Nau mai, haere mai ki Hurunui College - welcome to our kura.
Kia ora koutou, nau mai, haere mai, It’s great to be back home at Hurunui College after two years on secondment with the Ministry of Education, where I’ve been working as a Leadership Advisor alongside area schools across Aotearoa but particularly throughout Te Waipounamu. That time away reinforced just how special schools like ours really are. Rural and area schools are places where students are known, relationships are strong and learning is deeply connected to community. Hurunui College is a great example of this. As we begin a new school year, we’re excited to welcome both returning families and those who are new to our community. The start of the year is always full of energy and possibility, and it’s a great time for students to set goals, build connections and get involved in the wide range of learning and other opportunities we offer. Hurunui College is proud to be a Years 0–13 area school. That means your child can grow and learn in one caring, connected environment from their first day at school through to graduation. Our older students look out for the younger ones, our staff know every learner and we work with whānau to make sure each young person gets the support they need. Our values of Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence guide everything we do, in the classroom, the playground and the wider community. Being a rural school is one of our great strengths. Our learners benefit from authentic, real-world learning, strong community partnerships and the space to explore their interests, whether that’s academic study, the arts, trades, agriculture, sport or leadership. We’re proud of the pathways our students take and the confident, capable young people they leave us as. If you’re thinking about enrolling your child, we’d love to hear from you. We’re always happy to show families around, answer questions and talk about how Hurunui College can support your child. Enrolments are welcome at any time, and starting at the beginning of the year is a great opportunity to become part of our school community from day one. We look forward to another great year of learning, growth and shared success here at Hurunui College. Ngā mihi nui, Stephen Beck Principal - Tumuaki Hurunui College |
Download the Skool Loop app from Google Play Store or App Store to stay connected.
|
Hurunui College - Term 1 2026 Start of Year Korero
Kia ora koutou parents and whānau,
Welcome back to another new school year! It has been great to see the classrooms and playgrounds busy and the students all back onsite. Whether you are a returning family or joining the Hurunui College whānau for the first time, it’s great to have you with us.
We kicked off the year with three productive Teacher Only Days, ensuring everything was ready for the students' return on Monday. We officially opened the year with a Mihi Whakatau to welcome our new students and their families. It was a positive moment for the school and a great way to set the tone for the year ahead.
As many of you know, I have recently returned from a period working with the Ministry of Education as a Leadership Advisor. My focus was on supporting Area School Principals across the Te Waipounamu, a fantastic opportunity to grow my own capacity while supporting other principals across the motu. Returning to school, I have reflected on how incredibly diverse our network of Area Schools is and just how lucky we are here at Hurunui College. Seeing the dedication of rural teachers nationwide reaffirmed that our staff at Hurunui College are a fantastic group of individuals and a hardworking team. They are committed to our students and I am privileged to be back working alongside such a passionate group.
My biggest takeaway from my time away was the importance of setting and maintaining high expectations. The schools that thrive are those that demand the best of themselves while maintaining high standards for all learners. Students will rarely exceed the expectations they set for themselves. Therefore, it is critical that we, alongside whānau, show our students what they are truly capable of and provide them with every opportunity to be the best version of themselves.
I also want to take a moment to thank Mrs Jane Marsh, who has done a fantastic job as Acting Principal over the past two years. Her leadership has been outstanding in keeping our school moving forward. I am equally grateful to the Leadership Team who supported her, including Janet Tilson, who served as DP Primary for the last two years and Lewis Turner and Georgia Garbutt (née Marsh) who provided stability and support over my time away. My thanks also go to the wider staff who worked so closely with the leadership team and to Robin McKinlay and the School Board for their steady support of the school during my time away. It is because of this dedicated group that the school remains in such a strong position.
Key Focus for 2026: Every Day Matters - In line with the government’s priorities, attendance is a major focus for us this year. Being at school every day is the single most important factor in student success. To help our learners bring their best selves to school, we encourage families to focus on:
Upcoming Events & Key Dates
Tabloids Sports Day | Monday, 9th Feb - Our first big House Competition kicks off at 1pm on Monday. All students are encouraged to get into the mood of the festivities!
Whole School Parent-Teacher Connect | Wednesday, 11th Feb - A casual, low key afternoon to meet our teaching staff from 3.15pm.
Year 9 Bonding Trips | Thursday 12th – Friday 13th Feb - Our Year 9s are heading off to bond as a new cohort, starting with a visit to Adrenalin Forest on Thursday. I’m sure they will be looking forward to a fun time ahead.
Swimming Sports - Come and cheer on your children at the pool at the annual swimming sports.
Exploring Learning Community Camp | 23rd – 27th Feb - Our Exploring Learning Community students are heading to Arthur’s Pass. This camp is always a highlight of the school year and the students will already be filled with excitement for the adventures ahead. If you have any questions please get in touch with your child's class teacher.
