Term 1, Week 2, 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, Amazing things happen at Howick College every day. This is due to a number of factors, one of the most important being our incredibly positive environment. I do not have to venture far from my office to witness the positive way our students engage with their peers, our staff, and the task at hand. This week, during level assemblies, we reinforced an important message: our students are capable of more than they realise. Deep within each of them lies untapped potential, a wellspring of talent waiting to be discovered. Whatever their aspirations may be, we have encouraged them to embrace their goals with courage, determination, and positivity, knowing that the journey will have its challenges. I firmly believe that greatness is forged in moments of adversity. When things are difficult, and you feel like giving up, that is when you discover your true resilience and strength. We have urged our students to continue approaching their learning and personal growth with a positive mindset, to strive for their best, to push their boundaries, and, most importantly, to never stop believing in themselves. It is a privilege to work alongside such remarkable students and staff at Howick College. Every day is a blessing. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki

KEY DATES Monday 17 - Tuesday 18 February Student ID Photos (Compulsory) Wednesday 19 February Cultural & Extra-Curricular Arts   Muster Thursday 20 February Athletics Day - Y9 Compulsory, Y10 Optional sign up Wednesday 26 February Y9 Meet the Tutors Evening Thursday 20 - Friday 21 March Summer Sports, Cultural & Y13 Photos Monday 24 - Friday 28 March Summer Tournament Week Friday 28 March Teacher Only Day Tuesday 1 April - Friday May 2 Dental Planet on Site Friday 4 April  NZ Blood Collection Friday 11 April  Term 1 Ends Friday18 April Good Friday Monday 21 April Easter Monday Thursday 25 April ANZAC Day Monday 28 April Term 2 Begins

KINDO PAYMENT SYSTEM SIGN-UP

Howick College has introduced Kindo as our new, preferred payment system, making school payments easier and more flexible for our families. Kindo can be used for donations, course and sports-related costs, school trips, fundraisers, and more. There are several safe, convenient payment options available including, internet banking, instant transfers, and credit card.

As part of this transition, payments can no longer be made via the Kamar Financial tab on the Portal or through direct deposits into the Howick College bank account. Therefore, we encourage all families to set up their Kindo account by visiting myKindo.co.nz. Please ensure that you use the email address we currently have on file for you. 

If you already have a myKindo or ezlunch account through another school or organisation, you can continue to use the same account for Howick College by updating the “my details” page. You DO NOT need to create a new account. If your account has been closed, or inactive for longer than 15 months, please contact the Kindo helpdesk to reactivate your account.

For more details about how to sign up to Kindo, please click here to download the flyer above or visit our website at https://www.howickcollege.school.nz/kindo-payments. If you need assistance with your myKindo account, please see the online support pages, and contact the Kindo helpdesk if you are still having any difficulty.

The Kindo Helpdesk is open 8:00am to 4:00pm weekdays.
Freephone: 0508 4 KINDO (0508 454 636),
Email: [email protected]

Thank you for your support in making this a smooth transition for our school community.

2024 NZ SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Congratulations to our NZ Scholarship recipients for 2024. As scholarship candidates, these dedicated students were assessed against rigorous standards in their respective subjects, demonstrating a high level of critical thinking, knowledge, skill, and understanding.

Particular congratulations to Luke Marshall, who is one of only 34 students in the country to be awarded an Outstanding Scholarship in Physics—an achievement made even more impressive as he sat the exam as a Y12.

We also acknowledge and thank the teachers who supported and encouraged these students throughout their scholarship journey. Their guidance and expertise played a vital role in helping them achieve at this level.

WELCOMING OUR NEW INTERNATIONALS

We are delighted to welcome 42 new international students from 12 countries—Austria, Germany, Brazil, Chile, France, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, China, and Vietnam. They are settling in well and embracing their new environment.

We wish them a rewarding and enriching experience at our school. We are confident they will make the most of every opportunity to learn, grow, and build lasting friendships and lifelong memories. We also look forward to learning from them, gaining insight into their unique cultures and perspectives, and sharing in the diversity they bring to our community.

MEET THE Y9 DEANS & TUTORS EVENING

We warmly invite all Y9 parents and caregivers to meet the Y9 tutor teachers and deans on Wednesday 26 February from 6:00pm - 8:00pm.

