Whānau A-Z

  • Term 1 Wednesday 4 February- Thursday 2 April 26

    Waitangi Day Friday 6 Feb 26

    Term 2 Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July 26 ANZAC Day Monday 27 April 26

    ‍ King’s Birthday Monday 1 June 26

    Term 3 Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September 26 Teacher Only Day Fri 4 September 2026

    Term 4 Monday 12 October - Tuesday 15 December 26 Labour Day Mon 26 Oct 26

    ‍ ‍ Teacher Only Day Tues 27 Oct 2026

  • Term 1 Monday 1 February -Friday 9 April 27 -Waitangi Day Mondayised 8 Feb 27

    Good Friday 26 March 27 - Easter Monday 29 March 27 - Easter Tuesday 30 March 27

    Term 2 Tuesday 27 April-Friday 2 July 27 ANZAC Day Mondayised 26 April 27

    ‍ ‍ King’s Birthday Monday 7 June 27 Teacher Only Day Tuesday 8 June 27

    ‍ ‍Matariki Friday 25 June 27

    Term 3 Monday 19 July-Friday 24 September 27 Teacher Only Day TBC

    Term 4‍ ‍Monday 11 October-Friday 17 December 27 Labour Day Mon 25 October 27

  • If your child is going to be away for any reason please notify the office via the School App “Absence” or the school website “Notify an Absence” which is our preference. Otherwise phone 04 939-3318 and leave a absence message on the answer phone or email admin@houghton.school.nz

    If your child is not at school and we have not been contacted, we will ring, email or send a text reminder to you in the first instance or any of your emergency contact people. This is to make sure your child is safe.

    As part of the new reporting and governance all schools must have an Attendance Plan. Here is our plan for 2026.

    HVS Attendance Management Plan 2026

  • Welcome to Kelly Club Houghton Valley, where we believe in giving children opportunities to do things they love and enjoy in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Children are encouraged, educated and entertained during their time on our programmes.

    Our friendly staff are passionate about working with kids and are provided with training on behaviour management techniques, first aid and a range of basic sport skills.

    After School Care Programme – 2:55pm-6:00pm (Term Time Only)

    Our after-school care programmes are focused around sports, cooking, discovery, arts and crafts, as well as structured free time after a busy day at school.

    These activities are incorporated into a weekly theme, with a different activity each day that gives the opportunity to extend their learning outside of the classroom. Children are welcome to suggest their own ideas too! We offer set times for children to complete homework, should they (or their parents) want homework completed before they are collected.

    We offer half sessions run from 2:55pm till 4:30pm and full sessions which run from 3:00pm till 6:00pm.

    See our website for current prices.

    Holiday Programmes at Island Bay School

    Our Holiday Programmes focus on giving children aged between 5 and 13 the opportunity to do things they enjoy in a safe, supportive and fun environment. Kelly Club programmes are packed with variety to entertain and inspire children. Our Programme is full of exciting themed activity days as well as trips that guarantee children have a great time and create opportunities for kids to shine! See our website for our current prices and our activity planner.

    See how Kelly Club supports New Zealand families every day in our video.

    Contact Kelly Club

    Phone 022 010 9981

    Email: houghtonvalley@kellyclub.co.nz

    Or visit our website

    For the Holiday Programme

    Bookings

    For online bookings click here

    WINZ

    Kelly Club is a Ministry of Social Development OSCAR approved programme provider, which means our programme operates according to Ministry guidelines for best practice. Parents/Caregivers that meet certain criteria will be able to access a work and income OSCAR subsidy to help cover the cost of our programmes. For more information please visit www.workandincome.govt.nz

  • We have an amazing biking track for the children to use throughout the school year. We provide the children with a helmet and an appropriate bike to use based on their abilities.

  • hvs-emergency-food-kit-2023.pdf

  • Tamariki who live within the Houghton Valley School ‘home zone’ are eligible to enrol once they reach five years of age.

    As a kura we work with you to make starting school a positive and successful way to begin your schooling journey.

    When you are ready to enrol your child complete the HVS Enrolment form and provide us a copy of your child's birth certificate or passport, and immunisation certificate. 

    We encourage all of our new whānau to book a visit to meet with the Principal and tour our amazing kura. To arrange this contact our Office Manager, Denise on admin@houghton.school.nz

    Transitioning your New Entrant tamariki

    Once your child is enrolled our new entrant kaiako will contact you to organise at least two school morning visits. These visits provide tamariki the opportunity to meet their classroom teacher and the other children in their class, to establish some friendships and to gain confidence in the school environment. It enables them to participate in the classroom programme and become aware of some of the routines and systems that are in place.

