DECEMBER ISSUE 2013
Hamilton Girls’ High School Underpinning everything is the school motto “A wise woman shapes her own destiny.”
2013 Academic Dux Kystal Geraghty
h.g.h.s
PRINCIPAL’S COMMENT Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou 2013 has been an incredible year. I would like to
have been memorable for the wrong reasons as well
thank the Board for the confidence they have shown
but it is important to reflect, review and reset goals
in my appointment and for the ongoing support
for all concerned. I am a firm believer that every
they give me. I am honoured to begin my tenure
student enters our gates with talents and it is our role
as Principal at Hamilton Girls’ High School and
and responsibility to provide an environment where
believe that the perspective I bring to the school will
these can be identified, nurtured and then extended.
continue to move the school in the right direction.
Creating opportunities and realizing our students
I thought I would take this opportunity to reflect on some amazing highlights from this year: • My welcome into HGHS was memorable. Being represented by the kaumatua of Ngati Tuwharetoa was indeed an honour, and I will be honest, I was a little nervous about the powhiri. HGHS were indeed the perfect hosts, and the powhiri was held in high regard by our kaumatua, family and friends. • Announcing the Head Prefects to the school and the opportunity to work with three fantastic young women: Abby Meads, Nicole Porima and Kelly Le Quesne. • Open Day – it was wonderful to see the support from students and staff to present our school well, and the large number of visitors who attended. • A great improvement in students getting to class and getting to class on time. • HGHS being awarded the National Condors 7’s award and being recognised as the best school in Girls’ Rugby in New Zealand. • Attending the Te Kupenga graduation night to celebrate the achievements of our young women. While there are many great memories, I know that there are many special moments this year that may
aspirations is our responsibility as teachers and educational leaders, and this means that the focus is on future possibilities…not past mistakes. If I am to be honest…I know some of our students have struggled with my arrival, some have embraced my standards and some have just got on with the job at hand. In term 2, one of our students said to a Board member… Mrs Gordon has brought in all these new rules….and what are these new rules he asked…. her response… “ things are different, we have to be in class on time and we have to pick up our rubbish”? The rules have always been there…we are all just working together to ensure we are following them. While I had intended to sit back and watch how things were done around here, I have found that this was not the case. My intention is to continue as I have started, and that is to continue to raise the expectations and standards of our school to be the school of choice for girls’ education in the Waikato. To our students who are leaving our school this year….. leave knowing that you have been part of something very special. You entered this school as girls and are departing as accomplished young women who we hope have been extended academically, challenged physically and ready to leave the safe haven of secondary school. It is easy to be proud of the girls who make Hamilton Girls’ High School what it is, particularly at a time
when there seems sometimes to be disarray in our
Special farewell to Mrs Christophersen, HOD
communities and the world.
Mathematics, as she leaves Hamilton Girls’ High
Thank you for your contributions to Hamilton Girls’ High School. I wish you all well in fulfilling your goals and dreams. I would like to say thank you to the staff for their ongoing professionalism in their role this year and for
School after 23 years of service for a life of fun-filled adventure in retirement. On behalf of many students, thank you. Mrs Purdie-Raill also leaves after 12 years of service as Finance Manager to spend more time with family.
the ongoing commitment you give our students. To
Ms Giles from our Business Studies Department
the Senior Management team: Mrs Carter, Mrs Jenner,
has decided to leave teaching, to join the private
Mrs Whaanga and Mrs Gray – thank you for your
sector. We wish to thank Ms Giles for her ongoing
support and putting up with all my questions. To Mrs
commitment and dedication.
Malcon, thank you for stepping into some very big shoes to fill this term and to Mrs Sutherland (PA), Mrs Purdie-Raill (Finance Manager), Mrs Scutts (Support
My final word this year: “No matter how small you start, always dream big”
Services Manager), Mrs Witehira (Director of Boarding) and Mr Jordan (Property Manager) – many thanks for all the work you do for the school – you are well
Marie Gordon
appreciated by all.
