From the Principal
Tēnā tātou katoa, Tālofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Kia orana, Ni sa bula vinaka, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālo ni, Namaste, Nǐ hǎo, Kumusta, Assalamu alaikum, Jambo, Sua sdei, Heita, Tena yistilign, Konnichiwa, and warm greetings to our Kelston Girls’ College whānau.
Welcome to our first newsletter of the year! Newsletters will be sent home twice a term, and this first one for 2025 is a celebration of some of the achievements and experiences we have had so far this year, and a testament to the strength of our community.
We have had an incredibly positive start to 2025 and are pleased at the engagement and motivation we have seen already this year. There has been an atmosphere of enthusiasm and the energy and school spirit we have experienced in our school events has been wonderful.
In this newsletter we are delighted to introduce our Prefect team for 2025, whose vision and commitment inspire us all. They bring fresh perspectives and a strong desire to make a positive impact on our school community. We also warmly welcome our new staff members, whose expertise and dedication will enrich our learning environment and support our students to flourish.
At Kelston Girls’ College we are committed to providing a learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed and is supported to flourish. We look forward to sharing stories of sisterhood, success, celebrating achievements, and highlighting the many ways our students and staff are making a difference through our newsletters this year.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Talia McNaughton
Tumuaki / Principal
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Important Dates
Please keep an eye out on our website for the latest updates.
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A Pōwhiri Welcome for our
Year 9, New Students and Whānau
On Friday 31st January, we officially welcomed our new Kelston whānau into Kelston Girls' College with a pōwhiri. There was a great turnout from our community and many had the opportunity to meet our new Tumuaki for the first time!
The Year 9 Orientation programme held in the afternoon was packed full of fun activities, singing, and laughter as our students got to know each other better and planned for the start of the new year together.
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Friday 14th February was a day to remember! The sun was shining, the energy was electric, and the voices of our students could be heard echoing across the field. From the first chant of the morning, we knew this was going to be something special.
Cooper, Malosi, Batten, and Shepperd—each house brought their best, not just in the events but in the incredible chants that gave us chills. The enthusiasm was next level, with students decked out in house colours, creative costumes, and even superhero capes. It was amazing to see everyone embracing the spirit of the day.
The participation was outstanding. Whether it was the heart-racing 100m sprint, the endurance-testing 400m, or the impressive power on display in the shot put, discus, and javelin, every student gave it their all. The long jump saw some incredible efforts, and the competition in every event was fierce but friendly. We were so proud to see our students pushing themselves, stepping up, and having a go.
We also spotted some seriously promising talent! Speedsters flying down the track, powerhouse throwers making their mark, and fearless jumpers giving it their all. The future of Kelston athletics is looking bright!
But more than anything, Athletics Day is about coming together as a school. The cheers, the high-fives, the determination—it was all a reminder of the incredible spirit that makes Kelston Girls’ College so special.
A huge shoutout to all the teachers and staff who helped make the day run smoothly. Whether you were organising events, cheering on students, or making sure everything stayed on track—thank you! Your effort and enthusiasm made all the difference. A special mention to Cooper house for being the winning house for Athletics Day.
By the end of the day, students left with tired legs, hoarse voices, and big smiles.
Can’t wait for next year!
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Careers Department Has a Busy Start To The Year
Te Ara Moemoea - Careers Department has had a busy start to the year. It has been thrilling to see so many students dropping by the careers space to make the most of the opportunities on offer:
Trades Academy
This year we have fifty students attending courses at tertiary providers one day each week. Students gain credits and valuable experience in the career of their choice. Courses include:
- Automotive
- Tourism
- Hospitality
- Business
- Healthcare
- Sports and Recreation
- Uniformed Services
Gateway
University Visits
The following universities are scheduled to present and visit our kura on Fridays during Block One. All Year 13 students are welcome to attend these sessions:
Look out for more provider visits later in the term.
