Ashburton Courier: August 20, 2020

Ashburton College
Individual ExcellenceinaSupportiveLearning Environment
News
Issue 22
20 August 2020
DeputyPrincipal Message
Uncertainty
What adifference aweek makes. On11August,
New Zealand had been free of COVID-19 for
over 100 days. On 12 August, community
transmission had been announced, Auckland
had movedtoAlertLevel 3and the remainderof
the countrytoAlertLevel 2.
Uncertainty is part ofthe world that welive in.
While it can be unsettling,itisimportant thatwe
focus on whatwecan controland do our partto
help the team of fivemillion.
Above all, bekind and look after the well-being of yourself and those
close to you.
Course Selection
Term 3iswell and truly underway. It is always aninteresting term, as
students and staff are focused on the current task of learning and
achievementwhile also having one eyeon2021.
It is at this time that students make their course choices for the year
ahead.When considering whatsubjects to study in 2021, it is important
thatstudents consider whatthey areinterested in, whatthey enjoy, and
the pathwaythey hope to followwhen they leave school.
Wherestudents areunsurewhatsubjects aregoing to be rightfor them,
thereishelp and supportavailable through Akoteachers, Deans,Heads
of School, our Careers Co-ordinator and, ofcourse, discussion with
parents and caregivers.
For senior students, there are also opportunities to visit tertiary
institutionssuch as Universities and Polytechnics and get an insightinto
whatthey have on offer.
College Exams
School exams are fast approaching, inWeek 7ofthis term (starting
31 August), and internal assessments are ongoing. Inthe midst of the
busy day-to-day happenings,itisanimportant time forsenior students
to have aclear focus on their goals for 2020 and keeping track of their
progress towardsthem. Writing down goals is an importantpartofthis
process as it helps us remember and remind us what weare trying to
achieve.
To track progress,log in to the KAMARportal to monitor credits achieved.
AshColl Way
TheCollege has three Values thatguide the waywedothings.These are
knownasthe AshColl Way:
Te atapai –Quality; Manawa whakahīhī –Pride; and Whakaute–Respect.
These Values underpin the way that weencourage all members of our
school communitytogoabout their time at College.Iencourage youto
take amomenttoreflectonwhatthese Values mean to you.
Whāiaekoe te iti kahurangikitetūohu koe,mehemaungateitei
This whakataukichallenges us to pursue our dreams/our goals.
It asks us to perseverethroughadversityand only bowour heads
if the obstacle is truly great.
Information
Jono Hay
DeputyPrincipal •TumuakiTuarua
Transition Department–EventsUpdate
TertiaryStudy Information
We are atthe time of year where students going to tertiary study in 2021
are gathering information, making decisions, and beginning application
processes,asfollows:
Universityand PolytechHalls of ResidenceApplications
HallsofResidenceapplications arenow open online.
Course Planning for 2021
Universityliaison staff areinthe process of booking to visit AshColl this term
to help students plan their course of study for2021.
Datesknown so farare:
UniversityofCanterbury – 12 August
Victoria UniversityofWellington – 09 September
Auckland University – 09 September
LincolnUniversity – 09September
Otago University – 16September
2020 UniversityOpenDays–
Further Information is Available on their Websites
•VictoriaUniversity
–On-campus: tomorrow,
Friday21August
•CanterburyUniversity
–On-campus: Thursday 27 August
•Auckland University
–On-campus: Saturday29August
•Massey University
–Virtual (online) Open Days
04 and 05 September
Andalso:
WellingtonCampus
–TasterDay:tomorrow,21August
ManawatuCampus
–TasterDay:11September
Auckland Campus
– Taster Day: 12 September
•Waikato University
–Virtual (online) Open Days:
13 and 14 August
•AUT University
– On-campus: Saturday29August
BoardofTrustees News ...
College PropertyUpgrade
Work on the Master Plan and layout of our
College campus upgrade continues with good
momentum.
We have viewed the first draft and worked
with the Project Team to make the most
of our natural assets, trees, grounds and
the community park; while ensuring the
pedestrian, traffic entrances and bus
movements aresafefor our studentsand staff.
In-College staff through Faculties, Departments and various additional
groups will be engaged and consulted with over the next twomonths to
ensurethatthe teaching spaces and layout will meet their needs.
We are tracking towards afinal plan for approval mid-2021, to start the
quoting and pricing process.
