HGHS BULLETIN“A wise woman shapes her own destiny”

TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

Kia ora koutou

While many students and teachers had a break away from the usual grind of the classroom at the end of term 3, the holiday period was an extremely busy time for a number of different groups.

The International Languages department had three trips go out at the end of term, with groups to France, Spain and Japan. Each group has without a doubt, created many wonderful memories and made lifelong friends along the way. Without the teachers giving up their time, these trips would not happen. Many thanks to Mrs Barber and Mrs Wallace-Ward (Japan), Mrs Roznawska (Spain) and Mrs Hall and Mrs Skandera (France) for the time, commitment, dedication and leadership of each of these tours.

Dr Ian Hunter, Academic Writing guru, worked with approximately 60 students across Year 12 and 13 on Day 1 of the holiday break. He was really impressed with the calibre of the students whom attended, and we hope that we see the rewards of this workshop in our examination results. Our next academic writing workshop will be for full staff.

Over the holidays, our Basketball team attended the NZ Secondary School Nationals in Palmerston North. Unfortunately, after a tough game against a very physical Auckland Girls’ Grammar team, our team fell short of making the semi-finals. We were placed 5th in New Zealand. Congratulations to the team for your commitment and dedication to Basketball in our school. Mya Anderson also attended the NZ Road Cycling Nationals in Palmerston North. Congratulations to Mya on her stunning placing of 5th in New Zealand.

A student leadership conference was also held in Rotorua at the end of the break. The Year 12 Deans selected the following students to attend; Georgia Anderson, Pare Graham, Te Marae Kaihau, Litara Allan, Amy Wilkinson, Renee Alan & Maddison Mataita. It was a fantastic conference and well worthwhile. CONGRATULATIONS to all the recipients of awards at our recent Arts Prizegiving. I am sure all those attended would agree that this was indeed a wonderful celebration of the Arts. Special congratulations to Tara Given,our Dux Artium for 2016. A spread of photographs, speeches and the top awards are included in this Bulletin.

Finally, we had our Sports Dinner last night. Once again, a celebration of the achievements of our sportswomen at Hamilton Girls’ High School. Congratulations to Michaela Foster, our 2016 Dux Ludorum - Top Sportswoman of the Year.

Marie GordonPrincipal

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

STUDENT JOB SEARCH SJSStudent Job Search (SJS) is an online service that helps students gain work experience and extra money while studying at tertiary level. Their service is free to students who are enrolled in tertiary study for 2017, or who have a letter of confirmation from any NZ tertiary education provider. Students can then start using SJS up to 4 months before they start. SJS advertises thousands of jobs every year just for tertiary students on their website. Students can register and start applying for jobs by going to www.sjs.co.nz

STUDENT LOANS AND ALLOWANCES 2017

Students planning to go to tertiary study after they leave school should apply for their Student Allowance or Loan by 16 December. StudyLink expects around 180,000 students to apply for their Student Allowance or Loan for the 2017 academic year.

Applying by 16 December means StudyLink can get everything sorted so that the student receives their funding from the start of their course. Students don’t need to have their NCEA results or have locked down all their plans in order to apply. Their application can be updated as things are confirmed. It’s more important to allow enough time for all the steps in the application process to be completed. Students can find out more about applying for a Student Allowance or Loan on the StudyLink website.

Pop a reminder in your calendar, or even better – go straight to studylink.govt.nz to apply now.

SENIOR ACADEMIC PRIZEGIVINGA reminder that our Academic Prizegiving will be held at Claudelands on Tuesday, November 1st at 7.00pm. All of the senior school - Years’ 11-13, are expected to attend school on that day, as well as the Senior Prizegiving that evening. School will finish at 1.30pm, this includes the full school.

TEACHER ONLY DAYA Teacher Only Day has been scheduled for Friday, November 11th. Please make alternative arrangements for your daughter on this day.

SENIOR BOOK RETURNSYears 11-13

All library books to be returned by Friday, 4 November (Week 4)All textbooks to be returned by Friday, 2 December (End of NCEA Examinations)

If books are not returned students may be blocked from issuing library books and textbooks at the beginning of the 2017 school year and/or may be charged for replacement copies.

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TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

The sculpture was commissioned by Ange Paykel to celebrate the life of Horace Moore-Jones, her grandfather. He was a First World War Artist who taught Art at Hamilton College from 1918 until 1922.

The sculpture also commemorates one hundred years since the First World War.

