Kia ora Hillcrest alumni,
In the latest episode of our school podcast, Beyond the Bell, we celebrate three former Hillcrest High School students whose journeys have brought them back to our kura — this time as teachers, coaches and mentors to the next generation.
🎙️ Coming Full Circle
We are joined by:
Jordi Ditfort – former student, now a Hillcrest teacher, coach and New Zealand Futsal representative
Luke Kennedy – former student, now a Hillcrest teacher and Cricket and Football coach
Cam Ward – former student who has returned to Hillcrest as a Volleyball coach
Together, they reflect on their own days at Hillcrest, the teachers and coaches who influenced them, their sporting journeys since leaving school, and what it feels like to return to a place that played such an important part in shaping who they are today.
But perhaps the most powerful part of their stories is their decision to give back.
Today, Jordi, Luke and Cam are creating opportunities, building relationships and making memories with Hillcrest students just like others once did for them.
It is a great example of what makes our alumni community so special. The impact of Hillcrest doesn’t necessarily end when you walk out the gates for the final time as a student. Our former students continue to contribute to our kura and wider community in countless ways — and sometimes their journey leads them right back to where it began.
As we head towards the end of Season 2 of Beyond the Bell, we would love our alumni community to join us for this conversation.
🎧 Listen to Coming Full Circle on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/473u8AVVLQLiUxLr0AqGly?si=yJdXTfh-R9utBkQKADuPSQ
And if listening brings back a few memories of your own Hillcrest days, we’d love to hear from you. Once a Hillcrest student, always part of the Hillcrest story.
Ngā mihi nui,
