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St Hilda’s
COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends of St Hilda’s,
The special character of a school really becomes tangible in times of distress and in the past few weeks
we have all found comfort in the Chapel, gathering together and sharing stories as we have dealt with the
sudden passing of Mr Hunia Dean. A highly respected and valued colleague, friend and teacher, Mr Dean
will be greatly missed.
As a community we have had time to reflect on some wonderful memories and be grateful for the way
he touched all of our lives. Old Girls, current students, families and staff have all found solace in our
connectedness, and we are incredibly lucky to have had Chaplain Dr Gillian Townsley lead us through
this very difficult time. The strength of the staff and girls to support each other, be considerate and
thoughtful, mindful and understanding, has really highlighted for me the importance of being in a
community, belonging and linking with others.
As we come to terms with our loss, we also look to the future, enjoy the blessings of sunshine and spring
weather, focus on the shared opportunities for learning, and are grateful for all we have, all we can do, and
all we have achieved.
And there is much to celebrate. Inside this edition of the term newsletter you will find success at Big Sing,
Art competitions, Tournament week, Robocup Nationals, the Make Your Mark National Competition for
students around the NCEA review, and much more. The young women in our school continue to amaze
me with their resilience, ability and talent. Delve into this edition and get a true sense of the heart of our
community, how we are ‘better together’ and we ‘can do.’
Thank you to all of you for your many messages of support, offers of assistance and collective
compassion for the staff and students of the school.
Newsletter No. 3 28 September 2018
In This Issue
Page Page
Principal’s Message 1-2 Special Character 2
Eulogy - Mr Hunia Dean 2-3 Arts Corner 3-4
Departments 4-8 Achool-wide Activities 8 - 10
Sports 10 - 12 Prefects 12 - 15
Staff 15 Community 15
End of Term Round-Up 15 - 16 Board of Trustees Report 16
Term Dates - 2018 & 2019 16 Eucharist Service 16
We could not have got through the past few weeks without He is Gone
you, knowing we were surrounded by such a caring, warm A poem by David Harkins
and kind community. We have felt your group hugs.
You can shed tears that he is gone,
“Grief is in two parts. The first is loss. Or you can smile because he has lived.
The second is the remaking of life.”
You can close your eyes and pray that he will come back,
Anne Roiphe Or you can open your eyes and see all that he has left.
Mrs Jackie Barron Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him,
Principal Or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Special Character Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember him and only that he is gone,
Chaplain’s Chat Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.
Sometimes events happen that overshadow everything else in You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
one’s life. This term we lost our beloved art teacher, mentor, Or you can do what he would want:
HOD, colleague, and friend, Mr Dean – Hunia. It is almost smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
impossible to imagine the grief felt by his family, and so our
thoughts and prayers are especially with Kezia and Olive.
Dr Gillian Townsley
A chaplain from a school in the North Island recently sent Chaplain
me a card thanking me for the annual Chaplains’ Conference
that I helped organise here in Dunedin earlier in the term. I
mention this because the card arrived the day that we heard
the sad news about Hunia, and it included a wee quote/
prayer which was surprisingly timely (and unrelated to the Eulogy
conference). It said:
On a hard day
the peacefulness of God
is a kind sight.
Lightness of God
bends and bows with the wind.
The bending matters.
The bending is a condition
for entering
the mothering of God.
It reminds us of all we have.
At times of grief and loss, when we find ourselves having to
bend and bow, we need the peace our loving God gives so
that we don’t break. The lightness of God can mean both the
sense of weightlessness – of not carrying a heavy burden – Hunia John Dean
and also the sense of being able to see clearly – of not being 3 January 1969 - 4 September 2018
trapped in the dark. With a God like this we can find the
kind of comfort we might experience from a mother who
holds us close and speaks tenderly to us. As the words from Hunia Dean was passionate about art education and
the prophet Isaiah tell us, “This is what the Lord says: ‘As a his teaching was hallmarked by his love of painting, his
mother comforts her child, so will I comfort commitment to sharing skills, knowledge and ideas, and his
you’”(66.13). genuine interest in other people.
Indeed, this is the comfort that I believe Hunia will now be He started his teaching career in Auckland and made a
experiencing with God. He was a man of deep spirituality significant impact in the schools where he taught. In South
and faith, and while we mourn his departure and hold dear Auckland, at Mangere College, he connected with students
his memory, we can trust that he journeys from this world on a profound level and helped them to see their art as a
in the love of God who created him, in the grace of Christ platform for critical thinking. Students under his tutelage won
who redeemed him, and in the beauty of the Holy Spirit who national art awards, had their works displayed at Auckland
enfolds him. International Airport, and the department was recognized as
the top Art department in Auckland. His ability to connect
As we continue with our journeys and learn to adjust to an with his own culture and true sense of self and assist students
altered landscape, we can do so in ways that honour Hunia’s to connect with theirs, meant he was able to draw the very
life. I will conclude with the lines of a well-known poem best out of them. Their results in NCEA and Scholarship
which the Queen read at the Queen Mother’s funeral because were outstanding.
they remind us of this challenge:
Page 2
He won an Award for Teaching Excellence for Achievement in His wry sense of humour meant he could always see the
Multicultural High schools in 2001, which recognized his student ironies of life.
centred approach.
He assisted with school productions, supported all the arts
2004 saw Hunia and Kezia in Dunedin and Hunia taught at with passion and vigour, and spent many cold Friday nights in
King’s High School and was then seconded to the College gymnasiums all over Dunedin, managing his basketball teams.
of Education as the Regional Art Advisor. This role saw him He was a wise and caring friend to many of our staff, he
supporting art teachers in Otago and Southland and assisting always took the time to listen and he will be deeply missed.
them to develop their programmes.
