Tēnā koutou, e te whānau o Howick College,
 We were delighted to welcome over 800 people to the college for the Year 8 information evening. It was fantastic to see so many families eager to learn more about Howick College and what their sons and daughters can look forward to in Year 9 next year.
The feedback from parents was extremely positive. They were impressed by many aspects of the "Howick College way," particularly our high expectations and the clarity about what is expected of everyone. This includes being on time, wearing the school uniform correctly, trying your best in class, and being polite and respectful.
We also received considerable positive feedback regarding our personalised approach to education. We offer various learning pathways designed to encourage students to work hard and excel. In short, we genuinely care about ensuring all students have a place at our college where they feel valued and have a sense of belonging.
What truly stood out, though, was the praise for our outstanding student guides and our enthusiastic, welcoming teaching staff. Hearing Year 8 parents say they would be delighted if their child grew into their own version of the wonderful Howick College student guide who proudly showed them around is a testament to the positive environment we are fostering here at Howick College.
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Have a great weekend.
Dale Burden
Principal/Tumuaki | | Monday 19 August
NZ Blood Collection
Tongan Language Week
Wednesday 21 August
Y11 NCEA Music Assessment Concerts, 7:00pm in Theatre
Admission Free
Thursday 22 August
Y12/13 NCEA Music Assessment Concerts, 7:00pm in Theatre
Admission Free
Friday 23 August
NIWA South and Eastern
Science & Technology Fair
Monday 26 August
Teacher Only Day
Wednesday 28 - Friday 30 August
Dance Showcase - Contrast
Monday 2 - Sunday 8 September
Winter Tournament Week
Wednesday 4 September
Y9 Out-of-Zone Enrolment Applications Close
Wednesday 11 September
Y9 2025 Out-of-Zone
Ballot Drawn
Thursday 12 September
Arts & Extra Curricular Awards
Monday 16 September - Friday 20 September
Senior Practice Exams
Thursday 26 September
Howick College Fashion Show
Friday 27 September
Battle of the Bands
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LOOKING BACK
2004 - Awhina Block Completed Nurse Diane Verrall admires the new Health Centre (Photo Credit - Howick & Pakuranga Times) In 2004, Howick College took a major step forward in enhancing student well-being with the completion of the Awhina block, a purpose-built centre designed to bring together learner support, health, and guidance services in one accessible location. This significant development addressed a long-standing need for improved facilities, greatly benefiting the school’s 2,000-plus students and over 160 staff.
Before the Awhina block was built, the health and guidance teams operated under challenging conditions. The old, cramped setup - featuring a single sick bay with bunk beds - struggled to accommodate the approximately 45 students who came through daily. The new Awhina block, by contrast, offered two consulting rooms, a treatment room, and expanded counselling spaces, facilities that marked a significant upgrade from the previous cramped quarters.
Then Deputy Principal Barbara Evans emphasised the importance of housing these services together, noting their interconnected nature as essential for providing comprehensive support to students. The decision to construct the Awhina block using prefabricated rooms allowed the school to maximise its resources, resulting in a larger, more functional space than traditional construction methods would have permitted.
The addition of the Awhina block was not just a structural improvement; it was a vital step in ensuring that students had convenient and immediate access to the care and guidance they needed within the familiar environment of their school. By centralising these essential services, Howick College created a supportive hub that has served its community well for the past twenty years.
50TH JUBILEE REGISTRATIONS OPENEnjoy 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
 SATELLITE CLASS OFFICIAL OPENING Sommerville School Principal Belinda Johnston and Howick College Principal Dale Burden watch as Abel Pologa cuts the ribbon, officially opening the Sommerville Satellite Class.
Wednesday, 14 August, saw the official opening of Sommerville School’s satellite class at Howick College, an event that has been eagerly awaited since the beginning of 2023. The day was marked by sunshine and enthusiastic participation from the school community.
The ceremony began with a mihi from the Howick College’s kapa haka group, followed by a wonderful waiata. Belinda Johnston, Principal of Sommerville School, spoke to the gathered students, staff, and guests, highlighting the warm reception that Howick College has extended to Sommerville’s diverse students. This was followed by Abel Pologa, the oldest student from the class, cutting the ribbon to officially open the new classrooms. The event continued with a blessing of the classrooms by the kapa haka group and Whaea Eleanor, and a karakia to bless the shared kai. Mrs Rebecca Roberts, Head of Hospitality at Howick College, and her team of students prepared and served a generous selection of delicious food for all those in attendance.
