Stella Dineen - Head Girl
The picturesque town of Wanaka is home to me. My schooling began at Holy Family Catholic School, where I spent Years 1 to 6, before transitioning to the much larger Mt Aspiring College or MAC for two years. My introduction to St Hilda's Collegiate came through the tent at the Wānaka Show, followed shortly after by visits to the school and Tolcarne Boarding Residence. While I was aware of St Hilda’s great reputation, with no prior family connections to the school, I was uncertain about the likelihood of my application being accepted.
Thankfully an acceptance letter did arrive and my journey at St Hilda’s began.
Shortly after, I travelled to Dunedin for the annual Tolcarne sleepover, an experience I will never forget. When my name, ‘Stella Dineen,’ was called for Baxter Tribe, it felt like a scene straight out of Harry Potter, as I walked up to receive my purple badge, greeted by cheers from my new Tolcarne tribemates.
Like anyone moving away from home for the first time, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Tolcarne was a completely new environment, 150 girls under one roof, shared rooms, and the bustling city life of Dunedin. It was a significant adjustment from Wānaka, and at times, it felt overwhelming. However, as I settled in, I quickly realised that Tolcarne was not just a boarding house—it was a second family, a place where everyone belonged. The friendships I formed became like sisterhood, and the support from the caring matrons eased the transition. Despite this, homesickness was inevitable. I missed my family, friends, horses, and my mum’s home-cooked meals. But as time passed, I found my place, built lasting connections, and truly embraced everything St Hilda’s had to offer.
One moment that has always stuck with me was my first meeting with Mrs Rathbone, when she said, “At St Hilda’s, everyone around you wants to do well, so it pushes you to want to do well.” She could not have been more correct.
Academically, I had faced challenges, having been diagnosed with dyslexia in Year 8. For a long time, I believed I was simply not as capable as my peers, often struggling to keep up and feeling frustrated with myself. Coming to terms with the fact that my brain processes information differently took time, but the support I received at St Hilda’s was transformative. The school provided an environment that allowed me to embrace my learning style, helping me recognise dyslexia as a strength rather than a limitation.
The teachers at St Hilda’s have had the biggest influence on my journey, shaping my love for science in ways I never expected. Whether it was Mrs Baker lighting my hand on fire in Chemistry, Mr Richards bringing in a massive fish head for us to dissect in Biology, or Dr. Fisher enthusiastically firing Nerf guns to teach us about elastic energy, every lesson became an adventure. The way they teach Science is so engaging and inspiring, and while I’m still figuring out exactly where my future lies, it definitely lies in the world of science.
Sport is incredible at St Hilda’s and I have loved getting involved in volleyball, basketball, cross-country, rowing, and netball. My most memorable moment with St Hilda's sport was rowing at Maadi on Lake Karapiro in our U16 eight, winning the repechage and making it into the A final. Our manager, Belinda Colling, brought all her experience wearing the ‘silver fern’ for NZ to our squad. Belinda made us feel like we were elite athletes about to compete at the Olympics, and her motivational speeches before races made us believe we were ‘in the running’ for Gold, it was a truly special time and I feel so lucky to have been part of that boat.
Beyond academics and sport, service has played a crucial role in my St Hilda’s journey. Being involved in clubs such as Z-Club, Amnesty International, Volunteer Club, and the Wellbeing Committee has opened my eyes to new fields, great causes and opportunities. Organising events like the ‘Pink Breakfast’ for breast cancer awareness and working alongside other students to make a difference in our community has been a privilege.
One of the most remarkable opportunities I have been given by Tolcarne & St Hildas was to be selected, alongside two peers, to attend the National Leadership Camp in Australia last year — an experience that truly inspired me. Bringing together students in their final years of schooling from across Australia and New Zealand, teaching the values of leadership over four days through the themes of Values, Service, Grit, and Vision.
At the end of last year, I was given the huge honour of being named Head Girl for 2025. It is a feeling of excitement and gratitude. Being able to give back to this school that has given me so much is something I will never take for granted. I am so excited about what this year will hold, especially the privilege of working alongside an amazing group of prefects, all of whom are strong, driven, and extremely talented young women. Together, we have developed our goal for 2025:
"To maintain a passionate and uplifting St Hilda’s sisterhood by creating meaningful change as well as celebrating the little moments, so every student can embrace authenticity, build connections, and create lasting memories."