Hunia has been closely involved in the development of
In 2005 he was appointed to St Hilda’s as the HOD of the our new creative arts building. It was his suggestion that
Arts – overseeing and supporting music, drama, art history and the building be a waka huia, a treasure box, that contains a
photography, as well as leading the art department and sharing person’s most prized possessions, their taonga. To Hunia,
his passion for painting. Having graduated from the Otago nothing could be more precious than our students, our staff,
School of Fine Art with an honours degree and the award for top and their creative endeavours. The concept of the waka huia
student, Hunia was an accomplished painter who had had several has driven the design of the building, the interior and exterior
solo exhibitions. His work was described as diverse, adventurous, colours, its connection with the land, the way the rooms flow,
expressive, with strong tonal development and showing a high and he has been influential in leading all of that.
degree of understanding and feeling, with a strong spiritual
presence. When I read those words about his painting – I thought Kezia, Olive and Hunia’s family, we are so sorry for your loss,
gosh – they sum him up as a man too. but we are so thankful for the time we had with Hunia and
that our paths have crossed at all. We will try not to dwell
Those aspects of his own work also quickly came to the fore in on what we will miss, but be grateful for what we have had.
his leadership of the department and the relationships he built Hunia, you have left an outstanding legacy of excellence in
with colleagues and students. Whether he was in a multi cultural the arts, that you can be really proud of. Thank you Hunia, for
co-ed school in South Auckland or an Anglican girls’ school in bringing richness, colour and creativity into our lives.
Dunedin, Hunia still changed lives.
Mrs Jackie Barron
His students knew that they were safe in his room. They were Principal
respected as individuals, allowed to express their ideas, and
encouraged and challenged to be themselves, but also go past
themselves and aim high. They knew he cared about them as
people, and many of them have talked about time in the art room Arts Corner
as being peaceful, time to be mindful, reflect and create – such a
precious gift in this very busy world. Hunia would sit down for a
chat, gently guiding their thoughts and planning, he stayed calm
when they got stressed, and enjoyed teasing them with new ideas
– and his music. No art student at St Hilda’s will ever forget the
Kings of Leon – whether they liked the music or not. Hunia’s
ability to ask deep, meaningful and often random questions
encouraged the girls to think about issues that were new to them,
and so grow their critical thinking, conceptual practice and skills
as artists. The girls felt they could talk to him about anything,
he listened, and had time for everyone. His students continued
to achieve outstanding results in NCEA, Scholarship, and Top
Scholar awards. He was dedicated, clever and patient.
Katie Mangai
While he was developing young artists he was also having a Arts Coordinator
considerable impact nationally. He had led workshops on Maori
Art and developed national resources for teachers. Since 2003 I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as
he had been involved with moderating, marking and developing the new Arts Coordinator. At the beginning of September,
NCEA in the visual arts. He led the National Level 3 and I took on the role previously held by Ms Barbara Power and
Scholarship Painting Panel and was a highly regarded colleague, have been delighted to join the St Hilda’s community in this
recognized for his excellent practice, his leadership and high capacity. I am passionate about the arts in education and the
standards. His colleagues on the panel say that he led others in transformative power of participation in the arts. I am greatly
in-depth and robust conversations, and was always fair and just. looking forward to working with St Hilda’s students and
He didn’t use words he didn’t need to, he spoke less, but meant staff to support and grow the wide variety of opportunities
more. He was a collaborative leader, and renowned as an amazing available for girls in our school to participate in the arts.
teacher and, as a marker, he saw things in students’ work that
others couldn’t. They recognize that his passing is a huge loss for My background is in Applied Theatre, and I have spent
the NZ art education community. much of my working life looking at theatre-based learning in
education as well as business, exploring topics from health
The number of staff and students who are here today are education to financial literacy and language learning.
testimony to the relationships he built with others. A thoughtful,
humble, and fiercely astute colleague and friend, he was a leader Recently, I have also had the opportunity to work with
who was insightful, self aware, measured and considered in his many arts-trained professionals in the business world, which
contributions to discussions and decisions. He had a strong sense has given me a renewed enthusiasm for promoting the
of social justice, and led his department compassionately. role of arts’ participation at St Hilda’s Collegiate School as
preparation for any future career!
Page 3
Page 3
It was a great privilege to begin to get to know the St Hilda’s The Nga Korimako choir, Sings Hilda and the Orchestra were
musicians and choristers through the Otago Secondary also involved in the Otago Secondary Schools’ Music Festival
Schools’ Music Festival and to work with Lillian Gibbs and which took place in Week 8. At present the Orchestra is
Lydia Holmes as Arts Prefects putting together our working towards the St Hilda’s Carol Service next term.
St Hilda’s Photo Competition. There is much to look forward
to next term including the culmination of the work done Dance
with our 2018 Artist in Residence, Shayne Carter. Shayne is a The NZCAF regional competition was held in early August,
composer, songwriter, musician and mentor, and an inductee with four crews from St Hilda’s being entered. St Hilda’s
in the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame. His work with St Alliance Crew had a first place and also won the trophy for the
Hilda’s explores the theme of social media’s impact on young highest scoring school team. Isolation was also placed 3rd in
people’s lives and will be performed by Sings Hilda later this the Senior Secondary Schools’ Category. Eclipse gained second
year. place in the Junior Intermediate School Team category. All
three of these teams qualified for the National Competition
Mrs Katie Mangai in Wellington and were involved in the fundraising Gala
Arts Coordinator Concert. Alliance were placed 2nd in the National NZCAF
competition.
Arts Prefects’ Report Drama
Recently, some of the drama girls were involved in an
Term 3 in the Arts has been very full on, with a large improvisation workshop which took place at the school. Five
number of girls being involved in many competitions and girls, all involved in theatre sports, attended. The girls took
opportunities inside and outside of school. the opportunity to run through a couple of games they are
planning on doing for the upcoming Secondary Schools’
To start off, in the Term 2 Arts Assembly we announced that Theatre Sports competition. They then received useful
our photography competition would be open for submitting suggestions and feedback, which allowed them to tweak the
pictures and in Week 6 they went on display in the school content and further improve their improvising skills. The girls
foyer for people to vote for their favourites. The theme for then competed at the Regional Theatresports competition,
this year’s photography competition was “The St Hilda’s held at Logan Park High. Logan Park won this competition
graduate”, which was split into four different categories: Be and represented Otago and Southland in Christchurch last
You, Can do, Better Together and Exploring Faith. There week.
were eight category winners with the Peoples’ Choice award
going to Sophie Armstrong. Music
Nicole Horrell and Lillian Gibbs were both successful in
We will also be having another window chalk art competition the recent Junior Vocal Competition held by the Dunedin
for the girls later on in Term 4, which will give the students Performing Arts Competitions Society.
another opportunity to become more involved and just have
fun. We are also still running our Artist of the Month and Nicole was placed 2nd in the 20th Century Popular Song
weekly arts performances, both of which are going well and section, and 1st in the Contemporary Pop/Rock section which
are a way for girls to try out live performance and celebrate made her the winner of the Bridget Telfer Contemporary
the arts. Vocal Award.
