Tena Koutou Katoa to the Class of 2015

Yesterday morning, HBHS welcomed all new staff, Year 9 students and new students, along with their families with the traditional powhiri which marks the beginning of the school year.  The new members of the HBHS family were called into HBHS by Whaea Miriama Barton and were then addressed in the traditional manner by Matua Mita Graham who represented HBHS.  For the first time in a number of years, a group of newcomers performed a haka in acknowledgement of the welcome, and the waiata "Whakaria Mai" was sung.  Headmaster Mrs Hassall then addressed the new members of HBHS and invited them to excel as is their right at HBHS.  With that right, she reminded them, comes the responsibility to be considerate and caring of the rights of all other HBHS staff and students.  The powhiri finished with the Year 13's performing the school haka, which can be heard as far away as Peachgrove Intermediate.  The Year 9 students were then assigned to their classes, and completed the orientation process in preparation for classes today.