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Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House
Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House
Nau mai haere mai. Nau mai hoki mai.
We have had an incredible start to the 2025 year, we welcomed the Year 9s and 13s last Sunday and the Year 9s have had a great first week getting to know each other and spending time with their Year 13 buddy / mentor.
Our Year 13 boarders have taken on their roles as leaders in the hostel with great enthusiasm, demonstrating our school values of Whānaungatanga, Manaakitanga and Kairangi Whaiaro.
Year 10, 11 and 12 joined us on Monday afternoon/evening and have all settled back into the flow of hostel life.
There has been a little bit of homesickness as we all settle back into the swing of living in the hostel, please don’t forget that we have staff at the hostel awake 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can always call to get an adult set of eyes / point of view.
The enrolment process for 2026 has commenced. Please ensure if you have a younger daughter that you wish to enrol that she is on the waitlist. Please contact Deb McPherson: dmcpherson@nghs.school.nz
Sadly we farewell our Hewett House Administrator Angela Mackie whose last day is today. We thank Angela for all that she has done for us. We welcome Lynley Keehan who will be taking over the role.
Ngā mihi nui,
Joyce Clark
Joyce Clark, Hostel Manager: 021 245 1862 / hostelmanager@nghs.school.nz
please
note
Important Dates Coming Up
Important Dates Coming Up
Tuesday 18 February: Hostel Swimming Sports after school
Monday 24 February: Get together at Scinde House Napier Boys' High School (THIS IS A COMPULSORY EVENT UNLESS YOU HAVE A SPORTS COMMITMENT)
Thursday 20 February: Some of the Year 9s will be off to Tutira for the day
Friday 21 February: Some of the Year 9s will be off to Tutira for the day
Friday 4 April: Hostel Open Day for 2026 wait list
Friday 11 April: Hostel closes at 6pm for end of Term 1
Sunday 27 April: Hostel opens from 3pm for the beginning of Term 2
Boarding Finances
Please contact hostelfinance@nghs.school.nz if you have any questions regarding your hostel account.
Change to 5 / 7 Day Status
If your daughter is wanting to change her boarding status ie to 5 day or 7 day this needs to come to the Hostel Manager in writing please.
Sunday Late Dinners
If you require a late/saved dinner on a Sunday night this MUST be booked by 12.00pm on the Sunday by putting your name on the list at the office preferably before you leave on Friday afternoon. If you have not booked a late/saved dinner you will have toast and spreads made available to you. We hope you can appreciate that our kitchen team need to be able to plan for accurate numbers. It is very difficult for them when suddenly they need to find 15 – 20 extra servings.
Special Dietary Students
Please remember that if you have listed yourself as a special dietary requirement you are expected to honour this and not change your mind as something else appeals, the kitchen staff are going to considerable effort to cater for your needs.
Meet the Team
Meet the Team
Lynley Keehan, Hewett House Administrator
Kia ora koutou. I'm delighted to be supporting the team in administration. Thanks for your patience and understanding as I learn the ropes. As an old girl of NGHS, it's impressive walking into school and seeing the growth/ changes!
My background is primarily in Primary Teaching, Special Needs and Health. I enjoy working close to home in Ahuriri so I can take my dog for a walk along the waterfront, my happy place. I enjoy simple things in life, family, friends, op shopping and house projects.
I'm married to Dan, our two adult children Eloise 23 and Christian 18 are back home living with us, which surprisingly we enjoy. I look forward to getting to know you all.
Te Aroha Hawkins, Hewett House Supervisor (Afternoons/Evenings)
Tēnā tātou katoa te whānau whānui ō NGHS kī Hewett House. Kō Te Aroha Hawkins tōku ingoa. Kia ora my name is Te Aroha Hawkins. The students know me as Whāea.
I am from Matauri Bay, a sunny beach nestled in the Bay of Islands, far north. I have 6 years combined experience over a number of different boarding schools here in Hawke's Bay and Australia; I’m honoured to continue in this journey at Hewett House.
It is my upmost privilege to join the Hewett House team and be a part of the upbringing of each and every individual student in the hostel environment. I look forward to seeing and meeting you all in the future.