Horace Moore-Jones was best known for his stunning paintings, of a wounded soldier being rescued by donkey, on the stony, Turkish hillside, above Gallipoli.

I conceived this artwork as a symbol of unity, transcendence, endurance, and integrity.

The surfaces of the sculpture are laser cut, with organically shaped 'stone' holes. The holes make reference to the arid, harsh landscapes of Gallipoli, and the craters of the Western Front Battlefields / and allude to the chaos, destruction and the losses of the Great War.

Each hole was filed by hand to remove the laser tags, before being ground to soften the edges.

I’m hoping we haven’t missed any edges, but I’m sure you’ll find out!

Some of the ‘drop outs’ from the laser cutting process have made their way to the Art Department, here at Hamilton Girls High and students may have already seen them.

The sculpture is interactive. It was designed to turn, like a lens, to allow changing and varying points of view through the central aperture. While this filigreed form is optically challenging, I hope it will also become a focus for pupils, looking inward and outward.

You’ll possibly discover the central drum aperture is a great place for ‘selfies’.

The circular and perforated form of the sculpture is based specifically on a centric diatom, and the form has evolved from my interest in Marine micro-organisms.

In 1999 I travelled to Antarctica to film the locations where diatoms,/ the algae at the beginning of the food chain, survive the Antarctic winter.

Scientists I met at Scott Base, brought ice-core samples, containing diatoms back to New Zealand to process using an electron microscope. They later sent me a collection of beautiful images of the silica based Centric and Pennate diatoms.Those electron microscope images inspired the ‘Antarctic Heart’ series of sculpture, I created following my visit to Antarctica.

The circular and canoe shaped diatom forms have continued to be a major inspiration in my Artwork.

Thank you so much to Ange Paykel, for commissioning the sculpture;/ Kate Darrow, and Catherine Parker for project management; Norm Jordan for installation the Art Department and all the students at Hamilton Girls High School for welcoming the Sculpture.

Virginia King Artist

Tena koutou katoa

Korihi te manu, takiri mai i te ataKa ao, ka ao, ka awateaTihei mauri oraE ngā manuhiri tēnā koutouTēnā koutou ki a koutou kua tae mai nei ki te tautoko te kaupapa o tenei wā. No reira tēnā koutou katoa.

It is my privilege to welcome our kaumatua, Matua Taki, students, teachers, Board members and special guests today for the blessing and opening of this very special contemporary sculpture by New Zealand artist Virginia King, in our recently landscaped quad. Special welcome to Ange Paykel, the granddaughter of Horace Moore-Jones, Virginia King and Catherine Parker.

As many of you are aware, highly regarded WW1 War Artist Horace Moore-Jones, taught Art at Hamilton High School from 1918-1922, and he died from injuries sustained saving people from the 1922 Hamilton Hotel fire. I would especially like to acknowledge Ange for the generous and inspired gift that she has given to the community of Hamilton Girls’ High School. We are extremely humbled by your generosity, and positive that your grandfathers artistic spirit will continue to live on at Hamilton Girls’ High School.

As our 2015 Head Girl stated, it is an honour for our students to have had such an amazing person walk, teach and share his knowledge on the exact same place where our students now receive their education.

Marie GordonPrincipal

FOCUS UNVEILING

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TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

YR13 STUDENTS EXPLORE OPTIONSOn Wednesday 12th October eight Yr13 students attended a workshop hosted by Te Wananga o Aotearoa to showcase their Bachelor of Teaching and Bachelor of Bicultural Social Work programmes. The girls learnt that they could complete a Certificate of Social Services L4 as a pathway into these two programmes.

GATEWAYThis year Gateway has seen a number of our students take the opportunity to enrol in the Warehouse Red Shirts and Warehouse Stationery Blue Shirts programmes. The students get the opportunity to work in the stores and complete unit standards that go toward a National Certificate in Retail. (Level 2). The programme covers essentials in customer service, identified by the industry as essential for the retail workplace, including communication skills, personal presentation, product knowledge and teamwork. Congratulations to the girls who have committed to and completed these programmes this year.

NATIONAL ROAD CYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 Sept 23-26

While most students went on holiday at the end of the term Mya Anderson travelled to the Manawatu for the last school road cycling competition of the year., She braved the wet, muddy and windy conditions along with 710 other lycra-clad cyclists from 91 schools. In the U15 girls16km Road Race around the tight bends of Ashhurst Mya fought hard in the bunch to finish 5th (0.01s behind the winner). In the Points Race around Manfield Race Track Mya finished 4th overall, having gained sprint points in 2 of the sprint laps. Well done Mya on a great season of Road and Track Racing for HGHS.

