Dear Parents and Caregivers

Well it has been an exciting week on the sporting front, with the Senior A netball team winning the Otago Southland Championship with some strong and exciting performances. The score line in the final (32-20) would have given the whole team some satisfaction - and hopefully would not have elevated the blood pressure too much!!

It has been a pleasure watching the 10A hockey team compete at the regional hockey tournament here in Dunedin and perform with such confidence and flair. The only junior team in the competition, at the time of writing they have made the final, having won the quarter and semi final games in penalty shoot outs. Their maturity and positive response to these pressured situations has been commendable. What great experience for a junior team, and what an outstanding endorsement of our sports policy, where girls play with their friends, and in the appropriate age group, and build skills and strategies as a strong unit. Whatever the outcome of today's final, we are all very proud of them.

I wish to acknowledge the achievements this week of Charlotte Reveley and Georgie Jessop, who were both placed in the Otago Polytechnic Celebrate Art Awards. Georgie was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for her photography, and Charlotte Reveley was placed first in the whole competition, for her Painting, and was awarded the Dunedin School of Art Scholarship. Congratulations to both girls.

We wish to inform you that Mr West has resigned from St Hilda's Collegiate for personal reasons. He has taught at our school for eight and a half years, and in that time has led the Physical Education and Health Department, establishing a strong curriculum structure. We are very fortunate to have Mrs Monique Grant, who is a Health and Physical Education specialist, taking over his classes. We will ensure support is in place for ongoing work and assessments and work to minimise any potential disruption. If you have any questions please contact Mrs Judy Maw jmaw@shcs.school.nz - Thank you for your understanding.

Jackie Barron