In response to the feedback from the extended learning time we have had throughout the year, we are making changes to how our timetable is structured. The start and end times for the days will not change but we will be making adjustments to where we have our breaks. This will give us the flexibility to meet more diverse learning styles than we are at present.
The timetable will follow a structure of two periods, chapel/assembly/Whanaungatanga followed by interval then two periods followed by lunch and the sustained silent reading followed by one period. This structure will also allow for a second version of the week featuring double periods which in Term 1 will happen every third week.
As the end of the year draws closer we have some important school events coming up. On Sunday we have our Carol Service which begins at 5:00pm. We look forward to seeing you there as it is always a nice reminder that the Christmas season has begun. The girls have been practising their caroling and are in great voice. We have asked the girls to wear tidy mufti for this event.
Next Friday 29 November will be our junior service day. The girls will be involved in a rotation of five activities that will support Anglican Family Care. For this day the girls should wear their PE uniform.
On Thursday 5 December we have our Prize Giving at the Town Hall. Prize Giving commences at 5.00 pm and we ask that your daughter is seated in the Town Hall lower level by 4.45 pm. On the morning of Prize Giving the junior students will wear mufti to school for the morning. They will be taken down to the Town Hall at 10:30 am fora run through of the prize giving service and will be released from the Town Hall at approximately 11.30 am.
Please ensure that your daughter(s) uniform is immaculate for the evening. This is her formal uniform and includes wearing a long-sleeved shirt. She may wear white socks rather than tights.
We look forward to seeing you all on the evening of the 5th December to celebrate the end of our academic year.
If your daughter is unable to attend Prize Giving, please email admin@shcs.school.nz with a reason.
Key Dates for Term 4
Monday 14th October – 5th December 2019
Sunday 24 November – Carol Service – Chapel, 5 pm – Families welcome
Wednesday 4 December – Leavers Dinner – Museum
Thursday 5 December – Prize Giving – Dunedin Town Hall (please note change of venue) students to be seated at 4.45pm for 5pm start.
St Hilda’s 125th Anniversary Celebrations
It’s 17 months away but we are already looking forward to the 125th Anniversary celebrations in March 2021. Accommodation in Dunedin can be tricky at the best of times, and our 125th is being held over Otago Anniversary weekend, so please make sure you get in early if you’re planning to attend from out of town.
Tickets are available now for the 125th – Full Registration covers all the events, or you can pick and choose which ones you wish to attend (Cocktail Party, Gala Lunch, ‘125 Years of Inspiring St Hilda’s Women’ and the Chapel Service), plus there will be tours, decade group photos, performances and exhibitions all weekend. Please spread the word!
Call for Parent and senior student (16 years and over) volunteers.
To assist the PFA in fundraising at concerts being held at Forsyth Barr Stadium in February.
Elton John: Tuesday 4 February times TBC
Queen: Monday February 10 times TBC
At this stage the PFA are looking for expression of interest please email Ali Copeman pfa@shcs.school.nz once we have a few more details Ali will be in touch to confirm plans. This fundraising goes towards supporting SHCS students in sporting and cultural activities
Sports Uniform Reminder
St Hilda’s new sports uniform is now available at NZ Uniforms on Moray Place. If you need to update or replace items please head there over the holidays. It is compulsory for our students to have the PE top, Shorts, Trackpants, Dri fit and Hoodie. For all students who play in a weekly competition, travel on tournaments or as a PE class, these items are to be worn. No alternatives are allowed. For students with the current style these can still be worn. Over the past few weeks, we have noticed a number of sports teams wearing a variety of shorts and trackpants that are not school regulation. If you are unsure on what these look like, then please head to the website: http//www.nzuniforms.com
Activities
Year 10 Tautuku camp was again a great experience. The year group excelled in the outdoor environment, and it was an added bonus that the weather held throughout the week and we got to enjoy the range of activities such as abseiling, kayaking, bush navigation, tramping, confidence course and of course the iconic Tautuku camp mud run. Thank you to all the students, staff and especially the parents who were so kind to give up their time to support us on this camp.
Junior Sports Week.
This week many of our year 9 &10 students were involved in the OSSSA Junior Sports Week. This was a great opportunity for our volleyball and touch teams to get out and compete against teams from all over Otago.
Junior Volleyball Team
Our junior Water Polo team are presently competing in Blenheim and we will have results from that tournament next week.
Otago Primary Athletics Day.
On Thursday, some of our Year 7 & 8 students headed down to the Caledonian for Athletics Day. Having qualified through North Zone Athletics Day, the girls were ready for another big day. Well done to Mya Haigh for throwing over 8m in her shot put and to Charlotte Cardno for jumping 4.46m in Long Jump and making a new record. Cassie Horo made the 100m final and our relay team of Phoebe Jackery, Katie Moore, Charlotte Cardno and Cassie Horo did a great job in their heat. Well done to Chelsea Sinclair for making her age group shot put final.
Achievements
Hannah Langsbury has been selected into the New Zealand U14 Maori Rep Team for Football.
Chapel Matters
This coming Sunday afternoon we have our Christmas Carol Service here at school which is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. We always end our Carol service with the most published carol in the world; if you go onto You Tube you will find versions of it sung by everybody from Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey to church choirs and even cats! And all of this is true, even though this carol was written exactly 200 years ago, in 1719.
The carol is “Joy to the World” and it the lyrics were written by Isaac Watts. He wrote over 750 hymns for churches – this is quite remarkable when you realise that someone like Justin Bieber has written about 40 songs, Taylor Swift has written about 200, and Bob Dylan has written about 500! Isaac Watts’ family was “non-conformist,” meaning they didn’t belong to the Church of England, and his father was put in prison twice for his views. This also meant that Isaac wasn’t allowed to go to Oxford and Cambridge, because you had to be Anglican to go there. Isaac went to another university, became a tutor, and also wrote hymns. His hymns became popular – and he changed the way people sang in church – even in Anglican churches! Watts didn’t just write hymns though. He had studied philosophy at university, and he wrote a textbook on the topic of “Logic” – this was used by the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge for over 100 years! Interesting for someone who wasn’t even allowed to study there!
