2019
TERM 2 NEWSLETTER
HGHS NEWSLETTER
2019
Hamilton Girls’ High School
TE PUAWAI FESTIVAL A Celebration of the Arts p.18
P. 1
2019
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
P. 2
2019
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL E ngā mana, e ngā reo, E ngā waka o ngā hau e wha. Tenā koutou.
Term 2 has been an incredibly rewarding, yet challenging term for staff and students alike. As we contemplate the holidays ahead, we celebrate the hard work and achievements of this past term. There is much to celebrate, as you will read in the pages that follow.
MARIE GORDON Principal
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our community for their ongoing support of Hamilton Girls’ High School. This was particularly evident through the sudden passing of our HOD Technology, Ms Julie Capil, the PPTA action of strikes and paid union meetings and more recently, the graffiti that has had a profound impact on the tone of the school. Each of these situations have certainly impacted on teaching and learning, and for the majority of our parents, your support has been phenomenal.
At some point in our lives we have all been faced with challenges, and it is through discomfort and challenge that courage and resilience is built, no matter how old you are. As a parent and Principal, I am reminded of the immense responsibility I have in opening the eyes of young women to a myriad of experiences,challenges, opportunities and the reality of life today. I always think that I am incredibly lucky to be Principal and when I am faced with challenges, I like to spend more time with the students. They remind me why I do what I do. I I would like to share with you three memorable moments of this term: Our farewell to Ms Julie Capil - the school came together to share Ms Capil’s “final drive through school”. This was a time that we all united to grieve the loss of a treasured colleague and teacher. The first issue of Melika Lolaki’s brainchild “Lionheart”. Through her hard work and dedication, and understanding the importance of empowering our students, Melika’s student magazine has given them a platform in which they can express themselves creatively via their written work https://www.school-links.org.nz/ static2/0132/gn/lionheart_issue_1.pdf The inaugural Te Puawai Arts Festival that celebrated and shared in both the Performing and Visual Arts through providing culturally rich experiences that challenged our girls and staff personally, academically and creatively. Our thanks to Mrs Jodi Tautari and Arts Captain, Bryre Aish, and their incredible team behind the scenes. On a different note, we are also pleased to announce that the Ministry of Education and the PPTA have ratified
the new Secondary Teachers Collective Agreement. Once again, thank you for your understanding in regard to the disruption that has occurred.
pleasant manners, know how to get along with other people, and we should be able to appreciate the other person’s point of view.
In addition, this Friday we will celebrate Founders Day through holding a special assembly and inviting “Old Girls” into school. Founders Day celebrates the opening of Hamilton High School to both boys and girls on the 10 July, 1911. At that time, the buildings consisted of four classrooms, a laboratory, a domestic science room, the headmaster’s study, teachers staffroom and a balcony. The steps that go down to the wharenui are the original steps from the old school. The Headmaster Mr Eben Wilson briefly addressed the students prior to commencing their studies in 1911, expressing a hope that they would work hard and their efforts would be rewarded in their results.
Not a lot has changed today. We still espouse the same values that Mr Wilson and Miss Ellis had longed for their students. Education today began with the founding members and the Old Girls’ of our school – the traditions they built such as the sports days, house events, the uniform, choirs, outstanding scholars, sporting idols, inspiring teachers, visionary Principals and the list goes on. Many pupils have gone on to great success and recognition in later life, and have become testaments to the quality of our school. More importantly, for you and I today, how can we understand our present or glimpse our future if we cannot understand our past? How can we know who we are if we don’t know who we were? Change is a a constant, an anomaly that we have all come to accept, if not yet fully understand: it is part of how we live and who we are. Challenging the future enables us to not only survive but maximise the benefits of the changes around us.
In 1955, the long planned separation of boys’ and girls’ schools became a reality, and the boys crossed the river and Hamilton Boys’ High School was established and Hamilton Girls’ High School stayed on this site. In the 1950’s, there was also a general feeling that girls’ did not need technology or science rooms or more fields as girls’ did not study trades or science or play football or rugby. What would they think of our school rugby team today? Miss Ellis had been appointed first headmistress of our school, and she thoroughly believed that girls should take away a habit of being able to think for themselves, that made them test each piece of knowledge, a sense of values, tolerance, understanding and an appreciation of good quality. Girls’ should also have acquired poise and
P. 3
Every day create your history, every path you take you’re leaving your legacy. To know who we really are we have to look back. I would like to end with the proverb, “Ka Mua, Ka Muri” which describes an image of a person walking backwards into the future – where our past is clearly visible, but our future isn’t. It suggests we should look back for clues to support our way forward, but also understand that the future is unwritten, and the only unchanging thing is change. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MELANIE PILCHER Board Chair
Dear Parents and Our Wider School Community, We are half-way through our school year, and we know there is still a lot more to learn and do in 2019. As a board of trustees, we had our first official board meeting following the elections last week and we are very excited about where to from here for Hamilton Girls’ High School. We are working with the management of the school to look at how our Charter and Strategic Plan align to our curriculum, our vision and our values. Our intent at Hamilton Girls’ High School is ‘to empower young women to aspire to excellence, make a difference and respond to the diverse needs of individuals’. We want to provide assurance, that as a board representing you and our wider school community, we will keep this at the forefront of our decision making, strategic planning and governance responsibilities. There are many changes, ideas, and proposals currently going on in the schooling sector and we will be doing our best to keep on top of all of these and keeping you all informed on what these will mean for our school and our students.
HAMILTON GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES Board Chair Melanie Pilcher botpilcher@hghs.school.nz Deputy Chair Lale Ieremia botieremia@hghs.school.nz Principal Marie Gordon Principal@hghs.school.nz
Following the triennial elections, one of the first things we needed to do as a new Board, was to elect a Board Chair. The outcome of that vote was that I was nominated and successfully elected to fulfill the Board Chair role. This is a position that I am very humbled and privileged to be in. I am passionate about representing our community and look forward to leading an effective Board of Trustees at Hamilton Girls’ High School.
Trustees Andrew McRae botmcrae@hghs.school.nz David White botwhite@hghs.school.nz Stan Goldsack botgoldsack@hghs.school.nz Shiree Pikirangi Kelly botkelly@hghs.school.nz Jane Nicklin botnicklin@hghs.school.nz Junior Ahyu botahyu@hghs.school.nz
Andrew McRae has been a pivotal member of our school, representing us as a board member and as the Chair for the past 9 years. I don’t think I can sum up all the significant work that Andrew has been involved in over the time that he has been leading Hamilton Girls’ High School to the ‘school of choice’ - for girls that it is! - but here it goes, I will do my best:
Staff Representative Kristin Cato catok@hghs.school.nz Student Representative Emily Shute esh17080@my.hghs.school.nz
Andrew’s governance knowledge and experience are extensive which has been evident in his role as not only an active trustee but also as a passionate Board Chair. When Hamilton Girls’ High School was recruiting for a new Principal approximately 7 years ago Andrew led the process and ensured we had the right person, to not only lead, but manage our school, a person who shared Andrews vision and focus for the best outcomes for our students. This is not a simple process or one that can be underestimated and I think we can all agree Andrew did a fantastic job in finding Ms Gordon to be our Principal. What Andrew has then done is provide strategic direction, clarity and support by working alongside our Principal to achieve excellent results year after year which we are all able to celebrate and be proud of. Andrew, thank you, thank you! We are so very pleased to have you continue as a trustee on the Board and know you will bring all your experiences with you to our Board table.
In the coming weeks we will add some information about each of us to our website so that you will know who we are, where we come from, and what we look like! We think it’s important that you feel connected to our school and we would like to be a visible board that listens to our students, parents, and everyone who is part of our school community. Last year we received lots of feedback during our consultation to contribute towards our strategic planning and we are keen to continue to seek your input. We will be sharing a questionnaire with you all very soon for you to keep sharing your thoughts with us! To ensure everyone knows what we do as a board we will be looking at our school website and doing our best to make it user friendly so we can keep you updated as we progress through the next few years. Watch this space …..
Congratulations to all trustees nominated and elected to form our board of trustees at HGHS.
