Newsletter Week 6 Term 2

Hastings Christian School

27 May 2026

From the Principal

Just when I thought the standard of our house competitions couldn’t be topped, our student house leaders pulled together what proved to be a truly memorable and enjoyable day. While the weather certainly played its part, ‘Medieval Mayhem’ could not have gone more smoothly. From jousting competitions and dungeon crawls to speedy steed races, trebuchet target challenges, and the ye olde boot throw, students were treated to many fun opportunities for healthy competition.

Days like this remind me of the incredible privilege of having a Christian school in the Bay that caters for students from Year 1 right through to Year 13. Watching the older students come alongside their younger peers to encourage and support them was truly heartwarming. It exemplified not only the value of tuakana-teina relationships (older helping younger), but also the biblical principle of looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).

A huge thank you goes not only to our student leaders, but also to you as parents for helping provide costumes and house colours for your children to dress up in. I appreciate that this can add extra pressure for many families, while also knowing that others absolutely love the challenge!

However, one person who deserves special mention is Emma Nicoll, who does such a fantastic job of supporting the house leaders and coordinating fun days like these. We are truly blessed as a school community to have such a talented and dedicated team of professionals — people who are not only outstanding classroom practitioners, but whose love for the Lord and for your children helps make our school such a wonderful place to be part of.

Gavin Clark

Principal

Pastoral Care and Support in the Primary School

As you will be aware, the government has introduced a new initiative to strongly support student attendance across the country. Research consistently shows that regular attendance is vital for a child’s overall well-being, social development, and academic achievement. As part of this initiative, schools are asked to closely monitor attendance, which includes keeping track of regular lateness.

Part of my role is to oversee the pastoral care of our primary students, and I want to ensure you feel supported. If there is anything making it difficult for you to get your child to school, please know that you can always speak directly with your child’s classroom teacher or pop in to see me /send me an email. We are here to help find solutions that work for your family, so please do reach out if we can support you in any way.

Warmly, Jo Oxley

Deputy Head of Primary

SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator)

j.oxley@hcs.school.nz

Vacancy on the HCS Board

Last week, an email was sent to all parents advising that a casual vacancy has occurred on the HCS school board for an elected parent representative. The board has decided to fill the vacancy by selection. This means the board will select a new parent representative.

If 10% or more of eligible voters on the school roll ask the board, within 28 days of the original notice being published, to hold a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will be held.

Request for a by-election should be sent to:

Presiding member (chair)
HCS Board
board@hcs.school.nz

Signing students out of School

When students & staff need to leave during the school day, we ask that they sign out via the ipad at the school office. Secondary students are already used to doing this, but we would now ask that all primary students (or their parents) please come to the office and officially sign out if they are leaving the school grounds (going home early or sick for the day or going to an appointment).

When a student or staff member signs out at the front office, this automatically updates the school’s student management system so that office staff and teachers can account for the whereabouts of all students and staff during the school day. Please ask the office staff if you need any help when signing out your child. Thanks!

Careers Expo

There was plenty of energy, free pens, tote bags, and future possibilities flying around on Wednesday 27 May as our Year 12 students headed to the Tahatū Careers Expo at Pettigrew Green Arena in Napier.

From local district councils and tertiary providers to trades, defence forces, technology, agriculture, hospitality, and creative industries, the expo showcased a huge range of pathways and opportunities available to students after school. It gave students the chance to explore different career ideas, ask questions, collect information, and have real conversations with people already working and training in those fields.

One of the highlights of the day was seeing students step outside their comfort zones and engage confidently with exhibitors. Some students arrived with a clear pathway already in mind, while others used the opportunity to discover options they may never have previously considered.

The Year 12 students represented Hastings Christian School well throughout the day. Their maturity, curiosity, and willingness to engage reflected positively on the school and helped them make the most of the opportunities available.

For many students, the expo was more than just a day out. It was a chance to start imagining what their future beyond school could look like.