The music for “Joy to the World” was written by an American musician, Lowell Mason, who lived in the 1800s. He also grew up in a family that went to a non-conformist church;
this is the Unitarian Universalist church, which is all about intellectual freedom, inclusive love, and spiritual growth, and although many members don’t actually even believe in God, many still attend church, pray and sing hymns. Mason was one of the church-going members, and he wrote the music for many of the hymns that they sang, played the organ and directed the choir. He wrote the music for “Joy to the World,” in 1839, 120 years after Isaac Watts wrote the words, but he also put lots of other lyrics to music, even including simple things like “Mary had a little lamb!” His church was in the South of the United States, in Georgia, and at a time when slavery was still deeply part of life in the South, Mason helped out at a nearby African-American Baptist church and started the first ever Sunday School for black children.
Even though these two men lived in different centuries, and in different countries, they both did things that went against the grain of the societies they lived in, and were non-conformist in their beliefs and faith, choosing to be true to what they believed about God in how they lived their lives. And in the end they both contributed to one of the most well-known and loved carols of all time, which I think is pretty special!
Reminder – School Canteen
The Canteen has closed for the year. Don’t forget a packed lunch.
BLUE RIBBON INSTALLATION
This is a fundraising initiative that current families, Old Girls and past families can support – purchase a Blue Ribbon plaque with your/your daughter’s name on it, to be displayed permanently in the foyer of the new Arts Building.
Please contact the Director of Development at aburke@shcs.school.nz to reserve your Blue Ribbon today.
Thank you to those students and families who supported St Hilda’s Day. This is a very important event in our school calendar that goes to the heart of our special character, and to share and participate in the cathedral service as a community , to ‘explore faith’ is one of the aspects of this school that sets us apart.
I am always so proud of the girls as they wear their uniform with pride, contribute with respect and maturity, and are such a credit to the school. Thank you too, to those families who took the time to tangibly show their support for, and commitment to, our school community. We are grateful to be able to share such special events with you.
This term moves quickly as the seniors set their sights on external examinations, and special events such as our last chapel service, Christmas dinner at the hostel, Christmas Carol service, service day and the camps dominate the programme. It is a wonderful time of the year, as we all see the fruits of our labour come to a tangible outcome, and we can reflect on work completed, and the pride we take in those achievements. There is much to enjoy and challenge us in the coming weeks.
Jackie Barron
Principal
Key Dates for Term 4
Monday 14th October – 5th December 2019
Monday 28 October – Labour Day – School and Hostel closed
Tuesday 5 November – Last day for Seniors (Years 11-13))
Monday 11-15 November – Year 10 Camp
Sunday 24 November – Carol Service – Chapel, 5 pm – Families welcome
Wednesday 4 December – Leavers Dinner – Museum
Thursday 5 December – Prize Giving – Dunedin Town Hall (please note change of venue) students to be seated at 4.45pm for 5pm start.
Junior Academic Programme
The Junior Academic Programme for 2020 has been released online. Links to view this are on both the Parent Portal and the Student Homepage. This site provides an overview of the subjects studied from Year 7 through to Year 10.
Reminder – The two option choices for Year 10 in 2020 are now due for current Year 9 students. Parents of students who are yet to enter their daughter’s choices are encouraged to complete this process over the weekend. Your daughter’s choices can be entered through the link in the online Junior Academic Programme or the Kamar Parents Portal
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal – Two Options! NZ and Overseas
Imagine never getting any Christmas presents … We can give children in the South Pacific a lovely surprise this Christmas by filling shoeboxes with gifts! If you have done this before you know how much fun it is to shop for a child and to fill the box with gifts! If any students would like to get a box, or find out more information, then please see Dr Townsley – I have about 30 boxes you can use (or you can use any old actual shoe box – just wrap it in Xmas paper!) There is a list of the kinds of things that are good to put in the box (such as school supplies, cuddly toys, clothes, hair brushes or hair ties etc.), and also things NOT to put in (because of customs or cultural issues ie. no lollies or food, toy guns or playing cards, or religious material). They need to be filled and returned to school by today. Please let me know if you have missed the deadline but do have a box.
We can also give shoebox gifts to children in Aotearoa NZ at low decile schools, through Women’s Refuge and other community organisations. See this link for more information:
The Year 7 girls are thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to try playing the trumpet with Mr Clayman, one of our itinerant music teachers.
House Kapa Haka Competition
Well done to all four houses for their polished performances on Wednesday of Tutira mai nga iwi. It was a great new initiative which we look forward to continuing in future years. It was a very close competition with Wellington being judged the top house.
Achievements
Congratulations to Holly Bissett, Meg Rogers, Tessa Sinteur and Chai Yoo who have been accepted to the Prestigious Junior Academy of the New York Academy of Sciences.
The Junior Academy is an elite group of problem solvers made up of talented students, STEM experts, and companies around the world dedicated to designing innovative solutions to global challenges.
Each students ages 13–18 are invited to join The Junior Academy. Successful applicants gain lifelong access to exclusive educational opportunities and a remarkable global STEM network through Launchpad, a virtual collaboration platform.
Our students will tackle the Intelligent Homes and Health Challenge, where students will design innovative ways to transform home life and healthcare and the Space Challenge, where students will explore space colonization. Students complete a virtual four-week boot camp to prepare themselves to work on these projects and gain access to learning resources that develop relevant skills in research methods, design thinking, and data analysis.
Students then communicate on discussions boards to form teams with other participants. They identify students who are interested in the same challenge project and have similar ideas on how to combat it. With the help of their mentor, they will design a solution to the challenge they chose to complete.
Challenges commenced on October 17 and final solutions will be due December 16, 2019.
