Term One Week 9
Principal's Message
Kia ora koutou
As we near the end of Term 1, it’s been a pleasure to reflect on the many achievements and opportunities our students have embraced so far. With just one more week to go, the energy and enthusiasm around the school remain high as we wrap up a busy and inspiring term.
One of the recent highlights was our Endorsement Prize Giving, where we celebrated the academic achievements of our NCEA Level 1 and 2 students. It was a proud moment for our school community, and a special congratulations goes to our Excellence recipients and GPA award winners. We were also privileged to welcome back Dr Hena Dugh as our guest speaker, whose message of perseverance and purpose left a lasting impression on students and staff alike.
It’s also been exciting to see students so actively engaged in science and innovation. Our involvement in the University of Waikato STEM Roadshow and our own hands-on robotics sessions have provided rich opportunities for learning and creativity, with students programming microbits and exploring real-world biomedical challenges.
Congratulations to Jo, Janet, and Elise, who have been selected for the HB Sport Youth Council 2025. Their role in representing the voices of Hawke’s Bay rangatahi in sport is something we are incredibly proud of, and we know they will do a wonderful job.
We’re looking forward to welcoming back our students from the Abel Tasman trip tomorrow and can’t wait to share their stories and photos. Next week we have more exciting experiences on the horizon with the Level 1 PE trip and a Te Mata Peak walk.
Our Performing Arts students are currently in the thick of rehearsals as they prepare for a busy season of events. With Showquest, Kapa Haka Regionals, Dance NZ Made, Big Sing, and Fiafia all approaching fast, we are so impressed by the dedication and talent they continue to show. The standard of rehearsals has been incredibly high, and we encourage all students involved to keep up the fantastic work.
As we head toward the winter sports season, we also encourage our sports students to start thinking about their fitness and preparation. Now is a great time to begin increasing your daily activity so you can meet both your personal goals and your team’s expectations when the season kicks off.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support throughout the term. We’re proud of the way our students continue to represent the values of our kura and look forward to finishing the term strong.
Next term, I will be taking a sabbatical to further upskill in literacy and numeracy leadership with the goal of bringing this learning back in Term 3 to further strengthen our kura. During my absence, the wonderful Whaea Evelyn Leef will be stepping in to lead the school and care for our community. I know she will do an outstanding job and continue to guide our kura with warmth and integrity.
Ngā manaakitanga
Catherine Bentley
Principal, Hastings Girls' High School
Celebrating Success – Endorsement Prize Giving 2025
On Wednesday we proudly celebrated the outstanding academic achievements of our students at our Endorsement Prize Giving. It was a joyful and uplifting occasion that recognised the hard work, dedication and excellence of our students in NCEA Levels 1 and 2.
A special congratulations goes to our four Level 1 Excellence recipients – Kamalpreet Kaur, Rahma Miah, Mennat Quazi, and Maieke Thompson – whose commitment to their studies set an inspiring example for all. We also acknowledged the recipients of the top academic awards:
The Langton Cup for Highest GPA in Level 1 NCEA 2024: Mennat Quazi
The Hughes Cup for Highest GPA in Level 2 NCEA 2024: Munnat Hayer
We were honoured to welcome Dr Hena Dugh, past student and Deputy Head Girl 2018, as our guest speaker. Dr Dugh’s message about perseverance, purpose, and self-belief deeply resonated with our students. The feedback from them has been overwhelmingly positive with many describing her words as “inspiring” and “felt inspired to work harder.” One student even said she "didn't want to fall asleep in assembly" which of course, as we know from our own time at school, is saying a lot!
The ceremony concluded with morning tea for our badge recipients and their whānau where smiles and photos captured the pride of the moment.
Ka rawe to our achievers – we are so proud of you!
STEM Roadshow Brings Biomedical Science to Life
We were thrilled to host the University of Waikato STEM Roadshow and take part in their exciting Puzzling Pathogens biomedical workshop.
Our students had a fantastic time engaging in hands-on activities that challenged them to think like scientists and explore real-world biomedical problems. The workshop was not only fun but also highly informative, sparking curiosity and deepening their understanding of Science in action.
A huge thank you to the team from the University of Waikato for delivering such a well-run and inspiring session. We look forward to more opportunities to connect our students with innovative learning experiences like this in the future.
Hands-On Robotics Sparks Excitement
On Tuesday, our robotics session was full of energy and discovery as students explored the power of the microbit. They learned how to program the microbit to control car wheels, making them move and light up in vibrant colours like red and purple.
One of the most fascinating parts of the session was using sensors to interact with the cars—students were even able to control the movement with just a wave of their hand.
It was a hands-on, engaging experience that sparked creativity and curiosity. We’re excited to see where this journey into robotics takes our students next.
Congratulations to Our HB Sport Youth Council Representatives
Huge congratulations to Jo, Janet, and Elise on being selected for the HB Sport Youth Council for 2025. This is an incredible achievement and we are so proud of them.
As members of the Council they’ll be representing the voices of Hawke's Bay rangatahi, advocating for participation, leadership and inclusion across the sporting community.
Well done to all three - you’ll do an amazing job!
Sports Trainings/Games
Important Dates
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
School Calendar Link
Menu for Week 9