Hostel Academic Dean Update
Hostel Academic Dean Update
Nau mai, hoki mai. Welcome back to all our returning students and a special welcome to our new Year 9 ākonga. Last week, the pōwhiri we held to welcome all our new students was a special celebration. Photos of this, and other school events, are on our school social media pages (Facebook and Instagram). Hewett House also has its own page.
In these first weeks of school, senior student timetables are sometimes still being finalised to even out numbers and accommodate individualised programmes. These should all be confirmed this week. No further changes can occur in junior timetables and classes.
Classroom routines are now being established, supported by Hostel Prep each night, which begins this week. Students work independently in their room or dorm, ensuring that students complete their class and home learning work. Students can also work in the Rec Room if they want a different space or to collaborate on a group project. Research on habit formation has shown that behaviour is likely to become habitual when it is frequently and consistently performed in the same context - so Hostel Prep is an excellent way to ensure our tauira develop successful work habits.
To our new whānau, I am the Academic Dean of the Hostel students. Please contact me if you have any concerns or queries regarding the academic progress of your rangatahi email ajohnson@nghs.school.nz or phone 835 1069 ext 213.
- Ms Amanda Johnson (Mandy)
Heads of Hostel Update
Heads of Hostel Update
Kia ora, my name is Chimari (pictured in the centre) and I am one of your heads of hostel for this year. In my spare time, I love to bake and spend time with my family and friends, especially at the beach. It was good to see the New Year 9s settle in and make new friends. I look forward to having another amazing year in the hostel and getting to know the girls. Some advice to everybody would be to not be afraid to ask for help and to get involved in anything that interests you. I hope to make the hostel feel like a second home to all our rangatahi!
Kia ora, I’m Kaela (pictured on the left). I’m very privileged to be one of the Hostel Prefects for this year. A little bit about me, I live in Central Hawke's Bay and am a five-day boarder. Outside of school and study I enjoy my sports and exercise. Between playing netball, hockey, cricket, waterpolo, surf lifesaving and running I sure keep myself busy! My favourite place to be is waterskiing on Lake Taupō. Within hostel I’m looking forward to bringing some new ideas and events to life. I’m excited to see what the upcoming year has in store for everyone.
Kia ora, my name is Georgia (pictured on the right) and I am your Hostel Manutaki for 2025. I love sports, agriculture, animals and most importantly my family and friends. My goal for 2025 is to ensure our hostel students have the greatest year they’ve ever had. My advice for you all is to be yourself and embrace your personal interests no matter what. And remember if you need a helping hand or a shoulder to cry on, we are all here to look after you.
Ki te kotahi te kākaho ka whati ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati. When we stand alone we are vulnerable, but together we are unbreakable.
- Chimari, Kaela and Georgia
Meningococcal Vaccines
Meningococcal Vaccines
Message from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora:
The Meningococcal B (MenB vaccine), and Meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccines are available for free to rangatahi aged 13-25 years who are entering (or who are in) their first year of close living situations including boarding schools, youth justice facilities, university halls of residence and military barracks.
The Meningoccoal vaccines are free for rangatahi for up to three months before moving in and during their first year in close living situations. Rangitahi will require a single dose of the MenACWY vaccine and two doses of the MenB vaccine given 8 weeks apart. The MenACWY and first dose of MenB vaccines can be given at the same time.
To get the best available protection against this preventable disease, rangatahi should be fully immunised against Meningococcal disease before moving into the close living facility.
Whānau can receive their immunisations from many community health providers including many pharmacies. Visit Book a vaccine to find a suitable immunisation site.
We love celebrating successes at Hewett House. If you have some news (and/or photos) we would love to hear about it so we can include it in future pānui editions :)
HEWETT HOUSE TEAM
Lynley Keehan, Reception (weekdays): 021 488 758 / hewettoffice@nghs.school.nz (this email is checked seven days a week)
Joyce Clark, Hostel Manager: 021 245 1862 / hostelmanager@nghs.school.nz (this email is not checked seven days a week so if urgent, please email hewettoffice@nghs.school.nz)
Supervisors: Mrs Joan Willox / Ms Sarah-Jane Lothian (mornings), Ms Heidi Chesterman / Ms Te Aroha Hawkins / Mrs Heather McKenzie (afternoons/evenings)
Mrs Michele Glogoski (Friday evening, weekends), Mrs Lynda Jackson (weekends), Mrs Kellie Fulton /Ms Michelle McLellan (overnight)
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