Education Minister Chris Hipkins today announced a $20 million fund to help eligible tertiary learners access digital devices and internet connections to continue their study disrupted by Covid-19.
“Many programs are being delivered online in response to Covid-19, including courses like carpentry that are traditionally delivered on-the-job. As we rebuild the economy, we need a skilled workforce to keep our sectors such as construction moving forward,” Chris Hipkins said.
A recent survey by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) shows at least 11,150 learners do not have the right devices to engage in distance learning and at least 11,350 learners do not have access to broadband internet at home.
“The Government wants to make sure that students in need can access support for distance learning so they can continue their studies. We moved swiftly to help cover extra costs, by increasing the student loan amount available for course-related costs for full-time students from $1,000 to $2,000, on a temporary basis.
“Now we have set up a fund that tertiary education organisations can access including Wānanga, the NZIST and its subsidiaries, universities, transitional industry training organisations, and private training establishments.
“Tertiary providers are best placed to work with their learners to identify those who are most in need during this time. Learners should contact their tertiary provider to discuss what kind of support they require,” Chris Hipkins said.
The New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) will distribute funding to its 16 subsidiaries. The NZIST was formed on 1 April as part of the Reform of Vocational Education, providing on-the-job, on-campus and online learning.
Going back to school after a prolonged lockdown could be unsettling for students and helping them make a symbolic fresh start is the formal opening of the Garnishing Grove at Farm Cove Intermediate on Thursday.
Planting the first olive tree in the community garden that students along with landscapist Lance Millward helped create is Pakuranga PM Simeon Brown.
“This is a legacy that you are leaving behind for generations to come. When you grow old, your grandchildren will come here and you can tell them you designed this garden,” Brown told envirogroup and food technology students.
Linda Harvie, principal of Farm Cove Intermediate said the location of the garden next to the Food and Bio room is of special significance. “Like in MasterChef, children can run out in the garden to get a herb or edible flower whilst cooking,” she says.
The idea behind the newly-landscaped community garden – which was once just a patch of dirt with a flagpole – is health and wellbeing of students, said assistant principal Tamara Jones.
“Their wellbeing has been a concern to us and so we thought of doing something special in the first week of school after lockdown,” Jones said.
Simeon Brown plants the first olive tree in the new community garden at Farm Cove Intermediate. Times photo Wayne Martin
“This is a student-led initiative with our students designing the grove end of last year. The grove is a resource for the community to come and pick up garden-fresh herbs and fruit. The school is utilising local businesses and being supported by our local MP.”
Twelve-year-old Skyfi Lin, who created a 3D design of the grove, said the best part is the final design which is an amalgamation of designs submitted by students.
Year 8 student Finlay Newton said they fundraised $6000 for the garden by organising mufti days, a school disco and a wheelathon last year.
The school’s board of trustees will make a contribution to match the funds collected by students.
Lance Millward, a professional landscape architect with Verdant Green, and a school parent is proud of the fact that a dead space (with two camphor trees) has now been transformed.
“We have set up bench seats around the garden so that children can come and enjoy it. There will be white chips laid out and carving done by me on the totem pole that parents helped install,” he says.
“It’s a great experience to have students submit their designs and finally see it all come together.”
Today marks the official unveiling of ‘Kiwis in Business’, a brand new podcast featuring interviews with Kiwi business owners, following the successful release of five pilot episodes.
‘Kiwis in Business’ is a melting pot of informal, yet informative interviews by former Howick Journalist and Public Relations specialist Linda Shackelford, of Expand PR, who sets out to explore the different personalities, ideas and skillsets of innovative and entrepreneurial Kiwis.
“As a former journalist, I’m passionate about talking to Kiwi business owners about what makes them tick. During the four years that I’ve been running my own boutique PR business, I have been hugely impressed and supportive of my fellow New Zealanders who have built some amazing businesses from scratch,” says Linda.
“However, often smaller businesses go unnoticed and unrecognised or don’t know where to start on promoting themselves. My job is to uncover the inspiring and authentic stories behind business owners and their businesses and help get those stories out to the wider community.”
She added, “I am using my skills to highlight theirs – something which has turned out to be very fulfilling for both me and other business owners, especially at this uncertain time when small business owners need all the support and publicity they can get!”
The first five episodes released on Spotify and Google Podcasts have attracted positive feedback from listeners and Linda says she’s had an influx of emails from small business owners requesting to be interviewed since she executed a ‘soft launch’ last week.
The episode; ‘Exploring Aerial Photography’ with Oamaru artist Emma Willetts, explores the creative’s passion behind her photography, her travel adventures, why she started her own business and her plans to open a showroom in Oamaru in coming months.
