h.g.h.s MAY 2013

Underpinning everything is the school motto “A wise woman shapes her own destiny.” Hamilton Girls’ High School

The small things count. Wearing our uniform with pride, using our manners, being prepared for class, being on time and taking responsibility for our actions are important to being a student at Hamilton Girls’ High School. As a school, we have aspirations for your daughter and it is important that she does not join a growing population of people who feel they are owed something

for nothing, rather than working hard to achieve their goals. There have been considerable changes over the past week to ensure that we are assisting our students to step up to the mark.

It is important that I maintain communication to our school community through Principal’s e-mails, the school newsletter, website, assemblies and any other gatherings we may have. An e-mail from the Principal is sent to full school and generally, not specific to your child. Responses from parents vary from being positive to voicing concerns about the changes that I have implemented to date. Your support with upholding our standards is important, and one that I rely on considerably.

Winter Sports has commenced and it is pleasing to see the number of students involved in the sporting arena. My expectation of a high standard of dress and our code of conduct does not stop in and around school but does extend to the sporting, arts and cultural arenas. I am looking forward to seeing our young women out on the sporting fields over the next few months.

One of the exciting projects that we will commence in the near future will be the building of the new gymnasium. It is intended that in the next newsletter we will show the first initial design plans. As you can imagine, this is a costly venture, but one which is well overdue. Our students will be the first to tell you about all the shortcomings of the present gymnasium. Your “new gym” donation will contribute fully to this project and we ask that you consider this. We would like to seek any joint partnership sponsorship or any contributions from businesses to assist in this project.

Hamilton High School was opened to pupils on Monday, 10 July 1911, and although we became Hamilton Girls’ High School in 1955, we have aimed to celebrate Founders Day at Hamilton Girls’ High School on July 10th, or close to this date. This year, Founders day will be celebrated on July 12th in the Principals assembly. The school will be open for instruction all day on July 12th. Marie Gordon Principal

Principal’s Comment Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

Mikaela Jefferson Selected to represent New Zealand at the Oceania Championships in Tahiti. She will be competing in the 100m Hurdles and the 100m Races.

Diamond Henry Named in the NZ Maori Ki O Rahi Netball Team from National Tournament. Raechel Popping Awarded the Peggy Perry Memorial Aviation Scholarship.

Pania Monk & Kanyon Paul Both named in the NZ Junior White Sox Squad. Emma Ballard Played in the New Zealand Under-17 Water Polo World Youth Champs in Canberra. Holly Jonson Selected for the New Zealand Youth Water Polo Team to play in a Tri-Series in Brisbane in July.

Congratulations to our high achievers...

Touch of Charm to BeehiveHamilton Girls’ High School student Charm Skinner will tackle politics head-on at Youth Parliament in July. The 17-year-old will represent Labour MP for Hauraki-Waikato, Nanaia Mahuta, and says she is keen to give Maori youth a voice in politics and to help Maori rise above the statistics that paint them in a poor light.

Charm says against the odds and a difficult childhood, she has continued to strive for higher education. As well as acknowledging her own inner strength and ability to make good life choices, she also credits the positive influence of her grandparents and an uncle in keeping her on the straight and narrow. She says 2013 has started well with the Youth MP selection, and moving in with her aunt and uncle has given her the sense of what it is like to live in a real family. “ For once in my 17 years, I feel I can finally relate to something that I can stand up and fight for. This is very exciting for me because I have had a tough upbringing and this amazing opportunity gives me the chance to voice issues that many youth, like me, have been through so that positive changes can be made to help us excel in education.” Ms Mahuta says while the selection process was tough with many strong candidates, she was inspired by Charm’s articulate and motivating story.

I am from the UK and I have been a teacher for 13 years. My sporting background originates in athletics where I competed in the 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and triple jump. When I went to University I switched my focus to netball where I was fortunate to be selected to play for the British Universities in a test series against Jamaica and Barbados. Now I love to travel and experience different food and cultures. Recently I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and I have also cycled the length of the UK for charity. I have been in New Zealand for five months now and I absolutely love it here. I also love teaching at HGHS as the students appear to have a ‘can-do’ attitude to their learning and thrive on striving to achieve their best.

I am delighted to join the HGHS staff and community and have the pleasure of teaching the young ladies that attend the school. I am an experienced teacher of Science, Biology and Chemistry having taught over the years at a number of high schools in Christchurch, Gisborne and now the Waikato. I am passionate about learning, having just completed a Masters in Education myself and want to ensure all the students I teach achieve their very best. In my spare time I love to hang out with my three children or disappear somewhere exciting on my bike.

