Beyond the Bell is back for Season 2, and once again we’re taking listeners behind the scenes of Hillcrest High School to meet the people, hear the stories, and discover the experiences that make our kura unique.
Hosted by Associate Principal Ryan Cox and Jodie Kennedy, this year’s episodes have already taken us from student leadership and the Principal’s office to NCEA, starting high school, extraordinary staff journeys, and the experiences of students who have made Hillcrest their home.
If you haven’t listened yet, here’s what we’ve released so far:
🎙️ Episode 1 – Leading the Way: Meet Hillcrest’s Student Leaders
We kicked off Season 2 with Head Student James Black, House Captains Khadija Tayyab and Ankrita Kathait, and Cultural Captain Suhani Gupta.
Our student leaders discuss what inspired them to lead, their goals for the year, upcoming events, student voice, and why getting involved is such an important part of the Hillcrest experience.
🎙️ Episode 2 – Leading Hillcrest: A Conversation with Our Principal
Principal Christine Williams joins Head Students Devlin Early and Poppy Doran for an open and at times light-hearted conversation about leadership, school culture, student voice, and the future of Hillcrest.
It’s an opportunity to get to know the person behind the Principal’s office and hear more about the values and thinking that help shape our school.
🎙️ Episode 3 – NCEA Explained: What Parents Need to Know
One particularly for our parents and whānau.
Brad Evelyn, one of Hillcrest’s Principal’s Nominees, joins Devlin and Poppy to help make sense of NCEA, literacy and numeracy requirements, Common Assessment Activities (CAAs), and reporting at Hillcrest.
It’s a practical episode designed to cut through some of the terminology and help families better understand their young person’s secondary school journey.
🎙️ Episode 4 – The Big Step: Starting High School
What is starting high school really like?
Year 10 students Feha Akter and Olivia Huber, alongside Year 9 Dean Kashka Tunstall, share their experiences and advice for Year 8 students and whānau preparing for secondary school.
From first-day nerves and making friends to getting involved and finding your place, this episode provides an authentic insight into those important first weeks and months at Hillcrest.
🎙️ Episode 5 – The Extraordinary Journeys That Shape Extraordinary Teachers
Every teacher has a story and sometimes those stories begin in unexpected places.
We meet two remarkable Hillcrest kaiako: Science teacher Abdal Chanati, who was once a paediatrician, and Head of Art Alice Alva, an acclaimed local artist.
They share the journeys that brought them into education and how their experiences outside the classroom continue to influence the teachers they are today.
🎙️ Episode 6 – Finding Home at Hillcrest
One of our most powerful conversations of the season so far.
We hear from international student Changle Shen, alongside migrant students Nasteha Absiye (Somalia), Maryam Mohammadi (Afghanistan), and Jasan Singh (India).
They share their experiences of arriving in New Zealand, adapting to a different school and culture, overcoming challenges, building friendships, and finding a sense of belonging at Hillcrest.
Their stories are a wonderful reminder that the diversity within our community is one of our greatest strengths.
🎙️ Episode 7 – Beyond Labels: Inclusive Education at Hillcrest
One of our most special episodes of the season. Julie-Anne Richardson (HOF Inclusive Education), Stacey Simmonds (HOD Learning Support), Kylie Fletcher Matthews (HOD ILC) and student Billie Healy join us to explore what genuine inclusion looks like at Hillcrest. From seeing the person before the label and recognising individual strengths, to removing barriers and creating opportunities for every ākonga to participate and belong, this episode celebrates something at the very heart of our kura. Most importantly, Billie shares the student perspective, reminding us that inclusion isn’t simply something we do at Hillcrest — it is part of who we are.
A huge amount of work happens behind the scenes to make each episode possible. Beyond the Bell is proudly produced by Head of Music Mervyn Cook, alongside student producers Leah Parkinson (Year 13) and Matthew Parkinson (Year 10). Their creativity, technical expertise and dedication are at the heart of every episode.
If you haven’t discovered Beyond the Bell yet, now is the perfect time to catch up.
🎧 Listen to Beyond the Bell on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/37YielY2ZWP9flxv1QV07d?si=d516af6bef5d487e&nd=1&dlsi=244d91280d9345ef
