Term Two Week 2

Tēnā koutou katoa

Today, we take a moment to celebrate some of our incredible students who are achieving outstanding success in sport. We are so proud of our rugby girls, our NRL athletes, and those representing on the international stage. A special congratulations to Brooke, Peyton, Aaliyah and Bella, who recently represented Club Recode on a three-week tour of Portugal. Competing against international teams, they achieved an overall win against the USA—an outstanding accomplishment. Their trip also included time in Paris, making this an unforgettable experience both on and off the field. We also congratulate Pattreece Andersen, who has been selected for the U16 Tag Blacks and will travel to Australia later this year to compete in the Tag World Cup—an incredible opportunity. Congratulations also to Valentyne Manutulila on her selection into the Hawke’s Bay Netball Under 18 Development Squad, a fantastic achievement that reflects her hard work and dedication.

We know there are many more success stories in our community, and we encourage students and whānau to continue sharing these with us so we can celebrate them together.

As winter sports begin and teams are formed, it’s a timely reminder of the powerful role sport plays in the lives of our young people. Sport is often where students begin to “learn to adult”—developing discipline, teamwork, resilience, communication, and decision-making skills that will serve them well beyond school. It also provides valuable coping strategies when facing disappointment, whether that’s not making a team or dealing with a tough loss. Most importantly, sport is about enjoyment—building friendships, staying active, and supporting overall wellbeing.

We know that students who are engaged in sport, committed to their learning, and supported by whānau and staff are the ones who truly thrive. Research also shows that participating in two or more sports can have a positive impact on academic outcomes, supporting better time management, stronger thinking skills, and increased motivation.

To make these opportunities possible, we rely on the generosity of our community. We are always in need of coaches and managers to support our teams. If you are able to help in any way, please get in touch with the school—we would love to hear from you.

Ngā manaakitanga
Lisa Akers
Principal

It has been a positive start to the term, with attendance tracking well as students return to routines and reconnect with their learning, peers, and wider school life. Maintaining this momentum is important, particularly as we move into the winter months.

With the change of season comes the reality of cold and flu season. While illness is sometimes unavoidable, students should aim for no more than 5 days off per term. During Terms 2 and 3 especially, it is important to factor in the likelihood of sick days, as planned absences combined with illness can quickly impact attendance and student progress. Thank you to our whānau for your continued support and strong communication around absences—it makes a real difference.

We also take this opportunity to acknowledge and farewell Amelia Pasikala, who has been supporting our attendance team. Amelia has made a valuable contribution to the school, and we thank her for her work with our students and whānau. We are excited to see her take the next step in her journey, having recently joined the Newcastle Knights squad as a Kiwi Ferns international forward. We wish her all the very best as she continues to pursue her rugby league career.

As always, thank you for your ongoing support in helping our students stay engaged, connected, and thriving.

On Thursday 7 May, we will be holding our Junior Parent Teacher Interviews from 3.30–6.00pm.
This is an opportunity to come along to the School Hall to meet your student’s teachers and discuss their progress towards their academic goals.

To book a time with your student’s teachers, please visit:
Click here to make interview times

Alternatively, you can contact the school office on 06 873 1133 and one of our staff will be happy to assist with your bookings.

Our Brazilian international students had a “Napier Day” last Friday! We kicked things off with a scenic walk around the Ahuriri Estuary loop, enjoying the fresh air and incredible weather.

After refueling with a delicious lunch (thanks to our HGHS kitchen crew), we took a detour to the Centennial Gardens to admire the waterfall (the perfect photo op!) and finished the day with some retail therapy in town. The girls managed to find some beautiful gifts to take back home to their families. A perfect day with a wonderful group!

Autumn at Frimley Park never looked so good!

Our Environmental Committee spent some time in their lunch breaks under the golden trees this week, but they weren’t just enjoying the view. The team took part in a rubbish pick-up to care for one of Hastings’ most iconic green spaces.

Seeing our students display such genuine kaitiakitanga for the whenua was truly inspiring. It was a perfect example of service in action, and we are so proud of the work they did to keep our community clean and welcoming. Huge thanks to the committee for making a real difference!

Last week, our Level 3 Biology class headed to the aquarium for a hands-on day of marine science. Their primary mission was to design and carry out their own experiments using Daphnia (water fleas), measuring real-time changes in heart rates and bringing their learning to life in a meaningful, practical way.

After a focused morning of investigation and data collection, the students were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at aquarium life. They watched the adorable little blue penguins being fed and saw a diver up close in the main tank alongside the impressive stingrays.

A huge thank you to the aquarium staff for hosting us and supporting our students as they explored science beyond the classroom.

Huge shoutout to Reign and Chevelle for crushing it with 100% attendance last week. Your commitment is paying off—literally! We hope you both enjoy that celebratory sushi.

Let’s keep that momentum rolling as we kick off the new term. Who’s going to be our next attendance champion?

A very busy start to Term Two with our winter sports kicking off! Tomorrow sees the start of the netball season and grading starts at 8am at the Sports Park. Please see below the times.

Monday 4 May

Senior A Netball | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | School Gym
Tuesday 5 May

Badminton Juniors | Lunch | School Gym

Junior A & B Netball | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | School Gym

Football 1st XI | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | School Fields

Rugby | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | School Fields

Wednesday 6 May

Junior Red & Blue Netball | Lunch | School Gym

Senior B Netball | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | School Gym

1st XI Football | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | School Field

1st XI Hockey | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | School Turf

Rugby | 3:00pm – 4:30pm | School Field

Thursday 7 May

Badminton Seniors | Lunch | School Gym

Friday 8 May

Senior B Netball | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | Sports park

Monday 4 May

Prem Basketball vs Woodford | 6:45pm | Centennial hall

Wednesday 6 May

1st X1 Football vs HCS | 4:00pm | Hastings Girls Field 1

Thursday 7 May

1st X1 Hockey vs Woodford | 4:15pm | Hastings Sports Park

Badminton | 3:30pm | Home & Away

School Calendar