Name: Lisa Cox Subject: Physical Education

Name: Carolyn Pentecost Subject: Science/Biology Teacher

Introducing New Staff for 2013

Anzac Day Memorial Speech by Amokura Tautari It is an honour to have the opportunity to address this ANZAC Day Civic Commemoration Service on behalf of the students and staff of Hamilton Girl’s High School. I wish to also acknowledge and honour my great grandfather Lionel Huia Pedersen who saw military service in North Africa. Like many other New Zealanders he served his country willingly with great resolve and we commemorate this dedication and commitment today. At dawn, on this day, ninety eight years ago, New Zealand and Australian soldiers stormed the beach at Ari Burnu or what is now known as ANZAC Cove. Under heavy fire and against insurmountable odds they fought their way up the beach, through rugged gullies and over steep ridges as part of an Allied invasion with orders to secure the Gallipoli Peninsula. What followed this fateful landing was one of the most tragic and nation defining chapters in New Zealand’s history. The history and events surrounding the Gallipoli Campaign are well documented and

make for sombre reading. By all accounts the campaign was an abject failure. The loss of life on both sides was horrendous. From a New Zealand perspective the cost was incomprehensible an unprecedented in our history. The events at Gallipoli affected all segments of society and all communities which is understandable for a nation which numbered one million at that time. On the first day of the campaign, six hundred New Zealand soldiers were killed out of the fifteen hundred who saw action. At Hamilton Girls, that is the equivalent of losing all of the Year Nine and Ten students in one day or a third of the school. As one medic wrote about the carnage, ‘it was the worst night I can remember. The wounded came tumbling down. All we could do was try to relieve the pain’. Another New Zealand doctor recorded, ‘There have been approximately 5000 casualties. About three men per yard of ground gained’. By the end of the campaign which took approximately nine months, over 2700 New Zealanders had been killed out of a total New Zealand number of 8500 with over half of those wounded. The Allied effort as a whole was unsuccessful in securing the peninsula and the Allies were forced to abandon their posts and withdraw. The Roman philosopher Cicero states that ‘To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child’. While it is important to know the story of Gallipoli and the events which took place there, more importantly we must learn from what occurred on those far flung shores lest we repeat the tragic mistakes of the past. So what can we learn from the selfless sacrifice that our soldiers made at Gallipoli? Our soldiers fought, suffered and died for our freedom, our country, and the preservation of our way of life. In honour of this sacrifice we must take advantage of the opportunities we have received and the freedom we enjoy. World War One was termed The War To End All Wars. History shows us that this was incorrect. Even today the world is threatened with the real possibility of conflict. Santayana the Spanish philosopher and novelist, provides a truer description when he states, ‘Only the dead have seen the end of the war’. I fervently hope that my generation and ensuing generations will continue to pursue the path of peace and to avoid the futility of war.Finally perhaps the greatest lesson is to ensure that we learn from the past. We must acknowledge and honour the sacrifice of our soldiers and to remember Gallipoli for what it was. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the brave and dedicated soldiers many of which paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Today we renew our debt of gratitude and ensure the memory of those at Gallipoli and abroad will never dim.

HGHS Service Captain

As Hamilton Girls’ High School is a multicultural school, race relations are very important. Two students, Alexandria Ashford, and Diloromkhon Askarova participated in the annual regional Race Unity Speech Awards held for the thirteenth year. They were given the topic ‘My Dream for New Zealand’. This meant they were given the opportunity to share their ideas of where New Zealand should go in order to further its race relations. It was fantastic to see them represent Hamilton Girls’ High School with pride.

Alex rapped about stereotypes that still exist for some people in the Asian community, and Diloromkhon suggested that education of different cultures would create a better understanding of those cultures. Thank you girls for representing our school with such gusto. Also, thank you to Ms Susan Gresson for supporting the girls on the night.

English Department

Last term the Year 12 Social Studies class went to the Waikato Museum to learn about the importance of storing and caring for artefacts. Our trip coincided with a unit of work on Ta Moko, and the return of Maori heads to New Zealand which are held overseas. Students had been looking at different perspectives of the return of the heads with specific reference to France. A recent law change has only just allowed the return of these important Taonga back to New Zealand. There is significant debate about what do to with the heads now they have been returned. Students got a tour of the museum basement and shown how different items were housed and stored to ensure they last a long time.