PRINCIPAL
SCHOOL NOTICES ALL SPORTS TEAMS
Next year all sports trial dates and registration forms will be advertised on the website. A registration form will be available for parents and caregivers to download. All registration forms plus payment to trial must be made to the finance office prior to the trial date. Any questions please contact the sports office on 07 8391304 ext 847.
JOHN CRONE RETIREMENT
Berkley Normal Middle School Final Assembly, 16 December 2013, 9.00am start, School Rec Centre. Our BOT advise that there will be an opportunity for the wider Berkley community (past and present), to attend the 2013 final assembly, to celebrate and acknowldege the significant contribution made by John during his 27 years as the outstanding leader of Berkley. After the student led assembly there will be an opportunity for the guests to share conversation and light refreshments with John. If you wish to join us for this event, could you please RSVP to Alison Cronin 07 8566537 or alisonc@berkley.school.nz by 9 December.
HOSTING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
AFS NZ has host students arriving into NZ at the end of January 2014, ready to begin their AFS exchange experience. So we’re currently searching for host families who would be keen to accommodate them. We need to find host families before Christmas so students have time to get their visas processed before arrival. If you are interested, profiles of all our incoming students are available to view online and Host Families can apply to host via our AFS website - www.afs.org.nz. It’s a really easy process. Or call me directly for a chat 0800 600 300. Regards, Michael van Dyk, AFS Intercultural Programmes.
Senior Prizegiving 2013 Congratulations to all recipients ACADEMIC DUX - Krystal Geraghty Congratulations to our 2013 Dux Krystal Geraghty. Krystal also received the Exscite Trust Science Award, Middleton Chemistry Cup, Gail Bergman Biology Cup, Statistics Cup & New Zealand Geographic Society Cup. We wish Krystal luck in her future studies.
PROXIME ACCESSIT - Kelly Le Quesne Congratulations to Kelly Le Quesne, our 2013 Proxime Accessit. Kelly recieved the New Zealand Geographic Society Cup, Macky-Johnston Optima Cup & Deputy Head Girls Award. We wish Kelly all the best for her studies in 2013.
DAVE HEWITT CUP
LILEY AWARD
For excellence in
For excellence
Senior English,
in Senior Visual
awarded to Shantelle Roulston
LOUISE TURNER CUP For excellence in Mathematics in Year 13, awarded to Heidi Zhou (pictured left) and Christine Jin (pictured far right)
Arts, awarded to Brianna Hamilton
JUNIOR PRIZEGIVING - IS HELD ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER 10.15AM @ NgÄ Puawaitanga
PHYSICAL EDUCATION Excellence in Advanced Outdoors, awarded to Rylee McMullen. High academic achievement throughout the year but also winner of the Year 13 Multisport race, highest achiever in the practical element.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION Highest achievement academically throughout the year, awarded to Rachel Maidment.
Prizegiving 2013
ACADEMIC NEWS
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
BY KELLY LE QUESNE
Our Year 13 Biology Scholarship is focused on thinking
Hopefully there will be a few biology scholarships for
critically and writing concisely about different biological
2013! But even if we don’t get a scholarship, we have all
concepts from Years 12 and 13. A bunch of about 12
learnt so much which will also be helpful for our Level
girls attend regular tutorials every Thursday evening
3 exams and it’s made us think more critically and open
with Mrs Bergman. There is a lot of hard work put in by
mindedly about life. Thanks Mrs Bergman!
the girls but we all enjoy the discussions and laughs.
MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT This year is drawing to a close. Currently, the Year
The Mathematics Department sadly farewells Head of
9’s are working on the topic Probability ~ much fun
Department, Sandy Christophersen, who is taking
and games with throwing dice and twirling spinners!
an early retirement, Assistant Head of Department,
The Year 10’s have been completing an Achievement
Monika Cross who is taking a year’s leave in 2014, and
Standard in Measurement for credits towards NCEA
Nalini Maharaj who has resigned after a year’s leave
Level 1. They are to be congratulated for their
to move to Melbourne, Australia. We wish them all the
endeavours. For the Year 10’s, successful results will
best. We would also like to thank Mohini Singh and
appear on their academic record in 2014. No fees are
Val Rolfe, who have been long term relieving for the
required at this point in time.
year.
