Term 4 - Week 7

Tēnā koutou,

Next week, many of our Year 10 students will be out across the motu (land) on the various camps which are taking place.  A big thank you to all of the staff involved in these camps - these are potentially life changing experiences for some of our students.  An outline of Year 10 camp experiences are below:
At Waihi Beach Camp, students can enjoy fishing, tramping, and swimming. Papamoa Surf camp focuses on surfing, while Mountain to Surf includes tramping, surfing, and a visit to the Hot Water Beach. The SOS camp heads into the bush after day one, as well as clay target shooting with our NZ champion, Emily Walker, at the local club. The Basketball Academy is staying at Miranda Hot Springs and travelling to Auckland for top-notch basketball coaching and games. The DIY Guitar workshop allows students to build and design their own electric guitars. Local Legends camp offers different activities in town each day. Gravity Adventure camp includes mountain biking, luging, rafting, and more. The at school group will be crafting, cooking, and being artistic. Finally, the work exploration option gives students a chance to experience the workforce, even if it's just helping out mum and dad for the week. Overall, it’s an action packed week of exciting activities for everyone!

From Wednesday-Friday next week our Year 9 students are involved in all sorts of different activities in and around Taupō.  Again, these are really cool experiences outside of the classroom for our students. Click here to view the Year 9 Student Information form.

Excitingly, from next week you will begin to see some work taking place on our main field to prepare for two World Ironman events we will be hosting.  Enormous marquees will be set up to prepare for the Ironman Welcome Dinner on Thursday 12 December and the Celebration of Champions event on Sunday 15 December.  We are excited to be a part of these events to showcase Taupō and our school to the world.  

Tomorrow is the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge - we hope to see many of you out there either volunteering, participating or supporting the participants.  This is another fantastic event for Taupō and we are proud to help make the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge a success.  Come and say kia ora if you recognise any of us out there tomorrow.

Wishing all our Year 9 and Year 10 students a fantastic week experiencing education outside the classroom next week.

Have a great weekend.

Ngā mihi

Ben Claxton
PRINCIPAL

                                                       Sporting News

Upcoming events: 
NZSS Touch Nationals- 6-8th December, Rotorua 

                                                     Careers Information

Innovative Young Mind’s (IYM)
IYM’s goal is to educate young women in Years 11 and 12 about the wide range of research and career opportunities available in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and high-tech manufacturing). IYM seeks to encourage diversity in New Zealand’s science and technology industry by inspiring a new generation of innovators and industry leaders. IYM is offering young women from all over New Zealand the opportunity to take part in their IYM Online 2025 programme. The programme will be delivered entirely online over four half-day sessions during the April school holidays. Participants will be exposed to:

• inspiring interactive career panels
  
• research and innovation showcases
  
• virtual tours of labs and tech workspaces
• hands-on digital technology sessions
• team-building and networking sessions.
  

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet women working in science and technology and make friends with like-minded young women. Places on IYM Online 2025 are limited to 100 and there is a small participation fee of $30. Key dates are:
Applications open: 1 November 2024
Applications close: 1 March 2025
Programme dates: 14 - 17 April 2025
Apply through the website: https://www.iym.org.nz/
 
Opportunity Grows Here – Primary Industry Jobs
If you’re looking for work, there are food and fibre sector opportunities across Aotearoa New Zealand right now. Our vineyards, forests, farms, orchards, and seas have roles for everyone – from immediate jobs and careers, to training and taster courses to get you started. We need people with a range of interests, skills, experiences, and backgrounds. While there are seasonal jobs, many may be the start of a long-term career with opportunities to grow and advance.
Link: https://www.opportunitygrowshere.nz/
 
Seafood New Zealand – Catch a seafood job
If you love the ocean and action-packed days, then the seafood industry could be for you. From working on fishing boats in New Zealand waters to getting hands on with fresh kaimoana back on land, there are plenty of jobs for the taking. Jump onboard and help us feed the world with delicious and sustainable seafood.
Link: https://www.seafood.co.nz/people-careers/careers/jobs-at-sea
 
