Term Three Week 8

This week marked an exciting milestone as we shortlisted candidates for our 2027 Prefect Team. I have been incredibly impressed by both the number and calibre of students who applied for these leadership positions.

Each applicant brought exceptional strengths and qualities to the process and I am confident that all those who put themselves forward will continue to contribute positively to our school community through the various student committees. Our goal is to develop a diverse leadership team that not only understands our school values but can also demonstrate them authentically in a variety of settings. We are looking for students who can truly “walk the talk” and serve as positive role models for others.

Strong attendance, academic commitment, and a willingness to give back to the school and wider community are all important qualities we seek in our student leaders. Leadership is so much more than wearing a badge; it is an opportunity to serve others, demonstrate integrity, and set an example both within the school gates and beyond.

On Wednesday evening, I had the privilege of attending the Lions Young Achievers Awards at Lindisfarne College. The event celebrated some of Hastings’ most outstanding young people, and it was inspiring to witness the depth of talent, leadership, and dedication demonstrated by this year’s recipients.

Whether excelling in academics, sport, cultural pursuits, or community service, these students shared a common trait: humility. Many spoke about balancing demanding study schedules with training, rehearsals, and other commitments, yet they remained focused on their goals and grateful for the support around them.

A consistent theme throughout the evening was the recognition of parents, caregivers, and schools as the champions behind the scenes, supporting, guiding, mentoring, and encouraging students through both successes and challenges. It was a powerful reminder of the importance of acknowledging the families who walk alongside our young people and the dedicated staff who help make success possible.

We were proud to nominate our Head Girl, Mennat, and Amorangi, Maieke, two exceptional young women with very bright futures ahead of them.

Our School Ball was a fantastic celebration of our young women and men, as well as the longstanding connection between our school and our brother school, HBHS. This year marked the first combined Ball with HBHS in approximately 20 years, making the occasion particularly special. It was a pleasure to welcome Mr Summerfield, Headmaster of HBHS, along with members of the senior leadership team and staff, to celebrate with us.

The students looked stunning and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying such a significant school event. The evening was a testament to the positive relationships between our two schools and provided many memorable moments for those who attended.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Sonya Lyndon, our Business Manager, and Emma Jensen, our Deputy Principal, for their invaluable support of the Ball Committee. Their dedication and hard work helped ensure the event’s success.

With only three weeks left of Term 3, we are quickly approaching the final part of the school year. One of the recent highlights has been continuing to strengthen our connection with Hastings Boys’ High School. Our student leaders have enjoyed working alongside the HBHS prefects and creating more opportunities for our two schools to connect. We are also looking forward to welcoming their prefect team to our upcoming Junior Social which will be held later this term for our Year 9 and 10 students. It has been great to see these collaborations grow throughout the year and to organise events that bring our school communities together. Our student leaders have also remained active across the school, supporting events, assemblies, and various initiatives throughout the term.

With the year moving so quickly, it has been really rewarding to look back and see how much our leadership team has achieved together so far. At the same time, we are beginning to look ahead to 2027, with students now putting themselves forward for leadership positions for next year. To everyone who has applied, congratulations on having the confidence to step forward. Leadership can be challenging at times, but it is an incredibly rewarding opportunity to contribute to our school and represent your peers. Regardless of the outcome, simply putting yourself forward shows courage and a willingness to make a difference.

With only a short part of the year left, I am really looking forward to seeing what else we can accomplish before the end of 2026. It has been a special year for our student leaders so far, and I hope we can finish it feeling proud of everything we have contributed to the school.

Ngā mihi nui
Lisa Akers

Senior Ball Success & Junior Social Registration
What a fantastic night! Our Senior Ball was an absolute success, with our students dressing to impress, celebrating together, and creating unforgettable memories. A huge thank you to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make the evening so special and smooth-running. Looking ahead, excitement is also building as planning for our Junior Social moves into full swing. To secure your student’s spot, please complete the online registration via the previously sent link and arrange the $5 payment at the Main Office. Please note that both registrations and payments must be finalised by Friday 18 September.

Attendance Update
Despite recent seasonal sickness floating around, our school attendance currently sits at a solid 84.1%. We truly appreciate your ongoing support and proactive communication. Please keep notifying the Student Centre whenever your child is unwell so we can maintain accurate records. To celebrate dedication and foster strong, consistent habits, attendance prizes will be awarded at the end of the term.

Sports Awards Nominations
Preparations are underway for our major Sports Awards and we want to ensure all achievements are celebrated. If your child has excelled or competed in external sporting events outside of school, we would love to hear about it. Please submit their external sporting achievements using our sports nomination link so we can acknowledge their dedication and success.
Please submit their external sporting achievements using our sports nomination link so we can acknowledge their dedication and success.
CLICK HERE – FILL IN FORM

2027 Student Leadership
The selection process for our 2027 student leadership positions is progressing smoothly with an exceptional group of candidates stepping forward across a variety of roles. It is inspiring to see so many students eager to serve their community while consistently embodying our core school values both inside and outside the classroom.

