Term 4, Week 6, 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, These days, most educators believe there is significant tension in schools between supporting student well-being and teaching the curriculum. The introduction of high-stakes literacy and numeracy co-requisites for NCEA, along with other pressures to hit specific targets across various areas of schooling, does nothing to reduce this tension. With growing numbers of students entering the system, it is crucial for schools to actively address these challenges. Camps and outdoor education play a vital role in tackling these concerns. They enhance students' connection to school, their peers, physical activity, and the natural world. When combined, these factors are highly effective in improving both physical and mental well-being. The Waharau Camp for Year 9 students has been a valued part of the Howick College experience for many years. Alongside three other schools, we are part of a trust that manages this facility, providing an excellent short-term outdoor education experience for our students. Our Year 9 camp experience began this week, and it is going exceptionally well. My thanks go to the staff, especially the House Deans, who are making this fantastic and important experience possible. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki

KEY DATES Tuesday 19 November -  Sunday 1 December Year 9 Camps Wednesday 27 November  School Board Meeting 6:00 - 8:30pm Friday 29 November Last Day to Order the 2024 Yearbook Monday 2 December Y9 Honours Assembly - Period 2 Tuesday 3 December Y10 Honours Assembly - Period 2 Wednesday 4 December Last Day Term 4 Thursday 5 December Y8 Transition Day Tuesday 28 January 2025 Y12/13 Course Confirmation Day  for students with gaps/ missing subjects in their timetable Mon 3 February 2025 Welcome Y9 & All New Students Tues 4 February 2025 Whole School Returns

YEAR 9 CAMPS OFF TO GREAT START 

Minerva House camp kicks off with a bang!

The Year 9 camps at Waharau are well underway, with Minerva House kicking things off in great style! Their camp was filled with fabulous sing-alongs to Country Roads and Party in the USA, transforming Waharau into a party of its own. The students brought fantastic energy and positive attitudes, showing incredible courage as they tackled every activity with enthusiasm. Ingham House followed, departing on Thursday and set to return Saturday. MacDonald House will head out Saturday morning, with Bell House leaving on Monday, Irvine on Wednesday, and Bacot rounding out the week on Friday.

Despite the odd spot of rain, students have enjoyed a packed schedule of activities, including sailing, frisbee, cycling, archery, and kayaking. Each house spends two nights at Waharau, engaging in fun and challenging activities that are a vital part of the Outdoor Education curriculum. For some, these activities, like sailing and kayaking, are brand-new experiences. For others, the camps provide opportunities to push their boundaries. For all, the camps are a time to forge friendships and create lasting memories, making them a highlight of the school calendar and a fantastic way to conclude their first year of high school.

Running these camps takes a tremendous amount of effort, with many staff members involved in organising activities, leading groups, and ensuring everyone is well-fed. A heartfelt thank-you to our Deans and all those who contribute to making these camps such a success, particularly our Head of Outdoor Education, Mr Wright. Special thanks also to our senior student leaders who volunteered to help at camp and support their younger peers.

AUCKLAND FOOTBALL CLUB SPECIAL OFFER

Auckland Football Club (AFC) will host their next home game on Saturday 30 November against the Newcastle Jets. The team is calling on Aucklanders for their continued support as they look to keep their hot start going! AFC have put together another offer for schools and their communities; 20% off tickets in select seats! Follow the link and use the password 'School24" to unlock the special pricing.

YEAR 13 GRADUATION 

 Farewell Class of 2024

Last Friday, we celebrated our Year 13 leavers at a memorable graduation event held at the Life Church in Manukau. With over 650 family members, friends, and students in attendance, the evening was a fitting farewell to an incredible group of young people. This final official event for our graduating students was a warm and vibrant celebration of their achievements and the memories they’ve created while at Howick College.

Over the past five years, it has been a privilege to watch these students grow into confident, caring, and talented young adults. As they embark on the next stage of their journey, we encourage them to carry with them the 4C values that define our school: to be courageous in all that they do, courteous and kind to those they meet, curious about the world around them, and committed to making the most of every opportunity.

A special event like this requires immense effort behind the scenes. Sincere thanks go to our catering team - Mrs Roberts, Mrs Willemse, Mrs Spencer, and our Hospitality students - and our Student Office staff, Mrs Andrews and Mrs Johnson, for managing the administration and certificate printing. Additional thanks go to Ms Hadley for the event’s graphics, Mr O'Ryan for supporting our musical performers, and Mrs Monoyoudis for her help with décor. Finally, a huge thank you to Year 13 Dean, Ms Anna Marsick, whose drive, determination, and meticulous organisation made the event such a resounding success.

BRING THE WORLD TO YOUR HOME

Do you have room in your family for an international student?  Hosting is an unique way to share Kiwi culture, and connect and learn about other cultures firsthand! With more international students from around the world including Europe, South America, South East Asia, Japan wanting to study at Howick College, we are currently seeking warm welcoming families or couples interested in becoming homestays from term 1 in 2025.

