From the Principal
Every year has a few days that stand out and are remembered above all others. Who would’ve thought that a school cross country day would be one of those for many of the primary/intermediate students at HCS! Even our non-runners enjoyed last Friday’s school cross country out at ‘Still Waters’ (formerly known as Camp David).
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A beautiful day and a beautiful venue certainly helped make the day such a memorable experience. However, there were many more things that made the day such an amazing experience. These included the parent and teacher support, the sausage sizzle, the bus ride out and back, and the activities dotted around the place for those waiting for their race or who had already run it.
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Then there was the incredible support offered to the runners, including those who cheered at the end of the race and those older students who ran alongside the younger ones to spur them on and encourage them to finish the course.
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Obviously, a day like this takes a lot of planning, and for that we have Nadia Saathof and Jonathan Marinus to particularly thank. Each of them went above and beyond the call of duty. Their efforts, and the efforts of their spouses, were matched by so many other teachers and parents who all went out of their way to ensure the day will be forged in the memories of all who attended. On behalf of all the students, I say, thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Congratulations to all those who received a certificate, and a particular well done to Arlo Heeringa and Nina Saathof for winning the champions’ race. As you can see in the photo below, they both get to receive a beautiful new trophy that will be shared by the top boy and girl for years to come.
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Speaking of memorable days, I have a distinct feeling that today will be another one of those days after we get to enjoy the secondary school ‘Don’t Stop the Music’ house dance competition this evening! More about this next week, except to say that if there were a lot of students out of their comfort zone at the cross country, there will no doubt be a fair few teachers who are helping who will be feeling a similar level of discomfort – I know I am!
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Please Don't Stop the Music
House Event 6pm tonight!
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Festival of the Ages
Get ready to travel back in time—the Primary Festival of the Ages kicks off this Monday!
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Our teachers have been hard at work crafting an epic week of immersive activities. Every afternoon, students will step into the sandals of gladiators & emperors as we dive deep into the fascinating world of Ancient Rome.
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Key Highlight: Ancient Rome Dress-Up Day: Thursday
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See the posters below for more information and dress up ideas.
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Support Our Volleyball Team on Their Journey to Nationals
Our school volleyball team is heading to Nationals in November this year, and we are seeking support from local businesses and members of our school community.
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Sponsorship will help reduce the cost of transport, accommodation, tournament fees and other essential expenses, making this wonderful experience more affordable for our players and their families.
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We are offering the following sponsorship options:
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- $750 – Major Sponsor: A large logo on the front of the team’s warm-up shirts
- $500 – Supporting Sponsor: A logo on the back of the shirts, with space available for four sponsors
- $200 – Sleeve Sponsor: A logo displayed on a shirt sleeve
Sponsors will also receive recognition and advertising in the school newsletter, along with the opportunity for a business profile or feature in a future newsletter.
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The boys will wear their sponsored shirts throughout the Term 4 volleyball season as well as at Nationals, providing valuable exposure for the businesses supporting them.
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We would also be extremely grateful for any businesses, families or members of our community who would simply like to make a donation towards the team. Every contribution, regardless of its size, will help.
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This is a wonderful opportunity for our boys to represent and promote our school, demonstrating what a small school like ours can achieve on a national stage. We also hope their journey will blaze a trail for future school volleyball teams and inspire our younger players to keep going and set their sights on achieving the same.
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All sponsorship payments will be invoiced through the school and treated as marketing and advertising.
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If your business would like to sponsor or donate to the team, please contact Kelly Fenwick at kelfenwick@gmail.com or 021 081 52254.
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Thank you for helping our boys represent our school at Nationals!
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Netball
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Congratulations to our Intermediate netball team for finishing as runners-up at the recent Intermediate Festival Day in Onekawa.
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The Vine Student Podcast
Here is this week's episode.
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Pizza Lunches
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Available every Friday - order outside the staffroom before school.
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Community Events
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General Election Jobs
As we get closer to the 2026 General Election, we are beginning to build our local election team, and we would love your help in spreading the word.
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Working for the Electoral Commission is a great opportunity to be part of something that makes a real difference to our communities. Our election teams are made up of people from all walks of life, and the skills, knowledge and connections that local people bring are incredibly valuable.
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If you have staff at your school, whānau, friends or members of your local community who might be interested in supporting the delivery of GE2026, please encourage them to consider applying.
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There are a range of temporary election roles available, with opportunities to work alongside a great team and play an important part in making sure people can have their say.
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Term Dates for 2026
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Term 3 Monday 20th July - Friday 25th September
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Term 4 Monday 12 October - 9 December (approx)
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Tuesday 2nd February Y1-8 Start & Y9/13 Orientation
Wednesday 3rd February Y9-10 Start & Y13 Start (camp)
Thursday 4th February Y11/12 Start
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Monday 8th February Waitangi Day Observed
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Tuesday 9th February Whole school in attendance
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Term 3 Events
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Wednesday 26 August - House Event (evening)
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Monday 31 August - Festival of the Ages week
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Monday 31-Fri 4 Sep - Snr Netball Tournament week
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Wed 9 Sep - Y10 Market Day
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Wed 9 Sep - Primary school Interschool Cross Country
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Wed 9-Thurs 10 Sep - Y9 Ski Trip
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Monday 14th Sep - A3 trip
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Tuesday 15th Sep - Y7 Immunisations
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Mon 20th - Fri 24th Sep - Benchmark Exams
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Friday 24th Sep - Last day of term
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