The evening will commence in the Bill Dimery Performing Arts Centre with a formal welcome by our principal, Mr Dale Burden. This will be followed by a question and answer breakout session with the Year 9 tutor teachers, Deans and House leaders. There will also be a chance to meet with members of our Senior Leadership Team.

Your support is greatly valued and we encourage you to take this opportunity to begin a conversation with your child’s tutor teacher, Dean, and key staff members within the school.

We look forward to seeing you there.

INTRODUCING CAREERWISE 

Our Careers Department is pleased to announce the launch of CareerWise, a central hub for students and parents to access career-related information and opportunities. This platform is available via the Careers page on our website and provides up-to-date information on career events at school. It also brings together essential tools, resources, and opportunities in one easy-to-use site, including:

Tertiary Study: Explore university courses, accommodation options, and halls of residence.
University Scholarships: Find funding opportunities to support tertiary education.
Events: Stay informed about upcoming career events, guest speakers, and industry visits.
Resources: Access study tips, career advice, and tools for tertiary success.
Job Opportunities: Browse current part-time and holiday job listings.
Industry Experience: Learn about Gateway, MIT Trades Academy, and STAR programmes.

We encourage students and parents to explore CareerWise and make the most of the opportunities available.

LITERACY & NUMERACY CO-REQUISITE SUPPORT

To support students preparing for the co-requisite digital exams in Weeks 4 and 5 of Term 2, Mrs Nairn and Mrs Henkin have created Google Classrooms with resources. All Year 10 students and senior students who have yet to sit or need to resit these exams must join using the codes below.

