Information from the Principal

Kia ora koutou,

This term is progressing quickly and I can’t believe we’re over half way through! We spend a lot of time preparing for the school year but a school is not a school until we have students thriving every day and right now, that is certainly the case.

I wanted to take a moment this week to acknowledge all of our students who have started the year so well, and to highlight a few groups who have already achieved some fantastic things.

I want to give a special shout out to our Senior Robotics Team who finished second in a number of categories in the National Championships in Auckland and have qualified for the World Championships for the third time in a row. Such an amazing achievement!

I also want to shout out to our volleyball teams who are competing at high levels right now. Our Senior Boys team finished fourth in the South Island Tournament which is a huge achievement. Well done boys! Our teams will now go to Nationals in Palmerston North and I wish them all the best. Our futsal teams also competed last week and head off to tournaments in Week 9 with our girls going to nationals in Wellington.

This year we will also be competing at Maadi Cup for the first time as a school. We have an awesome rowing programme that demonstrates how important our staff are at providing opportunities like this. Lisa Manson has been pivotal in providing opportunities and connections and we have a lot to thank her for. I look forward to watching our teams competing on the water.

Lastly, a big shout out to our amazing Polyfest group. These students are simply incredible, and the level they are performing at right now is outstanding. I’m lucky enough to have my office next to the hall where they practise, so I get to hear just how talented they are. You can experience this too if you’re able to attend on Saturday 14 March at Hagley Park!

Lastly, we are gearing up for Year 9 camp in Weeks Eight and Nine this term and if you haven’t done so already, please confirm your child’s attendance via School Bridge. Not all high schools offer this opportunity but we think it is important for students to build connections with each other (Whanaungatanga) and build a sense of belonging to our school and our environment (Tūrangawaewae). If finances are a barrier, please don’t hesitate to email admin@hillmorton.school.nz.

While I have highlighted a few particular groups, we are proud of all of our students at Horomaka and wish them every success in whatever is coming up for them.

Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,

Sam Ainsworth

Principal

Upcoming Events

• Monday 9 March

  Level 1 Geography Cashmere Stream Trip (half day)

• Tuesday 10 March

  Level 2 Outdoor Education Water Safety Camp #1 (depart Period 4)

  Ms McLeod, 9:00 am -12:00 pm Cashmere Stream Te Kura Wetland

  Level 1 Visual Arts Research trip 12:40 pm -3:00 pm

• Wednesday 11 March

  Level 2 Outdoor Education Water Safety Camp #1

  Year 10 Outdoor Education Deep Water/Diving Course (Mrs Manson / LMA) 12:30 pm -2:30 pm

  Fia Fia Night – 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• Thursday 12 March

  Level 2 Outdoor Educatoin Water Safety Camp #2 (depart Period 4)

  Canterbury Student Leadership Day (Mrs Jordan-McGrath / KJM)

• Friday 13 March

  Level 2 Outdoor Education Water Safety Camp #2

  Level 1 Geography half-day trip

  Volleyball Cantebury Champs 2026 (all day)

  Ms McLeod / EMC Cashmere Stream 9:00 am -12:00 pm

• Saturday 14 March

  Polyfest 2026

  Volleyball Champs 2026

• Monday 16 March

  Year 9 camps all week ….

• Tuesday 17 March

  Canterbury Schools Athletics

  Level 1 Visual Arts Research Trip local sites of significance 12:40 pm – 3.00pm

  Dramatality Evening Performance 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

• Wednesday 18 March

  Dramatality Evening Performance 6:30 – 9:00 pm

• Thursday 19 March

  House Assemblies

  Year 12/13 Academic Celebration Assembly 11:45 am-12:40 pm

  Our Kids Online – Cyber Safety Presentation 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm (details below)

• Friday 20 March

  Canterbury School Athletics – Finals

  International Assembly 9.00 am in E Block

General Information

Important Notice: Early finish for Year 7 & 8 ONLY on Tuesday 24 March (Week 9)

Our Year 7 & 8 teachers are involved in professional development for the new Mathematics curriculum on this afternoon, so students can leave school at 1:35 pm. Supervision can be provided if your student needs to be at school until 3:00 pm – please advise their teacher if this is the case.

Parent Evening

Our Kids Online Parent Evening – Thursday 19 March 6:30pm, get your $10 tickets now! Click here

Academic Celebration Assembly

Year 12 and 13 Academic Celebration Assembly

Thursday 19 March 11:45 am-12:40 pm.

This is a special yearly assembly at which we award Bronze, Silver and Gold bars to Year 12 and Year 13 students who achieved outstanding results in the 2025 academic year.

Whānau are welcome to attend. If your student is receiving an award, you will receive a personal email invitation from the school office early next week.

Student ID Cards

If your student had an individual photo taken recently at school by Photolife for the purpose of purchasing an ID card, these are now available for online ordering. Keycodes have been emailed so please check your emails for instructions (check your spam/junk/promotions folders).

There is no free delivery to the school and all IDs will be sent direct to the student home address.

For parent enquiries:
enquiries@photolife.co.nz

Class photos are still being processed and proofed and information on these will follow.

SchoolBridge App

SchoolBridge is our main way to allow parents/caregivers to report absences, view students’ attendance, financial information check notices and a whole lot more!

We encourage all whānau and students to download and use this free app. Click here for more info on how to do this.

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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: