Term Three Week 7

Winter Tournament Week provided a wonderful opportunity for our teams to travel around the country and compete in their chosen sporting codes. These experiences not only allow students to test their skills against strong opposition but also showcase the character and values that make HGHS such a special community.

I was fortunate to travel to Wellington to support our Senior A Netball team and witness firsthand the excitement of tournament play. I had the privilege of watching two incredibly close matches that kept supporters on the edge of their seats. While the quality of play was impressive, what stood out most was the exceptional HGHS team spirit. It was heartening to see students consistently encouraging and supporting one another, with our senior players taking great care of the two Year 9 members of the team.

Another highlight was the respect displayed at the conclusion of each game. The players made a point of thanking officials, umpires, coaches, and members of the opposing teams. This demonstration of pono and sportsmanship was inspiring to witness, and I was incredibly proud to be associated with such a thoughtful and respectful group of young women. Ka rawe, girls!

A special thank you must also go to coaches Kori and Jamie. The positive impact of your coaching, both on and off the court, was evident throughout the tournament. Your commitment to supporting and developing our students is greatly appreciated.

Our football team also demonstrated tremendous resilience while competing against strong opposition. It was fantastic to see every player give 100% effort on the field. Although the weather was beautiful, the challenging wind conditions certainly tested everyone’s kicking accuracy and kept defenders busy. Most importantly, the team continued to support one another, play with determination, and represent the school with pride. You demonstrated our school values in action and were outstanding ambassadors for our community. Well done to all involved.

On Thursday evening, we held our annual Performing Arts Showcase, an event that celebrates the many talents of our students from Years 9 to 13.

The showcase featured a diverse range of performances, including dance, drama, choir, Te Ao Haka, and instrumental and vocal presentations from students studying within the Performing Arts Department. Each year, we are reminded of the incredible talent that exists within our school, and this year’s performances were no exception.

It was also wonderful to see the strong support from whānau and friends, as well as the encouragement students showed one another throughout the evening. Events such as these highlight not only our students’ talents but also the positive and supportive culture that exists within our school community.

On Monday, students gathered for Assembly to listen to speeches from those who have applied to become the Student Representative on the Board of Trustees.

The election of a student representative is an important part of our democratic process and I would like to thank all of the students who have had the courage and confidence to put their names forward for this role. Serving on the Board provides a valuable opportunity to gain insight into school governance and to develop an understanding of how strategic decisions are made within an educational setting.

I commend each candidate for their willingness to represent the student voice and contribute to the future direction of our school. I look forward to announcing our newly elected Student Representative once voting has been completed.

Thank you to all of our students, staff, coaches, and families for your ongoing commitment and support over tournament week. Together, you continue to make HGHS a school community of which we can all be proud.

Ngā mihi nui
Lisa Akers
Principal

CAA Literacy & Numeracy Assessments Coming Up Next Week

Next week (Week 8), students entered for the Literacy and Numeracy Common Assessment Activities (CAAs) will sit their assessments in the Hall. Gaining these credits is an essential step toward achieving an NCEA qualification.
Key Student Information

• Location: School Hall (catch-ups will take place in Week 9).
• Attendance & Equipment: Full attendance is essential. Students must bring a fully charged device (spares available if needed) and ensure they can access their NZQA login.
• Subject Specifics: Numeracy students need a calculator and a ruler. Headphones will be provided for those using the ‘Polly’ text-to-speech function.
• Special Arrangements: Students with reader/writer support should check their emails for personalised assessment times across Weeks 8 and 9.

Assessment Schedule
• Monday 7 September – Numeracy
Session 1 (8:30 am): Years 11–13
Session 2 (11:00 am): Year 10
• Tuesday 8 September – Literacy (Writing)
Session 1 (8:45 am): Years 11–13
Session 2 (11:15 am): Year 10
• Wednesday 9 September – Literacy (Reading)
Session 1 (8:45 am): Years 11–13
Session 2 (11:15 am): Year 10

Supporting Wellbeing & Whānau Guidance
Assessment periods can be demanding but intentional routines help keep stress manageable and minds sharp:
• For Students: Establish a daily study schedule to break up revision, protect your sleep, stay hydrated, eat well, and take regular outdoor breaks.
• For Whānau: Help your student by discussing assessment dates together, encouraging consistent daily routines, and setting up a quiet, distraction-free workspace at home.

It has been an absolute whirlwind of words across the English Department recently!

Junior English: Exploring Stories & Real-World Skills
Our junior classes have been diving headfirst into their class novels, traversing a rich and wondrous web of storytelling. Exploring texts like High Tide and Cuz, The Whale Rider, Holes, and Orbiting Jupiter, our students have had the opportunity to see their own lives, values, and experiences mirrored on the page. These engaging stories have sparked brilliant classroom debates, encouraging our young thinkers to stretch their critical thinking muscles as they dissect complex themes and big ideas. Alongside novel studies, our juniors have also been analysing a variety of non-fiction texts to sharpen their real-world reading, comprehension, and analytical skills.

Senior English: Powering Through Assessments & Creative Craft
In the senior school, dedication and hard work remain standard practice. Seniors have been powering through their internal assessments, pouring their hearts, minds, and voices onto the page. A magnificent medley of creative writing has emerged across all levels—ranging from passionate poetry and deeply personal narratives to chilling dystopian tales. Writing has truly been flowing like a rushing river (leaving a few sore hands and cramped fingers in its wake after some intense handwriting sessions!). It has been immensely rewarding for our teaching team to watch budding writers flourish and discover creative talents they never knew they possessed.

