Ashburton Courier: September 05, 2019

Page 18, Ashburton’s The Courier, Thursday 5 September 2019
Local news at www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Ashburton College
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
News
Issue 29
5September 2019
DeputyPrincipal Message
Fresh Starts –Preparing forNCEA Examinations
‘Spring is just around the corner’and that’sagreat
time forall.New thingsare happening,asare fresh
starts forsomanythings.
The scary part ofthat though, isthat italso signals
thatthe close of the academic year is approaching,
certainly forNCEA students.
In spring we feed the plants, have agood tidy up
in the garden and get everything ship-shape for a
productivesummer.
Ouryoungpeople need to be mindful of this analogy as they
preparethemselves forassessmenttime and exams.
Ahealthylifestyle makes the differenceand so does the support of family.
As parents and caregivers we understand that children know what’s
best (!), but we have aresponsibilitytoguidethem –evensubtly -tomake
good choices about eating,sleeping and well-being in preparation forthe
pressuretime of the year.
Safety -Procedures
We have had afew incidents around safety this year, where our bulletproof
youngsters have made some choices that are scary. We had two or
three occasions where the lighting of aerosols happened, inthe name of
fun rather than intent to harm, but it takes little imagination to picturethe
potential outcomes when the ‘fun’goes wrong.
We are onamission to make our fire drill and evacuation procedure
more efficient and, inthe next little while, weare addressing the need for
effectiveapplication of that.
The procedure wehave inplace issound, what needs to be re-focussed
for the student isthe importance offollowing that procedure sothat we
areable to accountfor allstudents who should be on campus at thattime.
Support from family and whanau around this would certainly strengthen
the work thatwedo.
Themessage is straightforward –
students aretobeinthe rightplaceatthe righttime.
This simple thing allows our staff to do their job, and keep everyone safe
and accountedfor.Itisnot atime to dally around with your mates.
Fire and EmergencyNZ
In connection with the twopoints above,weinvited GarryParker from Fire
and EmergencyNZtotalk about alearning scheme thatthey operate.
He sentafew wordsthatwill help families staysafe.
Aworrying increase in small fires.
Does your teenager,ortheir friends,experiment with fire?
Ashburton College and Fire and Emergency NZ(FENZ) are concerned some
teenagers in Ashburton are putting themselves at risk. Playing with lighters,
BoardofTrustees News ...
Strategic Directions
Last week our Board ofTrustees and Senior
Leadership Team met to refresh our Ashburton
College Strategy, focusing onthree areas of
Curriculum, Biand Multi-Culturalism and Wellbeing.
Curriculum
The boundaries for students inthe future are
expansive. Changes in technology, aglobal
economy, and a multi-cultural workforce in
the past decadereally challenge the traditional
curriculum and style of teaching.
While the current cohortofstudentsmay be clear in their line of travelfor
their careers,our challenge as aschoolistomakesureweare planningfor
the 10-15 year horizon.
What arethe opportunities forour students then?Whattypeofcurriculum,
facilitating/teaching methodology best prepares themfor the future?
The traditional education programme that most parents and caregivers
of our current students were used to was established in Prussia in1886,
and adopted bythe balance of the world soon after. Is this structure of
education appropriate for 2025? Will it produce innovative, collaborative
and connected students who will thrive inthe future. These are the
challenges thatAshburtonCollege leadershipand staff arerisingto.
From the BoardofTrustees' perspective, we appreciate the extraworkload,
innovation and care being taken by College teams of staff to meet these
challenges.
Well-being
Well-being is increasingly an area for development. As aBoard we have
Farewell –Sarah Parker
Physical Education teacher Sarah Parker has been at Ashburton College
sincethe beginningof2018, when she wasappointedTeacher-in-Charge of
Health and Health Co-ordinator.
In her time with us she has led the complete revamping of the Phys
Ed Department’s Junior Health programme, started a Senior Health
programme, has built on Level 1and 2programmes and has set the
groundwork foraLevel 3programme fornextyear.
Sarah has worked closely with the YMCA and other external agencies to
supportthe learning of Health throughout the College.
matches,aerosolcans, or huffing and similar,can go horribly
wrong,causingburns or damage to property.
Take afew moments to talk with your son or daughter to see
if they,ortheir friends haveused lighters,matches or aerosol
cans to light fires. FENZ attend many fires that teenagers
have started, such as shrubs, grass, scorched carpets or
buildings. Teenagers can often be encouraged by their
friends to light asmall fire. Unfortunately fires can grow in
sizerapidly,leading to the person trying to put them out and
suffering burns and injuries.
If youknowofsomeone who is doingthis,thereishelp.
FENZ runs aconfidential free programme that teaches children up to the
age of 18 years howtobesafefromfire.
You can either phone the Timaru Fire Station on 03 684 1200 to talk
confidentially with atrained educator, or if your child attends Ashburton
College youcan phone 03 308 4193 and ask to speak to RonCresswell who
will discuss your concerns confidentially.
Bus Students
For afew minutes each day, when our bus students arrive at College, the
spaceisverybusy as fifteen buses arrive in the bus baywith their precious
cargo.
However, there seems to be agrowing trend forsome students,when they
get off their bus,toleave the College grounds forvarious reasons.Wehave
made itclear to all students, throughout our Student Notice system, that
bus studentsare to remain on College groundswhen they get off the bus.
