Ashburton Courier: July 09, 2020

Ashburton College
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
News
Issue 17
9July 2020
Message From ThePrincipal
School HolidayBreak
Formanyofusthis has felt like atwentytwo week
school term so the vacation will be very welcome.
I would like to acknowledge the combined
efforts of all College staff during this term, and
particularly interms ofteaching staff supporting
our students back onto the academic track whilst
at the same time supporting those who needit.
The exciting thing about this break isthat staff and parents can look
forward toamore traditional time out from normal school routines, so
please enjoythis break as much as your family and work circumstances
allow.
Challenges
In talking with our College Counsellors, itisapparent that anumber
of our students and whānau are struggling, particularly with either
concerns around immigration status or employment security. If you
or your child are feeling the pressure ofthe current challenges, please
ensure that you seek support from either an appropriate agency or
ourselves. Support can beprovided by either our Counselling team or
the Heads of School.
Looking Ahead to Term Threeand OpenNight
Our Term Three promises to be very busy. We are making decisions
about what events need to happen because it is impossible tohave
all the events deferred from last term added into next term’s event
schedule.
Akey event for our Collegehappens in Week 1with our Open Night
on Thursday 23 July
This is targeted specifically at Year 8students who are considering
enrolling with us for2021. Itisachancetocome along and see classes
in action andtalk to anumber of our senior studentsand staff regarding
your child’s future. There are two welcomes and guided tours, both
commencing in the Auditorium -one at 5:30pm and the other at
6:15pm. During the evening thereisthe opportunitytomix and mingle
in the staffroom where you have afurther chance toask questions and
meet staff.
Learning Options
One of ouradvantages is thesizeofour student population. This allows
us to offer two models of learning in Years 9and 10. Our Traditional
Stream is very similar tothe education that weexperienced, whereby
students attend classes and the emphasis is on subject content and
vocabulary.
Our other option is the Innovation Stream where subjects work in
collaboration to develop students’ understanding ofconcepts. Staff
working with these classes plan in across-curricular manner and the
emphasis forthe students is developing their creativityand their ability
to connect and collaborate.
Sportfor College Teams
One of the pleasing aspects of agreater return tonormality isthe
reintroduction of school sport. We have alarge number of teams
competing in regular competition across numerous codes. My thanksto
all the members of our wider Ashburton community who are Coaches,
Managers and Taxi Drivers (transport executives!). Onbehalf of all our
studentscan Ithank youfor the giving of your time.
Enjoythe break.
Ross Preece
Principal •Tumuaki
Information
College Students’Art Work on Display
at the AshburtonArt Gallery
Ashburton College Year 9 and 10 students have responded to the Discover
Art in Ashburton, Intersecting Views Exhibition, currently showing at the
AshburtonArt Gallery.
HeadofArtsFaculty MillyBrown said that the ArtDepartmentstaff are
excited to be featuring the work of some of our very talentedYear 9and 10
students.Featured works
arebyFinn Brown,
MegFord, Steven Harris,
PoppyJemmett,
Molly Meehan, TalithaNel
andHannahWhite, with
arange of other Year 9
students’ work also on
display.
Theexhibitionfeatures apaintedtime-capsule of placesaroundCollege and
the townofAshburton (pictured above), capturing amoment in our time.
Urbanscapes shift, rise and disappear, and our students responded to this
and some of the amazingartworksinthe ArtGallery collection by painting
some oftheirown, and capturing places in Ashburton which maynot exist
in the years to come.
Milly said they have enjoyedthe artisticjourney and the students have done
afabulous job.
(Pictured right): TheworkofHannahWhite
(upper) andFinn Brown (lower).
TheExhibition is open
until 19 July at the
AshburtonArt Gallery
327 West Street.
Phone 308 1133.
BoardofTrustees News ...
COVID-19 Impacts on Education
Nationwide,education has been hitveryhard
by COVID-19 through the lockdown ofour
borders. Statistics New Zealand estimated
that international students studying for fewer
than twelvemonths spent$3.9b in theyear to
March2019.
Ashburton College is not immune. Wehave
had an active programme ofshort and longterm
stays for both groups and individual
studentsfromall corners of theglobe.
Profits from our International Department Programme have been used
to support two extra teachers over and above Government funding,
enabling lowerstudent-to-teacher ratios,especially at Year 9. Feedback
from teachers andparents is that this hasbeen very successful. Withthe
International Programme onhold, wenow have more challenges than
ever to balancethe budget.
However, we are confident that wecan continue to fund the two extra
teachers and keep our books balanced, and the Board has made the
decision to continue this supportfor 2021. Ensuring Year 9students have
the extrasupporthas proven to be beneficial in the long-termregarding
results,and is showing when tracking studentlearning.
PropertyFace-lift
Ministry of Education funding has been approved to give parts of our
College aface-lift and tidy-up. The Board isconscious that areas of the
school are not in the best shape for our students and staff. Anamount
of funding has been released bythe Ministry through the 5YA property
funding entitlement and SIP (School Investment Package) funding
in order to catch uponsome urgent maintenance tosee our school
through to the rebuild, and to provide an acceptable environment for
the current five-year generation of students.
ALong Term One!
