From the Principal
He mihi teenei ki te whaanau whaanui
I’m Here, I’m Listening
She said, “How do you know when you are hearing from God?”
I didn’t know how to explain ...
My words never felt so small, so useless, so incapable
I wanted to say
Put your hand in the middle of your chest
Feel the rhythm there
I wanted to say you will find the holy text in so many places
On crinkly pages of scripture
In dusty hymnals
In the creases of a grandmother’s smile
God’s ears are here for the babies
For the immigrant, for the refugee
Show more
He mihi teenei ki te whaanau whaanui
I’m Here, I’m Listening
She said, “How do you know when you are hearing from God?”
I didn’t know how to explain ...
My words never felt so small, so useless, so incapable
I wanted to say
Put your hand in the middle of your chest
Feel the rhythm there
I wanted to say you will find the holy text in so many places
On crinkly pages of scripture
In dusty hymnals
In the creases of a grandmother’s smile
God’s ears are here for the babies
For the immigrant, for the refugee
For the depressed, for the lonely
For the dreamers
The widow, the orphan
The oppressed and the helpless
Those about to make a mess or caught in the middle of cleaning one up
Dirt don’t scare God’s ears
God is a gardener
God knows things can’t grow without sun, rain, and soil …
I want to tell her God is always waiting
Lingering after the doors close
And the phone doesn’t ring
And we are finally alone
God is always saying
I love you
I am here
Don’t go, stay
Please
I try to explain how God is pleading with us
To trust
To love
To listen
That God’s voice is melody and bass lines and whisper and thunder and grace
Sometimes when I pray, I think of her
How the voice of God was lingering in her very question
How so many of us just like her
Just like me
Just like you
Are still searching
Still questioning, still doubting
I know I don’t have all the answers
I know I never will
That sometimes the best thing we can do is put our hands in the middle of our chest
Feel the rhythm there
Turn down the noise in our minds, in our lives
And whisper,
God
Whatever you want to say
I’m here
I’m listening
Kua mutu a maatou mahi moo teenei waa – our work has finished for the moment – kia tau te rangimaarie i runga i a koutou katoa – let peace settle upon us all.
International News
This week we welcomed back Mana, a Japanese student who was with us for Term 1. She is here for a month to complete a research project on inclusive education – looking at the differences between practices in New Zealand and Japan.
After the recent departures, we now have 15 international students. Our Director, Collette Tuioti, is on a marketing trip to Thailand and South Korea to make connections and promote our school in those markets. She caught up with some international alumni while in Bangkok. Our “old girls” are all in tertiary study and look so grown-up!
Our wonderful homestay families continue to show our students the local sights. Luca (from Japan) and Daisy (from China) enjoyed a day out in Taupo last weekend, experiencing Huka Falls, the Craters of the Moon geothermal walkway, and mini golf.
What’s happening in the Library!
Introducing Leonie Grigsby
Our new Lead Librarian, Leonie Grigsby is passionate about encouraging students and staff to develop a lifelong love of reading by fostering a culture of reading across the school.
Leonie enjoys promoting the library and its resources through creative displays and activities and her self-professed superpower is matching people to books. Leonie’s vision for our school library is a future-focused learning space with a strong emphasis on learning, literacy, and well-being. It is important that the Library is a safe and inclusive space for everyone. Leonie enjoys reading extensively and knitting in her spare time and is looking forward to starting a craft group and book club for students and staff.
Leonie is currently the Waikato/Bay of Plenty representative on the SLANZA (School Library Association New Zealand Aotearoa) National Executive and has a hands-on approach to school library advocacy in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Celebrating our Students
NIWA Waikato Science Fair
On 14th August, five of our Year 10 students took part in the NIWA Waikato Science Fair.
- Sana Sharma
- Saffron Coley
- Zoe Eunice Delos Reyes
- Olivia Church
- Isla Toni
Congratulations to Sana and Saffron who gained a 2nd in the Senior Inventions & Technical Innovations Category, and a well-deserved 3rd place to Zoe for her ILLUMENation display in the Physical World Category.
NIWA Science Fair Results
SECOND PLACE
Sorted Trash – By Sana & Saffron
Our project was created to reduce the work of the garbage man. We created a rubbish system that reduces their work, by splitting waste into metals and non-metals, without giving us another job to do. Our bin that we created is an average-sized rubbish bin and is easy to use and empty. We wanted to make ‘sorted trash’ because we think this could be the next generation of rubbish bins. Even though this isn’t a lot, our model could help combat pollution just by having this simple bin.
THIRD PLACE
ILLUMENation – By Zoe
ilLUMENation is a research project about how light pollution is affecting the world. I researched its negative effects which include wildlife, human health, crime, money and energy, and the climate. I investigated the connections between light pollution and the advancement of civilisation by photographing the stars and measuring nearby light sources' lumens. Eventually, I came to the conclusion that light pollution is affecting all aspects of our lives. Light is essential for us, but excessive light is only proving to harm us. I also concluded that the best way to begin stopping the rapid progression of light pollution is by switching off your lights.
Math Week
Last week we completed Math Week, which was incredible and saw an impressive surge in participation from genuinely enthusiastic students. The daily puzzles not only ignited intense debates but also witnessed active engagement, while the inter-house competition created fierce rivalry across all houses. Avila’s participation soared to unprecedented heights, while Lisieux emerged as the ultimate victor in the overall competition. The final rankings resulted in Avila securing 1st place, Lisieux securing 2nd place, and Barbier achieving 3rd place, leading to a significant shift in the rankings. A hearty congratulations to Avila for their remarkable achievement!
Notice Board
Casual Vacancy for an Elected Trustee
Due to a resignation on the Board, a casual vacancy has occurred on the Board of Trustees for an elected Parent Representative.
The Board has resolved under section 105 of the Education Act 1989 to fill the vacancy by selection.
If ten percent or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the Board, within 28 days of this notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.
Any eligible voter who wishes to ask the Board to hold a by-election should e-mail: V Leddy (Board Secretary) at: botshgc@shgcham.school.nz by Friday 22 September 2023.
Attendance Reminder
If your daughter will be absent from school during the day for any reason, please email the Student Coordinator: absences@shgcham.school.nz or phone the school 856 7874 option 1, giving a reason for her absence. If a student will be absent from school for an extended period of time, whānau must inform Miss Gunn. Please email her PA, Ms Ritchie at pa@shgcham.school.nz explaining the reason for her absence.
Our Vision
Ignite the Passion: inspiring young women to change the world – me aro ki te hā o Hineahuone!