Kind regards, Mel Pilcher Board Chair
P. 4
2019
SHARLEEN NATHAN
Deputy Principal As Term 2 comes to an end, I reflect on the opportunities Hamilton Girls’ High School has been fortunate to have and offer our students. Many of these opportunities have come about from our hard working and innovative staff who go above and beyond. These opportunities have included our renowned Artist in Residence - Judy Durragh; Annie Crummer workshops; Sheila Winn finalists; Sporting opportunities in Winter codes; Subject trips and much more. For our Seniors, these upcoming holidays signify our halfway mark but also the ‘business end’ of their academic study as Term 4 is more about continued preparation for external exams and tying up any loose ends on assessments due or owed. I have written about a ‘growth mindset’ before but it is something we have explored as a staff this year and there is a lot of information available on the internet for anyone interested. A growth mindset encourages the pursuit of a positive, healthy and brave outlook on situations. For example; challenges are embraced, stemming from a desire to learn with a growth mindset. With a fixed mindset, challenges are avoided to maintain the appearance of intelligence. When I think of these examples, I think about inclusive learning environments where ‘trying’ something new is encouraged; taking calculated risks are supported and you learn from mistakes. At the same time, with a growth mindset, you improve your confidence, critical thinking as well as resilience. I have discussed a growth mindset with my own Year 9 Maths class. They ask many questions because they are curious and wanting to understand and develop new ideas. There are no silly questions. I also encourage participating in co-
P. 5
curricular activities that you enjoy and/or are passionate about as these can have a positive influence on your well-being. I enjoy working with our vibrant Service Council, and recently, they led the 40 hour famine project to raise funds for World Vision. Currently, we have raised $4930.40, the most we’ve raised in the last 6 years and we would like to thank everyone who took part in this cause. Finally from me, our Senior Ball is an anticipated night for many of our Year 12 and 13 students; it proved to be a wonderful evening and I’d like to take this opportunity to distribute some thank yous. Our Ball Committee, did a fabulous job of organising the Ball which is no easy feat. Ms Palmer and Ms Coulson-Dalton were also part of this committee and helped the pieces fall into place. A big thank you to all the Staff who attended the Ball; it is lovely to see everyone in their number ones and enjoying themselves. Finally, thank you to our Year 11 helpers on the night, they were kept busy but also experienced the ‘Romance in Europe’ theme for 2019. Make smart choices and have a safe and enjoyable holiday break.
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
MARIA DUNN Deputy Principal
SCHOOL UNIFORM Thank you to those parents and caregivers who are supporting the school uniform rules and expectations. Here are a few reminders: 1. Winter uniform is worn throughout Term 2 and 3. No exceptions 2. The School Blazer is a compulsory part of the school uniform. Please ensure your daughter/s wear this each day.The soft shell jacket and or jersey is not instead of the school Body piercings are becoming an issue and we remind parents that under our school rules and procedures, students are to have one set of pierced ears only. We ask that you support the school in these requirements which are outlined in the student/parent hand book.
STUDENT COUNCIL Pink Shirt Day was held on in week 4. It was great to see the students supporting this important theme. Thanks to the students, the council raised $1002.20. In week 9 the Students Council led a Cutural Roots Mufti Day as part of the week long Te Puawai Festival. The Student Council have recently begun actioning the WISE Mentoring strategy - members of the Student Council working with students requiring support, guidance, friendship, mentoring. This is in consultation with the Heads of Schools.
RONGOHIA TE HAU
CO-CONSTRUCTION MEETINGS As a school we continue to focus on improving achievment for all students and inparticular the Ministry of Education goal of increasing Maaori success and academic outcomes. Not only do students have the opportunity for academic mentoring, our core class co-construction meetings with teachers supports them to set goals and actions towards improved learner agency. Term 2 Goals and Actions set by Year 9 Core Class teachers can be found here
H
ew ak
a
ek For the past four weeks, members of the Strategic Change en oa Leadership team have been working with Curriculum Leaders to complete observations across teaching staff to engage in Culturally Responsive and Relational practise.
These are going very well. These observations include parent, teacher and student input. Survey’s have recently been sent out to parents and students of Maaori descent. Hopefully you have already participated in this very quick survey.
P. 6
2019
REBECCA EARLY
Deputy Principal 2020 AUGMENTATION OF HAMILTON GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR CURRICULUM PROGRAMME At Hamilton Girls’ High School we endeavour to prepare our akonga for the world beyond our walls, where they will contribute successfully to the wider community. As a school we have drawn on our past history to espouse the future direction of the junior curriculum programme. This is informed by the attributes we envisage our girls will demonstrate when they leave us.
They will be: • Curious (intrinsically motivated) • Agile thinkers (flexible) • Collaborative • Innovative (creative) • Resilient • Effective communicators (purposeful) • Empathetic (identity, diversity, communication)
GIRL BOSS AT HAMILTON GIRLS’ HIGH SCHOOL Hamilton Girls’ High School has been fortunate to be offered a Waikato Chamber of Commerce scholarship to host the Girl Boss ChangemakeHer workshops in week 10 of term 2. This is also in conjunction with the Ministry of Education, and we will be hosting a total of 100 students from the Waikato region to join in the workshops. Girl Boss is all about empowering young women.This message aligns perfectly with our new vision; Empowering young women to dare to excel as innovative individuals who are globally aware citizens. Furthermore it is a pertinent focus in light of the following statistics. Only 2% of NZ’s top CEO’s are women. Girls do not have to wait to be given a leadership role before they can start making a difference. Girl Boss shows them how they can start executing their own projects today. They will showcase the latest research from NZ’s top recruiters so our akonga can learn how to win scholarships,
gain internships, and create an online presence which bolsters their career success. The first workshop is aimed at Year 7 -11 girls who have an interest in STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, Maths) and would like to learn about and explore the impact they can have in these fields. It is an inspiring workshop for those who want to make positive change in their communities, and maximise their impact through science and technology.
P. 7
In light of these values we are developing a junior programme that will allow our girls to; • Embrace “risk-taking” and “mistakemaking” • Show courage to try new things • Think outside the box • Love “real-world” links and interconnections • Develop a growth mindset • Be okay with the “unknown” and the “unknowable”
THE SECOND WORKSHOP IS THE LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR. The students will: • Build resilience and confidence • Identify issues they care about so that they can find their own ‘WHY” • Become aware of challenges they may face and develop strategies to overcome them • Brainstorm ways to powerfully impact their own communities. • Be inspired by examples of young women across the globe who are making a difference • Find out what NZ’s top recruiters are looking for • Learn to create a positive digital footprint and their own personal brand • Learn how to nail internship and scholarship applications
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
CRAIG SCRIMGEOUR Deputy Principal
EXAMINATIONS – MAXIMISING POTENTIAL SENIOR PRACTICE EXAMINATIONS Practice examinations for our senior students and accelerated junior students doing senior courses will be undertaken during weeks 6 and 7 next term. These will run through each day from Monday 26th August through to the end of Wednesday 4th September. All senior students will be on study leave during this time and are only required to attend school during the appropriate examination slots. Students will need to spend a great deal of time studying for their examinations – and as always, the more preparation, the better the outcome. The upcoming school holiday break would be a good time for students to put a revision timetable/plan together and start implementing it. We encourage your daughter to use these examinations as a barometer for understanding what she needs to do between now and November, as well as for practising effective examination techniques. Teachers will provide written feedback following these examinations via the parent portal. An examination timetable will be emailed about 2-3 weeks prior to the start of these examinations. I invite you to highlight the examination day and time for each of your daughter’s examinations and post the schedule up on a prominent notice board at home. Students can so easily be convinced that their examination is in the afternoon, only to find it is in the morning. There is no remedy for a missed examination. NCEA AND SCHOLARSHIP EXAMINATIONS NCEA and Scholarship examinations commence on Friday 8th November at our school. While it may seem early to be considering the schedule of those examination times, the schedule does form a good foundation for establishing a study programme and it is not too soon for your daughter to be considering her build-up to her best performance. The 2019 NCEA and Scholarship Examination Timetable can be located via the NZQA website (www.nzqa.govt.nz). JUNIOR EXAMINATIONS Students in Y9 and Y10 will also have examinations beginning the end of October. While a schedule for these examinations will be published later in the year, it is a good idea to get into a study regime as early as possible and to maintain this throughout the year. The Academic Council runs tuition and homework assistance every Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime upstairs in the school library. We know, and expect, that all our students will do their very best as they strive for excellence in their work. Sustained effort will be rewarded.