With only three weeks left of Term 3, we are quickly approaching the final part of the school year. One of the recent highlights has been continuing to strengthen our connection with Hastings Boys’ High School. Our student leaders have enjoyed working alongside the HBHS prefects and creating more opportunities for our two schools to connect. We are also looking forward to welcoming their prefect team to our upcoming Junior Social which will be held later this term for our Year 9 and 10 students. It has been great to see these collaborations grow throughout the year and to organise events that bring our school communities together.

Our student leaders have also remained active across the school, supporting events, assemblies, and various initiatives throughout the term. With the year moving so quickly, it has been really rewarding to look back and see how much our leadership team has achieved together so far. At the same time, we are beginning to look ahead to 2027, with students now putting themselves forward for leadership positions for next year.

As we start prepping for 2027, I want to say a massive congratulations to everyone vying for next year’s leadership positions. Taking that first step isn’t easy, but leadership is such a cool way to give back and represent your friends. Whatever the final results look like, putting yourself out there takes real courage – you should all be proud!

It has been a special year for our student leaders so far, and I hope we can finish it feeling proud of everything we have contributed to the school.

Thursday night was a very special one for Hastings Girls’ High School as our senior students came together at the Toitoi Assembly Ballroom for the 2026 Senior Ball.

With this year’s theme, Under the Lanterns, the ballroom was transformed into a beautiful setting filled with lights, creating the perfect atmosphere for an evening of celebration. From the moment our students arrived, there was a real sense of excitement, and it was wonderful to see everyone dressed up and ready to enjoy such an important milestone in their senior school journey.

This year was particularly special as we welcomed Year 12 and 13 students from Hastings Boys’ High School to join us. Bringing our two schools together added another dimension to the evening, and our students embraced the occasion with maturity, respect and a wonderful sense of fun.

The dance floor was certainly the place to be, with students making the most of the music and enjoying the opportunity to simply spend time together away from the routines and pressures of school. Throughout the evening, there was a fantastic atmosphere of friendship, laughter and celebration.

We were incredibly proud of the way our young people conducted themselves. In the lead-up to the Ball, we had talked with students about the significance of the occasion and the responsibility that comes with attending. They certainly rose to that expectation, demonstrating the values we ask of them and helping to make the night such a positive and memorable experience for everyone.

An event of this size takes considerable planning behind the scenes, and we would like to acknowledge Deputy Principal – Pastoral Emma Jensen for leading the organisation of the Ball, along with the staff and students who contributed their time and energy to making the evening such a success. Thank you also to the staff who attended on the night and helped ensure our students could celebrate in a safe and supportive environment.

Most importantly, thank you to our students. Seeing you enjoying yourselves, celebrating your friendships and creating memories together was exactly what the evening was about.

The 2026 Senior Ball was a wonderful celebration of our young people and a night we know many will remember long after they leave Hastings Girls’ High School.

Photos will be released next week.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate four talented Hastings Girls’ High School students whose writing has been published by The Sapling, a respected online magazine dedicated to children’s and young adult literature in Aotearoa.

Year 12 student Daphney Vea had her thoughtful response to Jonjon Tolovae’s ‘My Eyes Glisten’ published, exploring the poetry and its themes through her own perspective.

Fellow HGHS writers Peris Kirisimasi (Year 11), Val Failauga (Year 9), and Liliu Nu’uvali (Year 9) also had their work featured, contributing responses to Hiva and Heartbeats. Their writing formed part of The Sapling’s coverage of the 2026 New Zealand Children and Young Adult Book Awards finalists.

Having their work selected for publication is a fantastic achievement. It gives our students the opportunity to take their learning beyond the classroom, engage critically with literature from Aotearoa and, importantly, see that their own ideas and voices have a place in our national literary conversation.

A special acknowledgement goes to their English Teacher, Whaea Maeve, whose encouragement and guidance has supported these young writers to develop the confidence to share their work with a wider audience.

Our thanks also go to Harriet Elworthy and The Sapling for providing a platform where young people’s perspectives are valued and celebrated.

Congratulations Daphney, Peris, Val and Liliu – we are very proud to see your words reaching readers beyond our school community.

On Tuesday, our Year 12 cohort spent the day exploring Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) to check out the amazing higher education and training opportunities available right here in Hawke’s Bay!

From degrees to practical hands-on qualifications, polytechnic study offers incredible flexibility—including short certificates, diplomas, and degree programmes packed with real-world work experience to help secure employment.

Highlights from the day:

Unique Pathways: Exploring niche fields like screen production, viticulture, fashion, and vet nursing.
Brand-New Facilities: Tour of the state-of-the-art nursing school.
Hands-on Trades: Getting an insider look at automotive, building, and hospitality courses.

EIT Info & Enrolment Day

When: Thursday 17 September
Who: Students & whānau welcome!
Why: Perfect for anyone considering study or career pathways for next year.

Need help with applications or exploring options? Pop in and chat with Trudi and Maxine in Ngā Ara (our Careers/Pathways Department) located in the Student Centre.

School Calendar