As I approach my final year at St Hilda’s, it feels surreal to now be one of the Year 13s I once admired so much. St Hilda’s has shaped me in ways I never could have imagined, providing me with opportunities, friendships, and lessons that I will carry with me for a lifetime. While I may not yet know exactly what the future holds, I do know that the experiences and values I have gained here will guide me through whatever comes next.
Māia Koni
Hi, my name is Māia Koni and I’m in Year 8. I was born and live in Dunedin, and before coming to St Hilda’s Collegiate, I went to St Bernadette's Primary School.
My parents wanted me to come to St Hilda’s because of the opportunities and the high level of education I would receive, but I was nowhere near as sure as they were to begin with! The scary thing for me about coming to St Hilda’s was that I didn't know anyone else who was going. All of my friends from primary school were heading to other schools.
On orientation day I was very nervous, but the teachers and older girls were very welcoming. When you arrive at St Hilda’s you get a buddy to help with settling in. When I met my Year 8 buddy, Evie, I felt so much better because she was very kind and helpful.
By the end of the orientation afternoon, I was feeling more confident about starting St Hilda’s and was looking forward to some of the subjects and activities on offer.
I was a little worried again on the first day at the start of the year, but it didn’t take long for these feelings to fade away as I settled into life as a St Hilda’s girl. In Year 7 we have a large classroom right in the middle of the school, and we share this with the Year 8s. It is really cool because it means you get to meet lots of different people and make new friends easily.
I always feel like I have people to support me if I need it, and school is so much fun! I love Physical Education with Mrs Oliver-Cowie, and I love baking with my friends in Food Tech and learning how to use the equipment in the Science lab.
There are so many sports and activities that you can get involved with at St Hilda’s, which you find out about on Club Day early in the year. You will be amazed at all of the things you can take part in! So far I have signed up for volleyball, touch, hip hop, kapa haka, the Shakespeare Group, basketball and hockey. I have been really enjoying getting to know other students who also do these activities. I think getting involved in activities outside of the classroom is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and have lots of fun - so I would definitely recommend this to anyone new!
I wouldn’t usually want to admit that Mum and Dad are right, but they were. St Hilda’s is an awesome school and it was the right choice for me. I know I am going to have the best opportunities and experiences to learn and grow here, and always have help from my friends, classmates, older girls and my teachers when I need it. I feel really proud to be a student here and can’t wait to experience the next seven years at St Hilda’s!
Tessa Steele
Hi, my name is Tessa Steele and I am a Year 10 boarder. I was super excited to come to St Hilda’s and so far I have enjoyed every second of it. When I first came, I was looking forward to meeting everyone, making new friends and trying a whole lot of new things. Now that I have been here for almost a term, I have settled into the routines and am finding my way around school a lot easier.
At the beginning it was hard, because there were other students struggling with being homesick and sometimes you just didn’t know how to help them. But all the staff at Tolcarne and school, along with the older students were really helpful and they always knew exactly what to do.
Something that made starting so much easier, was having a Year 13 buddy. They help you settle in at the start of the year and are always around to talk to when you need them. I also have an older sister and she has been a big help, even when I just have simple questions to ask her.
When I came to the Open Day in Year 8 and went for a look around, at first, I was really overwhelmed and certain that I would get lost. But with the help of my classmates, day girls (that had been there since Year 7) and the teachers, I found my way and now know where most of the classes are!
Currently at school I am really enjoying math and performing arts. Coming to St Hilda’s I was excited for all of the new subjects I’d get to try, such as digital technology, performing arts and P.E. The teachers are all so nice and easy to talk to if you are ever unsure about something or have a question.
The sports I’m playing this year are cricket, touch and social volleyball in the summer, with rugby, netball and hockey in the winter. Another thing that I was super excited about when moving here, was the new opportunities I’d get and different sports I could try. Back home, there were not as many options for sport and we often had to play in the boys’ teams.
So far, my St Hilda’s experience has been so much fun and I can’t wait for all the new activities and opportunities I’ll get to experience in my next 4 years here!