Sommerville School would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to the staff and students of Howick College for their support in making the opening ceremony a very special and memorable occasion. EPRO8 ENGINEERING CHALLENGE Junior Team from left: Ben Hannaby, Devin Marshall, Nathaniel Smith and Olivia Hargreaves-Judd. | |  Senior Team from left: Kieran Gawn, Harry Gan, Jack Want and Ethan O'Meara. |
Congratulations to our Senior EPro8 team, who delivered an impressive performance, finishing in second place in their semifinal at One Tree Hill College on Wednesday night. The team put up a strong effort and narrowly missed out on the top spot. They will now advance to the Grand Finals at Papatoetoe High School on Thursday, 22 August. Meanwhile, our Junior EPro8 team won their semifinal at Papatoetoe High School on Friday, 9 August, and will return to the same venue for the grand final on Friday, 23 August.
The EPro8 competition poses complex engineering challenges that test students’ creative design, innovative solutions, and teamwork. Both teams have demonstrated exceptional skills and dedication throughout the competition. We look forward to their continued success and wish them the best of luck in the finals! NZ ENGINEERING SCIENCE COMPETITION Year 13 Team from left: Eason Yang, Miguel Armado, Sebastian Ngai and Jack Want (not pictured) | |  Year 12 Team from left: Ethan Beale, Nicholas Lowe (hidden), James Burt and Nathan Cox. |
On Saturday, 10 August, two teams of our talented Year 12 and 13 students participated in the prestigious New Zealand Engineering Science Competition, organised by the University of Auckland’s Department of Engineering Science. The challenge posed to the teams was to determine: “How many airships would be required to replace the Cook Strait Ferries?”
This open-ended question required the students to make well-informed assumptions and apply their knowledge without external assistance. From 10:00am to 6:00pm, our students immersed themselves in Science and Math, diligently crafting a comprehensive report that was subsequently submitted for evaluation by the University of Auckland.
With 272 teams from across New Zealand taking part, we are immensely proud of our students’ hard work and dedication. We look forward to the results, which are expected in 3-4 months. Stay tuned for updates on their impressive achievements! 2025 SUBJECT SELECTION PROCESSIn term 3, students in Years 10, 11 and 12 will choose their subject options for 2025. Parents and caregivers should support their children to make these important decisions. All the information about the various subjects available at Howick College can be found on the Subject Pathways page of our website. Additional information and activities can be found at: https://www.careers.govt.nz/
All students will begin the process by completing a careers activity and attending a subject selection assembly. Students will select their options in the relevant tutor times shown below:
Year 12 - Term 3 Week 2
Year 11 - Term 3 Week 5
Year 10 - Term 3 Week 7
Year 9 - Students will select their 2025 subjects in Term 4. HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY - BOOK OF THE WEEKReturn to Sender by Lauren Draper | | Brodie McKellon didn’t leave town in handcuffs, not exactly. But all the same, in only one night, she lost her best friends and her home. And that same night, the town of Warwick lost the Adder Stone, a supposedly magical ring of local legend. The events, Brodie maintains, were not related. Four years later, Brodie’s returned to Warwick, ready to get back everything she lost by solving the mystery of who actually stole the Adder Stone. She can clear her name, win back her friends Elliott and Levi, and save Gran’s house from the bank.
But as Brodie starts investigating, she gets pulled into a different mystery, of three friends and their ‘dead letters’ - mail that’s been lost over the years. And soon she finds that there are times when the things you find aren’t the things you even knew you had lost. A house becomes a home. Some friends become family. And other friends, well, they might become something more. As long as Brodie can be brave enough to find herself. |
NIWA SOUTH & EAST AUCKLAND
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FAIR | | Get ready to be inspired by the incredible work of young scientists and innovators at the 2024 NIWA South and East Science and Technology Fair, hosted by Howick College! This exciting event will showcase a wide range of projects from students across Years 7 to 13, highlighting their creativity, research skills, and technological expertise.
From innovative technology solutions to insightful scientific investigations, the fair promises to be a fascinating display of talent. Categories on display will include Environmental Science, Engineering, Physical Sciences, and more.
We warmly invite you to come and explore these impressive entries on Friday, 23 August, from 3:30 - 6:00 pm in the Bill Dimery Performing Arts Centre. This is a fantastic opportunity to support our students and gain insight into the future of science and technology. Don’t miss out on this chance to witness the next generation of thinkers and problem-solvers in action! |
SPORTS NEWSAsia Pacific Baseball Series Year 10 baseballer Nate Scordino (left) recently achieved a notable milestone by once again being selected for the 14U New Zealand baseball team. In June, he and his team competed in the Asia Pacific Series in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, where they achieved a commendable fourth place.
