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Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House
Kia ora koutou katoa from Hewett House
Kia ora whānau,
A very warm welcome back to everyone for Term 3. We hope you all enjoyed a restful break and are feeling refreshed for what promises to be another busy and exciting term at Hewett House.
For our senior students, Term 3 is an important one academically as they work towards upcoming assessments and begin preparing for end-of-year success. We wish them every success as they focus on achieving their goals. At the same time, our winter sports season is heading into its final stages, and we look forward to cheering on all our girls as they give their best in the closing weeks of competition.
As we move through the winter months, we ask for your support in helping us keep our hostel community healthy. If your daughter is unwell, please keep her at home until she has recovered before returning to the hostel. This simple step helps protect the wellbeing of everyone in our boarding whānau.
Our first fun activity of the term was a Lip Sync Battle, followed by a Hot Chocolate Bar. It was a fantastic evening filled with laughter, enthusiasm, and plenty of memorable performances—a wonderful way to reconnect after the holidays.
A friendly reminder that if your daughter will not be returning to Hewett House in 2027, we would appreciate hearing from you as early as possible. We currently have a waiting list of families eager to experience boarding at Hewett House, and early notification helps us plan for the year ahead and offer places to prospective boarders.
We look forward to another term of learning, achievement, friendship, and making great memories together.
Ngā mihi nui,
Joyce Clark
SHC Talk Poster (5).pdfWe want to invite hostel parents to attend the above nutrition talk on Monday evening. If you're unable to make it we will livestream at 7pm on our hostel facebook page.
Joyce Clark, Hostel Manager: 021 245 1862 / hostelmanager@nghs.school.nz
Welcome to the team
Welcome to the team
Ms Kym Hildreth
Ms Kym Hildreth
Kia ora.
My name is Kym and I come from a qualified early childhood education background. For the past 20+ years I have had the privilege of working with children from birth to five years, supporting their learning, development and well being.
During the school holidays I have also been busy helping supervise a holiday programme for children aged 5-14 years. I throughly enjoyed planning and delivering a variety of activities including arts and crafts, cooking, and outings to different places and attractions around Hawke's bay. It was a wonderful opportunity to work with the older children and create fun and engaging experiences for them.
Outside of work, I have a partner Ash, two daughters, Hayley and Jessie, and I am a very proud grandmother to my grandson Jarvis.
I am excited to be joining Hewett House. I look forward to getting to know the girls and their whānau, and becoming part of the hostel community. I am sure it will be an interesting and rewarding role and I can’t wait to begin this new chapter.
Hostel Academic Dean Update
Hostel Academic Dean Update
Nau mai, hoki mai – welcome back to Term 3!
I hope everyone has had a restful break and is ready for the exciting and important term ahead.
Term 3 is a significant time, particularly for our senior students. It’s the opportunity to stay focused, work consistently, and put in the hard mahi as we prepare for the Derived Grade Examinations in Weeks 5 and 6. The habits and routines established now will make a real difference in the weeks ahead.
This week, many senior students participated in our Study Skills Seminar with learning expert Patrick Sherratt, gaining valuable insights into how to study more effectively. Building on this, all Year 11 students will continue developing their study skills during Friday e-period lessons over the coming weeks.
10 Tips for Effective Study
There’s no single "right" way to study—everyone learns differently. The key is to experiment with different strategies and discover what works best for you.
1. Get organised
Keep track of assignment deadlines using a diary or planner, and pack your school bag the night before so you're ready for the day ahead.
2. Attend every class
Regular attendance gives you the best opportunity to learn new concepts, participate in discussions, and ask questions when you need clarification.
3. Take effective notes
Summarise key ideas using mind maps, flow charts, diagrams, or other visual organisers to help make information easier to understand and remember.
4. Ask for help
If you're unsure about something, talk to your teacher. Asking questions is one of the best ways to strengthen your understanding.
5. Spread your study over time
Short, regular study sessions are far more effective than leaving everything until the last minute.
6. Make a study plan—and stick to it
Set realistic goals and schedule dedicated study time each week. A consistent routine builds confidence and reduces stress.
7. Study actively, not passively
Rather than simply reading your notes, try:
· creating concept maps or Quizlet flashcards
· explaining ideas aloud in your own words
· writing practice questions and testing yourself
· teaching a friend or study partner to reinforce your learning.
