We have had an influx of students into the KDEC Core School this year and I would like to highlight two students that have come to us from the Regional Service.

Firstly, Mercedies de Malmanche from Taumaranui is now living at the Residential Village and attending Kelston Girls College in Year 10. Mercedies was at Taumaranui High School with support from her RTD Clint Green. Her parents, Buffy and Philip, brought her up last term for a placement visit and she started with us at the beginning of Term 3. Mercedies will be studying Te Reo, Music, Hospitality and Health/PE in the mainstream as well as classes in the Deaf Provision.

The other student is Nicola Gaskin who was attending Orewa College with the support of her RTD Jenny Abraham. Jenny suggested that the Deaf Provision might better meet her learning needs and brought Nicola and her mother, Maria, to Kelston Girls for a visit last term. Nicola also started at the beginning of Term 3 and although she has a long taxi ride every day she is settling into life at Kelston. She will be doing Art, Food Technology and Digital Information Technology in the mainstream and will be learning NZSL for the first time.

Welcome to Mercedies and Nicola – we hope you both enjoy every success at school this year.