Napier Girls' High School

Story

Napier Girls' High School is a state secondary school on Clyde Road, Napier, New Zealand. It has a current school roll of over 900.HistoryIn July 1883 plans were submitted to the board of governors for a school for girls in Napier, and the following month the board advertised for a lady principal who would be required to teach English, Latin, French and Mathematics and take charge of the boarding establishment. Miss M.E. Hewett was appointed, and the school opened on 29 January 1884. The original school course included English, French, Latin, German, Drawing, Singing and Calisthenics. Thirty-nine pupils were on the books that first day, and one boarder was enrolled.The original school building had classrooms on the ground floor, and rooms for the boarders upstairs. It stood where the main hostel building, Hewett House, now stands. It was badly damaged in the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake, and had to be demolished. The main building of the present school, named Spencer Building after Miss A.E.J. Spencer, the school's third principal, stands in what was the original playing area of the first school.The school hall features a large painting by renowned New Zealand artist, Rita Angus.Hewett House provides accommodation for 160 girls, both five day and seven day stay. The girls sleep in double cubicles or dormitories and some have single rooms. Matthews House opened in 1988 and contains single cubicles for senior girls. The buildings on Napier's hill are ideally situated in one of the most attractive parts of the city. The girls live adjacent to the school and may use the school's sports facilities, library and computer suite.Notable alumnae Mandy Boyd (attended c. 2005–09), lawn bowls player, Commonwealth Games bronze medallist (2014 Glasgow)