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Tōku reo, tōku ohooho
Tōku reo, tōku māpihi maurea
Tōku reo, tōku whakakai marihi
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My language is my cherished possession
My language is the object of my affection
My language is my precious adornment
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Nō reira e hoa mā, mā te kōrero i te reo e ora ai.
It is by using the language, it will live.
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This week we have joined schools and communities across Aotearoa in celebrating Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. Marking 50 years since the first Māori Language Day, this is a special time to honour our ongoing commitment to Te Reo Māori not just this week but every week. It has been pleasing to see our students, staff, and community embracing the week's challenges, sharing kupu, performing and celebrating our language together.
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Once again, this term has been packed with activity, energy, and success across the college. I continue to be immensely proud of our students and staff who continue to step up, take opportunities, and achieve at such a high level.
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We began the term hosting international exchange programmes, which provided a wonderful opportunity for our students and community to connect with others from around the world. From there, our students shone on stage, in the classroom and community, and on the sports fields, reflecting the strength and dedication of our young people.
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Our sports teams, cultural groups, and academic competitors have represented the college with pride both locally and nationally. Their successes are a reminder that when students take up opportunities, they inspire others and a contribution to the culture of care and excellence that we strive for.
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I want to recognise the determination our students have shown in managing the NCEA literacy and numeracy requirements as well as their school examinations. Your hard work and perseverance are commendable, and for anyone who still has assessments ahead, plenty of support is available.
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Finally, I thank our dedicated staff, student leaders, volunteers, and wider community. The scale of what is achieved in a single term is only possible because of the commitment and teamwork across our college whānau.
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I am very proud of what our students and staff have accomplished this term and look forward to building on this momentum as we finish the year with wisdom and courage – kia māia, kia mātau.
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This term we farewell Mrs Gaylene Rodgers, Principal’s PA and BOT Secretary, and Ms Sue McGhie, SLC Teacher Aide. I thank them both for their hard work and valuable contribution to the school for the past six years. We also acknowledge Mr Brendon Perkins, who concludes his fixed-term position as a teacher of Social Studies and Geography. Mr Perkins will continue his connection with us as a relieving teacher.
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Ngā mihi nui,
Matt White
Principal | Tumuaki
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Board of Trustee Election Results
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The results of the recent Wairarapa College Parent Board election have now been confirmed.
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I am pleased to announce that the following members have been duly elected:
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- Ross Thompson
- Gretchen Dean
- Rico Fairbrother
- Rick Bryant
- Sid Kempton
We sincerely thank all candidates for standing and for their willingness to contribute to the governance of our kura. We also acknowledge the time and commitment of our outgoing members - Mr Jason Kerehi, Mrs Meredith Gillies, Mr Roger Graham and student representative Lola McCartney.
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Student Achievements
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Congratulations to our outstanding students and teams!
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- Tournament of Minds STEM Team – National Champions! Robert Evans, Isabelle Bulmer, Alby Rutherford, Sam Andrewartha, Vlad Jar, Brent Knight and Leo Sykes won the national finals at Victoria University.
- Cantate Choir – won a Korimako Silver Award at The Big Sing Lower North Island Cadenza and received the Best Performance of the Set Piece.
- Rampage! – named in the Top 20 bands for 2025 Smokefree Rockquest.
- Lola McCartney winner of the intercollegiate vocal solo performance.
- Lachie Dunbar – awarded Para Sport Personality of the Year at the Wairarapa Times-Age Sports Awards.
- Maggie Shields (Sports Academy) – named in the NZ Secondary Schools Netball Squad of 24.
- Liberty Jones (Sports Academy) – representing NZ in the Trans-Tasman Squash Challenge in Cairns and selected as the #1 Junior Girl in the 2025 NZ Secondary Schools Squash Team.
- NZ Secondary School Squash Championships – Boys placed 33rd, Girls 8th. Lexi MacPherson received the Fair Play Award for her determination, sportsmanship, and integrity.
- Konnor Vainu (Sports Academy) – selected for the Hurricanes U18 Development Camp and joining the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Academy in 2026.
- Maia Lenihan (Sports Academy) – representing Wellington Junior Squash, with former WaiCol student Mackenzie Tait coaching the team.
- Leeroy Pomare-Turner and Jack Anderson (Sports Academy)– safely arrived at Whitchurch High School (UK) to play rugby for a term.
- Frank Liddle (Sports Academy) – winner of his grade in Wairarapa Tennis’s Spring Series.
