Ashburton Courier: March 11, 2021

Ashburton College
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
News
Issue 5
11 March 2021
Message From ThePrincipal
Social Media Information Accuracy
One of the challenges faced by any school is
how to ensure that accurate information is
given tothe media, and also how tocontrol
misinformation spread on socialmedia.
For all our Year 9students we run anassembly
in which we extol the virtues of the thinking of
Socrates, aGreek philosopher.
Socrates, of course, isregarded as avery wise
thinker and this wisdom is still applicable today,
especially as it would apply to asocialmedia context.
Under his thinking there were threetests:
1 Isittrue? (just because it is on Facebook does not make it true);
2 Isitgood?
3 Isitsomething useful or positive?
If the answer to these three questions is yes, then go ahead and spread
this news.
Recently we had aperfect example of utter nonsense being spread on
Facebook. Sadly, this nonsense was not spread by students but rather
by aparent. So,can Iplease quotefromSocratesdirectly:
‘ifwhat yousay is neither true nor good,neither kind nor useful,or
necessary, then please do not say anything at all’.
AkoInterviews
Our Ako interviews have been rescheduled to Thursday 18March.
Of course, they were postponed due to the Level 2COVID restrictions.
Because we have been able to reschedule on aThursday, the same
bookings that you made will roll over. You can check your bookings
online and, ofcourse, ifyou are still needing to make an appointment
fornextweek then youcan contactour office.
Polyfest
This weekend we have over fifty students performing at the ASBPolyfest
in the RedZone in Christchurch. This is the first time forthree years that
we have participated inthis event, with cancellations created bythe
Mosque shootings tragedy and by COVID.
Iwould like to acknowledge thebrilliantjob done by our senior Pasifika
students in preparing our group forthis event. We arehoping,ofcourse,
thatthe weather and COVID restrictions arefavourable.
COVID Preparedness
We were well prepared if we were required to go into Level3.Our staff
can provide online learning in most subjects,and school would be open
forstudents under fourteen years of age whose parents/caregivers were
essential workers and could not make alternativearrangements fortheir
child. Ofcourse,any home learning is much easier with an appropriate
device.
Ross Preece
Principal •Tumuaki
Information
AshDance2021
Newdate: Thursday08April
AshColl’s DanceShowcase
•All styles of Dance–fromBallet to HipHop
•Class groups,Cultural groups,Solo performances
Performancenight: Thursday08April,7:00pm,
College Auditorium.
Entry/tickets –bydonation at the door.
Come andenjoyanevening of wonderful talent.
BoardofTrustees News ...
NewBoardofTrustees Chairperson
After athree year period as Chair of Ashburton
College Ihavepassed thebaton to Jen Muir who
has taken on the role, effective from our last
Boardmeeting. The AshburtonCollegeBoard of
Trustees has agreat depth of skills and diversity.
Iwill be staying on theBoardfor theforeseeable
future, including supporting the Boardthrough
thenew build.
Some observations from my time with the Board:
Ashburton College is abig entity, impacting the lives of many people:
1,250students and over 170 staff. With this manypeople involved,there
is amyriadofchallenges and relationshipstomanage. Ihavethe utmost
respectfor theprofessionalism of the leadership of the school. Withthe
scale of the school, werequire anumber of layers of management. As
Board Chair, and as aparent, Ihave been engaged with anumber of
our staff. Teaching staff show agreat passion for their role, they show
compassion when dealing with students’issues and their willingness to
go the extra mile is valued. Weare fortunate to have such adedicated
group of teachers, support staff andleadersinour school.
NCEA
Idoappreciate it is not always smooth sailing forparents with regardto
their children’s education. The complexities of the NCEA system Levels
1-3 continue to astound me. It is very easy for students toget lost, or
confused,when trying to navigate throughthe pathway, and sometimes
taking the line of least resistance in attaining the requiredcredits.
It can benear impossible for parents to guide them. This education
system bears few similarities to what we experienced asstudents. As
parents,you do need to stay engagedwith the school and ask questions.
The school provides many opportunities through the year for this –
eg: Ako meetings, parent-teacher interview opportunities, and NCEA
information evenings.
Get engaged, get informed. Bewary ofyour children’s version ofhow
they are going, there isareasonable chance that they are aslost or
confused as youare.
