WELCOME TO HOUGHTON VALLEY SCHOOL   

HVS Principal

Tena koutou katoa. Nau mai. Haere mai! On behalf of the team here at Houghton Valley School, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all visitors to our website. We trust that you find it to be a useful source of information about our great little school. 

Choosing a school for your child is an important (and sometimes confusing!) process. If you are considering our school as an option, a first step would be to view the ‘Houghton Valley School Information Book’ and the ‘Houghton Valley School Charter’  on our  ’Resources For Parents and Teachers’ page. You may also want to read our most recent Education Review Office report at www.ero.govt.nz . Following that, I encourage you to meet me and have a look around our school so you can see it in action. Please contact me by phone (04 9393318) or email (principal@houghton.school.nz) to arrange a time to meet. I look forward to it.

Our school’s mission statement – ‘Inspiration, Challenge, Achievement!’ – sums up what we’re all about. 

THE INSPIRATION 

‘Te Hiringa’                              The drive or perseverance;   seeking to find out 

 THE CHALLENGE

 ‘Te Werohia’                            To take on the challenge before you, in order to go forward.

 THE ACHIEVEMENT

‘Te Whakatutukitanga’        To achieve something truly great after much hard work.

Here at Houghton Valley School we believe in a balanced curriculum underpinned by achievement in reading, writing and mathematics. We work hard to deliver class programmes that challenge children and we celebrate achievement. We also think that we have the best of both worlds – being part of a city but also having expansive grounds that make us feel like we’re in the country. We think it’s important to get outside regularly and our students agree!

I am proud to be leading a team of talented teachers and support staff. Our teaching staff is very stable which means that we get things done! After 15 years of classroom teaching prior to becoming principal, in 2005, I like to think that I have an understanding of classroom dynamics and of what works - along with an appreciation of the challenges faced by teachers and children.

If you are already a member of our Houghton Valley School community, you’ll know that our parents and caregivers do an amazing job in supporting what we do here at school. Check out the ‘Home and School’ page for information about the events they lead.

If you require any further information about HVS, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Ka kite kua nei.

BARRY SCHON (Principal)