All Junior Academy participants will be invited to attend the Global STEM Alliance Summit in New York City in the summer of 2020. Winning teams will receive a travel scholarship to attend. The three-day Summit includes a variety of New York City cultural experiences, as well as opportunities to build crucial connections with STEM mentors and professionals.
Blues
Congratulations to all recipients of Blue Awards for 2019. It was lovely to celebrate the range of achievements at the evening last Friday.
Nicole Horrell Last term, Nicole Horrell (along with Sam Leaper from JMC) were national finalists in the Play it Strange – Who Loves Who competition. The mastered songs have been released on an online album that can be listened to by clicking on the following link.
Nicole and Sam’s cover song is Track 17 – Tally Ho.
Nicole and Samuel Leaper also got into the Pitch Perfect Final in Dunedin at the Meridian Mall and the final took place on the 18th of October.
On the same night, Nicole entered the New Zats Contemporary Vocal Competition and got second place with the prize of $300.
You have been busy Nicole, congratulations.
Ella Morshuis
Ella had a fabulous weekend in Canterbury last weekend at the South Island 3 Day Event Championship. Blaze and she Won the FEI 2* Championship, The National Junior Rider 3 Day Championship and Best Presented.
Ella and her family are now very excited to be heading to the North Island where she will compete in Rotorua in the FEI 2* class and the National Junior Rider 1 Day Championship class in November and at The Puhiuni 3 Day International Championship, in the International FEI 2* class in December.
Good luck from all of us at St Hilda’s Ella.
Touch
Congratulations to the following girls who have been selected for Touch teams
Annie Timu : Otago Open Mixed, Otago Under 18 Girls Brooke McAlwee : Otago Open Women, Otago Under 18 Girls (also South Island Women – Te Wai Pounamu) Amelia Scully: Otago Open Women Savannah Cleland : Otago Under 18 Girls Danielle Ferguson : Otago Under 18 Girls
Sarah Langsbury : Otago Under 18 Girls Ruby Williams : Otago Under 18 Girls Ally Ward : Otago Under 16 Girls Demi McAlwee : Otago Under 16 Girls Jaymee Meffan : Otago Under 16 Girls Gemma Rowcroft : Otago Under 16 Girls Sophia Tutty : Otago Under 16 Girls Grace Keno : Otago Under 16 Girls Luana Ashton : Otago Under 16 Girls Eilish Cassidy : Otago Under 16 Mixed Libby Challis : Otago Under 14 Girls Holly Rowcroft : Otago Under 14 Girls
Tolcarne News
The sun came out on Saturday for our stay-in weekend and final Tribe games. Students and staff had a great time playing volleyball, flip cup naughts and crosses, and an egg throwing competition. Highgate took out the competition with 100 points, Grendon and Falkland got 75 and Baxter only got 10. The points are tight and it will come down to the next week of values points.
Coming up
Good luck to the Year 7&8 Water polo team who are playing in a tournament this weekend at Moana Pool.
We are having the Z Club movie night next week on Thursday the 31st of October in the new Arts building. We will be watching Love, Simon
Tickets will be $10, please order a ticket on the form which was emailed to the girls or get your ticket on the night. Payment to be made on the night.
All proceeds go to the Women’s Refuge and tickets include snacks and a drink during the movie. Feel free to bring friends and family along!!
St Hilda’s Collegiate School Fair
Saturday 7th of March 2020
Please start collecting and putting aside items for our school fair.
We need books, toys, games, white elephant goods, designer and used clothing.
In term 4 look out for information regarding our drop off dates and times.
This is a fundraising initiative that current families, Old Girls and past families can support – purchase a Blue Ribbon plaque with your/your daughter’s name on it, to be displayed permanently in the foyer of the new Arts Building.
Please contact the Director of Development at aburke@shcs.school.nz to reserve your Blue Ribbon today.
Our senior benchmark examinations have begun and will continue into next week. It is a great opportunity for the girls to test their understanding and show the learning they have been doing this year.
Arts Building Opening
We hope you have received your email invitation to the opening of our new Arts building at 2.00pm on 27th September and we thank those of you who have already RSVP’d.
We would be grateful if you could RSVP to principal@shcs.school.nz by Monday 23rd September.
St Hilda’s Blues
A Blue at St Hilda’s Collegiate School is awarded in recognition of students who have shown excellence and/or outstanding achievement in the cultural, sporting, academic or service arena’s at St Hilda’s Collegiate School.
The Blues evening will be held on Friday 18 October 2019. Awards presentation commences at 7:00pm.
Thank you to those who have applied. Successful applicants will receive notification at the end of September.
Junior Academic Programme
The Junior Academic Programme for 2020 has been released online. Links to view this are on both the Parent Portal and the Student Homepage. This site provides an overview of the subjects studied from Year 7 through to Year 10. At Year 10, students undertake two optional subjects of their choice alongside their compulsory subjects.
We have adjusted the reporting timeline to accommodate the changes made to the junior reports at the end of Term 2. Year 7 – 10 students will receive an interim report in Week 8 and this will be followed by Junior Learning Conversations which will be held in Week 10. We are aware that it is not always possible for parents to attend these due to travelling distance and the timing of Learning Conversations so we are investigating the possible use of technology to assist with this.
Learning Conversations for Year 9 and 10 will take place on Tuesday 24 September from 6:00pm – 9:00pm and Thursday 26 September from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. Booking details will be sent out next Tuesday by email.
Learning Conversations for Year 7 and 8 will take place on Wednesday 25 September. Mrs Carla Joint (dean of Year 7 and 8) will provide details around these next week.
Durban Girls’ College Exchange
In 2017 we started our exchange programme with Durban Girls’ College in South Africa. We are now beginning the process for the 2020.
This exchange is open to girls who will be in Year 11 in 2020 (presently in Year 10)
The exchange student(s) from Durban will come to St Hilda’s for 6 weeks in March /April 2020. She will be in Year 11 and she will be timetabled into our school programme in the same way the Perth Exchange student is. The St Hilda’s student(s) would travel in exchange for 6 weeks in July/August to Durban Girls’ College. Further information and application forms for this exchange will be available early next week.