Communication & Partnership - We believe that education is a partnership. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher. If we know about a problem, we can help solve it.
To stay updated with everything happening at the College, please ensure you are connected via…
Ngā mihi nui,
Stephen Beck
Principal
Hurunui College
Kia ora koutou parents and whānau,
Welcome back to another new school year! It has been great to see the classrooms and playgrounds busy and the students all back onsite. Whether you are a returning family or joining the Hurunui College whānau for the first time, it’s great to have you with us.
We kicked off the year with three productive Teacher Only Days, ensuring everything was ready for the students' return on Monday. We officially opened the year with a Mihi Whakatau to welcome our new students and their families. It was a positive moment for the school and a great way to set the tone for the year ahead.
As many of you know, I have recently returned from a period working with the Ministry of Education as a Leadership Advisor. My focus was on supporting Area School Principals across the Te Waipounamu, a fantastic opportunity to grow my own capacity while supporting other principals across the motu. Returning to school, I have reflected on how incredibly diverse our network of Area Schools is and just how lucky we are here at Hurunui College. Seeing the dedication of rural teachers nationwide reaffirmed that our staff at Hurunui College are a fantastic group of individuals and a hardworking team. They are committed to our students and I am privileged to be back working alongside such a passionate group.
My biggest takeaway from my time away was the importance of setting and maintaining high expectations. The schools that thrive are those that demand the best of themselves while maintaining high standards for all learners. Students will rarely exceed the expectations they set for themselves. Therefore, it is critical that we, alongside whānau, show our students what they are truly capable of and provide them with every opportunity to be the best version of themselves.
I also want to take a moment to thank Mrs Jane Marsh, who has done a fantastic job as Acting Principal over the past two years. Her leadership has been outstanding in keeping our school moving forward. I am equally grateful to the Leadership Team who supported her, including Janet Tilson, who served as DP Primary for the last two years and Lewis Turner and Georgia Garbutt (née Marsh) who provided stability and support over my time away. My thanks also go to the wider staff who worked so closely with the leadership team and to Robin McKinlay and the School Board for their steady support of the school during my time away. It is because of this dedicated group that the school remains in such a strong position.
Key Focus for 2026: Every Day Matters - In line with the government’s priorities, attendance is a major focus for us this year. Being at school every day is the single most important factor in student success. To help our learners bring their best selves to school, we encourage families to focus on:
- Routines & Structure: Consistent morning and evening habits.
- Sleep: Ensuring students get to bed at an appropriate time.
- The "Device-Free" Bedroom: We strongly recommend keeping phones and tablets out of bedrooms overnight to ensure quality rest.
- Students can’t download new knowledge when they’re running on a 1% battery.
Upcoming Events & Key Dates
Tabloids Sports Day | Monday, 9th Feb - Our first big House Competition kicks off at 1pm on Monday. All students are encouraged to get into the mood of the festivities!
- Wear House colors - Students are encouraged to come to school in house colours on Monday. No body paint, please - We want to keep our buses, bathrooms, and classrooms clean!
- Families - You are more than welcome to come along and join the fun on Monday.
Whole School Parent-Teacher Connect | Wednesday, 11th Feb - A casual, low key afternoon to meet our teaching staff from 3.15pm.
- Location: Primary end of the school.
- For parents and whānau of all students Y1-13.
- Details: Light refreshments will be shared. This is a great chance to say hello and put a face to a name.
Year 9 Bonding Trips | Thursday 12th – Friday 13th Feb - Our Year 9s are heading off to bond as a new cohort, starting with a visit to Adrenalin Forest on Thursday. I’m sure they will be looking forward to a fun time ahead.
Swimming Sports - Come and cheer on your children at the pool at the annual swimming sports.
- Year 9–13: Monday, 16th Feb - estimated starting 11.15am
- Year 1–8: Tuesday, 17th Feb - estimated starting 10.30am
Exploring Learning Community Camp | 23rd – 27th Feb - Our Exploring Learning Community students are heading to Arthur’s Pass. This camp is always a highlight of the school year and the students will already be filled with excitement for the adventures ahead. If you have any questions please get in touch with your child's class teacher.
Communication & Partnership - We believe that education is a partnership. If you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with your child’s teacher. If we know about a problem, we can help solve it.
To stay updated with everything happening at the College, please ensure you are connected via…
- Skool Loop App: For alerts and school-wide notices.
- Helix Student Management System: For academic updates, attendance and reporting. Importantly we will be looking at transitioning more to this app as the year progresses.
- School Website: School calendar, links to policies, staff information and strategic and annual plans.
- Facebook: Get connected. We are making a big push to celebrate and promote all the great things happening across the school.
Ngā mihi nui,
Stephen Beck
Principal
Hurunui College