From the Principal
I am Sacred Heart. You are Sacred Heart. We are Sacred Heart – nau mai, hoki mai anoo!
... and so the Journey begins again:
As we step into this new year,
Restore our spirits.
Renew our passion for sharing your wisdom
And nurture our compassion
For those in need of greater support.
Transform us as we seek to transform:
Guide us as we seek to guide;
Open our minds and hearts
As we seek to open minds and hearts
To the Good News of Justice, Peace and Aroha.
Help us listen more deeply
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I am Sacred Heart. You are Sacred Heart. We are Sacred Heart – nau mai, hoki mai anoo!
... and so the Journey begins again:
As we step into this new year,
Restore our spirits.
Renew our passion for sharing your wisdom
And nurture our compassion
For those in need of greater support.
Transform us as we seek to transform:
Guide us as we seek to guide;
Open our minds and hearts
As we seek to open minds and hearts
To the Good News of Justice, Peace and Aroha.
Help us listen more deeply
To the world and to your Word,
So we can walk with those in our care,
Attentive to the Wisdom that
Calls us all to the Kingdom of God.
(Adapted from a prayer by Jane Deren)
Our first Paanui of the year welcomes you to our Year of Justice, Mission and Whakamana, through the formation of a community of active agents of change who live out Gospel values like Mary, at the Visitation, who lived her ‘yes’, with a missionary heart, and who envisioned the transformation of her world - “Mission is Possible”!
Our Gospel focus for this year is The Visitation (Luke 1:39-56) when Mary goes in haste to visit Elizabeth, with an emphasis on Mary’s Song of Praise ‘The Magnificat’; here God is revealed in and around the ordinary everyday interactions: a God who shows up in the meeting of two women, in a moment of shared joy, in mutual blessing (whakamana) and in the quiet courage of those the world often overlooks. In Mary’s song we see that same God: the one whose heart bends toward justice, who upends the usual order and whose real presence is most clearly recognised wherever the lowly are lifted and the hungry are fed.
It is also the time of the year that our recent leavers are taking up their places at university, embarking on their gap year or have discovered the joys of gainful employment. We wish them all well and hope that the years at Sacred Heart Girls’ College have contributed to their ongoing formation as young waahine with a Heart for the world! We have the same wishes for all students who are on a new pathway to pursue their passion beyond the gates.
As Euphrasie Barbier, founder of the Mission Sisters, reminds us, ‘where charity and union of hearts reign in community, the Lord is there. Guard this precious treasure well’.
Me aro ki te haa o Hineahuone – take heed the strength and dignity of women! Kia pai te raa whakataa.
Whanaungatanga Programme
At Sacred Heart, we take a unique approach to the start of the school year. Our first week is dedicated to strengthening community bonds through the Whanaungatanga Programme – a reflection of our Catholic Character and values.
The week kicked off with a school-wide Pōwhiri, where we extended a heartfelt welcome to new students and staff joining our community. Students engaged in a range of connection-focused activities, including:
- House gatherings where students learned their house chants and participated in team-building exercises
- The Hapori Expo, showcasing what sporting codes, clubs, and extracurricular opportunities are available
- Call to Mission Liturgy and the official Commissioning of the Senior Student Council
- Complete with student-run food stalls raising funds for their groups – it was time for the main event: the COLOUR RUN at Steele Park, proudly sponsored by our amazing SHGC PTFA. Thank you!
This intentional start to the year establishes a strong foundation for a caring and connected school environment. The relationships formed during these early days set the tone for a positive and enriching year ahead for both students and staff in our Kura.
Athletics Day
Last week’s Athletics Day at Porritt Stadium was another great success! Well done to everyone who competed, whether you were giving it a go or smashing personal bests. Special congratulations to the students below who broke previous records—what an achievement! Of course, huge congratulations to SIENA for taking out the overall House Points trophy, and extra kudos to those who brought their A-game in the costume department.
For our new students, including our international students, this was a fantastic opportunity to experience the true Sacred Heart Spirit in action – what a day to be part of our community! Check out the results below!
