It is such a big step transitioning from school to work or study, so we wish our school leavers all the very best. Please come back and visit when you come home, we love to hear what you have been doing.

Gateway

We are farewelling our Gateway teacher, Ms Gosai who is moving south to be with family. We thank her for all the hard mahi and her contributions to the Gateway programme and wish her all the best with her new ventures.

We also bid farewell to our Gateway placement co-ordinator, Ms Burnett who is taking a year off to complete studies for teaching. But, we will still see her around from time to time and then she will be back in 2023.

Next year, we welcome Stephen McDonald as our Gateway teacher. He is excited about this role and ready to give it his all. Our new Gateway coordinator Ashleigh Braithwaite, will be working closely with students, to secure really good local work placements for them.

We would like to extend congratulations again to both Katherine Davey for gaining 1st place for Year 13 and Connor Sullivan for 1st place in Year 12. Well done!

We have had a very successful year with all Gateway students having had a placement. We would like to thank the local businesses of Taupo for their ongoing support hosting our students. Your time and knowledge is invaluable to us.

Thank you Taupo businesses for supporting our Kura.

McPhail Grahame Motors, Pipe Works, Kids Greening Taupo, DOC, Dr. Mathai Dental Centre, Trev Terry Marine, Bucktons Auto Electrical, Quality Builders, Laser Electrical Taupo, Taupo Riding for the Disabled - RDA, Tauhara Primary School, Taupo, Box Build NZ, Hilltop School, Taupo Plan Service 2001 Limited, Anytime Fitness Taupo, Lake Taupō Harbourmaster, Taupō District Council-water treatment, Taupo Diesel Solutions- TDS, Higgins Group, AB Equipment, Triple Peaks Building, Mancraft Barbers , Seay Earthmovers Ltd, Waipahihi Botanical Reserve, Hawkes Crane Hire Taupo, The Pet Shop Taupo, Steiner and Moses Engineering and Alloys, Pāmu, Taupo DeBretts, Waipahihi School, Taupo Engine and Auto, Harcourts Taupō, Taupo Veterinary Centre, Sign On, Justin Harris joinery, Baked With Love Taupo, SMK, Joi Studio, 56 Shop Taupo, E and J Contractor

Ready to Work Diploma

This initiative was Ms Gosai’s and has been successful in 6 students gaining the certificate. The criteria ranged from attendance, uniform, school work, credit achievement, CV, extra-curricular activities and completion of a work placement.

Well done to these students - Finn Coombes, Abby Hirst, Peter Shaw, Connor Sullivan, Carrie Read and Rebecca Davis.

PMVEA

Prime Ministers Vocational Excellence Award

The purpose of the award is to encourage more young people into vocational education and training and to celebrate the achievement of secondary students enrolled in vocational type programmes.

Special mention must be given to a hard working student, who has really excelled this year in many areas - congratulations to Finn Coombes.

Licence to Work

I would like to say a huge thank you to Sue Mclean - she has built a great rapport with our students and has inspired them to consider options for their futures. Our students have been lucky enough to work with Sue, the Taupo Pathways facilitator, this year to achieve the Licence to Work certificate. The programme includes completing voluntary work and also a work experience placement, alongside work preparation unit standards and the licence to work booklet. 

Well done to the following students for giving 100% to this programme and graduating ready to transition into workplaces or further study - Storme Edwards, Tash Rive, Charlotte James, Jaida Maxwell-Davis and Nicolas Spence and also to Fletcher De Thiery, Oliver Monkman, Jakob Bussell and Connie Dawson.

Toi Ohomai Trades Academy

Another busy year for our trades students, with most students finishing early this term. This year the courses were in Auto Engineering, Hair Beauty & Retail, Engineering and Farming & Agriculture. Big thank you to all the Toi Ohomai tutors but also to our students who showed commitment and completed the programme.

Special mention to these students -

Destiny Grant

Top Student in L2 Mechanical Engineering

Ford Manuel

Top Student in L2 Farming & Agriculture

Luke McAneney

Top Student in L3 Auto Engineering

Oliver Percy

Most Improved student in L2 Auto Engineering

Hanna Mischewski

Most Improved student in L2 Farming & Agriculture

I look forward to seeing some of you again next year. To those who have left to enter the workforce, I wish you all the very best.

2022 - When Toi Ohomai have confirmed all courses I will be in touch with our students for next year's programme, hopefully before the start of the school year.

Happy holidays everyone,

See you in 2022 !

Careers Team

Delwyn & Paula