The question has been asked as to whether wecan accelerate the build
as a‘shovel-ready’ project within the COVID-19 recovery. Both the
Ministry ofEducation and our College Management Team have insisted
that wekeep to the timeframes and planned process, and not rush the
project. The over-riding priority is to make sure wehave ahigh quality,
future-proofed school thatmeets our needs forthe long-term.
The new build aspects will be undertaken in three-four phases, onthe
current footprintofthe school. Withsome clarityinthe lifeexpectancyof
parts of our school, we have been able to access money from the Ministry
of Education to maintain and re-carpet anumber of classrooms. This has
been well-received by staff and students. Some parts of the College
will be remaining for the medium term, which will have infrastructure
upgraded to meet our health and safetyexpectations.
AshColl Values
We do need to take pride and respect inour school, and ensure we
are meeting our AshColl Values. This is acombined effort from our
maintenance, teaching and support staff and, most importantly, our
students. A tidy, rubbish-free, graffiti-free school isapleasure for all to
learnin, and forour communitytovisit and take pride in.
JeremySavage
Chairperson
Information
StudentPre-Exam Study Nights DuetoStart
These eveningshavebeen runsuccessfully foranumberofyears,where
rostered teaching staffare in theCollege Librarytoassist students with
studyand to answer anyquestions theymay have.
Study Nights will takeplaceinthe College Library,
between 7:00pm and 9:00pm on –
Monday24August Tuesday25August Wednesday26August
Thursday 27 August Monday31August Tuesday01September
Wednesday02September
Students can check, inthe Library, the list of staff and subjects for each
night.
We thankstaff fortheir time given. Traditionally many students take up this
additional support.
Events
Students SupportAnnual Ashburton
Blood Drive
Information provided by Seluvaia Ratoul
(Head of CommunityServices Student Committee)
The Ashburton College Student Executive Community Services
Committee organised for twenty Ashburton College students to take
partinthe annual AshburtonBlood Drive, on Wednesday12August.
This wasaverysuccessful daywith manystudents participating,maxing out
all the slots that were available tous. We are very proud of all the senior
students who took part, coming face-to-facewith their fear of needles!
Under the nation's trying circumstances it was amazing tosee AshColl
students donating morethan ever to those who need blood.
A big thank you to Atawhai TeHau, the New Zealand Blood Service
Co-ordinator who helped make this event possible. Asacommittee, we
hope this becomes an annual eventwhich AshburtonCollege continues to
be apartof.
(Pictured right): Joseph Collins,Red
House Captain, donating blood.
(Pictured above,lefttoright):
Brendan Fleming,WillowDiedricks
(BoardofTrustees Student
Representative) and
SapphireKururangi
(Green House Co-Captain).
Events
‘Fabulous Las VegasNevada’: College Ball
As outlined in our last newsletter we now include some additional
photos from thisnightwith, again, aspecial thankyou to Helen Shore-
Taylor and the College Student Executive Ball Committee as pictured
below.
(Pictured above, back row, left to right): Helen Shore-Taylor,
Deputy Principal and Ball Committee oversight; Emily Wilson,
Victoria Binnie,Annabel Dolan, Megan Harrison, Lucy Moore(Co-LeaderBall
Committee), Shasha Wategedara, Emily King.
(Front row, left and right): Jacob Gray (Co-Leader Ball Committee) and
Blake Farr. (Absent from photo): BuddhikaEkanayake.
Student Executive Members (pictured above, back row, left to right):
Lucy Moore, Seluvaia Ratoul, Jestena Raj, Penny Stilgoe, Willow Diedricks,
MariaCostas,PoppyKilworth.
(Front row, left to right): Jacob Gray, Kotiti Patea, Ngakau Howell,
HenryChapman, Ian Teves, Kyle Cabangun, Jonty Small.
(Front): Abbey Bruce Head of Senior School being kept in place bythe
Executive.
Princess,Prince; Queen, King; andBest DressedStudents:
Chosen, by staff, towards the end of the evening were the traditional
Princess,Prince; Queen and King; and Best Dressed students. Wenow have
photos of this year’s winners:
(Pictured below,lefttoright): Princess: Mahina Pongia; Prince: Blake Farr;
Queen: WillowDiedricks; King: Kyle Cabangun
(Pictured below, leftand right): Best DressedYear 12 student: AnnyaRawlings;
Best Dressed Year 13 student: Daniel Lockington Teokotai.