Yesterday, Year 9 students celebrated successfully completing their first year of secondary school study at Upper Hutt College.

In a full school hall, students were honored for their hard work over the year with an array of sporting, cultural and academic awards.  

2021 Head Boy Dhanraj Soni spoke to the cohort and also helped present a number of awards.

Meanwhile our Year 10 Band, which included Joseph Walker on Bass, Lucy Klee on drums, Grace Seamark on saxophone, Samuel Donaghue on guitar and Vinita Greyling on vocals, performed Jimmy Eat World's hit song 'The Middle'.

Premier Award - Sir Edmund Hillary Cup

The Sir Edmund Hillary Cup, awarded to a Year 9 student for their classroom achievement and their commitment to the core values of Upper Hutt College went to Emily Blackadder. 

She was described by Assistant Principal Amy Perkins as a role model in and out of the classroom, striving for excellence in everything she does. 

"This student has volunteered to help with numerous committees and events from the Arts Committee, to House Events and Culture Week and taken on leadership roles in her Ako class, and has been a driving force behind their manaakitanga project". 

"She performed in the Great Gatsby and the Senior Dance Repertoire and also gave service on Year 8 Open Day and have managed to find time to play Frisbee and Volleyball. 

"She is part of Shift Girls’ wellbeing and leadership group and has been appointed as one of your student leaders for 2021".

Emily received her Certificate of Achievement endorsed with Excellence, with the second highest Year 9 points total of 1032, and placed 1st Adventure Education, 1st Dance, 1st Equal English, 1st Food Technology, 1st History, 3rd Health, 3rd Equal Social Studies.

Ms Perkins said described Emily as unfailingly polite, kind, courteous, enthusiastic, and approachable. 

"She is friendly and respectful towards all of her peers and staff as well".

House Cups

House Cups were awarded to students who have excelled in academics, been keen participants in House activities as well as co-curricular activities, and have been noted for their overall levels of application, achievement and effort, both in and outside the classes

• Te Kanawa House Cup for All Round Excellence: Lors Cowley
• Jackson House Cup for All Round Excellence : Shae Hewitt
• Hillary House Cup for All Round Excellence: Anastasia Stone
• Blake House Cup for All Round Excellence in Year 9: Caitlyn Holmes

Top COA Score

Sofia Johnson gained the top COA score for the whole year level with an impressive total of 1038 out of 1060.

COA Excellence

The following students were awarded COA with Excellence, having gained at least 900 points:

Poppy Millington, Olivia Yule, Seth Stoneham, Grace McPartland, Jayden Zhu, Matthew Jones, Edward Beaumont-Yee, Phoebe Cawthra, Grace Salmon, Deanna Gotlieb, Ricky Huxedurp, Jianming Xie, Elysia Shaw, Morgan Piercy,  Alex Nelson, Zoe Pepper, Paige Garwood, William Robinson, Angus Williams, Eden Ingerson, Eliza Khan, Harrison Dougherty, Eleanor Cowley, Loralei Cowley, Katie Schofield, Dani Van Niekerk, Coco Zhou, Devin Carr, Caitlin Holmes, Elizabeth Kananghinis, Kali Bishop, Robin Meijer, Renee Gallagher, Violette Billington, Melanie Holden, Garrett Amyes, Anastasia Stone, Shae Hewitt, Laura Hurren, Michelle Law, Emily Blackadder.

House Leaders 2021

The following students were named as Year 10 leaders in 2021.

Blake House: Cory Hay, Caitlin Holmes

Hillary House: Ellie Cowley, Emily Blackadder

Jackson House: Sofia Johnson, Jin Yang

Te Kanawa House: Lors Cowley, William Robinson, Anastasia Stone