Term 3, Week 8, 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, As we near the significant milestone of our school's 50th Jubilee, I am filled with immense pride and excitement. This golden anniversary represents not only a celebration of our rich history but also a tribute to the strength, dedication, and spirit of our entire community. Fifty years of educational excellence, growth, and countless treasured memories have brought us to this remarkable occasion. It is a moment for reflection and celebration, and, most importantly, a time for us to unite and honor the legacy we are actively continuing to build. Old friends enjoy catching up at the 40th Jubilee Mix and Mingle. Our Jubilee events will offer a wonderful chance to reconnect with old friends, celebrate our shared accomplishments, and envision the promising future that lies ahead. Each of you - students, parents, staff, and alumni - has been instrumental in shaping our journey, and your presence and involvement will make this celebration truly memorable. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki

KEY DATES Monday 16 September - Friday 20 September Senior Practice Exams Thursday 26 September Howick College Fashion Show Friday 27 September Term 3 Ends Battle of the Bands Monday 14 October Term 4 Begins Friday 18 - Saturday 19 October 50th Jubilee Celebrations Tuesday 22 October End of Year Music Concert Thursday 24 October Senior Honours  Thursday 25 October Last Day for Seniors Monday 28 October Labour Day Wednesday 30 October - Sunday 3 November Visual Arts Showcase Thursday 31 October Sports Awards Evening Tuesday 5 - Friday 29 November NCEA Exams Tuesday 19 November -  Sunday 1 December Year 9 Camps

LOOKING BACK

2014 - Howick College Celebrates 40 Years

Left: 1974 Foundation Year students and staff   Right: Ceremonial cutting of the 40th Jubilee cake.

50TH JUBILEE REGISTRATIONS OPEN

Enjoy a weekend trip down memory lane, reconnecting with old friends and meeting familiar faces. To register online for your preferred the events please go to https://howick.ptly.com/goldenjubilee.

CALLING ALL GOLFERS The countdown to our Jubilee Golf Day is on, and we need your support to make it a resounding success! To join us for a day filled with golfing fun, friendly competition, and unforgettable moments please register now at howick.ptly.com/jubileegolf. To ensure the golf day proceeds as planned, we must meet our minimum ticket sales by September 22nd. So purchase your tickets today, rally your team, and help us ensure this event tees off with a bang!

NIWA SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FAIR WINNERS

From left: Ethan Potgierter, Ethan Loo and Rylee Barrett with their awards and projects.

Congratulations to Year 11 student Rylee Barrett and Year 9 students Ethan Loo and Ethan Potgieter, whose science fair projects were recognised at the recent NIWA South & Eastern Science & Technology Fair prizegiving ceremony held at Sommerville Intermediate.

Rylee’s project, “Shell we Break the Ice,” explored the effects of pH on the weight-bearing strength of cockle shells, earning her multiple awards:

• Best Year 11 Project for Innovation, Invention, or Investigation
• Best Use of Statistics
• Second Place in the Senior Sciences Category

Ethan Loo and Ethan Potgieter received recognition for their project, Vermicompost: The Root of Plant Growth, which examined the impact of vermicompost (the product of the decomposition process using various species of worms) on plant growth. They were awarded Best Use of Soil Science Related Project.

We would also like to commend all students who participated in the NIWA Science & Technology Fair. Their dedication and effort were truly impressive. We are especially proud of Rylee Barrett, Ethan Loo, and Ethan Potgieter for their outstanding achievements, which are a testament to their hard work and commitment.

Z CLUB SUPPORTS WOVEN EARTH

Ms Heather, Mrs Sundrum and Z Club members help a Woven Earth representative load donations of household goods.

A heartfelt thank you to our Howick College community for your generous support of our Z Club's community service initiative to assist Woven Earth, an Auckland-based charity dedicated to helping female victims of domestic violence and their whānau. Through your contributions, Z Club has been able to donate a variety of essential items including preloved household goods, non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, and children's' books and toys, all of which will be used to help furnish and set up new homes for families in need.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed to this worthy cause! Your generosity marks an important step in helping these families rebuild their lives, and we’re incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support.

BOOK & RESOURCE RETURN DAYS

As we approach the end of Term 3, students and parents are reminded to return all school-issued resources, text books and library books. To address past issues with unreturned items and the additional costs associated with their replacement, dedicated book and resource return days are scheduled for Monday 23 September, and Tuesday 24 September, following practice exams. Details are as follows:

• Senior students must return all resources to their classroom teacher or the library on these days. 
• Texts needed for exam preparation may be re-borrowed. 
• Students returning in 2025 can borrow books from the Library in term 4
• Students who do not return their books/resources on the designated days will receive invoices for the cost of unreturned items at the beginning of Term 4, starting 14th October. The final return date for seniors is 25th October.
• Year 13 students who do not return their resources by the final deadline will not receive their RIA (Record of Achievement) and will not be able to attend the Year 13 Graduation Ceremony.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring all resources are returned promptly.

PRACTICE EXAMS

NCEA practice exams will take place from Monday 16 to Friday 20 September. During this time, all Year 11-13 students will be on study leave to prepare for their exams. We encourage all parents/caregivers to ensure that their children are taking these exams seriously and making the most of the study time provided.

