Ashburton College’s Marc Calzada makes his way toward the hoop at yesterday’s Aoraki junior boys’ basketball tournament at the EA Networks Centre while gaining some intense pressure from his Mount Hutt College rival. Photo Katie ToddEleven teams, from across eight schools in the Aoraki region took part in the competition which saw two grades competing. Included in the make up of the tournament were three teams from Ashburton College and one from Mount Hutt College.

Neither school was able to walk away at the end of the day as an overall grade winner, but Mount Hutt College did play their way into the B grade final only to dip out to a strong Waitaki Boys’ High School side 47-33 in a thrilling final.

Waitaki made it a clean sweep for the day when they also claimed the A Grade final. They were too slick for their rivals Roncalli, winning 60-43 to cap a memorable day of basketball.

Organisers of the event said that the day went smoothly and there was some great basketball on offer by students from across the Aoraki region.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 28 June 2018

Andrea Griffin. Photo supplied.Popular deputy principal Andrea Griffin is wrapping up seven years at Ashburton College and stepping into a role at one of the largest schools in New Zealand.

At the end of this term, Griffin will make the big move to Burnside High School in Christchurch, where she has been appointed assistant principal.

She said she would treasure her time at Ashburton College, including the continual lasting friendships that she had made.

“They really are an amazing group of people,” she said.

Since entering the education industry in 1991, Griffin has taught at a number of schools in the UK and worked as a senior lecturer at the University of Portsmouth.

She has also taught at Mt Hutt College and Timaru Boys’ High before joining Ashburton College in 2011.

She spent a year working as head of science before becoming deputy principal, including a spell as acting principal in 2017.

With 2500 students, Burnside High is roughly twice the size of Ashburton College, and zoned.

It boasts a high academic status and involvement in sport, and a great team of leaders, Griffin said.

She will be working alongside principal Phil Holdstein, three divisional principals, 12 deans and 13 heads of department.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 27 June 2018

Jack Bubb from Redwall. Photo supplied.Ashburton College made their musical mark on the annual Smokefree Rockquest regional final.

Their two entries have taken home the third place award and the Smokefree Best Vocals award, despite tough competition from 14 other bands and solo-duos.

The event was held in Timaru’s Theatre Royale last Friday, and saw high school performers from Mid and South Canterbury battling it out for a spot in the national finals.

Jack Bubb from Ashburton College band Redwall won the Smokefree Best Vocals, while three-piece band Two n Half took out third place.

The grand winner was Pseudo Sane from Geraldine High School, and second place was given to ALRM from Opihi College.

Smokefreerockquest Founder and director Glenn Common said there are more bands than ever before reaching the high standard required from national finalists.

It had been a tough job for the judges this year, organisers noted.

Mount Hutt College had also entered two performers – band North Yarn and soloist Jaime Lamond.

Ashburton College’s Redwall has won musical gear from associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and have the opportunity to gain selection for the national final in September.

SFRQ founder and director Pete Rainey said in regional cities the Smokefreerockquest final is often the year’s biggest youth gig and a major influencer.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 26 June 2018