Kia ora everyone,

Week eight already! Two weeks until everyone can relax, unwind and charge up those batteries for a very fun and exciting term ahead. 🤩☀🎉

On Tuesday night after prep, the whole hostel was involved in a lockdown drill. All went well and it was a good learning curve for those students involved in what to do in a real-life scenario. Ka pai to everyone for complying with the rules and regulations around the lockdown drill.

On Wednesday night, Year 9 Koru was wrapped up with Robyn as she talked to the students about some of the things they learned about themselves during this Fear Factor unit over the past term. The students have been involved in a range of activities that have pushed them outside of their comfort zone. A few of these activities included a blindfolded night walk around Tolcarne, eating mysterious food blindfolded and talking about their own fears which is not always the easiest topic to talk about. We know all of the staff at Tolcarne have been impressed with the positive attitudes, willingness to give new things a go and courage shown by our Year 9s. Ka pai hoki koe! Good on you! 😎🥳

Also another shout out to our senior students who are studying hard and putting in lots of mahi for their benchmark exams which started last week and continue for Monday and Tuesday of this week! Just remember, you know more than you think 🥰✌🏼

On Saturday, Bex took a group of Year 9 students down to a silks class. It is a popular weekend activity with students opting to stay on for the weekend rather than go home 🤗

Last weekend, Ange, Robyn and Beth took a group of Year 10 and 11 students to Coronet Peak for the annual Tolcarne Ski trip. The students left by bus from Tolcarne on Friday mid-day. We stopped in Lawrence for a quick toilet and snack break. Check out those yummy-looking iced drinks! 🤩😊

Once we got to Queenstown, the students had an hour to grab dinner and have a look around the shops. Once the students settled into their bunks, Robyn had made the most delicious supper which consisted of cheese and crackers, hot milos and fruit. The students were up bright and early on Saturday morning to get in a whole day skiing or snowboarding. The weather was superb and we couldn't have asked for a better day. Students joined ski or snowboarding lessons if they chose to. Lunch was served which is always a highlight of the day, Robyn goes above and beyond to make sure every student is well fed and ready to go for the afternoon. She had whipped-up soup, hot chicken and cheese buns, and pesto pasta salad. 😋

After a long day of being on the mountain, it was chill-out time before dinner (which was also delicious) and the students played Mafia, Uno and a whole Year 10/11 Charades game to wind down. 😴😴

Sunday it was back up the mountain, Beth had managed to convince seven Year 10 students to give snowboarding ago. Beth and the students completed an hour and a half lesson which was well worth it for the beginning snowboarders. Ka pai for trying something new, you can now add this to your list of talents! The weather packed up about 12.30 pm and we made the call to head to Kmart on the way home which was a treat.

Ka kite koe i tera wiki,

Beth Anderson 💜🌸
Tolcarne Communications Co-ordinator