Acknowledgement
Board Member Ana Fakataha was selected toour Board inAugust
2019, following aCasual Vacancy. Due tothe family’s relocation from
Ashburton, Ana has had to resign from the Board, which was received
at the Board’s February meeting, and you will see further through this
newsletter the Board’s notification regarding the resulting Casual
Vacancy.
We acknowledge Ana’s input, Pasifika community viewpoints and
particularly note the value ofher involvement insetting up of the
weekly ‘homework club’. This was established to provide homeworkbased
support to Pasifika students and also English language learning
opportunities for Pasifika parents. Wewish Ana and the family well in
Dunedin.
AFinal Comment
The Ashburton College Board ofTrustees has been aprivilege to chair.
We have had averyeventful past three-fiveyears,withthe appointment
of anew principal; new build plans in progress; and Covid-19 thrown in
too. As aschooland Boardwehavebeen abletoembraceopportunities
and manage the challenges.
Ngā mihi.
Information
:
JeremySavage
Chairperson •Heamana
Information
AkoMeetings/College Closure–Newdate:
Thursday18March
Akointerviews willnow be held on Thursday 18 March and
all bookings previously made,will be transferred to thisdate.
These interviewswill go ahead subjecttousbeing under
COVID Level 1restrictions.
If thetime that youhavebooked is no longersuitable,
please changeasrequired.
Please notethatthe College willbeclosed for
normalinstruction on thisday.
These interviewsprovideopportunityfor students to shareinformation,
and planand set goalswith their Akoteacherand parent/caregiver.
Theinterviews willbeheld at AshburtonCollege,
from 10:00am-8:00pm.
Twenty minutesisallocated forall year levelstudents,
andtheir families.
Allstudents/families areexpectedtoattend.
If youhavenot bookedanAko interview,
please do so forThursday 18 March.
Pleasedonothesitate to phone the CollegeOfficeifyou have
anyquestionsorrequireany assistance.
AshburtonCollege BoardofTrustees
Casual Vacancyfor an ElectedTrustee
ACasual Vacancyhas occurredonthe BoardofTrustees foran
ElectedParentRepresentative.
TheBoardhas resolved,
under Section 105 of the Education Act1989,
to fill the VacancybySelection.
If tenpercent or moreofeligible voters on the College Roll ask the Board,
within 28 days of this noticebeing published,
to hold aBy-Election to fillthe vacancy, then aBy-Election will be held.
Anyeligible voterwho wishestoask the Boardtohold aBy-Election
should writeto:
TheChairperson, AshburtonCollege BoardofTrustees,
POBox204,Ashburton7740
On or by:Thursday01April 2021.
Teacher Only Day–New date:Friday26March
Please notethatthe College will also be closedfor normal instruction
on this day, in order to undertakeaTeacher Only Day.
The day-long programme is fully committed to Restorative Practises
training for staff, byoutside facilitators. This process is an important
link to our AshColl Way, our Values of Pride, Quality and Respect, and
our preference toresolve matters firstly by negotiation, where this is
possible.
We do ask thatyou makealternativearrangements foryour
sons/daughters on this dayand thank youfor your support.
Join AshColl at the 2021 ASB Polyfest –
this Saturday13March, 9:30am-5:00pm
Thisyear’sthemeis:
‘Mārotomai iteAhurea whirikoka,
ko te whakaoratinana, hinengaro,
wairuameteira tangata’
‘Healingthe body, mind, spirit and soul
withthe strength of Culture’
For 2021, last year’s theme has been
retained as, organisers have advised,
it’s become more important than
ever - it signifies how we celebrate
our communities' healing through the
strength of our cultures -our cultural
beliefs, traditions andvalues.
Additionally, as aPolyfest family, they
added that weare connected through
our healing and cultural strengths.
We also celebrate our identity and
diversity byhonouring our heritage -
our past, present and future.
Together, weshare in this journey, as
we prepare to make new memories
andcreatenew experiences.
AshburtonCollege
has astrong contingentoffiftyfive students travelling up
to participate in this festival and
perform with twenty other schools.
If youare available,plesae taketime to come and supportthem.
AshburtonCollege's performancetime is 1:10pm
(Red Zone: Corner New BrightonRoad and Locksley Avenue).