Term 3 - Week 6

Tēnā koutou,

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the passing of Kiingi Tūheitia, the Māori King, who passed away this morning at the age of 69.  Our New Zealand flag was flown at half mast today to honour and acknowledge Kiingi Tūheitia. 

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we hosted Year 8 students from our contributing schools for taster lessons.  Our teachers and student helpers put together a range of engaging lessons for the Year 8 students to experience.

As a follow up to the taster lessons, a few of us presented to parents and caregivers of Taupō Intermediate and Hilltop School students on Tuesday night and parents and caregivers of Mountview School and St Patrick’s School on Wednesday night.  It was the first time our school and Tauhara College have presented in this format, and it was a good opportunity to share with the attendees that there are two great college options in Taupō.

On Thursday night we hosted an event called Po Whakangahau.  What an amazing opportunity for many of our whānau from around the rohe to get together and perform before the Taiopenga in week 9.   Each kura accepted this wero and represented their school with mana and whakapono.  All funds raised for this event will go towards our kapa haka group - Te Awhiorangi - and their trip to Rarotonga next year. 

Our annual open evening takes place next Tuesday night (3 September) at 6 p.m. in our school hall.  The evening is designed with Year 8 students and whānau in mind, but if you want to come in and have a look around with us, then please feel free to come along.  We would appreciate you sharing this information with other whānau who are thinking about sending their children to our kura.  We start with a general kōrero/introduction in the hall and then have guided tours around the campus to see the facilities and the types of learning our new enrolments will experience.  It’s a great night and a cool opportunity for us to show what we are about.

In other enrolment news, we do appreciate receiving in-zone enrolments as soon as possible.  It helps to guide our planning for 2025.  A further reminder that our out-of-zone enrolment ballot will take place on Wednesday 18 September.  If you currently live out-of-zone and have a child wanting to attend our school, you will need to submit an enrolment application by 4 p.m. on Tuesday 17 September. Online enrolment forms can be found here. For 2025 we have out-of-zone spaces in the following year levels:

• Year 9 = 90 spaces
• Year 10 = 20 spaces
  
• Year 11 = 5 spaces
  
• Year 12 = 10 spaces
  
• Year 13 = 20 spaces
  
  

Excitingly, next week we have over 100 students representing our kura for winter tournament week.  The teams head to various places all over the north island to compete against other schools from across the motu/land.  This year, the following teams are competing:

• Basketball - junior and senior boys premier teams
  
• Football - 1st XI girls
• Hockey - 1st XI boys, 1st XI girls, and 2nd XI girls
• Netball - premier team
• Equestrian team
  

Kia kaha, teams!  We will be following your progress closely throughout the week.

Have a great weekend

Ngā mihi

Ben Claxton
PRINCIPAL

                                                       Sporting News

We want to wish all our sporting students who are away competing in team, individual sports or refereeing throughout the winter tournament week good luck. 
We have 105 students out representing our kura at events all over the North Island starting this Saturday. 
Thank you to the management team's behind the scenes as planning, organising and going away for a week is a huge commitment.
 
Team sports involved:
Senior Prem Netball Team, Auckland
Hockey Boys 1st XI Team,, Wellington
Hockey Girls 1st XI Team, Whangarei
Hockey Girls 2nd XI Team, Auckland
Junior Prem Boys Basketball Team, Rotorua
Senior Prems Boys Basketball Team, Rotorua 
Girls Football 1st XI, Taupo
 
Individual sports involved:
Equestrian, Taupo
Motocross, Glen Oroua 
Rock Climbing, Tauranga 

Voice of Rangatahi Physical Activity Survey: 
Next week during whanau class we will be asking students to fill in a survey as young people are important to us, and experiences during secondary school years can inspire or discourage a life-long involvement in physical activity. 
We want to ensure that rangatahi have great sport, physical activity and active recreation experiences at school and the more you know about a population group, the better placed you are to provide opportunities and experiences that meet their needs, ultimately supporting a lifelong love of being active - we need to be making decisions that are informed by the audience who we are looking to cater for.
 
If for any reason you do not want your child to participate in the survey you are welcome to opt your child out of taking part. To opt your child out please email: [email protected]

                                                     Careers Information

Year 13 Learning Hub
Students wanting to pursue a vocational pathway can be part of our exciting Learning Hub. The Learning Hub is a 3-part programme aimed at giving students an experience within their chosen trade, practical hands-on experience through a Gateway course and a classroom theory component, giving students a “real world” understanding. Students will be in a dedicated Hub class.
Students attend a Level 3 Trades course aimed at preparing them for apprenticeships within their chosen trade. The number of credits available from the different trade programmes vary between 30 and 50+ credits. The following courses could be available in Taupo (dependent on numbers)/ alternatively they would run in Rotorua:

• Electrical Pre-Trade Foundation
• Construction
  
• Automotive Engineering
  
• NZC in Automotive Engineering
  
• Farming & Agriculture
  
• Barbering
  
• NZ Certificate in Make-up and Skin Care
  

The Gateway component is designed to give students a “workplace experience” within a local business organisation in their chosen trade. Here they can get an understanding of the day-to-day work life routine of their trade and also participate in the work life culture. There are units of work that are completed as part of the Gateway experience. Students also gain 12 Level 3 credits by completing the health & safety in the workplace course.
The in-classroom theory component of the course consists of 5 unit standards covering topics such as career planning, employment relations and personal financial management. There are a total of 16 Level 3 credits available within the in-class component.
Students need to select 13HUB when making their course selection.
See Mrs Trent in the Careers Office for further information.
 
