Meet the Prefects

Tena koe

Ko Aoraki te māuka

Ko Waitaki te awa

Ko Takitimu te waka

Ko Ōtākou tōku marae

Ko Ngāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Rapuwai, Kāti Hāwea nga Iwi

Ko Hannah Langsbury tōku ingoa

My life before St Hilda’s was vastly different to what it is now. I moved from Portobello School, a small, semi-rural primary school on the Otago Peninsula, where there were only about 10 other children in my year. We had no uniform, travelled to school in an old rickety bus and I knew everyone in the whole school. My oldest sister was already attending St Hilda’s, so when my middle sister and I arrived together in 2016, with me ready to start in Year 7, the Langsbury whanau was all together again – look out St Hilda's!

I remember my first day in Year 7, with my socks pulled so high, that they meet my oversized kilt, and my legs were nowhere to be seen. But over the past seven years not only have I finally grown into my uniform, I have also grown as a person. St Hilda’s has provided me with opportunities that have not only opened my eyes, but also my mind.

Being able to wear the crest on my chest with pride when participating in sports or cultural activities not only comes with great responsibility but a sense of pride and belonging. St Hilda’s has provided me with the opportunity to get involved in all that interests me, and I have tried to make the most of all those opportunities.

I have been a part of the Sings Hilda choir since Year 9 and this provided me with the opportunity to represent our school at the National Big Sing competition in Wellington in 2018. The choir is truly at the heart of our school and often gets asked to perform in the community. It is also an active contributor to school events such as Eucharist, St Hilda’s Day, Arts Assemblies and many more. Being part of our choir has also allowed me to form connections with girls from across the school as we come together to share in this common interest.

Since Year 7 I have been leading the Haka at prizegiving. It was challenging for me initially, being all of 5 foot, trying hard to be terrifying and intimidating. But over time my involvement within Kapa Haka has grown into a more senior leadership role. For me, it is a very personal way in which I connect with and, express my maoriness. I am excited that we now have our own St Hilda's Haka which is unique and special to us. I hope to leave St Hilda’s knowing that it has found its place within our customs and traditions for future generations of girls to love and perform proudly. I see St Hilda’s evolving too, and I am proud to see us gain in confidence as we support diversity and cultural inclusiveness, providing us with increasing opportunities to “be ourselves”.

Sport has always been a big part of my life and I have been playing football since I was five years old. Therefore, once I finally reached Year 9, I was very excited to be finally able to “trial” for the first XI Football Team. There were only three Year 9 girls that made it into the team that year, and that pushed me outside of my comfort zone as I had to get to know the older 'scary' girls within our team. We have participated in nationals twice, and have either won or been the runners up, in the local football tournament over the past 5 years. Currently, there is a decline in the number of students participating in sports, specifically football which I hope will soon change because, for me, it’s more than just playing a sport. It’s a way to hang out with like-minded friends and build a stronger sisterhood within our school community.

I am very humbled to have been selected as Deputy Head Girl of St Hilda’s for 2022. While it initially took me by surprise, I am very excited to be given the opportunity to leave my mark in some small way. Whatever that may be, making lasting memories and supporting the school and the wider community will be my focus for the remainder of the year.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi,

Engari he toa takitini

My success is not mine alone, it is the success of the collective