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Kelston Girls' College Gears Up for a Historic ASB Polyfest 2025!
ASB Polyfest 2025 is set to be a spectacular event, as it marks 50 years of celebrating Pacific culture, talent, and diversity. This milestone year promises to be bigger and better than ever, with Kelston Girls' College making a strong presence with seven groups registered to perform.
Practices are well underway, and the dedication of students is truly inspiring. During afternoon sessions, the school comes alive with the powerful sounds of Kapa Haka, Samoan, and Tongan performances. The Fijian and Indian groups are preparing for their showcases on the Diversity Stage, bringing their unique cultural expressions to the festival. The Cook Islands group is stepping up this year, moving from the entertainment stage to the competitive stage, demonstrating their growth and determination.
Making history this year, Kelston Girls' College proudly introduces its first ever Filipino group, which will also be competing on a competitive stage. This marks an exciting moment for our school, showcasing the rich diversity of our students.
With just a few weeks to go, the students are putting in their all to ensure their performances are polished and ready for the grand event. We look forward to seeing their hard work and dedication come to life on stage at ASB Polyfest 2025. Let's show our support and celebrate this incredible achievement together!
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Shinagawa International Students Hosted By Our Kura
We were delighted to welcome a group of students from Shinagawa Junior Girls High, Japan, this week.
The week began with a powhiri, delighting our visitors with a taste of Kerehana.
They'll spend two weeks at Kelston Girls' College, learning English and taking part in regular classes with a 'buddy'.
The girls will have a great chance to experience Kiwi culture through life with their host families.
The trip is a treasured annual tradition that is exciting for everyone involved.
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Environmental Committee After School Walk
On Thursday 27th February, Miss Hak, Mr van den Hoeven and Mr Ross drove two van loads of students out to South Piha.
The students had a wonderful time discovering and exploring such a beautiful place. Having Mr van den Hoeven and Miss Hak as part of the group meant the outing turned into a geography/geology field trip at various points.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the trip very successful!
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The Clifford Sisters take on 2025!
We continue to showcase the very talented sisters, Aaliyah and Laquiesha Clifford!
In our last newsletter, it was reported Laquiesha Clifford had travelled to India to compete in the Heyball World Championship, placing third in the world, as well as travelling to the USA earlier last year to compete and place first at Junior Worlds.
Aaliyah Clifford proudly represented NZ at Junior World Championship competing in U/19 Division (10-Ball) placing 5th, and U/16 Division (8-Ball) ranking 3rd in the Junior Girl's competition.
Wishing you both the very best for 2025 and we can't wait to hear what this year has in store for you!
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After School Tutorials
Due to popular demand, the Academic Hub is open from this week onwards.
Student Attendance is recorded at the academic hub. If you want to check your daughter's attendance, please contact the office.
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A special thank you to DS Trees for their kind donation of mulch to our Kura. We are very grateful for your support and appreciate the instant difference this has made to our back gardens.
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REMINDERS
Absences from School
A kind reminder, if your child is going to be absent from class, please communicate through to the school by:
- Phoning us on 09 827 6063
- Or email through to the school office at attendance@kelstongirls.school.nz
- Or report an absence through
It is important to let us know when your daughter will be absent as there are strong processes in place to support good student attendance, while providing a daily report to the Ministry..
Contact Details
Our kura relies on parents and caregivers keeping their contact details up to date on our databases for effective and efficient communication. If you have changed your physical address, phone number or email address recently, please notify us by emailing reception@kelstongirls.school.nz so we can update our records.
Appointments During School Hours
All appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please notify the school in advance so the necessary arrangements can be made to ensure your student is available at the arranged time, and Student Attendance is updated accordingly.
Student Payments Online:
If you would like to make a payment online via bank transfer please use the account details below:
ASB Bank account 12-3051-0009033-00.
Please quote the Student's First and Last Name, and the item paid for (e.g. Volleyball fees) so it can be correctly coded.
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