Ashburton CollegeNewsIndividual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment

Issue 218 February 2021

AshColl Values – Term One Focus on PrideThe start of our year at College has given us the opportunity to inform our new staff and students (and remind our returning staff and students) about the AshColl Way. In everything we do at College, we strive to achieve our values of Quality, Pride and Respect. Our focus for Term One is on the value of Pride and, in particular, we will be working with students to ensure they are showing this by wearing our College uniform correctly and attending every class, every day, on time.All students have taken part in assemblies where the uniform guidelines have been explained and reminders have been given in Ako time. Students are required to wear their uniform correctly from the time they leave home in the morning until they return after College. There are plenty of options within the uniform to allow for changeable weather conditions and also flexibility for personal preference. We appreciate the support from parents and caregivers to ensure that our young people do wear their uniform with pride, and we will make contact with home if this is not the case. In particular, we do not allow hoodies or sneakers to be worn with the uniform and only College hats may be worn.Student AchievementOver the past ten years, we have collected student achievement data which categorically shows the link between attendance and academic success. We will be working hard with students and parents/caregivers to maintain high levels of attendance across the College. Remember that our College day begins at 8:45am on Monday and Friday, so students need to be at College and heading to their classes by 8:40am. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, classes begin at 9:00am, so students need to be at College and on their way to class by 8:55am at the latest.Relationship Between School and Home – Ako InterviewsAt College we value the relationship between school and home in order to support our young people to succeed. The Ako teacher is instrumental in this role and we encourage parents and caregivers to make contact with the Ako teacher of their child with any questions or concerns. At two points during the year, we close the College for instruction and ask all students and parents/caregivers to come in for Ako interviews. This three-way discussion and information-sharing between student, parent/caregiver and Ako teacher is crucial to ensure the student’s needs are being met in all aspects of their College life. The first Ako interviews will take place on Thursday 04 March, as advertised further through this newsletter, so please put this into your calendar now. Information will be emailed to parents/caregivers about making times for interviews. All students are expected to attend the interviews on this day.Term One Activities Term One is a busy term with Athletics, Swimming, Festival of the Spoken Word and Summer Tournament Week, to name a few. I challenge all students to take up a new activity this year to experience the rich life of the College outside of the classroom. Orientation Day on Wednesday 24 February will feature displays from over fifty of our Arts, sporting and cultural activities on offer. Take up the challenge and you may well discover your new passion.

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me maunga teitei.Pursue that which is precious, and do not be deterred

by anything less than a lofty mountain. Carolyn Clough Head of Junior School

Head of Junior School Message EventsAko Meetings/College Closure –

Thursday 04 March Please note that the College will be closed for normal instruction on this day in order to hold Ako interviews for all year levels. These interviews provide opportunity for students to share information, plan and set goals, with their Ako teacher and parent/caregiver.

The interviews will be held at Ashburton College, from 10:00am-8:00pm.

Twenty-five minutes is allocated for Year 9 and 10 students,and fifteen minutes for Year 11-13 students.

Families are to book their interview times online,and this information will be provided in the near future.

All students/families are expected to attend.

Teacher Only Day – Friday 05 March Please note that the College will also be closed for normal instruction on this day, in order to undertake a Teacher Only Day.The day-long programme is fully committed to Restorative Practises training for staff, by outside facilitators. This process is an important link to our AshColl Way, our Values of Pride, Quality and Respect, and our preference to resolve matters firstly by negotiation, where this is possible.

We do ask that you make alternative arrangements for your sons/daughters on this day and thank you for your support.

InformationOrientation Morning

Activity Displays/Exciting Opportunities for Students to become Involved

Next Wednesday 24 February College Chessboard, 10:45am–11:25am

On this day students have the opportunity to view forty-five to fifty display stands of activities available through the College and community groups, and register interest in what they might like to be involved in during this year, and beyond.College welcomes and encourages students joining in College life, and Orientation Day provides a great chance to see the wide range of activities on offer.

Parents and caregivers might like to encourage their student to consider how they could become involved in the many opportunities offered by the College and Community Groups who contribute to the life and work of the College.

