Term Two Week 8

June 12, 2026

News ~ Pānui

Principal’s Message

The highlight of every day for me is the time I get to spend connecting with our girls whether it’s during my lunchtime walk around the school or greeting students at the front gate after the bell. I love hearing what’s going well for them, what they’re proud of, and what they think we can do even better. Their openness, friendliness, and respectful conversations remind me just how deeply our school values shape who we are: our behaviour, our culture, and ultimately the outcomes we strive for.

A question I keep returning to is this: How are we preparing our girls to leave us with a kete of values and skills that will serve them well in our community, in further study, and in future employment?

As a staff, we’ve begun a meaningful journey to unpack our school values. We’re working to be more explicit about what these values look like in different settings around the school and how they are modelled and taught through our new curriculum. We’ve also invited our girls to share their voices, helping us build a resource that captures our “values landscape.” As I’ve shared with staff:

“Values guide behaviour, behaviour shapes school culture, and school culture determines outcomes for our girls.”

It has been another full and exciting week of opportunities for our students. From the Rotorua trip to international speeches, the Otago Science Quiz, and the YES business pitches, our girls continue to step into new experiences with courage and enthusiasm.

These activities offer learning far beyond the classroom: meeting new people, presenting ideas, working in teams, and sometimes feeling a little uncomfortable as they stretch themselves. I’ve been especially impressed by the confidence and poise our girls show when speaking to an audience. Public speaking is never easy, yet they rise to the challenge beautifully.

A special thank you to the many families and community members who joined us for International Speech Day. It was wonderful to see such strong support. And to the staff who have nurtured our girls in this space, your encouragement is clearly making a difference.

It has also been fantastic to see such positive participation in our team sports. Well done to all our girls who arrive on time, prepared, and ready to demonstrate fair play, values that sit at the heart of our code of conduct.

We’ve recently produced a hard copy booklet for each sporting code, including practice times, contact details, and expectations. If you haven’t received yours please ask for one or a digital version is available online.

A heartfelt thank you to all parents and whānau who show up on the sidelines. Your presence sends a powerful message: your daughter is valued, supported, and loved. That encouragement matters more than you know.

Ngā mihi nui
Lisa Akers
Principal

DP Pastoral Update

Ms Stef Williams

I want to begin this week by expressing how incredibly proud I am of our students. A massive thank you to the vast majority of our students who have been wearing the school uniform with pride every single day. The way our students present themselves truly matters; it reflects self-respect, respect for their peers, and pride in our wider school community. Everyone is looking fantastic, so let’s keep those high standards going.

Looking at the calendar, we have exactly three weeks left until the term holidays! While we are on the home stretch, these final weeks are often the most critical. This is the time for our students to dig deep, stay focused, and finish the term strong.

With winter well and truly settling in, we know it can be a bit harder to get moving in the mornings. However, consistent school attendance right now is absolutely vital. Every single day a student is here, they are investing directly in their own academic and personal success.

To help combat the cold, we encourage students to dress warmly within our school uniform guidelines. Wearing a thermal layer underneath the school shirt is an excellent option to stay warm, just please ensure it is hidden beneath the school jersey or blazer so we can maintain our sharp standard.

To provide some extra motivation for arriving on time and ready to learn, here is a quick reminder of what is up for grabs:

The Grand End-of-Term Draw: Students maintaining excellent attendance throughout the year are in the running for some incredible prizes, including a UE Boom, movie tickets, and a variety of awesome vouchers.

Junior Social (Term 3): For our Year 9 and 10 students, the Junior Social is coming up next term. Consistent attendance and positive behavior are the “golden tickets” required to attend, so make sure you are qualifying every single day!

We have three weeks left, team. Let’s look after one another, stay warm, keep showing up, and finish this term on an absolute high.

