Back to Blog

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouThis week we had the pleasure of welcoming our local MP, Catherine Wedd, to Hastings Girls’ High School – Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina. Catherine came to see firsthand the incredible mahi happening within our unique lunch programme. We are so proud of the high-quality kai being prepared every day for our students, especially given the tight budget constraints we are working within. Our team continues to innovate and prioritise fresh, healthy food for our young people. However, we kno...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora e te whānauToday our school was alive with House spirit, competition, and laughter as we came together for Swimming Sports! It was fantastic to see students embracing the fun of the day—whether racing in the pool, cheering from the sidelines or participating in the much-anticipated student leaders vs staff relay. In a closely fought battle, the staff team secured the win this year! A special thank you to Lindisfarne College for generously allowing us to use their facilities.To finish ...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora e te whānauWhat an incredible day we had at our Athletics Day! The atmosphere was electric with colour, energy, laughter, and fun. It was wonderful to see 100% participation from both students and staff, creating a fantastic spirit of competition and camaraderie. A huge congratulations to Green House for taking out the win! This sets a great tone as we gear up for next week’s Swimming Sports where we expect to see just as much enthusiasm and House pride on display.A special congratula...

News ~ Pānui

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 a...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouIt’s been a busy and exciting few weeks at Hastings Girls’ High School as we continue to settle into the term and strengthen connections within our school community. A real highlight was our Year 9 Whānau BBQ where we had a fantastic turnout of students and families. It was wonderful to see so many whānau taking the opportunity to meet teachers and engage with the school early in the year. Events like these are a key part of building strong relationships that support our stud...

News ~ Pānui

As we settle into the new school year, it has been fantastic to see our students engaging in their learning and our school community coming together to support their success. This year, we have placed a strong focus on ensuring ākonga are well-supported in their learning, particularly in literacy and numeracy following changes to NCEA Level 1.Our senior school now offers a greater range of Level 2 and Level 3 subject choices, providing more flexibility for students to pursue both academic and v...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouWelcome to a new school year at Hastings Girls’ High School – Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina. As we step into 2025, I am filled with pride and excitement for the opportunities ahead. Our kura is a place where identity is valued, aspirations are nurtured, and success takes many forms.A special welcome to our new students and international ākonga joining us this term. You are now part of a school whānau that celebrates diversity, fosters ambition, and stands strong in our values. We lo...

News ~ Pānui

We are excited to invite parents and students to our Junior Prizegiving, celebrating the achievements of our Year 9 and 10 ākonga.Date: Thursday 12 DecemberTime: 11:00am – 12:30pmVenue: School HallDress Code: Students to come in tidy school uniformFollowing the Prizegiving, students will be dismissed and are expected to go home.We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate this special occasion!...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaAs Term Four progresses, we continue to celebrate the achievements and opportunities for learning at Hastings Girls’ High School – Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina. Our senior students have now completed their external examinations, marking the culmination of their hard work and preparation. It has been inspiring to see the determination and resilience they have shown throughout this important period, and we are incredibly proud of their efforts. This milestone is a testament to th...

News ~ Pānui

What an incredible week it has been at Hastings Girls’ High School!Last night we were thrilled to host our MakerImpact Market, showcasing the talents of our Enterprising for Impact and Being an Innovative Designer Hub students. The creativity, quality and innovation of their products were simply outstanding—perfect for stocking fillers this holiday season! It was heartwarming to see so many friends and whānau attending and supporting our students. A huge thank you to everyone who made this ...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaIt’s been a short but action-packed week here with all our senior students on study leave as they tackle their NCEA exams. We hope each of them achieve their best!Our annual sports exchange against Gisborne Girls’ High School brought great energy with strong performances from our Junior Volleyball, Netball and Sevens Rugby teams. We’re thrilled to announce that we retained the shield for another year and look forward to hosting the competition at home next year. In other...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaAs we head further into November, our senior students have now officially commenced their study leave, preparing for and sitting their NCEA exams. We wish each of them the very best and encourage them to fully engage with the resources available—whether by checking our Facebook page for updates, reading their emails for scheduled tutorial times, or meeting with their teachers for extra guidance. Attending these tutorials can make a world of difference, giving students the op...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaAs we enter November, we’ve been gifted with beautiful weather, and it’s been wonderful to see our students making the most of it during lunchtimes and breaks. The energy and laughter filling our outdoor spaces reflect the vibrant life of our school.This week has been particularly significant for our Year 13 students, marking a series of “lasts” as they experience their final days here at Hastings Girls’ High School. Yesterday, we honoured them with a special Leavers...

