Ashburton Courier: September 24, 2020

Ashburton College
Individual Excellence in aSupportive Learning Environment
News
Issue 27
24 September 2020
Message From ThePrincipal
Term Threeand Adjustments
On the day that this article appears inprint we
will have only two days ofTerm Three left and
we,along with all communities,havefaced many
challengesthis term.
We were fortunatetobeabletohold our College
Ball beforethe returnofCOVID-19, Level2.
Additionally wemanaged to get all our major
sports through their local competitions but there were noregional or
nationalcompetitionstofollow.
We held our College exams, but two weeks later than had been
earlier scheduled. Wewere also able tohost our second round ofAko
interviews.
All ofthese achievements required adjustment, re-organisation and
uncertainty. My thanks goes to all staff who worked around these
challenges, and to all who coached and managed our various sports
teams.
Impacts
Therewereanumber of College events thatcouldn’t go ahead this term,
including the parent-teacher-studentinterviewsatthe Hotel Ashburton,
our Lip Sync and Music Evenings and House Waiata competitions -
although the Lip Sync competition washeld via video competitions.
It is unfortunate thatthese events didn’t occur, but we had to followall
health guidelines.
It is worth noting that interruptions due to COVID will continue inthe
future, with the news that the bulk of the Ashburton A&PShow won’t
be happening, as scheduledatthe endofOctober.
Like many secondary schools, weare planning for amajor reduction in
our international student numbers next year. Ahandful ofour current
students will remain with us over the summer break and bewith us for
2021, however there will be no new arrivals to start the year.This does
mean thatwelose our international cross-cultural flavour and inputthat
students bring into our College, and there are financial implications for
the College andcommunity.
AttendancePatterns
Another challenge caused by COVID is to have our students back into
moreregular attendance patterns.
In anormal term our overall attendance isatabout 85%, and this was
the rate post-lockdown. However, our data for this term indicates that
the level hasdropped to 76%for allstudents,with greaterconcerns for
someethnicities.
We believe this trend has been caused by two factors. Some of our
studentshavebeen required to carefor younger siblings so that parents
can take on extra work, plus some parents have been anxious about
COVID and are keeping their children at home to ensure their safety,
despite knowing there has been no community transmission in the
South Island.
TheSprintthatisTerm Four
Next term is averitable sprint for our senior students. The first day of
term is Monday 12October and our Year 13 Graduation Ceremony is
scheduled to be held on Thursday05November,atthe Ashburton Trust
EventCentre.
This is followed byour Year 11/12 Prize-giving to be held on Tuesday
10 November. This year we are holding acombined year level event in
the EA Networks Centre. Of course, weare planning for these events
on the assumption that weremain at COVID Level 1.There are various
options beingconsidered if we returntorestrictions on gathering sizes.
Good Wishes forthe StudentHolidayBreak
Have agreat break and thanks to everyone who has supported us
throughthe challengesofthis term.
Many thanks
Ross Preece
Principal •Tumuaki
Information
AshburtonCollege Year 9
Academic Scholarships
Criteria and application forms arenow available from your child’s school.
TheClosing Date forapplications is
Thursday05November 2020, 3:30pm.
Theacademic examinations willbeheldatAshburton College
on Monday16Novemberfrom9:00am–11:15am.
Enquiriesand applications to be madetoSheenaTyrrell,
ManagementAdministrator,
Email: ts@ashcoll.school.nz
Phone: 308 4193, extension 812; 027 247 8003.
Please notethatthese Scholarships are
Academic ExcellenceScholarships.
AshColl Way
Information
Transition DepartmentNews
Scholarshipsthrough AshburtonCollege
Information and application forms for scholarships administered through
AshburtonCollege were made available to students this week.
These scholarships are offered each year by local businesses and
organisations, and AshburtonCollege.
Closing dates vary (starting from early next term), so please check
application formscarefully.
Booklets containing the information and criteria
canbecollectedfromthe Transition Office (T12).
Events
LibraryStudy Nights in August /September
an UnprecedentedSuccess
Study Nights in the Library (Te Whare Pukapuka Matauranga) have been
operating for agood number of years, asaway of supporting students in
their preparation for practice and external exams. Teacher Librarian Anne
Williams said thatthe latter years of amoreformal arrangementofaccessing
teaching staff volunteers,and advertising the evenings to the studentbody
has paid dividends in termsofnumbers of students attending.