Our Artist of the Month for August was the senior girls’ By having the highest marks over four sections, Nicole also
Hip Hop crew, “Alliance”, and our Artist of the Month for won the Taieri Musical Prize and the Bridget Telfer Musical
September was Victoria Tong. We often pick our Artist of Theatre Award.
the Month from achievements that are not necessarily ‘inside
school activities’, as it can show students what opportunities Lillian was also very successful. She was the winner of the
are out there in the community for the girls to become NOWW Classical Vocal Scholarship (16 -18 years) with most
involved in. points over four songs. She was also winner of the Dunedin
Civic Choir Cup, the Opera Otago Aria, the Joy Mary Gibbs
We also had the annual Gala Concert which was another way Memorial Cup and, by being winner of National Song, gained
to show the community what St Hilda’s offers in the arts and the Madelene Barker Cup. In the Stephen Chambers Award
also an opportunity for the girls to perform in public. This Test Song she was placed 2nd and in the Vocal Solo was
concert was a showcase of a wide range of cultural activities, placed 3rd.
including singing, dancing, aerobics and drama. This gala was
a great way to fundraise for the girls travelling to Wellington Lydia Holmes and Lillian Gibbs
for national finals, as well as an awesome way for the school Arts Prefects
community to see some of the amazing talent
St Hilda’s has in the Arts! Departments
Sings Hilda travelled to Wellington at the end of August to English Department
participate in the Big Sing National Finale, a three day event
for the top 24 school choirs in New Zealand. Liberate Your Words is the tagline of the National Schools’
Poetry Award. This award provides ‘a forum for young writers
Sings Hilda gained a bronze award in this competition and of Aoteorea to showcase their talent on the national stage’.
it was a great experience for the girls. To prepare for this
they held car washes, a bake sale and were a part of the Gala Catherine Davidson’s evocative poem Mother and Child was
Concert, which all helped them raise over $1,200.00 for the one of the nine finalists - a superb achievement. Catherine is
trip. no stranger to publication, having a short story published in
‘Redraft, a collection of writing by New Zealand teenagers,’
Page 4 last year.
Catherine Davidson Isabella Aldrich
Mother and Child Congratulations to Level 2 student, Isabella Aldrich who was
a winner in the ‘Make your Mark’ competition.
The coastal landscape can be harsh,
strong winds lash the forest. As part of the review of NCEA, a challenge was sent out to
Yet the karaka tree young New Zealanders, aged from 5-20, to share their vision
with a polished marble trunk, of what education might look like in the future.
grows strong.
Isabella’s thoughtful insight below, into what it was like being
Its foliage is dense, a student sitting NCEA, won her a laptop.
sheltering new life.
Glossy green fruit follows NCEA & Well-being
fuelled with the tree’s energy.
August 5, 2018
Time passes. I am in class and I have been handed yet another internal.
The fruit ripen to deep orange Economics Internal 2.6. 7000 words if I want a shot at
connected to the branch by a stem, Excellence. I roll my eyes, wanting to protest, but instead sigh
which weakens as the fruit tissue swells. and shove it in my folder, wondering where the motivation
will come from this time.
One day
the final thread snaps. If I can just get through this day, this week, this term, this
The fruit plummets. year. If I just hand in this internal, if I just do that practice
For the first time it is alone, exam, if I just do that pre-assessment. Assessment. Re-
free-falling to an uncertain future. assessment. Then things might be better.
The tree cannot dictate the fate of its fruit.
These are my years and my childhood that I am wishing away.
It can only watch. I am dismayed at the time that is lost amongst all the practice
papers. Time to play, to read and to think. Time to be.
Catherine Davidson
Year 13 August 15, 2018
Another meltdown tonight. I’ve had my share of meltdowns
NCEA Review - “Make your Mark” Awards Presentation from the stress driving me insane. The internals are never-
ending and then, when there is a small gap, the guilt of not
pushing myself plays on my mind.
To make us feel better my teachers and parents tell me not
to worry - that when I leave school, it won’t matter what I
achieved. That is truly awful. All of this stress and it doesn’t
matter? Please tell me, why am I working so hard?
NCEA has demolished the love of learning I had two years
ago. I have become obsessed with results and only caring
about endorsements. I want to be able to go into a job doing
what I love and be happy. School is not teaching me how to
be happy. It is normalising unhappiness.
This is not about my teachers. My teachers have always
believed in me. But they are having to follow a system too.
We are hamsters on a wheel.
I read today that two in three students are severely stressed
and anxious when it comes to NCEA (Sccop Education).
I immediately thought, “Wow, I am definitely in the two
thirds”. But what about the other third? Are they having the
time of their lives as they stay up all night gazing over their
Chemistry notes or an English Unfamiliar practice paper? Or
maybe they are not stressed because they have completely
given up on trying to do their best? Maybe they just scrape
through and do what they can, not caring too much. Maybe
they are the most rational ones of all us.
Students in Wellington for the “Make your Mark” awards Page 5
August 20, 2018 Bibliography
I’m studying for my mocks. It’s ramped up now. I am one of https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/85305366/the-
a flock of headless chickens running around trying to juggle highest-rate-of-teen-suicide-in-the-developed-world
everything until my externals are finished and everything https://www.master-and-more.eu/en/top-40-education-
stops in November. systems-in-the-world/
Even then, there is still going to be this feeling of anxiety as Isabella Aldrich
I wake up in the middle of the night trying to remember the Year 12
shapes of molecules or what year the assassination of Martin
Luther King Jr. occurred. It always takes a minute or two to International Department
realise that it is over. It takes a week or two to start to relax.