- Tana Baker-Sefo (Sports Academy) – participated in a series of clinics run by Lewis Clareburt in association with Rutherford Toyota. He was then selected as the recipient of the Lewis Clareburt Scholarship and gets to spend a week up in Auckland training with Lewis. Tana also excelled at the Hawke’s Bay Short Course Swimming Championships: three golds, three silvers, and plenty of podium finishes!
- Basketball Senior A Boys & Girls – Wairarapa Secondary School Champions.
- Junior Blue Netball – winners of the College 2 grade.
- Under 15 Gold Rugby – winners of the Principal’s Cup.
- Football Boys’ Development Team – winners of the Wairarapa Secondary School Division 1 competition.
- Netball awards – Maggie Shields (Most Valuable Player, Wairarapa U18) and Jessica Harvey (Most Promising Player, Wairarapa U18).
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National Champions – Tournament of Minds STEM Team
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Wairarapa College’s Tournament of Minds (TOM) STEM team are national champions! Competing at the national finals at Victoria University this past weekend, the team of Robert Evans, Isabelle Bulmer, Alby Rutherford, Sam Andrewartha, Vlad Jar, Brent Knight, and Leo Sykes finished 1st place. They will now travel to Sydney next term to represent New Zealand on the international stage.
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A huge thank you to Mr Hughes and Mr Morrison for their dedication in coaching and supporting the team.
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Student Voice – Isabelle Bulmer
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“As the STEM team of Wairarapa College, we had to draw on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Our national challenge included biology, physics, and engineering. One of the hardest things was working under a very short time frame of three hours and 10 minutes to solve challenges including making a seed disperser. Leading up to the event we met every day. The event itself was nerve-racking, not only because our competition was amazingly strong but also because we started to doubt ourselves. Because of this, it was a pleasant surprise to win.”
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About Tournament of Minds
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TOM (Tournament of Minds) is an international programme designed to develop problem-solving and creative thinking. Students work in teams to tackle complex challenges that require teamwork, innovation, and out-of-the-box solutions. Competitions are held at regional, national, and international levels, and we are proud that Wairarapa College students will represent New Zealand on this stage. More information about TOM can be found here: https://tom.edu.au/branch/nz/
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Gifted Education at Waicol
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If you’d like to learn more about how we support gifted students at Wairarapa College—or if you think your child may benefit from additional challenge—please contact Mr Hughes by email at rhughes@waicol.nz.
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On Being Bold – Inspiring Young Women Leaders
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Wairarapa College prefects Lexi MacPherson, Ella Crabtree, and Āniwa Turipa recently attended the On Being Bold event in Wellington.
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The day explored inspiring and practical topics including presenting your best self, entrepreneurship, and financial wellbeing. Our students also had the opportunity to hear directly from young women leaders, senior businesswomen, and the Hon Louise Upston, Deputy Leader of the House, who shared their experiences and advice. Lexi is pictured below with Hon Louise Upston and PM Chris Luxon.
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We are grateful to the Dreaming Big team for inviting our students to take part in such a valuable event that encourages confidence, leadership, and future-focused thinking.
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Celebrating 45 Years with World Vision
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During this term, we welcomed James from World Vision, who presented at assembly alongside Ms Hardman, Student Ambassador Sophie Alexander-Hodson, and our 2025 top fundraiser, Year 9 student Tama Biel.
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James presented Wairarapa College with two very special awards:
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Educational Partnership & Milestone Award – celebrating an incredible 45 years of participation in the 40 Hour Challenge.
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Silver Award – recognising this year’s outstanding fundraising achievement.
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Over the decades, Wairarapa College students have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through the 40 Hour Challenge, making our school one of the country’s top fundraisers year after year.
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We are immensely proud of this legacy of generosity and of our students who continue to Engage with Pride!
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Ms Hardman, Sophie, James and Tama.
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International News
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The first two months of term three were very, very busy for the international student department. We hosted four groups of visiting students and welcomed four new individual international students to our college.
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First to visit was a group 25 of students and 3 teachers from Wenling No. 2 Senior School. Wenling is a city on the East China Sea in the Zhejiang Province of China.
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Wenling No. 2 School students and their Wairarapa College buddies on the final day of their visit.
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Linhai Foreign Language School
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Next to visit was a group of 29 students and 5 staff from Linhai Foreign Language School. Linhai is a medium sized city also on the coast of the East China Sea.
