Week five is complete! Things aren't looking to slow down either, with lots of exciting events and long weekends approaching.

We again thank you for your continued support amidst Level 2 restrictions. We would not be able to run things so smoothly without cooperation from the girls and parents. On that note, please remember to fill out the wellness declaration forms before returning to Tolcarne. This ensures we can seamlessly welcome your daughter back and take her temperature! Thank you in advance for completing this over the weekend 😀 

We have a few important dates coming up which are listed below;

Otago Anniversary Weekend/St Hilda's 125th Anniversary - March 19, Tolcarne closed at 5pm - reopening March 23 at 3pm.

Easter Break - April 1, Tolcarne closed at 5pm - reopening April 6 at 3pm.

End of Term 1 - April 16, Tolcarne Closed at 5pm.

Start of Term 2 - May 2, Tolcarne open from 3pm.

Our Year 12 and 13 P.E students have been away on their Abel Tasman and Murchison camps this week. From the photos we have seen it looks like they are having a great time, with lots of challenges and learning to be had. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures from the week!

Friday evening meant rugby night - always such an important event on the social calendar! A bus load of students headed down to watch the game, with everyone loving the positive buzz and getting to support our local team - hopefully next time we can come away with the win!

Unfortunately Paddle Boarding on Saturday was canceled, however Bex came in and took the girls for a day at the beach 🏖 There were lots of games, swimming and of course treats with ice cream to finish! 

We had an optional Night Prayers session on Sunday for a group of Year 9 & 10 students, on the theme of "Fresh Starts." Dr Townsley and the girls explored the idea that we are writing the story of our lives, with God as the Author. They discussed how we get to do things, such as "close a chapter" and "turn over a new page." A lovely way to reflect and feel grateful at the end of a weekend.

Koru this week was on for all of the junior students. Robyn and Isla started the Year 10 session with a body scan. This involved full relaxation, with the girls taking the time to really think about different parts of their body and focus on each movement. They finished with a 'mindful eating' exercise. Mindful eating is the process of bringing your full awareness to what you are eating, appreciating the experience by engaging all of your senses. In this case, the girls each had a fruit burst that they used to experiment. Perhaps this was the slowest they have ever eaten a lolly! Having to take in the taste, smell, textures and sounds, was another great exercise to help bring full attention to the experience of eating.

The Year 9 cohort focussed on values and attributes, incorporating a game about what they perceived their values to be. This exercise involved openness and the ability to feel vulnerable enough to be honest with their peers. The girls did an amazing job, all feeling confident to share their traits with the whole group at the end of the session. 

Our staff have been making a conscious effort to increase their levels of Te Reo Māori around Tolcarne. This has been through using more phrases or when a call is made over the intercom. We are leaning into the concept of learning new words and pronunciation, even when we don't sound quite right to begin with! If you would like to try and increase your confidence with speaking Māori, click here to find a list of 100 words we can learn and use within daily life. Remember it is all about giving it a go - if you would like to hear the correct pronunciation, take a look at the Māori Dictionary site. Here you can translate English words, with the option to have phrases read out. We challenge you to have the courage to try something new!

Have a fabulous weekend, hopefully some of the warm weather sticks around! Please remember to complete the wellness declaration forms, even if you/your daughter has only been away from Tolcarne for one night. Thank you for your ongoing support 💕