Economics

ECO101 - Sydenham Bakery Visit

In the last week of Term 1, our Year 11 Economics students were lucky enough to visit Sydenham Bakery to see them in action before completing their Internal Assessment on Producer Decisions. This was a great learning experience for our students and has enhanced their understanding as they break down this information and look at the consequences for the producer, consumer, and society. Sydenham Bakery is extremely generous with its time and allowed students to ask questions, look at the different methods, and even taste test their award-winning hot cross buns. This is one of the many trips our students get to take where they see the Economic World in action, and we are all looking forward to the next one, and the treats that come with it!

Business Studies

YES Kickstart / Tīmata

On Thursday the 23rd of February, 50 Year 12/13 students made their way to Te Poutini Polytechnic (formerly known as Ara) to find out how they would be running their student led businesses for the year. In a short two hour session the students were given real problems to solve such as gift giving, fast fashion and food wastage, and were tasked with developing a product to alleviate the problem. The best teams were awarded prizes for pitching their products, and all of the team contained Cashmere High School students.

A panel of Young Enterprise Alumni also came back to share their experiences. Oakley Inkersell said that YES gave him the confidence to run his business at school and helped him secure his first business loan at 18 years old to start his second business. Special thanks to Eddie Hogan, Wayo Whyte and Ruby Dingle for sharing their stories, the students always find it inspiring to hear from someone that has gone threw a relatable experience.

Commerce

Year 10 Market Days

On March the 14th and 17th the year 10 Commerce students embarked on the practical part of their Business Activity unit “The Market Day”. Groups sold their delicious savoury and sweet options to students and staff during lunch time on those two days. Prior to selling on Market Day students have to write a Business Proposal and financial forecasts for their Business before running it in school. After the day, students compare their actual finances with the forecasts and reflect overall on the viability of their business and improvements that could be made.

Social Studies

Year 10 Hikoi 

For the second year in a row we are taking all of our Year 10 Social Studies classes on a hikoi through Ōtautahi/Christchurch for a snapshot of the overlapping and interwoven histories of the city for both Māori and Pakeha. The focus is to look more closely at our local history. In February this year, 8 of our 18 classes went and the remainder will go in October. We visited Margaret Mahy Playground (Tākaro ā Poi), Victoria Square (site of the ancient Puari Pā), Tūranga, The Cathedral, The Terraces and Oi Manawa, the Christchurch Earthquake Memorial. We wanted to not only give our students a day out, but to emphasise that there is a great deal more to the history of our city than most people would assume, for example it stretches back over 800 years, and a great deal happened in that time.

Classical Studies

Te Ao Tawhito / Classical Studies 201 trip to the Teece Museum

This term all three of our CLA201 classes visited the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquity to observe a range of ancient world material. This term we have been studying ancient Greek vases – their creation, uses, and interpretations - and their influence on New Zealand artisit, Marian Maguire. At the museum ākonga were shown a range of ancient vases and heard about their histories. There was a particualr focus on the complexities of classifying ‘heroes’ and ‘anti-heroes’ of the ancient world. We were lucky enough to also see an original artwork of Maguire’s, ‘Socrates and Tītokowaru discuss the question, ‘What is Virtue?’, a work ākonga may chose to explore in more depth during their internal assessment. 

Te Ao Tawhito / Classical Studies 301 trip to the Teece Museum

On Year 13 ‘dress up like a Sport Star’ day, Level 3 Classics headed to the Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities at the Art Centre. While there, ākonga heard from Emily Rosevear about the life and legacy of Alexander the Great. Two coins of Alexander’s were passed around for us to interact with – which was amazing! Being able to hold something over 2,000 years old that had played a part in the propaganda and administration of Alexander’s empire was a great experience for all of those in attendance. Thank you to our Year 13 ākonga who engaged so well with all of the materials and staff, and to the Teece museum for having us and sharing these treasures for a little while. 

Geography

GEO101 Waimakariri River

Our six Year 11 Geography classes ventured up the Waimakariri River on a typically Canterbury Nor’ West day on March 17. The aim of the trip was to collect data on fluvial processes and the effects of erosion and transportation on sediment along the river to complete the students’ research assessment. There were stops at multiple sites including the mouth of the river at Kairaki Beach right up to the impressive Waimakariri Gorge Bridge. The final stop was at Ashley Gorge for a swim and lunch which was a highlight for many students.

GEO301 FIELD TRIP – West Coast

65 Year 13 Geography students visited the West Coast as part of their course work at the end of March. They undertook some research work on coastal processes along the beaches in Buller and also heard about the plans to protect Westport from flooding. They also enjoyed some spectacular swimming in the Nile River and a walk up to Balmoral Fire Lookout. 

History

Year 13 History Trip to Akaroa

On Monday 6th March 37 students set out for Akaroa on a two-day trip via the Kaiapoi Pā site and the nearby Tutaepatu Lagoon. In the preceding weeks the students had been studying various places of significance in the Canterbury/Waitaha area. Once in Akaroa a visit was made to Takapūneke a site of huge significance to both Ngai Tahu and to the overall history of Aotearoa New Zealand. It was then on to the Ōnuku Marae where a powhiri was held and the group was welcomed on to the marae for an overnight stay. For many students it was their first experience of staying on a marae. The following morning after leaving the marae the group then travelled back into Akaroa and learnt more about the significance of events in the area such as the so called “race for Akaroa” between the British and the French as well as Kemps purchase. Unfortunately, it was not possible to visit the Ōnawe Peninsula due to the road being blocked. Overall during the trip the students gained valuable insight and saw first hand what they had been working on in class. 

Tourism

TOU301 Kaikoura Trip

25 keen Year 13 Tourism students set off at the end of February for an overnight field trip to Kaikoura. We visited the newly opened Sudima Hotel and Peketa Campground to hear about how they recruit staff, the restored and refurbished Fyfe House and a sheep shearing demonstration at The Point. The students also enjoyed exploring Point Keen, tucking into a gelato at Jimmy Armers Beach and the spa, swimming pool and interacting with backpackers of different nationalities at Dusky Lodge. We even discovered a different tourist attraction in Kaikoura – llama trekking.  

Nick Moyle
Head of Faculty