Back L-R: Graeme Church, Quinton Weir, Malcolm McCormick, Tony Todd, Charlie Pinion, Peter Davis, Peter Lynn. Front L-R: Warren Stevenson, Ann Woodham (nee Tubman), Greer Ricketts (nee Spearing), Robert White, Colin Bryant.A group of former Ashburton High School students spent a fabulous day at Lake Hood recently, soaking up the sun and reminiscing about their school years. The group started their secondary school education in 1960 and still meets annually for a catch-up – this year it included Charlie Pinion, over from the UK.
School magazines around the time include highlights like a visit by athletic coach Arthur Lydiard and Peter Snell in 1963. A young Graeme Church might have paid attention, since he was third in the high jump in the boys’ interschool athletic sports in Timaru earlier in the year.
Colin Bryant was in the First XV, though 1963 was not a year of great success as the team lost three and drew one of the inter-school games. Peter Lynn also featured as a top scholar, especially in physics.

© AshColl Alumni - 7 December 2017

Ross PreeceIn an era when there is increasing pressure on family finances, providing an equitable outcome for all students is one of the biggest challenge any school faces, says Ashburton College principal Ross Preece.

And one of the areas where financial inequality shows up is in the requirement from many schools for students to have their own laptop or tablet.

“The issue becomes, what do you do about the students where families don’t have the where-with-all?” he said.

Preece has come up with a novel scheme he believes will bridge the financial gap at college, but its success, he says, relies on the community’s willingness to be part of the project.

While the school has a fund it can use to provide students with a device, without some ownership involved, students are less likely to look after that device, he said.

“I’m a real believer in giving kids a helping hand rather than a hand-out and we’ve looked at the option of giving kids the opportunity to earn a computer.”

The scheme involves a business or an individual employing a student for $15 an hour for about 25 hours until enough money has been earned to pay for a Chromebook.

The business or the individual gives the college the $400 the student earned and the school gives that student a Chromebook.

It’s theirs to keep.

There’s an added incentive for the employer as the donation to the college comes with a tax refund.

A side benefit of the work-for-a-computer scheme is the life lesson it teaches students, Preece said.

“For many of these kids it will be the first time they’ve had a job and they’re keen.

“In some cases these kids many not have a role model to show them what sticking with a job means so it’s a huge life lesson in there – put the effort in and you get a reward.

“This is about building a work ethic too, not just about getting a Chromebook.”

He believes there could be up to 100 students in Year 9 and 10 who would be keen to be part of the scheme.

“The opportunity is there, if the kids want a computer then they can earn it.

“The work can be anything a 14 or 15-year-old could do. It’s a great opportunity for a business or anyone in the community to get some work done.”

The college board has given the scheme the green light, seeing it as a way to ensure equity of learning opportunities for students.

“We’re just hoping the community will come on board and support the concept; you’ll be helping a student with a first up, real life lesson,” Preece said.

 By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 29 November 2017

Six players played their last game for the Ashburton College 1st XI on Saturday, bowing out with a win against Shirley Boys’ High School. From left, Tom Ravenscroft, Ben Niles, Will Tod, Will Graham, Gareth Hunt and George Chapman.The Ashburton College 1st XI sent off their six Year 13s with a win after recording their second straight win over Shirley Boys’ High School at the Ashburton Domain on Saturday.

The win was based around their best batting effort of the one-day competition.

Captain Will Graham won the toss and elected to bat.

Despite the early loss of Tom Ravenscroft, fellow opener George Chapman kept the momentum going with a quick-fire 32, which included three sixes.

A couple more cheap wickets were lost, but a 97-run partnership between Graham and Will Tod (34) steadied the ship.

The innings was based around Graham, who was unfortunately finally dismissed for a fantastic 99.

The team finished with 252 runs off their 50 overs.

They then got off to a great start in the field as Jayden Fuller took a screamer of a catch off Harry McMillan in the second over, before McMillan also removed Shirley Boys’ other dangerous opener in the eighth over.

Gareth Hunt then chimed in with two wickets, while Tod picked up one, thanks to a great slip catch by Ben Niles.

AshColl had their opponents five down for 77 and looked to be cruising to victory.

Chapman, the regular keeper, then had a bowl and managed to snare a wicket as did Fuller and Niles. Batsman Isaac Bazley also showed the bowlers how to do it when he picked up two wickets, including the final one, as Shirley were dismissed for 175.

The win meant AshColl finished seventh in the Christchurch secondary schools’ division one one-day contest.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 28 November 2017