Term 4, Week 4, 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, The NZQA examinations are in full swing and are going well. Although we didn’t have the best start due to a fire alarm during the first exam, the rest of the week has run smoothly thanks to the work of our NCEA coordinator, Mr Doubleday, the NZQA supervisors, and our well-prepared students. This preparation involves not only studying hard but also ensuring a balanced routine with sufficient sleep and good food is maintained. Being both mentally and physically prepared is equally important. Our students continue to meet the ever rising expectations we set for them. Today in assembly, I told them how proud we are of their efforts to be the best possible versions of themselves. This term we have modified our phone ban procedure, putting in more punitive measures for those who continue to flout the rules outside the classroom. The result of this "tightening up" has led to a few phones being confiscated, but more importantly, has encouraged students to engage in more face-to-face conversations, read books, or join in a variety of games and sports. This positive shift has very quickly become the new normal. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki

KEY DATES Friday 15 November Last Day to Order the 2024 Yearbook Tuesday 19 November -  Sunday 1 December Year 9 Camps Wednesday 29 November  School Board Meeting 6:00 - 8:30pm 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

SPORTS AWARDS 2024

Congratulations to all our major sports award winners!

Last week, we celebrated the outstanding dedication, skill, and achievements of our athletes and teams at the annual Howick College Sports Awards evening. The night was filled with excitement and pride as we recognised the accomplishments of our sports stars. Congratulations to all award recipients, particularly our major award winners, whose commitment and pursuit of excellence continue to inspire us all!

This event would not have been possible without the hard work of our coaches, managers, families, and supporters who help help sport at Howick College to thrive. We would also like to thank our Sports Department not only for their exceptional efforts in making this celebration a success, but for supporting our athletes throughout the year.

The full list of award winners is available on our website. More awards photos can be viewed on our facebook page.

SENIOR ART BOARD SHOW 2024

HoD Visual Arts, Ms Su O'Grady, announces the category winners at the exhibition opening night.

Our 2024 Senior Art Board Show was a wonderful celebration of our students' talent and hard work! Last Wednesday’s opening night and awards evening showcased nearly 200 stunning folios across Painting, Photography, and Design. Over the next four days, more than 400 visitors attended the exhibition and were greatly impressed by the creativity, skill, and dedication on display.

We’re immensely proud of our talented young artists, photographers, and designers - their passion shines through in every piece! Congratulations to all of our students; your work inspires and reflects the highest standards. A special thank you to our supporters for their generous contribution of prizes, making the event even more memorable for everyone involved.

To view the work of the each of the category winners, please visit Howick College Facebook page.

MODIFICATION TO MOBILE PHONE PROCESS

This 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.

BLAKE INSPIRE PROGRAMME

Evie Hollyman, (far left) makes the most of the many opportunities on offer at the BLAKE Inspire programme.

Congratulations to Evie Hollyman (Year 11), who spent the second week of the school holidays immersing herself in environmental action with the BLAKE Inspire for students programme! Evie joined 30 students from across New Zealand for a busy week that focused on conservation and leadership, exploring everything from marine life to freshwater ecosystems. Highlights included snorkeling at Goat Island, investigating freshwater habitats, hearing from environmental speaker Dr Ellen Ford (recipient of the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year 2023 ‘Local Hero’ award and the 2023 BLAKE Leader award), visiting Tiritiri Matangi’s scientific reserve, and tackling a mock policy simulation! She even had the chance to connect with two Howick College alumni, Ethan McCormick (Head Student, 2020) and Grace Driscoll (2016), who attended as BLAKE Inspire team members - amazing to see our past students giving back to this incredible programme!

Evie, a committed member of our Envirogroup, has come away from BLAKE Inspire with fresh insights into environmental challenges and new skills she can’t wait to put into action. Well done, Evie - we’re extremely proud of your commitment to making a difference!

UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY COMPETITION

Congratulations to Tanish Samant (Year 9) who has achieved Excellence in Science and Merit in Mathematics in the University of Canterbury's Centre for Assessment and Monitoring (CAM) competition. These competitions are skills-based and closely align with the New Zealand Curriculum, testing students' skill and knowledge in the key subject areas of English, mathematics, science and spelling. The awards were presented by Mr Henty, Head of the Science Learning Area, who commended Tanish's dedication and performance in both subjects. Tanish, your hard work and commitment to excellence set a great example - congratulations on your well-deserved success!

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 15 November.

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

STUDENTS COACHING STUDENTS PROGRAMME

Student coaching is a supportive process that helps students set and achieve personal goals. Our trained student coaches are here to help clarify your aspirations and navigate school life. We have started with a small group of Year 10 students who were trained as Student Coaches at their previous Intermediate School. They have now completed a refresher training course and are ready to be of service to our Junior students.

We use Growth Coaching, which involves five simple steps:
1. Reality: Share what’s currently happening in your life.
2. Goal: Pinpoint what you want to achieve.
3. Options: Consider different paths to your goal.
4. Prioritise Actions: Determine the most important steps to take.
5. Set a Timeframe: Establish when and how you’ll take these actions, with regular check-ins for success.

