From the Principal
Kia ora e te whaanau,
As our wonderful students leave to enjoy their break (including study, of course) and spend quality time with you, we can reflect on Term 2. Serving as Acting Principal has been a remarkably rewarding experience for me. I want to thank all our Board, staff, students, whaanau and wider community for your support and encouragement. It’s nice to be handing the school back to Miss Gunn next term in one piece!
Speaking of pieces, you will notice that the school will look somewhat different from the beginning of Term 3. Temporary fencing will be up, and our long-awaited rebuild, Mahi Tahi Project of the main block will begin. This will mean some changes in how we move around the school and how you drop off and collect your daughter if required. While access to the main reception area, the Notre Dame building won’t change, there won’t be access to the school through the hall entrance. Students will need to use the Firth Street entrance as their main thoroughfare into the school, in addition to the Cook Street entrance. It may take a few days to get accustomed to these changes—I’ve even acquired a hi-viz jacket for the occasion!
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Kia ora e te whaanau,
As our wonderful students leave to enjoy their break (including study, of course) and spend quality time with you, we can reflect on Term 2. Serving as Acting Principal has been a remarkably rewarding experience for me. I want to thank all our Board, staff, students, whaanau and wider community for your support and encouragement. It’s nice to be handing the school back to Miss Gunn next term in one piece!
Speaking of pieces, you will notice that the school will look somewhat different from the beginning of Term 3. Temporary fencing will be up, and our long-awaited rebuild, Mahi Tahi Project of the main block will begin. This will mean some changes in how we move around the school and how you drop off and collect your daughter if required. While access to the main reception area, the Notre Dame building won’t change, there won’t be access to the school through the hall entrance. Students will need to use the Firth Street entrance as their main thoroughfare into the school, in addition to the Cook Street entrance. It may take a few days to get accustomed to these changes—I’ve even acquired a hi-viz jacket for the occasion!
A special acknowledgement goes to the Mission Trust Board for their perseverance in facilitating this much-needed renovation. We eagerly anticipate sharing the progress with you soon.
Dean Rogers
Acting Principal
Sacred Heart Day in Melbourne
Miss Gunn, Mrs Soagia, Sarah Healy, and I were honoured to attend Sacred Heart Day at our sister school, Sacred Heart Oakleigh, Melbourne, last week.
We arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday and went straight to Sacred Heart Oakleigh, where we were greeted by the Principal, Mr Dalton and Deputy Principal, Mrs Feeney, who were amazing hosts throughout our time in Melbourne. We also had the pleasure of meeting our brothers and sisters from Sacred Heart Sorrento, who had travelled from Perth. Friday marked Sacred Heart Day, undoubtedly a highlight of our trip. The day consisted of an entire school mass in the morning, which was amazing to be a part of. We then watched the incredible house arts festival, which included a song, a choreographed dance and a video from each house. We concluded the day with a school walkathon.
During our three-day stay in Melbourne, we were treated to a series of unique and unforgettable experiences. We explored the Royal Exhibition Building, ventured into the heart of Melbourne, cruised along the Yarra River, attended a mass at the awe-inspiring St Patrick’s Cathedral, and even got a taste of Aussie footy. Each of these experiences left a lasting impression on us.
One notable difference between our Sacred Heart Day and theirs was the walkathon. The funds raised from this event support the Manobo Dulangan girls in the Philippines. The RNDM Sisters’ work there ensures the girls receive essential needs such as food, water, clothing, education, and healthcare.
The visit to our ‘sisters’ in Melbourne was not just an incredible experience for us, but also a testament to the impact we can have on communities. We created new memories and are immensely grateful for the opportunity. The support of Our Lady of the Missions and our dedicated Mission Sisters has allowed us to sustain their legacy and continue their impactful work for others and the Lord. We cherished every moment of the trip and are excited to see the relationship between our sister school in Melbourne continue to grow.
Kate Monsma, Head Girl
Spirit Week
On 14th June, our school and our wider community celebrated the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart. This day is important as we are reminded of the love Jesus has for each and every one of us, the sacrifice he made and the unconditional compassion we experience through his word. We are reminded of the legacy and the significance of our founding RNDM Sisters of our Lady of the Mission, who founded our school. Sacred Heart Day included a mass in the morning where we were fortunate to have our Mission Sisters there with us to celebrate. We then participated in activities in our 6 house groups, and ended the day with our much-anticipated house dance-off. Six guest judges from St John’s College, St Paul’s Collegiate and Waikato Diocesan for Girls were invited to judge, and each house brought the SPIRIT!
This day encompasses the spirit and soul that our school was founded on. Congratulations to AVILA, who took out Sacred Heart Day.