Until February and it starts again. It has been an absolute pleasure for me to spend my first
term here at St Hilda’s and in particular in the International
I believe that well-being is the most important issue that Department. The term has moved very quickly with much
the NCEA review needs to address head-on. Our mental happening. Let me take you on a quick tour of just a few of
health is so important and needs to be taken care of, just those things.
like our physical health. The wellbeing of students continues
to decrease. Despite New Zealand ranking sixteenth on We welcomed five new students at the beginning of the term,
the quality of the education system (Master and More Feel Kittipattananon from Thailand, Aris Yiu from Taiwan,
website), we have the highest suicide rates of teenagers of and Ellen Marnier, Jana Knickenburg and Eva Terstriep from
the developed countries. Every week, two teenagers commit Germany.
suicide and twenty will end up in hospital because of
self-harm. I understand that students completing NCEA need
to be put under pressure for various reasons but there are two
different types of stress. One is the stress that motivates you
and makes you try harder to succeed. The other stress is the
one where you feel like you physically and mentally cannot
do it anymore and you want to give up. It is hard as there is
a very small line between these. I am not putting the blame
on NZQA for NZ suicide rates, but we are only kids, being
treated like adults. Some kids will not be able to handle the
continuous stress put on us and feel like NCEA is trying to
fail them and break them down. NCEA needs to get back in Feel Kittipattananon, Jana Knickenburg, Ellen Marnier and Aris Yiu
touch with the importance of wellbeing and ensure no harm
is done. You do say that is one of your important principles.
Do no harm.
How do we change NCEA? Leave us and our teachers alone
to do some teaching and learning in Year 11. You could
decrease the number of internals throughout the years, but
then teachers will not be able to cover all of the content
required. Eva Terstriep
Perhaps, we could still cover the content but not test it, yet We welcomed two young girls into Year 8 at the beginning of
where would the motivation be if we were actually not being the term. Feel Kittipattananon joined us from Thailand and
tested on it? There is no easy solution but it needs to be Mai Honzawa from Japan. The Year 8 girls did an amazing
improved. With every possible solution, of course, there have job at looking after them both and they left New Zealand at
to be some disadvantages. the end of their stay with many happy memories.
The best advice I can give NCEA is to look outside New
Zealand and see what the rest of the world is doing. The
name NCEA has been destroyed. See what works and see
what could be improved on. In countries like Finland, school
days are shorter at only five hours compared to New Zealand,
where school days are roughly seven hours. This may
decrease the pressure of school as they will still be able to get
home, play sports and do more of what they love. They also
have less homework than other countries around the world.
This means that they will be able to get a break from school
and feel that school does not consume their lives.
It is likely that nothing is going to change over the next year,
while I continue to devote myself to NCEA, procrastinating
as I look at the dark memes on Studytime’s Facebook which
seem to relate to every teenager in New Zealand. Feel Kittipattananon (above) and Mai Honzawa (over) with their
St Hilda’s bears at their leaving presentation with Year 8 students
Page 6
We had the honour of welcoming teachers from Ikubunkan
High School in Japan who were visiting their student, Mayu
Takino.
In August the girls were invited to attend the Mayoral Welcome at
the Town Hall. They were welcomed with a cultural performance
from the King’s and Queen’s Kapa Haka group and it was a great
opportunity to meet other international students from around
Dunedin.
Ms Sharon Beaumont, International Director, Mrs Jackie Barron,
Principal, Mayu Takino with her Ikubunkan High School teachers
Swimming Sports saw our international girls competing and
cheering on their House groups. It was so much fun and very
different from anything they had experienced in their school
life back in their home countries.
Mayoral Welcome
It was great to see so many of the Year 11 girls attend the Mid
Winter Dance, and a great evening was had by all, staff and
students alike.
Ally Wong and Ellen Mamier Erika Yonezawa, Hanano
Nishii and Ryoka Noguchi
All the international students participate fully in various extra
curricular activities. Sinry Yu and Sarah Lee took part in the
Big Sing in Wellington as part of Sings Hilda and for the first
time in a long time we have an international student, Hanono
Nishii, who plays the saxophone and she was involved in the
Music Festival at the Town Hall, playing in the Jazz Band.
Sarah Lee and Boen Deng Jana Knickenburg
Hanano Nishii
Mao Koike, Hanano Nishii, Ryoka Noguchi and Ellen Mamier Page 7
As the senior girls undertook their benchmark exams, those
international girls who are not entered into NCEA embarked
School-wide Activities
on an activity week. They enjoyed extra ESOL, mini golf,
a Peninsula tour, cooking, visiting Butterfly World, Tunnel Code Club
Beach and Leap Trampoline Park as well as sea kayaking.
St Hilda’s started a Code Club this year as a new initiative
supported by Issie Roberston (Academic Prefect) and Mrs
McMahon (HOD Technology). The girls have learned about
the process of app development and programming during
the weekly sessions. As part of the Code Club, students have
had the opportunity to enter two different competitions and
the girls have had some excellent results for their efforts.
One competition entered was “Search for the Next Tech
Girl Superhero”. Girls between the ages of 7-17 in Australia
and New Zealand form a team and are then matched with a
female tech-mentor who meets weekly with the girls for 12
weeks. Teams identify a problem in their local community to
solve, then research and document a solution in a business
plan, build a working app prototype and pitch it in a public
video. The results of this competition were just released, and
It was sad to say goodbye to two of our students at the end the team of Issie Roberston, Kiriana Hunter and Stephanie
of this term. Post were named New Zealand Secondary School Finalists.
The team of Eliabel Legrand, Evie Rose Grace and Rosa
Mayu Takino started with us in Term 1 this year and we Smith earned the UN Award for Education.
will farewell her at the end of this term as she heads to
Christchurch to do intensive English studies for a month, Another competition entered by the girls was the National
then on to Malaysia for a holiday before returning to school Computer Science Challenge. There were approximately
in Japan. Always with a smile on her face, she has worked 19,000 students in the competition from across Australia
hard to improve her English and has been a sheer pleasure and New Zealand. The students learn how to program in
around the place. either Python or Blockly and solve weekly challenge problems
each week, for five weeks. Congratulations to the following
Hannah Wolf has spent two terms with us. She has given students for their performance in the NCSS Challenge:
everything sporty a go and played for several hockey teams.
