Ashburton Courier: November 18, 2021

Ashburton College
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
News
Issue 38
18 November 2021
DeputyPrincipal Message
Acknowledgements of Success
Prize-givings signal the beginning of the end of
the school year. Inthe past two weeks, wehave
held ceremonies tofarewell our Year 13, 12 and
11 students.
While these events were scaled back from
our usual celebrations, it was great to get the
opportunity to acknowledge the hard work
and perseverance of our students throughout
another disrupted year.
Congratulations are given to all of the prize-winners, and thank you to
whānau and all of our many staff for the part each has played inthese
outcomes.
NCEA Exams and Planning for2022
The senior students have finished classes and NCEA exams are soon to
begin (on 22 November). As the school community works hard to finish
theyear strongly,weare also busyplanning for2022.
Part of this planning involves aTeacher Only‘ACCORD’Day onThursday25
November.The ACCORD Dayisoccurring throughout the countryaround
this time,scheduledfor schoolstoplan ahead on howtoimplement the
changes to the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA).
Due toCOVID-19 number constraints, the planned Christchurch-based
day, with teachers meeting with other schools’teachers in their faculty
areas,will nowchange to meetingwithin their ownschools.
The changes are focused onstrengthening NCEA for all our young
people. The sevenkey changes are:
1. Make NCEA moreaccessible
2. Mana ōritemōte mātaurangaMāori
3. Strengthen literacyand numeracyrequirements
4. Have fewer, larger standards
5. Simplify NCEA’s structure
6. Showclearer pathways to further education and employment
7. Keep NCEA Level1asanoptional level
We look forwardtocontinuing to work throughthe detail of implementing
these changes to strengthen NCEA forour studentsand community.
Learning forlife
The Ashburton College vision isfor learners to be engaged inlearning
forlife. As students considertheir next steps andpathways,this concept
becomes relevantinpractice. Whatever the next step -beitajob,further
education or training, weall learn throughout our life. There isareason
our grandparents aresowise!
Embracing life-long learning and stepping into the unknown with a
growthmindset is apositivestepinfulfilling your potential.
Maintaining aFocus on the AshColl Way
With the senior students finished forthe year,our Year 9and 10 students
arethe onlyyear levels leftatschool.
As we move into the finalthree weeks, we willmaintain an ongoing focus
on the AshColl Way.
Students at Ashburton College are reminded and prompted to show
Quality, Pride andRespectinall thatthey do.These valueswill stand them
in good stead now, and in their lives beyond school.
Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuoho koe, he maunga teitei
Pursuewhatinspires you; showperseveranceand endurance
Jono Hay
Deputy Principal •TumuakiTuarua
Information
Study Nights –Preparation forExternal Exams
AStudy Night schedule is now available, where teaching staff will
supportstudents in preparation forNCEA External Exams
(22 November -14December).
We thank Delia Achten Library Manager, Anne Williams Teacher Librarian,
and College teaching staff members for enabling these extra preparation
opportunities.
Arrangements are–
Venue:
CollegeLibrary, from 7:00pm -9:00pm.
Bookings required: Students aretopre-bookspaces, as therehas to be
alimit on numbers in the space. This information has
been provided to students.
Ongoing StudyNight Datesare –
Thursday18November Monday29November Monday06December
Monday22November Tuesday30November Tuesday07December
Tuesday23November Wednesday01December
Wednesday24November
In OurNextNewsletters
Many events and successes are sitting in the wings waiting to be
reported on, and we look forward tosharing these with you inthe
next newsletter or two.
These will include – Highlights from theYear 12 andYear 11 Prize-givings;
Trades Students successes; Shave for aCure; Dance Showcase; Head
Students’ final speeches to the school; House Trophy winners; Diwali
Day; Cultural Bite; Golf; Mountain Biking; Market Day; Chess Match;
Trampolining; Cricket; Australian Maths Competition; Rowing; Aoraki
Sports Awards; introducing our new StudentRepresentativetothe Board
of Trustees; and Junior Sports TournamentWeek.
Congratulations
Year 13 Graduation Ceremony
This was held inthe College Auditorium on Thursday 10November
with, as previously advised, recipients only attending and minimal
staff. The link to the recording and individual photos has been sentto
all families,and staff.
Appreciation forVideo Recordings
Ahuge thank you goes to Year 12 student Kyle Christie for his absolute
expertise evident invideoing our range of awards events this year. His
skill, knowledge and passion for such work has made the ability toshare
these occasions with whānau, staff and other interested personnel very
straightforward. Thank youKyle.
Welcome
In welcoming all to the Ceremony, DeputyPrincipal Jono Hay noted that
we indeed liveinunique and interesting times,and said it wasunfortunate
we were unable
to have our usual
celebration with
parents,whānau
and invited
guests.
Howeverweall
recognised we
were fortunate
to be able to get
together as a
year level cohort.
(Pictured right):
Jono Hayaddressing the audience.
Principal’s Address
Principal Ross Preece opened with the quote which states‘it was the best
of times and it was the worst of times’, noting it as astatement which
could well summarise students' experiences over the last two years. Ross
suggested that thechallenges of COVID-19 have been many and varied but
an unforgettableexperienceinmanyways.
Listed were some
experiences
which could
featureinthe
‘best of times’
list,including
extended time
with whānau
and sometime
to enjoysimple
pleasures;timing
whichallowed
forthe College
Ball to be ableto
be held;and he highlightedthe support of eachother via social media and
College outlets; plussincereacknowledgement to the mahiofthe student
leaders in maintaining contact, leadershipand by ensuring events still
happenedbut through different mediums.
