Kia ora, e te whānau, we have had a great end to this crazy year, with plenty of activities for our students, both in and out of the classroom.

We finished the school year with our Year 9 and Year 10 Prizegivings which were wonderful celebrations of our students’ achievements. It was great to see so many parents and caregivers attending as well.

Our Year 13 students and parents enjoyed the traditional Leaver’s Dinner a week earlier and we were able to farewell a year group that had been affected by the school fire and COVID, but who emerged stronger for the experiences. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Departing staff

We farewelled a number of staff at the end of the year.

Anne Beckett has retired after 25 years as a teacher in Awhina. She has been the heart of Awhina and her joy in teaching these students, introducing them to music and movement (yoga and tai chi), as well as incorporating te reo into their everyday learning, has helped to make Awhina a special place. She will be missed. Charlie Beckett is stepping back from teaching Maths (again) but will help with relief when needed, and Jackie Awa is also retiring again. Anne, Charlie and Jackie have been important in our school’s journey with te ao Maori, taking significant roles in the development of Te Manawa Ātea, kapa haka, and our school waiata.

Rachel Clark, HOD Art is moving to Wellington High School to take up the position of Head of Faculty Arts. Louise Clark, HOD Music, is moving to HOD Music at Kapiti College. Liz Hume, our Office Administrator is retiring, and Sue Jennings, Teacher Aide in Awhina, is leaving. We farewelled Catherine Harrington, Counsellor, who leaves to take up a similar position at Mana College and Julian Emmanuel who is moving to St Bernard's College to teach Maths. Cory Broad is moving to Christchurch, and Nathan Bayliss and Andrew Lessard (all Social Sciences) are moving on, as is Claire Bown (Foods). Ashley Delaney, HOF Social Sciences, is away for a year on maternity leave. Earlier this term, we farewelled Kirstin Hicks, Enrolment Officer who is on to complete further studies, and Parani Morgan who is moving to the Government sector. We thank Marsh Barrett and Irwin Navarro for their work as teacher aides in the latter part of the year.

We thank all of these staff members for their mahi with, and support of, our students and colleagues during their time at UHC, and wish them the very best as they leave us.

I’ll introduce you to all our new staff, and other staff changes, in our first newsletter in 2023.

Thank you all for your ongoing support over the year. We are all looking forward to a great (and settled!) 2023, with a growing roll and a large group of new teachers.

On behalf of the UHC Board, and all the staff of UHC, I’d like to wish everyone happy holidays, safe travels and great weather.

Meri kirihimete

Judith Taylor

Principal