ACHIEVEMENTS

NEW ZEALAND MAORI U15 GIRLS RUGBY LEAGUE

Capri Paekau and Pounamu Berryman were both selected for the very first New Zealand Maori under 15 girls Rugby League team during the Holidays, they both played at the National maori Rugby League tournament held at Hopu Hopu near Ngaruawahia, this is a massive achievement for both girls being maori and representing their culture and the fact they are the first students at girls high to represent a national team in Rugby League.

NEW ZEALAND U18 GIRLS TOUCH TEAM.

After a tough trial over the weekend, Jazmin Hotham and Regan Stephens were both selected for the NZ U18 Girls Touch team.

This tournament does not take place till January- 2017

I had the Privilege to attend the Altrusa awards with Litara Allan on the 18th of October theseawards recognise and acknowledge students who have been selected by their school for the qualities they demonstrate as a young person in their school and community: courtesy, attitude, initiative, sportsmanship, leadership, community work and application to their studies - those combined qualities which make for a good citizen. It was really heartwarming to be amongst so many amazing young people.

Ms Fernyhough Year 12 Dean

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TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

The annual exhibition of Visual Arts folio boards was displayed in Ngaa Puawaitanga prior to the Awards ceremony.

The evening was opened by Tara Given, Arts Captain for 2016, who mentioned the amazing range of music, drama, kapa haka, pasifika, visual arts, film, multicultural, and dance groups that have happened this year and thanked all the teachers and students who have dedicated their time to helping and participating in these areas.

• Annual ITM Orchestra Festival at Waikato University. - School Orchestra, Bronze Award. - Trouble Clefs, the school guitar group, Silver Award - Pasifika drumming group Bronze award, - Samba drumming group, Gold with Merit. - Wind Band Bronze award.

• Indian Dance Group performed Rockerz Inter Secondary Dance competition on 21st May at Logan Campbell Centre in Auckland,and were awarded the best discipline award in terms of dance, song choice and costume.

• Mana Wahine - our choir - Highly Commended awardat Nationals• Uptown Girls - our barbershop - 6th place in the country .• Kapahaka group at the regional secondary schools competition

came first equal in the categories Te Reo, Action Song and Haka, as well as placing 5th overall in the finals.

• Pasifika Performance Group were also successful in defending their title as overall champions at the annual regional Pasifika by Nature Competition - the first for a Hamilton school. In addition, they won all three of the competitive categories available.

One of our biggest events this year though, was the joint School Production of Grease with Hamilton Boys’ High School which we hosted.It was sold out every single night. It was a musical with loads of laughs, and long rehearsals but the show nights made it all worth it.

ARTS AWARDS, OCTOBER 13, 2016

It was so incredible to see so many new actors and actresses, as well as experienced ones, getting out of their comfort zone and giving it everything they had.

There were 4 stunning items during the evening. The Junior Dance Group and the Hip Hop group Addiction performed spectacularly first, followed by 9 Clowns who charmed the audience with their antics, and a short film called “Hi”. The final item was Hendrix, the barbershop quartet.

The Arts Awards followed the Unveiling of a sculpture by Virginia King given to the school by Mrs Ange Paykel, the granddaughter of Horace Moore Jones the war artist who was also Art Teacher at Hamilton High School 1918 - 22. Mrs Paykel donated the sculpture and a $500 annual Award as well as a $5000 travel scholarship to the Visual Arts. Our guest speaker was Catherine Parker who spoke about the award and then Mrs Paykel presented her award to Savana Beaumont and the other Arts Trophies.

There were 11 Te Puawai Pins presented this year to winners of national competitions in the arts.

Tara Given had a very successful year and crowned it all by winning the Dux Artium Award for being the most outstanding creative student in 2016 as her activities crossed many areas including music, visual arts and media as well as being the Arts Captain.

