This year the St John's and Sacred Heart combined production was a spectacle worth seeing!  The story integrated many of the great works of Shakespeare, integrated travel in both time and space and an elusive formula that can change the world.  The show featured many rock and roll hits from the fifties and sixties.
Excellent costuming, great performances, unabashed enthusiasm by all who took part and wonderful choreography (thank you, Mrs Pipe) were all on display for three fabulous nights from 28 July.
To say it was all fun and games would be an exaggeration as we all got on each others nerves at some point or other during rehearsals, but the performance nights made all the cast and crew's efforts well worth while.
Mr Bradnock and Mr Sullivan from St John's, along with Mr Lundell and Mr Brown, were brave to say the least for taking on this mammoth task.The praise of all who saw the show was a tribute to their patience with us and all their hard work and determination to put on a good show.
Everyone involved had an awesome time and I believe, along with many others, that the show was a huge success.
Laura Jeffares--11PY

Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Term three has been very busy with students and staff involved in a wide range of activities, some of which are reported in this newsletter. From Work Experience for Year 10 students, Science Fair competitions, Australasian Maths competitions, Pasifika week, netball finals, the Arts Festival, Chamber Music competitions and the combined school production, our students had many opportunities to participate and to excel academically and in extra curricular activities.
One of the highlights this month was our Open Afternoon which was held on 15 August.  The contribution of our present students to the afternoon was especially evident and was commented on very favourably by our visitors.  Thanks also, for the success of the afternoon, must go to the staff for the displays and activities which showed something of what goes on each day in our classrooms.  The benefits of a smaller school with the greater degree of familiarity and social interaction providing optimum learning environment for students was discussed by many.  Enrolments for 2005 are looking very positive.
This term is also the time when students begin to look to their option choices for 2005.  When your daughter brings home the College's Option Booklet please take time to discuss this and help her to make wise and considered choices.
May I take the opportunity to thank all those who have supported the school and its endeavours during this busy term.  We all look forward to a relaxing break starting at 3.15 on September 17.

God bless
Monica Johnson, Principal   

Trip to New Caledonia

Bon voyage to the 15 students who Mr Marshall and Mrs Stewart are escorting to New Caledonia on a French Language and Cultural trip during the holidays.

40 Japanese students descended on us for a day and a half to share sport and cultural activities.  They had a fun-filled time on the climbing wall, playing netball and badminton, making flax flowers, learning pois and Maori stick games.
Our students were wonderful hosts and the families who homestayed the girls enjoyed their experience.  They would love to come back next year.

Our annual Arts Festival was held at the Century Theatre on Thursday, 12 August and was a great celebration of the cultural and artistic talents of our students.
We had Highland dancing, Kapa Haka Super 12, chamber music, Pasifika, concert band, solists and even a couple of our staff members performed.
The Year 10 art work also contributed to the atmosphere and looked very attractive displayed around the stage area. The audience expressed their appreciation and encouragement very enthuisiastically.
We also thank Mrs Pipe for co-ordinating the Arts Festival for us this year,and  Mr Tony Parker whose expertise with the sound helped to make this an event to remember.
We thank the PTA for providing light refreshments in the foyer afterwards which encouraged even more community feeling.

On 15 August, we had an extremely successful open afternoon.  It was wonderful to see so many family groups taking advantage of the lovely weather and being able to enjoy the beautiful site our College is built upon.
Many of those who attended were complimentary about the lovely atmosphere and the friendly attitude of the students and staff  they encountered.
Special thanks must go to the tour leaders and our Year 9 speakers, Siobhan Storey, Emma Pedersen, Oriwia Solomon, and Esther Anderson who were outstanding.
We look forward to welcoming our new students and their families into our Sacred Heart community.

On Friday 20 August, the combined Concert Band of Sacred Heart and St John's travelled to Rotorua to compete in the National Concert Band Festival.
The band was fortunate to listen to many other accomplished bands as well as to experience performing on Friday and Saturday.  On the Saturday evening, we were very pleased to be presented with a Bronze Award for our Entertainment section and a Silver Award for Performance.
Overall the weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by all--an exciting experience. 
Meg Whitlow--12HD

A fancy-dress farewell dinner was held for English GAP student, Alex Joseph, on Wednesday 11 August.  The girls all got into the spirit of the "Nursery Rhyme" theme with imaginative costumes, many put together on a shoe-string budget.
"I've enjoyed my time here so much", said Alex.  "I was so scared when I first flew out but everyone was so welcoming that it's been like finding another family.  I'm sad to be leaving".  We loved having you too, Alex.
Thankyou to everyone who supported the Hostel raffle--this was won by No. 125--Mr 'T'!!! Date to remember: Hostel Board meeting on 9 September at 6pm.

