Term One Week Four
Principal's Message
We have some exciting news to share with our school community. Our Deputy Principal, Ms Emma Jensen, will be on leave for the remainder of the term as she takes on a special opportunity to coach the Hurricanes Poua Women’s Rugby team for their season. Rugby has always been a passion of Emma’s—both as a former Black Fern and as the Coach of our hugely successful HGHS Rugby team, a role she will continue as they prepare for another strong season. We are incredibly proud of her and wish her all the best in this exciting coaching role.
Stepping into Emma’s shoes for the term is Ms Stefanie Williams, a highly valued member of our staff for nearly 17 years. Loved by students, Ms Williams will be taking a break from her role as Gold House Dean to lead our pastoral team. Fortunately, Mrs Michelle Ferguson will be stepping in to bring all the Gold House energy, supported by our fantastic House Deans—Mrs Kim Hokianga (Blue House), Mrs Abby Hall (Green House), and Mrs Amy Moli (Purple House).
With Athletics and Swimming Sports Days coming up, we are looking forward to seeing the enthusiasm and creativity of our students in full force. These two events are among the biggest in the House calendar and the competition for the House Cup is well and truly on! Students are encouraged to get creative with their House costumes and bring their energy to House chants, student vs teacher races, and fun activities both in the pool and on the field. While some will be aiming for personal bests, these days are really about House spirit—continuing the traditions of past students and strengthening the bonds within our school.
I also want to highlight that the Senior Ball will be held in Term Two this year and our Student Leaders have already begun their planning to make it a special event. Students who wish to attend must ensure they meet the 80% minimum attendance requirement so I encourage everyone to stay focused and engaged. Choosing a great partner and preparing for an unforgettable evening alongside our student leaders will make this a night to remember.
Finally, we wish our Debating teams the best of luck as they compete in this weekend’s competition hosted by Napier Boys’ High School. We also send our best wishes to all our sports teams competing over the weekend and look forward to celebrating their results with you next week.
Ngā manaakitanga
Catherine Bentley
Principal
Design and Visual Communication Students Explore CNC Art at Hastings City Gallery
On Monday our Level 2 and 3 Design and Visual Communication students visited the Hastings City Gallery for an inspiring session with designer and artist Jacob Scott. The visit focused on how Jacob integrates CNC machines into his creative process providing valuable insights that directly support the students' current NCEA CNC machine assessment.
Jacob shared his experiences working with a range of materials including innovative and sustainable options like green plastic made from recycled fishing nets. His talk gave students a deeper understanding of how technology and creativity can intersect, encouraging them to think outside the box in their own projects.
This hands-on learning opportunity was perfectly timed and offered our students an exciting glimpse into real-world design processes while reinforcing the skills they are developing in class.
Year 10 Students Explore Connection and Whakapapa at Hastings City Art Gallery
Today our Year 10 Contemporary Innovation class visited the Hastings City Art Gallery to explore Maioha Kara's exhibition, In Good Relation. This exhibition delves into the interconnectedness of all things, using whakapapa to reveal the connections between people, the environment, and the origins of creation. Kara's work features patterns carved into timber forms, incorporating materials like native woods and glitter to symbolise the energy and life force present in all things. Inspired by the exhibition, our students created individual links representing past and future which they then connected to form a collective chain, symbolising our shared journey through time.
Sports News
Senior A Netball Team
Congratulations to the following girls selected for the Senior A Netball Team. The selection process was incredibly competitive and the decision was not made lightly. Your dedication, skill and hard work have set you apart. We are confident that you will represent the school with pride and continue to grow as athletes throughout the season. Best of luck as you represent the school this year.
Hastings Girls' High School Students Represent Hawke’s Bay at Premier Touch Nationals
A huge shout-out to Riley Crawford-Pakoti and Petronilla Olotua, two Year 13 students from Hastings Girls' High School and Premier Touch players, who will be representing Hawke’s Bay in the U21 Mixed grade at the Opens Touch Nationals in Auckland this weekend.
The Opens Touch Nationals is a highly competitive event, bringing together the best touch players from across the country. Competing at this level requires dedication, teamwork, and discipline—qualities that contribute to success both on the field and in the classroom.
We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the way they balance their academic and sporting commitments. We wish them both the best of luck for the tournament and know they will represent the region with pride.
Weekly Sports Draw
Menu for Week 5