P. 8
2019
KATRINA WHAANGA Deputy Principal
The HGHS Sports Department has had a change in personnal with Stacey Chandler and Zara Henderson starting this term as Sports Co-ordinators. Zara comes with a degree in Sport and Exercise science and Stacey has a Bachelor of Physical Education majoring in Sport and Exercise Science. They are both passionate about sport and have a wealth of knowledge within the sporting and fitness industry. All Winter Sports codes are well and truly into their seasons. Term 3 sees our top Premier teams heading away for Winter Tournament. There are a large number of teams fundraising to minimise the cost for students to participate. Please where possible get behind the fundraisng ideas and support our girls. If teams are wanting to put in a fundraising application please make sure you speak to Fran Duggan in the finance office or contact her on dugganf@ hghs.school.nz The Sports Council have advertised for students to be apart of a mini council looking at HGHS sports apparel and
publicity around student achievement. Congratualtions to Kaden Moeke, Monique Spedding, Madison Long, Neha Kumar, Kelsey Lomas and Sarah King who will work with the Sports Prefects.To promote, improve and support some of our current systems. HGHS Prefects travelled across to Hamilton Boys’ High this week to participate in an annual sports exchange. Despite a valiant effort by our HGHS Prefects we narrowly lost to Boys High in Ultimate Frisbee. We will host HBHS next term for a return challenge.
KAMA SCUTTS
Business Manager The student services team are preparing for 2020 year 9 enrolments and are testing the use of online forms. The new online application form was launched last week and we are already seeing the benefits of this to busy parents as well as school staff. The team will also bring the annual mobile dental service to a close next week. This has been very successful this year and the team (led by Joy Goodhew Team Leader) places a high value on contributing to the health and wellbeing of our students by coordinating this service. A new sign in tablet will be launched next term once testing is complete and will help streamline the way we manage common student attendance issues such as appointments and other passes. The tablet will interact directly with our student management system keeping ur information as up to date as possible.
P. 9
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
ACADEMIC NEWS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT Science department - Learning to teach the new digital curriculum There are constant changes to the technology all around us and human interaction with the digital world is constantly evolving. This has meant changes to education with the introduction of the new digital technology curriculum. These changes impact all year levels and areas of primary, intermediate and secondary education. To help the Science Department learn and prepare they have been creating new learning tasks and adapting what they currently teach to work with. This has given the Science teachers new opportunities to develop their skills with technology in new ways, preparing them to teach new skills to present and future students.
use of these for classroom teaching. Finally, they looked at their next steps for circuit building, such as using our breadboard cables to connect the circuits to computers and create programmes that control the lights and sounds the circuit is producing. They had a lot of fun learning to use these new components and discussing the potential and to support teaching the new digital curriculum.
This term Science teachers have been using new electricity circuit tools called breadboards. These are smaller more compact ways of creating electric circuits which parallel our current teaching of electricity in the physics area of the curriculum. However, these smaller models are closely related to circuit board in everyday electronics; from chipboards in cell phones and computers to cars and home appliances. At a department meeting Science teachers designed and built circuits using coloured lights and sound making buzzers. This extended into discussions about the best
PE & HEALTH DEPARTMENT Our level 1 / 2 Personal Training classes took part in a Fitness Day on the 13th June. The girls were able to experience 3 vastly different forms of exercise. Firstly, we went to Core MMA, where we learnt ways to strike, hold and someself defence strategies. We then ventured to CrossFit at Alpha Brave where we did an intense EMOM workout and learned proper technique for different CrossFit exercises. We finished off with a Body Balance class at Les Mills, which was a mix of yoga, Tai Chi and pilates. The girls took a lot out of each session, and are excited for the next Fitness Day in Term 3.
P. 10
2019
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT The focus for this term’s newsletter is senior writing.We were fortunate that two of our students, Paige Ace and Kyla Hooker, were invited to attend the prestigious Young Writer’s workshop. Their pieces lead the way for this edition. SOAP BUBBLES long day. keys down. deep breath. chamomile seeping layers of skin, wind whipped. soap bubbles. suds scrub days away of writing, of thinking, of dreaming (of anything else). soap bubble reflections of wild hair, of loose hinges, driving open roads, windows down, simple dreams sun-soaked.
SUNSET She looks to the light of the shining rays of the sun. Her eyes are identical to the colour of the peaceful, clear ocean.The sun beams down upon us. She waddles along the coastline, avoiding the lapping waves as they come nearer to her. She continues, filled with absolute glee as the sound of her laughter gives me goosebumps. “Daddy, look at the sky!” She looks up in astonishment as the sky is painted with various bright colours. “Yes, my darling. Isn’t it great?” I smile at her.The sun’s decline in the sky and further disappearance beyond the horizon is mesmerising to a young girl, and yet the beauty of it is still beyond me.The whisper of wind blows her mid-length, chestnut hair behind her shoulders, revealing her beautiful little face. Her cute little button nose is sparsely scattered in freckles, her lips are pursed together, speechless at the stunning outlook. She reaches for my hand, hers softly brushing mine before closing, sealing our connection, one that is reserved for father and daughter. Kyla Hooker - 2EXT
LIBERATED I giggle, lost in another world. Holding back a grin, I look up. I catch a few gazes before they flitter away, ashamed to be caught staring. I lower my eyes and feel the heavy stares — that I had previously failed to notice — return. I can almost taste the judgement in the air. I stand up, put my book away and breeze past them, trying to exude an air of coldness.The rage, a permanent resident in my gut, bubbles furiously through my veins. My ears redden and become hot.This rush of emotion manifests itself late enough that it has gone unnoticed. I wait alone at the bus stop; glad for the quick respite before the chaos of the bus.When the bus arrives, I sit near the back, securing two escape routes.Angry and embarrassed, I decide to take a leaf out of their book.To eavesdrop.
beep beep lost staring - this is no sitcom no thirteen going on thirty so where is our childhood?
I catch snippets of conversation, as I try to determine the most intriguing. Nothing particularly catches my interest. Not so hushed whispers at the back of the bus catch my attention. Slightly familiar voices that I can’t quite place.The thing that lures me in is the fact that they are whispering. People only whisper when sharing things they don’t want to be overheard.
six feet under books heavier than myself.
I can’t make out the whole conversation over the rest of the chatter but, I catch things here and there. “...Psychotic...” “...Ugly...” “Who would want to be friends with a psycho like her anyway?”
long day. soap bubbles. Paige Ace - 3EXT
RAGE
It doesn’t fume, It doesn’t boil, Or burst ever so suddenly.
