We finished the school year with our Year 9 and Year 10 Prizegivings which, like many other school events, looked very different from the norm.

It didn’t lessen the importance of the occasion, or diminish the satisfaction and pleasure we all felt in seeing our junior students recognised for their achievements this year – it was just different. The Leaver’s Dinner was similar and it was great to see our Year 13 students enjoying their final school event, and to be able to farewell a year group that had seen its fair share of significant school events over the last few years. We missed having parents, caregivers and whanau at these end-of-year events, but I hope you were able to be part of it through our livestreaming service.

Departing staff

We farewelled a number of staff in the last part of the year of the year.

Miriam Burke, who taught English is moving to a position at Tawa College. Gabe Davis, who joined the Science Department this year has finished her fixed term contract. Chelsea Iddon, who joined the English Department this year, is travelling overseas in 2022. Jill Owen, HOD Music, is retiring after 17 years with us. AJ Picard, Guidance Worker, is taking a break from working with young people. Richard Pittams, who taught Maths and Commerce, is taking up a new position at Paraparaumu College. Stephen Rodger, Assistant Principal, is moving to Wairarapa College as Teacher-in-charge of the Alternative Education programme. Lily Rolfe, who has been on maternity leave, will not be returning to the college. Anthony Smith, who joined the Social Sciences Department is taking up a new position at St Bernard’s College. Kenneth Tuffin, who was one of our student support workers, returns to professional basketball with the Wellington Saints. Sandy Tustin, Counsellor is retiring after 17 years with us. Finally, Aimee Williams, Assistant HOD Science is moving to HOD Science at Sacred Heart College in Lower Hutt.

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 in our first newsletter in 2022.

COVID requirements in 2022

There will be a number of changes next year in how we interact with parents, caregivers and whanau, and especially around what our students can do. There are some activities that students will not be able to take part in if they are not vaccinated, and this will include sports events run by College Sport Wellington, sports tournaments, and co-curricular and extra-curricular events where participants must be fully vaccinated to visit a place. We will have more information for you before we start school again – we are working through the traffic light system and how that will impact on the school.

Thank you all for your ongoing support over the year. We are all looking forward to a great (and settled!) 2022, 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