Many thanks to the hard working PTA for their support.  Trivial Pursuit evening has been postponed until early November.
Looking forward to more parents joining our PTA.

You can contact me any time on 027 5111.935 or email me at gazel.makea@tremain.co.nz

Regards--Gazel, Chairperson

Once again Sacred Heart College was well represented in the EIT Hawke's Bay Science Fair competitions.  Over 30 of our students represented us in the different categories of the Fair.  We had quiz teams from Yrs 9-12, technology challenge teams from Y9 and 12, Titration teams from Y12 and 13 Chemistry classes and entries from Y9,10 and 13 in the project sections.  It was in the project section that two of our girls had success.
Congratulations go to Kjerstine Severinsen (10WG) Project Section "Life's a Beach";  First place: Planet Earth and Beyond.  She also earned a "Hawke's Bay Regional Council award" (as an exhibit which illustrated awareness of sustainable use of a natural resource), as well as an EIT "Faculty of Science and Technology award" for an exhibit demonstrating scientific and technological endeavour.   Congratulations also to Jessica Taylor (9BR) who gained Highly Commended for her project "Two Tyred to Stop" in the Physical World section.
Also representing us in the project sections were: Deirdre Smith (Photon Finish), Helena Brown (Off-Beat) , Emma McKay (The Orange Oracle) and Danielle Kramer and Teleisha MacKirdy (Slips and Grips).
My thanks go to all the students who entered the various competitions, to their parents and families for their transport and support, to Diane Rowsell and her team at EIT for their work in the Titration competition and to my Science Department staff Rebecca Young and Ron Scott.  A huge thank you must go to Zandra Mitchell, our Science Technician, for her professionalism and effort above and beyond the call of duty.  - Ashley Brown, HOD Science

On the night of Saturday, 7 August, the combined Sacred Heart/St John's Senior Ball was held at the Saddles Room of the Hawke's Bay Racing Club.  The Ball Committee had done a wonderful job in decorating the venue, the theme being "A Night at The Oscars".  Mr David Brown was the MC for the evening and we thank him for his efforts.

The girls all looked stunning.  The Queen of the Ball was Irmie Wynsma, Mary Nichols was the Princess and Alana Brady was 'Best Dressed'. 
Thank you to the Ball Committee, Rosie Parker-Bevin, Carissa Livingstone, Alana Brady, Amelia Roberts, Renee Jensen, Holly Forde and Mrs Watson for their organisation of this event.

It was a most successful evening and thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

Our Polynesian students were fully involved in this wonderful cultural event.  Activities were spread over the week and included speech and writing competitions.  A Careers day was held on Friday, 20 August with Michael Jones as a key-note speaker.  The girls had an opportunity to investigate many career options and choices.
On Friday evening the Pacific Idol contest was held.  Victoria Esekielu was our representative.  She sang her heart out and was placed second.
Saturday was the cultural festival.  Our girls--"Pacific Horizon" presented an item that featured a variety of Pasifika cultures; Tongan, Samoan and a hula.
Victoria Esekielu won the Senior Samoan Speech competition and Lusila Maka won the Tongan Senior Speech competition.--Maryanne MacIntosh-Wright

Congratulations to…
The following Sacred Heart students who will be confirmed at St Mary's Church on Sunday, 5 September at 5pm by Bishop Peter Cullinaine … Katie Alexander,Whitney Burt, Samantha Gray,
Vanessa Oliver and
Charlotte Fisher

All parents and caregivers of Year 9,10,11 and 12 students are invited to attend our Option Information Evening to hear more about the selection process and discuss subject options with members of staff and visiting speakers at our College Gymnasium on Wednesday, 1 September from 7--9pm.
Your daughter will have received a copy of our 2005 Option Booklet and a covering letter. 
This evening is primarily designed to assist students plan their courses of study or subject pathways throughout their remaining years at Sacred Heart College.
We look forward to seeing you all at this evening.

Assessment Week for Senior students (Y11--13) begins on 6 September.  Information will be given out to these students.