Linda Shackleford from Expand PR has started a “Kiwis in Business’ podcast. Photo supplied
An interview with Philip Moon, co-founder of Life101, an organisation that teaches life skills to a wide range of groups, including prisoners, youth at risk and high performing teenagers around New Zealand, has attracted much interest. “I was delighted to talk about the positive change we at Life101 are making in the community,” says Philip. “I’m a keen podcast consumer myself, and I really like the length and pace of ‘Kiwis in Business’ and see it as a fantastic way to open my eyes (and ears!!) to what local businesses are doing in the community.”
All interviews are under 20 minutes, a palatable timeframe Linda says is perfect for consuming during a short commute to a meeting, or on a daily walk.
“I’m a storyteller at heart, and love interviewing people to get to the crux of who they are, their purpose, and drive. I cherish hearing about inspiring businesses, quirky situations, and the goals and challenges of our Kiwi leaders. So far, I believe that this podcast is ticking all these boxes.”
Each week, a new interview with a Kiwi business owner will be released to followers, with supporting content being rolled out on the ‘Kiwis in Business’ Facebook and Instagram pages.
2 Other episodes include a chat with Andy Ford, founder of Epic Campers, who hopes more Kiwis will explore New Zealand in new ways, Jodie Rainsford, creator of James. a luxury dog bed and accessories brand, and an interview with life coach Victoria Harrison of Change Therapy.
The Ministry of Education and New Zealand Education Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa have agreed to settle the pay equity claim for teacher aides, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced on Thursday.
This will see more than 22,000 teacher aides, mostly women, being valued and paid fairly for the work they do.
“Teacher aides are frontline workers who work closely with some of our most vulnerable children. They play an important role in our schools as we respond to the challenges of Covid-19 and get the country back on its feet,” Hipkins said.
“The teacher aide pay equity claim was lodged in 2016, and I’m pleased that an agreement has now been reached. This is a milestone for teacher aides and a significant step towards addressing pay equity for women in the education sector.
Photo: teacheraidemodules.org
The new rates will range from $21.20 to $34.68 per hour, and be effective from 12 February 2020.
“The Coalition Government recognises the vital role teacher aides play in schools and we have been focused on making sure that we do a good job for them.
“Details of the settlement will be widely communicated to all teacher aides before NZEI members vote on it. The settlement, if accepted, will acknowledge the value of the skills, responsibilities and demands of teacher aide work,” Hipkins said.
The settlement costs $348 million over the next five years.
Schools will receive the additional funds in October 2020 and teacher aides will receive the new pay equity rates by November, backdated to 12 February 2020.
The Ministry, working alongside NZEI Te Riu Roa and the New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA), completed an 18 month investigation last year to confirm that teacher aides – who are mostly women – are being paid less than men for doing work that is different but of equal value. They worked together on this detailed and complex pay equity claim, following the State Services Commission’s Pay Equity Principles to achieve an outcome that is fair and sustainable.
Teacher aides who perform tiaki duties (assisting children soiled with bodily fluids) on a regular basis will also receive an extra $2.60 per hour on top of their hourly rate, while those who perform these duties occasionally will see their allowance increased from $3.85 to $4.81 if the work is performed on that day.
Teacher aides who aren’t union members will receive the pay equity rates by signing a new Individual Employment Agreement (IEA) once it is published, or by joining NZEI Te Riu Roa.
In addition to the pay correction, teacher aides will have more certainty around the hours they work, and professional learning and development (PLD) opportunities for teacher aides will also be more readily available.
The offer also increases the $0.79 million PLD fund agreed as part of the Support Staff in Schools’ Collective Agreement settled at the end of last year to $2.29 million.
Meet CO4, a small student-run coffee business at Pakuranga College, who, alongside all Kiwis, have felt the impacts of Covid-19.
Year 13 students Helen Lam, Hubert Lai, Sheenu Ragunathan, and Jackshen Lee felt immense pressure during these challenging times as they struggled to find a direction to pivot their business in. It is a Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) business.
Their initiative is to provide a convenient, barista-quality instant coffee, while also shedding light on the environmental and cultural issues in modern society.
Their product is a simplistic, biodegradable coffee bag with unique flavours inspired by the diverse cultures around the world.
Single-use instant coffee packaging uses plastics, taking thousands of years to decompose and simultaneously contaminates the earth’s soil and waters.
As Sheenu, marketing and sales manager, states: “Pollution has been a big issue around the world and issues like the overconsumption of plastic continue to increase. But our generation is switching towards sustainable alternatives for household items to minimize the environmental risks. So I am really happy with how our business is progressing in an eco-friendly manner and can’t wait to release our product.”
Their product aims to feature culturally-inspired flavours from New Zealand before showcasing other foreign cultural flavours. As CO4 values these foreign cultures, they aim to donate a percentage of proceeds to various local charities where the flavour is inspired from. This is extremely important for the business members, as Helen, the CEO, states: “With the current xenophobia we are facing right now, I feel like there is no better time to raise awareness towards the cultural beauty of different countries”
CO4 is excited to announce their first flavour launch in mid-July 2020, inspired by Kiwi culture.