LANGUAGES DEPT Year 10 French students recently enjoyed participating in “French Master Chef� (pictured left) Congratulations to all those who took part.
Dia de los Muertos is is a traditional celebration in Mexico that takes place on the 1st and 2nd of November. This year the Embassy of Mexico has
They have learnt about a Mexican tradition and
organised a competition for juniors studying Spanish
enjoyed making the decorations. (photo above)
to construct a traditional Altar to commemorate a deceased person. A group of 5 students from Year
9EA recently enjoyed making sushi in Japanese, with
10 Spanish: Krystal Lin, Charlotte White, Kaitlyn
some interesting and creative sushi being produced.
Ellery, Sapna Pandaram, Tegan Ranstead have
We are hoping to take a small group of senior
constructed an altar consisting of 5 different levels
students to Japan next September. More details will
with fruit, lollies, Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead),
follow next year if this trip is approved by the Board
toys, candles and traditional marigold flowers. The
of Trustees.
person commemorated was Margaret Mahy- a wellknown writer who passed away last year.
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT YEAR 9 & 10 SPEECH COMPETITION
JUNIOR SPEECH COMPETITION WINNERS
Over 40 students represented their class and their year in the recent Speech competitions held in Hepburn 3. The wonderful range of topics were thought provoking, humorous and sometimes even a bit quirky. Congratulations go to all who were chosen to compete, and special awards were won by the following students:
YEAR 9 WINNERS 1st = Sarah Bahr (Words we overuse and which dumb us down) Amelia Macnab (The difference between City girls and Country girls) 2nd Lillee Morgan (Siblings – you’ve got to love them) 3rd
Litara Allen (Racism is an ugly disease)
SARAH BAHR YEAR 9 1ST PLACE EQUAL “Words we overuse which dumb us down”
YEAR 10 WINNERS 1st
Tara Given (Gaming is good for you)
2nd = Charlotte White (Animal testing is cruel) Anahera Takuira-Mita (Spend your life well) 3rd = Rachel Li (Asian Stereotypes) Ritika Ram (It is OK to be different)
NCEA, WRITING & ENGLISH
AMELIA MACNAB YEAR 9 1ST PLACE EQUAL
There have been a lot of changes recently to the way NZQA and the University Entrance Board view success in writing. The most noticeable
“The difference between City girls and Country girls”
is the increased focus on ‘publication ready’ work, which requires fully developed ideas and accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar. Now, when we mark work according to a curriculum level, we must also be confident that it will align with the new NCEA levels. Some students may see a change in the grades they have been ‘used’ to getting, as we bring this new alignment into play at all year levels. Overall however, students can now start to confidently develop an understanding of what is required as they work towards the University Entrance Literacy requirements in Years 12 and 13. We in the English Department are excited about focusing our students towards producing accessible, accurate and fluent writing which could be published outside of our school.
TARA GIVEN YEAR 10 1ST PLACE “Gaming is good for you”
DANCE DEPARTMENT
BY LYNN HODGKINSON
During Terms 2 and 3 the Year 9 Physical Education
and energy for every lesson and worked willingly and
classes participated in a Dance Unit. This involved
freely with their peers. The result was a variety of
students learning a number of dances from different
dance performances including Hip Hop, Funk, Line
genres, then being allocated a few lessons to create
Dancing and even a Hindu dance.
and perform their own dance. I was fortunate enough to teach this Unit to 9H1.