She has connected very well with her host family, especially Perfect Score
her host sister, and we know they will miss her when she Holly Bissett Python
goes. Meg Rogers Python and Blockly
Tessa Sinteur Python and Blockly
We wish both girls all the luck in the world as they go back to
school in their home countries and hope they will come back High Distinction
and visit us one day. Anna Hutchens Blockly
Laura Milne Blockly
Kate McEwan Blockly and Python
Victoria Avery Blockly
Distinction
Rosa Smith Python
Merit
Eliabel Legrand Blockly
Ginny Smith Python
Robocup Nationals
After success at Robocup Regionals, three St Hilda’s teams
competed at Robocup Nationals in Dunedin on Saturday 15
Mayu Takino and Hannah Wolf September. All teams were entered in the Senior Theatre
Division, which has teams presenting a two-minute themed
performance using up to four robots. The teams must
Ms Sharon Beaumont choreograph their performance and then build and program
Director of International Students the robots to perform the routine. The students program the
robots to use sensors, blue tooth communication and timing
to coordinate movement between the various robots. They
must also design their sets and select a sound track for the
performance.
All the girls performed very well and demonstrated excellent
problem solving, teamwork and perseverance during the lead
up to Nationals as well as on the day.
Page 8
Teams:
Pepperoni Girls:
Evie Rose Grace, Rosa Smith, Eliabel Legrand and Hannah
McCoubrey (Absent)
Meg Rogers
Arriving in Perth went more smoothly. My flight landed
earlier than expected and I made it through customs without
a worry. Stepping out into the main area of the airport I was
kind of worried that my host family wouldn’t be there as
we had landed early. But as soon as I came out I saw them
standing there holding up a sign “Welcome Exchange Meg”
and was instantly calmed by their smiling faces.
Carnival:
Ella Hodgson, Emma Boult and Lucie Holtz (Absent) Before embarking on the exchange, I’d known Perth was
big with a population of 2.1 million people, but apparently
I hadn’t quite grasped the concept. It took us just under 30
minutes to drive to Perth City, all the time driving through
suburbs, then another ten to get to where my host family
actually lived.
Over the following weeks I was able to get into the routine
of a new school. When comparing the two St. Hilda’s they
were pretty different. The St. Hilda’s in Perth started at the
same time we do, but for ten minutes at the beginning of
each day we would have “tute time”. This is basically a time
where a group of twenty or so students (all in the same
year) get together and have a teacher read daily notices and
discuss what’s happening that week; it’s their version of our
Oompa Loompas: Whanaungatanga groups.
Laura Ring, Hannah Lawrence, Olivia Ollerenshaw and Victoria
Avery with Donald Liddell from Scott Technologies The school also has seven periods a day instead of five, but
with an extended morning tea and shortened lunch. The
boarding house, where I stayed during the week, was also
on site. As a boarder myself it was definitely a change from
being off site, and I think I have to say I prefer it when the
boarding house is off site.
During the weekends I was taken out to experience Perth.
This often included visiting beaches as the weather was
fantastic. It was never colder than 18° although it did rain
quite a bit at times. Other weekends we would go “down
south” towards places like Dunsborough and Margaret River,
which included many beaches and were popular spots for
vineyards and even a chocolate factory.
A special congratulations to team Oompa Loompa for being However, it wouldn’t have been a proper Australian
placed 2nd at the Nationals! experience without spotting some kangaroos in the wild or
seeing some koalas up close. We got to meet some koalas,
Mrs Julie McMahon and a few other marsupials at Caversham Wildlife park, and
HOD Technology then the kangaroos at the farm of a friend of my host family
where we stayed one weekend.
All in all it was an experience I’m not going to forget anytime
2018 Perth-Dunedin Exchange soon. Between meeting new people, making lifelong friends,
and exploring new places, it would be impossible to erase this
experience from my memory.
My Perth-Dunedin exchange started at the end of April and
lasted nine weeks until the end of June. The adventure began Meg Rogers
on the 28th of April when I flew for the first time by myself to Year 10
Perth. It wasn’t a direct flight to Perth and transferring from the
domestic terminal to the international terminal was quite a rush,
and I barely made the flight on time.
Page
Page9 9
The idea is that the students work together as a team to
gain maximum points in each activity. Orienteering was
a highlight for the combined team as they ran all over
Forrester Park to click the controls.
The Year 9 girls loved the kayaking at the end of the day
and they worked very well together.
Genevieve Rigg
My name is Genevieve Rigg and I am from Perth, Western
Australia. For those who don’t know me, I was fortunate
enough to be selected as the 2018 Perth-Dunedin Exchange
student. As a result of the exchange I have been able to
spend 18 weeks with Meg Rogers, and it has all been a blast,
whether it has been showing Meg around my favourite places
in Western Australia, or discovering so much about New
Zealand.
Not only have I learned about myself, but I have also had the Year 9 Get to Go Challenge Team
privilege of meeting so many incredible people from a wide
range of backgrounds. The weather was appalling, but the teams had a great day
out.
One of the biggest changes I had coming here was becoming
a boarder at Tolcarne as I am a day girl back home. However, Thanks to the students, who were positive and worked hard
I have had such an amazing time with both the girls and the in each challenge.
matrons, and have enjoyed the very different experience. I
have many wonderful memories too from my time with Mrs Brigitte Bradfield and Mr Alan West
Meg, my Exchange Buddy, and I’ve loved all the wonderful
adventures we have shared together.
Sports Department
Since being here I’ve tried skiing for the first time, seen
Auckland and visited beautiful Queenstown. Overall I Sports Round-up
have had the best fun and I would strongly recommend the
experience.
Badminton - Farrin Quin
Thank you for making my time so memorable. It has been a great season for badminton this year with
13 teams entered in the Year 9-13 competition played on
I look forward to whatever else is in store. Tuesdays in Term 2. We have also had a Year 7 and 8 team
competing on Tuesdays this term, and it has been great to
Genevieve Rigg see their development and enthusiasm for the game. We also
St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls had a team compete at Winter Quad this term, and they had
Perth, Western Australia some good results considering the hard competition. It’s
been a great season with so many girls participating, giving
it a go and enjoying the weekly games and competition.
Get to Go Challenge Basketball - Megan Borst
St Hilda’s has had an awesome basketball season this year
with many girls participating in the Friday night secondary
schools’ competition, and the intermediate competition on
a Monday. Altogether there have been 13 basketball teams
competing in the competitions on Fridays and Mondays.
The Senior A team won the Friday night Otago competition
beating Kavanagh in a very close final. All the teams have
had lots of fun and everyone has improved hugely. The
Senior A team competed in the South Island Secondary
Schools’ Tournament, which was held in Invercargill during
Tournament Week, where they were placed ninth.