Roma Coffee’s master roaster Aaron Wyatt has kindly agreed to help them along their journey and supplied CO4 with the expertise to develop their coffee flavour and the beans themselves.
As Helen states: “Aaron was nothing but passionate and kind to us as he shared insight into the coffee, but also helped us elevate the quality of our product.”
Waking up and smelling the coffee, from left, Hubert Lai, Sheenu Ragunathan, Helen Lam and Jackshen Lee.
Covid-19 made it near impossible for CO4 to bring their dreams to life. But the Lion Foundation’s Young Enterprise Scheme saw the potential for them to grow and awarded their business $500 seed funding from the University of Waikato.
The excitement they all felt was “unreal” to receive $500 which relieved the heavy financial stress brought upon them during such a precarious time.
They were determined to not let the funding go to waste as CO4’s finance manager, Hubert Lai, said: “This amazing start-up capital will allow us to purchase the necessary materials needed to create our first batch, our advertising and the ability to pursue the innovations of our coffee.”
So how did CO4 manage to receive $500 from YES? Operations manager, Jackshen, produced a video and submitted it to YES’ equity seed funding competition. There were two rounds of seed funding that YES provided, and CO4 managed to win the second round as one of 18 teams out of 140 applicants.
“I wanted to produce a video that was not only informative for the viewers but also entertaining to watch. “When we were awarded the $500 I was thrilled to hear the judges enjoyed my creative work,” Lee said.
“As the only YES team in east Auckland to be awarded, I felt extremely proud of our team who put in the hard work to produce it with me.”
CO4 is appealing to the local ‘coffee culturalists’ for their support.
You can support this aspiring group of adolescent entrepreneurs by contacting them through their social media outlets (provided) and help them to educate NZ society on coffee cultures around the world whilst enjoying a cup of barista-quality instant coffee. They will be posting updates on their social media and website blog, recording their journey along the way.
The rain didn’t stop 380 students from getting their hands dirty to work on the Santa Maria School-Otara Creek restoration.
Students of Sancta Maria Catholic Primary School and College, along with teachers, teacher aides and parents, spent a week planting native trees, around 6500 plants, alongside the Otara Creek on the school border.
Some of the five to 10-year-olds and teachers equipped with gloves and spade in hand, were drenched but still looked happy.
Deputy principal Jenni Woodside says students could see the bigger picture of how creation is a treasure.
“At present, our school wide learning concept is kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection) and our enduring understanding is: Our faith shapes our Te Wa (life journey) and empowers us as kaitiaki to respect and protect God’s creation as a taonga (treasure) for all.
“Our role as kaitiaki is and how to grow our kaitiakitanga by working in conjunction with Auckland Council to plant 6500 plants as well as the installation of 3000 biodegradable protectors for the pesky pukekos.”
The tree planting ran from June 15-19 with the community pitching in on June 20.
“Our primary school students planted from 9pm-1pm with classes having a two-hour session each. The college (on the same campus) was planting in the afternoon.
“We also had Mission Heights Junior College plant trees,” she says.
Throughout the month of June, Howick Kindergarten has been celebrating Matariki.
Head Teacher Leonie Kelly said over the last few weeks the children have been involved in several learning experiences related to welcoming in the Maori New Year. The teachers and children planted a new vegetable garden, have been making and decorating kites, connecting with papatuanuku (the earth) by modelling clay sculptures and digging for dinosaur fossils in our sandpit.
Sisters Evie and Maddie Kingham cutting up vegetables for Matariki soup.
The kindergarten, in Wellington Street, culminated their celebrations with a special day on Wednesday July 1 where parents, caregivers and children shared vegetable soup made by the children. During this event the kindergarten children also performed a short concert for their whanau, showcasing some of the Matariki songs they have learned over the past few weeks.
Parents Yuan Zhang and Yun Wang with child Megan Wang.Kiki Bester helping with planting a vegetable garden. (Holding a Broccoli plant)
On Thursday July 2 the student council at Bucklands Beach Primary ran their annual mufti-day and also collected packaged food, rain jackets and shoes, blankets, sleeping bags and duvets, as well as new pyjamas. The donated items were then given to The Breakfast Club and the Middlemore Foundation to help people facing difficult times at the moment.
Members of the Bucklands Beach Primary Student Council with some of the donated goods in the school office. Pictured from left Chloey Van der Merwe, Jaida Bennett, Cloris Wang; standing Victoria Tongalea Koronui, India Hutton, Justin Choi.
Members of the student council were on hand to receive the goods before school in the office area. There was a steady stream of children through the office area which quickly filled with all the goods donated. The gold coin donation for the opportunity to wear mufti was also given to the two charities.
A representative from The Breakfast Club was very surprised and grateful for the number of donated goods from the students.
