Term 3 - Week 8

Tēnā koutou,

This week, we welcomed back and acknowledged all of our students who represented our kura during winter tournament week.  We are proud of the efforts of all of our students who demonstrated wero last week and showed courage and bravery to give it their all.

Our derived grade exams begin next and continue into week 10.  These exams are not only an important rehearsal for the NCEA exams in November, but they also provide an evidence-based grade for students who, for an approved reason, can't attend an NCEA exam later in the year.  Alongside the derived grades, other critical NCEA assessments continue to be run in classrooms.  It is important that the students prioritise these assessments next week and into week 10.  

The Taiopenga Tūwharetoa Festival begins next week.  Our rōpū, Te Awhiorangi, will be performing at 12 p.m. next Friday at the Taupō Events Centre.  If your child is planning on attending this performance, please get in touch with our attendance team to ensure the absence code is recorded correctly.  Although we absolutely acknowledge the importance of other performances during the festival, the derived grade exams need to be the priority for our senior students.

A final reminder about out-of-zone enrolment - the 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.  We also encourage all students who are in-zone to complete and return their enrolment forms before the end of the term as well. 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
  

We will be holding two subject/teacher interview evenings in Term 4 on Wednesday 16th of October and Wednesday 23rd of October from 1:30pm - 6pm. To enable us to conduct subject/teacher interviews, classes will finish at 12:50pm on both days. To book an interview, simply log into the school website - www.taupocollege.ac.nz, and click login at the top of the homepage. Then click on the ‘Subject teacher interview’ icon. Please be aware you may be asked by "magic Link" to re-enter a new verification logon to access your booking and continue. 

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori language week) officially kicks off on Saturday at midday.  It was at this time on the steps of parliament in 1972 where the Māori language petition was delivered.  This historic event kicked off Māori language week.  This year’s theme is Ake Ake Ake - a forever language.  We will be celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori around kura next week.

With two weeks to go in the term, it is important we encourage and support each other to get the best out of the last two weeks.  Kia kaha!

Have a great weekend.

Ngā mihi

Ben Claxton
PRINCIPAL

Free Uniform Competition 2024!
If you have a Year 8 student who is going local this year with Taupo nui-a-Tia College and you enrol by September 27 you will automatically go in the draw to win a free uniform! Already enrolled for 2025 as a Year 9?  You are also automatically in the draw to win.  These prizes are worth over $400.00! Take advantage of this great competition by enrolling your child early.

                                                       Sporting News

Summer sports sign up!
Sign up through the school website or come and see Nicole and Erica for my information at the Sport Coordinators office in the gym!

Summer Sports:
Kiorahi
Rowing
Sailing
Triathlon
Volleyball
Waka Ama
 
Sports Award Nominations:
Sport awards nominations are now open until Friday 27th September.
Click on the link to find a digital copy of the nomination form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pEU3oZ4th35v0bep5Ylqr5iGdBzbOBsv/view?usp=sharing
Alternatively there will be paper copies at the front office. 
Send completed nominations to Nicole Dickins at [email protected]
 
Upcoming events:
Te Aroha Senior Girls Basketball Tournament- Saturday 14th September 
 

                                                     Careers Information

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 $2,250USD. This is the highest earning regardless of age, skills or experience (approx. $3700NZD)
• Program price: $525NZD 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 – $185USD 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/
 
Toi Ohomai Secondary School Leaver Scholarships
We’re welcoming applications for our Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Secondary School Leavers scholarships for 2025. This scholarship encourages local school leavers to pursue a vocational qualification with Toi Ohomai and financially assists with their fees or learning resources. Several scholarships are available. Please note that the application criteria no longer requires students to be nominated by their school, however, applications must include two references from people who know the applicant well and can testify to their attributes and the Award Criteria. Link: https://www.toiohomai.ac.nz/about/toi-ohomai-secondary-school-leav
 
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.
 
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
 
Upcoming Course Planning Sessions
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.
  

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]

We are looking for homestay families!
 
Would you like to host a student from Germany, Japan or Italy? Our students will be staying for 4 weeks, 1 or 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 them part of your family and involve them in family activities?
Show your student 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