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Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Onehunga High School
This week’s Past Pupil Committee meeting provided a wonderful opportunity for our alumni members to reminisce about their time at Onehunga High School. It’s such a great group – diverse in so many ways, yet united by their love for the school and excitement about where we are heading. Hearing about their connection to, and fondness for, OHS fills me with joy and pride – pride in where we have come from, and confidence in where we are going.
Many of the committee members’ siblings, cousins, and now even their children attend Onehunga High School. One of the key tasks for the committee this year is to select three Distinguished Alumni to be honoured at our celebration later this year. It was inspiring to hear the many success stories shared – a testament to the marvellous achievements of our former students.
Staying connected with our alumni is about more than just looking back—our former students carry the spirit of OHS with them, and their experiences, achievements, and wisdom offer inspiration to our current students. By fostering these connections, we celebrate the rich history and diversity of our school. Our alumni remind us that being part of OHS is lifelong—and their success stories highlight the strength of the foundations built here.
What stood out most in their reflections, beyond the strong friendships formed, was the impact of their teachers. The committee spoke warmly about the kindness, belief, and guidance shown to them by their teachers during their time at OHS. For those members who now have children at the school, it is clear that this tradition continues—they continue to be impressed by the high quality of teaching, and the dedication our staff show in supporting and nurturing every student.
What becomes clear in all these stories is that success is built on hard work, commitment, and resilience. We are well into a long term, and it’s important to help our students manage their time effectively, stay focused, and keep on top of their assessments. Your support in encouraging positive routines at home—balanced with rest and well-being—will help set them up for success, both now and in the future.
Have a great weekend
Ngā mihi
Shameen Hayat
PRINCIPAL | |  |
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Upcoming Key dates - 21 March - Polynesian Panthers visit
- 24-28 March - Summer Tournament Week
- 28 March - Oscar Kightley visit
- 29 Match - Fiafia day
- 31 March - 1 April - L1 Geography Trip
- 2-5 April Polyfest
- 4 April - Polyfest - (Teacher Only Day with the possibility to supervise juniors)
- 8 April - Massey High School Senior Sports Exchange
- 11 April - Last Day of Term 1
- 9-23 April - China Trip
- 28 April - Term 2 Begins
- 6 & 7 May - Subject Teacher & Parent Interviews
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Alumnus Judith Tabron- Winner!
Congratulations to OHS Alumnus Judith Tabron on being named Supreme Woman 2025 at the Women in Food and Drink Aotearoa New Zealand Awards, on Saturday. | |  |
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Congratulations for coming 1st & 2nd - NZ Club Championships
On Friday, Lisa and Sarah Hellyer raced in the Jennian Homes Track and Field Club Championships in Dunedin. | |  |
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XAVIER, WILL REPRESENT NZ IN EUROPE!
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SHOOTING STAR AWARD WEEK 7 - TOHI SINIPATA Y11
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OHS Service Council Supports Cancer Society.
The OHS Service Council has decided to give their support to the ‘Relay for Life’ and they need our help! Please consider helping this great cause. | |  |
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Profile-Ms Katelyn Coogan
We are delighted to welcome Ms. Katelyn Coogan, to OHS. | |  |
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Mathematics Competitions Challenge.
OHS students have the opportunity to enter National Mathematics Competitions. These competitions provide valuable opportunities for students to challenge themselves academically, gain recognition and build confidence. | |  |
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Inspirational Polynesian Panthers Visit OHS.
Year 9 and 10 students were treated to an inspirational and informative lesson on New Zealand's recent history by Dr Melani Anae, Rev Alec Toleafoa ,and singer, and songwriter Tigilau Ness, long-time members of the Polynesian Panther Party (PPP). | |  |
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Counties Manukau Tennis Champs.
The Counties Manukau Tennis Championships took place at Pukekohe Tennis Park, and four Year 11 students—Emma Parker, Myla Van Dolleweerd, Scarlett Walker, and Ella Cains—represented our school. | |  |
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School Councils 2025.
