Rangi Ruru Girls' School

Four Rangi Ruru ākonga have recently returned from school exchanges across the globe—Melek Cam and Anya Kupec (Year 12) visited Lycée La Mennais in France, while Louise Bennett and Mia Wang (Year 10) experienced life at King Edward VI School for Girls in Birmingham. Meanwhile, Year 11 students Serena Min and Season Lin hosted students from our sister school in Japan, Yokohama Jogakuin, before heading there themselves.

🇬🇧 Exchanges are an incredible opportunity to step outside comfort zones, embrace new challenges, and make lifelong connections. Louise shared, “This exchange has been a great experience—I’ve made so many new friends and done things I never would have in New Zealand, like seeing Les Misérables in London’s West End.”

🇫🇷 Melek reflected on France, saying, “We explored Paris, Mont Saint-Michel, Saint-Malo, and nearby towns, tried amazing food, and were immersed in the culture. Our host families were so welcoming, which made the whole experience even better.”

🇯🇵 Japanese student Sakura, shared, “Every day here is a new and challenging experience, but I learn and have a lot of fun!”

✈️ Whether traveling abroad or hosting an exchange student, these experiences offer students new perspectives on the world and create lifelong memories.

For some, Open Days are a chance to showcase a campus, highlight academic achievements, and share success stories. At Rangi Ruru, we go beyond that–we open our doors and our hearts, inviting prospective students and their families to truly experience who we are and what it means to be part of the Rangi Ruru whānau.

💙 On Friday, we welcomed 550 visitors through our gates to discover what a Rangi Ruru education could look like for them. It was important that our guests not only saw our school in action but also heard firsthand from those who make it great. Principal Tracy Herft, Head of School Libby Sexton, and current parent Ollie Newman shared their insights, while student-led tours gave a real glimpse into daily life at Rangi Ruru.

💛 Our visitors saw for themselves how relaxed, comfortable, and confident our students are. As Ollie Newman put it, "We are proud to have our daughters attend this amazing school. My wife and I fully understand the financial commitment, but Rangi Ruru is the best investment we have made for our children, as parents."

For years, ThermaTech has been a proud supporter of our rowing programme, ensuring our athletes train in high-quality gear designed for performance. Their technical fabrics keep our rowers comfortable and focused, whether they’re powering through an early morning session or braving the elements on the water.

Thank you for your ongoing support, ThermaTech! You can check their range of performance apparel at thermatech.co.nz

ThermaTech

Last night, we hosted our first Friends at Five Thirty event for 2025, and what a start it was.

📽️ Jane Mahoney took us on a journey through her upbringing in Ōtautahi Christchurch, sharing her family's deep connections to some of the city's most iconic architectural buildings and the history behind her feature-length documentary 'Maurice and I'.

🎨 Jessica Close shared her path from Rangi Ruru to becoming an award-winning interior designer, reflecting on her early inspirations, the challenges she faced, and the beauty found within imperfection.

🌍 Rewa Rendall captivated us with tales of her travels and bravery in some of the most remote places on Earth, drawing inspiration from early explorers and pioneering Antarctic photography.

🙏 Thank you to our incredible speakers for sharing their journeys, our talented MC Maddie Glossop (Year 13), and our community for attending another sold-out evening!

🏡 Special thanks to New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty for sponsoring Friends at Five Thirty, we appreciate your support.



New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty

Athletics Day was all about pushing limits, breaking records, and securing vital clan points! From traditional track and field events to gumboot throwing, sack races, and the ultimate test of teamwork, clan relays, every moment was a chance to compete and excel. And, of course, once again, the highly anticipated day student vs. boarder haka ignited the competitive spirit, bringing some high energy levels to start the day off! 🏆💙💚💛❤️🤍💜

Reunions aren't just about seeing familiar faces, they're about reconnecting with the moments that helped shape us as humans. They bring laughter over old memories, the surprise at how much (or how little) has changed and a reminder that no matter where life takes us, Rangi Ruru will always be part of that story.

💛💙 Over the weekend, more than 150 alumnae returned to Rangi Ruru for their reunions, celebrating with a cocktail evening, chapel, class photos, a tour and a delicious brunch. Here's to old friends, new stories and the ties that never break.


Rangi Ruru Alumnae

At the Boarders' Retreat earlier this year, the team from Brown Dog Ceramics popped in for a hands-on pottery workshop, and our boarders let their creativity shine! Each student selected a bespoke piece and designed it with their own unique touch–such a fun activity and a fantastic way for our boarders to connect and get creative together.

