Term 4, Week 1, 2024

FROM THE PRINCIPAL Tēnā  koutou, e te whānau o Howick College, After the formalities following our national netball finals victory, we gathered as a group of Howick College community members in Christchurch to celebrate this remarkable success. In attendance were the players, coaches, manager, physio, parents, siblings, whānau, and friends. Our vice-captain, Charlie Lindsay, gave a heartfelt speech of thanks, reminding us of the phrase, "It takes a village." Earlier, the coaches had shared that their key word for the day was "together," a fitting reflection of what had been achieved. Over my 34 years in school leadership, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that when you surround young people with extraordinary adults, the possibilities are endless. The work done by dedicated adults in all aspects of school life - whether in the arts, sports, academics, or service - can be truly life-changing. Behind every student success stands a committed teacher or significant adult, supported by whānau and friends. Mr Burden with the exceptional group of people that support our netball girls.  This celebration was a timely reminder of why adults willingly coach, manage, and cheer on our young people, and why we as teachers are called to this profession - to make a lasting difference. Have a great weekend. Dale Burden Principal/Tumuaki

KEY DATES Friday 18 - Saturday 19 October 50th Jubilee Celebrations Tuesday 22 October House Honours Ceremonies Bell (P2), Bacot (P3), Minerva(P4) End of Year Gala Music Concert 7:00pm, Entry Free Wednesday 23 October House Honours Ceremonies Ingham (P2), Irvine (P3), MacDonald (P4) (Buses will leave at the later time of 2:40pm to accommodate the MacDonald House ceremony) Thursday 24 October Senior Honours  Y11 (Recipients Only, P2)  Y12 (Recipients Only, P4) Y13 (Recipients Only) 7:00 to 8:30pm Friday 25 October Last Day for Seniors Monday 28 October Labour Day Tuesday 29 October Sports Awards Evening Wednesday 30 October - Sunday 3 November Visual Arts Showcase Tuesday 5 - Friday 29 November NCEA Exams Tuesday 19 November -  Sunday 1 December Year 9 Camps

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

We are thrilled to welcome alumni, past staff members, and our wider Howick College whānau who join us this weekend to celebrate 50 years of excellence, opportunity, and community in East Auckland. A special thank you to those who have travelled from across New Zealand and even further afield to be part of this milestone event. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, reflect on our history, and celebrate the many achievements of the Howick College whānau. We look forward to seeing you all again!

NZSS NATIONAL CHAMPIONS 2024

Congratulations to our Premier Netball team, who made Howick College history last week by winning the 2024 NZSS Netball Competition, defeating long-time rivals Avondale College in an epic 35-34 final. After overcoming Avondale in both the Auckland Schools Premier 1 Grade Competition and the UNISS A Grade Tournament finals, the teams met once again at the national tournament in Christchurch.

Howick went through to the finals undefeated and faced Avondale in a nail-biting finish. Holding their nerve in the dying moments of the game, Howick emerged with a 1-point victory to be crowned National Champions 2024! We are incredibly proud of this talented and determined team! Huge thanks to coaches Adelita Sotutu and Tania Tuinukuafe, team manager Amy Du Plessis, and physio Leah Pearsall. Special thanks also go to all the parents, especially Mel Petford and Claudine Teina, as well as our sponsors and supporters, who have been behind the team every step of the way.

NEW HEAD OF LEARNING AREA APPOINTED

We are pleased to announce the promotion of  Mrs Amy Du Plessis to Head of the Commerce Learning Area. Since joining Howick College in 2019, Mrs Du Plessis has served as the Teacher in Charge of Business Studies, bringing both passion and enthusiasm to her role. Stepping into this new position at the start of 2025, Mrs Du Plessis is eager to embrace the challenges ahead, and we are confident in her ability to lead the Commerce Learning Area to even greater success. This department holds significant potential at Howick College, and we look forward to seeing it continue to thrive under her leadership. We anticipate the introduction of new courses and pathways as we work to prepare our students for the rapidly evolving world of commerce beyond school.

AUCKLAND SHOWDOWN NOMINATIONS 2024

From left: Kristian Dryden, Aria Takle-Lee, Jack Gilbert and Finnbar O'Sullivan

We are thrilled to announce that our 2024 major production, Blood Brothers, has received multiple nominations for the prestigious Auckland Live Showdown Awards. The awards will take place on Wednesday 6 October at the Bruce Mason Centre (Tickets $20 from Ticketmaster). Congratulations to the following nominees:

Best Performer in a Lead Role in a Musical B - Finnbar O'Sullivan (Mickey) 
Best Performer in a Lead Role in a Musical A - Kristian Dryden (Edward)
Best Performer in a Supporting Role in a Musical B - Aria Takle-Lee (Mrs Johnston)
Best Performer in a Minor Role in a Musical B - Jack Gilbert (Darren Johnston)
Best Ensemble in a Musical - Blood Brothers Show Band
Best Choreographer - Lucy Franks and Courtney Rush
Best Lighting Design (Musical) - Blake Ingram and Nathan Cox
Best Sound Design (Musical) - Kalos Robinson-Frani
 Best Musical Director - Mr Matthew O'Ryan
Best Director of a Musical - Mr Jillian Dryden

We wish all nominees the very best of luck!