Combined Year 10 St Hilda’s/OBHS Get to Go Challenge Team A large number of girls have been selected in Otago teams
over the course of the season, where they have done really
On Monday 17 September a team of Year 9 girls and a well. Olivia O’Neill has recently been selected into the
combined Year 10 St Hilda’s/OBHS team competed in the Junior Tall Ferns Basketball Team to compete in the FIBA
annual Get to Go Challenge. Asia Under 18 Championships in India, which is a great
achievement. Congratulations Olivia.
This is an introduction to multi-sport and includes activities
such as mountain biking, orienteering, kayaking and problem
solving.
Page 10
Cricket Our Third XI competed well considering they were in Division
With the spring section of the 2018-19 season soon to begin, it 2 along with our Second XI and they convincingly won their
is exciting to have started Friday lunch time training and skills play-off against Tokomairiro First XI. The Junior XI won the
sessions with the Year 9 Development girls. A few girls are Division 3 grade in a final against Taieri College Second XI.
attending Otago Cricket’s training to further their aspirations in
the game. Congratulations to Olivia Gain, Emma Black, Eden The Year 7 and 8 team also had a great season competing
Carson, Megan Meltzer and Molly Loe who have been included against a mixture of boys’ and girls’ teams in their grade and all
in the Otago Cricket wider training squad for the Under 21 team. improving immensely.
These girls work regularly with the Sparks’ trainers and other
former players and receive outstanding tuition as they aspire The First XI went to the Audrey Timlin Memorial Tournament in
to represent Otago in Auckland before Christmas at the New Invercargill, where they came up against some tough competition
Zealand Under 21 tournament. and finished seventh overall. Along with this success we have
had many girls selected for Otago representative teams. Anna
A further initiative between the Otago Cricket Association, New Duncan, Emilee Hagan, Molly Loe, Riley MacDonald, Bridget
Zealand High Performance Sport and the Otago Academy of Malcolm, Brooke McAlwee, Annabelle McKnight, Anna
Sport has seen Olivia, Emma and Megan from this year’s McIntyre, Murphy Scott and Anika Smith all made the Under
1st XI joining 13 other talented young cricketers, male and 15 Premier Team that goes to Hawkes Bay. Ella Booth, Bronte
female, who are seen as the next generation of Otago cricketers. Crowe, Jordan Meltzer and Kristin Willis all made the Under 15
This partnership is aimed at developing skills, fitness, strength Development side. Chloe Deerness and Demi McAlwee made
and conditioning and nutritional requirements. the Under 13 Premier team that will go to North Harbour to
compete in the holidays. Jess Wilden and Nova Wright were
It is exciting that of the ten females offered a place in this elite selected for the Under 13 Development team.
programme, apart from the three girls mentioned above, a further
four St Hilda’s old girls are also included. The Southern Under 18 girls competed last holidays and did
well at their respective tournaments. The Development girls
Congratulations to everyone involved at whatever level of came fifth in their tournament in Palmerston North, which is an
development you find yourselves in this year. The 1st XI team outstanding result for the team. The Under 18 girls, who were
looks forward to returning to Lincoln in early December to have competing in the National Premier Tournament in Dunedin, also
another crack at the NZCT National Secondary School Girls’ came fifth, which was a solid effort from the team, and they had
finals. a lot of support from the community.
Neil Rosenberg - Coach Thank you to all the student coaches, teachers and parents who
have helped our teams through the season. It has definitely paid
Football - Emily Hurdle off. Good luck too, to all the girls who are heading away to rep
St Hilda’s football has been very successful this season. Both tournaments in the holidays.
teams have represented the school in the weekly round robin
competition against other high schools in Dunedin and South
Otago. The First XI finished off the second round at the top Netball - Beryn Abbott
of the table, leaving them the best secondary schools team in St Hilda’s has had a successful netball season, with many girls
Dunedin, with a total of 30 points and only one loss. After participating in the local competition and tournaments. Our
many tough games, including a well deserved win against Otago Senior A team was placed seventh in the Premier A grade and
Girls’ High School, the First XI secured a spot in the top 20 and the Senior B team was placed seventh in the Premier C grade.
travelled to Taupo for the Girls’ Secondary Schools’ National These are impressive results considering that both these teams
Tournament. All in all, a very solid season from the First XI. are young, and the girls are playing older, more experienced
university players. Our younger teams also performed well with
The Second XI have also had a very good season. Playing in the many teams making the semis and finals in their grades.
Second Division, they held their composure in some hard games
and at the end of the second round they were placed third. This The Senior A and B teams didn’t have to travel far for
involved beating some schools’ top teams. Tournament Week, with Dunedin hosting the 2018 South Island
Secondary Schools’ Tournament. The Senior A team performed
Now that the school season is over, some of the girls look to the well over the week, and in the play off against Columba for the
rep season. Six girls from St Hilda’s have been selected for the fifth and final spot to go to Nationals, won a tight match that
Under 17 Otago A team and the Under 17 Otago Development went into overtime. The Senior B team also played well at this
Team. During the school holidays both teams will be travelling to tournament in the B grade and won many of their games. We are
Ashburton where they will play in the South Island Tournament. very proud of Megan Borst who was also identified as one of the
“Talented Players” at this tournament.
Overall St Hilda’s football has had a brilliant season. It is great to
see so many girls participating in the sport and hopefully these The Senior A team are now preparing for the Nationals that are
numbers will continue to grow. being held in Timaru in the second week of the holidays. We
wish them good luck and can’t wait to hear how they go!
Hockey - Olivia Hall
The end of the winter saw St Hilda’s hockey take out all
three grades of the school competition. The First XI beat the
undefeated Columba First XI in the Division 1 final and the
Second XI went into a nail-biting penalty shoot out after drawing
with Taieri College First XI and succeeded to win Division 2.
Page 11Rugby - Stacey Sanders Netball
The netball team had a successful first day of Quad. First
they were up against Craighead and managed to beat them
in a well fought game, winning 53-18. The second game was
more challenging against Columba, where a battle was fought
throughout the game. However St Hilda’s managed to have
the final say and won by one goal in a very close 41-40. Day
Two wasn’t as great and St Hilda’s struggled against
St Margaret’s. They put up a awesome fight but went down
36-43.