Year 12 Social Studies Field Trip

Race Relations Speech Competition

Board of Trustees Election UpdateWe have had an excellent response to the election and as at the 17th of May the returning officer had received 13 valid nominations. Voting papers will be posted to all eligible voters early in the week beginning the 20th of May.

Academic

Maths Poster Competition

Maths DepartmentMoodle is a great place to find information about your mathematics course: course outlines, important dates, teacher notes and powerpoints, exercises and revision material. If you have entered for the Australian Mathematics competition, or are just keen have some extra extension in mathematics, then past papers are also found on Moodle. For exam candidates there are links to NZQA (past papers, Achievement Standard descriptors, exemplars, examiner comments etc), to the StudyIT website, NCEA (study websites) and Khan Academy (a maths website which has really cool maths stuff on it: try searching a key maths word!).

The Mathematics department welcomes any feedback or suggestions to add to, or improve, the Mathematics moodle page. The Australian Mathematics Competition will be held on Thursday, 1st August, 2013 at school. Students in the extension classes, 9MXT, 10MXT, 11MXT and 12MXT, have the entry fees included in their school fees. All other students need to pay $8 (in a named envelope, labelled “Australian Mathematics Competition”) to the Finance Office by 30th June, 2013, if they wish to participate in this competition.

NZAMT would like to announce a Poster Competition that is being run as part of the Year of Mathematics celebration. There are great prizes up for grabs. The Maths Quest Poster Competition is for years 7, 8, 9, and 10 and is made up of different poster themes for each year level, with prizes awarded at each year level. There are also two additional themes each student can enter, all with iPad Minis as prizes and a trip to Wellington for the Prize giving. With 31 iPad Minis to be won, there are great odds of winning. There are also 3 spot prizes being given out, as well as a class set of 30 Casio Graphics calculators as a spot prize for a lucky year 9 or 10 class. With all these incentives, we hope you will be motivated to participate in the MATHS QUEST!More information and details can be found at http://www.nzamt.org.nz/2013-maths-quest-poster-competition. The closing date for entries is 7th June 2013, so get started with THE MATHS QUEST! Good luck and have fun!

Australian Mathematics Comp

The Language Perfect World Championships kick off this month. The competition runs between the 20th and 30th May, so senior students should make sure their Language Perfect subscription of $15 is paid well in advance to ensure they are registered for the competition. Prizes include itunes vouchers, ipods and even scholarships to study overseas. Junior students can also join Language Perfect if they wish, for the same price of $15. Some free entries for the competition only may be available, please ask any of the Languages teachers if you are interested. The French Department would like to say a huge thank you to the fifteen students and their families who hosted French exchange students from the Lycée St Jean , Besançon, France during the holidays.

The French students had the trip of a lifetime thanks to your Kiwi hospitality, with many visiting Rotorua, the Mount, Raglan, Cathedral Cove, Auckland and Waitomo. Some went swimming at Coromandel, others abseiling , they attended a rugby match and visited Hobbiton. We would also like to thank Norm, Tina, Tal and all management and staff who helped make the exchange visit such a success. Planning is underway for the HGHS France Trip 2014 with an amazing parent/student turnout at the first trip meeting. We are really looking forward to finalising the itinerary!

Languages Learning Area

French fashion show

Eugenie KimYasmin BrinkworthGeorgia AllenKerrianne LindseyAotea ApitiRachel PorteousNicolla HemiChristy DambaAnna O’Hara Holly RobinsMonica Thompson-Tahau

Hanna LimLauren NasmithAlesha RoulstonJulie BarbosaSavannah JenningsSunniva NasmithEmily WeissKelly Le QuesneMarie QuayleMorgan Renata

Congratulations to the following students who were recently presented with Excellence Certificates from the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers to celebrate their high achievement in NCEA French, Japanese or Spanish in 2012.

NZ Association of Language Teachers

Year 9 students have taken full advantage of the new Technology programmes introduced this year and have produced some outstanding work in Textiles and Food Technology, Product Design and Design and Visual Communication. The new programmes are largely practical and students have really enjoyed spending a lot of time learning new skills; designing, drawing, modelling, trialling and testing ideas and constructing and building their products.It is easy to see how creative the girls can be with problem solving and innovative thinking. They have designed original, good quality, functional products that we are all proud of.