🎨🖌🔥 The results? See for yourself—how cool are these?! After being fired in the kiln, the finished pieces arrived last week, and they look amazing!

Year 12 camp in Hanmer Springs is more than just orienteering, tree-climbing, mountain biking, and puzzle hunts—it’s about forging connections that will carry these students through their final years of school. From conservation projects to wellbeing activities, every challenge tackled and every inter-clan chant shouted strengthened the bonds of this year group.

💙💛💙 Soaking in the hot pools was a well-earned treat, but the real warmth comes from knowing that no matter what the next two years bring–excitement, nerves, highs, and lows–these students have each other. A band of sisters, ready to support, champion, and lift one another up.

NZQA Scholarships results are in and we are so proud of our students, we want to share their awesome results with you!

👩🏽‍🎓 NZ Scholarship is a prestigious award recognising the country's top secondary school students. Assessments are designed to challenge high-achieving learners and demonstrate deep subject knowledge and critical thinking through exams and submission of portfolios.

👏🏾 At Rangi Ruru 23 scholarships were achieved in total, with 2 at Outstanding level. Congratulations to the following students:
Angam Vraich - English, Biology, Chemistry, Statistics
Rose Carrick - English
Grace Brennan - English
Mariella Wallace - English
Olivia Barnett - English
Greer Abel Kirkpatrick - English
Abby Sturgeon - English
Sophie Cusiel - Design and Visual Communication
Saffron Mogridge - Printmaking
Lily Hyde-Smith - Printmaking
Hester Nott - Photography
Mollie Brickwood - Biology
Sarah Vogt - Painting
Xinze (Melody) Liu - Painting
Man Hei (Chloe) Jiang - Music
Yubing (Polly) Lee - Music
Yuxin (Elise) Tian - Music
Millie White - History
Honor Forbes - Spanish
Yu (Tiantian) Chen - Calculus

⭐️ Special mention to Saffron Mogridge (Year 13 in 2024) and Elise Tian (Year 11 in 2024) for achieving Outstanding Scholarship, with Saffron getting Top Scholar in NZ for Printmaking, Angam Vraich (Year 13 in 2024) for earning an incredible four Scholarships, Polly Lee and and Honor Forbes for achieving Scholarship in Year 12 (2024), and Tiantian Chen for securing a Calculus Scholarship whilst in Year 10!!!

🏔 Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei | Pursue excellence—should you stumble, let it be to a lofty mountain.

Introducing our third and final speaker for Friends at Five Thirty...

👋🏼 Meet Jessica Close (Class of 2001) - Award-winning Interior Designer

🎨 Jessica studied History of Art and Fine Arts at Canterbury University before leaving, shy of a degree, and moving to London to work for renowned Interior Designer Gavin Houghton. She returned to Christchurch in 2013 to establish her design studio.

🏫 With a particular passion and expertise in heritage architecture projects, Jessica undertakes various private residential commissions, designing homes throughout New Zealand and more recently in Australia and England. She has also designed several high-profile commercial projects; The Observatory Hotel in The Arts Centre, Flock Hill Homestead, The Christchurch Club and a set of rooms at Otahuna Lodge in Banks Peninsula. Her work has been featured in The World of Interiors, House and Garden, The New York Times, The Financial Times, Wallpaper, Homestyle, The Local Project, Home and Architecture NZ.

🔗 Join us and get ready to be inspired by Jessica's story and the 'why' behind it, at Friends at Five Thirty on Thursday, 27 February.

🎟 Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/friends-at-five-thirty-fhv7jgf5

Some of our Year 9s have just returned from an incredible few days, enjoying school camp in the foothills of Mt Hutt.
⛺️ From conquering the ropes course and giant bungee swing to racing down the water slide and exploring stunning waterfalls, our students took on every challenge with gusto.
🥰 Beyond the activities, camp was a fantastic opportunity to build friendships, work as a team, and welcome those new to Rangi Ruru this year. What a great way to kick off their journey!

How lucky are we, as a kura, to have such incredible talent guiding, teaching and inspiring our ākonga in their work every day.

Today we are shining a light on our amazing art teacher and interdisciplinary artist Melissa Macleod, whose passion and creativity extend beyond the classroom. Melissa was recently awarded the prestigious Grace Butler Foundation Award at Ara for 2025, a $20,000 grant and residency that will allow her to work on an art project close to her heart while sharing her toi mahi with the wider community.

Head of Visual Arts, Kate Rivers sums it up perfectly -"As a highly respected artist, it is inspiring for ākonga to know their kaiako is a practising artist and to see their teacher’s artworks in major exhibitions and public collections. We are absolutely delighted for her and know she will spend her time this year producing a thoughtful and considered body of work."