Year 11 Sociology students at Howick College have been working hard throughout term 2 to raise awareness about the plight of homeless people in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Due to the shortage of affordable housing, there has been a significant rise in the number of homeless people in New Zealand and learning about just how severe the situation really is has been an eye-opening experience for all involved, the students says.
To combat this issue, the two sociology classes put out a call to the Howick College community for donations of warm clothing, bedding and small household items and have been thrilled by the response they received.
Two sociology classes put out a call to Howick College community for donations of warm clothing, bedding and household items and have been thrilled by the response they received.
“It has been really rewarding to see the donations from our community piling up in the back of our classroom,” says Year 11 student Amelia Carr.
Howick College Year 11 sociology students with donations ready for collection with teachers (left-right) Katarena Bisset and Matteus Elling and director of Community Development, Jennifer Roshan. Photo supplied
The items collected were then donated to the Auckland City Mission, who will put them to good use, helping both homeless people and those who are moving into their own homes all around Auckland.
“We have worked hard for this outcome and are proud of what we have accomplished. We hope that we have made a change in the lives of the individuals who received our contribution,” says Amelia.
By collecting these items and donating them to Auckland City Mission, Howick College Sociology students feel they have helped make a positive change in their community.
“The impact of our social action has been tremendous, both for us and for the homeless in our community” explains Mini Tavan, Year 11 student of sociology.
“We can use the knowledge gained and initiative taken, to help others and apply it later on in life.”
There may be no new international students at local schools in 2021.
Work with the region’s economic development agency ATEED and the Ministry of Education to bring in international students across the border in December 2020 has ground to a halt.
With people returning from overseas testing positive at the border, no one is prepared to risk institutions running their own quarantine systems, says Steven Hargreaves, principal of Macleans College and president of the Auckland Secondary Schools Principals Association (ASSPA).
Hargreaves is concerned about the financial implications this will have on high-decile schools like Macleans College that rely heavily on international student fees to make up a shortfall in Government funding.
Macleans College International students with principal Steven Hargreaves. Photo supplied
He says the lack of international students is a huge issue. The total international student market including universities, schools and techs is about $5.1 billion per year,” Hargreaves says.
Schools represent about $750 million of that, about 15 per cent.
Auckland hosts about 10,000 international school students in schools per year (primary, intermediate and secondary). That’s about $375 million in GDP for Auckland from school students alone.
“At Macleans we have lost about 70 enrolments this year so that is a big financial hit. These students have been unable to enter New Zealand for our term 2 and 3 intake with the closed border.”
Hargreaves says it appears unlikely they will be able to come next year too unless a vaccine is found.
“The 2020 financial impact is about half a million dollars. The potential impact in 2021 is much greater. If the college doesn’t get international students in 2021, there will have to be big-budget cuts,” he says.
“It will have huge financial implications for schools – staff cuts, deferred maintenance and reduced investment in areas such as IT.
“High decile schools receive a lot less funding per student and we need to generate our own local funding. Macleans gets $1300 less per student in the operations grant than a decile-one school where I was previously principal,” Hargreaves says.
“We hope most of our current students will stay with us and many have told us that they will.”
Iva Ropati, Principal of Howick College. Photo supplied
Howick College principal Iva Ropati says the college budgeted on enrolling 120 full-time international students this year. But Covid-19 prevented about 30 students from entering the country.
“This resulted in a $450,000 shortfall of expected income for the year,” says Ropati.
The loss of income is significant and consequently, the college has responded by diversifying their international programmes to cater for more ‘on-line’ learning options.
“Students from Asia are particularly interested in this form of learning and are showing strong interest.
“We have also formed some very useful partnerships with some NZ Universities which may open some further options for remote educational pathways beyond the schooling sector,” says Ropati, who says they have the flexibility in their programmes to adjust for the downturn in the short term.
“Thankfully, our board have a number of staff who are employed on a casual basis depending on the final numbers of international students and therefore can adequately reduce staffing where appropriate. In the long term, especially if our borders remain closed next year, our emphasis will continue to strengthen our on-line learning options and to be as innovative as possible.”
Pakuranga College principal Michael Williams says the loss of international students will have a big impact not only on the colleges but on the whole community.
Michael Williams with international students at Pakuranga College. Photo supplied
“While schools will have to tighten their belts with fewer international students, those same students also bring income into the economy, with homestays and accommodation for visiting family members.
“At Pakuranga College, we will have to tighten our belts but will be able to continue to provide all the services for our students,” says Williams.
“We will, however, have to slow down on our building and refurbishment projects. Fortunately, we have significant reserves and the new 12 classroom block, to which the school has contributed almost $1m, won’t be affected.”
The cold winter morning in Botany, didn’t deter 11 to 14 year old from lining up to attend the Shine Bright holiday programme ‘I am Enough Sponsored Day’ at Botany Library.