I would like to thank the girls for making this an enjoyable unit for me, for making it so easy to teach
Having taught dance for a number of years now, I
you all and for sharing your awesome ideas with each
would have to say that this was by far the best class I
other. You should be proud of your performances.
have worked with. The girls displayed such enthusiasm
DESIGN & VISUAL COMMUNICATION
BY MR W.TEPANIA AND MS J.HARRIS DVC TEACHERS 2013
What is this subject? Formerly known as Graphics;
LEVEL 3 DVC URBAN RETREAT: A holiday
Design and Visual Communication (DVC) is a newly developed programme that focuses on Design skills through the use of freehand sketching, technical drawing and modelling. However unlike Graphics, DVC has grown more popular because there is more emphasis on getting students to express their ideas
accommodation for tourists and visitors. Designed near the heart of Hamilton City and overlooking the Waikato River. Students explored the architecture of retreats, considered the environmental aspects of the site and designed a scheme which they presented in the “My Exhibition Space” project. Only samples of student
visually.... as opposed to written.
work are shown.
Where does this take students? The power of
LEVEL 2 DVC SURREALIST GARDEN: Surrealism
Design is training oneself to being creative and innovative in problem solving. We can’t just turn it on like a button, so this course motivates students with fun and exciting tools to flicking that switch on. Career-wise the opportunities can lead into any Design subject ie: Architecture, Engineering, Media Arts, Visual Arts, Graphic Design and Computer Design. What’s the latest for DVC 2013? For each year level, students select parts of their portfolio work to present to an audience. The images on the following page are a showcase of what they did for 2013. Well done ladies, an excellent effort overall.
could be described as fantasy or dreamlike images
presented in a realistic form. Students explored the “Hamilton Gardens” site Surrealist gardens, and considered the geography and environmental aspects of the area before they started their design. They produced a landscape plan plus designed the structural elements and planting for their garden.
LEVEL 1 DVC INFLUENTIAL DESIGNER: Students used a well-known designer’s style to generate
and develop a Boutique store (Architectural) and Component (Product). For their end of year project, students designed a poster promoting the research they had completed of their designer.
LEVEL 3 - Reema Singh
LEVEL 3 -Stacey Coromandel LEVEL 3 - Claudynn Lee
LEVEL 3 - Zoe Pennell
LEVEL 3 - Jeanette Gordula
LEVEL 3 - Kayla Cassells
LEVEL 3 - Lara Mei Villavicencio
LEVEL 2 - Hennesy Kear
Level 1 - Ederlyn Perolina
LEVEL 1 - Vanessa Baledrokadroka
Level 1 - Alicia Laing
LEVEL 2 - Courteney Searle
LEVEL 2 - Giselle Newport
LEVEL 1 - Paige Wyatt
sports at hghs
SHIRAY TANE We are very proud to announce that our 2012 Sports Captain Shiray Tane has been named in the New Zealand Women’s 7’s Team. We always knew Shiray was destined for the international sports world! We wish Shiray all the best with her sporting future .
BOWLS
ATHLETICS
BY LUCY YEOMAN
Hamilton is hosting the NZ Secondary Schools
On Thursday the 28th November, I was in my first ever bowling competition. It was the Year 9 & 10 Secondary School Outdoors Bowls Championship. We had to play indoors on Frankton Railway’s indoor greens because of the rain. My Year 10 partner was Ashleigh Jeffcoat (who is an awesome bowler) and together we came third in
Athletics event at Porritt Stadium. Students competing in their chosen events are: Eden Bates, Vienna Beattie. Peaches Fletcher, Olivia Hooker, Mikaela Jefferson, Keely Jennings & Meg Reid.
TOUCH
the competition, very exciting for me!
The HGHS Touch team competed at the NZ
It was a really fun day. There was some amazing
The majority of the team had competed at
bowling and it was great to meet students from other schools. Can’t wait to do it all over again next year!
secondary touch tournament held in Auckland. the NZ secondary 7s tournament the weekend before. The girls tried their best to back up their winning performance at 7s but, due to injuries and fatigue, the girls finished 4th which is still a fantastic effort. All the girls involved Whaea Hollie, and Ms Ritchie should be proud of their achievement.