Information

Youth and Careers Exchange: Register for an Interactive Site

This combined collaborative event promoted co-operatively between the Ashburton District Council, YMCA and Ashburton College will be an expected attendance day for students from our district’s three secondary schools – Ashburton College, Ashburton Christian School and Mt Hutt College, plus those at the YMCA.A strong inter-active and goal-orientated day is planned to grow students’ understanding of career options available to them, and providing the opportunity to attend an industry in an area they may want to work in.If you are a local business or youth service and would like to book a site

please register your interest at: youthexponz@gmail.com

Welcome to Year 9 Students –Peer Support Programme

On Thursday, 04 February, we welcomed 285 Year 9 students to the start of their secondary schooling years at College. To support the settling-in process, Ashburton College annually runs a Peer Support Programme where a group of Year 12 students work alongside the Year 9 students. Counsellor and Peer Support Programme Co-ordinator Andrew Shepherd said that there were seventy six Year 12 students preparing for 2021. These students offered their time, which included a two-day training programme on Thursday and Friday 28 and 29 January before their school year began.

(Pictured above, left to right): Elsie-Marie Vlaanderen, Jamie Glanville, Faith Davies, Guinevere Faichnie.The Peer Support Programme Aims are about – • making links between people • supporting, understanding and accepting each otherDay one for the Year 9 students was a busy one encompassing a welcome assembly and introductions to relevant staff plus a welcome from the Head Students. This was followed by Ako class time for the balance of the day, which consisted of a variety of ‘getting to know you’ activities, Information Booklets, timetable explanations, tour of the College/Orientation Quiz, emergency procedure information, computer log-on activations, and meeting Core Subject teachers. A further assembly, and Waiata practice for the forthcoming Pōwhiri formed Period 5, along with a return to Ako classes to prepare for the next day’s classes.

(Pictured above, left to right): Tom Harrison, Oliver Williams, Charlie Howden, Rhys Scammell, Riley Lowe.(Pictured right, clockwise from left): Grace Johnston, Daisy Boyles, Taylor Lamont, Harriet Hill. Carolyn Clough, Head of Junior School, said that day one for the students went exceptionally well.  The students arrived showing the usual mix of nerves and excitement but were quickly settled and engaged in their first day induction programme by their Ako teachers.  The shared barbeque at lunchtime provided a great opportunity for students to interact and the smiles indicated it was an enjoyable day for all involved.A huge thank you goes to Carolyn and the Junior team of Hannah Young (Assistant Head of Junior School) and Deans James List, Karen McKenzie and Anna Rimmer for their work in spearheading this day, and making it so positive for our incoming students, alongside all additional staff who were involved.

(Pictured above, front row, left to right): Eli Orena, Chinatsu Hunt, Charlotte Sinclair-Donnelly, Jessalene Eclipse, Caleb McNulty-Burns, Fletcher Rhodes-Berends, Ian Pabualan, Maddi Lowry, Jayde Cook. (Middle Row, left to right): Semisi Balenaisa, Bradley Douglas, Molly Jones, Libby Alford, and (back row) Riley Sa; forming one group of students who had practised making clothing from newspapers, in preparation for facilitating the same group activity with the Year 9 students. The students now lead a group of Year 9 students throughout Term One, working to grow their communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills, in the role of both a leader and a friend. On day one they spent Period 4 leading activities with the Year 9 students, finishing with a sausage sizzle lunch on the chessboard, and sports activities.

Coming EventsFebruary 19 College Athletic Prelims22 Postponement day: Athletic Prelims23 Year 11 AGS Group 3, Animal Handling, farm-based24 Orientation Day, Chessboard, 10:45am–11:25am Canterbury Secondary Schools’ Show Jumping,

McLean’s Island, Christchurch Mountainbike Singletrack series, Round 1, Halswell Quarry Park,

Christchurch25 Year 12 History trip, Akaroa27-28 South Island Secondary Schools’ Tennis Championships, TimaruMarch02 College Athletics finals03 Mountainbike Singletrack series, Round 2, Halswell Quarry Park,

Christchurch Year 12 Mates and Dates (Ako class) Year 11 AGS Group 1 Farmbikes Day, Ashburton Showgrounds

Ashburton CollegeNewsIndividual Excellence in a Supportive Learning Environment

Issue 218 February 2021

EventsPōwhiri – Manuhiri Welcomed to CollegeThis annual important event in the culture of the College took place on Tuesday 09 February, in front of the Whare Wānanga. Welcomed were Year 9 students, new students at other year levels and new staff, all being the manuhiri or visitors. (Pictured right): The College Kapa Haka group, with kaikaranga (Caller) Michelle Brett of the Hakatere Marae, preparing to call the manuhiri on to the campus. (Pictured below): The College Kapa Haka group welcoming the manuhiri on to the campus.