Estelle Pape, founder of The Flying Stylist and Celeste Rogers, founder of Free2BeMe, were eager to take teens on a journey of self-discovery to find their inner strength and outer beauty. The message: ‘You can be your best you. You can run your unique groove. You are enough’.
With mental health continuing to be an important area of focus in New Zealand, Celeste says, “It starts with looking after our youth, making sure that they have the confidence, self-esteem and social skills to weather the storms of change that they need to cope with.”
She talks about behaviours like mood swings, anxiety, depression and eating disorders that can come to the fore when teens don’t feel comfortable in themselves and lack self-belief.
The initiative brought fashion, self-care and education together in a unique, entertaining, practical and fun way.
Estelle Pape of The Flying Stylist, Priya Khanna, senior librarian Botany Library and Celeste Rogers, founder of Free2BeMe. Photo supplied,
When Estelle and Celeste first approached Priya Khanna, senior librarian children and youth at Botany Library with the idea of a unique experience for teens, they found she shared their commitment for youth development.
Teens from west, north and east Auckland learned how to find their inner fashionista, tap into their genius/ potential, inner critic and fashion styling.
There was a dance-off (learning to think on their feet) followed by etiquette and a selection of the happiness mindset.
Hannah Mullany- an inspiring 16-year-old who is impacting NZ today with her work among refugees, was a prime example of altruism and making a difference at the workshop for teens.
Students of Creative Technology, an innovative new class at Howick College, have designed a harness for Urban Search Rescue that lights up rescue dogs.
The harness allows the rescue dog handler to see the dog in the dark.
Learning about different technology subjects that brings real-world learning into the classroom, the students hand-stitched an electrical circuit using conductive thread and LED into the harness.
Peter Hoskin of Urban search and rescue dog Lace with Howick College technology students, Sophie Chadwick, Yousif Alsabak and Mason deBruin. Photo supplied
The LED lights allows handlers to see their canine companion when they are searching at night and improves visibility in dark areas where there is no light source available such as collapsed buildings.
Students got real-time feedback from Peter Hoskin of Urban Search and Rescue who tried the specially designed harness on Lace, the rescue dog.
The team was led by staff members Rohitesh Mishra, Elisha Hoskin, Taylor Woodmass and Richard Rounds.
Owairoa Primary Annual School Gala, the most exciting event in the school calendar and the biggest fundraiser that the Parent Teacher Association organises meticulously every year, has been cancelled this year due to Covid-19.
Principal Alan McIntyre is as much disappointed as the students are about the fun-filled event that has been the highlight of the school year for more than 50 years. Last the theme for the gala was Trail of Terror an Owairoa Primary School rite of passage according to past students.
The Trail of Terror was the theme for last year’s Owairoa School Gala. This year the successful school gala has been cancelled due to the pandemic. Times photo Wayne Martin
McIntyre says: “Even our famous Annual School Gala has paid the price of the pandemic and has been cancelled.”
The only ‘big’ event the primary school is having next term is the much awaited Book Week. This year the book week will have a Jungle theme.
The other major change the school is having is the addition of another six temporary classrooms onto their front field. These will remain for the next two years as they bulldoze the nine classrooms and replace them with a brand new $13 million, 18 classroom two-story block.
Add to that the remediation of the water damaged buildings and extensive other works and the school may be a construction zone-of-sorts for the next two years.
Nikki Kaye with her successor Nicola Willis at Elim Christian College Junior Campus in Golflands. Times photo Wayne Martin
She may have bowed out of Parliament but Nikki Kaye still has a punishing schedule.
Immediately after her emotionally-charged valedictory speech in Parliament on Thursday, Kaye – who served as the deputy leader of National Party for a short time – caught an early morning flight from Wellington for an official launch of a new facility at Elim Christian College Junior Campus in Golflands.
Her successor Nicola Willis, who is stepping into Kaye’s shoes, flew in the night before and took an early tour of the modern Luke Brough building on the school campus – named after the founder and senior minister of Elim Christian Centre.
Overlooking the all-weather sports ground that accommodates around 12 learning spaces for middle school, the building is designed by Jasmax – award-winning architects of Te Papa Museum.
At the official launch, just as Kaye, former Minister of Education, was about to unveil the plaque, principal Murray Burton cautioned her. “The date on the plaque says March 20. But then Covid happened and we postponed the event. It was too expensive to change the date on the plaque so we left it at that,” he said.
The event was attended by Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, candidate for Botany Chris Luxon, the board of trustees and officials from the Ministry of Education.
Burton said this official opening is one of the last two schools that Kaye is attending before she retires from politics.
Front row: Simeon Brown, Nicola Willis, Chris Bethwaite, Nikki Kaye, Marilyn Brough, Christopher Luxon. Back row: Pastor Steve Green, Shanley Gamble, Murray Burton, Pastor Luke Brough, Danie Vermeulen and Bill Kathagen. Photo Wayne Martin
“We would like to thank her for her service to the nation and for her courage, resilience and perseverance, despite the odds,” he said as everyone gave her a standing ovation.