RUGBY 7's
WATER POLO
BY ALEX RITCHIE
BY DANI AND KATIE
The HGHS Rugby 7s team won the National title
The Junior Water Polo girls had four great days
becoming NZ’s second girls team to win the title. The National Condors championship was held at Kelston Boys High School where 16 girls teams from all around the country competed in a two day tournament. The first pool day saw HGHS score 145 unanswered points, displaying a high level of skill and fitness that they have worked hard to achieve. The hardest game was the semi-final against last year’s champs, Fielding High School, where the final score was 20 – 10 after a rocky start. The final which was broadcast on Sky TV was against New Plymouth Girls’ High School and the score was 34 – 5. Four of the HGHS team made the NZ tournament team, putting up there the best 12 players nationally at secondary school level. These players are; Tenika Willison, Te Awatea Whitiora-Te Uira, Ariana Hira-Herangi and Terina Te Tamaki. Well done to all the girls and also the the Coaching Team who have dedicated much time and energy. We look forward to Rugby in 2014.
in Auckland at the North Island Secondary School Junior Tournament. We were entered in the first division and we had an awesome first game against Baradene which we won 3 – 2. As the tournament went on the harder we found the games. This resulted in us coming 10th overall. However, it was a good experience for us and the girls. Results: Game 1 – HGHS 3 v Baradene 2
Game 2 – HGHS 1 v St Mary’s 7
Game 3 – HGHS 1 v St Cuthbert’s 7
Game 4 – HGHS 3 v Westlake Girls 9
Game 5 – HGHS 2 v Waikato Dio 4
Game 6 – HGHS 3 v Wellington East 11
Goal scorers at the tournament were:
Katie Lush - 5
Danielle Patterson - 4
Kelly Ballard - 2
Gaia Bridge - 1
Monique Van De Ven - 1
GATEWAY SANTANA NGAHERE AT INDIEFILM Santana had the amazing opportunity to work with Indiefilm on two filming projects this year. They were very different projects which gave her a good look at the diversity of the industry. The first one was a music video “Never Be The Same” for the band “The Latest Fallout”. Later in the year Santana was then taken to Raglan to assist with the filming of the Bar Crossing Educational film. This will be used in courses to train Coastguards. Santana really enjoyed her experience with Indiefilm and appreciated them taking her on board for work experience.
FUTUREFORCE ACTION NETWORK LAUNCH Futureforce Action Network (FAN) is the ground-breaking Smart Waikato Trust initiative uniting and equipping employers to more effectively incorporate young people into the workplace. Over 200 people attended the launch at a special function at the Gallagher Group building on the 6th November. Four of our students, Alexandra Simpson, Courtney Summers, Yasmin Simpson and Nesra Wale, assisted with the launch. They carried out a variety of tasks, including meeting and greeting guests, and did a fabulous job. They were very good ambassadors, not only for the school but for all young people. Well done girls.
CAREERS UPDATE TERTIARY STUDY
EMPLOYMENT
A reminder to those intending to study for 2014
Also note that 2013 leavers can access careers
to check closing dates for courses and also to be
advice and assistance from the Careers NZ website
aware that there are still scholarships available
once they have left school www.careers.govt.
to assist them. They can access the site www.
nz. They can chat online to a Careers Adviser or
breakout.org.nz at school for all scholarship
use many of the interactive tools and resources
information throughout New Zealand or look at
available.
each tertiary institution’s website. For those looking for full time employment, the Student Loans and Allowances – students still
site provides CV and cover letter writing templates
wishing to apply for student loans can do so by
and also a number of links to employment
visiting the Study link website www.studylink.
opportunities. The school Careers Office will
govt.nz as this is an online application.
be open until the 10th December and students and parents are more than welcome to make an
If students have enrolled with a tertiary institution and are looking for work over the summer, then they are eligible to register at Student Job Search www.sjs.co.nz
appointment at any time.
