Welcome to 2025
Welcome to the 2025 school year. The staff are onsite this week, readying for the staggered return of students from this Friday. We look forward to welcoming all our young men – new and returning – and their whānau to our community in its 153rd year. Parents and whānau are invited to attend the pōwhiri for new students / staff on Monday 03 February, commencing 8:30am.
Below are some reminders of organisation through Week 1 and Week 2.
Our next ‘Week Ahead’ will be sent Wednesday 05 February.
Waitangi Day
School is closed Thursday 06 and Friday 07 February. We resume classes on Monday 10 February, this is Day 3 on the school calendar.
Day Boy Bus Transport
Day boy bus services will resume from Monday 03 February. There will be no bus service on Friday 31 January.
The school bus service is operated by Tranzit Coachlines Hawke’s Bay. Any queries can be directed to: christopherc@tranzit.co.nz or phone 06 877 8133.
Term passes can be purchased online. Also, term passes are available this week from the Tranzit Hastings office, with eftpos available. Tickets are still available from the bus driver. However, to ensure that the service/s run to schedule it is advisable to pre-purchase a pass.
Families that use the Havelock North, Clive, Tareha, Whirinaki and Bay View bus services should have received an update from the school earlier this month. An email was sent detailing a new bus service, operated by Tranzit Hawkes Bay.
Information for the Greenmeadows West, Tamatea and Taradale services is available here.
Stationery
An email was sent last week detailing your son’s subjects for 2025. This information can be used to purchase the related stationery via Office Products Depot. This can be done either:
- online – click here to access the NZ School Shop; or
- instore at 44 Wakefield St, Onekawa.
Uniform
The new and used uniform shop is open Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 January between 10.00 and 3.30pm. On Thursday 30 January it is open 10.00 – 1.00pm. The shop is not open on Friday 31 January.
Normal shop hours resume in Week 2, whereby the shop is open after school on Tuesday 04 February. Ordinarily, the Uniform Shop is open Tuesday after school, 3 – 4.30pm, and Thursday lunch, 1.10 – 2.10pm.
School Bridge App 
School Bridge is our main tool to communicate with the community. The SchoolBridge App includes a web-based version and an app for iOS and Android.
Sign In: if you have a Google, Microsoft or Facebook account and use the same email account as you have registered with Napier Boys’ you can use this to sign in. For parents without this you can sign-in using the ‘Magic Link’, below.
Magic Link Sign-in
- Click on this link Request a Magic Sign-in Code
- Select the Email Magic Link sign-in and enter the email you have registered as your contact email with us.
- You will receive an email to that address that will contain both a link to sign-in and a code that can be entered to sign in. The code needs to be used within 72 hours.
- Once signed in on the app you won’t need to sign in again.
- If using the web-based version if you sign out you will need to resend the Magic Link to re-sign in.
Sibling Switcher: you will also be able to use the “Sibling Switcher” to switch between students, without additional passwords. You can also add students at different schools, who use SchoolBridge.
If you are having any trouble signing-in, there are ‘help’ videos on the sign-in page.
NCEA External Examinations – review & reconsiderations
Your son is now able to view his marked NCEA script from the 2024 examinations. Instructions on how to access the scripts is available here:
Accessing marked digital and scanned paper exams online » NZQA
Access will be available until the end of June.
Students have the option to apply for a review or reconsideration of their marked script. Information on this process is found here: Reviews and reconsiderations » NZQA There is a charge of $20.40 per standard.
We encourage your son to consult his subject teacher prior to applying for a review or reconsideration.
The closing date for NZQA reviews and reconsiderations is 17 February.
BYOD Recommendations
In 2025, all year levels will continue with a blended learning model. This means using the right ‘tool’ at the right time, just like a modern workplace. At times, your son will be using a laptop for his learning. At other times he will be using a pen and paper.
We are mindful of the financial cost associated with purchasing and maintaining a device. Similarly, we are conscious of a device’s longevity. For many families and students, it may be advisable to carryover their current laptop, often from intermediate, and purchase a new device as they move into the senior school.
If you do intend to purchase a laptop we encourage you to select a mid-range product that, hopefully, lasts through to the end of their secondary schooling. A mid-range device should have the following minimum specifications:
- 8-hour battery life
- i5 processor
- 13-inch screen
- 8 Gb ram
- 250 Gb hard drive
The device when purchased should come with Microsoft Windows Home Edition. The school will provide a license for Office 365.
The security and maintenance of the device is the responsibility of the student. We encourage you to engrave or label the laptop with your son’s name. The laptop should be stored in a protective bag or sleeve. You should ensure that the device is covered by your personal insurance.
If you need assistance, or advice, before purchasing a device, our IT Engineer, Matt Osterfield, can assist matt.osterfield@nbhs.school.nz
What’s Due? NCEA Internal Assessments
We will begin adding due dates for upcoming NCEA internal assessments in the Senior School, here. This will commence from the middle of Term 1.
Summer Sports Registration
Information for Summer Sports Registrations will be circulated in the first week (via SchoolBridge/email). This will be a form to complete, with payment (for some codes) to confirm enrolment in the sports code.
There will also be meetings for various codes which will be advertised in the school notices.
If you have any questions prior to this, please email sports coordinator kmccallum@nbhs.school.nz
