Ruapehu College report

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 541, 21 June 1994, Page 11

Ruapehu College report

By

J

McGill

and

K

! scobie

The Ruapehu College diary was full to the brim last week with a large number of events both in and out of the school. • The college sent a team of singers to Palmerston North for the Manawatu Smokefree Choir Festival. Seventeen schools from as far away as the W airarapa attended this competition with the purpose of being able to represent the Manawatu region for the national finals. The school choir, though entered with the intention of just having plain old-fash-ioned fun, also hoped to gain experience and improvement as this is a relatively new venture within the school and any exposure like this is a major benefit. Feedback from those who attended was positive and a highlight for many was the Sunshine

Sisters of Soul from Nga Tawa College for the energy the singers discharged. The hand movements accompanying the song entertained all who were present. • On 1 0 June 46 students along with community supporters left for the annual Nga Manu Korero Regional Finals to compete on behalf of Ruapehu College held this year at Opunake High School in Taranaki. The speakers were Che Wilson, Awhina Kingi, Lance Jones and Rebecca Clarke. • Che Wilson gained first place in the senior Maori category and Awhina Kingi won first place in the Junior Maori section. Overall this gained the college first place and the Pei Te Hurunui Jones Shield which Ruapehu College has held for three consecutive years.

• The Ruapehu College Debating Team enjoyed a victory against John Paul College from Rotorua. The moot was 'That today's youth are more aware of physical beauty ' and our school took the negative angle. This win enables the team of Che Wilson, Patricia Tuthill, and Sandra Smith to enter the second round of the Mainland Jaycees 1994 Secondary School Debating Contest. Thirty schools from the greater Bay of Plenty region have entered and Ruapehu College have proved they are up there with the best. • Congratulations have been expressed to William Wiremu Sutton for selection as a Manawatu Rugby League representative. He will be competing in the Under-17 division. • On 3 1 May a spokesman from the Royal New Zealand Navy held a seminar for students interested in careers in the navy. Audience feed-back was positive with many giving serious considera-

tion to application for navy service. • Last week saw the adoption of a student teacher fresh from the Auckland Secondary School Teachers College (ASTC). Craig Ellis will be assisting in the Graphics Department putting into practice the skills he has learnt from ASTC for a seven-week period. • Friday was the date junior reports (Forms 3 and 4) were released. While the general practice is for students and parents to focus their attention solely on the grade received, Principal H Cast would rather the emphasis be put on the teachers' comments as these offer valid, constructive advice as to how students could improve their grades. The Principal' s response to the reports was positive. • Contractors making minor alterations between the wood and metal craft rooms found the cancercausing substance asbestos in the firewall last week. Classes have been moved to Prefab Room 1&2.