Mercury Apprenticeship Programme
Mercury has recently re-introduced a four-year apprenticeship programme for people looking to build a career within the mechanical or electrical trades. They are looking for four apprentices (two mechanical and two electrical) where the successful applicants will work towards achieving a Certificate in Electrical Trade (Level 4) or a Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (Trade) (Level 4). This programme is open to school leavers (who have achieved NCEA level 2 literacy and numeracy) or those looking to embark on a new career path. The start date is flexible based on the successful candidate’s availability. Link: https://careers.mercury.co.nz/jobdetails/ajid/5h2u8/Apprentices-Electrical-Mechanical,36060.html
 

Advance Education Medical Industry Pathway Summit
Considering a career in the Medical Industry? Want to get first hand insights about the workplace reality and income potential from different roles from those who are working within it? The Medical Industry Pathway Summit is FREE for students and has just gone live. It involves interviews with active medical professionals who share their journey, industry insights, day to day realities, income expectations at the various stages, and insight into the roles they serve. Link: https://www.advanceeducation.nz/medical-industry-pathway-summit
 
Rural Health Career Webinar
We would love to invite you to join us for our Rural Health Career Promotion programme Webinars! Do you have a current student interested in studying health? Or do you have students not yet certain about what they want to pursue after high school? We have 11 webinars all focused on a different career in health, presented by current tertiary students studying those degrees. Medicine, Physiotherapy, Paramedicine, Midwifery and more! These informal webinars are a great way to get some information about the varying health careers, and a channel to ask questions and get quick answers. For more information and to register interest, please see here: https://forms.gle/3VKJh3xp6jEH9Dcr6
 
School Leaver Scholarship Closing Dates
Just a reminder that the following school leaver scholarship application closing dates are coming up:
1 September - Massey University and AUT
2 September - Victoria University
 
Upcoming Course Planning Sessions
University of Canterbury – 11 September
Massey University – 16 October
University of Otago – 23 October
Please register with Mrs Trent in the Careers Office
 
University of Auckland Course Planning
To assist prospective students in preparing for their first year with us, we have recorded comprehensive course planning advice for all our 2025 undergraduate programmes, except for Law. Information regarding the Law programme will be finalized in the coming weeks, with the planning video expected to be completed by the end of August. We aim for this resource to be invaluable for students in planning their first year, selecting courses, and staying informed about all enrolment details. Go to: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/study-options/undergraduate-study-options/information-for-parents/course-advice-2023.html
 
Studying Health Science or Biomedical Science next year?
MoneyHub has published a detailed guide for Year 13 students planning to study Health Science or Biomedical Science at Otago or Auckland University. Our detailed guide has been prepared by two top-performing 4th year Auckland Medical School students and is the first of its kind in New Zealand:
https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/tips-for-studying-biomed-and-health-science.html
 
Must-Know NCEA Resources for Year 11-13
Looking for quality NCEA preparation resources? MoneyHub offers over ten invaluable tools to guide students towards achieving merits and excellence. Perfect for gearing up for internals and externals. Explore now: https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/resources-for-ncea-students.html
 
Fees Free Study
The Government has announced that Fees Free for the first year of study or training will finish at the end of 2024. A final-year Fees Free scheme will replace it, starting from January 2025 with the following parameters:

• Learners entering their final year of study or training from 1 January 2025 and who have not received first-year Fees Free may be eligible for the new final-year Fees Free scheme.
• Eligibility will include provider- and work-based study or training at Levels 3 and above on the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework.
  
• Repayment will be made after the learner completes their qualification, with refunds starting from 2026.

Thinking about University
Universities New Zealand—Te Pōkai Tara’s 2025 Thinking about university? resources are now live at www.thinkingaboutuni.nz. This has information on all the undergraduate degrees and majors New Zealand’s eight universities are offering for 2025. 
 
Mobile Health Group | Hauora Taiwhenua Rural New Zealand Health Scholarships
Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network is partnering with Mobile Health Group to offer our rural youth financial support in their pursuit of health studies. The four scholarships (with at least one targeted at Māori/Pasifika students), each valued at $5,000, will be offered to any rural secondary student entering their first year of full-time undergraduate study in Nursing, Medicine, or allied health-related courses at any New Zealand Universities, Polytechnics, or PTEs. Supporting the rural youth in these communities is a crucial solution to reducing the rural healthcare worker shortage. The closing date for applications is 5pm, 30th September 2024. For more information on how to apply and the eligibility criteria, see:
https://htrhn.org.nz/news-media/scholarship/
 
Survey & Spatial NZ Scholarship
Survey & Spatial NZ offers an annual scholarship of $1000 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.
 
Scholarships
MoneyHub has compiled a comprehensive guide to scholarships for students planning to start university in 2025. Available at MoneyHub Scholarship Guide, this resource lists scholarships from all universities, along with exclusive opportunities for Maori, Pacific, and International students. The guide, updated regularly, includes application tips and deadlines, helping students easily navigate the scholarship process.
 
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
 
Gateway
Gateway provides structured workplace learning across a range of industries. Senior students are provided with opportunities to try out potential careers, gain experience and build links with workplaces that could lead to potential future employment. We still have spaces available, specifically for Yr12 and Yr13 students. See Nicola Thomsen in the Gateway Office to register your interest.
 
Any business wanting to host a student for work experience?
Every year we are funded to put out 70 of our senior students on voluntary work experiences. From these work experiences come some amazing things….... confidence, a sense of belonging, the knowledge that they can add some value, learning about industries that they know very little about and sometimes the opportunity of potential employment. Everything that is learned on a work experience contributes to a future decision and learning work ready skills are vital for life beyond school. Do you know a business that would like to host a Taupo-nui-a-Tia College student for a 10-day work experience? If this is something that you would like to know more about, please contact Nicola Thomsen, Gateway Coordinator, e-mail: [email protected]