Success in Science

In June, some of our top Science students participated in the Otago Senior Science Competition. This challenging quiz tested their knowledge of many aspects of Science. We are very proud of Frances Harnett-Darnlington, William Kilty, Frank Lawton and Phoenix Reid for gaining Merit Certificates in this, and especially to Ted Trewick for gaining 2nd place in the Year 11 Competition. 

Congratulations also to Shima Byres in Year 13. Shima took part in the Science Perfect Challenge and was placed in the top 2% of students nationwide. This is an excellent result. Well done, Shima.

ICAS Science Competition

The Science Department congratulates the following students who performed well in the 2016 ICAS Science Competition. These students competed against the best Science students in New Zealand and should be very proud of their efforts.

From the Careers Department

As we are now more than half way through the year, students are busy planning for their 2017 course options. This is a busy and sometimes stressful time of the year for students, so it is important that they know where and how to seek professional advice. The Careers Department offers guidance and support for all students, particularly those who are uncertain about their future prospects.

Communication

The Careers Department has three main points of contact for students:
• The Awatapu College Careers Facebook Page
• School Daily Notices
• Careers Office by making an appointment

University Hall of Residence Applications

Applications for placements in University Halls of Residences for 2017 are now open. Many Year 13 students have already started this process by expressing their interest with the Careers Department last term.
• Students should have indicated which Universities they are looking to apply at
• Students should have selected three staff nominees

Careers Guidance for Senior Intending to Leave at the End of 2016

The Careers Department offers many courses/guidance for students intending to leave school at the end of 2016. Sign up sheets for the below courses are available from the Careers Office.
• Tertiary Advice/Course Planning
• Career Search Workshops
• CV preparation

Options for 2017

Students who are keen to pursue a non-University pathway as their career are invited to consider both the Gateway and Trades Academy options that the school offers. In summary:

Gateway 2017
• Open to Year 12/13 students who know what they want to do when they leave school, usually a trade but not exclusively so
• Students spend one day per week out on the job with an employer
• Students study subjects that are relevant to their work choice over the other four days
• Students undertake industry approved Unit Standards that are relevant to their work choice
• All credits contribute to an NCEA qualification at the appropriate level
• Students are getting apprenticeships as a result of their involvement in the Gateway programme
• Places are limited so you need to start talking to the Careers Department about this option early
• The first point of contact for the Gateway programme is Mrs Pearson

Trades Academy (USKILLS) 2017
• Students attend UCOL one day per week across a range of career pathways
• Students study at school for the other four days
• Students study a coherent programme while at school
• All credits contribute to an NCEA qualification at the appropriate level
• Demand for places always exceeds availability so students need to move as soon as this programme is promoted
• The first point of contact for the Trades Academy programme is Mrs Pearson

Youth Guarantee Funded Places

Parents may not be aware but there are a number of funded places at both UCOL and a variety of private providers for students undertaking full time courses. Students apply for the programme they want to undertake and then apply for a Youth Guarantee Funded Place at the same time. Students wanting to pursue this option should see Mrs Pearson.

Evento Wearable Arts

The annual Evento Wearable Arts Awards was held on Saturday, 30 July. Awatapu College students, and several other schools from around the Manawatu, showcased their Wearable Arts creations in front of a huge crowd at Manfield Park Stadium.

The year there were four categories - Time, Yellow, Number 8 and The Nightmare Before Evento. Awatapu College had eight entries:
• Lucy Scrivener - "Countess Steambella" (Time)
• Bryony Gatehouse and Jenny Gatehouse - "The Time Keeper" (Time)
• Frances Harnett-Darlington - "Paper Plane-Mail" (Yellow)
• Brianna Dobson - "0800 Talk-About-It" (Yellow)
• Sophia Babbage - "The Summer Storm" (Number 8)
• Sasha Harrison - "Society's Demonas" (The Nightmare Before Evento)
• Emma Cunningham - "Mystical Hightopp" (The Nightmare Before Evento)
• Helena McLachlan - "Fantoccini" (The Nightmare Before Evento)

All students did incredibly well to create such beautiful and artistic costumes, and their models did a fantastic job on the night. Congratulations to everyone involved. Your hard work and effort has paid off in what was one of the most successful shows to date. A special congratulations to Lucy Scrivener, Jenny Gatehouse, Bryony Gatehouse and Brianna Dobson who were awarded prizes on the night. Lucy won the Year 9 Encouragement Award, Jenny and Bryony won the Performance Award in the Time category and Brianna was awarded 3rd place in the Yellow category. Brianna also won the Recycling Award for the Yellow category.

Awatapu College was one of only four schools who were awarded prizes on the night - this is a fantastic achievement. Well done!

Skating Success

Congratulations to the following Artistic Roller Skaters who recently competed in the National Championships in both New Zealand and Australia:

Phoenix Reid - New Zealand Championship
• Gold: Youth Solo Dance and Cadet Freeskating
• Silver: Youth Figures
• Bronze: Advnaced Loops

Phoenix Reid - Australian National Championship
• Silver: Open Short Freestyle and Intermediate Figures
• Bronze: Cadet Freestyle and Intermediate Freedance
• 4th: Intermediate Solo Dance

Eugenia Ortiz - New Zealand Championship
• Gold: Intermediate Freeskating and Intermediate Figures
• Bronze: Open Loops
• 4th: Youth Solo Dance

Emma Morgan - New Zealand Championship
Finished in the top 10 skaters for Elementary Solo Dance, Intermediate Freeskating and Intermediate CSD

Pasifika Fusion

This year the Pasifika Fusion Inter-Secondary School Competition held on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 July saw students from as far as Levin and New Plymouth showcase their many and varied talents. Once again students from Awatapu College represented the school to a high standard at the Regent Theatre.

Awatapu students participated in many of the categories including Wearable Arts, Speech, Talent, and Cultural Performance. Some of the highlights included Eterei Fuiava’s Samoan speech. The judges commented on her high level of confidence and excellent delivery.

Another highlight was Soul Glow winning the Band category of the Talent section for the second year in a row. Band members Dahtel Makea, Le'ché Kingi-McCavana, Dion Barbarich, Mosiah Igatia, Jovahn Tione, Gabriel Te Peeti and Kodie Whittaker were truly outstanding.an speech. The judges commented on her high level of confidence and excellent delivery.

This year the Cultural group was larger than previous years with 20 students taking part in both traditional and contemporary performances. A big thank you to friends and family who came to support them.  

In line with the theme of Pasifika leadership, a number of former students returned to mentor and assist the current students to develop their own leadership skills. Their willingness to take time off work and study to encourage the Pasifika students was much appreciated by all those involved. A big thank you also to Mr Filipo for his work with the group. This was Mr Filipo’s first year helping with the event and he did a fantastic job leading the group.

Congratulations to everyone involved. It is always a pleasure to see Awatapu College students represent their school and themselves so well.