The following link will give you more information on Durban Girls’ College:
Return of all 2018 Sporting and Prize Giving Cups and Trophies
In preparation for the 2019 Awards and Prize Giving evenings, we urgently require the return of all cups and trophies presented in 2018 before the end of Term 3.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this. These may be left at the school’s main reception area.
Measles update from Public Health
Frequently asked questions for parents and schools
Do I need to be worried about catching measles?
Measles is highly contagious and easily spread.
Most people in the community are protected from measles because they are fully vaccinated or have already had measles.
What does fully vaccinated mean?
Fully vaccinated means having had the right number of vaccines for your age. For anyone 15 months – 4 years old, this means one MMR vaccine. For anyone older than 4 years old this means two MMR vaccines.
Why isn’t everyone fully vaccinated?
Some people in the community can’t be vaccinated because of allergy or immune conditions. Medical treatments such as chemotherapy can alter someone’s immunity and make them vulnerable to getting measles even if they are fully vaccinated. Babies younger than 1 year old are too young.
Another group of people born between 1970 and 1990 might not realise they are not fully vaccinated. They might have only received one measles vaccine (such as MMR) as a child or might not have access to their immunisation records.
Others choose not to vaccinate.
What if I don’t know my immunisation history?
If you are unsure of your vaccination status you should consider yourself unvaccinated. You should talk to your GP about getting your shots, there is no harm in having extra MMRs.
What should I do if I (or my child) have had contact with a measles case?
If you are fully vaccinated then you are protected and can’t pass measles on to others.
What does isolation involve?
Measles has a long incubation period. If you have been exposed to measles or are showing symptoms and you are not vaccinated, you need to be isolated for 14 days. That means you need to stay home and avoid being in any public places.
Should I vaccinate my child early?
The MMR vaccination schedule for children outside of Auckland is unchanged. Children who have had the right number of vaccines for their age are considered to be fully vaccinated:
Were the current measles cases already vaccinated?
All current Queenstown measles cases (15) are either unvaccinated or uncertain of their vaccination status. Some of those cases are not able to be vaccinated due to allergy or health conditions.
When is someone with measles contagious?
A person with measles is infectious from 5 days before and until 5 days after the rash appears (about 10 days in total). During this time the infected person needs to stay away from other people; children need to be kept home from school and adults from work, do not invite other children or visitors to your house.
I’m pregnant or have a weak immune system – am I at risk?
Pregnant women who haven’t been vaccinated, and anyone with a weakened immune system, are at greater risk of measles complications. They or their caregiver should ask their doctor or lead maternity carer for advice.
What do I if I think I might have measles?
If you suspect you have measles, phone your GP or Healthline free on 0800 611 116 for advice. Because measles is so infectious (easily passed on to other people), ring first rather than just turning up at your doctor’s clinic.
Where can I find the best advice about measles vaccination?
The Immunisation Advisory Centre’s latest advice on MMR vaccination during the 2019 measles outbreak:
Girlguiding UK’s Girls’ Attitudes Survey 2019 has highlighted the issue of exam stress in girls. Please read the attached article to explore their findings further.
Kia Ora! We are just coming to the end of te wiki o te reo Maori – Maori language week. While the Seniors have been doing exams, the juniors had a chapel on this topic. Mr Ellwood took us through te karakia o te Atua – the Lord’s Prayer – and taught us about the meaning of some of the key words. We then practised saying the prayer together. The theme for this week is “kia kaha te reo Maori” which means “strengthen” Maori Language, or “Let’s make the Maori Language strong.” One of my goals with regard to strengthening my use of te reo Maori is to learn this karakia off-by-heart since it is often said in Anglican church services or at special events. You might also like to strengthen your use of te reo Maori by having a look at the prayer, perhaps for the first time, or refreshing your understanding of the key words, or by practising saying it aloud, or by learning it off-by-heart too! Here is a useful website for doing that: Lord’s Prayer in Te Reo
Tolcarne News
Last Friday, Josie and Nicki took the junior girls to the Dunedin ice stadium for Friday Disco Night. Under colourful lights and popular music, the girls slipped into the new ice skates and stepped out onto the ice. Not a common activity in New Zealand, many found it a challenge to navigate the ice. We had some sore ankles, feet and a few topples to wet the knees and backsides, but all in all, the activity was a fun Friday night out!
On Monday night our Tribes played to ‘ice breaker games’ – pass the orange under the chin and blow the pingpong ball down the table with disposable straws. Lots of laughter and double chins as the orange was passed down the line and the pingpong ball was blown off the tables. Falkland won to orange passing competition and Highgate won the ping pong travel game and Falkland came in again wining the pingpong round robin game.
This week the juniors have been starting dinner with grace in Te Reo as part of Maori Language week. Our senior girls have begun studying and are sitting their benchmark exams, this continues over the weekend and early into next week.
Health Consultation 2019
Thank you to those who completed the 2019 health consultation survey, we greatly appreciate your feedback.
All parents and caregivers are now invited to attend an open discussion on the evening of Monday 16th September, 6.30 pm – 7.30pm where we will have the opportunity to further discuss the makeup of our health programme.
If you would like to attend, please RSVP to admin@shcs.school.nz by Wednesday 11 September.
Hannah Coutts
Teacher of Physical Education and Health
Activities this week
Well done to Ngā Manu ō Hira Tapu who performed at Polyfest on Wednesday night.
Royal New zealand Ballet Workshop
Chloe, the educator from the Royal NZ Ballet take a few Dance workshops on Monday. Years 7-11 took a workshop on Monday lunchtime & Years 12-13 were tutored within their P4 class.
The Contemporary dance they learnt was based on Women’s Suffrage.
