Kia Ora Koutou

The end of the school term concludes this Friday 30th June at 2.15pm, so you are free to collect your son from 2.15pm on Friday through until 5.30pm when the Hostel will close for the term, at both Argyle and Grove. There will be no evening meal on Friday.

Both Argyle House and Grove will re-open from 5.30pm on Sunday 16th July. There will be no evening meal on Sunday evening. Can all families please complete an Orah leave request this week, with your son’s return day and time. To ensure a settled start to the new school term, we would expect all boys to have returned by 7.30pm on Sunday 16th July. Thank you for your support.

PPTA Industrial Action

With another busy term coming to an end, it has been pleasing to see all boys engaged in school and Hostel life, despite the frustration of year levels having had rostered days home as part of PPTA Industrial Action. As communicated to you already, the PPTA Executive met last week and have approved a terms of reference agreement for arbitration, meaning all industrial action has been suspended. We all certainly hope that this process resolves the impasse and allows our boys to engage in their academic and co-curricular programmes without any further disruption. Thank you for your continued support during this challenging time for both the boys and staff.

PUM

There is a PPTA Paid Union Meeting, scheduled for this Wednesday 28th June, for secondary school teachers that are PPTA members, to meet and vote on the latest PPTA proposals. This means school will close from 12.30pm on Wednesday. The boys will therefore be free to take general leave to town, dairy, movies, play outside on the front and back fields or simply relax on-site.

Movies for Good Behaviour

Ms Wendy Moffitt (Argyle Assistant Master) and Murray McKenzie (Head of Boarding) will be taking the boys who had a perfect record of behaviour for the entirety of Term 1, to the movies on Wednesday evening to see The Flash. A just reward for their positive citizenship consistently displayed over the first ten weeks of 2023.

Report Evening and Academic Support

The mid-year Parent-Teacher Report Evening for Years 9-13 is scheduled for Thursday 20th July, Week 1 Term 3, in Gymnasium 1, from 3-7pm. If you have any concerns about your son's academic performance, can you please email Mr Andy Thomson, Dean of Boarding, who will provide you with the necessary advice and guidance. Andy’s email address is athomson@hbhs.school.nz

Curriculum Evening

Term 3 is a very important time of the year as all students think carefully about their subject options for 2024, and our senior students begin to prepare for their practice exams in September.

The Curriculum Evening is being held in Week 2, on Wednesday 26th July. It is compulsory for all current Years 9-12 boarders to attend. The school invites all parents/caregivers to attend with their son. Staff from every department in the school will be present in Gymnasium 1 to discuss courses, requirements and pathways. Our Careers Teacher, Gateway Staff and Academic Mentors will be available throughout the evening, as will representatives from the University of Waikato and WINTEC. It will be extremely beneficial to all our boys allowing them to make informed decisions for 2024.

Intentions for 2024

If your son is currently in Years 9-12, then please complete the Intentions Form (Google online form) by clicking the link in this newsletter, before Friday 1st September 2023. This will allow Hostel management to determine how many places need to be filled for 2024 in Years 10-13. Applications for Years 10-13 2024 Hostel places are currently open, and close on Friday 15th September with interviews arranged to fill the gaps thereafter. The prompt return of your Intentions Form is essential to enable the Hostel to offer placements for Years 10-13 as early as possible. Thank you in anticipation of a prompt reply.

If you have someone in your community interested in applying, then please direct them towards the School’s website. The link is https://www.hbhs.school.nz/enrolment-intro/.

Matthew Allen Cup & House Competition

These two competitions have been temporarily suspended, due to the unavailability of boys when rostered home. It is hoped a revised schedule for the start of Term 3 will allow our boys to once again get involved in a very special part of Hostel and School life.

The Senior Leaders, Prefects and Junior House Leaders do a tremendous job leading the boys and running the Matthew Allen Cup events that precede the school House competition events. The Matthew Allen Cup competition between Bennett and Sutherland continues to be very close with Lachie Pickett's Bennett House only 2 points ahead of Sutherland House (led by Mac Russ), leading 10-8. The first House event of Term 3 is Chess, so the boys need to be practicing their chess skills over the holiday break!

Set Leaves Term 3

This is a reminder of the two Set Leave dates in Term 3: Friday 4th - Sunday 6th August (Week 3) and Friday 25th August - Sunday 27th August (Week 6). The Hostel will close at 5.30pm on the Friday afternoon and re-open at 5.30pm on the Sunday. No evening meal is provided on a Sunday evening.

This is my final newsletter of Term 2. I hope you enjoy reading and seeing the many positive activities and events that take place within Argyle House. I'm sure you will enjoy some quality time with your son over the holiday period.

A reminder that the final sports exchange of 2023, against Tauranga Boys’ College, is scheduled for this Thursday 29th June, with all fixtures being played in Tauranga. 

We look forward to seeing all our boys return safely and refreshed ready for the start of the new school term.

Ngā mihi

Murray McKenzie

Head of Boarding

021 516 477