Alison GrayArts Director

Junior Placement Assessments Timetable

Wednesday 26 October Day 3

Thursday 27 October Day 4

Friday 28 October Day 5

Monday 31 October Day 6

8.35am

8.45 – 10.45 amY9 SOCIAL STUDIES

Classrooms

Y10 SCIENCENgaa Puawaitanga

and Classrooms

Y10 MATHNgaa Puawaitanga

and Classrooms

Y9 ENGLISHClassrooms

11.20am

11.30 am – 1.30pm Y10 ENGLISHNgaa Puawaitanga

and Classrooms

Y9 MATHNgaa Puawaitanga

and Classrooms

Y9 SCIENCENgaa Puawaitanga

and Classrooms

Y10 SOCIAL STUDIESClassrooms

2.05pm

2.15 – 3.15 pm Normal Classes Normal Classes Normal Classes Normal Classes

** NOTE: 9RP1 and 10RP2 students will do the appropriate assessments in the rooms upstairs in the library during these times **

Year 9 Assessments:Wednesday

26 October Day 3Thursday

27 October Day 4Friday

28 October Day 5Monday

31 October Day 6

8.35am Line up by classrooms Line up by classrooms

8.45 – 10.45 am Y9 Social Studies Normal Periods 1 & 2 Normal Periods 1 & 2 Y9 English

11.20am Line up under canopy Line up under canopy

11.30 am – 1.30 pm Normal Periods 3 & 4 Y9 Mathematics Y9 Science Normal Periods 3 & 4

2.05pm

2.15 – 3.15 pm Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5

** NOTE: 9RP1 students will do the appropriate assessments in the rooms upstairs in the library during these times **

Year 10 Assessments:Wednesday

26 October Day 3Thursday

27 October Day 4Friday

28 October Day 5Monday

31 October Day 6

8.35am Line up under canopy Line up under canopy

8.45 – 10.45 am Normal Periods 1 & 2 Y10 Science Y10 Mathematics Normal Periods 1 & 2

11.20am Line up under canopy Line up by classrooms

11.30 am – 1.30 pm Y10 English Normal Periods 3 & 4 Normal Periods 3 & 4 Y10 Social Studies

2.05pm

2.15 – 3.15 pm Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5 Normal Period 5

** NOTE: 10RP2 students will do the appropriate assessments in the rooms upstairs in the library during these times **

JUNIOR PLACEMENT EXAMINATIONS

Junior Placement Examinations take place during Week 3 (Wednesday 26 th October – Friday 28 th October) and Week 4 (Monday 31 st October). All Year 9 and Year 10 students will undertake examinations for English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Attached is the examination table. Students will be informed of the specific rooms that they will undertake the assessments in. Students should line up 10 minutes before the start of their assessments. When not undertaking an assessment, timetabled classes will run as normal so it is important that students bring their books to school

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TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

2016 WOMENS REFUGE CHARITY WEEKCharity Week for 2016 was a huge success with all of the houses working together to raise money and goods for the Hamilton Women’s Refuge. On Tuesday 11th October, two representatives from Women’s Refuge came to our Principals Assembly to be presented with the items and cheque. The students and staff were blown away by the huge contribution HGHS has made to the Women’s Refuge Hamilton. As a school we raised over 450 cans of food, hundreds of toiletries, and over $3000 from the mufti day, chop the mop and the walk-a-thon. The house points results from Charity Week 2016 are below. Well done to all students who got behind the cause and supported such an amazing charity.

1st - Edgecumbe: 13762nd - McDiarmid: 13383rd - Heads: 6834th - Wilson: 5375th - Campbell: 328

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TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

YEAR 11 MCAT EXAM Response From Hamilton Girls’ High School To Nzqa

I would like to lodge a complaint on behalf of my school, Hamilton Girls’ High School, the NCEA level 1 Mathematics teachers in my Department and in particular the students in our care.

My complaint is two-fold: Firstly, the recent MCAT assessment was written so poorly that many of our students were unsure of what they were being asked to do, and when they did attempt questions they were left wondering if they had completed it correctly. Many questions required a high level of literacy or were written at a Mathematics level higher than level 6 of the NZ Curriculum (NCEA Level 1).

My second complaint is the nature of the assessment. How can investigative questioning or questions requiring lots of interpretation fairly assess students’ algebra strategies and skills in one hour? Last year’s exam was difficult and this year’s was worse. Our students are always well prepared for passing this assessment.

Surely a good assessment is one that does not rely heavily on teachers “teaching” the right approach or “teaching” to whatever information is sent out during the year from NZQA. I am particularly annoyed at the implication that “teachers had been warned about the changes”. Most teachers I know do not teach “rote learning”, and it is common practice that lots of time is spent on problem solving, with as many unfamiliar contexts as we can dream up, once the appropriate skills are taught. This year, graphs and algebra were taught together to develop a holistic approach.

