Collegiate School newsletter 7 July...

PrinciPal’s Message

“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of minds to think.”Albert Einstein

Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Hilda’s

With the constant talk about how fast the world is changing and the idea that our girls will go on to have jobs that we don’t even know exist we need to keep examining what our role is. What can, or more importantly what should, schools be doing to make sure our students will thrive in this future. Tony Wagner writes in his book “Creating Innovators” that “Increasingly what you know is far less important than what you can do with what you know. The interest in and ability to create new knowledge and solve new problems is the single most important skill that students can master today.”

This has implications when we look at how our students learn. We need to consider what we emphasise and whether it is developing the skills and dispositions to use and create knowledge. Google have identified the skills they look for most in employees. Laszlo Bock,head of People Operations, explains that Google looks for a hard-to-name quality known only as Googleyness. While he says that it “isn’t a neatly defined box,” Googleyness does have its trademarks.

Here is his description:“Attributes like enjoying fun (who doesn’t), a certain dose of intellectual humility (it’s hard to learn if you can’t admit that you might be wrong), a strong measure of conscientiousness (we want owners, not employees), comfort with ambiguity (we don’t know how our business will evolve, and navigating Google internally requires dealing with a lot of ambiguity), and evidence that you’ve taken some courageous or interesting paths in your life.”

Add it up, and you’ve got Googleyness. We have been thinking about a lot of these ideas and the increasing role of skills and dispositions which are as important as knowledge. Content knowledge is an important factor in student success, but is only part of the equation.

newsletter

St Hilda’sCollegiate School

No. 2 | 7 July 2017

In this issue Page PagePrincipal’s Message 1 - 2 Special Character 2 - 3 Internal Assessment Procedures 3 Departments 4 - 11 Sport 11 - 14 Prefects 14 - 16 Board of Trustees Report 16 - 18 Community 18 - 19From the Archives 19 - 21 Arts Corner 21 - 23Founders Day 24 Special Congratulations 24

If our school is doing its job we will ensure your daughters leave with:

1) a sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge,

2) a mix of skills and strategies necessary to problem solve, think critically, learn independently, and interact with the world in a variety of contexts, and

3) the right mindset or disposition that will be requisite for lifelong learning and preparation beyond school.

We have been using feedback from parents, recent old girls and staff to formulate what we think are the key skills and dispositions that our St Hilda’s Graduate needs when she leaves. We are looking at the way we teach and the way your daughters learn to ensure that alongside the knowledge they also gain the ability to problem solve, to think critically and that they have the attitudes and dispositions to stick at a task, to be optimistic and care for others among other things.

Below are the skill and dispositions that we see as important in a St Hilda’s Graduate:

ORAL & WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

CRITICAL THINKING PROBLEM SOLVING

COLLABORATION ACROSS

NETWORKSCURIOSITY

& IMAGINATION

INITIATIVE &

ENTREPRENEURIALISM

AGILITY &

ADAPTABILITYHOPE & OPTIMISM SELF REGULATION EMPATHY &

GLOBAL STEWARDSHIP

RESILIENCE GRIT VISION FOR THE FUTURE

Developing these skills and dispositions will be a partnership and we are keen to share some of our strategies and look at developing strategies with you. Our parent seminar this term focused on this and we started to look at how we can develop these attributes both at school and at home.

It is changing how we see teaching and learning but as we keep seeing and hearing so is the world we are working in. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Mrs Judy MawActing Principal

sPecial character

Chaplain’s Chat

If you were given $5.00 what could you do with it to raise money for Anglican Family Care? This is the challenge that each Whanaungatanga group was set at the outset of this term, and they have certainly done an amazing job at turning that small amount of money into something amazing. We are intending to give AFC a cheque for over $4,000.00 once all money is to hand as a result of the incredible effort, resourcefulness and creativity shown by all the groups - and there is still more money yet to come in as some groups continue with their projects. So why did we set this challenge?

The end of Term 2 sees us celebrate our Founders’ Day Eucharist Service. This is when we remember the wonderful men and women who started our school, in particular Sisters Geraldine and Etheleen, who gave time, effort, energy, emotion, and resources into making sure that girls could get an education. When Geraldine and Etheleen arrived in New Zealand in 1895 they faced the daunting task of starting up a school with only £41. With this money they had to find a property, set up classrooms, hire teachers, get a piano, and all the other things that they needed so that they would be able to offer a good education to “the daughters of Anglican gentlemen”. They had to be very resourceful, creative, and clever and they also had to put lots of effort and time into seeing their dream for an Anglican girls’ school come to reality.

The Sisters took a big risk, but they managed to turn that limited amount of money into a school, and look at where we are now. It is amazing what a little amount of money can do when it is used creatively, cleverly, resourcefully. Like Sisters Geraldine and Etheleen, AFC also have to work with limited funds to try and make a difference in the lives of people in Dunedin, and to give people opportunities to learn and grow.

The $5.00 that the Whanaungatanga groups were given at the start of the term from AFC was also a concrete example of the parable Jesus told about a master who entrusts his servants with his wealth while he goes on a long journey (Matthew 25.14-30). When the Master returns he asks the servants to explain what they did with his money; those who took risks and doubled or tripled it were rewarded, but the one who played it safe and hid the money so that it wouldn’t be lost was punished. Jesus warned his listeners that playing it safe is never a good option when we have been entrusted with resources - we need to take risks, be creative, and resourceful if we want to see the Kingdom of Heaven grow. I am sure that AFC will be able to use this money we have raised to do just that.

Dr Gillian TownsleyChaplain

Market Day Photos internal assessMent Procedures

A Timely Reminder with Internal Assessments.

Citing Your Sources

When to cite your sources:Plagiarism is the act of representing the work -- words, thoughts, ideas, research, art -- of other people as your own. Plagiarism is a form of cheating. ANY time you incorporate information into your project, assessment or research report that is NOT your own idea, thoughts, or research, you need to indicate, with in-text citations and a formal bibliography, where you found that information.

There are only a few instances in which you probably do not need to cite your sources. You do not need to cite your sources if you are writing your own words, ideas, or original research.

You also do not need to cite information that is considered common knowledge, such as:

• facts that are found in many sources (example: Marie Antoinette was guillotined in 1793)

• things that are easily observed (example: Many people talk on cell phones while driving)

• common sayings (example: Every man has his price)

If you ever have ANY questions, be on the safe side and ask your teacher.

Why cite your sources:

• To give credit to the people whose words and ideas you are using. The first step to avoiding plagiarizing is acknowledging when your material comes from a source other than yourself.

• To distinguish other people’s ideas from your own.

• To make your argument stronger by using supporting evidence from other sources.

• To allow people reading your work to verify your claims and get additional information related to the topic you’re discussing (Adapted from a list by Erin Mooney)

How to cite your sources:

Your teacher will give you guidelines on which style you should follow.

dePartMents

Design Department

The Year 8 Digital Design students were the first group from St Hilda’s to compete in the Otago RoboCup competition, and they represented the school extremely well. RoboCup encourages and develops not only programming and engineering skills, but also problem solving, teamwork, creativity and sportmanship. The girls truly exemplified the dispositions of a “St Hilda’s Graduate”, both in their preparation for the competition and their conduct on the day. St Hilda’s was recognised throughout the competition for making a great inaugural entry.

Congratulations to the following teams, who were amongst the overall place-getters in the competition:

2nd Place - Junior Theatre:

Team Mary and the Poppins Ella Hodgson, Lucie Holtz, Annika Marriner, Sophie

Broadley and Emma Boult

3rd Equal - Junior Theatre:

Team JawsOlive Dean, Breane Byck and Bella Gilmour

(absent: Emma de Lange)

Emma De Lange

Team Pink LadiesAnna Miller, Olivia Hall and Belle King-Begg

(Absent: Georgie Lawson)

3rd Place - Junior Search and Rescue

Team LabyrinthCourtney Lloyd accepting certificate

(Absent: Kate McEwen and Cassandra Martin)

Mrs Julie McMahonHOD Design

English Department

Part of our mission is to get the students to see English and how it communicates meaning visually, as well as in text. To that end, both junior and senior girls saw a classic twentieth century text brought to life and experienced the power of words in poetry and speeches that changed the world.

The Great Gatsby is a seminal novel; the Level 3 English girls saw it dramatized with passion and insight by the New Zealand Playhouse. They sang, they danced, and took us to 1920’s America. Not only did they take us through the storyline, but also linked it to the superhero genre, to the contemporary political landscape and, most importantly, to us. With minimal props and only three actors it was a tour de force.