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Linhai School students and the Year 11 Te Reo Maori class after their pōhiri in the hall.
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Next to arrive were 25 students and 2 teachers from Togane High School from the Chiba Prefecture of Japan. This is Togane High School’s third visit to Wairarapa College.
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Wenling No. 3 Middle School
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Our final visitors were 9 students and 2 staff from Wenling No. 3 Middle School, China. This is Wenling’s second visit to us but its first since Mr White signed a sister school agreement when he visited China last year.
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Last term we farewelled exchange students Marlene Sprechelmeyer from Germany and Filippo Brambilla from Italy and this term we welcomed a new exchange student, Moritz Cirotzki from Germany. Also enrolling at the beginning of term three were new international students; Eita Muira, Aoi Sogabe and Akari Nasu from Japan, Mark Xiaoshuai and Annie Yang both from China.
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Thank you to the large number of people who welcomed our international visitors into their homes this year. We cannot operate without families who are willing to host students and staff. We appreciate you interrupting your usual routines and for making our visitors feel very welcome.
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We hope to take a group of students to China in September 2026 as part of a cultural exchange. Stay tuned!
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International Student Dean
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Wenling Number 3 School and buddies
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Wenling Number 2 School and buddies
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Linhai Foreign Language School
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Sports Winter Tournament Week
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Always a highlight of the sporting year, this year’s Winter Tournament took place in Week 7 of Term 3 (24–30 August). Wairarapa College was represented by 10 teams across 7 codes, competing in Auckland, Taupō, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, Masterton, and Wellington.
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A sincere thank you to all coaches, managers, parents, and supporters for giving our students these fantastic opportunities, it is truly appreciated. Below is a brief summary of results.
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Four riders competed at the North Island Secondary School Enduro MotoX event in Manawatū. Two podium finishes were achieved:
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Ethan Hunter (Y10): 2nd in 12–15 years up to 200cc class
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William Holmes (Y9): 2nd in Novice up to 200cc class
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A team of four travelled to Taupō for the North Island Secondary Schools event, supported by former head girl Lou Lou McNelly. Holly Corlett won her Eventing class, while Chloe Warren placed 6th in the Show Hunter class.
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Girls’ 1st XI competed in Auckland’s Kathy Seaward Tournament. Despite tough competition, they finished strongly with a penalties win over Whangārei Girls’ High, ending 15th overall.
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Boys’ 1st XI played in the 30-team Trident Trophy in Wellington. After making the Top 16, they finished an impressive 7th, exceeding expectations.
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The Senior A Boys competed at the Central Cup in Kilbirnie, playing six games over three days. With three wins and a loss in pool play, they advanced to the top half of the draw before going down to a strong Gisborne Boys’ side. They finished the week with a tense 83–80 win over Ōtaki College, placing 7th of 20 teams.
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Girls’ 1st XI competed in Napier at the Jenny Hair Trophy, winning all pool games before finishing 4th overall. They will aim again for Federation Cup promotion next year.
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Boys’ 1st XI travelled to Auckland for the Rankin Cup. After tough pool play, they placed 27th, keeping alive hopes of requalification for next year.
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The Senior A team played in the A Grade at the Lower North Island Secondary Schools Tournament. With only two losses all week, they fought their way to the Plate Final, eventually going down to St Oran’s after injuries disrupted momentum. Congratulations also to Ollie and Maggie Shields, selected for the North Zone Secondary Schools team—a pathway to national selection.
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Colts competed at Lindisfarne College, gaining a strong win over New Caledonia before meeting Whanganui Collegiate on the final day, narrowly losing 37–24. A valuable experience in a tough competition.
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1st XV proudly retained the Captains Trophy on home turf, defeating Dannevirke HS, Paraparaumu College, and Hutt Valley HS in a hard-fought final. Congratulations to Konnor Vainu, named team MVP.
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Thank you to all coaches, managers, sponsors, and whānau for giving our students these fantastic opportunities. We are equally proud of the way our students represented Wairarapa College, consistently showing our LEAD values on and off the field.
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Sports Academy - Term 3 Updates
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Term 3 has continued to be an action-packed and engaging times for our Sports Academy students, with a strong focus on skill development, injury management, and applying their knowledge in real sporting contexts.
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Skill Development Workshops
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Students were fortunate to take part in a series of specialist workshops led by high-level coaches this term.
