Term One Week 8
Principal's Message
Kia ora e te whānau,
We’ve had another vibrant and fun-filled week here at Hastings Girls’ High School – Ngā Rau Huia o Ākina!
A definite highlight was our Big Day Out on Thursday, where we welcomed over 240 Year 8 students from across the region. It was fantastic to see our future ākonga experiencing a day in the life of a high school student. They spent time in each of our Hubs – exploring, experimenting, creating, and connecting – with lots of laughter along the way. We loved seeing these young people step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and start imagining themselves as part of our kura. A big thank you to the many staff and senior students who brought the day to life and helped make it such a warm and welcoming experience.
Today was PJ Day – and yes, I did drive to work in my Elmo pyjamas (nothing weird about that at all!). The energy around the mufti day was infectious as students and staff embraced the cosy theme. It was all for a good cause, too – with funds raised going towards the Senior Ball. Thank you to everyone who joined in and helped create a real sense of community and fun.
With just two weeks to go until the holidays, we’re heading into the final stretch of the term. It’s also the start of our winter sports season, with teams getting underway across a range of codes. It’s not too late to get involved – if you or someone you know is interested in coaching or managing one of our fabulous netball teams, we’d love to hear from you. Please email sport@hastingsgirls.com to find out more.
Thank you for your ongoing support – enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, and we look forward to another exciting week ahead.
Celebrating Our 2025 Student Committees
On Monday we held a Special Assembly to acknowledge and award badges to our 2025 Student Committee members. It was a proud moment for the school, celebrating the leadership, initiative, and commitment of students who have stepped up to be involved in shaping school life this year.
We’re thrilled to share that there was an overwhelming number of applications for committee positions—more than ever before. This shows just how passionate our students are about contributing to the school and making a difference.
Each committee has already started working on exciting plans and ideas for the year ahead and we look forward to seeing these start to come to life over the coming terms.
Good luck to all our Student Committee members and thank you for volunteering your time and energy to help lead and serve our school community. We can’t wait to see what you achieve.
Thank You to Our Contributing Schools
A big thank you to our contributing schools for allowing us the pleasure of hosting their Year 8 girls for a special experience day at Hastings Girls' High School. It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to get a taste of what secondary school life is like.
The girls spent the day exploring the range of Junior Hubs on offer this year, making new friends, and meeting some of our amazing staff. We hope they enjoyed their time with us and left feeling excited about the next step in their learning journey.
We look forward to welcoming them, along with their whānau, at our Open Evening in July.
A Day of Discovery and Relaxation for our International Students
Last week, our international students had an unforgettable experience exploring some of Hawke’s Bay’s treasures. Their adventure began at the National Aquarium where they had the rare opportunity to get up close with New Zealand’s unique wildlife. They watched the playful penguins being fed, observed a kiwi in its natural enclosure and saw divers feeding fish in the massive main tanks. One of the highlights was carefully touching both kiwi and penguin feathers—a moment of pure excitement and curiosity.
After a morning of exploration, the students headed to Ocean Spa to unwind and soak in the thermal pools. For many, this was a completely new experience, something they had never had the chance to do back home. As they relaxed with the stunning ocean views, the girls reflected on how lucky they were to experience such a special day.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible. It was a reminder of the incredible opportunities New Zealand offers and how lucky we are to share them with our international students.
Sports Trainings/Games
University Visits Inspire Future Pathways
Waikato University Stem Roadshow "Puzzling Pathogens"
Monday 31 March
1.45pm - Room 11
Waikato University Stem Roadshow "Micro-Bits"
Tuesday 1 April - Room 55
Waikato Scholarship Presentation
Tuesday 29 April
Important Dates
Monday 31 March
Level 3 PE Trip to the Abel Tasman
University of Waikato STEM Roadshow PUZZLING PATHOGENS
Model UN - Iona College
Tuesday 1 April
Switch Gala: Junior 7s Rugby
University of Waikato STEM Roadshow MICRO-BITS (Computer Science Workshop)
Volleyball at Rodney Green Arena
Wednesday 2 April
Endorsement Prize Giving
Thursday 3 April
QRC (Queenstown Resort College) Tourism Presentation
Year 12 & 13 Pūhoro Students Wānanga Māpūrau - Te Matau-a-Māui
Year 9 and Year 10 Contemporary Innovation whānau engagement event
Friday 4 April
HB International Students Mini Games Competition
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Monday 7 April
House Assembly
Tuesday 8 April
Student Committee Team Building
Volleyball at Rodney Green Arena
Year 9 Outdoor Elective Te Mata Peak walk
Wednesday 9 April
Level 1 PE Kotahitanga Assessment Camp
Year 9 Assembly
Thursday 10 April
Level 2 Biology Rocky Shore Trip
Friday 11 April
Last day of term
School Calendar
Please keep an eye on the school calendar to ensure that students are arriving at school prepared for the day's activities. You can find the calendar in the drop down menu of our website or click on the link below
Link to Calendar
Menu for Week 9
