delta arrives. We don’t want to shut the school because we can’t staff it due to a high level of illness amongst teaching staff or if high numbers of students are infected.
So for unvaccinated community members, meetings will not occur in the usual way or the usual setting. We will, of course, offer safe alternatives like Zoom meetings or meetings outside on the grounds with masks (weather permitting). The steps we are taking is to help keep those on-site as safe as possible. Thanks for your understanding.
I am required to maintain an up-to-date register of the vaccination status of our students. This is a requirement through a direction issued by the Secretary of Education under the Education and Training Act 2020 Schedule 25, Clause 3.
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO MANDATORY REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS MUST BE VACCINATED TO ATTEND HVHS. A recent Facebook post on a Hutt community page suggesting otherwise is an example of the incorrect information that circulates on social media.
The register is to gauge the risk posed were Covid to appear in our school and community. If most staff and students are vaccinated, the decision to keep the school open in a COVID outbreak is likely. If only a few students are vaccinated and we experience a COVID outbreak, it is much more likely that the school will close and resume online learning. This information will be collected and managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020. Only authorised staff will have access to the Vaccination Register, and access to the information in the Vaccination Register will only be for authorised purposes.
Please complete the form via this link. Please email a screenshot of the proof of vaccination to this email address: covid@hvhs.school.nz.
Students who do not complete the form will be recorded as unvaccinated.
We know that this Delta virus continues to spread throughout our communities, with new cases every day. I do encourage all students to get vaccinated. Vaccines reduce the probability of getting infected, which reduces the likelihood of a vaccinated person infecting someone else. Our staff have a strong preference for mixing with other vaccinated people.
The following are COVID-19 vaccination services near us:
The Delta Buster COVID-19 Vaccination Bus
The bus will be at Pak’n’Save Jackson Street, Petone
Friday 5 November 10 am - 3 pm
Hutt Valley COVID-19 Community Vaccination Centres
OPEN TODAY 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Tamaiti Whāngai COVID-19 Vaccination Centre (Te Whiti Park)
OPEN TODAY 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Wainuiomata Marae - COVID-19 Vaccination centre
OPEN TODAY 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
OPEN TODAY 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
OPEN TODAY 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
OPEN TODAY 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
OPEN TODAY 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
We also have a health professional on-site who is available for family, whānau and students to talk to about any aspect of the vaccination process. Would you please email joanne.canton@hvhs.school.nz if you would like to meet?
These are tough and confusing times, and I appreciate the support we have received from our community. As always, we will follow the advice and guidance of the Ministry and Education and Ministry of Health.
Ngā mihi nui
Denise Johnson
Prinicpal
Spotlight on a Learning Area
Science
It’s been another busy year full of unique challenges and we have seen some outstanding work done in the Science department.
Just before the lockdown hit, we created a mini unit on Covid-19 for Years 9 and 10. We explored the virus and how it affects us, how vaccines work, New Zealand's approach to the virus and some of the misinformation that is being spread. One of the most important skills that we try to develop in Science is Scientific Literacy and the ability to decide what information is trustworthy and what is not. With the rise of social media, this is becoming increasingly important. Finally the students created posters based on what they’d learnt and some of these are now hanging up in the library.
Year 10’s have just completed a practical investigation on different types of insulation and have looked at how we can keep our houses warm. They have also explored the digestive and circulatory system in the human body which included one of the highlights of the year - a heart dissection.
In Year 11, students have had the opportunity to explore the different metals that are used in the home and around the world. They have also looked at some of the different types of bacteria and fungi that are around us - both useful ones involved in the making of yoghurt and cheese and bad ones that can cause food poisoning.
Many people have heard of the phrase “Ocean acidification” with regards to global warming but might not know what causes it or what effect it can have. Senior Chemistry students had the chance to look at how CO2 causes ocean acidification and how it affects both sea life and humans.
Our Year 12 Biology students have been looking at gene expression which has tied in nicely with the mRNA technology used in the pfizer vaccine.
The Senior Horticulture is pleased to announce the winner of the annual carrot competition which was the “express hybrid” variety. This was based on both length and weight of the carrot and is the 2nd time this variety has won over the last 6 years.
We have also had big success in activities outside the classroom:
Nadia Prasetyo gained a High Distinction in the International lChemistry Quiz
Adam Whiskin gained a bronze award in the New Zealand International Biology Olympiad program.
We had 2 teams in the EPro8 Wellington final which placed 3rd and 6th.
Congratulations Heather Darby
Well done Heather for being a finalist in the Katherine Mansfield Short Story Competition. She attended the prize-giving on Tuesday night.
Judges feedback - " I enjoyed the way this story plays with a rising sense of darkness and foreboding, building to a dramatic climax. The narrative explores boundary pushing: the boy wandering in the forest at night, the cliff edge, pyromania. The metaphor of fire as tiger keeps the reader guessing until the end."
