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<strong>Ashburton</strong> College<br />
Individual ExcellenceinaSupportiveLearning Environment<br />
News<br />
Issue 22<br />
<strong>20</strong> <strong>August</strong> <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong><br />
DeputyPrincipal Message<br />
Uncertainty<br />
What adifference aweek makes. On11<strong>August</strong>,<br />
New Zealand had been free of COVID-19 for<br />
over 100 days. On 12 <strong>August</strong>, community<br />
transmission had been announced, Auckland<br />
had movedtoAlertLevel 3and the remainderof<br />
the countrytoAlertLevel 2.<br />
Uncertainty is part ofthe world that welive in.<br />
While it can be unsettling,itisimportant thatwe<br />
focus on whatwecan controland do our partto<br />
help the team of fivemillion.<br />
Above all, bekind and look after the well-being of yourself and those<br />
close to you.<br />
Course Selection<br />
Term 3iswell and truly underway. It is always aninteresting term, as<br />
students and staff are focused on the current task of learning and<br />
achievementwhile also having one eyeon<strong>20</strong>21.<br />
It is at this time that students make their course choices for the year<br />
ahead.When considering whatsubjects to study in <strong>20</strong>21, it is important<br />
thatstudents consider whatthey areinterested in, whatthey enjoy, and<br />
the pathwaythey hope to followwhen they leave school.<br />
Wherestudents areunsurewhatsubjects aregoing to be rightfor them,<br />
thereishelp and supportavailable through Akoteachers, Deans,Heads<br />
of School, our Careers Co-ordinator and, ofcourse, discussion with<br />
parents and caregivers.<br />
For senior students, there are also opportunities to visit tertiary<br />
institutionssuch as Universities and Polytechnics and get an insightinto<br />
whatthey have on offer.<br />
College Exams<br />
School exams are fast approaching, inWeek 7ofthis term (starting<br />
31 <strong>August</strong>), and internal assessments are ongoing. Inthe midst of the<br />
busy day-to-day happenings,itisanimportant time forsenior students<br />
to have aclear focus on their goals for <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong> and keeping track of their<br />
progress towardsthem. Writing down goals is an importantpartofthis<br />
process as it helps us remember and remind us what weare trying to<br />
achieve.<br />
To track progress,log in to the KAMARportal to monitor credits achieved.<br />
AshColl Way<br />
TheCollege has three Values thatguide the waywedothings.These are<br />
knownasthe AshColl Way:<br />
Te atapai –Quality; Manawa whakahīhī –Pride; and Whakaute–Respect.<br />
These Values underpin the way that weencourage all members of our<br />
school communitytogoabout their time at College.Iencourage youto<br />
take amomenttoreflectonwhatthese Values mean to you.<br />
Whāiaekoe te iti kahurangikitetūohu koe,mehemaungateitei<br />
This whakataukichallenges us to pursue our dreams/our goals.<br />
It asks us to perseverethroughadversityand only bowour heads<br />
if the obstacle is truly great.<br />
Information<br />
Jono Hay<br />
DeputyPrincipal •TumuakiTuarua<br />
Transition Department–EventsUpdate<br />
TertiaryStudy Information<br />
We are atthe time of year where students going to tertiary study in <strong>20</strong>21<br />
are gathering information, making decisions, and beginning application<br />
processes,asfollows:<br />
Universityand PolytechHalls of ResidenceApplications<br />
HallsofResidenceapplications arenow open online.<br />
Course Planning for <strong>20</strong>21<br />
Universityliaison staff areinthe process of booking to visit AshColl this term<br />
to help students plan their course of study for<strong>20</strong>21.<br />
Datesknown so farare:<br />
UniversityofCanterbury – 12 <strong>August</strong><br />
Victoria UniversityofWellington – 09 September<br />
Auckland University – 09 September<br />
LincolnUniversity – 09September<br />
Otago University – 16September<br />
<strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong> UniversityOpenDays–<br />
Further Information is Available on their Websites<br />
•VictoriaUniversity<br />
–On-campus: tomorrow,<br />
Friday21<strong>August</strong><br />
•CanterburyUniversity<br />
–On-campus: Thursday 27 <strong>August</strong><br />
•Auckland University<br />
–On-campus: Saturday29<strong>August</strong><br />
•Massey University<br />
–Virtual (online) Open Days<br />
04 and 05 September<br />
Andalso:<br />
WellingtonCampus<br />
–TasterDay:tomorrow,21<strong>August</strong><br />
ManawatuCampus<br />
–TasterDay:11September<br />
Auckland Campus<br />
– Taster Day: 12 September<br />
•Waikato University<br />
–Virtual (online) Open Days:<br />
13 and 14 <strong>August</strong><br />
•AUT University<br />
– On-campus: Saturday29<strong>August</strong><br />
BoardofTrustees News ...<br />
College PropertyUpgrade<br />
Work on the Master Plan and layout of our<br />
College campus upgrade continues with good<br />
momentum.<br />
We have viewed the first draft and worked<br />
with the Project Team to make the most<br />
of our natural assets, trees, grounds and<br />
the community park; while ensuring the<br />
pedestrian, traffic entrances and bus<br />
movements aresafefor our studentsand staff.<br />
In-College staff through Faculties, Departments and various additional<br />
