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Ross PreeceStudents might have been off school for more than seven weeks, but it’s their emotional well-being staff are putting at the top of the list as Ashburton College returns to a full campus, says principal Ross Preece.
Year 13 students were number one priority, he said, because many of them were quite anxious about the impact of the Covid-19 school closures on NCEA exams and their study plans for next year, but before the focus moved to academic catch-up, their wellbeing had to be number one, he said.
“Staff have to be very mindful of this, wellbeing is an absolute priority for us.
“This week has been all about reconnecting and finding out where everyone is at but we’re delighted with the kids, the way they’ve come back.
“This week is a reset, a finding out where students were at.”
Students had returned to college in two stages and for the final three days of the week when all were back, Preece said he was delighted with the attendance rate, 88 to 90 per cent, higher than some weeks during a normal winter.
The remainder of term two and into term three would have a solid academic focus and the only school trips would be those that were an integral part of a study course, such as agriculture and outdoor education, Preece said.
For Year 11 and 12 students the switch to distance learning would not have such a significant impact as they had time on their side when it came to catching up on credits, Preece said.
Some internal assessment projects had been completed before lockdown while students who may have missed deadlines with work may be able to negotiate an extension of time, he said.
By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 May 2020
Ashburton College basketballer and Under 19 Junior Tall Ferns reserve Sophie Adams. Photo supplied.Basketballer Sophie Adams has the world at her feet, but first she wants to finish Year 13.
The Ashburton College student, named in the reserves of the Under 19 Junior Tall Ferns basketball team, is weighing up a nursing or police career.
However she could, depending on opportunities, further her studies overseas and play college basketball in countries like Mexico, Canada or the United States.
It’s not something she has to decide just yet.
Sophie, who stands 1.82m tall, plays basketball for Under 19 Waitaha (a combined Canterbury/North Canterbury representative team), the Under 19 Junior Tall Ferns and is part of the Mainland Eagles Basketball Academy, a high performance programme.
Junior Tall Ferns head coach Hernando Planells describes her as an assertive forward who loves to operate from the top of the key and can attack the basket and rebound.
She was also in the 2020 Alloyfold Canterbury Wildcats training squad, since cancelled by Covid-19, and of course, plays for the Ashburton College senior girls’ team.
A typical week includes school studies, at least two hours of basketball training a day and fitness, not to mention travel to Christchurch for three different teams and work commitments at Lushingtons Cafe.
Her training, fitness and wellness is tracked by Basketball New Zealand with Zoom calls, Facebook video posts and apps.
Sophie answers a range of questions on her training activities as well as wellness attributes like sleep patterns, motivation levels and illness or injury.
There is a support team inspecting the data and making sure compliance is kept above 90 per cent, otherwise there can be team penalties such as extra training tasks.
Sophie spent lockdown with her family; parents Michelle and Lewis and siblings Hayden, 21, and Grace, 18, and has now returned to work and school.
But lockdown at home surprisingly meant no basketball hoop, instead it was time focusing on ball handling skills, strength and conditioning and fitness, with 5km runs and 30km bike rides.
She also has a lot of study to prepare for end-of-year exams in English, chemistry, biology and mathematics.
While Covid-19 has stopped most basketball including the Junior Ferns Four Nations Tour to China in June, Sophie says secondary school basketball had not yet been cancelled and could still go ahead.
By Toni Williams © The Ashburton Courier - 21 May 2020
Preparing to reopen the Ashburton College canteen were (from left) Kelven Hastie, Year 13 student helpers Lachlan Kingan and Ronan Kenny with Jo Keen. Photo supplied.The familiar queues have returned and favourite foods like pork riblets and sushi are back on the menu in the Ashburton College canteen.
The canteen reopened on Monday after a near eight-week closure.
It was a more relaxed day than usual on Monday for canteen manager Kelven Hastie and long-term staff member Jo Keen with just Year 9 and Year 13 students back.
The rest of the school returned on Tuesday, as near normality returned to the college.
Kelven said there had been a lot of cleaning prior to the restart, but it was all systems go again.
Morning tea break ran from 11am until 11.20am and lunch for 45 minutes from 1.20pm.
Both times were busy and over the course of the day some 300 to 400 orders were taken.
The canteen is popular with students and some staff, he said.
Nine students are rostered to lend a hand in the canteen and paid each term in a lump sum for their time.
Jo said sushi and pork riblets were among some of the big favourites and every day there were a range of affordable specials on offer for lunch.
Pita pockets, soup and noodles were all menu staples.
Hot food was more popular in the winter and all cold drinks were sugar free, she said.
Friday was pie day and students typically snapped up between 200 and 300 on the day.
Jo said she loved the interaction with the students.
“The vast majority are polite and well behaved and if they’re not, they go to the back of the queue.”
By Mick Jensen © The Ashburton Courier - 21 May 2020