15 students were then treated to the actual RNZB performance on Wednesday night – “Bold Moves” where definitive dances from three different decades were shown.
Physical Education Class – Gymnastics
The Year 7 Science class has recently been studying ROCKS; their formation and composition among other things, so we were delighted that Liana Sui-Wood’s grandfather allowed Liana to bring some of his precious collection into class. These made for fascinating observations and we even looked at the amazing crystal compositions under the microscope. Thanks so much Ted for your kindness and I sense we have some budding young geologists emerging from this group if Bella and Alex’s enthusiasm is anything to go by.
Year 10 students participating in the Get to Go Challenge
Achievements
Our hockey girls had a great week in Timaru competing in the Audrey Timlin Tournament. They played so well as a team resulting in them being 3rd overall at tournament.
We were unlucky to not make the final after losing to Craighead in the semi’s by one goal but the girls showed thier sportsmanship and determination beating James Hargest to be 3rd overall
Rugby – our year 9 and 10’s competed in the Highlanders Region Tournament on Friday in Mosgiel, In real wintery conditions. Playing four games and winning them all to make the semi finals where they bet Otago Girls’ high School 30 – 5 to then play Central Otago in the final.
In the final the girls played so well in the muddy wet conditions with some fantastic tries winning this 17 – 0
Hockey 1st XI
Careers
Transition Expo Day Event – Discover opportunities for life after school. Click here for further details.
Transition Expo Evening Forum – Click here for further details
Parents and senior students over 16 years of age.
The PFA has been given an opportunity to fundraise at this year’s Fleetwood Mac concert on September 21 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
This involves working in one of the hospitality areas for approximately 8 hours and attending a 90min induction meeting in the week prior to the concert,
The PFA raises funds for the school community for the benefit of all students.
It’s actually a lot of fun and if you are interested in receiving more information please contact Ali Copeman on pfa@shcs.school.nz
This has been an incredibly hard week for our school community, and your kind gestures, gifts and messages of support have been hugely affirming and comforting. Thank you for the way you have wrapped your care and love not only around your daughters, but around us as well. We continue to grow stronger as a community through this difficult time.
Below is the address I gave to the school in chapel yesterday. I want to share it with you, so we all have a shared understanding of the concerns the girls have raised, and the way we intend to go forward:
Losing a friend, a colleague, a teacher, a mentor is terribly sad, exhausting, at times even overwhelming, and we are all hurting. Whether we knew Mr Smith well, or just in passing grief affects us all differently.
His family have asked everyone not to talk about and speculate about his death and we are respecting that. It is really hard for us to know that some people out there are not thinking about the family, they are just gossiping, and talking and making comments, and we feel like an oasis of reverence, trying to do our best by his family, honour his memory, and remember the wonderful man he was.
There is a lot of speculation about how Mr Smith died. A lot of comments on social media, a lot of assumptions and untruths, and that makes it even harder for us to process and understand what has happened. There is a lot of talk and comment that he took his own life. We don’t have all the facts. As with every death the police and the coroner are involved and the coroner ultimately decides what the cause of death was, and as a school, it is not appropriate, nor is it legal, for us to make a statement.
It might be true, what people are saying, it might not be. If it is true, then we will all feel that there might have been something we could have done or said last Friday; if only we had been kinder, taken more time, stopped to chat , all wishing it was different.
Either way it is even more important that we regard the families wishes. At St Hilda’s we show respect, we show integrity, which means we do what is right and fair, decent and honorable.
These are big emotions, huge, for us – these feelings of confusion and vulnerability and that is normal at times of grief. Yesterday I went and visited Mr Smith’s partner, and when I got back to school, I shut my office door, sat on the couch and cried. Then I got up and got on with my job. I am lucky that I can shut my door, that I have a space, but we all need to find our own spaces in our own time. I don’t know why I bothered wearing any make up yesterday actually. Though I do know the brand of some really good water proof mascara, if you need to know it.
Now, I want to let you know about some of the plans we have to help us all manage the next few days and to ensure that we are looking after each other and ourselves.
I sent an email home to your parents, so many of you will already know, and I am sorry that there wasn’t the opportunity to talk to you all first.
To lighten the load for staff we will only send out Senior reports this term, and we will still hold the Learning Conversations for senior students on Monday 22nd July, the first day of Term 3. Junior reports will go out in Term 3.
A Memorial service for Mr Smith will be held on Wednesday July 3rd at 2.00pm in the gym. We have offered to hold this celebration of Mr Smith’s life because the family have chosen to have a private funeral, which we totally respect, and we also know that as a community we need that opportunity to come together and acknowledge him and his contribution. It is entirely your choice whether you go or not , there is no expectation or pressure. Students will be dismissed at lunch time to go home, otherwise you are welcome to stay for the service, which will finish about 2.40, with afternoon tea afterwards.
The last Friday of the term July 5th, school will be closed. We will still have the Course Selection information evening on the Thursday night 4th July, but we think everyone will be pretty tired, and finishing a day early, gives all our staff a bit of a break.
Finally, I know you are worried about the staff. Thank you but we’ve got this. We are strong, we have each other, we are talking and sharing. Yes we are sad, confused and hurting – but we are resilient, and we will be alright. We have good support, and we have all of you. Your kindness, your compassion, your thoughtfulness, your hugs, your notes, your cakes, your gifts……have been so important to the staff, so thank you for that. We are a family, and we are OK, despite what is being said or happening elsewhere.
A friend sent me a message yesterday, a reading by Haruki Murakami
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about”
We are all changed, shaped and strengthened by enduring and surviving tough times, the sadness and the grief. This is life, whether we like it or not, and we will all come through this better and together.
Jackie Barron
Principal
Memorial Service for Mr Smith
A Memorial Service for Mr Smith will be held in the school gym at 2.00pm on Wednesday 3rd July. All members of the wider St Hilda’s community are welcome to attend.
Attendance at this service is entirely optional for your daughter and is at the discretion of you and your daughter.