Most importantly one should note It builds from splattersDots- small pockets of resentment. The devil spots: They linger, idle. that’s rage. Melika Lolaki - 13EXT
Recognition explodes in my brain Amy and Coral.The school bullies.Their haunting words echo in my brain and I attempt to blink them away.They have picked on me enough that I should have recognised their voices immediately. Derision hidden behind sweet melodic voices. Poisoned apples.They appear nice but are harmful. Piecing together everything I have heard, I determine the target of their taunts. Pansy. Five, cute and autistic. My first instinct is to run. It’s what I’ve always done.What I do best. But, getting off the bus means that I’ll still have to deal with them later.Waiting for them to get off is a worse option, as they will see me when they walk through the aisles.A barely audible voice at the back of my brain tells me there is another option.An option I haven’t considered since the incident but, I think about it now. I do it. Not for revenge, but to spare someone else the pain and sadness these girls spread. I stroll towards them, walking with controlled steps, in an attempt to mask my fear. “Oi!” They look up at me and glee fills their eyes but they won’t have me this time. “Shut up!” Confusion becomes evident on their faces.They had forgotten this side of me, and so had I. “If you keep spouting your rubbish, it will be the end. I refuse to stay quiet any longer.” Their jaws hang open and fear trickles through them. I waltz off the bus with a new sense of confidence and determination in my step. A peaceful smile drifts across my face. I have done what I should have done all those months ago. Katie Towgood - 1ENG
P. 11
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
MATHS DEPARTMENT SSEP – YEAR 10 MATHEMATICS The Mathematics department is very excited to be participating in the Smart Waikato’s Secondary School Employer Partnerships (SSEP) program this year. The program is aimed at connecting our Year 10 students and selected employers to contextualise learning and introduce students to a range of careers. This year we have four Year 10 classes involved, 10MA, 10HH, 10H1 and 10C1. Each class is paired with an employer each term. 10MA and 10HH have been partnered with Foster Construction in Term 1 and PWC in Term 2. 10H1 and 10C1 have been partnered with Longveld in Term 1 and Hamilton City Council in Term 2. With each employer, there are two in-class visits and one visit to the employer’s workplace. And here is the story in pictures: LONGVELD CONSTRUCTION
HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL (HCC)
Students experienced the use of equipment and learnt to design and make name signs. They also followed the design and manufacture of a milk tanker from computer screen to being ready for use on the road. This was related to the right angled triangle topic they were learning at school.There were activities designed using Pythagoras, trigonometry and numeric reasoning incorporating the Waka by the River and the Timutimu sculpture on the Cambridge Expressway.
Our students together with HCC staff conducted a survey of the West Town belt where they worked out safety issues, counted road crossings and assessed the feasibility of using open spaces.This project utilised skills from the statistics and number curriculum.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (PWC) At PWC, students were able to see how one of the Big 4 accounting firms work and the opportunities that are available in NZ and overseas in an international company. Students were able to have a feel of working on an accounting profit/loss and revenue table for a mock business client.
PWC – Number activity Surveying the West Town Belt with HCC Longveld – on site visit
Longveld – making name signs
Surveying the West Town Belt with HCC
P. 12
Visit to PWC
2019
FOSTER CONSTRUCTION Foster Construction introduced our Year 10 students to the use of Right Angled Triangles in the construction industry. Students were given the opportunity to construct a mock rectangular base of a building using right angled triangle properties.
Foster Construction with 10MA
Foster Construction – in-class activity
Foster Construction – Constructing right angles at HGHS
Foster Construction – on site visit
Foster Construction – on site visit
Foster Construction – in-class activity
SSEP program is a wonderful opportunity for our students to experience mathematics working in real-life situations and being introduced to possible future careers.We are very grateful to our partner employers and Smart Waikato Trust for making the SSEP program possible and we look forward to our Term 3 visits. Anita Chan SSEP Coordinator for HGHS
P. 13
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
PASIFIKA
Warm Pasifika Greetings, The Pasifika family have had a particularly busy Term Two. We began slowly but surely with Rotuman Language Week in May. From then on, we steadily became busier and busier, culminating in our involvement in the Arts Te Puawai Festival in Week 9. As an update of our activities, we celebrated Rotuman Language Week for the first time at HGHS. It was interesting to learn about this small island group. Two of our seniors spoke to the staff about what it means to be Rotuman in New Zealand; “Faiak se’ea, girls.” This was closely followed by Samoan Language Week. With the number of Samoan students in our student body, it was heartening to see the work our senior leaders put in to create a memorable week of activities. Who can forget Zumba, dancing and quizzes in exchange for lollies? Then, when everyone had settled into their studies, we began preparations for Te Puawai Festival.
Wednesday evening. But what capped off a beautiful week of Pasifika grace and beauty was to listen to Aunty Esta, the HGHS Stage Director for Pasifika PBN when she featured as a guest exponent of her craft at the Creative Roots Arts symposium. She reminded us not to give up and to take every opportunity offered. To add the relish to her presentation, it was a pleasure to watch HGHS PBN old girls Cydney, Jayda and last year’s Pasifika Prefect,Tiare, dance hula kahiko and hula auana. Finally, to finish the term, Mrs Nathan and Mrs Meha-Uelese have been working with mentoring of our senior students. We are pleased with the progress that is being made. We suggest that the girls take this time to write their revision timetables so that there is little stress in the lead-up to the practice exams. We wish you all a safe break and look forward to seeing the girls, rested and refreshed on Monday, 22 July.
It was a privilege to sing at the installations for two art projects. In addition, our Fijian dancers represented us well at the Gala concert on
The Pasifika Mentoring Team
GATEWAY PROGRAMME Gateway Work Experience has had a successful year to date with students experiencing the world of work through a number of different career pathways. Students have been placed in a range of industries such as the Health Care sector, Hotel Management, Retail and Customer Service, and Education. Many of these placements occur during the school day so it demonstrates a high level of dedication by the students to keep up with their school work. Some students gain credits through their placement but the main purpose is for them to gain the key skills which businesses are looking for in their staff such as team-work, respect, communication, having a positive attitude, showing commitment, resilience and self-management. The student’s motivation for being part of the Gateway Work Experience programme is so they can find out more about their chosen career pathway as well. If any students are interested in gaining work experience then please contact Suzie Brace in the Careers office.
P. 14
2019
CAREERS UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YEAR 13 STUDENTS Term 2 holidays are the perfect time for Yr13 students considering tertiary study in 2020 to search for financial scholarships. MoneyHub, a consumer finance website, has published a guide to hundreds of scholarships for any student planning to start university in 2020.The comprehensive list includes scholarships offered by every university as well as those specifically available to local students.A list of privately-funded, Maori, Pacific and International university scholarships completes the list.Applications close throughout the year, with tens of millions of dollars available. MoneyHub has also published a list of tips for scholarship success. For more details and to find suitable scholarships, visit the MoneyHub Scholarship page
Livana with Army friend. DEFENCE FORCE EXPERIENCE APRIL HOLIDAYS Livana Cooper
I was very fortunate to be selected for this special 4 day experience at Linton Military Camp, near Palmerston North. It was a wonderful chance to find out about all the different career pathways in the Army. We flew from Hamilton to Palmerston North, where we were transported to the Camp so we could meet all the other girls from around NZ.Staying in the barracks throughout this time, we learnt how to make our beds properly and to pass inspection each morning. We also enjoyed delicious meals provided by the Army chefs. On the first day, we enjoyed a variety of activities - some were teambuilding to get to know the other students and others were an opportunity for us to learn about the different trades that you can learn in the Army eg mechanic, engineers, communications. My favourite activity was the infantry one, where, in groups , we had to carry packs on our backs and carry a rifle ( not loaded!) around an obstacle course.This was challenging because the packs were heavy but lots of fun as we supported each other. On the second day, we had fitness training, which was also very challenging with more team bonding and problem solving activities. I particularly liked how my group discussed the problems and worked together how to solve them. My team was placed second which was satisfying.In the evening, we camped out in tents on the base, to experience what it is like being in the outdoors. We had to cook our own dinner over a gas stove, which was fun. It was an early start the next morning as we had to pack up and go back to the barracks for our final sad farewells.
POCE EXPERIENCE (PACIFICA ON CAMPUS EXPERIENCE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO) Neha Kumar
I was given a life-changing opportunity to explore the Otago University campus, student life and courses through the Pacific on-campus experience scholarship, it provided me with a chance to broaden my knowledge in the courses that I was interested in. During my stay in the residential halls, I was able to see what student life was like and the services that are provided within the halls such as academic tutoring and support groups. I learned more about the university and the courses from the program than I did from attending the open day, this is because I was able to meet some amazing academic and pacific mentors, professors, second/third-year students, and staff. These incredible people taught me things that I never would’ve known if it weren’t for this trip! I’m still shaken by this empowering and inspiring experience, I felt a sense of unity as I was able to connect with people who traced back to my roots and became family by the end of the trip.They influenced me in my choices and made me rethink and consider all of my options for the future. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity and would thoroughly encourage any indigenous Pacific island student to apply for this scholarship and take advantage of this memorable experience.
