Hewett House

Pānui

Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House

Boarding Staff

Hewett House Boarding Action Group Coming in 2026

Tip of the Month

Netsafe

Important Dates Coming Up

Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House

Nau mai haere mai. Nau mai hoki mai.

A very warm welcome to all our whānau and ākonga joining Hewett House in 2026. We are absolutely thrilled to be welcoming 50 new girls into our boarding community and thank you for choosing us to care for your most precious taonga.

“He manu hou ahau, he kōrero āku.”

I am a young bird, and I have a voice.

As we look ahead to 2026, in line with our school’s theme, at Hewett House we will have a focus on “He manu hou ahau, he kōrero āku”, a whakataukī that reminds us that every young person has a voice and that their thoughts, feelings, and experiences matter.

In te ao Māori, the song of a bird carries deep meaning. Each bird sings in its own way — some boldly, others more softly — yet each contributes to the life and harmony of the forest. In the same way, every boarder brings her own voice, identity, and strengths to our hostel community.

Life in the hostel is about much more than routines and rules. It is about belonging, building relationships, and helping students grow in confidence and independence while being supported away from home. Throughout 2026, we will continue to create safe and supportive spaces where our boarders feel comfortable sharing their ideas, expressing how they are feeling, and speaking up when they need support.

We also recognise that not all voices look or sound the same. Some students will speak out readily; others will express themselves quietly, through actions, creativity, or one-to-one conversations. At Hewett House, all of these voices are valued and respected.

By listening to our boarders and encouraging open communication, we strengthen trust, wellbeing, and connection — between students, staff, and whānau. Together, like the birds that greet the dawn, our collective voices help create a warm, caring, and thriving home away from home.

We thank you for your ongoing trust and partnership as we support your daughters to find and use their voices with confidence and kindness.

At Hewett House, our phone is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so please never hesitate to call, check in, or reach out with any questions or concerns. We value strong connections with whānau and look forward to working alongside you to support each girl throughout her boarding journey.

We can’t wait to share an amazing year together.

Ngā mihi nui,

Joyce Clark

Joyce Clark, Hostel Manager: 021 245 1862 / hostelmanager@nghs.school.nz

Boarding Staff

It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Boarding staff at Hewett House.

My name is Joyce Clark, and I am the Hostel Manager here at Hewett House. I have spent the past 10 years working in the boarding space, supporting rangatahi and their whānau, and it is a role I am truly passionate about. I am also a proud mum of three daughters, which gives me a strong understanding of the trust you place in us when you entrust your girls to our care. It is a genuine privilege to look after your daughters and to help make Hewett House a safe, supportive, and happy home away from home.

I am contactable at any time — day or night — and encourage you to reach out whenever you need to. Building strong relationships with our whānau is incredibly important to me.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people.

Lynley Keehan

Administrator

Joan Willox

Morning Matron

Kate Stevens

Morning Matron

Heather McKenzie

Afternoon/Evening Matron

Hayley Berriman

Afternoon/Evening Matron

Mia Shelford

Afternoon/Evening Matron

Michele Glogoski

Weekend Matron

Lynda Jackson

Weekend Matron

Michelle McLellan

Overnight Matron

Kellie Fulton

Overnight Matron

Hostel Academic Dean

Ms Amanda Johnson (Mandy) is on study leave and will be returning in the final weeks of the year. During her absence, Mrs Caroline Johnson will be acting in her role as Hostel Academic Dean.

Introducing Caroline Johnson

Ko Ruahine te maunga e rū nei tōku ngakau.

Ko Manawatu te awa e mahea nei ōku māharahara.

Nō Tamaki-nui-a-Rua ahau.

E mihi ana ki ngā tohu o nehe, o Ahuriri e noho nei ahau.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou katoa.

I grew up in Dannevirke as one of three children and attended Dannevirke High School. I spent my early years on a farm in Umutaoroa before my family moved into town when I was 12. After graduating from Massey University, I began my teaching career at Rangitikei College in Marton.