By Kate Monsma, Head Girl
Photo Gallery
French Film Festival
Last week our Level 1 & 2 French students took a class trip to the Lido for the French Film Festival 2024. We were accompanied by Hamilton Girls’ High School at the cinema for The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan screening. Based on a classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, it follows the story of D’Artagnan as he pursues his dream of becoming a musketeer. It was a super experience and was a great way to exercise the students’ listening and comprehension skills! C’était très bien!
Australian Sports Tour
Today, our Hockey, Football, Netball, and Rugby Teams departed on their exciting 8-day Sports Tour of Brisbane. We wish our talented athletes the best of luck in their games.
Go get ‘em, girls!
Reflections on Apartheid
Last week, we hosted a remarkable guest who shared her firsthand experiences of living through Apartheid in South Africa with our Year 9 and 10 students. In SRE (Social Religious Education), students have been learning about what the Catholic Church teaches about ‘loving others’ by looking at the context of Apartheid in South Africa. We have been exploring how New Zealand responded to the legalised racism and segregation there through the Springbok Tour Protests of 1981.
Pat Pike, now a resident of New Zealand, shared how living in South Africa has helped shape her into the person she is today as she fought against racism in her own small ways. Pat grew up in a small town in the heart of Zululand and recounted stories of bravery and shenanigans, while reminding students to grasp every opportunity given them as they have been so blessed to live in a country that provides them with so many chances to succeed.
Celebrating the Arts
As Arts Leader, organising this year’s Arts Week was a privilege. We started the week with an energetic dance session in the hall with Just Dance. On Tuesday, some talented girls stepped up to showcase and talk about the various art opportunities available at Sacred Heart.
Wednesday was a highlight with our exciting talent show, where special guest judges joined us. Personally, I was thrilled about our Performing Arts Showcase on Thursday evening. From 6:30pm to 8pm, we enjoyed a fantastic celebration of cultural, visual, musical, and performing arts in the CAC. Seeing the proud faces of family and friends supporting their daughters’ excellence warmed my heart.
One of my favourite moments was when our music groups, especially our Sacred Sisters of Soul, took the stage. Abby Rollitt, our Siena House Captain and Barbershop Prefect dazzled us with her incredible vocals.
I hope that the passion for the Arts continues to grow both within and beyond Sacred Heart.
Josie Harder, Arts Leader
Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver Tramp
From Mountains to River: A Whanganui Wilderness Expedition
On Friday, 21st June, a group of 12 Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver students, along with the help and guidance of Mrs Cooper and Mrs Knight, travelled deep into the Whanganui/Stratford area for a three-day trip. Before starting our expedition, we drove for eight hours and stopped to visit Jerusalem, where Mother Aubert lived for 15 years. After a long day of travelling, we reached the starting point of our journey on the Matemateaonga track.
The 43km track took three days and two nights to complete. After 8 hours of driving, the group tramped 5.6km to Omaru hut on the first day. The next day was much longer: 23.7km from Omaru hut to Ngapurua hut. It was pretty windy and cold, but we were blessed to have gorgeous views of Mt Taranaki, Mt Ruapehu, Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe. On the final day, we tramped in the cold rain for 11.7km to Puketotara hut and stopped for lunch. After lunch, everyone spent an hour slipping and sliding down the muddy mountain for 1.7km to the Whanganui River.
We woke up early and worked hard to trek the large area. There were many challenges to conquer together, including navigating big tree falls and trying not to slip halfway down the muddy range. Each team gave a talk about the area. We learnt about the history of the Matemateāonga Track and the Whanganui River and their significance to Māori. Another talk was given about the native plants and birds with some demonstrations of the sounds to listen out for.
It rained a lot on the final day, making it extra muddy, which gave us another fun experience on this tramp. Everyone had a great time together. We finished the tramp with a scenic speed boat ride down the Whanganui River. This was a highlight for all girls, especially since the driver did a doughnut!
Olivia Moroney-Pearson (Yr 11) and Jessica Tunnell (Yr 12)
Interested to know more about the Duke Edinburgh Awards?
Please email Mrs Cooper
Notice Board
Sports Fees
These are now overdue. Please contact accounts if you need to set up a payment plan. Email: accounts@shgcham.school.nz
Attendance Reminder
If your daughter will be absent from school during the day for any reason, please phone the school 856 7874 option 1, or email the Student Coordinator: absences@shgcham.school.nz giving a reason for her absence. If a student will be absent from school for an extended period, whaanau must inform Miss Gunn. Please email Ms Ritchie at pa@shgcham.school.nz explaining why she is absent – e.g., a holiday during term time.
Our Vision
Ignite the Passion: inspiring young women to change the world – me aro ki te hā o Hineahuone!