Looking Ahead: Key Milestones
The department calendar remains packed as we prepare our students for two major upcoming academic benchmarks:

September Literacy CAAs: Our students will soon turn their focus toward the upcoming CAA Literacy examinations, sharpening their foundational skills to ensure success in these crucial standards.

Senior Benchmark Exams: Following assessment completion, senior classes will quickly transition into focused revision mode to prepare for their upcoming practice examinations.

Thank you to all of our students for their relentless effort, creativity, and enthusiasm for English. Keep reading, keep writing, and be sure to give those aching writing hands a well-deserved rest!

Next Tuesday 8 September, all Year 12 students will be heading to EIT Taradale for a tour of the campus. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to explore our local polytechnic, discover the range of trades and degree programmes available right here in Hawke’s Bay, and begin planning their future career pathways.

Trip Details:

• Date: Tuesday 8 September
• Time: 8:30 am – 11:00 am
• Venue: Eastern Institute of Technology (Hawke’s Bay Campus, 501 Gloucester Street, Taradale)
• Transport: Bus provided
• Cost: Free
• Uniform: Full school uniform required

This week our Gateway students successfully completed a comprehensive Foundation First Aid Training course.

During the one-day workshop, students earned two key unit standards: Provide First Aid and Basic Life Support.

The hands-on session covered essential emergency responses, including managing burns, fractures, soft tissue injuries, poisoning, heart attacks, strokes, asthma, diabetic emergencies, and seizures.

Students also mastered crucial basic life support skills, such as performing scene assessments, placing individuals in the recovery position, administering CPR, operating an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), responding to choking, and managing shock and bleeding.

A huge thank you to Mahnoor from LifeCare for sharing her time, expertise, and support to deliver this practical and valuable training to our students!

This week we were thrilled to welcome back our school Community Officer, Senior Constable Chris Leppien, to run another round of our learner driver licensing programme.

With this second cohort wrapped up, a massive 46 students have now successfully passed their learner’s test this year!

Not having a driver license is a huge barrier to employment which is why we urge all our students to get started early. Our goal? Aiming for every student to leave school with at least their restricted license in hand!

A massive thank you to Senior Constable Chris for her dedication in training our students and getting them down to VTNZ for their tests. We couldn’t do it without you!

Our friends at Hastings Intermediate are hosting a fantastic free event in Term 4 and they’ve extended a warm invitation to our school community!

Join expert guest speakers from The Nutrition Clinic, Ahuriri, for an insightful session focused on nutrition, wellbeing, and supporting healthy development for our girls and young women in Heretaunga. This is a valuable opportunity for students and their whānau to gain practical advice and knowledge together.

When: Wednesday 21 October at 6:00 PM

Where: Hastings Intermediate School Hall

Cost: FREE

Registration: Spaces are limited so early registration is encouraged.

Families can secure their spot directly by completing the Register for the event form.
Register Here

Last Thursday, six of our talented badminton players headed to Taradale to represent Hastings Girls’ High School at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Badminton Tournament. Competing across both the Singles and Doubles categories, our team went head-to-head with the very best players in the region, delivering outstanding skill, grit, and sportsmanship on the court!

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS!
A massive shoutout to Jo and Micah who dominated the court to win the A Grade Doubles Competition and take home the title of Top Doubles Pair in Hawke’s Bay! This incredible result is a true reflection of their dedication, hard work, and relentless effort all season long. We could not be prouder!

Congratulations to all six of our incredible players for representing our school so brilliantly, and a huge congratulations to Jo and Micah on their regional title!

It has been a massive Tournament Week for HGHS sports, with our athletes showcasing incredible talent, determination, and pride as they represented the school across the region and out of town.

NETBALL

Our Senior A Netball team travelled to Wellington this week to compete in the Lower North Island Netball Tournament. Taking a young squad that included two Year 9 players, the primary goal was to gain valuable experience against top-tier opposition in the region.

The team exceeded all expectations throughout the week. Targeting a top 16 finish entering the tournament, the girls delivered an outstanding performance to secure 8th place out of 37 teams. This result is a massive accomplishment and a credit to the dedication of both players and coaching staff. With 8 of the 10 squad members returning next year, the future is incredibly bright as we look ahead to 2027!

FOOTBALL

Our football team put in a massive effort at tournament week, going head-to-head with top, football-dominant schools across both pool play and crossover matches.

While the scores didn’t always reflect their hard work, the week was a fantastic showcase of our girls’ talent, potential, and relentless grit. Testing themselves against strong competition provided a clear benchmark of what it takes at this level, and the team has returned hungrier than ever to start preparing for next year. Outstanding effort, team!

SUMMER SPORTS SIGN-UPS ARE OPEN!

Summer sports sign-ups are officially underway! If you are planning to play this season, get in touch with your Ākina coach or the Sports Department as soon as possible to register.

Important: Competition registration deadlines are strictly enforced. If you miss your sport’s meeting without contacting the sports department beforehand, you risk missing out on a team placement. Don’t wait—get signed up today!”

Daily Meetings: Running every day this week during interval and lunch in the Gym.

School Calendar