Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Howick College,
 I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many parents who have, over the course of this year, shared favourable comments about this newsletter. Vanessa Pickett, our Communications Manager, continues to produce an excellent weekly publication. She is a wonderful asset to our College, and we are truly fortunate to have her working with us. In the next few weeks, you will have an opportunity to provide feedback on the communications you receive. We are always looking to improve this and all other aspects of our College.
I am pleased to report that as we continue to raise the bar at Howick College, our students consistently rise to meet our higher expectations. The latest example is the modification we made to the mobile phone policy: "away for the day" or "silent and invisible." The students have really stepped up, and it’s wonderful to see more of them spending time on the fields, and I have lost count of the many and varied lunchtime card games. Rather than having to monitor their screen time, it’s been a pleasant change to instead remind students to take their ball games to the field, away from buildings.
Having high expectations of students is vital across the board. Research clearly shows that teachers' beliefs about their students and their potential have a significant impact on learning and progress. Research from The Education Hub highlights that:
"In fact, teachers' expectations of their students' learning may be more important in influencing student progress than the abilities of the students. Teachers with high expectations believe that their students will learn faster and improve their level of achievement. They also have more positive attitudes towards learners and more effective teaching practices."
We are proud to have such fantastic students at Howick College, supported by families who want the very best for their children - why wouldn’t we have high expectations?
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Have a great weekend.
Dale Burden
Principal/Tumuaki | | 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
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HOWICK COLLEGE BOYS' RUGBY ACADEMY
 From left: Coach “JP” Faamausili, Cruz Cassie (Y9), Barry Walker, Jacob Thompson (Y9) and Coach Waisake Sotutu
Following the recent announcement of our Boys' Rugby Academy launch for 2025, we are delighted to introduce our academy sponsor, Barry Walker, and newly appointed coach, JP Faamausili. The academy aims to nurture the talents of Year 9 and 10 students through a structured, two-period-a-week programme, focusing on rugby skills and knowledge, pathways in playing, coaching, and refereeing, while instilling valuable life skills.
Our sponsor, Mr Barry Walker of Walker Homes Ltd, brings a deep commitment to Howick College, our community, and the sport. After immigrating from Howick, South Africa, he attended Howick College from 1997 to 1998, playing in the Grade 4 Rugby team both years. Upon leaving school, Mr Walker returned as a coach and rugby trainer at the college before advancing in the fitness and coaching industry. Later, he pursued a career in property development and construction, ultimately founding Walker Homes Ltd in 2021, based in Howick. Mr Walker’s long-standing connection to rugby has given him first-hand insight into the transformative power of sports. Through Walker Homes Ltd, Mr Walker provides local, high-quality housing developments in East Auckland and now extends his passion for his community and rugby to Howick College’s young athletes.
Experienced and respected coach John "JP" Faamausili is excited to join the Howick College Sports Department and looks forward to developing the talent in the rugby academy, with the long-term goal of competing in and ultimately winning the 1A Rugby competition. With over two decades of coaching experience - including roles with Mt Wellington-Te Papapa, Auckland Rugby development, Auckland International Academy, scouting for the Blues and New Zealand Secondary Schools, Auckland Storm, Counties Manukau’s women’s and under-19s teams, and most recently St Paul’s College in Auckland - Coach Faamausili brings an impressive legacy of success.
With Coach Faamausili's expertise and Mr Walker’s support and dedication to nurturing upcoming talent, the Boys' Rugby Academy looks forward to empowering students to excel both on the field and beyond, fostering a lifelong connection to the game and the Howick College community.
AUCKLAND LIVE SHOWDOWN AWARDS
 | | We are thrilled to announce that Aria Takle-Lee (Y12) has won the award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical at the recent 2024 Auckland Live Showdown Awards. Aria’s exceptional performance as Mrs Johnson in our school production of Blood Brothers earned her this well-deserved recognition.
The awards evening featured a highlight performance of "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors, performed by Aria and fellow actor Finnbar O'Sullivan (Y13). Finbarr was himself nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical for his portrayal of her son, Mickey Johnson.
Howick College received 12 nominations across various categories, a reflection of the outstanding talent, work and commitment our students bring to both the stage and behind-the-scenes roles.
Congratulations, Aria, we are so proud of your achievement!
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MODIFICATION TO MOBILE PHONE PROCESSThis term we have implemented a stricter approach to enforcing the Government’s mandated "phones away for the day" policy at all times during the school day, including between classes, interval and lunchtime. This means that students who do not have their phones turned off and stored in their bags will have their phones confiscated. We encourage students to leave their phones at home, as very few have a genuine need for them at school. While we are please to see that most students are following this procedure, there are still some who are not. Please see the outlined process below:
MOBILE PHONE PROCESS
Phones off and stored: Students are not permitted to use their phones while at school and must keep them off and in their bags during school hours.
Consequence of non-compliance: Any student using their phone will have it confiscated by a Senior Leader and will receive a reflection. Confiscated phones can be collected at the end of the school day. Students who repeatedly have their phones confiscated will be required to hand in their phones each morning.
Exemptions for medical needs: We understand that some students may require access to phones for medical reasons, such as monitoring insulin levels. If your child needs an exemption, please contact Dr Bennett to arrange this.
Our full mobile phone process is available to view here. We appreciate your support in reinforcing this policy by discussing its importance with your child. Should you need to contact your child in an emergency, please call the school office on 09-534-4492.
Thank you for you understanding and co-operation.