Ka rawe Melissa! We can't wait to see where this journey takes you.

Introducing our second speaker for Friends at Five Thirty...

📸 Meet Rewa Rendall (Class of 1987) - Photographer and Antarctic Explorer!

🎞 Raised on a high-rise rooftop in Hong Kong, Rewa Rendall’s fascination with light began at an early age, inspired by her father’s photography. Since childhood, Rewa has chased that light, mastering historic wet-plate techniques to connect the past with the present. From setting up the first darkroom at Rangi Ruru as a student to now working in an historic darkroom that echoes the legacy of Antarctic exploration, Rewa’s photographic alchemy captures the spirit of contemporary explorers through the lens of historic techniques.

🐧 From sailing across the Drake Passage and climbing uncharted peaks to skiing remote slopes, Rewa follows in the footsteps of Sir Robert Falcon Scott, where his story ends, Rewa’s begins.

🔗 Join us and get ready to be inspired by Rewa's story and the 'why' behind it, at Friends at Five Thirty on Thursday, 27 February.

🎟 Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/friends-at-five-thirty-6yunqp4b

This morning we came together for our first Awards Assembly of 2025, celebrating the academic achievement of our students, particularly–but not exclusively–2024 NCEA results. After a formal welcome, Deputy Head of School, Izzy Ward reflected on the many ways academic success can take shape. She acknowledged the dedication and perseverance of all learners in our kura, reminding us that while not everyone would receive an award today, each student's commitment to their personal best is something to be proud of. A beautiful and true sentiment indeed.

👩🏽‍🎓 🌼📖 Presented at the assembly were two special scholarships - firstly, the Jessie Cook Music Scholarship to Year 13 student, Maddie Glossop and the St Andrew's at Rangi Ruru Organ Scholarship Grant given jointly to Tiantian Chen, Year 11 and Polly Lee, Year 13. Following an address from Ms Herft, we recognised some exceptional academic achievements. The bar is set high, and many students received pockets and colours for their efforts. A special congratulations goes to those awarded Elite Colours, our highest academic honour, for achieving all Excellence grades (or Excellence with only one Merit) in their top five subjects. These students received a yellow rose, still in bud–a symbol of their ongoing journey of growth and potential.

🙏🏻 Congratulations to all ākonga for their hard work and dedication.

We are doing it again! Fancy yourself behind the wheel of this little beauty? Well, here's your chance.

🙏🏼 Thanks to the generosity of Archibalds, we have a sleek 2015 Audi A3 Sportback up for grabs in our annual rowing raffle! Every ticket sold helps power our rowing programme and could put you in the driver's seat. With only 1000 tickets available, you'll want to be in to win! 🚗🚗🚗

🎟 Tickets: $50

For more information on how to purchase your ticket click the link below.
https://rangiruru.school.nz/school/sport/rowing-raffle/



Archibalds

Rowing - Rangi Ruru Fundraiser Rangi Ruru Rowing Car Raffle Information

A huge congratulations to our incredible Year 12 students, Eliza and Zara McDonnell who claimed silver at the NZSS Beach Volleyball Champs over the weekend at Mount Maunganui!

🌊🏐🥈 Competing in the Division 1 Year 12/13 grade against 31 other teams, they showed exceptional skill, resilience, and determination—all without a coach on the sidelines! Their initiative and self-management were on full display as they battled their way to the podium.

👏🏽 What an outstanding achievement. Ka rawe Eliza and Zara.



Rangi Ruru Sport

Introducing our first speaker for Friends at Five Thirty...

🎉 Meet Jane Mahoney (Class of 1977) - Producer, Storyteller, and Author!

📽 Jane has always gravitated towards ‘story-telling’ industries. For almost twenty years she was producer and co-owner of the TV commercial production company Bannan Films. Specialising in cinematic, story-based commercials she was fortunate to work alongside some of the most talented advertising and film industry creatives in New Zealand, Australia and Asia.

🪴 For the last 8 years Jane has been building two new businesses – Splendid Casting, which provides casting services for film and advertising productions and Secret Gardens, an online garden-share platform and in 2023 she and her daughter, Sophie Bannan co-authored the book Secret Gardens of Aotearoa.

🎬 Her most recent project is the feature-length documentary Maurice and I, which she co-directed and co-produced with Christchurch filmmaker, Rick Harvie.

🎟 Join us and get ready to be inspired by Jane's story and the 'why' behind it, at Friends at Five Thirty on Thursday, 27 February. Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/friends-at-five-thirty-fhv7jgf5