groups will be engaged and consulted with over the next twomonths to<br />
ensurethatthe teaching spaces and layout will meet their needs.<br />
We are tracking towards afinal plan for approval mid-<strong>20</strong>21, to start the<br />
quoting and pricing process.<br />
The question has been asked as to whether wecan accelerate the build<br />
as a‘shovel-ready’ project within the COVID-19 recovery. Both the<br />
Ministry ofEducation and our College Management Team have insisted<br />
that wekeep to the timeframes and planned process, and not rush the<br />
project. The over-riding priority is to make sure wehave ahigh quality,<br />
future-proofed school thatmeets our needs forthe long-term.<br />
The new build aspects will be undertaken in three-four phases, onthe<br />
current footprintofthe school. Withsome clarityinthe lifeexpectancyof<br />
parts of our school, we have been able to access money from the Ministry<br />
of Education to maintain and re-carpet anumber of classrooms. This has<br />
been well-received by staff and students. Some parts of the College<br />
will be remaining for the medium term, which will have infrastructure<br />
upgraded to meet our health and safetyexpectations.<br />
AshColl Values<br />
We do need to take pride and respect inour school, and ensure we<br />
are meeting our AshColl Values. This is acombined effort from our<br />
maintenance, teaching and support staff and, most importantly, our<br />
students. A tidy, rubbish-free, graffiti-free school isapleasure for all to<br />
learnin, and forour communitytovisit and take pride in.<br />
JeremySavage<br />
Chairperson<br />
Information<br />
StudentPre-Exam Study Nights DuetoStart<br />
These eveningshavebeen runsuccessfully foranumberofyears,where<br />
rostered teaching staffare in theCollege Librarytoassist students with<br />
studyand to answer anyquestions theymay have.<br />
Study Nights will takeplaceinthe College Library,<br />
between 7:00pm and 9:00pm on –<br />
Monday24<strong>August</strong> Tuesday25<strong>August</strong> Wednesday26<strong>August</strong><br />
Thursday 27 <strong>August</strong> Monday31<strong>August</strong> Tuesday01September<br />
Wednesday02September<br />
Students can check, inthe Library, the list of staff and subjects for each<br />
night.<br />
We thankstaff fortheir time given. Traditionally many students take up this<br />
additional support.<br />
Events<br />
Students SupportAnnual <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
Blood Drive<br />
Information provided by Seluvaia Ratoul<br />
(Head of CommunityServices Student Committee)<br />
The <strong>Ashburton</strong> College Student Executive Community Services<br />
Committee organised for twenty <strong>Ashburton</strong> College students to take<br />
partinthe annual <strong>Ashburton</strong>Blood Drive, on Wednesday12<strong>August</strong>.<br />
This wasaverysuccessful daywith manystudents participating,maxing out<br />
all the slots that were available tous. We are very proud of all the senior<br />
students who took part, coming face-to-facewith their fear of needles!<br />
Under the nation's trying circumstances it was amazing tosee AshColl<br />
students donating morethan ever to those who need blood.<br />
A big thank you to Atawhai TeHau, the New Zealand Blood Service<br />
Co-ordinator who helped make this event possible. Asacommittee, we<br />
hope this becomes an annual eventwhich <strong>Ashburton</strong>College continues to<br />
be apartof.<br />
(Pictured right): Joseph Collins,Red<br />
House Captain, donating blood.<br />
(Pictured above,lefttoright):<br />
Brendan Fleming,WillowDiedricks<br />
(BoardofTrustees Student<br />
Representative) and<br />
SapphireKururangi<br />
(Green House Co-Captain).<br />
Events<br />
‘Fabulous Las VegasNevada’: College Ball<br />
As outlined in our last newsletter we now include some additional<br />
photos from thisnightwith, again, aspecial thankyou to Helen Shore-<br />
Taylor and the College Student Executive Ball Committee as pictured<br />
below.<br />
(Pictured above, back row, left to right): Helen Shore-Taylor,<br />
Deputy Principal and Ball Committee oversight; Emily Wilson,<br />
Victoria Binnie,Annabel Dolan, Megan Harrison, Lucy Moore(Co-LeaderBall<br />
Committee), Shasha Wategedara, Emily King.<br />
(Front row, left and right): Jacob Gray (Co-Leader Ball Committee) and<br />
Blake Farr. (Absent from photo): BuddhikaEkanayake.<br />
Student Executive Members (pictured above, back row, left to right):<br />
Lucy Moore, Seluvaia Ratoul, Jestena Raj, Penny Stilgoe, Willow Diedricks,<br />
MariaCostas,PoppyKilworth.<br />
(Front row, left to right): Jacob Gray, Kotiti Patea, Ngakau Howell,<br />
HenryChapman, Ian Teves, Kyle Cabangun, Jonty Small.<br />
(Front): Abbey Bruce Head of Senior School being kept in place bythe<br />
Executive.<br />
Princess,Prince; Queen, King; andBest DressedStudents:<br />
Chosen, by staff, towards the end of the evening were the traditional<br />
Princess,Prince; Queen and King; and Best Dressed students. Wenow have<br />
photos of this year’s winners:<br />
(Pictured below,lefttoright): Princess: Mahina Pongia; Prince: Blake Farr;<br />
Queen: WillowDiedricks; King: Kyle Cabangun<br />
(Pictured below, leftand right): Best DressedYear 12 student: AnnyaRawlings;<br />
Best Dressed Year 13 student: Daniel Lockington Teokotai.