Technology Department

NASRA JAMA & JASMINE LAMMAS

All three year 11 Outdoor Education classes spent 3 days scaling the great heights of Pirongia. We walked for 4-5 hours straight up hill with good heavy packs to stay at the top for the first night. The second night we walked for 4 hours to the Kaniwhaniwha camp ground by the river.

The last day was a short walk out to the bus. All classes had a fantastic walk and each student was challenged in their own way – whether through carrying a heavy pack, walking up hill or down, cooking on a gas cooker or not having a shower for three days! I was great to see they were all up to the challenge.

11 APO TRAMP

Physical Education11 APO Tramp

All three 10 Sport classes competed in the HGHS Triathlon consisting of a 400m Swim, 12km cycle & 4km run. The girls had been training all term for the event, where they competed against their peers for the top spots. The weather held out for us and the day ran smoothly, with some outstanding

results. The parent support that was offered was greatly appreciated. The school record for the event was broken this year by Katie Lush with a time of 0:57:15. Congratulations to all the competitors. Top places for each class were as follows:

12 APO Tramp: We have 2 classes at year 12 level in Outdoor Education this year which is fantastic. The class did a four day trip away to Tihoi where we walked for three long 7 hour days, and then abseiled and rock climbed for the day. This trip was a great way to get to know others better and share a common

experience. Every aspect of the trip had some form of challenge especially for some the abseil! The two teachers were thoroughly impressed with the attitude and perseverance of the students as they supported each other and made the trip a fun and rewarding experience.

Miss Hodgkinson’s Class Lush Katie MLE 0:57:15 1 Lomas Kelsey XSP 1:03:43 2 Foster Michaela MKR 1:06:10 3

Mrs Perry’s Class Brough Kelly MBR 1:06:00 1 Hapi-Wise Violet HRR 1:12:41 2 Jennings Keely EPA 1:13:36 3 Mrs Reddish’s Class Hughes Morgen MBE 1:10:11 1 Ieremia Ariona CSY 1:13:30 2 Jefferson Jaimie EPA 1:14:04 3

10 Sport Triathlon Results

Congratulations Anna Dawson, she has received a $2000 cheque from Hamilton St. Andrews Lions Club. This enables Anna to travel to Perth, Australia to represent New Zealand in the Under 19 La Crosse Tournament team.

On Saturday the 13th April 4 students Ariana Apiti, Olivia Warlow, Michaela Bosson and Rebecca McPherson competed in the sprint course of the Tri Maori triathlon. The triathlon consisted of a 750m swim in Lake Karapiro, a 20km bike and a 5 km run. All of the students had trained hard leading up to the race doing early morning and after school trainings. Olivia finished 10th woman overall, Michaela was 13th, Ariana 23rd and Michaela was 46th out of 81 female competitors. Olivia was particularly impressive being one of the first female competitors out of the water. Congratulations to all 4 students it was a fantastic effort. Also I would

like to thank the families and friends that came out to support the girls on the day. Knowing that there are people on the side lines cheering you on makes such a difference.

Tri-Maori Triathlon

Sport at HGHS

The Hamilton Girls High Senior A Water Polo team travelled to Auckland recently to compete in Division One North Island Secondary Schools Water Polo Tournament. The team of 13 is made up of students from all year levels. Most of their games were played in the much envied Auckland Diocesan pool which conveniently was an easy walk from the team’s accommodation. The first game was against St Cuthbert’s. This team placed 1st in the same competition in 2012 so it was always going to be a tough game. HGHS didn’t back down and played really well but the oppositions strength came through and St Cuths won 6-3. The next game was Epsom Girls. This was a closer game but Epsom were too strong on the day and won 4-2. Next day HGHS had two games. The first was against St Mary’s which HGHS won convincingly 9-4. Second was Queen Margaret which was a closer game and again HGHS came through winning 3-1. On the final day HGHS played Mount Maunganui for 9th/10th place. This was a high scoring game with the Mount taking the game 10-7 placing HGHS in 10th place overall. The HGHS team played good skilful Water Polo for the whole tournament and the girls supported each other both in the pool and out. They represented their school well. Many thanks must go to the team parents who supported the girls, the coaches Nicki Bason and Kelsi Prendergast and team manager Sue Prendergast. The organisation and team spirit made the four days enjoyable for all.