MINERVA WINS BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Congratulations to the Minerva House band on being declared the WINNERS of the 2024 Battle of the Bands
competition with their fabulous 70s mash-up of Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now and Bohemian Rhapsody. The
bands were critiqued on the night by a panel of judges who ranked them based on stage presence, musicianship, and audience engagement.

Well done to all the bands and talented musicians who worked hard to perfect their performances and played their hearts out to a very appreciative and enthusiastic audience. We can’t wait for next year’s battle to begin!

FASHION SHOW

Just some of the stunning creations to come down the runway.

At the end of term 3, our Year 10 to 13 Textiles students demonstrated their extraordinary talent on the runway at the annual Howick College Fashion Show. This year's theme was "Childhood Nostalgia," alongside their own class-level themes. Students wowed the audience with garments inspired by childhood icons, including references to Mary Poppins, Disney princesses, Star Wars, cartoons, and superheroes. Most of the students modelled their own creations, showcasing their multi-talented abilities and dedication to presenting these incredible designs.

Well done to all of our talented Textiles students!

2024 CHESS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Building on a very successful year for the Howick College Chess Club, 14 students competed in Term 3 for the inaugural 2024 College Chess Individual Championship. After six competitive rounds, Ethan Loo and Tony Gao emerged as finalists, with Joe Thistlethwaite and Jack Gilbert battling for third place. Joe claimed the bronze medal in a fast-paced playoff, while the final was a fascinating tactical duel that went right down to the wire. Ethan demonstrated the resourcefulness that helped him dominate the round-robin stage, skillfully maneuvering into a winning position with just seconds remaining on the clock. In the end, Ethan's brilliant performance earned him a well-deserved victory over Tony, crowning him the 2024 College Chess Champion.

Congratulations to everyone who participated, showcasing the best of Howick College's 4Cs values throughout!

2024 YEARBOOK UPDATE

Each year, we take great pride in celebrating the people, events, and achievements of our school community through a high-quality, full-colour publication. Starting this year, to better capture the exciting milestones and accomplishments from Term 4, we are pleased to announce that the yearbook will now be released at the beginning of the following year. This updated schedule ensures that we include every major event, allowing the yearbook to reflect the full breadth of the school year. We believe this change will provide an even more meaningful keepsake for students, families, and staff to cherish for years to come.

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 starting Monday 17 February 2025.

STUDY CENTRE IN TERM 4

The Study Centre in A4 will remain open during Term 4 for independent study during interval and lunchtime. However, please note that, due to seniors leaving at the end of Week 2, there will be limited availability of student tutors. If you require a tutor after Week 2, please email Mrs Nairn at [email protected]

Please remember, the Study Centre is a space for quiet work, and phone usage is NOT permitted.

END OF YEAR CONCERT Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to see our talented musicians perform at our annual end of year music concert. The evening will feature a variety of styles and performers including our Jazz Band, String Orchestra, choir and more! Date: Tuesday 22 October Time: 7:00pm Venue: Bill Dimery Performing Arts Centre Entry: Free Admission   STUDENT ART EXHIBITION   We warmly invite our community to attend our Art Board Show and support our emerging artists at the Bill Dimery Performing Arts Centre from 30th October to 3rd November. This annual event celebrates the remarkable artistic achievements of our senior students, showcasing the stunning folio boards created as part of their NCEA Visual Arts assessment. The Art Board Show offers an exciting opportunity for the public to explore a diverse array of artwork from our talented young artists. This year’s collection features painting, photography, printmaking, and design, highlighting the various creative expressions our students have explored. These folio boards represent months of hard work, showcasing the skill and passion of our senior students. Join us in celebrating the dedication and creativity of our students! Entry is free. CAREERS DEPARTMENT Whakapiki Ake's Whānau Hui-a-Rōhe Whakapiki Ake would like to invite rangatahi to attend Whakapiki Ake's Whānau Hui-a-Rōhe on the 22nd of October (6 PM–8:30 PM) at Building 507-G100, Population Health Building, Grafton Campus (28 Park Avenue, Grafton, Auckland), or on the 23rd of October (6 PM–8:30 PM) at Building 654-G02, Taitonga Campus (6 Osterley Way, Manukau, Auckland). This is a great opportunity to meet whānau, engage in whakawhanaungatanga, ask questions about tertiary pathways into Health at the University of Auckland, and ensure that both rangatahi and whānau have all the information needed to help our rangatahi be the best they can be! Kai will be provided, and there will be sessions for Year 9-11 rangatahi and whānau, as well as for Year 12-13 rangatahi and whānau. HOWICK COLLEGE LIBRARY BOOK OF THE WEEK The Secret Life of Ted Amos by Simon James Green  Ted has always wanted to be a popular kid, but due to an embarrassing incident that will not be named, he finds it harder than ever to fit in. But when Ted's parents split up, his whole life changes. Although leaving his best friend Archie behind sucks, Ted is about to discover that staying with his dad might have its perks. Because with a new start, is the chance to re-invent yourself... that's right, Ted has the opportunity to choose his new identity and it's going to be FRESH. But can Ted keep up the cool-kid charade, or will his lies catch up with him? An approachable and funny take on the common experience of children navigating what it means to have divorced parents and have two homes.