The Power of Words was presented shockingly by Poetry in Action. With 2017 being the 100th anniversary of Passchendaele, three classes have been studying the poetry of war. To see many of the poems brought to life by three talented actors had Whitby in absolute silence as the words and images rolled over us. Focusing mainly on Sassoon and Owen, the show took us through Owen’s and Sassoon’s lives, and the haunting poems that they wrote. The last poem, Dulce et Decorum Est, had many of us in tears and there was a palpable hush in the theatre. It was telling that the actors themselves had to go and have a moment before coming out to take questions. A powerful piece.

Incredibly, these three actors then came out to present Words that Changed the World to an audience of Year 10. They took for their frame the political left and right points of view and challenged the two characters who held these with powerful speeches and the effect that the structure, syntax and diction would have had on the audiences. One of the most revelationary ones was a passionate speech encouraging people to join and stand together. It was rousing, positive and empowering – made by Adolf Hitler. The opening poem, Progress by Kate Tempest, performed by all three actors, set the scene for what was a thought provoking and challenging performance.

To carry on the theme of working with words, Jo Morris, outgoing NZATE President, former Head of the English faculty at Karamu High School, all round awesome English teacher and now heading her own business, The Write Coach, led a writing workshop for Dunedin students. This was then followed by a teacher workshop aiming to get students to overcome the dreaded writer’s block.

Words are so powerful. They can be used for great good, great harm, can be entertaining and damaging. They are harbingers of peace and bringers of war. And we have to be careful when we use them. Hopefully, this term the girls at St Hilda’s have had a sense of the power of these words in the language that we take for granted.

Keep reading.

PROGRESSKate Tempest (abridged)

Once there was religion, and it ruled. We had it bad.

We fooled ourselves to sleep at night;This was This, and That was That.

And if our morals ever shook, we looked no further than The Book.

And without God, the wars seemed crueller life seemed bleaker. Art seemed foolish.

Without the fear of retribution we found guilt-free pleasure

but we lost the sense of union that had kept us all together.

And now, there is no purpose that exists beyond our needs.

Now there is the worship of convenience and speed.

We run around the circuit, pit our grace against our greed

And all we have is surplus to what’s needed and we feed.

We used to burn women who had epileptic fits.We’d tie them to a stake and proclaim them a witch.

Now

We’ll draw red rings round their saggy bits.And flick through the pictures while we eat bags of chips.

Before

you were damned for the things that you did, or if you didn’t live how the villagers lived.

Now

You’re handed the mould and told — fit in to this. And maybe one day you could really be big.

The world is your playground, go and get your kicks,

as long as you’re not poor, or ugly, or sick.

We never saw it coming, like all the best tricks.

Once we had the fear; now we have the fix.

Spelling Bee

Term 2 ended with the Otago Daily Times Spelling Bee. From Year 7 and 8 we had six teams .

The Year 7 and 8 teams were:

SHCS 1: Annika Marriner, Ella Morshuis and Belle King-Begg

SHCS 2: Ella Jarvie, Peta Ericsson and Amelie Warlow

SHCS 3: Imogen Irvine, Tessa Putt and Luana Ashton

SHCS 4: Evie Rose Grace, Sophia Le and Abbie McDonald

SHCS 5: Amelia Johnston, Olivia Hall and Hannah Hardiman

SHCS 6: Hannah McCoubrey, Hannah Lawrence and Elisa Fitzgerald.

Always heavily contested, sadly we did not finish in the top three. However, at the Year 9 and 10 Spelling Bee there was a different story.

Three teams entered comprising of:

SHCS 1; Ria Dennison; Mia Steele and Libby Drummond

SHCS 2: Georgie Ffiske, Chloe Light and Helena Fitzgerald

SHCS 3: Brianna Le, Lauren Heng, Emily Wilson.

As the results were summarised through the evening, St Hilda’s Team 3 were up there in the top four. After rounds of traditional spelling, sorting out homonyms, root words and origins of words, the final round occurred, the marks went in and the results were announced. 3rd Otago Boys, 2nd,…. St Hilda’s 3 with 96 points, with Columba taking out the competition with 97 points. A great result.

Writers’ Festival Visit

Glenn Colquhoun visited Dunedin as part of the Writers’ Festival. A number of senior students and Dr Townsley (fan girl) attended and were treated to Colquhoun’s forays into the world of oral poetry.

Arising out of the Maori tradition, he had challenged himself to write songs for famous but little unknown New Zealanders whom he had brought along in the form of Totems. We chose a totem and he told us the biography and sang his ballad. We heard from Archibald Baxter, a conscientious objector, and a sea captain shipwrecked off Wellington, amongst others. As young people so often love the lyrics of songs, it was refreshing to have this idea of the blend of lyrics and poetry.

Glenn Colquhoun’s selection of Totems

Mrs Helen Almey HOD English

International Department

Farewell – Kirstyn Mawdsley

Goodbye is always hard to say and it is something that we do often in the International Department, but it never gets any easier. This goodbye is no different.

I say to the girls when they leave, that St Hilda’s is always a part of them and will forever sit in their hearts; I have been telling myself the same thing for the last few weeks. St Hilda’s and all of the girls, their families, their homestays will definitely remain in my heart. I have so many great memories and have met so many fantastic people. The thing I have loved the most though is meeting alumni students and their families in various cities around the world and talking about how much the girls changed during their one term or five years here in Dunedin.

We have sent a large number of girls out into the world, who still have a heart-string connecting them to us here at St Hilda’s, shouting from rooftops about how beautiful our country and our people are. We are very privileged.

Thank you to all of our homestays for so kindly opening up their lives and homes to our girls. Thank you to our girls for being amazing and making me proud every single day of all the small and big things you achieve. You really are inspiring and the embodiment of resilience. Finally thanks to the international team. You have made this job so much more than that; your dedication and passion have been fantastic. The girls here are well cared for by you all and you’ll be missed by me.

I wish Ange Spears all the best going forward, and know that the department is in very good hands.

Ms Kirstyn MawdsleyFormer Director of International Students

Farewell to Kirstyn from Tiffany Zhou

I’m Tiffany Zhou, the current international students’ leader at St Hilda’s, and I’m in Year 13 at the moment. It is always a sad occasion to say goodbye, but looking back at all the memories I have of Kirstyn, there will be a big smile on our faces instead of tears.

During the four years, Kirstyn has been an absolutely awesome director for the international students here in St Hilda’s. The first time every international student at our school got off the plane and arrived in Dunedin, there would be her homestay waiting for her, and there would always be Kirstyn standing there, smiling, excited to see the new girls. For girls who just arrived, Kirstyn would always take us for tours around Dunedin, to the St Clair Beach and the Baldwin Street etc; she is the one who introduced this beautiful city to us. There are trips to Queenstown accompanied by Kirstyn as well; I’m sure lots of girls have enjoyed that a lot. I haven’t been to one of those trips yet, but I could see that in the pictures taken during these trips, everyone is smiling happily.

In school, whenever we have a problem, we know there is one person that we can always go to; that person is Kirstyn. She is so trustworthy and she has this magic that makes us feel safe and relaxed. She is always patient with all the problems and questions, and is always happy to help us with everything, big things such as sorting out visas, changing subjects, finding a new homestay; small things such as booking a dentist appointment, taking girls to take their ID photos, even buying us coffee at the airport!

For me personally, my life at St Hilda’s would have been much harder without Kirstyn’s understanding and support, and I’m sure the other girls just feel the same way as I do. Therefore, I hereby representing all the international students at St Hilda’s, send our most sincere appreciation to you, Kirstyn. Thank you so much! We will miss you a lot and the best wishes to you! I’m sure you will also do a remarkable and excellent job in your new career!

Tiffany Zhou International Student Leader

Farewell to Katja, Franka, Zina and Lara

Mrs Ange Spears with Katja Fredrich, Franka Spieler, Zina Leclere, Lara Düren and Nele Meers

It is farewell to Franka Spieler (Germany), Zina Leclere (France), Lara Duren (Germany) and Katja Fredrich (Germany) as they leave us to return to their home countries.

All of the girls have made the most of their time at St Hilda’s by engaging in extra curricular activities such as hockey, outdoor education, orchestra and leadership. It is also encouraging to see the girls have, or will have, seen other parts of the beautiful South Island before they return home.

The girls will always be a part of St Hilda’s and will now become our international ambassadors. So we say “See you again!” and hope that one day the friends you made here will visit you in Europe on their big O.E. and reminisce about your time spent here in Dunedin.

Thank you Franka, Zina, Lara and Katja for all the positive contributions you have made to St Hilda’s Collegiate School. We congratulate you on your international experience, which continues to promote global connectedness. We wish you all the very best for the next chapter of your lives.

