Kia ora and welcome to our 2019 Yearbook. Please click on the Read More link below to see a video of our 2019 year.

I am delighted to be at Christchurch Girls’ High school/Te Kura o Hine Waiora.

The International Committee had a very successful year.

Every year the school celebrates International week, a week dedicated to learning about some of the many cultures and nationalities that our students are from.

In 2019 we welcomed students from China, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Korea, France and Argentina to study with us across all our year levels.

Cantrices is CGHS’ auditioned choir, made up of students from Years 9 to 13.

This year Charities has been really focused on giving back to the Christchurch community following the March 15 terror attack.

Christchurch Girls’ High School Environmental Committee commenced at the start of this year and has been a great success.

The CGHS debating club in 2019 was made up of 12 talented girls from Year 9 to Year 13.

Guitar Ensemble is a classical guitar group comprised of five members who practise on a Monday morning, tutored by Alan Dixon.

It is always a great way to end the week in the school gardens. Each Friday lunchtime when the weather behaves, a dedicated group of students come together to plant, nurture, and dig up fresh produce.

This year, CGHS had the first Cultural Showcase evening. The basis of this evening was to show to our students and community the vast range of talents that achieve highly but don't receive recognition or exposure.

This year the CGHS Aerobics team competed fabulously in both their regional and national competitions for 2019.

On the 12th of March we held our school athletics at the new facility, Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub.

Pro Coro is a CGHS chamber choir made up of eight students from Year 10-13, selected for their vocal blend and ability.

This year the National Secondary School’s Athletics Championships were held at a wet and wild Newtown Park in Wellington.

At the start, coming to boarding school at the age of 12/13 years old is very daunting and scary and many girls do get homesick.

A Night in the Life of a Year 9

On Thursday 26th September this year, a group of 40 strong students and parents departed from Christchurch International airport to begin a 3-week tour of Germany and Austria with a brief stay in Paris and Switzerland.

Jude Rae Still Life

Year 10 Social Studies classes ventured to the Antarctic Centre in Term 2.

Students and teachers from our French exchange school in Strasbourg arrived in Christchurch in February.

The CGHS athletics team of 21 went to Nelson from 29th to 31st of March to compete in the South Island Secondary Schools' event. The girls were very successful, with outstanding performances from everyone.

This year, the aim we envisioned to create for Pasifika students within our school was to create friendships and a sister-like bond that would go beyond closed doors.

Kia ora, This year I have had the honour to have the role of the Whanau Prefect in 2019.

Congratulations to our Junior Kī-o-Rahi team who competed at the first annual Year 9-10 Whanaungatanga Tournament which was held at Ngā Puna Wai in November.

A group of 24 Christchurch Girls' High Students, along with 600 other students from across Canterbury, were lucky enough to attend the 2019 Emerging Leaders' Conference held at Christ's College on Tuesday 2 July.

Every year as students, parents and staff pile into the Christchurch Boys' High auditorium for the annual Lip Sync battle, it's no secret that the teachers' performance is one of the most highly anticipated ones of the night.

On 3 December 2019, the Masquerade themed Leavers’ Ball took place in the Christian Cullen Lounge, Addington Raceway.

Christchurch Girls’ High School once again teamed up with the boys from Christchurch Boys’ to participate in the Canterbury Schools’ mixed tournament.

The regional Māori speech competitions were hosted by Lincoln University on Friday, July 28. 40 of our kapa haka girls headed to Lincoln to watch the speeches and support our own two speakers who were competing against some of the best young orators from Canterbury.

Congratulations to our 2019 Polyfest Students who represented Christchurch Girls' High School / Te Kura o Hine Waiora at the Canterbury Polfest Festival last Saturday 4th May.

On Thursday, November 07 we held a farewell evening for our Pasifika and Whānau leavers of 2019.

Book Week 2019 was a chance to promote our much-loved mythical stories. A huge dragon greeted all visitors to the library - made by our student librarians over many weeks, and it was magnificent.

On Thursday 5th July we held a full school Pōwhiri with the support of Ngāi Tahu to welcome Christine O’Neill to our school. Mrs O’Neill took up her position of Principal in Term 3.

Christchurch Girls’ High School had a very successful Badminton season during Term 2 and Term 3 against schools from all over Christchurch this year.

Kia Orana.

CGHS sent a strong group of talented girls to the Canterbury Secondary Schools Gym Sport Competition at Olympia Stadium in Wigram on Tuesday, June 18th.

Approximately 73 students took part in the Royal New Zealand Lifesaving Society examinations at Jellie Park in Term 2.

Julian Bowden, Chair of the Board, gave this speech at our Senior Prizegiving:

When I was made Head Girl of Acland House my initial thought was "Oh no!" I’m going to have to speak at the end of year prizegiving."

Senior Prizegiving was once again held at CBHS hall on 6 December. Parents and guests were welcomed to the ceremony by the Kapa Haka group. The following list includes a list of special awards and prizes, not including Year level prizes but including the school Dux for 2019, Rosemary Walbom and the Proxime Accessit, Charlotte Partington

It was wonderful to see around 200 parents turn up for our Junior Prizegiving this year and we were all serenaded by the Junior Kapa Haka group, welcoming us to the Gym.

One of the traditions we embrace at the start of prizegiving is a moment when as a school we remember those who have gone before us. Among the prizes presented today are the memorial prizes endowed by relations and friends and overseen by the Old Girls’ Association. They keep alive the memory of former pupils and teachers to whom this school was dear.

2019 was another successful year for Netball at CGHS.

Christchurch Girls High’s 2018-2019 rowing campaign was one of the most successful to date.

2019 has been the most successful year for Girls' High Rugby ever. CGHS won the UC Cup for the fifth consecutive year and were unbeaten all year.