Badminton
The badminton team had a tough Quad this year, but
managed to put up three really good performances that they
should be proud of. Their first game of the day was against
Craighead. The girls all played well and came out on top,
U15 10s Rugby Team after winning the winning 6-0. The second game against St Margaret’s was more
Highlanders Region Tournament challenging but St Hilda’s still put up a good fight, going down
4-2. All the games were played on the Monday so for the
St Hilda’s has had a successful rugby season this year with many final game of the day they faced a strong Columba. St Hilda’s
girls participating in both the 10s and 1st XV Secondary Schools’ played well but ended up losing 6-0.
competition on Wednesday afternoons. The 1st XV girls had a
great season, taking the win against Otago Girls’ in an intense Overall the girls really enjoyed their Quad experience and at
final where some great rugby was played. The 10s girls have also the end of the day it was great to see some really good sport
had a good season with each girl improving her rugby skills. We being played on the field and girls getting to know each other
had a team compete in Tournament Week in Invercargill, where from different schools off the field.
they gained first place in the Highlanders Region Under 15
competition. Taylor Duffy and Olivia O’Neill
Sports Prefects
A number of students were selected for the Otago Under 18
Girls’ Rugby Team: Olivia George, Jaclyn Williams, Stacey
Sanders, Ella Fry, Lily Davis and Georgie Jessop. It has been
a great season for the girls and they are all looking forward to
playing next year. Prefects
Sports Prefects’ Report
Winter Quadrangular Tournament 2018
Debating
Debating had an awesome Quad, being placed second overall.
Up first they debated against Columba on “This house supports
the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement”, but they couldn’t
quite manage to get a win. They picked up their efforts against
Craighead in their second debate on “This house as a high
school student would not have a social media presence” and won Issie Robertson
this debate. Their third debate against St Margaret’s on “This Academic Prefect
house supports a ban on healthcare workers, police officers and
firefighters striking” was again successful as they had a good win. I started here at St Hilda’s as a Year 7 student who was
very excited to be going off to ‘big school’ at last with its
Hockey new subjects, uniform and friends to make. The 30th of
The hockey team started off Quad with a good win against January 2012 seems like ages ago and last week at the same
Craighead. St Hilda’s managed to put three goals on the board time. Since then, as someone who struggles to say no to
and Craighead only managed to sneak one through. The next new opportunities, I have been involved in a wide range of
game was a tough one as St Hilda’s went up against Columba. activities from countless sports - such as rowing, basketball
The game was fairly even but Columba won, making the final and touch rugby to Z Club, Student Council and debating, I
score 2-0. The hockey team’s final game was against St Margaret’s. have done a lot while growing as a person and forming strong
This was a tight game as the two teams fought it out. Halftime friendships that will last for years to come.
score was 1-1 before St Margaret’s scored another in the second
half. The final score was 2-1 but St Hilda’s was happy with their I was one of those toddlers who always asked ‘why’ questions
game effort. and 16 years down the track, I haven’t stopped. One of the
things that I am most grateful for here at school is the time
that I am allowed to answer these questions. Throughout my
years here I have been supported by a variety of wonderful
teachers who have allowed me to grow and explore my
curiosity for the world around us.
Page 12 Page 12Although my successes, publishing a paper in the “Journal The van trips to Twizel, endless amounts of food, and of course
of Medical Ethic” and presenting work at the New York the 5:00 am wake ups. I have been lucky enough to attend three
Academy of Sciences headquarters in New York City, have Maadi Cups at both Twizel and Cambridge alongside my equally
taken place outside the school, the solid foundations and determined squad members. St Hilda’s has also taken me to the
building blocks that I acquired here at St Hilda’s provided the Abel Tasman, kayaking down the Murchison rivers, performing
support for that success. in the school production and even visiting Vietnam. The
opportunities are endless at St Hilda’s if you simply say “yes”.
Being the school’s first Academic Prefect has been
challenging and exciting. My goal this year has been to This year I have been privileged to be given the role of Liaison
dispel the image of academia being a world of kids sitting in Prefect, working alongside my best bud, Hannah Hedges. We
silence in the library diligently copying out notes from a thick jumped into this role, excited at the fun challenges that lay ahead
textbook on a hot sunny day. I want to show that learning and and together we have found our way alongside our amazing
knowledge is fun, collaborative, innovative and enjoyable. I prefect group. This role has taught me much about leadership
hope that my initiatives this year, whether it be Code Club or and confidence, as making decisions on behalf of a group was
applying for extra-curricular opportunities, have encouraged not what I would call easy. Being Community Liaison has allowed
girls to look beyond NCEA and tick box assignments, and me to work with the Student Council with new initiatives for the
embrace learning in the 21st Century classroom - the world. school from the girls themselves and organising service days and
the annual junior socials. Through this role I’ve learned how to
My passion lies within the STEM (Science, Technology, work with a whole range of people from teachers to Year 7 and
Engineering and Mathematics) world. Next year I will begin 8s, to the Dunedin City Council. With the support of Hannah,
a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in Chemistry and we have made it through the ups and downs of this year and we
Biochemistry, with the end goal of using science to design are excited to welcome the girls next year lucky enough to be
solutions for the world’s most pressing problems. Ambitious given this role.
I know, but I did go to St Hilda’s after all.
To begin with I thought writing this report was going to be hard,
Issie Robertson but when it came to thinking of everything St Hilda’s has done
Academic Prefect and given me, I soon found it hard to know when to stop writing.
So yes, it’s scary to think that in a few weeks time I will walk out
of here for the last time to begin the next chapter of my life in
the big wide world. However, St Hilda’s has done everything they
can to prepare me for whatever comes my way. My five years here
have gone extremely quickly, but I truly think the scariest part of
being at St Hilda’s is going to be saying goodbye.
Melissa Gray
Liaison Prefect
Melissa Gray
Liaison Prefect
It is scary to think that in a few weeks time I will walk out of
St Hilda’s for the last time, beginning the next chapter of
my life. It doesn’t feel that long ago that I had the same
thoughts when I said goodbye to Lawrence Area School,
packed my bags and moved to the scary, but exciting, new
beginning of boarding at St Hilda’s. Although many found it
tough, I settled in quickly and being such a small school, I felt Hannah Hedges
comfortable straight away with the friendly and supportive Liaison Prefect
environment that I walked straight into.
