I can’t believe we are writing the final newsletter for 2019. Where has the time gone?

Just to re-cap on some high points of this year.

We had Paula join the careers department in February, which eased some pressure points and she has proven to be a great asset to the team.

Students have had many opportunities to explore career pathway ideas, with guest speakers visiting the school, and many off site trips including Girls in High Viz, BCITO Trades for Me days, three days of Pathway Connect local business visits, Open days, Radio taster days, Engineering Action day, Barista training day, Trades Academy events, Gateway and Life Skills experiences, just to name a few. Our students are lucky to be exposed to so many events.

Mid-year saw the retiring of Kay, our fabulous administration person, who had been with the department for around 12 years. We wished her all the very best as she put down her paperwork and picked up a pair of gumboots to help on the family farm. All the very best Kay, we miss you. So then, the department became a team of two again.

Paula and I attended the CATE conference in Napier in November. This was a valuable experience, filled to the brim with new and re-confirmed ideas, some of which we will put into practice in 2020. The world of work continues to be fast paced and quickly superseding itself. The trends are now showing our next generation will move through 18 jobs in 6 careers pathways. So it is still very important that we encourage adaptability and resilience in our young people. Technology and mental wellness were also raised as key components for success in the future years.

GATEWAY REPORT

Another great year of Gateway student’s being involved in the working community. The Gateway programme has seen 40 students successfully placed in local businesses throughout Taupo. Students have been placed in a variety of businesses and industries. We would like to thank all the businesses that took on our students, some year after year. Your support is never ending and much appreciated. Many students have moved on to part time work or apprenticeships with their placement hosts, with others returning to school in 2020.

We wish our 2019 Gateway students the very best for their future careers and hope the Gateway Programme has helped them to make the right choices around career pathways.

All Gateway students are asked to please bring a CV to class the first week of Term 1, 2020.

Our 2019 Businesses:

Mainland Engineering                     Skydive Taupo

Wairakei Resort                               Manuels Resort

Taupo Auto Electrical                      Opepe Farm Trust

Wairakei Primary School                 DB Computers

Laminex                                           Quality Builders

TME                                                 Taupo Monumental

Wade Construction                          Fraser Cameron Architects

Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary           Smith & Sons Building

Creative Kitchen                              Kevin Insley Electrical

Empower Fitness                             Silhouette Fitness

Vetora                                              Countdown

Straight up Construction                  J Ferguson Contractors

Taupo Vet                                        Centre Build Taupo

Rob Jennings Development            Lake Taupo Holiday Resort

Helicopter Services                          Ag Industrial

SPCA                                               Ross White Panel & Paint

Waipahihi Primary School               Taupo Hobbies

Spec Savers                                    Taupo Painting Services

Warner Construction                        Darrell Young Nails

LIFESKILLS REPORT -  Ms Sharplin and Sue from Taupo Pathways have had a successful year running the Licence to work programme (L2W) for a group of 20 students. The programme consists of three components; a voluntary experience, a work experience placement, and completion of the L2W booklet and unit standards which looks at employability skills and work readiness. Well done to the 13 students who were awarded with the Licence to Work certificate.

TOI OHOMAI TRADES ACADEMY - The Trades Academy programme proved to be a valuable learning experience for all 35 students in 2019. Automotive Engineering, Health, Sport & Recreation, Engineering, Wood Manufacturing, Building & Construction, Food & Beverage courses offered both experience at tertiary level and credit achievement. Feedback from the students was very positive and we have another big cohort for 2020. The end of year prizegiving in Rotorua was attended by many and these students were our prize winners – Well done everyone.

1st place

Reef Sharp – Building & Construction L2

Philip de Thierry – Engineering L2

Tessa Cameron – Exercise & Sport L2

Dylan Foster – Taste of Automotive Engineering L2

Tukino Boyce – Automotive Engineering L3

Most Improved

Georgia Crosswell – Exercise & Sports L2

Caleb Amrein – Engineering L2

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So that’s a wrap for the year.

Well done to all our Gateway, Life Skills and Trades Academy students who have worked so hard this year.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

See you in 2020.

Delwyn and Paula