STUDY CENTRE OPEN FOR 2025 Where: A4 When: Interval & Lunchtime The Study Centre provides a quiet space for students to work independently on their classwork and homework. Student tutors are not yet confirmed, but we will update you once they are available for bookings. 2025 ARTS & CULTURAL MUSTER Want to meet like minded people who share your interests? Then come along to the Extra-Curricular Arts and Cultural Muster on Wednesday 19 February at interval and lunchtime to find out more about what's on offer including: Theatre Sports, Drawing Club, Culture Club, Film Club, a variety of  music, dance and cultural groups, debating, and so much more! Information and sign up sheets for Year 9-l3s will be available in the theatre on the day. We strongly recommend that Senior bus students attend the sign-up at interval as their bus leaves at 1:45pm on Wednesdays.    STUDENT ID PHOTOS Photolife will be on site to take all student ID photos on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 February. Please make sure you are neatly groomed (e.g. boys clean shaven) and in the correct Howick College uniform as outlined in the Uniform and Grooming Policy on our website. Year 9-12 students will be called up by a runner when it is their allocated time to come the theatre Year 13 students are required to come to the theatre individually for their ID photos during the following periods: Surnames A-H - Please come out of class during Period 2 on Monday 17 Surnames I-N - Please come out of class during Period 3 on Monday 17 Surnames O-S - Please come out of class during Period 4 on Monday 17 Surnames T-Z - Please come out of class during Period 2 on Tuesday 18 Year 11 students taking Year 12 Maths - Please come out of class and go to the theatre during Period 3 on Tuesday 18. JEWELLERY REMINDER We would like to remind students that jewellery is to be kept to a minimum. As outlined below and on our website, students may wear a selection of the following items: One ring per hand, one necklace, two small gold/silver studs or sleeper earrings per ear, one nose stud or clear retainer.   Please Note: nose rings, septum rings, facial piercings and tongue piercings are NOT permitted and students will be required to remove them. SPORTS NEWS Athletics Day - Thursday 20 February Athletics Day is compulsory for all Year 9 students, and registrations for Year 10–13 students are now closed. Participants may wear either their PE gear or non-uniform clothing in their house colours, provided it is suitable for physical activity (tutus are NOT acceptable). All athletes (Year 9–13) must be seated on the bank in their house area by 8:50 am. REMEMBER to bring a hat, sunblock, water bottle, and a full lunch box. The canteen will be open and there will also be sausage sizzle and other goodies for sale. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We require event managers and marshals, so if you are available to help on the day, please email [email protected]. Cricket Season Off to Great Start Our Girls’ 1st XI Cricket team has made an impressive start to the 2025 season after earning their place in the Premier Grade at the end of last year. In their opening match, the team narrowly lost to Mount Albert Grammar School in a hard-fought game. Standout player Chloe Pratt notched up 57 runs off 55 balls not out, and also claimed a wicket. The team bounced back in Game 2 with a convincing 43-run victory over Baradene College. Chloe Pratt continued her strong form, scoring 47 runs off 57 balls, while Zamera Ikiua powered to a half-century with 62 off just 34 balls. With the ball, Sonnia Vaia delivered an economical four-over spell, conceding only 13 runs and taking a wicket, capped off by a well-executed stumping. The team now turns its focus to their next challenge against St Cuthbert’s College. Meanwhile, our 1st XI Boys have also made a great start to the season with a strong performance against Botany Downs Secondary College over the weekend. Batting first, the team put up an impressive total of 305, thanks to a brilliant century from Sam Read (114 off 123) and a solid 75 from Callum Edwards (80 balls). The bowlers then kept things tight, with Jadin Gouws taking 4 wickets for just 2 runs off 40 balls and Trent McVeigh picking up 2 for 11 off 70, helping dismiss Botany for 47. The team now is now focussed on this weekend's match against Selwyn College. Sports Notices HOCKEY TRIALS Trials for the girls and boys team will be held in the next few weeks, for both the 1st and 2nd XI teams. Please fill in the following form if you are interested in attending: https://forms.gle/RaRWdijc7YDYNdcm6 OR email:[email protected] Boys: Wednesday19 February and Wednesday 26 February from 4:00pm until 5:15pm. Girls: Thursday 20 February and Thursday 27 February from 4:00pm until 5:15pm. Location: Lloyd Elsmore Park hockey turf. Transport is not provided. If you need any hockey equipment, please let Ms Richards know and she will arrange loan gear for you. FOOTBALL GIRLS TRIALS All girls interested in playing football this year should meet on Wednesday 26 February at 3:30pm on HC Football Field 1. RUGBY Senior boys and girls who are potential 1st and 2nd XV players must attend training session. Please see Mr Sotutu in the Sports Office for more information.   JUDO/BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU If you are interested in learning Judo/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at school this year, please get in touch with Mr Uy. Either email [email protected], or come to the Languages Resource Room (i.e. the G Block Office) during interval or lunch time for more information. BADMINTON  We are still finalising the times for the club sessions, but there will be 1-2 lunchtime sessions and 1 after school session each week. The lunchtime sessions are for people of all skill levels, with rackets provided. If you are interested, keep a lookout for the sign up information in the daily notices. If you have not played previously for a competitive team, but you think you have what it takes, then please email Mr Hills at [email protected]. Competitive teams will start in Term 2. Last year's club website can be found here: https://sites.google.com/howick.school.nz/hcbc/home Underwater Hockey Have a Go Days Ever wondered what playing hockey in a pool is like? The come along and try it! Howick College Underwater Hockey invites you to come along to the "Have a Go" days which will take place on Sunday 23 February and Sunday 2 March from 2.30-4.00pm at the Manurewa Pool, Sykes Road. It's FREE to try and gear is supplied. Any queries, please contact [email protected]   Sports Draw for Week 3 Get involved in Howick College Sport We are looking for coaches, managers, and helpers for both our summer and upcoming winter sports teams. This is a fantastic opportunity to support our students in doing what they love while encourage them to take on new challenges. At Howick College, we challenge our students—and we challenge you to be part of our team! Volleyball, Touch, and Tag are getting underway soon, with winter sports on the horizon. If you have a passion for sport and want to make a difference, we would love to hear from you. For more information or to get involved, please email [email protected] HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK The Mess We Made by Megan O'Neill Quin and Henry meet as kids and quickly become inseparable. They are high-school sweethearts until one night, one bad decision shatters everything. Years later, Quin's stuck working at a local takeaway. She's not spoken to Henry since he left town nine years ago. She barely talks to her twin brother Josh, and their mum has a degenerative disease - Quin's dealing with the fact that she might get it too. When Henry suddenly returns - and keeps showing up at work to walk Quin home - she feels herself falling all over again. But his reappearance triggers the secret she's kept buried for the past nine years, and she doesn't know if she can trust Henry not to disappear on her when he learns the truth…   Library hours are from 8:30am - 3:30pm, Monday to Friday.