Introduction of our new International Department Staff and their roles

Ms Ange Spears and Mrs Nele Meers International Department Team

Ms Ange SpearsDirector of International Students

Having worked in the International Education Sector at tertiary level for almost nine years, I am no stranger to the excitement, anxieties and trepidation international students face when coming to New Zealand. I look forward to developing long-lasting relationships with our girls at St Hilda’s and following them on their journey through school and beyond. It has been a pleasure to meet our current students and see how well they relate to each other, the broader school environment and the Dunedin community. There is a lot to be proud of and in my short time here I have already seen an amazing extra-curricular performance from Fuka in the hip-hop team. This is testament to the strong culture of inclusion and leadership in the school. I have received a warm welcome from the International students, the staff and the broader community of St Hilda’s Collegiate.

Nele and I look forward to working together to ensure we continue to make St Hilda’s a place for international students to have an outstanding student experience.

Mrs Nele MeersInternational Manager - Europe

Nele has lived in Dunedin with her youngfamily for the last three years. Nele has awealth of experience in education, as well asspecifically in international education. She hasexperienced living and studying in NewZealand as an international student and knowsfirst-hand how difficult it is to move to theother side of the world and learn a foreignlanguage.

Nele will be responsible for all of our Europeanstudents, their families and all European agents.She will also be in charge of the Europeanmarketing in the future

Ms Ange SpearsDirector of International Students

Social Sciences Department

Senior subjects in the Social Science Department have had a significant increase in numbers for 2017 across all year levels but particularly at Years 11 and 13, resulting in two classes for some subjects. This reflects the effort made by staff to create interesting and varied courses to enhance learning in their subject area.

Mrs Ange Rathbone

This year we have welcomed Mrs Ange Rathbone (also the Tolcarne Director of Boarding) to the department, teaching Year 10 Social Studies.

Classes within the Social Science Department have recently been involved in a number of field trips to enhance their learning.

Year 11 Economics have visited the Cadbury factory for interdependence of the various sectors in the NZ economy.

Cadbury Factory visit

Year 12 Economics will visit Port Otago to see how the Port operation functions. Port Otago is the key entry/exit for international trade.

Year 11 History has visited Toitu Museum for a presentation on “The Role of Otago Women during World War I.”

Year 12 Geography had a field trip to Mount Cook, studying natural landscapes.

Year 13 Geography visited local beaches to study coastal processes in Term 1.

Year 11 Religious Education visited the Buddhist Centre as part of their understanding of world religions.

Year 13 Media Studies attended ‘Censor for a Day’ – the students learn how the censorship process works for films.

Year 9 Integrated Studies (as part of Te Reo week, organised by the Languages Department) visited the Otago Museum to learn about designs in Maori carving and created a huhu (a wind instrument) and had an overnight stay at Otakou Marae.

United Nations Youth Ambassador

Emma Crampton

Congratulations to Emma Crampton (Year 13) who has been selected as a United Nations Youth Ambassador for 2017. Emma’s job will be to embody the values of UN Youth New Zealand and encourage participation in UN events throughout the school and local community.

Mrs Chris GabbuschActing HOD Social Sciences

Tolcarne Boarding Residence Report

The term began with our successful country visits to Kurow, Ranfurly, Wanaka, Arrowtown, Winton, Waikaka and Balclutha, recruiting our new Year 9 Tolcarne students for 2018. I loved being a part of the Tolcarne tradition of door decorating for our Open Day visitors, who were all in love with Tolcarne by the time they left.

This term the girls have enjoyed a few extra activities during the weekend. Highlights were seeing the girls enjoy a beautiful sunny day and take up the challenge of hiking up Mt Cargill, playing sports games with the John McGlashan boys in their gym, which included an afternoon tea, and watching the winter carnival parade in the Octagon. The activities room has been a hive of baking activity – possibly it needs to be renamed as the ‘brownie’ room.

We look forward to the girls branching out and extending their cooking skills next term. Our Tribes had fun with the Op Shop Cat Walk Challenge and a talent quest at our Monday night dinners. Grendon is leading the points table at the moment but Falkland is close on their heels.

Ziggy and I attended the NZ Boarding Schools’ Conference and were privileged to hear from such speakers as Mike King, Judge Andrew Becroft (Children’s Commisioner), Robert Periera (Australia’s bullying expert) and our own Lesley Elliot from Dunedin. We are excited to be able to bring Robert Periera to Tolcarne in August of this year to facilitate workshops for the students and training for the staff.

All term the girls have enjoyed the expertise of Shannon Turner, our Yoga instructor, and Gina Marie Dobbie working as our in-house weekly Therapeutic Masseuse. Our newly appointed Year 12 Boarding Leaders have been actively helping out around the hostel with the juniors; waking them up in the mornings, helping settle them at night, supervising the baking in the activities room and joining in on the weekend activities.

Sergeant John Hedges has visited the hostel and presented a seminar to all of the girls around keeping safe when using social media. His message was very simple with a few key questions for the girls to ask themselves:

Are you the same person on social media as you are in person?

Do you write how you talk?

What would your Gran say if she read it?

Our parents were also able to take advantage of John’s experience and advice and attend the parent seminar which was held at Tolcarne on the last day of the term.

Mrs Ange RathboneDirector of Boarding

sPort

St Hilda’s School Cross Country

Much like Athletics Day at the beginning of Term 1 we were very lucky to have the weather on our side with another beautiful Dunedin day and perfect, running conditions.

With a slight change in the courses due to the upgrades of the Ross Creek reservoir, it was a bit of the unknown for many of the runners and walkers, however all girls seemed to take this in their stride and cross the finish in high spirits. Special mention goes to Georgia Mitchell for recording the fastest time of the day and a big thanks to all the staff for their efforts marshalling, timekeeping and providing the odd piggy back after a couple of sprains.

Year 7 and 8 Champion - Olivia Hall Junior Champion - Annabel Bilkey Senior Champion - Georgia Mitchell

Mr Callum WardellHead of Sport

Badminton

Snr A Badminton v Columba

Smash, bang, pow. These are just a few of the many sounds being made in the Badminton Hall this term. St Hilda’s has had a great start to the badminton season with many girls participating in the weekly secondary schools’ competition. We have had seven teams entered into the competition, with two competitive teams and five social teams. Our top badminton teams have been winning the majority of their games and are fierce competitors in the competition.

Next term we will have our top badminton team competing in Winter Quad. We also have had students selected into representative teams, with Farrin Quin selected for the Otago U17 team and Adithi Alexander and Emily Perry selected for the Otago U19 team.

It has been great to see so many girls having fun and learning a new skill this season. We hope this will continue next term as well to end the season with a bang.

Emily Perry Badminton Liaison

Basketball

St Hilda’s basketball teams overall have had a good start to the term and have kicked off the winter sports well. The Senior A team has started with a perfect record and remain unbeaten for the season, and the Senior B team have been competitive in the Senior B girls grade.

Many social teams compete throughout the senior and junior grades, we are well represented across the board in the weekly competition with teamwork and enjoyment being huge factors. The Junior A team has been doing well and holding their own against tough competition, and are improving each week.

The Year 7 and 8 team has also had a great Term Two of Basketball and are currently unbeaten in their grade. Well done to Ella Southby and Laura Ring who have been selected in the Otago Gold U13 Girls Team.

Congratulations to Olivia O’Neill who has been selected in the New Zealand U18 Women’s Basketball team to travel to Guam during the holidays and compete in the Oceania Qualifiers. Olivia and Nicole Ruske are also currently playing for the Otago Women’s Basketball Team, The Goldrush, with high hopes of making the National finals.

Olivia O’Neill Basketball Liaison

Cross Country

Cross Country Team with Mr Lindsay Dey at the Nationals in Christchurch

St Hilda’s has had an awesome season this term as the cross country season kicked off.

First individual race was the Logan Park Road Race. In the junior race we had Annabelle Bilkey 13th, and Riley MacDonald 17th. In the senior race we had Georgia Mitchell 2nd, Cecilia Crooks 3rd, Suzie White 4th, Mariette Devereux 12th, April Dobbie 13th and Sophie Sinclair 16th.

Caversham Relay was another great race for all the girls with the junior team consisting of Annabelle Bikley, Riley Macdonald, Grace Cotter and Gabbi Horo placed 5th and the other junior team consisting of Jessica Scott, Madeline Bilkey, Harriet Cottle and Sarah Langsbury coming close behind in 6th place. The senior girls had a great team consisting of Suzie White, Cecilia Crooks, Mariette Devereux and Georgia Mitchell and was placed 1st. The other senior teams were placed 5th, 7th and 8th. Georgia Mitchell came in with the fastest time of the all the senior girls and Suzie came in with the 3rd fastest time for their race.

