ARGYLE HOUSE
Hamilton Boys' High School - Term 1, Edition 1, January 2022
Back to School 2022
Kia ora koutou
Happy New Year to all Parents, Caregivers and the young men of Argyle. I'm sure the Christmas vacation period has treated you all well and our boys are feeling refreshed, excited and ready to face the challenges of the 2022 hostel and school year.
Covid Protection Framework, Red setting
Having moved to the Red setting on Sunday evening, it will result in some changes to our processes as we receive our new boarders and the return of our current students. The start to the new hostel year will look a little different to previous years. However, with the support of the NZ Boarding Schools' Association accompanied with the latest ministry guidelines, I will email out the specific adjustments of the first three weeks to all hostel families on Friday 28th January, particularly around the new boarder induction programme, weekend leave, weekday leave restrictions, access to the hostel for parents. I will also send out a revised 2022 Argyle term planner. Thank you for your patience.
Further to my update emailed out to all families prior to Christmas, I can confirm the ministry has NOT mandated vaccination for boarders to reside at a school hostel.
NCEA results
I hope all senior students will be pleased with their NCEA grades that were released online on Thursday 20th January. Scholarship results will follow on Thursday 10th February. There is information on the NZQA website to support students who might be feeling nervous about their results, or concerned they may not achieve the credits they need. Any academic queries or concerns can be addressed to our new Dean of Boarding, Mr Andy Thomson. His email address is athomson@hbhs.school.nz
All senior students who chose to remain in the hostel for the supervised study sessions worked conscientiously throughout the study leave period of NCEA examinations in November and December, so I am sure their results will reflect their positive approach towards their study.
Weekend Matron
We are fully staffed for the start of the new year, with Mrs Ida Touli filling the Weekend Matron role vacated by Mrs Kaye Nonoa, who resigned in December to take up another venture. I would like to thank Kaye for her dedication and commitment to the role throughout 2021. She will be missed by the boys and weekend duty staff.
Mrs Ida Touli is married with a family and we are extremely fortunate to have someone of Ida's experience join the team in the Weekend Matron role.
Senior Leaders and Prefects
Mr Rahiti Teokotai-White (Senior Master) is looking forward to working with the fourteen Years 12 & 13 Prefects and Senior Leaders this year. The staff look forward to their arrival between 4.00 - 5.00pm on Sunday 30th January. Rahiti will spend some time on Monday morning preparing our senior leaders for the arrival of the Year 9 boarders later that day, discussing likely scenarios they will encounter in their dorm and how best to manage them should they arise.
Please find below a few reminders to ensure all families, both current and new, are well prepared for your son's arrival into Argyle House or Grove.
Enjoy the final few days with your son at home. We look forward to working with all boys for what will be a busy and exciting first three weeks as the new boarders follow their induction programme aimed to help them settle in as quickly as possible to hostel and school life.
Ngā mihi
Murray McKenzie
Head of Boarding
021 516 477
The Beginning of the New Hostel & School Year, Term 1 2022:
Arrival Days, Times & What to Wear
It is an exciting time for our 39 new boarders, 35 of them at Year 9 level, who will all be looking forward to their new life at Argyle House and Hamilton Boys' High School.
A reminder that all new boarders at Years 10, 11, 12 & 13 are to arrive at Argyle or Grove on the scheduled day that their year level is expected to return. See below.
All boys are to return to Argyle House or Grove wearing their full number 1s (blazer, white shirt, tie, black shoes and socks), well-groomed with a regulation school haircut on the following days:
JANUARY 2022:
Sunday 30th: YEAR 12 & 13 SENIOR LEADERS & PREFECTS ARRIVE
4.00 - 5.00pm: Years 12 & 13 Senior Leaders & Prefects sign in at Argyle or Grove
6.00pm: Dinner in dining room
7.00pm: 10-Pin Bowling & Pizza, 'Sky City'. Vaccine Pass required and Mask.
Monday 31st: (Auckland Anniversary Day): YEAR 9 ARRIVE & YEAR 13 RETURN
11.00am - 12.30pm: Leadership Training for all Senior Leaders & Prefects with Senior Master, Mr Teokotai-White in preparation for the arrival of the Year 9 boarders.
