Kia ora Southland App readers,

Welcome to Hauroko Valley Primary School’s final in-class action for 2024.

To start Term 4, our Year 7&8 students walked The Hump Ridge Track Great Walk.

This adventure in Tuatapere is a 3-day, 60 km loop walk.

It takes trampers along the south coast of Western Southland.

The track journeys through spectacular and diverse landscapes, including seascapes, sandy beaches, and native forests over historic viaducts within an alpine environment with soaring limestone tors.

“Walking over the Percy Burn viaduct was scary, (because it is so high at 36 metres) but amazingly rewarding.

Above Okaka you can walk the loop track, the view from the Look Out was impressive.

You could see Lake Poiteriteri, beautiful tarns, massive rocks, crystal clear water, and native frogs.

It was extra special at sunset as you could see Te Wae Wae Bay in the distance.” By Jonty and James

“We could hear a helicopter so we sprinted up onto Luncheon Rock.

Fiordland Helicopter Pilot Dale flew around, swooping and hovering right beside us to capture our class.

The photos of our team on Day 2 were incredible.” By Daniel and Cassie.

“We did the Hump Ridge Track this year and were the first class to do it was a Great Walk.

I couldn’t have loved it more - the views were astounding and I was super lucky to share them, and my last camp with my Mum, Walking for 3 days going step after step was tiring, but the views made it well worth it.

The Humpridge was such an awesome experience, where everyone supported each other, and we were all so proud when we made it to the end.” By Libby.

We thank the Hump Ridge Track Charitable Trust for their support, enabling our students to have this phenomenal opportunity as part of our Education Outside The Classroom programme.

Our students felt immense pride in themselves and each other as a team for accomplishing the walk.

We are also extremely proud to live and learn in a community with people who spent countless hours working to ensure this tramp reached this status as a Great Walk.  

Our senior students were treated to their teacher Alice reading “Book Shop Dogs” by Ruth Shaw.

She authored “Bookseller At The End of the World”, and is based in Manapouri.

The stories are about dogs, their shapes and sizes, and of Hunza, Ruth’s beloved German Shepherd.

A visit was organised to meet Ruth, Lance, and their friends and of course, their furry companions. 

A connection was made between our students, staff, and Ruth, which led to writing a book together.

Our Year 5-8 students worked in family groups to write about their pets.

As Ruth said “it was the start of something extremely special, giving rural children a voice, and a place to write about their pets, families, and farming life.

Their stories are full of empathy, humour, sadness and love.” 

Our students illustrations were digitised to include throughout the book.

We thank Ruth, Michelle Elvy of At the Bay/I te Kokoru, and Gilbert May of GE/Studio in Dunedin for their support in the collection of 26 animal tales.

This text is special to our people and place, because “behind the students are the parents and grandparents, so highly praised throughout the stories.” by Ruth Shaw

The book launch was an exciting event, with animal cupcakes made by students in Totara and Rata.

These were organised by Lorelee and Dale, and crafted by each learner for the occasion.

Our Junior classes Kowhai and Matai wrote stories about their pets or classroom pet “Theo” to share with our seniors.  

Sharing our journey to reach this celebration involved various recrafting of the text at home and school, and with the support of Alice, Ruth, and Michelle.

The book is a fabulous read sharing honest, raw, and compelling adventures and heart-warming stories of real-life children and their pets.

If you would like to order a copy, please make contact through [email protected].

Our leavers’ dinner was held in the multi-purpose building, a space we have longed to have for many years.

Memories were shared as each Year 8 presented their leaver speech.

These were incredibly entertaining and individualised by each learner and their journey.

For many the memories shared were from their 8 years at Hauroko Valley, so very special recounts.

Their teachers spoke of each learner's strengths, talents, and achievements, before presenting a graduation certificate.

This year we farewelled Libby, Lucy, Oliver, Tomas, Sam, Paetyn, Sienna, James, Jake, and Briar.

What a stunning bunch of learners, we are proud to have been part of your learner's journey at HVP.

All the best to each, in their continued journeys in education.

We look forward to reconnecting with these young people in the future.

Our Year 5&6 students head to Bannockburn for Education Outside The Classroom.

This is an adventure in Aotearoa Histories in Arrowtown with experiences in the classroom, Chinese Settlers Village, Lakes District Museum artifacts, and gold panning in the Arrow River.

Day 2 includes abseiling, archery, kayaking, a confidence course, and adventure-based learning challenges, thanks to Adventure Southland.

To finish we head to the Kiwi Water Park at Lowburn, before a visit to Jackson’s Orchard.

We certainly check out the variety of opportunities Central Otago has to offer - fun, adventure, and fruit!

This year we are focusing on Water Safety for our Swimming Programme.

All students head to the Tuatapere Community Pool for sessions, with our teachers coaching.

These skills are based around competencies in the water, in preparation for real-life scenarios.

Staff are looking forward to working with our students to have fun while developing confidence moving in and out of the water, and what to do in an emergency to keep yourself safe and others.

We wish Anna or Miss Slee all the best as she finishes her first year of teaching with us at Hauroko Valley.

We have enjoyed being part of your journey in starting your teaching career.

Anna’s passion and dedication make a lasting impact on the students she inspires and guides to grow in amazing ways. Best of luck from your HVP whanau.

Thank you for following our in-class action through the Fiordland Advocate/Southland App.

We look forward to reconnecting with you and Hauroko’s Happenings in 2025!

Meri Kirihimete ki a koe me te whānau/Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Hauroko Valley School proudly supported by Fiordland Escapes