Term Four Week 7
Principal's Message
Kia ora e te whānau
This week has been a particularly meaningful one for our kura, with several important moments that speak to who we are as a community.
ERO Pilot Launch – A National First for HGHS
On Tuesday, we proudly launched the nationwide ERO pilot here at Hastings Girls’ High School. Being selected as one of the first schools in Aotearoa to participate in this new internal evaluation approach reflects the significant progress we have made together over recent years.
ERO acknowledged our kura for our courageous curriculum design, our commitment to equity, and our strength in building culturally sustaining practices. The pilot aligns closely with the direction we are already moving in — strengthening internal review, raising literacy and numeracy, and ensuring that every ākonga knows success.
Manaakitanga in Action – Welcoming Frimley School
This week, we opened our doors to support Frimley School following the sudden closure of several classrooms due to potential asbestos contamination. Their students are now learning from our gym and the 1’s block classrooms, with designated outdoor areas for play and dedicated toilet facilities.
Our students and staff have shown genuine manaakitanga and whanaungatanga — welcoming our neighbours, sharing our space, and demonstrating the heart of who we are at Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina. We will continue to support Frimley School for as long as needed.
End-of-Year Opportunities – Ākonga Out and About
With the year drawing to a close, many of our classes are taking part in end-of-year learning experiences beyond the classroom. These rich, authentic learning opportunities remind us that education is more than what happens within the four walls of a classroom — it is about connection, context, and creating memories.
Junior Focus – Expectations Remain High
While seniors continue with examinations, our Year 9 and 10 students have been outstanding in upholding the kawa o te kura and kawa o te akomanga. As we move into the final weeks of the term, learning remains our priority, and we appreciate whānau reinforcing the importance of attendance, punctuality, and readiness for learning.
Thank you again for your ongoing support, adaptability, and partnership.
Ngā manaakitanga
Catherine Bentley
Meet our new Principal
Hastings Girls’ High School – Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina is delighted to announce the appointment of Lisa Akers as our new Principal
Lisa brings more than three decades of experience in secondary education, with an extensive background in leadership, pastoral care, curriculum innovation, and community engagement. Her career includes senior leadership at Wairoa College and she has led major portfolios in pastoral systems, curriculum development, wellbeing, senior assessment, learning enhancement, and school-wide operations. She comes to us from Iona College but has also worked at Napier Girls’ High School, and Te Kura Correspondence School.
A proud former student of Hastings Girls’ High School, Lisa has a deep and lifelong connection to our kura and the Hastings community. She attended Frimley Primary, Heretaunga Intermediate, and Hastings Girls’ High, where she achieved proxime accessit and academic honours before beginning her teaching career. She later returned to HGHS as a Physics teacher, an experience that cemented her passion for education and her strong sense of responsibility to the school’s legacy and future.
Throughout her career, Lisa has demonstrated a commitment to equity, excellence, and inclusive education. She has led significant initiatives that strengthened student engagement, transformed school culture, and improved outcomes across diverse communities. Her leadership at Wairoa College saw the successful revitalisation of pastoral systems, improved attendance and achievement, and national recognition through One News for the school’s transformation journey.
Lisa is known for her strengths in:
building strong relationships with students, staff, whānau, and iwi
fostering collaborative, high-performing teams
leading personalised, place-based learning
growing leadership capability in others
maintaining calm, strategic decision-making under pressure
driving change with clarity, compassion, and integrity
She is deeply committed to ensuring that every learner feels seen, valued, and supported to reach their full potential — aligning strongly with the values of Ākina and the aspirations of our community.
Lisa and her husband have recently returned home to Hawke’s Bay, and she is looking forward to reconnecting with the kura that shaped her, and to leading Hastings Girls’ High School into its next chapter with authenticity, vision, and heart.
We warmly welcome Lisa back to Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina and look forward to the leadership, stability, and passion she will bring to our school.
Regional Bus System Changes for 2026
Please note that the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council is implementing significant changes to the public bus system, scheduled to take effect in 2026.
These changes, which include a number of new routes, may impact students and families who currently use the GoBay services for travel to and from Hastings Girls' High School. The updated network aims to enhance public transport options, potentially offering easier routes for many of our students.
We encourage you to review the planned routes and detailed information directly on the GoBay website to see how these changes may affect your family's travel arrangements for 2026.
GoBay Bus Route Link
Celebrating our 100% Superstars
We are proudly celebrating another week of outstanding commitment and attendance at kura.
A massive congratulations to our dedicated ākonga Bella and Ysabelle for achieving 100% Attendance this week! Your effort and presence in the classroom is an essential part of your success and our innovative learning environment.
