Newsletter Week 8 Term 2

Hastings Christian School

10 June 2026

From the Principal

It’s always encouraging to receive positive feedback about our school, and even more so when that feedback relates to one of our core values—particularly Caring for Others.
Our secondary girls’ soccer team recently played Havelock North High School. Following the game, the opposition coach sent the following email:

"I wanted to pass on my compliments to your team. The girls played with tenacity and determination throughout the match and represented your school well. They were a great group of young women to host and compete against. I would also like to acknowledge your coach, who was clearly invested in the well-being of his players and demonstrated genuine care and support for his team throughout the game and afterwards."

The second core value in our HCS Way is Caring for Others (Manaakitanga ki ngā Tāngata). By this we mean:

At HCS, we endeavour to serve God by caring for others.
We learn to serve others and to put their needs before our own.
We consider the thoughts and feelings of others.
We show compassion and empathy.
We are quick to forgive and include others in our activities.
We are quick to encourage and slow to criticise.

There have been many recent examples of this value being lived out in our school community:

A3 New Entrants: Our new entrant class visited Duart House Rest Home to bless and encourage the residents.
E1 Persecuted Church Bake Sale: The annual school bake sale to raise funds and awareness for the persecuted church is always a highlight and proves to be a double blessing—for those overseas and for our students, who enjoy the sweet treats!
Student Clubs: The number of students who willingly run clubs across the school is particularly heartwarming.
Youth Ministry Training: Approximately 15 secondary students have been giving up their own time on Thursday mornings to learn how to help lead youth ministry programmes in their respective churches. In the coming weeks, they will have the opportunity to put their learning into practice by serving and blessing two primary classes.
Student Leaders: There are countless ways in which our senior student leaders and prefects serve our school—from assemblies and sports competitions to House events and Student Council initiatives. We are truly blessed with many positive role models.

This service to and care for others finds its ultimate example in Christ. In Philippians 2:3–7 we read:

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."

The importance of caring for others and looking out for their interests was also the theme of my recent Christian Worldview classes. This term, Renee Ford has been working with the girls, while I have had the privilege of teaching the boys. The book we have been discussing is The Men We Need by Brant Hansen.

One chapter that proved particularly convicting for all of us was Make Women and Children Feel Safe. In particular, the section titled What Love Is and Isn’t challenged us to think carefully about our priorities. A few quotes are worth reflecting on:

"Ultimately our lives are entirely about relationships. That becomes crystal clear in the deathbed scenario. It becomes clear in an emergency too. If the house is on fire and family members are inside, we don’t run in to rescue the leather couch."

"When confronted with reality, we’re very aware that our lives are always about relationships. There are windows for particular relationships that open and then close forever."

"Life is short, and it’s about relationships, relationships, relationships. That means living at a pace of life we choose, not one that’s dictated by our ever-escalating material expectations. Amazing how buying into a ‘lifestyle’ can cost us the lives we really wanted."

As you read these words, I would encourage you to reflect on where you invest the greatest amount of your time, thought, and energy. While that reflection may be sobering, it is far better to make a course correction now than to live with regrets later.

May we continue to follow Christ’s example by caring for others, putting their interests before our own, and investing deeply in the relationships that matter most.

Gavin Clark

Principal

Chamber Music

Our three HCS chamber music groups, The MnMs, The Olrusa Trio and The Blue Maroons, delivered wonderful performances at the recent Chamber Music Festival held at Iona College's Blyth Performing Arts Centre, to the delight of their families in the audience. Each ensemble showed technical skill and musical maturity that honoured their many weeks of diligent preparation. As a school we are very proud of the way they represented us so well, reflecting the dedication of these young musicians to mastering a new style of music making and the stylistic sensitivity they displayed in their performances. Well done and thank you!

- Mrs Coates

Term 3 Primary Sports

We are pleased to offer a range of after-school winter sports this term, including Taekwondo, Basketball, and Water Polo. Further information about each sport is provided on the registration form. If your child is interested in participating, please complete the form by Tuesday 23 June. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs Nadia Saathof at n.saathof@hcs.school.nz

HCS Primary Sport - Term 3 Notice

E1 Bakesale - Thank You!

Thank you for your support of the E1 bakesale yesterday! We raised over $1400 which will go to the persecuted church.

TaekwanDo Tournament

Next Monday 15th of June, HCS will be hosting a local TaekwanDo tournament in the gym. There will be over 200 competitors onsite using the facilities. Please note that it might be a little busier at morning drop off and afternoon pick up times.

Vacancy on the HCS Board

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, before 11 June, 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

Fia Fia Night

Kia ora e te whānau, We are excited to invite you to our Hastings Christian School Fiafia Night on Thursday 23 July at 6:00pm in the School Gym.

Fiafia Night is a special opportunity for our school community to come together and celebrate the many cultures, traditions, stories, and experiences that make up our school whānau. As a Christian school, we recognise that every person is wonderfully made in God's image, and this evening is a chance to celebrate the rich diversity He has brought together within our community.

We would love for families to be involved by sharing something meaningful from their culture, heritage, or family traditions. This could be a cultural performance, dance, song, traditional dress, music, storytelling, a favourite dessert, or simply sharing something special about your family's background.

Whether your family has lived in New Zealand for generations or has connections to another part of the world, your story matters and helps us learn more about one another.

If you would like to contribute in any way, please complete the form below:

Fiafia Night Participation Form:

Please complete the form by Friday 3 July so we can begin putting the evening programme together.

Even if you are not planning to perform or contribute an item, we warmly encourage you to come along and enjoy an evening of celebration, connection, and community.

We are looking forward to seeing our school whānau come together for what promises to be a wonderful evening.

Student Achievements

Kaleb Wood

Congratulations to Kaleb Wood (Y5) on his fantastic achievement of winning a bronze medal at the Under-13 National Teams Table Tennis Championships in Auckland over the weekend. We are incredibly proud of his success and the way he represented both himself and our school. Well done, Kaleb!