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- Football – Capital Football coaches sharpened our athletes’ technical skills, tactical awareness, and teamwork. Players were challenged not only to refine their ability but also to think critically about on-field decision making.
- Hockey – Junior athletes continued their development under Dane Lett, Black Sticks representative, who delivered a workshop on stick control, positioning, and defensive tactics. His international experience provided valuable insight and inspiration.
- Rugby – Junior rugby players benefited from three engaging sessions with Stacey Grant, focusing on game understanding and skill application. His practical coaching continues to strengthen both individual development and team performance.
Injury prevention and management are vital for any athlete, and this term all academy students attended a Sports Strapping Clinic led by Nicholas Hohepa. The hands-on session focused on strapping shoulders, ankles, and knees, the most common areas of concern in sport. Students not only learned effective techniques to support their own performance and recovery but also gained the skills to assist teammates when needed.
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Our Year 9 and 10 students worked with Mark Harris, who facilitated sprint mechanics workshops. By breaking down the fundamentals of running such as body alignment, stride length, and explosiveness. Mark gave students the introductory tools to sprint and take off more efficiently and effectively.
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Careers and Pathways Update
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We have had such a busy term, full of exciting events and opportunities for our students to get involved in their career pathway journeys.
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Some of our senior students participated in short courses offered by UCOL in Beauty and Hairdressing, which gave students a taster for those industries. We also had a group of students getting their Forklift certification.
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Some students have been out completing the Comprehensive First Aid course offered by the New Zealand Red Cross here in Masterton. As always, this is great opportunity for our students to learn valuable lifesaving skills. We see more often now that being qualified in First Aid is something required in most industries and something beneficial to have on your CV!
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University Course Selection, Scholarship & Accommodation Visits
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The school has had visits this term from five different universities who are working with our outgoing Year 13 students on their course selection process for tertiary study they have applied for/planning to apply for. Big thank you to these teams for making the time to catch up with our students and make sure they are on track!
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Victoria University of Wellington
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Industry Big Day Out – Thursday 14th August
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It was a great day out for our senior students visiting local businesses, learning about employment opportunities, study/training requirements for professions, etc. A big thanks to REAP Wairarapa and the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy for organising and funding this event, and to the following groups for opening their doors to our students:
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Masterton District Council
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Defence Careers Visit – Week 6
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Alex from the Defence Careers team visited the school and gave a detailed presentation to a senior student group on career and study opportunities in the army and navy.
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Massey University (School of Agriculture and Environment) – Week 6
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Nikki from Massey University’s School of Agriculture and Environment paid a visit to the school to speak with senior students about Agriculture Science, Agriculture Business, Horticulture Science, Animal Science and Earth and Environmental Science. She also covered relevant scholarships and important information for these programmes.
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Wellington Tertiary Open Day
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Senior students attended open day events at both Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University (Wellington) on Friday 22nd August. Students explored the campuses, attended taster lectures and learned about different study and career pathways.
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Youth Learner Licence Course – Week 7
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REAP Wairarapa held a three-day Youth Learner Licence course at REAP House in Week 7 for students aged over 16. Students covered theory in the NZ Road Code, completed practice tests and then had the opportunity to sit the Learner Licence test at the AA on the last day.
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Studylink Outreach Session – Week 10
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StudyLink visited us to explain their role in supporting students exploring their education and career options. They covered how young people make informed choices about their future and understand what support is out there for them, especially when it comes to finances.
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AMI Car Insurance Session – Week 10
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The AMI team delivered a presentation that is focused on car insurance education. The session included time for questions and was designed to help young drivers understand the importance of insurance and the potential impacts of being involved in an accident. The goal was to provide practical, relatable information that empowers students to make informed decisions as they begin their driving journeys.
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Kiwi Lumber Visit – Week 10
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On Wednesday 17th September, the Careers and Pathways team along with a group of students (pictured below), had a behind the scenes tour at Kiwi Lumber where we learned the start to end processes of the lumber mill. It was very interesting to see all the different roles and processes in this niche work environment and the career opportunities out there for our young people. Many thanks to Duncan and his team for giving up their time and expertise!
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- Understanding Employment and Tax Workshop
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Tuesday 7th October – Period 2
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- Open to all Year 12 and Year 13 students
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Please message Sarah to sign up!
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- Ready, Set, CV!
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Friday 10th October – Period 2
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- Open to all Junior students
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Please message Sarah to sign up!
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- The Learning Place – Bartending Course – on site
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Monday 13th/Tuesday 14th October
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- This course is by invite only – senior students will be contacted about spaces on this course.