Individual Champs:
Junior – Jasmine Shawyer
Intermediate – Sienna Casson
Senior – Brilee Davies
Records Broken:
Jasmine Shawyer – Junior 1500m 5.05.59 (previously 5.10.01)
Emily Vowles – Intermediate 1500m 5.16.66 (previously 5.22.35)
Kulaea Falekaono-Seager – Junior Javelin 24.86m (previously 22.77m)
Kulaea Falekaono-Seager – Junior Discus 33.11m (previously 26.80m)
Kulaea Falekanon-Seager – Junior Shot Put 10.68m (previously 9.80m)
Overall House Placings:
1st – Siena
2nd – Barbier
3rd – Avila
4th – Lisieux
5th – Aubert
6th – MacKillop
Sporting Success
SHGC Shines at NZ Youth Touch Nationals!
Over Waitangi Weekend, Christchurch hosted the NZ Youth Touch Nationals, and SHGC was proudly represented by four outstanding athletes across two teams.
U16 Girls Development
Tessa-Mhy Tane led the charge as co‑captain of the U16 Girls Development team, guiding a very young squad, most only 14 years old – to an impressive 12th place finish at their first-ever Nationals. An incredible achievement for a team just beginning their representative journey!
Gold for SHGC in U16 Girls Elite Team
Bringing home gold, the U16 Waikato Girls team dominated the competition, playing nine games over two days, winning eight, and drawing the ninth.
Congratulations to Sophie Peters, Ava Mills, and Keira‑Lee Tane, who were key contributors to this championship-winning performance.
Adding to the celebrations, SHGC co‑coach Chris Tane attended Nationals and achieved his Level 3 Open Red Referee Badge, marking an exceptional milestone in his officiating career.
A massive congratulations to all our players and their support team!
Alumnae Spotlight
From the Track to the Black Ferns: Kiana’s Rugby Journey
Former Sports Leader Kiana Pohe-Bright graduated from Sacred Heart in 2022 and went on to receive a prestigious Athletics scholarship at the University of Concordia Irvine in California. Now, she’s making an impressive mark in rugby after transitioning from her sprinting career.
Last year, she trialled at the New Zealand Rugby Combine in Wellington – a programme designed to identify cross-code athletes with potential for Rugby 7s and 15s. Her speed and athleticism caught the selectors’ attention, earning her a spot in the Ignite 7s tournament later that year as she made the exciting switch from track to rugby.
Her performance at Ignite opened even more doors. Following the tournament, Kiana completed additional testing within the Black Fern 7s programme. In January this year, she trained with both the Black Fern 7s and the development squad, alongside New Zealand’s elite players, and competed against China.
The hard work paid off when Kiana was named in the NZ 7s development squad for the Fiji Coral Coast Rugby 7s tournament. The team spent five days in Fiji, with three days of intense competition.
Now back in Auckland, Kiana is balancing an impressive schedule. She’s continuing her Bachelor of Science studies while working as the U21 performance analyst for the Warriors – a role she describes as “super cool.” This year, she’s based at the North Harbour Rugby Academy, where her rugby journey continues to unfold.
Former Student Selected for New Zealand Ice Hockey Team
We are thrilled to share the outstanding achievement of Lyani Goodman, who attended Sacred Heart from 2016 to 2020 and was a valued member of our 1st XI Hockey team.
Just before Christmas, Lyani received the exciting news that she had been selected for the New Zealand Ice Ferns team. She will represent her country at the IIHF World Women’s Division II tournament in Hong Kong at the end of March.
Lyani’s story shows how sport can open doors to amazing opportunities you might never have imagined.
Congratulations, Lyani!
Find your voice!
Former Music Teacher Lynn Jamieson, who directs our hugely successful Heart Attack Barbershop students, has launched an exciting new venture. The Vox Collective is a mixed adult chorus that meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, 7pm – 9pm, at Marian Catholic Primary School. If you’re interested in joining, contact Lynn on 027 438 1750.
Our Vision
Ignite the Passion: inspiring young women to change the world – me aro ki te hā o Hineahuone!