HGHS Water Polo

Brooke Mayall HGHS Arts Captain

Places were:1st Place: Tava and Analisa Tyrell (pictured)2nd Place: Monica & Maria3rd Place Equal: Alpha on the piano & Naomi and Anahera who did a hip-hop dance

Talent Quest

Term 2 : Photography competition : LEAD design : Mass Squiggle/Pictionary contest (for the chicken cup) : Stage Challenge : Choir and Barbershop competitions Term 3: HBHS Production : Girls’ and Boys’ High Talent Quest.

Term 4: Chalk Competition

Arts & Cultural

Talent Quest was a great success, considering this was our first time in Nga Puawaitanga. We had 22 acts perform over lunchtimes and from these heats, 14 acts were chosen to go through to the Finals night. A very entertaining night with the Executive Council and staff performing a ‘special act’ while judges were deliberating. Group PerformanceThere are many groups starting up this term such as theatre sports, elite dance group (plus dance at lunch time for juniors), guitar group, samba group, string group, orchestra, choir, barbershop and acapella, all these groups are preparing for competitions.

Whats Coming Up?

Term 4: Chalk Competition

LEADERSHIP

Te Maurea Whiritoi

Te Maurea Whiritoi

Some of the highlights over the 4 days were….Heading to Ocean beach and digging for Hot water. We had a great competition where the groups had to make hot pools. There were some 5 star pools made by our tamariki! The group visited significant land marks and areas, like visiting the resting place of the Tainui waka. This helped the students have a better understanding of the importance of what they are performing about in their bracket. On our last night the students had a chance to showcase their talent with Kawhias own “Kawhias got Talent”. It was amazing seeing the students up their performing and singing and it was so hilarious and a very entertaining night for everyone.

The group achieved so much and it was great to see so many of the students stepping out of their comfort zones in the way of performing. Watching the students working on the bracket and even the rain was great. Not once did anyone complain they just got on with the mahi. They should be very proud of what they achieved over the weekend and we know they are well on their way for the regional competition. Overall it was such an awesome experience for the students, staff and whanau. We were fortunate to have delicious kai which was cooked by our wonderful whanau every day. Even having a hangi on the last day! We are looking forward to future camps and the up and coming regionals at the end of May.

Kapa Haka Group At the end of Term 1- The Hamilton Girl’s and Hamilton Boys Kapa Haka group ‘Te Maurea Whiritoi’ along with many whanau and kaiako packed up their bags and headed to Kawhia for the Kapa Haka camp. The focus of this camp was whakawhanaungatanga, to complete the Maori performing arts NCEA assessment as well as practising hard for the up and coming regionals.

During Term 1 and 2 each Yr13 student has been allocated an interview time to discuss her career plans. Please encourage your daughter to attend these or if she has missed her appointment to make another one.

• Science and Technology Careers Day at Ruakura Research Centre – 14th May• Waikato University Open Day – 17th May• Wintec Engineering Day – 21st May• Workchoice Health Day Waikato Hospital – 27th May• Get Ahead Agricultural Careers Day – 30th May• Wintec Huge Day Out – 7th June All these events will be advertised in the daily notices and students will be invited to register their interest in the Careers Room. Future Force Waikato magazine was distributed to all Yr11-13 students last term. This publication is a new initiative in the Waikato and is aimed at giving youth, parents and teachers real info about real people in real jobs in our region’s go-ahead sectors, and tips on how to get there. Students can also download a digital version now at www.futureforce.co.nz. Term 2 is the time to begin the search for financial scholarships to assist those going on to tertiary study in 2014. Students have access to www.breakout.org.nz at school. This is a licensed database of scholarships throughout New Zealand and a very good place to begin the search. Also students should check each tertiary institutions website for more specific ones to their chosen place of study. Help is available for any applications in the Careers Room.

Gateway & Careers

Rachel Hemi, 13 CCA and Kelly Le Quesne, 13EPA have been selected from 680 applicants to take part in the UC Explorer programme. This event will be held on 23-25 May 2013 at the University of Canterbury. The UC Explorer programme is an opportunity for Year 13 students to visit the University of Canterbury and experience two unbelievable days as a university student with all costs covered by the University of Canterbury. Students from around New Zealand will be welcomed onto campus to experience hands-on learning in our colleges, enjoy a live-in halls experience and take part in some of the exciting outdoor activities that Canterbury has to offer, including a jet boat ride.