It seems like only yesterday I was walking around the playground
Boarding school wasn’t too scary for me as I had an older at Fairfield Primary nervous about the next chapter of my life
sister two years above me so I knew the basic ins and outs - going to high school. Hundreds of questions went around my
of how it went. Living with many other girls for five years wee 13 year old brain; “Will I fit in? Will I make friends? What
means you become much more like sisters, so now instead of if I get lost and can’t find my class? Will I be happy?” Now,
one, I have 26. Walking the bush track every day you end up five years on at age 18, the same questions still swim around
going through so much together. Friendships are a massive my head as I plan my next chapter of entering the big, wide
thing that St Hilda’s has highlighted the importance of for world. St Hilda’s has provided me with an unbelievable number
me, both with day girls and boarders, and without these crazy, of opportunities to try, create, engage and excel in everything
enthusiastic girls, school would have been very different. imaginable. But nerves are nerves and they still come, but I think
I have more confidence in myself now to deal with them when
Coming from a small country school, I think the biggest they arrive.
thing St Hilda’s gave me was the exciting and endless number
of opportunities. Throughout my time at St Hilda’s I have St Hilda’s has truly given me endless opportunities to try anything
competed in netball, rugby, curling and basketball teams, but and everything. All you need to do is say, ‘Yes please!’ and get
my all time favourite has been rowing. Despite my parents stuck in. Never again will one environment be so committed
advising me against it, I signed up and grew to love this to providing me with information, education, support and
infrastructure to be the best I can. School passes by so quickly,
amazing sport, which I never knew existed. For me, it is fair and I think that now it’s ending I am realising how lucky I’ve
to say rowing has been a highlight of my time at St Hilda’s. been.
Page 13Throughout my five years at St Hilda’s I’ve played rugby at Some of my main highlights during my time at school B
National Condor 7s, attended SI rugby tournaments, rowed at this year were getting the opportunity to be a part of i
Maadi Cup twice, been on the school Vietnam trip, walked the our school production ‘Bring It On’, as well as the huge n
Abel Tasman, kayaked the Murchison rivers, helicoptered onto honour of taking part in competing at the National Big
a glacier and spent five days aboard the Spirit of Adventure Sing competition with our school choir that was held in D
boat. I’ve learned so much from my many enthusiastic teachers Wellington recently. Prior to joining, I was very doubtful m
and my enthusiastic boarder friends. However, most important about whether I would do well or even enjoy myself as I i
are the friendships I’ve made. I’ve met so many people from a had never done anything like either of these things before. S
variety of year groups and from a variety of towns across the But reflecting on this now, I could not be more proud of a
lower South Island. It’s hard work spending every day together myself for making the decision to do it. To anyone that t
for five years. It requires patience, forgiveness and resilience, might experience similar fears and withhold yourself from W
but out of it all I’d like to think I’ve made lifelong friendships doing something that interests you, I strongly encourage D
as there are some very special girls at this school. you to just go for it and let yourself step out of your C
comfort zone, as you never know the kind of incredible
I was so excited to be given the role of Liaison Prefect this friendships and experiences you will create for the rest of W
year alongside one of my best friends Mils (Melissa Gray). your life. S
The year has been both fun and challenging as Mils and I c
have created and navigated the new roles and responsibilities Serving as a Sacristan at St Hilda’s has simply been one l
of the Liaison Prefect positions, while working alongside our of my most extraordinary and remarkable experiences. s
fellow Prefect group. I have had lots of fun and learned lots Already coming from a Christian background at home, I I
about leadership as well as the ins and outs of the school. have always been very passionate about the spiritual side
The role of Wellbeing Liaison is an important one. I’ve seen of our school. Our chapel services play a very crucial part I
first hand how stressful high school can be and it’s important in making our school so unique and it has been a true U
that everyone has the tools and connections to deal with the privilege to be able to undertake such a special role to assist s
natural ups and downs of life. in conducting and sharing my own personal voice in some e
of the services this year. Working with our Chaplain, S
I enter the final weeks of my time at St Hilda’s with very Dr Townsley, and my other fellow Sacristan, Jess, has a
mixed emotions. I can’t believe how fast this year has gone without a doubt enhanced my experience as a Sacristan and
and don’t know if I’m ready to say goodbye to it all yet. At the I thank them for the impact that they have made over these J
same time I am so excited to see what the next chapter holds. past months. It has been great working with them and the S
rest of the Prefect team this year and I am excited to see
Hannah Hedges what lies ahead.
Liaison Prefect
Milan Jeon
Sacristan
W
Milan Jeon
r
Sacristan
y
Jess Powell A
Moving to New Zealand from Korea at the age of five, Sacristan a
my family and I had first settled and made our home in
e
Christchurch, before we moved further down south to I know it’s a cliché, but it honestly feels like just yesterday o
Dunedin when I was ten years old. Since that day, transitioning that I was walking through the archway as a very nervous
to new schools in a completely different town has always Year 9 boarder, fully equipped with a side ponytail and a
been quite a scary challenge for me from the beginning. schoolbag nearly the same size as me. I came to St Hilda’s
But contrastingly, my transition into St Hilda’s has been from the big smoke of Balclutha, and, as an only child, the
unbelievably easy since day one. It’s all thanks to the teachers, thought of living in a hostel with 150 other girls was fairly
students and the generally friendly learning environment here daunting. Fast forward five years and those people are now P
that radiates so much warmth and connectedness where you some of my best friends.
can’t help but instantly feel comfortable. Now in my fifth year P
as a St Hilda’s girl this year, I can confidently say that choosing When I found out that I was Sacristan Prefect I was on the o
to come to this school has simply been one of the greatest other side of the world in Nicaragua and due to the lack
decisions I have ever made in my life as it has allowed me to of internet access I was inevitably one of the last people A
shape and grow into the person that I am today. to know. While I never imagined having a leadership role C
within the school, I am so grateful that I was given the
opportunity. In the beginning I was very nervous about this
role, however the support I have had from both O
Dr Townsley and my Sacristan partner, Milan Jeon, has T
made it a very enjoyable experience. Being a Sacristan t
Prefect has taught me so much more, not only about the
Page 14 special character of St Hilda’s but also about myself.You can also read