The Importance of Practice Exams
The practice exams are important for preparing students by:

• Providing necessary feedback to students about their next learning steps for the NCEA exams in November.
• Deriving grades for students. If a student misses an exam in November for a legitimate reason (e.g. serious illness or injury, natural disaster, or family bereavement), the grades from the practice exams will be used.
• Allowing students to improve their time management and exam techniques.

Exam Timetable and Venues
Each day, exam venues will be advertised on the exam notice boards outside the Theatre and G25. The practice exam timetable can be found here. Please note the change of daily times for Year 9 and 10 students during practice exams.

Buses During Practice Exams
Buses will run at normal times during practice exams. Bus students finishing early or late will need to find an alternative way home.

LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS PROCEDURE

We would like to remind parents and caregivers that if a student is leaving school during the day, a note must be emailed to [email protected] before they leave the school grounds explaining the reason for their appointment or absence. Students must also sign out at the Student Office before they leave and sign back in when they return to school. This includes Year 13 students. The attendance portal is updated via the electronic sign-in/sign-out system, so it is essential that all students follow this procedure to ensure their attendance records are accurate.

If students are unwell at school, they should first report to the Health Centre to be assessed. If required, parents will be advised that the student needs to be collected from the Health Centre. Students are not contact their parents directly to make their own arrangements.

Thank you for your understaning and cooperation.

SPORTS DEPARTMENT NZSS National Netball Competition Sponsors Needed From just $250 a spot (2 spots availble per top), your brand could appear on our Premier Girls' training tops. Last week, our Premier Netball team achieved an outstanding milestone, winning the Upper North Island Secondary School (UNISS) Competition for the second consecutive year. They have now earned a place in the prestigious New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) Competition, set to happen in Christchurch on 6th October, where the nation’s top 16 netball teams will compete for the title of National Champions. This is an exciting opportunity for our athletes, but we can't do it without your support. To ensure they have the resources they need - covering accommodation, transport, and meals - we are seeking sponsors to partner with us in this journey. Your sponsorship will not only help these dedicated athletes reach their potential but will also be a valuable way to connect with our school community and show your support for youth sports.  If you're interested in partnering with us to help our premier girls continue to make Howick College history, please contact our Director of Sport, Adelita Sotutu, at [email protected]. Same Colour - Different Code Photo credit: Amber Te Whaiti (Y11) Last week our 1st XIII Boys' Rugby League team, consisting of both experienced league players and members of our Boys' 1st XV Rugby squad, competed in the National Secondary Schools Winter Tournament held at Bruce Pulman Park from 6th - 8th September. Despite some players stepping into league for the first time, the team performed admirably. On Friday, they faced James Cook High School in a hard-fought match, narrowly losing 14-12 after two players were sidelined due to injury. However, they quickly bounced back, defeating Trident High School 16-12 in their second round-robin game. Saturday saw the team continue their momentum, securing a 14-6 win over Tokoroa High School and another close victory against New Plymouth Boys' High School, 16-12. These results earned them a spot in the Bowl Final on Sunday, where they ultimately finished 10th overall in the Development Grade after a 28-4 loss to Wesley College. Special thanks to Mrs Carol Andrew for managing the team, and to coach Ben Thomson and trainer Tiana Thomson, former Howick College head student and rugby player, for their invaluable support. The team's commitment and hard work were truly commendable! Summer Sports for Juniors TOUCH RUGBY Tuesday and Thursday after school on the field All Year 9 and 10 boys and girls are welcome to come along to trial for the season beginning in Term 4. VOLLEYBALL Monday - Year 9 and 10 girls in the gym after school Wednesday - Year 9 and 10 boys in the gym after school TENNIS, WATERPOLO, TAG, SOFTBALL, CRICKET  Sign ups will take place on Monday in the gym during interval Follow Sport @ Howick College For sports draws, results and the latest sports news, follow Howick College Sports on Facebook and Instagram or visit the Sports page on the Howick College website by clicking on the icons below.        HEALTH CENTRE Asthma Nurse Educator Visit The Asthma Nurse Educator’s termly visit will take place on Wednesday 25 September. Her role is to assist students and families to increase their understanding of asthma and its management, and provide information on: • symptoms • trigger factors • devices used to deliver medications • combining sport with asthma • emergency management • Asthma Action Plans If you feel that your child would benefit from this service, please contact the school nurse, Claudia Naidoo on 5344492 Ext 961 or email [email protected] to book an appointment. HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK   Hine Toa by Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku In the 1950s, a young Ngahuia is fostered by a family who believe in hard work and community. Although close to her kuia, she craves more: she wants higher education and refined living. But whanau dismiss her dreams. To them, she is just a show-off, always getting into trouble, talking back and running away. In this fiery memoir about identity and belonging, Ngahuia te Awekotuku describes what was possible for a restless working-class girl from the pa. After moving to Auckland for university, Ngahuia advocates resistance as a founding member of Nga Tamatoa and the Women's and Gay Liberation movements, becoming a critical voice in protests from Waitangi to the streets of Wellington. COMMUNITY NOTICES   HYC Visual Arts Showcase From Friday 13th September to Saturday 5th October, the Howick Youth Council Visual Arts Showcase will be open view in the Malcom Art Gallery at Uxbridge Arts and Culture. The exhibition gives our local young artists the opportunity to display their work in a professional setting. Work from 14 of our own talented year 10-13 art students will also feature in the exhibition, so come along and experience the diverse range of artwork created by our students. There’s also a great café on site for refreshments!