Coming Up

Scholarships

Charm Skinner, 13 MLP has been selected from a very competitive field to represent Nanaia Mahuta, MP for Hauraki-Waikato to attend the youth parliament in Wellington in July with all expenses paid. We look forward to hearing about Charm’s experience.

Ruby Brownlee, 13MHW was chosen to attend the Auckland United Nations Weekend in March.

One weekend during March, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Auckland Model UN. What is a Model UN you may ask? Well, a Model UN is a simulation of a real United Nations assembly. Students act as representatives for a country on two different committees. I was the delegate for Belgium and was on the committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People and on the Social, Culture and Humanitarian committee which debated a repatriation issue. As a delegate you could propose amendments, vote on them, make alliances with other countries, speak your views to try and sway others, and generally act as a member of the United Nations would. It was pretty intimidating. People were obviously passionate about what they were doing and took the event seriously, with some really intense debates. These are people who really have the potential to end up as future leaders of our country. People really embraced their countries persona, such as the delegate from America who acted pigheadly and spoke brashly, leaving him little liked by any except for his close allies, but still respected for representing his country in such a truthful fashion. But all in all the people were great; they were intelligent, confident and generally likeable. It was a really fun time, though a couple moments really stood out. The regional dinner at an Italian restaurant near the sky tower where my memorable moment would be laughing so hard at a delegate who was unintentionally funny. He quickly gained a reputation amongst the delegates as being a highlight of talks. To sum up, it was a great experience that I would highly recommend for anyone interested in international relations, law, politics, debate, the United Nations and other similar areas. I would definitely do it again. For anyone interested in UN Youth, check out their website: http://unyouth.org.nz/ Ruby BrownleeYear 13

Auckland Model UN

Parent EmailPlease ensure that we have your up to date e-mail address. This can be updated through administration@hghs.school.nz

Dear Sue,

I know it has been many, many years since you sent this email out to all of us - being gateway students from back in 2009. I was from Hamilton Girls High School and worked in the Paediatric ward of the hospital. I have just found this email at the end of my inbox as I am clearing it out and wanted to let you know that I have completed a Biomedical Degree in Genetics, Reproduction and Development and I am now enrolled in Medical School. I am thankful and think back to my time on the wards most days especially at the moment being new in medical school. I can honestly say that I do not believe that I would be where I am today without the incredible opportunity that I was given through much coordination and some amazing people, and amazing parents and patients who were happy to have some young high school student involved in their child’s care. I am not sure if this programme is still going, but it made an incredible difference in my life and so grateful for the opportunity I was given. I hope that you do receive this and even if not for any other reason than to receive my thanks and for you to understand how grateful I am. One day in the future I may be back at Waikato and seeing it from the other side. Emma Wolfe

Old Girls’ Update

We are delighted to have been advised today that the Brian Perry Charitable Trust have awarded Raechel Popping a Peggy Perry Memorial Aviation Scholarship. This scholarship involves 15—20 lessons in flight training

Raechel will complete flight training to a first solo standard, enabling her to fly a micro-light. As part of the interview process she was taken on a flight around “The Base”. What a fantastic interview.

This is a very exciting opportunity which could lead to a career in aviation.

Letter from Emma Wolfe to Sue Stanford at Waikato Hospital

Peggy Perry Memorial Aviation ScholarshipCongratulations Raechel Popping

E-Learning May 2013

Students use Office 365 as their email. Students can access their email from the HGHS website by entering the HGHS moodle page. Alternatively students can login using moodle.hghs.school.nz. The emails are monitored and any offensive emails are sent to the school administrator. A student’s username for the email is username@my.hghs.school.nz where “username” is their school username. The password is their current school network password

Student e-mail

Each student has access to a Skydrive where they can store, share and access files which are stored in the cloud. This means they are accessible from any computer with internet access. Information the students had in their previous Skydrive is still accessible with the same username and password they used in 2012.

Sky Drive

We have our first Digital Signage Board which has been mounted in the library. This was provided by the Hamilton Girls’ High School Foundation through trust funds. Students can see the daily notices and look at pictures of various school events.