The fact isthat, as parents/caregivers, you will assume that your child is
safeinCollegebecausethey cameonthe bus.When they have madethe
decision to leave, their safetycannotbeguaranteed.
We do ask thatyou please reinforce the importanceofstaying in College,
forsafetyreasons, so thatwecan discourage this trend.
Music Night Auditions
Auditions forour annualMusic Nightare well underway, and the talent on
showthis year is fantastic.This is always agreat nightand certainly worth
attending.
Relief Teachers
Iwould like to acknowledge the fantastic workofour Relief Teachers.They
areoften summonedatshortnoticetocover classes forteachers who are
ill or away from College foranumber of reasons.
They are responsible for keeping the College running smoothly and
allowing the learning of our studentstocontinue withoutinterruption. It
is arewarding job, especially when they see our Values being upheld by
the students.
Respect, Pride and Qualityare finewords to guide our students and staff
as theysharethe journeyoflearning,remembering that-
‘Properpreparation prevents poor performance’. Stephen Keague
Ron Cresswell,DeputyPrincipal
focused on what‘Well- being’looks like forAshColl students and staff,and
anumber of initiatives have been introduced.
PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) is practised at our College,
rebranded as the ‘AshColl Way’.
This is regarded as ‘Best Practice’ by the MinistryofEducation. It has taken
alot of in-College work to implement, but is nowhaving apositiveimpact
on the well-being of students and staff. Staff Well-being surveys have
been completed,with studentsurveys in the planning stage.Surveys area
confidential,impartial wayfor the Boardand College Leadership to gauge
the pulse of lifeatAshburtonCollege.
Bi andMulti-Culturalism
Engaging with all cultures in our school’s community grows positive
relationships and supports improvement in student learning and
outcomes.
We have two new Board members. Mark Aguila and Ana Fakataha, as
well as existing member Jane Kelly, are representative ofthe Filipino,
Pasifikaand Māoricommunities. AsfullBoardmembers,their first priority
is decision-making in the widest sense for the benefit of all at Ashburton
College. However, alongside the balance ofour Board, their insights into
their owncommunities will be of real value in helping the College engage
with their communities and cultures.
Cultural Narrative
College has just had its Cultural Narrativefor Hakaterecompleted,with the
co-operation of Arowhenua Marae. This is afantastic documentoutlining
the Māorihistory, significanceand values of our region.
This will help define the ‘story’ for College, as part of its property
redevelopment planning. This narrative has been shared with other
schools in the Hakatere Districtand will be displayedatAshburtonCollege
in the future, as it is wovenintofutureplanning. JeremySavage
Chairperson
This year Sarah has been one of the innovation teachers working to blend
the Phys Ed and Health Curriculum with other subject areas. She has also
been heavily involved in extra-curricular activities at the College, working
with both the Girls’Cricket and Junior Boys’RugbyTeams.
In her‘sparetime’Sarah has successfully completed anumber of endurance
events,including the Taupo Ironman. Sarah is afine example to students re
health, fitness andlearning,and we will miss her and her contributions very
much when she finishes on Friday06September to takeupanew position
at Mt Hutt College. However, Sarah may have more training time without
the daily commutetoAshburtonfromMethven.
Information
Annual College Music Evening
Setaside this nighttoenjoyour annual festival of music,which always
showcases amazing studenttalent.
Ashburton College Music Evening 2019
Thursday19September,7:00pm,
AshburtonCollege Auditorium,
Tickets $8.00
from the AshburtonCollege Office,
ph: 308 4193.
AshburtonCollege Phoenix Magazine 2019 –
NewPublishingDate
This annual production is awonderful record of each year at College,
and becomes amoreimportantrecordofmemories the longerstudents
and staff areawayfromAshburtonCollege.
Remember:
This will be published atthe end of February
2020.
Payment for Magazine -$25 percopy
Allfamilies have now
received an updatedaccountthatwill
includethe charge forthe Magazine.
To secureyour copy of the
Phoenix Magazine,paymentwill be
required by Thursday14November.
Order aChristmas Phoenix Magazine Voucher
We will also have vouchers available forpurchase.
This would be an ideal gift for grandparents or other family members,
who can then have acopydelivered onceitispublished.
Obtaining your Magazine Copy
These will be delivered to studentsin-College at the end of February.
Forstudentswho have left –familieswill be notified thatthe Magazine can
be collectedfromthe College Office.
Where this isn’t possible wewill make arrangements to ensure you receive
the copy.
Liam Kennedy-Clark-Former Student
Performing in Ashburton
Musician Liam Kennedy-Clarkistoperform
Another Habit –New Zealand Run
Supported by Sammie Mackle andShelley Wyatt
Saturday05October,Hotel Ashburton, 7:30pm.
Tickets available: ViaLIAMKENNEDYCLARK.COM
Also available at Hotel Ashburton.
$30 (Booking fees may apply).
With guest speaker
Glenn Moore, Coach of NewZealand Black Ferns
Thursday 12 September,5:30pm, AshburtonCollege Auditorium
Parents areencouragedtoattend
RSVP to sports@ashcoll.school.nz by 2/09/2019
YOUARE THE
FUTURE OF
MID CANTERBURY
Allsportsteam membersand
interested senior students are
invited to attend this careers
pathwayevent
Come along and find out about career pathways that
MidCanterbury businesses have foryou.