Tēna koutou katoa!

Term Four has begun at its usual frenetic pace, with exams for our senior students in week one, followed by a superhuman effort by teachers to have papers marked and returned, then reports written and marks entered on Kamar to be collated for the Senior Prizegiving. At the same time, it was classes as normal for the rest of the school, with students in Years 9 and 10 starting to fret about their approaching exams. After Labour Weekend the banner went up in the Year 13 House, counting down the last ten days at school for our young leaders. The usual Year 13 leaving rituals passed in good spirit. The final Tuesday saw all of Year 13 arrive in St Hilda’s uniforms to a school, which had mysteriously acquired a bouncy castle and a “FOR SALE” sign on the Highgate fence. The Sports Awards evening at the end of October celebrated the many successes of our students and included the modelling of the new sports uniforms and the presentation of the new tie to our ten national representatives. The Parents’ Association held their “Spring into Art” Exhibition on the following weekend, then week three concluded with the Leavers’ Service in the morning and the Senior Prize Giving in the afternoon. Both were very moving events, although it is always sad to farewell the Year 13s, after watching them develop over the years into the fine young women they have all become. Their gift to the College of three hand-painted vases, to be replenished weekly with flowers throughout 2019 will be a lovely reminder of this stunning cohort. We now look forward to welcoming the current Year 12s to their role as next year’s leaders. However, there are a few hurdles to cross before the school year ends, mostly in the form of exams, NCEA for the seniors and our internal exams for Years 8 – 10. I wish all of you facing these the determination you need as you prepare for them and a clear head as you sit in the examination room. Remember your teachers are here to help you if you have any last minute panic over your year’s work and, meanwhile, kia kaha!!

Jenness Riethmaier

Acting Principal