Digital Signage Board

Waikato Secondary Schools Mooting CompetitionThis year Hamilton Girls’ High School entered four teams into the Waikato Secondary Schools Mooting Competition, held at Te Piringa, Faculty of Law, University of Waikato on Monday 15th April. The Moot was based on a Supreme Court Appeal in a matter pertaining to religious freedoms and traditional values in the Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu. The following students represented our School in the competition: Dayna Rusk, Karen Soanes, Raechel Popping, Tanya Mhlanga, Laura-Paige Henry, Kate Williamson, Kylie Lewis, Bryoney Jones and Katie Thomas. These girls invested many hours of preparation in their Moots and spoke very credibly on the night. On behalf of the Mooters, I would particularly like thank Ms Mandy Rusk for generously supporting the teams with her time and legal expertise. She taught us all a great deal about Court etiquette and the language of legal proceedings. Thanks also to the many parents who attend the Moot competition in support of our students.

News from the CounsellorsWe had a hugely busy Term I with setting up the Mentoring and Mediation Teams for the year. In December 2012 we trained 15 Year 13 girls to work with some Year 9 girls to help them with the transition into Girl’s High. Due to the popularity with both Year 13s and Year 9s at the beginning of the year, we then trained a further 17 girls to support some more of the Year 9s coming in. This programme has been hugely successful with the Year 13s showing care, support and leadership in working to build success for the Year 9s. They used some of their own study time to meet with the girl they were paired with to talk about how they were settling in, where to go for help, how to join different groups in the school – really about how to be a successful ‘Girls High Girl’. The relationships developed between the girls has been great and although the Year 13s are now busy with their study programmes and not meeting with the Year 9 girls on a regular basis, many of them are staying connected on a more casual basis. A huge thank you to the 32 Year 13 girls, (and their 32 ‘younger sisters’), who participated in the programme. We also have a very successful ‘M’ Team (student mediators). Twenty six girls from Year 10 to Year 13 are trained to run peer mediations in the school. These girls have been busy in Term 1 and are always willing to give up their time to help sort out problems with their peers. They do not give advice but are trained to help others to hear one another, speak about a problem safely and respectfully, and to find a way through a problem or conflict without there being a winner or a loser. The ‘M’ team support anti-bullying and anti-violence so look out for their promotions of some of these ideas in the future (e.g. Pink Shirt Day – what is this about? Ask one of the mediators wearing a Pink Shirt!). Mediation is available to all students and you can ask for mediation yourselves. Grab a buff coloured form from the Atrium and slip it under a counsellor’s door.

Mr Mitchell is the Principal’s Nominee (NZQA Liaison) at the school.You can contact him by:

E-mail: mitchellm@hghs.school.nzPhone: 07 839 1304 EXT 893Mail: Mr Mitchell Principal’s Nominee PO Box 4082, Hamilton

SCHOOL CONTACT

NZQA Fees are due to the Finance Office by the 28th June 2013 NZQA will charge an extra $50.00 fee for any late payment. They will also withhold student’s results until the fees are paid in full. This could cause problems for any student wishing to gain entry to courses, polytechnic, or university in 2014.

NZQA Fees for Domestic Candidates Entry Fee Entry for all NZQF standards including Scholarship subjects $76.70

NZQA Fees for International Fee Paying Candidates

Entry Fee Entry for all NQF standards $383.30 Entry for each Scholarship subject $102.20 per

subject Financial Assistance To be eligible for financial assistance the applicant (normally the parent or guardian of the candidate) must be the fee payer and meet at least one of the following criteria: Be receiving a Work and Income or Study Link benefit. (benefit-based

applications) Have a joint family income that would entitle the applicant to receive a Community

Services Card. (income-based applications) Have more than one child undertaking these qualifications in the same year,

irrespective of income and the total fees to pay are higher than $200. (multiple candidate applications)

Applications are due to the Finance Office by the 28th June To apply: Complete the “Application for Financial Assistance 2013” form enclosed. Alternatively, you can obtain a financial assistance form from the student finance office.

Eligible for beneficiary or income-based

assistance

Not eligible for beneficiary or income-based assistance

One child who is a candidate

$20.00 Full fees ($76.70 for NZQF and 3 Scholarship subjects)

More than one child who are candidates

A maximum of $30.00 per family

Where fees are payable for more than one candidate, a maximum of $100.00 per child and $200.00 per fee payer[1]

International fee paying students are not eligible for financial assistance. NZQF = New Zealand Quantifications Framework

Wednesday 15th May Thursday 16th May Friday 17th May

Saturday 18th May Sunday 19th May Tuesday 21st May Wednesday 22nd May Thursday 23rd May Friday 24th May Saturday 25th May Sunday 26th May Monday 27th May Tuesday 28th May Wednesday 29th May Thursday 30th May Friday 31st May