A good assessment should allow all students who have good robust algebra strategies and knowledge at NZ curriculum level 6 (NCEA Level 1), with a reasonable level of literacy, to perform well, no matter how they are taught. Schools should then be able to confidently use the results (from the assessment) to place students into appropriate courses in the following school year. The MCAT this year, fails on both of these points. I am left wondering what value this assessment has in its current form.

We are not concerned that the assessment is going to give sufficient profiles of achievement or not. Our belief is that the results of this year’s MCAT will not fairly reflect the student’s abilities. Our feedback shows that too many students, who have ability, did not attempt questions due to the way the questions were written, and may not score well as a result. Students who have “average” ability are more likely to have just given up.

We try very hard to develop a student’s confidence in their mathematical ability and an assessment like this just leads them to doubt their abilities, which is especially hard when they still have the upcoming External Achievement Standards to face next month.

Debra LeongVal Rolfe

Mathematics DepartmentHamilton Girls’ High School

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NZQA

DERIVED GRADES A student who has been disadvantaged because of a temporary impairment or a non-permanent disability, close to or during an examination, which has prevented attendance or affected performance in the examination, may apply to NZQA for Derived Grade.- A Derived Grade is where NZQA takes your Term 3 Exam results or authentic topic tests (proper tests done under exam conditions) to substitute as your external examination result.- NZQA require that all applications must be made through Mr Mitchell (NZQA liaison)- Mr Mitchell is available as follows - During the examination period Mr Mitchell will be available each day in the NZQA liaison office (located upstairs in the Atrium) from 11am to 12 pm and 2:30 pm to 3:10 pm. - Alternatively, you can make an appointment by contacting the school office. They will take your name and Mr Mitchell will contact you to organise an appointment.- NZQA require you to complete a Derived Grade form (available only from Mr Mitchell) and provide documented evidence from a suitably

qualified professional (e.g., doctor in the case of illness) of the serious disadvantage.- NZQA recommend where possible that students still sit their examinations and then apply for a derived grade. The better of the two grades (derived and actual) will be taken as your final result if your application is successful.- All completed applications must be submitted to Mr Mitchell by Monday 5th December.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENTGrade Appeals: Monday 31st October is the last day you can appeal against any reported grades.

Handing Work in after the stated deadlineIf you are handing in work after an assessment deadline then you must submit this to the student office and complete the signing in process. The school will take no responsibility for late work not submitted in this manner.

EXTERNAL EXAMINATION TIMETABLE

EXTERNAL EXAM TIMES

ExamYou should

be at school by

Lines will be sent to the

examination rooms at

You will not be allowed entry to the room

after

You are NOT allowed to leave the

exam until

You are allowed to go to the toilet

after

You are NOT allowed to leave the

exam after

Examination will end

Morning 8:45am 9:00 am 10:00 am 10:15 am 10:30 am 12:15pm 12:30 pm

Afternoon 1:15pm 1:30 pm 2:30 pm 2:45 pm 3:00 pm 4:45pm 5:00 pm

School contactMr Mitchell is the Principal’s Nominee (NZQA Liaison) at the school.You can contact him by: E-mail: mitchellm@hghs.school.nz

Phone: 07 839 1304 EXT 839Mail: Mr Mitchell Principal’s Nominee PO Box 4082 Hamilton

TERM 4 / WEEK 2ISSUE #7

- You will line up in the same way you did for the school examinations. However, this time the handwritten number beside your name will represent the desk that you will sit at. In the examination room there will be a desk with your number on it and it will contain your personalised examination papers.

- Students who are not in their correct lines will have to wait until all the other students have entered their examination rooms before they will be allowed to enter.

HGHS2016HAMILTONIA

LIMITED COPIES, SO PRE-ORDER AND PAY TO RESERVE YOURS

NOW!

$15

Orders, Payments and pick ups from the uniform shop.

Please return this form to student reception by Friday the 28th October if you wish to preorder

15/11/16Available for sale and for pick up from the uniform

shop

Student Name: Tutor Group:Please Choose ONE option from the following:I give permission for the yearbook fee of $15 for the above named student to be added to my school Flo2 cash account. I wish to preorder and pay at the uniform shop when the yearbook arrives.

Parent/Caregiver Signature: