Onehunga High School News

Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Onehunga High School

The school year has started exceptionally well, and it is wonderful to see our students settling in with enthusiasm and focus. A special welcome to our new students and their whānau—you are joining a great learning community where every student has the opportunity to pursue their learning passions and succeed.

The initial analysis of the 2024 NCEA results is exciting and a testament to the hard work of both students and staff. Throughout last year, the after-school Study Centre was consistently full, with students making the most of additional learning opportunities. Extra tutorials were provided throughout the year, and dedicated support was available during term breaks. Students took ownership of their progress by actively tracking their achievements, with regular checkpoints communicated to whānau to ensure they had the necessary support for success.

The national average for Level 1 declined by 11%, but at Onehunga High School, our Level 1 results increased to 70%—a remarkable achievement that we have not reached outside of the COVID years in the past decade. Our Level 2 and Level 3 results are equally impressive, with pass rates of 77% and 82%, respectively.

We are especially proud of the outstanding achievements of our Māori and Pasifika learners, whose results reflect their dedication and the strong support from our teaching staff and wider school community.

This year, we aim to build on these results in line with our vision to ensure that every student at OHS can succeed. We recognise that quality teaching makes all the difference, so hiring the best staff and providing on-going effective, evidence-based professional learning and development (PLD) for all staff will continue to be a priority.

At this week's first whole-school assembly, I spoke to students about the many opportunities available at school and the importance of making every day count. I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead, making every day count and seeing our students continue to thrive.

Have a great weekend

Ngā mihi nui

Shameen Hayat
PRINCIPAL

Key dates for 2025 Term 1

11th February - Adult Community Education classes begin
12th February - NCEA Information Evening - 5.00pm (Hall)
12th February - Year Meet the Senior Leader/Dean/Kaitiaki Evening (Years 9,10, 12 &13)
13th February - Sport Academy Trials
17th February - Blues Youth Leadership Programme begins
17th & 18th February - Year 9 PAT Numeracy and Literacy
26th February - Athletics Day
14th March - Mid-term break
24th-28th March - Summer Tournament Week
4th April - Polyfest - (Teacher Only Day with the possibility to supervise juniors)
8th April - Massey High School Senior Sports Exchange
11th April - Last Day of Term 1

Attendance - Every Minute Counts

THE IMPORTANCE OF ATTENDANCE

Did you know that being just 10 minutes late every day adds up to a whole week of missed school each year?

Punctuality is more than just a habit—it’s a key factor in student success. Arriving late to class can disrupt learning, both for the student and their peers, and means missing out on crucial instructions at the start of the lesson. Some students may also feel whakama (embarrassed) about arriving late, which can lead to further disengagement and increased truancy.

Developing the habit of arriving on time not only supports learning but also prepares students for the expectations of life beyond school, including employment and further study.

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS
We understand that Auckland traffic can be unpredictable, and at times, lateness is unavoidable. However, we encourage all caregivers to plan ahead when dropping students off to ensure they arrive on time.

At Onehunga High School, we operate a high-trust model when it comes to lateness. Students must sign in when they arrive late and caregivers can use the school portal (SchoolBridge) to provide an explanation. If a pattern of lateness develops, we will reach out to caregivers to work together on a solution.

THE IMPACT OF BEING LATE
8:40 AM – Arriving before class starts allows students to settle in and be ready to learn.
8:50 AM – Students rushing in at the last moment are less likely to be ready for learning.
8:51 AM – The start of the lesson is missed, and the whole class is disrupted.
9:00 AM – Just 10 minutes late every day adds up to 7 days of missed learning per year.
9:05 AM – 15 minutes late each day results in 10 days of lost learning per year.

A HABIT FOR SUCCESS
Arriving at 8:40 AM for a 8:50 AM start is a simple but powerful habit that sets students up for success. Every minute counts—let’s make them matter!

Please support your child to be at school every day and on time.

A Warm Welcome To New Teaching Staff.

We are fortunate to have wonderful teachers joining the Onehunga High School team this year.

2025 School Year Begins For Year 9 Students.

The school has come alive for 2025. The Year 9 cohort was welcomed with a Pōwhiri and spent their first day learning what it means to be a member of the Onehunga High School Community.

Prefects' Impress at Leadership Camp.

The 2025 Prefect team attended a Leadership Camp at Port Waikato last week.

The Learning Has Begun!

It was fantastic to see all of our students return from the summer break rested, and ready for the challenges ahead.

2025 Prefects

It is a pleasure to announce the Prefect team for 2025.

First Full School Assembly.

The first full school assembly was held in the gym on Monday.

Xavier Collects Silver.

Xavier White 10Moss, has added another medal to his collection, winning Silver in the 2025 Orienteering Oceania Championships held near Palmerston North recently.

Madeleine Works for Manungakeikei-Tāmaki Youth.

Madeleine ‘One’one, is an accomplished young person active in the school and community.

Sports News

THE SEASON HAS STARTED
OHS Sport gets underway for 2025 this week with all our Volleyball teams competing in Thursday afternoon competitions across Auckland. Both our Senior Boys and Senior Girls teams have been training hard through the summer to have a successful season as they build towards the Auckland Champs and the National Tournament in March.
The fast growing sport of Futsal is also underway next week with 4 teams competing in weekly competitions as they get ready for their summer regional and national tournaments to be held in Tauranga and Wellington. Once again, our school Athletics day will be held at Mt Smart Stadium on Wednesday 26th February which is a fantastic day for our athletes and showcases all the LAC of our school!

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED
This Term also sees the opportunity for students to be involved in cricket, water polo, 3x3 basketball, waka ama and tennis. Please keep a look out for daily notices and stop by the Sports Office to sign-up for the sport you want to play this Term.

CURRENT TRIAL/TRAINING TIMES OPEN FOR ALL TO SHOW UP
- Futsal Junior Boys: Thursdays 7am in the gym
- Futsal Senior Boys: Thursdays 7am in the gym
- Futsal Girls: Wednesdays 7:15am in the gym
- Netball Seniors: Thursday 13th Feb after school on Netball courts
- Cricket Boys: Thursdays after school on the field
- Water Polo: Sign-up at sports office

Adult Learning Centre

The Adult Learning Centre is looking forward to starting our 2025 night class program next Tuesday 11th February. We are pleased to be offering some new courses such as Critical Thinking, Te Reo Stage 3, Digital Photography Level 2, Asian Fusion Appetisers and Watercolours for Beginners, along with all our old favourites.
The centre will also be open on four Saturdays throughout the term with a selection of workshops running in the morning. To browse our programme and enrol online please visit www.adultlearn.co.nz.
We offer a 25% discount on night classes for parents of Onehunga High School students, please email us at [email protected] to arrange this discount.

From Careers

Our senior students embraced exciting opportunities over summer to explore future pathways. Congratulations to Emelie Sargent, selected for Canterbury University’s Women in Engineering programme, and to Etuini Lalakai, who participated in the Macdiarmid Institute's prestigious Nanocamp—a hands-on lab experience exploring fields such as electron microscopy, laser physics and nano-electronics alongside leading scientists.

Madeleine One’one, Daiana Radrole, Jasmine Swords, Etuini Lalakai, and Vaitofiga Anesone also travelled to the South Island to take part in Otago University’s ‘Hands On Otago’, a week-long residential programme, where they experienced university life firsthand. From dining with new friends in university halls to attending presentations on various degree options, it was an enriching experience. A highlight for Etuini was the Dentistry taster activity, where he won first prize for the filling he completed in a tooth!
These experiences were invaluable for our students. They connected with peers from across the country, stepped out of their comfort zones and were inspired by world-class academics. We encourage our Year 11 and 12 students to consider applying for these exciting opportunities for 2026. For more details and to learn about available scholarships, please speak with Mrs. Shaw, our Careers Advisor, or email her at: [email protected].