2.00 - 4.00pm: Year 9 and Year 13 boys arrive in their number 1s (blazer, white shirt, tie, black shoes and socks) and check-in at Argyle House (or Grove for Year 13s). Families are to park on the grass field in front of the hostel.
4.00pm: Welcome in the dining room. All staff and Years 12 & 13 Senior Leaders & Prefects in attendance.
5.00pm: All parents/caregivers/families to have departed.
FEBRUARY:
Tuesday 1st: YEAR 10 RETURN TO ARGYLE
First day of school for Years 9 & 13
8.45am: Year 13 meet in the school hall
10.30am: Year 9 meet at the Peachgrove Road entrance to Hamilton BHS for their official powhiri/welcome
5.30 - 7.30pm: Year 10 boarders to have returned (including all new boarders at Year 10)
Wednesday 2nd: YEAR 11 RETURN TO ARGYLE
First day of school for Year 10
Normal timetable for Year 9
Year 13 to Leadership Camp
5.30 - 7.30pm: Year 11 boarders to have returned (including all new boarders at Year 11)
Thursday 3rd: YEAR 12 RETURN TO ARGYLE
First day of school for Year 11
Normal timetable for Year 9 and Year 10
Year 13 return from Leadership Camp
5.30 - 7.30pm: Year 12 boarders to have returned (including all new boarders at Year 12)
Friday 4th: NORMAL SCHOOL DAY FOR ALL 5 YEAR LEVELS
First day of school for Year 12
Normal timetable for Years 9, 10, 11 & 13
Housekeeping Reminders
Clothing numbered and labelled
Over the holiday period can you please ensure ALL clothing is numbered with your son's laundry number, and initialled, if possible. Having the number clearly labelled is what Lagi, our Laundress, would prefer. Please check and re-do all numbers on all clothing items before returning in 2022. Thank you for your support, as we are trying to prevent a pile of unnamed clothing that often sits in the laundry unclaimed, due to not being named and/or numbered.One mobile phone in 2022
This is a reminder that our boys are only able to bring ONE mobile phone in to Argyle House. As you are aware, the Year 9 and Year 10 boarders must hand in their mobile phone each evening. Despite increasingly punitive measures to deter the boys, there are some boys that hand in one phone and have another one stored in their room. The staff require your support to ensure they return in 2022 with one phone, as if they remain on their phone after lights out, they selfishly keep awake the other boys in their room and also wake up tired the following morning and are unable to function effectively at school the following day. Thank you for your support.
Presentation when returning to Argyle and Grove on the first day back wearing their number 1s, especially regulation, formal black trousers
Please read carefully with your son and please ensure he signs in on day one wearing the correct black trousers as part of his number 1s, along with a white shirt that his top button can still be done up. Thanks for your support.
Dress & Grooming
The staff at Argyle House and Grove continue to reinforce the importance of our boys presenting themselves correctly during the normal school day and especially when they return from weekend or overnight leave in their number 1s.
The boys represent the hostel and school when in the public eye, so it is important they are well-groomed, as they are our greatest advertisement. The boys are often reminded at our weekly house meetings about the responsibility they have to wear their uniform correctly and proudly outside the hostel. This also includes being cleanly shaven and having a regulation hair cut that complies with school policy.
One of the current trends is for some boys to purchase long black pants that are tapered, as part of their number 1s. Tapered, tight-fitting long black pants are not part of their number 1s. The pants must be loose-fitting around the thigh and calf. If your son has these pants then please ensure he returns with the regulation long black pants on his return. Our boys need to all dress following the correct code so we all look the same. Failure for your son to adhere to the dress and grooming rules from the beginning of term 1 2022, will result in the stepped consequences. See below.
We don't want our standards to slip as the hostel should be setting the tone and standard for the rest of the school, we all believe here as a staff. Please have a conversation and check with your son over the holiday period to ensure he has the correct uniform items and returns clean-shaven with a regulation haircut. Check also that his neck hasn't swelled over the holiday period preventing him from being able to do up the top button of his white shirt. Our boys do grow quickly! All top buttons must be done up with their tie covering the top button.
Thank you for your continued support. I'm only talking to a handful of families, as the other 168 comply and look perfect always.