Ross Preece then concluded with a brief kōrero/talk to the hunga/crowd after the hongi, summarising the welcome to all newcomers and confirming them as now officially part of the Ashburton College community.Ross referred also to the taonga/treasure that the Whare Wānanga is, particularly in a school setting, being one of few schools nationally to have a Whare with carvings. The event finished with kai in the staffroom for all parents and whānau, and available staff.

(Pictured below): The manuhiri, accompanied also by Ako Teachers, being called forward on to the campus, led by Wātene Māori/Māori Warden Henare Cairns, and He Waka Tapu Whānau Ora Navigator, Ellie Smith.

The welcome made on behalf of the tangata whenua (hosts), those who have previously been welcomed and who belong to the College, was made in Te Reo by the Principal Ross Preece (pictured right). This was followed by the tangata whenua singing of the waiata Whakataka te hau, and by a summary from Matua Tiipene Philip, College Head of Māori Department (pictured below) also speaking on the hau kāinga/school side, and a second waiata, He Hōnore.

(Pictured below): Responding for the manuhiri was Henare Cairns, followed by the manuhiri’s waiata Tutira mai.

(Pictured below): The formal welcome on site concludes with the tangata whenua inviting the manuhiri to approach them for hongi.

Boyle River a Great ExperienceAvailable for Year 11-Year 13 students, five Ashburton College students benefitted from invaluable Rotary Club of Ashburton sponsorship and were able to attend this outdoor adventure camp from 14-18 December last year. Eligibility came via being Year 12 House Representatives during 2020. Of the eight maximum attendees, five were available to attend, and for students Olivia Lill, Hannah O’Reilly, Thomas Patterson, Brie Rudolph and Milli Sullivan this proved to be an outstanding leadership training opportunity, each citing similar and different responses and key ‘take homes’.The Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre is operated by the not-for-profit North Canterbury Alpine Trust, based 15km south of the Lewis Pass, between the Sylvia Tops and the Libretto mountain range. Their information makes for interesting reading – Overall they acknowledged the benefits of meeting with other student leaders from throughout New Zealand, and the team bonding activities which forged co-operation and friendships. There were fifteen attendees, split into two groups, and with each assigned an instructor. Day-time activities were spent in their groups, with all coming together at the end of the day. (Pictured right): The group with the College students (front row, left to right): Thomas Patterson, Brie Rudolph, Hannah O’Reilly. (Middle row): Olivia Lill (second from right) and Milli Sullivan (kneeling).Personal goals were set and, at the conclusion of each day, these were evaluated withparticipants saying whether they had met their goal, how they could improve and giving a time when they demonstrated their goal. The range of activities included high ropes, overnight tramp, blindfold walk into the forest where the tree bark felt like mountains, and a swim in a waterfall pool at the end of the tramp. This was described as ‘freezing cold’ despite layers of swim attire being used. The abseiling view was ‘insane’, of mountains, valleys and river running through. From the ridge line they could see to Murchison. For some, they experienced more than they had during their whole lives and

our students certainly recommended that House Executive Year 12 students should certainly consider putting the effort in and ‘going for it’. (Pictured left): En route to the overnight camp, via the ridgeline in the Lewis Pass, around the Travers Peak area.