News ~ Pānui

It has been an exciting and rewarding week here at Hastings Girls' as we celebrated the achievements and leadership of our students. On Wednesday, our students were awarded their Gold Ākina badges, recognising their dedication, service, and engagement throughout the year. This prestigious award is a reflection of the hard work and commitment our students have shown in living out our school values.We also announced our 2025 Student Leaders. It was a challenging process, given the incredible dept...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaA warm welcome back to Term Four! This is an exciting time of the year as we come together to celebrate the many successes of our ākonga across all areas of school life. From academic achievements to sporting excellence, cultural performances, and leadership milestones, Term Four provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the incredible journey we have been on this year.Over the last few weeks, we have been deeply engaged in the process of appointing our student leaders fo...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaThis week, Associate Minister of Education David Seymour announced a series of actions aimed at addressing poor attendance across the education sector. With a national target of 90% attendance—equating to no more than five days away from school per term—there is a clear focus on improving student presence in classrooms. Since the beginning of 2023, we have seen a steady increase in attendance here at Hastings Girls' High School - Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina. While we are making...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaAs Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori draws to a close, I reflect on the many highlights we have experienced throughout the week. Monday’s student-led assembly was a powerful way to set the tone for the week, with ākonga/students sharing their passion for Te Reo with the wider school community. It was a beautiful expression of pride in our language and culture. Throughout the week, students showcased their learning in an exhibition of mahi/work, designed to inspire others to learn mor...

News ~ Pānui

It was a privilege to attend the Heretaunga Lions Young Achiever Awards earlier this week where we celebrated the outstanding achievements of young people from across our region. Our guest speaker for the evening was Aaliyah Ah Kiong, an old girl of Hastings Girls' High School and a recipient of this award in 2014. Aaliyah shared her inspiring journey over the past ten years in her talk titled ‘Life Beyond the Basketball.’ She spoke candidly about her personal journey of self-discovery, embr...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora e te whānauFirstly, I want to acknowledge and congratulate all our students who represented Hastings Girls' High School on the sports arena during Tournament Week. Our teams showcased determination, teamwork, and resilience with each experiencing the joys of victory and the valuable lessons that come from facing defeat. These experiences, both the wins and the losses, are crucial in shaping who we are. They remind us that it’s not just the results that matter but how we conduct oursel...

News ~ Pānui

Tēnā koutou katoaThis week we were privileged to come together as a school community for an unforgettable performing arts Showcase on Wednesday night. Our students took to the stage sharing their incredible talents, learning, and deep passion for the performing arts. It was inspiring to see them explore new and varied genres, expressing themselves with confidence and creativity. From heartfelt performances to powerful expressions of culture and identity, it was a night that truly celebrated th...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouUnderstanding the NCEA framework is crucial for our students and your support plays a significant role in helping them navigate this journey. As you're aware, the recent changes to Level 1, including the new literacy and numeracy requirements, have added some challenges this year. The more informed our students are, the better they can track their progress towards their learning goals.If your student needs further support in understanding their results, please encourage them to spe...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouI hope this message finds you well. I want to take a moment to highlight some of our recent Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) opportunities and reflect on why these experiences are such an essential part of our curriculum at Hastings Girls' High School - Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina.EOTC provides our students with the chance to engage with their learning in authentic, real-world contexts. We know that learning is most effective when it is meaningful and connected to the world around...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutou This term, our focus value is whakaute. Whakaute is about acknowledging the mana of others, showing kindness, and treating everyone, including ourselves with dignity. The value of whakaute will be a focus through the junior curriculum, with Ākina Groups setting goals around this. Students will explore what whakaute might look, sound, and feel like in their daily interactions, fostering a culture of mutual respect and understanding.It was wonderful to see many of our families at o...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutouWelcome to this week's Pānui. We have some exciting property updates and improvements to share with you.Property UpdatesThroughout the year, we have been working hard to enhance our school facilities and create a more welcoming and functional environment for our students.Turf Area Outside Te RourouEarlier in the year, we were delighted to install a permanent turf area outside Te Rourou where our students are served lunch. This area now includes new seating and improved shade sails...

News ~ Pānui

Kia ora koutou,Welcome back to the first week of Term 3! I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable holiday. We are excited to kick off the term with some wonderful news and upcoming events.Firstly, we are thrilled to welcome two new staff members to our team. Mrs. Nicky Blakeley joins our mathematics department, bringing her wealth of knowledge and passion for teaching. Ms. Hetty McLennan joins our Learning Support team, where she will be instrumental in providing additional assistance to our s...