If your daughter will not be attending this memorial service please click here to complete the Google Form
Reports/Learning Conversations
Academic Progress reports for Year 11 – 13 will be emailed in the first week of the holidays. This report will contain feedback on learning and next steps. It will also give you an overview of what has been covered in each subject. Specific assessment information will not be included in the report but can be accessed through KAMAR.
Learning Conversations for senior students (Year 11 – 13) which will be held in Week 1 of Term 3 are a chance for you to meet with your daughter’s subject teachers to discuss how the year is going and put in place plans going forward. This discussion is with the teacher, student and parent.
On Monday 22 July the students in Year 7 – 10 will have school as usual.
These learning conversations will take place on Monday 22 July during the day (9:00 am – 3:30 pm) and in the evening (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm)
We realise that it is not always possible for you to make this meeting but we encourage you to book a time for your daughter who should come by herself as this is a critical milestone in her learning for the year and she would find it very valuable to talk to teachers about her next steps.
Booking details will be emailed to parents on Thursday 4th July and the site will remain open until Friday 19 July.
Course Selection Evening
A warm invitation is extended to parents/caregivers of current Year 10 to Year 12 students for this year’s Course Selection Evening, being held @ 6:00pm on Thursday 4 July.
The focus will be on sharing resources to assist families to make an informed course selection for 2020. This event will coincide with the online release of the 2020 Academic Programmes.
The evening will begin with a welcome in the Chapel followed by a brief outline of how NCEA works. Over the next hour you will have the opportunity to move through two workshops.
Workshop 1: Subject Selection, the process and exceptions – academic wellness within the St Hilda’s graduate profile. Navigating the online Academic Programme.
Workshop 2: Introduction to the new Parent Portal of Career Central – tools to help identify interests, skills and abilities for career pathway exploration.
The Kamar Parent Portal to enter your daughters 2020 subject choices will also open on this date (linked from the Course Selection page of the Academic Programme). Entries for Year 11-13 in 2020 are due no later than Monday 26 August 2019.
NOTE: Students are not expected to attend this event as the focus is on information for families.
We look forward to seeing many of you on the night.
Sharon Ritchie
Careers’ Advisor/STAR Gateway Co-ordinator
Guidance
This week has been a very difficult time for our school community. In the midst of our sadness we have been constantly reminded of how amazing our students are in the way they have supported each other and our staff, they truly are incredible young women. We have also appreciated the support you as parents have given your own daughters and also our staff, and we feel very fortunate to be part of such a caring community. We encourage you to keep checking in with your daughter over the weekend and beyond. Please click here for some advice about how you can support your daughter if she is grieving.
Chapel Matters
Mr Smith should be here with us. He should be in his art room helping someone set up their photography shoot or rummaging around for some paper and paint. But he isn’t. Instead, we are here, in shock and in sorrow.
At times like this, we need each other for empathy and consolation, for courage and strength. And we need to know that God can also be a source of comfort and strength for us. In the Bible, God is often described as being like a Shepherd, the one who loves, defends, protects, and cares for his flock; “We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep he cares for” (Ps 95.7). The most famous description of God like this is Psalm 23, which we have used in chapels this week:
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
There is also a powerful song which we have used in chapel this week which you might like to listen to and use as a prayer.
NZQA Examination Fees
The government have removed all examination fees for NCEA. If you had already paid these this amount has been credited to your account.
Achievements
St Hilda’s was represented by 10 teams in the Otago Regional Robocup robotics competition on 22 June, with entries in both the theatre and search and rescue categories. In the lead up to the event the girls worked very hard; displaying teamwork, problem solving, creativity and resilience as well as programming and robotic design skills. We had great community support on the day and it was lovely to see all the St Hilda’s family and whanau at the event.
Our teams placed well in the competition, with some planning to refine their entries for Robocup Nationals in September. Congratulations to the following teams for gaining places at the competition:
Senior Theatre
1st Place – Samara Collins, Amelia Leaper, Maia Palmer, Mila Pollyn
2nd Place – Anna Fulton, Holly Hesson, Phoebe Jacquiery, Sienna Wright
Premier Theatre
2nd Place – Evie Rose Grace, Emma Grindlay, Eliabel Legrand, Hannah McCoubrey, Rosa Smith
Senior Search and Rescue
1st Place – Victoria Avery and Zara Geddes
2nd Place – Imogen Hornel and Chloe Woodhouse
Search and Rescue WinnerChoc GirlsBasillic BrosBook Bots
Upcoming events
The Parents and Friends Assn AGM scheduled for July 3 2019 has been postponed, a new date will be announced in term 3.
Course Selection Information Evening for parents (Yr10 – 12) – July 4 beginning in the Chapel at 6:00pm
On the last Friday of the term, July 5th, school will be closed.
Senior Dance – Midwinter Festival
A group of senior Dance students performed in the Midwinter carnival.
The following students were involved in the involved in the choreography and performance. Temple Flaws was also involved in the Choreography for this piece.
Trinity Maydon (12)
Bella Devereux (12)
Ally Wong (12)
Kate Johnson (13)
Abbie Laughton (13)
Nicole Horrell (13)
Sarah Lee (12)
Tolcarne News
This week at Tribe Dinner, we farewelled one of our Gappies, Leonie, who leaves on Friday. Leonie has been an invaluable part of Tolcarne for the last 3 terms. She has always done everything with a big smile on her face, and the Juniors especially will miss her during the weekend activities. Good luck Leonie with all your life endeavours.
On Thursday night, John Hedges, who is the Dunedin Community Relations Manager, came to Tolcarne to talk to our Juniors about staying safe online, and our Seniors about looking after themselves and each other during the weekends. It was a valuable reminder for all our girls.
St Hilda’s Physiotherapy Service Information
From Tuesday 11th June, Roslyn Physio will be operating a physiotherapy clinic at St Hilda’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am-1.30pm during term time. The clinic will be staffed by female physiotherapists from the Roslyn Physio staff and will operate out of the main office block at school.