Enjoy your well-deserved sushi vouchers! Tino pai!
Casting, Camping, and Curriculum in Patangata!
Our Year 9 Outdoors Hub, who are currently studying rivers, recently embarked on an incredible, hands-on learning adventure in Patangata, staying at the Patangata Gun Club for two nights.
Our students embraced the challenge of tent camping and gained invaluable practical expertise thanks to the incredible mentors from the Hastings Anglers Club—Colin, Lloyd, Gary, and Mark.
These dedicated community members taught the girls the art of casting a trout rod. This was directly linked to their study as the girls also learned about the trout's ecological niche—what they eat, how they live, and the river habitat that sustains them.
The learning became delicious when Lloyd successfully landed a trout, and Mark expertly smoked it for the group to try—it was a definite highlight!
The excitement continued after dark. Using handlines the men had crafted for us, we experienced the thrill of eeling at night. The girls caught a few, showing great respect for the environment by carefully releasing them.
A huge thank you to the Patangata Gun Club for hosting us, and to Colin, Lloyd, Gary, and Mark for volunteering their time and expertise to create such a memorable and innovative experience for our students. We are so grateful for your support!
Innovation in Action: The Maker Impact Market
Earlier this term our Contemporary Innovation Pou had their Maker Impact Market. We challenged them to step outside the box and ignore preconceived notions of "perfect," encouraging deep critical thinking from the very start. The project was a holistic journey, focusing on:
Ideation: Killing off preconceived ideas, brainstorming, and defining a clear business purpose and goal.
Financial Literacy: Mastering real-world finance, from material sourcing and cost calculation to pricing strategy and profit projection.
Design & Production: Taking weeks to perfect their creations, showcasing dedication and craftsmanship.
The culmination was a highly successful market day, where students proudly pitched their innovative products. The incredible turnout from our diverse community and whānau was a testament to the support our students receive.
It was an awesome experience that brought people together and provided invaluable, academically innovative, real-world experience. Some groups are already planning to take their successful ventures to public markets!
Celebrating Toitū Te Reo 2025 in Heretaunga
Toitū Te Reo 2025, Aotearoa’s national celebration of te reo Māori, took place in Heretaunga last Friday. The festival brought together wānanga, kai, art, music, and vibrant street events showcasing kapa haka, comedy, and live performances. At the heart of the day were the symposium spaces, created for learners of all levels to connect, grow their reo, and be inspired.
We were proud to have Te Raukura Harris and Cheyenne Christy-Smith take part in this incredible experience.
Celebrating Academic Innovation!
Our Year 10 students were recently inspired by a visit from Te Maari and Ira-Aroha, Kaihautū (leaders) for the incredible Pūhoro STEMM Academy.
Pūhoro champions academic pathways for rangatahi in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths, and Mātauranga Māori. This session was all about showcasing the exciting opportunities awaiting our students taking Level 1 Science next year.
We're proud to support our students as they explore diverse career options in a safe and innovative learning environment. The wānanga experiences, like the recent collaborative event with 10 Hawke’s Bay schools, truly highlight the connection and pathways Pūhoro provides.
Future STEMM leaders, we are ready for you!
International Fun in the Sun
What a fantastic day in the sun for our international students! They spent the day exploring the beautiful Ahuriri area, soaking up the hot sunshine, and enjoying a great walk along the estuary track.
It was an enjoyable day out, connecting with the local environment and creating some awesome memories. Thanks to Lyn, Clare and the international students from Hastings Boy's High School for coming along!
Important Dates
Monday 24 November
NCEA External Exams Continue
Tuesday 25 November
Year 9 Outdoors Elective River Study
Wednesday 26 November
HGHS BOT Meeting
Thursday 27 November
Condor 7s U15s National Tournament
Friday 28 November
International Students - Arataki Honey Farm, Pekapeka Swamp, Te Mata Peak
Condor 7s U15s National Tournament
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Monday 1 December
Year 10 Outdoors Hub Rivers and Lakes Culminating Event
Tuesday 2 December
Junior English Language Native Species Science Fair
Thursday 4 December
Senior English Language Overnight Mihiroa Marae Trip
Friday 5 December
NZSS Athletics Champs
Year 9 & 10 Career Expo
School Calendar
A key change this term is that our senior students are now on study leave, dedicating this time to final preparations for their upcoming exams. We wish them all the very best with their studies!
We're also looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our junior students. Please keep an eye on our pānui and social media for information about upcoming prizegivings and end-of-year events.
School Calendar Link
Uniform Shop Hours
Lunch Menu - Week 8