Leaving School Magazine
The next issue of the Leaving School Magazine is available. This issue contains information on CV’s, exam advice, articles on the following careers: vehicle sales, environmental consultant, fisherman, accounting technician, forestry machine operator, production supervisor and meat industry careers. To find out more you can access it online at: www.oliverlee.co.nz/leavingschool-issue31

American Summers Opportunity 2025
Applications for the 2025 American Summers IENA camp program are open. As young people throughout New Zealand are weighing up their options for their future endeavours, we think an American Summer is such a fantastic opportunity for them. If you want to know more about what an American Summer Camp looks like? Check out my video here, showcasing the camp I’ve spent the last 3 years at. American Summers IENA has been around since 1996, we know the camp game better than anyone else! Below is a rundown of the perks we offer.
AMERICAN SUMMERS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• You get paid! Minimum of $2,250 USD. This is the highest earning regardless of age, skills or experience (approx. $3700 NZD)
• Program price: $525 NZD broken into 2 simple fees.
  
• What else do you get:
  - Free food and accommodation while at camp;
  - 4 months (123 days) medical insurance;
  - 30 days prior to camp and 30 days after camp to travel and sightsee America;
  - Visa sponsorship. IENA – American Summers is your visa sponsor (not a - 3rd party). We have been a Visa sponsor since 1996;
  - 30 year’s experience. Our staff have years of experience in the American camping industry;
  - Top-level customer service and support from today till you return from camp in September 2025!
• 3rd Party costs:
  - Visa fees – $185 USD paid to the US Consulate (don’t need to pay for this till you are placed and when visa appointments start in early 2025) – plus costs to get to the US Consulate in Auckland;
  - Flights to the USA, your camp and home or out of the USA (don’t need to pay for these till your placement and visa is approved. You have plenty of time to save)
  - Police check - just wait for us to send you the instructions.
  

Learn more on our website: https://americansummers.com/
 
Survey & Spatial NZ Scholarship
Survey & Spatial NZ offers an annual scholarship of $1500 for school leavers intending to enrol in a tertiary surveying or spatial qualification. Students within the Tauranga, Rotorua, Whakatane and Taupo region can apply, with a 31/12/24 closing date for applications. See the notices in Career Central for more information and an application form.
 
Looking to learn a trade or explore apprenticeships? 
Check out MoneyHub's comprehensive guide, a must-read for anyone considering an apprenticeship. Visit MoneyHub's Apprenticeship Guide to learn more:
https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/apprenticeships.html
 
Looking for a part-time job? 
Check out MoneyHub's newly updated Student Jobs guide! With over 60 employers and valuable job application tips, find your next opportunity here: https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/student-jobs.html
  
CV Writing and Interview Preparation
Discover MoneyHub's invaluable resources for CV writing (https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/cv-template-students.html) and interview preparation (https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/common-job-interview-questions-students.html). These tools are designed to empower students in their job application journey. Explore and step into the job market with confidence!
 
Money Guide
MoneyHub has crafted a comprehensive guide for students, designed to provide essential tools and knowledge for building a healthy relationship with money. Explore it here: 
https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/money-in-a-nutshell.html

We are looking for homestay families!
 
Would you like to host a student from Italy, Germany or Japan?
Our students will be staying for 4 weeks, 2 terms, or a full year.
 
We are seeking welcoming homes and families that would love to host a student and experience a different culture. It is a great opportunity for you to show off our beautiful town and district.
 
Are you able to:
Make your student part of your family and involve them in family activities?
Show them some of our country, Kiwi ways and culture?
Provide them with their own room and three meals a day?
 
The homestay family allowance will be $320 per week from January 2025.
 
Please contact Pip Hamilton:
[email protected]
or text 0274217696

                                                   Summer River Safety Campaign
We’re into the summertime swim-time fun, for us and whānau visiting from out of town.  
A reminder that the Aratiatia Rapids is a great place to take visitors, but it is an extremely dangerous place to swim, and sadly death and injuries have occurred here in the past.   
Huge volumes of water can be released from the dam into the rapids at any time. Water levels and flows can change quickly. 
Follow the rules and read the signs – please do not swim below the Aratiatia Dam, stay out of the rapids and downstream areas. 
There are safe viewing points where you and your visitors can watch the Aratiatia Dam gates open. 
Keep your friends and whānau safe this summer.