HOBSONVILLE POINT SECONDARY SCHOOL - INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
OUR VISION
Hobsonville Point Secondary School's vision is to create a stimulating, inclusive learning environment that develops personal and academic excellence. We strive to develop confident, connected, actively involved, life-long learners. We empower our students to develop the skills necessary to live successfully and contribute confidently and responsibly in our changing world.
We believe that personal excellence is required for academic excellence to be achieved. We have developed a set of 'Hobsonville Habits' which we use explicitly to help students develop deeper thinking and effective habits. These are positive attributes and dispositions that are essential for lifelong learning and success.
With a mission to innovate, engage and inspire, our school utilises our modern facilities to create personalised learning, engage through powerful partnerships and inspire through authentic learning opportunities that demand deep challenge and inquiry. We are focused on preparing and inspiring our students to achieve their very best in a global society.
We are pleased to offer opportunities for students from around the world to learn and experience life in our exciting and innovative school environment here in Auckland, New Zealand. Hobsonville Point Secondary School welcomes applications from overseas students as international fee-paying students.
Our school is located at the heart of the newly developed Hobsonville Point community, situated in the historically rich Upper Waitemata Harbour area in Auckland.
Please contact us if you have any questions about our International Student programme or if you require any further information about what Hobsonville Point Secondary School could offer you as an International Student.
MEET THE TEAM
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Kirsty Dowding
Principal
Kirsty Dowding is the Principal at Hobsonville Point Secondary School and was appointed to this position in July 2023. Prior to this position, Kirsty was Deputy Principal at Rangitoto College and she has also worked for the Ministry of Education. Kirsty completed her Master's Thesis on the Geographies of Export Schooling in New Zealand and the Production of New School Spaces Created by International Students. Kirsty believes that International Students add strength, culture, and diversity to a school environment.Kirsty, the Senior Leadership Team, and all the staff at Hobsonville Point Secondary School believe in supporting learners to achieve both academic and personal excellence. Students are confident, connected, and actively involved, and we encourage them to become lifelong learners. We empower students to live successfully and contribute responsibly to their communities. Students learn in state-of-the-art facilities using tools and technologies that support and enhance their learning. As a school, we offer personalised learning, powerful partnerships, and deep challenge and inquiry.
In Kirsty’s spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family, and travelling.
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Maryann Green
International Director
As International Director, Maryann is excited to support students to have positive life-changing exchange experiences. Maryann has personally experienced an exchange programme herself and has taught English as a second language in junior high schools in Japan where she lived for a few years.Maryann holds a Master of Professional Studies in Translation (Japanese) and worked as a professional translator for many years until she became a high school teacher.
Maryann encourages her students to be kind and be the best version of themselves by taking the time to listen and care for them. She is an avid photographer who also loves playing Pokémon Go, watching K-dramas, and spending time with her family.
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Chrissy Latimer
Homestay Administrator
Chrissy comes from a Recruitment / HR career with a focus on supporting her clients into employment. Recruiting internationally for Australian and Chinese companies and having many new immigrant clients has given her an insight into the challenges of new migrants to New Zealand. Supporting students also played a large part in her job while working at different training providers.She loves to encourage others to reach their potential and believes everyone has the ability to succeed.
Chrissy is the proud Mother of 4 children, 2 cats, and 1 dog. She is learning to speak Te Reo Maori with her husband and her spare time is spent reading, walking her dog Cody or hanging out in the garden.
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Beth Knight
English Language Teacher
Beth enjoys teaching and learning at HPSS where her passion for learning and developing the whole student is valued. She has taught across all year levels within New Zealand. Throughout her career, relationships have always been the most enjoyable and important aspects of education.Beth sets high standards for her learners and loves to help them achieve their best.
She spends her time outside of school at the beach, traveling and experiencing new places, being with friends and family, and reading.
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Dr Diya Ghosh
ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHER
Diya is one of our English Language Teachers. She has a Phd in literature.
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David Wilson
English Language Teacher Aide
David comes from a background in finance and worked in Chartered Accounting for many many years.
He re-trained and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Adult Learning and Teaching (TESOL). He then completed the CELTA course and moved into ESOL. This saw him teaching in language schools and more recently teaching groups of International students coming to HPSS on educational tours. David loves working with teenagers and helping them to improve their level of English language.
David and his wife have two children, as well as a granddaughter who attended HPSS for four years and graduated from HPSS in 2021. David’s interests are education (especially English), his church, trying to manage his garden, and walking with his Labrador dog, Kodi.
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Sheida Mirza
English Language Teacher Aide
Sheida is one of our English Language teacher Aides who supports our students in class.
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Rose
English Language Teacher Aide
Rose is one of our English Language Teacher Aides who supports our students in class.