    These visits are held in the morning from 9:00am until 11:00am. We recommend bringing some morning tea for your child and a water bottle. Whānau are required to stay during the visit.

    For more ‘Transition to School’ information view this document.

    In the ‘home zone’?

    To find out if you're in our 'home zone' view our map.

    Houghton Valley School Out of Zone Enrolments for 2027

    Enrolment at Houghton Valley School is governed by an enrolment scheme. From time to time, the Board of Trustees may determine that there are a limited number of spaces available for out-of-zone students. The out-of-zone ballot for the Houghton Valley School 2027 year is open and will close Monday 3 August, 2026 (12 noon) and will be drawn Friday 7 August, 2026 

    for 8 new entrants.

    • 1st Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of current students.

    • 2nd Priority will be given to applicants who are siblings of former students.

    • 3rd Priority will be given to applicants who are children of former students of the school.

    • 4th Priority will be given to applicants who are children of Board employees and Board    

              members.

    • 5th Priority will be given to all other applicants.

    • Whanau who have been successful will be notified on Friday 7 August. 

    If there are more applications in any of the priority groups than there are places available, selection within the priority group will be by a ballot conducted in accordance with instructions issued by the Ministry of Education.

    Please note siblings of successful applicants will not be guaranteed a place at Houghton Valley School.  They will be eligible to apply if there are any spaces available.

    Enrolment procedure: 

    • Parents complete an enrolment form (available from office or online) and hand in, or email, to the school office by the application closing date - Monday 3 August, 2026 (12 noon)

    • If on the closing date we have received more applications than spaces we will organise a ballot for. The ballot is drawn under the supervision of a Justice of the Peace

    • The names are pulled out of the ballot and a waiting list is created if there are more names in the ballot than spaces available.

    • Successful whānau are advised by email and asked to confirm acceptance in writing of the place offered by Friday 21 August, 2026. 

    • Unsuccessful whānau are advised by email and placed on a waiting list in the number they are drawn from the ballot.

    • If successful whānau decline the space, the place is offered to the first/next family on the waiting list.

    2027 Enrolment Form

  • School lunches made easy! Thursdays are Sushi and Fridays are Vietnameezy

    Lunches are delivered to school at lunchtime.

    Here is the Ezlunch Menu Term 1 2025

    To make an order click Ezlunch

  • Account Name
    Houghton Valley School Board

    Bank
    ASB Kilbirnie

    Account Number
    12-3481-0045763-00

    Please note: It is very important to include the student’s name and the purpose of your payment in the reference fields.

  • restorative-process.pdf

  • Sunhats are compulsory in Terms 1 and 4. Hats must have a brim or flap that extends at least 5cm and encompasses the entire head. Our wide-brimmed HVS hats are $19 each. To purchase enquire at the school office or email admin@houghton.school.nz

  • HVS T-shirts are $43 each. Please enquire at the school office or email admin@houghton.school.nz

  • If your child arrives at school late you must let the office know via phone/email or the school app.

  • The tamariki may be dropped at school from 8.30 am.

    Your child needs to be picked up from their classroom from 2.55 pm.

  • Keep an eye on the school newsletter as to when your child’s class might be presenting at hui. All whānau are welcome!

  • The school day is 9am-2:55pm

    9am
    School starts (the earliest time tamariki can be dropped off at school is 8:30am)

    11-11:20am
    Morning tea break

    12:30
    Lunchtime EAT then PLAY

    1:25pm
    End of lunch

    2:55pm
    School day finishes

  • The office is open and contactable 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday to Friday

  • In case of getting wet, muddy or toileting accidents, please keep a spare pair of socks, pants and underwear in a waterproof bag inside your tamariki’s school bag each day.

  • HVS uses an app called Spotlight to keep you informed with important information from school and provides an opportuity for whānau to view their child’s progress and evidence of their learning throughout the year. Please let Denise know if you need instructions or a new password admin@houghton.school.nz

  • Use of sunblock is encouraged and you may want to pop a tube in your child’s bag in summer. In Term 4 and Term 1 the school requires every child to wear a sunhat with a brim or flap that extends at least 5cm and encompasses the entire head. Sunhats are available to be purchased from the office.