Overall, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience what life could be like in the Army and I am now keen to join the Infantry section when I leave school.
P. 15
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
SPORTS AT HGHS Term 2 has proven to be another very busy term. We have had 2 new Sports Co-ordinators start this term, Stacey Chandler and Zara Henderson. Both have a passion for sport and come with a background in Sport and Exercise Science. Winter Sports are well and truly underway. I would like to acknowledge the time and effort that our coaches/managers/TIC and parents put into seeing Sport happen at HGHS.
CROSS COUNTRY: This term began with one of the schools favourite events of the year - the cross country. Everyone showed up dressed in their house colours, with big smiles, great attitudes and their house chants ready to be sung loud and proud. The results were: JUNIOR: 1st place: Monique Spedding 2nd place: Madison Rattray 3rd place: Tegan Andrews INTERMEDIATE: 1st place: Lucy Rennie 2nd place: Lucy Gordon 3rd place: Imogen Barnes SENIOR: 1st place: Maria Sartin 2nd place: Ella Hickman 3rd place: Shauna Glassie-Ryan
WSS INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION/ TEAM SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIPS This term we have had a huge amount of success in Squash. We had six students compete in the WSS Individual Squash Champs who achieved outstanding results. Isabel Lond was the runner up in Division 4, Hayley Carson was the plate winner in Division 1, with Anika Jackson and Sophie Hodges as the respective winner and runner up of Division 1. The WSS Team Squash Champs consisted of Anika Jackson, Hayley Carson and Lynelle Goodwin. The girls were very successful and took the title as the winners of the Division 1 what excellent results! The success continues outside of the school with Anika and Sophie both being selected in the Squash NZ World Junior team to play in the World Champs in Malaysia in July. A huge congratulations to all of these girls for their successes.
Lucy Rennie ran a quick race at the school event and had the fastest time overall. We also took a fantastic group of girls to the Central Zones Cross Country Champs and the Waikato Bay of Plenty Cross Country Champs. The girls raced in some tough and wet conditions at both events and remained in high spirits the entire time. Lucy and Maria both placed second in their age groups at the central zones event and Monique came third. At the Waikato/BOP event, HGHS placed 3rd in the teams category for the Senior Girls event.
P. 16
NETBALL
The Premier Netball team has had a tough start to the season. They had an intense game against St Peter’s in the final and placed 2nd in the Secondary School Monday Night league. They have been playing some really hard, exciting netball in the Premier grade of the Thursday night league and are building and developing every game.We’re excited to see how they go for the rest of the season and look forward to seeing what they can achieve in the pinnacle event of the Upper North Island Secondary Schools netball tournament. HOCKEY 1ST XI Hockey this year is going really well. The 1st X1 are undefeated in the Waikato round with finals taking place on Wednesday the 26th June against Diocesan School for Girls. The goal for the team this year is to make top 4 at Federation Cup which is the top ranked Hockey tournament in New Zealand. It will be exciting to watch the team progress through the season leading into this major tournament. Both our 1st and 2nd X1 team are playing in the Intercity Competition. This allows our top teams from Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Thames Valley and Pukekohe to play more challenging games before HGHS 1st X1 heads to Federation Cup.There are 3 pools and our 1st X1 is in the top tiered pool. Our 2nd X1 is the only 2nd X1 team in the competition and they are in the second tiered pool.
2019
FOOTBALL Recently during our annual Tauranga exchange, two of our four teams were invited to participate. The exchange saw a dramatic win for our Jr 1st XI team, and a tough game with big competition for our 1st XI. It was great to see the girls play hard and to see the amount of football parents that came out to support our girls. Our football program has seen a lot of interest this year, as we have seen steady results from our four teams this year.This year has seen the girls fortunate to have such strong managerial support, with excellent parent coaches, and two dedicated members of staff as part of our soccer program this year. Good luck to our football teams for the remainder of their season. BASKETBALL The Premier Basketball Team have hit the ground running this season with some very convincing wins in their competition. In their most recent game they suffered a tough loss to St Peters School, the team’s biggest rivalry. The girls fought hard all game and unfortunately were unable to walk away the win. We look forward to the next time these two teams meet on the court. We have some extremely talented students in our premier team with many of them representing the Waikato region in rep teams. Quaye WalkerEketone, Riva Walker-Pitman, Tyler Mitchell, Sydney Neale and Amber Waretini were also selected to play in the NZ Invitational team to compete at the Mountain Showcase AAU tournament in Utah. Congratulations to these girls. Our Premier Development and Junior Premier teams are hard at work and have achieved some great results in the competition so far. With the regional premiership tournaments approaching quickly we see the girls training hard and focusing their efforts towards being the best players that they can be. Good luck for all that is yet to come. We are grateful to have such amazing coaches and managers for basketball and we thank you for all of your hard work.
INLINE HOCKEY This has been a year of growth for our Inline Hockey teams.With our two teams have come a variety of ages, which has been great for building camaraderie. This year has been great for our inline hockey, and the results have reflected that. Our Gold and Storm teams have seen tough competition, and we have seen results that have had both positive consistency and at times steady but sure improvements, with a very close margin in the few losses they have had. Their teamwork has been proven as Term 2 saw our premier team moved to a higher grade, and both teams have seen tough competition from a variety of teams including mixed boys and girls teams, and some teams taking on intermediate players with great skill. The girls have had an amazing opportunity to be coached by a national team member Hannah Jensen, and a parent manager Mike Rollo. Both are a dynamic combination together, and have helped the girls constantly reach their best as individual/team players, both on and off the rink. Thank you to Hannah, Mike, and TIC Miss Jellyman, and good luck to our teams as they finish their season, and prep for further competition.
TAURANGA GIRLS’ COLLEGE SPORTS EXCHANGE On Tuesday the 25th June we travelled across to Tauranga for our annual exchange with Tauranga Girls College. Over 130 girls were in attendance of this event that dates back to both schools exchanging for the past 13 years. Despite a crisp start to the day the weather was absolutely stunning and we were treated to some thrilling highly skilled matches. The following sports results were achieved.
RUGBY The rugby season has got off to an exciting start at HGHS. Our 1st XV team are currently undefeated and seem to be dominating the competition. Our 2nd XV team has had a mixed bag of success, achieving a good win, a draw and a couple of tough losses. The 1st XV and 2nd XV team have gone head to head in two games on the school field as part of their competition. Both games were won gracefully by the 1st XV and were games that students and spectators enjoyed watching. The U15 rugby team has had a slow start to the season and have only been able to play a couple of games which resulted in one loss against TAC Girls College and one draw against Melville High School. We are excited to see how the rest of the season plays out for these girls.
The final result of the exchange was 3 wins to Tauranga Girls College and 9 wins to Hamilton Girls’ High School. So overall we retained the shield for another year, well done girls!
The 1st XV were fortunate enough to play against Fielding High School in an exchange a few weeks ago and did an excellent job of showcasing the talent and skill that they have. They played a great game against Fielding to come away with a win. We look forward to seeing how our rugby teams progress over the rest of the season.
P. 17
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
CODE RESULT Debating Junior team TGC win Debating Senior team HGHS win Rugby U 15 HGHS win by default Netball Year 10 HGHS win Netball Prem Reserves HGHS win Netball Premier TGC win Hockey 2nd XI HGHS win Hockey 1st XI HGHS win Football Jun. 1st XI HGHS win Football Sen 1st XI TGC win Basketball Jun. Prems HGHS win Basketball Sen. Prem HGHS win Badminton invitational TGC win
Thank you to all the teachers, managers, parents and coaches involved with each team, without you all we would struggle to offer these exchanges.
LACROSSE Lacrosse has seen a successful season beginning this term. With the sport slowly growing, we have 3 teams. The season has so far been of good report for our teams as they have played well. they have given their best and have been up against fierce competition. It has been great seeing girls commit and have healthy and positive attitudes. They train hard and take initiative weekly at trainings and games. Lacrosse has been a good sport to grow leaders and athletes this year as the majority of our girls are juniors. All but three students are year 11 or younger. We are excited to watch lacrosse as it continues to grow.