1SOS Field Trip 1SOS Field Trip 3ECE Work Experience BOT Property & Finance Meeting 2GEO Field Trip Waikato Uni Open Day Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho Mufti Day Atrium Recital Series 2ARD Photoshop 3HOS Catering SELL (1ACC/1ECO) Summer photos NZ Navy Band Visit SELL (1ACC/1ECO) Road Race BOT Board Meeting 2APO Field TripSELL (1ACC/1ECO) Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho Pasifika by Nature Festival Equestrian Show Series 1 1APS Huntly 1/2 Marathon Te Maurea Whiritoi Noho 2APO Field Trip Work Choice Day Y12 2ARP Photoshop Field Trip Senior Assessments Senior Assessments Get Ahead Experience Y12 Senior Assessments HCC Arbor Day Kapa Haka Competition

Saturday 1st June Sunday 2nd June Monday 3rd June Wednesday 5th June Thursday 6th JuneFriday 7th June Saturday 8th June Sunday 9th June Monday 10th June Tuesday 11th June Wednesday 12th June Thursday 13th June Friday 14th June Sunday 16th June Thursday 20th June Friday 21st June Saturday 22nd June Sunday 23rd June Monday 24th June Tuesday 25th June Wednesday 26th June Thursday 27th June Friday 28th June Saturday 29th June Sunday 30th June

Kapa Haka CompetitionHostel Set Leave QUEENS BIRTHDAY Hostel Set Leave Hostel Set Leave 3BIO Web DayICAS Science Competition 2APS Fitness Day Waikato Cross Country 3PHY Field Trip 2/3BUS Dragon’s Den Equestrian Show Series 2 Barbershop YHWIH AGGS Interschool Visit1ACC Field Trip 3GEO Field Trip 1ECO Field Trip2ECO Field Trip 1GEO Field Trip Teacher Only Day Big Sing Tauranga Equestrian Show Series 3 3LAW Field Trip Manu Korero BOT Property & Finance Meeting Stage Challenge Hostel Set Leave Hostel Set Leave Freedom Week Starts Stage Challenge Tauranga Exchange WSS Gym Sport2ACC Field Trip 2ECE Work Experience 3ECE Work Experience Y11-13 MUO Asmnt 12SCI Wintec Visit2ECE Work Experienc TKA Camp 2 BOT Board Meeting Freedom Week Ends 12SCI Wintec VisitTKA Camp 2 TKA Camp 2 NISS Show Champs

Key Dates of May & June

Change over to winter uniform will take place after Queens Birthday. Please note that with the colder weather setting in students may wear jackets, scarves and gloves to and from school providing they are plain black and as per our school uniform guide. Students may be asked to remove these items in class. Any additional clothing worn underneath the uniform (e.g., thermal tee shirt) must not be visible.

Optional

Charcoal G

rey SkirtO

ne style only with

school label

White Shirt

One style only w

ith school label - short sleeves (long sleeves version available)

Maroon Jersey

One style only w

ith school m

onogram

School/Sports JacketO

ne style with school

monogram

or plain black jacket - hip length

buttoned or zipped

Footwear

• Sturdy black polishable

leather, low-heeled,

enclosed shoes. • O

nly lace-ups or over-straps are perm

itted (com

pulsory winter,

permissible all year)

• Plain black tights/stockings

or white or black ankle

socks only to be worn w

ith w

inter shoes. • B

lack leather roman

sandals (summ

er)

Grey Trousers

One style only w

ith school label (to be w

orn in Terms 2 and 3 only)

School Blazer

One style only w

ith school m

onogram

Scarf/Hat

Plain black neck scarf (may be

worn in Term

s 2 and 3 only)

Jewellery

The only jewellery perm

itted is a wristw

atch, simple ear studs/sleepers (one in each ear)

and a discreet chain, pendant or taonga around the neck (and not visible). Facial piercings are not acceptable and w

ill need to be removed.

Cultural A

daptationAvailable on enquiry.

Make-U

p, Hair Ties

Make-up m

ust not be worn. H

air may be coloured in

natural tones. Hair ties m

ust be black, white or m

aroon. Fingernail polish is not perm

itted.

School U

niform G

uide Years 9 - 12

NO

TE: YEAR

13 S

mart M

ufti as per code of conduct