If you're interested in becoming part of our International Homestay Family, please contact our Homestay Coordinator at [email protected]. For more information and to apply, please visit the Become a Homestay Family page of our website.

ORDER YOUR 2024 YEARBOOK 

Each year, we take great pride in celebrating the people, events, and achievements of our school community through a high-quality, full-colour publication. You can order your copy of the 2024 yearbook for $30 by making an online payment to the Howick College bank account: 12 3011 0160054 03. Be sure to include your student ID number and the word "yearbook" as the reference. Alternatively, you can also place your order at the Cashier's Office. Orders must be place by Friday 29 November.

Yearbooks will be available for collection from the student office in Week 4 of Term 1 2025.

END OF YEAR FORMALITIES LOCKERS All lockers must be emptied before the end of the school year so they can be cleaned for next year. Any locks still in place after the last day of school will be cut off and the items remaining will be disposed of. BLAZER RETURNS All blazers must be to be returned to the Student Office as soon as possible, otherwise students will be charged a replacement cost of $160. LOST PROPERTY Lost Property will be disposed of at the end of the year. If you have any lost property, please check with the Student Office as soon as possible SPORTS NEWS Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards Elisa Prattley (4th from right) and Avah Sila (2nd from right) with all the Junior Sportswomen finalists. Congratulations to Elisa Prattley (Year 13) and Avah Sila (Year 12), who were both named as finalists at the Honda NZ Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards 2023/24! Elisa (archery) and Avah (athletics, netball, rugby) were recognised in the Junior Sportswoman of the Year category, a testament to their hard work and dedication to their respective sports. The awards ceremony was held on Thursday, 21st November, at the Papatoetoe Cosmopolitan Club, celebrating the achievements of talented athletes, dedicated coaches, and community heroes from across the Counties Manukau region. While the Junior Sportswoman award went to another deserving recipient, Elisa also celebrated a significant achievement with her archery club, Franklin County Archers, which was named Club of the Year.  We are incredibly proud of Elisa, Avah, and all of our young athletes who pursue their sporting passions to such a high level. Congratulations once again on these fantastic achievements! Cricket Trials for the 2025 Season   Open Invitation to 1st XI and 2nd XI Trials Howick College Cricket invites all students interested in joining the 2025 1st XI or 2nd XI cricket teams to attend the upcoming squad trials. Successful trialists will progress to a further round of trials in January, with the final squad announced ahead of the 2025 College Sport Cricket Season starting in February. Junior Cricket Trials Trials for the Junior (Years 9 and 10) Cricket teams for Term 1, 2025, will take place as follows: Date: Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 December Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm Place: Howick College Cricket Nets Sports Uniform Amnesty As we wrap up the sports season, we ask that all Howick College playing uniforms be returned to school as soon as possible. To make it easy, uniforms can be dropped off either at the Student Office or the Sports Office. Returning them promptly helps us ensure all uniforms are ready for next season and keeps our sports equipment in top condition. Thank you for your cooperation, let's keep our sports gear in circulation for future students! HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK Eleanor Jones Can't Keep a Secret by Amy Doak Things have settled down in Cooinda and Eleanor Jones is getting used to her new normal - spending time with her friends, going to school, and working on a project at the local old age home. But just as things start to feel calm, a series of events once again rock Eleanor's world- Troy's ex-girlfriend is back in town and, during a visit to the old age home, Eleanor's buddy Nance admits to witnessing a murder, swearing Eleanor to secrecy. In an effort to definitely not be concerned about Troy's ex, Eleanor throws herself into solving the mystery of the murder Nance spoke about. Enlisting the help of new friend and genealogy expert Jem to research Nance's past, Eleanor soon realises that digging into old secrets can sometimes be incredibly dangerous indeed… The sequel to Eleanor Jones is Not a Murderer. This book is suitable for junior readers. *The library in G Block is now open. Hours are from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday to Friday.   COMMUNITY NOTICES All Saints' Church Christmas Lunch Appeal   Exciting news from the Howick community this December! All Saints Church is continuing its "Christmas Lunch on Jesus" initiative to support families in need of a festive meal. On December 23rd, special boxes will be packed and delivered, containing everything needed for a Christmas lunch—meat, vegetables, drinks, and festive treats. Since its launch in 2015 with 50 boxes, the initiative has grown significantly. Last year, 305 boxes were delivered to 200 families, providing meals for 1,200 people. We receive many heartfelt messages of gratitude, including: “Thank you for blessing my family with food. May God bless you for your kindness.” Howick College families have generously donated boxes of chocolates for the hampers over the years. We kindly ask for your support again this year—please drop off a box of chocolates at the student office by December 4th to help make Christmas special for these families.