Kaye shared two inspirational stories with the students about youngsters who had made an impact on her. One was about Barry, who had a disability and applied for more than 100 jobs until he got one. “He just stepped up to the challenge and persevered.”
She also spoke of 13-year-old Gabby Devine who was diagnosed with cancer at an early age. “Though she was miserably sick, she prepared care packages to deliver to hospitals. I met Gabby and wanted to give her the Young New Zealand Youth Award but unfortunately she passed away before that. Later, both John Key and I presented the award to her parents who were so overwhelmed.”
“However you are tested in life, the values of Elim Christian College is the greatest gift you have.”
Principal Murray Burton thanked Nikki Kaye for her perseverance, courage and service to the nation. Photo Wayne Martin/Times
Talking to the Times about retiring from politics after the September general elections, Nikki Kaye, a breast cancer survivor, said, “I am going to miss walking into any home, school or business and talking to the people and listen to them share their stores or not being able to make a change in their lives.
“But then again I have worked 100 hours a week for a very long time and have contributed a lot to New Zealand. I have put my body on the line and need to replenish it.
“I am going to use this time to reflect, to heal, to rest. I will read, reconnect, go running, spend time outdoors and try to be a good aunty. I have got lots of job offers but I am not going to take up anything right now.
“When I do, I know it will be something that is to do with helping people. But right now I am happy to pass on the torch to Nicola Willis.”
Nikki Kaye was at Elim Christian College Junior Campus to officially launch the new Luke Brough building. Times photo Wayne Martin
The new National Party spokesperson for Education Nicola Willis says she has learned a lot from Kaye just watching her. “Nikki has the ability to inspire”.
With a post-graduate diploma in journalism, Willis served as a research and policy advisor to former PM Sir Bill English, and as a senior advisor to another former PM, Sir John Key in 2008.
The mother-of-four says she has big shoes to fill.
Flying back to Wellington for a family dinner to celebrate her daughter Harriet’s ninth birthday at her favourite pasta restaurant, she says being a mother “keeps it very real”.
“I can see the world through their eyes as well as get a better understanding of issues that students, parents and teachers we are dealing with.”
She gives credit to her “extraordinary husband and mother-in-law” as well as good friends and the community that supports her enough to do her job.
“I am excited about having Judith Collins as our new leader and look forward to earning more support from the people.”
Nicky Smirk left and See-Niz with the students of room 12 at Somerville Intermediate. Photo Jim Birchall
Spoken word artist See-Niz and rapper Nicky Smirk have been using a unique programme to teach public speaking confidence to students at Somerville Intermediate.
Nicky Smirk is a well-known New Zealand rapper on YouTube with popular tunes like ‘Snakes’ and ‘Karate Kid’, while See-Niz runs his own music label and production studio in Botany called Ghost Like Records (GLR). The studio is available for hire by local artists looking for a professional recording setup.
Teacher Vanessa Hancock was instrumental in setting up the out-of-the-box approach. She put a call out on social media for local MCs to get involved with teaching her students self-expression and was overwhelmed by the number of artists who put their hands up to help.
As a result of being asked to mentor the class, Nicky has returned to his old school stomping ground, where he was a student some 15 years earlier.
The Times got to witness two students perform their own tune they had written and composed, accompanied by a backing track. The students of room 12 have come out of their collective shells after being offered the chance to express themselves through the hip-hop and spoken word medium.
Nicky believes in the motto ‘Knowledge is power’ and thinks the best way to boost youngster’s self-confidence is simply by “talking and listening.”
Hancock added “It is wonderful to have Nicky and See-Niz with me in the class teaching what they do best and getting the best from my students. When I put the call out to invite any local rappers and spoken word artists to come into my class and do what they do best – I struck gold with See-Niz and Nicky.”
Hancock also says she is “constantly amazed at the talent that exists in our East Auckland community”, and
she feels that “too many teachers struggle and strive to be the experts of everything when experts are in the local community, and only too happy to come in and share their expertise.”
Wilbyn Mitchel, the executive officer/counsellor at Howick Primary, saw an opportunity to help support a community project and having heard that the Howick Santa Parade was in need of extra help with the funding, decided to reach out to Bo Burns, event manager for the Santa Parade.
With the support of principal Leyette Callister and the team at Howick Primary, a decision was made to hold a mufti-day, with the entire proceeds being donated to the Santa Parade.
The Howick Children’s Charitable Trust – which runs the annual Howick Santa Parade – was over the moon that Wilbyn had come up with such a great initiative. Two of the trustees, John Russell and Pip Burns, were invited to attend the school’s weekly Friday assembly to receive a cheque from the children.
