Here, Principal Nicola Jacobsen shares her thoughts.
Kia ora,
Next week is Careers Week at the College. It is a really important week and we have a number of guest speakers and opportunities for students to learn about different career pathways. Some of the guest speakers require students to sign up for the event. Students can sign up at the Careers Hub, located in the Library. Below are the events that require students to sign up:
Monday: Accounting and Business (Years 10-13) in the Library (during Whānau)
Tuesday and Wednesday: Impact Jobs Forum in the Library Atrium for Years 12-13 (during Whānau)
Wednesday: Big Business (life in the corporate world) period 5 in the Library
Thursday: Construction Industry in the Library Atrium for Years 11-13 (during Whānau)
Friday: New Zealand Defence Force 8.30am - there is a fitness session in the gym followed by a presentation in the Library. This is open to all ages.
There are a number of other information sessions at lunchtimes, which are open to all year levels. Students do not need to sign up for the lunchtime sessions.
Congratulations to Matilda Metcalfe, Richard Denyer, Oscar Goodwin who have been selected in the top-30 bands for Rockquest this year. We wish them well for the next round of the Rockquest competition. Congratulations to our four students who are taking university level papers this year. Tane Haines is taking a 1st year university computing paper, and has achieved an A+, and we have three students taking a 1st year university Calculus paper. Congratulations to Jackson Duguid, Eve Flint and Lily Glover-Esplin who are also achieving excellent grades at this level. For more information, please contact Ms Heather Watt (watth@mtaspiring.school.nz).
Peer Support is a support programme which helps junior students (Year 7) with the support of their senior peers (Years 12 and 13) integrate into life at school. The programme is organised through Rotary New Zealand and offers great leadership and learning opportunities for the senior students who run the programme for their junior peers. We are going to start the programme in 2024. Our staff have been trained, and we are looking for current Years 11 and 12 students who would be interested in helping to run the programme next year. Students who are interested need to email their House Dean before Friday 11 August. We are looking for 14 (or more) senior students from each House.
We have a number of locally-supported scholarships available to students who are leaving at the end of this year. Some are for university pathways, some for trades and vocational - there is a whole range. We are very fortunate to be supported by the community in this way. Years 12 and 13 students have been emailed with a list of the scholarships available and how to apply. The deadline for applications is Monday 7 August.
Toitū te whenua, toitū te tangata.
The land is strong, the people are fulfilled.
Ngā mihi,
Nicola Jacobsen