Having a physiotherapy service on site will limit time out of class, enable access for assistance and support and will help to provide timely diagnosis and treatment for students, as well as cohesive advice, guidance and communication for students, parents, teachers and coaching staff. Communication regarding your daughter’s injury/condition will be made by Roslyn Physiotherapy directly to you and your daughter, thus maintaining the strict privacy and confidentiality requirements currently maintained by the practice.
Appointments can be made by ringing Roslyn Physio on 4771744 or through the school student reception
Payment is by invoice. This will be sent out by email directly from Roslyn Physiotherapy monthly and payment can be made online.
We are delighted to be working in partnership with Roslyn Physiotherapy to support and enhance your daughters wellbeing by making available this professional and expert assistance on site.
Careers
The Cancer Society Otago and Southland Division invites you to the inaugural Runway for Life Fashion Show. This event is a collaboration between the Cancer Society, Otago Polytechnic and H&J Smith and many other businesses in Otago and Southland have offered their support.
We would love for you to come along and enjoy our fashion show featuring exclusive pieces donated by top New Zealand fashion designers (such as Trelise Cooper, Claire Bloom, Darlene Gore, Tamsin Cooper and more) that you will be able to bid on in our exciting charity auction.
The auction will be followed by a relaxed afternoon tea. Prior to and after the fashion show, you will have the chance to browse our pop-up shop of fabulous pre-loved and lightly loved clothing and accessories that will be for sale (EFTPOS available). We would appreciate you passing this invitation on to your colleagues and friends.
When and Where: Saturday 13th July 1pm @The Hub, Otago Polytechnic Forth Street, Dunedin. (Fashion show to start at 1:30pm.)
Tickets are only $20 and are available online here or from the Cancer Society, 283 Great King St, Dunedin (03) 477 7447. Email info@cansoc.org.nz for further information.
“From Professor Margo Barton, Otago Polytechnic: Otago Polytechnic is proud to be collaborating with the Cancer Society in this inaugural Runway for Life Fashion Show. Please come along and help raise funds for this worthy cause. There will be all sorts of interesting and wonderful fashion pieces to suit every wallet and person.”
Our Phone System is up and running now. Thank you for your patience while this was resolved.
Start times
Year 7, 8 and 9 students’ first day is Monday, 28 January 2019. The girls are to be at school at 1:30 pm in formal school uniform. There is a Mihi Whakatau welcome, parents of these year levels are most welcome to attend, this is followed with some light refreshments.
Year 10 – 13 students’ first day is Tuesday, 29 January 2019, starting at 8:40 am.
Year 13 will leave for their Retreat at Tirohanga Camp at 9:00 am.
Click on the word Calendar and scroll through the months for confirmed dates.
Another useful link is at the top of the Parent Portal page – School Contacts, there you will find email addresses for absences, school fees enquiries, Deans and Guidance staff.
School Stationery for Year 7 & 8 will be given out on their first day and charged to your daughter’s school activities account.
Other Year levels may purchase their stationery from Office Max Online at https://www.myschool.co.nz– use St Hildas Collegiate as the school code.
School hours are:
Monday – Thursday 8:40 am to 3:25 pm
Friday – 8:40 am – 3:00 pm
Early next week you will receive your access code to see the personal details relating to your daughter such as absences, timetable, results.
This week Sings Hilda and the Junior Choir, Nga Korimako competed in Big Sing at Dunedin Town Hall. Nga Korimako took out the People’s Choice Award and Sings Hilda won the Classical Composition section. Congratulations to both choirs! It was a fabulous event and the St HIlda’s choirs really shone. To view videos of each performance visit the schools Facebook page.
Learning conversations are being held next week on Tuesday 12th June (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm), Thursday 14th June (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm) and Friday 15th June (12:30 pm – 3:30 pm). To book a time visit: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ and enter the login: rdrbw
As many of you will have noted, the excavations for the new Arts building have begun. Part of Stage One is also extending and filling in the field at the south end of the grounds, so that we can fully utilise all the land we have for girls physical activities. Staff have been closely involved with the design of the building, and also with the planning for the build, to try and minimise disruption to class and curriculum programmes, and also outside activities that have required use of the courts. We appreciate that the most restrictive time is now, while the whole area is a construction site, and as the build progresses we will gain back the use of our precious green spaces. Stevenson & Williams have been most accommodating in helping us with the planning, to ensure that school life can continue with as little change as possible.
Recently, 23 Year 12 and 13 students volunteered to donate blood as part of our partnership with NZBlood. The girls by and large enjoyed the experience and their act of service was very much appreciated by the staff at the donor centre. We hope that the girls will be donors for life as each donation saves 3 lives in New Zealand. Special thanks to everyone who participated.
Applications for World Challenge close on 15th June. If you have any questions contact Bee Bradfield, bbradfield@shcs.school.nz
Playhouse Theatre Visit
The New Zealand Playhouse Theatre company visited on Wednesday. The punny title of their show ‘As you Write It’ captured the co-constructed event that the year 12’s experienced.
Their focus was an introduction to Shakespeare and after the girls chose a time period from the three Shakespeare used – the Renaissance; a film as a vehicle – Mean Girls and the power the hero had – humour, the four actors used these to illustrate the ideas of Iambic pentameter, rhyming couplets, the structure of his plays and the different types he wrote.
It was a lot of fun. The girls laughed a lot. Notable scenes involved horse called Justin Timberlake and the wig changes, including a mullet, that denoted different characters. The actors were passionate, creative and fed off the audience’s interactions and reactions. It was entertaining and educational.
Shakespeare is sometimes considered outdated and out of touch, but the NZ Playhouse showed how his skills and ideas are still relevant today and can still make a crowd react. As we were reminded, ‘All the World’s a stage.”
Snow Day and Late Start Procedures
With our first taste of winter this week it is a good time to give a reminder on Snow Day and Late Start Procedures.