Parade organiser Bo Burns decided to take six of the Santa Parade’s Disney characters – Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Daisy, Lego Man and Dora – all of whom attended the assembly to the delight of the children, who were just as excited as the Disney characters.
One of the reasons Wilbyn organised this was to set a challenge to other schools to do something similar to help boost the funds for the iconic Howick Santa Parade. The Howick Children’s Charitable Trust received a magnificent donation of $500 and, given that as the principal told the trust it was a boutique school with approximately 350 pupils, organiser said it was an outstanding feat.
Howick College’s entry of Antony & Cleopatra also took out the award for Outstanding Student-Directed Ensemble Work. Photo supplied
Eleven Auckland students are off to Dunedin to attend Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand’s (SGCNZ) National Shakespeare Schools Production (NSSP) in late September.
Two students from Howick College, Lily Moore and Jenna Feldtman, two students from Botany Downs Secondary College, Shalom DeSouza and Jake Fanstone– have been chosen from the SGCNZ e-National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival to attend the week-long intensive of workshops and rehearsals, following the results announced last week.
Jenna Feldtman and Lily Moore, from Howick College, have been chosen from the SGCNZ e-National University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival. Photos supplied
Howick College’s entry from Antony & Cleopatra also took out the award for Outstanding Student-Directed Ensemble Work and Feldtman won the award for Best Voice Projection,
Of Feldtman’s performance, assessor John Gardyne said she was strong and focused, with an excellent stage presence and strong physicality – but most importantly she had a strong understanding of the text.
This was an impressive achievement as the students were tasked with submitting their performance by video due to disruptions caused by Covid-19.
Jillian Dryden, head of drama Howick College says, “This is a first for Howick College and is an absolute honour.
“Who knows, they may even gain the opportunity to attend The GlobeTheatre in London next July, borders permitting, as one of 24 students who will be selected to form the SGCNZ Young Shakespeare Company.”
She says that like Shakespeare’s Hamlet they found themselves asking “To be or not to be…that is the question” (Hamlet Act III sc1) while preparing for this years’ SGCNZ University of Otago Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.
“We, like many other schools around Aotearoa faced with the challenges of Covid-19, frequently asked ourselves a similar question: “how are we going to make this happen?” But the students have made it happen and more importantly the remarkable Dawn Sanders ONZM, QSM, SGCNZ CEO and trustee, has made it happen with her amazing creativity, vision and team spirit.”
Feldtman’s performance was strong and focused, with an excellent stage presence said assessor John Gardyne. Photo supplied
The three assessors were Ryan Hartigan from the University of Otago; Salesi Le’ota, Wellington actor, who has had considerable experience on the Pop-Up Globe stage; and, courtesy Trinity College London, John Gardyne, in London via Zoom for the four-hour decision-making from 5am UK time, having already viewed all the entries.
The students, from all around the country, will also be joined by Paige Kendon of Howick College and Grace Mora of St Cuthbert’s College, winners of the SGCNZ/Dawn Sanders Shakespeare Costume Design Competition and the SGCNZ/Morrison Music Trust Shakespeare Music Composition Competition respectively.
Over the week, the students will work with three different professional directors and put on three 40-minute performances of Shakespeare plays after five half days of rehearsals – from being cast, learning lines to the two public performances on Friday, October 2 at 6.30pm and Saturday, October 3 at 7.30pm, both at the University of Otago College of Education Hall.
Lorna Zhang, Shuan Liu, Damon Herlihy-Obrien at the NZCT Chamber contest held at the Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington. Photo supplied
Macleans College Year 11 student Lorna Zhang performed with two other students in their group Trio Achilles at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington at the finals weekend of the NZCT Chamber Contest.
The competition was live-streamed on Radio New Zealand and professionally recorded. The annual contest has a rich tradition discovering future musicians of New Zealand since 1965.
Twelve groups were chosen to perform in the semi-finals, out of which six were selected to perform in the final stage of the competition.
After many months of rehearsing and practising together, Trio Achilles made up of Lorna Zhang (Macleans College) violin, Damon Herlihy-O’Brien (Glendowie College) cello, and Shuan Liu (Pinehurst School) piano, was chosen to compete in the national finals.
Ultimately, Trio Achilles claimed the runner up, Helen Young Diamond Award, for their performance of Piano Trio No.1 in C minor, Op. 8 by Dmitri Shostakovich.
This inaugural award consists of a cash prize of $2500 for the recipient group.
“I have only been able to attain this achievement because of the support and teachings that my numerous mentors have given me, such as my current violin teacher Stephen Larsen, as well as James Bush, Rae de Lisle and Richard Liu, who are all teachers from the Chiron Group NZ,” says Lorna.
Macleans College student violinist Lorna Zhang. Photo supplied
“To prepare for the competition, we also received feedback from James Tennant, Sarah Watkins, and Bridget Douglas.”