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
ARTS AT HGHS TE PUAWAI FESTIVAL - A Celebration of the Arts This year is the first time we have focussed a week of activities on specifically Arts focussed activites planned between student prefects working in conjunction with the TiC’s to build leadership capabilities through real-world experiences. The result was an extensive week of culturally rich experiences that challenged our girls and staff personally, academically and creatively.The name Te Puawai was chosen by the TiCs from the Arts Council and is a derivative of Ngaa Puawaitanga our school hall. Day 1 Monday 24 Opening of the ‘Bee Stunning’ art installation
To challenge our academic boundaries To build real-world relationships and networks
Bryre Aish’s speech at this event On behalf of Hamilton Girls’ High School, we want to thank artist Judy Darragh for bringing art-making into every classroom through this installation ‘Bee Stunning’.
There were 3 elements to the Creative Roots Symposium: 6 -7 minutes Guest Speaker Presentations including approximately 20 slides (similar to the Pecha Kucha style) 6 minute Guest Artist Performance
Tin foil, spray paint, ping pong balls and skewers all make us think about climate change and the role we play as consumers. We are mindful about what it is we are putting into the earth and that we can make something thought-provoking out of even the most mundane of objects.
The featured presenters included nine professionals who transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns and relationships to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods and interpretations within their fields of expertise. They included: Judy Darragh - artist, Kate Darrow - curator, Horomona Horo - taonga puoro, Dagmar Dyck - Printmaker and Painter, Jeremy Mayall - Educator/Composer/ Musician, Kent Macpherson - Sonic Artist/Phonographer/ Composer/Educator, Esta Metekingi- Exponent of Hula, Jocelyn Kerr - Hair and makeup artist and Anjum Rahman - founder of the Islamic Women's Council.
It is fitting that the work is installed at the foot of Ngaa Puawaitanga our cultural hall, named after the historic function of this place as a flourishing garden for Maori. Of further significance is the planted tree in memory of Amber Parker, a former student of Hamilton Girls’ High School. To Ange Paykel, we are humbled and grateful for your artist in residence programme that has enriched our art department and broader school community. To our Principal Ms Gordon, we are incredibly grateful that you would allow us to express ourselves in this way at this time. Day 2 Tuesday 25 Creative Roots Symposium The Purpose of the Symposium was: To promote creative pathways To inspire through social experiences To recognise how identity and our shared stories connect us
Other highlights of the festival included: The Te Puawai Gala Concert, a stunning showcase of culture and Performing arts; Ataamira Dance workshops with Year 9, Levels 1, 2 & 3 Dance students, Printmaking workshop with Dagmar Dyck and the Level 2 & 3 Printmaking students; Sound recording workshop with Kent Macpherson and a Level 2 Media studies class; Annie Crummer Songwriting workshop with 14 music students, Hillcrest High School International Cultural concert; lunchtime Music performances and the student opening of Te Ahuru Mowai - cardboard houses and Home in conjunction with the Creative Book Project by the multi-cultural students.
P. 18
2019
MUSIC The Big Sing Regional Competition On a sunny though cool Tuesday morning, 52 students and two teachers set off for Tauranga to participate in the yearly choral competition, The Big Sing. Competing alongside 22 other schools, Mana Waahine took to the stage prepared and ready to sing their numbers with full voice and lots of energy. The skills we had learned over the last six months came flooding back with diction and a good balance of vocal parts being our strongest weapons to woo not only the audience but also a very strict judge. His comments were well received, especially when he said that the “choice of repertoire was well judged and appreciated by the audience.” Credit must be given to our conductors Mrs Dickinson and Denae McCready, as well as the musicians Wakaba Sasaki on piano, Shekinah Tofilau on guitar and Susana Satini on the to’ere.As expected, waiting for the final placings was nerve-wracking but finally, we were put out of our misery gaining a very pleasing 4th place. We look forward to next year.
P. 19
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
DRAMA Girls High Macbeth Scoops Top Awards at National Shakespeare Competition For the past three months, the chanting of witches has filled the corridors at Hamilton Girls’ High School as 22 Drama students rehearsed a scene from Macbeth for their entry into the Otago University Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Nationals, held in Wellington. The group won the Regional Sheilah Winn Competition in April, and with their baskets of costumes and props set off for the National finals to pit their skills against 45 other winning schools from all over the country. Sponsored by Otago University and Sheilah Winn, students took part in Drama workshops and performed their scenes in the Michael Fowler Centre in front of a judging panel of top theatre designers and directors. Hamilton Girls' were one of five top schools, winning five awards for performance and design. Year 12 student Bree Stevens was one of 22 students selected to be part of the National Youth Shakespeare Company, while Year 11 student Eden Peters, won a contract with a major Auckland Talent agency. Drama prefect,Artemis Goed, said the competition gave students a great opportunity to see many different approaches to Shakespeare's scenes, and the chance to make new friends and work with students from other schools in workshops as diverse as Stage Combat and Clowning. With literally thousands of secondary school students participating in the Sheilah Winn Competition around the country, the legacy of the Bard is alive and well. The 2019 Sheilah Winn Awards include: Toi Whakaari Award for most Effective Design The Trinity College Award for Best Understanding of sound and silence The Patrick Spottiswoode Award for Best Use of Space Individual Award - Kam Talent Agent The Open Cast of 22: Rebekah Belbin, Stella Boland, Queen Chakrabarty, Raela Cuthers, Katie Denize, Artemis Goed, Jovi Harrison-Taylor, Ngamihi Lyndon, Hayley Monaghan, Laura Munro, Elyssa Orchard, Eden Peters, Amanda Potgieter, Ella Robbs, Tylah-Dawnn Samuels-Brown, Bree Stevens, Chloe Sutherland,Taylor Jovi, Niamh Trodden, Maraia Vukinamualevu, Macy Wheeler, Anna Wilson, Elise Zhu. Special thanks to Ms Wynne-Jones(Director & TiC)Mrs Maplesden and our Principal Mrs Gordon, for supporting the Sheilah Winn experience to Wellington.
P. 20
2019
P. 21
EDGECUMBE HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY 2ND PLACE The participation was real and teamwork was amazing, leading edgecumbe to second place. This year, we had so many girls participate in non competitive and managed to have a couple of girls run competitively. Another achievement added onto our list for 2019, super proud of everyone who participated and went all out in wearing their blue.
40 HOUR FAMINE 3RD PLACE Another proud moment for Edgecumbe this year as we had several girls sign up, and participate in the 40 hour famine. This year, we were placed third, with 791 points and raising $691.00 in total. With these results, we can proudly say that our house, and entire school are able to help, provide, and feed families from overseas that need it most.
QUIZ This term girls in all year levels within Edgecumbe competed in the ‘Hunger Games’ academic quiz. With questions ranging from common knowledge to critical thinking. These lovely ladies pulled through and answered questions to the best of their ability, working together, and bring their own skills to the table. Though the marking for the quiz is yet to be released we are confident Edgecumbe came in the top three.
HOUSE CAPTAIN Within this term Thessaloni and I have been working hard to insure our house have had an eventful and memorable term. With the love and support from our House Council we couldn’t ask for anything more. Throughout this term we have seen teamwork, support, mad love and heaps of smiles from all our girls in blue making every moment even better than the last. SCATTERGORIES A tutor group activity and competition that we will always favour as a house. We can almost say it’s one of our traditions that we enjoy, where the top three tutor class this term were rewarded with a prize each. This year, we changed it to the top five (2nd = EJN, 3rd = ECX, 4th = EPA, 5th = EGR) and this years winner of scattergories competition was ECT. TOP GIRL OF MAY Katelyn Graham - always polite, punctual, wears her uniform with pride and completes WISE cards
COUPLES YOGA Throughout term two, Edgecumbe tutor group girls have been competing in what is called Couples Yoga, where the girls in groups or pairs create and pose in a yoga position. So far we have seen amazing poses, girls working together in groups of four, some in pairs of two, even have whole tutor class participating in creating amazing and difficult poses showing off their teamwork and communication skills.
