Term 2 - Week 9

Tēnā koutou,

Tomorrow, we celebrate Matariki as a public holiday in Aotearoa/New Zealand.  Full disclosure from me - I’m still very much learning about Matariki.  It was first celebrated as a public holiday in 2022 in Aotearoa/New Zealand, but has been celebrated by Māori for centuries.  To me, the principles of Matariki make so much sense, especially at a time of year when the days are short and the weather is generally not that great.

• Remembrance - honouring those we have lost since the last rising of Matariki
• Celebrating the present - gathering together to give thanks for what we have
• Looking to the future - looking forward to the promise of a new year
  

If we are celebrating Matariki as a public holiday, it’s important we understand what Matariki is all about.  Be encouraged to have a look at the websites below for more information - if the weather is fine this weekend you may even like to try and spot the Matariki cluster with your children.
https://www.matariki.com/resources
https://www.learnz.org.nz/matariki-english/where-is-matariki

Next week, we celebrate our annual Spirit Week.  From Tuesday through Friday there will be all sorts of fun activities taking place across our kura.  On Tuesday we have Shave for a Cure (I’m planning to get my head shaved this year… yikes!).  Wednesday is our physical day where we will have a whole bunch of fun out on the school fields.  Thursday is our cultural day, and Friday - the crescendo - involves our house lip sync competition along with Nui has talent.  The week includes three days of non-uniform; house colours on Wednesday, “T” themes on Thursday and dressing to a decade on Friday. In support of the three days of non -uniform, students are expected to bring $3 to school. Spirit Week was instituted by our previous principal, Peter Moyle, and is a great way to finish off term two. 

As we head into week 10 and the school holidays that follow, a reminder - this term we have introduced a new straight-style skirt, alongside our current skirt, which is available for purchase via our website, as part of our school uniform options. With the introduction of this new skirt, the older style straight skirt, which has not been available for over six years, will no longer be a part of our uniform. From Term 3, 2024, it will be considered a non-uniform item.  The new straight-style skirt is currently listed on the Argyle website which can be viewed here. Please ensure that both skirt styles remain unaltered and are worn at the appropriate length at all times. 
We want to highlight that Year 12 students who currently own the older style straight skirt will be exempt from this change. We understand that requiring them to purchase a new skirt for just two terms would be unfair. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to enhance and update our uniform options to better suit the preferences and needs of our students.

Ngā mihi

Ben Claxton
PRINCIPAL

                                                                                  Sporting News

Sponsorship -  Thank You
Thank you to Deliala and Alister Peacocke at Peacocke Logging Ltd for sponsoring $500 towards our Premier Netball Team going to UNISS in September.  This will significantly help reduce costs for the girls.

Winter Sports Fixtures:

                                                                            Careers Information
 
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.

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

The Future of Accounting 2024
The University of Waikato is hosting an inspiring careers event, 'The Future of Accounting 2024', at their Hamilton campus on Wednesday, 14 August at 4.30pm. This event is open to all secondary school students in years 12-13 and family/whānau. Save the date in your calendar and register now to secure your seats!

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. 
 
University of Auckland Scholarships
It’s an exciting time! You’re finishing school this year, looking ahead and thinking about where to from here. You may be eligible for a scholarship - see
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/scholarships-and-awards/scholarship-types/undergraduate-scholarships/entry-level-and-first-year-scholarships.html?utm
 
2025 Keystone Trust Property and Construction Tertiary Scholarships
Keystone Trust Study Awards are the premier industry scholarships offered to students taking up studies for a career in the property and construction sector and we are inviting applications from 1 June until 1 September 2024. Students can apply for both a Study Award and the Keystone Trust and C3 Construction scholarship provided they meet the necessary criteria for both.
A Study Award offers a recipient:

• a scholarship of $5,500 per annum for up to three years for tertiary study/ textbooks/course costs/accommodation ($16,500)
  
• industry mentoring and networking opportunities
  
• a first-year study buddy with an existing Keystone Trust student
  
• introductions to our industry sponsors
  
• workshops, site visits and paid internships
  
• pastoral support through our dedicated Student Liaison Manager
  

Te Paewai o Te Rangi – Scholarship Experience Opportunity
Te Paewai o Te Rangi is a 5 day scholarship programme for Maori students who are in their final year of study at a NZ secondary school/wharekura living outside the Wellington Region. The purpose of this programme is for them to experience being a student at Victoria University as well as living in Wellington City. Throughout the week students will attend different workshops with key staff on campus, explore halls of residence, connect with on-campus support, and explore all the cool things you can do in Wellington (and they’ll get to attend Open Day). There is an application process and successful students will be selected to attend the programme. Link: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Iz7mz1FpfkKGg7uE3PHSDOgur0bXur1Fl6aI8BLeyCdUNFpPV1RJUFBPREFCOENSSUVSS0UzUU1FRS4u

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
 
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]