Page 24 of the Argyle Manual 2022:
"DRESS & GROOMING
Boys wearing their regular school uniform must make every effort to ensure that their uniform is clean and tidy at all times. It is expected boys wear their footwear correctly and have school uniform shirts tucked in and socks up. Failure to comply will result in an instant 30 minute job i.e. do Lunch Duty, Kitchen Bins, vacuuming and a ‘strike’ to be recorded on the strike sheet. A third strike will result in the student being issued with a Community Service to be recorded in Boardingware.
At the end of each term this re-sets.
Consequences for a student failing to wear their socks up or have their shirt tucked in at morning check-off and/or in the dining room:
- First strike = 30 minute instant job, recorded in strike folder.
- Second strike = 30 minute instant job, recorded in strike folder.
- Third strike = Community Service, recorded in strike folder & recorded on Boardingware
Boys signing out for general leave when not in uniform must wear tidy casuals. Offensive language on any items of clothing or bags is forbidden at all times.
Boys wearing their number 1s (formal travel uniform i.e. blazer, black trousers, white shirt, tie) must ensure their top button is done up, their tie is pulled up to cover their top button, their black trousers are the regulation trousers (and are NOT tapered), they wear ankle-length black socks and black shoes, are clean-shaven and their hair is a regulation cut and length (as per school policy) and they have all parts of their uniform on i.e. including their blazer.
If a student presents himself to the Duty Master and is not correctly groomed when he departs or returns from overnight and/or weekend leave, then he will be issued with a uniform ‘strike’, which will be recorded in the ‘Uniform Strike Folder’ in a drawer beside the Masters’ desk, as well as being recorded in Boardingware.
Failure to comply with the correct grooming and dress standard when wearing number 1s, the following consequences will occur, over the whole year:
- First strike = 30 minute instant job, recorded in strike folder & recorded on Boardingware
- Second strike = Community Service, recorded in strike folder & recorded on Boardingware
- Third strike = Community Service, Gated for 5 days (Mon-Fri 3.15pm), recorded in strike folder & recorded on Boardingware
- Fourth plus strikes = Community Service, Gated for 7 days, recorded in strike folder & recorded on Boardingware"
Personal Presentation When Returning to School
Hamilton Boys’ High School insists on high standards of personal presentation and we ask for your assistance with this. We ask all parents/caregivers to attend to hair and uniform issues with their sons over the next few days, so they come back to school ready for work and prepared in their presentation. Jerseys, shirts, shorts, trousers and socks may need repair.
Boys need an appropriate hair cut to ensure their hair is short back and sides and of even length. Students whose hair is longer than regulation may incur a detention (see below for regulation details).
Socks –Boys’ socks need to be long enough to pull up to the knees. If socks do not reach the knees they need replacement. Garters should be purchased or made to assist with this. The School Shop provides free garters with the first pair of socks sold. Garters are also available for sale at $4 a pair.
Shoes - Must be black, leather, lace-up, clean and shining. If sandals are worn, they must be the standard black or brown Roman style and must be in good repair.
Jackets - If your son chooses to wear a jacket, it must be the official school jacket.
Lost Property – This is held in the Student Services Centre. Lost property will only be held for four weeks. Please make sure all clothing is labelled to make it easy to return to your son. The person in charge is Mrs Margaret Clark Tel: 853 0440 mclark@hbhs.school.nz
Hair – is to be short, neat and tidy, of even length, following the natural hairline above the collar, ears and eyebrows. Hair must not be braided, dyed, waxed, straightened, nor be tied, spiked, or cut with ridges. All students are to be clean-shaven.
Thank you for your assistance and for checking your son when he leaves for school and returns home each school day.
Kind regards,
Deans Network
Permission to have a vehicle on-site at Argyle and Grove
Email addresses: cmoorby@hbhs.school.nz, mmckenzie@hbhs.school.nz
Hamilton BHS School Shop Hours 2022
For all uniform and stationery purchases, as well as payment of school/hostel fees.