Education has always been a significant part of my life. I am passionate about supporting young women to become confident, connected, and actively engaged learners, equipped with the resilience, agency, and skills to thrive beyond school.

I have been a member of the staff at Napier Girls’ High School for 23 years. My husband, Michael, and I have two daughters, both of whom currently attend Napier Girls’ High School.

- Mrs Caroline Johnson

From our Hostel Academic Dean, Mrs Johnson

Nau mai, hoki mai. Welcome back to all our returning students, and a warm welcome to our new Year 9 ākonga and students joining us at other levels. Last week’s pōwhiri, held to welcome our new students, was a special and memorable celebration. Photos from the pōwhiri and other school events are available on our school social media pages (Facebook and Instagram), and on the Hewett House page.

Congratulations to our Senior Hostel students on their outstanding NCEA results. We proudly acknowledge and celebrate the academic achievements of our ākonga in their 2025 examinations and wish them all the very best for the year ahead.

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 and are supported by Hostel Prep each evening. Senior students work independently in their rooms, while Junior students complete their work in the Dining Room, ensuring all students are supported to finish their classwork and home learning tasks.

Next week is our Founders' Day Assembly, and our Year 9 ākonga will take part in their Transition Day and EOTC experience at Guthrie Smith. On 25 February, the Splash & Dash event takes place, so we encourage our new students to ensure their clothing/costumes in house colours are organised and ready.

I am excited to be joining the NGHS Hostel team as Academic Dean for 2026 and look forward to getting to know your daughters and wards. Please feel free to contact me at cjohnson@nghs.school.nz if you have any academic concerns.

Heads of Hostel

Hi, I’m Rose, and I’m incredibly proud and honoured to be one of your Heads of Hostel for 2026.

I’m originally from Gisborne, but now live on a farm in Wairoa, so boarding has always been a big part of my life. The hostel truly feels like a second home to me.

Stepping into this role this year is a huge honour, and I really appreciate the trust that has been placed in me. I love supporting others and helping create a welcoming, positive environment where everyone feels safe and included.

We have a busy year ahead, and I’m excited to get to know all the girls more closely and to create strong bonds with both the girls and the staff.

Kia ora, my name is Lucy, and I’m proud to be one of your Heads of Hostel for 2026.

I come from a small rural school in Mahia, so stepping into this role is something I’m incredibly grateful for. Growing up in a close-knit community taught me the importance of looking after one another, which is why hostel life means so much to me.

Living in a hostel isn’t just about having a place to sleep, it's about building friendships, supporting each other through the highs and lows, and creating a second home away from home.

I know how powerful a positive hostel environment can be, and as Head of Hostel, I want to make sure everyone feels safe, included, and valued. I’m always here to listen, help, and work with you to make this a place where we all truly belong.

We are very excited to be back home, and it’s so special seeing the Year 9s settling in and beginning their journey, watching the Year 10s step up, the Year 11s enjoy new privileges in the units, the Year 12s enter their busiest year, and of course our peers growing up faster than we ever imagined.

We’re incredibly excited and have some big plans for the year ahead. Please, girls, if you ever have any issues or just need a chat, come straight to our room in the Year 13 wing. Our door is always open — and no one understands hostel life better than we do.

- Rose Greaves and Lucy Parker

Press Release Whenuapai 19 - 23 January 2026.pdf

Congratulations Amy!

We're so proud of you.

Young Farmers Club

Hi everyone! Emma and Izzy here. We are so excited to be leading the club this year, taking over from Kaela and Liana who have done an amazing job in previous years. We held our first meeting of the year last week and had so many girls show up, new and old, which was amazing to see.

The Hostel Young Farmers Club is all about getting together to be able to express our interest towards the farming life which many of us are quite familiar with. This year we hope to have many fun events held to keep the club busy - including quiz nights, guest speakers, regular meetings and hopefully some skill sessions.

