Massive Congratulations to all those involved in the NCEA performance on the 20th May. It was a long day but the students performed really well.

Below is an excerpt of Level 2 student Asra Ginders singing What's Up by the 4 Non Blondes.

There has been two different international cyber-attacks over the last few days that is apart from the ongoing digital identity threat.
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• The first was a rash of email-based malware where users are tricked into opening a PDF which had a ‘macro’ (an automatic app) connected. The ‘macro’ typically turns your machine into a ‘BOT’ (aka a robot under control of some remote person). These types of attacks have been around for a while and rely on users blindly clicking on unknown links (social engineering).
  BOT’s are then typically used to attack sites on mass…. aka hundreds of thousands of machines swamp a web site with requests. These are called DDOS attacks and very little can be done to stop them once they start.
• The second is a known Windows exploit that enables a situation where most files on your machine are encrypted … which you can then get unencrypted for a price (typically about $600 but recent demands are asking for  $6300). This is called ransomware.

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The ransomware attack is the most recent and serious. There is nothing you can do to ‘fix’ these attacks, other than pay the ransom or rebuild your whole computer from scratch.

​Karaka class experienced an amazing camp at Arthur's Pass this week.

We were very lucky with the weather, having beautiful clear days on Monday and Tuesday, and then exciting horizontal rain and wind on Wednesday morning. That didn't stop us from getting out there for our orienteering activity though! Our camp leader Logan was very knowledgeable and capable and the activities were very well matched to our busy, energetic, and clever class members.

One of our highlights included the Search and Rescue activity complete with a formal briefing, clues, radios, cellphone, maps and "Brian" who needed rescuing. We also our enjoyed other activities such as; Castle Hill exploration, Rock trundling near the Viaduct, the Cockayne Nature Walk on the West Coast, Arthur's Pass walkway through Otira and Bealey Valley, finding out about Bri's very clever Great Great Great Grandfather - Arthur Dudley Dobson, the Historic walkway night walk, river crossing, trainspotting, kiwi listening, and finding glow worms. That doesn't even include the bunkroom fun, eating delicious meals, cooking and dishes duties and the big clean up.

We can't believe how much we squeezed into our three days! We would like to thank Logan the manager of the Arthur's Pass Outdoor Education Centre for his wonderful organisation, and to our fantastic adult helpers; Bronnie Gun, Sandy Zeisberg, Buzz Frame, Scott Hassall, Aaron Pugh, Paul Pascoe and Nils. You all added so much to our fabulous camp. We done Karaka students, you certainly gave 100%, you supported each other and you never complained.

​Thanks, Jenni McQuillan, Karaka class teacher.

We have had a good first day of Term 2. Students and staff have returned from their holidays refreshed and prepared. Karaka have departed on their camp up Arthur's Pass with Kikorangi departing on Wednesday.

We have a busy term coming: 

Friday 5th May the school buses will be running at 12:30 due to a Paid Union Meeting.
Sunday 7th May and Monday 8th select students will be representing at the NZ Area schools trials. We wish them luck.
Wednesday 10th May Kowhai head of to Arthur's Pass for camp
Thursday 11th May Career Expo
Thursday 18th May Hurunui College Whanau Hui
Saturday 20th May NCEA Concert in the Gym
Monday 22nd May School Photos
Wednesday 24th May Cross Country
Thursday 25th May Geography Field Trip
Tuesday 6th June Teacher Only Day
Thursday 15th June Year 12 Physics Trip
also Year 11 - 13 Progress Evening
Thursday 29th June Primary Year 4 -7 Speech Finals
also Rock of Ages Senior Production
Friday 30th June Rock of Ages Senior Production
Tuesday 4th July Senior  Year 7 - 13 Speech Finals
Wednesday 5th July Senior Outdoor Education Trip
also Full School assembly.

I am sure there will be items added to this list.  

This week Brendan Ferguson has taken a few of our students to the New Zealand Area Schools' Leadership Camp. 

This year it is based in Akaroa. As part of the course the students had to create a presentation about their home town. 

I will post some more information soon.

Welcome to Hurunui College's new website. It has taken all of term 1 to get organised. Hopefully it is looking good.