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 our Senior Whānau Hui/Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday evening. With the end of the year rapidly approaching, it is more important than ever to work together in supporting students to meet their learning goals. Knowing exactly where they are at with their learning, identifying any current barriers, and understanding what the next steps are, is one way of doing this. These conferences are a vital opportunity for whānau, students, and teachers to collaborate and ensure that every student has the support they need to succeed.

Big Day Out was a fabulous opportunity for our prospective Year 9 students in 2025 to experience our innovative junior curriculum firsthand. This special event is designed to give incoming students a taste of the vibrant and dynamic learning environment at Hastings Girls' High School. During Big Day Out, students had the chance to explore our unique hub system. These hubs are central to our junior curriculum, allowing students to delve into subjects through their areas of strength and interest. Throughout the day, prospective students participated in various hands-on activities and workshops tailored to showcase the diverse learning opportunities available at our school. The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with many students expressing excitement about the possibilities that await them.

During their visit this term, the Education Review Office (ERO) engaged with students, whānau, and staff. Through these conversations, it became evident that one of our key strengths at Hastings Girls' High School is the strong sense of agency our students possess. We understand that this sense of agency takes time to develop and is closely tied to their sense of belonging. Our students' confidence in their identity and their feeling of belonging are crucial to their ability to take charge of their learning and make informed decisions.

ERO highlighted this in their feedback, stating: "Ākonga have a strong sense of belonging and are confident in their identity, language, and culture. Students have agency in their learning and in key decisions taken by the school."

This agency is nurtured through our commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment where students feel valued and respected. We encourage our students to take ownership of their learning, set personal goals, and actively participate in shaping their educational journey. This approach not only enhances their academic performance but also equips them with the confidence and self-efficacy needed to face future challenges and take on leadership roles.

We are continuously striving to create and enhance opportunities for our students to step into leadership roles. These roles allow them to build confidence, develop essential skills, and make meaningful contributions to our school community. We encourage students to make the most of some of the many opportunities currently available. Once new opportunity is service within the new school canteen. An important component of leadership is leading through service. We are inviting any aspiring leaders from years 11 and 12 to contribute to the running of the school tuck shop. This would include face to face service as well as preparation of some stock. In return, students would have their service recognised as part of our Ākina badge process, and a reference to support future aspirations.

Ngā mihi nui