On Thursday 17 October we hosted our Pathways Celebration evening, a wonderful occasion to honour the hard work and achievements of our students involved in our Gateway classes and Futures Academy programme.

It was a joy to celebrate alongside students and their whanau, recognising their dedication and commitment throughout the year.  Each student was awarded for their efforts, making for a truly memorable night filled with laughter, stories and delicious kai.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the following students who received awards as part of our Futures Academy programme:

Year 12

Divyanshi Bhandari Merit L2 Agriculture and Farming

Olivia Gallaghan Merit L2 Forestry

Alyssa Kiddie Merit L2 Hospitality

Imy McTainsh Merit L2 Hair, Beauty & Retail

Nica Ackermann Excellence L2 Hospitality (Top of her class)

Georgia Flowers Excellence Level 2 Intro to Early Childhood Education (Top of her class)

Stevie McKee Excellence L2 Agriculture and Farming (Top of her class)

Ihipera Whalen Excellence L2 Mechanical Engineering (Top of her class)

Year 13

Meghan Hughes Merit L3 NZ Certificate in Diving

Anahera Hika Excellence L3 Construction (Top of her class)

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating our students’ achievements!

Fees Free

Is the school leaver in your household looking at doing tertiary study or training next year? To help you plan for this exciting move, you and your young person need to consider the Government’s change to the Fees Free scheme. 

From 1 January 2025, young people starting tertiary study or training for the first-time in 2025 may be able to get Fees Free for their final year of study or final two years of work-based learning, up to $12,000.

The aim of the new Fees Free scheme is to motivate and reward your young person for completing their qualification. Successfully gaining a tertiary qualification – such as a diploma, apprenticeship or a degree – can improve their employability and provide financial and social benefits throughout their life.

What does this mean?

• When your young person enrols, they will need to organise payment of their fees to their tertiary provider. They may wish to apply to StudyLink for a student loan to help cover their fees.

• Your young person doesn’t need to do anything else until they complete their first qualification.

• When your young person completes their qualification, they will be able to confirm their Fees Free eligibility and if eligible, claim their entitlement through the myIR portal on the Inland Revenue website. The myIR portal will be available in early 2026.

For more information visit Fees Free | Starting in 2025?: https://www.feesfree.govt.nz/final-year/

NZ College of Chiropractic TGC visit 

This month, we had the pleasure of welcoming Philippa from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic to speak with our students about exciting career opportunities in chiropractic care.

She highlighted not only the rewarding, hands-on nature of this profession but also the diverse study options available at the college.  

For those passionate about health and helping others, chiropractic care offers a fulfilling pathway.  We encourage all students to explore this dynamic field and consider how they can make a positive impact on people's lives through holistic health practices!

Jazzy Lashes visits TGC

Jasmine Tongahau from Jazzy Lashes visited and inspired our students by sharing her remarkable journey in the beauty industry.  Trained at Servilles in Auckland, she aimed for excellence by training with the best, wanting the best for herself and her family.  Jasmine not only excelled in hairdressing - earning the DUX Award and completing her 2-year course in one year - she also pursued her passion for lashes, and trained with the National Association of Lash Artists (NALA).

As a NALA Certified Lash Artist and Educator, over the past 13 years she has also trained over 70 students and is set to open her new Tauranga Accredited Academy in the upcoming year.  Her academy will provide comprehensive training, ensuring students receive top-notch education and certification recognised in 26 countries.  This commitment to quality is a key message she wanted to convey to our students.

Leaving School Magazine - Issue #31

This is a free guide to study and career options for high students Years 12-13.  The magazine is now available to read online – www.oliverlee.co.nz/leavingschool-issue31  

Or pop into the Careers office (P1) to pick up a hard copy

Careers Office assistance

Just a reminder that our Careers team is still here to help!

Although the school year is winding down and many senior students have completed their studies, the Careers team is available for appointments if you need assistance.

You can schedule an appointment through Career Central or by emailing Mrs. Wilson at awilson@tgc.school.nz or Liz at lcoster@tgc.school.nz.