Hilda's News Term 1

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just in fact as you are doing”

Thessalonians 5:11

Dear Parents, caregivers and friends of St Hilda’s,

It has been a very busy term, and one we can all be proud of. It is always such a special term as we welcome in our new students and see them making such wonderful contributions to our community. It has been fantastic to be able to share special events with our wider community again and we have loved having whānau join us for things like the Mihi Whakatau, Prefect commissioning and Academic Blues. We look forward to further opportunities to gather together.

There have been some wonderful sporting results and cultural performances and there is a lot of excitement around as we head into the winter sports season and begin rehearsals for the school production, “The Little Mermaid”. 

We enjoyed hosting the summer quadrangular sports tournament. This long standing tournament has had some changes made to add in a new sport and to include an extra school. It is always good to build on what we have.

Students at Tolcarne and our Whanaungatanga groups have done an amazing job making care packages to go to our sister schools in the Hawke's Bay who have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. They are all assembled, ready to be dropped off to the Anglican Diocese of Dunedin who will send them to Hukarere and Woodford House.

Athletics Sports saw the first house competition for the year and our house captains of Aston, Bentham, Thomson and Richards ensured there was no lack of house pride. 

A special highlight for this term has been the leadership shown by the Year 13 students in leading the teaching of our school Haka, Hākuiao. They have really helped the school develop confidence with this which was shown when they performed this to farewell Ms Turner who has left St Hilda’s to take up a role at the University of Otago Pathways programme.

Alongside farewells we also got to welcome new staff and we are pleased to have Ms Adelle Shea join us teaching in the Social Sciences department and Mrs Catherine Cameron join our student support team.

Teaching and learning is well established as we settle to our rhythm for the academic year. Reports will be in parents' inboxes shortly and I urge you all to take up the opportunity of the Learning Conversations at the beginning of Term 2, to really consolidate the partnership between home and school, and to further assist your daughter with her academic progress. These are an important milestone check for all our students across all their subjects.

The building project is moving along and it is very exciting to see the new spaces progressing.

I hope all our families have time to reconnect, refresh and reflect on a great Term 1, over the coming holiday break.

“It takes courage to be kind” ― Maya Angelou

Judy Maw