The tournament was a valuable learning experience, offering insights into teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Despite strong competition, the team demonstrated impressive perseverance and dedication. Nate's journey to this achievement included a standout season with his club team, winning the Auckland Club Championships, and representing Auckland in the National Championship. His commitment, including additional practice, played a key role in his selection for the New Zealand team.
Congratulations Nate on your impressive achievements. We look forward to seeing your continued success!
Premier Teams Through to FinalsCongratulations to the following premier teams, who have advanced to their competition finals. We wish them all the best for their upcoming games.
- Senior Underwater Hockey won their semi final against Mahurangi College.
- 1st XI Football Girls defeated Carmel College 4-0, earning their place in the Auckland Provincial Championships final.
- 1st XI Hockey Girls secured their place in the finals after a 3-1 victory over MAGS.
- 1st XV Rugby Girls are through to the Auckland Competition finals next Monday.
We also wish our 1st XV Rugby Boys the very best in their semifinal match against Tangaroa College tomorrow, Saturday, 17 August, kick off at 12:00 pm. Tangaroa College will have the home team advantage so it would be great to have your support at this crucial match. Premier Teams Sport Draw SATURDAY 17 AUGUST
Netball Premier 1 vs Baradene College, Venue: ANC Ct B, Start: 11:30am
Netball Premier 2 vs Macleans College, Venue: ANC Ct C, Start: 10:30am
1st XV Rugby Boys vs Tangaroa College, Venue: Tangaroa College, Kick-Off 12:00pm
MONDAY 19 AUGUST
Rugby Girls 1st XV vs Auckland Girls' Grammar, Venue: Grammar Tech Rugby Club, Kick-off: 5:00pm
TUESDAY 20 AUGUST
UWH Senior Open vs Glendowie College, Venue: Manurewa Aquatic Centre, Start: 8:30pm
UWH Senior Girls vs EGGS (3rd/4th final) Venue: Manurewa Aquatic Centre, Start: 8:05pm
WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST
Football Girls 1st XI vs Long Bay College, Venue: Ellerslie Football Club, Kick-off: TBA
Netball Premier 1 Semi Finals Details TBA
Netball Premier 2 Semi Finals Details TBA
THURSDAY 22 AUGUST
Hockey Girls 1st XI Finals Details TBA
FRIDAY 23 AUGUST
Football Boys 1st XI vs Auckland Grammar, Venue: HOME GAME, Kick-off: 3:30pm
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 CENTREGiving Blood Save Lives! | | The NZ Blood Collection team will be at Howick College on Monday, 19 August, from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm in the theatre. Thank you to all the students who have already signed up. If you didn't sign up, you can still donate. Just come along to the theatre on the Monday if you are 16 years or over, weigh at least 50kgs and in good health with no recent piercing or tattoos.
Encouraging students to donate blood is vital for fostering a lifetime habit of contributing to their community. Individuals aged 16 and over can independently decide to donate blood according to the Care of Children Act 2004. NZBS recommends that students discuss this decision with their families. If there are any objections, please inform the student and the school before the blood drive.
NZBS respects the privacy of all donors and recommends sensitive conversations around blood donor eligibility. For more information, please call 0800 GIVE BLOOD (0800 448 325) or visit www.nzblood.co.nz.
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COMMUNITY NOTICESZonta East Auckland | | ZONTA International is a global organisation dedicated to empowering women through service and advocacy. With a focus on advancing the status of women and girls worldwide, ZONTA has been making a difference for over 100 years, supporting initiatives such as education, health, and the fight against gender-based violence.
If you’re passionate about making a positive impact in your community, consider joining the ZONTA East Auckland Club. This local branch of ZONTA International meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm at the Howick Club, Botany Road. By becoming a member, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects, connect with like-minded individuals, and be part of a global movement for change.
For more information, come along to a meeting or contact us at [email protected] or visit our website https://www.zonta.org/. |
Warm Up Winter - Community Initiative | | The Howick and Pakuranga Community Houses Inc Society Board is excited to announce Warm Up Winter Homemade Soup Fridays and Used Clothing Repair Evenings at Highland Park Community House, 47 Aviemore Drive, starting 2nd August.
Every Friday in August (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th) from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, attendees can enjoy a free cup of homemade soup and benefit from complimentary clothing repairs by an experienced seamstress.
Everyone is welcome to this free, no-strings-attached community service. For more information, contact Jennie at 09 534 5584. |
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