The 10 finalists’ stories have been published here: https://www.katherinemansfield.com/creative-corner/km-short-story-competition
2021 Sports Person Of The Year awards.
Congratulations to our HVHS finalists named today for the 2021 SPOTY awards.
Mikayla Sola - Athletics (Girls)
Kaleb Sola - Athletics (Boys)
Elliott Kenning - Bowls (Boys)
Natasha Codyre - Cricket (Girls)
Nate Beard - Cycling (Boys)
Toby Ireland - Disability Sport (Boys)
Yewoo Hyun - Golf (Girls)
Sophie Waters - Orienteering (Girls)
Jonathan Green - Orienteering (Boys)
Diana Galloway - Squash (Girls)
Stacey Mather - Ultimate (Girls)
Steven Leishman - Ultimate (Boys)
Kennedy Snelgrove - Water Polo (Girls)
Al Fox - Student Official (Boys)
Gregguil Besa - Service to School (Boys)
Janette Vaaitoa - Coach of the Year (Female)
Chris Riley - Volunteer of the Year (Male)
The SPOTYs will be live streamed on Wednesday 10 November on the CSW and HVHS Sports Facebook pages between 6.30 pm till 7.30 pm.
Thank you to our Gateway work placement providers
Affordable Building Solutions
Akobe Hair & Beauty
Arise Church
Autorama - Automotive
BK Patterson Builders
Brendan Foot Supersite
Buzz Cafe
Capital City Sea-Doo
Cafe Soleil
Chocy Cake Rach
Community Law
Cuttriss Consultants
Dogs R Us
Eastern Hutt School
Epuni Motors
Flowers on High
Forta Construction
Friday Homes
Geoff Topp Builders
Gilmours Wellington
Good as Gold
Good Time Music
Heaney on Jackson
Hutt City Council Mayor's Office
Hutt Gas and Plumbing
Hutt Intermediate School - Drama
Ignite Sport
Imagine Childcare
JMAC Electrical
Jo Frances Photography
Korokoro School
Mainstream - Logistics
Michael Pinfold Plumbing and Drainlaying
Millars Electrical
Mitre 10 MEGA
Peak Electrical
Pertronic Industries
Platypus Shoes
Police Coms
Red Cross Shop
Red Rat Clothing
Repeats
Ripe Small Batch
Robertson Hidzir Architects
Salient - Victoria University
Sanpro Industries
Seaview Fire Station
St Just Services - Electrical
Steam Incorporated
Stirling Sports
Stuff/Dominion Post
Supreme Building
The Dog Garden
The Dowse Art Museum
Times-7 Research Ltd
Tommy's Real Estate
Tumuaki Early Childhood Centre
Vivo Hair Salon
Waterloo Primary School
Well Hung Joinery
Wellington Aero Club
Wilford School Nga Puawai
Thank you also to Wingnuts film production/Portsmouth Film Rentals, Scratch Design, Andrew Hillstead at Psychoactive Studios, Lisa Cheung at Umbrella and Joel Robinson from Forsyth Barr for tours and/or very informative discussions
Yearbook
The 2021 yearbook is getting ready for the printers - don't miss out, it's your last chance!
A great memento from this crazy year
The 70's & 80's Photo booth will be in the yearbook with a special message from the deans.
Please get the $30 payment into the Resource Centre by Friday 5 November.
There will be no additional copies available to purchase at a later date.
You can pay by using the KAMAR Portal, calling the Resource Centre, or depositing the fee in the school account.
Reference: Student ID number
Particulars: 2021 Yearbook
2021 yearbook: written by students, for students.
Uniform Fittings
Friendly Reminder - The Resource Centre runs on a booking system for purchasing uniforms from the middle of Term 4 2021 through till 1 February 2022. This is now open. If you did not receive an email please contact the Resource Centre.
For current students we ask that they hold off and they will be given the chance to book in late January for any updated items they may require. Otherwise they may purchase items during Interval or lunchtime, once school resumes.
Please remember to wear a mask and scan in using the QR Code which is outside the Resource Centre.
Derived Grade Exam Timetable 2021
Athletics New Zealand
Fancy yourself as the next Dame Val or Nick Willis? Or just want to have fun and be active?
Our local athletics club Lower Hutt Amateur Athletics Club is welcoming new members now. There’s a place for everyone on the track or in the field, no matter your age or ability.
To find out more contact your local club at athletics.org.nz/FindaClub
Upcoming Events
- Senior Derived Grade Examinations - Monday 1 November - Tuesday 9 November
- Non-Uniform Day - Friday 12 November
- Year 13 Last Day - Tuesday 16 November
- Year 13 Tutorials - 17-19 November
- Year 11 and 12 Last Day and Prizegivings - Friday 19 November
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