MACDIARMID HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY
MacDiarmid began Term two with anticipated strides around the outskirts of the Hamilton Lake Domain! With the placing of fourth overall MacDiarmid was super grateful to the ladies who put themselves forward for competitive, we are always super proud. A huge congratulations to Lucy Rennie who placed first in the junior girls division and had also gained the 2019 HGHS top cross country runner! We are now pacing through our school events and with Song Fest 2019 coming up in term three, Hunter and I are super keen to grab the win and look forward to creating a fun piece!
ACADEMIC QUIZ
Our Academic council held the yearly academic quiz this year themed “The Hunger Games”. Our Junior and Senior teams consisted of five girls each as well as our teachers who also took part. Senior team: Tiani Barlow Hunter Randle Maegan Downey Heidi Trott Artemis Goed Junior Team: Grace Bosch Mira Arif Humaira Feroz Shae Duggan Miriam Bacon We had a lot of fun participating and were super stoked that it was multi choice! We dressed up in green and were happy to represent the mighty MacD team.
40 HOUR FAMINE
This year was a super successful one in regards to our 40 Hour Famine. Students gave up technology, food and even talking to participate in this years famine. The service council raised $4930.40 and Macdiarmid contributed a mighty $602 towards this! We are so proud of the results HGHS made for such a great cause.With this, we earnt 647 house points that resulted us in coming fourth overall. We are more than happy with the money raised and are so thankful to our Mac Diarmid girls who did the mahi and got their sponsors as well as the people who donated to the cause.
SONG FEST
One of the most prestigious events that our house looks forward to is Song Fest! This gives the opportunity for the creative students to showcase their talents in a fun environment. This year our theme is to rearrange our school song and to also incorporate kiwi artists in our singing. We are super excited to showcase Mac Diarmid's talent! So we encourage you all to participate and to come enjoy the one of the most look forward to events.This year there has been a slight change in the rules regarding strict singing rather than focusing on dancing as well, new challenges bring awesome opportunities and we are very excited!
INTER-TUTOR GROUP COMPETITION: POEM
This term we introduced a inter-tutor group competition. Tutor groups created poems that related to their time here at Hamilton Girls’ or in the Mac Diarmid team. Sarah Bowyer from MSM created this poem titled
“Green, Mac Diarmid, Green”. This was such a touching poem that we just had to award as the overall winner, congratulations Sarah! Green, Mac Diarmid, Green A badge of honour, a mark of pride. The colour of life, of go forth and learn. Spirit soars, chants ring high. Splash, run, and learn; points we shall earn. So... So long, MacDiarmid, house of my heart. Ice cream, soda, banana split, that was my favourite hit. Green, MacDiarmid, Green - Sarah Bowyer,Yr 13
MESSAGES FROM THE MIGHTY MACDIARMID MASSES ( our house committee) This term was filled with laughter and a lot of dedication, I loved all the amount of support and encouragement, whether it be by everyone hyping each other up for the ball or by wanting to lend a helping hand.This terms been extremely fun and I cannot wait to see what awaits us in Term 3 Yours Truly Tylahlee
This term was busy with lots of events varying from house competitions to winter sports starting to cultural competitions to name a few.A highlight from this term for me would have been performing in the Kapa Haka competition team for the first time. This term has definitely been a great one and it’s all thanks to you all for your constant dedication and hard work that has made this term so enjoyable. Enjoy your holidays and rest up, and let’s see what Term 3 has for us. Charntell
This term was filled with so much entertainment. It was very busy but still so much fun. I really enjoyed cross country.The fact it was so chill but also at the same time you actually wanted to do it. It was awesome to see all our girls dressed up in green representing mighty Mac Diarmid. 40 hour was also so much fun. No food, no furniture, no devices, it was a crazy weekend for me.This has definitely been my most favourite term, seeing all the girls so enthusiastic and ready to help us gain many house points. Let's see what Term 3 has awaiting for us. Many challenges and so many opportunities to get evolved. Have a very safe and fun holiday girls.~
Term 2 has stepped up the game with the amount of work we have to do compared to last terms work, it has showed everyone that they need to start trying and studying more. Besides the work based things this term everyone got to participate in the schools Cross Country, which I found fun even though I did non competitive I still participated and got points for our house. We also had the ball this term for yr12 and yr13 students, this was a fun experience for both year levels as for the yr12’s it was their first ball and for yr13s it was their last ball at HGHS. Overall this term has been filled with a lot of positive energy and hand work from all the students.
Hannah
Jamie-Lee
Term 2 was definitely one to remember. MacDiarmid girls all gave it their best and everyone stepped up to the given challenges. Cross country and academic quiz were definitely highlights of mine. I look forward to the next term and seeing what else our Mac Diarmid has to offer.
HEADS HOUSE It has been a good term for Heads. We placed first at Cross Country, with 4 out of 9 placings coming from our students (Madison Rattray, Teagan Andrews, Lucy Gordon and Imogen Barnes) as well as a heap of students who made it through the race in under 30 minutes. Our participation in events like this makes a huge difference and is one of the reasons we do so well. This year the 40h Famine became one of the major house competition events. Our participants raised $1368.70 and earned us 1438 points. Notably, the school’s highest fundraiser was Zahra Warnock (HHA), who raised $640! Well done to everyone who participated, we came second overall because of your efforts.
WILSON HOUSE Term 2 has been a very mixed term for Wilson House. We farewelled a beloved member of Wilson House, Julie Capil. Julie was Wilson House through and through and our Wilson girls gave her an amazing send off. They acted with grace and poise, wowing Julie’s family members who had come to her farewell. Ms Deobhakta and myself would like to express a massive thank you to not only the students, but also our fellow teachers who kept the ship afloat. Well done to all. Julie, you will always be missed. As for Wilson Competitions, WLG took out our paper plane competition with a commanding victory.They set the standard from the very beginning with their plane flying almost the whole length of the gym! Well done to WLG! We had three teams compete in the academic quiz, a junior, senior and a teacher team. It was a difficult competition and we eagerly look forward to hearing the results next term.Thanks to all of those involved. A HUGE congratulations to one of our year 9s, Caitlyn Wasley who raised $268 dollars for World Vision 40hour Famine.This amazing total helped push Wilson over the line into FIRST place! Collectively Wilson house managed to raise $1348 dollars.This is a mammoth effort.To all of those that participated or donated, you are awesome. Next term Wilson will be competing in Song Fest.We are currently narrowing our choice of music down to a NZ song and will be working on a revamp of the school song. It should be a very fun time. Enjoy your break everyone, have lots of rest and enjoy the time with your families. Seniors, remember you have mock exams coming up really soon so you will want to be preparing for those! We will see you all on the 22nd!
CAMPBELL JUNIOR TEAM: Morgan Van Loggenberg Morgan 10CCD,Tayla Browning 11CMS, J’arne-Arlee Smith, Johanna Vreede 10CSS.
CAMPBELL HOUSE NEWS FROM OUR CAMPBELL CAPTAIN. Term 2 has been an eventful term for not only Campbell but also for HGHS. We’ve had a wide range of activities such as cross country, 40 hour famine and the academic quiz happening throughout the term.We would like to acknowledge everyone who has actively participated in each house event, we love to see those from all year levels participating and showing their house spirit. We recently had our inter-tutor group quiz a few weeks back with CHS coming in third place, CCN coming in second place and XMU coming first. Our next house event will be Songfest, this event enables each house to showcase their inner house and school spirit. This will give a chance for Campbell to let their “voices” be heard, Destiny and I are excited to show the rest of the school what Campbell can do. All our tutor groups have been busy decorating their artwork for the Te Puawai festival art installation. It’s pleasing to see the creativity blooming and girls experiencing the Arts. Nikita Page
THE ACADEMIC HOUSE QUIZ The Academic House Quiz was held on the 21st June and Campbell entered three top teams. Well done everyone.Thanks for your participation.
CAMPBELL SENIOR TEAM: Kimiora Whaanga 13 XSP,Angel McDonald 13 CSS, Brenna Mathews 12 CSC, Senumi Gunawickrama 12 XCK, Nikita Page 13 CMM.
