As an area school, Hurunui College offers many advantages. We are proud of its family atmosphere where students from Year 0 to Year 13 interact and care for each other.
Our vision is an aspirational learning community where all are empowered to reach their full potential. Students enter Hurunui College to learn and to develop their unique talents and abilities, so that they may leave school prepared to serve and enrich both themselves and their community.
Our College is strengthened by our core traditional values: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence. These qualities support high academic achievement and promote personal skills required by our local, national and international communities giving our students the foundation for future success in this rapidly changing world.
Please ensure you stay connected with the multiple forms of school communication.
School website - access to the longterm school calendar and general information about the school.
Skool Loop App - pushes out school notices and newsletter, school calendar and can be used for notifying absences - critical mode of communication - download Skool Loop from the app store/google play and select Hurunui College
Edge Student Management System - the parent portal provides access to school accounts, student information, contact information and reporting. Contact the school office if you are unable to access this facility and we can talk you through the process. This is also available via the Edge Mobile App.
Facebook - used only for celebration and pushing out general information and last-minute reminders
Ngā mihi nui,
Principal - Tumuaki Hurunui College
Panui -Term 4 2024
November 1, 2024 Kia ora koutou parents and whānau
Welcome back to the final term of the 2024 year. It was great to see our students return to school, after the holidays looking refreshed and ready for the busy term ahead.
We have had a busy first three weeks of the term, beginning with our mihi whakatau on the first Monday in week 1, where we welcomed back our students and teachers.
In week 2 we held our Hurunui College Athletics in the Hawarden Domain. This was a whole school event, and it was wonderful to see the majority of our students showing our school values of service and excellence by participating in all events, encouraging others and putting in their best efforts, despite the trying weather conditions! Congratulations to all those athletes who have been selected to compete at the Hurunui Primary Schools’ Athletics at Amuri this coming week. Thank you also to the parents who came and supported this event.
At the end of week 3 our Year 11-13 students went off on study leave, and we farewelled our Year 13 students at a Leavers Assembly on Friday afternoon. We are very proud of our Year 13 students who have all matured into responsible and respectful young adults, with goals and aspirations for their future. I wish all our students on study leave all the very best for the upcoming NCEA exams.
Course Selection Evening and Timetable Changes 2025 In week 2 we also held our course selection evening for parents and students currently in Years 10-12. This was a very informative evening and it was great to see how well supported it was by both parents and students. In the first session, Mr Turner gave a presentation on NCEA courses including some of the key changes and requirements, as well as the course selection choices for our Year 11-13 students in 2025.It is hoped that all parents have had a conversation with their child about their intended course selection. Year 11 must have their course selection signed off by their parents/caregivers. Included in the presentation was an outline of some key changes to our Hurunui College timetable structure for 2025, which will affect the entire school. We are going to trial 5 x 1 hour periods per day, instead of the current 6 x 50 minute periods per day. This means it will be easier to timetable the mandatory one hour per day each for reading, writing and maths for Year 1-8. Year 11 will no longer have allocated study periods, but more importantly will have more time in classes learning with teachers. The biggest change that everyone will notice is the change in times for interval and lunch. Year 1-8 will have more flexibility in the timetable to take extra breaks for snacks as required. A typical day will look like this: Period 1 - 8.45am - 9.50am (5 mins AKO time Year 9-13) Period 2 - 9.50am - 10.50am Interval - 10.50am - 11.10am Period 3 - 11.10am - 12.10am Period 4 - 12.10am - 1.10pm Lunch - 1.10pm - 2.00pm Period 5 - 2.00pm - 3.00pm
CCTV and Classroom Management Software At the end of last term the school put in a more advanced security system and installed more cameras around the school to better keep our school grounds and property safe and secure. Hurunui College has a camera surveillance policy on school docs which can be accessed through our website under ‘Our School - Policies. This term we are also trialling a new software programme with our Year 9 & 10 students. This programme enables teachers to monitor students’ learning activities and at the same time encourage students to be responsible online.
Teacher Only Days 2025 In 2025 the Education Minister has allocated two Teacher Only Days for Mathematics to support and provide teachers of Years 0-8 with professional development to implement this new curriculum. Area schools have not yet received a clear directive of whether the entire school can close on these days, but parents and whānau will be informed as soon as we have been informed. At this stage we also have one other Teacher Only Day where we will be working with teachers and leaders in the Tipu Māia Kāhui Ako, which involves all the Canterbury Area Schools and our Hurunui Primary Schools. Teacher Only Days 2025: Term 1 Friday 7 February - TOD Mathematics - school closed to years 0-8 (Year 9-13 tbc) Monday 17 March - TOD - Cultural Responsiveness - school closed Term 3 Friday 25 July - TOD Mathematics - school closed to years 0-8 (year 9-13 tbc)
Communication A reminder that our main means of communication is through skool loop. If you have not already, please make sure you download the app and If you are having trouble with notifications please contact school in the first instance. Our school calendar outlines upcoming events that both parents and students need to be aware of. It is accessible on skool loop but also on our website. Email is another form of communication that teachers will use to make contact with parents. Please make sure that the school has your current email address and phone number.
Positive School Culture As always, we continue to focus on building and maintaining a positive school culture, through upholding and role modelling our school values of respect, integrity, service and excellence. Our key focuses have been on wearing the correct school uniform, using devices correctly and appropriately, using respectful language and behaving appropriately on the bus.
Parents, caregivers and whānau play a big part in positively influencing their child/ren to do the right thing, follow our school rules and expectations, and engage in learning activities at school. We appreciate your ongoing and continued support with this.
We are looking forward to a productive and busy term ahead, finishing with our Prize Giving on Tuesday 17 December, 10.00am, which all parents are invited to attend.
Nāku noa, nā
Jane Marsh Acting Principal - Tumuaki Hurunui College