Lorna is a scholar of the Chiron Charitable Trust, which has enabled her as well as cellist Damon Herlihy-O’Brien and pianist Shuan Liu, (both Chiron scholarship holders) to form Trio Achilles.
“We regularly play together at the Remuera Music Academy and at the Albany School of Music, where our teachers give lessons,” says the Macleans College musician.
Having started playing the violin at the age of two, Lorna devotes one to three hours a day every day to the string instrument.
Other than that, she has been playing the trombone since the last year and a half at school.
“I started learning because I really enjoy listening to jazz. I play the trombone in the Macleans’ concert band. I have been inspired by many musicians over the course of my journey as a musician. Violinists that I particularly enjoy listening to are Isabelle Faust, David Oistrakh, James Ehnes, Janine Jansen,” she shares.
Talking about the trio members, Damon and Shuan, she says they inspire her to enjoy time performing as a musician. “We had a lot of fun playing together at the Michael Fowler Centre,” says Lorna.
A few parents contacted the school directly with concerns, says Macleans College principal Steven Hargreaves. Times photo Wayne Martin
Some parents are apprehensive about children returning to school after the second round of Alert Level 3 lockdown
Steven Hargreaves, principal of Macleans College and president of the Auckland Association Principals Association (ASSPA), says it is understandable that some parents are nervous about sending their children to school while there is still some Covid-19 community transmission.
“A few parents have contacted us directly with this concern. We have been able to reassure them that school is safe,” he told the Times.
.
“Schools are well prepared for the return of students. Sanitiser is available, hygiene protocols are reinforced and all schools have support structures to help students who may be feeling anxious.
“We have observed very few absences today (Monday).
“Students are pleased to be back – to resume their learning, resume their regular routines and enjoy social interaction with their peers.”
Alan McIntyre, principal at Owairoa Primary, says that there were lots of eager young faces waiting to enter the school grounds on Monday morning.
“Around 767 of the 898 students [85 per cent of all students] returned to school. This is a more positive return to school than after the previous lockdown,” he says.
He was pleased with the fact that parents were abiding by the school’s health and safety protocol of not entering the school site – to keep staff and students safe.
The principal of the biggest primary school in east Auckland, McIntyre says that there appears to be a better trust model and confidence in the school being a safe place.
“Parents were more inclined to let their children be independent and let their children enter from the school gate.”
“All people on-site are required to sanitise. Face masks are optional but a number of staff and students are wearing masks which is totally acceptable,” he says.
“We are managing the school in a responsible yet practical way to maintain some form of social distancing and top hygienic practices to lessen the anxiety of students, staff and parents.”
A letter to parents earlier in the week stated: ‘No parental access will be allowed onsite in the afternoon unless you have an exemption. Please note that the following procedures around pickup vary from the previous Alert Level 2 procedures we had in place. We will be having a staggered afternoon release of students to avoid congestion’.
A dedicated teacher for more than 43 years, Dawn Peterson passed away on August 25. She is pictured with her husband Kevin Peterson (94). Times photo Wayne Martin
Thousands of students will sorely miss a much-loved teacher who impacted lives for more than 43 years.
Dawn Peterson, 85, is wife of the much-respected educator Kevin Peterson. She passed away peacefully on August 25 at Middlemore Hospital.
Mr Peterson describes his wife of 59 years as a very gentle, kind, considerate and sympathetic person.
The 94-year-old Howick local says his wife Dawn succumbed to a recurring chest infection, Bronchiectasis.
The former headmaster of Cockle Bay Primary takes pride in the fact that between his late wife and him, the two of them taught for a century.
“I taught for 58 years and she for 43 and together we made it to 101,” he says.
“My wife was a wonderful class teacher. I have to say that she was born to be a teacher!” he says.
“She has been a good mother to my sons David, who is 58 now, and Andrew, 56, who is a lawyer; and a loving mother-in-law of Natasha and Laetitia. My older son David lives in Australia and, unfortunately, is not allowed by the government to be here for his mother’s funeral due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“Both my sons ring their mother twice or thrice a week to find out how she is doing.
“Dawn was hospitalised twice before, due to the chest infection. The infection affected her heart and they couldn’t kill the bug this time. She tried very hard to survive but in the end, it got to her.”
Former headmaster of Cockle Bay Primary, Kevin Peterson. Times photo Wayne Martin
Remembering the time she taught at Cockle Bay Primary, Mr Peterson says, ”She had the reputation at the school for being the quietest teacher. She was very quiet and determined. Every child in the school appreciated her quality and responded to it. The children respected her a lot.”
To acknowledge the contribution that Dawn and Kevin Peterson made at Cockle Bay School, a new school block containing six classrooms and a multi-purpose area was named the Peterson Block.
“We would have celebrated our 60 years of marriage in December this year. I am 10 years older than her and she knew she had married an old man….she has been a wonderful wife for 59 years,” he says.