CAMPBELL INTER-TUTOR GROUP COMPETITION Campbell inter-tutor group competition lead board. At the end of term three, the winning tutor group will receive a shared lunch. Tutor group XMU CHS CCY CDY CCN CKY CSS CSY CSC CHN CCD CMG XSP CMM
Points 22 17 16 15 13 13 9 9 8 8 8 8 6 4
CAMPBELL TUTOR TEACHER TEAM: Ms Steele XSP, Ms Dibley CDY and Mr McCullum
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
NCEA KEY NZQA DATES Special Assessment Conditions (NZQA might allow a student to have special help with their assessments, this help could include; extra time, a computer, a reader, a writer, a reader writer, enlarged papers, separate accommodation, etc.The student might need such help because of a learning disability, medical condition, or some other reason.)
Apply to Mr Mitchell as soon as possible. This is because students are only allowed these conditions for their internal assessments after NZQA has approved their applications.
Start checking your results on the NZQA Database
5th April (Updated on the 5th day of each Month)
NZQA Fees
School’s deadline – Friday 10th May 2019
Financial Assistance
School’s deadline – Friday 10th May 2019
Last Date to Withdraw from External NCEA & Scholarship Exams
School’s deadline – Friday 9th August 2019
Last Date to Withdraw from Internal Standard Unless you have been given an adequate assessment opportunity
School’s deadline – Friday 15th November 2019
TERM THREE PRACTICE EXAMINATION FROM 26 AUGUST TO 4 SEPTEMBER: • • • • •
• • • •
• •
scholarship fees, from all students from New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue. However, other international students still have to pay NCEA fees.
Examination Timetable Will be published approximately by 19th August. Practice Exam results could end up being a student’s actual External Exam result - Derive Grades: NZQA provides students with an opportunity to apply for derived grades if they have been disadvantaged because of a temporary impairment close to or during an external examination (held in November). Derived grades will be generated from the results students gain from their practice examinations held in term three, unless their teacher advises them otherwise. This is one very good reason why senior students should take their term three examinations very seriously. NZQA will not be able to award a student with a grade for an externally assessed standard unless they have a result from an appropriate practice assessment. Unable to sit a Practice Exam - Further Assessment Opportunities It is impractical to provide further assessment opportunities for these practice examinations outside the assessment period. It is possible for practice exams to be rescheduled after the published examination time. They can be rescheduled up until the 4 September, if appropriate documentation is provided to support the student’s absence for the initial assessment. All applications to have an examination rescheduled must be made before Wednesday 14 August, except for case of sickness. Contact Martin Mitchell about rescheduling term three practice examinations (mitchellm@hghs.school.nz)
ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
Students can access the school’s assessments procedures by logging onto the school’s computer networking using their student logon. Then they just double click on ‘ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES 2019 document on their desktop, refer to the screen shot below.
Therefore any payments made towards 2019 NCEA fees has to be refunded for all students from New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue. An e-mail has been sent to the caregivers with instructions on how they are to direct the school to make the refund. The school’s finance team will endeavour to make contact via an alternative method where a caregiver does not have an active e-mail account. If the school has not had a reply within 14 days of contact then funds will be refunded by allocating the money to any outstanding fees on the student’s account. In situations where the money has been paid by someone other than the student, or their caregivers, then the money will be refunded to the third party. Notes about the refund: 1. How long will it take to refund the money?: There will be a large number of refunds to be made. The first refunds will be made within two weeks and the school expects the last ones to be made by the 5 July. It therefore depends on where you are in the queue. 2. Refunds must be paid back to the payer: The school can only make payment to the person/organisation who made the original payment.This means the payment will go back to the parent if they made the payment, the student if they paid, or the organisation (e.g. Oranga Tamariki) which paid the fees as part of a grant. 3. Payments made to someone other than the original payer: Payments will not be paid into another person’s (eg, student) bank accounts unless the school receives authorisation from the person/organisation who made the original payment (see point 2 above). Authorisation can be given by the original payer either by (1) a signed letter or (2) an email to Finance@hghs. school.nz. This authorisation must state the bank account number the money is to be paid into. 4. Unpaid NCEA fees prior to 2019: Unpaid fees from previous years no longer need to be paid. NZQA will award credits and qualifications earned in previous years where fees were not paid. 5. Refunds do not apply too: NZQA will not refund any NCEA fees paid before 2019. 6. 2019 NCEA Fees: To enable the refund process, the money paid for a student’s NCEA fees has been temporary moved to their credit balance until the caregiver indicates how this money is to be refunded. They have 14 days to do this. 7. International students: International students still have to pay NCEA fees.This does not apply to students from the Cook Islands and Niue, they do not have to pay NCEA fees.
SCHOOL CONTACT It is expected that all students have read this document.
REFUNDING 2019 NCEA FEES
On 13 May, the Minister of Education removed NCEA fees, including
P. 26
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 839 Mail: Mr Mitchell PO Box 4082 Principal’s Nominee Hamilton
2019
P. 27
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
GENERAL INFORMATION NZ EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER NZ Police recently launched a new non emergency number, 105. We’ve done this to make it easier to get hold of us in the event of non-urgent situations or ‘Things which have Already Happened’, which don’t require Police assistance immediately. You can call us on 105 for all non emergencies, or you can go online at 105. police.govt.nz to report things like: • Lost property • Theft for a public place or car • Intentional property damage • Or to get an update or add info to a previous report In the event of an emergency, always call 111 - Things that are Happening Now.
BLOOD DONATION On Thursday 1st of August a blood donation day will be held at school from 9am till 1pm •
• • •
First Time Donors Existing Donors You must be 50 kg or over (if you are a first time donor you must also meet the height and weight criteria – tool available at www.nzblood.co.nz/am-i-eligible). Must be 16 years and up. You must be in good health at the time you donate Bring ID
Information will be available at the Wellness Centre HOST FAMILIES NEEDED We are looking for host families for short-term hosting opportunities during Term 3 and 4 in 2019. The students are predominantly from Japan. Hosting an international student is a rewarding experience, giving you and your family the opportunity to learn a little about a student’s culture while sharing with them our New Zealand way of life. If you think you can offer a student a great experience in New Zealand for the short time they are here, go to our website at http://www.hghs.school.nz/index.php/ international Click here to fill out and complete the Application to Provide Homestay form. Alternatively you can international@hghs.school.nz more information.
P. 28
email for
2019
ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT HAMILTON GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL Get your new Entertainment Membership today.
The 2019 | 2020 Entertainment Memberships are here, with exclusive offers for everything you love to do. It’s our best Membership yet, packed with amazing offers for activities, attractions, shopping, travel and all kinds of tasty treats - from cool cafes to fabulous fine dining. With Entertainment there are thousands of experiences you can enjoy, while raising funds for the things you care about. http://www.entbook.co.nz/154q037 CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT US NOW!
P. 29
TERM 1 NEWSLETTER
KEY DATES THIS TERM
5 JULY 6 – 21 JULY 23 – 24 JULY 29 JULY 30 JULY 30 JULY 1 AUGUST 2 – 4 AUGUST 2 AUGUST 6 AUGUST
Founders Day Term 2 holiday Write that Essay - Clinc/Coaching day MANUKURA 1st XV game Talent Quest Finals HGHS + HBHS 7:00 – 10:00pm Gateway Health and Safety Course Blood Bank NZSS Squash Championships 3APS/APO New Experiences day Open Day
CAREERS DEPT KEY DATES - TERMS 2 TERTIARY VISITS AND OTHER CAREER EVENTS Wintec Open Day University of Auckland overview presentation University of Waikato Open Day University of Canterbury Info Evening Waikato Careers Expo Massey University Info Evening Victoria University Info Evening
Friday 10 May 1.30pm, Monday 13 May All day, Friday 17 May 6.00pm, Tuesday 28 May All day, Sun/Mon 9-10 June TBA, Tuesday 11 June 6.30pm, Wednesday 3 July
Call into the Careers Office for further information regarding these events
P. 30
All Campus’s Library Claudelands Event Centre Claudelands Event Centre TBA