UNIQUE MOTUIHE ISLAND EXPERIENCE From left: Courage Chang, Mr Burden and Jacob Powell craddle a rare and precious kākābeak plant. Congratulations to Courage Chang and Jacob Powell, who represented Howick College on an unforgettable trip to Motuihe Island. This special event was organised for Enviroschools that had participated in the Moth Plant Competition earlier this year, an initiative aimed at environmental restoration and awareness.
The pair's adventure began with sailing aboard one of four classic yachts generously provided by the Classic New Zealand Charitable Yacht Trust. Once on the island, they toured its unique landscapes, catching a rare glimpse of a tuatara resting in its natural habitat - a memorable sight highlighting the island's successful conservation efforts. In an exciting turn of events, Howick College was gifted an exceptionally rare kākābeak plant during the trip. This endangered native plant, known for it's stunning red flowers, will soon be planted on our school grounds as a reminder of our students' environmental stewardship and the school’s commitment to sustainability.
Well done, Courage and Jacob, for representing Howick College and contributing to our ongoing journey toward environmental responsibility!
HOWICK RSA TERTIARY GRANT | | We are thrilled to announce that Year 13 student and Sports Council Leader, Vina Lomawai, has been awarded the Howick RSA Tertiary Study Grant for 2024. Valued at $5,000, this grant supports students from the Howick area in pursuing full-time tertiary education.
Vina’s exceptional "hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence" made her a standout candidate in a highly competitive selection process.
Vina plans to pursue a Bachelor of Health Science at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and this grant will provide vital financial support to help her achieve her academic and career goals.
The award will be presented at a special function on December 6th to celebrate Vina’s achievement.
We are incredibly proud of Vina and wish her all the best as she embarks on the next stage of her academic journey.
Congratulations once again, Vina, on this well-deserved recognition!
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HOMESTAY FAMILIES FOR 2025 Do you have room in your family for an international student? Hosting is an unique way to share Kiwi culture, connect and learn about other cultures firsthand! With more international students wanting to study at Howick College, we are currently looking for warm welcoming families or couples interested in hosting in 2025.
If this sounds like you, please contact our Homestay Coordinator at [email protected]. For more information about becoming a host family and to apply, please visit the Become a Host 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.
SPORTS NEWSCollege Sport Auckland YSPOTY Finalists From left: Kendra Scully, Ben Hew, Skylah Tainui-Takere and Avah Sila, We’re thrilled to celebrate our outstanding Year 13 students, Kendra Skully (Underwater Hockey), Ben Hew (Underwater Hockey), and Skylah Tainui-Tuakei (Touch Rugby), and Year 12 student Avah Sila (Netball), who have been named as finalists in this year’s College Sport Auckland Young Sportsperson of the Year (YSPOTY) Awards! Their exceptional dedication to their sports has earned them this prestigious recognition, which highlights young athletes across Auckland for their achievements and commitment.
The YSPOTY Awards, to be held on Thursday, 28 November at Eden Park, honour top students across various sports categories, including team and individual sports, as well as unique recognitions for service, coaching, and officiating in school sports. These awards represent some of the most highly regarded honours for Auckland’s young athletes, making it a remarkable achievement for our students to be counted among the region’s finest.
We take immense pride in the talent and hard work each finalist has shown, and we wish Kendra, Ben, Skylah, and Avah the very best. This achievement reflects not only their individual dedication and acheivement, but also the strong support from their coaches, families, and the Howick College community. GO HOWICK!
Junior Water Polo On a Roll Our Junior Water Polo teams had an impressive result last week, picking up two solid wins. Last Friday night, they defeated Massey 10-5, and followed that up with an 11-3 win over Onehunga on Sunday. These results reflect the team's consistent progress, with each player improving and contributing to the overall success.
Looking ahead, this weekend’s match against St Peter's College will be pivotal in determining their semi-final position for the following week. With the team continuing to build cohesion and skill, the outlook is promising. Well done to all involved—keep up the great work!
Year 9 2025 Boys' Rugby Academy TrialsThis is a fantastic opportunity for our 2025 Year 9 boys to be part of a programme dedicated to helping them developing their rugby skills and knowledge, with a focus on both individual growth and team development.
Date: Saturday 23 November
Time: Registrations at 9:30am. Trials begin at 10:00am.
Place: Howick College Rugby Field
What to bring: A water bottle, snack, and appropriate shoes and clothes to trial in.
Junior Cricket Trials For 2025Trials for the Junior (Years 9 and 10) Cricket teams for Term 1, 2025, will take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday 10 December and Thursday 12 December
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Place: Howick College Cricket Nets
Sports Uniform AmnestyAs 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 WEEKPatea Boys
by Airana Ngarewa
From the best-selling author of The Bone Tree, these Interlinked stories are full of recurring characters. They are about growing up in small-town Aotearoa. sneaking away during cross country, doing bombs while the lifeguard isn't looking, peeling spuds on the marae, crashing a car at age four, and learning to live by the tikanga 'don't ask, don't tell'"
Arā te tokomaha o ngā kiripuaki auau e tūhonotia ana, ko tā ēnei paki he whakaatu i te whanaketanga ki te tāone iti o Aotearoa - ko te konihitanga i te wā o te omatahora, ko te pohū manu ki te hōpua kaukau i te korenga aro o te manapou hōpua, ko te waruwaru taewa ki te marae, ko te tuki waka i te wā e whā tau te pakeke, me te ū tonu ko te tikanga noho, 'kaua e uia, kaua e whākina'
The collection is designed to bridge a gap between children's books in te reo and full-length literary works. With each story featured in both English and te reo Maori, it's the perfect resource for those on their reo learning journey.
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COMMUNITY NOTICESAll 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. |
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