Future Pathways Update:
We’ve had a busy term settling back into Future Pathways and helping get our students back on track after the disruption of lockdown.
Earlier in the term ex Aquinas student, Kennedy Wiltshier, who is currently Future Student Team Leader at Waikato University ran a Scholarship presentation for our Year 13’s.
We had an impressive turnout and Kennedy was suitably impressed with the questions and discussion generated during the presentation. She covered everything from what universities look for when assessing the quality of the application, where to find information on scholarships and when deadlines are. As a follow up from this presentation, if you have any queries regarding your application please feel free to come and see us in the Future Pathways office. Or alternatively, if you would like to contact Kennedy directly, please let us know and we’ll pass her details on to you.
In the later part of this term, we have started the Year 13 Mentoring/Careers sessions. These have proven to be valuable for our students in preparation for leaving school, and also an opportunity to work through their University and Scholarship applications.
Friday 19 June saw the InZone Careers bus onsite for our high school students to make use of during class. The bus offered an interactive kiosk that students could research career areas of interest and watch short videos of the industry, interviews of school leavers and employees working in those fields, their thoughts and how they got there. The feedback from this was positive, particularly from our Year 10’s who are starting to think about their subject choices for NCEA Level 1 next year.
Tuesday 23 June we had 12 senior boys complete a Safety at Heights Introduction course. This course provided them with valuable training on safety equipment when working at heights in the Trades industry.
We have several students currently participating in the Trades Academy Programme through Toi Ohomai, where they attend Polytech one day per week for three terms to get a taster of the industry they are considering pursuing. Our students are participating in Hospitality, Food & Beverage, Building & Construction, Automotive, Exercise & Sport.
If you know University isn’t for you but you’re not sure what your options are come and see us, maybe a Trade or a Polytech course could suit you better.
We also have three Year 13 students attending the Police course held at Bethlehem College each week. This course covers different areas of the Police force, interview techniques, physical requirements, the law etc. We’ll be asking for applications to participate in next year’s programme later in Term 3, early term 4 so if this interests you please let us know so we can put you on our list to contact.
Every year HOBEC Law host an information evening at their premises. This year we had a good representation of students attend.
Next term we will have a dedicated space set up in the Library with resources available to help you research your areas of interest. Watch this space…
Next term we have another busy term planned with more courses being held for students, planning sessions with the universities to help the Year 13’s plan and prepare for their first year at university and get an insight on what to expect. We’ll send reminders out closer to the time so keep an eye out in your school email accounts.
Since lockdown, we have seen a real need for gateway/work experience placements for 5 days across the term to help our students make informed decisions about their future. If you or anyone you know would be willing to offer support in this way please get in touch with Mikaere Smith at msmith@aquinas.school.nz
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