From the Limited Statutory Manager
Kia ora koutou, I was disappointed to read the report about the College in the Manawatu Standard on Thursday 14th August. I decided to write a letter to the Editor saying that I thought the report in the paper was too focussed on bringing up the past instead of understanding the many great things the College does every year. You can see that this version is longer than the version in the paper because to fit my letter in the Editor left out my description of the 2013 prize giving. Yet what lies at the heart of a school and its community if it is not students, their whanau and their shared accomplishments. I have asked that this full letter be posted here for the whanau of Horowhenua College to read if they so choose. Ken Wilson LSM (Finance & Personnel) Horowhenua College LSM Letter to Manawatu Standard.pdf
Meijo University High School visit 2014
Thirty three students (7 boys and 26 girls) arrived at Horowhenua College on 29 July to enjoy a two week programme as part of a short term visit. This was their 5th visit to Horowhenua College. The students were hosted by 33 families from our community. The programme included ESOL lessons, time in the classroom with our local students and trips to local attractions, Nga Manu (Waikanae) and a day in Wellington visiting Parliament and Te Papa. Our local students buddied the Meijo students and put on a great farewell party for them at the end of their stay. A short term visit gives both countries the opportunity to share their cultures. The Meijo students were great ambassadors for their country and many of our local students benefited from the experience. We are expecting 38 students in 2015. Should you be interested in hosting a student next year, please contact…
Vikatolia selected for the National Shakespeare Schools Production
Congratulations to Vikatolia Finau, who performed as Witch One in the recent SGCNZ Shakespeare National Festival and has now been selected for the National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP). Vikatolia is one of only 22 students selected from the Nationals out of 500 performers from all around the country. She will join another 25 on this week-long programme of workshops and performances with professional tutors in the September holidays. These students have been chosen out of the 5500 who competed nationwide. We are so proud of you Vikatolia!
Challenging performance draws praise
Horowhenua College has again impressed judges by taking on a tricky issue in their Stage Challenge performance depicting human trafficking. Four Horowhenua schools took part in the Palmerston North round of the national dance and drama competition on Monday at the Regent on Broadway. Wanganui High School won the event, with Horowhenua College finishing runner-up for their production Collected Innoncence. Manawatu College also participated in Stage Challenge, while Levin Intermediate and Ohau School took part in J Rock, the parallel event for primary schools. All four local schools walked away with two or more awards. The teacher in charge of the Horowhenua College Stage Challenge team, Gary O’Brien, said the students chose their own topic after some had looked at human trafficking in social studies. The story planning, choreography and soundtrack design were all completely student led, as well as fundraising efforts to support their entry, he said. “We have…
HC students win two awards at the National Shakespeare Festival
Horowhenua College Drama students Ryan Burnell, Vikatolia Finau, Sina Moala, Sierra Tafeamaalii and director, Roha Taiapa attended the University of Otago SGCNZ Shakespeare National Festival in Wellington over Queen’s Birthday weekend. The group were awarded the prestigious Minister of Arts The Hon. Christopher Finlayson Award for Outstanding Movement/Dance and the Trinity College of London Award for Best Recovery. This group previously performed at the Kapiti Regional Festival on the 5th of April gaining a First place for Best student direction from Roha thus gaining entry into the nationals. Congratulations team, you make us proud!
Vietnam Trip 2014
Ten Horowhenua College students have recently returned to school after a two week trip to Vietnam during the April school holidays. The students were part of a Sister School Exchange to Hanoi, being hosted by Nguyen Tat Thanh High School. This was a return visit after Horowhenua College hosted students from NTT High School in 2013. Our students found that life was very different in Vietnam compared to New Zealand. Our hosts organised a programme which gave our students the opportunity to see what it was like to attend a school in Vietnam and what it would be like to live there. There were approximately 50 students in a class. The school day started at 7.30am and finished at 5pm. This included a nap time during the lunch break. Students lie on a mat in the classroom. Our programme included this which is something we are not used to. Our…
Rugby Sevens team successfully defends Horowhenua-Kapiti title
The Horowhenua College open boys Rugby Sevens team successfully defended their title in the Horowhenua-Kapiti competition yesterday, winning the final 27-14 against Kapiti College. The boys steadily improved throughout the tournament and played well as a team. They displayed composure and patience to come from behind against Waiopehu and to put Kapiti away in the final.
Outstanding all-rounder heading to Cambridge University
Shem Harris, a first-year University of Auckland student determined to have a positive impact on society, will study at Cambridge University after being awarded the prestigious Sir Douglas Myers Scholarship 2014. The scholarship, valued at $100,000 over three years, will see him heading to Gonville and Caius College at Cambridge University where he plans to do an engineering degree specialising in environmental engineering. He would like to follow this up with a postgraduate law degree. “Environmental engineering aims to address the ramifications of human activities like pollution, large-scale construction and global warning, while studying law will enable me to work towards changing legislation and policy to be part of the solution to prevent these impacts.” Shem believes that Cambridge will help to ‘open doors’ to fulfil his goal of contributing to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. “The opportunity to learn alongside other motivated students will allow me…