The Milton Relay was a good course and had the junior teams being placed 4th and 6th. The senior girls’ team consisting of Suzie White, Cecilia Crooks, Mariette Devereux and Georgia Mitchell was placed 1st, with the other senior teams being placed 6th, 7th and 9th. Georgia Mitchell came in with the 1st fastest time out of the senior girls and Cecilia Crooks the 2nd fastest time for the day.

The Otago Cross Country was next up with a cold, wet and muddy course at Kaikorai Valley College.

In the U14 girls’ race we had Annabelle Bilkey 7th and Riley MacDonald 10th. In the U15 girls’ race Sophie Sinclair was placed 4th and in the U19 girls’ race we had Georgia Mitchell placed 2nd, Suzie White 3rd and April Dobbie 5th.

Finally, the last event for the term was the New Zealand Cross Country Champs. We enterd two Year 9s (Annabelle Bilkey and Rylee MacDonald), and a senior team of six (Sophie Sinclair, Suzie White, Mariette Devereux, Georgia Mitchell, April Dobbie and Cecilia Crooks) who travelled up to Christchurch to compete. All the girls raced really well. Both races were very tough; the senior team ended up 5th, which was a great result. All girls got selected to run for the Otago Region the next day in a five man team relay racing in teams from across the region.

Special thanks to Mr Lindsay Dey for his continued support with harriers and for taking the girls up to Christchurch.

Suzie White Cross Country and Triathlon Liaison

Curling

St Hilda’s have had a strong presence in the weekly secondary schools’ curling competition so far this season with five teams in the competition; two experienced and three novice.

It is great to see the numbers of girls participating in the sport growing each year. The girls are still playing in the weekly competition at the moment, which finishes around the 30th August. Everyone is enjoying the season so far and are looking forward to the weeks to come. The participation and enthusiasm towards games from the students has been great to see as well.

Katherine Inder Curling Liaison

Football

St Hilda’s Football again has had a great season so far with a number of girls participating in the two teams involved in the weekly secondary schools’ competition.

Both teams have been very competitive and have been playing very well with the First XI recording four wins from five games and the Second XI recording three wins from five games.

Senior A Football team in a team talk

Both teams are developing well and are looking forward to the rest of the season. The 1st XI continues to work towards attending the Lotto Sportswear Tournament in Invercargill during Tournament Week. It has been great to see so many girls involved and enjoying the sport.

Georgia MitchellFootball Liaison

Hockey

This term has been a very busy one for hockey. Playing in the competition on cold winter evenings is tough, but St Hilda’s teams have been doing really well and getting some good results. The Year 7 and 8 team has been improving with every game, managing to win games against teams such as DNI. The C Team has been dominating the competition, losing only one game, to Tokomairiro High School. The B Team has also been winning many of their games, but have lost a couple to Queen’s High School and Taieri High School.

The St Hilda’s A Team has been winning regularly against various club and school teams, but have had a couple of hard games against Columba. The first game was a draw at 1-1, but in the second game St Hilda’s couldn’t get one back and lost 2-1.

Overall, St Hilda’s teams have been getting good results in the weekly competitions and with only a few games to go, we are all looking looking to finish off the season strongly.

Taylor DuffyHockey Liaison

Netball

Senior A Football team in a team talk

Both teams are developing well and are looking forward to the rest of the season. The 1st XI continues to work towards attending the Lotto Sportswear Tournament in Invercargill during Tournament Week. It has been great to see so many girls involved and enjoying the sport.

Georgia MitchellFootball Liaison

Hockey

This term has been a very busy one for hockey. Playing in the competition on cold winter evenings is tough, but St Hilda’s teams have been doing really well and getting some good results. The Year 7 and 8 team has been improving with every game, managing to win games against teams such as DNI. The C Team has been dominating the competition, losing only one game, to Tokomairiro High School. The B Team has also been winning many of their games, but have lost a couple to Queen’s High School and Taieri High School.

The St Hilda’s A Team has been winning regularly against various club and school teams, but have had a couple of hard games against Columba. The first game was a draw at 1-1, but in the second game St Hilda’s couldn’t get one back and lost 2-1.

Overall, St Hilda’s teams have been getting good results in the weekly competitions and with only a few games to go, we are all looking looking to finish off the season strongly.

Taylor DuffyHockey Liaison

Netball

Senior A Netball team after winning the Otago Secondary Schools’ Title

St Hilda’s has had a successful netball season so far with 22 teams participating in the weekly netball competition. On Saturdays at the Edgar Centre from 9 - 3.30 pm there is always a St Hilda’s team to watch.

At the recent Otago Secondary Schools’ Netball Champs all three St Hilda’s teams made the final of the respective divisions. The Senior As put in a dominant performance with a 40 - 18 win over Columba to take out the Senior division for the third consecutive year.

The Year 9A team were pushed all the way in their game by a very good Taieri team and managed to come out with a 26 - 15 win. The St Hilda’s 10A were also involved in a hotly contested final against Wakatipu High going down 16 - 13 and taking a very commendable 2nd place in the Intermediate division. Well done to all coaches, managers and girls involved at the Otago Secondary Schools’ Championship.

The representative netball season is underway for the Dunedin Under 19s and Under 17s. Congratulations to Meg Timu, Mariah Nelson and Kate and Georgia Heffernan for making the Under 19s and Beryn Abbott, Millie Scully, Megan Borst and Phoebe Aburn on making the Under 17s.

Rugby/Sevens

Mr West giving the Junior A Sevens team some words of wisdom!

The season was kicked off this year with Sevens where we had an astounding number of 54 girls sign up to play, allowing there to be four teams: Senior A and B and Junior A and B. We had some great results with the Senior A being placed second, Senior B first, Junior A second and the Junior B fourth. With a couple of weeks’ rest, we kick started the 15s competition on the 28th of June against South Otago, a great first game from the girls which ended in a thrilling 36 all draw. Initial impressions are that it’s going to be a great season. In the first week of the holidays we are heading to Oamaru to play in the annual South Island tournament. In Term 3 we look forward to eight more weeks of rugby and the start of the Otago Secondary Schools’ Representative season.

Holly Wright Rugby Liaison

Sailing

Charlotte Reveley, Year 10, is representing Ravensbourne Sailing Club at the NZ Forward Sailing Winter Open Cup from the 6th - 9th July. She will be competing against other teams from around NZ (and possibly international) and is being coached and hosted by Russell Coutts.

This is Charlotte’s first season sailing so she is having some fantastic experiences and opportunities in the short time she has been involved in the sport.

Mr Callum Wardell Head of Sport

Prefects

Stella KeownHead Boarder

I started at St Hilda’s as just a small 12 year old girl, very excited about coming to my new school in, what I believed to be at the time, a big city. Putting on my blazer embossed with the St Hilda’s crest for the first time was the start of what would be an incredible five years.

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be a Head Boarder Prefect this year and I believe I have learnt a lot in this role. A big focus for us in our roles this year was to engage with the younger girls to make them feel at home both at school and around the hostel. Another important factor to us is being visible around the hostel. When leading Tribal dinners and going along on Sunday night activities, this visibility goal is put into action. I am humbled to be able to develop my own leadership whilst giving back to St Hilda’s.

St Hilda’s has given me so much in my time here and I have had endless opportunities to participate in a full range of activities such as Rowing, Basketball, Duke of Edinburgh as well as being the Board of Trustees Rep for 2017. St Hilda’s has provided a fantastic base on which my skills and interests have been able to be utilised and developed.

2017 is passing by in a whirlwind and, while I am looking forward to next year when I plan to study Psychology at Otago University, it is scary to think that in just a few months I will be released into the world on my own pathway. I will be sad to leave St Hilda’s, after five exciting and life changing years here, and it has been a privilege to be a leader of the school in my final year. St Hilda’s has taught me so much about myself and those around me - a bunch of incredibly talented young women.

As 2017 comes to a close I will be sure to treasure every last memory of St Hilda’s.

Stella KeownHead Boarder

Izzy PerkinsHead Boarder

I first came to St Hilda’s as a Year 9 Boarder. I was so excited to move in with 150 other girls and have three roommates. I had an older sister who was also a boarder here so I had heard lots of cool stories and fun things to look forward to. It only seems like last week when I was walking down the bush track to my first day of St Hilda’s school life. Being at St Hilda’s has taught me so many amazing lessons and values that I will be grateful for forever.

I can still remember the moment at my Year 12 prize giving where I was announced one of the Head Boarders. Being named Head Boarder was such an amazing feeling. I remember looking over to Stella, who was named Head Boarder as well, and thinking to myself how happy I was to be appointed this role with one of my very good friends. I also remember thinking how well Stella and I would work together as we have known each other since nappies and have been neighbours all our lives. I was excited but also very scared to take on such a big role, not only at school, but at the hostel and so far I have learned a lot. I have learned how to manage myself and also how to look after and comfort younger girls. I have learned about responsibilities and how to approach difficult situations in a calm and graceful manner.

St Hilda’s has offered me so many opportunities to try a very wide range of activities over the five years I have attended, such as basketball, cricket, volleyball, rock climbing, Z club, canteen help and most of all my favourite and strongest sport, rugby. I have played rugby in the 1st 15 team since Year 9, and have managed to make the cut for the Otago Secondary Schools’ representative team since 2014. I believe I would not have been able to make this achievement without the physical and mental support the coaches and the school gave me. The encouragement I received in that branch of my life helped me immensely.

I have been so privileged to be a part of the St Hilda’s community for the last five years. I am so lucky to be able to wear the Head Boarder badge and call myself a prefect of St Hilda’s and give back to the school.

The attributes I have gained from St Hilda’s will follow me and help me on the rest of my journey when I part from life here, into the big wide world.

Izzy PerkinsHead Boarder

I first came to St Hilda’s as a Year 9 Boarder. I was so excited to move in with 150 other girls and have three roommates. I had an older sister who was also a boarder here so I had heard lots of cool stories and fun things to look forward to. It only seems like last week when I was walking down the bush track to my first day of St Hilda’s school life. Being at St Hilda’s has taught me so many amazing lessons and values that I will be grateful for forever.

I can still remember the moment at my Year 12 prize giving where I was announced one of the Head Boarders. Being named Head Boarder was such an amazing feeling. I remember looking over to Stella, who was named Head Boarder as well, and thinking to myself how happy I was to be appointed this role with one of my very good friends. I also remember thinking how well Stella and I would work together as we have known each other since nappies and have been neighbours all our lives. I was excited but also very scared to take on such a big role, not only at school, but at the hostel and so far I have learned a lot. I have learned how to manage myself and also how to look after and comfort younger girls. I have learned about responsibilities and how to approach difficult situations in a calm and graceful manner.

St Hilda’s has offered me so many opportunities to try a very wide range of activities over the five years I have attended, such as basketball, cricket, volleyball, rock climbing, Z club, canteen help and most of all my favourite and strongest sport, rugby. I have played rugby in the 1st 15 team since Year 9, and have managed to make the cut for the Otago Secondary Schools’ representative team since 2014. I believe I would not have been able to make this achievement without the physical and mental support the coaches and the school gave me. The encouragement I received in that branch of my life helped me immensely.

I have been so privileged to be a part of the St Hilda’s community for the last five years. I am so lucky to be able to wear the Head Boarder badge and call myself a prefect of St Hilda’s and give back to the school.

The attributes I have gained from St Hilda’s will follow me and help me on the rest of my journey when I part from life here, into the big wide world.

I cannot express the gratefulness and happiness I have for not only the school, but all of my peers in Year 13 who have supported me along the way.

I am so very sad to leave all of my friends and the amazing people that I have met, but so happy I was given this opportunity. Here’s to what the future may bring! Thank you all. Izzy PerkinsHead Boarder

Mae DevereuxLiaison Prefect

Born and raised in sunny Dunedin, I first came to St Hilda’s in Year 9 from Balmacewen Intermediate. I was a tall girl who enjoyed the occasional slicked down pony tail paired with a summer shirt look from time to time. I entered St Hilda’s with no close friends or a vision of what the high school Mae would become. I was eager to make friends so I pushed past the awkward greetings and instead I would crack a joke in the hope that some friends would develop. I was fortunate enough to have a close-knit year group who were more than happy to consider everyone as friends. Year 9 passed in the blink of an eye and I was suddenly in Year 10 and feeling absolutely top dog. Then Year 10 passed by even quicker and I was suddenly doing NCEA! When it came time for Year 12 I began to explore/freak out about which university I should go to, what I should study and overall in what direction to take my life: something I am still figuring out. I had told myself to join school clubs and I found myself involved with peer mentoring, Amnesty International as well as being a lead in the school musical. As in previous years, Year 12 finished so quickly that I suddenly found myself in Year 13. In Year 13 I became co-leader for Amnesty and took part in Stage Challenge, something that was a challenge as my dancing ability is that of an enthusiastic dad dancing at a barbecue! My volleyball team won three of its 11 games: a great achievement when you remember that I thought I signed up for netball.

At the Year 12 prize giving I was fortunate enough to be given the role of Liaison Prefect and I think that my confident nature and dad jokes over my time at St Hilda’s have helped me in this role. My friendships over the years have taught me that even though I thought I knew my whole year group, in Year 13 I am still finding hidden friendships that are absolute gems. As in previous years, this year is coming towards an end far too quickly. I try to cherish the days I wear my uniform, and I make sure to take time for my friends as I don’t know who I will see beyond St Hilda’s. All of this and still putting 100% into school work is hard.

But every day is one day closer to the end of the year and although it seems scary I take great advice from Dr Seuss’s book Oh The Places You’ll Go. “Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way.“

Mae DevereuxLiaison Prefect

Kate EdwardsLiaison Prefect

I started St Hilda’s as an excited and ready to give everything a go Year 9 day girl. Once I knew what St Hilda’s had to offer, I knew it was the school for me.

I love to play sports, so St Hilda’s has been amazing at allowing me to develop my skills as well as encouraging me to try new activities. During my time here I have enjoyed participating in a variety of sports including basketball, netball, rowing and touch. These sports have allowed me to become really close with so many girls in various year levels. I think that the sporting environment at St Hilda’s is very supportive and has led me to make some amazing friends and grow as a sportswoman.

I also think that St Hilda’s has offered me an incredible environment in which to learn and to grow. The energy created in the classrooms at St Hilda’s has driven me to do the best that I can academically. Everyone is very encouraging and this has allowed me to learn and thrive. I have really enjoyed the subjects that I have taken, and the understanding that I have gained in these subjects will allow me to follow my dreams in the years to come.

My role as a liaison prefect with Mae has been such a cool experience. We have created some awesome videos and other items for the school to enjoy in student assemblies. I also enjoyed being a member of the prefect group that organised what turned out to be an amazing formal which everybody throughly enjoyed.

The big question that always gets asked in Year 13 is, “What are you going to do next year?” I know that I want to go to university at Otago, but I am still just tossing up what I actually want to study. I am really looking forward to next year, but I know that I am going to really miss St Hilda’s and its amazing people.

Kate EdwardsLiaison Prefect

Board of trusteesDuring Term 2 the Board met on 4 May and 1 June 2017.

PresentationsSTAR, Gateway and Careers ReportThe Board received a report on STAR, Gateway and Careers students’ achievements and activities for 2016 at their May meeting. The information informed us that students are taking more time and seeking more information when making choices of where they are going to do their study and what tertiary choices were being made. Trends, including increasing Polytechnic attendance and University scholarships growth, were also discussed. Trends for the location of choices of University were also discussed and the Board’s role in supporting and resourcing this crucial part of graduating the school.

Gateway includes trades and skill areas and students are placed in a workplace once a week for 20 weeks. There is much more communication between Gateway, STAR and learning support and the budgeting in this area to get the best result for students. The Careers Expo has been held and there were a number of guest speakers, mainly St Hilda’s old girls from all industries, to talk to the students. Past St Hilda’s Collegiate student Anna Ross even travelled from Australia. Anna won the Young Business Enterprise of the Year Award in Australia and was the main guest speaker for the expo.

Science Department ReportThe Board received a report on the Science Department students’ achievements and activities for 2016 at their June meeting. John Janssen gave the committee a verbal overview of the Science Department results for 2016 and goals for 2017. Level 2 Biology and Chemistry had large numbers of students in 2016 participating in these subject areas. The NCEA results at this level where the highest results achieved since NZEA began in 2003.

Scholarships were received for Level 3 Physics, Biology and Chemistry in 2016.

Programmes designed to assist students who need some support and enable them to work in smaller groups were discussed along with teaching staff approach to the daily programme.

The Science Department has a range of activities that can extend students in all year levels such as science badges, science quizzes with other schools in Dunedin, the Sir Peter Blake Trust, and Healthy Harbour Watchers to name a few.

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International Department ReportThe Board received a report on the International Department at their June meeting. Kirstyn Mawdsley gave a verbal overview which included market trends and an overview of how current students are achieving.

International student achievement is going well at the moment and the international students are achieving academically. There was a discussion around the different international markets and an explanation was given on the strong Japanese market, which is due to the Japanese Government putting large amounts of funding into English and English study abroad to support major events in 2020.

There is a rise and fall in these markets due to different agents, marketing in the countries and strength of the New Zealand dollar. There was a discussion around our Special Character, Anglican tradition, size of school and number of students and how this affects the International Students’ choices. The Chair spoke on behalf of the Board of Trustees and thanked Kirstyn Mawdsley for her work and passion as the Director of International, as this was her last meeting before leaving the school.

ReportsReports received from the Student Trustee highlighted students’ achievement and initiatives. The Principal reported to the Board against the National Administration Guidelines (NAGs), student activities, health and safety, community and special character and International programme.

Minutes from the Board’s various committees were reviewed.

Self ReviewPolicies reviewed and adopted by the Board this year are:Theft and FraudAssessmentAchievement of Māori StudentsCurriculum Delivery

GeneralThe next Board meeting is scheduled for 7 September in the Library at 5:30 pm. Members of the school community are welcome to attend Board meetings.

Neil Finn-HouseChair, Board of Trustees

Science Department Report to the Board

Last year was another very successful year for the Science Department in terms of overall achievement and learning. We had a record number of students continuing the study of one or more sciences in the senior school, with three extra classes (above the usual number of classes) in Year 12.

NCEA results:Overall, the external examination results are at least consistent with or above national results. The following is a summary of results of external examinations for all Science subjects.

Level 1 Science:The overall achievement rate was 80% (compared to 77% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 43% (compared to 42% nationally).

Level 2 Biology:The overall achievement rate was 91% (compared to 77% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 54% (compared to 41% nationally).

Level 3 Biology:The overall achievement rate was 87% (compared to 79% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 54% (compared to 39% nationally).

Level 2 Chemistry:The overall achievement rate was 89% (compared to 77% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 49% (compared to 39% nationally).

Level 3 Chemistry:The overall achievement rate was 75% (compared to 73% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 43% (compared to 40% nationally).

Level 2 Physics:The overall achievement rate was 98% (compared to 79% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 77% (compared to 49% nationally).

Level 3 Physics:The overall achievement rate was 83% (compared to 79% nationally), with a combined Merit or Excellence rate of 45% (compared to 40% nationally).

Scholarship examinations:Kaya Fukushima was awarded scholarships in Physics and Chemistry.Holly Armstrong was awarded a scholarship in Biology.

At Years 7 to 10, the vast majority of students continue to work at or above the required curriculum level for each of the Science curriculum strands. Staff are continuously sharing ideas on how we can best meet the individual needs of students.

There are a range of opportunities available to students to widen their knowledge, get extended, get involved in a long term project or attend prestigious science related events, including:

• Science Badges• ICAS Science Competition• Otago Regional Science and Technology Fair• Year 10 Gifted and Talented Marine Science

Programme• Marine Science ‘Deep Thought’ Gifted and

Talented Programme• Te Rauawa O Te Pahi – Year 10 Science

enrichment and extension programme• Tracking Penguins – environmental action for

Year 9

• Healthy Harbour Watchers• Sir Peter Blake Trust – Girls, Science and

Leadership event• Year 10 Science Quiz (Dunedin Schools)• Year 13 Science Quiz (Dunedin Schools)• Senior Chemistry Quiz at Otago Museum• The International Biology Olympiad

A number of students completed standards above and beyond the normal courses of study.A range of prestigious international events arranged through the Royal Society of New Zealand – Lola Garden attended an International Space Camp in Norway.

We encourage students to get involved at any level. One of the criteria for selection to participate in international events is the student’s prior involvement in science-related events.Many of these activities will again be on offer in 2017.

2017 Goals:

Review our Health and Safety procedures and implement all requirements under the Code of Practice for Exempt Laboratories: This review is all but completed at present.

Differentiation – how to best meet individual student needs in the classroom: This is an ongoing task and good progress is being made. We have recently started using Education Perfect, and this has given students many options in terms of becoming independent learners who seek out opportunities for extension or scaffolding exercises to help them with their class work.

Student voice: To get feedback from students that will allow us to shape our programmes and teaching approaches.

Te Reo Maori: Continue to develop our use of Te Reo Maori with our students. In Science department Professional Development meetings we set time aside to develop our own knowledge of Te Reo Maori so that we can then use it in our classes at opportune moments.

The St Hilda’s graduate dispositions: Use the knowledge and skills we gain from staff professional development to develop dispositions in our students that will help them to become life-long independent learners, such as critical thinking, self regulation, grit, resilience etc.

Student success 2017:

Isabelle Robertson (Year 12) has written a peer-reviewed article for the Youth Section of the Journal of Medical Ethics, which was published on 27 April 2017. The title of her article is “Designing Methuselah: an ethical argument against germline genetic modification to prolong human longevity”.

The link to her article is: http://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2017/04/27/medethics-2017-104211

Madeleine Whittaker (Year 12) is about to embark for the London International Science Youth Forum. This includes lectures by Nobel Laureates, visiting Cambridge and Oxford Universities and the Large Hadron Collider (CERN), which is the largest particle accelerator on Earth used for nuclear research.

Isabelle Robertson and Madeleine Whittaker

This is the first time during my time as HOD Science at St Hilda’s that a student has written an article that was accepted by such a prestigious journal.

As a department we value the vast range of talent amongst our students. We encourage our students to give everything a go and we take pride in their successes, whether they be small or large.

John JanssenHOD Science

coMMunity

Parents and Friends Association

Our last meeting was the Annual General Meeting of the PFA.

This year has been a successful one in so many ways. We have engaged in a number of fundraising events which have had very positive outcomes and we have welcomed a number of new members to our ranks. We have also branched out to provide opportunities for our students in the arts and cultural areas to perform in public.

The Gala Concert is a new venture which we hope will become a new feature on the school calendar. I trust that this will go from strength to strength in the future.

The Association is in good heart and in a sound financial position with a great group of enthusiastic parents. I thank them all for their time and dedication.

Lisa Mason has been re-elected as secretary and Leanne Wright as treasurer. Jo Galer will continue in the role of vice president.

For the time being we are without a president. This will be need to be addressed at the next monthly meeting which is on 25 July at 7pm.

Mr Nick SimpsonPresident

PFA Sports and Cultural Fund

The Parents and Friends Association has a Sports and Cultural fund, which is available to subsidise students who are travelling to an event and their participation in this event will be of benefit to the school. This fund is generated by the main fundraising event that takes place on alternate years to the school fair.

Parents will apply directly for their daughter. Parents are able to access this fund once per year per child and this application can be found under Informational Links on the main page of the Parent Portal.

Criteria: The fund is available to students whose achievements will be of benefit to the school. The grant will be available to contribute to travel, accommodation and event costs. Assistance is available to subsidise total travel, accommodation and event costs above $300 per student. As a guideline, the payments will be up to $50 for South Island, $100 for North Island and $200 for International.

Applications will be considered by the PFA committee, which meets monthly. The PFA Committee will have discretion to consider the applications on a case by case basis. Successful applicants will get the amount credited to their school account.

If you have any questions regarding this fund please contact Judy Maw at [email protected].

Judy MawActing Principal

Old Girls’ Association

The Old Girls’ Association has been continuing to grow their database of alumni, with regular newsletters being sent to all on our email list. We have created a website - www.sthildasoldgirls.nz - where you can find profiles of Old Girls and what they have been up to since leaving St Hilda’s.

We are a diverse bunch, and there are Old Girls all around the globe, working in a variety of fields. Current students are encouraged to check out the website, especially if they are interested in finding a mentor in a particular field or career path. Our mission is to create a strong network of alumni who can support one another socially, in business or as a mentor. The website will continue to be a work progress as we add new profiles every term.

Lisa Mason has been re-elected as secretary and Leanne Wright as treasurer. Jo Galer will continue in the role of vice president.

For the time being we are without a president. This will be need to be addressed at the next monthly meeting which is on 25 July at 7pm.

Mr Nick SimpsonPresident

PFA Sports and Cultural Fund

The Parents and Friends Association has a Sports and Cultural fund, which is available to subsidise students who are travelling to an event and their participation in this event will be of benefit to the school. This fund is generated by the main fundraising event that takes place on alternate years to the school fair.

Parents will apply directly for their daughter. Parents are able to access this fund once per year per child and this application can be found under Informational Links on the main page of the Parent Portal.

Criteria: The fund is available to students whose achievements will be of benefit to the school. The grant will be available to contribute to travel, accommodation and event costs. Assistance is available to subsidise total travel, accommodation and event costs above $300 per student. As a guideline, the payments will be up to $50 for South Island, $100 for North Island and $200 for International.

Applications will be considered by the PFA committee, which meets monthly. The PFA Committee will have discretion to consider the applications on a case by case basis. Successful applicants will get the amount credited to their school account.

If you have any questions regarding this fund please contact Judy Maw at [email protected].

Judy MawActing Principal

Old Girls’ Association

The Old Girls’ Association has been continuing to grow their database of alumni, with regular newsletters being sent to all on our email list. We have created a website - www.sthildasoldgirls.nz - where you can find profiles of Old Girls and what they have been up to since leaving St Hilda’s.

We are a diverse bunch, and there are Old Girls all around the globe, working in a variety of fields. Current students are encouraged to check out the website, especially if they are interested in finding a mentor in a particular field or career path. Our mission is to create a strong network of alumni who can support one another socially, in business or as a mentor. The website will continue to be a work progress as we add new profiles every term.

The Dunedin branch of the Old Girls’ Association hosted a successful event at No 7 Balmac in May. It was well-attended, with 30 Old Girls coming along for a lovely evening catching up with friends and meeting other Old Girls of a variety of vintages! These events are informal and enjoyable, and we will host another function later in the year. We are also hoping to organise events in Christchurch and Wellington for Old Girls later in the year. If you wish to be notified of events and receive our newsletters, please email [email protected] with your contact details.

Amanda BurkeOld Girls’ Association - Dunedin Branch

froM the archives

As I assembled and edited the material for this Newsletter, I was impressed, yet again, with the wide range of activities and experiences that St Hilda’s offers its students. But there was one missing. The Formal. So I have taken it upon myself to pass on a vote of thanks to the Prefects for organising a wonderful night. The Town Hall was converted very successfully into a Parisian noctural spectacle, the table decorations were artistic, the girls and their partners looked great, the organisation was superb and all in all it was a magnificent occasion. Thank you to all involved.

Georgia Hay (Deputy Head Girl) and Laura Taylor (Head Girl) with their respective partners for the 2017 Formal

Ness Scully (L) and Henry Bell (R) students from John McGlashan College

This set me off thinking about Formals in the past. How did the girls in earlier years celebrate this important occasion? So I sat down in the Archives Room and looked through old issues of the Chronicle.

Memories came flooding back of my night at a St Hilda’s Ball many moons ago - the ill fitting suit, the tight black shoes, the starched white shirt, and of course my partner in a flowing full length gown, stole, long white gloves, elaborate hair do, and dainty hand bag that hung delicately from her wrist containing her Dance Card for the evening.

We both had our Dance Cards that we filled in on arrival with the names of our partners for dances with such old worldie names as the Gypsy Tap, Destiny waltz, Canadian Schottische, Veleta, Foxtrot and as a concession to the 1950s, the very modern, risque Samba.

St Hilda’s Dance Card

But what did the girls all those years ago think of their Formal ?

Here is the report from 1968:

7:20 p.m., the University Union Common Room was dark, empty and peaceful.

7:25: The band and prefects arrived.7:30: The Common Room filled with

glamorous young ladies; the band started to play the first dance, and the young ladies gracefully took the floor. From that moment on the 1968 School Dance didn’t look back. We feel we are justified in claiming the most sucessful School Dance for the last few years, perhaps ever, and despite the slight squash (which added to the friendly atmosphere) everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

10:00: A delightful supper was served. It was prepared by Mr Lucibella’s staff, to whom we are most grateful.

11:30: The last waltz - no comment.11:35: Taxis for boarders, and the more

fortunate girls made their own tracks home, generally rather slowly.

And this one from 1966

By 7.30 the stage was set - soft lights illuminating a spacious floor, massive buildings looming up against the dark skyline, and many elegant ladies drifting across the floor on the arms of handsome escorts. The usual exotic creations from the “House of New York” were displayed by some, the most delightful-shocking, featuring the off-the-shoulder look and the daring key-hole back. It was hard to believe that these glamorous visions had four hours ago been inky-fingered classmates struggling through the customary Friday afternoon “dictee.”

The band struck up and the couples whirled into the gypsy-tap, the first dance of the evening. It was lovely to watch the long colourful gowns close beside the neat dark suits as the partners moved down the room. However, as the evening progressed the atmosphere, so dream-like, became suddenly real as the elimination dances brought the familiar response of fun and hilarity that belongs to the “fellows and girls” of our everyday. Nor did we relinquish our natural response when supper was announced, for our enthusiastic hunger did justice to the generous spread of savouries, fruit salad, cakes and punch.

With supper over, the dream-like quality returned in full and all too soon it was time for the last dance, the most cherished of all!

The lights dimmed . . . for a brief two minutes. With just time allowed for our guests’ expression of appreciation-their hakas, nobly performed, the midnight of our fairy-tale ball was just striking as the Cinderellas suddenly disappeared to waiting taxis bound for Tolcarne.

All the others (the far from ugly sisters) said their farewells more leisurely as time and inclination dictated.

Truly a wonderful evening, and certainly to be long remembered!

* * *

Spare a thought for the Tolcarne girls!

In a way, these occasions were a prelude to the next big social occasion for St Hilda’s girls of the past, the Debutantes’ Ball.

At this very formal and socially important event, held the following year, many of the recent leavers were “presented” to the Bishop of Dunedin and, as it were, “officially” entered the adult world.

In a way it was the public emergence and acknowledgement of “The St Hilda’s Graduate”, as she moved from a schoolgirl into a successful and confident young woman, an earlier version of the successful and confident “St Hilda’s Graduate”of today, as outlined by Mrs Maw in her Principal’s Page.

1948 Debutantes

2017 Formal - Year 13 Students

John HuggettSchool Archivist

arts corner

Royal New Zealand Ballet

Pagan Dorgan and students during their workshop

The RNZB education ambassador, Pagan Dorgan, visited the school in June and held a workshop based around Eckman’s ‘Three’. the contemporary programme being toured by the ballet company. The workshop was a great success and the RNZB will be back at St Hilda’s later in 2017.

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In a way it was the public emergence and acknowledgement of “The St Hilda’s Graduate”, as she moved from a schoolgirl into a successful and confident young woman, an earlier version of the successful and confident “St Hilda’s Graduate”of today, as outlined by Mrs Maw in her Principal’s Page.

1948 Debutantes

2017 Formal - Year 13 Students

John HuggettSchool Archivist

arts corner

Royal New Zealand Ballet

Pagan Dorgan and students during their workshop

The RNZB education ambassador, Pagan Dorgan, visited the school in June and held a workshop based around Eckman’s ‘Three’. the contemporary programme being toured by the ballet company. The workshop was a great success and the RNZB will be back at St Hilda’s later in 2017.

Choirs

All three choirs have spent Term 2 focused on preparation for the biggest choral event of the year, the Big Sing. The choral competition took place mid-June at the Town Hall. The Junior Choir, Madrigal and Sings Hilda joined the other 19 school choirs from not only Dunedin, but from South Canterbury and throughout Otago.

The Junior Choir competed for the second year and were delighted to pick up a commended award. This is down to the commitment of its members and dedication from Old Girl, Ihlara McIndoe, with the assistance of Mrs Claire Laverty.

The Madrigal Choir were also awarded with a commended award. Their performance was invaluable in teaching the members the importance of communication for the audience to appreciate and understand the story behind the music.

Sings Hilda gave an outstanding performance. Mr Michael Grant with the assistance of Mr Ben Madden, prepared the choir through the demanding programme that demonstrated further complex technical aspects of choral singing, understanding of the music, and the blend and quality of the overall sound. Sings Hilda were awarded with highly commended and the Millennium Trophy for their performance of ‘Lux Aeterna’, a modern classical composition by American composer Michelle Roueché.

Drama

“Ophelia Thinks Harder” by Jean Betts Cast: Level 2 and 3 Drama

Over the past couple of weeks senior Drama classes have performed their plays. Year 11 presented “Branches” by David Hill and Year 12/13 performed “Ophelia Thinks Harder” by Jean Betts. Both plays are challenging, yet relevant, and it is lovely to have the chance to investigate New Zealand playwrights’ work.

The Year 10 Performing Arts class helped backstage for the Year 11 class in addition to being a supportive audience. Eve Scott and Tessa Woodhouse provided the technical assistance required for the complexities of “Ophelia Thinks Harder” to flow seamlessly. As a teacher, it makes me proud to see other year groups supporting each other like this and the learning from these experiences is invaluable.

We have been to a lot of live theatre recently too: Indian Ink’s “The Pickle King” by Justin Lewis and Jacob Rajan was brilliant visually and thematically. Tike Taane in combination with Tane Mahuta Gray’s choreography provided breathtaking insights about NZ ancestry in an accessable way.

“Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare, directed by Benjamin Henson was presented in a lively, colourful manner that engaged young and old alike. Seeing professional live theatre is the best home work a Performing Arts student can do, so I am eternally grateful to have treasures such as the Fortune Theatre and the Regent to help expose students to a myriad of awe inspiring work.

Mrs Rachel McMillan TIC Performing Arts

Hip Hop

‘Alliance’ travelled to Wellington to compete in a National Hip Hop Competition recently, hoping to qualify for the opportunity to go to the World Championships. The crew consists of Emma Alcock, Hannah Alcock, Zara Anthony-Whigham, Tyra Styles, Grace Stewart, Fuka Sugure, Sian Hanlin and Libby Ward, and was coached by Dallas Wade. This was rewarding being able to watch and be inspired by the other crews who competed throughout the weekend. They are excited and looking forward to competing in NZCAF regional competition coming up in Term 3.

Kapa Haka

This term the kapa haka group has performed Tioa Mia and Hareruia at both boarders’ Open Day and the full school assembly.

We have also started learning our bracket for Polyfest which is coming up next term in September.

Visual Arts / Photo Gallery

The focus for senior art and photography students in Term 2 has been getting at least one panel done for their portfolios.

The PFA Midwinter Extravaganza - Gala Concert

Sophie Morris (St Hilda’s Old Girl) performing at the Garla Concert

Nga Manu Hira Tapu, St Hilda’s Kapa Haka Group

What an amazing evening of entertainment this was with so many generous contributions from throughout our whole school community.

It was a night to really celebrate the wide range of incredible talent that we have at St Hilda’s. Senior musicians, Adithi Alexander, Gillian Heng and Katja Fredrich, set the scene for the evening with gorgeous preshow music in the chapel, then Doug Kamo, our fabulous, energetic MC for the evening, got things off to a great start, warming up the audience and putting everyone at ease and in the mood to celebrate. Nga Manu Hira Tapu, the St Hilda’s Kapa Haka group, showed us why they are one of the fastest growing cultural groups in the school. Led by Mariana Te Pou their performance was amazing. This was followed by Georgia Hay, Molly Johnson and Larissa Reddiex who, with soaring harmonies and acoustic guitar, treated us to a rare outing of their folk infused pop; such superstars. For the first time ever Isabel Woodhouse and Zara Anthony-Whigham then performed their Aerobics Pair routine that they are working on for the up coming NZCAF Regional Competitions in August. It was high energy and the audience loved their bravery and incredible fitness. Madrigal Choir, fresh from an outstanding performance at the Regional Big Sing, performed three pieces, including a beautiful rendition of Ava Maria – a real highlight.

Maddie Guthrie and Lillian Gibbs, who are both second time members of the National Secondary Schools’ Youth Choir, sang a duet As Pants The Wearied Heart by Benedetto Marcello. Clearly they enjoy singing together and they completely wowed the audience.

We were very honoured to have old girl Sophie Morris join us. Sophie is an accomplished vocalist and sang three songs, all of them with the skill and polish of a true professional. Sophie will be playing Rapunzel in the Fortune Theatre’s upcoming season of Into The Woods in August, so go along and support her! Taking out the prize for novelty and hilarity was the Theatre Sports’ Team of Jackie Heaton, Tamara Mason, Eve Scott and Elyana Castillo.

MC Doug Kamo became involved in the games and their improvisations were obviously appreciated, by the amount of laughter coming from the audience. During the interval break, the library was brimming with animated conversation, good food, coffee and enthusiastic raffle selling. Thank you to the PFA for their excellent organisation and all those from the wider community who contributed prizes for the raffles or the Silent Auction. Evenings like this would not be as successful without these generous donations. As the audience returned to the Chapel they were greeted by the melodic tones of flautists Romany McLaren, Rachel Wilson and Jessica Flaws from the group ‘Senior Ties’. The Theatre Sports’Team again entertained and were followed by the St Hilda’s Junior Choir, who were charming and simply wonderful singing How Far I’ll Go from the movie Moana and Magical Kingdom.

The Junior Choir is conducted and trained by old girl Ihlara McIndoe, who also performed for us on piano. It was such a pleasure to have Ihlara playing piano in the Chapel again, performing In Smyrna by Edward Elgar. The Alliance Hip Hop crew wowed the audience with a routine that they recently performed at the Hip Hop Unite Competition. They were really high energy and showed amazing skill and flexibility. The Chamber Music group who performed next were recently formed for the 2017 New Zealand Community Trust Chamber Music Contest with Madeline Whittaker on flute, Stephanie Post on violin and Louie Bernhardt (from Kaikorai Valley College) on piano. The audience was very impressed with their precision and musicality. Fresh from the Regional Big Sing Choral Competition, Sings Hilda performed three pieces, finishing with the beautiful and moving Weep No More by David Childs. The show concluded with a high-energy performance by our Aerobics Fitness Group. Showing creative choreography and physical strength, the six-person team modified their performance for the smaller stage and finished the night on an enthusiastic high!

The evening was a wonderful celebration of St Hilda’s talent and approximately $4,000.00 was raised for the PFA’s Sports and Cultural fund. Thank you to the PFA and the Arts staff for organising such a wonderful evening, and all the students and families who came to support this fabulous initiative.

Barbara PowerArts Co-ordinator

Theatre Sport Group - Eve Scott, Elyana Castillo and Tamara Mason. Jackie Heaton (Off Stage)

Katja Fredrich, Adithi Alexander and Jillian Heng Senior Musicians

Jessica Flaws, Rachel Wilson and Romany McLaren

Junior choir with Ihlara McIndoe (St Hilda’s Old Girl) and Mrs Claire Laverty accompanying on the piano

founders’ day

Rev Esther Clarke-Prebble with Dr Gillian Townsley

I was in the Quad after our Founders’ Day Eucharist Service, chatting to some of the “old girls” who had joined us, and they shared some of their memories of school life with me. It was lovely to hear their stories and also to find out what things had changed over the years and what things had stayed the same. One of them said that they had chapel every day, right at the start of the day, and also added that this was from when she was five years old through to when she left school at 17.

As for us in the present, we now have full-school chapels twice a week in the middle of the day, and we no longer have a primary school. But there are many things that have remained the same, including our wonderful heritage and history. Founders’ Day is a chance to remind ourselves of that story, and to be inspired to keep that story going into the future.

This year, Rev Esther Clarke-Prebble took the service, challenging us with the question, “How do we go about trying to solve the problems of the world?” This is a very overwhelming question, of course, and Esther reminded us that we need to tap into the love, hope, justice and power of God if we are to try and tackle the issues that surround us, such as climate change, poverty, terrorism, bullying and violence. Just as we use the internet that is “just there” (once you are “connected in” of course), we can “use” the power of God to help us. Sisters Geraldine and Etheleen needed to rely on God (as well as their own wits and resourcefulness and the generosity of others) in order to get St Hilda’s started, and so do we if we are to see our world become a better place.

Esther also reminded us that when Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount (which includes the Beatitude “Blessed are the pure in heart”), he was saying that God is on the side of the poor, the hungry, the peace-makers, the meek and the reviled. This means that we can be assured that if we too are working for justice and for peace, then we know that God is truly with us. Esther encouraged us to be like the Sisters, having a vision for something that makes the world a better place, and to rely on God to help us do this.

During the service, we sang three hymns: “Come Celebrate the Women”, by Shirley Murray; “Blest are the Pure in Heart”, our school hymn; and “Tutira Mai Nga Iwi”, which has been promoted recently with the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of New Zealand. We also enjoyed the Choir leading us in the “Peruvian Gloria”, and singing two pieces during the Communion: “Ave Maria” by David Childs and “The Lord is My Shepherd” by Will Todd. Over 280 girls and staff received communion, a number that continues to increase every year, while several asked for a blessing instead, which is a good option for those who do not feel comfortable receiving communion.

Dr Gillian TownsleyChaplain

sPecial congratulations

Laura Taylor presenting flowers on behalf of the school community to Mrs Jackie Barron, MNZM

We were pleased to acknowledge Mrs Barron being made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to sports governance and education. This is a wonderful achievement and she is thrilled that females in sport and education have been acknowledged.

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of chivalry in New Zealand’s honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand,”for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits”,[1] to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity.

Mrs Judy Maw Acting Principal

Collegiate School newsletter 7 July...

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Transcript of Collegiate School newsletter 7 July...