Kia ora e te whānau

Welcome back to kura (school) everyone, and a special warm welcome to all the new families who have joined us this week.

It has been wonderful to see everyone back on site, with many happy and positive faces as ākonga (students) reconnected with friends and began settling into their classes. We are growing fast but so is the strength and visibility of our values. As a staff, we are excited to be underway and our values focus for the term is Tūrangawaewae, making sure everyone has a place to stand and feels a sense of belonging. 

This is the first of our whānau communications this term and you can expect these information emails every two weeks. Please also make sure you have downloaded our School Bridge app as much information is shared this way.

Please read below for information about our upcoming ‘Whānau Connect’ information evenings for Years 7-11 in the coming weeks. They are great opportunities to hear from the Senior Leadership Team and me as well as meet your child’s Whānau Group Kaiako. We will be able to share some key information so you feel prepared for the year ahead.

For now though, I hope you enjoy the long weekend and have a wonderful Waitangi Day.

Ngā mihi nui

Sam Ainsworth

Principal

Upcoming Events

Monday 9 Feb

• Te Poutama Whanaungatanga Day/Night Stay (TBC) 1 night

Tuesday 10 Feb 

• Level 2 OED class solo overnight

• Child Development Trip – 9:00 am – 11:20 am (LMA)

• SPACPAC Leaders Retreat

Thursday 12 Feb

•  Drama Performance Trip 10:20 am – 2:00 pm, The Court Theatre

Monday 16 & Tuesday 17 Feb

• PhotoLife Class/individual Photos 9:00am – 3:00 pm (schedule will be emailed out soon)

Tuesday 17 Feb

• Level 1 Outddoor Education Leadership Camp #1

• Level 2 History to Akaroa (2 days)

• Year 7&8 Whānau Connect, 5:00 pm -6:15 pm (no appointment necessary)

• Y9 Whānau Connect, 6:00 pm -7:15 pm (no appointment necessary)

Thursday 19 Feb

• Te Poutama Whanaungatanga Day Out Waka Ama (TBC)

• Level 1 Outdoor Education Leadership Camp #2

Friday 20 Feb

• Fortnightly Report 1 (Years 7-11)

Thursday 26 Feb

• Year 10 Whānau Connect, 5:30 pm – 6:30pm (no appointment necessary)

• Year 11 Whānau Connect, 6:30 – 7:30 pm (no appointment necessary)

General Information

Whānau Connect Evenings

Please make a note of the upcoming events for the families of our Year 7 to Year 11 students. These are information evenings where we will share important information specific to the year level of your child. You will then have a chance to meet your child’s Whānau Group Kaiako (teacher) who will be a key point of contact for you this year. No bookings are needed – please just meet in the Hall at the times indicated below. Light refreshments will be available. We look forward to welcoming you into school. 

Year 7 & 8, 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm Tuesday 17 February

Year 9, 6:00 – 7:15 pm Tuesday 17 February

Year 10, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Thursday 26 February

Year 11, 6:30 pm -7:30 pm Thursday 26 February

Student Attendance

The Government has set a target for 80% of students to attend school regularly, increasing to over 90% by 2030. To support this goal, the Stepped Attendance Response Plan (STAR) has been introduced to ensure no child is left behind. Our focus is on having ākonga in class — in the right place, at the right time, and ready to learn.

In line with Ministry of Education guidelines, Hillmorton High School has the following expectations:

• Notify us: If your child is absent, please inform the school as early as possible using the absences option on SchoolBridge, or by phone, email, or message.

• Explain the reason: Please provide a reason for your child’s absence.

• Justified absences: We recognise that there are genuine reasons for absence and will work in partnership with families to support students.

Each week, parents and caregivers will receive an automated email outlining their child’s attendance statistics. This notification will also highlight attendance patterns in line with the Ministry’s stepped attendance response system, allowing staff, parents, and key support people to monitor attendance, work together, and ensure student attendance is tracked and positive outcomes are achieved. How to report absences here.

Below is a flowchart we will be using to follow up attendance:

Ngā mihi

Sam Forward

Tumuaki Tuarua 

Deputy Principal

Student Lockers

Lockers are available to hire for $15.00 for the year. Students will need to provide their own padlock and bring it to the Payments Office along with the payment. There are a limited number of lockers which can be found in D, E and B blocks. All lockers must be emptied at the end of the year and locks removed.

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If parents have any concerns regarding their child please direct these to the your child’s manutaki /dean, contact details below:

Attachments

Uniform Notice 2026 FA Web   PDF, 1.1 MB

Whānau Time Day Structure Changes 2026   PDF, 159.6 KB