Student Councils play an important role in representing the student body at OHS. | |  |
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Getting Ready for University.
Careers Advisor, Mrs. Kristin Shaw is running several workshops this year to help students make good decisions as they prepare for university study. | |  |
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![]() ![]() OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT ATTENDANCE Regular attendance at school is important to your child’s success and there is a clear connection between going to school regularly and doing well in the classroom. Making sure students attend and engage in learning is a shared responsibility. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure your child attends school every day. If your child is going to be absent for any reason it is essential that you let us know as soon as possible. You can report your child's absence by:
Before or on the day of absence:
- SchoolBridge App on phone
- Report absence on the OHS website
- Email - [email protected]
- Phone - 09-636-6006, and press 1 to report a student absence
After the day of absence:
- Email - [email protected]
- Phone - 09-636-6006, and press 1 to report a student absence
We acknowledge that there are genuine reasons students may occasionally be absent. However, without regular attendance your child will struggle to make progress. If your child is absent regularly, or for extended periods, we will reach out to you to discuss the situation.
We are committed to supporting your child to attend school. If you’re having difficulty getting your child to school, you can ask for support by speaking with your child’s Dean.
We can work with you to develop a support plan that addresses any barriers to regular attendance. More information on attendance, including your rights and responsibilities as parents or caregivers, is available on the Ministry of Education’s webpage: Attendance. Sports NewsWe have hit the halfway mark of the sporting term and our OHS teams have been performing well.
- OHS School Athletics took a team of 27 athletes to contest the Auckland Championships on 18th & 20th March at Mt Smart Arena. We had a number of athletes make their respective finals with five medals claimed across the meet:
- Jaden Clarke: Silver 200m Junior Boys; Silver 300m Junior Boys
- Lisa Hellyer: Bronze 800m Senior Girls
- Sarah Hellyer: Silver 800m Senior Girls
- Ruby Walsh: Silver Open Girls 2km Race walk
- Josh Corric: Bronze Senior Boys High Jump
Full results can be found here: https://www.collegesport.co.nz/sports-1/athletics
- There were also great results for OHS at the recent NZ Track & Field Championships from our students and staff in Dunedin:
- Lisa Hellyer 1st U18 Women 800m
- Sarah Hellyer 2nd U18 Women 800m
- Mr Scott Thomson 2nd Senior Men Triple Jump
- The Auckland Senior Volleyball Championships were held last week. The tournament doubles as a seeding event for the NZSS National Championships during tournament week. A tough opening day for the Senior Boys, which saw the team finish 3rd in pool on points, meant the team finished 33rd overall despite a 5 win, 1 loss record. The Senior Girls finished 10th overall, which was their best finish in recent years. Both teams are now preparing for their Nationals campaign.
- Hunter Pert recently returned from the 2025 Bendigo Cup in Australia where he played in the U13 (Captain) and U15 (Assistant captain) for the SPK team. Hunter was awarded the U13 Ben Janssen MVP Trophy and also named to the NZ U13 Inline Hockey team for the 2025 Oceania Cup.
- Photo: Hunter Pert
- Winter sports team preseason trainings are underway:
- Basketball Senior Girls: Mon 7:00-8:15am. Additional time tbc
- Football Girls 1st XI: Tue 7:00-8:30am
- Football Girls 2nd XI: Tue 7:00-8:30am
- Football Boys 1st XI: Mon & Wed 7:00-8:30am
- Football Boys 2nd XI: Thu 7:00-8:30am
- Football Junior Boys 1st XI: Tue 7:15-8:30am; Thu 3:15-5:00pm
- Football Junior Boys 2nd XI: Thu 3:15-5:00pm
- Netball Senior A: Mon & Wed: 3:15-5:00pm.
- Rugby Boys: 1st XV, U15/14 Tue & Thu 3:15-5:00pm
- Rugby Girls: Wed 3:15-5:00pm. Open to all ages.
