Term 2 - Week 10

Tēnā koutou,

The atmosphere around school this week has been fantastic as we have celebrated the 2024 version of Spirit Week.  The rationale for Spirit Week is to provide some excitement about keeping attendance and engagement levels high as we head into the end of term two.  It’s also a great way for us to celebrate our overall school culture.  The activities have been well attended by students and staff and the engagement levels have been positive overall.  Spirit Week supports my philosophy for secondary schooling overall - it should be a fun and engaging experience for the students.  There is a lot of competition out there competing for the attention of our rangatahi i.e. social media etc, so we are consciously aware of doing our best to make school an engaging, relevant place for our young people to be.  As long as I am around, Spirit Week will continue to be an important week on our school calendar.

Thank you to everyone who responded to the recent survey about the possibility of introducing a school hoodie as part of our school uniform.  Overall, the feedback we received helped us to make a decision that the current design is not quite there yet.  Our senior leadership team has made a decision to remain with the status quo for outer layer uniform items for now.  We are not closing the door on the possibility of introducing some kind of hoodie in the future, but more work will need to be completed to ensure we get buy-in from the students, staff and community.

From next term, the older style straight skirt, which has not been available to be purchased officially 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.

Term three will be a very busy term for our students as the end of the academic year draws closer.  We want to wish our students, staff, and community a restful break (if you manage to take some leave as well) during the school holidays.  We can’t wait to see all our students back rearing to go for the beginning of term three on Monday 22 July.

Ngā mihi

Ben Claxton
PRINCIPAL

                                                       Sporting News

Upcoming events:

Waikato Clay Target Shoot- Friday 5th July- Waikato Clay Target Club

1st XV Girls Rugby vs WR Myers High School, Canada- Sunday 7th July, 2pm KO, Taupo-nui-Tia College

NISS Clay Target -Saturday 6th July- Waikato Clay Target Club

NISS Road Cycling- 7th July- Cambridge 

NISS Track Cycling- 9th & 10th July- Cambridge 

Cyclocross- 21st July- Tauranga  

                                                     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
 
Hands-on at Otago 2025 – Applications now open
This is a unique opportunity for students (who will be in Years 12 and 13 in 2025) to come down and experience a week of Otago student life. If you haven’t heard about Hands-On at Otago before, students stay on campus in one of our residential colleges and choose a subject to study for the week. There are 25 subjects are on offer, from across Business, Health Sciences, Humanities (Arts) and Sciences. They’ll learn from our world-class academic staff, meet students their age from schools across the country and participate in a huge range of activities that will challenge and inspire them for the year ahead. Hands-On will run from Sunday 12 January to Friday 17 January 2025. It’s important to note that we tend to receive more applications than we have places available, so we encourage students to put time and effort into their applications, and share with us why they should be offered a place. Their application is often the deciding factor in their acceptance. Do you want to know more about the programme? Head online: otago.ac.nz/hands-on-at-otago  Here you’ll find videos, info on costs, scholarships (there are lots of these available and we really encourage all students to apply for one), fundraising ideas, accommodation information, transport options and more. However, if you have more specific questions, feel free to contact one of our team: [email protected] – we are always happy to help. Applications close 8 August
 
Pāmu Apprenticeship Scheme
Pāmu are offering an apprenticeship scheme. Be part of the new future of farming, experience both dairy and livestock, get qualified and be guaranteed full-time employment in farming. Register your interest at: www.pamunewzealand.com/apprenticeshipscheme
 
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.
 
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
  

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]
 
Year 11 Pathway Connect Visits
Thank you to Taupo Pathways for making our Pathway Connect visits possible and to the employers that hosted our students.

                   
                    New RYDA parent programme launching in Taupo      
                     Free workshop for people teaching teens to drive 

If you are teaching a young person to drive or are about to don't miss this free workshop in Taupo on Tuesday 30th July

We will:
Unlock the mysteries of the teenage brain: What makes driving a challenge?
Decode risk factors for young drivers
Learn the art of coaching a learner driver
Help you support the transition to solo driving
Set a plan for collaborating with driving Instructors
And much more.

Drive Coach is a practical workshop which updates parents on latest research and road safety approaches, outlines some of the conversations our facilitators have with their children at RYDA and gives them an opportunity to ask questions and get advice from the experts. Drive Coach is routinely organised by a school or community group, generally in conjunction with a RYDA programme being held in the area.  Your school has recently attended RYDA so we don't want your parents to miss the opportunity to be involved.
 
Please forward this email to your school community and feel free to post this on your Facebook page as well.  We have attached a flyer with more information and also go to our website for more information:
https://rse.org.nz/our-programs/drivecoach/
 
Complimentary tea and coffee provided
Supported  by Taupō Toyota and the Taupō District Council