Thechallengesand disappointmentsofthe ‘worst of times’wereevidentin
the cancellation of so many cultural andsporting events –locally, regionally
and nationally; the stress ofworking to maintain enthusiasm for learning
while online and worrying about falling behind; missing face-to-face
contact with friends and, locally, the combination of COVID and flooding
withconsequential economic hurdles.
However, looking forward, Ross said there were manyprospects forstudents
to be excited about, citing the increasingly large menu ofemployment
opportunities available. He reminded students to remember the
AshColl ValuesofQuality, Pride and Respectwhich would be high on many
employers’wishlists.
Importantly was taking some timetofind an occupation‘thatyou enjoy and
which challenges you togrow’. Ross reminded the students that they are
likely to be working forfifty years,which is averylong time to be miserable.
This year group wasacohortRoss Preecefelt astrong affinitywith,asthey
started College inthe same year as Ross startedatCollege.
Acknowledged on behalf of the year group was the work of and support
from teaching staff to students, and the work and vital role of the current
BoardofTrustees.
In conclusion, Ross continuedhis traditionsofgoing backeighteen years to
look at some of the innovations of the year of students’birth. Listed this time
was Apple’s establishment ofthe ‘I-phone Music Store’and digital cameras
within cellphones.
With afinal Kia Kaha, students were wished well and encouraged to be
excited abouttheirfutures!
Head Students 2021
Head Students Milli Sullivan and Thomas Patterson, aside from their
formal speeches,werethe readers of the Achievement Awardrecipients
lists,while theseawardswerepresentedbyRoss Preece.
Head Girl Speech–MilliSullivan
Milli opened by acknowledging thisasher final time on stage in frontofher
Year 13 peers, sayingshe couldn’t yettell if shewas excited,nervous,sad or
even happy thatthis wasthe end of secondaryschooling.
She continued, saying she could confidently saythatthiswasn’t exactly the
endingoftheir fiveyear College journeythey pictured in their heads when
first walking throughthose College gatesback in 2017, but said‘nonetheless
hereweare
celebrating
making it
through, and
all Ican sayis
congratulations’.
Milli challenged
all to continue to
encourage others
and inspire
themselves to
take on goals to
attain the heights of everyopportunitythatcomes their way. She said also
that, together we walked in through the College gateswith other beloved
students who have begun their journeysinmanyother ways’.
Added was the acknowledgement that, next February, many will be
attending their first year of university, moving away from friends and
families and leaving behind the familiar Ashburton College hallways and
starting their first time of independence.
Recognising those steps came with appreciation of opportunities –past,
current and future -which would not have been available without the
people who have guided and mentoredthroughout recent years. Milli then
gave a‘massiveshout out’toparents,who will watchthe ceremony online,
for their support; and to the dedicated teachers of Ashburton College
without whom awards and successes would not have been possible, and
formaking school worththe while,through commitment to educationand
ability tomake the environment both fun and asafe place for acquiring
knowledge.
Milli acknowledged the teachers and Year 13 leavers forentrusting her with
the role of Head Girl, one of the hardest but most rewarding and fulfilling
lifeexperiences to date. Milli thanked all forthe help she had received, and
acknowledged Student and House Executive Leaders and Committee for
their work,and to all students willing to participate and support.
Looking to the future, Milli encouraged students to take all they have
learned through the past two years of toughness, uncertainty and mixed
emotions; and to takethe hope, determination, grit andpassion into future
goals,jobsand aspirations, concluding with -
‘don’t settle for things thatwon’t spring youout of bed in the morning.
You’ve got to findwhat youlovetodo’.
Head BoySpeech–ThomasPatterson
After welcoming those present and those who will watch from home,
Thomas noted the ceremony asbeing two aspects –recognising student
successes and wrapping up their finalyear at secondaryschool.
As for all speakers, heacknowledged all graduates, plus the challenges of
the last two years where navigating unfamiliar terrain brought previously
unknown challenges.
Incredibly important was congratulating everyone on making it out the
other side, inthe face ofthe unknown when, as ayear, they regained
footing on multiple occasions and soldiered on. This wasatestament to the
strength of the year group.
Equally important were achievements gained, excelling in circumstances
thattried their best to hinder such successes.Thomas said while times have
been tough, those involved had proven tougher,with standards held to.
Appreciation and encouragementwas giventothe year group,and to what
they can achievegoing forward. Also acknowledged were the teachers and
the importanceofstill having ateacher physically in aclassroom, to support
information becoming knowledge through understanding.
With the Year 13 Graduation Dinner cancelled, Thomas also referred to
this being the last time he would speak to the year group as Head Boy, an
opportunityhethanked his peers and the staff for, saying it had been atrue
honour and one he wasthankful to be entrusted with.
Also recognised was this being the last time they would all be gathered in
one place, knowing this to be the last time of seeing some faces again, but
saying thatthe associatedmemories would last alifetime. Without all of the
activities, classroom time, lunchtime activities and friends these memories
wouldn’t exist.
Thomas said school had been ablast,with all hereresponsible forthat.
Thomas concluded,saying–
VinakaVakaLevu, KalougataTiko.
Thank youall,good luckfor thefuture.
Awards
Awards presented indicated commitment, hard work, focus and
contributions on behalf of each student; and support from families and
staff. All recipients arecommended forall thattheyhaveachieved.
It is also with very grateful appreciation thatthe College recognises the
significantcommunitysupport of manyofthese awards.