Ashburton College teachers and staff, along with all counterparts
of course, have just endured the longest term ever in their careers –
twenty two weeks. Teachers worked through the Easter break and
‘school holiday’ period getting ready to deliver on-line learning to
their students during the lockdown phase. This was followed upwith
apretty challenging period of teaching students in anew format and
with differing dimensions, while evaluating where each student was at
with their learning and well-being, on return. As for many workers this
timewas oftenwhile meetingthe needs and demands of family life with
theirown children.
Iamsureall will enjoyawell-earned break,and maybeable to take the
chance to be atouristinour ownback yard,asafepieceofparadise down
under.
JeremySavage,Chairperson
Events
StudentExecutive Football Challenge to Staff:
1-0 to Staff!
Further to the StudentExecutivevStaff Volleyball MatchonFriday20March,
prior to social distancing and lockdown times, last Friday saw aFootball
challenge take placeonthe Chessboard. This provided an entertaining,endof-term
lunch-hour in very pleasant weather, enjoyed byagood crowd of
spectators.
(Pictured above): Deputy Principal Jono Hay inhot pursuit of the ball,
fractionally ahead of Head BoyHenryChapman.
The keen and able footballers for both sides were out in force, and no
quarter given by the staff to the students or vice versa. Having won the
volleyball match, the staff teams are now in danger of believing their
invincibilityasthey came away with a1-0 win this time,offagoal scored by
football exponentLuke Martin.
(Pictured above): Theteams at the conclusion of the match.
(Front row, left toright): Harriet Leverton, Poppy Kilworth, Jane Cribb,
SapphireKururangi, Isaac Bazley,LiamSullivan, Kyle Cabangun.
(Row two, left to right): Tom Kitchen, Mike Pearce, Riley Vessey,
Joseph Collins,Maria Costas.
(Rowthree, lefttoright): Patrick Sandrey,Hayley Tallentire, Chelsea Stockdill,
Jason Vannini, James List,Jack Hanrahan, HenryChapman, Jono Hay.
(Back row, left toright): Ross Preece, Victor Ji, Jayne Cornelius, Luke Martin
(partly obscured), Pete Lee.
Information
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
OpenEvening
Thursday23July 2020, 5:30pm –7:30pm
TheAshColl Way
Quality Pride Respect
Futurestudents,parents/caregivers,whānau
and communitymembers are
warmly invited to attend our OpenEvening.
Aparticular welcome,and encouragementtoattend,
is extended to students who will be in Year 9in2021,
and family members
Duringthe evening youwill havethe opportunityto –
• Meet and talk with the Principal, staffand students.
• Hear and see whatthe Collegecan offer your child and family.
• View our facilities,and Innovation and Subjectdisplays.
• Meet with BYOD Retailers -College is aBYODschool
(Bring Your OwnDevice)
• Enjoyasausage sizzle,coffee, tea, juiceinthe staffroom.
To make decisions readyfor Enrolment Week (27-31 July)–
Therewill be information available on:
0 Innovation and Traditional Classes.
0 Option Subjects for2021 (Year 9students).
Option subjects: nine subjects to be takenfromtwelveavailable:
– Choose at leastone from TheArts: Art, Drama,Music.
– Choose at leastone from Languages: German, Japanese,Māori.
– Choose at leastthree from Technology: Agriculture,
Design and VisualCommunication,Digital Information
Technology,FabricTechnology,Foodand Nutrition,
HardMaterials Technology.
• Note: all Year 9students take English, Mathematics,
Physical Education and Health, Science, Social Studies.
• Additionallyavailable: English as an additional language for
students for whom English is asecond language.
Presentations startinthe CollegeAuditorium
at 5:30pm and6:15pm.
These arefollowedbyguidedtoursofthe College,
or youmay choose to self-tour by following the signs.
EVERYONE MOSTWELCOME
Transition Department–EventsUpdate
Year 13 Testimonials
Each Year 13 studenthas theopportunityto receiveaTestimonial (ahistory
of their time at AshColl) atthe end of the year.This process requires input
from teachers as well as students.
Students arecurrently completing an Achievement Statementtowardsthis,
and it is to be returnedtothe Transition Office by Friday24July
forthe Testimonialprocess to continue.
TertiaryStudy Information
We are atthe time of year where students going totertiary study in2021
are gathering information, making decisions, and beginning application
processes,asfollows:
Universityand Polytech HallsofResidence Applications
Halls of Residence applications open online on Saturday 01 August.
Year 13 students will receive information on the application process,
including deadlines,atAko timeatthe beginning of Term Three.
Datesknown so farare:
UniversityofCanterbury – 12August
Victoria University of Wellington – 09 September
Auckland University – 09September
2020University OpenDay in the schoolholidays –
Further Information AvailableontheirWebsite
• LincolnUniversity Virtual Open Day – Online: Friday17July
Coming Events
July
04-19 Studentterm break
11 Rugby–UCChampionship Round 4, MidCanterburyCombined v
RangioraHigh School (Ashburton)
17 1st XI Boys’Hockey,Christchurch
18 Rugby–UCRound 5, Lincoln Combined v
MidCanterburyCombined (Lincoln)
20 StartofTerm 3