8. Create a distraction-free study space
Choose a quiet, comfortable place where you can concentrate and minimise interruptions.
9. Test yourself regularly
Self-quizzing is one of the most effective ways to strengthen long-term memory. Flashcards and practice questions are excellent tools.
10. Study with others
Working with a study buddy or small group can help keep you motivated, accountable, and provide opportunities to discuss challenging concepts.
Remember, effective study is about working smarter, not just longer. Developing positive study habits now will set you up for success as assessments approach. We encourage all students to give these strategies a go, stay consistent, and find the techniques that help them learn best.
I wish everyone a successful and rewarding Term 3.
Ngā mihi
Mrs Caroline Johnson
Hostel Academic Dean
Heads of Hostel Update
Heads of Hostel Update
Kia ora.
We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday and returned to the hostel feeling refreshed and ready for the busy weeks ahead!
Over the weekend, we celebrated National Parents' Day. We hope all the girls remembered to give their parents the heartfelt letters they wrote last week. It was a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation for everything our parents and whānau do to support us.
One of the highlights of the past few weeks was our amazing Pre-Ball evening. A huge thank you to all the hostel staff for organising such a special event, and to our incredible kitchen staff for preparing the delicious food. Your hard work made the night one to remember. It was fantastic to see so many girls come along, dressed up and enjoying the evening together before the school ball.
We are looking forward to another exciting few weeks in the hostel and wish everyone all the best as the term continues.
- Lucy, Rose and Morgan
Rose Greaves, Lucy Parker
Morgan Anderson
Young Farmers
Young Farmers
Recently our young farmers club have been fortunate enough to have two amazing guest speakers come and talk to us. We had Hannah Coop at the end of last term and Sarah Von Dadelszen last week. Girls from Woodford and Iona's young farmers groups came over as well. It was great to be able to combine with them as it meant that they could also hear the important lessons and tips that Hannah and Sarah shared and the girls all got to catch up at the end.
Hannah is farming up the coast with her husband and family. She came and talked to us about her journey going into farming as someone who had grown up in the city and how she worked her way up to where she is today, farm ownership. One of her tips to us girls was to surround yourself with a good team of people. She said that one of the reasons that she is where she is today is because of the connections she's made and people who’ve supported her. Not only should you have people who are helpful in your work life but also friends outside of work for socialising. I think that this is a very important lesson that applies in any job but especially farming.
Our second guest speaker was Sarah. Sarah is currently the chair of the board at FMG and has been in many other director roles throughout her career. She talked to us about her journey through those roles and told us some important lessons she learnt along the way. Like Hannah she also explained how making connections can really help you in your future as you never know who you might need. She also explained how important it is to take every opportunity you are given and have a real will to learn and get better. This is how she was offered many of her jobs by trying new things. Having a willingness to learn can really change an employee's thoughts about you, she said.
Both women's talks were very inspiring and showed us that if you put in the work and have a great mindset then you can do anything you set your mind to. A big thanks to both Hannah and Sarah for taking their time and coming and talking to us, we really appreciate it!
Important Hostel Dates Coming Up
Important Hostel Dates Coming Up
Friday 4 September: Hostel closes at 6pm Exeat weekend
Monday 7 September: Hostel opens from 3pm
Monday 7 September: Junior whānau dinner at 5pm
Friday 25 September: Hostel closes at 6pm for End of Term
Sunday 11 October: Hostel opens from 3pm for Term 4
7-day Boarders
For planning purposes, it is very helpful if our 7-day boarders can let us know by 9.00am each Thursday if they will be away for the weekend. This greatly assists our kitchen team with accurate meal planning and helps us avoid unnecessary food preparation and wastage.
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.
Boarding Action Group
Year 9 - Mabel Heath & Lily Ashton
Year 10 - Stevie Schaw
Year 11 - Bella Derbie & Evelyn Ferguson
Year 12 - Emma Brady & Addison Oliver
Year 13 - Victoria Kyle
These are your year group representatives.
If you have any ideas, please send them on to these girls.
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 / Ms Kym Hildreth (afternoons/evenings)
Mrs Michele Glogoski (Friday evening, weekends), Mrs Lynda Jackson (weekends), Mrs Kellie Fulton / Ms Michelle McLellan (overnight)
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