Timaru girls’ high school
PRINCIPAL – DEB HALES
Iwould imagine that very few jobs are as dynamic, interesting, rewarding and challenging as working in a busy secondary state school! It is our aim at Timaru Girls’ High School for every girl to experience success at high school. That means different things for different students. Strong relationships between our teachers and students are a key factor in helping our girls realise their potential. When a student feels respected and supported by her teachers, doors open up for authentic learning to take place.
We pride ourselves on really knowing each individual girl and being receptive and flexible with how we can best meet her needs. Young people are wonderfully complex beings! Involving them in the conversations about their own progress and development is crucial. In this day and age, it is important for young women to develop a strong sense of resilience and confidence. Part of our job as educators, I believe, is to instil in the girls a strong sense of self-belief and to help guide them as they navigate obstacles and challenges in their lives.
Academic achievement is important. Success academically, provides a platform for the girls to have increased career opportunities later on in life. For a student to be truly successful, however, she needs to also ‘achieve’ in other areas of school life. Learning to handle stressful situations, developing strong interpersonal skills, appreciating and respecting diversity, understanding the value and importance of being kind to people, building resilience, challenging oneself – these are all equally important skills to have and learn as one moves through high school.
Whether it be through the Arts (performing and visual), the Sporting arena, the Cultural realm, or the Academic field, we encourage all of our girls to celebrate their own, and others’ successes. In an environment where it is cool to achieve, young people will push themselves. In an environment where successes are regularly celebrated, young people will thrive. In an environment where everyone is accepted and respected for who they are, despite their differences, young people will learn and grow.
At Timaru Girls’ High School, we value and promote the concept of a strong community. Everyone has a part to play in helping the Timaru Girls’ High Family to be the healthiest family that it can be. Standards need to be high. People will rise to high standards.