Why Choose Coaching?  
Coaching helps you define your goals, promotes personal growth, and assists in overcoming challenges.

How to Book a Session:  
To book a session, our website and click the Student Coaching link on the top menu bar. Each session lasts about 30 minutes during tutor time. After your session, you’ll leave with an ISMART goal—Inspiring, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—and a clear action plan.

We encourage Year 9 students to take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, feel free to email Mrs. Henkin or Mr Bannister or speak to our student coaches: Archie Bourdillon, Ava Walden, Charlotte Charlotte French, Christian Curry, Jonas Shallard-Kerr, Shaelei Kirby.

SPORTS NEWS Boys' Rugby Academy Launch We are pleased to announce the launch of the Howick College Boys' Rugby Academy, starting in 2025. Building on the success of our Netball Academy, which was introduced last year, this exciting new initiative will provide a structured, skills-based programme designed to help our talented young rugby players develop both on and off the field. The Rugby Academy will focus on developing key rugby skills, fitness, tactical understanding, and overall athletic performance. Students will engage in a full-year course that includes both practical and theory sessions, covering areas such as the rules of rugby, game analysis, nutrition, fitness, and skill development. Year 9 Boys Trialling for Year 10 in 2025 Date: Wednesday 13th November Time: 3.45pm Location: Howick College Rugby Field What to bring: Appropriate gear and a water bottle Year 8 Boys Trialling for Year 9 in 2025 Date: Saturday 23rd November Time: To be confirmed This is a fantastic opportunity for our Year 9 and Year 10 students to be part of a programme dedicated to helping them improve their rugby skills and knowledge, with a focus on both individual growth and team development. Spaces are limited, so we encourage students who are passionate about rugby to attend the trials and join us in this exciting new chapter for Howick College sports. For more information regarding the academy, please email the Director of Sport, [email protected] Intensive NZSS Campaign for Howick College Netball Stars From left: Skylah Tainui-Takere, Avah Sila, Zermahnia Manu and  Charlie Lindsay Over Labour Weekend, four talented Howick College netball players selected for the 2024 Secondary Schools Netball squad attended an intensive four-day netball camp. Skylah Tainui-Takere, Avah Sila, Zermahnia Manu and Charlie Lindsay (pictured left to right), demonstrated their impressive skills during an intensive first day of training and trials before being named for one of two teams. Charlie and Avah earned spots on the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) team, while Skylah and Zermahnia were named in the NZSS A team. Special congratulations to Charlie, who was named as captain of the NZSS team The next three days saw theme compete in a quad-tournament against each other, a Pacific Pearls Challenge team and a Netball Northern Invitational squad, which featured Howick College alumni and Northern Netball League players. Both the NZSS and NZSS A teams were undefeated in the first round, setting up a highly anticipated final match between the two teams on Monday. After a hard-fought, physical game that could have gone either way, the NZSS team claimed a close 58-53 win, demonstrating the depth and talent across the entire NZSS squad. Reflecting on the experience Charlie said: "It was challenging playing against my school teammates not only because they are my friends but because they know how I play, and I had to adjust to the challenge that presented. I loved building new connections and relationships with not just my teammates but also the coaching and management team for the whole squad. The campaign was extremely successful and is an important step in the netball pathway I am on. The talent within the squad is very exciting. All 24 players show huge potential and I saw real development during the campaign. It was an in incredible experience and an extremely important opportunity for emerging players such as myself." Congratulations to all four players, we are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing what's next on your netball journey. Top-Level Training For 7s Girls We were thrilled to welcome Edwin (Ed) Cocker, assistant coach for the Black Ferns Sevens, to Howick College for an inspiring training session with our Girls’ Sevens team! Ed brings extensive experience from his career playing for the New Zealand Men’s Sevens and now as a key figure in the Black Ferns Sevens coaching staff, who are preparing for the Dubai Sevens in late November. This session provided fantastic preparation for the girls, who recently won the Auckland Championship title. With the Condor National Sevens in Tauranga just around the corner, this extra guidance from both their dedicated coaches and a seasoned guest like Ed offers our athletes an invaluable edge. We couldn’t be prouder of their achievements and look forward to seeing them in action! Junior Cricket Trials For 2025 Trials 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 HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK The Catalogue of the Universe  by Margaret Mahy First published in 1985, this is a  novel about growing up, falling in love and coming to terms with long-hidden family secrets. Angela May and Tycho Potter are an unlikely pair. Angela is passionate, confident and popular, living an eccentric life with her mother at the top of Dry Creek Road. Her best friend Tyke prefers the company of his telescope and philosophy books - anything to escape the chaos of his family. But when a search for answers uncovers long-buried secrets, these two 18-year-olds will learn that sometimes the tough decisions we make have lifelong consequences. Thrilling, funny and mysterious, Carnegie Medal-winning New Zealand author Margaret Mahy, claimed that this was probably her favourite young adult novel. A highly recommended read!   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.