The first event on the agenda is the Junior Young Farmer of the Year Competition, which is being held in Hastings on 14 March. This competition is a great experience for everyone, where we can showcase our knowledge and have fun with friends. We already have quite a few teams entered this year which is great - hopefully we'll get some placings.

Keep an eye out on our Instagram page: nghs_youngfarmers for more information about events and fundraising happening throughout the year. Thank you!

- Emma Brady and Izzy Schaw

Hewett House Boarding Action Group Coming in 2026

"Your Voice. Your Hostel. Your Leadership."
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What is the Hewett House Boarding Action Group?

A team of boarders from Years 9–13 who represent all students at Hewett House. We share ideas, plan events, and help make boarding life the best it can be!

What Will You Do?

Speak on behalf of your friends
Bring a positive attitude and solutions to meetings
Suggest ways to improve life at Hewett House
Help plan fun events: quiz nights, themed dinners, movie nights, games
Welcome new boarders and support everyone
Be a friendly, respectful role model

Who Are We Looking For?

Two representatives from each Year Level (Years 9–13)
No experience needed — just energy, ideas, and team spirit!

When Do We Meet?

Once a term
Meetings run by Hostel Prefects and Mrs Clark
The meetings are short, focused, and student-led

How Do I Get Involved?

Nominations are now open they will close at 9am on Wednesday 18 February. Forms are at the Hostel reception.

Tip of the Month

Phone calls between students and their parents during the first few weeks of boarding can be a bit challenging. To help with this, I've put together 6 Tips for a Successful Phone Call with Your Child:

· Understand that children aren’t wired for long phone calls, especially a child who wants to go and play with their friends.

· This is likely to be new for you and them - you normally live together, so have an empathetic ear.

· Be warm and inviting, don’t bombard with questions.

· Expect to hear the one or two negatives in their eyes, not the 98 or 99 positives that happen each day.

· When it comes to questions - be specific - ‘who did you sit next to at breakfast?’, ‘what were the two best things you did today?’

· End with positivity and calm - you are the parent. Thank them for ringing.

Kindo Reminder

Please make sure you've logged into Kindo to pay for your daughter's school-related charges such as sports fees, music tuition and other activities.

Contact hostelfinance@nghs.school.nz if you have any questions regarding your hostel account.

Sickness

If you're feeling unwell or showing any signs of illness, please stay home and take the time you need to recover. Your health and the health of others comes first.

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 go to considerable effort to cater for your needs.

Netsafe

Netsafe is New Zealand’s independent, non-profit online safety charity. Taking a technology-positive approach to the challenges digital technology presents, they work to help people in New Zealand take advantage of the opportunities available through technology by providing practical tools, support and advice for managing online challenges. Netsafe keep people of all ages safe online by providing free support, advice and education seven days a week.

Netsafe can assist you in getting content removed from some places online and talk to you about the other options available to you – for example, taking the case to the Police. If someone is threatening to share nude images/videos of you or blackmailing you, we can also let you know what you can do about it. Our team talks to people in situations like this everyday, so we’re used to talking about it and can provide you all the information you need.

There are apps that can help too, like Take it Down takeitdown.ncmec.org

This is an anonymous tool for anyone under 18 to get your intimate image or video removed from social media, including Facebook.

Important Dates Coming Up

Wednesday 18 February: voting closes for Boarding Action Group

Thursday 19 February: Year 9 EOTC Tutira

Friday 20 February: Year 9 EOTC Tutira

Wednesday 25 February: Splash & Dash

Friday 13 March: Athletic Sports

Friday 27 March: Hostel Open Day

Thursday 2 April: end of Term 1, hostel closes at 6pm

Sunday 19 April: Hostel opens from 3pm

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 Kate Stevens (mornings), Mrs Hayley Berriman / Ms Mia Shelford / 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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