Christchurch Girls' High School has won the NZ Secondary Schools Condor Sevens Tournament!

It has been a very encouraging year for Squash at Christchurch Girls’ High School with a number of new players showing an interest to learn how to play Squash.

The surfing group has been, once again involved in both training and competition this year.

Over the course of the 2019 swimming season, we had some incredible results from the Girls’ High Swim Team.

Overall individually, and as a team, we definitely peaked, played some of the best volleyball we have ever played and ended the season on an absolute high.

We have had a very strong multisport team in 2019 that have gained medals at both national and provincial levels.

2019 has been a year of incredible house spirit from girls across all year groups. Connon started off the year in full swing as we entered into Athletics Day.

This year Deans House has been roaring with enthusiasm and pride at every school event and school life in general.

While being a student at Christchurch Girls' High School, House spirit and competition has been a massive part of my school life.

2019 has been both challenging and rewarding for all the houses and I feel utterly honoured to have led Rolleston House through this.

This year Selwyn House was loud and proud.

Congratulations, you have completed your time at CGHS!

All Year 13 Biology students had the opportunity to venture to the serene seaside of Wainui to carry out practical investigations for their coursework. The secluded rocky shore saw over 100 students flipping rocks and carefully selecting crabs, starfish, and other assorted creatures. Although the morning was spent with buckets in tow and back and forward trecks from the YMCA to the shore, the real work began in the hollowed-out hut with a questionable amount of oxygenated tanks awaiting our newly collected creatures. The tedious logging process is one all students will forever associate with Biology but the laugher, bitter cold and talks of the morsels to be enjoyed in the Little River Cafe made the one night adventure, unlike any other field trip. Many thanks to the students and Biology staff for a great trip in our final year at CGHS.

Franz Josef field trip report from Alice Ridgen

On Thursday the 18th March, the two Year 13 Tourism classes travelled to the JUCY Snooze accommodation close to the airport to see their pod rooms and view the ways they operate.

Early in the year, droves of hopeful Year 12 Biology students geared up to set off on the infamous trip to Temple Basin, Arthur’s Pass.

Year 12 Geography students field trip to Arthur’s Pass took place on the 20th of March.

This year our Year 12 Physical Education classes went on a three day camp to Boyle river in wintery weather during Term 2.

What’s going down in Queenstown?

We had a fantastic time in Hanmer over the final week of Term 3.

Year 10 Social Studies classes ventured to the Antarctic Centre in Term 2.

This year Year 10 had the choice of the following camps, depending on student interests. There are videos of some of the camps below:

On 3rd December 2018, ten girls, two teachers and a well experienced World Challenge leader all set off on a trip to Myanmar (previously Burma) - a country full of life, far different to ours in little New Zealand.

While most Year 10s were on camp during this time, the first two days of the JCP offered Year 10 a range of activities to participate in based on the UN Sustainability Goals. Below is a sample of some of those activities:

During the Junior Curriculum Project Year 9 participated in a range of activities linked to the UN Sustainability Goals. Below is a sample of some of those activities:

The CGHS Jazz Band is the union of our classical diversity backed by our contemporary band style rhythm section bringing to life not only the jazz classics but some more modern adaptations as well.

Every week we meet on a Tuesday to knit and have lunch.

This year the school orchestra achieved great things. We were able to play some amazing pieces which most school orchestras wouldn’t dream of trying to play, like the Montagues and Capulets or William Tell Overture.

Show Choir is the ideal choir for any student who enjoys to sing and perform, particularly those who have a love for showtunes.

2019 has been another busy year for the Christchurch Girls’ and Boys’ High School Combined String Orchestra.

This year Kate Gardiner, Charlie Roberts, Zaimel Saaed, Lily Pilkington, Jazmin Garvey, Rebekah Gray and Winifred Davis, with chaperone Emma Garvey, represented Christchurch Girls’ High School / Te Kura o Hine Waiora at the BrainBee competition hosted by the University of Otago.

On Wednesday the 28th of August three Year 9 and two Year 10 teams went to the Horncastle Arena to compete in the 2019 Cantamath competition.

‘Take your life to the next level’ is the slogan of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and 70 CGHS students are doing just that.

In late October, the annual Christchurch Girls' High School Film festival was held. A fantastic night was had by all, and congratulations to all students whose films were nominated!

Congratulations to the girls who participated in this competition in Term 2.

During Term 3 we held the annual Junior Alison Harper Competition.

The Junior Chirnside Competition asks students in Years 9 and 10 to illustrate a passage of a Shakespeare text that was studied in their English class that year.

The Junior Speech Competition was a superb event which showcased some incredible talent in the junior school at Christchurch Girls’ High School.

This year's winner of the prestigious May Campbell Anderson competition is Kathleen King.

Congratulations to our Monetary Policy Challenge team of Sarah Bates, Charlotte Partington and Lulu Huang who have made it through to the national finals of this premier competition.

On October 31 we had our annual Pink Day to raise money for Cancer awareness.

The Senior Alison Harper Competition was held at the end of Term 1. Students performed monologues from Shakespeare's plays and from a text they received on the day of competition.

This year's Senior Speech Competition involved a line-up of seven talented speakers who covered a range of topics from spoken word poems linked to animal rights and the concept of 'think small', to heartfelt speeches based on forced marriages, foster care and human trafficking, to humorous addresses linked to the Twilight series and climate change.

What we achieved within the International Young Physicists' Tournament in Term 1 was some of the most inspiring and satisfying work we've done at high school.

Young Farmers this year was run by Milly Henderson and Sam Harmer.

In 2019 we had a number of new staff join us in a range of different Learning Areas.

In 2019 there were a few changes in the Senior Leadership Team, mainly due to the school still needing to work on the school rebuild.

Waipara Adventure Centre