In the case of a school closure or late start due to weather conditions the system is now coordinated for all 12 secondary schools. It will be broadcast on Radio Dunedin 106.7FM, 95.4 FM, 1305AM and other Media Works stations by 7:00 am.
We will email parents by 7:00 am and a notification will also be published on the Parent Portal and school Facebook page.
Should conditions in your area be different to those in the rest of the city you must make individual decisions based on what is safest for your family.
Once girls are at school we encourage you not to text them regarding school closures during the school day. If these were to eventuate we would email parents immediately.
You can view the above information at any time by clicking on the Snow Day and Late Start Procedures page under the Informationalonal Links menu on the right.
Careers News and Events
New information has been added to the careers page. To view visit the Career Events calendar.
Tolcarne News
This week Tolcarne has been buzzing with excitement as the Senior students prepare for their formal tonight. The nail bar was very successful last night, it was moved to the lounge with finger and toe stations. Ziggy, Robyn, Mrs Rathbone and Mrs Barron became experts at applying fake nails, shaping nails and painting layers of colour. Jodie supplied a scrumptious supper and we had Jess and Tia as the dance and singing entertainment enjoying a bit of Abba.
Student Achievement
Click here to read the poem by Catherine Davidson that won the young adult section of the Dunedin Pride Poetry Competition as reported earlier in the term.
Netball Umpire Sophie Armstrong on her selection to officiate at the Netball New Zealand U17 Champs in Palmerston North in July. Well done Sophie!
Congratulations to the below girls who have been chosen to represent Dunedin in the Netball representative season.
The Learning Conversations in Week 7 are a chance for you to meet with your daughter’s subject teachers to discuss how the year is going and put in place plans going forward. This discussion is with the teacher, student and parent.
These learning conversations will take place on Tuesday 12th June (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm), Thursday 14th June (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm) and Friday 15th June (12:30 pm – 3:30 pm)
On Friday afternoon the school will be open but we will not be running timetabled classes. Supervision will be provided for girls at school.
We realise that it is not always possible for you to make this meeting but we encourage you to book a time for your daughter who should come by herself as this is a critical milestone in her learning for the year and she would find it very valuable to talk to teachers about her next steps.
Please share the appointment time with her.
You will need the following details to make a booking:
Earlier this week some of our senior students participated in an overnight joint Spanish immersion camp with four other schools from Otago and Southland. They experienced a range of activities focusing on using as much Spanish as possible, while making new connections and expanding their cultural knowledge.
A reminder that school will finish at 11.50am next Friday, 8th June due to a PPTA paid union meeting. There will be supervision in the library for students who need to stay at school until the end of the school day. Please notify the school office if your daughter will need to remain at school on this afternoon (contact Karen Mowat on 477 0989 or email admin@shcs.school.nz). Buses will be running to normal timetables/.
NCEA fees have been put onto your latest accounts. We collect these on behalf of NZQA and require these to be paid by mid August (Friday 17 August). There is financial assistance available. Click here to get the details and access to the application form. These forms need to be completed and dropped into school to be processed.
Assessment Guidelines
With a number of classes completing assignments students sometimes find it hard to know the guidelines for authenticity of their work and I thought it would be good to share with parents the general rules around plagiarism that we follow.
Plagiarism is the act of presenting the work — words, thoughts, ideas, research, art — of other people as your own. 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.
Events
The Big Sing takes place on Wednesday 6 June. The adjudicated sessions are open to the public for a gold coin donation. Sings Hilda are performing at approximately 10.30 am and Nga Korimako at 4.00 pm.
In the evening there is a Festival of Choirs Concert, each choir will have the opportunity to perform one of their pieces. Ticket for the evening concert are $20 for adults, $15 for NZCF members and beneficiaries, $5 for school students and $45 for a family of 2 adults and up to 3 children. Tickets are door sales only.
Bullying is once again making headlines with a 16-year-old boy rushed to Middlemore Hospital after he was assaulted during interval at James Cook High School in Manurewa and the horrendous online treatment of Liverpool keeper Loris Karius by Liverpool fans this week. Read the attached article to learn how you can help to protect your child against cyberbullying.
Chapel Matters
Queen’s Birthday Weekend is upon us – the last long weekend for most people until Labour Weekend! The actual birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is April 21st and this year she turned 92. If you watched the Royal Wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, you will have seen that the Queen is going strong!
The day before her birthday this year, at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the Queen formally announced that Prince Charles would be her successor. One of the central titles held by the Queen is “Defender of the Faith,” a title first granted in 1521 to Henry VIII by Pope Leo X because of a book Henry wrote in defence of the Catholic church against Martin Luther. When Henry broke with the Catholic church over his wish to divorce Catherine of Aragon in 1530, the title was revoked by the Pope. However, the English Parliament conferred the title on him again, although this time meaning defender of the Anglican faith. Prince Charles has stated that he wants to change this 500 year old title to “Defender of Faith, not the Faith,” as a way of promoting understanding and respect between people of different faiths within the Commonwealth.
The wedding of Harry and Meghan took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, as I am sure you know. But did you know that Henry VIII is buried there, in the floor of the Quire (with Jane Seymour)? I wonder what he would think of Prince Charles, future Defender of Faith, as he walked Meghan up the aisle, right over the burial plaque, and of the Queen, as she sat nearby, the current Defender of the Faith. At the very least, I am sure he approved of the marriage of a prince and a divorcee.
Careers News and Events
New information has been added to the careers page. To view visit the Career Events calendar.
Student Achievement
Lillian Gibbs participated in two NEWZATS Otago vocal competitions last weekend for years 11-13. She placed 3rd in the Cleveland Contemporary competition on Friday 25th and placed 1st in the Aparima classical competition on 27th.
The Otago Secondary School Cross Country Series has been going for the last 4 weeks with a steady contingent of St Hilda’s girls competing in a number of different events.
Otago Southland Secondary School Relay Championships
