St Hilda’s Careers Evening
It was fantastic to see so many attend the careers’ evening. The guest speaker – Annabel Blaikie – gave us an interesting overview of what employers are looking for. The panels gave a range of perspectives and insights into the different vocational areas. Many thanks to the panelists for generously giving of their time and sharing their career journeys.
Reminder – injury or illness
Just a reminder to parents to please inform the school if injury or illness prevents your daughter from taking part in her timetabled classes. We expect that any removal from class or class activities will pre-empt the removal of the student from co-curricular activities for the same reasons. It is frustrating when students prioritise co-curricular activities and commitments ahead of their academic programme and class expectations, thus signalling, possibly unintentionally, that their classwork is not of the same value. Staff put a lot of time and effort into preparing work and class programmes and have the right to expect the same commitment from their students.
Thank you for your support of your daughter’s learning.
Return of all 2018 Sporting and Prize Giving Cups and Trophies
Year 11 – 13 Subject Selection
A reminder that subject choices for 2020 are due by 2 September 2019.
Please find below links to resources you and your daughter may find helpful in the decision making process.
St Hilda’s Collegiate 2020 Senior Academic Programme (also linked at the bottom of the student homepage)
Check out the information in the ‘Need to Know’ section as well as subject specific pages.
https://sites.google.com/shcs.school.nz/st-hildas-collegiate-senior-ac/home
Understanding NCEA
https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/About-us/Publications/Brochures/A-Guide-to-NCEA-ENGLISH-March-2018.pdf
Careers Online Resources (also linked at the bottom of the student homepage
https://sites.google.com/shcs.school.nz/careersonline/home
Career Central (also linked at the bottom of the student homepage)
Blazers
Staff Only Day – reminder
You should have received an email reminding you of our Teacher only day this Monday 2nd September. As a staff, we have been looking at how we plan our programmes to best meet the needs of all students. Departments will be focussing on specific strategies for this on Monday 2nd September.
Arts Building Opening
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.
The application forms for students to apply for Cultural, Service, Academic and Sport Blues are now available. Forms can be accessed via the student homepage: Blues Application Forms or via the Parent Portal : Blues Application Forms and Criteria. Applications must be made by the student using their St Hilda’s email.
Applications close at 5.00pm on Friday 13 September. Some dance genres have competitions and examinations later so we ask that students put in an initial application before the deadline, noting that results are pending. The site will reopen on 20 September until 23 September for updates to these applications.
Successful applicants will receive notification at the end of September.
Junior Academic Programme
The Junior Academic Programme for 2020 has been released online this week. 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.
Guidance
Updated Reporting Timeline
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.
Benchmark Examinations
Benchmark Examinations will be held in Week 8 / 9 – 12th September – 18th September. These will be held under NZQA conditions. Further details about these have been emailed home.
Assessment Guidelines
Plagiarism is the act of representing 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.
Activities this week –
Last Wednesday afternoon, Sings Hilda invited choirs attending the Big Sing Finale to an afternoon tea and concert held here at St Hilda’s Chapel. Euphony from Kristin School, and Saints Alive from St Cuthbert’s College gave performances of some of their repertoire alongside a performance from Sings Hilda.
All choirs joined together for a massed item, a choral arrangement of Ka Waiata ki a Maria.
This was a wonderful chance to meet and mingle with other choirs and to support each other’s performances. Best of luck to Euphony and Saints Alive for the Big Sing Finale performances.


Achievements
Summer Phillips had a successful evening gaining Highly Commended Award.

Bandquest
Last Friday St Hilda’s was represented by 2 bands at the Bandquest competition held at the Taieri College Performing Arts Centre. The Bandquest competition provides a platform for Year 7 and 8 students to perform music in a supportive and encouraging competition format.
We had 11 students enter across Year 7 and 8 in 2 bands called Blue Flame and Sparrows. Blue Flame consists of Chelsea Sinclair (voice), Tia Mawhinney (voice), Sofia Johnston (guitar), Lashaan Ashton (keyboard), Chloe Woodhouse (bass), and Ella Hucklebridge (drums). They performed “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, and “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Miley Cyrus.
Sparrows consists of Emily Wright (voice), Amelia Leaper (voice), Kyla Ashton (guitar), Katie Moore (keyboard), and Izzy Taylor (drums). They performed “Without You” by Marcus & Martinus, and “It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons.
Sparrows
Blue Flame
Congratulations to Sofia Johnston who won the “Killer Guitarist” award for displaying the best guitar skills amongst all 15 bands.
Both bands performed at a high level and have been going from strength to strength in their confidence on stage. They should be very proud of themselves and it is clear, that these students have a lot of potential for the coming years.

Dunedin Performing Arts and Competitions Society/Newszats Aparima Solo Singing Awards
GrowingNZ Technology Innovation Challenge
This week, twelve Year 10 students were part of the ‘The GrowingNZ Technology Innovation Challenge’. The aim of this challenge is to promote cross-curricular, project-based learning and help students to see potential career opportunities within the primary industries sector.
The students were challenged to apply their science, technology, and business knowledge along with teamwork and problem-solving skills to develop a prototype solution to a real-world problem being faced by industries across New Zealand. The students were mentored on the day by industry experts representing GrowingNZ, DairyNZ, Beef + Lamb NZ, NZ Wool and Young Enterprise.
St Hilda’s students were rewarded for their teamwork and the creative concepts developed as part of the challenge, with the following students winning awards:
Best Teamwork: Anna Hutchens, Molly Whitaker, Cassandra Martin, Courtney Lloyd
Best Concept: Kate McEwan, Lily Knox, Hannah Hardiman, Ella Hodgson
https://www.odt.co.nz/business/local-business/primary-sector-challenges-put-pupils
Julie McMahon and Judith Turner
Stars on Stage
The Regent Theatre was buzzing with youthful energy on Monday night as St Hilda’s Year 7 and 8 students took to the stage for Stars on Stage.
Hip Hop
Line Dancers
Drama Group
Ballet/Contemporary
Upcoming Events
Tournament of Minds
Best of luck to our students who are competing in the Tournament of Minds in Christchurch this weekend. Tournament of Minds is a problem-solving programme for teams of students from both primary and secondary years. Tournament’s aim is to enhance the potential of our youth by developing diverse skills, enterprise, time management, and the discipline to work collaboratively within a challenging and competitive environment.
Winter Tournament
Good luck to all our students who are competing in the 2019 Winter Tournament this weekend and next week. You can follow our teams by clicking here.
Tolcarne News
The Tolcarne Social was a very successful night. Both the girls and the boys thoroughly enjoyed having a dance on a Thursday night. The theme was Old School and everyone looked the part!
On Sunday 25th August a group of Year 10 girls came out on the harbour with Port to Port Cruise and Wildlife Tours. It was a beautiful morning out on the harbour with the sun shining and the harbour calm. We saw a seal lazing in the sun and a few different birds, it was a nice relaxing morning.
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
MoneyHub, a guide to scholarships
As many of our Year 13 students begin their applications for tertiary study and look for ways to fund their future studies – MoneyHub, a consumer finance website, has published a guide to hundreds of scholarships for any student planning to start university in 2020.
Student Job Interview Guide and Tips
MoneyHub, a consumer finance website, has published a guide to job interview success, helping students to attend a job interview and have the confidence to shine!
Volunteers Required – PFA
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