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- Tuesday 14th October
- All students who participated in UCOL courses this year are invited to attend the Awards Prizegiving evening at the Wairarapa Events Centre (Carterton), starting at 5pm.
- The Learning Place – Barista Course – on site
- Wednesday 15th/Thursday 16th October
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- This course is by invite only – senior students will be contacted about spaces on this course.
The end of the year is approaching so fast! If you need any help from the Careers and Pathways team, please reach out to us and we will make some time to meet with you and discuss your plans/pathway.
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Victoria University visit
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Most students who participated in UCOL courses this year will be winding up their study at the end of Term 3. It’s been great to see the feedback coming in from the UCOL team for our students and we are excited to see what pathways these courses have opened up for our students.
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Students have studied a wide variety of topics, some gaining NCEA credits and others earning separate qualifications. Here are some examples of study areas:
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Early Childhood Education and Care
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We encourage students and whānau to participate in the UCOL award evening on the 14th of October to celebrate the hard work our ākonga have done. Keep an eye out for more details from UCOL.
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Applications are still OPEN to current Year 11 and Year 12 students for UCOL’s 2026 courses. Students need to contact/see Anja or Sarah should they wish to learn more about the courses on offer and/or to enrol for next year.
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Level 3 Infrastructure students
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Most of our work experience students will be finishing their placements at the end of this term and we know all of them will have gained valuable skills and knowledge that will help them with employment pathways in the future. Mahi tika ana!
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We have a work experience activity scheduled for Junior Activities Week at the end of Term 4. Students who select this activity will participate in CV and interview preparation workshops with Anja and Sarah before heading out on a three-day placement with a local employer. Keep an eye out in the school notices for when the Junior Activities Week selection becomes available!
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If you think your business may be keen to host a student for a work experience placement, either in the future or for the above Junior Activities Week group, please contact Sarah (scraig@waicol.nz or 06-370-0478).
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Thank you again to all the employers who have given up their valuable time to have our students in their workplaces and impart their expertise sector knowledge. We appreciate you all!
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Beth Bramwell-Cooke on work experience placement at Parliament and Joziah Whittaker on work experience with Elite Drainage Ltd.
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Travellers Programme – Building Connection and Resilience
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This term, two more groups of students completed the Skylight Trust Travellers Programme, a wellbeing initiative designed to help young people navigate life’s ups and downs. At its heart, Travellers reminds us that life is a journey—one that isn’t always straightforward, but can be made easier when we know how to find support and lean on our strengths.
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Through shared activities, kōrero, and reflection, students explored what it means to belong, to ask for help when it’s needed, and to grow stronger through challenges. Friendship dynamics were a strong focus this year, with many students recognising the value of connection and care in everyday school life.
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What stood out was the way students brought their own strengths to life, building confidence and resilience they can carry into the future. Programmes like Travellers are part of our ongoing commitment to a culture of care—where every student knows they are not alone, and where asking for help is seen as a strength.
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The Travellers Programme is offered each year to selected Year 9 students. If you know of anyone who may benefit, please contact Ms Kylie Souden ksouden@waicol.nz.
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Travellers Programme students and facilitator Mr Stacey Grant
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A Message from Our Counselling Team
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We want to remind all students that support is always available if you are feeling down, overwhelmed, or stuck in a low mood. Please don’t hesitate to reach out—there are people ready to help.
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1737 – Free call or text any time, day or night
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School Counsellors – Contact Paul, Kylie, or Olivia via Teams (or by text if you already have their numbers)
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Message for students:
"If at any time you are feeling particularly down or unable to lift yourself out of a low mood, please use the contacts available to you. You are not alone, and support is always here for you."
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Ngā manaakitanga,
The Counselling Team
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Term 4 Events
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6 October - Start of Term 4, Week 1, Day 1
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6 - 10 October - Fijian Language Week
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9 October - Service Prizegiving
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14 October - Sports Photos
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14 October - USkills UCOL Prizegiving
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16 October - Cultural Prizegiving
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21 October - Sports Prizegiving
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27 October - Labour Day (School closed)
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28 October - Year 13 Leavers Dinner
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30 October - Senior Prizegiving and Seniors Last Day
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4 November - NZQA Exams begin
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14 November - Teacher Only Day (School closed)
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3 - 5 December - Junior Activities Week
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8 December - Junior Prizegiving - Last Day of Term 4
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