International Students Update
The news that school was closing due to a global pandemic was a big surprise for our 34 International students, here in New Zealand to experience the kiwi lifestyle and education system. All but one student decided to stay here and entered ‘Lock Down’ with their host families. While they missed their classmates, students enjoyed learning a whole lot of new skills that they were not expecting. Baking, gardening and building projects all helped to fill in the time until online learning kicked in.
Now that we are back at school, assessments have taken priority. Drama is popular with International Students as it is an ideal subject to build vocal English ability and confidence. Their skills were tested in the recent NCEA assessment performances of Romeo & Juliet and Macbeth. In Hard Materials Technology, students submitted a brief about a chair that they have designed. Next term construction will begin. Put, a Year 13 International Student from Thailand, has started ‘homework club’ as a Service Project. He works with anyone needing extra help during lunchtime each Friday.
Badminton is a new club this term, led by Head Coach Mrs Ashton. This has been fun in the sense of learning a new sport, but it has also given students a chance to meet and make friends with some new kiwis.
Our Term 2 trip was to Kiwifruit Country in Paengaroa. Students learnt about the development of gold and red varieties to meet the huge demand from the Japanese and Chinese markets. Yuko from Hello Sushi visited the College to run a sushi-making workshop. Host families and parents joined in for afternoon tea to end off the day.
We are sorry to farewell two of our Yr. 13 students, Lisa Wang and Elise Bastin. Lisa has achieved her University Entrance qualification and is planning to go to the University of Auckland in Semester 2. Elise is returning to Belgium to start her tertiary studies course in graphics. Good luck girls – we will miss you!
Photos from top left:
– Miho with her chair concept for Hard Technology
– Lisa and Elise
– Shin Yul and his sushi creation
– Ai with her sushi
– Justin and Mrs. Ashton at Kiwifruit Country
– Put and Riki at Homework Club
You must be logged in to post a comment.