A course designed to develop practical, real-life skills for our students.

Around the middle of 2023 there was a realisation that we needed more courses that students could relate to, learn practical skills and to link what they have been learning in class in a real world context. 

Partnering with Habitat for Humanity, Te Aroha Year 12 students will build single bedroom sleepouts, intended to support local families. 

Students were identified in Year 11 and asked to apply to be part of the class in 2024. Once selected and timetables were finalised the students have been preparing to start their trades careers. 

It has been a massive amount of work to bring together a big course like this. The Te Aroha Board of Trustees have been very supportive right from the initial concept and have provided the resourcing to establish this course, seeing the benefit for lots of our students in the years to come plus helping the community. Some of you will not know who is on our board so I want to acknowledge Debbie Burge, Fiona Ryan, Andrew Gemmell, Mike Horan, Angela Bolstad, Jill Taylor, Mandy Maber and Miles Tilsley for their support. 

Not only does this course teach building skills, it also incorporates many other areas of the curriculum. Students will have to use their Mathematics skills in measuring, trigonometry, estimation; English and literacy skills such as reading and  comprehension; Social Science skills about understanding communities; Science, the physical properties of materials and on it goes. So much of what students have learnt right form Year 9 across all curriculum areas will be part of this course.  

We have created a dedicated area in the school that will be the new home for the course. Gary Paetai, from Ultimate Bobcats Te Aroha did a great job with the site preparation and Container Wise (Morrinsville) helped source a nice container to get us under way.

On Friday 8 March, Jarrod Cossey (General Manager) and Nicole Pilton (Sales Manager) from Acorn ITM presented the fantastic range of tools that these students will be using. Through Acorn ITM; Ox Tools and Makita have supported the course with some wonderful kit at a great price and some donated product. 

The students have been completing a number of Unit Standards in preparation for the practical component of the course. Health and Safety and the safe use of Hand Tools as well as design thinking has been a good starting point. 

We want this to be a real community project, something that all of Te Aroha can be proud of. Once we get up and running and things have settled down, we want more people to come and see the students in action and possibly see how they can support us further.

We have been really well supported so far and want to acknowledge a number of individuals and companies.

- Tim Whittle - Time Whittle Homes, https://www.timwhittlehomes.nz/

- Nathan Collins - Habitat for Humanity, https://habitat.org.nz/

- Jarrod Cossey (General Manager) and Nicole Pilton (sales Manager) and the team from Acorn ITM - Acorn ITM Hamilton  https://acornitm.co.nz/

- Simon McNeil-Vincent - Architectural Designer, IBEX Design, 

- Gary and Amy Paetai - Ultimate Bobcat Services, https://www.ultimatebobcats.co.nz/

- Nathan Van Den Broek - Container Works Morrinsville, https://www.containerworks.nz/