Help Shape the Future of Hastings Girls’ High School

The School Board is currently developing our next Strategic Plan and would like to hear from students, whānau, staff, alumni, and our wider community. Your feedback will help identify what matters most to our community and ensure our future priorities reflect the aspirations of those we serve.

Complete the survey here: Link to Survey

The survey takes approximately 1-2 minutes to complete and closes on 10 July. Every voice matters.

Celebrating our Voice

On Wednesday, our School Hall was buzzing with pride, culture, and powerful storytelling at our annual International Languages Speech Showcase!

Our incredible bilingual students took the stage to deliver moving speeches in a beautiful array of languages: Samoan, Tongan, Hindi, Brazilian Portuguese, Tagalog, Rarotongan, Punjabi, Bisaya, Tamil, Malayalam, Khmer, and Te Reo Māori.

They courageously explored deep themes of identity, kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and their diverse cultural backgrounds.

Language is deeply connected to culture. Speaking in our mother tongue strengthens our sense of identity and belonging, while listening to others allows us to truly appreciate the rich diversity within our school community.

Ngā mihi nui, salamat po, fa’afetai tele lava, and dhanvaad to our language judges: Whaea Candyce, Whaea Maeve, Miss Zaizel, Miss Blossom, Mr. Kereti, and Constable Sandhu.

A massive congratulations to all the students who shared their voices and represented their heritages so beautifully. You make us so proud!

Sushi Stars

Sofia and Daphney

Congratulations to Sofia Sehjal and Daphney Vea for achieving an incredible 100% attendance record!

Showing up every single day takes more than just luck, it takes immense dedication, resilience, and a fantastic attitude. Whether it was rainy mornings, tiring weeks, or just the daily grind, Daphney and Sofia chose to commit and show up every step of the way. That kind of reliability is a massive superpower, and it sets a wonderful example for everyone around them.

To celebrate this awesome milestone, both superstars were awarded well-deserved St Pierre’s Sushi vouchers to enjoy.

Thank you, Daphney and Sofia, for your stellar commitment and for bringing your energy to us every single day. We are so incredibly proud of you both! Keep shining!

Careers

Year 13 Update: University, Scholarships & MoneyHub Resources

University and scholarship applications for 2027 are officially open! Please remember you must apply for your university course before you can apply for a scholarship. Keep a close eye on eligibility and closing dates.

If you need a school reference, please email Maxine at to arrange this.

Essential MoneyHub Links for Students & Whānau

MoneyHub is a fantastic consumer finance website packed with resources for school leavers. Check out these highly recommended guides:

MoneyHub Scholarship List – A complete list of NZ university and private scholarships.
The Leaving School Checklist – The ultimate guide for anyone leaving school at the end of 2026.
CV Template & Interview Tips – How to write a great CV and cover letter.
Student Loans & Allowances – Everything you need to know about StudyLink.
Best Student Bank Accounts & KiwiSaver Guide – Smart financial steps for your next chapter.

Don’t Miss Out on Your Student Tax Refund!

If you worked a part-time job this year or over the summer, Inland Revenue might owe you money! You must have a MyIR account with your bank details loaded to receive it.

How to set up a MyIR account

Click here to sign into IRD

We Are Here to Help!

Need careers guidance or have questions about your next steps? Email us to book an appointment:

Maxine:
Trudi:

– Maxine & Trudi (The Ngā Ara Careers/Pathways Team)

Sports Trainings – Week 9

Sports Games – Week 9

MONDAY 15 JUNE
PREM BASKETBALL VS HNHS | 7:40PM | CENTENNIAL HALL 2

TUESDAY 16 JUNE
SENIOR A NETBALL VS HUKARERE A | 4:20PM | RODNEY GREEN ARENA | COURT 7

WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE
U15 RUGBY VS TBC | TBC | ELWOOD PARK
U17 RUGBY VS TBC | TBC | ELWOOD PARK
1ST XI FOOTBALL VS WILLIAM COLENSO XI | 4PM | WILLIAM COLENSO