- Rugby League Senior Boys: Mon & Wed 3:15-5:00pm.
Trials and open sessions are underway for the following:
- Netball Junior Girls: Team selection in process. Training times TBC
- Basketball Senior Boys: Monday’s 3:15-5:30pm
- Basketball Junior Boys: Tuesday’s 3:15-5:30pm
- Basketball Junior Girls: Team TBC.
- Badminton
- Hockey -- The OHS – Massey High School Exchange will be hosted on Tuesday 8th April. Games start from 10:00am.
International StudentsRecently, Onehunga High School had the pleasure of hosting two wonderful groups of international students who spent a few weeks immersing themselves in life at our school. The first group of students from Hamamatsu, Japan, and the second group of students from Shinagawa Girls’ School, Japan, experienced the unique culture and education of New Zealand.
Throughout their time here, our OHS students acted as fantastic buddies, showing our visitors the ins and outs of school life, local culture, and the beauty of New Zealand. The Japanese students had the opportunity to compare their school experience with what it's like to study in New Zealand, learning a lot along the way.
The program culminated in two heartwarming farewell parties where the visiting students showcased their talents with performances for their NZ peers. It was a special moment that truly highlighted the bond formed between the two groups. To wrap up the day, everyone enjoyed a delicious pizza lunch together, celebrating new friendships and memories.
We’re so grateful for the opportunity to share our school with such incredible visitors and look forward to welcoming more international students in the future!  ![]() ![]() ![]() Careers
Our senior students have been making the most of the many opportunities at OHS to prepare for their university journey. This week, many participated in the 'Uni 101' workshops, where they received guidance to help them plan and apply for their university programmes. There was also a strong turnout at a session with Auckland University, where they discussed an opportunity for our Year 12 and 13 Māori and Pacific students to receive tutoring in Calculus and Physics to lay a strong foundation for tertiary studies.
We congratulate Jack Graham and Emilie Sargent, who have been accepted into a University of Canterbury programme to study Stage One Calculus papers via Zoom, which will credit towards their Engineering degrees next year. Next week, we look forward to hosting a workshop on Tertiary scholarships. It’s great to see students staying abreast of all the opportunities through: ohs.careerwise.school  ![]() ![]() |
School TV - Parent ResourceConfidence and Motivation
Building confidence and motivation in young people is essential for their overall wellbeing and is a key aspect of their development. These qualities can have a lasting impact on their success and happiness. Confidence helps children believe in their abilities and face challenges with a positive attitude, while motivation drives their desire to learn, explore, and achieve their goals.
Fostering these traits involves creating an environment that encourages children to take risks, learn from their mistakes, and celebrate their achievements. Confidence is built when children feel capable and valued, while motivation is fuelled by the belief that their efforts will lead to growth and success. By actively supporting both, we can help young people thrive in the academic, social, and personal areas of their life.
By offering positive reinforcement, setting realistic expectations, and celebrating their efforts, we can model a positive mindset that can go a long way in helping young people develop both confidence and motivation. Nurturing these qualities, will help them grow into self-assured individuals who believe in their ability to succeed, setting the foundation for a fulfilling future.
In this edition of SchoolTV, discover how to provide opportunities for autonomy and support your child in persevering through challenges.
Here is the link to your Edition
SCHOOL TV  | |  |
 Alumni Registration / Update details
 We are currently working on building a comprehensive register of Onehunga High School alumni. Our goal is to reconnect with past students, celebrate their achievements, and strengthen the bonds within our school community. Whether you graduated recently or many years ago, we’d love to hear from you and keep you informed about what's happening at OHS today.
By joining our alumni register, you'll have the opportunity to stay connected with former classmates, attend special events, and support the next generation of students. We believe our alumni are an important part of the Onehunga High School story, and we’re excited to celebrate the lasting impact you’ve made. If you're an OHS graduate or know someone who is, please get in touch and help us spread the word!
https://www.ohs.school.nz/history/alumni
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