CAREER EVENTS BEAMS Day - This is a day run by the University of Auckland aimed at Year 10 Maori and Pacific students to encourage them to consider science related courses and continue to take mathematics and science subjects up to Year 13. On the 27th November we sent ten very excited young women to this event where they were involved in five interactive workshops in five different degree programmes. They came away with a greater understanding of tertiary opportunities and the relevance of achieving well at school to be able to access these opportunities. Kia Ora Hauora Careers Roadshow - On Monday 2nd December a team of bright young Maori tertiary students studying health sciences came into school to run a fun, informative and interactive workshop. The aim of this was to showcase the many opportunities the health profession has to offer but also talk about their own individual pathways. Our students had the chance to learn about – CPR, tendon reflexes and human anatomy. They hopefully gained a greater understanding of the wide range of health careers available and how they can access these.
NZQA Getting Your Record of Achievement and NCEA Certificate NZQA will NOT post your Record of Achievement or NCEA Certificate to you unless you register online and request them. You can only request your Record of Achievement or NCEA Certificate when they become available. NZQA allows you to have one free Record of Achievement each year and one free NCEA Certificate at each level. You are only allowed one free School Results Summary in your life. Most senior students will order this when they leave school. NZQA will charge a fee for every School Results Summary you ordered after the first one. Students can request a University Entrance certificate when they qualify for this qualification. However NZQA does charge a fee for this. Challenging Exam Results: If you are going for a review or a reconsideration of your external examination results then it is best to hold off requesting either a Record of Achievement or NCEA Certificate until your results have been finalised. NCEA Certificates endorsed with Merit or Excellence: Some students may want to hold off requesting their NCEA Certificate for a year as they may want to use Merit and Excellence grades gained in future years to get a NCEA certificate endorsed with either merit or excellence. You can order your Record of Achievement and NCEA Certificate in January when they become available by following the instructions below:
Please follow these steps: 1 Go to www.nzqa.govt.nz 2 Click on “LOGIN” (Top right-hand corner) 3 In the section Students and Learners 4
If you have not registered your password then click on “register now” Enter your NSN and date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY) then register If you have registered then click on “Login” Enter password
5
Then click on Order Documents
6
Then click on what you want to order
Special Assessment Conditions for 2014 -
Students with significant learning/physical issues may apply to have special assessment conditions for the external examinations held at the end of the year. This includes, but not limited to, students: o with will poor poorsight sightwho whoneed needenlarged enlargedexamination examinationpapers, papers, o who have physical difficulties in writing and need a computer, or o with learning issues who may need a reader, writer, or reader and writer.
-
Special assessment conditions may include: o reader assistance, o writer assistance; o computer assistance, o enlarged papers, o extra time, o separate accommodation or a o combination of the above
-
Students who are granted special assessment will receive their results just like any other student. There will be no mention of the special assessment condition on their results; it is a private issue between the student, school and NZQA.
-
To apply you must contact Mr Mitchell, refer to his contact details below.
School contact Mr Mitchell is the Principal’s Nominee (NZQA Liaison) at the school. You can contact him by: E-mail:
mitchellm@hghs.school.nz
Phone:
07 839 1304 EXT 893
Mail:
Mr Mitchell Principal’s Nominee PO Box 4082 Hamilton
KEY DATES DECEMBER 2013 TO JANUARY 2014 3 DECEMBER
NCEA Ends. Document Day Year 11-13
Year 13 Leavers’ Dinner
4 DEC-6 DEC
Year 9-10 Junior Activities
10 DECEMBER
JUNIOR PRIZEGIVING
(Reports handed out, students
released at lunchtime 12.50)
23 JANUARY
Course Confirmation
28 JANUARY
Teacher Only Day
29 JANUARY
POWHIRI Year 9 and 13 attend
30 JANUARY
All students attend
Ronald W. Ritchie B.Sc., D.M.D Mark S. E. Harris BDS(Otago)
Dental Wellness, Orthodontics, Facial Beauty Free high school dental care until your 18th birthday (07) 839 4080
1 Hill Street, Hamilton
teamdental@wave.co.nz