Olivia: Said working with people she didn’t know meant she felt compelled to give 100% as she didn’t want to be the one not pulling weight in a group situation. Olivia mentioned a ‘bonus’ about forty five minutes into the overnight mountain tramp, in 27 degrees, when a party member fainted and she became part of escorting this member down, by the river. Olivia said the tramp was very challenging in the heat and, while not happy for the

party member, there was some relief in escaping the upward slog!In relation to goal-setting Olivia noted that working towards their own goals meant paying attention to what others were doing, in order to be able to provide relevant feedback. She said they left camp with their goals, with what hadn’t been achieved and was still to be worked on.She would highly recommend the camp, saying it was ‘so awesome’. Hannah: Said it was amazing how much fun the event was, and noted that, within twenty minutes of arriving, they were underway with a blindfold activity in a forest area. Following a rope line and sounds of claps, the experience was disorientating in many ways with the blindfold part of the exercise taking an hour and forty five minutes. Hannah said that by the end of that time, they had become close to the other participants, chatting and feeling they had known each other ‘for ages’. Incredibly when they retraced their steps the return ‘trip’ took three minutes. She also enjoyed the evenings chatting and learning about others’ lives, and has already met up with some attendees, post-camp. Hannah said she would recommend it to anyone. Thomas: Said he found the overall experience pretty unreal, with everything undertaken designed to take participants out of their comfort zone. Being outdoors and doing the overnight tramp he found the activities offered really good leadership information and skill development. He said he learnt a ‘lot of good stuff’ that he hadn’t previously thought about, saying he could compare differences between the ‘before and after’. Examples of this included how to delegate, rather than this just being an idea; and knowing when to use different types of leadership and what was appropriate for what situation. Thomas said it was interesting how different people responded to the different styles of leadership, with some liking to be told, while others preferred to ‘put their own spin’ on it. He said if future students get the opportunity they should definitely take it, saying it was something he would remember for years to come, as an ‘awesome’ experience.Brie: Said it was a big learning experience and quite a shock to the system, as she didn’t rate herself as being very fit, saying she had thought an overnight tramp as definitely not being her! However, the camp proved to be a really good learning experience, where she enjoyed meeting new people, forming some close bonds. She noted, in a group, there was no choice but to get on with others. She indicated she had learnt new leadership qualities, had developed as a person and as a leader, gaining more confidence regarding meeting and talking with people she didn’t know. Brie said that, prior to the camp, she wouldn’t have gone up to a person she didn’t know, and introduced herself. Brie said the camp personnel made everyone feel supported and welcome, and she saw this as important at College, especially for Year 9 students to know there are people they can talk with., being a goal for the Student Executive this year. Brie would most definitely recommend others take up this opportunity in future years. Milli: For Milli, her favourite aspects were being with other students from throughout New Zealand, learning different skills in different settings and learning time and place for using skills. She said it was ‘very cool’, and also noted that beforehand, meeting new people could be scary but she discovered they had much in common, and shared some deep conversations. (Pictured right): The night time view on the hike.

CongratulationsNew Zealand Secondary Schools’ National

Track Field and Road Race ChampionshipsThis event was held after the end of the 2020 school year, from 11-13 December in Tauranga.Ashburton College athlete Lusungu Mbambo was our sole competitor, competing at this pinnacle of New Zealand Secondary Schools’ athletic events, which hosted 1300 athletes in total.This was Lusungu’s first year competing in the senior age group, with good results as a first year senior. Lusungu competed in the 100m, 200m, Long Jump and Triple Jump finishing 21st, 19th, 27th and 24th respectively.Moving forward, Lusungu, who is coached by Craig Motley, is focused on training towards top fifteen finishes in her respective events at the 2021 National Secondary Schools’ Championships which will be held in Inglewood, Taranaki, from the 03-05 December. In the meantime she has the start of events at College athletic sports very soon. (Pictured right): Lusungu in full flight at the previous year’s New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Championships.

EventsCollege Board of Trustees Accesses

Whare InformationIn relation to the special nature of our Whare Wānanga our College Board of Trustees, last year on Wednesday 09 December, was treated to information from Matua Tiipene Philip, College Head of Māori Department. Tiipene spoke (pictured below) to the history of the Whare’s establishment; the initial carving work undertaken and overseen by Master Carver Vince Leonard alongside Damian Peeti and including some mahi from students; plus outlining details of the carvings, their purpose and meaning.

In terms of gaining additional knowledge and increasing cultural awareness this was a most valuable visit, with appreciation to Tiipene for his time and clarity of explanations.