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…
Start dates for 2013
The school office will be open from January 22. Prefects are to return early for training on January 25. Y9 and 13 students will have a day together on Tuesday 29th January, before the whole school returns the following day. All attending students are expected to be in correct school uniform from Tuesday 29th January. Monday 22 January School office opens Friday 25 January Prefects training Monday 28 January Year 13 peer support training Tuesday 29 January Y9 and Y13 students attend Wednesday 30 January All students attend Friday 29 March – Tuesday 2 April Easter break April 19 Term 1 ends Term 2 Monday May 6 – Friday July 12 Term 3 Monday July 29 – Friday September 27 Term 4 Monday October 14 – Wednesday December 11
Our students visit China 2012
This trip to China was amazing! The very busy itinerary gave us an adventure every day. Going from Levin to the very busy streets of Beijing, on a public holiday, walking amongst 250,000 people (as reported in the local paper) in Tiananmen Square and 120,000 people in the Forbidden City, had to be a culture shock for some of us in the group. We had to be really careful to keep everyone together so that we would not be separated. We did not want to lose anyone! There were many new experiences on this trip, different foods to get used to, different smells, temperatures up to 32 degrees, experiencing BIG cities, seeing how people live in a different way … everything was different! The students all coped very well. They had to be organised in the morning to be out the door by set times, ready with their back pack, water…
Japanese students visit Horowhenua College 2012
During Term 3, 2012 we had a visit from Meijo University High School from Nagoya, Japan for a study tour (2 weeks). We have had a long association with Meijo and will look forward to them visiting us again in 2013. The programme for the visit is organised by the International Department. ESOL is included in the programme, interaction with our own local students and trips to places of interest between Palmerston North and Wellington. Meeting the Mayor of Levin is always a highlight, as is the trip to Wellington (Parliament, Cable car, Te Papa) and visiting a local farm to see sheep and cows. The school’s special location gives the overseas students the opportunity to experience ‘the real New Zealand’. We are privileged to have such close access to the lake, the sea, the Tararua Ranges and the farming and horticultural communities. Being close to two cities also makes…
Horowhenua College students visit Solok, Western Sumatera 2010
A 12-day trip to Solok, Western Sumatera, Indonesia for 5 of our students strengthened the relationship with three Solok High Schools who are part of the Solok/Horowhenua College Sister School Exchange programme. Our students enjoyed experiencing a very different culture. Students from Solok visited Horowhenua College in November 2009 so it was with great excitement they reunited with their friends from Solok. We made history as this was the first group of New Zealand students to visit Indonesia. The visit was hosted by the Solok Education Department. The students visited 10 schools in total to maximise the chances of the Solok students having time with the New Zealand visitors. During this time the students spent time in classes with their billets, visited schools and were taught a traditional Indonesian dance which they performed later at the Farewell party. Being billeted with families gave the students the opportunity to have a unique…
Solok School group from Western Sumatra, Indonesia visits Horowhenua College
In November 2009, Horowhenua College hosted a group of two teachers (Teacher from Senior High School 1 and Teacher from Vocational School 1) plus 12 students over 13 days from Solok, Western Sumatera. The group was accompanied by six delegates from Solok which included the Head of the Education Department, Head of Quality Assurance Division, Head of Senior High School 1, Deputy Headmaster of Vocational School 1, Head of Teacher Association and a Solok Education Board member. The delegation visitors stayed in Wellington during their six day stay (spending some time at Victoria University) while the rest of the group stayed with billets in Levin, mostly with Horowhenua College school families. A powhiri at Horowhenua College marked the beginning of the visit with the Wellington visitors joining us for this occasion. After the powhiri, the Indonesian students were buddied with Horowhenua College students in the classroom and so began their…