Providing our students with opportunities to connect with each other and build whanaungatanga is fundamental to our student support network.
Whanaungatanga Groups: We have 28 whanaungatanga groups, lead by a staff member. Each group has approx 18 students ranging from yr 7-13. Our vertical groups are all connected to a native bird and the students stay in the same whanaungatanga group the whole time they are at St Hilda’s. The whanaungatanga group is all about building connections and forming across year-level relationships.
Tautoko Kaiarahi
Year 12 Peer Mentoring with Year 9 Students: Focused one-on-one or small group mentoring, encouraging Year 9 students to build connections with Yr 13 students through activities and kōrero, gain academic guidance, and discuss personal development.
Year 13 Tātariki Leadership with Year 7/8 Students: Year 13 students will lead Tatariki, a mentorship program that introduces junior students to secondary school life, fostering social connections through fun activities and kōrero for terms 1,2 and 3.
Junior Kōrero led by Year 13 Students: During deans' gatherings, Year 13 students will lead kōrero (discussions) on age-relevant pastoral topics such as resilience, managing social dynamics, and emotional wellbeing. These conversations will address common challenges facing teenage girls, building a foundation of shared experiences and strategies.
New student Buddy System: Year level Deans arrange buddies for new students to help them find their way around school and settle them into our routines.
Tātariki: Our House captains lead and facilitate games and activities with Year 7 & 8 students during eight of our Monday assembly/house meeting time. Our new Year 7 students will see familiar, friendly faces during sports days and other house activities such as singing and kapa haka.
House System: St Hilda’s have 4 houses - Aston (yellow), Bentham (green), Richards (red), Thomson (blue). Each house has two house leaders and there are a number of activities throughout the year that contribute points towards the house cup - the Mumford Cup - that is awarded each year at prizegiving.
Peer Tutoring: The Academic Prefect oversees a peer tutoring programme. Students volunteer to tutor in particular subjects and when other students are looking for tutoring help they are matched with the appropriate tutor.
Student Council: Student council is made up of representatives from each year level. The Year thirteen representatives are the council leaders and hold regular meetings. Student reps will bring ideas and feedback from their year groups which will be used by the council in the initiatives they undertake.
SAGA: Sexuality And Gender Acceptance group. This group meets each week for crafts, movies, chats and to learn about all things queer. It is a safe space for LGTBQIA+ students and allies, where you can meet like minded people and make new friends.
Ask Aunty Hilda: Ask Aunty Hilda is a group run by students for students. It is for anyone in Years 12 and 13 who is passionate about women's rights, healthy relationships, sex, sexuality and understanding and accepting ourselves and our bodies. Ask Aunty Hilda runs the website under the same name, and is a place for reliable information, blog posts on current events affecting women and a question-and-answer page for anything related to relationships and sex.
Wellbeing Committee: This is run by our Wellbeing Prefects and is an opportunity for students to participate in a number of activities to enhance their own mental well-being and to contribute to the well-being of the school through group-led initiatives.
New student Buddy System: Year level Deans arrange buddies for new students to help them find their way around school and settle them into our routines.
International Buddies: This social group meet with the international students during lunchtime. They enjoy chatting with each other while eating lunch in Whitby. It is a great way for the students to connect with young people from other countries, share their interests and culture, and make new friends. At least once a term, there is also a social activity such as ice skating, bowling.