2022 School Shop hours are:-
21, 24, 25 & 28 January
7.30am-3.00pm
26-27 January
7.30am-6.00pm
1-4 February
7.30am-3.00pm
8 February for the remainder of 2022
7.30am-12.00 noon
12.00pm-12.30pm (closed)
12.30pm-1.30pm
2022 Argyle Manual, Grove Manual & Term Planner with Key Dates
Prefects and Senior Leadership Group 2022: Returning Sunday 30th January 4.00 - 5.00pm
Please return in number 1s to either Argyle or Grove between 4.00 - 5.00pm and sign in with the Duty Master. This return time was changed due to the rowing commitments of our leadership group.
Dinner is being served in the dining room from 6.00pm, followed by an evening of 10-Pin Bowling and Pizza at 'Sky City'. Each student must present their Covid Vaccine Pass and wear a mask.
The leadership training commences with Senior Master, Mr Teokotai-White, from 11.00am Monday morning.
The following senior leadership appointments for 2022 are:
Year 13 Prefects and Senior Leaders
Head Prefect: Thomas Verry (Year 13), House Captain
Deputy Head Prefect: Joseph Lorimer (Year 13), Deputy House Captain, Matthew Allen Cup
Deputy Head Prefect: Jack Broomfield (Year 13), Publications and Administration
Head of Grove: Luke Haddon (Year 13)
Head of Bennett House: Liam Anderson (Year 13)
Head of Sutherland House: Sam Potter (Year 13)
Year 12 Prefects:
Harrison Grainger
Oli Mathis
Johno O’Brien
Ben Parker
Lachlan Pickett
Taylor Sherlock
Neil Van Den Berg
Joshua Wickers
Thomas Verry (Year 13), Head Prefect
Year 13 Prefects & Senior Leaders 2021
Year 12 Prefects 2022
Leavers over the Holiday Period
Argyle Prizegiving Years 9 and 10, Tuesday 7th November:
A Sample of the many Positive Citizenship Certificates awarded to our junior boarders
Tylee Cup: Best Junior Sportsman - Jesse Humberstone-Kara
HBHS Junior Athletics Champion
Set new record in Junior Discuss
Zones, 2 x 1st, 1 x 3rd
NISS - 2nd Discus
HBHS U15A Rugby
NZSS Rowing Novice 8 - 1st/DQ post race
NZSS U15 8 - 6th place - Crew 2
Matthew Allen Cup Hostel House Champions, Sutherland House
Hamilton BHS House Champions 2021
Visual and Performing Arts Awards: Morris Trophy: Outstanding Junior Visual or Performing Artist - Jack Higgins (Year 9)
Attending Saxophone lessons Duke of Edinburgh Strong pieces of work in Junior Art Strong performances in Junior Music Involvement in the Junior Debating programme
Argyle Scholarship
The winner was Jay Wilson (left in photo above).
Margaret Beattie Scholarship for Junior Dux of Argyle House
The winner of the Margaret Beattie Scholarship for Junior Dux in 2021 is Stefan Newman (left)
Thomas Hayward (Year 13), Head Prefect: Junior Prizegiving Master of Ceremonies
At the Argyle Senior Prizegiving, Thomas, was awarded the Bennett Trophy for ‘Outstanding Service and Contribution to Argyle House,’ and the Argyle Cup for 'Outstanding Leadership'.
Achievements at the end of 2021:
Hamilton BHS Junior Prizegiving, Friday 10th December 2021 - Band, Subject & Academic Excellence Prizewinners from Argyle House Students:
Band Prizewinners:
Year 9
Jack Higgins, 1st in Red
Dev Vansia, 3rd in Orange
Year 10
Daniel Garland, 1st in Green
Hendrik Roux, 2nd in Crimson
Jay Wilson, 3rd in Black
Subject Prizewinners:
Jack Paterson, Year 10 Adventure-Based Learning
Tom Martin, Year 10 Elite Sport
Our two Argyle House Parent Representatives for you to contact about any hostel matters
Mrs Diana O'Brien (Bombay)
Feel free to contact me by email eric.diana.obrien@xtra.co.nz
Mob. 027 277 1685
Hamilton Boys' High School, Years 9-13 Boarding Hostel
Email: argyle@hbhs.school.nz
Website: www.hbhs.school.nz
Location: 34 Argyle Street, Hamilton East 3216, Hamilton, New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 8530437