Thelibrarystaffare certainly
acknowledged fortheir
managementofthis programme.
Anne said that, in the early years,
it wascelebratedwhen thirty
students attended –onagood
night.
This has changed over the years
and the uptake by both staff and
students this year hit an all-time
high.
Over the seven nights, there were 537 sign-ins by students and twenty
eightstaff members supporting the students.
Putting these numbers in perspective, attendance atStudy Nights leading
up to external exams last year,held 394 sign-ins over tennights.
On Tuesday 02October alone, 94 students signed in, with asecond room
being opened up to accommodate everyone.
These evenings provide an opportunity for students to ask questions of
staff,learn howtorevise effectively,tocollaboratewitheach other and staff,
and to adopt positiveexam preparation procedures.
We acknowledge the students’commitment and mahi (work) by staff, not
just for making Study Nights happen but also meeting students outside of
the Study Nights to provide revision support during free periods, intervals
and lunchtimes,across departments.
College HospitalityCourse:
Off-SiteExperiencefor Students
At the end of August,eighteen Year 12 students from theCollege'sLevel 2
HospitalityCourse were hosted by staff at the HotelAshburton, foratwohourpracticalsession.
Students weregiven atour of thefacilitiesand were involved in anumber
of activities including table setting, order taking and beverage service. As
they were setting upfor lunch and dinner service, hygiene and accuracy
were emphasised.
Teacher KentSlocombe saidthatfortunately allsurvived having their drink
order served to them,although not without the odd scare!
Ashburton College thanksthe Hotel Ashburton Managementand Staff for
their supportofthis programme.
(Pictured right):
Charlottedelivers
the order to ‘guest’
GabbyNaylor.
(Pictured left):
CharlotteThomas
takescarewithher
drink order under
the close supervision
of the Hotel
Ashburton’sEvent
Co-ordinator
Paige Lott.
Events
Studylink TertiaryEvening at College
On Monday14September,
approximately seventy
Year 13 students and their
parents/caregivers attended
a presentation in the College Staffroom, given by Matt Heaney from
Studylink. Studylink,aserviceofthe MinistryofSocialDevelopment, helps
students make informedchoices about their studentfinance, howtoapply
foritand manage it online.
Head ofSenior School Abbey Bruce said that those attending were given
information on how toapply for student loans and allowances for their
tertiarystudy, accommodation costs and various deadlines.
Matt gave the following threekey points:
1. Fees Free Scheme: If starting tertiarystudy forthe first time,there may
be eligibility to have fees paidthroughthe Fees Free scheme.
Ayear'sfull-timestudy ‘fees-free’can happenifstudying at one of a:
· TechnicalInstitute (Polytechnic)
· University
· Wānanga
· PrivateTrainingEstablishment
2. Student Loan: The Student Loan is to help with paying fees for study,
buying course-relateditems and withday-to-day expenses/livingcosts,
if notable to getaStudentAllowance.
3. Student Allowance: The Student Allowance isaweekly payment not
required to be paid back. However, fortertiarystudents under 24 years
old it is generallybasedonparents/caregivers’income.
College is very fortunate to have staff from Studylink attend and answer
questions first-hand.
Forfurther information: www.studylink.govt.nz or 0800 88 99 00
Year 11 OutdoorEducation Students to
Mt Thomas
Mt Thomas lies in the foothills of the Southern Alps, inthe Oxford area.
Made up of 10,800 hectares of nativetawhai/beech and scatteredpodocarp
forests,this is an area of interest and information.
On Friday11August, Phys Ed teachers RachelDonaldson and Luke Martin,
with adozen Outdoor Education class students tackled this tramp upthe
1023metrehigh Mt Thomas. Regardedasanadvancedtramping track,this
is a4-7 hourouting!
Rachel said they had agreat day, completingthe walk in avery good time
and, with snow falling atthe top ofthe mountain, there were great scenic
views, albeitaverycold temperature.
(Picturedabove): Group membersheading up the track into thefalling
snow.
(Pictured above, left to right): Trying to keep warm atthe summit are
Ethan Gray, William Makutu, Danny Glanville, Oakley Gairns, Jamie Larter,
Guy Stanway, BaileyGleeson, GeorgiaHart, ElizabethHastie,BrodynGabites.
(Pictured above): Heading downhill withthe plains’view ahead.